Harmony nods. "Good move Val. We'll lead the way so everyone knows where we should be going." She keeps up a running commentary on the battle as they go so that everyone currently lacking their sight have something to follow.
"Apologies about the accomodations." She says in an aside to the 'entertainers'. "Tomorrow I think we can promise you something much nicer. For all our efforts though there are still dangers on this island so we had best let our cleric do her work before we head back."
Those that can see lead the others into the side storage room to rest for the night, with the hope that in the morning your priestess will be able to restore sight to the blind Sirens.
- Day 205
And in the morning, Donomsail is able to do just that.
"We will take the pieces of the stone, but somehow I doubt the ghost will be appeased." Harmony says grimly. "Dony, Polli, can you two take on a ghost even with your lost spells? If so then we move post haste to the fort. Val, if you get a chance, could you ask our nereid friend about what else lives in the bay in front of the fort? I don't want to bring the Siren in there until we know for sure."
”I can ask, Cap’n,” Val answers, still in her natural form for the morning, ”but I might need a volunteer from our new friends to pay for the information...”
In the morning, after she can see (and after she shows her gratitude to the amazingly magical and very necessary Donomsail Lishoni), Polli will study the stone thoroughly.
She wishes to know if there is anyway to repair it, or at least make it look like it is repaired to magical senses.
The stone has shattered and without fairly powerful illusion magic it will be obvious to anyone with any magical senses that the artifact is no more.
You leave the cyclopeon ruins as soon as Donomsail has restored everyone's sight and head east along the ancient road until you reach the eastern bay. Your new friends beg your leave to pause at the small river that empties into the bay. "Please, we haven't had a opportunity for a simple bath in ages," Audessa pleads earnestly.
The seven newcomers display little modesty as they immediately shed their rough and torn garments to revel in the clean and crisp running water. The simple task of just getting clean is quickly dealt with, but they show no desire to return to the journey, cleaning having quickly turned into play as they splash, laugh, and roughhouse in their new-found freedom.
Reminded that there's a destination planned, there's some good-natured grumbling, but they take a moment to clean their clothes as well before climbing out of the water, dripping wet but much refreshed.
From there it's a quick trip in the crowded longboat back to the Siren. Eyebrows are raised and there's a bit of minor celebration when you arrive with your new friends.
Audessa pulls Captain Harmony aside. "If your plan is for us to remain here while you finish your business at the fort, what are your feelings regarding us plying our trade with your crew?" she asks. "We haven't two coppers to rub together and that makes me uncomfortable. However, if you'd prefer that we not ... engage ... with your sailors then we will respect that."
Audessa pulls Captain Harmony aside. "If your plan is for us to remain here while you finish your business at the fort, what are your feelings regarding us plying our trade with your crew?" she asks. "We haven't two coppers to rub together and that makes me uncomfortable. However, if you'd prefer that we not ... engage ... with your sailors then we will respect that."
"The Siren is a relaxed ship where at all possible." Harmony replies. "If you wish to ply your trade and you find willing customers then do as you please. Anyone on the Siren can love anyone else, the only thing Captain Tessa and I do not stand for is penalising others for their choice of companion. And making yourself or another crew member unable to perform their duty. As long as you don't cross either of those boundaries, and do you share of work around the ship then practise as you will."
Harmony can't help reflecting with a wry smile that this is going to do wonders for crew morale.
Val helps the everyone up onto the deck from the longboat as patiently as she can and then asks the captains, "how long do we have, cap'ns? I was hoping to grab some bunk time..." as soon as I find Mei...
"As long as you don't cross either of those boundaries, and do you share of work around the ship then practise as you will."
"I'll remind you, Captain, my kids and I are not sailors or soldiers. There's not much we could provide you on ship. Well, other than the obvious."
~~~~~
The reunion with the crew is short-lived as there's still work to do. Heading back to the bay, you continue around the island until you reach Safina's grotto around lunchtime.
"And the pretty ladies are back," the nereid calls out with a smile as she rises from the calm waters. "Here to play or just passing through?"
"As long as you don't cross either of those boundaries, and do you share of work around the ship then practise as you will.""I'll remind you, Captain, my kids and I are not sailors or soldiers. There's not much we could provide you on ship. Well, other than the obvious."
"Sometimes we need every hand to pull a rope, and there are many other tasks that need doing." Harmony replies. "Don't worry, we won't put you to anything you can't do, but you will do the things that you can. I don't think that's unfair, do you?"
"An hour Val. Take a nap and then we can get going." Harmony replies, straight faced. "Go to the galley and see if the Cook can give you a warm grog or something to help you relax."
-----------------------------
When Safina reappears Harmony smiles politely but stays back. She doesn't want to get personally entangled with the nereid again.
Val smiles at the captain’s two-fold permission and tugs her hat in salute as she hurries off towards the galley.
She returns, rather hastily, exactly one hour later, looking a bit disheveled.
”Just passing through,” Val answers with a smile, ”but we did have a question we were hoping you might be able to answer... we’ve seen something large swimming in this bay, what is it?”
++Alright ladies, whose turn is it to ‘pay’ her?++
The nereid's lips turn up even higher. "Oh, yes. He's very big. But that would be telling, wouldn't it?" she says, turning slightly and give Valeria a coy look. "I couldn't possibly tell you about him without getting something in return, now could I?" Her tongue slips out and traces over her delicate lips and her eyes never leave Valeria's.
++Looks like she has already picked++ Polli thinks with relief, her hand firmly in Dony's.
Val watches the fairy’s display with a rather half-hearted smile.
++As I mentioned yesterday, I can no longer make her payment... and, I’ve already done it once... so, if we want any more from her at all, someone else is going to have to take a turn++ she thinks to all her companions.
"You may not have that choice..." Harmony replies. "We can manage without the information if we must."
”About that...” Val replies slightly slower than she probably should have, ”I was wondering if you might be interested in something a little more exotic? Perhaps you’d take a kiss from an archon as payment?”
++Who has that wand of summoning? And, Polli, you did say it could summon some kind of archon, right?++
The wizard is irritated. Mostly with herself, for being worried, backing down, acting like a... sigh "It's just a kiss, then we get what we need if that thing comes for us." she tells Dony, then steps forward to the nerid. "A quick one, nothing more!"
Sefina's eyes widen in delight as Polli steps forward. "Oh this is wonderful," she says. "A kiss from an air child." She crooks her finger at the wizard. "Come closer my little atawhai."
When Polli steps into the water, the nereid moves close. "There's nothing to be afraid of," she says before leaning in and delicately pressing her lips against Polli's.
Polli is hesitant. Also, she is irritated at herself for being irritated since it is just a f!%%ing kiss. And she is well-turned on since the woman is one of her teenage wet dreams come to life.
Gathering up her courage she steps in the water, fist full of her skirts to keep her hands in check, and leans in...
The kiss is warm and soft and Polli feels the effects throughout her body as her flesh responds like nothing she's ever felt before. Safina's tongue strokes her bottom lip sparking even more energy.
All too quickly the lips draw back and the sylph finds that her body wishes to follow. She masters the urge, though, and stands in place as Safina pulls back, humming in pleasure. "Now that was something that I'll remember for a long time," she says. "Just so you know ..." She leans back in and whispers in Polli's ear.
"Now as far as what resides in the bay," the nereid continues, "that would be Cha. He's a very large wheke ... octopus, you would say. Very dangerous. I could maybe persuade him to move to the other bay ... for a price."
Polli despite her reluctance, melted a bit on the other woman's lips, a small Very small sound of desire escaping as they moved away. The whisper though makes her thoughts wrap around those desires, squeezing their necks hard until their head pop off. "no thank you" she says in a tight, controlled voice, then steps back to her Dony, glaring at anyone with an amused look on their faces.
"And what would the payment be for a service like that?" Val asks with sincere interest. "Also, is he a friend of your? I mean, would you be upset if we used violence to chase him away?"
"He's not a friend exactly, but it would be a shame to see such a majestic creature harmed when there are ... other ... options available," Safina replies with a slight pout.
"As for payment, it would take more than a kiss. Say, an hour of time spent with me ... privately."
"An hour from who?" Val probes.
++Perhaps one of our new friends would like to show their gratitude by helping with this? Or maybe we could let one of them ply their trade by hiring them to handle it?++
"No doubt for stimulating conversation and coffee." Harmony replies with a slightly stretched smile. "If you like him that much it might be worth putting in some effort on your part. I don't want to hurt anything we don't have to, but given who is coming to this island in about two months someone is going to bleed if he's still there." She shrugs. "Frankly I hate swimming, so if we can possibly avoid violence in the bay I'd be delighted."
It would work, but I don't really like the idea. Harmony admits through a tilt of her head and a quirk of her mouth. We don't know what the consequences would be...
++I could chaperone...++ Val thinks half-jokingly.
"Then it would behoove us to do something to prevent the bloodshed," Safina replies. "I'm offering to risk my very self and all I'm asking for is just a little sacrifice on your part." She steps up out of the water and on to the beach. "It doesn't even have to be in the water and you'll enjoy it. I promise."
Polli does NOT volunteer this time. The memory of her soft lips is enough temptation she needs for a lifetime. "We have annihilated every threat on the island and will do so again if pushed to do so." she snapped "I have no desire to kill if it is not necessary, so stop being an ass. Help us NOT kill this Cha."
++Couldn’t we at least explain the risks to our new friends and let them decide for themselves if any of them are willing? And, we wouldn’t have to make the exchange today- we could return on a slow when we could provide some protective magic to the volunteer.++
”I’m sorry,” Val says to the fairy, ”it seems that, as enjoyable as I’m sure it would be, none of our number here are ready to make your payment today. We have some friends who are very skilled at... spending time alone with someone... if they are interested, would you accept payment from one of them?”
"I don't want one of them," Safina says petulantly and turns and vanishes into the water.
"Fine." Harmony says with a huff. She reaches down to pull off her boots, rolls up her trousers and wades into the water until its about half way up her shins.
"I'm not chasing you." She calls out, "But I'll spend an hour with you if you come back out and onto the beach with me."
She waits in the shallows for a reply before turning around. "You might need to give us some privacy." She says over her shoulder with a shrug.
Polli frowns, for a variety of reasons, but casts her shelter spell for harmony to have a safe place. "Privacy, and a place we can guard to make sure she doesn't take you away."
Tessa would have volunteered herself, but it's all she can do to lean against the tree to keep herself upright. The weight of whatever happened yesterday still is weighing heavily upon her, though she hasn't said anything to anyone because she's not going to admit she isn't operating at one hundred percent.
She pushes off the tree and says "No way. I'm not allowing you to be alone. If you want to do it, fine, but I'm also staying in you are staying in my sight."
Harmony feels a figure rise out of the water behind her. A warm hand moves up to rest on her hip. Safina leans in until her lips are right behind Harmony's ear. "I'm surprised that it was you that offered," she whispers. Her breath warm and moist. "Not that I'm not pleased. I you and I can have a lot of fun together if you give yourself over to it."
~~~~~
The nereid seems almost to reconsider when Polli summons her magical shelter. "I-In there?" she questions. She calms herself, though and follows Harmony through the door into the small, private space.
It's a kiss like Harmony has never experienced before. Warm, soft, stimulating in all the right ways. Electrifying even.
Sefina looks over her shoulder at Tessa. "You don't have to just watch, you know."
Tessa is too enthralled by the kiss to take notice of the pattern. Pushing off of the wall, she slowly makes for the door to exit the cottage. AS she walks she asks "Am I daft for thinking you were actually coming in here to have a conversation then?"
Tessa exits the small cottage and says to her companions "This might take a few minutes.". She takes of her tricorn, hanging it on the handle of the door before closing it and returning back inside.
Tessa renters the cottage and moves to join the nereid, slipping an arm around both of their waists. "Now then. What was it were talking about again? Can someone catch me up, please?"
As the two women head for the shelter with the fairy, Val silently asks, ++Could anyone cast water breathing on them, just in case the fairy gets carried away?++
Once they’re all inside, she turns to Polli and asks, ++what’s that thing she’s wearing? It looks like almost like woven sea foam and I can only really see it when she’s kissing someone...++
She watches with a smirk as Tessa exits to place her hat on the door and returns to the inside.
hmm... maybe I should see if Mei wants to visit here with me...
"Safina was going to try to impress me." She says with an arch smile. "Apparently it could be a lot of fun, but so far I'm not overly impressed." She gives Tessa a kiss and whispers something very quietly in the red head's ear before sliding out of her grasp and taking the huts chair which she straddles, legs spread well apart.
"Now... give me a good show little water spirit and then I'll think about joining in." She says, undoing the top button of her shirt and mentally grinning at how she's channeling one of Val's favorite moves. "Well? Get to it!"
"What are you talking about?" Polli asks her normal irritation with the world in general abundantly clear.
Polli will cast the suggested spell before they disappear. "One hour of waiting." ... and imagining she sighs, taking Dony's hand, giving the smooth crimson flesh a light kiss. "We could have lunch I guess."
"That wasn't the agreement," Sefina says with a bit of a pout. "But I'll play along if you will." She turns back to Tessa and traces a soft hand down the swashbuckler's jaw and her voice loses some of its strength. "I get so lonely here. It's decades between visitors." Reaching down she lightly takes Tessa's hand. "No one to talk to. No one to be with." She brings the hand up to press her lips against the back of it. "No one to kiss ... or to touch." She moves the hand down her neck and rests it on her breast. "Touch me."
Val looks at Polli and smiles gently.
++Marisan and I can handle guard duty if you and Donm want to grab a little alone time while we wait...++
Polli looks wistfully at her love for a moment. "As much as I'd like to, I think it would be best if we all stay on our guard. Dony, has Gozreh blessed you with any of the spells you used to determine if the devil twins had bewitched anyone?"
As Harmony whispers in her ear, Tessa says "Yes, captain." with a small smirk playing across her lips.
When Sefina asks to be touched, Tessa doesn't hesitate and does as asked. Not waiting to asked for further instructions, Tessa's hands begins to roam and she leans in to take a piece of this most amazing kiss, pinching Sefina's lower lip between her teeth and nibbling on it.
She waits patiently for Harmony to speak up, happily filling the empty space in the meanwhile..
Finding herself unable to do anything else, Tessa does so.
"Now look at her."
The swashbuckler finds herself unable to take her eyes away from the beautiful fey in front of her. The ardor fades from Sefina's eyes. "You love her, but yet you can only look at me," she says sadly.
With a heavy sigh, she says, "Show her how much you love her. And remember that not everyone is that lucky." Her words carry the weight of command and Tessa is unable to resist the compulsion.
She almost doesn't even notice when the nereid leaves the shelter a moment later.
~~~~~
Less than ten minutes after entering the magical shelter. Sefina steps back out onto the beach. "Give your friends some privacy for a bit," she says in a sad voice. "They have things to express to each other." She then walks back down to the water and sinks into the calm, blue waves.
”Wait,” Val calls, chasing after the fairy, ”what happened? Did they not pay you? Are you going to help us avoid hurting the octopus?”
"I will deal with Cha," Sefina replies in an empty voice and disappears beneath the water before any more questions are asked.
She does it again and again, the third time she's smearing blood across the wall and by the fifth blow there is an audible crack as she strikes. The Captain swears an absolute blue streak, wriggles out of Tessa's restraining arms again and marches out of the cabin. She leaves a trail of blood across the sand as she marches straight into the sea and beneath the water - too angry to stop for the fear that would normally have paralyzed her by now.
"Come back here!" She roars beneath the waves, staring out into the blue gloom. "Get. Back. Here. NOW!" The final word sends a visible pulse through the waters of the bay and on the surface there is a strange calm, which flattens the waves in a long cone out into the deep.
Polli was in the process of buidling a fire when the captain nerid comes out. "Should we check on them? Just in case... " she asks, then rises to do so.
Just then Harmony with a bloody hand comes roaring out. "What happened?" the sylph snaps, starting to gather power to blast... something?
”Check on Tessa,” Val advises Polli, ”I’ll follow her.”
Sheathing her shortswords, the slayer follows Harmony down into the bay. Once the water is up to her waist, she adjusts her hat and transforms into mermaid-Val. Despite being much faster in the water than the captain, she gives the other woman some space... though she stays close enough that she could hit anything that were to attack her with her bow .