Chapter Text
A cool, salt laced breeze greets me as I climb up onto the ship’s deck the sound of the rigging clinking and the screeches of gulls accompanying the rising sun. The weathered board of The Siren's Tooth so familiar beneath my feet I could walk them blind.
“We need to do a supply run,” Nel says as I reach his side. “There's a trade port not far from here.”
“What do we need?” I ask the ship’s Quartermaster leaning on the railing beside them.
“Food, mostly. But weapons will probably be a good idea as well,”
“If we're going to a port we should see if we can pick up more crew,” Gyn calls from where he stands at the wheel. Since joining me, Nel and my sister Gyn has fallen naturally into the role of first mate. “Maybe we'll even find a cook?” My sister says wiping a smudge of gunpowder off her cheek, as the ship's main gunner it's a hazard of the job.
“Oh what Faye. Don't like my cooking?” Bite crows, none of us really liked the man at first let alone trusted him but he's Gyn’s husband and like it or not they're a package deal over time we grew used to each other and now we would all take a bullet or sword for him. The scar on his shoulder testament to his willingness to do the same for one of us.
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The trading port’s docks are chaos, orders shouted and cargo moved in a nonsensical maze through alleyways and over salt bleached wood.
“What name are we recording?” One of the deck hands asks, pen hovering over their book and hand outstretched.
“Here's the docking fee,” Gyn drops a few coins into the young man's hand “and I would appreciate if you wrote down the Sealantern,” Nel cuts in handing over coins of their own.
“Sealantern.” The dock hand repeats ignoring the clear space where a ship's name plate should be. No one needs to know that the plate so lovingly painted with Siren’s Tooth in gold and teal rests in the chest in my cabin.
“You lot have fun we’ll get us some rooms,” Gyn calls, leading Bite into the town proper by the hand a blush noticeable even from were we stand .
“We're not seeing them for the rest of the day are we?” Faye says tucking her chin over Nel’s shoulder.
“Honestly that's probably for the best, if your brother walked in on them making out one more time I think he would cut off Bite’s dick.” The pair head off to gather supplies. Nel sends me a glare as I move to follow, pointing to the town. The brunette’s meaning is clear ‘go be social with someone who doesn't live on the same ship as you.’ fine I can do social, Gyn’s right we need more crew anyway.
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I don't remember a lot before a few days ago when I woke up in a half sunk rowboat washed up against the shore, but what I do remember is how to choose a mark that won't end up with me killed if I'm caught pickpocketing. The blond man with the fine pistol at his side and the embroidered vest seems a perfect choice, the poor thing is clearly lost in the dock’s maze having walked past the alleyway I'm hiding in twice in as many minutes. It's seemingly a mussel memory to bump into the man, relieving him of his gold pouch and a sturdy brass pocket watch. I scuttle further into the labyrinth of the alleyways. It's as I'm counting my pilfered gold that I hear the unmistakable sound of a pistol being cocked to fire.
“You can keep the gold if you want, clearly you need it. But I would appreciate you returning my pocket watch.” I turn to see the man from whom I had stolen standing behind me, gun held steady and free hand held out expectantly.
“I'm Krit, K,R,I,T. They/Them,” I admit returning only the stolen watch.
"Theo. T,H,E,O. He/Him.” The newly named Theo laughs hand now outstretched again, an offer in place of a demand. “You know Krit it's rare for someone to get the drop on me, I wonder if you would be interested in a…job. I’m hiring for? It'll be a fair bit more lucrative and also a fair bit more dangerous than pickpocketing.”
Theo's hand when I take it is calloused with a firm grip, but the smile on his face is kind.
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“Everyone, meet Krit.” I say taking a seat at the table the rest of my family sits at. “Where's Faye?” I ask, Gyn’s response of ‘bringing a friend’ only increasing my anxiety. When my sister appears it's not alone, someone I haven't met before stands at her side, introducing himself as Moki.
“He works here as a dishwasher, but is willing to be our cook,” Fae tells me clearly, a unanimous decision if the others’ lack of reaction is anything to go on.
“You are aware of our occupation right Moki?” The man nods strands of pink hair sliding free from their buns.
“I know and I was part of a crew before I came here.”
“Well in that case,” I reach over the table offering my hand to shake. “Welcome aboard the Siren’s Tooth.”