The Venture Begins

Deep waters transitioned into a much more tranquil turquoise as they approached their destination. Faine's eyes were glued to the corals beneath, ranging from an intense orange to an enigmatic violet, as the ship slowly parted the waves, making its way closer to shore.

The lack of human presence was quite evident, to say the least. Life bloomed from everywhere. There was a colorful ecosystem on the beach alone–untouched and left to flourish to its full potential. It was quite a spectacular sight, a glimpse of paradise, and what could've been without human occupation.

And yet, Faine longed to see what the island was like many years ago, when Querencia was lively and bustling in tourists. For beyond the serenity of the sandy planes, the forest that took over most of the island looked quite... dead. The darkness was such a great contrast from the ocean surrounding it that Faine had to take a moment to check the correctness of his eyesight.

It was no illusion. It was no myth. The forest really had been drained of all its life.

"It was the god of death's gift to his spouse before they had gotten married. The flowers were meant to resemble the god of love, no?" The captain's first mate, who was currently steering the wheel, recounted the famous tale between the two starstruck lovers. Both Faine and Calixto turned their heads to the rugged woman, suddenly pulled away from basking in the island's crestfallen state.

The captain, like he always had done in the presence of the courtesan, stepped closer towards him, leaning down so the mask's makeshift mouth would be level with his ear.

"I trust you know that, dove, given your relationship with the highness of darkness himself. What I'm interested in is the legitimacy of the tale."

Faine blushed at the intimacy of their closeness, the fleeting feeling of the pirate's warmth setting his skin ablaze. He could barely compose himself around the man. Especially after everything they had done in his office, tainting every surface of the room with their depravity.

He could hear the captain snicker, wholeheartedly amused by the red that bloomed on the back of Faine's neck.

"He is my client. That's all. I'm fond of tales myself, but I don't have the power to confirm them for you."

For once, Faine was defensive, almost sheepish, as the other approached him with flirtatious advances. The excitement he had felt even after their night together certainly had his dignity crumbling. No one but Yvnir could have him starving for it, but now, even Calixto held some kind of silent power over his bodily reactions. Like Calixto so frequently called him, Faine felt like a doll, dainty and on the verge of unraveling in a sailor's calloused hands.

"Hm."

At the lack of conversation, Delphi, Calixto's first mate and apparently good friend opened her mouth, sensing the oddly sensual tension between the two men. Tension that had now dissolved into an awkward silence.

"Do you think something happened between the two of them, captain?"

He nodded, his heavy mask swaying with his movement. It was a shame that the courtesan denied their near gravitational pull to each other, but he could keep teasing him out of his shell. That in itself felt like a pleasant treat.

"Why else would such a spectacle become this.. barren wasteland? And.."

He halted for an unsettling long time.

Faine finally turned his face to the two, a brow raised.

"Why else would he seek out my services?" The courtesan added, finishing the other's sentence for him. Delphi perked up, realizing now who exactly the new passenger was. She intended to ask him about his time under, and quite literally under the god of death, when her captain spoke.

"You catch on quick, peach." He drawled out, voice sharp with sarcasm.

"Any fool with a pair of eyes can decide for themselves that something definitely happened. As for the specifics, that is not something I can tell you." Faine snapped back, although he did not intend to sound so irritated. In addition to feeling shy around his newest client, he barely had any sleep. Guiding or even getting a bunch of drunk pirates to accept the prospect of sleep had been difficult. His back had been so sore from pulling so much deadweight. He was starting to think that his little prank had been a piss poor idea, pun intended, but remembering the way Sae had acted so coldly while talking about them had him shutting down the thought. He had no regrets.

"You can't, or you refuse to?"

"I'm flattered you think I'm so involved with the affairs of gods, captain, but I am just an ordinary man. I have not ascended to that level yet." Faine gave the man a side glance. His attention used to be quite appealing, but now it probed too deeply, deeper than what the courtesan could allow.

"Yet? You have plans to ascend to immortality, dove?"

At the mention of ascension, Faine's eyes widened. The concept of ascension was no secret to anyone in the nation of Elysia. After all, it was the birthplace of humanity itself, the chosen land of the gods. Their oceans were surrounded by all sorts of mythical beings, and every town had at least a single half-blood citizen. Ascension was usually the final step many sought after. The sons and daughters of gods would be given a set of tasks, maybe trials or standards, by their patron parents and allowed the gift of immortality after an impeccable success. There were times those who lacked divine blood ascended from their heroism alone, but those were rare instances—not that ascension itself wasn't rare already.

It wouldn't be a guarantee that you'd be seen as an equal to the original gods. After all, those born into immortality like Yvnir had unattainable strength coursing through their golden veins, but even without ascension, the social advantages were quite blatamt. Everyone looked up to half-bloods, and they had big egos as a birthright, Faine even recalled a handful of them demanding free service from Altair before Madam Geona broke off the commotion in the tea house he had performed in.

Lately, Faine, too, had been bothered by those spoiled pricks before he was picked up by Calixto. It was a blessing in disguise.

For that, he was thankful.

"You will have to see for yourself, my darling captain." Fained picked up the playfulness he had previously dropped, leaning his frame towards the pirate.

A single finger lifted his chin upwards, and for a moment, the courtesan was tempted to just shove it in his mouth and start going at it like rabbits in broad daylight. But he chose to maintain his decency.

"You're an interesting one, doll. I'm sure you'll catch a patron's attention soon enough."

He eyed the other with mischief.

"Oh, I'm counting on that."

They shared a long and uncomfortably intimate look, eyeing each other's most desirable features, before they were ungracefully interrupted by the jolt of the ship as it met uneven land.

"Captain, we're here."

That mask, sheltering the pirate's glorious face from the courtesan's needing eyes, moved to scan the hauntingly dreary forest once more, now closer than ever. He turned to Faine once more.

"Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be. You?"

"Heh, this is just an afternoon stroll to me."

Faine smirked as the loud belts of crewmembers setting the anchor filled the silent and waiting air of the island.

"I'm counting on that, captain."

He followed along the movements of the pirates, coordinated and clearly experienced in what they were doing. They were bustling, not a single phrase distinguishable from the overwhelming flood of instructions thrown around.

Faine felt like he got lost and stumbled upon an entirely different environment he shouldn't have been in. Everyone was in their element, even Crane and Rinus, who previously stood out like sore thumbs in the market. And as an ample amount of minutes passed, the courtesan that so did Saeger. He didn't look more natural than when he was showing off his strength tugging at thick ropes.

The plank serving as a gateway to the ship was set down. The noise eventually withered, everyone's eyes on Calixto as they waited for their next order.

The captain jumped down to the hull of the ship, the gathering crowd making room for his hulking frame.

"Alright, crew." He named the ones he would be bringing with them to their venture for the Pétillantes, the gem of a flower the god of death had blossomed for their spouse. The most trustworthy, Faine assumed, if not physically gifted, were called out. He recognized a few, like Crane and Rinus, as well as the pirates that had caused Saeger's distress.

Saeger himself was left to watch over the ship. Upon realizing that Faine would be going too, the newbie pushed through the crowd, hand grabbing Calixto's wrist before the group could leave.

A wave of gasps came from the crowd. A few of the higher ranking crewmembers stepped out as well, ready to escort Sae away from the captain and, from the looks of it, teach him a proper lesson about respect. Before anyone could set their hands on him, however, Calixto raised his. A gesture to stay away.

"Newbie, what the hell do you think you're doing?"

Sae flinched, retreating his hand from the captain's wrist.

"You have to let me come with you, captain. I know how to fight and..."

His eyes met Faine's, the fiery, unmoving passion in them almost comedic in contrast to the latter's boggled and concerned look, fully aware of the very real consequences his longtime friend whom he cared for could be facing for his lack of second thoughts.

Eventually, Faine's eyes met with Calixto's mask, too. He was looking, looking at Faine's pleading face. And then, he wasn't.

"Faine has spoken highly about you, newbie. I've put my faith in your prowess, but that doesn't give you an excuse to belittle my authority in this ship."

"Ah, yes, I'm sorry, sir. You can hit me on the cheek. Just let me come with you, please." Saeger said, uncharacteristically tender as his eyes met the ground, preparing himself for the hand of a captain who has conquered countless.

The pirate hummed, displeased.

"No need. We are in a rush. Just carry our bags for us."

That immediately had him snapping his head up, shocking the crowd, as he asked, "W— why?"

"You are only seeking to protect those whom you love, no?"

"Y— yes, sir."

"Good. Don't disappoint me, lad. My expectations are the only reason you still have your head right now."

"Y— yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

In a single tilt of their captain's head, the crew began bustling again, returning to their previous stations with new gossip on the tip of their tongues as the smaller group descended to the sand. Faine eyed Sae worryingly, the Helewys carrying more than any ordinary man should be allowed to place on their back.

He only grinned back.

"That imbecile, I swear..." He sighed. Well, now he had to make sure the risks his friend took weren't in vain.