Breath of Life [Part 1]
Mar. 24th, 2021 08:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
esp_dragonv2Fandom: Noblesse
Summary: Frankenstein almost drowned. He didn't, something in the sea saving him, and he's going to find out just what it was.
Notes: Mermaid AU
No Dark Spear here and he hasn't enhanced himself that much.
Setting is...somewhere past the 1100s anyway.
This will have a bittersweet ending, so adjust your expectations accordingly, aha.
Rating: G
Genre: General
Word count: 1,571
Status: Work in progress
The water was freezing. The cold slipped through Frankenstein's flesh, surrounded him until he felt it in his bones.
He could barely move, his clothes dragging him down, but he had to try.
Except, what way was up? The sea was dark around him, parts of the ship spearing into the area around him. It was amazing he hadn't been hit yet.
The route was meant to be safe. They'd barely reached open waters before the second boat had appeared, following them.
Should he follow where the debris was falling? It was a direction. Better than nothing.
How long did the ship have before the rest of it sank? Were the Union agents tearing through his room, gathering all his research to be misused again?
All his research and he'd done nothing about increasing his ability to retain air. Not that he knew how to swim, too concerned about getting more data than leisure time, and it was hard to think, hard to focus over his body's demand of air and getting warm again.
Frankenstein flailed his arms and legs, one shoe slipping off his foot. Was he even moving? It didn't feel like it, the urge to take in a breath growing. He couldn't do that now. All he would take in was water.
Had he done enough in his life? He'd save lives, yes, but was that enough? He hadn't discovered everything the world had to offer yet, hadn't been able to use that knowledge to help more people.
Frankenstein span, his hair flowing in front of his face. He'd seen movement out of the corner of his eye that wasn't just bits of wood and metal. There and gone again. What was it?
Something loomed out of the depths and Frankenstein swung at it. It flashed out of the way. Even that glimpse was enough to see it was bigger than he was.
Frankenstein's chest ached, desperate to take a breath and he swam away. Anywhere had to be better than being with whatever he was sharing the waters with.
He didn't see the thing's approach the second time. He was swimming and then he bumped into something.
He tried to push it away, but his fingers got caught on something. It tangled around his fingers, strong like...hair?
Something grabbed the back of his head, pulling him forward. Warm flesh pressed to his lips, something small trying to force its way inside his mouth.
That was all the encouragement his body needed, and he opened his mouth, even though he knew there was no air and he would only take in water.
It didn't happen.
Air. Air.
Frankenstein took it in, closing his mouth when he could, feeling bubbles leaving his nose as he breathed out.
This close, he could see the thing that had saved his life. It was like looking into a distorted mirror: a human-like face stared back at him, except their eyes were bigger, swallowed by black, almost no iris to be seen. No nose, but two slits where the nostrils would be. A lipless mouth. A large scar cut down the creatures cheek and they seemed to have long silver hair.
The creature grinned at him before closing the gap again, wrapping an arm around Frankenstein's waist, and they surged upwards.
There was something about the way the creature moved, but Frankenstein's mind was too foggy to figure it out, concentrating on holding his breath. He kicked up, trying to help.
His feet caught on something, slipping straight down.
It wasn't a human leg. It was too smooth. Too wide.
And the limb ended suddenly, feeling flat as he pushed down. What...?
Dreaming? Was he dreaming and his foot was caught on something else?
They broke the surface and everything was so loud as Frankenstein heaved air into his lungs, clinging onto his saviour as much as he could. He spluttered, water crashing into his mouth.
There wasn't much left of the ship above water, debris floating around them. There wasn't a sign of the Union ship either. Or signs of life. Had the sailors been killed, taken prisoner?
They started moving away from the wreckage and Frankenstein turned his attention back to his saviour.
Their features were the same as Frankenstein had seen before, though sharper, now that Frankenstein could see properly. Under the moonlight, their skin gleamed a pale grey, their hair a shimmering white. Where a human's eyebrows were, long whiskers protruded sideways instead.
"What are..." Frankenstein leaned on their shoulder, unable to continue. He was too exhausted after everything that had happened and he concentrated on breathing than to try and form the words. To try and think.
He closed his eyes, hearing the lapping of waves.
* * *
"Oooi!"
Frankenstein woke with a jolt and regretted it immediately with a wince, sun and sand getting into his eyes. Dammit.
He had fallen asleep? No, not just that. His clothes were stiff from salt, one shoe missing. He was surrounded by broken beams of wood.
He sat up with a wince, all his muscles aching from exertion. No, that hadn't been a dream.
Had he drifted all the way back to land?
Frankenstein tried to unfurl his stiff fingers and looked down with a frown. One felt as if it was tied up in...
Locks of silver hair.
Frankenstein didn't breathe, staring at it.
That hadn't been a dream either.
Frankenstein shoved the hair in a breast pocket as he was surrounded by concerned fishers by the look of them.
Had he pulled the hair out when he'd grabbed it? No, or else the strands would have been longer. More uneven.
The hair had been cut.
If it wasn't him who had cut it, then...
Frankenstein glanced back at the sea but saw nothing amiss in the waves.
A mystery. Something he'd never heard of or encountered before.
Interesting. Once he had regained his strength, he was going to get to the bottom of it.
* * *
"You were one of the lucky ones," Doctor Ateryi said, checking Frankenstein's heartbeat. He had been working with the doctor before he set sail again - Frankenstein hadn't thought he would see the woman again quite so soon, or as a patient.
"It does feel like that," Frankenstein murmured, making sure the blanket was secure around him as he sipped his tea.
"You might be the only survivor from the attack."
Frankenstein frowned. "You're so sure already?" He had barely arrived at the building; there had been no time to know.
Ateryi sighed, refilling Frankenstein's cup. "We saw the attack from here last night and sent ships out immediately. You're the only breathing body we've found so far."
How long had it been since he'd been in the water? Hours? Humans couldn't survive in the cold water for long. Then... "I see." He turned the information over in his head for a few minutes, and then grimaced. He really wasn't thinking as well as he normally could. "I don't suppose you haven't already filled the position I left?"
"No, but you aren't filling it right now," Atreyi said, looking at him sternly.
Frankenstein blinked. "Why-"
"You were just swimming for your life not half a day ago. You need to rest."
"And I'd rather keep busy," Frankenstein retorted. The less he dwelled on what happened, the better.
Ateryi tutted. "Doctors really do make the worst patients." She sat back in her chair. "You can come back in a few days, when your temperature is normal."
"What am I supposed to do until then?"
"As I said: rest," Ateryi said, an amused smile playing on her lips.
Just? Stare at the walls?
"Would you like me to bring some books for you to read? Since it's clear you may be driven mad if left to your own devices."
"Please," Frankenstein said. Even if the books were riddled with mistakes, he could correct them to pass the time.
"Then I'll get them," Ateryi said, standing up.
"Thank you," he said, settling back on the bed. He would close his eyes for a few minutes until Ateryi returned. That was all he needed.
* * *
Frankenstein woke up, the sun at a lower angle than it had been when he first closed his eyes. Next to him, three books lay on the bedside table. He flicked through two of them, seeing them filled with writing (and even then, he already caught some mistakes). The third book was empty and Frankenstein smiled, running his palm over the pages. Yes, he would need to start on remaking all of his notes, as well as making sure they were encrypted so if they were stolen, their knowledge wouldn't be misused.
But first...
Frankenstein reached into his pocket, exhaling when he gripped the strands of hair, pulling them out. He emptied his pocket as much as possible, making sure it was empty before he collected the bundle into a lock again. The silver hair didn't feel like a human's, the strands thicker. Smoother.
And still real in his hands.
He couldn't keep it loose though, or else he would lose it. He may have already lost a few strands. He tied it into a loose knot so they would be kept together and slipped it back into his pocket.
He would find something proper to keep it in later.
Summary: Frankenstein almost drowned. He didn't, something in the sea saving him, and he's going to find out just what it was.
Notes: Mermaid AU
No Dark Spear here and he hasn't enhanced himself that much.
Setting is...somewhere past the 1100s anyway.
This will have a bittersweet ending, so adjust your expectations accordingly, aha.
Rating: G
Genre: General
Word count: 1,571
Status: Work in progress
The water was freezing. The cold slipped through Frankenstein's flesh, surrounded him until he felt it in his bones.
He could barely move, his clothes dragging him down, but he had to try.
Except, what way was up? The sea was dark around him, parts of the ship spearing into the area around him. It was amazing he hadn't been hit yet.
The route was meant to be safe. They'd barely reached open waters before the second boat had appeared, following them.
Should he follow where the debris was falling? It was a direction. Better than nothing.
How long did the ship have before the rest of it sank? Were the Union agents tearing through his room, gathering all his research to be misused again?
All his research and he'd done nothing about increasing his ability to retain air. Not that he knew how to swim, too concerned about getting more data than leisure time, and it was hard to think, hard to focus over his body's demand of air and getting warm again.
Frankenstein flailed his arms and legs, one shoe slipping off his foot. Was he even moving? It didn't feel like it, the urge to take in a breath growing. He couldn't do that now. All he would take in was water.
Had he done enough in his life? He'd save lives, yes, but was that enough? He hadn't discovered everything the world had to offer yet, hadn't been able to use that knowledge to help more people.
Frankenstein span, his hair flowing in front of his face. He'd seen movement out of the corner of his eye that wasn't just bits of wood and metal. There and gone again. What was it?
Something loomed out of the depths and Frankenstein swung at it. It flashed out of the way. Even that glimpse was enough to see it was bigger than he was.
Frankenstein's chest ached, desperate to take a breath and he swam away. Anywhere had to be better than being with whatever he was sharing the waters with.
He didn't see the thing's approach the second time. He was swimming and then he bumped into something.
He tried to push it away, but his fingers got caught on something. It tangled around his fingers, strong like...hair?
Something grabbed the back of his head, pulling him forward. Warm flesh pressed to his lips, something small trying to force its way inside his mouth.
That was all the encouragement his body needed, and he opened his mouth, even though he knew there was no air and he would only take in water.
It didn't happen.
Air. Air.
Frankenstein took it in, closing his mouth when he could, feeling bubbles leaving his nose as he breathed out.
This close, he could see the thing that had saved his life. It was like looking into a distorted mirror: a human-like face stared back at him, except their eyes were bigger, swallowed by black, almost no iris to be seen. No nose, but two slits where the nostrils would be. A lipless mouth. A large scar cut down the creatures cheek and they seemed to have long silver hair.
The creature grinned at him before closing the gap again, wrapping an arm around Frankenstein's waist, and they surged upwards.
There was something about the way the creature moved, but Frankenstein's mind was too foggy to figure it out, concentrating on holding his breath. He kicked up, trying to help.
His feet caught on something, slipping straight down.
It wasn't a human leg. It was too smooth. Too wide.
And the limb ended suddenly, feeling flat as he pushed down. What...?
Dreaming? Was he dreaming and his foot was caught on something else?
They broke the surface and everything was so loud as Frankenstein heaved air into his lungs, clinging onto his saviour as much as he could. He spluttered, water crashing into his mouth.
There wasn't much left of the ship above water, debris floating around them. There wasn't a sign of the Union ship either. Or signs of life. Had the sailors been killed, taken prisoner?
They started moving away from the wreckage and Frankenstein turned his attention back to his saviour.
Their features were the same as Frankenstein had seen before, though sharper, now that Frankenstein could see properly. Under the moonlight, their skin gleamed a pale grey, their hair a shimmering white. Where a human's eyebrows were, long whiskers protruded sideways instead.
"What are..." Frankenstein leaned on their shoulder, unable to continue. He was too exhausted after everything that had happened and he concentrated on breathing than to try and form the words. To try and think.
He closed his eyes, hearing the lapping of waves.
"Oooi!"
Frankenstein woke with a jolt and regretted it immediately with a wince, sun and sand getting into his eyes. Dammit.
He had fallen asleep? No, not just that. His clothes were stiff from salt, one shoe missing. He was surrounded by broken beams of wood.
He sat up with a wince, all his muscles aching from exertion. No, that hadn't been a dream.
Had he drifted all the way back to land?
Frankenstein tried to unfurl his stiff fingers and looked down with a frown. One felt as if it was tied up in...
Locks of silver hair.
Frankenstein didn't breathe, staring at it.
That hadn't been a dream either.
Frankenstein shoved the hair in a breast pocket as he was surrounded by concerned fishers by the look of them.
Had he pulled the hair out when he'd grabbed it? No, or else the strands would have been longer. More uneven.
The hair had been cut.
If it wasn't him who had cut it, then...
Frankenstein glanced back at the sea but saw nothing amiss in the waves.
A mystery. Something he'd never heard of or encountered before.
Interesting. Once he had regained his strength, he was going to get to the bottom of it.
"You were one of the lucky ones," Doctor Ateryi said, checking Frankenstein's heartbeat. He had been working with the doctor before he set sail again - Frankenstein hadn't thought he would see the woman again quite so soon, or as a patient.
"It does feel like that," Frankenstein murmured, making sure the blanket was secure around him as he sipped his tea.
"You might be the only survivor from the attack."
Frankenstein frowned. "You're so sure already?" He had barely arrived at the building; there had been no time to know.
Ateryi sighed, refilling Frankenstein's cup. "We saw the attack from here last night and sent ships out immediately. You're the only breathing body we've found so far."
How long had it been since he'd been in the water? Hours? Humans couldn't survive in the cold water for long. Then... "I see." He turned the information over in his head for a few minutes, and then grimaced. He really wasn't thinking as well as he normally could. "I don't suppose you haven't already filled the position I left?"
"No, but you aren't filling it right now," Atreyi said, looking at him sternly.
Frankenstein blinked. "Why-"
"You were just swimming for your life not half a day ago. You need to rest."
"And I'd rather keep busy," Frankenstein retorted. The less he dwelled on what happened, the better.
Ateryi tutted. "Doctors really do make the worst patients." She sat back in her chair. "You can come back in a few days, when your temperature is normal."
"What am I supposed to do until then?"
"As I said: rest," Ateryi said, an amused smile playing on her lips.
Just? Stare at the walls?
"Would you like me to bring some books for you to read? Since it's clear you may be driven mad if left to your own devices."
"Please," Frankenstein said. Even if the books were riddled with mistakes, he could correct them to pass the time.
"Then I'll get them," Ateryi said, standing up.
"Thank you," he said, settling back on the bed. He would close his eyes for a few minutes until Ateryi returned. That was all he needed.
Frankenstein woke up, the sun at a lower angle than it had been when he first closed his eyes. Next to him, three books lay on the bedside table. He flicked through two of them, seeing them filled with writing (and even then, he already caught some mistakes). The third book was empty and Frankenstein smiled, running his palm over the pages. Yes, he would need to start on remaking all of his notes, as well as making sure they were encrypted so if they were stolen, their knowledge wouldn't be misused.
But first...
Frankenstein reached into his pocket, exhaling when he gripped the strands of hair, pulling them out. He emptied his pocket as much as possible, making sure it was empty before he collected the bundle into a lock again. The silver hair didn't feel like a human's, the strands thicker. Smoother.
And still real in his hands.
He couldn't keep it loose though, or else he would lose it. He may have already lost a few strands. He tied it into a loose knot so they would be kept together and slipped it back into his pocket.
He would find something proper to keep it in later.