Breath of Life [Part 4]
Apr. 14th, 2021 09:53 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
Rating: G
Genre: General
Word count: 1,574
Total word count: 7,640
Status: Work in progress
"I think I've warmed up enough," Frankenstein said, running a hand over his arm. No goosebumps anymore. No shivering either. Finally.
"What now?"
Frankenstein glanced across at where he'd tossed his clothes, and then around the cave again. "I'll need to dry my clothes." A lot of the water would have drained by now, but it would help if he had a fire.
It didn't look as if there was anything he could burn here, but he did see a hole towards the back. Possibly an exit?
He looked up at shapes dancing across the ceiling. Mm? How...? Sunlight had started breaking through the clouds, light sparkling against the roof as it reflected off the waves.
He slid off Muzaka's stomach, going to his clothes. He wrung one, watching the stream pour out of it. Hm. Still quite wet, but not as bad as they had been.
"You should go back," Muzaka said, making his way back to the water. "I'm sure there's people worried about you."
And not Muzaka? Frankenstein was sure there were a few people who would think of him, but he would prefer talking to Muzaka right now.
"Try not to get caught in any more storms, yeah?" Muzaka said, flashing him a grin, revealing rows of thick pointed teeth.
Frankenstein pulled on his underwear with a wince. Cold and damp, but not life threatening anymore. "How will I meet you again then?" He had risked his life to meet him, but it had been worth it.
Surprise flashed across Muzaka's face. He was quiet for a few seconds, his tail flipping up with the waves. "All right," he said, nodding. "How about we meet here when the sun touches the cave in the morning, in seven days time? I'd prefer knowin' you'd be here than wondering if you'd fallen off a boat again tryna find me."
"I'd rather not do that again, yes," Frankenstein said wryly. "Next week then."
Muzaka nodded, slipping into the water headfirst and disappearing from sight with barely a ripple.
Frankenstein listened to the soft lap of waves before he started wringing the water from the rest of his clothes. Now to find out where exactly he was, and then row back to the port.
*
Under the sunlight, Frankenstein's clothes and the boat dried quickly, almost as if nothing had ever happened. Almost. The scratch marks his nails had left on the wood were proof that something had.
Was that it?
But... Hm. What was he needing proof for? He'd saved the lock of hair because he wasn't sure of what he'd seen. Now he knew.
Normally it would have caused him to go into a flurry of action, taking as many notes as he could, and he would, once he arrived back at the port. But...
He knew what happened when he wrote everything in his journals. Even if he encoded everything, his notes could still be stolen.
And if the sailors found out... It was one thing to think Muzaka was a bad omen, but if they truly believed his flesh could grant immortality...
No. He couldn't let them find him.
*
A small crowd had formed at the docks as Frankenstein approached. He looked out at sea, but no large ships were in sight. Was it for him?
...Ah. Yes. He had disappeared during a storm.
There was a familiar face amongst the crowd, and Frankenstein waved with a smile. "Panska!" There. He'd lived long enough to call out to him again.
"You have the devil's luck, you know that!" a sailor called out as Frankenstein tossed him the rope to secure him to the dock.
"Or the ningyo's luck?" someone else roared from the back, others laughing.
Ah, damn. Frankenstein was helped off the boat by Panska and he wobbled a bit, already used to the rock of the waves. "Neither," he said. "I drifted off as the storm hit and managed to hit land."
Panska was still studying him quietly. Seeing how others had reacted last time, Frankenstein wasn't surprised he wasn't speaking up.
"I'll make sure to heed your warning next time," Frankenstein said to him. They were the experts of the sea, after all. It was also a small reminder that Panska had known the storm would come, and not been caused by Muzaka.
"And now, I'll be going back to sleep." He was going to need it after everything that had happened.
*
"How are you doing?" Wren asked as she sat down. The slow way she moved and swollen joints already spoke of dealing with arthritis.
Frankenstein smiled at her, quill at the ready. "Isn't that what I'm meant to ask you?"
"Oh, yes, but I haven't had two death experiences in as many weeks!" she said, with all the natural tone of exclaiming about the weather.
Frankenstein stared at her. "How..."
Wren chuckled, straightening the folds of her dress. "Word travels fast in this town, especially when it can be spun with dealing with one of the beasts of the sea."
"Unfortunately I don't have anything to add to that, just that I had luck on my side." As loathe as he was to use luck as an excuse, it was still better than saying the truth.
"Now then," he said, steering the conversation again, "what is it that you want me to look at?" He would have to be more careful what he spoke about now, though that may be too late already, the story growing out of his control. Maybe it was for the best.
The more outlandish, the less it would be believed.
*
Frankenstein walked through the forest, ducking branches and stepping over roots as he listened to the birdsong and insects around him. The cave had been along the coastline in this direction...
It was still quite a trek, but it was better that way. Less chance of being seen.
He made sure to keep the sea to his left as he walked. It was a bit of a drop on that side - it was at least some sort of guide, rather than walking blindly through the forest. If he kept walking like this, he should find the cave at some point.
*
Frankenstein paused, seeing something dark ahead.
He quickened his pace and breathed a sigh of relief, seeing a cave made of black rock. He peered out at the sea, spotting the port in the distance. That seemed about right.
Now. How was he going to get inside? He'd seen an opening, though that didn't mean it was a hole, or that it would be big enough that he could squeeze through.
He wandered around, inspecting every part he could.
There. A crack that looked like it could fit him.
He peered into it and could hear waves echoing from the other side.
All right... Now to see if he could get through it. Otherwise he would need to get in through the sea entrance, and he would rather not Muzaka save him a third time.
The air chilled as soon as he stepped through, the rocks cool to the touch. The crack was small enough he had to turn sideways to keep moving forward. The ground was sturdy under his feet, thankfully, and he went in.
The crack curved in places, squeezing in on him before widening again. He could feel he was going lower, almost going down a flight of stairs.
Frankenstein frowned when he was met with a wall. He leaned close to it - he could hear waves close enough that this must be along the inner wall.
Hmm. Frankenstein braced his hand on the rock, feeling it shift slightly. He traced his fingers along the edges, trying to see if he could feel anything.
There, along one edge, Frankenstein could find a gap. Had it fallen from there? Hmm. Then he might be able to move it back.
Frankenstein moved his hands to the other side, trying to find purchase against the rock. His fingertips found something to grip against, and he pulled the rock to the side. The rock wasn't as big as he thought, and he pushed it back in place, feeling the bottom of it slide towards him before settling into place.
He kept a hand on it, waiting, but the rock seemed like it would stay like that again.
Good. And if that had been there, it was unlikely unmodified humans would come through here often. They might swim around but the cave had looked untouched.
He carried on and the crack opened up fully to the same cave he'd been in.
He smiled, listening to the waves lapping at the walls. It was far more tranquil than when he'd first entered it. The lack of a storm helped, and it was low tide as well, revealing more slick black rock underneath.
All right, he'd found it. Now to make sure he arrived on the right day and time.
*
Frankenstein hummed as he walked the streets of the port. Should he get something of interest for Muzaka?
Some food, or something Muzaka could bring with him. With food, it wouldn't matter if it was affected by water, but an object... Hm. That was a little trickier.
He had a few more days before they were to meet again, so he would look through the shops in the meantime.
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
Rating: G
Genre: General
Word count: 1,574
Total word count: 7,640
Status: Work in progress
"I think I've warmed up enough," Frankenstein said, running a hand over his arm. No goosebumps anymore. No shivering either. Finally.
"What now?"
Frankenstein glanced across at where he'd tossed his clothes, and then around the cave again. "I'll need to dry my clothes." A lot of the water would have drained by now, but it would help if he had a fire.
It didn't look as if there was anything he could burn here, but he did see a hole towards the back. Possibly an exit?
He looked up at shapes dancing across the ceiling. Mm? How...? Sunlight had started breaking through the clouds, light sparkling against the roof as it reflected off the waves.
He slid off Muzaka's stomach, going to his clothes. He wrung one, watching the stream pour out of it. Hm. Still quite wet, but not as bad as they had been.
"You should go back," Muzaka said, making his way back to the water. "I'm sure there's people worried about you."
And not Muzaka? Frankenstein was sure there were a few people who would think of him, but he would prefer talking to Muzaka right now.
"Try not to get caught in any more storms, yeah?" Muzaka said, flashing him a grin, revealing rows of thick pointed teeth.
Frankenstein pulled on his underwear with a wince. Cold and damp, but not life threatening anymore. "How will I meet you again then?" He had risked his life to meet him, but it had been worth it.
Surprise flashed across Muzaka's face. He was quiet for a few seconds, his tail flipping up with the waves. "All right," he said, nodding. "How about we meet here when the sun touches the cave in the morning, in seven days time? I'd prefer knowin' you'd be here than wondering if you'd fallen off a boat again tryna find me."
"I'd rather not do that again, yes," Frankenstein said wryly. "Next week then."
Muzaka nodded, slipping into the water headfirst and disappearing from sight with barely a ripple.
Frankenstein listened to the soft lap of waves before he started wringing the water from the rest of his clothes. Now to find out where exactly he was, and then row back to the port.
Under the sunlight, Frankenstein's clothes and the boat dried quickly, almost as if nothing had ever happened. Almost. The scratch marks his nails had left on the wood were proof that something had.
Was that it?
But... Hm. What was he needing proof for? He'd saved the lock of hair because he wasn't sure of what he'd seen. Now he knew.
Normally it would have caused him to go into a flurry of action, taking as many notes as he could, and he would, once he arrived back at the port. But...
He knew what happened when he wrote everything in his journals. Even if he encoded everything, his notes could still be stolen.
And if the sailors found out... It was one thing to think Muzaka was a bad omen, but if they truly believed his flesh could grant immortality...
No. He couldn't let them find him.
A small crowd had formed at the docks as Frankenstein approached. He looked out at sea, but no large ships were in sight. Was it for him?
...Ah. Yes. He had disappeared during a storm.
There was a familiar face amongst the crowd, and Frankenstein waved with a smile. "Panska!" There. He'd lived long enough to call out to him again.
"You have the devil's luck, you know that!" a sailor called out as Frankenstein tossed him the rope to secure him to the dock.
"Or the ningyo's luck?" someone else roared from the back, others laughing.
Ah, damn. Frankenstein was helped off the boat by Panska and he wobbled a bit, already used to the rock of the waves. "Neither," he said. "I drifted off as the storm hit and managed to hit land."
Panska was still studying him quietly. Seeing how others had reacted last time, Frankenstein wasn't surprised he wasn't speaking up.
"I'll make sure to heed your warning next time," Frankenstein said to him. They were the experts of the sea, after all. It was also a small reminder that Panska had known the storm would come, and not been caused by Muzaka.
"And now, I'll be going back to sleep." He was going to need it after everything that had happened.
"How are you doing?" Wren asked as she sat down. The slow way she moved and swollen joints already spoke of dealing with arthritis.
Frankenstein smiled at her, quill at the ready. "Isn't that what I'm meant to ask you?"
"Oh, yes, but I haven't had two death experiences in as many weeks!" she said, with all the natural tone of exclaiming about the weather.
Frankenstein stared at her. "How..."
Wren chuckled, straightening the folds of her dress. "Word travels fast in this town, especially when it can be spun with dealing with one of the beasts of the sea."
"Unfortunately I don't have anything to add to that, just that I had luck on my side." As loathe as he was to use luck as an excuse, it was still better than saying the truth.
"Now then," he said, steering the conversation again, "what is it that you want me to look at?" He would have to be more careful what he spoke about now, though that may be too late already, the story growing out of his control. Maybe it was for the best.
The more outlandish, the less it would be believed.
Frankenstein walked through the forest, ducking branches and stepping over roots as he listened to the birdsong and insects around him. The cave had been along the coastline in this direction...
It was still quite a trek, but it was better that way. Less chance of being seen.
He made sure to keep the sea to his left as he walked. It was a bit of a drop on that side - it was at least some sort of guide, rather than walking blindly through the forest. If he kept walking like this, he should find the cave at some point.
Frankenstein paused, seeing something dark ahead.
He quickened his pace and breathed a sigh of relief, seeing a cave made of black rock. He peered out at the sea, spotting the port in the distance. That seemed about right.
Now. How was he going to get inside? He'd seen an opening, though that didn't mean it was a hole, or that it would be big enough that he could squeeze through.
He wandered around, inspecting every part he could.
There. A crack that looked like it could fit him.
He peered into it and could hear waves echoing from the other side.
All right... Now to see if he could get through it. Otherwise he would need to get in through the sea entrance, and he would rather not Muzaka save him a third time.
The air chilled as soon as he stepped through, the rocks cool to the touch. The crack was small enough he had to turn sideways to keep moving forward. The ground was sturdy under his feet, thankfully, and he went in.
The crack curved in places, squeezing in on him before widening again. He could feel he was going lower, almost going down a flight of stairs.
Frankenstein frowned when he was met with a wall. He leaned close to it - he could hear waves close enough that this must be along the inner wall.
Hmm. Frankenstein braced his hand on the rock, feeling it shift slightly. He traced his fingers along the edges, trying to see if he could feel anything.
There, along one edge, Frankenstein could find a gap. Had it fallen from there? Hmm. Then he might be able to move it back.
Frankenstein moved his hands to the other side, trying to find purchase against the rock. His fingertips found something to grip against, and he pulled the rock to the side. The rock wasn't as big as he thought, and he pushed it back in place, feeling the bottom of it slide towards him before settling into place.
He kept a hand on it, waiting, but the rock seemed like it would stay like that again.
Good. And if that had been there, it was unlikely unmodified humans would come through here often. They might swim around but the cave had looked untouched.
He carried on and the crack opened up fully to the same cave he'd been in.
He smiled, listening to the waves lapping at the walls. It was far more tranquil than when he'd first entered it. The lack of a storm helped, and it was low tide as well, revealing more slick black rock underneath.
All right, he'd found it. Now to make sure he arrived on the right day and time.
Frankenstein hummed as he walked the streets of the port. Should he get something of interest for Muzaka?
Some food, or something Muzaka could bring with him. With food, it wouldn't matter if it was affected by water, but an object... Hm. That was a little trickier.
He had a few more days before they were to meet again, so he would look through the shops in the meantime.