Breath of Life [Part 5]
Apr. 21st, 2021 08:05 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: 1,801
Total word count: 9,441
Status: Work in progress
Frankenstein startled awake, scrambling out of bed, and cursed when he was tied up in his blanket. It was still dark out, only his candle lighting the room and... Nothing.
There was no-one there.
No-one trying to grab him or his research.
Then what had woken him up? He looked around more slowly, and saw the nail that had dropped onto the metal plate under his candle.
Ah!
Frankenstein was scrambling out of bed again, rushing to get ready.
He was going to meet Muzaka today!
*
Frankenstein held up the lamp, watching where its light fell as he walked through the forest. Hm, maybe he should have spent some more time heading to the cave, to make sure he could find it in the darkness. But with how others had kept an eye on him wherever he went, he was sure it would be soon known that he had started taking long walks outside the port.
Once was enough. He could follow the cliffside until he reached the cave.
So long as he didn't walk over the edge, anyway.
Which was why he'd brought the lamp.
And maybe he would step a little deeper into the forest, just in case. So long as he could hear the sea, he hadn't strayed in the wrong direction.
*
Frankenstein exhaled, seeing the cave in front of him. Except it wasn't lit up by his lamp light.
Which meant the sun was rising enough that he could see it. Damn.
Frankenstein hurried forward.
Was he too late? Had Muzaka meant as soon as the sun touched the cave and he would leave immediately?
Frankenstein squeezed his way through the crack, keeping a tight hold on his bag. Step by slow step he made it was through, straining his ears, hearing the waves ahead of him.
He made it through to the cave, stumbling slightly. The empty cave.
"Hello?" he called out, his voice echoing back at him. "Muzaka?"
Sunlight coated the cave's roof, and Frankenstein exhaled, setting down his lamp by the wall as he made his way to the water's edge. Had he really been too late? Or had something happened to Muzaka?
Had Muzaka been caught somewhere?
He couldn't have. Frankenstein would have heard about it if someone at the port had caught Muzaka. There had been rumours of people seeing a ningyo recently, but none of the descriptions sounded like Muzaka.
Frankenstein gripped his locket. He knew Muzaka existed. That was certain.
He would wait until-
A splash in front of him, and Frankenstein smiled, seeing Muzaka's head bob out of the water.
"Yo," Muzaka said, grinning at him.
"Morning," Frankenstein said, watching as Muzaka pulled himself out of the water. He had a small bag slung over his shoulder - it looked like it was made of kelp woven together.
"Sorry I'm late," Muzaka said, rivers of water trickling down his skin, making it glisten.
Frankenstein chuckled, sitting down so Muzaka wouldn't have to move too far. "I was a little late myself. We're both here now, and that's what matters."
"Heh, yeah."
Frankenstein dug into his bag, fingers first finding the pair of apples he'd bought. "I thought you might like to try some above water food."
Muzaka perked up, grinning as his own hand went into his bag. "I did too!"
Frankenstein chuckled. "Breakfast, then?"
"Yeah." Muzaka brought out a pair of fish longer than Frankenstein's hand, and hmm.
"I'll need to make a fire first though," Frankenstein said.
Muzaka tilted his head to the side. "'Fire'?"
Oh. Muzaka wouldn't know what that is, would he?
He stood up to collect his lamp, that he still hadn't blown out in case he needed to go back.
Muzaka followed him, easily keeping up.
"This is fire," Frankenstein said, picking up his lamp.
Muzaka's eyes shone, his wide eyes reflecting the firelight. "So that's what it's called!"
He reached up to touch the fire, and Frankenstein yanked it away before he did. "Don't. It's hot enough to burn you."
Muzaka tilted his head again, furrowing his brow.
"From the sides, like this," Frankenstein said, cupping his hand around the flame. "It's warm, but if you get too close, it can hurt."
Muzaka did like Frankenstein showed him, concentrating on the flame.
While Muzaka's attention was elsewhere, and after making sure it didn't look like Muzaka would try to touch it, Frankenstein set the lamp down (Muzaka laying down next to it like he was tied to it by a string) and left to find some material to burn.
Muzaka was still watching the flame when Frankenstein came back with kindling and branches.
"How does it do that?" Muzaka asked.
"Do what?" Frankenstein said as he started setting up the campfire.
"Everything," Muzaka breathed, making Frankenstein chuckle. Ah yes, someone just as interested in learning new things as he was. Someone after Frankenstein's own heart.
"When something is very dry, it is able to burn." Frankenstein hummed. "There needs to be enough concentrated heat for the materials to catch on fire. There are a multitude of different ways to do it."
Muzaka came over to study his camp fire, listening.
"Rubbing sticks, a spark, or another fire." While Frankenstein talked, he reached over and picked up the lamp, holding the end close to the kindling. It caught fire instantly and Frankenstein blew gently, making sure it grew and spread.
"It has to be dry?" Muzaka asked, watching as the fire grew.
"Yes," Frankenstein said. Once he was sure the campfire was stable, he blew out the lamp.
"So that's why it disappeared when I tried to get a better look at it..." Muzaka murmured.
He saw fire on the water? Oh. "You saw burning ships?"
Muzaka nodded. "Another ship had attacked it and had...burned the ship when they left."
Pirates, possibly. Or maybe warring sides.
"Why do you need fire?"
"Right now?" Frankenstein looked around for some loose rock. He found some, and one thin and long enough that it should fit over the fire. Perfect. "To cook the fish." He washed the rock in the sea and came back, arranging the rocks around the fire so he could balance the bigger rock on top of them.
"Why do you want to cook it?"
Frankenstein paused, considering the answer. The fire was growing, branches starting to burn. "Cooked meat tastes differently from raw, and seems to make it less likely to become ill after eating it."
"Huh." Muzaka watched Frankenstein set up the rocks. "Can I try?"
Frankenstein smiled at him. "Of course." He prepared the fish as he waited for the rock to heat up. Once he was done, he lay both of the fish across the rock and when he was sure they wouldn't fall into the fire, he sat back.
"Do you want to try the apple while we wait?"
Muzaka nodded and Frankenstein handed him one. Frankenstein turned to his bag to fetch the knife he'd brought with him and when he turned around again- "What are you doing?"
Muzaka had placed the entire apple into his jaw, tipping his head back, looking like he was going to try and swallow it whole. "Nnng?" Muzaka removed the apple from his mouth. "Do you need to cook it as well?"
"I-" Frankenstein exhaled, closing his eyes. Yes, there were more than just physical differences between them. "It's too big to eat in one. We normally cut it into pieces first, or bite off a piece and eat it."
"Huh." Muzaka studied the apple, turning it over in his hands. He bit into it, tilting his head as he did so. Then he swallowed it without chewing. How interesting.
"Do you eat fish in the same way?" Frankenstein asked as he cut up his own apple.
"Yeah!"
Then would it make a difference if Muzaka's fish was cooked or not?
"This will take a few minutes to cook," Frankenstein said and Muzaka perked up.
"I brought somethin' else too," Muzaka said as he rooted through his bag.
"Oh?" Frankenstein said, turning to him.
Muzaka chirped, pulling something out. He opened his palm to reveal a piece of light blue coral. "It reminded me of your eyes."
It had been a while since Frankenstein had looked at anything reflective to remember how he looked (the most he did near his face was tie his hair back) but he smiled, taking it. It was rough to the touch, though sturdy. "Thank you. I'm not sure if you need this, but I also brought you something."
Muzaka made another soft sound as Frankenstein presented him with the metal comb. "Hopefully it won't be affected by the water too much." It shouldn't, but he hadn't tested the long term effects of it in salt water.
When Muzaka started brushing through his hair, Frankenstein let out a small sigh of relief. He'd chosen one with wider gaps between the teeth, just in case, and it looked like it had been the right decision.
Muzaka continued brushing his hair while Frankenstein watched over their fish.
*
"They should be ready now," Frankenstein said, listening to how the fish were sizzling. He removed the rock with some leaves, setting it down so they could cool down a little.
Muzaka peered at them, setting his comb down, and Frankenstein saw his whiskers moving towards the fish. "Huh, it smells different."
"That's because it's cooked," Frankenstein said, watching as Muzaka picked up a fish by the tail.
Muzaka tilted his head back and opened his mouth, revealing just how far his teeth went back. In one swift motion the fish was gone and Frankenstein could track it as it went down Muzaka's throat. Fascinating.
"Yeah, that did taste different!"
Muzaka could talk instantly after that... Then maybe Muzaka would have been able to swallow the apple whole.
Frankenstein was reasonably sure he would have reacted in the same way even if he'd known.
*
"It takes you a while to eat a fish, huh?" Muzaka said, watching him eat.
"It would seem our throat muscles aren't as strong as yours," Frankenstein said wryly. "We would choke if we tried to swallow something that big at once."
"Hnnn."
Frankenstein exhaled as he sat back once he'd finished. "Thank you." That had been nice.
"Heh, no problem." Muzaka glanced towards outside the cave and then nodded. "Right, I need to go," he said as he stored the comb away, slinging his bag over his shoulder again.
The sun was higher in the sky now, lighting up the entire cave. It still felt far too short. It was too short, only an hour or so.
Muzaka moved to the water's edge and twisted around to look at him with a grin. "Next week?"
Frankenstein smiled. "I look forward to it." Yes, while their meetings were short, they would be regular.
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: 1,801
Total word count: 9,441
Status: Work in progress
Frankenstein startled awake, scrambling out of bed, and cursed when he was tied up in his blanket. It was still dark out, only his candle lighting the room and... Nothing.
There was no-one there.
No-one trying to grab him or his research.
Then what had woken him up? He looked around more slowly, and saw the nail that had dropped onto the metal plate under his candle.
Ah!
Frankenstein was scrambling out of bed again, rushing to get ready.
He was going to meet Muzaka today!
Frankenstein held up the lamp, watching where its light fell as he walked through the forest. Hm, maybe he should have spent some more time heading to the cave, to make sure he could find it in the darkness. But with how others had kept an eye on him wherever he went, he was sure it would be soon known that he had started taking long walks outside the port.
Once was enough. He could follow the cliffside until he reached the cave.
So long as he didn't walk over the edge, anyway.
Which was why he'd brought the lamp.
And maybe he would step a little deeper into the forest, just in case. So long as he could hear the sea, he hadn't strayed in the wrong direction.
Frankenstein exhaled, seeing the cave in front of him. Except it wasn't lit up by his lamp light.
Which meant the sun was rising enough that he could see it. Damn.
Frankenstein hurried forward.
Was he too late? Had Muzaka meant as soon as the sun touched the cave and he would leave immediately?
Frankenstein squeezed his way through the crack, keeping a tight hold on his bag. Step by slow step he made it was through, straining his ears, hearing the waves ahead of him.
He made it through to the cave, stumbling slightly. The empty cave.
"Hello?" he called out, his voice echoing back at him. "Muzaka?"
Sunlight coated the cave's roof, and Frankenstein exhaled, setting down his lamp by the wall as he made his way to the water's edge. Had he really been too late? Or had something happened to Muzaka?
Had Muzaka been caught somewhere?
He couldn't have. Frankenstein would have heard about it if someone at the port had caught Muzaka. There had been rumours of people seeing a ningyo recently, but none of the descriptions sounded like Muzaka.
Frankenstein gripped his locket. He knew Muzaka existed. That was certain.
He would wait until-
A splash in front of him, and Frankenstein smiled, seeing Muzaka's head bob out of the water.
"Yo," Muzaka said, grinning at him.
"Morning," Frankenstein said, watching as Muzaka pulled himself out of the water. He had a small bag slung over his shoulder - it looked like it was made of kelp woven together.
"Sorry I'm late," Muzaka said, rivers of water trickling down his skin, making it glisten.
Frankenstein chuckled, sitting down so Muzaka wouldn't have to move too far. "I was a little late myself. We're both here now, and that's what matters."
"Heh, yeah."
Frankenstein dug into his bag, fingers first finding the pair of apples he'd bought. "I thought you might like to try some above water food."
Muzaka perked up, grinning as his own hand went into his bag. "I did too!"
Frankenstein chuckled. "Breakfast, then?"
"Yeah." Muzaka brought out a pair of fish longer than Frankenstein's hand, and hmm.
"I'll need to make a fire first though," Frankenstein said.
Muzaka tilted his head to the side. "'Fire'?"
Oh. Muzaka wouldn't know what that is, would he?
He stood up to collect his lamp, that he still hadn't blown out in case he needed to go back.
Muzaka followed him, easily keeping up.
"This is fire," Frankenstein said, picking up his lamp.
Muzaka's eyes shone, his wide eyes reflecting the firelight. "So that's what it's called!"
He reached up to touch the fire, and Frankenstein yanked it away before he did. "Don't. It's hot enough to burn you."
Muzaka tilted his head again, furrowing his brow.
"From the sides, like this," Frankenstein said, cupping his hand around the flame. "It's warm, but if you get too close, it can hurt."
Muzaka did like Frankenstein showed him, concentrating on the flame.
While Muzaka's attention was elsewhere, and after making sure it didn't look like Muzaka would try to touch it, Frankenstein set the lamp down (Muzaka laying down next to it like he was tied to it by a string) and left to find some material to burn.
Muzaka was still watching the flame when Frankenstein came back with kindling and branches.
"How does it do that?" Muzaka asked.
"Do what?" Frankenstein said as he started setting up the campfire.
"Everything," Muzaka breathed, making Frankenstein chuckle. Ah yes, someone just as interested in learning new things as he was. Someone after Frankenstein's own heart.
"When something is very dry, it is able to burn." Frankenstein hummed. "There needs to be enough concentrated heat for the materials to catch on fire. There are a multitude of different ways to do it."
Muzaka came over to study his camp fire, listening.
"Rubbing sticks, a spark, or another fire." While Frankenstein talked, he reached over and picked up the lamp, holding the end close to the kindling. It caught fire instantly and Frankenstein blew gently, making sure it grew and spread.
"It has to be dry?" Muzaka asked, watching as the fire grew.
"Yes," Frankenstein said. Once he was sure the campfire was stable, he blew out the lamp.
"So that's why it disappeared when I tried to get a better look at it..." Muzaka murmured.
He saw fire on the water? Oh. "You saw burning ships?"
Muzaka nodded. "Another ship had attacked it and had...burned the ship when they left."
Pirates, possibly. Or maybe warring sides.
"Why do you need fire?"
"Right now?" Frankenstein looked around for some loose rock. He found some, and one thin and long enough that it should fit over the fire. Perfect. "To cook the fish." He washed the rock in the sea and came back, arranging the rocks around the fire so he could balance the bigger rock on top of them.
"Why do you want to cook it?"
Frankenstein paused, considering the answer. The fire was growing, branches starting to burn. "Cooked meat tastes differently from raw, and seems to make it less likely to become ill after eating it."
"Huh." Muzaka watched Frankenstein set up the rocks. "Can I try?"
Frankenstein smiled at him. "Of course." He prepared the fish as he waited for the rock to heat up. Once he was done, he lay both of the fish across the rock and when he was sure they wouldn't fall into the fire, he sat back.
"Do you want to try the apple while we wait?"
Muzaka nodded and Frankenstein handed him one. Frankenstein turned to his bag to fetch the knife he'd brought with him and when he turned around again- "What are you doing?"
Muzaka had placed the entire apple into his jaw, tipping his head back, looking like he was going to try and swallow it whole. "Nnng?" Muzaka removed the apple from his mouth. "Do you need to cook it as well?"
"I-" Frankenstein exhaled, closing his eyes. Yes, there were more than just physical differences between them. "It's too big to eat in one. We normally cut it into pieces first, or bite off a piece and eat it."
"Huh." Muzaka studied the apple, turning it over in his hands. He bit into it, tilting his head as he did so. Then he swallowed it without chewing. How interesting.
"Do you eat fish in the same way?" Frankenstein asked as he cut up his own apple.
"Yeah!"
Then would it make a difference if Muzaka's fish was cooked or not?
"This will take a few minutes to cook," Frankenstein said and Muzaka perked up.
"I brought somethin' else too," Muzaka said as he rooted through his bag.
"Oh?" Frankenstein said, turning to him.
Muzaka chirped, pulling something out. He opened his palm to reveal a piece of light blue coral. "It reminded me of your eyes."
It had been a while since Frankenstein had looked at anything reflective to remember how he looked (the most he did near his face was tie his hair back) but he smiled, taking it. It was rough to the touch, though sturdy. "Thank you. I'm not sure if you need this, but I also brought you something."
Muzaka made another soft sound as Frankenstein presented him with the metal comb. "Hopefully it won't be affected by the water too much." It shouldn't, but he hadn't tested the long term effects of it in salt water.
When Muzaka started brushing through his hair, Frankenstein let out a small sigh of relief. He'd chosen one with wider gaps between the teeth, just in case, and it looked like it had been the right decision.
Muzaka continued brushing his hair while Frankenstein watched over their fish.
"They should be ready now," Frankenstein said, listening to how the fish were sizzling. He removed the rock with some leaves, setting it down so they could cool down a little.
Muzaka peered at them, setting his comb down, and Frankenstein saw his whiskers moving towards the fish. "Huh, it smells different."
"That's because it's cooked," Frankenstein said, watching as Muzaka picked up a fish by the tail.
Muzaka tilted his head back and opened his mouth, revealing just how far his teeth went back. In one swift motion the fish was gone and Frankenstein could track it as it went down Muzaka's throat. Fascinating.
"Yeah, that did taste different!"
Muzaka could talk instantly after that... Then maybe Muzaka would have been able to swallow the apple whole.
Frankenstein was reasonably sure he would have reacted in the same way even if he'd known.
"It takes you a while to eat a fish, huh?" Muzaka said, watching him eat.
"It would seem our throat muscles aren't as strong as yours," Frankenstein said wryly. "We would choke if we tried to swallow something that big at once."
"Hnnn."
Frankenstein exhaled as he sat back once he'd finished. "Thank you." That had been nice.
"Heh, no problem." Muzaka glanced towards outside the cave and then nodded. "Right, I need to go," he said as he stored the comb away, slinging his bag over his shoulder again.
The sun was higher in the sky now, lighting up the entire cave. It still felt far too short. It was too short, only an hour or so.
Muzaka moved to the water's edge and twisted around to look at him with a grin. "Next week?"
Frankenstein smiled. "I look forward to it." Yes, while their meetings were short, they would be regular.