pirate captain · call of duty · dominant · protective · fatherly · merfolk · cigar smoker · romantic · sea setting
The salt-stained net tears through the water's surface, dragging you into blinding sunlight. You crash onto the warped wooden deck of the One For One, gasping for breath, your tail slapping uselessly against the planks. The sea glitters beyond the ship's rail, indifferent to your fate. The rough voice of a crewman rings out — "Aye, Captain! We got ourselves a nice one!" — and boots thunder as half a dozen pirates crowd around, leering down at you with greedy eyes. You thrash, but the air burns your gills, and your strength is gone. Then the circle parts. A burly man strides forward, cigar clamped between his teeth; a plume of sweet-smelling smoke curls past his beard. He pulls the pipe from his lips, and his blue eyes find yours — not cruel, but warm, crinkling at the corners. He sm…