Ashore (1/5)
pairing: chanbaek
rating: pg-13
summary: Chanyeol is saved by a man from the sea.
warnings: romance, fluff, slight!angst, siren!au, pirate!au
“Captain!” The door behind him bursts open, causing the young captain to startle and knock his ink bottle over with his wrist, spilling black liquid and staining his nearly finished letter to his mother written in fine script on parchment. Park Chanyeol curses and spins around in his chair, facing his first mate, Junmyeon.
“Damn it, Junmyeon!”
“My apologies, Captain, but since you are awake I have to tell you that we lost more men last night mysteriously,” the older man delivers with sincerity.
Chanyeol grumbles as he stands and cleans up the mess from the desk, wiping his ink-stained fingers on his trousers. “This better not be another siren story from the crew.”
“I'm afraid they are true! I saw a few men jump right to their deaths last night. Such beautiful music too, Captain, I just about jumped into the sea with them!” Junmyeon smiles in memory of the ethereal voices calling and singing to them.
“Sirens aren't real. All of you are just feverish from days at sea,” Chanyeol scoffs.
His crew has often been telling tales about sirens coming to sing to them at night, swimming around the boat and enchanting the men with their beautiful voices and ethereal faces. It has only been happening recently as they started looting around a specific area of the coast where many government ships and other pirates occupy the sea. Chanyeol thinks it’s all just a mad man’s story. The men had just been drowning themselves. He doesn’t believe in what he can’t see. He is usually cooped up in his quarters mapping routes and writing letters, unless some sailors have to arrest them or other pirates come to get his loot, so it’s not as if he’s tried to prove them wrong. But that’s a fault he won’t ever admit to.
“But, sir,” Junmyeon attempts to persuade him, furrowing his brows.
The pirate captain waves a hand in his mate’s direction. “Fetch me Luhan. He’ll tell me what happened in real terms,” he orders as he slips on his coat, fastening the gold buttons.
Luhan is the quartermaster of the ship. Though not very commanding, he was elected by the crew and served as a rock for the ship, basically taking care of things Chanyeol didn’t feel like handling - which was basically everything but battles and riches. If there’s anyone who agrees with the ridiculousness of siren stories, it’s Luhan. He’s just as much of a realist as Chanyeol is.
“That’s the thing, Captain,” Junmyeon frowns, “Luhan jumped over last night with the others. That’s also what I came to tell you.”
The news comes as a shock to Chanyeol, whose hands pause on the buttons of his coat. It makes no sense that someone as level-headed as Luhan would jump to his own death, especially someone who was in agreement with Chanyeol about how unbelievable the existence of sirens is. It also grips over his heart painfully. Luhan was an important member of the crew, someone they all adored. It’s no guess that the ship will be in mourning for a few days before a new quartermaster can be chosen. Chanyeol will have to take over authority for a bit in the meantime.
With a sigh, he grabs his hat, pushing past Junmyeon to open the door out of his captain’s quarters. “I’ll go find Minseok and ask him to navigate us toward the nearest coast. I suppose it’s time we looted another town anyways.”
Junmyeon’s shoulders sag in defeat, knowing Chanyeol is still sticking to his previous disbeliefs. Nonetheless, he follows his captain out towards the deck where the sky is clear and the sun is shining. It’s a beautiful day for sailing, and the waves are as gentle as the breeze.
The Phoenix is regarded as one of the toughest and wealthiest pirate ships gracing the sea. Originating down South, the ship has only recently took a turn for the North, catching the government unprepared and allowing them to flourish. Chanyeol is young, but he has already gained a bounty of success and admirers, especially residing in his crew, who love the sea just as much as he does. Many opposing pirate ships have fallen at his hand or know to stray from the ship with a fierce phoenix with sharp talons as its figurehead.
Chanyeol is greeted by his crew enthusiastically and with respect as they are all busied with their various tasks. He's glad to see that they aren't hit too hard by Luhan's absence. Things seem to be running fine without his leadership on deck. There is no humming or singing, however, something that Luhan would lead the whole crew into to keep their spirits high at sea.
He finds Minseok, the sailing master, at the wheel of the ship, talking animatedly with Yifan, the boatswain. Chanyeol guesses they are arguing about which direction to head, as usual. Yifan always wants to put in his two cents, even if Minseok is the navigator and Yifan is only responsible for the sails and other ship devices. Walking over, he is not at all surprised at the sudden weight on his shoulder as Fei, his gold-crested phoenix, settles on her usual perch. She is only twenty years old, a baby for her rare species, and isn't very big. Chanyeol pets the plumage on her neck with a finger as he stops before the arguing men, clearing his throat.
“Captain!” Both men stand straight up at his presence.
Chanyeol rolls his eyes before addressing Minseok.
“Navigate us towards the nearest coast or port city. Let the men clear their minds of this madness and of Luhan’s death,” he orders.
Yifan grins that condescending gummy smile as he leans against the stand of the wheel. “You still don't believe in the sirens, Chanyeol?”
“I don't believe in what I can't see. You and the others are going insane over your feverish dreams,” the captain scoffs.
“In our defense, Chanyeol, you are never there to see them,” Minseok points out as he gazed at one of his handmade maps, glasses on his nose and compass on hand.
“Well, I've never heard these songs while in my quarters either,” Chanyeol raises a brow, challenging the two to counter that claim.
“Yifan, order the men to fix the sails accordingly. We are heading eastward!” Minseok proclaims, folding up his map and tucking it beneath his vest along with his compass. Yifan nods and strolls along the decks, but not before leaning in towards Chanyeol to murmur,
“The sirens only sing to who they want to enchant, Captain.”
Thunder flashes and lightning cracks along the sky, illuminating the night, its angered seas, and the rocking ships. Rain pours down heavily and unforgivingly onto the men as they slip and slide, fighting along the decks of the Icy Maiden. Pirates alike stab and spear their enemies with their sharpened swords and daggers, throwing each other overboard and into the roaring waters as they please.
Chanyeol is busy with a gruesome battle himself. Do Kyungsoo, captain of this ship, is perfectly practiced in swordsmanship and a bit older than Chanyeol himself, though his small size is deceiving. His cold and composed features give no opening as their swords collide and clang.
Only a few days back on the sea and they run into one of Chanyeol’s greatest enemies from the South. But he never runs from a good opportunity, even in a brewing storm that has now become more like a hurricane, and his men were quick to climb over onto the Icy Maiden and test their luck.
“You seem to have gained some experience,” the surprisingly deep tenor of Kyungsoo’s voice is heard over the yells of men and the roaring of the storm.
“You seem to have grown a few inches,” Chanyeol teases, earning a glare and a harder push against his blocking sword. Eventually, his strength breaks and Kyungsoo’s sword slices into his coat and shirt sleeves, causing a thin gash across his arm.
He jumps back and curses, gritting his teeth and swinging his sword towards the older man again, who meets it with a tiny smirk.
And then it begins.
The sirens come out to play.
As if the storm has no effect on them, a whole school of sirens surround Kyungsoo’s ship. Tails splash across the water and shine in the brief flash from the lightning. Chanyeol doesn't believe it, but when he glances over he can see hands, scaly tails, and faces bob in and out of the water. He can hear hums of tunes that are beautiful but muted, as if they aren't calling to him in particular. But the sound intensifies as more sirens appear, beginning to tempt and drag Chanyeol’s and Kyungsoo’s men into the water.
Before Chanyeol knows it, he watches Kyungsoo hum along with a tune, becoming distracted to the point where his sword slides away from his grasp. The waves roar and tumble into the ship. It tips, and Chanyeol can only grab onto something and watch as Kyungsoo, enchanted by the melodies in his ears, tumbles into the sea with a blissful expression. He sees the flicker of a crimson tail and almond-shaped eyes on a handsome blond appear from beneath the depths of the water, grasping onto Kyungsoo’s lenient body. Chanyeol's holds onto the rails as he watches him sink below the surface of the waves, only the flicker of a tail before he disappears.
He starts to feel dizzy and dazed himself, holding onto the rocking ship for dear life as the melodies strengthen in his ears. Chanyeol doesn't know what to think as he watches men jump to their death and dive into the obviously dangerous sea and sirens smirk and sing as they surround the boat, dragging pirates down to the depths, one-by-one.
The captain does, however, spot Junmyeon and dashes forward to catch him before he falls overboard.
“Junmyeon, get a hold of yourself, goddammit!” He shouts over all the noise, clutching his first mate who writhes in desperation to reply to the beautiful voice calling him.
“Captain, here!” Minseok calls, and he turns his head to see the older man tying himself and others to one of the sail posts with spare rope to make sure they don't follow into the temptation. Chanyeol wastes no time in grabbing some rope himself and tying Junmyeon up, making sure he is secure.
In the midst of tying the knot, rain pelting his face, Chanyeol starts to feel himself losing grip, spots appearing in his vision as an angelic song calls to him and grips his heart. Boots sliding on the slick wood of the deck, he tries to resist the magnetic pull that makes him woozy. Gripping the railing as his last resort, Chanyeol looks up just in time to see a gigantic wave slam into the ship, tilting it at a sharp angle. The wood of the railing can't support his weight, and he suddenly tumbles over into the sea.
Salty water permeates his clothes and the harsh waves push him down further into the ocean. He can hear the sirens’ echoing calls and hands that claw and push him down further. Chanyeol gasps for air as he thrashes in the water, but bitter sea water fills his throat and lungs. He fights until he can't anymore, consciousness slipping away as the last thing he feels are hands gripping beneath his armpits and pulling him.
Part 2
rating: pg-13
summary: Chanyeol is saved by a man from the sea.
warnings: romance, fluff, slight!angst, siren!au, pirate!au
“Captain!” The door behind him bursts open, causing the young captain to startle and knock his ink bottle over with his wrist, spilling black liquid and staining his nearly finished letter to his mother written in fine script on parchment. Park Chanyeol curses and spins around in his chair, facing his first mate, Junmyeon.
“Damn it, Junmyeon!”
“My apologies, Captain, but since you are awake I have to tell you that we lost more men last night mysteriously,” the older man delivers with sincerity.
Chanyeol grumbles as he stands and cleans up the mess from the desk, wiping his ink-stained fingers on his trousers. “This better not be another siren story from the crew.”
“I'm afraid they are true! I saw a few men jump right to their deaths last night. Such beautiful music too, Captain, I just about jumped into the sea with them!” Junmyeon smiles in memory of the ethereal voices calling and singing to them.
“Sirens aren't real. All of you are just feverish from days at sea,” Chanyeol scoffs.
His crew has often been telling tales about sirens coming to sing to them at night, swimming around the boat and enchanting the men with their beautiful voices and ethereal faces. It has only been happening recently as they started looting around a specific area of the coast where many government ships and other pirates occupy the sea. Chanyeol thinks it’s all just a mad man’s story. The men had just been drowning themselves. He doesn’t believe in what he can’t see. He is usually cooped up in his quarters mapping routes and writing letters, unless some sailors have to arrest them or other pirates come to get his loot, so it’s not as if he’s tried to prove them wrong. But that’s a fault he won’t ever admit to.
“But, sir,” Junmyeon attempts to persuade him, furrowing his brows.
The pirate captain waves a hand in his mate’s direction. “Fetch me Luhan. He’ll tell me what happened in real terms,” he orders as he slips on his coat, fastening the gold buttons.
Luhan is the quartermaster of the ship. Though not very commanding, he was elected by the crew and served as a rock for the ship, basically taking care of things Chanyeol didn’t feel like handling - which was basically everything but battles and riches. If there’s anyone who agrees with the ridiculousness of siren stories, it’s Luhan. He’s just as much of a realist as Chanyeol is.
“That’s the thing, Captain,” Junmyeon frowns, “Luhan jumped over last night with the others. That’s also what I came to tell you.”
The news comes as a shock to Chanyeol, whose hands pause on the buttons of his coat. It makes no sense that someone as level-headed as Luhan would jump to his own death, especially someone who was in agreement with Chanyeol about how unbelievable the existence of sirens is. It also grips over his heart painfully. Luhan was an important member of the crew, someone they all adored. It’s no guess that the ship will be in mourning for a few days before a new quartermaster can be chosen. Chanyeol will have to take over authority for a bit in the meantime.
With a sigh, he grabs his hat, pushing past Junmyeon to open the door out of his captain’s quarters. “I’ll go find Minseok and ask him to navigate us toward the nearest coast. I suppose it’s time we looted another town anyways.”
Junmyeon’s shoulders sag in defeat, knowing Chanyeol is still sticking to his previous disbeliefs. Nonetheless, he follows his captain out towards the deck where the sky is clear and the sun is shining. It’s a beautiful day for sailing, and the waves are as gentle as the breeze.
The Phoenix is regarded as one of the toughest and wealthiest pirate ships gracing the sea. Originating down South, the ship has only recently took a turn for the North, catching the government unprepared and allowing them to flourish. Chanyeol is young, but he has already gained a bounty of success and admirers, especially residing in his crew, who love the sea just as much as he does. Many opposing pirate ships have fallen at his hand or know to stray from the ship with a fierce phoenix with sharp talons as its figurehead.
Chanyeol is greeted by his crew enthusiastically and with respect as they are all busied with their various tasks. He's glad to see that they aren't hit too hard by Luhan's absence. Things seem to be running fine without his leadership on deck. There is no humming or singing, however, something that Luhan would lead the whole crew into to keep their spirits high at sea.
He finds Minseok, the sailing master, at the wheel of the ship, talking animatedly with Yifan, the boatswain. Chanyeol guesses they are arguing about which direction to head, as usual. Yifan always wants to put in his two cents, even if Minseok is the navigator and Yifan is only responsible for the sails and other ship devices. Walking over, he is not at all surprised at the sudden weight on his shoulder as Fei, his gold-crested phoenix, settles on her usual perch. She is only twenty years old, a baby for her rare species, and isn't very big. Chanyeol pets the plumage on her neck with a finger as he stops before the arguing men, clearing his throat.
“Captain!” Both men stand straight up at his presence.
Chanyeol rolls his eyes before addressing Minseok.
“Navigate us towards the nearest coast or port city. Let the men clear their minds of this madness and of Luhan’s death,” he orders.
Yifan grins that condescending gummy smile as he leans against the stand of the wheel. “You still don't believe in the sirens, Chanyeol?”
“I don't believe in what I can't see. You and the others are going insane over your feverish dreams,” the captain scoffs.
“In our defense, Chanyeol, you are never there to see them,” Minseok points out as he gazed at one of his handmade maps, glasses on his nose and compass on hand.
“Well, I've never heard these songs while in my quarters either,” Chanyeol raises a brow, challenging the two to counter that claim.
“Yifan, order the men to fix the sails accordingly. We are heading eastward!” Minseok proclaims, folding up his map and tucking it beneath his vest along with his compass. Yifan nods and strolls along the decks, but not before leaning in towards Chanyeol to murmur,
“The sirens only sing to who they want to enchant, Captain.”
Thunder flashes and lightning cracks along the sky, illuminating the night, its angered seas, and the rocking ships. Rain pours down heavily and unforgivingly onto the men as they slip and slide, fighting along the decks of the Icy Maiden. Pirates alike stab and spear their enemies with their sharpened swords and daggers, throwing each other overboard and into the roaring waters as they please.
Chanyeol is busy with a gruesome battle himself. Do Kyungsoo, captain of this ship, is perfectly practiced in swordsmanship and a bit older than Chanyeol himself, though his small size is deceiving. His cold and composed features give no opening as their swords collide and clang.
Only a few days back on the sea and they run into one of Chanyeol’s greatest enemies from the South. But he never runs from a good opportunity, even in a brewing storm that has now become more like a hurricane, and his men were quick to climb over onto the Icy Maiden and test their luck.
“You seem to have gained some experience,” the surprisingly deep tenor of Kyungsoo’s voice is heard over the yells of men and the roaring of the storm.
“You seem to have grown a few inches,” Chanyeol teases, earning a glare and a harder push against his blocking sword. Eventually, his strength breaks and Kyungsoo’s sword slices into his coat and shirt sleeves, causing a thin gash across his arm.
He jumps back and curses, gritting his teeth and swinging his sword towards the older man again, who meets it with a tiny smirk.
And then it begins.
The sirens come out to play.
As if the storm has no effect on them, a whole school of sirens surround Kyungsoo’s ship. Tails splash across the water and shine in the brief flash from the lightning. Chanyeol doesn't believe it, but when he glances over he can see hands, scaly tails, and faces bob in and out of the water. He can hear hums of tunes that are beautiful but muted, as if they aren't calling to him in particular. But the sound intensifies as more sirens appear, beginning to tempt and drag Chanyeol’s and Kyungsoo’s men into the water.
Before Chanyeol knows it, he watches Kyungsoo hum along with a tune, becoming distracted to the point where his sword slides away from his grasp. The waves roar and tumble into the ship. It tips, and Chanyeol can only grab onto something and watch as Kyungsoo, enchanted by the melodies in his ears, tumbles into the sea with a blissful expression. He sees the flicker of a crimson tail and almond-shaped eyes on a handsome blond appear from beneath the depths of the water, grasping onto Kyungsoo’s lenient body. Chanyeol's holds onto the rails as he watches him sink below the surface of the waves, only the flicker of a tail before he disappears.
He starts to feel dizzy and dazed himself, holding onto the rocking ship for dear life as the melodies strengthen in his ears. Chanyeol doesn't know what to think as he watches men jump to their death and dive into the obviously dangerous sea and sirens smirk and sing as they surround the boat, dragging pirates down to the depths, one-by-one.
The captain does, however, spot Junmyeon and dashes forward to catch him before he falls overboard.
“Junmyeon, get a hold of yourself, goddammit!” He shouts over all the noise, clutching his first mate who writhes in desperation to reply to the beautiful voice calling him.
“Captain, here!” Minseok calls, and he turns his head to see the older man tying himself and others to one of the sail posts with spare rope to make sure they don't follow into the temptation. Chanyeol wastes no time in grabbing some rope himself and tying Junmyeon up, making sure he is secure.
In the midst of tying the knot, rain pelting his face, Chanyeol starts to feel himself losing grip, spots appearing in his vision as an angelic song calls to him and grips his heart. Boots sliding on the slick wood of the deck, he tries to resist the magnetic pull that makes him woozy. Gripping the railing as his last resort, Chanyeol looks up just in time to see a gigantic wave slam into the ship, tilting it at a sharp angle. The wood of the railing can't support his weight, and he suddenly tumbles over into the sea.
Salty water permeates his clothes and the harsh waves push him down further into the ocean. He can hear the sirens’ echoing calls and hands that claw and push him down further. Chanyeol gasps for air as he thrashes in the water, but bitter sea water fills his throat and lungs. He fights until he can't anymore, consciousness slipping away as the last thing he feels are hands gripping beneath his armpits and pulling him.
Part 2