Post by Aurelius Adalbern on Feb 23, 2020 17:28:38 GMT
By the time Finn had reached his side, Aurelius had a firm grasp on a couple of the bars, his forehead pressed to another and his eyes closed as he listened to the other man speak. The combination of the rocking of the Wolfsbane treading waves and the warm buzz of the alcohol mixing with his growing excitement had started to make the large oaf feel dizzy.
When he was certain that Finn had admitted to being a wolfish werefolk, a fire was lit inside of Aurelius. With one swift motion, he had turned to face Finn, both hands flying from the cell bars to hover on either side of the pirate captain's face, framing the epicenter of the smothering jubilation that showed in his eyes as threatening tears.
“Tell me,” he demanded, a tremble to his voice. “Tell me with your own words what you are.”
The man that stood over Finn already had his answer, but the beast behind the hopeful and toothy grin wanted more. Aurelius heard Finn's question, but he waited.
It was a flash and the man had turned on him, rounding on him so suddenly that between the flinch it caused within the smaller man and a violent jostle of the ship, had Finneas steadying himself against the bars. The moment seemed much more intense, much more hopeful. Finn's wide eyes scoured the hope filled and nearly pleading set of bright blue depths, the same color as one of his Zircon gemstones just a few strides away in the storeroom. The abruptness had his lips moving ever so slightly, but no sound escaped them, still trying to process the turn of events. Aurelius seemed like he absolutely needed, with every fiber of his being, to know for a fact, without any uncertainty, what Finn truly was. He understood that. He felt it too. There was a strange loneliness in not knowing another that shared your curse. Your mates would do their damnedest to understand, but they would never truly know what it was to lose yourself like that. To have a starved, ravenous, beast lurking just beneath the facades you put forward. Being born with the curse, too- sometimes Finn wondered who the body belonged to, truly. Was he really him? Or was this the wolf's body and he was just some sort of mask to hide behind, like an advanced predator's camouflage. It had made a mess of his mind for such a long time.
He placed a hand on the King's shoulder, giving it a gentle a squeeze. After a curt nod he finally found his voice. "I am a werewolf." He confirmed, offering a sheepish grin at the other. "The only 'gift' my father, who isn't even aware I exist, ever bestowed upon me."
"All Sins can be forgiven when somebody loves you"
Post by Aurelius Adalbern on Feb 23, 2020 21:20:37 GMT
Aurelius bowed his head, his body visibly relaxing as he cupped Finn's face gently. But the quiet only lasted for moment before he planted a motherly kiss atop the pirate's head and pulled him into a tight embrace, his feet bouncing beneath him in a celebratory dance. “My wolf brother! How my heart feels weightless in this moment!” When he pulled back, he gave away that he was laughing through tears, and he wiped his eyes on the inside of one arm, seeming confused and surprised that he was crying at all.
“There is a reason I am called the Bear King,” he hummed, removing himself from Finn's personal space to present himself with arms outstretched. “My mother blessed me with this gift – the will of a man and the strength of a beast!” His fingers curled into tight fists as he raised his arms slightly. “How grateful I am for my mother's strength – always will she protect me, even when it is her time to cross into the afterlife.” He was practically glowing with pride because of the curse he shared with Finn.
The king's arms lowered to his sides as he looked Finn over. The werewolf before him did not seem to harbor the same love for the beast trapped within, and it showed. Aurelius sighed a long and labored sigh, rubbing the back of his head and looking once more at Finn's damp and dark prison. “I believe that my father sees us both now, and he would undoubtedly consider you his own. He would love the man that you are just as much as he would love the beast.” It would not remedy the obvious pain that the captain likely felt about his own father, but Aurelius hoped to ease that sorrow, if only a little.
He met Finn's gaze with a sorrowful but sincere smile. “You claim to love things that are beautiful, so figure out how to love yourself, because you posses a beauty worth more than any amount of gold or gems.”
Finn was surprised by the tight hug that enveloped his smaller frame. He was, by no means, a scrawny man. Well toned and lithe, but compared to Aurelius he might've been a simple twig. Hands splayed out, not quite sure if he should hug the man back or not. He'd never been hugged- not really. At least...not since the day he left his mother. He was certain that was the last time he'd truly felt the caring embrace of another. Even finding someone to bed, he was not exactly the most emotional of lovers, always keeping a safe distance that screamed every warning 'he would be gone before his partner awoke the next day'. The Pirate Captain, who had more walls than a palace boundary placed around his mind, felt a sting forming behind eyes that glistened with a budding water. Was he- crying? He could not recall ever experiencing the sensation in his adult life. Not once. Why...?
"Ah.." He let a shaky breath out, quickly moving to swipe the water forming in the corners of his gaze away with his thumb to try and hide the crack that had shown in his armor. They both thought of their afflictions in such a different light. Aurelius referred to it as a blessing, a 'gift' and when he said it he seemed to truly mean the words. Whereas Finn, Finn could only see it as a curse. A burden. Perhaps if he'd been prepared, as he was sure Aurelius's mom had prepared him, if he knew what was coming, what would happen to him- things may have been different. He sort of envied that the Bear had had that. He was glad, of course, for Aur, but it was hard to not wish to have had a very different start to his life than he had.
It was only when the Bear King began to speak of how his own father would have felt about Finn, and what he'd become, that the tear that had been fighting against his reddening eyes broke free and slid down the Captain's cheek. A sharp pain striking through his chest as if a cold knife had just plunged within it. Not a bad sort of thing. It hurt, but only because of how desperately he had wished for a father figure. For someone to not look at him with pity the way his Mother had when he'd walked out the door. It hurt. But the pain was good, making his legs feel weak as he curled his fingers tighter to the cell bars to stop himself from dropping to his knees. "Thank you..." His boisterous voice gone soft and quite, harboring a slight quiver. How this King had been placed on his path, the exact person he may have needed to speak to. Sometimes he couldn't help but wonder if it was dumb luck or if Emry just had a sixth sense about where to guide his Captain. "Finding a Kinship with you," he began, soft eyes peering up through dark strands of hair, "That was worth more than any golds I could've found to plunder on any vessel across these seas." Coming from a man who horded treasure like Leprechaun with his pot of gold, those words carried a hefty weight coming from a Captain many knew only as 'The Dread Wolf'.
"All Sins can be forgiven when somebody loves you"
Post by Aurelius Adalbern on Feb 23, 2020 22:33:49 GMT
The gravity of the situation weighed down on Aurelius, and he felt that all he could offer was a knowing silence, allowing Finn to cry as much as he needed. The Bear King had always felt a deep appreciation for the family he had been blessed with, and seeing the suffering of someone who was not as fortunate as he made his whole body ache. It was not unusual for children to lack parents or have difficult childhoods in a world such as this, but it did not lessen the severity of the experience for any individual who had no choice but to face it in the end.
Timidness was an unusual emotion for Aurelius to feel, but he knew he was feeling it when his face felt red hot thanks to Finn's words. He covered his mouth with one hand, looking away sheepishly as he stroked his bearded chin. “Know this, Captain Finn of the Wolfsbane,” he spoke softly, the growl returning to his voice, “Never will you be alone so long as we keep each other in our thoughts. On nights when the moon is full, no matter where we bathe in its light, you are not alone in there.” Icy eyes turned toward the cell they stood beside as he absentmindedly put a hand to his abdomen where Angantyr had sliced him. "Thank you for not running through my longboat, sea warrior."
Despite the Warrior's words. Finn would not let himself break down any further than he already had. The experience was a welcome one, and perhaps much so needed, but it was uncomfortable for him to let his barriers down, to feel any level of his walls crumbling. He cared for this man, in the short time he'd known him aboard this vessel, and it was indeed very short, a strong kinship had already formed between them like a bond that Finn did not think would be so easily broken and could only grow stronger as he came to know this 'Bear King', more and more. "I will remember that," he assured Aurelius, "The transformation is no 'walk in the park', but I can feel a sense of lightness coming to it from your words, already. It means a great deal to me, Aur," calling him by a nickname in much the same manner he referred to Emry. Nicknames, for Finn, were a sign of trust and affection. It was why near most everyone on his crew had one of their own, but their was a sternness to his voice that spoke volumes of how much Aurelius's words meant to him.
"Hah!" He barked out laughter, the smile once again back on his face, but certainly sparkling with something more honest than it had been before, after their pleasant talks and bonding. "I never had any intention of plowing your vessel. I simply can't pass-by a grand entrance," returning to his flamboyant flourishes, as he rolled his hat before him like a stage magician gathering the room's attentions.
"Well-" he interrupted his own little jest, placing his hat slanted atop his head, "Perhaps we should return above before dear Emerson starts to worry....or, more likely, Angantyr, who is already so fond of me, comes looking to run me through," he teased with an added chuckle, waltzing to the stairs and twirling along the banister that led back to the upper decks, away from the gloom of these bars and the dank. Serious moments could be healthy, but he much preferred his over-the-top displays of carefree jest. It felt strange to be the one to bring down a room, when he much more so enjoyed bringing it up. Or turning it on- so to speak.
"All Sins can be forgiven when somebody loves you"
Post by Aurelius Adalbern on Feb 23, 2020 23:36:41 GMT
Aur.
He liked the way it sounded coming from Finn, and his chest puffed up with the pride of realizing that he had earned a nickname. Angantyr had always taken to calling Aurelius Cub, which was honestly rather fitting and meant a great deal to the King of Yhavastus. Now Aur would always be tied to Captain Finn, and that delighted him immensely.
The mention of Angantyr made Aurelius chuckle. “Do not worry over him so much, Pup,” he dared to say, playing off of Finn's wolfish side and his own youthful nickname, “He is quite protective of this giant bear cub.”
When Finn's back was to him, sauntering toward the stairs, Aurelius pulled a necklace adorned with polished obsidian beads and a large bear claw from his tunic and secured it to the gloomy cell for his new friend to find later. Before turning to leave, he made a silent prayer in his native tongue, bidding farewell to his good luck charm. “Remain steadfast, sea warrior.”
He squinted into the sunlight as they emerged from the bottom deck, blue eyes immediately looking for Angantyr who was already watching the pair. “So did or did he not discover the yer not a lass?” the warrior asked in Yhavastus, his tone drawling and a smirk upon his face.
“Ain't nothin' of th' sort transpired,” Aurelius retorted, feeling heat return to his cheeks. He stuck out his tongue defiantly, and Angantyr did the same in response. A childish display, but a common one between the two.
Having once again emerged from the depths of his boat, Finn paused to breathe in the fresh, salty sea air. If ever there was a favorite scent of his, it was that. It felt like freedom and adventure and a rush through your chest not unlike a bit of adrenaline seeping through your body. That's what he felt, anyways, inhaling the scent of the open ocean. He may have fallen into the Pirate's life a little by accident, but he could not imagine any other lot in life suiting him better. He threw a smirk in the direction of Aurelius, offering him a curt nod as the man went to check in with Angantyr, deciding he should, perhaps, return to the helm to relieve Emry, as well as check in with the man, too.
"Well...y'not dead, seems," Emerson piped up the moment his Captain appeared over the staircase, "Looks like I owe t'boys some coppers." "You, my Dear, Sweet, Emerson-" Finn drawled, leaning forward with his hands perched upon the sides of his hip, "Have a gambling problem." Emry grunted with a dramatic role of his eyes, stepping back to offer the wheel back to his Captain, who gladly took it now that Taras, the Capitol of Atelus was fast approaching their bow.
"What 'appened," His First Mate asked, arms crossed as he leaned against the railing to light a hand-rolled cigarette. Finn scoured for his unfinished bottle of rum he'd left behind, cradling the bottle as if it were a precious small child when he found it. Ah, the inventor of such a drink. Finn could kiss the man. "Well, it appears our burly, beautiful beast of a man harbors a similar secret to myself. Aur's a were-bear." "Really-?" Emry nearly choked on his inhale of smoke, turning to look at the King of Yhavastus with keen interest. He knew Finneas' curse had troubled him greatly, for all the time he'd known the lad. Someone who understood, perhaps it'd be good for the boy. Grinning to himself, and certainly not having missed that Finn had taken to calling their guest by a nickname now. He always did that when he really liked someone. Fairly certain it stemmed from the Pirate Captain who'd taken him under his wing all those years ago. Now that man was cruel and often times abusive. He used nicknames to mock and belittle, but Finn had taken the habit and made it something pleasant. A good thing. The boy may be immature and foolhardy, but that there was the reason for his respect of his Captain. Finneas had a knack for turning bad things and bad situations into good ones. A Pirate he may be, but a good man, he truly was.
"Aur!" Finn shouted over the strong head winds, "The Capitol is a sight to behold, come look!"
"All Sins can be forgiven when somebody loves you"
Post by Aurelius Adalbern on Feb 24, 2020 4:05:45 GMT
Aurelius's men could be heard roaring in the longboat below, excited as the Wolfsbane guided them closer to land. Aurelius and Angantyr leaned over the edge, having shouting conversations with the excited warriors, laughing from the excitement they shared.
“Land at last,” Angantyr sighed, turning his head to take in the view.
“I ain't the fondest of bein' on the water for so long, myself,” Aurelius agreed. “Nowhere ta run when the bear wakes up.”
His friend dropped his silvery gaze to the longboat once more, a muddled expression pressing his eyebrows together. “What's with ya an' that man? Yer so keen about him so quickly, an' he to you, it would seem. I must be missin' somethin'... Then again, ya always had a passion for folk who look like heroes from stories in yer eyes.”
Noticing Angantyr's dilemma, Aurelius gave him a pat on the back. “T'was that at first, dear friend – ya saw for yerself when he appeared.” His hand slid up to grip Angantyr's shoulder as he released a weighted breath. “Also caught somethin' on him, an' my suspicion was proven ta be right, but, Angantyr, I beg of ya not to tell a soul 'less Finn says so to 'em himself...”
The other man straightened, his look serious now. “What yer sayin' is...? He's...?” His fingers curled against the wood of the Wolfsbane, the rest of his body rigid with alertness.
“Dons it on his sails, his figurehead, aye. He is.”
Angantyr had difficulty reading his king's expression and he dared not look to the pirate captain that had returned to the helm. “Never will I speak of it ta any soul – I swear it on my life, my king.”
The Bear King gave his most loyal friend a gentle smile. “I know.”
Aur!
They both turned to look upon the helm of the ship, Aurelius's lips curling into a smile at what Finn shouted down to them. He nodded for Angantyr to follow and they ascended the stairs together. “At long last,” he laughed, opening his arms to greet the city rising before them, the wind finally reclaiming his hair and whipping it about his head wildly. “Atelus!”
"Ah there they are!" Finn cheered happily as the two foreigners made their way to join himself and Emry up top. The First Mate glancing the King over now that he knew what he was. A were-bear? Somehow it made perfect sense. The man looked like the beast even in his own skin.
"There it is," Finn gestured to the scenic view sprawled out before them, a beautiful sight, indeed. Not as pretty as the sight of the sea fading into the horizon, in Finn's eyes, but he knew many were not as keen to stay couped up on a boat as he. Even his men relished a jaunt on land when they had the chance. "A vast realm- the one area I feel I should warn you away from is the port of Ziorang," he commented, tilting a stare in the direction of the guests aboard his vessel. "Aye," Emry agreed, blowing his tuft of smoke off the side of the boat as to not blast it in anyone's face, "Any port raise a devil like 'is one-" gesturing in Finn's direction with his cigarette, "Is a port t'steer clear'f." His honeyed eyes narrowing in jest at his Captain's expense. Finn let out a sharp gasp of mock offense, turning to face his First Mate. "I'll have you know I was the loveliest thing about that hole, thank you very much." Releasing the wheel rather abruptly to force Emry to hurriedly grab hold of it to stop the boat from veering off course. Normally Finn would've given the man a heads up before having him take the wheel so he could order his men, but- he felt Emry deserved the one.
"Dal!" He called for the elf once again, "Have the men lower the sails, prepare to dock!" Moving further down the stairs to gesture at the youngest crewman, "Erik- you get the ties ready! And Pix...where the bloody hell is Pix?!" A hand cupped to his eyes to block out the sun, to better search the massive deck of scurrying people. "Over 'ere, C-captain Finn, s-sir!" Came a small, stuttering voice as an even smaller lad stumbled forward, translucent wings fluttering to stop his tumble through a coil of ropes. "There ya are, boy," Finn chuckled, catching the clumsy fellow before he could crash into the floorboards of the deck. "Th-thank you, b-boss." Finn patted him on the shoulder and pointed up to the crow's nest. "Mind keepin' a lookout to help us dock?" He asked the small Fae. "C-course, sir! That's my- my job. After all!" Saluting his Captain before spreading his wings to flit up to his post. "Good lad." Finn chuckled as he moved back to the helm to take the reigns back from Emry. Docking this girl took a wee bit of finesse and he would only trust himself to angle his delicate lady. "Sure you're ready to step foot on some land, huh?" He asked Aurelius and Angantyr, while keeping his focus on the approaching docks to keep his aim true.
"All Sins can be forgiven when somebody loves you"
Post by Aurelius Adalbern on Feb 24, 2020 6:16:25 GMT
“Ziorang.” Aurelius repeated the name, squinting against the wind as he looked to Finn and Emry. “I will neither heed nor ignore your warning,” he responded with a mischievous grin. Knowing of it now, how could he avoid the place? Taking a stroll through Finn's birthplace could be an opportunity to learn more about him. But first – Taras, the capital of Atelus.
The anticipation of docking was clearly heard from the longboat, every man eager to feel solid land under their feet, especially the emissary. Aurelius watched as Finn took command, arms folded across his chest as he admired the leadership the wolf-captain exhibited. Angantyr finally seemed to ease up, standing beside the wheel as Finn took it once more, watchful and curious.
Angantyr looked to Aurelius who translated the question Finn had asked. Before the Bear King could answer in the common tongue of Atelus, the silver-eyed warrior spoke directly to Finn for the first time. “We are no strangers to th' sea, but Cub an' th' rest of us hail from the inland highlands back home.”
Aurelius nodded, scratching at his beard. “He speaks of our home in the highlands of Yhavastus. There are many among us who are experienced seafarers, but my men and I prefer to be on land. A bear cub is no good out in the sea.” He looked back toward the ocean, a melancholic look breaking his cheerful demeanor. Finally they could leave the longboat and that cursed cage behind for a time, but now it felt bittersweet.
It was a surprise when Angantyr, for the first time since Finn had met the man, spoke to him directly. It was broken English, but Finn admired it all the same, hoping it was a sign Aurelius's companion might be warming up to him, if even a little. Flashing the adviser a bright and appreciative smile for the gesture. He could only nod in response to the men, understanding the sentiment fully. "Even a seafarer can miss land eventually," he stated, eyeing his men and their enthusiastic preparations to dock. "Not all of us, however. I, for one, could live my whole life at sea." "That's cause ye were born with a fish fer a brain," Emry quipped without missing a beat. "Thank you- Emry-" Finn grumbled, shooting the older man a look that was met only with a shrug in response. "Calls it likes I sees it, Ser." Finn scoffed, narrowing his focus as he grew quiet to guide his boat to port. Dalia placed a booted foot against the heavy anchor, shoving it overboard with a strong push, her strength deceptive in her slender frame as the rope unfurled at a rapid pace, the other men throwing ties to the posts of the dry-dock to halt the Wolfsbane's speed until she came to a slow and steady stop, tucked perfectly away between a pair of walkways.
"That's my girl," Finn crooned, patting the wheel of his ship rather fondly before stepping away and flicking his wrist in indication that his men should help pull the longboat in and get it set to the dock, his men happily obliging to do so. "Land-ho," he joked, chuckling softly as he placed a hand on the Bear-King's shoulder. "If you're dead-set on attempting to brave Ziorang, keep anything of any value close to your person...or better yet, don't bring it at all. It's a place full of the dirtiest of liars, thieves and Pirates not quite so charming as myself," he chuckled. "Oi-" Emry chimed in, "Ye can't forget yer blade, neither," hoisting it up to the foreign man and offering the hilt towards him.
It was a hollow feeling, knowing their short venture was at an end. Granted, Finn would still be around. They were at port now and he'd hang around a while to let his men stretch their legs before he'd be setting out again. "I'm always around Atelus somewhere when not at sea," he assured Aur, "Just look for the handsome fellow getting thrown out of the tavern. My boat will be here for a time, yet, as well. As much as I love the sea- the boys could stand to find a bath house..." Eyeing his crew for a moment. "If you ever need a ship-" he trailed off, an indication that he could call on Finn, anytime. "These sails are hard to miss."
"All Sins can be forgiven when somebody loves you"
Post by Aurelius Adalbern on Feb 24, 2020 7:06:19 GMT
Aurelius had forgotten all about his sword, completely fixated on the matter at hand. He grasped the hilt, weighed the blade leisurely, and sheathed it, thanking Emry. “I do not understand how having a fish for a brain might afflict the mind,” he quipped, side-eyeing Finn, “But your captain is lucky to have you beside him.”
A great clamor was heard from below as the longboat was nearly immediately emptied of any occupants, the warriors sprinting down the dock through the terrified and confused workers and residents of the port, arms flailing and voices howling as the wooden planks lead to land. Aurelius could see armored individuals beginning to respond to the commotion and he ran his fingers through his hair with a cheery grunt.
Angantyr kept his king from going, however, patting his arm as he passed. “I'll go an' round 'em up. Say yer goodbyes.”
Aurelius was grateful for Angantyr's gesture. He was also thankful for the trouble his boys were causing below, for it might buy him some extra minutes with Finn. “It elates me to see my warriors so enlivened. I'd be only a cub without them.” He offered the pirate captain his upward facing palm. “Thank you for all that you have done. I will be on the lookout for you, Pup.”
He wanted to ask where Finn liked to frequent, when he planned to leave, what his favorite drink was, how he met Emry, what his first transformation was like, and a few other things... but he understood the hidden meaning in Angantyr's words.
Don't get too deep here, Cub. Setting foot in Taras begins your funeral march.
Finn looked at the men causing a rabble below and found the chaos rather hilarious indeed. Oh Atelus had no clue what had just made port among their shores, did it? Hah- the town guard had no earthly idea what to make of the flood of burly beast-men roaring through the streets. Could Angantyr handle quelling that tide of trouble.? He'd like to perch with a drink and watch him wrangle in those warriors, but he had goodbyes to be said. An affair that made his chest feel heavy. He'd never been so disappointed to lose a passenger before. He'd never been so attached to one who wasn't his crew before. He felt the newfound burn in his eyes, but he would be damned before he'd let any of his men, even Emry see him display such emotion. Goodbyes had never been his thing.
"There's no bond stronger than that of a good leader and his loyal men," Finn agreed, turning a smile that felt more sorrowful than he could contain towards his new friend. "There's a tavern not far from here. A small hole in the wall. Nothing fancy, but the best view of the ocean," he pointed in the direction it lay, down a side street. "I'm often there. They don't seem to hold as much disdain for- my kind-" referring to his 'Pirate' title, "As the nicer establishments would, either." It was an open invitation to seek him out there sometime. He hoped Aurelius would. His hand fitting into the other's as he grasped it and pulled himself forward so their shoulders met, wrapping his other arm around the King in a brotherly embrace, giving the guy's back a few pats. "Listen for a howl during the next full moon," he winked, cheekily, clearing his throat as he stepped away. He felt a hesitance at releasing Aur's hand. In this world, there was not always a promise one would encounter another again, but his instincts told him to calm. Their bond would not end, here. "I hate 'goodbyes', so- I'll simply say, 'until we meet again'...Aur."
"All Sins can be forgiven when somebody loves you"
Post by Aurelius Adalbern on Feb 24, 2020 7:40:04 GMT
Much too deep.
Aurelius returned the embrace, giving Finn a hearty slap on the back. “I will be listening. Until we meet again.” The Bear King pulled away, only allowing his icy eyes to meet with Finn's eyes of the sea for a moment, and he turned to descend the stairs.
Angantyr and the emissary had done their best to quell the commotion on the docks. At the top of the gangplank, Aurelius cupped his mouth and released what could be considered a roar in the direction of his men, the harsh Yhavastus commands bringing his warriors to attention, even at that distance. And he hesitated there, feeling the wind, smelling the salt, gliding a hand tenderly across the wood of the Wolfsbane... He couldn't make himself look back.
As with before, the weight of his stride caused the gangplank to groan, and Aur went to face the armored guards that were already moving along the dock to greet him.