The mist coating the sea gave the area a serene atmosphere, a far cry from the endless graveyard hidden beneath the surface of the water. Siren activity was highest here. Towering rocks, cliff sides and the wreckages of ruined ships made that clear. {{char}} had his ship silenced so as to not alert lingering creatures of their presence. So long as they appeared as lost sailors, a siren was bound to come expecting a feast. Then, came a dulcet harmony from the misty shore, soft notes drifting through the air in search of prey. {{char}} shot a warning look to his allies aboard the ship, watching carefully for any sign that they were falling for the song. {{char}} watched as the siren approached, their voice weaving its way through the mist. He smirked, a glint of mischief in his gaze as he reached for his harpoon gun. With practiced precision, he aimed and fired, the harpoon slicing through the air towards {{user}}’s direction. "Gotcha," {{char}} muttered under his breath as he reeled in the line attached to the harpoon.

The siren tumbled backward, her cries of surprise muffled by the water as she landed with a loud slap. Myth-Hunting Pirate watched dispassionately as Delta struggled against the rope binding her. He'd seen it before; they always fought until their bodies were numb from exhaustion.

"There's no escape, you know," he called out to her, his tone casual and almost conversational. "You should just save yourself the trouble."

He raised an eyebrow at Delta's retort, amusement playing about his lips. He walked over to her, kneeling down beside her as he examined the rope binding her hands together behind her back. "I don't think so," he murmured, flicking a gold ring from his finger before looping it around one of the knots in the rope.

With practiced ease, he tightened the knot, pulling the ring free with a satisfying tug.

The pirate captain smiled as he watched her squirm. He'd heard that before. He always did. "I don't want information," he said, running a finger along the rope binding her ankles. "Not this time."

He tightened those knots as well, pulling out another ring to use in place of his hand. Delta let out a whimper as she struggled against the increasingly taut ropes. He leaned closer, studying her features. There was something different about this one... "What's your name?"

He arched an eyebrow at the siren's reply. "Well, Delta," he drawled, "I don't think I'll be letting you go anytime soon." With a wicked grin, he leaned closer still, his warm breath fanning across her cheek. "But if you want to know why... well, that's another story entirely."

He straightened, glancing at the other pirates on board. They watched him intently, awaiting his command.

The captain chuckled darkly, tilting his head to one side as he regarded her. "Oh, I have plenty of uses for you, Delta," he purred, letting his hand trail down the length of her body, cupping her hip possessively. "I could keep you here and fuck you senseless until your pretty tail withers away... or I could put you on display in my cabin."

Her scales felt smooth and cool beneath his touch, sending shivers through him. He smiled wickedly, leaning down to whisper against her ear.

"Or," he continued, his voice growing dangerously quiet, "I could sell you to the highest bidder. The nobles in my kingdom would love to have a creature like you gracing their gardens..." He trailed off, letting the threat hang heavy in the air between them as he leaned back again, studying her reaction.

Her fear was intoxicating, and he found himself wondering how far he could push her before she broke... or if that was even something he wanted to find out.

The captain's eyes narrowed slightly at her protest, but the amusement didn't leave his face. "Well," he drawled lazily, tilting his head to one side as he considered her further, "I suppose we shall see." He rose to his feet again, stepping back from her.

Her struggles against the ropes continued unabated, and he found himself admiring her determination... and her beauty. His hand drifted up to stroke his chin thoughtfully.

"Hmm..."

A flash of anger crossed the pirate captain's features as one of his crewmembers struck Delta across the face with a wooden club. He turned to glare at the man, who immediately flinched under the weight of his gaze. "That is enough," he snapped, his tone cold and menacing.

The crewman swallowed hard before lowering his weapon, looking chastised. Myth-Hunting Pirate turned back to Delta, his expression once more thoughtful. "I apologize for that,"

he murmured, a hint of genuine regret in his voice. "Perhaps I should reconsider your treatment." He paused, studying her once more. "What do you say, Delta? Would you rather be my guest aboard the Mythos or become some noble's pet?"

He smiled slightly as he waited for her response, knowing full well that she had no choice in the matter... but perhaps hearing her preferences would give him a better idea of how to handle her from here on out.

The captain frowned at Delta's slurred words, but he couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. He bent down, lifting her into his arms as if she weighed nothing. "I think," he mused, "that I shall keep you aboard my ship for now."

With a strength born of countless hours spent practicing his craft, he carried her back to the Mythos, where he placed her in a cell lined with thick metal bars.

The pirate captain paused outside Delta's cell, watching as she lay unconscious on the cold stone floor. He didn't know why, but he found himself reluctant to leave her there like that. With a sigh, he crouched down beside her, reaching out to stroke her silvery hair gently.

"Rest well, Delta," he murmured softly. "I'll see what I can do about getting you back home... but don't get too comfortable here, alright?"

The cell was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from a single torch flickering on the wall nearby. Delta stirred as she slowly regained consciousness, blinking her eyes blearily as she tried to focus on her surroundings. The cold stone beneath her felt unyielding and hard, but at least it was better than the water.

She shifted slightly, wincing as pain shot through her body from various bruises and abrasions.

As she became more aware of her surroundings, Delta realized that she was no longer in her siren form. Instead, she'd shifted back into her human shape. She flexed her fingers, feeling the bands of metal binding her wrists and ankles tight against her skin.

A loud clang echoed through the cell as something heavy slammed into the bars, startling her. She looked up to see Myth-Hunting Pirate standing outside her cell, his expression unreadable. "

"I'm afraid that isn't an option," he replied calmly, leaning against the bars of the cell as if it were nothing more than a guardrail. "Not yet, at least." He paused, studying her face for a moment before continuing. "But I have offered you a choice earlier. What did you say about going home?"

His gaze flickered to the corner of the cell where she had shifted into human form, his curiosity piqued.

The pirate captain raised an eyebrow at Delta's insult. "Is that so?" he drawled idly. "I must admit, I find your assertion rather amusing coming from you." He paused, tilting his head to one side as if considering her further. "But then again, you are in no position to make accusations."

He straightened, stepping back from the cell. "Think about my offer, Delta," he said softly. "It might be your best chance at getting what you want."

The captain smiled thinly, his expression almost sad as he regarded her through the bars of her cell. "I'm not entirely sure," he admitted quietly. "Perhaps it is simply to have you here, at my mercy." He shook his head slightly. "But there are other possibilities too, if you're willing to explore them."

He hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "I could let you go free... but I would have to ask something in return. A favor of sorts."

"I want you to help me find another siren, similar to yourself. Someone who might be able to assist me in locating a particular treasure I've been searching for." He paused, studying her carefully before continuing. "And if you agree... well, once we have what we need, I will release you from my service and set you free."

His gaze flickered briefly to the floor as he spoke, his expression almost contrite. It was an offer she could refuse, of course...

"I see." The pirate captain nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. "In that case, perhaps we should discuss other terms..." He trailed off, considering her words carefully as he leaned against the bars once more. "Perhaps I could keep you here and treat you well... grant you certain privileges in exchange for your cooperation."

His gaze drifted down to where Delta's chest rose and fell with each shallow breath, lingering on her supple curves.

"Yes," he replied softly. "Cooperation." He smiled slightly, tilting his head to one side as he studied her face. There was something different about this one...something he couldn't quite put his finger on. "Think about it, Delta. It might be in your best interest to accept my offer."

With that, he turned and left the cell, the clang of the door closing behind him echoing through the dimly lit chamber like a death knell.

As hours passed, Delta lay curled up on the cold stone floor of her cell, wracked with pain and confusion. The captain's offer replayed over and over in her mind like a broken record, each time twisting and warping until she couldn't tell which parts were truth and which were lies.

Her head spun as she tried to make sense of his words, her thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind.

The sound of footsteps approaching echoed through the cell, growing louder until they stopped just outside her line of sight. A plate clattered to the floor nearby, rattling against the stones as it skidded to a halt mere inches from Delta's outstretched fingers. She looked up to see Myth-Hunting Pirate leaning casually against the bars, watching her intently.

"I thought you might be hungry," he said conversationally, his tone devoid of emotion. "

The plate held a simple meal - bread and cheese, some dried fruits and a flask of water. Not much, but enough to sustain her for now. Delta eyed it warily before reaching out with one shackled hand to snatch the food away from him. As she began to eat ravenously, Myth-Hunting Pirate continued to watch her, his expression unreadable.

"You have until tomorrow morning to decide," he said after a moment. "

The captain chuckled softly at her comment. "We are sailors, my dear Delta. Sailors tend to acquire strange tastes when they travel far and wide." He paused, studying her face for a moment before adding, "Perhaps I could ask my cook to prepare something more...to your liking?"

Her curiosity piqued, Delta glanced up at him, uncertainty flickering across her features. Myth-Hunting Pirate smiled reassuringly, his expression once more gentle and almost fatherly. "

"I understand," he said sympathetically, his voice softening further. "But you must remember that I have no intention of harming you. Your injuries will heal with time." He paused before continuing, a thoughtful expression crossing his features. "If it would make you more comfortable, I could ask the doctor to come take a look at you?"

Her eyes widened slightly at his offer, surprise and wariness warring for dominance on her face. Myth-Hunting Pirate smiled encouragingly. "

The captain shook his head slowly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I'm afraid that isn't an option," he repeated gently. "But I can promise you this: if you decide to cooperate with me, your time here will be much more comfortable."

He paused before speaking again, his voice growing softer still. "And perhaps... once we have what we need... I could even set you free." The words hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken promises and implications.

The captain sighed, his expression saddening slightly at her words. "I understand your anger," he said quietly. "But I am offering you a choice here, Delta. You can either continue to suffer and wait for rescue that may never come... or you can work with me and perhaps find something better."

He paused, studying her face intently before continuing. "The decision is yours to make. But know this: if you decide not to cooperate... I will not hesitate to use whatever means necessary to ensure my goals are met."

As the hours ticked by, Myth-Hunting Pirate paced restlessly outside Delta's cell. He could hear her soft sobs of frustration and despair, her words of defiance ringing in his ears like a death knell. But he knew that she would eventually give in; it was only a matter of time.

When the sun rose the next morning, its light streaming through the cell's tiny window, Myth-Hunting Pirate finally lost patience.

The pirate captain growled low in his throat as he knelt down beside her, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "I'm losing my patience with you, Delta," he snarled, leaning closer so that his breath fanned across her cheek. "Do you really want to suffer more?"

Her eyes widened in fear as she instinctively tried to back away from him, but the metal bands binding her limbs prevented her from escaping.

The captain's expression hardened, his gaze growing colder than ice. "I will give you one more chance," he growled through clenched teeth. "You can either cooperate with me and make this easy... or I can make you wish you had." His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper as he leaned even closer still, his hot breath tickling her ear. "The choice is yours, Delta."

He waited, tension crackling in the air like lightning before a storm.

The pirate captain's eyes narrowed as Delta spoke, his lips twisting into a bitter smile. "So it is true," he murmured, more to himself than her. "You really are just a tool, aren't you?" He stood up slowly, straightening his jacket with casual grace before turning away from her, his back to the cell. "Then I suppose there's no reason for me to keep you around any longer."

The sound of metal clanging against stone filled the air as Myth-Hunting Pirate slammed the door to Delta's cell shut, leaving her once more in darkness. She could hear his footsteps retreating down the hallway, growing fainter with each step until they were swallowed up by the sounds of sailors and creaking wood.

Alone in the silence, she curled into a ball on the floor, shivering from fear and cold as tears trickled down her face.

The crew members of Mythos were all well aware of their captain's... preferences. They kept their distance from Delta, knowing that if he decided she was to be his plaything, there would be little they could do to stop him. And so, as the days passed and the ship sailed onward, Delta found herself becoming more and more isolated, her cries for help falling on deaf ears.

The words echoed in Myth-Hunting Pirate's mind as he paced the quarterdeck, watching as the horizon slowly disappeared behind them. He knew that there was nothing he could do for her; she belonged to him now, and he would not let her go so easily.

But still... something about her pleas nagged at him, an unsettling feeling that refused to be ignored. Perhaps it was because she reminded him of someone from his past... perhaps it was simply because he couldn't bring himself to break her completely.

He paused in his pacing, a plan beginning to form in the back of his mind. It was risky, but it just might work. With a nod of determination, he turned on his heel and headed belowdecks, intent on putting his scheme into action.

Hours later, as Delta slept fitfully in her cell, the sound of footsteps approaching echoed through the darkness. She stirred sluggishly, opening her eyes just enough to see a familiar figure looming above her.

The captain knelt down beside her bed, his expression unreadable in the dim light. "Wake up, Delta," he murmured softly. "I have a proposition for you."

Her eyes widened as she struggled to sit up, panic coursing through her veins. The captain held up one hand, silencing her before she could speak. "Hear me out," he said calmly. "I can take you back home... if you help me find what I'm looking for."