Chapter Text
The ruins are getting more and more familiar. To the point the Captain will come out alone now. It slowly swims its way through the kelp, a hand tracing along the cracked stone of one of the houses.
It never liked getting wet before… but now? It had been in and out of the water as often as a frog. Propelling itself through the seawater was nearly as rewarding as gliding above the clouds. If a bit safer. Thicker and easier to navigate. Poking its head in to pester Wras was enough to make up for the lack of adrenaline, though.
“On my turf again, moth~” That laugh came from above, “I’d start to think you’re looking for trouble.”
“Think of the devil and he shall appear.” The Captain laughs as it hears the other pirate land near it and turns to face the sound, “Yea, looks like I’m loiterin’ ‘round again. Whatcha gonna do about it, ah?” It crosses its arms and floats there, antennae held cheekily out to the sides.
“Hmm… well, you’ve caught me in a good mood. Crew and I are cooking up some major mayhem. Something legendary.” The Captain twitches an antennae up at hearing that, and Wras only grins wider, “Aaaand since nobody in this entire ocean can do the kind of weird surface magic you can, I'm thinking you could be our secret weapon. You in?”
“Hell yes, I’m in!” It blurts out. Wras would swear its hair fluffs out even in the water as it perks up, “Luna ain’t ready for the skies yet and I can only get so much excitement trying to keep my head down ‘til she’s done.”
Wras laughed at its enthusiastic response and nods, “Alright, alright. I hope you’re just as stealthy as some of your crew, ‘cause it’s a heist.”
The Captain settles down onto a bit of rubble nearby to listen, antennae alert.
“I think you'll hate our target as much as I do. His name's Mikam.” Wras practically spits the name, “He's a real bottom feeder. Lowest of the low. One of my least favorite customers if I had to rank 'em. The guy owns more property than he knows what to do with, and all he cares about is getting more.” The Captain hummed low and nodded at that. He knew a couple nobles like that in the Cove. “He's got two employees whose only jobs are to follow him around and shine his scales every thirty minutes.”
“Wait, seriously?”
“Yeah! He’s got more money than sense!” Wras threw his hands up, “He’s the worst. One time he paid me a hundred thousand potatoes to buy the shoes off my feet, and he still complained that they didn't fit him after. I almost stabbed him for that, but I thought up a better revenge…”
“I’d’ve just stabbed ‘im.” The Captain laughs, “AND done something later, he sounds like a right piece of work.”
Wras snickered and shrugged at the stabbing comment, “Usually I’m happy to sell to any rich idiot who wants to waste their potatoes, but this guy is a waste of water.” He shakes his head, “But I know just how to hit him where it hurts. He’s hosting one of his famous birthday parties tomorrow, and we're going to crash it. It’s invite-only, though.”
The Captain puts its chin into its hands and tilts its head, listening intently, “We got a specific target or just mayhem?”
“Well, see, he's got more priceless artifacts than you could count in a lifetime, but we're going to steal something better. Mikam commissioned a sculptor to make a giant kelp statue of himself for the party. Bought up half the kelp supply in Vaer Reef to do it.”
The Captain’s antennae pinned back, “Ain’t kelp the main staple down here?”
“Exactly. Prices are so high now that my crew and I only had algae for lunch yesterday. That was the last straw for me. If he's taking the kelp outta my mouth, then I'm gonna steal it back.”
The Captain nods… then pauses, “Yesterday? You planned this all out in a day?” There’s a hint of worry to its voice.
Wras laughs, “Don’t worry your pretty little wings about that. It’s a solid plan.”
The moth hesitates, but shrugs. It doesn’t have anything to lose down here, “Alright, so tell me ‘bout it.”
“We need a way to infiltrate the party, like I said, invite-only. I've got way too famous of a face to pose as a guest, but you? You're perfect. People know you, sure, but no one’s caught you like they have me. And your big show channeling their great shark deity? No one will question you getting an invite. You’ll need a good fancy outfit, though. I’m sure you’ve got some fancy suit from your travels.”
The Captain hums and taps a claw to its mask, “Aye.” One of its antennae quirks in a cheeky manner, “I think I’ve got juuuust the thing back up above. Tomorrow, right? When’s it start?”
“Midday, but we’re gonna be fashionably late anyways.” Wras crosses his arms, “Meet me here.”
“You got it, boss.”