RP:From Kraken To Kelpie

Synopsis: Lanara travels to Cenril and travels to The Nautilus, in hopes to encounter a kelpie, as she needs the hair of one, for a potion. Upon arriving on deck, she meets Lysander, and the two vaguely get to know one another. The witch promises to return, to aid in freeing the Kraken, one day.

Lysander | The Nautilus had moored in its slip not very many hours earlier, and there was still signs of activity as traders and merchants helped secure the wares and cargo meant for the Cenrilian port and the bustling commerce trade embedded therein. Lysander was positioned against the anchor's wheel well, straining to hold it in place while other crew members struggled to fix a weak bit of metal in one of the colossal links attached to the anchor. It was a massively heavy thing, which would explain the strain, but not the fact that he seemed to be holding it in place nearly single-handedly as others worked on the kink in question. Periodically, a member of the crew would switch out with someone else at the wheel, taking their place between the spokes, though it was clear most of the brunt work fell to the kraken stationed there as well. But the tedium of ship maintenance went largely unnoticed as members of the public came aboard the ship for a tour and to see the exotic sea creatures on display, such as the array of mermaids, and the occasional kelpie, though those were generally kept away from humans due to their ... frenzied and murderous nature.

Lanara walks along the rickety docks, trying to remain silent, though the clicking of her knee-high boots would likely give her away to anyone that was lurking in the shadows. The witch was donning an emerald green corset, and runed leggings, that fit snugly on her slender figure. Long, dark brown locks hang loose, and cascade midway down her back, falling in loose waves, and her chocolate brown hues sparkle beneath the moonlight. The young elf was easy on the eyes, though she appeared out of place, in such surroundings. Turning a corner, she smiles faintly as the formidable Nautilus comes into view, and she slows her pace. A crowd of curiosity had gathered before the ship, and some were brave enough to go aboard, though for what she was uncertain. Lana, quickly had a mission of her own to complete, and so she shifts into line and climbs aboard the ship, flashing a grin to any that catch her eye, intent on completing her task.

Lysander had all his weight into the wheel but as the crew worked on the link in disrepair; he slid back a foot or two, unable to maintain the stationary force. A few deckhands shook loose from the coil and moved to the wheel, ducking in between spokes to take up the slack that had been lost, giving the kraken a moment of reprieve. Soon, the link was repaired and the anchor wheel locked into place when the anchor was lowered properly. Lysander left the wheel and walked to the mast where a bucket of water with a ladle had been hung for easier access than the barrels of freshwater below. A long chain snaked after the kraken, connecting his wrists to the main mast, binding him to the ship, or perhaps not so much to the ship as away from the water. He moved past a crowd who'd just boarded and paused near the mast to drink. One woman stuck out in particular -- because she was a woman in a decidedly male-dominated trade, and because she was a decidedly human woman nearly as lovely as the mermaids that roamed his waters. He studied her, his stare open and pointed, and perhaps just a bit hostile, as he drank from the ladle.

Lanara pointedly walks past the leering males, and the male that continuously issues catcalls from behind her was given a heated glare over a slender shoulder. It wasn’t that she couldn’t take a compliment; it was that she seemed to want to get what she had come for, and to leave, promptly. Several of the public had come aboard to glimpse the seductive mermaids, to have a vision to dream of later in the evening, though the petite elf wanders past that area and frowns slightly. Turning on her heel, she nearly stumbles over the chain that was bound to the kraken, and she appears apologetic, as it likely jerks his wrists. “I…I’m sorry. I’m so clumsy.” She stammers, peering up at him with curiosity. Was he a prisoner? Why was she suddenly uneasy? Sighing, Lana crosses her arms over her chest and inhales the salty air, tilting her head to the side, and fixing a smile on her fair face. “I was hoping there would be a kelpie on board… Do you know where I may find one?” Knowing her inquiry would raise a suspicious brow, she merely changes the subject, hoping he would point her in the right direction. “I just love the water. Don’t you? I bet you have to be a strong swimmer to work aboard a ship.” A nervous shift of her gaze would rest on the ladle now, as she was no longer able to gaze at the face. He would see through her if she continues to ramble, so instead she merely falls silent, and purses her full lips.

Lysander found the ladle pulled from his lips as Lanara stumbled over the heavy chain, and he had to tighten his hold on the instrument to keep it from clamoring to the deck. As she apologized, he lifted an eyebrow at her, wary, skeptical. That eyebrow arched a bit higher as she mentioned kelpies, preceded by an immediate furrowing of both when she posed her query regarding where to find one. He remained silent and still, except to cross his arms across his chest and continue to scowl. He followed her line of sight to the ladle and he grunted before turning to put it back in the wooden pail, away from her, away from everybody else. He turned, as though to just leave without answering anything, but he hesitated and turned back. His voice was gruff, hoarse when he spoke as though from extended disuse. "'f you know what's good for you, you'll stay away from the kelpies." Just then, the Captain, Morrigan, wandered by, catching Lysander's growl of warning. He clapped the kraken on the shoulder as though they were friends, but there was an obvious tension between them. "Now, now, Lysander, don't threaten our customers. And why would you threaten such an exquisite beauty? Why, we should put up all the mermaids lest they become enraged by her presence here." The Captain chuckled. "What can we help you with, miss? It is our humble pleasure to assist in any way."

Lanara frowns slightly at Lysander’s warning and is about to retort, when they are both interrupted, by the Captain, no less. Growing more uneasy, Lana shifts her weight to one foot, as several compliments are thrown her way, causing her cheeks to shift from pale to a deep crimson. The woman was lovely to look at; though it was obvious she was oblivious to her own appearance. Wanting to grimace and shrug off the appraisal, she forces herself to remain steady and respond with a faux laugh. Let them think her a foolish elf, if that’s what it would take to complete her task, so be it. Playing the part to perfection, she flutters her long lashes, and peers up at Captain Morrigan, adding a hint of softness to her tone, as she breathes her explanation, in a sultry whisper. “Aw, Captain! No need to be so harsh to the man! He was merely keeping me company, until you came along… I was asking him to take me to see a kelpie. And I know how busy you are, with such a crowd gathered! I was hoping that he could accompany me… You know? Show me the sights? I have traveled so far to see a kelpie. I’m sure you wouldn’t turn me away, unsatisfied. Right, Captain?” As if to emphasize her points, the woman leans a tad closer to the male, knowing it was likely ages since he smelled anything other than sea water and ale. The intoxicating aroma of lavender and rose would assault his senses, as the witch would glance at Lysander. “I’m Lanara.” She states, already having heard his name from the Captain.

Lysander | Morrigan reached for Lanara's hand, intending to kiss the back of it. "Lanara. That's beautiful. I'm Captain Morrigan. This is Lysander, as I'm sure you heard just now. Forgive him, he's a bit shy." Lysander lifted an eyebrow at that. Morrigan continued, "But, if it's his company you want, then by all means, who am I to deny it? Lysander, be a good ... fellow ... and take Ms. Lanara to see our kelpies." Lysander scowled, openly, and narrowed his eyes, but he didn't argue. Arguing came at too costly a price when Morrigan could and would just kill a selkie in front of him to exact and compel obedience. Morrigan patted Lysander's shoulder and moved off into the crowd to assist with other business ventures. The kraken turned to stare at Lanara, like he could just figure her out; possibly, by sizing her up in the minute it took him to answer. Finally, he growled, "Keep your hands to yourself or you're liable to lose one down there. Don't say I didn't warn you."

Lanara smiles sweetly at Morrigan as he grants her requests, allowing the male to kiss the back of her hand, as she dips into a customary curtsey. As soon as the Captain is out of sight, she scowls and rubs the back of her hand on her leggings, while catching Lysander’s gaze. “I don’t know how you work here… “Those words hang in the air for a lingering moment, as she eyes the chain again, and then raises her face to the kraken. They were mere strangers, yet she felt compelled to at least try and help the male, if he were to aid her in her endeavor. “Lead the way…” She murmurs, falling into step beside him and making certain not to step on his chain. Lowering her voice to a mere whisper, she fills the male in, on just what she was doing on the boat, at this hour of the night. “I need some hair… Hair of a kelpie. Whether it’s in human or horse form, it matters not to me. Though I do have a way with animals, so in its horse form it may prove an easier feat. I don’t mean to harm the creature; I merely just need a few locks of hair. For a potion that I am making. If you will assist me, perhaps I could distract the Captain and you can escape? I do not know what it is you may or may not have done to be chained up like that… But it’s not right. A handsome face like that should –not- be kept tied to a ship.” Lana smiles now, a genuine smile, as she continues walking alongside the kraken. He likely would be confused by her, as most were, but that was all part of her charm.

Lysander begrudgingly started in the direction of the staircase near the cabin to head below decks, appearing for all intents and purposes to ignore Lanara altogether. But he tilted his head a bit when she whispered, and it was obvious that despite his standoffish nature, he was listening to her. Apparently he wasn't thrilled with what she wanted because he snorted at the end of her explanation. How many had come before her? So many had taken up the burden of freeing him, but so few had done anything more than talk. These humans ... and whatever these pointy-eared humans were ... were all the same. He made it down half the stairwell before he was forced to stop as the slack in the chain grew taut. "Kelpies are through there." He pointed to a doorway. "You get hurt, it's not my fault." There were stalls in the room Lysander indicated, floors covered with hay and straw. There were only two kelpies being held captive there, both in horse form, both enraged and looking for vengeance -- maybe even more than the kraken at this point.

Lanara fidgets with the hem of her corset, pausing at the middle of the stairwell and turning to peer up at Lysander. She was really on her own? Not one to shy away from a challenge, she merely nods her head and gathers her thoughts. Being an empath would come in handy, if she was able to grab a hold of the beast, before it tackled her, though it would be tricky. A glance was given to the chain, as she sighs, really not desiring to lose a finger. A slight slump of her shoulders would occur as she turns her back to the kraken and descends the stairs, and disappears from view as she steps through the doorway. “Hi, sweet babies…” She coos, as she slowly advances on the cage that the kelpies were being kept in, and hesitantly slides her hand between the bars. Both kelpies would charge at the cage, and send Lana’s arm to swiftly pull from the bars, as they clamber against the rungs, viciously baring their teeth. “Harder than I thought…” Mutters the witch, as she grasps a fistful of hay and approaches the horse formed creature on the left, whispering softly through the bars, indecipherable promises of a treat. Eventually, the animal’s anger seems to subside, albeit momentarily, before she approaches the bars and tears the hay from the offered appendage. With just enough time to react, Lana reaches her other hand through the bar and settles it above the eye of the beast, forcing it to calm down. Empathic abilities fully enforced, the kelpie remains as docile as a pony and allows the witch to cut a few strands from her mane, as she happily dines on the offered hay. The other kelpie, however, is a different story, as it glares at the witch and continues to gnaw on the bars of the cage, bucking wildly. Lana mutters a soft ‘thank you’ and darts out of the room, closing the door behind her, and ascending the stairs. “That was easy... Miss me, Lysander?”

Lysander leaned against the wall as Lanara left inside the kelpie stables. He folded his arms across his chest and resented the fact he was playing tour guide to exhibitions of his own kind. It was drudgery. He heard some commotion inside the room and he glanced toward the open doorway, brows furrowing again. Right when he was trying to decide whether to find someone to go in after Lanara, she appeared, and rather triumphant looking at that. He met her on the stairs and cast a dubious stare her direction as they climbed back to the main deck. He wasn't sure what to make of her -- her or her question. "How'd you do that," he finally growled at her, surprised, and uncharacteristically curious. They reached the deck and Lysander stepped through the hatch before stepping aside to give Lanara room to emerge as well.

Lanara steps through the hatch and remains at Lysander’s side, making certain that Morrigan wasn’t within sight, as she places the kelpie hair into her satchel. Grinning from pointed ear to pointed ear, the witch gently rests her hand on his forearm, and closes her eyes. After a brief moment, the kraken would feel slightly tired, and content, as though he was well rested and didn’t have a care in the world. Lana maintains a vision of Lysander lying on a beach, the wind lightly blowing his hair, and the sun warming his skin. The beach is quiet, and the male is alone, merely enjoying his surroundings as he smells the salty air and hears the waves crashing against the shore. And then the moment is gone, as she removes her hand from his flesh, and opens her hypnotic brown hues. “I’m an empath… I can force the feelings that I imagine, into the form of someone else. I assume you felt rested and content? It comes in handy, at times.”

Lysander resisted pulling his arm out of reach because Lanara wasn't doing anything but just resting her hand there ... but something changed. He started to feel a creeping tiredness, but not the pervading weariness that usually accompanied it. His surroundings seemed to change and he frowned, confused ... confused but somehow ... content. He took a step forward on the beach because he needed to get back to the water, if he could just get in the water, completely in, then he could begin the transformation process, and-- Lanara removed her hand and his surroundings shimmered back into view. He was aware Lanara was speaking, but he was thrown and disoriented. He backpedaled away from her, scowling, angry that she'd done something and whatever explanation she was providing wasn't good enough, or didn't explain enough for him. He put a bit more distance between them before turning to leave with scarcely a word spoken in farewell. He couldn't shake the feeling he'd been toyed with, somehow.