As a pirate, you see some pretty interesting things, but this tops the cake. Underneath the setting sun and its warm glow is a woman that Jae-Ha could only describe as a mermaid.
Pink tail resting softly between sand and sea. Red hair drifting over her shoulders and down her back. She's beautiful.
It's odd to see someone out here that also isn't fully human, down past the waist. It had felt like Jae-Ha was a rarity before.
The pirate crew had never made Jae-Ha feel like an outcast despite his Dragon Leg. Instead, he's a normal member of the crew with abilities that are rare but well received. And despite all of that, he's curious about the mermaid not too terribly far from their ship.
She's calm as if the pirate ship is of no concern to her. Her eyes aren't even drawn towards the ship and Jae-Ha. They are skyward as if the moon has more to say than possible companions tonight.
"Is everything alright?" Jae-Ha leans over the side of the pirate ship, half-wishing that his lips would have formed far flirtier words of their own.
"Yeah." Her eyes under the pale moonlight look either a dark purple or a blue deeper and darker than the ocean at night.
"You're close to pirates and government ships, you know?" Jae-Ha jumped out of the ship that doubled as his home and landed beside her quite gracefully.
"Government ships?" She asked, watching the surrounding shore, as if said ships would stand out to her.
"Among the merchant ships." Jae-Ha explained, "They blend in pretty well, but most their trade is illegal."
"Oh." She brushed her red hair back with her right hand. "Will they do me harm?"
"If they think you're worth selling." Jae-Ha hated that those ominous words just slipped out. "I'll keep you safe though."
"Are they afraid of you?" She looked surprised.
"We sink their ships." Jae-Ha motioned to the ship he just left.
"Thank you." Maybe she meant for his offer of keeping her safe?
"I'm Jae-Ha, the Flying Pirate." The phrase felt the most fitting after all.
"I'm Yona." She looked back out to sea, something like sadness flickered across her face, quick and full as light.
"What's the matter?" Jae-Ha already doubts that Yona will answer him truthfully; they just met after all, and he's mostly human and she's a mermaid.
"I'm swimming away." Yona paused as if those words weren't quite what she meant, "I can't go back."
Memories like a reel kept playing back in her mind; they wouldn't leave her alone.
"We'll watch out for you." Jae-Ha wasn't sure if a mermaid could become a pirate, but he didn't want to leave her hurting and alone out here.
"Are the other pirates friendly too?" Her curious violet eyes looked up at the ship that Jae-Ha proudly called home.
"Yeah." Jae-Ha swallowed a lump that had suddenly appeared in his throat, "Our Captain takes care of us."
"He must be great." Yona smiled, though the distant sadness in her eyes hadn't vanished at all.
"She." Jae-Ha gently corrected.
"She must be great." Yona's smile got a touch wider, despite her ever present sadness.
"She is." And Jae-Ha looking at Yona felt the nearly overwhelming urge to protect this mermaid and a touch of an aching heart at the thought of her pain.