~~I really hope you all forgive my lack of writing this weekend. My father
had a heart attack on Wednesday night, and I've been pretty much living in
the Intensive Care ward of the hospital. But he's home now, so maybe I can
concentrate on sleeping and writing.
~~For the last time, I DO NOT OWN SLAYERS!!!
~*************************~
If there was one thing that consumed Captain Zelgadis more than finding a cure, it was the game of chess. Being the son of a noble, he had grown up playing the distinguished game against all his father's friends and relatives. He know frequented the chess tournaments in the upper ranks of society, always garbed in the height of fashion, but his face, hands, and hair were always concealed. The only thing he allowed to be seen were his lavender eyes, which sparkled with intensity as he moved his pieces around the board.
A week before the sinking of the infamous pirate ship "Mazoku", Zelgadis was happily ensconced in a brown leather chair in the parlor of the nobleman Inverse. Inverse was the owner of the Inverse Trading Company, one of the richest on the seas. The head of the Inverse family was rumored to have been quite the magician and swords master, and Zelgadis was truly astounded by the fact that he was not in attendance. He had looked forward to meeting the man. True, he also wanted to spy on the latest trade routes and cargos, but still, a hero such as Inverse could not be ignored.
He had played well so far this evening, defeating many opponents in less than five moves. The ladies all twittered around him, wondering at his concealed looks. However, his manners were impeccable, and his countenance much refined, so they wondered more about the size of his purse than his looks. He was garbed in a black satin suit, very conservative. The collar rose high on his neck, and was tied shut with a white silk cravat, which hung down the front of his white shirt in a cunning lopsidedness. His black mask covered all of his face, head and hair, leaving only his eyes visible and giving him an air of mysteriousness.
"So strange a garb for so good a player," an amused voice at his elbow chuckled. "One would think that you seek to confuse your enemies so that you may cheat them instead of playing fairly."
He turned to see a lovely young woman in a scarlet gown standing next to him. Her skirts rustled softly on the floor as she moved around him and sat on the opposite side of the chess board. Her eyes were lowered modestly, allowing him to study her face with pleasant ease as she reset the chessboard. She was very lovely indeed, with pale white skin and hair the color of glowing embers. He sat back and enjoyed the view he had from his angle, which was right down the front of her dress.
She leaned back in her chair and raised her eyes to meet his, and Zelgadis was struck dumb.
"Through the oceans and seas have I traveled, through strange lands and worlds abroad. Never, though, have I seen eyes as beautiful as yours. They are like the purest of rubies, purer still, than the red of a golden sunset over the sea. Redder than the firefish, who haunts the waters of the Northern Seas. Would that I could drown in the sea of your eyes, for never would I be happier."
The room had fallen deathly silent, and the woman began to smile and blush softly. Zelgadis blinked a few times and looked around at all the men and women staring at him. He covered his mouth with his hand in horror, and stammered. "Gods. . . I said that aloud, didn't I?"
The woman laughed and applauded softly. The clamor of the room returned after her clapping died down, and Zelgadis could feel his face going red, and thanked the gods once again for his mask. The woman smiled and leaned forward, saying softly, "Thank you for the compliment, even if you were just trying to cheat."
She winked at him and made her opening, unchallenging move. Zelgadis chuckled and made a similar move, and the game was on. She kept up a friendly banter, trying to annoy him with her cunning jabs and jests, but he frankly ignored her words. However, he found his eyes drifting back to her cleavage, and then to her eyes. He played well, but poorly in comparison to his earlier games.
Soon, the game was hers, and he accepted a cheerful defeat. He shook her hand firmly, congratulating her on a game well played. She smirked at him, her voice low in his ear as she passed by. "I have weapons only a woman could use."
Zelgadis had choked back his laughter, biting his lip to keep the sounds deep in his throat. He watched her skirts float away from him, and had to keep himself from following her. He nabbed a passing servant and inquired softly, "Who is that lady?"
The servant followed his discreet nod and smiled broadly. "She is the Lady Inverse," he replied quietly.
"Ah," Zelgadis mused, "the wife of the Lord Inverse. I had heard that he could not attend. How good of his wife to take his place."
The servant laughed. "Nay, sir, this is his daughter, the Lady Lina. Her mother has been dead for many a year now, and the Lady Lina runs the household and her father's ships when he is otherwise occupied."
Zelgadis nodded at the servant, who bowed and melted into the crowd. He had watched the lady for some time, sitting easily in his brown leather chair. She won the tournament, but happily gave the prize of a golden pocket watch to the runner up, saying that the hostess was not supposed to win, and that they were all very rude indeed to let her win. The crowd had laughed, and she clapped her hands.
Instantly, the lights were dimmed, and music began to softly float out from a corner of the room, where a quartet was arranged. Many young men and women floated out onto a hardwood dance floor and waltzed slowly about the room. Lady Lina was dancing with a tall blonde man in a blue suit. She laughed with him as he twirled her about the floor, and tried not to step on her feet. Zelgadis watched them for a time, then sighed and headed for the terrace. His plan was to leave the back way, so that no one could follow in his footsteps.
``````~~~~~``````
All the next few days, sitting in his cabin as the "Amelia" went along its merry way, Zelgadis could not rid his mind of ruby eyes and scarlet hair. He couldn't get her out of his head! He wished beyond anything that he could have danced with her, just once.
He rolled to his left on his huge bed, hugging a pillow. His loose, flowing white shirt had become tangled in the bed sheets, and his black pants chafed horribly in one specific place. He rubbed his face against the softness of the pillow, only to discover that it was red. Red, like her eyes. Red, like her hair. Red, like her pretty little pouting. . .
"Captain!" someone yelled through the door, drawing him out of his daydream.
Zelgadis leaped out of bed, crossing the room in three great strides, and yanked the cabin door open. His first mate, Dilgear, was standing in the doorway. Being a half troll, Dilgear was huge, taking up most of the doorway. His green eyes slowly took in Zelgadis's glare and his loose clothing. "Sorry, captain," he said, inclining his head a little, "I didn't mean to wake you, but you're needed on deck."
Zelgadis nodded and charged after his mate, taking the steps two at a time. Every member of the crew was at the two edges of the ship, each holding a rope, or hauling things on board from the sea. He blinked at them all, and then yelled out, "What the blazes is going on here?"
Dilgear turned to look at him over his shoulder. "Shipwreck, sir," he replied. "Seems like she was burned to a crisp by some kind of magic."
"Magic, eh?" the captain repeated, pondering. He stroked his rough chin, and realized that he wasn't wearing his mask. He shrugged the thought off, knowing that his crew had seen his face and knew his story, otherwise they weren't allowed near his ship.
"Captain!" a man on the starboard side yelled suddenly, pointing towards the water. "A body, captain!"
Zelgadis dashed to the side, leaning far over the railing to peer at a piece of driftwood. A small figure was draped over it, clothed all in black. Red, shining hair floated in the water, sending red highlights like blood through the blue. Zelgadis's blood ran cold as he identified the figure as female. Before he even knew that he was doing, he had leapt off the side of the ship and dived into the cold water. He surfaced to the shouts of his crew, but he ignored them all, his strong arms pulling in through the water towards the drifter.
She slipped off the piece of wood and sank into the sea just as Zelgadis reached her. He dove quickly, dragging her up into the warm sunshine and air, slapping her soundly twice to make her breathe. She gasped and opened her eyes to stare at him blurrily, and she smiled softly before she fainted again.
Zelgadis couldn't believe it. He held her carefully in his stone arms, as one would hold a fragile goblet of wine, and wondered why she didn't scream. His crew threw him a line, and he carried her back up onto the deck of his ship. She was soaked to the bone, and was shivering against the warm air.
The crew all stared at the woman, unsure of what to do with her. Zelgadis, who had been lying there catching his breath, ordered them to carry her to his cabin and deliver her to his cabin boy, Jillas. Jillas was a fox-boy, and was very very sure than he hated all humans but Zelgadis, who had saved him from being killed once by an angry mob. He had devoted his life to Zelgadis, and was the only person he trusted to take care of this girl.
He leaned his head back against the side of the ship and watched the clouds, wondering what to do next.
`````~~~~~`````
Xellos had commandeered another ship and was already in hot pursuit of the magical lady who had so shamed him in mystical combat. As he neared the site of the sunken ships, his crow's nest yelled down to him. "The "Amelia" is moored just off of the site, captain! Looks like the Chimera beat us there!"
Xellos rubbed his hands together and chuckled gleefully. "Good. . . I haven't had someone to pick on in quite a while."
~*************************~
~~heeheehee. I love Zelgadis. He just seems so darned refined all the time, so I simply had to make him a courtier. I need more reviews, especially pertaining to how to proceed from here. Should I have another chapter of lovey-dovey for Zelly-kun, or just head straight to the insulting and fighting between the two men?
~~Thanks to kurokoiku, Rina Metallium, Silvershark, Ladyknightchaos, Crimson Fyrlite, Kaeru Shisho, and Beedoo for your wonderful reviews! You've all made me so happy!!!!!
~~Next time on "Love on the High Seas". . . Xellos and Zelgadis and Lina? Who will win a no-holds-barred magical battle? Hell if I know?!
~~For the last time, I DO NOT OWN SLAYERS!!!
~*************************~
If there was one thing that consumed Captain Zelgadis more than finding a cure, it was the game of chess. Being the son of a noble, he had grown up playing the distinguished game against all his father's friends and relatives. He know frequented the chess tournaments in the upper ranks of society, always garbed in the height of fashion, but his face, hands, and hair were always concealed. The only thing he allowed to be seen were his lavender eyes, which sparkled with intensity as he moved his pieces around the board.
A week before the sinking of the infamous pirate ship "Mazoku", Zelgadis was happily ensconced in a brown leather chair in the parlor of the nobleman Inverse. Inverse was the owner of the Inverse Trading Company, one of the richest on the seas. The head of the Inverse family was rumored to have been quite the magician and swords master, and Zelgadis was truly astounded by the fact that he was not in attendance. He had looked forward to meeting the man. True, he also wanted to spy on the latest trade routes and cargos, but still, a hero such as Inverse could not be ignored.
He had played well so far this evening, defeating many opponents in less than five moves. The ladies all twittered around him, wondering at his concealed looks. However, his manners were impeccable, and his countenance much refined, so they wondered more about the size of his purse than his looks. He was garbed in a black satin suit, very conservative. The collar rose high on his neck, and was tied shut with a white silk cravat, which hung down the front of his white shirt in a cunning lopsidedness. His black mask covered all of his face, head and hair, leaving only his eyes visible and giving him an air of mysteriousness.
"So strange a garb for so good a player," an amused voice at his elbow chuckled. "One would think that you seek to confuse your enemies so that you may cheat them instead of playing fairly."
He turned to see a lovely young woman in a scarlet gown standing next to him. Her skirts rustled softly on the floor as she moved around him and sat on the opposite side of the chess board. Her eyes were lowered modestly, allowing him to study her face with pleasant ease as she reset the chessboard. She was very lovely indeed, with pale white skin and hair the color of glowing embers. He sat back and enjoyed the view he had from his angle, which was right down the front of her dress.
She leaned back in her chair and raised her eyes to meet his, and Zelgadis was struck dumb.
"Through the oceans and seas have I traveled, through strange lands and worlds abroad. Never, though, have I seen eyes as beautiful as yours. They are like the purest of rubies, purer still, than the red of a golden sunset over the sea. Redder than the firefish, who haunts the waters of the Northern Seas. Would that I could drown in the sea of your eyes, for never would I be happier."
The room had fallen deathly silent, and the woman began to smile and blush softly. Zelgadis blinked a few times and looked around at all the men and women staring at him. He covered his mouth with his hand in horror, and stammered. "Gods. . . I said that aloud, didn't I?"
The woman laughed and applauded softly. The clamor of the room returned after her clapping died down, and Zelgadis could feel his face going red, and thanked the gods once again for his mask. The woman smiled and leaned forward, saying softly, "Thank you for the compliment, even if you were just trying to cheat."
She winked at him and made her opening, unchallenging move. Zelgadis chuckled and made a similar move, and the game was on. She kept up a friendly banter, trying to annoy him with her cunning jabs and jests, but he frankly ignored her words. However, he found his eyes drifting back to her cleavage, and then to her eyes. He played well, but poorly in comparison to his earlier games.
Soon, the game was hers, and he accepted a cheerful defeat. He shook her hand firmly, congratulating her on a game well played. She smirked at him, her voice low in his ear as she passed by. "I have weapons only a woman could use."
Zelgadis had choked back his laughter, biting his lip to keep the sounds deep in his throat. He watched her skirts float away from him, and had to keep himself from following her. He nabbed a passing servant and inquired softly, "Who is that lady?"
The servant followed his discreet nod and smiled broadly. "She is the Lady Inverse," he replied quietly.
"Ah," Zelgadis mused, "the wife of the Lord Inverse. I had heard that he could not attend. How good of his wife to take his place."
The servant laughed. "Nay, sir, this is his daughter, the Lady Lina. Her mother has been dead for many a year now, and the Lady Lina runs the household and her father's ships when he is otherwise occupied."
Zelgadis nodded at the servant, who bowed and melted into the crowd. He had watched the lady for some time, sitting easily in his brown leather chair. She won the tournament, but happily gave the prize of a golden pocket watch to the runner up, saying that the hostess was not supposed to win, and that they were all very rude indeed to let her win. The crowd had laughed, and she clapped her hands.
Instantly, the lights were dimmed, and music began to softly float out from a corner of the room, where a quartet was arranged. Many young men and women floated out onto a hardwood dance floor and waltzed slowly about the room. Lady Lina was dancing with a tall blonde man in a blue suit. She laughed with him as he twirled her about the floor, and tried not to step on her feet. Zelgadis watched them for a time, then sighed and headed for the terrace. His plan was to leave the back way, so that no one could follow in his footsteps.
``````~~~~~``````
All the next few days, sitting in his cabin as the "Amelia" went along its merry way, Zelgadis could not rid his mind of ruby eyes and scarlet hair. He couldn't get her out of his head! He wished beyond anything that he could have danced with her, just once.
He rolled to his left on his huge bed, hugging a pillow. His loose, flowing white shirt had become tangled in the bed sheets, and his black pants chafed horribly in one specific place. He rubbed his face against the softness of the pillow, only to discover that it was red. Red, like her eyes. Red, like her hair. Red, like her pretty little pouting. . .
"Captain!" someone yelled through the door, drawing him out of his daydream.
Zelgadis leaped out of bed, crossing the room in three great strides, and yanked the cabin door open. His first mate, Dilgear, was standing in the doorway. Being a half troll, Dilgear was huge, taking up most of the doorway. His green eyes slowly took in Zelgadis's glare and his loose clothing. "Sorry, captain," he said, inclining his head a little, "I didn't mean to wake you, but you're needed on deck."
Zelgadis nodded and charged after his mate, taking the steps two at a time. Every member of the crew was at the two edges of the ship, each holding a rope, or hauling things on board from the sea. He blinked at them all, and then yelled out, "What the blazes is going on here?"
Dilgear turned to look at him over his shoulder. "Shipwreck, sir," he replied. "Seems like she was burned to a crisp by some kind of magic."
"Magic, eh?" the captain repeated, pondering. He stroked his rough chin, and realized that he wasn't wearing his mask. He shrugged the thought off, knowing that his crew had seen his face and knew his story, otherwise they weren't allowed near his ship.
"Captain!" a man on the starboard side yelled suddenly, pointing towards the water. "A body, captain!"
Zelgadis dashed to the side, leaning far over the railing to peer at a piece of driftwood. A small figure was draped over it, clothed all in black. Red, shining hair floated in the water, sending red highlights like blood through the blue. Zelgadis's blood ran cold as he identified the figure as female. Before he even knew that he was doing, he had leapt off the side of the ship and dived into the cold water. He surfaced to the shouts of his crew, but he ignored them all, his strong arms pulling in through the water towards the drifter.
She slipped off the piece of wood and sank into the sea just as Zelgadis reached her. He dove quickly, dragging her up into the warm sunshine and air, slapping her soundly twice to make her breathe. She gasped and opened her eyes to stare at him blurrily, and she smiled softly before she fainted again.
Zelgadis couldn't believe it. He held her carefully in his stone arms, as one would hold a fragile goblet of wine, and wondered why she didn't scream. His crew threw him a line, and he carried her back up onto the deck of his ship. She was soaked to the bone, and was shivering against the warm air.
The crew all stared at the woman, unsure of what to do with her. Zelgadis, who had been lying there catching his breath, ordered them to carry her to his cabin and deliver her to his cabin boy, Jillas. Jillas was a fox-boy, and was very very sure than he hated all humans but Zelgadis, who had saved him from being killed once by an angry mob. He had devoted his life to Zelgadis, and was the only person he trusted to take care of this girl.
He leaned his head back against the side of the ship and watched the clouds, wondering what to do next.
`````~~~~~`````
Xellos had commandeered another ship and was already in hot pursuit of the magical lady who had so shamed him in mystical combat. As he neared the site of the sunken ships, his crow's nest yelled down to him. "The "Amelia" is moored just off of the site, captain! Looks like the Chimera beat us there!"
Xellos rubbed his hands together and chuckled gleefully. "Good. . . I haven't had someone to pick on in quite a while."
~*************************~
~~heeheehee. I love Zelgadis. He just seems so darned refined all the time, so I simply had to make him a courtier. I need more reviews, especially pertaining to how to proceed from here. Should I have another chapter of lovey-dovey for Zelly-kun, or just head straight to the insulting and fighting between the two men?
~~Thanks to kurokoiku, Rina Metallium, Silvershark, Ladyknightchaos, Crimson Fyrlite, Kaeru Shisho, and Beedoo for your wonderful reviews! You've all made me so happy!!!!!
~~Next time on "Love on the High Seas". . . Xellos and Zelgadis and Lina? Who will win a no-holds-barred magical battle? Hell if I know?!