Hello and welcome back to another chapter of The Captain and the Shunned! For anyone who's stuck with me so far, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope that my work will continue to please you!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Treasure Planet in any way, shape or form.
Enjoy!
-xxXxx-
Donoma was everything Jim had heard about and more. The houses were brightly painted, the people friendly if not a little on the strange side. The higher ups stood from the crowd with colorful tattoos and face paint whilst the more 'common' folk made due with fine clothes. It seemed that there were no poor and underfed people here. It was like paradise. A big, brightly colored paradise full of loud and friendly people.
Sepla had volunteered to show Captain Jim, his First Mate and the 'lovely' Miss Rune throughout the city.
"You couldn't come at a better time young Jim!" Sepla clapped a hand on Jim's shoulders, "The Season of Fire Ending Celebration is underway and I'm hosting a great gathering for the festivities in my home tonight! You are welcome to come and enjoy yourself! In fact, I insist!" Sepla turned and engaged Amelia in a discussion bout the Ohcurian Solar Crystals.
Jim gazed over the stone balcony they were passing and marveled the sunset reflecting off the ocean. They had climbed rather high; Sepla's mansion was on the top of the hill over-seeing the city. It was a spectacular view, almost picturesque.
The sun's dying rays glittered like fire off the water's surface in a broad spectrum of bright reds, oranges and golds. The streets that were littered with an impressive array of festival lanterns that hung in garlands criss-crossing the walkways were lit up like snakes coiling through the city; and the merry singing of those who had started early celebration down by the docks rang through the evening air. All the picture needed was a silhouette of a happy couple embracing by the balcony railing. And of course, she was there.
Rune leaned over the railing gaping at the view, Kiwi perched on her shoulder. The dragon's tail curled this way and that in glee as Rune pointed energetically from one sight to the next. The RLS Glory, the market, a drunken man staggering down the street singing raucously. Kiwi chirped cheerily from her perch, neck stretched out to see the farther views. Nastas walked over to the amazed girl and her dragon and stood beside her.
"It is beautiful isn't it?" Rune glanced at Nastas as he sighed contentedly, "Not once in my life have I not been amazed at the beauty the sun set bestows on this land."
"Yeah, it's really something isn't it Kiwi?" she stroked the dragon nuzzling up to her warmth. The corners of Nastas' lips twitched upward.
"Yo Jim, come check this out!" Rune called over her shoulder not bothering tearing her eyes from the sunset. Jim's feet felt like lead as he made his way over to the railing and leaned nonchalantly against it.
"What?"
Rune looked at him like he'd grown a second head before shaking her head, "Well gee Captain; any happier and you'll explode," she remarked sarcastically. Jim frowned and Nastas chuckled behind his hand.
"Nastas? Jim? Miss Rune? Are you coming?" Sepla called to the three. Rune waved and jogged to catch up; Jim and Nastas walked a step behind.
"She really is something isn't she?" Nastas remarked to no one in particular. Jim's frown deepened, unnoticed by the man beside him but agreed anyway.
"Yeah."
When they arrived at the Chua estate, Rune and Jim both stared wide-eyed at the building. This place was huge! It easily dwarfed all the mansions they had ever seen. Great white pillars painted with golden suns greeted them at the entrance. The front door was a deep redwood painted brightly with golden suns and the entrance hall opened into a cavernous chamber. There were two stairways at each end of the room, coiling up till they met the second floor, each covered in a rich golden rug. Rune was the first to break out of her stunned silence.
"This place is fuc-" Jim immediately clapped a hand over Rune's mouth. Sepla and Nastas both laughed heartily as Rune slobbered heavily on his hand and Kiwi chomped down on his wrist. Even Amelia had to stifle chuckles of her own.
"Welcome to my humble abode!" Sepla declared as they stood in the center of the grand entrance hall. Rune opened her mouth, no doubt to say something about Sepla's 'humble' home but Jim silenced her with a look that said, 'Not now!' She pouted and made a face at him. Thankfully Sepla didn't notice but Nastas did. He grinned boyishly at Rune who returned the expression. Against his will, Jim's heart clenched.
Why was she smiling at Nastas like that? And why did he care? Why was it, when she pouted, her full, pink, bottom lip begged him to taste her? Or when she spied something she liked, her eyes sparkled and danced, rivaling all the precious sapphires and emeralds with their deep, rich color. Why?
'You know when a female cat goes into heat it attracts male cats with its hormones? Well it's kinda like that, except with Enailefs, it apparently affects human too,' Rune's voice echoed in his head. That's right. Rune's part Enailef. So Jim didn't really like her, it was only her hormones making him feel this way.
"Miss Rune, I was wondering," Jim snapped out of his internal debate to see Sepla approach the source of his problems, "Do you have a dress for tonight?"
"No. Why? Do I need it?" Rune asked. Sepla jumped back in shock.
"The fair maiden has no dress?! Oh the horror! What is this world coming to?!" the man cried dramatically and clapped his hands once. Almost immediately, a handful of maids and servants appeared through the door to the right.
"If you'll please follow us miss?" one of the older maids motioned Rune to follow them through the right-hand door.
"Wait what's up?" the poor girl looked around confusedly. Nastas chuckled lightly.
"They're to prepare you for tonight! It would be an absolute shame for one so beautiful to hide behind rags and men's clothes! No! An absolute disgrace to beauty itself! The same goes for Mrs. Doppler!" Sepla announced arms spread wide open. Rune laughed nervously but followed the maids through the door and Amelia followed. Sepla then turned to Jim.
"You must also prepare for tonight my young man! As captain I assume you have some sort of formal wear?" Jim nodded and Sepla clapped his hands once again. Another handful of servants and maids appeared, this time from the left-hand door and motioned the Captain to follow.
"We'll see you tonight then young captain!" Sepla boomed as Jim was lead away by the servants.
The bath, Jim concluded, was heaven. The bathroom he was in was white all around with a bathtub the size of a small pool. A simple yet elegant toilet and sink stood proudly at the opposite end of the bath he was currently soaking in.
Steam danced across the surface as he scrubbed off the dirt and old skin that time and space had given him. On the wall across from him was an impressive array of bottle filled with luxurious soaps and perfumes. Jim stayed clear of the colorful bottles and made due with the plainest bar of soap he could find that smelled of sandalwood and musk.
When Jim finished his bath, he was lead to a connected bedroom decorated with yellow and gold sun designs. The four-poster bed in the middle of the room was also dressed in yellow and gold and a deep yellow rug covered most of the hardwood floor. To say this room was impressive would be an understatement.
A frustrated scream made its way to Jim's ears. He froze halfway through pulling a dress shirt on. That scream sounded an awful lot like-
Rune burst into his room clad in nothing but a towel, hair dripping with soap and water, Kiwi wrapped around her neck. She didn't even seem to notice him till she ran into him almost knocking the two of them into the bed behind Jim.
"Wha-" she looked up from his chest into Jim's face. Oh god he'd never seen anything so beautiful in his life. Her hair, soaked in water and remnant bubbles, was plastered to her head, making her ears stand out more than usual. Her cheeks were flushed and her wide eyes seemed to look into his very soul. The he remembered she was wearing nothing but a towel and his face turned beet red in record time. Calls were then heard in the hallway. She looked around swiftly, hair flying around and sending water everywhere in her haste.
"I wasn't here alright?" she hissed before darting into the bathroom and shut the door behind her. Not a second after did the elderly maid who escorted Rune to her baths, come through the bedroom door panting slightly.
"My apologies Sir. But have you seen the young miss around?"
"I..uh…no, no I haven't. Sorry," Jim stammered slightly. The maid pouted and bowed.
"I could have sworn she went this way," she mumbled before leaving. Jim shut the door gently behind her and walked over to the bathroom door.
Why had he lied for her? And why did she come here in the first place? In nothing but a towel! His face reddened at the thought. Rune was naked, for real this time, under only a towel.
"Rune?" he knocked on the door, "What's going on?" he heard the water running. She was taking a bath in his bathroom?! What, in the name of all that was holy, was she thinking?!
"Rune! Answer me!" he knocked again this time getting a response.
"Gee I wonder what a girl like me could possibly be doing naked in a bathroom with the water running," her sarcasm was muffled by the door and the running water but he could hear her alright, "I'm masturbating!"
If it was even remotely possible, Jim's faced reddened to a whole new level. He went to sit down on his bed and cradled his head trying to calm his raging boner.
'Rune is not naked in my bathroom, Rune is not naked in my bathroom, Rune is not naked in my bathroom,' the poor man chanted in his head as erotic images kept flashing before his eyes.
Rune, sitting on the edge of the pool-like tub, water trailing down her lithe form; down past her shoulders, her breasts, her wide hips, right down to her womanhood.
Rune, washing her hair, the suds trailing down the line of her back down to her pert bottom, tail swishing around lazily.
Rune lying under him as he thrust into her, making her mewl and moan in pleasure, face flushed and eyes hooded in lust.
Rune, Rune, Rune!
Jim collapsed onto the bed and groaned his frustrations into the pillows. This was just the thing he didn't need. He could feel his member twitch every time he heard Rune whimper in the bath. Wait, whimpering?
Jim jumped from his bed and knocked on the bathroom door again.
"Rune? What's wrong?" he called. The whimpers stopped and the door opened revealing Rune, red faced and puffy eyed. Before he could say anything she spoke up.
"Do you have something I could wear till I get my own stuff back?" she sniffed. He nodded and silently dug through his closet for and extra shirt and a pair of pants. They sat in the middle of the floor. Jim now had a shirt on and hoped to any god out there that it hid his throbbing member. The effects of 'Erotic Rune' had yet to disappear completely. She was in the middle of toweling her hair dry when Jim broke the silence.
"So why were you crying? Did someone hurt you?" Jim stared at Rune confusedly as she broke out in laughter.
"No, no, no, it's not like that. Those stupid maids used this 'special' shampoo" she rolled her eyes and made air quotes, "To wash my hair and it got into my eyes. And the soaps they used! Good god! I thought my nose was gonna burn off! It was only when their back was turned that I managed to get out of there. They didn't even see my ears! Or my tail!" her head disappeared behind her towel as she rubbed her hair dry. When the towel was finally pulled back, her deep auburn locks poked out every which way, nearly hiding her ears completely in the mess. But despite the mess, she looked amazing. The light shone off her hair highlighting it with gold as her mane fell chaotically her heart-shaped face. It seemed to Jim that he was watching an entirely different creature. That was, until it slapped him out of his trance.
"Ow! Hey what was that for?!" Jim cradled his stinging cheek. Rune crossed her arms roughly but a light blush was still visible on her cheeks.
"I know my hair isn't the prettiest but that doesn't mean you can stare at it in horror, idiot," she held up a fist threatening to hit him again.
"It's not that, it's…never mind," Jim caught himself before he could compliment Rune's crazy hair. She opened her mouth to release another wisecrack but suddenly she stopped and sniffed the air. Jim raised an eyebrow.
"What? Are you a dog now?" She shook her head sluggishly before setting her bright eyes on him with a knowing smirk.
"What?" Jim asked nervously, his voice rising an extra octave. Her smirk widened to that of a Cheshire's grin, evil and mischievous.
"You have a hard on dontcha?" Jim's face reddened in shame. Rune clucked her tongue in mock disappointment, "Shame on you Jimmy! All that just 'cause a lady barged into your room and used your bathroom? Shame!" she pouted and grinned at him, towel draped over head, just covering her ears, hair cascading out from under the fluffy white material. Jim continued staring at his feet, red-faced and humiliated. Her grin faded somewhat before bonking him on the head.
"Dude, Jim?" he reluctantly looked up and she held his eyes, "It's normal! Hell it's how you reproduce for god's sake!" Jim shook his head slowly before responding.
"It's not that, it's….that time…when I, you know….almost….you," like the coward he was, Jim couldn't bring himself to say that one little word. Rune picked up on it and bonked him again.
"Hey ow!"
"If you keep feeling bad for yourself, I will hit you again!" she raised her fist again as if daring him to throw a pity-party for himself. The corner of Jim's lips twitched upward ever so slightly. Then he stood.
"Hey Rune? Remember what I told you about ordering your Captain around?" he smiled despite himself and so did Rune. Then she hit him again.
"Alright, alright!" he laughed, "Anyway you should probably get going. Don't want those maids to get into trouble just 'cause you got a little soap in your eyes," Jim joked and offered Rune a hand up. She jumped to her feet, completely disregarding his hand; it dropped limply to his side.
"Yeah you're probably right," Rune sighed and grimaced up at Jim, "They probably have more torture to send me through to make me look 'utterly delectable' to the public eye!" she struck a silly pose, one hand in the air, the other on her hip as she pouted the best she could. Jim laughed before Rune disappeared out the door screaming something about 'I'm here dammit! Let the torture begin!' Jim smiled and continued getting ready for tonight.