It was dark and stormy this night, I was just trying to get home to Thalasso.
A storm raged over the ocean, threatening to rip the sails off my frigate. The ship's hull groaned and creaked as it was battered by the waves, the sea spray and foam coating the decks, turning an otherwise straightforward walk across into a dangerous slip and slide. The gunpowder and cannons were soaked and the lights of my lanterns were so ineffective, I could barely see the ship's nose from the steering rack, the lightning from the storm was the only reason I could see at all.
But the storm wasn't what I was worried about, I've been in these conditions previously and come out unscathed each time, I consider myself a good enough sailer to see storms more as a navigational nuisance rather than a danger, plus I knew this stretch of water well enough to know I was in no danger of hitting rocks, a reef or an island.
What I was really worried about was the Tempesta pirates. The toughest people in these waters thanks to being kansen. Most people love them, they mostly prey on other pirates and bandits while guarding merchant and passenger ships when hired to do so. They charge a small toll for operating in 'their' waters, something I didn't much care for. One of which was the bane of my existence:
Golden Hind. She's the one who patrols this route I'm on now, constantly chasing me since I missed a few toll payments...and not accidentally either, not that money was an issue to me, I just hate pirates.
Fortunately I haven't run into them tonight as I sailed the seas around Thalassopolis, probably since she has bigger fish to fry than some random guy who refuses to play with her. Yep its just me on this ship, thanks to having a core, I'm one of lucky few who can sail a ship like this unassisted by a crew. But at the same time that fact means I could be of interest to the Tempesta, either as an asset or competition, while I love sailing, I hate the idea of being a pirate.
Finally I see a lighthouse flash in the distance and will my ship to turn in towards the harbour. The waves and tide were not making things easy however. It took a few attempts before I could line the ship up properly with the pier I wanted. After a few unsettling bumps and bangs, I managed to get alongside, drop anchor and climb off the hull. Ah its good to be home!
I found the Harbourmaster's office and went inside to pay for the spot to moor my ship. He was glad to see me after I walked in and we exchanged a greeting.
"Captain Robin! Welcome home! Good to see you survived that storm!" He laughed to me as I paid him.
"Good to be back Jake, I'm just glad Golden Hind wasn't out there tonight." I reply as Jake hands me a drink. He sighs in irritation as I bring her up.
"You're still worried about the Tempesta? Come on man, they're the good guys!" He told me, in a tone that conveyed he was still in disbelief about my disdain for those women.
"Please, they're scoundrels and troublemakers just like all the other pirates out there. They just manipulate people instead of shooting them like the rest." I retort, sitting down to rest after my rough journey. Jake then shushed me rather harshly.
"Don't talk bad about them around here, you know you'll just make people angry, especially your dad if he overheard you just now." He hissed to me. I just rolled my eyes.
"So what, Dad is already mad at me for refusing to pay Golden Hind's toll every time I sail out of here, I don't care that its only ten coins per trip, its bloody extortion and illegal." I take a swig of my water as Jake replies, in slight shock at what I said.
"You refused her toll again? That's very foolish of you, she could take much more from you." He told me as I put my drink down.
"No, the foolish part was putting a cannon ball through her centre mast as I sailed away like this." I then held up my middle finger. "So she's probably very mad at me for that."
"You FIRED on her? Are you insane man?!"
"Relax it was a joke, I'm not stupid, the part where I flip her off as I sail away at full speed with ALL my money is true however." I corrected.
"That's a dangerous game my friend, Golden Hind may be a friendly soul on the surface, but she's a fearsome fighter just like the other Tempesta, do yourself a favour and don't make her angry, please." Jake advised me as I stood up.
"Fine I'll try, no promises however." I called to him as I left to head home.
The next day.
I wake up to knocking on the door of my inn room. I open it and a uniformed man is standing there, along with two other armed men. Presumably from the navy.
"Whats this about?" I asked.
"Your father has summoned you Captain Robin, Mr Robin wishes to see you as soon as possible." The man announces, ushering me out the door. My heart sinks hearing that, the only reason my dad could want to see me, is to admonish me yet again. I set off to follow the men to my Dad's office. I wonder what it will be this time?
Not helping that one merchant vessel, who's captain wouldn't listen to me about the reef on his course?
Correcting that nobleman when he argued against the navy's crackdown on piracy, just because the Tempesta were already doing it?
Or would it just be because I didn't agree with letting our people be bullied by boat bitches? Well I would get my answer sooner than I realised.
I followed the men down to my father's office. Much bigger and more lavish than my friend Jake's place. He opened the door for me and I was floored by the sight inside the room. There she was, plain as day just chatting with my dad: Golden Hind. Her tentacles splayed out behind her as she sat on the desk, something Dad would never let me do annoyingly.
They both saw me enter and this woman had the nerve to wink at me, I felt my muscles tense up and I briefly clenched my fists as I walked inside. Trying to keep my composure I spoke up as I approached Dad's desk.
"You wanted to see me Dad?" I addressed him, glaring at Hind, who just smiled at me creepily.
"Yes son, sit down please." He gestured to a chair next to me. I moved it away from Hind a foot or two before sitting in it. "Listen son, I don't know what you have against miss Hind here, but its about time you resolve this problem with her, I don't want you getting hurt over ten coins." He told me bluntly. I sighed in exasperation, draping my arms down by my sides.
"Dad...I've been over this with you; not about the coins-" I started to argue.
"I know what its about Kenneth!" Dad interrupted harshly, damn he only uses my full name when he's REALLY pissed. "You think you're making some grand statement about how we shouldn't be paying off pirates or whatever crusade you think you're on. But enough is enough!"
He then slid some paper towards me, lots of writing on it along with the seal of his company on it. "I've drafted this pact for you to sign, the long and the short of it is this: You're working for Golden Hind as compensation for the missed toll payments." He explained.
I felt like I had been gut punched by his words, I was speechless for a good few minutes as I took in what Dad had said. While I stared at Dad in shock over this pact, Hind just watched me with a sultry smirk, a hungry look in her eyes. I picked up the pact to read over it, the contents of it just seem to get worse the more I read.
"Well Captain, it seems you and I will working very closely from now on, heehee~." Hind giggled, sliding off the desk. She came over to me stood besides my seat, one of her tentacles brushed my arm and I flinched.
"Will you cut it out?! You're in my space." I hiss to her.
"You were in my waters, and you chose not to pay~" Hind pointed out. "So if you don't want to pay in gold, you'll need to do it some other way, you're certainly cute enough for what I have in mind~" She teased, she's standing behind me now, multiple tentacles are flowing over my chair and onto my body, caressing my shoulders and wrapping around my chest and one of my legs.
"Dad...y-you won't let her do this right? C-can't I just-ah!-pay her and be done with- Mmf! -this?" I struggled to say, trying not to let the tentacles get to me. To my horror, Dad just laughed at me for a moment.
"I don't think she cares about your money any more son." He joked before looking up at Hind. "Leave the poor boy alone for now girl, he'll be yours once he signs this." He stated, pushing the pact towards me. I bolted to my feet and slammed my hands on the table, startling Hind.
"I'm not some piece of livestock you can just sell off to whoever! I'm not signing this shit!" I declare.
"Well its either sign the pact or your lose your job and all your assets, including your ship. Last time I checked they're all in my name aren't they?" He stated with a sneer.
"You don't own my ship, the Ballista is MINE, I bought it with MY money and you can't take it away from me." I retorted. Dad through his hands up in surrender.
"You're right about that one I guess, however do you really think you'll get very far out of the port if you turn down Hind's offer? The only reason she hasn't already come for you is because she knows you're my son, if you refuse this then I won't do anything to stop her and her friends from doing god knows what to you out there, I mean...she is creative with her...'punishments'" He explained ominously.
I felt a pang of dread in my stomach as I looked back at Hind. She made a circle with her finger and thumb before sliding the tip of a tentacle through it repeatedly while waggling her eyebrows at me. I shuddered watching her do that, and decided to look at the pact again.
Most of it wasn't actually that bad, mainly it was just an agreement that I would work under her until my debt was paid. The part that made my blood run cold was a sentence about...our bodies. It stipulated that I must report any amorous feelings to a Tempesta and let them..deal with them.
"The hell is that part about?" I asked pointing to the sentence in question.
"Oh that?" Hind stood next to me to see it, deliberately trying to lean closer to me. "That's a little something I added to sweeten things for us, we all get lonely out there darling and I know none of us like to feel pent up~" She replied with that annoying sweet voice of hers. "Plus I have needs too, I'd love if a cutie like you were with me to sate them~" She scooted closer to me pulled me into a half hug, since she was taller than me, my head almost collided with one of her giant breasts, a tentacle coiled around my thigh with its tip approaching my crotch.
"That's just disgusting." I spat at her, pushing myself out of her grasp. She didn't seem that bothered and just giggled before sitting back on the desk. Dad then leaned forward and spoke up once more.
"Kenneth grow up, you need to get over yourself and open your eyes to how the world really works. I'll explain to you one more time: The Tempesta are willing to forgive your debt to them, if you work with them for a while, sign this pact to confirm you agree to this." Dad then put a quill next to the paper. Finally feeling defeated, I gritted my teeth and signed the damn pact. Hind clapped her hands together in approval and gave a high pitched moan.
"I can't wait to get started!" She then glomped me and her tentacles wrapped around me again, keeping my arms pinned to my sides and pressing me close to her body, her breasts shoved in my face. With her arms around my shoulders she whispered huskily down my ear.
"You and I will have so many adventures together my darling captain, I promise you, that frowny face of yours will melt away as we get to know each other better, both in and out of bed~" An unwanted shudder wracked my body as she spoke to me, I couldn't do anything to get her off me this time as her tentacles held me tightly. Despite the complete lack of aggression in her embrace and mannerisms, I just wanted to get away. Yet my body seemed to enjoy this too much, with way too much blood flowing to my crotch.
"Miss Hind I know you're eager but not in my office please." Dad asked her with a chuckle, I was so thankful he said that, I could almost relax. I sighed in relief as Hind reluctantly released me, letting me scoot away again. She just winked at me before leaving. I was so mad I swear my eyes could burn a hole through her back with just my glare. Although Dad wasn't getting out of this without a piece of my mind either.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" I coldly demanded of him, trying to brush Hind's ooze off my clothes. He just folded his arms and looked up at me with a raised eyebrow and sighed.
"Son, you really want to know why the Tempesta are hailed as heroes despite being pirates? Why we prefer to just pay their tolls over trying to secure the sea ourselves?" He asked. I sat back down and rolled my eyes as he explained. "Because they're good people, they may not operate entirely within the law, but they don't hurt the innocent, unlike the other bands of pirates and blackguards out there."
He then walked around the table and pointed out to sea through the window. "Our navy is out-gunned and out-numbered, too many men have died trying to keep our oceans safe, then the Tempesta came, cracking down on other pirates while keeping our people safe as they travel. They're willing to put themselves in the line of fire so we don't need to, they may rough around the edges, but like I already said, they're good people." Dad then turned to me and leaned down to my level since I was still sat down.
"That is what your toll is really paying for Ken, 10 under the table coins for the safety of a nation? I'd say that's a bargain, wouldn't you?"
I got up from my seat. "What exactly were you discussing with Miss Octopus before I came in?" I demanded. I didn't need or want Dad to justify the Tempesta to me, just to stay away from them, but of course he can't leave well enough alone, too lucrative for that. He scowled at me for ignoring his little speech and sat back down at his desk, writing on some paperwork without looking up.
"The pact I had you sign if you must know, I was originally just going to make you pay her, but I liked her idea better." Dad admitted casually. He briefly looked up at my shocked face before continuing. "You know despite your treatment of her, Hind really likes you son, she sees some real potential in you, you know? How if you applied yourself more you could be rich and respected like her." He told me.
"Like her? Fuck no. She just wants to stick her tentacles in me, you saw how she-"
"Don't be so crass Ken." Dad suddenly interrupted, surprising me a little. "Yes she's a little...touchy feely I admit, but she's just affectionate, maybe if your stopped being so stand off-ish you'd actually enjoy her company. This whole thing could turn to your advantage you know?" He added.
"In what way? Indentured servitude to a half woman, half cephalopod? How exactly could that 'turn to my advantage'?" I asked, utterly dumbfounded by what my father was trying to say.
"Just keep an open mind while you work with her, she'll take care of you, and for the love of God stop trying to antagonize her, bond with her, sleep with her if you want to, just stop being such an asshole. She's willing to mend this bridge, the least you can do is meet her half-way, you're dismissed...captain." He ended before gesturing to the door.
Utterly disgusted by this whole crappy situation, I left the room with a scowl, faster than would otherwise be professional, but I didn't care, I was angry and could feel my blood boiling with my fury.
Later on...
I got back to the Ballista and climbed aboard, thinking maybe if I ran for it now, I could start fresh in the New world, leave the seas behind forever and just disappear. Would Golden Hind pursue me the whole way if I did that? Or would she give up and forget me? Surely I wasn't THAT important to her right?
As I connected my core back to my ship, I sensed someone aboard, in my captain's quarters. I unsheathed my scimitar and held a hand over my pistol. But the moment the intruder called out, I felt sick to my stomach recognising the voice.
"Ara~ Come in Ken, we need to discuss our plans together~" Fuck me...I sheathed my sword, opened the door and of course, Golden Hind is in my seat. She smiles sweetly at me before beckoning me over to the table. "Glad you could make it my darling~"
"Get out of my chair." I order her. She giggles but obliges, raising up.
"As cute as you are when you get all pouty like that, I'm sorry for riling you up darling~ shall we get it on? Oops! I mean 'get on with it'?" She asked as she sat down in the seat across from mine, giggling quietly at her 'mistake'. I groan as I wipe down my chair and sit down at the desk.
"Look what do you want from me exactly?" I bluntly ask her. Hind leaned on the desk and put her hand on her cheeks, ogling me it seemed.
"Haven't you caught on yet darling? I want..." She then pointed at me lazily. "...you, all of you." She finishes before putting her finger in her mouth and seductively licking it. I look away, feeling an uncomfortable amount of heat in my cheeks.
"Stop it." I demand quietly, too embarrassed by her behaviour to look at her directly. I just hear her chuckle before she speaks again.
"Captain Robin, that pact you signed means you're my travel companion for the foreseeable future, this could be a very pleasurable experience for you if you allow it, we'll have many adventures, lots of treasure and endless fun out there!" Hind then wraps a pair of tentacles around my legs and pulls me closer to the table, making me yelp at the movement, but then I gasp shakily as I feel something brushing and stroking my crotch.
I look down and its Hind's foot, seems she wears a transparent stocking under that black dress of hers, she was delicately brushing the contained bulge in my pants with her toes. "You know what I want in return for all of that Darling~?" She leans closer to me and whispers. "Just you, your body, your mind, and hopefully down the line: your love~" The tentacles pulled me closer, her foot pressing a little harder against my, thankfully, still clothed shaft, she moved it faster, rubbing her whole sole on me as well as wiggling her toes on the tip.
A chord is plucked in my chest at her words and actions, despite the table between us I didn't feel separated from her, I want to speak...to say something, anything, but my voice was caught in my throat. It was taking all my willpower just simply not moan out from this foot-job, If she could be this mesmerizing and sensual with just her foot, what could she do wit-
"STOP!" Snapping out of my trance I yank myself out of her tentacles and away from the table. Hind was too surprised to keep her grip, but it was brief, her smile returned to her face far too soon for my liking. "Get out...now!" I tried to sound intimidating, but I was shaken, panting like crazy from way too many feelings, and the worst part was she could obviously tell. Hind stood up and got closer to me. I looked away from her, screwing my eyes closed, willing her to just leave.
But instead she gently put her hand on my cheek and turned my head back to her. I dared to open my eyes and she was looking back at me, with a kind smile, not the pervy one she normally had.
"Its OK Darling~ I'm not going to force myself on you, but I needed to show you what you can expect during our time together, to put it simply; VERY hot and kinky things, whenever you're ready just tell me, and you'll be glad you signed that pact~"
Before I could reply she kissed me, my first instinct was to grab her to shove her back, but once I had my hands on her, I instinctively wrapped my arms around her in a hug. Did I really want this? Or was my body playing tricks on me? Credit where its due I guess; Hind is a VERY good kisser. She gently brushed her lips up against mine without any force behind them, I squeaked feeling her tongue enter my mouth, it might as well have been her ninth tentacle with how good she is at moving it, another chord was struck in my chest as she explored my mouth.
Hind pulled back after a minute, a one inch saliva string between us. "I own you now darling, its up to if this is really punishment...or heaven." I yelped as one of her tentacles spanked my arse before she pulled back from me. "Now...lets discuss our ground rules together shall we?" God I had so many emotions running through me now, angry at Dad, confused at Hind and scared of her plans for me. I needed a way out...fast!