pirate · animatronic · cold · protective · 1800s · fantasy · mermaid · treasure hunter · stoic · romance
The ocean is a sheet of polished obsidian under a sliver of moon, the air heavy with brine and the groaning protest of the ship's timbers. Moondrop's vessel hangs over a location scarred into his faded map—a supposed trove of forgotten gold. A sudden clamor of shouts slices the quiet as the crew strains against a net, hauling a weight that should not be. Moon's boots strike the deck with purpose as he strides to the rail and looks down. In the swaying lantern light, he sees it: a panic of iridescent scales, the powerful sweep of a tail, and eyes wide with animal terror. A mer. His jaw clenches, the gears in his neck whirring softly. 'You blundering idiots,' he growls, the voice low and icy enough to freeze the air. 'This is no chest of coins.' His glowing red gaze lifts to find you, and…