Why, hello, there! 😃
I'm so glad you're here again, my lovely friends.
As this extended welcome continues in Episode 63, this week brings us to a return to Salineas where it looks like maybe there is a small party happening. 🥳
But first, lest we forget:
Part One of this episode found Adora breathing a sigh of relief before pressing forth an urgent request, and Entrapta reunited with her very best friend!
Then, in Part Two, it became clear that Frosta understands what is good for her people, as well as that she has someone nearby who can help assuage her loneliness at the top.
I feel that now is the time to dedicate a chapter to @Evanfinl1 , so I'm gonna do that for this week's chapter. Because, they have been supportive and encouraging to me, and they deserve my gratitude. 🙂
I will also give a shout-out to Quinn ( @ProfessorQuinn ) for obvious reasons.
Although this week's chapter is fairly short, I hope it makes you smile!
We all need a bit of Seamista from time to time.
Enjoy!
The sky is gray and dim over the waters before the massive Sea Gate of Salineas. As the tide rolls in on choppy waves, whipped to lather by the winds, a festive music may be heard over the sands.
High up on an open watch-tower, several Salineans sit casually in a large loose circle, their faces cheerful and relaxed. They nod their heads and clap in time to a jovial tune. A few of them are seen playing along on pipes or ocarinas. Center of their attention is the dancing figure of Sea Hawk, accompanying himself on a concertina. After several jaunty steps and a pirouette, he begins to sing.
Sea Hawk: [dramatically]
I’ll shanty from the tower, and I’ll shanty from the plain!
I’ll shanty by the hour ’til my sweetheart comes again!
Her sparkling eyes! Her blue-black hair!
I’d know Mermista anywhere! ---
As he capers to the right, the sweetheart in question is suddenly directly by his shoulder!
Mermista: [casually] Hey.
Sea Hawk: [startled] Buu-aaaaugh!
The pirate leaps back in surprise, gracelessly staggering into one of the pipe player’s pipes. Sea Hawk drops his concertina, which hits the ground, emitting a very loud squawking noise. This causes him to jump in the opposite direction.
Sea Hawk: [squeaking] Yee-aye!!
Somehow, Sea Hawk’s jump launches him in a small arc that lands him directly against Mermista. Without thinking, she raises her hands, and he lands in her arms. In the moment of silence that follows, she holds him, and they look at each other in mild astonishment. Her hair is matted down wet, and there are some odd bits of moss and algae hanging in it.
Sea Hawk: [nonchalantly, smiling] Ahhhhh, Mermista, my nymph of the sea! You caught me by surprise.
She rolls her eyes at this, but her face bears the hint of a smile, too.
Sea Hawk: [confidently] I was waiting for your arrival, but I, (haha!), I thought you would be coming by ocean in the other direction.
Mermista: [glancing up and frowning at a bit of slimy algae stuck in her hair] Yeah, I mean, I kinda found a quicker way, but it was . . . a little weird.
She gives her head a vigorous shake, and a significant spray of water along with a soaking mossy frond fly out, landing on Sea Hawk’s bandana. Mermista’s hair is nearly back to normal, but Sea Hawk’s face is dripping now. He rubs a palm upward over his droopy bangs to liven them up again, then picks the frond out of his bandana.
Sea Hawk: [as he picks out the frond] Ahh, mm, errr. [regarding it with disgusted interest] Hmmm.
He tosses the frond over his shoulder and turns back to Mermista with a grin. She is still holding him, but she looks a little tired of it.
Sea Hawk: Sooooooo. [after a pause, in which his eyebrows bob up and down] Did you miss me?!
She shrugs and blushes a little, looking downward.
Mermista: [smiling] I guess you could say . . . I did, but . . .
She meets his eyes again.
Mermista: [warmly] Thanks for taking care of everyone while I was gone.
Sea Hawk: [humbly, nodding] My lady.
They smile gently at each other for a short time in silence. Then Mermista looks away, her smile fading.
Mermista: [seriously] Okay, so, like, you’re getting a little heavy, and I’ve got things to do.
She immediately drops him.
Anticipating this, Sea Hawk manages to scramble easily to his feet as she turns away and starts down the stairs.
Sea Hawk: [concerned] But, Mermista! What’s wrong?
Mermista hesitates, then turns her head to look back at him.
Mermista: [regretfully] Umm . . . there’s a lot. I’ve gotta help the other princesses with, like . . . preventing this catastrophe, and also . . .
She hesitates, looking downward in consideration. After a moment, she looks up at him again.
Mermista: [earnestly] Meet me in the throne room a little later, okay?
Sea Hawk nods.
Mermista smiles briefly, but there is tension beneath it. She turns away and heads quickly down the stairs, where she stops to speak with her Attendant.
Sea Hawk looks after her and hears only a very brief piece of the conversation.
Mermista: [to the Attendant] How is he doing today . . . ?
Mermista and the Attendant pass out of ear-shot, and Sea Hawk frowns in thought.
