RANDOM ENCOUNTERS: SIREN
Enchanted By Her Alluring Song
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Copyright © 2020 C. D. Fable
All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
All characters appearing in this story are over the age of 18.
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The old ship creaked and groaned as it swayed from side to side on the clear blue waters. The crew scurried about the deck, making storm preparation by securing all the lines and moving things below deck. They moved quickly, the electricity in the salty sea air warning them of what perils that awaited them if they didn't.
Anne wiped the sweat from her brow and fanned herself, quickly pulling at her loose-fitting white sailor shirt. She looked to the horizon. The dark clouds ahead had her worried. Not only that, if the legends were true, the storm might be the least of her worries. She double-checked the lifeline she'd been tying and pulled it tight. Perfect. She looked over to the short, blond, androgynous elf next to her. They went by Alex and were the newest member of the crew.
"Careful, that's no good," she said, leaning over them. "Like this." She showed them the proper technique. "Now, do that to the other four lines and we'll be set."
"Alex! How you holding up?" shouted Gavin as he approached. He was a tall, sturdy, bearded man. He slapped Alex on the back, almost strong enough to knock them over. "Orc Arms not giving you too much trouble, is she?"
Anne grumbled. "Piss off, Gav. Don't you have work to do?"
"It's getting done."
Alex cleared their throat. "Orc Arms?"
"Hah, Anne here." He poked at her muscular arms, earning himself a slap on the hand. He shook off the attack. "Ow, see what I mean?"
Anne crossed her arms and glared at him.
"Oh, don't give me that," he said dismissively. He looked down at Alex, "She's taller than most of the human crew and is probably the second-best human hauler. Next to yours truly, obviously." He looked back at Anne. "It's a compliment, really." He went to poke her arm again, but Anne preemptively smacked him away. "Hey, that one actually hurt. See what I mean? She's even got that bad orc attitude. Throw in the grey skin and I wouldn't be able to tell you apart from the quartermaster."
"How about I call her over and she can show you what actual orc arms look like since you're here bugging us and not securing the rigging."
"Easy, easy. No need to involve Adelgund. Unlike you, I'm not keen to spend an evening under her 'supervision'."
Alex looked at Anne, but upon seeing the fire in her eyes, decided their attention was best focused on tying the lifelines.
"Seriously, Gav, go do your job. I've got a bad feeling about the storm."
Gavin looked at the storm and then back to Anne, his expression more serious. "Her island is around here, isn't it? Probably covered by the storm."
"Who's island?" asked Alex, looking up.
"The siren," replied Gavin with dramatic flair.
"It's just rumors," said Anne, "stay focused on those lifelines."
"Oh, it's true!" said Gavin leaning down to Alex's level. "The big titted sea witch haunts these waters."
"W-What?" stammered Alex.
"Oh aye," said Gavin leaning in closer, "she's an ugly hag who lures in ships to their ruin with her bountiful bosoms. I heard that the round part, you know, the bit around the nipple, is the size of your head, and the nipples themselves are like a dwarf's pinky! No one has seen her and lived to tell the tale."
"Areola. Also, if no one's seen her, how do they know what she looks like?" asked Anne flatly.
"Oh, you can hear it in her devious song," said Gavin with an exaggerated arm wave.
"And other than her chest, she's ugly?" asked Anne with more sarcasm.
"Well, no one pretty would go around wrecking ships now, would they?" He laughed. "Think with your head and not your arms, Orc Arms."
"You sure it's not her voice that's alluring?" she said, reaching levels of unimpressed previously thought impossible.
"What man wrecks a ship over a voice?" scoffed Gavin. "We don't visit the music hall after months at sea. We visit the whores. So, logically, the only reason you'd divert course would be to get a peek at a great set of tits."
"Incredible. I can't believe they won't promote you to helmsman."
"You three!" came a gruff guttural voice. The seven-foot-tall half-orc quartermaster hulked over them. She grabbed Gaven and tossed him towards the rigging like he was a sack of potatoes. "If I catch you slacking again, it's the brig for you!"
Alex averted their gaze as though the ropes had suddenly become the most fascinating thing in existence.
"Anne," said Adelgund with a smile, her small tusks protruding slightly. Anne returned a forced, awkward smile as Adelgund walked away.
Alex let out a long breath as they continued struggling with the lifelines. "She's terrifying."
"She's not so bad."
"And you two..." Alex blushed, unable to finish the sentence.
Anne sighed. "You get lonely at sea... and, well-" she gestured to her muscular physique. "Not a lot of other women go for this... At least not on this ship." She laughed a little through her nose. "Since orcs and half-orcs don't have sexual preferences and only go for strength, well, it's convenient. Plus, it doesn't hurt to be on good terms with the quartermaster. Well, it hurts a little. Her idea of foreplay is... rough."
"So it's only for convenience's sake or..."
Anne screwed up her face. "Well... Yes? No? Kind of, I mean... It's better than nothing. It's just... Orc Arms, you know? Being with her reminds me about this-" she flexed her impressive biceps. "She's nice enough off duty but-" Anne's thought trailed off as a few droplets of rain fell.
Alex pulled a lifeline tight. "Seems like a strange conflict to deal with every few months."
"Weeks."
"What?"
"Weeks. I get pent up pretty easily, and there isn't much else to do on this ship. And with you shadowing me since we left port last month, let's just say the storm isn't the only thing that has me on edge right now." There was a crack of thunder as the rain grew in intensity. "I'll help you with the rest of these. We need to get these done before-"
A beautiful melody rang out over the water.