Sean made his way back up the steps to the deck. He wanted to know how long it would take them to go back and get the crew. Upon stepping out onto the deck, all the Merfolk instantly dropped to a knee. Sean's breath caught in his throat. This was a weird feeling. He was used to people being respectful to him, but this had never happened to him before. Granny was the only still standing, but her head was bowed in respect. Sean crossed the deck to stand beside her, whispering uneasily. "How do you make them stop?" Granny chuckled lightly, lifting her head to tell him with a smile. "Just tell them, your highness." Sean shuffled his feet, telling them all a bit weakly. "Rise?" The Merfolk that heard him rose and the others followed. Sean cleared his throat anxiously, looking at Granny for help with fragile eyes. Granny smiled, raising a hand to gesture for a woman to come forward. The woman was dressed in what appeared to be glistening sea green scale armor. Granny pointed to her as she approached, while informing Sean calmly. "This is Rita. She will be leading the men that will retrieve the sunken vessel."

Rita swiftly took a knee, laying her spear at his feet, upon stating out. "It is an honor, highness. My men are ready to leave at once." Sean's mind was blank, until Granny nudged him to say discreetly. "Give her the coordinates." Sean lifted his head in understanding, answering kind of regrettably. "Well... I don't really know. It's off the coast of a place called Greece...?" Sean winced feeling the pressure overwhelming him. Granny put a hand on his shoulder, telling Rita lightly. "Go below and ask his friends. The one called Nate will know for a certainty." Rita rose to her feet, giving them a respectful nod before hastily moving to the steps. Sean felt like his heart was going to jump from his throat. Everyone was staring at him with expect eyes. Granny moved up though, addressing them all casually. "As you were." The merfolk all gave him one last bow, then moved off to mingle. Granny pointed at her son, beckoning him over as she stated out. "Devan, come with me." Sean took only a single step back, when Granny grabbed his elbow, adding to him sweetly. "You too."

Granny led the way back into the Captain's cabin. Sean took a shaky breath before following her in with the man that raised him. Granny strolled back to the captain's seat, when Devan closed the door to start off seriously. "Ma, he's not ready. I wasn't ready at his age." Granny sank into the seat to get comfortable, then told him aloud. "When is anyone ever truly ready for what life throws at them? Let his own actions speak for him." Devan huffed loudly, stating out harshly. "Ma, he paired himself with a traitor! How do we know that pirate hasn't brainwashed him against us?" Sean opened his mouth, but Granny rose from her seat to say as cold as ice. "Are you questioning my judgement?" Devan's shoulders dropped and he bowed his head in shame. Granny eyed him for a long moment, before she told Devan firmly. "My job is to see all sides of a single story. I know well what Captain Sharp and Captain Fischbach are capable of. However, they can be reasoned with." Devan pointed a stern finger at Sean, growling out under his breath. "Nate only obeys because he made him his Paramour! To keep Sean on his side, Nate will say or do anything!"

Granny shrugged, retorting dismissively calm. "You didn't see what I saw. He's not the man you remember." Devan slammed his hands down on the desk, shouting out. "Nate killed da! How can you stand there and defend him! He's a murderer!" Granny stepped carefully around the table, cupping her son's face very gently. Devan bowed his head, falling to his knees weakly as tears ran down his cheeks. Granny tilted his head back to make him lock eyes with her. When he did, she told him in a gentle motherly voice. "Devan... The pain you feel. I feel it too. I miss him too. But what would you have me do?" Devan clenched his jaw, growling out through clenched teeth. "Do what he did to da! Put his own sword slowly through his heart!" Sean stepped forward to disagree, but Granny removed a hand from Devan's face to gesture for him to stay out of this. Staring down at Devan, she asked him. "You think this will bring you peace of mind?" Devan glared at her, snapping out. "Don't you want to kill the man who killed him? To get justice for his death?"

Granny stared down at him with soft eyes, asking him seriously. "Do you think killing him is Justice or Vengeance?" Devan didn't flinch as he answered in a cold voice. "Justice." Sean stepped closer, uttering out. "Granny, please... You already passed judgement. It's not fair-" Devan flashed Sean a murderous glare that silenced Sean in his tracks. Granny covered Devan's eyes with her motherly hand, telling Sean softly. "Your Paramour. Can he fight?" Sean reluctantly nodded with worried eyes. Granny released Devan, telling them both sternly. "Good. We settle this matter now and that will be the end of this." Sean ran up to Granny as she made her way to the door, asking scarcely. "Granny, no! Please. Don't hurt him! I beg you!" Granny put a hand on his shoulder, telling him tenderly. "It will be ok. I need to show my son something important." Granny led them down to the brig, where Mark was laughing softly with Nate. They went quiet though as they approached the cells.

Granny walked up to Nate's cell, extending her hand through the bars to ask nicely. "Captain Sharp. May I see your ring, please?" Nate rose slowly to his feet, asking uneasily. "Why?" Granny took a deep breath, replying tenderly. "Trust me. I simply need to show my son something." Mark climbed to his feet to grab the bars, looking at Sean with concern. Nate removed his ring but struggled to hand it over. Eventually, he did with a defeated look. Granny then turned to her son, telling him seriously. "Remove your weapons." Devan quickly removed his armor, sword, and daggers. Nate backed up to put his back to the wall, asking nervously. "What's this about?" Granny opened the cell door, telling Nate lightly. "You killed Devan's father before his eyes. I have forgiven you. He seeks 'justice.' He doesn't approve of my ruling. So, I told him that he could fight you. No magic. No weapons." Sean grabbed Granny's arm, desperately stating out. "No! I don't want this! He's older than Nate! Without Nate's power, he'll kill him!"

Granny placed a hand on his cheek, telling him softly. "Trust me." Sean fell to his knees, feeling confused and torn. Devan moved into the cell, growling out. "You deserve this." Nate glanced at Granny, then at Devan. Stepping forward Nate told Devan honestly. "I didn't mean too. I'm sorry." Devan smacked Nate across the face, causing Sean to jump to his feet. Granny grabbed Sean to stop him, while Devan shouted at Nate. "DON'T LIE! I SAW YOU!" Nate lifted his head slowly, staring at Devan as he told him calmly. "I couldn't..." Devan shoved Nate back into the wall. Sean tugged against Granny's grip, shouting out. "Stop it! Leave him alone!" Granny pulled Sean back, before moving into the cell to tell Nate seriously. "Go ahead, Nate. Fight back." Sean saw the ring on her hand shine a bright purple, causing Nate's brown eyes to turn purple. Devan gasped as Nate lunged for him, tackling him to the ground. Devan punched Nate across the face, but Nate returned a punch of his own shortly after.

Devan spit blood as Nate jerked his head up to shout at Granny. "Stop it!" Devan flipped Nate over, raising a fist to hit him again. Sean was going to push past Granny, only to notice her hand rising up in unison with Nate's. Nate and Granny seemed to grab Devan's throat. Devan froze, his anger seeming to vanish as his eyes darted from Granny to Nate. As her son calmed down, she told him sternly. "You think you know what you saw that night? Did you know that young Jellyfolk don't get their rings, until their parents deem them worthy of the responsibility? Did you ever wonder why a Jellyfolk like him NEVER zapped a single person that night?" Devan's shoulders slumped and Nate released him. Granny lowered her hand, moving up to Nate's side as she added. "I forgave Nate, because it wasn't Nate that killed your father. Your father refused to kill a kid that had no choice... Do you see Devan?" Sean slipped past Granny to grab Nate. Nate sat up slowly, letting Sean wrap his arms around him.

Granny removed the ring, showing Devan in a firm motherly voice. "Tell me, Devan... You still feel like killing him? Will his life dull your pain? When you become an Elder, I can only hope that you won't let emotion cloud your judgement. Life should never be taken, unless there is NO other choice. We all make mistakes. We all deserve a chance to prove that we are not what others claim us to be. Understand?" Devan nodded with tears in his eyes. Sean held Nate close, watching Granny hand him Nate's ring. Sean took it, giving it back to Nate. Nate slipped in on quickly, but kept his face buried against Sean's neck. Sean felt him taking deep shaky breaths. Granny cleared her throat, telling Devan in a stern motherly voice. "Now apologize and let's move past this. We have greater things at hand." Devan moved closer, putting a gentle hand on Nate's shoulder as he told him sincerely. "I'm sorry, kid... I didn't know. I thought..." Nate raised a hand to place on his shoulder in acceptance.

Devan nodded, then climbed to his feet. Granny patted her son's back, escorting him out. Mark leaned on the bars, muttering out to them gently. "Nate... Did your dad really do that to you?" Nate exhaled loudly, grumbling out. "Does it matter? You killed him." Mark winced, mumbling out. "Ya... A lot of that going around." Nate let out a dark chuckle, uttering out. "No, shit." Sean hugged Nate, telling them both. "At least we have each other? As broken as we are..." Mark nodded with a smirk, while Nate mumbled out lightly. "Not broken. Just chipped a little." They shared a laugh. Nate licked his bleeding lip, mumbling out gruffly. "Damn... I bit my lip when he smacked me..." Mark chuckled loudly, pressing his forehead to the bars. Sean didn't see what was so funny, until Nate chuckled out. "Pirate joke. Means he hits like a noble woman." Sean touched Nate's bruised cheek, asking worriedly. "Will you be alright? I didn't know they were going to do that..." Nate leaned in to kiss Sean's lips tenderly, whispering right after. "I'll be fine. Mark punched me harder than this. Devan was holding back."

Sean smiled only slightly, when Devan uttered out from the stairway. "Sean?" Mark and Nate both looked at Devan. Sean slowly rose as Devan approached the cell. Devan didn't step inside though. Instead, he leaned on the frame and told him nicely. "I brought something for ya." Sean moved closer to see him hold out a waterskin. Sean took it carefully, listening to Devan tell him gently. "I'm sorry. I didn't act very much like a king... but honestly... I was never ready to be a king or a father." Sean turned the full waterskin over in his hands, mumbling out. "Granny showed me. She was beautiful." Devan nodded, answering softly. "She was. You're just like her, I swear." Sean smiled only a little, asking just as softly. "I know that I'm not ready to be a King... but that is why I need them." Sean gestured to Mark and Nate in turn, adding. "Mark knows people and how to command. Nate knows our people and he's wise. Together they make me a better person. I don't have their experiences, but I can learn from them."

Devan nodded reluctantly, before telling him with a smug smile. "A long time ago, your mother said something VERY similar to my da, when she brought Poseidon home to dinner." Sean blushed a little, until Devan leaned in to whisper to him. "That water nozzle never touches their lips. You understand? Or my ma will rip us both apart." Devan leaned back giving him a discreet wink, before leaving. Sean glanced down at the waterskin with a small smile. Then lifting the waterskin to his lips, he filled his mouth. Mark watched Devan go, muttering out. "What was that about? Did he give you that just to fucking tease us? That's not right..." Nate chuckled, grumbling out. "Ya... Sean, drink that somewhere else..." Sean lowered the waterskin, moving over to Nate. Nate groaned watching the water drip from Sean's chin. Sean tilted Nate's head back a little and pressed his lips to his. Allowing the water to leak into their kiss. Nate's hands rose to hold him as he drank, and Mark growled out. "Hey?! What about me?"

Sean pulled away with a chuckle, making his way to Mark's cell. The cells weren't locked, since they were doing this of their own free will. Which made it easy for Sean to slip into his cell. Mark sat down on the floor, beckoning him onto his lap. With a blush, Sean kneeled over his lap. Taking a long swig to fill his mouth, he leaned over Mark to kiss him. Only as Mark drank, his hands moved up Sean's back with loving caresses. Sean giggled into the kiss, while Nate moved closer to the bars to say smugly. "You're so greedy, Mark. Learn to share him." Mark broke the kiss to swallow, then nuzzled into Sean neck to purr out. "Not a chance." Sean snorted, rising a bit to refill his mouth, before coaxing Nate to kiss him through the bars. While beneath him, Mark pushed Sean's shirt up to kiss his side lovingly. If there was ever a time that Sean felt like a pirate... It was right now. To Be Continued...