Apple's Goodbye

Maertock would progressively make his way across the beach with his blade as a cane, the reaver lord of yesteryear whistling a soft, siren tune as he moved forth with a sad smile beside Apollonia. Clicking his teeth together softly, the shark would place a light kiss upon her cheek as he turned his icy blue glance towards the sea.

"You seem distant. Lost in the storm."

The shark would nod lightly with a low hum, his sense of when things were wrong sharper than when they were right these days.

"You're not happy, then?"
(Maertock Reave)
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[18:07] Silver eyes lingered on the horizon, gently pulsing with electrical mana as her own storm slowly crackled around her. She was leaning forward, her elbows on her knees and her glasses loosely hanging within her interlocked fingers. Seeing Maertock make his approach though her gaze would drift towards him, a faint smile appearing on her face though as he picked up on there was certainly something lingering on her mind.

"Sorry, it ain't intentional. But I guess that's a good way of sayin' it." She took a deep breath. "Lost in the storm." She leaned over and planted her own kiss on his cheek as well.

"I am happy, mos'ly." She paused waiting for the right words to come to her. "Happy with a lotta' things. But also conflicted on others. A lot on my mind I guess, a few things just nagging at me."

(Apollonia)
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[18:17] Maertock would hum softly as she placed a kiss upon his cheek, the wizened eyes of the former reaver lord more than capable of hearing an unspoken But in a conversation. His dear sour apple had never required his convincing for anything, so to see her uncertain on a matter was a rarity indeed.

But the fifty something relic of yesteryear knew in his heart of hearts what it was.

"Few things in life are entirely intentional. Most have causes one way or another. The storm is different, nature answers to no one but its own volition."

A hand would extend to idly rub Appolonia's shoulders, though the reaver's gaze still hung upon the distant horizon.

"If you're only mostly happy, you're not truly happy.....or perhaps you're being happy for my sake, which makes me unhappy. There is nothing you cannot share with me Apple."

The shark, in an uncommon gesture, would place his clawed hand behind Apollonia's head before offering a long, quiet, and passionate kiss to the mother of his children's lips.

Before he was back to the massage.

"If something is troubling you, filling you with conflict....you can share them with me."
(Maertock Reave)
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[18:32] Apollonia would let her eyes fall shut as she felt his hands on her shoulders. A deep breath was taken in before a sigh escaped her lips. Those very same lips remained curled in a smirk as she heard his words. She remained silent at first, allowing herself to be taken in by the kiss and equally reciprocating the gesture. As he pulled back her head would cant to the side, her cheek resting against one of his hands briefly before she would nod.

"Yeah... you're right about that. The storm is a wild and ever raging thing. Can keep it bottled up sure but a storm only settles when it dies out." A faint jolt of static jumped between the tips of her fingers as she looked down at her nails.

"I remember when I first came 'round here and we started talkin'. I was looking to just hand off some valuables to the crew and likely run off to Britannia to meet the rest of my family and likely end up dyin fightin' some ungodly huge beast." Mostwould maybe sound a bit down speaking of such a thing or even hesitant but Apollonia's voice held some kind of lingering sense of longing.

"I had all but given up on findin' someone that would love me and I'd start a family with. But then I was proven wrong on that matter quite obviously. An' I been happy, still am..." She paused letting her gaze linger off.

"Still so much I ain't seen though, or done. . . My cousin, Nobia. She went off on her 'Hunt' years ago. Its a thing our family has done for generations. The women end up gettin' to the point where they start to feel a decline and they head out to find that last bit of glory before joining our sisters." She said as she peered up to the sky.

"Guess I been feelin' like it might be my time soon. But its a weight on my mind... I don't wanna leave you and the young ones. I haven't been this happy in a long while." It was clear that it was a very real conflict in her mind. No matter what decision she made it would be a drastic one for her given there wasn't exactly a middle ground to speak of.
(Apollonia)
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[18:45] Maertock enjoyed the company of his wife in silence for a time, hearing her speak her soft words to him with a light sigh as he bobbed his head. The reaver lord was a ruthless phenom in the past, one content to damn souls to the depths for his own gain many a time.

But Apple was different. She had given herself to him willingly, and Maertock, whether he realized it or not, had done the same to her. Her purchase on his heart was the only one of its kind.

But sadness? He was experienced in that.

"An ominous metaphor, but I see your point. You can't catch a storm in a bottle and watch it forever. The true beauty is in letting it go free."

A light pang in the shark's heart at that.

"I remember that day. I was just starting to good and properly tend the tavern. Didn't expect to see the lady Thanatos fancied coming around these parts. But then, the more we spoke, the more I realized he missed treasure that was right in front of him."

A light peck of Appolonia's cheek at that.

"You became more than some passerby. You became my lover. My wife. The mother of my children and the source of my happiness these last few, blissfully peaceful years. Years I never expected to have or deserve."

A low hum and sigh at that. As Apollonia mentioned not wanting to leave the young ones, Maertock would clutch Apple's head before putting his forehead directly up to the woman's own. Cool skin to the warm, supple flesh that had first enticed the reaver in the past.

"So what sort of husband would I be if I held you back? If you face a warrior's calling, you'll rot here with me and become miserable. You'll do it for my happiness, and wither away for it. For me."

Maertock would rise, looking Appolonia in the eyes with just the slightest bit of tears before he'd place another long, passionate kiss upon her lips.

"Your blood calls to you my love. Wherever you go, I will join you beyond the veil. No matter how much time it takes."

The shark would sigh deeply.

"I love you, Apple. And because I love you, I'm setting you free."
(Maertock Reave)
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[19:05] She had been going over her words in her mind for some time. This conversation certainly wasn't one that she went into without extensively thinking on it before hand, but the response she was given was one that made that smirk widen even if her gaze bore a degree of sadness. She was sure this was probably how Nobia felt telling Itzcali about it all then again she was always much better at discussing these things then Apollonia had been.

She began to tear up herself both in sadness and joy as the emotions welled up. As he parted from the kiss her arms would tightly move around the man she loved as she shut her eyes tight to shield any tears from falling freely. Still a few managed to force their way out. "I love you too. With all my being I do..." She took a deep breath.

The ashen haired woman lingered in the embrace for some time not wanting to let go as she knew that doing so would just mean she would need to start preparing for what was ahead of her.

"Before I go though... I do wanna leave some of my things back. T'make sure the little ones remember their Mama'... And remember how much I love 'em even if I'm goin off..." Another hard pill to swallow but she was confident that with the crew and their father their children were going to be just fine.

She leaned back slightly wiping her eyes a little. "Thank you... for bein' as amazin' as you are to me, Maertock. I promis' ya that wherever it is that I go beyond the veil like ya said, I'll wait for ya as long as I gotta." She leaned in to kiss him once more.
(Apollonia)
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[19:18] Maertock would remain silent as the woman embraced him, wrapping his own arms around her in a tight embrace as if it was the last he would ever offer. Perhaps it was, if Apollonia's effect upon him was any clear view. And yet, her happiness was what mattered to the reaver, perhaps one of the first times in his life that he actually felt like doing something for another.

"I know."

Taciturn, and yet the breadth of passion and sorrow in those words could write a whole story. He'd hold her close for a time, scenting the familiar aroma of the storm, her warmth in his cold arms. Just....remembering all the little details of her, that he'd have her in his mind's eye even when she was gone.

"Our children will be raised upon legends of their legendary mercenary mother, a woman who tamed the storm itself in her determined path forth. Who's love for adventure was only matched by her boundless affection for her family. I will ensure they cherish whatever you pass down."

Maertock would choke a bit on that one, though it appeared no tears came any longer as he strengthened his resolve.

"...Thank you for giving me the chance to be happy, when I didn't think it was still in my cards. You began a new chapter of my life when I thought my story was over. And wherever we meet, on this side or the other, no matter how long it takes, this sailor will find his treasure again."

A wry wink and a deep frown at that. And then the pair was passionately kissing once more, the taste of salty tears and boundless emotion taking hold of the moment.
(Maertock Reave)
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[19:32] A chuckle left her and then a short sniffle as she too steadied herself. The former reaver lord's words making her smile widen and her heart flutter at the thought. To have herself remembered in such a light even if it was just by her family and those closest to her, that was all she really needed. After all she had bled, broken and beaten in Esshar to make something of her name, all that mattered in the end was that the ones she cared for the most would remember her and all she managed to accomplish even if it wasn't everything she desired herself.

"Its just my chestplate, my sword and one or two other things I'd rather have passed down then get lost with me.."

Not that it mattered much. After a few moments they were right back in each other's faces. This time she couldn't hold the tears back fully at all, she knew how final these things were now and if this was the last time she had a chance to kiss the man she loved then she was going to make sure every bit of her affection was poured into the single gesture.


"Thank you..." She repeated in a quiet whisper.

But like all of the best things it had to come to an end. Both the kiss as well as Apollonia's time in Esshar. It had been a long time since she and her storm clouds rolled down from the mountains to make her mark on Esshar and after leaving as much of a mark as she could manage it was time for that storm to move on out into the horizon.
(Apollonia)
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[19:46] Maertock would whistle softly in the woman's lips as they finished their tragic embrace. The former Captain of the Deep Company enjoyed every ounce of that tear ridden face he could with the time he had left. His tears were dried, and yet the moisture of his wife's face seemed to fill in more than enough blanks for his reddened eyes.

"Anything you bore will be precious to them. I'll make sure of it. Don't even think about it, it'll hurt more to dwell upon it when you've got a journey to prepare for."

A sad smile at that, the breaking of their smooching finished off with the cherry on top of a swift peck to the woman's forehead.

"Now, you should get packed before I change my mind and make love to you here and now on this table. It will scar the public, of that there will be no doubt."
(Maertock Reave)
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[19:51] Apollonia took a deep breath.

"You're right." Her hand reached behind her and removed the large blade that had always sat upon her back and placed it down on the table. Kalypso, the beautiful blade that helped her channel her storms and practically an extension of her arm for so many years.

A snicker left her. "Yeah, knowing our luck the whole crew would wake up and want to come for drinks right when we'd start havin' fun." She was going to miss the jokes for sure even if they were only just half jokes in actuality.

After a few more moments she would begin to gather all of the equipment she wanted to pass down before the real preparations would begin.
(Apollonia)
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[19:52] {Item} You picked up Blood Copper. Dropped by Apollonia..
[19:52] {Item} You picked up Kalypso, Keeper Of The Northern Wind. Dropped by Apollonia..
[19:52] {Item} You picked up Gravity Drill. Dropped by Apollonia..
[19:52] {Item} You picked up Leonaidis Plate. Dropped by Apollonia..
[19:52] {Item} You picked up Screaming Hellstorm Schematics. Dropped by Apollonia..
[19:53] Maertock would gather it all into a tight, safe bundle, placing it within the depths of his shadows as he pecked Apollonia on the forehead one last time.
(Maertock Reave)
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[19:54] Maertock Reave says, "To think, I was a pirate captain, and yet I was lost in the storm."
[19:54] Maertock would walk away before he actually gets too sad. One last, longing look given to the woman.
(Maertock Reave)
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[19:54] Apollonia smiles and returns the peck on the forehead with one on the chin.
(Apollonia)
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[19:54] Apollonia says, "At least it was a good lookin one..."
[19:55] Maertock Reave says, "Aye. Finest arse on any storm in the region."