The first opportunity

In the days following his underwater escapades Vel notices a distinct change in how some people viewed him. Nothing had changed with Amordina of course, but she was about the only one. Captain Avlogg, who had been courteous and respectful, now seemed to be almost in awe of him. And that went double for most of the sailors and other crew. None of them were fully aware of what had happened of course, but it seemed that swimming with mermaids and returning unscathed was more than enough to earn the respect and admiration of even the most seasoned of seamen.

Vel even thought he caught a few whispers from arguing sailors about legends and prophecy and hissed replies about superstitious nonsense. As strange as it was, he thought it was probably a good thing. He hoped the men of this fleet would go to war for him someday, and going from accepted to deeply respected in a single night was good progress towards that. Even if it was only the crews of a few ships, word would no doubt spread. He had less insight into how the Royal Imperial sailors thought of him, but he was confident this had improved his standing with them as well.

Aunt Fionne too seemed somewhat impressed. Or at least she had been **** to slightly reevaluate her assessment of him. Vel could tell she still saw him as a boy, one she could manipulate, but he thought he detected at least a hint of uncertainty in her eyes during their first one-on-one meeting after the incident. If it was indeed there though, it was short lived, and her confidently seductive smile quickly took over her features.

“Ah, finally, I can properly make sure my dear nephew is in good health after his harrowing ordeal.”

She came closer as she spoke, coming to a halt in front of him and gently stroking his cheek and beard with her fingers. She was quite a sight in the bright sunlight reflecting off the ocean into the cabin, and if Vel was the clueless horny boy she thought, he would indeed have been putty in her hands. As it was though, it all seemed rather blatant and almost pathetic to him.

Still, her fingers felt nice on his cheek, and she was certainly easy to look at. Vel permitted himself a few seconds to enjoy the moment before gently pushing her hand away.

“I appreciate your concern, Lady Fionne, but as you can see, I am very well indeed. And I think we scheduled this meeting to discuss the mission and strategy, did we not?”

His aunt tut-tutted at him and her hand went to her chest in mock offence.

“Oh, how cruel of you. You’d **** me to waste my precious moments of solitude with my favorite of my sister’s children? And you still address your dear Aunt so dreadfully formally too?”

Her hurt and offence might be false, but Vel detected a flash of real irritation briefly rippling across her features. He wasn’t falling for her manipulations as easily as she had expected, and that grated on her nerves. This was it, a brief vulnerability that he could exploit. He hadn’t touched her mind so far, but now swiftly reached for her membrane and used fracture.

Formidable though his aunt’s defenses were, his master of fracture and ever-growing power combined to form a beautiful spiderweb of delicate cracks across her membrane. And, as it had been with his mother, it grew less opaque. Before beginning his work though, he replied to his aunt, gently taking her hand in his.

“Not at all Aunty, I am simply eager to do my part for the sake of the mission. I worry my escapades have delayed us and wish to make up for it. As for the formality, let us not forget that you are my commanding officer for as long as this lasts.”

The annoyance he had seen in her features had left some traces in her mind that he could glean through the cracks and clearer membrane. Alongside it now grew some self-satisfaction at his words. Vel, very intentionally, briefly flicked his eyes down to his aunt’s pronounced cleavage and back up again. Amusement and reassurance as he acted more like she expected him too. In that moment of perceived safety, Vel acted.

He did not yet feel he had enough insight into her mind to begin his manipulations properly, but he could ensure his time with her would be more fun from now on. My best tool for manipulating Velas are my looks and my body. That sank in very easily, to the point where Vel was sure she had already thought something close to that. This trip is the best chance I will have to get my hooks into Velas, I urgently need to make use of it. That too was accepted, though not as easily, she clearly hadn’t seen it as all that urgent. I should use every chance I get to tempt and wrong-foot Velas with my physical assets. It too sank in.

Excellent.