#“also wake me up again and I will let rats loose at driftwood”

[ramblinganthropologist]

Writober 2019 - 21 (Mermaid)

But the smile you gave me was more beautiful than any prism...

Just a little bit more (a little bit more)

That’s how close I want to be to you

But you might vanish if I touch you...

Like we’re jellyfish in love!

Conan and Prosperity get a beach break and one little sentence from the young man will set her heart to places she really doesn’t want it to go. Can’t he just shut his damn mouth?

---

…

Prosperity wasn't sure of many things, but she was all but certain they weren't going to find the dread wolf at the seaside.

“Check it out, that wave was huge!”

Conan had dashed ahead ages ago and had positioned himself close to the surf. She could practically picture a tail wagging behind him as he splashed through the water and foam, leaving bare footprints behind him. It would have been adorable if not for the giant maul he had strapped to his armored back – kind of killed the aesthetic.

“Do you even know how to swim if a rip current pulls you out?”

She knew, of course. You didn't learn from Isabela's floating school of pirates and bisexuality (the namesake's own label) without being a strong swimmer. Conan was... land locked, to say the least. The closest he probably got was a puddle. Which of course, meant if his ass started drowning she would have to go rescue him.

Great.

“I'm Dalish, of course I do!” He wheeled around on a bare heel, digging into the sand as he moved. The fact he hadn't fallen yet was a miracle. “But come on! We've been out here for almost a month! We deserve a little break.”

Prosperity wanted to argue, she really did. After all, they weren't going to find the Wolf this way. However, even she had to admit she was tired. Her back was aching something fierce from carrying her pack and staff together over all the miles. He might have been a goof, but maybe her traveling companion had the right idea for once.

Her tired shoulders sagged. “We'll set up camp where high tide can't get us. Help me with the tents.”

Lucky for her, Conan was as Dalish as it came when it revolved around setting up camp. He had learned at his mother's knee as a child, had it reinforced by his father and aunt. What might have taken others hours, he was done within twenty minutes without really breaking much of a sweat. And, unlike other men, he didn't lord it over her as he turned to face her, smile on his face and a light in his eyes.

“This should do it. I don't think the wind will bother us here.”

And  then he was gone, with more energy than she had seen from him in weeks as he removed his armor with surprising speed and accuracy. It formed a neat pile next to his tent as he began his downward sprint in just his small clothes – she swore she looked away. The normally sleepy elf was making a break for the surf, kicking up sand in his wake. Prosperity watched him from her spot by the tents as she lowered her pack and rotated her aching shoulders. He wouldn't drown – not yet anyway.

Damn... did her shoulders hurt.

Conan hit the water hard and disappeared beneath the waves. Her heart skipped a beat, but it resumed as his head popped out of the water. He waved to her as he paddled around, calling for her to come join him in the water. According to him, it wasn't cold.

…

She... would be the judge of that.

Prosperity took more care in removing her armor. Her footsteps down to the beach paralleled the deep gauges left by the elf's long strides as he made a mad dash to the sea. She found him at the edge, sitting there.  Waiting for her.

“Got bored already?” She sat next to him, shivering as the cold water passed over her naked feet. “You said it wasn't cold.”

He was grinning as he mopped wet hair from his face. “Well, I also lived outside for a potion of my life, so~ your mileage may vary.”

His laugh was what got him pushed back into the water. Conan sputtered and spat out water as Prosperity glowered at him from the shallows. He responded by sticking out his tongue and letting loose a massive splash that drenched her from head to toe.

Oh. So that's how it was going to be?

“Big mistake, Conan.” A smirk crossed her face as she dove in after him. The elf's eyes widened as he kicked off, swimming as fast as he could. Prosperity started to chase after, the cold water warming as she paddled. The sea air and salt water stung as she moved, but something about it made her heart sing as she chased after her traveling companion.

It reminded her of a ship, and a pirate that made sure she wouldn't drown should she ever go overboard. It was a good lesson to have, especially now that she was traveling on her own with an idiot who fell asleep pretty much anywhere.

“You better not doze off in the water, Conan!”

One blue eye glanced over a broad shoulder. “I'm not worried, you'll drag my ass out.”

He spoke with such friendly conviction that Prosperity was the one to stop her pursuit and trade it for treading water instead. Maybe it was the way the sun hit the water, but his bare shoulders and sopping wet face almost seemed to sparkle as he kept above the surf. Add in that bright smile... and well, her stomach flopped.

Shit. Not now.

Prosperity felt her face burn as she turned away. “And if I let you drown?”

“Well, that's still your problem isn't it?” He chuckled that dumb laugh and she could picture how his eyes glowed. “Anyway, I'm good. Not sleepy or anything. If I start feeling it I'll let you know.”

And then she got hit with a sudden splash of cold water. When she whipped around to grab the elf, he was already gone, swimming with a surprising amount of speed. Well... two could play that game. Prosperity smirked as she dove under the water, and the chase was on once more.

They swam like that until the sun started to go down and both pulled themselves to shore, shivering at the change in air temperature. By the time it was dark, they had gotten a fire going and dinner cooking. With the sea lapping against the shore in the background, it was eerily peaceful and Prosperity relaxed against the driftwood she had found to sit on.

Not a bad day... probably one of their better ones.

“Did Isabela teach you to swim so fast?” Conan was warming his hands in front of the fire. He still kind of looked like a drowned rat at some angles, but he seemed happy. “That last thing you did before you dunked me under was killer.”

Prosperity looked up from tending the flames. His eyes glowed green under the low light, reflecting the sea back at her. “More or less. You put up a good fight for somebody who mostly stays on land.”

Until the last half yard or so. She had gotten him in the end with one final push, thrusting him completely under the water with a triumphant yell. He had come to the water, red faced and sputtering, but with utter awe on his face. Again – not like a lot of guys she knew. Most would've stomped off angry. Maybe that was his father's influence.

“Well, I can't compare to a mermaid, but I think I do ok.”

The stick she was holding dropped into the fire. “Excuse me?”

Those sea eyes were back on her again. “Oh... in the water, after you dunked me under. You looked like a mermaid to me. It was nice.”

Prosperity's mind went blank. Her first instinct was to take it as an insult because she knew better – spent more time at sea than he did. Her second, a quieter one, made her face heat up as it wormed its way to the front. Damn thing could shut up at any time now...

She settled for finding a new stick. “Mermaids are dangerous.”

“And you dunked my ass under so you're no pushover.” He shrugged. “I like mermaids. They're pretty.”

With that, he went back to warming his hands, eyes heavy in a way that suggested his sleepiness was about to win out. Prosperity was left with a blistering hot face and no words to speak as she got up from the fire and wandered back towards the sea.

Why'd he have to go and say that?

“Damn you, Conan Lavellan...” She shook her head, face hot to the touch. Way to wreck a perfectly fine day at the beach by reminding her of her own damn... feelings. No, not feelings... just a passing fascination with a ridiculous elf with a bright smile and more hair than sense some days.

…

At least that's what she told herself as she stared out at the moonlit sea, smelling the salt air and listening as gulls called in the distance and the waves lapped at her feet.

Yeah... she was screwed. Hard.