#*dreamy sigh* Mermay...

[spotaus]

I have to be strong. I- I have to get through classes so I can participate in Mermay.

[azrisweek]

𝐀𝐳𝐫𝐢𝐬 for MerMay

We are obsessed with this gorgeous art by @ hmmr.art! Eris and Azriel are so pretty as mermen—look at how their tails are entwined and the shadows swirling around them *dreamy sigh.* And you know what comes after MerMay? Pride Month and Azris Week!🏳‍🌈

◆ TEN DAYS UNTIL AZRIS WEEK BEGINS ON JUNE 4TH ◆

reposted with explicit permission from the artist. no additional reposts allowed. reblogs welcome. characters belong to sarah j maas.

[rocksinmuffin]

Does Abe Sapien count for mermay? Cause I would love to have him and like, gentle loving fun time together. Maybe reader is super into swimming and has gotten fussed at before for swimming with him but is like "yolo i need my fish sticks"

Did something other than the specific example given at the end because I was possessed by a spirit that had an exact scenario it wanted to write and it would not be swayed.

~*~

It isn’t uncommon that you spend your evenings with Abe, enjoying pleasant conversation and good drink as music plays in the background. Sometimes he plays a carefully-chosen record from his extensive collection of music, watching you with excited anticipation as he awaits your reaction. Sometimes you share the music downloaded on your phone and take delight in the way his eyes light up at something new.

Tonight, the two of you are listening to something from your own collection; a song that wasn’t new even when you were a teenager but still managed to be played at every school dance you ever attended.

“I had my first slow dance at prom to this song,” you reminisce, sigh dreamy from nostalgia and wine.

Abe nods his head in agreement, eyes closed as he mutters a slightly slurred, “Ah, youth,” as if he knows what you’re talking about.

You quirk an eyebrow. “Did you go to prom as a teenager?”

He tenses up a bit, clearly not expecting you to have called him out like that. He opens his eyes but has to divert his gaze as you stare back at him expectantly. “Well, no,” he confesses, finned fingers twiddling in his lap. “But I’m familiar enough with the subject I can imagine.”

“Well,” you say setting your glass aside as you stand up from your chair, “There’s no time like the present.”

Abe blinks, staring at your proffered hand as if it had just grown out of the side of your head.

You smile at him, wide and beaming, not the restrained tight lip smile you usually give when fully sober. “So are you gonna dance with me or are you just gonna keep standing there looking like a fish out of water?”

“I should report you to HR for that.” But despite his empty threat he still pulls himself out of his seat, taking your offered hand and stepping closer when you pull him forward.

He gulps audibly. “I’ve never danced with a partner before.”

“Ah, but you have danced.” You chuckle as Abe averts his eyes. “Don’t worry. I promise you won’t be a worse partner than my prom date. He puked on my shoes.”

“Don’t speak too soon,” Abe replies, looking a little green around the gills as you place his hands to rest along the dip of your hips.

You don’t do anything elaborate; just sway your bodies left and right. Truth is, you’re not much of a dancer yourself, not that Abe seems to notice. He’s probably too focused on keeping his nervous stomach in check as you lean in closer to him, resting your head against his chest as your arms wrap a little tighter around his shoulders. You can hear his heart beating in his chest, too fast to match the slower beat of the song playing, and you just smile as you continue to sway the two of you back and forth long after the song has ended.

[alolowrites]

Get Out of the Water

Summary:  It’s late and you come across a stranger swimming in the water.

Author’s Note: This story was written for @bnhabookclub​‘s Just Add Water MerMay Event. It was my first time writing a Mermaid AU story and went through multiple drafts until I was satisfied with the story’s direction. Despite having a hard time, I’m really glad I challenged myself and tried something new. 

Following prompt used was: “Well…this isn’t how I expected to spend my Saturday night.”

Hope you all enjoy! 

Word Count: 1K+ (approx.)

The dreamy sea beats a soothing pulse all through the night. There is no storm charging by, no dolphins jumping mid-air, no boats marching on. There isn’t even a speck of trash floating around like a sore sight.

Waves sluggishly drench on the cold, moon glow-gold sand. A gentle wind blows through your hair as you step forward to the slumbering sea. Your toes wiggle into the wet sand, the cold water slipping around the bare ankles and bowing away seconds later.

Small stones juggle in your left hand. They are flat and weigh no more than a tennis ball. After searching far and wide on this beach, you settled on the best ones to make the skips easier. In your opinion, the triangular rocks are better than the circular ones. Running your fingers along the first stone, you feel the rough texture prickling your soft skin.

It’s perfect.

Back is straight, your body slightly turns, and your right hand is firm. Breathing through your nose, you raise the stone and release it low against the water. The rock bounces five times before the ocean eats the mineral snack. Your throws continue until there is one stone left. Gripping on the last rock, you chuck it out to the sea with full force. Instead of landing on the water, it hits a stranger's head by accident.

“Ow!”

You skitter back like a frightened cat. Millions of questions run through your head as you wonder why a stranger is swimming out so late. While scavenging for rocks, you never saw a single towel nor came across another person on the beach. Not letting your guard down, you cautiously approach the shoreline with nothing to defend yourself.

“Hey!” The head turns, and you slightly jump. “I get you wanna take a deep swim, but it’s dark outside, and I’m no lifeguard, buddy! So come out of the water before something happens to you.”

“Don’t worry about me, sweetheart!” Great, a cocky guy; you resist an eye roll. “Gotta say, that was a mean throw, though.”

“I’ll give you another one if you don’t get your ass out of the water, hotshot!”

“Feisty, huh?” He disappears underwater, and you panic. Did something pull him? Is he drowning? Will he end up on the shore dead? A curse escapes into the silent night as you prepare to dive in and save this dumbass. Well, that was your plan until his head pops up again, this time much closer to you. Your scream pierces his eardrum. “Okay, ow! Can you please stop hurting me?”

You point at him. “Get out of the water, bro!”

“I can’t.”

“What do you mean you can’t?” Disgust dawns on your face as you recoil away. “Oh my god, are you nude?”

“What? No!”

“Then get out of the water.”

“I told you, I can’t.”

“So, you’re nude then.”

“I’m not—” He sucks in an agitated breath; you fight back a laugh. Your eyes wander around the man’s statuesque figure that gives Apollo a run for his money. His face is perfectly symmetrical and structured, which makes you cry. It should be a crime to have a chiseled jawline that sharp. You are sure it could cut through the most robust diamonds on Earth. God certainly had his favorites.

However, it's his eyes that reel you in like a fisherman who captured their winning prize. Every shade of brown, from a rich copper red to the sweetest batch of dark cocoa powder, swirls inside. A hint of gold glimmers when they become mischievous.

A coy smile entertains his lips. “Like what you see?”

Water splashes on him.

“Very original,” you deadpan as he wipes a hand down his face. Cocking your head, you give him a curious stare. “Now, who are you, nude boy?”

“The name’s Yo Shindou,” he answers, and you see ripples move across the water. A long tail emerges from below like an elegant dancer. An armor of shark scales covers the entire length and shines with a vibrant emerald color. You nearly miss the faint black streaks running along the tail. Plopping down on the sand, you gape at the mesmerizing piece of art. “I’m a merman, and before you ask: yes, the tail is real.”

“You’re a mermaid?!”

“Merman!”

“My bad.” A shaky hand runs through your hair. “Well…this isn’t how I expected to spend my Saturday night.”

“And I didn’t expect to get hit by a rock.”

“Oh shut up, you’re a merman. You’ll live.” As the waves hummed, a chilly air swoops through your light cardigan to remind you that it’s bedtime. Standing up, you grimace at the damp circles staining your kneecaps—damn merman. Sighing, you throw Shindou a weak two-finger salute. “Adios, magical fish.”

“Wait a minute!” Shindou protests from his spot. You spin around on your heels, the sole of your shoes digging into the heavy sand. Two hands shove inside the cardigan’s pockets as you arch an eyebrow at the guy. He might not feel cold, but you sure are. “What’s your name?”

“Come back tomorrow without getting hit by my stone and I’ll tell ya.”

“It’s a date then,” Shindou flirts without missing a beat. You’re a sputtering mess as you vehemently deny his statement. He finds you incredibly endearing for someone living above the surface. The soft blush on your cheeks does not go unnoticed by him. “Farewell, feisty human!”

“You know what!” Hands frantically search on the empty shore for rocks. Shindou retreats underwater to avoid the asteroids flying his way. Air bubbles surround him as he quickly spots you through the shimmering surface thanks to his heightened vision. He smiles like an idiot. You’re definitely his favorite human so far.

Shindou swims away, but you hear his cackles echo into the silent sky like a haunting song from a humpback whale. A stone fumbles across the sandy beach after giving it a good kick. You trek back home, not bothering to hide the soft grin cracking on your face.

“Stupid merman.”

Thank you for reading!

[ohthatbunnygirl]

                                        Salt melts the Ice                       

An AU Nix/Hunter Reylo One-Shot that’s inspired by all the awesome Mermay beautifying my dashboard.

                                         _________________

The bleeding stag across the hunter’s shoulders forced his boots to sink deeper into iced over mud.

Each pull up took more effort.

Each step down felt more final.

Verdammt! How far can I be?

“I’ve only been here a hundred times?” he shouted through chattering teeth. “H-How can I be lost!”

For not the first time, he regretted separating from the group, but regrets wouldn’t keep him alive. Sucking down a stabilizing breath, the raven-haired man gathered enough strength to stumble back along the right way. One foot in front of the other stuck close to the stream. Across thickets and around trees, he followed the slow merciful gurgle until the Aufeis stopped the flow.

Staring at the hunks of ice blocking the stream, the hunter could only sense his impending end as well.

This time when the stag slipped off his shoulders, he didn’t stop it. Leaning against a rock, the worn man submitted to the inevitable. Under all his pelt layers were shiver swells that wouldn’t quit. Under the eyes of the gods who he thought had abandoned him, the man prayed to make it back to his village.

I will not make it.

Liebe Götter, please let me make it.

Long after panicking, the man called Kylo urgently spoke his oldest god’s beloved names. Every praise puffed out into a harsh winter wind, but he kept praying. On and on, he showed reverence while never daring to close his eyes when the frozen dew caked his eyelashes.

No answer came. 

The Black Forest had never appeared more white, and he growled out his aggravation. From a young age, Kylo Ren had always felt at peace away from others. His mother used to beg him to play more with boys his age, but fun was tracking animals. He lived for the hunt. He trusted only his senses. Though he was born a prince, he reigned solely as king when on the prowl. 

The forests had always been his sanctuary. The forests were also damning him.

Lowering his hand into the nearly frozen stream, Kylo bitterly laughed. It turned out that hysteria wasn’t so bad after all, and he chuckled out his goodbyes to the world as his fingers dragged across the water. Little by little, the blood from his now useless kill slipped off his skin, but he only turned entirely white when hair tendrils brushed against his fingertips.

“Meine götter!” Kylo shouted while backing away. 

Every primal instinct begged the man to bolt, but once he realized that it was a woman bobbing lifeless in the water, he reacted. Forgetting the cold, Kylo reached down into the icy muck to haul the stranger up.

“I’ve got you,” he roared, neck muscles straining as he pulled. “I’ve got you.”

An hour earlier, he’d have easily yanked her body to shore. The young woman was slim, but the hunter felt then like she was weighed down below the waist. Emotionally and physically, he couldn’t offer her enough. Everything that wasn’t touched by frostbite was on fire. His biceps were ripping at the seams, his fingertips felt brittle, and so he paused for breath when her torso reached the edge of the water. Groaning and hating himself. Miserable and ready to join her in the depths until he heard a weak noise.

“Got you.”

“You’re alive!” Kylo gasped into a laugh, turning the leave-tangled girl over until she stared up at him. “I thought you were dead, but you’re alive.”

“Dead, but you’re alive,” she gasped back at him.

Judging by the blue tinted lips she’d been in the water for ages, but whenever their eyes met for the first time a wash of peach bloomed in her cheeks. Her pale hazel eyes widened in shock to match his, and Kylo forgot all about the cold. All his shivers were for her. All his fears slipped off as death didn’t seem quite as threatening when someone like her could still find enough of his breath to steal.  

“You are lovely,” he murmured.

“You are lovely,” she whispered back.

The compulsion to lean closer down to her overwhelmed him. He longed to hold her, but he knew that it was sheer madness to expend the energy when the strange woman remained half in the water. He’d never escape the forest if he helped her out, but still, he just had to touch her. Giving in to one last earthly delight, Kylo lowered his hand down. Cold hindered his movements at first, but a tingling heat traveled up from his gloved hand once he stroked along her cheek. Soothing her. Soothing them both. Neither one able to look away as her lips slowly curved up into a dreamy smile.

Unnatural pressure bared down on his shoulders then as though she were dragging him under with only a look, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away.

“W-what is your name?” he asked.

“Rey.”

The blessing of hearing something other than an echo from her lifted the edges of his lips into a radiant smile. “So beautiful.”

“So handsome,” the woman sighed, dragging the back of her trembling fingers up and down his jaw. ”My sisters, they would make a feast of you.”

Kylo’s weak smile broadened as he corrected her, “For me.” 

Turning her cheek, Rey breathed out another sigh against Kylo’s palm as she turned her attention towards his discarded stag. “You hunt?”

“Yes.”

“You are the hunter…” 

The next time that her eyes closed again, Kylo’s mouth parted in shock. Up close, he’d finally noticed all the purple veins visible under her thin skin. The threads of wisteria trapped under shimmery flesh were so fine that it could have been gossamer spider webs, and he’d never seen anyone like her. Same as most men from his village, Kylo generally preferred supple flesh. A well-fed girl meant a healthy night. Always before, he’d hungered for sturdy hips, breasts, and thighs to sate his needs, but he’d have sacrificed all his gold to continue admiring his slight stranger. She was otherworldly, extraordinary.  

“You must be so cold,” he murmured, rubbing her shoulders. “You are cold.”

“Cold,” she echoed.

“I’ve done nothing right to deserve you as my last vision,” Kylo’s voice broke as he looked away. “And I can’t even save you.”

Hold me.

Come with me into the water.

A touch of sadness flitted across her delicate features then as he swore that he heard her calming voice in his mind. Delirium was surely playing with him, but he didn’t mind. No, he surrendered to it -to her- as he felt hands glide up to his shivering shoulders. When ten dagger-sharp nails dug next into his muscles, he experienced no fear in her hold, no panic. There was nothing but pleasure here for him. They would console how they could until their last breaths.

“I-I will come with you into the water,” he said, leaning down.

I will love you into the depths.

By the press of her lips to his, she’d understood his promise.

Sharing breaths, her mouth molded to his. Completing him with a sweet give and take. Her soft teasing brushes back and forth luring him in deeper and deeper as she gently moaned against him. Making him wish only to live long enough to please her again. 

Making him forget every kiss before his last.

The tighter Rey���s arms wrapped around him, the more Kylo’s knees edged nearer to the stream. Each passionate caress brought them closer and closer to tipping in, but when her tongue dipped into his mouth like that, he couldn’t care less. Falling into anything with this perfect stranger was easier than breathing anyway, and Kylo was so caught up in pleasing Rey that he missed her expression suddenly softening. Never feeling her finger’s slacking their hold. Never noticing that the snow flurries stopped right before he broke the kiss. Breathlessly nipping at her lush lower lip, he luxuriated only in her taste. Adoring that salty earthiness that reminded him of every wish left unfulfilled.

The last wish shattered entirely when she pulled away.

I would have destroyed you.

Let them find you.

Before he knew to hold on, she’d slid back into the water. Everything lost between them in the blink of an eye. Not even a cry releasing from Kylo’s throat before she’d fully submerged, and the first of his sobs were covered up by the pounding of unwanted hooves. With the storm cleared up, the forces had finally arrived to rescue their prince. So triumphantly they shouted his name, but Kylo dug his nails into the sediment. Begging to stay, pleading even when violet fin tips broke the water’s surface, and he finally understood how close to danger he’d come.

Never again wanting anything more.