#fisherman!billy

[celestialspecial]

A Song of Sirens

You’d been watching him for months now. He moved with a grace that most humans lacked. Lifting and hoisting and moving heavy objects with ease.

He walked along the deck effortlessly, sea legs someone had called it. The rocking motion of the boat in the swells of the ocean but he held firm.

You’d been warned of coming too close to shore, to be wary of the docks where men kept their ships. But it was all so big and bright and tantalizing. Shouts and laughter rang out between the men.

Ropes were tossed and engines were cleaned. You recognized some of the vessels that you had seen tackle the open ocean. The port side town was bustling this time of the year.

Keeping your head just below the surface, praying a stray beam of sun didn’t catch in a way to glimmer across your scales. It was usually cloudy and gray here, but that didn’t seem to dampen spirits.

You’d even hear the fisherman sing joyful tunes when out on the sea. Whistling, notes being played on some manner of instrument and loud boisterous voices echoing out into the blackness of the night.

When it was so dark that the sky and sea seemed to blend together, like a painter foregoing use of color at all save for the white specks of stars gleaming in the sky.

You swam just under one of the docks, shadows skimmed over your face as boots clunked above you dimming out the light with their movement towards one of the larger boats docked there.

The Sirens Splendor was painted across the side in bright green lettering. A full team of men tossing rations, rope, and wooden boxes onto the deck. You let your arms drape around the side of a supporting beam bolstering the deck.

Eyes darting to examine every man aboard, you’d been watching this ship for long enough. Recognizing the voices, matching the faces. The captain strode forward yelling to a crew member about something.

He was stocky, tall, with close cropped dark hair and a nose that looked like it had broken once or twice. The men fell in line immediately at his call and movement picked up aboard.

You had begun to learn their fishing schedule, what fish they went out for specifically each time, for how many days they were at sea. Your curiosity had been piqued.

The days would be long, and you were just an observer. Swimming along but always staying far enough away that there was no chance of you being snagged in their nets or baskets. 

Of course you’d been reprimanded by your family for straying too close. For your new obsession with the humans that just hadn’t been there before. 

Or maybe it always had been there but you’d ignored it for so long that it reared up with a renewed fury.

Consuming your every thought, you had swam to the small fishing town multiple times and every time there was something new to see. Something new to learn. How you ached to ask your questions to one of them.

To speak with a human, would be quite an adventure. 

“All right men, sooner we move out, sooner we can be home.” The captain had a gruff voice but it carried across the harbor, cutting through the wind that was picking up.

More sounds of shuffling and then he came into view. Tall, taller than the captain and leaner but sturdy as well. You’d seen him stand in place as intimidating waves had crashed into the side of the boat.

A shock of dark hair and grown out scruff, not quite a beard like other crew members. Climbing from below deck and tossing a large metal basket off to the side before resuming his place next to the captain.

You didn’t realize how shallow your breathing had become, fingers tightening on the support pole. Eyes never leaving his face. One of the crew member must have said something funny cause a loud laugh rang out from him.

It was like something in your chest melted. Watching his dark eyes crinkle with mirth and a raised hand to block the stray ray of sunlight from his face. 

He turned and exchanged words with the captain who nodded, turning on a heel and making his way into the wheelhouse.

“Take her out boys!” His voice rang out, clear and melodious to your ears. A chorus of calls echoed back to him and you didn’t miss the twitch of his lips, the subtle hint of a dimple on his cheek.

As you watched the boat pull out, leaving the safety of the harbor and out into the murky colored water before them, your heart begged you to follow. Relaxing your grasp and diving deep below as fast as your tail would carry you.

Watching the bubbles and feeling the current from the boat brush along your face like a lovers caress. Come, follow me. Come.

Picking up pace as you noticed the engine heaving overtime carrying them further and further out to sea. Night was beginning to fall and the last slashes of sunlight broke through the gathering clouds.

The bright rays danced across the ever moving surface, sparkling crystals against a backdrop of navy. Surfacing briefly to see how much farther you had to catch up  and panting realizing how far away they were still.

Humans and their machines. You cursed to yourself and dove once more, hoping to catch an undercurrent that would shoot your closer to them. 

The water deepened as the sun had finally set and your eyes adjusted to the dimness.

Fish swam around you, darting off in this direction and that. Some unknowingly swimming towards the ship as well. The ocean felt icier in the dark. 

Beautiful and dangerous. And yet these men braved it. Did it call to them like it did you? Was it as much a part of them as the merpeople below? If only you could ask them…

It felt like eons that you attempted to keep pace, heart beating rapidly in your chest, your body growing sore, dying to stop. Fate apparently listened to your pleas because you could see the boat slowing.

A metallic clunk and grinding sound cut through the water as you watched a large anchor lowering through the depths ahead of you. Looking up towards the surface, wondering if it was dark enough that you could peak out unseen.

You could almost hear your older sister’s scolding at how stupid you were being. How humans were dangerous and to stay as far away from them as possible.

 Shaking your head as if to remove her scathing words from your mind, instead swimming as close to the boat as you could get.

Touching the hull, hands dragging along the surface, edging closer and closer to where the air met the water. Camouflaged by darkness and being so close to the�� vessel, only someone deliberately looking would find you.

Ears straining to hear what was being said. Something about good fishing weather and a moving towards the Bering sea. 

Then you heard his voice, not being able to make out what he was saying but the men seemed to agree with him.

The waves picked up, jostling you from your spot and nearly taking you back out to open water. Your tail thrashed to propel you forward once more, this time choosing to take hold of the anchor chain.

You cringed at the loud slap your tail made against the next crash of water.

“Sounds like the weather is picking up.” It was him. You bit your lip as you heard movement, footsteps walking right to where you were. 

You crowded as close to boat as you could, knowing if you made an escape now you’d surely be seen. Venturing a glance upwards you saw his face as close as you’d ever seen it.

He was beautiful.

A firm square jaw, a muscle ticking on the side as he stared out at the ever increasing white caps. A gust of wind carried across the deck further mussing his tousled brown hair. 

You didn’t realize how tightly you were holding the anchor chain as you leaned forward, just to see his eyes better. 

They were dark. Like the sea at night. Focused purely on the water before him. 

“How’s it lookin’ Bill?” Another voice. The captain you assumed.

You watched his throat work, fingers that had been clutching the side of the boat released and gave a few wary taps on the wood.

“Looks rough, captain. We may be in for a long night.”

“Perfect.” But you could tell from the inflection in his voice, that it was in fact, not perfect. “We’d better make sure rigging and the engine are in shape should we need to head back.” 

You listened to more movements throughout the boat, feeling it begin to rock more steadily with the waves. A few forks of lightning stretched across the sky off in the distance. 

Eventually it began to grow silent and you realized they had probably gone to sleep. Feeling a growing sense of disappointment, realizing you’d had to go home and be left to wonder about their fishing trip.

Then a voice rang out. No. Sang out. A lyrical tune that carried on the wind and into your ears. A pleasant tone.

Then another voice joined in and then another. Soon you could hear laughter and the growing swell of the sea shanty from above deck. One man sang a verse while the others responded with some sort of refrain.

You wished you could see them, instead having to imagine them, their faces, as they sang. Then you heard his voice sing out. 

What had the captain called him? Bill. 

He sang another verse of the song. While it sounded upbeat in melody the words were melancholy. His voice, strong and clear.

Of course it was as beautiful as his face. 

You closed your eyes listening to the song as it morphed into another tune then another after that. 

You had drifted into some fantasy in your head, dreaming of joining along with them, standing on deck by their sides. Then the shouting began.

Eyes popping open wildly you noticed how much the boat had started to sway dangerously close to the water, back and forth. Pummeled by wave after wave. 

It had been a steady stream of movement before but now it picked up erratically , as if out of nowhere. Calls of the men to one another became harder and harder to hear as the wind and ocean drowned out all sound.

A small gap lay between the edge of the boat and the deck and if you could just peer into it you could see what was happening.

The captains voice called out, shouting orders and it didn’t escape your notice the slight frantic tone to it. Another wave struck the side of the ship, it groaned as it tilted to the side.

Hoisting yourself as best you could to the lip of the opening, catching feet running past. The fisherman had begun to move into the most sheltered areas, but water quickly claimed anything that wasn’t tied down.

“Smith make sure the cargo is secure!” At that you noticed a smaller man, no, a young boy running towards one of the large wooden crates that was sliding freely across the deck. 

He couldn’t be over the age of 17. Lean and much less experienced than the other men aboard.

He struggled with the ropes, hands slipping and losing balance frequently.

“Hold on!” Bill had shouted, pushing off from where he’d been holding tight to the stairs leading to the wheelhouse. Rushing over to help the boy. 

“Everyone else below deck! Hold onto something!” The captain screamed against the whipping wind as another wave sprayed mist, blanketing the already slippery deck surface. 

Bill had helped secure the crate, wedging it between two others and tying an intricate knot to hold them firmly. Smith had tied one of the other loose boxes down.

“Smith, Billy, get the hell inside!” The boat creaked and shuddered at the onslaught of waves. The water seemed more white and rushing as the waves crested higher around then. 

The two had started making their way back to the safety underneath until Smith lost his footing, sliding, knees hitting the decks surface with a crack. 

Billy turned, seeing the boy barely able to stand, running back towards him. Another wall of water crashed into the vessel knocking them both off kilter.

You saw one of the crates break free, the one the boy had tied down, apparently not good enough. Billy had seen it too, as the large object moved with deadly speed towards the young boy.

You wanted to scream to look out, noticing another rogue wave gearing up, moving towards the boat like a shark to an unsuspecting guppy.

The crate sped towards Smith but Billy rushed forward, pushing the boy with all his might, sending him sprawling backwards into a pile of ropes on deck.

Why happened next felt like it moved in slow motion to you. 

The full blunt force of the crate hit Bill head on, knocking the wind out of him. Then the largest wave you’d seen yet smashed into the side of the boat, swirling across the deck and taking the box and Billy with it over the side.

Pulling back just in time from the gap you’d been looking through, you watched him soar past you into the frothy mixture of sea below. The cargo box had struck him dead center of his chest, pushing him into the drink like an anchor of its own.

A high pitched ringing sounded in your ears, the shouts from the men above seemed so far away. And then you were jumping into the murky deep yourself.

It was so dark and so cold. Even for you. You couldn’t imagine what it felt like to be a human, to have the air ripped from your lungs. 

Your tail propelled you forward, the ache in your limbs from your earlier swim long forgotten. Pushing faster and faster. The white of his shirt and the light color of his skin was all you could see.

He would surely die if you didn’t get to him. His eyes were closed, bubbles leaving his lips, the box crushing him as they both plummeted to the ocean floor.

With some unknown strength you managed to get close enough to him to grasp his shirt, taking hold of him arm and pulling with all your might. Your fingers and muscles screamed in retaliation.

Panicking, wondering if this would be a fruitless effort. The man you’d been entranced with for months, dead because you’d failed. The ocean had failed you. 

But then you got purchase on his torso, tearing him free from the crate that continued its downward descent. Rushing you both towards the surface as fast as you could.

Everything was black, until it wasn’t. Breaking free of the surface and somehow managing to hold him upright, his head slung off to the side. 

Pushing the soaked-through strands of hair away from his face, wondering if he was breathing. How did you get him to breathe?

None of that would matter if you both didn’t get out of this storm. The fishing boat was so far away now. Shrinking in the distance, further and further away. 

So you turned tail and did all that you could. Start swimming you both to shore.

It took hours to get back. The storm splashing water into both your faces, struggling to keep him above the surface. It had felt so much faster when you could dive underwater and just swim.

His eyes remained shut, maybe he was already dead. Why did that thought cause a huge knot in your throat? 

You barely even knew him. He’d been a pretty surface dweller that captured your attention and nothing more.

Arranging his body to drape an arm over your shoulder to keep him from slipping you pressed your face into his neck. 

Hoping to get a better hold of him, but then you felt that fluttering of a pulse right by his jaw. He was alive.

Relief washed over you just like the waves that surrounded the two of you. A renewed strength entering your bones. Pushing forward, knowing it wasn’t all for nothing. You wouldn’t let it be.

You could cry at the sight of land. Then a few tears did escape when you tossed both your bodies onto the shore. Sand caking to your skin and hair, seaweed clinging to one of Billy’s legs.

It felt like the muscle in your chest would explode. Either out of pride that you’d done it, or the tiredness because…you’d done it. 

Regardless you both were on land. You’d saved him. You watched his chest rise and fall. Water dribbling out of his mouth at the corners. 

You wanted to do something else, help him somehow but you were just so tired. Your heart raced as you reached out and touched his hand. It was so cold.

The ocean had been frigid, but where one of his boots slipped off, there didn’t seem to be any sign that something was amiss. 

Crawling across the sand until you were right next to him, huddling closer, hoping your warmth would seep into him. Heal him in some foreign way you weren’t privy to.

As you rested your head on your arm, gazing up at him, wondering what had brought you to this moment. When your sisters heard about this…that you’d rescued a human-

Your older sister would disown you. You’d probably be a hero to the younger one. You huffed out a laugh as best you could at that. 

Then a sudden shift and you heard him make a noise. You froze in place. It sounded like a groan but then he went still again. You let out the breath you didn’t realize you’d been holding.

Returning to look upon him, your fingers itched to touch his face. To feel the scratch of his scruff against the soft pads on your hands. To wipe the salty water from his brow.

Raising a hand to hover it over him. Why were you shaking? 

Smoothing back a few locks of his hair, enjoying how they felt between your fingers. You couldn’t help but wonder how they felt dry. Letting your hand graze further down, drawing a line along the length of his nose.

His skin was smooth, unmarred from scars or blemishes. The tantalizing brush of hair that coated his face danced along your nerve endings.

You yearned to know what he smelled like when he wasn’t coated in saltwater. Your eyes drifted down following your hand. On his neck the steady thrum of a pulse set your mind at ease.

His shirt had been torn, buttons ripped away from when you pulled him free of the crate. The smooth plane of his chest was on display for you freely. 

Touching him was intoxicating. Hand pressed to the center of his chest where his heart beat, the only feeling of warmth in the center, hopefully spreading to the rest of his body.

You watched your hand on his chest, rising and falling rhythmically. Unable to believe you were even touching him. Entranced by the movement. Up. Down.

“Billy.” You said aloud, enjoying the taste of it on your tongue. Feeling his heart steady and constant beneath your fingertips.

You could fall asleep, the tiredness setting in as the adrenaline wore off. Heavy lidded eyes moved from your hand on his chest drifting lazily back up to his face.

Where his eyes were open. 

Icy fear shot through your entire body, pulling your hand away immediately like it’d been electrocuted. 

Moving as fast as your poor body would take you, sand spraying in your wake as you dove back into the water, disappearing beneath the surface once more.

Billy had pushed up from where he lay, flexing his hands experimentally, dragging one over his face. Fists rubbing into his eyes as he blinked out towards the water.

He should be dead. But he wasn’t. Maybe he had died for a moment because what he had just seen…no one would believe him. 

Swallowed too much seawater they’d say. Except for maybe Frank. He’d been on these waters for far longer than all of them. Seen so many things. 

A soft splash and rivulets of water shot into the air followed by a glistening green tail, breaking the now calmed waters surface. 

So it was real.

He was alive. A mermaid had saved him.

You swam far enough out that you were sure he couldn’t see you in the inky black night, but your enhanced vision allowed you to see him.

He remained seated on the beach, staring out at the water. But not just at the water, it seemed, it felt, like he was looking right at you. 

And so you looked back. Certain all he saw was darkness and yet it felt comforting, exhilarating even, to see and be seen. 

Maybe this is all it was. And maybe it was something more.

[screenshotsonpinterest]

Either Billy Joel needs to get back in studio or todays artists need to start writing about the plight of New England/Long Island fisherman again

[morbidology]

Born on August 25, 1965, in Louisville, Kentucky, Mia Zapata grew up in a family that nurtured her artistic inclinations. From a young age, she displayed a deep passion for music, influenced by artists such as Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith. Zapata learned to play the guitar and piano and by her teenage years, she was already honing her vocal talents.

In 1984, Zapata moved to Ohio to attend Antioch College, where she studied liberal arts. It was here that she co-founded the punk band The Gits in 1986. The band, which was known for its raw energy and Zapata's soulful, powerful voice, quickly gained a following.

In 1989, Zapata and her bandmates relocated to Seattle, a city that was emerging as a hotbed for alternative music, soon to be internationally recognised as the birthplace of grunge. The Gits became a fixture in the Seattle music scene, earning respect for their intense live performances and Zapata's emotionally charged lyrics.

Seattle, during this time, was teeming with creativity, with bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam redefining the sound of rock music. The Gits, though not as commercially successful, were deeply respected by their peers and had a dedicated following.

On the night of July 7, 1993, Mia Zapata left the Comet Tavern, a popular hangout in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, after spending the evening with friends. She never made it home. Her body was discovered early the next morning in the Central District of Seattle. She had been brutally beaten, sexually assaulted, and strangled to death.

The news of Zapata’s murder sent shockwaves through the Seattle community and beyond. In the wake of her death, local musicians and community members came together to form Home Alive, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing self-defense classes and raising awareness about violence against women.

For nearly a decade, Mia Zapata’s murder remained unsolved. The Seattle Police Department, despite extensive investigations, was unable to identify a suspect.

But then in 2001, a routine search through the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System yielded a match between DNA found on Zapata’s body and that of Jesus Mezquia, a Florida fisherman with a criminal record. Mezquia was arrested in 2002 and extradited to Seattle to stand trial for Zapata’s murder.

In 2004, Jesus Mezquia was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 36 years in prison.

[boatmediatourney]

🚢Boat Song Lineup & Links🚢

*links are on the boat emojis. most of the artists listed are specific to the linked versions, and many are folk songs with no single or known author. all the links are youtube links.*

🚢 32 Down on the Robert MacKenzie (Due South), Paul Gross

🚢 A Pirate Looks at 40, Jimmy Buffett

🚢 A Sailboat in the Moonlight, Billie Holliday

🚢 The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle (theme song)

🚢 The Ballad of Harbo and Samuelson, Shanghaied on the Willamette

🚢 The Bonnie Ship the Diamond, The Corries

🚢 Bluenose, Stan Rogers

🚢 Boat on the River, Styx

🚢 Canadee-i-o, Nic Jones

🚢 Come Sail Away, Styx

🚢 Day-O (Banana Boat Song), Harry Belafonte

🚢 Friggin in the Riggin, The Sex Pistols

🚢 Ghosts of Cape Horn, Gordon Lightfoot

🚢 Go to Sea No More, The Dubliners

🚢 The Good Ship Kangaroo, Planxty

🚢 Hard on the Beach Oar, Johnny Collins

🚢 Haul Away Joe, The Eskies

🚢 Highwayman, The Highwaymen

🚢 I'm on a Boat, The Lonely Island

🚢 I'm Shipping up to Boston, The Dropkick Murphys

🚢 James Craig, The Maritime Crew

🚢 The Last Bristolian Pirate, The Longest Johns

🚢 Leave Her, Johnny, Leave Her, Coda

🚢 The Leaving of Liverpool, The Dubliners

🚢 The Little Boat, The Wiggles

🚢 Lord Franklin, Pentangle

🚢 Lowlands Away, The Corries

🚢 Lukey, Great Big Sea

🚢 The Mariner's Revenge, The Decemberists

🚢 Marie Christine, Gordon Lightfoot

🚢 The Mary Ellen Carter, Stan Rogers

🚢 Mingulay Boat Song, The Corries

🚢 Mr. Andrews' Vision ("Titanic: A New Musical"), Maury Yeston

🚢 The Mistress, Dramtreeo

🚢 My Sails Are Set (One Piece live action)

🚢 Orinoco Flow, Enya

🚢 Overture/Prologue/The Launching ("Titanic: A New Musical"), Maury Yeston

🚢 The Pacific, Dave Malloy

🚢 The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything (Veggie Tales)

🚢 Proud Mary, Ike and Tina Turner

🚢 Race to be King, Seth Lakeman

🚢 Rolling Down to Old Maui, Stan Rogers

🚢 Roll the Old Chariot (sea shanty)

🚢 Round the Cape, The Longest Johns

🚢 Row, Row, Row your Boat (nursery rhyme)

🚢 Running Down to Cuba, Colm McGuinness

🚢 Sailing, Christopher Cross

🚢 Sailor's Farewell (sea shanty)

🚢 Santiana, The Longest Johns

🚢 Santiano, Hugues Aufray

🚢 Saturday, Jonathan Eng and Stephanie Hladowski

🚢 Save the Whales!, Country Joe McDonald

🚢 Ship in a Bottle, Fin Argus

🚢 Ship of Fools, The Grateful Dead

🚢 Song for the Bowdoin, Larry Kaplan

🚢 Song of the Volga Boatmen, Soviet Army Chorus & Band

🚢 Son of a Son of a Sailor, Jimmy Buffett

🚢 South Australia, Johnny Collins

🚢 Tow Rope Girls, Daniel Kelly

🚢 The Wellerman (sea shanty), Nathan Evans

🚢 The Wild Cape Horn, Friends Of The Shipyard and Fisherman's Fayre

🚢 The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Gordon Lightfoot

🚢 Warlike Seamen, Jerry Bryant and Starboard Mess

[intothedysphoria]

Haughty Prince Steve who regularly neglects his duties to see his “favourite fisherman” Billy on his boat.

Needless to say, Billy ends up being a prince consort within two years (nobody is surprised)

@shieldofiron @dragonflylady77 @oopsiedaisiesbaby

[a-romantics-guide-to-life]

╰┈ 𝓶𝔂 𝓳𝓸𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓼𝓪𝓲𝓵𝓸𝓻 𝓫𝓸𝓵𝓭 ┈➤

𝓼𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 : when sailing, pirates, fishermen, and the navy alike follow three simple rules. one, respect the sea and all of its wealth. two, stay alive. and number three, when you see any kind of merfolk, don’t wait, just shoot.

𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 : mentions of injury, blood, shooting, drowning, descriptions of anatomy,

𝓪/𝓷 : based on @francixoxoxo's beautiful pirate!billy x mermaid!reader au! i haven't stopped thinking about this au so here is my take on it! hope you enjoy!

Every sailor knows that the ocean hosts the biggest mysteries of man. From the gaping depths that not even the dead can reach, to the beauty of the reefs and fish that swam the waters blue. And, yet it is still unknown to man the difference between a mermaid and a siren. 

See, sirens be a dangerous thing. Heavenly and beautiful, but deadly nonetheless. They’ve got no human in them, making humans their number one prey. They’ll lure you in with a song so sweet, you’ll hear the tune for the rest of your life. They’ll trick you with their beauty. Their scales shimmering in the light, even offering them modesty by covering the swells of their breasts. But, as soon as any sailor lets their guard down, they reveal their fangs. 

They drag sailors and fisherman alike down, drowning out their screams as the sirens sink their fangs into the flesh of man. Which is why, sailors alike all follow three very simple rules all of equal value.

Number one, respect the sea and its wealth. Do not take it for granted for you may find your fishing nets empty or even your ship wrecked.

Number two, stay alive. This one should be very self-explanatory, yet some still decide to throw themselves overboard anyway. They clearly didn’t get the message.

And number three, when you see any kind of merfolk, don’t wait, just shoot.

Billy never understood these rules, he always thought they were contradictory. How can one respect the sea when one is expected to shoot its people on sight? He loved the sea and would never dare to shoot someone who called the deep blue home. Which is why he prayed that he would never encounter any merfolk on his excursions at sea.

Even his family, a family of sailors and navy men alike, had never encountered merfolk. Billy had grown up with a father that told stories of his and his crew's trips out on the sea. His mother had grown up right on the beach, sharing stories that her fisherman father had told her. His own brother, Jo, had always dreamed of sailing away on the deep ocean blue and finding adventure. Jo would often beg his older brother to take him out on the small sailing boat that their father had made just for the two of them. And of course, Billy would oblige.

He’d get the sail ready and he would hoist Jo up and onto the boat before pushing away from the shore. Billy would quickly jump on to the mini boat, causing it to rock back and forth as the sounds of Jo laughter and their parents shouts of care. He would steer the ship left and then right, zig zagging on the ocean. Finally, once night fell, Billy would help Jo lay down on the deck, pointing out constellations.

“You see that one, o’er then Jo? That one is called the North star.” Billy would point up, his finger seemingly touching the bright star as it glimmered in the dark night sky.

“N why is that Billy?” Jo would ask, bringing his hand up next to his brother, reaching his hand so that hopefully, it would be as long as his older brothers. Billy would chuckle and lower his arm, noticing his little brother. Billy would then wrap an arm around Jo as he helped Jo sit up, slowly steering them back to shore.

“That’s cause it leads true north Jo. It’s mighty helpful to us sailors so don’t you forget it.”

Once they reached shore, their Ma would already have dinner cooked, most likely seafood stew or grilled fish depending on what was caught that week. Their Pa would be awaiting them, blankets in hand, asking about their adventure. Jo would then happily tell his Pa everything Billy had taught him, from how to steer the boat to everything about the stars. 

It was on nights like those that Billy wished that he was with them. The stars glittering in the skies while Billy sailed never failed to make him homesick. When he had finally become old enough to sign himself up on a crew with his friend Jesse Evans, Billy waved bye to his parents and Jo embarked on a fishing boat. He continued to write to his brother about his adventures as a sailor as the crew slowly but surely grew. Billy found that he had more and more to write about as they traveled quite frequently, selling all that they fished to the locals in the town or even trading them for other commodities. Slowly, their crew grew and their ship became lively with the chatter of the boys dreaming about the ladies in the next port town they anchor in. 

Billy never joined in on conversations like those. He didn’t dream about one night stands with women who’ll forget your name by morning. No, Billy dreamed about love so grand that it’d contest his love of the ocean and his family. He yearned for a love so wrong that it felt right. He couldn’t help but look at the ocean, praying to the big blue that he would find someone who'll love him as he loved her.

As he gazed up at the stars that night, Billy played the fiddle and sang to the ocean about adventure and love hoping that it would sing right back to him.

You had always wanted to see the stars.

Your father, however, had forbidden it. You see, your father was part of the surface guard, a special force that protected the mermaids and mermen from reaching the surface where the sirens and human sailors were. Of course, as the daughter of the captain of the guard, you had a duty to your father to set a good example for the others in the reef you lived in. Yet, that didn’t stop your curiosity towards humans and the upper world. Your very own mother had been the same way, a likely reason your father hated you took after her. After all, it was that very wonderful curiosity she had that ended up leading to her death. 

You were young when she was harpooned. Your mother had been checking up on your father since he was on guard duty that day. She loved visiting your father not only because she got to see the love of her life but also because she got glimpses of the surface. She even kept a detailed log of what she observed every time which she had passed on to you. 

But on that fateful day, she wouldn’t be able to write about the cruel sailors that caught a poor turtle in the net. She would never be able to tell you how your brave father had frantically thrown his spear to cut the net your mother was about to get herself tangled in.  And even your father would never be able to muster enough courage to tell you the sound he made when he saw the harpoon cut straight through your mothers chest, smile on her face as she whispered to your father one last time…

“I love you.”

He had changed after that day. He hated humans, even more than sirens who plundered their food stores and murdered mermaids and humans alike. He hated how you took after your mother, her eyes reflecting in your own. He couldn’t even bear the thought of losing you like he had lost your mother.

So, he cracked down on the siren and human infestation. He shot and killed any man that drifted close into their reef. He also made sure that no mermaid or merman ever reached close enough to the surface to get harpooned. 

Of course, that didn’t stop you from breaking your fathers rules. Turns out, there was a shipwreck not even an hour swim away from your darling reef. You loved visiting it even if it was well within harpooning range of the sailors that sailed right above it. That didn;t stop you though. You loved looking through the chests of treasures like human clothes and even a human gun. You loved all the thinga-majigs you found, even if no one was with you to admire it. 

Although, your favorite part about the shipwreck was that it was close enough to the surface for you to get a glimpse of the bright lights that littered the night sky. You had never dared to go above the surface. The old women in your reef telling stories about mermaids who became sirens the minute they breathed in fresh air. No mermaid in their right mind would ever want to become a siren so of course, all the young mermaids did their best to stay away from the surface. Even you were still a little afraid of the surface and the air above. 

And yet, that didn’t stop you now. 

Although in truth, the position you found yourself currently in was just a big instance of wrong place at the right time. 

You were just swimming to your little hideaway when you suddenly got caught in a big confrontation between a group of guards and sirens. One of the other sirens had pulled you into their group, not realizing that you were a mermaid. But of course, out of fear, you had clammed up because who knew what they would do to you if they found out you weren’t one of their own. You had followed them, making sure that your hair covered your breasts in fear they would see the peaks and murder you in an instant. 

So you swam, watching the sirens in fascination. Soon, you came upon a human ship, nets in the water and anchored down. The sirens surely got into position, swarming around the ship, slowly humming. One of the sirens pushed you, shoving you into formation. Slowly, each of the sirens started singing. The tune was haunting yet beautiful. Yet, as you slowly reached the surface, you heard another voice singing. This one wasn’t as perfect or smooth as a pearl, it was deep and rough. That’s when you spotted him. 

Up on the ship, sat a human. His face twisted in concentration as he hummed the harmony to the stringed instrument on his shoulder. His chin rested on the tail end of the instrument as he used a long, hairy stick to hit the strings producing a tune so unique and unlike anything you had ever heard. His lips pursed as he hummed louder, the softer. He had hair that looked so soft as if it were the algae that stuck to rocks. And once he opened his eyes, his deep blue ocean eyes widened in panic as he pulled himself away from the raised edge of the boat.

The other sirens had started to sing along to the tune of the human, lulling some of the sailors to whisk their heads over the edge, nearly falling overboard. Some ran back and yelled commands at the others. Your heartbeat spiked, and you felt your skin grow colder and colder with each breath you took of fresh air. You had even forgone looking up at the stars you had so desperately wanted to look at. Your chest started to heave up and down and in fear, you looked down at your breasts, relieved to see that they were still peaked. Those old ladies were just lying, truly a relief. 

What wasn’t a relief was the fact that Billy had been so ignorant of his surroundings while he was playing his fiddle that he didn’t see the merfolk that had flocked to the ship. They had started singing the song Billy had been playing, an old sea shanty about a sailor named William. Their voices creeped up on the sailors as Billy had rushedly started yelling to the crew. Yet that didn’t stop mermaids singing. He rushed to the weapon stores, as did Jesse and many others. Billy rushed as he quickly reloaded the rifle while jogging to his station. 

The sirens continued to sing their haunting tune, their voices growing as they moved closer and closer to the ship. You had followed them of course, adrenaline running high in your veins as you felt your heartbeat in your ear. The sirens had all started to claw their way aboard the sailors ship, all reaching up to the sailors demurely. They put their arms out in front of them, as if inviting the sailors to hoist them up onto the deck. 

Suddenly, a loud bang rang out and the sirens hissed as their fangs came out. They used their specially made algae nets to latch onto the sailors and pull them down into the water. You hurriedly swam away from the commotion as other sirens had also started to flee.

“Filthy little mermaid.” You heard hissed before suddenly being thrown back. You were tossed around as the sirens pushed past you as more and more bangs were heard. You felt small bullets like the one you had found in the human gun whizz past you. You turned to the ship, looking up at the skies that were littered with dots of bright lights. You closed your eyes and prayed that Poseidon would allow you just a few more minutes before sending you to see your mother again.

Billy was frozen, rifle in arm, aimed right at one of the merfolk. His finger was on the trigger, ready and waiting to release a bullet, yet his finger lay frozen as well. It was pure chaos on the ship. Sailors yellin’ and shootin’ the damned sirens that surrounded their ship, trying to pull the sailors down for a quick bite. They were fighting tooth and nail to scatter the merfolk. Many of them had fled and very few were still trying to drown them. 

Still, there was one that lay just below the surface of the water. She had seemed different to the other sirens. Her hair was long and flowy and her breasts were nippled just like a woman’s. But it was her tail that completely threw Billy off. It was slowly moving back and forth, its iridescent color changing in the moonlight as she moved. Once it was pale pinks and blues, then it was bright green and purple. It was like no gem Billy had ever seen yet his gun was aimed right at her. The other sirens' tails were murky colors, drained and tired. Her’s was bright and full of life. Her eyes were trained on the starry night sky just like Billy’s were not even ten minutes ago.

“Oh Kid, ya’ gonna shoot ‘er or what? What’re ye’ waitin’ for?” Jesse yelled at him, Billy turned around and saw Jesse with the harpoon ready and waiting. Billy panicked and shot without really aiming. 

In a flash, you also panicked and swam as quickly as you could to the underside of the ship where most of the sirens had hid. Blood started tainting the water red from where the ocean eyed sailor had shot you. Red hot searing pain rippled through your body as you clamped a hand over the wound on your torso. You looked around, curious because none of the other sirens were attacking you viciously as the people in the reef believed. That is when you noticed how they were working together, slowly rocking the boat left to right. They were going to topple the ship over so that the sailors would drown. The other sirens continued to attack the sailors as more and more bullets whizzed through the water.

Billy had noticed the ship slowly starting to rock. His heart raced as he prepared himself for the worst. He quickly ran to Jesse explaining what he thought was happening. Billy believed that there were sirens underneath the ship, rocking the ship back and forth to topple it over. And that the sirens attacking them were merely a distraction to keep the sailors busy instead of sailing away. Of course, Jesse slowly also started to notice the rocking.

Jesse yelled at the crew, opening the sails and getting the row boats ready just in case. They slowly started to rock more and more. Suddenly, rain started pouring and the wind picked up, moving the ship slowly as it started to rock more and more. 

One of the newer crewmates screamed as he fell overboard, barely catching the taffrails of the ship. Billy ran over to help the poor guy when a siren latched onto his legs, trying to pull him down. The boy's cries for help grew louder and louder as Billy reached for any weapon he could pry the siren off of the sailor with. He found a harpoon in hand and Billy paused. He knew he shouldn’t but it was either the young sailor or the siren. Billy aimed and then the siren screeched out in pain falling down, down, down. He hoisted the young boy up as the boat continued to rock.

You saw the siren harpooned in front of you, the sirens screaming out in madness. After all, the sirens were one big family. They cared for each other, that much you could tell as all the sirens banded together to avenge their fallen sister. You wondered if that was what your father had seen when your mother was harpooned. Had he seen the skin go sickly pale and red enveloped his vision? Or had he seen her scales go brittle and her tail seize up? In honesty, you didn’t want to know because if he had seen something even remotely similar to what was in front of you, you knew you wouldn’t want to relive that nightmare again.

You swam up to watch what the sirens would do. All at once, sailors and fish as cool as ice were falling into the sea as the sirens ripped and gnawed at the sailors ship. You saw the sailor shoot more and more of the sirens as you had been shot. But, one of the sailors, the one with deep blue eyes, was weaponless. He was trying to get some of the other sailors to put away their harpoons. Why? You didn’t know or understand. 

Suddenly, the ship started to sink, more of the sirens pulling the sailors down. The ship suddenly split into two, pieces of wood covering the sea and your view. You started to swim when you saw sailors swimming away or continuing to shoot and harpoon the sirens. Slowly, prey in tow, the sirens started swimming away one by one. You too started to swim away when you noticed the blue-eyed sailor. His face calmed as he shut his eyes and moved his lips slowly.

When Billy had been pulled underwater, the first thing he thought of was his poor mother. How would she take the news of his death, he wondered. How would lil Jo take it? His father would be furious, that's for sure. Not only at the ocean but the merfolk as well. Would anyone else mourn Billy? That, he was unsure of. He had closed his eyes, resigning to his fate. And yet, he was happy to have died this way. In the arms of his favorite place. The water didn’t feel cold or deadly, it was suddenly warm and enveloping. He thanked God like his mother had for being granted this life, no matter how short it was. He thanked Poseidon as his father had for being granted this death. Slowly Billy lost consciousness as could no longer hold his breath, letting water take over his body and wash him away from the land of the living.

You, on the other hand, had started to hoist the sailor up towards the surface. He was by no means light, making your tail work extra hard just to slowly reach the surface. Once you had, it was just a matter of where the closest beach was. You didn’t want to leave the man for dead because after all, he tried to stop his friends from outright harpooning them. Sure, he may have shot at you with a gun but wounds like those were easy to heal. You had started to swim to shore, remembering every so often that humans couldn’t breathe underwater. Once you finally reached the shore, you lay him down on the sand. His eyes were still closed so you checked if he had any life left in him. You pressed you ear to his chest, hoping that men too had hearts that beat like yours. You felt the slight rhythm so you decided to hit his chest hoping that it would get the water out of his weak human lungs. 

Up close, he was beautiful, you thought. He looked so different to the mermen in your reef. You traced his jaw with your hands as you felt the slight roughness of his chin. You moved the hair away from his forehead, noticing how light it felt. You pressed down on his chest again, hoping that it would finally wake him up. What good was it if he just ended up dying after you had brought him back to land? You opened his mouth, noticing how soft his lips felt. You recalled how your father said that humans breathed out deadly gasses while merfolk breathed out air that humans could breathe which is why sailors alike looked to be kissed by mermaids many moons ago. Then, you lightly pressed your lips to his, breathing out air into his lungs. 

Billy woke up with a start. He turned to his side and coughed out water, his throat burning from the salt and expelling the water. His eyes squinted underneath the harsh sun he found himself under. He looked around, taking in the beach that he now lay upon. That's when he finally saw you. His eyes trailed down from your face all the way down to your gem-like tail. 

Billy noted your beauty that was incomparable to any other woman he had ever seen. Your hair was silky and your eyes were big and bright. He saw your bare breasts that seemed like they would fit perfectly in his rough hands. You were looking at him with those glowy eyes of yours, your head tilted. 

“Well good morning sunshine.” You smiled brightly at him.

“G’morning darlin’,” he smiled back, you noticed how boyishly he smiled much like the young boys in your reef, “Ya’ wouldn’t happen to know where we are, would ya?”

“Well, no, I don’t. But,” you practically sang, you voice sweeping over Billy like a tsunami,” its land. And there should be a human town somewhere over there.”

“So not only did ya make sure I didn’t drown, ya also brought me to land where I can breathe?”

“Well isn’t that a silly question,” you giggled, chuckling at how silly he was. You found yourself entranced by him and you didn’t even know his name. 

And that feeling was reciprocated. Billy found himself enchanted by you, of course, probably because you were merfolk. He didn’t think you were a siren though, but he had been taught that sirens and mermaids are one in the same.

“Well, since ya did all that for me, thank you. Really.” Billy had sat up and brushed a lock of your hair behind your ear. You then pressed your cheek against his hand, reveling in the warmth of his palm. 

“Then I suppose you're welcome, human.”

“I do have a name y’know,” he laughed.

“And yet you still haven’t told me exactly what that name is. Shame, I suppose I’ll just have to call you human from now on.” 

“Then I suppose I'll have to call you darlin’ from now on. Though I wouldn’t mind you calling me Billy, seein’ as it’s my name ‘n all.”

“Sounds like a deal, sailor.” You smiled, slowly splashing your tail around in the water. He asked your name so you told him in that sweet voice of yours. Billy found himself wanting to talk more and more to you, he wanted every single laugh and chuckle to himself. He was selfishly in love with you.

And you had found yourself wanting to know more and more about Billy. You wanted to know more about the story behind the sailor, wanted his deep and smooth voice to drown you like the sirens had drowned the humans. Both of you willing to drown as long as it was with each other. Billy had found that the sea did sing his song back and you had found that the sea led you right to its biggest treasure. 

Respect the sea and all of its treasures, they said. And it, too, will give you treasure.

I had so much fun writing this and would love to hear your thought on my rendition of this au! Love love love @francixoxoxo's beautiful mind and this beautiful au!

[sundove88]

Introducing Anime Ever After!!

Ever wanted to experience classic fairytales but through the lens of legendary and lesser known anime?

Well, Anime Ever After is for you!!

Synopsis: An anthropology of famous stories from around the world retold through the lens of legendary and lesser known anime, with modern twists, turns, and lessons about. From the depths of the sea in DBZ: Waves of Freedom (The Little Mermaid) to the realm beyond the clouds in One Piece: Beyond The Sky (Jack and The Beanstalk), this ever expanding treasury of tales has something for everyone.

Framing Device: An anime loving teenager is telling classic fairytales to the kids they babysit as bedtime stories- with a twist!

Side Note: Nursery Rhymes being adapted is more for Shrek. So they won’t be here- sorry about that. But they do a good job at it. This anthology is meant for readers 12 and up, due to some of the themes in some of the stories.

Btw, look for the posts that have anime ever after on them as one of their tags. Here’s the list of tales (So Far):

Dragon Ball Z: Waves of Freedom (The Little Mermaid)

My Hero Academia: Heart of Glass (Cinderella)

Attack on Titan: Red Hood (Little Red Riding Hood)

One Piece: Beyond The Sky (Jack and The Beanstalk)

Naruto: Sleeping Shadow (Sleeping Beauty)

Sword Art Online: The Match Player (The Little Match Girl)

FullMetal Alchemist: Iron Wolves (The 3 Little Pigs)

Fairy Tail: Mirrors of Deceit (Snow White)

Inuyasha: Soul of The Beast (Beauty and The Beast)

Bleach: Brushes of Fate (The Magic Paintbrush)

Fruits Basket: The 12 Dancing Zodiacs (12 Dancing Princesses)

Black Clover: The Frog Knight (The Frog Prince)

Hunter X Hunter: Spreading Your Wings (The Ugly Duckling)

Demon Slayer: Demon of The Northern Wind (The Snow Queen)

Black Butler: Beyond The Tower (Rapunzel)

Yu Yu Hakusho: Sweet Temptation (Hansel and Gretel)

Doraemon; Fearless Feline (Puss in Boots)

Gintama: Peachy Keen (Momotaro)

Sailor Moon: Lady of The Waxing Moon (Princess Kaguya)

Haikyuu: Bear-ly Faltering (Snow White and Rose Red)

Railgun: Little Warriors, Big Impacts (Thumbelina)

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All That Glitters (Rumplestiltskin)

Yu Gi Oh: Diamond in The Rough (Aladdin)

Konosuba: The Royal Test (The Princess and The Pea)

Tokyo Ghoul: The Crimson Amulet (The Red Shoes)

Akame Ga Kill: Fashion Gambit (The Emperor’s New Clothes)

Ouran High School Host Club: Wings of Perseverance (The Wild Swans)

Rurouni Kenshin: The Ronin’s Trials (The Steadfast Tin Soldier)

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagan: Cage of Steel, Heart of Platinum (The Nightingale)

Cowboy Bebop: Written in The Stars (The Weaver Girl and The Cowherd)

Death Note: The Golden Pen (King Midas)

Neon Genesis Evangelion: No Strings Attached (Pinocchio)

Fate: The Chosen Sword (King Arthur)

BanG Dream!: Melody of Deceit (The Pied Piper)

Code Geass: The Princess and The Pig Man (The Swineherd)

Jujitsu Kaisen: The Light Within (The Buried Moon)

Blue Exorcist: Blazing Bonds (The Firebird)

Spy X Family: Secret of The Statue (The Happy Prince)

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic: The Enchanted Key (Alibaba and The 40 Thieves)

Re:Zero: Gilded Feathers (The Golden Goose)

Saint Seiya: Divine Trials and Godly Tribulations (The 12 Labors of Hercules)

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya: Claws of Gold, Hearts of Gold (Goldilocks and The 3 Bears)

One Punch Man: A Hero’s Humility (King Thrushbeard)

Future Diary: Wishful Obsession (The Fisherman and His Wife)

Sket Dance: A Tale of Three Tricksters (The 3 Billy Goats Gruff)

Precure (All seasons): The Sweetest Holiday Ever (The Nutcracker)

Food Wars: A Recipe For Courage (The Brave Little Tailor)

Spice and Wolf: Against All Odds (The Princess on The Glass Hill)

Noragami: Stolen Sun (Amaterasu and The Cave)

Monogatari: Secret Confidants (The Elves and The Shoemaker)

Steins;Gate: Azure Secrets (Bluebeard)

Tokyo Revengers: Neverlanding, Never Faltering (Peter Pan)

The Promised Neverland: Emerald Truths (The Wizard of Oz)

Toriko: Sweet Pursuit (The Gingerbread Man)

Kill La Kill: A Royal Mix Up (The Prince and The Pauper)

World Trigger: The Silent Springtime (The Selfish Giant)

The Seven Deadly Sins: Curse of Shade and Malice (The Shadow)

Cardcaptor Sakura: Salt and Sugar (The Salt Princess/Cap O Rushes)

Assassination Classroom: Honeyed Words (Diamonds and Toads)

Way of The House Husband: Out of The Cage (Jorinda and Joringel)

Danganronpa The Animation (It covers all the games): Makoto in Wonderland (Alice in Wonderland)

D Gray Man: Song of The Sparkling Swan (Swan Lake)

Persona 5 The Animation: Way Down We Go (Hades and Persephone)

Soul Eater: United We Stand (The Six Who Went Far)

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The 5 Magical Musketeers (The 3 Musketeers)

Aggretsuko: Four Man Band (The Bremen Town Musicians)

Tokyo Godfathers: A Holiday Journey (A Christmas Carol)

Revolutionary Girl Utena: Emotions Set Free (The Princess Who Never Smiled)

Sonic X: True, Blue, and Noble (Hans The Hedgehog)

Magiknight Rayearth: Noble Flame, Changing Tide, and Guiding Wind (The 3 Princesses of Whiteland)

A Silent Voice: Beyond All Boundaries (East of The Sun, West of The Moon)

A Whisker Away: A Feline Fairytale (The White Cat)

Your Name: A Little Bird Told Me (The Singing, Springing, Lark)

Love Live: A Fateful Adventure (Journey to The West)

Captain Tsubasa: Winging It (The Seven Ravens)

The Ancient Magus Bride: Entrapped Beauty (The Lindworm)

Overlord: Seeds of Trust (The Juniper Tree)

Delicious in Dungeon: Cooking Up Trouble (The Magic Porridge Pot)

Medaka Box: The Truth Above All (The Goose Girl)

Chainsaw Man: Demonic Assistance (The Golden Bird)

Taikobo: Legend of The Lost Kingdom (Urashima Taro)

Revue Starlight: Masked Secrets (Phantom of The Opera)

Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin: Path of The Canine (The Boy Who Cried Wolf)

Dr. Stone: Into The Wilderness (The Jungle Book)

Fire Force: The Flames of Charity (Robin Hood)

Shaman King: Mystery of The Marsh (The Marsh King’s Daughter)

Rave Master: Cloak of Secrets (Donkeyskin/Many Furs)

Ranma 1/2: Loyal, Brave, and True (Mulan)

Karakuri Circus: The House Within The Woods (Vasilisa The Brave and Beautiful)

Devilman Crybaby: Three Hairs of Gold (The Devil With 3 Golden Hairs)

The Irregular at Magic High School: Ring of Enchantments (The Bronze Ring)

Bobobo: One Hairy Tale (Prince Hyacinth)

Shakugan No Shana: Three Dogs, Three Heroes (The Tinderbox)

Nisekoi: Yellow With Affection (The Yellow Dwarf)

Kaiju No. 8: Don’t Get Salty (Why The Sea is Salty)

Kinnikuman: A Mission in Patience (The Tortoise and The Hare)

Oshi No Ko: The Price of Stardom (Little Brother and Little Sister)

Case Closed: Stolen Hearts and Stolen Fortunes (The Master Thief)

Pokemon The Series: An Electrifying Rescue (The Lion and The Mouse)

Hyperdimension Neptunia: The Animation: A Tale of a Thousand and One Nights (1,001 Arabian Nights)

Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai: A Ribbiting Adventure (The Frog Princess)

Dr. Slump: A Quacktastic Journey (Drakestail)

Katekyo Hitman Reborn: Windows to The Soul (One Eyes, Two Eyes, Three Eyes)

Kochikame: From Faux to Genuine (Don Quixote)

Yo-Kai Watch: Cat Artist Unknown (The Boy Who Drew Cats)

Kaguya-Sama: Love is War: To Love and To Be Loved (Turandot)

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Feathers of Joy (The Blue Bird)

DanMachi: Forgotten Evil Unleashed (Pandora’s Box)

Hellsing Ultimate: Blood Ties (Dracula)

Claymore: The Monster Unleashed (Frankenstein)

Thanks to @sam-rexian and @crystallinedreamsfinelypowdered for helping with some of these!

[milliesfishes]

YOU'RE SICK AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE DYING AND THE WAY IT'S SO SIMILAR TO HIS MOTHER MAKES HIM EVEN MORE DESPERATE TO TAKE THE LIFE FOR A LIFE DEAL BECAUSE HE REFUSES TO LOSE YOU LIKE HE LOST HER

i'm fine this is totally fine... i need to rewatch the movies NOW

OH I'M CRYING

imagining him telling you:

You're weak, hot with sickness as you cling to him, your nightdress falling off one shoulder. The sheets are a tangled mess beneath you, covers having been carelessly thrown to the side, parly over his lap when he told you what he was doing. Grasping at his elbows, your hair is falling down your back, and he gets lost in the wave of it for a moment before he comes back to earth and hears your tearful, quiet words. "Please. Please don't do this."

He draws you into him, holding your head to his chest where you can hear his heartbeat, likely for the last time. Billy's chin wobbles where it sits in the part of your hair. "I'm not losin' you."

"You're going to lose me anyways," you breathe, tears lining your voice like the wispy frays to a rope. "Please..."

Billy kisses your forehead, fingers grasping your hair like a fisherman to his net, bunching it in his hand like a bouquet a lover would give his sweetheart. It silenced you, the desperation of the action.

He repeated himself, muffled against your skin. "I'm not losin' you."

[penroseparticle]

Songs that make your heart bigger, go thumpthump, make you hug whoever’s closest

Hey. Thanks for this. This playlist was a lot of fun to work on.

SUNBURST

These songs all make me feel. Big. Somehow. Idk man. I feel love most ardently or what have you.

I hope these songs also give you that Peridot feeling.

Loser- Jagwar Twin

something will happen- berlioz

Girl In The Orchestra- HONNE

Preach- Keiynan Lonsdale

Will You Love Me Tomorrow/Head Over Feet- Glee Cast

I Got You- whatever mike

Closer- POWERS

Vienna- Billy Joel

Make It Better- Anderson .Paak ft. Smokey Robinson

The Gambler- fun.

How Deep Is Your Love- PJ Morton ft. Yebba

I Really Love You- Gibbz

Stupid Shit- Girlicious

Almost (Sweet Music)- Hozier

Fisherman's Horizon- Final Fantasy VIII

Ghost of Chicago- Noah Floersch

Pink + White- Frank Ocean

Pink Pony Club- Chappell Roan

It RUns Through Me- Tom Misch ft. De La Soul

Cupid (Twin Version)- FIFTY FIFTY

fake.guitars- lost spaces

King Of My Heart- Sub-Radio

Good Bye- Victoria Monet

Downtown- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Melle Mel, Grandmaster Caz, Kool Moe Dee and Eric Nally

Must Have Done Something Right- Relient K

Build a Boat- Colton Dixon

Lite Weight- Anderson .Paak ft. The Free Nationals United Fellowship Choir

Remember Summer Days (Night Tempo Showa Groove Mix)- Anri, Night Tempo

Special- Lizzo

Mama Say- Betty Who

This playlist is one that's gonna grow, I can feel it. Thanks for planting something special.

[malevolentfairytalezine]

Prefer to apply with a pitch but don’t have an idea? Not sure what to expect? Here’s a list of fairy tales mentioned on our interest check to spark your imagination!

The Frog Prince 

The Snow Queen 

Tales of a Thousand and One Nights 

The Selkie 

The Little Mermaid

Billy Goats Gruff

Bluebeard

East of the Sun, West of the Moon

Elves & the Shoemaker

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Ivan and the Firebird

Krampus

Robin Hood

Swan Maiden

Tam Lin

The Boy Saved by Thoughts

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

The Fisherman and His Wife

The Gingerbread Man

The Golden Goose

The Goose Girl

The Grave Mound

The Little Match Girl

The Pied Piper

The Prince and the Pauper

The Robber Bridegroom

The Seven Swans

The Shadow (Hans Christian Anderson)

The Story of a Boy Who Went Forth to Learn Fear

The Tinderbox

The Ugly Duckling

The Wild Swans

Three Little Pigs

Well of the World’s End

Still uninspired? Not a problem! If nothing speaks to you we can assign you a story!

You can apply here, or find the link in our bio! Please, read the guidelines before you apply!

Have a question? Check our FAQ or send us a message.

[stabbysticks]

WIP Wednesday

Got a bit to work on today --

Blocking this hat (I'm calling it the "Woodland Hat"). Self-drafted, just dipping my toes into fisherman's rib.

Weaving in the ends on the Mintea tank. (Pattern: Summer Secret Crop by Jessie Maed Designs [available for free!] + straps inspired by Lola Top by Veronika Lindberg)

And leggin' it through the Billie Bab Pants. (Pattern: Billie by Åsa Buchta [available for free!])

[stranger-rants]

Continuation of the Birthday Series! This is pure tooth-rotting fluff. I will not apologize. (I accidentally published this not meaning too. It's not finished, but I guess I will split this into two parts then 🥲)

The Finale to the Birthday Series Part I of II

March 29, 1991.

Billy turns 25. It’s a Friday.

Steve curls around Billy’s naked form, anxious to tell him the news. He’s been awake for what feels like hours, excitement radiating through his body. They’ve been talking about going on vacation to California for his birthday which happened to be during Spring break. They discussed it months in advance, and the closer it got to the date of their trip the more homesick Billy got. Billy was constantly pacing, staring into nothing, and huffing at minor inconveniences.

Steve could tell he was just itching to dip his toes into the wet sand of San Diego’s beaches again. At the beginning of the month, Steve told Billy they’d be renting a house instead of staying in a “shitty” hotel. Billy said he didn’t care as long as it was close to the ocean. Steve promised to deliver, and he would deliver… more than Billy knows or expects, which is why, now, Steve is about to jump out of his skin if Billy doesn’t wake up soon.

Steve decides Billy has been asleep for too long. Steve gently squeezes him - one hand on his boob, the other snaked around his belly - and Billy finally stirs from his slumber. He groans when he opens his eyes and the sunlight from the window hits his face.

“Goddamn,” Billy yawns, “s’fucking bright.”

“Good morning, birthday boy!”

Steve squeezes him so tight that Billy taps out, gasping for air.

“Wake-y, wake-y, handsome baby!”

“Ugh, shut up…”

Billy jabs Steve in the side, and Steve shouts, “Oh, you have wounded me! I’ve no choice but to defend myself!”

They roll around, wrestle, play-fight until they’re both in hysterics. Steve gets on top of Billy, holding Billy’s wrists against his pillow as he leans down for a kiss. Billy melts against Steve’s lips, warmth flooding his limbs. He sighs contently, blue eyes meeting brown. Steve smiles above him, so deeply in love with him.

“You ready?”

“Yeah,” Billy nods, “as I’ll ever be”

The flight is nerve wracking for Billy. He’s never actually been on a plane. Well, that’s a lie. He was air lifted once to a government facility when he was actively dying, but it’s not like he was conscious at the time. Steve holds his hand through most of the flight, brushing a thumb over his knuckles to soothe him.

They make it to their “rental” in California by night. It’s a three bedroom, two bath with ocean views. The master bedroom has big windows and French doors leading out to a small deck for sitting. They’re both dead tired, having just enough energy for handjobs in the shower before passing out in their big bed. In the morning, Steve finds Billy sitting outside on the deck in the sun, head tilt back and hair and skin shining under its rays. Billy is like a fish being returned to the water after struggling to breathe in a fisherman’s grasp.

Billy belongs here.

Steve is certain of that, especially when Billy takes him around town their first full day there. He shows him his former haunts, telling Steve all about the stupid shit he got into with his friends. God. Friends. Billy had friends. Billy shows him the garage he used to “work” at when he was just a kid. An old, big and burly man with the name Hank embroidered into his shirt stares at Billy for a good long minute from the open doors of the garage. He asks, “That you, Billy?” and when Billy confirms, the man nearly breaks Billy’s back in a bone crushing hug.

Hank says he could come back and work for him some time. Billy says thanks, but that he's just on vacation. Lives in Indiana now. Hank says that's too bad, but if ever decided to move back the job is there for him.

Steve thinks that's nice that Billy has a place like this. Here. Where he belongs. It eases his anxiety a bit.

The next day, Steve and Billy get tacos at a taquería on the boardwalk. Billy is a bit of a taco snob, and orders for them both thinking he's cool for knowing just enough Spanish to read off a menu. Pescado. Carnitas. Birria - Steve thinks that one is his favorite, though Billy wont tell him what's in it. He just shrugs and bites into the taco, brothy sauce dripping down his forearm. Then he moans. Loudly.

They are delicious, Steve thinks. Better than the fast food tacos he gets in the "hard shell" they have back in Hawkins, which Billy will not eat. The first time they ever had "Taco Night" with the gang, Billy got mad that Steve didn't buy the corn tortillas (they didn't have those at the store, he tried to explain) and he nearly crucified Steve for not bothering to cook the flour ones. After biting into the corn tortillas, he can see why.

Steve loves that they're Billy's comfort food. They remind him of California. Where he belongs. Home.

The day after that, they go to an aquarium.

Billy always swears he's not a nerd, but Steve is starting to doubt that with the way Billy practically narrates each exhibit like it's his job. Even a few tourists wandering around listen in when Billy talks animatedly about deep sea creatures. One woman with her young grandson asks him what he meant by "bioluminescent" and Billy responds with "the fish fucking glow." She didn't seem too happy with that, but gave a polite nod before dragging her grandson away.

Billy is most excited about the sharks and rays exhibit. Steve asks about the fish hanging off of a big shark in the massive tank, and Billy goes on a tangent about remoras. He almost works himself into a frenzy when he gets into the misunderstood nature of sharks. Shouts, even. "Don't fuck with a shark, and they wont fuck with you!"

It's a motto everyone should live by.

Steve buys Billy a shark plush at the gift shop. It's huge, taking up a significant portion of their bed back at the rental. Billy spends every night on their vacation curled up with the damn thing. Steve almost regrets buying it, but the content look on Billy's face as he hugs the shark to his body is well worth it.

[hiddenpxpercuts]

Event Starter Call!!!

Finally finished it! No cap for right now, so pick who you want. Their jobs are listed and their status.

Alexander Lightwood 31 | Unaware | Shadowhunter ?? Evan Buckley 29 | Unaware | Fire Fighter ?? T. K Strand 28 | Aware | court physician ?? Richie Tozier 24 | Aware | Jester ?? Max Mayfield 23| Unaware | Unemployed ?? Harry Hook 23 |Aware | Chef ?? Marco Del Rossi 21 | Aware | Thespian ?? Max Baker 19 | Unaware | Thanks she’s a witch. ?? Matthew Murdock 35 | Unaware | attorney ?? Dean Winchester 38 | Unaware | Demon Hunter ?? Emily Fitch 19 | Aware | Tailor ?? Nick Nelson 18 | Unaware | Fisherman ?? Simon Spier 19 | Aware | Farmer ?? Katherine Pierce 1000+ | Unaware | Harlot ?? Maria Vasquez 25 | Unaware |Tailor ?? Chishiya Shuntaro 21| Unaware | Doctor ?? Lillian Deville 21 | Unaware | Gravedigger ?? Mercutio Alice 27 | Unaware | Candlemaker ?? Enid Sinclair 18 | Aware | Werewolf, Unemployed ?? Lily Tucker-Pritchett 19 | Unaware | Messenager ?? Derek Hale 25 | Unaware | Merchant ?? Jake Wheeler 19 | Unaware | Artist ?? Mickey Milkovich 27 | Unaware | blacksmith ?? Reggie Peters 20 | Unaware | bard ?? Ivan Carvalho 19 | Unaware | noble ?? Prince Henry 26 | Unaware | knight ?? Edwina Sharma 21 | Unaware | Married to a rich man ?? Zed Necrodopolis 19 | Unaware | Zombie, Theif ?? Olaf 21 | Unaware | Astrologer ?? Tenth Doctor Olf AF | Aware | Unemployed ?? Luca Pagro 21 | Unaware | Fisherman ?? Joel Miller 46 | Unaware | Theif ?? Gretchen Wieners 19 | Unaware | thespian ?? Sir Pentious 100+ | Unaware | assassin ?? Olivia Valdovinos 21 | Unaware | herbalist ?? Verosika Mayday 25 | Unaware | assassian/bard ?? Chris Argent 42 | Unaware | demon hunter ?? Carl Grimes 23 | Unaware | physician ?? Darcy Olsson 19 | Unaware | graverobber ?? Shaggy Rogers 25 | Unaware | mule driver ?? Wade Wilson 40 | Unaware | theif/graverobber ?? James McGuire 21 | Unaware | tax collector ?? Ron Stoppable 23 | Unaware | cobbler ?? Klaus Hargreeves 31 | Unaware | HARLOT ?? John B. Routledge 21 | Unaware | Fisherman ?? Armand 500+| Aware | Rich Vampire ?? Miles Hollingsworth III 21 | Unaware | Rich Idiot ?? Ryan Evans 20 | Unaware | thespian ?? T.J Kippen 19 | Unaware | miller ?? Billy Loomis 24 | Unaware | gravedigger/robber ?? Katherine Howard 21 | Aware | bard ?? Ella 22 | Unaware | dressmaker ?? Kai Parker 30 | Unaware | witch/vampire ?? David Rose 32 | Unaware | tavern owner ?? Finn the Human 20 | Unaware | knight ?? Fiyero Tiggular 26 | Unaware | rich ?? Paper 24 | Unaware | astrologer ?? Prionsias Cassidy 1000+ | Unaware | vampire, drug addict ??

[edylin31]

This is Landon Pierce, my founder of the solar system legacy.

He lives alone with his dog Boxer in Brindleton Bay. He has lived there all his live and is truly a part of the community of this small town. His parents Thomas and Clara own the local fish restaurant and his little sister Emily is a teacher in the community school. Ever since Landon was a child he wanted to write, he wanted to become a journalist, so he started to follow the journalist of the local newspaper, The Brindleton Chronicle, around. Billie Cowden is a widower with no children, so he quickly took Landon under his wings and sees him like the son he never had.

Landon hopes to follow in his footsteps and become the new journalist in town after Billie retires. And he is secretly a huge sci-fi fan and his dream is to one day have a novel of his published.

He recently bought a rundown fisherman's cottage by the sea and is ready to start his life.

[1000sassa1000]

Fisherman Blues ft Chris Brown by Billy Kidd for M Magazine

[randomnameless]

About that Listhea and Edelgard dialogue on crest and nobles, do you remember how in the begining of the game Hanneman wonders if Byleth as a Crest when they are a freaking commoner/mercenary ?

That's another reason why the doodoo about "crust = nobles" is, well, doodoo.

Thing is, Fodlan verse cannot be that well developed and written because Supreme Leader has to "have a point" for people who buy things at face value.

So we can't have succession crisis when commoners (maybe far far far far removed bastards?) pop up with a crest while the "noble line" doesn't have any to lampshade how the crust system is BaD because it decides inheritence... when Supreme Leader hammers that everyone with a crust is a noble.

Imagine a verse where Hanneman's crest detector machine is used to "discredit" or to give more credit to, say, someone's inheritance by checking if they have a crest or not, or House Goneril having to deal with Bob the fisher who has a Crest of Goneril, thus asks for his part of inheritance of the Goneril estate because that totes means he's part of this family?

In Supreme Leader and her court's views, Bob doesn't exist as a fisherman, Bob is already a noble! And if he isn't, well, he doesn't exist.

Are people anobled because they have a crust? Billy and Jerry are living proofs that no, they're not. But we can't focus on this too much, else Supreme Leader's spiel falls apart.

FWIW, there's a reason why I liked White Clouds, because, while it's a prologue, on its own, it gives a bit of meat to the Fodlan verse - because it's supposed to be a red herring route so you hear everything and yet see the dissonances for the big reveal (Flamey's identity!) to hit as "hard" as it does with all the sad uwus it entails, come the post-TS, we don't give a crap about Flamey anymore, and everyone drinks tea.

So, in a way, Hanneman could only wonder if Billy has a crest despite being a random in WC - because in the post TS routes, Supreme Leader has to have a point (they need those sad uwus!) and we don't care to find out or hear about magic blood, the player is hammered with "magic blood BaD because it exists".