#fisherman's horizon

[dyscomancer]

Marc Papeghin is consistently one of the best cover musicians in the Final Fantasy community, and one of his absolute peak works, his Final Fantasy VIII medley, had this beautiful vocal rendition of Fisherman's Horizon.

Today, on the 10th anniversary of that medley's release, he put out an extended, full version of that section of the medley, entitled "Beyond the Shores".

If you have any love in your heart for FF8 and Nobuo Uematsu's incredible work on its soundtrack, I highly recommend giving this and the original medley a listen.

[vaiserbrilhante]

some video game inspired art I’ve done, I suppose

[chippersweetbaby]

Mastering some of my favorite songs on Ultimate.

(I'm also getting pretty good at FFXV's "Somnus" and FFVII's "Aerith's Theme" - have perfect chained them both, but didn't this time so I didn't screen-shot them. I am NOT yet very good at Battle at the Big Bridge and One-Winged Angel... another two of my all-time favorite final fantasy songs... though I hope to someday get perfect chains on those ones too... Not sure if my dumb little fingers can swing it.)

[theschalowest]

I tend to hum a certain tune when I feel rejected, and it wasn't until recently while flitting through music on youtube that I finally discovered that it was the melody to Fisherman's Horizon

[dk-thrive]

Fishing @ Twilight. 6:21 am. 59° F. October 5, 2024. Cove Island Park. Stamford, CT (@dkct25)

[coffeenuts]

[tonyfinale]

love playing games and getting the most powerful thematic nuggets from random ass npc dialogues and shit that I can think about forever

[macmillersdivineladder]

YOU- An album by Larry Lovestein and The Velvet Revival

[paxesoterica]

Final Fantasy VIII Soundtrack - Irish Song (Irish Jig) - Fisherman's Hor...

[demonic0angel]

I've been playing Dredge lately and had a thought:

Danny, a small seaside town's best fisherman, and his babies, Eldritch Dani and Dan, who prefer to live underwater and come up to see their dad, who goes out fishing every day.

His nets are always full, and his boat never encounters any problems. He always steers true, never goes off course, and keeps finding old sunken treasure in his haul.

Everyone in town knows Mr. Nightingale, and his boat sailing by becomes a sort of good omen for the folk of nearby towns. He always leaves on his own, comes back with his hold full, and two small children, which weren't in the boat in the morning, go running into town with their father at their heels. Then they all go to the beach at sunset, the children dive under the last big waves, just before the sun goes down, and twin masses of glowing lights swim into the distance, waiting for their father to go meet them again the next day.

It's good like that. The town prospers, the fish are good and plentiful for just having one or two fishermen go out every day, and the little family gets to live in a community that won't question their origins.

It's when one hero (whichever, Bat, Lantern, Martian or Super, whatever you prefer) in particular gets shot out of the air and washes into Mr. Nightingale's nets that questions start being asked, most importantly, where is the children's mother, and did Mr. Nightingale get intimate with the personification of the sea, like in Ponyo?

Extra: I know the favorite of the fandom is to ship Danny and a Bat, or a Super or Flash, or even Sam and/or Tucker.

But what if, in his late teens, Danny went off to learn from other Ghosts, met the ghostly embodiment of the ocean? They spent a few years being intimate, enough that they hosted Dani and Dan's unstable cores until proper maturity was reached, got two darling little ones out of the deal, and whenever Danny sails into the horizon, he goes to meet his partner in their own element, spends his time with them and comes back with gifts from his spouse, nets full of fresh fish, and gets the children for the rest of the day, so they can grow up in both worlds. They meet up at night at the beach so the little ones can play on the sand while their parents spend a few hours cuddling and watching the sunset.

Ooh, this sounds so interesting! Something about Danny being in love with an oceanic being sounds so ethereal? Like space and the deep sea, y’know? Two mysterious, deep places with hidden depths that humans cannot fully reach.

Not only does this remind me of Ponyo, but it also reminds me of the Pirates of the Caribbean (in a way), where two lovers are separated by sea and land. On that note, we could make Danny marry Davy Jones.

I have nothing to add, but I do think it would be funny if Danny was a hermit with a mysterious past and heroes start coming to his little sea port to ask for old, sage hero advice.

[eu-nicola]

secret island

summary: while searching for the treasure, JJ and you are separated from the group and must survive together on an isolated island. In the midst of danger, both give in to the attraction, but when returning to the others, JJ is already involved Kie and you and him have to face guilt

warnings: nothing i think

word counter: 3794

author's note: english is not my first language

The sun rose over the horizon like a burning eye, shedding light across the vast ocean. The waves gently crashed against the shore, a stark contrast to the storm that had battered the boat the night before. You woke up with clammy, salty skin, the constant sound of water hitting the sand. At first, it all seemed like a blurry dream, but when you opened your eyes, the first thing you saw was JJ, lying a few feet away, his blonde hair messy and covered in sand.

You crawled over to him, your body aching and your muscles tense.

“JJ,” you called hoarsely, barely a whisper from exhaustion. You shook him lightly. “JJ, wake up!”

He groaned and opened his eyes slowly, blinking against the sunlight.

“Where…?” His words were cut off as he quickly sat up, looking around. His blue eyes widened as he realized the situation. “What the… Are we on an island?”

You looked around. The beach stretched out in both directions, surrounded by dense tropical trees rustling in the breeze. There was no sign of the boat, or the others. Just you and JJ. The weight of reality crashed down on you like a wave.

“The storm…” you recalled quietly. “It separated us from the group. I don’t know where the others are.”

JJ ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.

“Great. Just what we needed. Lost in the middle of nowhere.” His eyes searched for you, his tone softer. “Are you okay? Does anything hurt?”

You shook your head.

“I’m fine. Just tired.” You paused, looking at the horizon with concern. “Do you think the others are okay?”

JJ sighed and stood up, brushing sand off his pants.

“They’re tough. If anyone can survive, it’s them.” He held out his hand to help you up.

You accepted his hand and stood up. You decided to explore the surroundings to see what resources you could find. The heat of the sun was stifling as you walked into the jungle, following a small nature trail that seemed to go deeper into the island.

The sound of wildlife filled the air: exotic birds chirping, insects buzzing. After what seemed like hours, they found a freshwater stream. JJ knelt down and drank directly from his hands, while you followed suit, letting the cool water quench your burning thirst.

“This is a good start,” JJ said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “But we still need food. Do you know how to catch fish?”

You looked at him with a sarcastic smile.

“Sure, I’m an expert fisherman in my spare time.”

JJ laughed, a sound that eased the tension a little.

“Well, there’s always a first time for everything.” He stood up and began searching for flat, sharp stones near the stream. “We’re going to build a makeshift spear. We need protein if we want to keep our strength up.”

While he worked on the spears, you explored a little more around the stream, picking fruits that looked safe to eat. When you returned, JJ was already finished and was testing the spear in the water, focused like you’d never seen him before.

The afternoon moved quickly as you worked together. You managed to catch a few small fish, enough for a modest meal. JJ started a makeshift fire using dry branches and stones, and soon the smell of roasting fish filled the air.

As you ate in silence, dusk enveloped the island in a soft gloom. The sky was tinted with shades of orange and purple, a beautiful sight despite the desperation of the situation.

“Hey,” JJ said finally, breaking the silence. “We’re going to get through this, you know? We’re fucking Pogues. There’s nothing we can’t handle.”

You gave him a small smile back, sensing a spark of hope in his words.

“You’re right. We came through worse. This won’t be any different.”

The sound of the waves and the crackling of the fire filled the space between you as the night fully settled in. The light of the stars and the moon illuminated the beach, giving it an almost magical feel. JJ laid on his back in the sand, hands behind his head, and you did the same.

The fifth day on the island began with a heaviness in the air, as if the sun rising over the horizon was growing hotter and scorching. It had only been a couple of days, but the weight of the situation was beginning to bite hard. Water and food were limited, and while JJ seemed to be taking it all in stride, you couldn’t say the same.

You sat by the fire, watching the pond you had fished in the night before, as JJ sharpened the spears again. There was something in his eyes, something in his attitude, that suggested he was used to this kind of situation, but you weren’t. You couldn't get used to the discomfort, to the uncertainty. The days stretched on as if the island was made of endless time.

Suddenly, the sound of snapping branches brought you out of your thoughts. JJ walked over, raising an eyebrow at you as you sat with your shoulders slumped, staring at the horizon as if you were waiting for something or someone to appear.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice soft, but with a hint of concern at seeing you so still.

His words were the trigger. Unable to help it, the pressure building up in your chest exploded.

“I can’t take it anymore,” you said, raising your voice without thinking. “I want to leave. This is wrong, JJ. This is all wrong. I don’t want to be here.”

The silence that followed made you feel the pang of guilt, but also the relief of finally expressing what you thought.

JJ stared at you, his expression more serious than usual. He sat down next to you, putting the spear aside. There was no judgment in his eyes, just a patience that contrasted with your growing desperation.

“I know,” he said in a whisper. It was the first time you heard him in such a low tone, so different from usual. He ran a hand over his face, thoughtful. “We all want to leave, right? No one wants to be stuck here, not knowing if the others are okay, not knowing what’s going to happen. But… what can we do now? We can’t do anything.”

You took a breath, trying to calm yourself, but frustration was consuming you.

“And how are we supposed to survive if this keeps up?” Your voice was shaking, but you refused to let the rage control you. The sun was burning hotter than before, and the sting of the heat only accentuated your irritation. “I don’t know what’s going on, I don’t know if anyone will come to rescue us, I don’t know if… if I’m even okay. I’m not strong.”

He looked at you for a moment, as if considering something, before speaking softly.

“You don’t have to be strong all the time. No one is.” He paused, his tone serious and deeper. “And I… I don’t want to be here either, but we are.” And we only have one choice: hold on. It’s not easy, but if we stick together, we’ll have a chance of getting out of here.

His words made you feel a little calmer, but not enough. You looked at him, seeing the sincerity in his eyes, but also a kind of silent determination that he hadn’t shown before. For a moment, you thought that maybe, just maybe, you could rely on him to keep you afloat.

“What if we can’t?” you asked, doubt in your voice. “What if we don’t survive?”

JJ let out a sigh and looked at you, this time with a small smile.

“Then we’ll have died together. And honestly, that doesn’t sound so bad when you say it out loud.”

Her attempt at humor didn’t entirely ease the tension, but for a second, the words made the weight of the situation not so crushing. It was okay to feel weak, to be scared. The important thing was not to give up. Not now.

The rest of the day passed in a state of constant activity. You and JJ searched for more resources, more fruit, trying to gather as much as you could from the island. You didn’t talk much more about what you both wanted, but the mutual understanding of the situation was there, heavy but present. Sometimes, JJ would ask you small, almost everyday questions, as if he were trying to keep your mind occupied, as if conversations were the only temporary refuge.

As evening fell, you sat by the fire again, staring into the flames with a lost expression, but this time with less despair. It was strange how everything changed, how anxiety would creep into your bones and then slowly dissipate, only to return later.

By the end of the fifth day, you realized something: you didn’t know how much longer you could keep that constant tension in your chest, but if there was one thing you could do, it was to hold on to the moments when you felt capable of surviving. Like that night, as the sun set and the stars began to come out, sitting next to JJ, breathing deeply.

“You know what?” you said quietly, looking up at the sky. “Maybe this isn’t the worst place I could be.”

JJ didn’t say anything for a moment, just staring at the sky as calmly as he had from the beginning.

“I’m glad to hear that. Now, how about we rest? Tomorrow will be another day.”

You nodded and followed him.

The island seemed darker that night. The fire flickered less intensely, and the sound of the jungle felt louder, closer. The leaves rustled with every breeze, and the small sounds of animals moving in the undergrowth made your heart beat faster than usual. Despite your exhaustion, you couldn't sleep. You were lying on the sand, eyes fixed on the starry sky, when you heard JJ move beside you.

“You can’t sleep either?” he asked quietly.

You shook your head, not taking your eyes off the sky.

“No. All of this…” You gestured towards the jungle and the dark ocean. “It doesn’t leave me alone. It’s like something’s lurking.”

JJ sat up, propping himself up on his elbows, and looked at you with a mix of curiosity and concern.

“It’s normal. The island can be intimidating, especially at night. But you’re safe here with me.”

Something in his tone made you look at him. JJ had that carefree air even in the worst of situations, but this time there was something more in his words. Something that made the air between you two seem thicker.

“What if we’re not?” you asked, your voice barely a whisper. It was a question you’d avoided asking, but now it seemed inevitable.

JJ didn’t answer right away. Instead, he moved a little closer, sitting completely in front of you. His blue eyes sparkled in the firelight, and his expression softened.

“Then I will fight to make sure we are,” he finally answered, with a seriousness he rarely showed.

That answer, that promise, made something inside you crack. You had been holding so much in, fighting fear and uncertainty, that you hadn’t allowed yourself to feel anything else. But now, with him so close, the impending danger didn’t seem so terrifying. There was something else, something that had been growing between the two of you since the moment you found yourself trapped on this island.

“JJ…” you whispered, and his name slipped from your lips with a softness that surprised you.

He didn’t say anything, but his gaze intensified. You could feel the tension building, an invisible pull that tied you together, growing stronger. His hand moved slowly, brushing against yours, and that simple contact sent an electric shock through your body.

“You know?” he said hoarsely, his eyes fixed on yours “I never imagined we would end up like this, alone on an island, fighting to survive.”

JJ had always been a close friend, someone you shared adventures and laughs with, but you’d never seen this side of him. Vulnerable, honest, and with an intensity that made you forget everything else.

“I didn’t expect it either,” you admitted, your voice shaking slightly. “But… I don’t know what I would do if I was here alone.”

JJ cracked a soft smile, and his hand came up to caress your cheek, his thumb tracing a slow, deliberate path over your skin. It was such an intimate gesture that it took your breath away.

“You’re not alone,” he whispered, leaning into you slightly.

Your breathing quickened, and for a moment, everything stopped. The jungle, the sea, even the fire seemed to fade away, leaving only JJ and you. When his lips finally touched yours, it was like all the weight of the world melted away. The kiss started softly, almost like a question, but soon intensified, a passionate response to the fear and tension you had both been suppressing.

His hands found your waist, gently pulling you towards him, while you tangled your fingers in his hair, losing yourself in the moment. The heat between you was scorching, stronger than the sun that had punished the island during the day. Every touch, every caress, was an affirmation that you were alive, that despite the danger, you were still here, together.

When you finally separated, you were both breathing heavily. JJ rested his forehead against yours, his eyes still closed as his lips curved into a small smile.

“That… was unexpected,” he murmured, with a mix of amusement and seriousness.

You laughed softly, feeling your cheeks burn.

“Yes, but… I liked it.”

JJ opened his eyes and looked at you with an intensity that made you shudder.

“Me too…you're shaking” he murmured, his fingers brushing your arm with a touch that sent a shiver down your spine.

“It's the adrenaline” you replied, although you both knew it wasn't just that.

There was a moment of silence, heavy with tension. You could feel the heat emanating from his body, the way his breathing seemed to sync with yours. JJ leaned closer, and this time he didn’t wait. His lips found yours again, but there was nothing gentle about this kiss. It was intense, urgent, like you both knew this was inevitable.

Your hands gripped his shirt, pulling him closer to you, while he wrapped his arms around your waist tightly, as if he was afraid you might disappear. The fire burning nearby seemed insignificant compared to the warmth you shared. Everything else disappeared: the island, the jungle, the fear. There was only the two of you, lost in a whirlwind of emotions.

JJ guided you towards the sand, his movements careful but firm, as if he wanted to make sure you felt safe at all times. He pulled away for a moment, his gaze scanning your face as if he wanted to memorize every detail.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked, his voice low and heavy with emotion.

You nodded without hesitation. There was no room for uncertainty. What you felt at that moment was so powerful that it eclipsed any doubt or fear.

“Yes. I'm sure.”

That was all he needed to hear. His lips returned to yours with renewed passion, while his hands explored your body with a mix of tenderness and desire. You felt every caress, every touch, as if the entire world depended on this moment. Your own fingers moved across his skin, discovering every muscle, every scar, every part of him that you had known for years but now felt completely new.

The sand beneath you was warm, but the heat you shared was much more intense. His lips left a trail of kisses from your neck to your collarbones, while his hands moved with a skill and delicacy that made you shiver. Every touch, every whisper, made you feel more alive than ever.

Time seemed to stand still as you both gave yourself completely to each other. There was a deep connection, something beyond the physical, as if the danger and loneliness of the island had created an unbreakable bond between you. It was a moment of vulnerability and total surrender, where you both let go of any barriers that might have existed.

When it was all over, JJ laid down beside you, both of you breathing heavily as the sound of the waves filled the silence. There was no need for words. The way he laced his fingers through yours said everything you needed to know. You looked up at the starry sky, feeling more connected to him, and to yourself, than you had ever been before.

“I guess this changes things,” JJ finally said, a soft smile as he turned his head to look at you.

You laughed softly, still feeling the warmth of his body next to yours.

“Yeah, but I don’t know if it’s for the better.”

Dawn came with the soft glow of the sun reflecting off the ocean. Warm colors lit up the island, but despite the quiet outside, you and JJ felt caught in a whirlpool of emotions. You had shared something deep, something that went beyond words, but the light of day brought with it a reality that was hard to ignore.

Sitting by the campfire, the two of you were silent, watching the flames slowly consume the pieces of wood JJ had collected. Ashes rose into the air, disappearing with the wind. There was something about that scene that reflected exactly how you felt: consumed, but not empty.

JJ was beside you, his hands resting on his knees, his expression lost in the fire. Finally, he broke the silence.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice soft, laden with a concern he couldn’t hide.

You nodded slowly, though you knew the answer was much more complicated.

“I’m… trying to process everything.”

He looked at you, his blue eyes filled with emotions he couldn’t verbalize.

“What happened last night…” he began, but stopped, choosing his words carefully. “I wouldn’t change it for anything, but I know things are going to be different when we get back.”

That last sentence echoed in your mind. When we get back. Despite everything, you both knew you couldn’t stay on the island forever. There was a life outside of this temporary shelter, a world full of complications and relationships that you couldn’t ignore.

Before you could respond, the sound of an engine in the distance interrupted the conversation. You both stood up quickly, your hearts beating fast. JJ ran to the shore, his eyes scanning the horizon, and then you saw it: a speedboat approaching, with the familiar figures of his friends on board.

“It’s them!” JJ shouted, with a mix of relief and excitement.

You froze for a moment, feeling a wave of conflicting emotions. The joy of being rescued mixed with a sense of loss, as if you were leaving something important behind.

The speedboat stopped near the shore, and Pope was the first to jump in, followed by Kie and finally John B.

“They’re alive, damn it!” John B yelled, running over to JJ to hug him.

Kie quickly came over, and before you could say anything, she hugged you tightly as well.

“We thought we lost you,” she murmured, her voice shaking slightly.

You and JJ exchanged a brief glance. There was no time for explanations, and perhaps that was for the best.

The ride back to civilization was silent. Although John B and Pope tried to lighten the mood with some banter, you and JJ barely participated.

Arriving home everything felt different. Hugs and expressions of relief from friends couldn’t erase the feeling of awkwardness growing inside you. Especially when you saw Kie approach JJ with a beaming smile.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she said, hugging him with a familiarity that made your stomach turn.

JJ hugged back, but his fleeting glance at you told you everything you needed to know. He was struggling with guilt, too.

The next few days passed in a kind of haze. JJ and Kie seemed to grow closer, laughing together and sharing moments that made you feel like an intruder. But, despite that, you couldn’t help but remember every detail of the night you’d shared with JJ. Every look, every touch, was etched into your memory.

One afternoon, as you sat alone, JJ came over. His expression was serious, and you sat up straighter, preparing yourself for whatever he was going to say.

“We need to talk,” he said quietly, sitting down next to you.

“I know,” you replied, not looking directly at him.

There was a long silence before he finally spoke.

“I know this is complicated. Kie and I…” He paused, as if searching for the right words. “Things with her are…confusing. But what happened between you and me…it was real. I don’t want you to think I’m ignoring it.”

You looked up at him, finally meeting his blue eyes.

“JJ, I know it’s not easy. But I also know that we can’t change what happened. The only thing I’m worried about is… how we’re going to move forward.”

JJ nodded, his expression showing a rare moment of vulnerability.

“I don’t regret anything,” he confessed. “But I don’t want to hurt anyone either.”

That confession hit you harder than you expected. You felt the same way. There was no regret, but the guilt was still there, a constant weight that you both shared in silence.

“I don’t regret it either,” you finally said, your voice barely a whisper.

The air between you both grew thick once again, but this time there was no physical contact. Just a mutual understanding that what had happened on the island had changed you, even if you could never talk about it openly.

JJ slowly stood up, and before he left, he gave you one last look.

“I’ll take care of you, always. Even if we can't talk about this, you know that, right?”

You nodded, feeling a lump in your throat.

“I know, JJ.”

[dyscomancer]

Distant Worlds Final Fantasy arrangements range from "definitely not my favorite version of this song" to "i would be okay with this being the last song i hear before i die"

[taylorman2274]

We Care About You (Part III)

Those who have been with you since the beginning discuss the differences they've noticed with and without your presence.

Content Warning(s): Jean, Kaeya, & Albedo Story Quest Spoilers; Mondstadt Archon Quest Spoilers

Notes: SAGAU; GN!Reader; [T/N] = Traveler Name

Word Count: 2.1k

Previous || Next

Taglist: @silverstarred; @victoria1676; @angelofdarkness2; @areaderspov; @andromeda-gay; @ash1; @mercy-not-merci; @toodledoodl3;

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The sun had fully risen over the horizon by the time all the stores in Mondstadt's main plaza had opened for the day. Blanche was finishing setting up her fruit trays on the counter by the time Marjorie and Timeaus arrived at their respective stores. Sara, on the other hand, had already opened up Good Hunter half an hour ago. This was in case there were any early birds or if any of the aforementioned shopkeepers wanted a quick bite to eat before work.

Today, the Traveler and Paimon were examples of early birds, as the two were enjoying breakfast from Good Hunter. However, as they were eating their respective meals, they were approached by Raymond, a Knight of Favonius.

"Morning, Traveler. Morning, Paimon," he greeted. "Sorry to interrupt your meal, but I'm here to inform you that your presence has been requested by the Acting Grand Master. She requests that you head on over to headquarters immediately."

Paimon groaned. "Does Jean really have to summon us this early? Paimon hasn't even finished her Fisherman's Toast yet."

"I apologize once again, but it would be rude to keep the Acting Grand Master waiting," Raymond replied.

The Traveler shook their head. "No worries. I'm just about finished anyway." They got up from their seat. "Would you like for me to get you a to-go box, Paimon?

"Get a to-go box? Has Paimon not already proved to you what she's capable of? Watch this!" Paimon proclaimed before chowing down the rest of her Fisherman's Toast as quickly as Paimonly possible.

...Said way involved burying herself nose-deep in her plate and practically inhaling all the food left on her plate. The Traveler and Raymond even had to hold their hands up to their faces to protect themselves from any flying food.

Maybe they shouldn't have bought her a triple stack...

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Despite being invited by Jean herself, The Traveler decided to knock on her office door. It was only proper manners.

"Enter."

They opened the door and allowed Paimon to enter first before letting themselves in. As soon as Jean recognized them, she gracefully got up from her chair and walked around to the front of her desk.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice, Honorary Knight. I know you must be tired.”

The Traveler shook their head. "It was no trouble. Paimon and I were already up to begin with."

"Is that so? It's a shame my cuties didn't think to greet me in the library first thing in the morning. Your company can certainly revitalize this mage's energy." Came a voice to their left. Both newcomers swiveled their heads to look at the other visitor partially hidden in the corner.

"Lisa? Were you called here by Jean as well?" questioned Paimon.

"I was," Lisa confirmed, perplexion etched on her face, "Though I haven't been told why yet."

"I called you both here for the same reason. However, not everyone has arrived yet. We're still waiting on two more people. Once they’ve arrived, I’ll explain everything," Jean explained.

To pass the time, the Traveler, Paimon, and Lisa began to catch up with each other on what had happened since they last met while Jean leaned against her desk and peeked at the ticking clock on the wall from time to time.

She wasn't worried about the other two members being late. They each were fellow Knights of Favonius members after all. They know the standards that need to be set in order to maintain their position.

A few minutes later, everyone in the office could hear rapid footsteps from outside the room. Not even a second later the door was thrown open by Amber who quickly entered the room and put her hands on her knees to catch her breath.

pant ... pant ... "Sorry I'm late, Jean. I got caught up with something."

Jean shook her head. "Not to worry, Amber. We haven't started talking about anything yet." Jean snuck a peak behind Amber towards the open door. "Did you happen to see Kaeya on the way here?"

Amber straightened up and nodded her head. "I did, actually. He's..."

"Right here."

Kaeya smoothly walked into the office and quietly shut the door Amber left open behind him.

Jean gave a quick nod. "Good. That should be everybody." Everyone gathered around Jean in a semi-circle. "I bet you're all wondering why I've called you here this early."

"To put it simply, I'd rather get this discussion out of the way before we all start work for the day. This mainly concerns the Traveler, but I promise you all are important to this discussion as well."

Jean turned her attention to the Traveler. "First off, how are your adventures going?"

The Traveler looked at Jean in confusion. Jean called all of them here just to ask them about their adventures? "...Pretty well I guess. I've hit a few obstacles here and there but it was nothing I couldn't handle."

Jean nodded. "That's good to hear. And what about this latest obstacle you're facing?"

Now it was Paimon's turn to be confused. "Latest obstacle...?" she murmured, "Oh! Do you mean [Y/N]?"

Amber, Lisa, and Kaeya all widened their eyes in surprise as they looked at Paimon. Jean nodded once again.

"Yes. That's exactly the reason why I've called you all here. Although I may not know much about [Y/N], I understand that you all have had some experience with them. If you could tell me all that you know about them, I'll get a better understanding of what our next action should be."

The Traveler nodded in understanding before looking around at the others. "Should I go first, or do you all want to share your thoughts now?"

Amber was the first to reply. "Sure! I'll go first. In my opinion, the Traveler and [Y/N] are the same person, but also different people. When I first met the Traveler outside of the Whispering Woods, they introduced themselves as [Y/N]. However, once we dealt with the sources of Stormterror's power in the abandoned Four Winds' Temples, they seemed much livelier. That was when they explained that they were actually [T/N], and [Y/N] was this 'ghost or entity-like thing' that possessed them against their will.

Lisa nodded. "It's true. When we were traversing through the last temple, I felt as if my body was not under my control, but I was still conscious to witness what I was doing. It was scary at first, but after a while, I kind of got used to it."

Jean raised a skeptical brow. "And why is that?"

"Because [Y/N] and I were trying to achieve the same thing. They guided me through the temple, defeated all of the enemies, and destroyed Stormterror's crystal, all things that I originally intended to do myself."

Jean brought a hand to her chin. "Interesting..."

Kaeya raised his hand, signaling to speak next. "It's not just that, either. Later on when I had the Traveler lure some Treasure Hoarders to some ruins, one of them accidentally activated a Ruin Guard while attempting to flee. We managed to take it down, of course, while being guided by [Y/N], but I noticed that I had gotten stronger in between fighting the treasure hoarders outside the ruins and fighting the Ruin Guard. We defeated the Ruin Guard a lot quicker than I thought we would."

Jean furrowed her brows. "But Ruin Guards are a lot harder to defeat than mere Treasure Hoarders. Surely you must be exaggerating?"

Kaeya chuckled. "I can assure you, Jean. The strength I gained when guided by [Y/N] is no exaggeration. Surely you must've felt their presence yourself?"

"Outside of the day when I got burnout, no. But even then, I didn't exactly feel I was much stronger."

"Oh!" Amber blurted out. "Speaking of getting stronger, I've noticed that [Y/N] has improved some of my abilities as well! For example, the day before we pulled that whole sleeping stunt on [Y/N], we were helping them complete some commissions around Mondstadt. While we were completing them, I noticed that I could suddenly fire two arrows with one shot! Not only that, but I was able to manually detonate my Baron Bunny by shooting at it!"

Amber frowned. “The only downside is that I haven't had much success replicating these abilities when I'm not with [Y/N].”

"So you've noticed as well?" Lisa asked. "I thought I was the only one to notice." She turned her attention back to Jean. "You see, [Y/N] typically has me defeat hydro slimes whenever they appear, and with them I'm normally able to defeat them in one or two hits. However, I wanted to test a theory I've been thinking about recently. So I went to go find a hydro slime and see how many hits it took to defeat it. Just as I thought, it took nearly double the number of hits before it was beaten."

"I see. And is this something that we should look into?"

"No. I just thought it was something worth mentioning."

"Alright then. And when [Y/N] does guide you, is it only to complete commissions?" Jean inquired.

"Oh no!" Amber eyes sparkled. "We've been helping the Honorary Knight and [Y/N] all across Teyvat! It's amazing!"

Jean smiled. "Then you all must be enjoying your adventures, I presume?"

"But of course!" exclaimed Amber. "I've always wanted to see the world beyond Mondstadt and it's just as grand as I imagined."

"That's good to hear." Jean then looked down at the floor and sighed. "...Honestly, there are times when I wish I could throw my work to the side and travel alongside you, Honorary Knight."

"Paimon is certain that [Y/N] would love to have you join their Adventure Team! If it becomes possible, Paimon will put in a good word for you."

Jean chuckled. "Thanks, Paimon." She turned her attention to the Traveler. "And what about you? What do you know about [Y/N]?"

"It's a pretty long story. The first time I ever got a clue as to who [Y/N] was was when I was in the middle of helping Albedo with his research. During the middle of some experiments, I felt their presence leaving. However, almost immediately after they left I saw a bright light in the sky. It only lasted for a few seconds, but when the light went away, I saw that it had come from Celestia!"

Jean looked shocked for a moment but quickly composed herself. She had an image to maintain after all. "Really?! From Celestia?"

"Yes. Albedo saw it as well and it piqued his curiosity. To make a long story short, he found out that for a brief moment, the light that spawns from Celestia forms as if one is opening a door to an unlit room. He hypothesizes that whoever [Y/N] is, they are not from Celestia but somewhere beyond it. Maybe even another world entirely."

Kaeya smirked. "From another world, eh? So does that mean [Y/N] is an alien?"

The Traveler shook their head. "I don't think so. Most of the worlds I traveled to before Teyvat were inhabited by humans. I would assume that if [Y/N] is from another world, they would be human as well.

"How certain are you?" inquired Jean.

"I'm like 90% certain they're human," the Traveler confirmed. Amber hummed in thought.

"Do you think they might be a god?"

“A god whose eyes are focused on a world separate from theirs? Sounds unlikely to me,” countered Lisa.

"Regardless..." Jean interjected. "[Y/N] has been absent for a while now, correct?" The Traveler nodded. "Have you thought about continuing your journey without them should they not come back?"

"I've had the thought. But I'm willing to wait however long is necessary if it means I get to see them again."

Jean put a hand to her chin. "Are you sure? I would gladly be willing to have Amber, Lisa, or Kaeya travel with you for the foreseeable future."

Paimon nodded. "It's been almost a week since that incident, and yet Paimon has never seen the Traveler lose any determination at all!"

Jean nodded as well. "I see. In that case, I believe that is all I have to say for this discussion. It was nice meeting you once again, Honorary Knight."

"The same goes for you, Jean.”

Everyone exchanged goodbyes with each other and, minus Jean, prepared to leave the office. However, just before they left...

"Hey. Is it just me, or is it getting brighter outside?"

Kaeya looked towards Amber. "I'm sure it's just the clouds moving past the sun."

Amber shook her head, keeping her gaze towards the window. "No... I didn't see any clouds when I first came in..."

The room was silent. Some looked to the window while others kept their attention on Amber.

Suddenly, Paimon gasped.

"Paimon!" The Traveler shouted in surprise. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"...They're back..." she whispered.

The Traveler tilted their head. "Who's back?"

Paimon was too stunned to speak, but it didn't take long for the Traveler to figure out why. Their eyes grew wide in shock.

"[Y/N]!!" They suddenly exclaimed as they bolted past everyone. Everyone quickly followed the Traveler outside.

Once they all gathered outside. They quickly turned their gaze towards Celestia. Just as they thought, a light, though less noticeable during the day, was slowly getting brighter.

"Sorry, Jean! We've got to go! Don't wanna be late!" Paimon quickly said before everyone aside from Jean was teleported away.

---------------------------------------------------------

"It sure is taking a long time to check for updates," you thought.

After countless research, note-taking, and several anxiety breakdowns, you were finally ready to hop back onto Genshin and meet up with the people who you now realize are alive and sentient.

"I hope all this makes a good impression on them."

The door appeared.

With one click, you would be back to where this trouble all started…

Breathe in… Breathe out…

click

The door opened.

---------------------------------------------------------

Author Side Notes: I looked at my fanfiction and decided that it needed LORE™

Once again, I'll be editing this chapter over the next upcoming days. I sort of prefer it as opposed to keeping this in my drafts. I don't want you all waiting for the next part too long!

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

The Depths 1

Warnings: non/dubcon, stalking and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

Character: fisherman!Geralt of Rivia x artist!reader

Summary: your sleepy existence is thrown into chaos by a mysterious man.

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging ❤️

The water crashes onto the coast. The sound is dulled by the distance of your perch. The sky melds into the lake's surface as the sun hides behind a swathe of clouds.

You lean in to squint at the strokes on the canvas, sweeping your brush in repetition of the rippled horizon. You use the wnd of the brush to scratch your cheek.

Almost...

You peek above the easel and watch the small speck growing larger as it moves across the water. The fishing boat is there so often that you've added its silhouette to the acrylic tides. A stalwart to your early mornings and listless afternoons.

Day after day is layered before you in shades of cerulean, slate, and lavender. The grey sky with a tinge of golden sunlight, the waters stirring in sparkling shades of aquamarine and pearl, the coast rippled in fawn and umber. Another eye might see it and deem it finished but not you.

You step back to let the paint dry and rinse your brushes in the jar. Hmm. You're out of clean water.

You close up the easel and hook the canvas on the backside, carrying it like a briefcase as you pick up your canvas bag with your roll of brushes and pots of paint, your palette around your index finger.

You make a slow descent down the cliffside and curl around towards the shore. You veer away from the dock and head down into the silt. You put your stuff on a flat rock. You take the used brushes and palette to rinse in the shallows.

The water laps over your sandals as you linger in the soothing cool foam. The approach of evening skews the water with emerald and jade. You shake it all off and step back to dry it with a paint-blotted cloth.

You rearrange the bag so it all fits and hook it over your shoulder. You look down at the your linen apron. You can recall where every splotch and streak came from.

You take your easel and canvas and head back up along the dock. As you reach the post, the fishing boat knocks against the other end. You peer over at the man that lays a board across the spanse between.

You see him every night. You couldn't forget a man with snow white hair and golden eyes. His age is less than his locks might suggest and his eyes seem to look through you, not at you.

You smile, like you do every night. He doesn't react. Just like every other time.

The smell of fish wafts in the boat as he drags his net across the wooden ramp. You turn and press on. He's much to busy for you. It doesn't bother you. You came out here to get away from people.

Your feet leave divets in the dirt as the rock of the boat knocks in a rhythm against the dock. The man's toil adds to thunks and thuds and they fade behind you. The peace here is immaculate, you wouldn't want to ruin it for anyone else.

Past the seaside houses left vacant in the colder seasons and the smaller basins of the lake, between the rocky ridges and grassy knolls, you return to your little house.The cornflower paint chips from the wooden siding and the stairs are worn in the middle from the tramp of feet. A bench stands on the other side of the white railing between a plinthed flowerpot and folding table with a book forgotten on its slats. Home.

The spindly wreath on the front door rattles as you push through and the screen door snaps behind you. The evening breezs drifts in through the mesh as you set your easel down and rest the canvas on crate just beside the mat. You put your bag in front of the wooden stand and bask in the calm.

You hang your wicker hat and untie your apron. Your hands are covered in paint. You'll wash them before you eat. You leave your wet sandals at the door.

You pull out the pot of chowder you made two nights past from the fridge. You put it over a burner and wait for it to warm. The fare lasts you near a week when you take the time to put it together. Every ingredient must be used to its last, especially when it is so far to market. And expensive.

You scoop out a bowl and eat it on the front porch. Your eyes are too tired to read. When you finish, you recline on the bench and yawn. You lay in the dimming hue of the evening as the stars wink down at you.

A whistle carries on the wind. You sit up and look for the culprit. They are close enough to hear but that could still be far. It could even be a bird.

You take the empty bowl inside and rinse it. You retreat to the bedroom and change

You open the window to let the night in. Around here, you can do that. Not like the city and its grated windows.

You laze in the dusk shade and drift slowly into yourself. Sleep enshrines you atop the cushy bed, the water stirring from afar, the loons calling into the dark. Tomorrow you'll figure out the exact right colour for the undertow.

You're more than due to sell a new piece. You need to if you want to stay in paradise.

[twistedsanctuary]

𝐀 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Fish on the beach near where you live are mysteriously disappearing. Your father, a fisherman is still working hard to find some, to get income. And you, his only child, want to help. Nobody had thought what type of fish you'd see.

Genre: Yandere

Media: Twisted Wonderland

Characters: Azul Ashengrotto, Floyd Leech, Jade Leech

Note: English is not my first language. Expect grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Hopefully, this will suffice. This is my very first story that will have different parts.

Warnings: Not proofread, Disturbing content.

I. Curiosity

If you look at it this way, the irony of fighting your exhaustion is that it also requires energy to fight back against it. Bored and tired. That's what you are right now. You've already studied and done the assignments for your class tomorrow. The only available things to do at home are play with the neighboring kids outside. And yet you don't feel like playing, despite their protests to join.

The kids had come to the extent of crying out that they'll play your favorite game just to make you play with them. They've mentioned how dull the game of tag and hide-and-sink would be without you. Somehow, like the light of the party. Listening to the calming crash of waves and the ear-piercing squawking of seagulls flying by, it's been a therapeutic experience to let the sand sink over your bare feet. The water ever so relaxingly gazes at your toes, its warm waters have given somewhat like a salon for the rich people.

Basking in the sunlight, the sun slowly going down; there still rests (Name). Admiring something in the distance of the ocean, you've come to notice the sky. It's almost past 4 P.M.

It's windy today. The children's shrill laughter drowns out because of the waves that sounds ever so therapeutic— Strands of hair flap on your face gently, following the direction of the soft wind. With a blank mind, your eyes stare up.

One... two... three... four... birds. Three fly in the same direction while a single one went on a different path, your eyes followed the direction of the singular bird, until it's lead you to see your father in your peripheral view. Your eyes land on him as he throws in his net in his Johnboat, plopping his bucket hat on his head with no care of it's untidiness. It's almost night, so why is he setting off for sea, when he usually does it early in the morning?

"Papa, are you leaving to fish again?" Taking a break from your little relaxation, your palms push down the sand to support yourself to stand up and stride to your father.

Noticing your presence, his head turns to where you are, promptly giving you a wide eyed stare before reverting back to his usual-slight empty smile. He nods and continues to pack his lures. "I'm having trouble findin' fish today," said by him as his smile dropped slowly. There were a few mumbles that came out from him that we're audible to you.

"As well as my other fisher friends." His eyebrows furrow with pure concern and confusion, his eyes glint a perplexed emotion while staring at the horizon of the dangerous waters beyond. "I'm gonna go check 'gain, this time... farther than my usual fishing boundaries." He then goes on to push his boat into the water. Before the boat fully floats on the water, (Name) proposes to be of help to capture fish alongside him.

"Papa, wait I'll help!" Stretching out your hand to reach out for nothing, as if stopping him to catch up by doing one step closer. Boredom is a killer and it always finds you. What else to do, when you're just sitting in the sand waiting for something to happen?

"Sure kiddo." He ushers you with a gentle smile, pointing at the boat with his head to indicate for you to get in the boat. Smiling widely, you hurriedly get in the boat as your father pushes it.

"Okay kiddo, can you help pull the net?"

"Not that I'd expect fish to show up..." He mumbled.

"I'll try..!" You exclaim and hear your father chuckle while you stared at the ocean and beyond. Gripping on the edge of the boat in anticipation. When the boat started to be carried by the waves, he jumps in and starts maneuvering the boat with two paddles. The ocean breeze blows softly against your skin, a few seagulls flying along with your boat, as if guiding your journey until it redirects into another direction. Soothing, one might say. A few shared silence between you two as you bask in the silence of the sea, away from shrieking children, away from the vendors in the village. Silence.

"Enjoying it too?" interjected your father, rowing the boat while keeping track of the distance between the boat and the land. It was but a mere speck to your point of view, a dot. That was how far the place was. Only a small island with mountains and places that your people had built for entertainment and cultural significance.

You feel the boat slightly sway; preparing to throw, your father stands up; net in hands and tosses the it in the air, which takes a form of a pancake-like structure, landing in the water and sinks down. Your head peers down at the bottom of the sea, subtly seeing fishes swimming away, fast. You help your father pull the net that wasn't heavy. Hearing the sigh of disappointment from him, your eyes train at his face, displaying signs of stress and anger. "I knew it, we can't find more of 'em when we get farther." Seeing him like this, aches. Deciding to look away from his saddened state, your eyes move to the side as you focus on your surroundings instead. Something catches your attention in the water, something.

Something moved. It was not the water, it's under the water. You didn't see it, for it quickly dived back down. Your heart skipped a beat for a moment. It wasn't as big as the fish your father would catch; it was much bigger. You'd imagine something like your big dining table at home, you could only estimate at that size.

Only, however; your imagination gets the best of you as fiction fogged your mind.

You might not see it, but it sees you. You could have sworn that there is a head of a person. But you knew nobody else set sail except for your father. Nobody set sailed, it was just your father that left to fish.

And no human would be able to submerge underwater without breaching out for oxygen, staying there for a long time.

Floating in the still water with just a glorified wooden bowl, you squint your eyes in the direction where you saw the moving being. You've yet to tell your father about what you think you saw... but bothering him would not be such a good idea. Burdening him further with your imagination would just give you a patient smile and a pat in the head.

He's currently fixing the net, emptying it and placing the barely collected fish that plopped in the boat. Ignoring his mumbling, you lean into the side of the boat to get a clearer view. Something barely emerge from the waters, spotting half a head, hair that droops down to their face, eyes and forehead above the water, watching you. It was a boy. His skin seemed unnatural, it had green tints. Despite being far from your reach, an unnerving stare was exchanged between you and him. An unknown message behind his emotions. And despite that, you don't know what expression you were wearing; too lost in his unwavering gaze. You've no idea of the threat about to befall you when you're leaning closer to the edge of the boat.

You are curious.

Closer, and closer, and closer you got. Almost falling off the boat. You swear you could see the creature, the boy; smiling with it's eyes squinting ever so slightly as his brows raises.

As if broken from a trance; the boat shakes, a strong grip reached out for you, tugging you back with your wrist. "You could've fallen, be careful!" You turn around seeing your father's worried face as the boat sways back and forth because of your father's erratic footsteps towards you. you turn to face the creature again, only to realize it's gone...

But it's somewhere nearby. You're curious, so it was too. It has to be. He must've seen how close you were to the water. Sitting up straight and shaking your head, strong heartbeats pump out from your chest, you clutch it with a shaky hand, "Sorry, Papa." You try to laugh it off, stuttering while looking down at the boat. Your father smiled and pats your head, flashing you a slight smile as a sign of comfort. "Be careful next time, 'aight?" Sitting back down, you nod in agreement.

The boat starts to sail once more, paying no mind to the relaxing scenery or the wind that blows with delicacy. Next time. Thinking... will it come back? Will you see it again if you come with your father when fishing? You want to see it again. Try to understand it.

You keep staring from where you saw the boy, until you see something floating near the boat. Gasping at it... because it's something chubby?... You're tempted to reach and grab it, but before you could take an action, you see it disappear under the surface of the water before going deeper. "Eh?" Thinking it was just an illusion from your wild imagination, you shake your head to hopefully clear your mind. Your love of the ocean is taking a toll on you. Rowing back to the island, you can only hope to be part of another expedition with your father to see those things once again.

That lingering feeling of curiosity stays on you, and so did the boy about you.

As they say, curiosity killed the cat.

However, cats have nine lives.

What was the problem with using one?

II. Newfound addiction

When returning to the shore, you're still searching for signs of the mysterious boy. But you didn't see anything... until a few days later. The sun is still shining brightly; the sky is bright and blue, filled with a tint of white from the clouds gazing down upon you. The soft sound of waves hitting the shoreline returns you to your senses, as these past few days have been dense. So... peaceful... calm. You take a deep breath as the feeling of plump lips kisses you from behind on your temple, your head softly held by their touch. "Mama..." You whisper as she stands behind you, breaking the interaction and silently gazes lovingly at you from behind. You don't look back, simply staring at the ocean with wonder.

She holds your hand in return, whispering sweet things to you, and responding. "Yes, dear?" Looking up to glance at her face with a faint smile, she gave you one of her beautiful grins and squeezed your hand gently with eyes that softly stared back at you. "I wanna go explore the island today... Can I?" No amount of games could satisfy your growing boredom. You know how to play each of them and win them all. There's no challenge anymore. Nothing to overcome. Perhaps a new pace of hobbies would change it?

Not breaking contact with you, she acknowledges it with a closed-eye nod and caresses your cheek lovingly. "Of course, dear. We could stay here long." She takes a small pause, humming to herself in thought. "I'll wait for you here back here, m'kay? Be back before nightfall." Excited and thankful for being given permission, you smile sweetly and nod. Your mother lets go of your face, falling to her sides. You sprint towards the shore, your mother smiling behind you warmly as she waves for the temporary goodbye.

You've been eyeing this cave near the mountains that connected to the shore, it seemed like a good place to stay in the meantime... If you don't mind the crawling crabs there. It isn't submerged in the water, in fact, the cave is still near the sand. If your guess is correct, the water would only reach until your calf.

Enthusiastic about the thought of having a cave for yourself, you saunter to the entrance- watching where you step, you momentarily look up to see your father tying the net. You stare in his direction for quite a while, thinking of when you could join him once more on one of his expeditions. After that experience, you didn't feel like playing with the others anymore. You were seeking adventure... maybe that's why you were interested in exploring.

Maybe... just maybe, you want something new.

Being deep in thought and frozen in place, your father had already noticed you. Deciding to acknowledge you, he smiles and waves. Despite being far, he had already seen you clearly by your stature. You wave back at him, sharing the warmth of the greeting. It was cut short when you spotted another person, possibly a fellow fisherman speaking to your father. Finally deciding to continue your small adventure for the day.

However, forgetting to look down on the shore... you step on something that felt like broken glasses. Looking down with discontentment, you lift up your foot to see a broken beautiful shell.

Oh...

Oh, what a waste. A pretty shell like that would've been so good in a collection... Well, it still could be. You can still collect broken shells. It'll be a special collection, unlike any other.

A sea shell collector that collects broken shells.

You bend down to grab the seashell, grunting as your hand becomes wet with saltwater as you gather all the broken parts and bits of the seashell. Dusting off the remains of the sand in the item, you stood back up and admired it up close. It glints an interesting hue of blue and purple that gives a harmonic mixture of colors.

Trying to find where to keep this precious item... You pause. You don't have anywhere to place it, or keep it. You keep in mind about your clothes that have no pockets on them. There is another you've forgotten. You look up and the winks of sunlight make your eyesight blurry. The sun is about to fall, indicating the soon-to-rise moon. This shore gives a feeling to those theatres you and your family have gone to. Where everything seems like it's out of place, and then everything comes together.

You look around one last time and collect more shells before turning your back to the sea and start walking to where your mother is. Hands clenching on the broken shell, it pierces through delicate skin with its sharp edges, threatening to draw blood around it. Dangerous, you'd think. Preventing yourself from adding more pressure further. This shell was a reminder to you. You wanted—needed to see more. Exploration.

Like the forest. The forest is always beautiful.

When you and your mother arrived at your small hut, it was quiet. The candles lit in all corners of the room. The prominent smell of burning wax digs into your nostrils, taking in its scent. The fire pit had also been burning, in the center of the room. Your father must have felt cold from the upcoming weather. You notice your father in the corner, sitting down on the floor reading a book. Once again, like instinct he looked up with glee, then looking down at what was in your hand.

"Enjoyed collecting?" He asks and you nod unreservedly, quite proud of what you have achieved today without anybody. You hear your mother walking to the kitchen to prepare for supper later. His hearty chuckle fills the room as he gestures for you to sit on the floor next to him. In which you comply, still holding out the broken seashell. "So ya'v started to collect sea shells, ha?" He continues, closing the book he was reading. "That's how me 'n your mother started out.~" He smiled fondly at the memory he's replaying on his mind. He stopped, realizing it's been silent when he started to daydream about the memory.

"Did you make new friends?" He asks very eager for your response, looking up and placing a finger on his chin, pretending to think about what you would say.

"No." A very blunt and dry response was only given to him. Your father sighs and smiles, like surrendering. "That's 'aight. It's hard makin' friends." You smile in agreement. That was exactly what you thought too. Yes, you've had your fair share of friends... but... it gets tiring to keep socializing. You just want to shut everyone out and start from scrap.

Maybe someday. Just maybe. You think back to when you saw the boy.

III. A Friend

Once more, you see yourself back at the shore to hunt for sea shells. This time, you have come prepared. A small bag to carry for your future seashell collection and a bucket. It was all you could borrow from your mother when you asked her for an item to carry your seashells. After that, you asked for permission to let you explore, in which she's allowed you.

You walk inside the cave, further noticing that it was indeed just until your calf, which is safe... hopefully. You've made further exploration inside the cave only to find out it wasn't large at all. Only 10 steps ahead and you're already at the end of the cave. You've claimed this cave as your castle. Thinking of how to make it yours, you decided to decorate it using the rocks available; given to you by Mother Nature herself. With all your might, you grabbed all the big rocks you were able to carry and placed them inside the cave. You arrange them and place them one by one so you can block the water from entering the side you've blocked it from. It took skill to successfully keep the water away from the other side. A little break later, you're ready to continue once more by scooping out the water using the bucket you have. It gets you and your clothes wet in seawater in the process.

Now, there's finally space for you to place your soon-to-be sea shell collection. But you separated the destroyed shell out of all the others. Exhaling with contentment, you leave the cave to find more shells to add. You've gone a pretty long way in finding new shells. Using the bucket to dig and find some, but nothing popped up. But that did not render you to stop. You keep going and continue your search.

And you see one, glistering with an orange hue with brown spots all over. Near the water, almost ready to be dragged away to the ocean and never to be seen again. Observing it farther as you walk closer to it, with eyes that squint; it looked like it had the same design as the one that you crushed. You dared pick it up before it got dragged into the ocean, grunting as standing up felt so... lazy. You look up and... then you see it.

The boy from under the ocean.

[princessbrunette]

⊹ ᜊ(ᜊ ´ ˘)੭ ♡ … DUMB & POETIC ♡

track eight of the short n’sweet series. pairing: dbf!johnb + reader. based loosely off the song dumb & poetic by sabrina carpenter. enjoy! ໒꒰՞ ܸ. .ܸ՞꒱

word travels fast when you’re hopelessly in love with your dads best and youngest friend.

rain was starting to spit down on the crown of your head as you marched your way up the dry grass to the chateau. a storm was headed your way, and john b was probably to give you a real earful at the fact you’d even walked here so late in the evening with a storm on the horizon but that didn’t matter. it seemed a feeble thing now, too focused on the tugging of your heart strings.

“old john b’s got himself a date.” your father had chuckled into his newspaper that morning and you froze at the sink, pouring milk into your coffee. your skin felt hot, eyes prickly.

“what?” you ask quietly, trying your hardest to sound unshaken by the news.

“the guys down at the garage stitched him up. i didn’t get involved, was too busy working but… yeah. finally getting himself out there. was wonderin’ when he might. times ticking for him.”

your milk pours over the rim of your now overflowing coffee mug and you curse, lurching to clean it up.

now you’re knocking at the older man’s door, shivering from the icy droplets that are tickling your hot skin. you feel feverish, wrong, all muddled up. john b was yours.

he’s frowning when he opens the door, and you don’t let him speak.

“is it true?” you yell over the wind, voice cracking and he pulls you inside by the arm.

“uhm, did you walk here in a storm? are you— what, have you lost your mind now?”

“is it true, john b?” you don’t lower your voice even though you’re inside now, infact your words are punctuated by a harsh shove at his chest. he stills, staring down at you solemnly and shamefully.

“i assume your…dad told you—”

“so this — us, it just means nothing to you?” you go in for another push, crying now and he catches your wrists, eyes softening sympathetically as he pulls you in.

“you know that’s not true. look, listen to me—”

“who is she?” you wail and he holds your wrists tighter.

“listen to me!” he raises his weathered brow, hands loosening around your wrists just enough to swipe his fingers gently in windscreen wipers on the skin. you stare up at him expectedly — fat tears even frozen on your cheeks and his shoulders drop slightly. how was he meant to compete? it wasn’t fair when you looked at him like that. “the guys at the garage set me up.” he explains calmly and you’re quick to cut him off.

“and you agreed! you could have just said—”

“i have to! okay i—” he takes a breath, ripping his fisherman cap off to run a hand through matted brown hair, streaks of silvery grey through the sides illuminated in the warm orangey light of the chateau that made your heart clench with fondness and familiarity. “its not right that i’m feeling this way for someone so much younger than me, and more importantly — it’s not right that you’re dating someone so much older! you should… i don’t know, be out there! experiencing the dating pool! going on dates with guys that are allowed to be seen with you! not… your dads friend.” he shakes his head, defeated.

“i don’t care about all that!” you step up to him, a glimmer of hope in your eyes.

“well i do!” he bellows back, and just like that it dies.

you crumple, heels of your hands coming to press into your eyes as you lower yourself to the floor. you mewl in devastation, salty tears burning into your retinas and he watches in heartbreak, heaving out a long sigh before lowering himself to the floor with you.

“its not fair! its not fair— just because shes older than me doesn’t mean — it doesn’t —”

“i know.” he mutters into your hairline, pressing a kiss there. you clutch his shirt like he’s the only thing keeping you tied down gravitationally to earth.

you get real worked up into hysterics so soon he’s calming you down the only way he knows how, straw-feeding you water as you sit in his bed wearing his clothes, still snivelling. he shuffles in beside you with a book, pulling your head to rest down on his shoulder and shushing you when you fight.

“you think y’know everything john b.” you croak, glaring at the dumb pretentious poetry book on his lap.

he clears his throat, flipping to a random page.

“though the night was made for loving, and the day returns too soon, yet we'll go no more a roving, by the light of the moon—” his husky voice begins to read, lulling you into that calm safe space that only he creates. there’s a lingering sadness in your chest when you drift off, knowing it could be the last time and between his words you’re sure you whisper a “dont go”. but you’re not sure whether or not you dreamt it.

you wake up at noon somehow. all that crying wore you out and it goes without saying with the situation you’re in, you didn’t have the greatest sleeping pattern. sticky eyes flutter from the alarm clock, to the absence of john b in his own bed beside you. you hope for the reassuring sound of coffee being stirred or the tv in the living room but the chateau is deathly quiet. once your eyes focus, you’re confronted with a note on the bed side table.

his familiar scrawl, it reads —

‘I’m sorry. I just have to see for myself.

— Yours, J.B ♡’