#not all fish. not all in the ocean. what do we do

[gallusrostromegalus]

Hi, there's a really good chance I'm imagining things, but isn't there a name/term for when we latch onto "cute"/marketable endangered species and that gives incentive to protect their habitat as well? Like when keeping one animal alive allows for the argument to be made to keep a different "uglier" animal alive, or put resources into protecting a plant species? I could swear there's a name for this but I can't find anything so I could also just be mixing it up with something

The term you're looking for is "Charismatic Megafauna" or and it works in two directions:

People are more likely to identify with a large mammal than say, an ecologically vital insect or slime mold, especially if it's something regarded as "cute" like Pandas or Orcas or Elephants. People give more of a shit about the enviornment and do what you ask if they give a shit about the animal in question.

Picking a Keystone Species at the Very Tippy Top of the food chain (Apex predators like Tigers and Orca), or that needs VAST amounts of space kept pristine (Pandas, Elephants) means that you also have to preserve THE ENTIRE FUCKING FOOD CHAIN UNDERNEATH IT, and by extension, the habitat all them critters live in. So signing a law to protect Penguins protects not just their land nesting sites but the ocean they hunt in and the fish they eat and this protects vastly more species than protecting The-Actually-Load-Bearing-Deep-Sea-Sponges would.

So if you were ever wondering "How come there's all these fundraisers for cute things like giraffes and gorillas? Where's the love for the ugly little guys like freshwater clams and earthworms?" the answer is "RIGHT BEHIND the big sexy poster animal. We sneak them in like hiding your dog's pills in cheese."

[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.

[dianadiaries]

⩇⩇:⩇⩇ : the ocean blue. 🍵

summary : when the boats clash, and the sea rises, the straw hat pirates (luffy..) always gets hungry. That leaves the new girl and Zoro home alone at the boat. Daring it is so quiet.. for now.

status : finished, reader is she/her. Zoro

has big dick energy... strawhatpirate!zoro strawhatpirate!reader

"Don't forget to get the dried out meat!" I say to the rest of the crew, as they leave me and Zoro on the boat, as their bodies turn to a shadow and glint. I felt of glee once they left, and I could finally finish the pearl necklace I had been working on for a while. The shiny. pearls found in Arlong Park, Nami tells me it reminds her of luffy and Nami beating Arlong's, fish man ass.

"Hey, I need something." I felt his voice from a mile away. It was Zoro. His voice so effectively, the deepest part of it too. Made my cunt automatically wet. Or was I that obvious that I had a small flutter in my heart for him? Maybe. But, I could never say it outloud, Nami and Sanji would tease me. Then I went back to reality, I get a bit startled but try to pronounce some words while shuttering like a mess or something.

"Oh yeah, um sure!" I say, smiling gladly, getting up as quick as I can to help him. Zoro heads to the edge of the boat, where he mostly trains at, to be, of course, the world's best swordsman. "I cut my self last fight we had... I was wondering if you could heal it." He groans, sitting down. Zoro's limp hand touching the mark where he got harmed at. The mark was under his shirt, I gulped. He didn't seem to notice to much about my nervous state. He just thought I wanted to do my job. "Be the best healer in the all blue".

I clear my thoughts as Zoro lifts his shirt off. Placing my hand on his mark, my face probably cried with blush at this point. My hands roamed the area of harm. Zoro's rough eyes gleamed at me, my body heating up as if I was some type of oven. Well, he can put his bun in me anyway. Quickly, I snap myself back, the devil fruit in my viens helping to heal the bloody marks on Zoro. His hand wanders to my face, and I let out a choked expression. "Zoro..?" I say, muttering softly to a whisper. "You seem cold. You keep shaking. Come sit." He says, patting his lap, as Zoro lifts your limp body, shadowing his lap. My hands covering my face.

Was I embarrassed, no. Was I scared, no. I felt my guts heat up even more, I wasn't shaking because I was cold. I was shaking to stop myself from doing something I would have regretted. I pull a blank and take my hands from my face, staring at him. Except he only smirks. "Like what you see?" He says with a condescending look on his face. But something changed in me, I simply nodded. Maybe it was something in the air, or those stupid shiny pearls. But what ever it was, made my cunt twitch for him. "Really princess, little healer needs her cunt healed from the heat right?" Zoro says mumbling in my ear. Had I said everything out loud? I'm stupid. His hands having a soft grip on my plush ass.

"zoro..pl-please!" I say, my body dry humping his jean of his pants. He only chuckles, as if I'm a laughing stalk. Finally, me and his lips connect. Sloppy, but still some what neat. Zoro's tongue entered my mouth, my moans getting the best of me. His sword tight like hands, unbuttoned my shirt, breast popping out of the bra. He made sure not to waste time and get the fabric of the bra out of the way. "So sensitive." Zoro says as his nimble fingers twisting and playing with my nipples. My moans are coming out and into Zoro's ears. "w-want you.." I say whining, my head down on his shoulder. "So needy to aren't you," He says, playing with the hem of my pants. Before dragging them off my heated body, putting them off somewhere else into the mess of a pile of clothes. At this point, Zoro had no shirt, and I had no clothes. Well, except for my soaked through panties.

Zoro chuckles again before laying my back on the hard board of the ship. His nimble fingers toying with my clothed cunt making my body squirm at the feel of it. "Zoro! So wet.. please!" I say as my body jerks closer to him. "Never met a girl in the East blue as wet as you." He says, smirking as his fingers ghost around my panties and pull them off. The pads of his fingers playing and toying with the bundle of nerves. As one finger prods near my wet sopping hole. When it finally gives in and pushes its way in. Gasps and groans coming from my mouth, my mouth gapes open for everyone to hear. Squishy and wet sounds coming from my cunt as he pushes in another finger. "She is so talkative fa' me." Zoro says, smiling at the noises. My body humping back on his fingers as he decides to speed up the pace. "Ngh. Fuck me. Please, please, zoro!" I silently scream as his fingers become soaked in juices leaking from my cunt.

"So, pretty princess." Zoro says, pushing another finger now up to his third. My cunt feeling washed up, as the boat silently rocks against the board walk. "So.. close!" I moan, scratching the back of Zoro, as he grunts. His fingers playing in my cunt as if I was a toy to him. Soon, my orgasm came over me. Squirting all over the hard wood panels of the boats. My legs shook over Zoro's body. High pitch squealing and moans coming out of my gaped mouth. Soon, my head comes back to reality, I realized I had squirted all over Zoro's pants.. "I—I.. I'm so sorry!" I say with embarrassment written all over my face.

"the crew won't be back soon. let's go to my bedroom."

notes : OML SORRY I have only watched the live action one piece. I WILL WATCH THE ANIME, but oml, they ate every time !

[fluenzed]

AFTER OBX— JJ MAYBANK FANFICTION

fanfiction | jj maybank | alternative ending | obx | 4674 words

warning: mention of sex, drugs, alcohol and violence

______________________________________________

CHAPTER 2 — "Let's change that, let's go fishing."

Somewhere on the ocean

The men themselves were as weathered as the table they sat around, each with eyes that held stories darker than the night outside. Their voices were low, rough with age, experience, and the heaviness of lives led outside the law. They leaned close, speaking in quiet, gravelly tones about the blue crown and a group of teenagers who had once managed to outwit men like them.

"Hard to believe," muttered a grizzled man with a deep scar slashing across his cheek. He was the oldest among them, a career soldier turned mercenary who bore the scars of battles in places that didn't make the news. "Kids from the Outer Banks, finding a treasure hunters been after for decades. They're smart—I'll give 'em that."

"Smart?" scoffed the man sitting across from him, fingers tracing the rim of a half-empty glass. His hair was cropped short, a faded tattoo trailing up his neck, and his face had the hollow look of a man who hadn't slept peacefully in years. "More like lucky. Besides, that was two years ago. Last sighting was in Morocco. They're just ghosts now."

The fourth man leaned forward, his dark eyes gleaming with a predatory intent. He was younger than the others, with the wiry build of someone who'd spent his life in pursuit. "Ghosts, maybe, but they left a trail. And I've found them."

At his words, a dangerous silence fell over the group. The man at the head of the table leaned back, an amused gleam lighting up his otherwise cold eyes. Simon was the kind of man who had built his fortune on ruthlessness, calculating every move to ensure his survival—and his dominance. He was a legend in certain circles, not only in the United States but worldwide, known for the treasures he'd hunted and the people he'd left ruined in his path. The underworld whispered his name with both respect and fear.

"So," Simon said at last, his voice like ice, soft but sharp, "what's the plan?"

"We find him—and kill him," Simon's own voice answered, his words soft yet brutal. He smirked, a cruel edge pulling at his lips. "I don't care about the others. I want the blond one."

One of the men raised an eyebrow. "Why him, Simon? Why not just deal with them all at once?"

"Because," Simon said, his tone laced with venom, "he stole from me. Not once, but twice. And that makes him my problem. His friends? They're just distractions. But him? He's the brain behind all this. JJ Maybank."

The room stilled as Simon reached down, pulling a worn leather satchel onto his lap. From within it, he retrieved a small metal box, which he opened with a flick of his thumb. As he tilted the box over the table, a cascade of photographs spilled out, the glossy surfaces catching the dim light. Each photograph showed the same blond figure—JJ Maybank—captured at different times, in different places, living a life of cautious normalcy, unaware of the eyes that followed him.

"Here," Simon said, spreading the photographs out with deliberate precision. The other men leaned in, studying the images. JJ was caught in routine moments: driving a faded car down a narrow cobbled street, leaving a modest house, slipping in and out of stores along a sunlit street in Porto. Always moving, always cautious, yet somehow, always found.

"He faked his death, then ran to Porto, thinking he could vanish. Clever move," Simon murmured, a grudging respect in his voice. "But not clever enough."

The scarred man smirked, tapping one of the photos with a hardened finger. "So, how do we take him?"

Simon's gaze hardened, his voice dropping to a whisper that carried a deadly finality. "With precision. We need a plan that accounts for every move. One mistake, and he's gone. This man is not easy to catch."

A man who had been silent until now leaned forward, his voice low and measured. "We don't have to wait for him to make a move. Someone's already in Porto, watching him. They've been there for days, tracking his every step, waiting for word."

The others froze, glancing at him. Simon's eyes narrowed, the predatory gleam sharpening as he absorbed this information. "Who?" he asked, his voice laced with quiet urgency.

"A contact," the man explained. "One of ours. A local who knows the city well. They've been keeping an eye on JJ, blending into the crowds, following him without being seen. Every move, every pattern—he's not alone in this anymore. We'll know where he goes next, before he does."

Simon's lips curled into a dark smile, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. "Perfect. We move when he least expects it. And when we make our move, we don't leave anything to chance. Make no mistake—when I catch him, it's over. We can't afford another failure."

The others nodded in agreement, tension building in the small cabin as the details of their plan began to take shape. Outside, the distant rumble of thunder hinted at an approaching storm, as if the sea itself was preparing for what was to come. The unseen watcher in Porto, meanwhile, already held the first thread in this dangerous game. Soon, the pieces would start to fall into place, and JJ Maybank would learn just how thin the line between hunter and hunted could be.

_______________________

JJ woke up before dawn, the chill in the air sharp as a knife against his skin, seeping through the cracked window he'd been meaning to fix for weeks. The cold November sea breeze swept into his small room, carrying with it the salty scent of the ocean mingled with the sharp bite of winter. He shivered, his nose and cheeks already flushed red from the cold before he'd even left his bed.

For a few long moments, he lay there under the thin blanket, blinking at the dim light creeping through the blinds. He pulled himself up slowly, stiff from the cold and from the memories that had made sleep so elusive. Stifling a yawn, he moved across the cramped room, bare feet against the icy wooden floor, and opened the fridge. Empty, as usual. Only a half-empty bottle of orange juice sat on the shelf, a reminder he hadn't gone shopping in days. He sighed, took a swig straight from the bottle, and set it back in place before padding to the bathroom.

Peeling off his clothes, he stepped into the shower and turned the water as hot as it would go. The warmth hit him like a wave, instantly melting the tension from his muscles and fogging up the small, cracked mirror over the sink. JJ closed his eyes, letting the water pound against his shoulders and draw him deep into his thoughts—the life he'd left behind, the friends he missed, and the constant weight of looking over his shoulder. Here, in Porto, he was supposed to be invisible, safe. But some days, he could still feel a faint, lingering unease prickling at his skin.

After a long few minutes, he turned off the water, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around his waist. As he stepped out of the shower, he wiped the steam from the mirror, catching sight of his own reflection. He looked tired, the shadows under his eyes dark from endless nights spent worrying, planning, and occasionally, regretting. With a sigh, he reached for his toothbrush, brushed his teeth, and tried to shake the weight of the past from his mind.

Once he was dressed—worn jeans, a sweater a little frayed at the cuffs, and an old jacket—JJ grabbed his keys and made his way out to the small store he'd been working at. It was a modest marina shop.It wasn't much, but it gave him a purpose and kept him connected to the sea he loved.

The routine was the same every day, a kind of comforting monotony that helped him disappear in plain sight. He unlocked the door, flipped the lights on, and inhaled the familiar scent of wood, sea salt, and oil. Before opening, he swept the small floor, dusted off the shelves, and stocked a few supplies he'd unloaded from a shipment the day before. Next, he opened the counter register and checked the mail, sorting through bills and junk. As he moved, he mentally ran through his to-do list for the day: inventory, checking appointments, ordering replacement parts for a few local fishermen's boats.

As he flipped through the appointment book, JJ found himself lost in thought again, wondering how long he could keep this quiet life up, how long he could remain unnoticed. The familiar weight of his routine settled over him, keeping him grounded—but he knew, deep down, that he couldn't hide forever.

While JJ was going through his usual tasks that afternoon, the gentle chime of the bell rang out, cutting through his concentration. He lifted his head, expecting a regular customer, but froze when he saw the figure in the doorway. A tall man with broad shoulders and an air that radiated authority and unease had entered the shop, his movements slow and deliberate. The man didn't bother with a greeting, didn't even nod in acknowledgment. He just locked eyes with JJ for a tense moment, his gaze lingering like he was sizing him up.

JJ's pulse quickened, the atmosphere shifting, the once-familiar shop feeling suddenly claustrophobic. The man's presence unsettled him, his worn clothes and hardened demeanor giving him the appearance of someone familiar with dark places, someone who wasn't here for boat supplies. Still, the stranger strolled over to the shelves, his eyes gliding over the merchandise with an odd intensity, as if pretending to browse bait and tackle. JJ couldn't shake the feeling that this man was watching him more closely than he was watching the shelves.

Just as his instincts were about to tell him to say something, the bell rang again. JJ turned, exhaling with relief as Alex walked in, her bright smile bringing a much-needed change to the room's heavy atmosphere.

"Hey, you," she said warmly, her eyes lighting up. JJ felt his shoulders ease a little. She held out a few bills. "I came by to give you the money for the boat."

With Alex here, it was easier to ignore the tall stranger lingering in the back of the shop. JJ turned his attention to the counter and started counting the cash she handed him. "You gave me too much," he noted, separating out the right amount and holding the rest back to her.

"Keep it," Alex insisted, her voice soft yet firm. "You've helped me a lot. I want you to have it."

JJ frowned and shook his head. "You serious? I don't want it." He extended the money back to her, but Alex only raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"It's either you take it, or I burn it," she replied, crossing her arms with a determined smile.

JJ let out a reluctant chuckle, feeling the warmth in her insistence. "Thank you," he said, a little embarrassed as he took the cash and tucked it away. He glanced toward the back of the store, his mind drifting to the stranger—but the man had vanished, slipping out unnoticed at some point during their exchange.

JJ couldn't shake the odd feeling lingering from that brief encounter, but Alex's presence helped him refocus. She continued talking, her words easing him back into normalcy.

"So," she said after a pause, a hint of nerves in her smile, "there's this beach party tonight in Vila Nova de Gaia. Thought you might want to come? Not a date," she added quickly, flustered, making JJ laugh a little at her honesty.

"Sure, I'm in," he said, smiling. "Want me to pick you up?"

Her eyes lit up. "Yeah, that'd be great." She fished her phone out of her bag and handed it to him. "Here, put your number in."

JJ took her phone, amused. "If you wanted my number, you could've just asked," he teased, noticing a slight blush creep up her cheeks. He entered his number, sent a quick text to himself, and handed the phone back to her.

"Okay, I close up at seven. I'll come by at eight?"

"Sounds good," she said, grinning. "See you then."

After she left, JJ tried to shake off the lingering tension from the strange man's visit, but his instincts wouldn't let it go. Something about that encounter felt wrong, his gut telling him the man hadn't just been browsing for fishing supplies. But for now, he tried to ignore it, focusing on the work left to do.

**Porto, 7 p.m.**

As the day wound down, JJ went through his evening routine, tidying up the store, putting items back in place, and counting the cash register before locking up. He headed to his apartment to freshen up, swapping his work clothes for a pair of jeans, a plain black jacket, and a faded red cap he pulled low over his eyes. Checking his reflection one last time, he shrugged, grabbed his car keys, and headed out.

On the drive to Alex's place, he felt his nerves ease a little. When he pulled up, he barely had a chance to text her before she stepped outside, flashing a warm smile. He smiled back, not even realizing how naturally it came.

"Hey, you," she said, getting into the car and buckling up. She glanced at him with a smirk. "Kinda dressed up tonight, huh?"

He chuckled. "Just trying to match your vibe."

Alex was dressed in a fitted gray sweater under a worn leather jacket that matched her brown boots. Her perfume filled the car, a subtle scent that somehow made him feel calmer.

"Vila Nova de Gaia, right?" JJ asked, tapping the location into his GPS.

She nodded. "Yeah, it's at Praia da Baía."

He entered the address, turned up the radio, and they set off. The drive was mostly quiet, with both of them humming along to songs, sharing the occasional glance or laugh. The silence between them felt comfortable, the kind of silence that didn't need filling.

After twenty minutes, they arrived. Alex hopped out first, and JJ followed, locking the car behind him as he glanced around at the beach, now lit up with a string of lights and a distant thrum of music.

"Ready for some Super Bock?" she asked, flashing a grin.

"Oh yeah baby, always," he replied, pulling a joint from behind his ear and lighting it with a smirk. They shared a laugh and started walking toward the lively beach, blending into the crowd as the waves lapped against the shore.

Despite the lightness of the night, JJ's mind flickered back to the stranger in the shop earlier. He tried to push it aside, to enjoy the present. But years of looking over his shoulder had taught him that even in moments like this, vigilance was his best protection.

As they walked, he caught Alex glancing at him, her eyes warm and trusting. He liked her company, more than he wanted to admit, but he couldn't shake the feeling that trusting anyone too much could be dangerous. The chill of the evening air reminded him to stay cautious, but for now, he focused on the warmth of the moment, following Alex's laugh toward the lights of the beach party.

As they stepped onto the beach, the ocean breeze greeted them with a cool, salty tang, tugging at their clothes and threading through their hair. They headed straight to the makeshift bar nestled between tiki torches and strings of lights that cast a warm, flickering glow over the sand. JJ felt a sense of anticipation buzzing in his veins. It had been too long since he'd felt anything close to excitement like this—too long since he'd let himself just be.

"Alright, let's start slow," Alex said with a playful grin, leaning over the bar to order two Super Bock beers. The bartender cracked open two bottles, sliding them her way, and she passed one to JJ, who was taking a leisurely drag from his joint.

They walked down closer to the water, their feet sinking into the cool sand as they moved away from the music and noise, finding a large, flat rock by the shore. Sitting down, they had a perfect view of the waves crashing in rhythm against the rocks, illuminated in part by the moonlight. JJ exhaled a soft sigh, a genuine smile spreading across his face. The sound of the waves felt calming, like a lullaby he hadn't known he needed.

He took a sip of his beer, feeling the chill of it spread through him. "Man, this... this is so peaceful," he murmured, his voice almost lost in the sound of the surf.

"I know," she replied, her voice soft, her gaze fixed on the ocean. "I come here to clear my head sometimes. Just listen to the waves... it feels like they're washing everything away." She took the joint from him, took a slow, steady drag, and passed it back.

JJ took a slow sip of his beer, letting the cool bitterness settle on his tongue as he stared out at the ocean. It had been a long time since he'd felt this calm. Even when he was with his friends—his compass through all the chaos—they had always been running, always looking over their shoulders, always scared for their lives. There was no time to breathe, let alone reflect. But now, here on this quiet stretch of coastline, there were no enemies, no rush, no fear. Just the steady rhythm of the waves, the faint rustle of the breeze, and the warmth of Alex sitting beside him. They weren't talking, and they didn't need to. The joint passed between them, smoke curling up into the night sky, their silence speaking louder than words.

The moment stretched until Alex finally broke it, her voice soft and curious. "So, it's been what, two years since you came from Australia, you said last time?" She turned her head toward him, her features illuminated by the silvery light of the moon.

JJ nodded, taking another sip of his beer. "Yeah," he said, his voice low, almost contemplative.

"So why did you choose Porto of all places?" she asked, her tone casual but genuinely curious.

He shrugged, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I don't know. I heard it was calm, and cheap. I needed that at the time." He paused, glancing at her before looking back at the ocean. "But it's more than that. I can still do what I love—stay close to the ocean, go fishing, fix boats, sell bait. That's my kind of happiness." He chuckled lightly, meeting her gaze with a glimmer of amusement. "It's like having my old life in a new one, except..." He hesitated, his smile fading slightly. "I'm all alone."

Alex raised an eyebrow, her expression inquisitive. "But what's the point of starting a new life if you're still living like the old one you had?"

JJ smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You wouldn't understand, even if I told you," he said, his voice heavy with unspoken truths. He quickly shifted the focus back to her. "What about you? What do you like to do?"

Alex sighed, leaning back slightly on the rock. "Honestly? I don't know," she admitted. "I'm mostly alone because... I don't know, I just always feel like a freak around people. I like calm, but.. Sometimes I wouldn't mind a little chaos. Routine gets boring after a while » She laughed, but it was a short, self-deprecating sound.

JJ nodded, his expression softening

"I like being alone, but I also kind of crave people's attention," she admitted. "Does that make any sense?"

"It does," JJ said, his tone more serious than he intended. He held her gaze for a moment before smirking. "Seems like we're both freaks."

"Yep, we are," she said with a playful grin, raising her beer toward him. "Cheers to that."

They clinked bottles, and the sound was small but resonated in the quiet night.

"And you?" Alex asked, tilting her head. "Do you have any friends here? Or are they all back in Australia?"

JJ cleared his throat, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "I told you, I don't have friends. I'm on my own." He shrugged, but there was an almost imperceptible tightness in his voice. "I enjoy my own company."

Alex studied him for a moment, then smiled faintly. "What about your family?"

JJ let out a small laugh, though it lacked humor. "We like each other best from afar. We always fight when we're too close."

Alex chuckled, shaking her head. "You're pretty mysterious, J'."

He chuckled back, the sound a little lighter this time. "Should I grab two more beers?"

She smirked. "Maybe a rum for me."

JJ raised an eyebrow, surprised but amused. "You don't look like someone who drinks rum."

Alex grinned mischievously. "I'm just trying to match your vibe."

He laughed, shaking his head as he stood. "Alright, one rum coming up."

At the bar, JJ ordered the drinks, his gaze wandering. His eyes caught on a man sitting by a fire pit, surrounded by laughter and chatter. Something about him seemed familiar. JJ frowned, realizing it was the same man who had been in his shop earlier. But now, the man was laughing, relaxed—a stark contrast to the wary demeanor JJ had clocked before.

JJ exhaled, the tension easing from his shoulders. Maybe he was just being paranoid. After everything he'd been through, it was hard not to be. But maybe, just maybe, it was time to let his guard down. To start truly living this peaceful life he'd come all this way to find.

The barman slid two glasses of rum across the counter, and JJ carried them back to where Alex was waiting, her silhouette outlined against the moonlit waves.

"Here you go," he said, handing her a glass.

"Thanks," Alex said softly, her voice almost drowned by the sound of the waves. She raised her glass toward him, and they toasted again, the quiet moment stretching comfortably between them.

They sipped in silence, letting the rhythm of the ocean fill the space. Together, but still alone with their thoughts.

JJ glanced at her as she looked out over the water, her face lit softly by the moon. For a moment, he felt everything around him fade—the sounds of the party, the distant laughter and music—and all he saw was her. Alex, with her eyes bright and her hair catching in the breeze, looking as though she belonged right there, woven into the fabric of the night. She seemed both serene and strong, like she carried her own secret burdens but had found a way to bear them with grace.

Their eyes met, and he felt his heart jolt, a warmth stirring in his chest. It was an unfamiliar feeling, a mix of serenity and a kind of fear he hadn't felt in a long time. Being with her felt like standing at the edge of something vast and uncharted. Part of him wanted to pull back, to protect himself, to keep his walls up. He hadn't let anyone close in years—not since everything fell apart, not since he'd learned that trust could be a dangerous game.

But with her... there was something different. Something that whispered to him, urging him to let his guard down, if only a little. She held a kindness in her eyes that softened the edges of his fear, made him want to lean into the moment. But even as he fought that instinct, he found himself inching closer, his heart racing against his better judgment.

"Thank you for inviting me tonight," he said softly, realizing the words were genuine.

Alex's gaze softened. "I'm glad you came." She offered a small, knowing smile. "I know it's... it's not easy to let people in. To let your guard down."

He felt a pang of surprise at her words. She seemed to understand him, maybe more than he understood himself. JJ felt a strange mix of comfort and unease, and yet he couldn't look away.

A gust of wind swept through, carrying the salty scent of the ocean between them. As the waves crashed in the background, she slowly reached out, taking his hand in hers. It was an instinct, a moment of connection that felt as natural as breathing. Her fingers intertwined with his, warm and reassuring, and for the first time in what felt like ages, JJ felt the weight of his past lighten, just a little.

In that quiet, moonlit space, with the waves as their witness, JJ felt himself daring to hope. He didn't know if he was ready, didn't know if he could trust again fully. But in that moment, he let himself feel—just a little bit more than he had before.

"I know your dad is a fisherman," JJ said, his voice low and thoughtful as he swirled the rum in his glass. He paused for a moment, watching the way the moonlight danced across the waves, then turned to Alex with a curious glint in his eyes. "Have you ever been fishing?"

Alex's face lit up, her expression shifting from casual to genuinely amused. She let out a laugh, warm and bright, a sound that seemed to blend effortlessly with the crash of the waves. "No, never," she admitted, shaking her head as her smile widened. "Can you believe that? A fisherman's daughter who's never held a fishing rod." Her tone was playful, but there was a hint of self-deprecation in her words.

JJ's lips curved into a soft, genuine smile, and for a moment, he simply looked at her, as if taking in the surprising contradiction. "Let's change that," he said, his voice carrying a quiet determination. "Let's go fishing tomorrow."

Alex blinked, caught off guard by his sudden proposition, but then her surprise melted into excitement. "Really?" she asked, her eyes lighting up like a child being offered a long-awaited treat.

"Yeah," he said, his gaze steady and warm. "I'll show you how to cast a line, maybe even reel in a big one. We'll take the boat out early, just us and the water. It's peaceful, you'll see."

Her smile softened, a flicker of something more vulnerable passing across her face before she nodded. "I'd love to," she said, her voice quieter now, almost as if she were afraid the moment might slip away if she spoke too loudly.

JJ grinned, a boyish charm breaking through his usual guarded demeanor. "Alright then, it's a plan," he said, raising his glass slightly. "But I warn you, it's not all serene sunsets and gentle waves. Fishing takes patience."

Alex laughed again, the sound carrying into the night. "I think I can handle it," she teased, nudging him lightly with her shoulder.

"Good," JJ replied, leaning back against the rock and gazing out at the ocean. For the first time in a long while, he felt something stir within him—a quiet anticipation, not just for tomorrow, but for the idea of sharing something he loved with someone who might come to love it too.

[bugs-in-situations]

more thoughts about the uuhhh wet beasts that we're putting on the au blog because it's technically au stuff

we think ants are ocean fish that form big schools like herrings sardines anchovies etc

bees are cute tropical aquarium fish, vi is specifically a piranha because it fits her more

termites are dolphins. we're sure you understand

wasps are ?? we're not sure yet? maybe they're sea birds.?

moths are pinnipeds & sea otters because they're fluffye. there are less butterflies in bug fable so we're relegating them to all be river otters

beetles are sea turtles and since bf lore counts ladybugs as something different they're freshwater turtles

mantis are sharks. we're sure you understand

mosquitoes are jellyfish because of the pre-bug fables Delilah Lore

crickets are crabs we can't really explain this one but imagine for a moment .... crabstotheles. we're sure you understand

venus is a lotus plant now, which makes the setting even more confusing because how is a lotus in the ocean. she's venus, don't ask

spiders are octopi that have figured out how to use all the nets left over from humans disappearing

chompers are anemones that figured out how to bite things

pibus are giant sea isopods, aphids and cochineals are snails and sea slugs, and mothflies are plankton

the beast is an orca (we looked up things that eat adult sea turtles and the only other thing was sharks

deadlanders are those freaky deep ocean beafts of nightmares and omega is a giant squid with giant eyes

and roaches are coelacanths, did you know that coelacanths are the first result for searching "very old fish"

this concludes today's "assigning bug fables characters as other not-bug animals"