#the patterns in the sand underwater were so pretty

[graveyardrabbit]

[lovebugism]

hi! i saw you were looking for some eddie requests for your summer fic fest and i have a wee lightbulb

friends to lovers pool day with eddie where a) he’s never seen the reader in a swimsuit before and his head is short circuiting and b) rhey apply each other’s sunscreen and they’re all blushy and UGH

thank you for the request angel :D — you and eddie have trouble pretending you aren't in love with each other while at a beach day with the gang (friends to lovers, grumpy!eddie, grumpy!reader-ish | 1.6k)

bug's summer fic fest (⁠ꈍ⁠ᴗ⁠ꈍ⁠)

The white sand is warm and heavy on Eddie’s feet. He buries them beneath the soft granules until his ankles are covered — until the fine grains, now heated by the merciless summer sun, start to burn his pale, delicate skin. It hurts less than how much he misses you, anyway. 

Ten minutes gone, and it feels like an entire lifetime has passed without you. Eddie’s left grieving about it, like a gloomy stormcloud beneath a very blue sky. His soft features are screwed into a very boyish pout that will likely stain his face the rest of the day. Or until you coddle him, whichever comes first.

“Jesus— Did you guys get lost on the way to the room or somethin’?” Steve Harrington chuckles from where he sits a few longue chairs down, dark eyes peeking over the tops of his darker sunglasses. 

Eddie’s head whips over his shoulder to follow his gaze. His heart swells into his throat at the sight of you.

You and Robin walk side by side, kicking up grains of white sand as you go, and looking like total opposites. The latter’s lean, freckled figure is adorned with a pair of jean shorts that go down to her knees and a plain black sports bra instead of a real bikini. 

Your sunkissed skin, meanwhile, clashes just perfectly with the pretty white two-piece you wear — patterned with an array of fruits and flowers. Peaches and oranges and strawberries. Daisies and hydrangeas and lavenders. The cups are a size too small for your breasts. The bottoms sit high up on your waist to display the expanse of your plush thighs.

Eddie forgets how to breathe.

“We got lost on the way to the gift shop, actually,” you quip when you’re in earshot again, squinting one eye to block the sun.

“Yeah,” Robin grouses. “’Cause you forgot to pack the sunscreen, Stevie.”

The boy’s scruffy face screws into a cartoonish look of offense. “You said you were bringing it!” he argues, gesturing to you with a wild hand.

“No— I said I was bringing everything else and that your one job was to remember the sunscreen.”

Steve settles back into his seat then — likely with the acknowledgment that he had, in fact,  forgotten the only thing he was supposed to do. “Oh…” he grimaces sheepishly. “Sorry…”

“It’s okay,” you sigh.

“You owe me seven dollars, though,” Robin monotones, then turns suddenly away. Her chopped locks swish around her shoulders as she squints at the water. “Here, Nance! Catch!” she shouts. The rest of you flinch at the volume of her voice.

The brunette girl looks over her shoulder from where she wades in the water with Jonathan (who’s still getting over his fear of open water, it seems, as he grips onto the girl’s hand for dear life.) Her sharp features pinch in a distant look of confusion. “What?!” she shouts back, tucking a rogue curl behind her ear when it billows in her face.

Robin opts to throw her the bottle of sunscreen, even though her eyesight’s almost as bad as her hand-eye coordination. The thing lands several feet away from its intended recipient — momentarily succumbed to the tides until Jonathan retrieves it from underwater.

In the split second of following silence, you turn to look at Eddie, who’s been uncharacteristically silent since you walked up. His face is all screwed like he’s pouting as his chocolate gaze darts up and down your form. 

“What’s wrong with you?” you ask him, laughing.

His eyes make one more pass over your body — savoring the sight of your bare thighs and tummy and chest — ‘cause he’s never seen so much of you before. “Did you walk all the way to the gift shop like that?” he deadpans.

You bounce a sunkissed shoulder in a lazy shrug. “Yeah?”

“…You didn’t break any necks on the way back, did you?” he teases, peering at you beneath his long lashes in a playfully solemn look.

Your chest warms with something more sparkling than a burn from the sun. You roll your eyes and avert your gaze to the bottle of sunblock in your fist. “Shut up and turn around,” you grumble.

Eddie watches you squeeze a dollop of lotion onto your palm and protests, “I’ll put some on my tattoos, but that’s it.”

“Putting sunscreen just on your tattoos doesn’t count,” you monotone.

“I hate the feeling of it, though…” he complains.

“Don’t care,” you lilt with a sweet smile. “Now turn around.”

Eddie concedes with less arguing than you’d expect. 

He huffs and turns his back to you, pretending to be annoyed to cover up how giddy he truly is. He knows there’s something deeper in your badgering — people don’t get so concerned about something as silly as sunscreen for people they don’t give a shit about. The thought makes his heart beat a little faster.

You warm the lotion between your palms before spreading it over his shoulders. His pale skin, glowing softly red already, is spotted with sparse freckles you could count if you wanted to.

Eddie tenses under your touch. “It’s cold,” he whines.

“Stop being a baby and move your hair outta the way.”

He grumbles like a storm cloud and parts his curls over his shoulders for you. Your hands trace the expanse of his back in a softer touch than he thought anyone was capable of. His skin buzzes accordingly.

You slap him hard on the arm a second alter. “There. All done.”

“Your turn,” Eddie insists, perhaps a hair too quickly to be casual, as he rises from the creaking longue chair. He manhandles you in front of him with gentle hands. Your feet shuffle in the sand as you let him.

“Fine— But don’t be annoying about it,” you scold with a stern look over your shoulder, passing the plastic bottle behind you.

Eddie scoffs. “Never once crossed my mind,” he promises, very playfully sincere, as he squirts a heavy glob of sunblock onto his palm. 

The cream is cold and heavy as he presses into your skin. You grimace, “Eddie!”

“What?” he exclaims in a similar tone, then smiles wickedly to himself. “It’s just sunscreen— don’t be such a baby.”

“That’s gonna take forever to rub in. You know that, right?”

“More fun for me,” he shrugs.

“Perv.”

“Don’t act like you don’t like it.”

He pokes you hard in the shoulder. You flash him a glare. “Don’t be such a freak.”

Eddie laughs as he rubs the sunscreen into your skin — warm and sunkissed and supple under his guitar-string-calloused fingers. His thumbs dip at your lower back, and he has to remind himself to breathe. It’s hard to, though, with his heart in his throat and all. 

When the lotion’s sufficiently melted into your skin, he pats you twice on the waist. “There. See? Easy peasy,” he teases. “I’d put some on your legs, too, but I don’t wanna be too forward.”

You scoff and sit in the beach chair beside him, feet in the sand as you stay facing him. “I think I got it from here, Eds. Thanks, though.”

“Figured,” he sighs and settles into his own seat. 

He tilts his chin to his shoulder, squeezing one eye shut from the sun. He watches you smooth sunblock over your thighs and tries to find something to say in the meantime. He struggles to make the words out, though, so he ends up just staring at you for several long moments.

“That’s, uh— That is a real cute bathing suit, though,” he ends up stammering. “Just, you know, by the way.”

You smear lotion over your calf with careful hands and peer at him beneath your lashes. “I figured that from your ogling,” you tease with a knowing smirk.

Eddie squirms. “Well… What about me, huh? I don’t get a compliment?”

You sit up straight again, trying not to smile too wide. “Well, you look very cute today, Eddie Spaghetti,” you lilt in a mocking tone, ‘cause sincerity’s never been your strong suit.

“Just today?” he murmurs, flashing you a doe-eyed look of expectancy.

“Maybe a little extra today,” you squint.

Eddie huffs and looks away, crossing his bare arms over his chest. His boyish dramatics are obviously meant to make a point, but really, it just gives you a chance to ogle at his happy trail without him noticing.

“Well, I think you’re pretty all the time,” he pouts.

“Shut up,” you laugh, cheeks warming.

“I’m serious!” he insists, then grows playfully sheepish. “But obviously, you don’t feel the same way—”

“Eds.”

“—Obviously, I think you’re unconditionally perfect, and you think I’m only perfect with conditions. It’s fine.”

You blink at him for several long moments, glare unwavering. Eddie maintains his pout in spite. “You’re just fishing for a compliment now, aren’t you?” you deadpan.

Eddie thinks for a moment, then nods. “A little bit. Yeah,” he confesses.

You rise from your seat with a huff, shaking your head and rubbing excess sunblock between your palms. Your body looms beside him. He can smell the coconut-strawberry concoction on your sunkissed skin from here. The summer sun shines in rays behind your head like a halo. 

“You’re lucky you’re cute, Munson,” you sigh in a honeyed voice before bending at the waist to kiss his cheek. 

Your lips just barely brush his glowing skin. He’s left buzzing about it anyway when you walk away from him, hardly apologetic for the state you’ve left him in.

He tries to come up with some stupid rebuttal to shout at you, but nothing comes to mind quick enough. His brain is full of nothing but static. He’s got a frog in his throat, too. He couldn’t say anything if he tried.

So, instead, Eddie watches silently as you saunter towards the tide with his wild head tilted to his shoulder, admiring the pretty view. (He’s not talking about the water.)

[owlespresso]

dogged pursuit. dr veritas ratio. pt 1 of ? summary: you've been appointed as the bodyguard of one doctor veritas ratio after a failed attempt on his life. he's easy to get along with, so long as you learn when to plug your ears and focus on his washboard abs. tags. suggestive content, reader insert is a bit of a freak

—

The planet of Orchestron-IIV is a classic vacationing spot. Though it’s covered by floodplains and forests, the real attractions are its coasts and its tropical islands—a region lovingly named Sene Verde. White sand beaches stare out into the glistening waters, where the capital city sits beneath the waves. You’re sure the underwater city is a sight to see. 

Pity that your client’s itinerary doesn’t include a visit to it. Instead, you’re stranded in an IPC-sponsored villa, a three-story home with three bedrooms and a pool which is ridiculously large for being right next to the ocean. Veritas, Intelligensia Guild prodigy, notorious bastard, and smoking hot piece of ass, prefers it much to the beach. He lounges next to it or inside of it, stretched underneath umbrellas or beneath the cool chlorinated waters. 

You don’t really get all the complaints going around about him. He’s pretty easy to work under, as long as you follow his every command. Which, as a bodyguard, is not very many. He’s pretty capable of handling himself. He made that much painfully clear from the moment you first met. You recall, fondly, the fit he pitched after he learned you’d be shadowing him through this entire trip. 

You don’t remember the specifics of what he said. Just a lot of belly-aching. You were too busy staring at his arms to really care—and that slutty little cut out on the side of his outfit. And really, what business does a scholar have wearing something so revealing? Surely, his students must be beside themselves at how distracting it is. He’d nearly wrung your neck when you posed the question, only half in jest.

Throughout the past two weeks, you’ve come to understand him better, you think. He comes from a planet where nudity isn’t that big of a deal. He wants people to know more things, and thinks it should be free for people to gain said knowledge. In the long hours you spend together, idling between his various meetings, he tries to teach you. At first, it begins with complex theorems and equations you never had any hope of solving. Then, surprisingly, he adjusted his ravings to be gentler on your poor, uneducated brain.

As big the stick up his ass is, he sticks to his principles. He always makes time to talk to you, to explain the vast mysteries of the universe in terms that you mostly understand. 

“I don’t really get the wind,” you say, dropping unceremoniously onto the beach chair beside him, stretched beneath the shade of another wide umbrella. You rest your cheek on your forearm, look him up and down through half-lidded eyes. He’s wearing satin robes today. They’re milk white, with golden embroidery, little patterns stretched across the sash tied around his waist. They reach only his mid-thigh and drape over only half of his torso. The rippling muscle of his chest and taut abdomen are bare for you to admire, his nipple pebbled atop the bountiful curve of his pec. 

He looks like you’ve just spat in his coffee, eyeing you exasperatedly over the tops of his sunglasses. “You don’t get the wind?”

“Like… where it comes from,” you drawl, absentmindedly dragging a finger over the course material of the chair. “I didn’t go to any fancy school growin’ up, so…”

This is your favorite game. 

He purses his lips and narrows his eyes, as if contemplating if engaging with you is worth it or not. In the end, he falls prey to his own, most fervent desires: the urge to dispense knowledge and the cloying need to make his intellect known.

“Well, the basic principles would have been taught in a rather elementary course,” Veritas says, matter-of-fact, in a way that means he isn’t intentionally looking to demean you. “Wind forms due to differences in pressure within a given planet’s atmosphere. The amount of it—or whether it happens at all varies from planet to planet.” he begins—and you linger in the sound of voice rather than the words themselves. You already know the basics of what you’ve asked. You just like to hear him talk. 

Because once he gets to talking, he can hardly ever stop.

Sometimes, he isn’t good at it. He’s abrasive. He agitates the IPC’s clients. You can see it in the taut pull of their shoulders, the way their lips twitch to fight their oncoming frowns. He’s too direct. He doesn’t mouth off, per say, but there’s something in his demeanor that lets them know he thinks they’re not as intelligent. It’s all tight handshakes and tight smiles in the end, but when he’s at last alone with you, shrugged off the heavy mantle of mandatory pleasantries, he fumes.

Midday has lapsed into early evening. Blue burgeons and encroaches on all the sun had once touched. The shadows grow long and the temperatures at last begin to dip, though remain balmy as you tread up the sandbar. A series of wooden staircases zigzag up the slope, leading up to your villa’s street. You trail after him as he talks—rants, really.

“They reached that conclusion based on a survey done by a prospective Genius Society member—one who doesn’t even specialize in the field!” he says with an exasperated sigh, kicking up grains of soft white sand. “He likely hasn’t even set foot upon Orchestron-IIV. How are we supposed to trust the word of a man who hasn’t even directly interacted with its native population?”

“Good point. I guess you can’t,” you agree, nodding factually. The stairs creak underfoot as you reach them, beginning the small climb up the bar. You don’t really remember the fine points of the argument—some prospective IPC investment in an underdeveloped, neighboring planet, one plagued by mysterious weather phenomena and potentially combative native populations. 

“They should have consulted Aventurine before dragging me all the way out here for consultation. He would have known better than to trust such a half-baked proposition, and with such little data to back it up!” he repeated, as if in disbelief, before looking at you sharply. “Do not tell him I said that. This conversation stays between us, and us alone.”

“I like it when we keep secrets together,” you sigh dreamily, skipping up the last few steps with a flourish. The sunbleached wood creaks beneath your leather boots. He tosses you an eyeroll over his shoulder.

“I’m serious,” he fixes you with a fiercely scrutinizing look. “If he is to receive any of my praise, it will come from me, and me alone. And when I deign to give it.” 

The relationship your charge has with one Aventurine should, in all respects, be of little to no interest to you. Yet, you are still human. You fall prey to petty curiosity as easily as any other. The good doctor would no doubt pitch another fit were you to pry now, so you simply guess it’s a power thing between the two of them. You don’t know Aventurine well enough to think otherwise.

“You seem awfully close to that guy,” you remark instead, testing the waters. 

“We’re business partners. Nothing more, nothing less. When the IPC is in need of my expertise, it is he who they reach out through and he who I collaborate with most often,” Ratio informs you, crisp and unfeeling, like he didn’t just say something incredibly odd and potentially possessive about the individual in question.

“Mm,” you hum in assent, pretending all of that is normal. “Well, keep on your toes around him.” You reach the top of your ascent, tailing him onto the quiet streets. Most of the avenue’s occupants are likely still on the beach or further in town, enjoying the resort city’s nightlife. 

Veritas looks at you, then, something sharp in his eyes. “And why would you say that?”

You tilt your head to the side as you regard him, coming into step beside him. He slows down his strides, eyes suddenly flinty, countenance withdrawn into something deliberating, defensive.

“He’s high up in the IPC, isn’t he? I wouldn’t trust any of those Stonehearts further than I can throw ‘em,” you say with a small shrug. 

“And yet, here you are on their behest.” Veritas says.

“Awh, you caught me,” you give him a roguish smile, lifting your hands in a gesture of surrender. “But answer me this: does anyone really trust their employer? I’m not gonna bite the hand that  feeds, but I’m not gonna love on it, either.”

“I see,” he says with a small sigh, and that strange steeliness vanishes. The taut line of his shoulders loosens and his eyes shut for a long moment.

“It helps that I like you, too. You’re real easy to work with,”

He gives you an incredibly skeptical look. “Am I?”

“Yeah. Why so surprised?” you give him a toothy grin. Even he knows how insufferable of a reputation he has. “You get fussy sometimes, but it’s not a big deal. And I like hearing you talk, so it’s not a big deal.”

“I am not ‘fussy’. I have standards befitting someone of my intellect and station,” he says, looking down his nose at you. He pauses beneath one of the street lamps as it flickers on, yellow light glimmering on all the gold bobbles attached to his ridiculous outfit. He opens his mouth to speak again, to give you another tongue-lashing, but he must realize by now that you like those, so he shakes his head and sighs instead, like you’re the difficult one. “Forget about it. I have better things to do than dawdle around with you.”

He’s still pissy from that meeting, earlier, you observe passively. Your gaze lingers on his back as he speed walks away from you, broad muscle rolling beneath taut, pale skin. Your mouth waters. You follow him.

[azucar-skull]

Just You And Me

(written for @tmnt-write-fight for @remedyturtles)

Fandom: Rise of the TMNT (Post movie)

Prompt: Autistic Donnie!!! Literally anything for autistic Donnie. Sensory overload, deep pressure hugs, food issues, the works.

Word Count: 3785

Posted on AO3 too!

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

A fun day at the beach. This was meant to be a fun day at the beach. A moment for the team to get away from the hustle of New York and enjoy a nice day out on a secluded beach where the turtles didn’t have to worry about any stray humans spotting them.

April, Cass, and Sunita were teaching Casey Jr the ropes of volleyball. Mikey was busy burying Raph in the sand and making him a mermaid tail. And Leo was heading out to catch some waves with an abandoned surfboard he found.

Donnie spent a good chunk of the time sitting in the umbrella shade. But the sand is now kicking onto his towel and just…ugh. Donnie is not a fan of sand. It gets everywhere and is a pain in the ass to get rid of. Besides, he’s supposed to be hanging out with his brothers, he promised them that much. The softshell spent the majority of his time in his lab, working endlessly day in and day out. He tried to say no to a beach day but his brothers weren’t having it. So…sigh…

The water seems nice. It is pretty hot out. And being an aquatic turtle, Donnie has no dispute about it. Plus it’d be funny to go underwater and prank Leo by knocking him off his surfboard. 

Alright, swimming it is, Donnie thought. He got up from his towel and headed down to the shores. He winces at the loud screech of April’s cheering, looking over to see that Casey Jr had punted the volleyball way out of bounds. The teen looks nervous and apologetic as the ball disappears into the aether, never to be seen again. But the girls all swarm him with hugs and cheers. They are being quite loud about it though.

Crunch.

Donnie stumbles back as he notices the strip of seashells lining the shores. He’s stepping on a few and it pokes the bare soles of his feet, eugh. The softshell carefully tries to maneuver around them—

“HEY DEE!!!”, Mikey bellows from down the shore, carrying a plastic red pail full of shells. “Can you grab me that white shell next to you?”

White shell? Sure. White shell, white shell… Donnie glances down and around him.

There are several white shells…

“W-Which one?!”, Donnie hollers back.

“Right next to your foot!”

His foot? Where?? Which foot?!?!?!

“...What????”

Mikey huffs a sigh. “Nevermind, I got it.”, he calls out, bounding his way over to his purple-clad brother. Mikey reaches behind Donnie and picks up the large white spiraling shell he almost stepped on. “I was talking about this one.”

“O-Oh, I see. My bad, I didn’t—”

“No, no, you’re good! I should’ve been more specific. Plus it was behind you.”, Mikey wavers his hand and offers a reassuring smile. “You having fun so far?”

“Uhh…yup!”, it’s not a total lie. But Donnie hasn’t done dick diddly since they got here.

“Cool! Wanna help me decorate Raph’s mermaid tail?”

Help decorate…but Don’s plan was to go in the water with Leo. But. Mikey’s asking for him and Donnie really doesn’t want to let his brothers down so…

“Okay.”, he nods. He could go swimming later anyways. This is okay. Just a little change. Not a big deal.

Don’t make it a big deal. It’s not. It’s literally just a change of plans.

Donnie follows Mikey over to where Raph is patiently waiting with his legs buried under a mound of sand that’s been sculpted into a rather impressive looking mermaid tail. Always leave it to the artist of the group to wow the others with his craftsmanship.

“I’m back! And I brought some help!”, Mikey beams, placing the now heavy bucket of shells down beside the snapper.

“Awesome! I’m going to be the coolest mermaid out there!”, Raph flashes a toothy grin at his brothers.

Donnie sits himself on Raph’s other side and simply follows Mikey’s direction in sorting all the shells into groups based on size, color, and general pattern. Bit by bit, they press the shells into the sand sculpture. While Mikey works the scales, Donnie presses large shell flakes into the fins. But he ends up pressing a bit too hard and the sand begins to topple over. The corner of the fin breaks apart, causing Raph’s foot to stick out.

“Oh crap! My bad, Raph, I didn’t mean to!”, Donnie winces at his mistake before snapping his head at the snapper.

Raph lets out a dramatic gasp, “My mermaid tail!! Oh no, the spell is wearing off! I’m turning back into a human—err…—turtle…”, Raph cries out. “My life is simply ruined! How could you betray me like this? My dearest brother?!” The alligator snapping turtle presses the back of his hand against his forehead as he flops back on his shell.

Oh shit. Shit! Raph’s mad at him. Of course he would be. How could Donnie make such a mistake? Sand is delicate and now Raph is—

Mikey’s laugh breaks through. “Alright, alright. Quit joking around, Raph. I’ll fix it. Just hold still again, would ya?”

Raph was…joking? He was joking. Oh. Right. Of course he was joking. Duh. How could Donnie think Raph was mad? It’s just sand. It’s an easy fix too. Raph was just having fun with him. Why couldn’t Donnie see that??

Mikey hums to himself as he scoops up the sand and pats it back in place again. Donnie wants to try and help some more but now he’s worried that he’ll just fuck it all up again. He clenches and unclenches his hands, hesitant to make a choice.

“Boys! Lunch time!”, April calls out to them.

“What?! Now?! But my mermaid tail!”, Raph whines.

“We can camp next to you then, Raph.”, April rolls her eyes fondly.

“Phew.”, Raph sighs, wiping his brow. He glances up ahead at Leo on his board. “Hey, Donnie, could you go grab Leo and tell him it’s time for lunch?”

“Yes!”, Donnie answers immediately, quickly standing up and a bit too eager to finally be helpful again. “U-uhm I mean, yeah. Sure thing. No probbles.”

Donnie hurries his way down to the shore, now mindful of the shells. He brisks the waterline to get in earshot of the slider before cupping his hands around his mouth.

“LEO! LUNCH!”, he shouts.

Leo can’t seem to hear him. Laughing to himself as he ducks under a wave, grazing the water with his palm. He looks so…joyful. At ease. It’s been a while since Donnie’s seen that. But…a growing turtle needs his food. Donnie huffs in annoyance and begins padding into the water, going deeper and deeper as the cold ocean water soaks the rims of his board shorts.

“Leo!”, Donnie tries again. “LEO!!!”

Still nothing. Guess Donnie finally gets to swim after all. He lurches forward before diving in. The refreshing cold water washes over him as the softshell blinks through the murky ocean and begins to swim after his twin. He sees where the water surface bobs and waves up ahead, where Leo is surfing. He just needs to get close enough for Leo to hear him.

He swims, no worry for his breath which he can hold for a good couple of hours if he wants. The water was hard to see through, unlike a swimming pool, but as long as Donnie focuses on the reflective rays of sunlight above, he could pinpoint where—

Something grabs his leg.

Something slimy, grainy, enrapturing around his leg. Tugging, pulling, yanking. Donnie yelps a muffled scream which takes all the air out with it, trying to kick away but it grabs hold of his other leg. Tugging and tugging and Donnie is kicking and kicking trying to break free but he can’t because the Kraangisyankinghimoutoftheslimyickyviolatingcontrolpanelsofthespaceship—

Suddenly, arms are pulling Donnie out of the water and he desperately gasps for air.

“You’re good, you’re good. I gotcha, Dontron.”, Leo assures as he pulls Donne up close for him to latch on to the surfboard. “What were you even doing down there?”

Donnie holds onto the back end of the board for dear life as he catches his breath. He blinks. Twice. Glancing around and registering that the slimy icky seaweed vines are no longer there. Because of course it was just seaweed. He knew that. He did.

“...What?”, Donnie asks dumbfoundedly, not registering Leo’s question.

“I said what were you doing?”, Leo raises a brow.

Donnie huffs in annoyance once again. “I was coming to get you for lunch time but then some seaweed grabbed me and…and I thought it was…something else.”

“Ugh! I hate that feeling!”, Leo scoffs, reeling his head back. “Every time that happens, I think it’s a stingray and I get all worked up about it.” The slider then scoots forward and pats the back of his surfboard. “Well come on then, let’s head back. I’m starving.”

Donnie graciously obliges, climbing up on the board and balancing himself on the center line. Leo glances behind him really quick but takes note of Donnie’s hands.

“Uhh…you might wanna grab on.”, he suggests.

Oh right, of course. Donne nods, scooting forward and gripping the edges of the surfboard but careful to not get too close to Leo. He’s still reeling from the icky seaweed just now. Leo cocks a brow before slowly turning his head back around.

“Oookay, that works. Let’s go.”

Leo paddles the two towards the shore, aiming for the wave that’s starting to form. Donnie fears for it to be a big one but the wave is simply tugged a bit out of the water, giving the board a gentle push that glides them back to the shore. Thank pizza supreme. He quickly gets off the second the ground is within leg range and pads out of the water with Leo to join up with the others.

The rest of the fam is setting up their picnic spot but the glorious snapper-mermaid as they start distributing sandwiches out from the cooler they brought. Leo and Donnie take a seat beside them all and that’s when Donnie is reminded of…sand.

The sand sticks to him like glue after his impromptu swim and near-drowning experience, getting stuck between his toes and grinding up against his scaly skin and—

“Here ya go, Donnie!”, April grins, passing him his sandwich.

Donnie accepts the offering, now distracted by just how hungry he is. He is most grateful that April and Mikey have packed sandwiches and chip bags for everyone. He opens up the plastic baggie and from the smell alone, he could tell it is a tuna salad sandwich. It sounds delightful. Donnie feels his tongue begin to salivate as he takes a big bite. Ah, finally, something nice. He chews on the bite, reminiscing in the delicious homemade flavors of the sandwich that Mikey made. He starts to feel a bit better too. He must’ve just been hangry this whole time—

CRONCH.

Donnie bit into something hard, hard like a rock. The texture is a startling difference from the softness of the sandwich and it throws the softshell off balance. Not wanting to spit it out in front of everyone, he crunches through the odd texture and gulps the bite down. He peaks into his sandwich to find a culprit but nothing is seen. He’s lost his appetite anyway, putting the rest back into the baggie and opting to thrive off of the potato chips for the time being.

The others are engaged in a lively conversation about how much of a fast learner Casey Jr is at volleyball. Donnie knows he should join in, they all urged him to come along on their beach day so he should be participating. But—

“Not eating your sandwich, Dee?”, Leo asks, though not unkindly.

Suddenly, eyes are on him. Donnie tries to glance up but the stares bore into him like heat lasers and he can’t bring himself to look back. Donnie shrugs through the embarrassment.

“Had a funny texture.”, he mumbles. “I-It tastes great though, Angelo. Really.”

“I believe ya, Don.”, Mikey smiles. At least…Donnie could hear the smile. “Sorry the texture’s off.”

“Well here, you still need something…”, Leo adds. He peels away at his sandwich, separating the bread from everything else and holding the tuna salad parts in his other hand. He hands the bread to his twin. “Here, you can have this. Bread is good, right?”

“O-oh, no. You don’t have to do that.”, Donnie shakes his hand at the offering.

“It’s fine, I prefer the salad straight up anyways.”, Leo assures. “Come on, don’t let this bread go to waste.”

“I…okay.”

Donnie takes the bread slides, munching away at them as the conversation picks up where it left off. The bread has the delicious tuna flavor to it though so at least that’s good. But Donnie still feels bad for being so picky about things. He doesn’t mind tuna. So why is this bothering him now?

“It is settled then!”, Cass’s loud voice breaks through the conversation. “All of us shall compete in a game of volleyball!”

“Aw, yeah! I’m in!”, April nods.

“Sounds great!”, Mikey beams.

“But…my mermaid tail…”, Raph whines.

“FUCK YOUR MERMAID TAIL!”, Cass shouts as she stands up and kicks over the beautifully and carefully crafted mermaid tail that Mikey put his blood, sweat, and tears into. “EVERYONE TO THE NET!”

The rest of the gang bound for the net as Raph mourns the tragic loss of his beloved mermaid tail before catching up with the rest of them. They split into two teams. Leo, Donnie, April, and Sunita on one team. And Raph, Mikey, Casey Jr, and Cass on the other team. Donnie opts to be the back end guy, away from the action where people could crash into each other and start screaming their heads off.

The game begins, April serves (and slays) the ball into the air and the tension begins. A point to Donnie’s team, then a point to the other team. The ball aims at Donnie’s direction a few times, but he stammers to hit back whenever Leo steps in a bit. He’s doing it to be ready to help but knowing Leo’s “No, no, I got this one.” attitude that almost cost them an entire apocalypse, Donnie is rendered hesitant. After a couple serves, Leo catches on and instead sends Donnie a reassuring nod when the ball comes his way again. The softshell does pretty well for the most part. Not too much action but enough that he’s helpful. He likes to be helpful. 

The ball is served again, a tie breaker now, and it hits into the other team’s side. Casey Jr quickly steps into the ball's line of flight, jumping high up in the air and smacking the ball across the net with such force that it slams into Donnie’s team’s side in an easy point hit. But the ball quickly rebounds and bounces up towards Donnie at lightning speed and before Donnie could even register it’s trajectory—

WHAM!

Donnie is knocked off his feet as the ball hits him square in the chin and makes the softshell bite his own tongue. He falls back against the grainy sand. And suddenly everything Donnie’s been trying to keep down all day suddenly snaps. He quickly sits up, tucking his head down as he is suddenly made aware of every little thing around him. The sun is too bright, everyone’s concerned shouting is too loud, his jaw and chin hurt, he’s still hungry because bread and chips is not a lunch meal, there’s fucking sand everywhere and it’s all just…too much.

A high-pitched whine escapes his throat through clenched teeth before Donnie is sucking in a large breath. He clutches his hands against his forehead and rocks himself in place. The sounds he’s making are not of his own volition but at least it has thankfully stopped the shouting. Donnie barely registers what everyone is saying but it doesn’t matter because they’re all focusing on him. Staring and boring their eyes into him so much that it hurts like heat vision rays determined to melt the flesh off his bones and all Donnie wants right now is to get away and maintain some of his fucking dignity.

“Deep breath, Tello. It’s just me right now. Just you and me. You and me.”, Leo’s voice hushes close by. “Deep breath. With me. In…and out. In…and out.”

Donnie tries to follow but his breathing comes in desperate gasps. He manages though. He tries.

“That’s good. You got it. You so got it.”

Donnie begs to fucking differ.

“Come here. You up for a hug?”

Donnie doesn’t even answer yet and there’s arms wrapped around him. They feel icky at first until they tighten, harder and harder. And now Donnie latches onto his twin like a lifeline. He doesn’t dare open his eyes, he can’t. Everything is just too much. But he holds on. It’s all he can do right now.

“There we go. You’re good. I got you.”

Leo shushes him calmly, still holding on as tightly as he dares until Donnie’s panicked rocking slows down. Donnie curls up as much as he can, wrecked with uncontrollable whines and sobs.

“There, there, mellizo. I’m here.”, Leo murmurs. “You wanna go home? Hm?”

A gentle suggestion. And honestly, Donnie would love nothing more than to get the fuck outta here. But…his brothers wanted him to be here. And if he leaves, they’ll want to leave too. He doesn’t want that.

“...I don’t want to ruin the fun.”, he whispers, barely audible, but Leo is holding him so close that he doesn’t have to be loud to be heard.

“You’re not ruining anything, I promise.”, Leo whispers back.

“I’d feel bad if they all want to leave too.”

“Hm…yeah, I get you. We can ask them to stay here, if you want. We could head back together, just you and me.

“...Just you and me…”

“You got it.” Leo shifts, craning his neck up at the others. “We’re gonna head back to base, you guys carry on though!”

Raph hums in concern. “Are ya sure? Raph don’t mind—”

“Yes, we’re sure. Go on. Continue the game without us. Mikey, switch with our team. Avenge our honor.”

“Uhm…sure!”, Mikey replies. “If that’s what Donnie wants.”

A pause, and Donnie realizes they want him to say something. But he could only muster a subtle nod.

“Dee would be honored to have you take his spot.”, Leo assures. “We’ll take my portals back so just give me a call when you’re done and I can teleport you all back.”

“You be sure to give us a call too if you need anything, okay?”, April insists.

“Absolutely!”

Leo shifts to get up but Donnie still grabs onto him tightly. The slider makes no fuss though, hoisting Donnie up with him and guiding the two back to the shade where a blue shimmering light forms. Donnie is guided through the light until everything feels a comforting familiar. The softshell blinks his eyes open to see the dimly lit lair before them. It almost looks completely dark but that’s simply Donnie’s eyes adjusting to being out in the bright sunlight all day. Leo sets his swords aside and gives his twin a patient smile.

“Hey bud, how’s your chin? Does it hurt?”, he asks softly. And thank fuck for it, Donnie doesn’t think he can handle much more stimuli.

His chin doesn’t hurt anymore now though. So Donnie just shakes his head, not wanting to engage in eye contact right now.

“Hm…how about all that sand, huh?”

Now Leo’s speaking his language. Donnie subtly nods which prompts Leo to gently grab his hand and guide him down the hall.

“Let’s head to the bathroom then before we get sand everywhere.”

They head into the bathroom where Leo grabs some towels from the rack. He passes one to Donnie before shaking off his own sandy skin in turn. The sand, now drying off, flakes away with ease which Donnie is most grateful for. He takes extra care to pick away the sand stuck between his toes and fingers before yanking off his bandana when he discovers how much sand got stuck up in it. Once the twins are sand-free, Leo ushers him out of the bathroom.

“Come on, it’s hoodie time.”

They head down to their rooms where Donnie is more than agreeing to dress out into something more comfortable and dry. He puts on his usual shorts and his large oversized purple hoodie before stepping out and sees that Leo has done the same in a blue hoodie.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Are you kidding? I don’t want to keep wearing those damp sandy clothes anymore.”, Leo chuckles. “Come on, let’s pop on a movie. You pick. I’ll grab some snacks. Something more filling than bread, I bet.”

Call it twin instinct, but Donnie is glad that Leo is able to read his mind. He heads down to the TV room and shuffles through a few options before opting for his go-to Jupiter Jim comfort movie. Something mindless he can just focus on. As he settles on the couch, Leo comes back with a couple juice boxes and instant noodle cups. Donnie soaks up the minimal warmth of his ramen cup as Leo snuggles up next to him. Together, the two just sit in peaceful silence, enjoying their noodles and the movie. But something still stirs in Donnie’s gut.

“...I’m sorry.”, he murmurs.

“For what?”

“For not being as participating as I should’ve been today. You guys have been insisting I come along and I owe it to you after locking myself up in the lab for a long while. I tried to be more sociable but…it was all just too much.”

“Hey. We wanted you to tag along because you’re our brother and we wanted you to feel included.”, Leo presses. “You didn’t have to come with if you didn’t want to and even if you wanted, you still didn’t have to push yourself beyond your comfort zone. We would never want you to make yourself uncomfortable for us, Dee.”

“...Yeah…you’re right.”

“Well of course I am.”, Leo flaunts. “Who would you be without your genius twin?”

“Excuse you, that’s my line.”, Donnie smirks. “...I still like going to the beach. Just…not now. I guess.”

Leo wraps his arm around his brother. “Then we’ll head out again some other time. Just you and me.”

“Yeah…

“Just you and me.”

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

This was the longest attack I've made so far for write fight and tbh I am kinda bummed that it's a friendly fire one too so the points ain't that much BUT THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR HAS SPOKEN SO I DO NOT QUESTION THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR GODS!!!

Hope you like it, Rem! Consider it a fuck you and a thank you for writing firefight. (I still gotta catch up. Why does Donnie want to eat bananas--)

[justatypicalwizard]

Rough and new | bakugo | part one

✦ Summary: You meet a new and interesting creature that seems to share your curiosity. Both of you have motives to your actions that turn out to be vastly different.

✦ Warnings: mer!Bakugo, fem!reader, adult reader, smut(ish) content due to the curcumstances of the story do not expect full smut, dubcon

Minors do not interact

Mers, merfolks, mermaids, mermans, merpeople, they call them various ways in different places. Nonetheless, all these names describe a vast group of human-like creatures living deep down in the dark sea waters. It’s common knowledge that mers exist, though, experiencing one is like standing eye-to-eye with an exotic wild animal. You know they’re there, you’ve probably seen them on the Internet but it’s unlikely you’ll see one with your very own eyes.

Mers keep to themselves. You’ve heard there are delegations and deputies from both species, some peace treaties, off-limits territories for both sides… that’s pretty much all you know about the sea creatures, it’s not like this topic ever interested you. Mers were just always there, what’s the fuss about it?

You crack your knuckles and straighten your back as you step outside of your house. The summer exams have really worn you out. All the stress, sleepless nights, sweaty hands and tears squeezed out of frustration. You feel you have to shred off of it, peel the thick layer and let yourself peacefully wait for the results. Nothing more you can do now anyways.

What’s more soothing than the sea? Evening tamed the hot summer sun, luring you outside of your room and onto the beach. You packed a few things, a towel, suncream, water, snacks, a book and took off.

As your feet hit the warm sand of a wild beach you breathed it, filling all of your lungs up to your nostrils with the salty ocean air. Your fight with science was totally worth it. There were some other people here but nothing too packed. Guess the benefits of ending your semester early. Still, lacking privacy you turned your way towards a boulder to your right. Being a local here, you knew that just behind the tall structure there are large stones sunken in the water. 

Just as you anticipated, the secluded area was empty. Maybe climbing underwater boulders wasn’t the smartest but you’ve done it a million times before.  Dropping your bag on the sand and throwing off your clothes you exposed your skin to the welcoming sunrays. The sea sang its soft and soothing tunes, lulling your shattered nerves. You accepted its quiet invitation and stepped into the cool water. It crept up your ankles, held onto your knees and kissed your tights softly. Finally, you immerse yourself into the water completely, leaving only your head untouched, not wanting to get the salty water into your hair.

Splashing around clumsily you swam to one of the boulders, about to climb on top and lay down on its somehow flat surface. Feeling the stone’s roughness with your hands you repeated a well known pattern of pulling yourself up higher. The stones surface was neatly aligned with the water, making it possible for a bigger wave to hit your but softly. Settling down you breathed out, happy with your position. You looked up at the sun lazily heading down. It’s still a lot of time until it sets, but its enlarging golden visage looks magical right now. 

Fuck those exams, you feel so good right now.

Some time has passed as you relaxed on the stone. That was until you spotted a movement under the glistening waters surface. Something big was swimming there. It was quick and agile. You were unable to make out the exact shape of it, all you knew was that it’s no small fish.

Instinctively, you crumbled in your form, standing on all four, maybe unconsciously trying to hide. At first the movement was far away but it neared you in a weird circling manner. From left to right, right to left, it swam in a large horseshoe shape. Suddenly, you felt like a prey. You asked yourself what was in that head of yours to mindlessly climb on that rock, alone on a wild beach where no one will help you if something happened. They said, never underestimate the sea and of course you didn’t listen. Heck, you always thought people meant slipping or being pulled by a strong wave and drowning in the end but this was something else. A big thing was circling around you and you didn’t have a clue what that could be.

It became clearer the closer it came. A light shape, something orange with a glimpse of black. Suddenly it sank lower and you could no longer make out anything due to the rippling water. 

Adrenaline hit your veins. It was like losing a spider out of your view, even worse than seeing it. You kept crouching trying to merge with the stone. The beach was not so far away but now it seemed like miles. Thinking about how fast the thing seemed there was no chance of swimming back to the shore safely. 

Think, think, think!

Your mind shouted as it tried to work through the fog of panic and adrenaline. You felt how tears prickle your eyes. Maybe if you stop moving it will just go away, think that you’re dead or gone. You tried to stay in the exact middle of the stone, as far from every side as you could. You counted from hundred down, trying to calm yourself, reassuring that everything will be alright, you’re safe as long as your body is above the water.

The thing appeared once again, slowly emerging from the depths. It seemed to be going up the boulder. Spotting its movement you had no clue whether it was scared or… hunting. Your eyes were glued to where it was getting bigger and bigger, something pale. Tensing your muscles you were ready to jump into the water and try to swim away as fast as you could. No chance for that but your panicked mind couldn’t think about anything else. 

A chin, milky cheeks, halo of fair hair. That thing started to look human-like. Finally you spotted what threw you off the edge, red eyes staring into your soul. They were wide open with small pupils concentrated solely on your face, not even blinking. You on the other side blinked a few times. A face in the water. Was it making this situation better or worse?

Your lack of movement must have assured the creature that it can, in fact, move on. With that it’s face finally came inches from the water surface and now you could make out all of it’s might.

It looked like a man with blonde hair. He was moving softly with the water's motion, looking at you. Both of your bodies stayed still, yours out of fear, his… you didn’t know. Something moved below him and you caught a glimpse of a fin. 

A fin, a face and a fin.

No shit, it’s a mer! You gasped despite your tries to stay still and silent. It was like an exotic animal, well maybe it was an exotic animal. You had no clue, mers never interested you so you knew very little about them. What you remembered was that there was supposed to be peace between your species. So it shouldn’t attack you, yes?

You were crying and amused at the same time. Too many emotions flowing through your body and brain caused conflicting reactions. You were slightly trembling but wanting to touch it at the same time. Apart from the water making him move the mer stayed still, watching you without blinking. It was fairly unsettling.

But what if… no, sticking your hand out towards a wild animal is the worst thing you can do, even if it looks peaceful and maybe even interested in you. But touching a mer, feeling it’s skin, it’s hair. You wondered whether he would be warm, slick, if its hair strands were as soft as those of humans. An opportunity like this could never happen in your life any more. You could brag about it, tell people that you had an interaction with, simultaneously to humans, the most intelligent creature in the world. Maybe he would touch you back. Maybe he was just curious, having swam so high and seeing a human. Maybe he also was scared, that’s why he moved so slow. He or it? You didn’t know.

Your eyes ran up and down his face. One thing was for sure, he was beautiful. His features and persistent gaze reminded you of a curious cat. With every passing second you wanted to touch him even more.

Your hand budged, slowly as not to scare him (or yourself) you moved your arm towards the water. Like greeting a scared puppy you slid the hand towards the water's surface to show it to him and his gaze caught on it. Your breath got caught in your clenched throat as you lowered your hand towards the salty water, closer and closer to his head. You aimed for the hair, scared to put your palm on his cheek, it was too close to his mouth.

He still didn’t move, watching you intensely. Your fingertips dipped under the surface, the water seemed cold and eerie. With surgical precision you caught a single strand of his flowing hair and he allowed you.

It was soft and runny, slipping away from your fingers just like that of a human underwater. Seeing his lack of movement this time it was you feeling slightly more courageous. You traced his hair dipping your hand completely into it, the fair strands flowing and making your hand disappear into the light mess. Tho his eyes never left your face.

Toying with his hair you wondered about his light skin. Was it soft, warm, was it different from yours? Moving your fingertips along the crown of his head you went for his forehead, the furthest place from his mouth. Your hand trembled slightly as you laid your fingers on his skin. The lack of surprises shook you. It was just like yours, human-like. Turning your hand slightly you brushed his forehead with the back of your fingers, grazing it delicately with your nails. You went lower and lower, feeling his nose and cheeks. Your eyes locked onto his pale lips and just as you thought of grazing them with your thumb an arm emerged from the water gripping your wrist.

The mer held you, his hand above the water, the grip tight and unforgiving. Was he fed up? Did he have enough of your bullshit? Was it just a game to lure you to him so he can devour you?

Your mind ran a thousand miles a minute as you started to squirm and squelch. You grabbed his hand trying to pry it off of your wrist but his grip was like steel. His arm was massive, only now did you realise just how big he was. Tears of fear ran down your cheeks as your butt hit the stone and you kicked the mer’s arm in panic.

His second arm emerged from the water with a splash. He pulled your wrist down, smashing it into the stones surface. It hurt. You felt the pressure of his body on your bruised wrist as he pushed himself up, using both hands to handle his weight, on the stone’s surface. With half of his body up he towered over your crumbled form, the sun dying somewhere behind his back, casting a shadow over his persistent face and massive form.

Your wrist was stuck under his hand, pinned to the stone. It hurt like hell so you tugged on the palm restraining you, your voice caught in your throat. He seemed to ignore it while looking at your face. His other hand went for your face so he shifted all of his weight on your poor wrist.

This was enough to draw a mortified scream out of your throat. You thought he broke your hand. The sound made him flinch and dip slightly underwater but he stopped, submerged down to his nipple line. You grabbed your hurting wrist and hugged it tightly to your chest crying. A few seconds of your whimpering passed and you put your hand to the sunlight trying to examine it. You moved your palm around inspecting whether it was broken or not, luckily you didn’t have problems with tossing it around. Nonetheless, it hurt like hell and you spotted a purple mark where he grabbed you. It had the shape of his fingers. This will certainly leave a bruise for some time.

Your body reacted on its own, flinching, when you heard him emerge from the water once again. This time his palms were both situated on the stone and he was staring intensely at your wrist. He actually looked shocked.

The new wave of adrenaline washed out of your body and you started to analyse the situation. Looking at his weird expression and his earlier approval of your touch he most likely did it accidentally. You shyly showed him your wrist and he put his hand up to it, stretching his fingers, they matched the bruise on your skin. Only now did you realise his hand had a membrane between each finger. It was nearly transparent and looked extremely soft.

A weird sound came out of his throat. It seemed like a groan but you weren't quite sure. His eyes shifted back at your face. The mer put one of his hands up in the air but the stone was slippery and he slid down into the water. You looked after him and soon he emerged once more with greater force this time. The creature took a weird spin and there it was, his tail in all its glory. 

You didn’t even realise he somehow sat down next to you because you were too fascinated by the orange-to-black scales on his lower half. They glistered in the sun with water droplets making them look like someone scattered glitter all over. Your hand shot its way but you were cut off by a smack, surprisingly gentle one. You looked up at him and he was towering over you, staring down with his red eyes, this time blinking, maybe even a bit too fast. 

You realised what you were doing. He let you touch him and you didn’t give anything back. If your assumptions were correct and he was interested in you then it was only fair to have a trade. You gulped, the thought of his membrane connected hands roaming your very exposed body sent a wave of panic and excitement down your spine.

His eyes search for something on your face. You wanted to give him a sign to go on so you stretched your neck, turning your face to him completely. The wind moved your hair around in contrast to his wet strands, sticking to his skin. This must have interested him because he went for your head first, just as you did to him earlier.

He was less delicate than you, grabbing a handful of your hair and yanking your head to the back. It didn’t hurt but it was uncomfortable. You looked at him murmuring something incomprehensible. The mer started to squeeze and tug at your hair. Soon his other hand joined and he was smearing the strands all over your head and face, tangling them.

You didn’t know where it came from but a small laugh escaped your throat. It just felt funny, how rough he was and how he possibly had no clue how to touch you. The noise made him stop, his hands still tangled in the mess on your head. You looked at him, pushing hair out of your vision. A second passed and he was down for tangling your hair once more which made you snicker again. He ceased his movement once more at the sound of your voice. Was he analysing what was going on? Was he trying to connect his movement with your sounds?

‘’It’s funny.’’ You said and his pointy ears seemed to move. 

What was going on in his head right now? 

The mer moved his hands out of your hair and cupped your cheeks in a rough manner. You slid the messy hair out of your face to give him a better view yet, he seemed not interested. He grumbled once more, in that weird manner, putting one of his hands into your hair, gripping at the back of your head. Is he more interested in it because it’s different from his? Or at least because it’s dry?

He yanked your head once more, exposing your neck. His eyes shot at the crook where your head connected with your shoulders. What did he mean with that neck, throwing your head back and forth like that? His other hand wandered to your face. At first he gripped all over your mouth and nose but soon his thumb found a way to your lips where it rested. You shut your mouth, feeling his clawed finger on the soft of your lips. Surprisingly his pointy and sharp nail was black.

You felt him move and suddenly his face came closer to yours. He rested in the exposed crook of your neck. Then you heard his inhaling. In and out, he breathed next to your ear, tracing his cheek up and down your neck. You felt his finger push inside your mouth and a red bulb lit in your head. This was way too much, what was he doing?

Well, there was little you could do because his grab was like steel, he did what he wanted. His finger traced your teeth as you tried to push your tongue to the back of your mouth, not to lick him by any means. He murmured something into your neck, circling your canines. Finally he pulled out. Even though it was a few seconds it felt like eternity with his thumb in your mouth. The mers face also left your neck. He slides his hands through your hair once more before moving away completely.You stared at him. Now what?

PART TWO

SERIES MASTERLIST

[sphylor]

Mushy May - Day 1 - A day at the beach

Rating: everybody

Pairing: Swiss/Rain/Dewdrop

Words: 762

Summary: a very hastily written ficlet about Rain finding a little present for Dew

(thank you @forlorn-crows for putting together mushy may!!)

This was the most relaxed Rain had seen his pack in weeks. After a pretty full on start to the year’s touring, Papa had decided that what he and the ghouls needed was a day away to rest and recharge before the next leg started. So here they were at the beach.

As soon as he had gotten the chance, the water ghoul had dived into the sea, bobbing in waves and waiting until Copia had fallen asleep in his chair. Dew gave him a longing look from dry land as he unglamoured his gills and fins and dipped under the surface. The poor ghoul was still having some trouble adjusting to his loss of his old element and entering bodies of water was difficult for him. That and the fact that he had become very attached to Rain and was upset that he couldn’t spend more time with him. He understood Rain needed this, though, and tried to not pout too much.

The salt water took a few minutes to get used to. Rain spent most of his time underwater in the Abbey’s freshwater lake and so this was a pleasant change of pace. He drifted for a while past clumps of seaweed and tiny little fish. The sun cast dazzling patterns onto the sandy floor below. It was mesmerising.

As he was watching the shifting light, he saw something glinting in the sand. Rain swam down further and gently scooped it up in his webbed fingers. It was a small piece of seaglass. He turned it over in his hand and admired it. Upon first glance it appeared completely orange but as Rain held it up to the light he noticed streaks of blue running through it. It was beautiful. 

He clutched it in his fist and broke through the surface of the water, paddling to shore and glamouring back to his human form along the way. He saw that Copia was still sleeping peacefully in his chair, his nose red with sunburn. 

Rain looked around at the others as he towelled himself off. Mountain’s head poked up out of the ground as he shovelled sand out of the hole he was digging while Cirrus and Cumulus used that sand to build a grand sand castle. Sunshine was hopping along the beach collecting shells, pebbles, feathers and any other interesting objects she could find. Every now and then she would return to the castle and decorate it with her newly found treasures. Aether sat and watched the others, head leaned back and soaking in the sun. Next to him, under the shade of the parasol, laid Dew and Swiss. 

The two ghouls were sleeping peacefully wrapped up in each other’s arms. Dew looked so peaceful, his head resting on Swiss’ chest, his lips parted slightly in the most adorable way. Swiss had his face buried in Dew’s hair and purred softly in his sleep. Rain thought his heart was going to burst with the amount of affection he had for the two sleeping ghouls in that moment. 

He laid down on Swiss’ other side and leaned over to plant a kiss on Dew’s nose. “Wake up, sleepy.” he whispered softly. Dew’s eyes slowly fluttered open, the cerulean and amber irises lighting up when he realised who had interrupted his nap. 

“Hi.” he smiled, still not fully awake.

“Hi. I have a present for you.” Rain held out the seaglass in his palm for the fire ghoul to see. 

Dew was quiet for a moment as he stared at the glass in Rain’s hand, a puzzled look on his face. Slowly, he reached out a tentative hand and picked it up. Rain watched nervously, suddenly doubting that Dew even liked it at all and feeling increasingly embarrassed. 

“Pretty.” Dew breathed out as he stared at the seaglass like it was the most precious object in the world. He looked up at Rain and saw his expression mirrored in the water ghoul’s face. 

“Hey! How come you didn’t get me anything, Rainbow?” Swiss mumbled from in between them as he rubbed his eyes sleepily.

Rain poked him in the side playfully before cuddling into him more. “Sorry but I’m not going back in the water now. I’m comfy here.”

Swiss sniffled and Rain rolled his eyes at Dew. He propped himself up on his elbow and kissed the multi-ghoul softly, feeling the pout melt away against his lips. 

“There, is that good enough for you?”

Swiss smiled and pulled the two ghouls in closer. “More than I ever could have asked for.”

[sagesilentfire]

Decided to change their name on a whim, this word is a word for lighthouse and I think it fits xir character more! They were formerly Zavi.

This is one version of the character, there's another version by TerrorPen, www.deviantart.com/terrorpen/a… that I like quite a bit that could be Fanal when they're older.

Fanal –  Agender (xe/xir), Sand/Sea hybrid. Age unknown, young adult, thinks that xe is around 15. Pale yellow scales with green and blue patterns, mostly SandWing body. Xe has a weaker version of the SeaWing's powerful tail, and has primitive gills, but is otherwise powerless (the gills give xir about ten minutes of underwater time). Xe is pretty average as far as height and weight go, but xe does have a pretty thin body. Xe also has a few SeaWing glowstripes, but not enough to speak fluent Aquatic. Xe has a pretty tough exterior, but is secretly a Team Parent to everyone and a good leader. Because xe grew up in the lawless town of Justice (yes, that is irony for you), xe doesn't trust easily and is pretty street-smart. But xe is charismatic and good at attracting people, so before xe knew it xe was basically a gang leader. So yeah, xe has a group of dragons xe has to take care of. Fanal's greatest failing is xir complete lack of self-preservation, especially if someone xe cares about is thrown into the equation. Xe doesn't hesitate to use xir body as a tool. Fanal is also very bitter. Xe thinks that there's nothing xe can do to change the world, and wishes xe could. Xe has made a few more wealthy enemies, but there's nothing xe can do to stop them from hunting xir and xir friends.

[fishbreedsblog]

Introducing Fancy Goldfish: Living Works of Art

 Dive into the interesting world of Fancy Goldfish, where style meets art in the water. These beautiful fish, which are known for having beautiful and sometimes strange looks, show how beautiful selective breeding can be. Let's go on an adventure to find the magic:

The term "fancy goldfish" refers to a wide range of ornamental fish with interesting and unique looks. Real living works of art, each with its own unique traits that make it stand out. Their intricate and often fantastical finnage, which includes flowing tails and fine, fringed fins, is one of the things that makes them unique. Because they come in so many colours, patterns, and body shapes, these fish are very unique and are highly sought after for aquariums all over the world.

General Information: History and Features

How they got their name: Fancy Goldfish are related to common goldfish, Carassius auratus. They were selectively bred in China more than a thousand years ago.

In general, they are between 6 and 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) tall, but some varieties can get bigger.

How long it lives: With the right care, can live for 10 to 15 years, and sometimes even longer.

Temperament: These goldfish are usually calm and friendly, so they can live in aquariums with other fish that get along with them.

Appearance: Fancy Goldfish are known for having beautiful, sometimes funny, looks. They have many different colours, patterns, and fin shapes, and each one is pretty.

Different Types and Colours: The variety is amazing. The Oranda, with its famous "hood," the Ryukin with its fantail, and the beautiful Butterfly Tail Goldfish are all popular types. The colours range from bright oranges and reds to calico patterns that look like living mosaics.

Price: The price can change a lot depending on things like size, colour, and how rare it is. They usually cost between $20 and $100 per fish, but some really nice ones can fetch more.

Needs for Habitats and Tanks: Building a Beautiful Underwater Kingdom

To give your Fancy Goldfish a good place to live, you need to make sure your aquarium has the right conditions:

Size of Tank: For a single, a tank size of at least 20 gallons (75 litres) is best. But bigger tanks are better, especially for fish with lots of fins or many of them.

The water should be kept between 65°F and 75°F (18°C and 24°C) and its pH level should be kept between 6.5 and 7.5. Testing and changing the water on a regular basis are very important for good health.

Setting up the tank: Cover the bottom of the tank with smooth gravel or sand, and add lots of live or fake plants for hiding places. Make sure there is good filtration to keep the water quality high, and be aware of when the water quality is low.

Feeding: A Variety of Healthy Treats

Fancy Goldfish can eat anything, so they need a well-balanced diet to stay healthy and happy. Goldfish should eat mostly high-quality pellets or flakes, with live or frozen foods like brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms added in as treats. Also, serving vegetables like peas and zucchini that have been blanched gives them fibre.

Breeding: Figuring Out How to Spread Your Ideas

Breeding Fancy Goldfish can be fun for people who have kept fish before. For breeding to work, certain conditions, a lot of space, and careful attention are needed, especially since these fish have delicate fins.

How to Find Your Way Through Common Health Problems

Even though Fancy Goldfish are usually very tough, they can get swim bladder disorder, parasitic infections, and fungal problems, which are common in goldfish. Keeping the water clean, giving them a balanced diet, and acting quickly on any signs of illness are all important ways to keep them from getting sick.

Important Things to Think About: Compatibility and More

The calm nature of fancy goldfish makes them perfect for community tanks with other fish that aren't aggressive and need the same amount of water and space.

Plants that work well together for an artistic aquarium

Fantails, Orandas, and Ryukins are all types of goldfish that get along well with Fancy Goldfish and should be considered as tankmates. Also, peaceful fish species like tetras, rasboras, and Corydoras catfish can live together without any problems.

Gender Differences: Hints and Tips

It can be hard to tell the difference between male and female because they don't have strong secondary sexual traits. But during breeding season, when they have eggs, females may look a little plumper.

There are two types of goldfish: fancy goldfish and standard goldfish.

Standard Goldfish and Fancy Goldfish both come from the same ancestor, but Fancy Goldfish have been selectively bred to have more fancy and unique features. While standard goldfish are known for their classic beauty, ornamental goldfish take things to a whole new level when it comes to looks.

When you keep fancy goldfish in your aquarium, they turn it into a magical world full of beauty and wonder. They look beautiful, are peaceful, and live pretty long, which makes them great choices for both new and experienced aquarium keepers. Hobbyists can start a magical journey in the world of keeping ornamental fish if they understand their unique needs and enjoy the beauty of their lives.

[swordduels]

As the dove came back there was a blazing sun and no winds. It was quite a contrast to the other time when Sigfrid had been standing in a winter landscape. Eskild soaked in sea water beside Blue Maiden. Alfhild was repairing her clothes. The song writer Bellman tried to fish. Sigfrid had been struck with fever after overheating and laid down to rest below deck. The sound of footsteps stirred him awake as Alfhild came down with a letter. “Knock knock captain.”  “Morning. Is there any wind yet?” “Nah. But you got a letter from your friend.” “Oh. Already?” While speaking he sat up. “Yup. Do you want me to read it?” “I want to read it myself.” She shrugged and gave him the letter. “Make sure you get some water and rest or that fever won't go down. You hear me?” Alfhild narrowed her eyes and pointed at him. “It’s enough that you broke your arm.” She turned to leave but stopped. “You should know I only follow you because I prefer dreamers with potential. As soon as you are healed I’m gonna whip you into shape so we can kick some butts.” Sigfrid snorted and held on to the letter. “Roger that.” He watched her leave before reading the message.

The smile Sigfrid was carrying grew at the encouragement to become stronger and how far he had come so far. They were going so far as to say he was becoming a great captain. At times he didn't feel like a captain when Alfhild bossed everyone around. However, he called the shots when it came to directions based on maps and star constellations. Sigfrid was also the one picking out crew members. It warmed him that they were worried and warned him of the dangers even though it was a bit too late. The letter should have been a hint of how things had escalated. Still he appreciated the gesture as it sounded like genuine concern for his well being. Most of the letter’s message had a light hearted tone so far. Though he could tell that things in Wano were crumbling.

There was a loud snort. Yes. He was guilty of falling in love with everything new. Fawning over pretty girls was one of his many flaws and he would be crushing hard for some time before it calmed down. While reading he noticed the ink spots which made him imagine them laughing loudly while writing that part.

Of course he would have them as a crew member, there was no questioning it. It had been his plan from the beginning after all. As soon as he was strong enough he would return to show them everything worth seeing, be it fauna, culture or history. It must be painful for them to be stuck while he was exploring a new life. At the same time it sounded like the stories were uplifting which was a positive in the bleak environment Yamato described. The longing for something else was constant throughout the letter which made him feel a bit guilty despite it not being his choice to leave. As much as he wanted to take them away at once it wasn't right to risk them exploding. He sighed and laid down. The grin returned as he saw the paw print.

The letters that followed were written on different papers with all kinds of aliases. Each letter arrived in irregular patterns. Sometimes they were long and had detailed descriptions of scenarios that sounded fantastical. Sword fights with sand squids, underwater cities, buildings made of animal skeletons and flying machines. Other times they were much shorter but still had a lot of updates on what was going on.

On the trip they met a princess who sent out her band of pirates to plunder. There was a  village where kids dressed as witches once a year to avoid being hunted by witches and monsters. Sigfrid had a month where he learned how to fence in a cave filled with bats without disturbing them before he was forced to slice falling water and make sure it didn’t fall into a volcano. Another part of his training was to use his sword to guide clouds while being attacked by an air shark. Eskild was kidnapped once by a zoo keeper who kept animals in tiny cages. Alfhild was revealed to be a princess married to a prince and at one point she invited them to meet her best friend who was a snow monster. The pirate crew gained two more members with pirate backgrounds, Ingela Hammer and Lassie Streetwalker. Ingela had the power to turn her arm into a hammer while Lassie was a master of disguises and could magically alter fabric. He kept asking about their well-being in ways that wouldn’t reveal Yamato’s identity. When writing he worked on phases that wouldn’t directly reveal what he was actually answering. At times there were drawings to illustrate strange animals or cultural sites that looked different from anything in Wano.

After a while there was a gap of five months passing without a letter being sent. Then one night Sigfrid stepped onto the sandy beach in Wano together with Eskild, Alfhild, Bellman, Ingela and Lassie. Together they partly dragged a busted ship before tying it to a tree. The ship itself was sapphire blue with a wooden woman at the front. “Alright Sigfrid, what’s next?” Asked Ingela while dusting off her hands. “I’m gonna find an old friend and then we’ll see.” “Fantastic, I’m impressed by your strategic skills.” Remarked Alfhild and crossed her arms. “That’s the way I roll.” Sigfrid said gleefully and began walking.

“I’m getting married.” Sigfrid’s voice was so frail and quiet. There was no life in his facial expression. It was as if someone had sucked out all the joy in his eyes. He slumped down against a tree and leaned his head back. His breath smelled of alcohol. Clothes were wrinkled and several buttons were lost. The mahogany colored hair that usually reached his shoulders was an unkept bird nest. He slowly tilted his head to look at them while swallowing. “My mother and father found a husband for me.” His voice kept trembling. “I’ll be married in a month. There will be a cake. I’ll be wearing a dress. They made a guest list. Then. Then I’ll be shipped off.” Sigfrid blinked furiously before he grabbed his hair hard with both hands.There came a pained growling sound from his throat. “They have planned everything for me.”  

[somepunaboutspace]

Hey, hey dreamworks, she can look female AND have a character design that has personality

yeah yeah, beating a dead horse with this one, yet another LF redesign but I couldn't help myself. Did this more for fun and now you are forced to consume my dumb headcanons

I quite like the idea of light furies being a little water aligned so, as a sub-evolution of night furies, they gave up a lot of the physical stockiness of their darker counterparts along with some of their spikes and sharper edges for fins and a build that helps them be more nimble in water. Though they retain some of their spikes, primarily on their tail to dissuade predators from biting them there

Their camouflage has altered to mimic their primarily habitats which are sea shores and the ocean in general as their patterns resemble the water’s surface and the bottom of the sea floor. They can’t breathe underwater per‘say but like some other animals they can hold their breath for a pretty long time.

Light furies are a tad smaller than night furies and not as physically imposing but they have alarmingly sharp teeth and tend to live in fairly large packs. Surprisingly one of the dragon species that actively hunts and eats other dragons. Essentially, they are the piranhas of the dragon world and mainly corner bigger “fish” like scauldrons

for THW light fury, she very much has a cheeky daredevil attitude and doesn’t exactly shy away from brawls even if she sometimes gets her ass handed to her. She is incredibly curious and loves exploring which was put on pause for a long while when she got captured by hunters and escaped with an intense fear of humans and a horribly mangled, later cut off, leg. She had been steadily avoiding going out from the hidden world too much but eventually ventured out again which lead to her meeting with toothless

Now, unlike toothless who hasn’t seen another fury for who knows how long and was ecstatic, it wasn’t a first time for her since she had a small but present number of 7 pack mates. If anything, she was initially kinda wary of this very similar looking,smelling, sounding dragon that felt like a light fury but very much wasn’t one. Think of a humorous version of the uncanny valley but for a very a confused dragon instead. But he seemed friendly enough, goofy even and she could admire that he (at least to her knowledge) appeared to be a dragon that survived despite the very death-sentence injury that was a missing tail fin for their kind.

And then she gets scared off by hiccup etc etc

Until their later interactions in the lake, I would retcon the part that toothless didn't know jack shit about dragon dancing but he definitely was a little unequipped to do it. She mostly thought he was kinda funny but was impressed by the curious squiggles and lines he drew in the sand making pictures because she had very much not seen another one do that before and was really excited by the prospect of learning it too

again scared by the sudden appearance of these pesky humans, she initially started flying away but remembered that her new friend couldn’t exactly fly so ,to help him, despite her growing panic, opted to land in front of him and growl at what she thought was hunters, trying to appear as big as possible

until strangely enough, the night fury stopped her, trying to reassure her that the pesky, deceivingly harmless-looking humans were, not only not a danger but his... friends?

Not sure exactly how to follow from there but ya get the gist

as for how the end would be like, I’m adopting the School of dragons canon in that the dragons don’t just up and leave and the riders instead take the role of protectors for the place. The light fury is still fairly wary of humans but she has warmed up to Valka and especially Hiccup who she finds extremely fascinating because of his leg prosthetics. He even made her a prosthetic leg to try out and she was just endlessly mesmerized by it. Her relationship with toothless is very playful and chill and they sorta teach each other stuff, her about his wilder dragon side and other tricks and abilities he can try and be about the outside world that she has been away from and about all those fun, interesting quirks and skills that he has learned from and about humans

[angelicyoongie]

the crimson shell

— pairing: jungkook x f!reader — genre: mermaid au, yandere au — w.c: 1.9k — warnings: mild stalking, near drowning, mentions of eating humans — notes: just wanted to contribute something to mermay! this is also my first time attempting to do anything in the realms of yandere (and mermaids!), so pls be nice lol. in this universe everyone is referred to as a mermaid, no matter what gender they are. this will most likely be a two or three part series with jk growing more and more obsessed as he gets y/n into his scaly clutches :)

Part I / II / III / IIII

— summary: you had always found comfort in being at the beach, often spending hours just watching the waves lap against the shore. but unbeknowst to you – something had been watching you back.

You inhale deeply, enjoying the salty smell that so uniquely belongs to the ocean. The last rays of sun are slowly disappearing behind the horizon, painting the skies and the waves in hues of deep pink and purple. You’re going to miss this view.

You sigh, running your fingers through the coarse sand as you let the gentle breeze caress your face. You’ve been looking forward to this for years, but now that your departure is so imminent, it feels more scary than liberating. The time has come to finally leave your home behind, and you feel a pang of regret as you realize you might not see your friends or family for a very long time to come.

Years of saving up your measly paychecks have finally paid off, and you’re setting sail for an island you’ve been hearing constant murmurs about for the last few months. Originally, you were only going to travel to the next kingdom over, hoping to find more suitable work there to help your parents stay afloat. But the talk of the mystery island abundant with riches piped your interest more than you would like to admit – and you’ve never been one to shy away from adventure.

However, you weren’t stupid enough to just blindly trust the rumours milling around your little town. In fact, you wholeheartedly believed it to be a scam until a familiar face suddenly turned up in the town square only a few weeks ago.

You hadn’t seen Jimin ever since he set sail for the unknown six months ago; and so everyone, including yourself, had presumed that your talkative neighbour had met an ill fate, and was floating at the bottom of the sea. You realized you couldn’t have been more wrong when Jimin returned with riches you never expected you would ever lay eyes on, his whole body adorned with various diamonds and gold chains.

It was Jimin who had urged you to seek out the same island, saying he barely even took a handful of all the treasures that were there. He had warned you about a price that would need to be paid, but you weren’t all that concerned. If a sea witch wanted your first born, then fine, you weren’t too keen on children anyway.

You busy yourself with drawing patterns in the sand, lost in your own thoughts as you try to remember your little mental checklist of all the things you wanted to see before you left tomorrow morning. You’re pretty sure this beach was the last one. It’s not much; just a short stretch of sand at the edge of the hill leading up to your family’s cottage, but it has always felt like home.

You come here every evening without fail, using the time to relax and breathe. The last month has felt a little different though, even if you don’t like to admit it. You’ve always stayed on the beach quite late, there’s nothing you know of that can rival the starry sky that appears once the sun had set. But lately, you’ve found yourself retreating back up the hill before the night could fully greet you.

It feels like you’re being watched.

It’s silly of course, considering the only thing in front of you is the quiet ocean. You would have noticed if there was something there, but still, you can’t seem to shake the feeling that something is out there – observing you.

It always happens so suddenly; one second you’ll be merely enjoying the view, and in the next, a sense of dread would knock into you so hard it left you breathless. It would make your neck feel tight, as if someone was gripping your skin, and the hair on your arms would rise in alarm.

Even just the memory is enough to give you goosebumps, and you let out an annoyed huff at how easily you seem to be able to scare yourself. You dust the sand off your hands before you rub them up and down your arms, trying to calm down the twinge of anxiety that’s slowly spreading through your body.

You don’t want to remember your last night here as something uncomfortable, so you let your gaze sweep over the beach one last time.

Something catches your eye just as you’re about to turn. Something red is ebbing and flowing along with the waves, and you hesitantly step forward until you can see it clearer. It’s nothing more than a pretty shell, but you’ve never seen that tone of red before. You snatch it up from the water before the tide can pull it out, slowly turning it back and forth to study it. The last sliver of light seems to catch on to it just right, giving the red a gorgeous golden shimmer.

You let out a low gasp of wonder, trailing your fingers along the scalloped pattern. It’s stunning, and you can’t help but think that it’s the beach’s way of saying its last goodbye. Maybe it was giving you a parting gift.

You clutch the shell gently in your hand, a soft ‘thank you’ slipping past your lips as you watch the ocean fondly. You notice a few sudden ripples in the quiet sea a little further out from the beach, but it has started to grow so dark that it’s impossible to make out anything below the soft waves. Chalking it up to just being fish, you shrug it off, finally turning on your heel to walk back up the hill to your family’s little cottage.

--

You’ve officially been on the sea for a week, and you’ve already grown tired. The small group of fellow villagers that you left with have already started getting on your nerves, and you’re not sure how you’re going to make it all the way to the island and back without going insane. Jimin said you would need to travel north for about two weeks, so you try to find solace in the fact that you’re halfway there already.

The journey so far has been pretty smooth, but the dark clouds on the horizon seem to be rolling towards you at an alarming speed. You dig into the pocket of your trousers, finding comfort in running your fingers along the shell you found on your beach. You can only hope it serves as a token of good luck, because the storm heading straight for you really doesn’t look good at all.  

It feels like you only blink before the rain is pelting down against the ship, harsh waves tossing the wooden boat back and forth to its whims. You’re clinging on the side with all of your might, but the floor has turned wet and slippery, and it makes it even harder to stay on board with all the vicious tossing and turning.

You feel the electricity before it hits, the static making your hair stand up straight right before a bolt of lightning slams into the mast. You can barely hear the loud creak of wood over the screams from the other travellers, you gaze transfixed on the large wooden pole as it starts tipping.

You’re frozen in place; all of your muscles locking up in terror as you realize the mast is coming straight at you. You’ll be crushed in you don’t move, but you can’t. You close your eyes instinctively as the looming shadow rushes towards you, harshly sucking in one last breath of air. You feel the ship lurch, and your fingers slip from the bars you were clinging to as you’re tossed overboard.

A blanket of silence wraps around you the moment you hit the water, all of the screaming and creaking of wood suddenly ceasing as the cold liquid mercilessly drags you downwards. You can see the shadow of the ship growing smaller and smaller, your last breath escaping you as it bubbles up towards the surface.

You flail your hands desperately, your body too low on air to properly function. Swim, swim, swim! Your mind is screaming, but your heart has already accepted the rush of water filling your lungs, and the heavy feeling in your bones.

Your vision grows hazy, the blues and greys of the ocean blurring together. A streak of red suddenly breezes by your line of sight, but your tired brain only managing to provide you with the fleeting thought of fish? before the exhaustion truly sets in. You can hear a low series of muddled clicking noises all around you, but it only seems to make you even more drowsy.

Sleep, a deep voice whispers in the back of your mind. And slowly but surely, all of the mixed colours fade into nothingness.

--

It wasn’t that hard for the mermaid to steer your ship in the wrong direction. The ship was in his waters, under his control, and the storm that suddenly picked up in the northeast presented itself like the perfect opportunity.

He had been trailing after your ship ever since it left the dock, making sure he could strike at the right moment. He couldn’t believe the weird creature he had been watching for months was finally coming willingly to him, but it was only right considering you had accepted his courting gift.

And now, as you were sinking to the bottom of the sea, you were finally his. The mermaid circled you excitedly at a distance as your limbs flailed around underwater. He tried to tell you to calm down – that the fight against his ocean was futile – but you just wouldn’t stop trying.

The mermaid bristled in annoyance, his crimson tail cutting through the sea harshly as he watched the stupid creature fight a losing battle. He needed to take it home now, before his brothers could realize it was here.

Finally, your body stopped moving. The mermaid quickly closed in, strong arms wrapping around your torso as he stared into your unfocused eyes. While he didn’t exactly know what you were, and why you had one limb too many, he had at least gathered enough information to understand that you needed to breathe in that pesky air in order to survive.

He pushed up, letting the currents easily carry him up towards the surface. Of course, he made sure to emerge far from the sinking ship. While the gurgling screams usually were music to his ears – he couldn’t keep you too close to the food. His brothers would be here in no time to feast, and he couldn’t let his new pet be swallowed up before he even had a chance to play with it.

The creature sucked in a shuddering breath as oxygen finally flowed through its veins again. It didn’t take long before all his precious water was being expelled from the creature’s lungs, the mermaid watching in displeasure as it was replaced with that wretched air instead. It just seemed so .. inconvenient.

You didn’t wake however, the near drowning having swept away all of your energy. The mermaid threw one last look towards the remains of the ship, thin lips curling into a pout as the gurgling was replaced by bloody shrieks. He was hungry too, but it seemed like it would have to wait until his pet was out of harm’s way.

Well, at least until it was out of his brothers’ way. The mermaid didn’t like making promises he wasn’t certain he could keep.

[attllhak]

So I just got settled after getting home from camping, and I had forgotten that I hadn’t posted this before I left. I remembered in the middle of the weekend and felt bad, but I ended up not having time the morning I left. So have it now, since I did promise it!

Also, @tortilla-of-courage I promised to tag you in all the merAU stuff I posted, and so I’m tagging you. We now figure out what happened to Warriors.

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

“Is he alive?”

“Yeah, you can see him breathing,”

“What is he even doing here?”

“I don’t know, I just found him,”

“We should tell Grandma,”

“Obviously, but we can’t leave him either,”

“Oh, I can go tell her, and you can watch him!”

“Oh that’s a good idea!”

“Okay, I’m gonna, hey! He’s waking up!”

“Huh?”

Warriors squeezed his eyes and blinked, squinting at the sun above him.

A pair of round faces appeared over him. Kids, probably.

He groaned, reaching a hand up to his head. He tried to remember what had happened.

He’d been with his pod, and a ship came by. Poachers. They singled him out, and their captain had him fished out of the water. The rest of his pod tried to help, but the poachers had guns and harpoons. He had seen at least one of his pod mates impaled by one of the harpoons through their tail.

His pod had no choice but to flee.

He remembered sitting in a net for hours under the sun until he’d dried and his scales began to flake.

Eventually he was swung onto the deck and dropped there. He had managed to pull himself onto shaking arms when his face had been wretched up, sharp nails digging into his cheeks.

He immediately felt sick when the woman, the captain of the ship, looked at him. It felt like he was being examined, like some kind of object on display. He felt oddly exposed under her gaze.

It was only years of training as a guard for his pod that allowed him to keep from panicking.

“Oh aren’t you pretty,” the human purred, and Warriors struggled to swallow. “You’ll look so pretty in my home,”

I’m going to die, he had thought.

Her plan for him was worse.

This woman, Cia, wanted a pet. Some pretty mer she could dress up in fancy things and put on display for all her guests to awe at.

He learned this after he was shackled to the deck with a thick chain attached to a cuff on his arm. Occasionally someone would be by to dump a bucket of water on him, but only after another woman, who looked very similar to the captain, warned that he’d be dead by the time they got to shore if they didn’t.

By the time the sun finally set, he’d been laid out flat on the polished wood, his skin and scales burned from the sunlight and lack of water, feeling dizzy and unfocused.

Sun sickness, he’d heard some of the merrow in their pod talk about it. He never thought he’d have it.

Once the sun had well set, the woman who had told them he needed water returned with keys.

Had he been stronger, he would have tried to fight her off. As it stood, all he could manage was to bare sharp teeth at her.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t realize she’d be so cruel. I’m going to report her when we dock, but the authorities don’t release poached mer. So I’m getting you out tonight,”

He watched as she undid the shackle on his arm, and he dragged it slowly back to himself, trying to comprehend that.

He hissed and squirmed when she started dragging him, his burned skin and scales awake with pain as they ran over the unforgiving surface.

They got caught by one of the other poachers, and he and the woman argued and shouted. The poacher had some kind of fire, and didn’t hesitate to attack them.

He was thrown overboard, but the fire still hit his arm. He screamed, the first sound since he was brought aboard, and fell.

The cold water was a shock to his sun burned body, and he was out in an instant.

Well, the sun sickness explained his headache. And why his body was aching.

“Who,” he tried to croak, but his throat felt like it was lined with coral and filled with sand, and speaking hurt.

He went to move his hand to it, but cried out in further pain as the fire burns shifted on the sand. He squeezed his eyes shut to beat back tears, all but whimpering in pain.

“Go get Grandma! Now!” One of the kids, the boy, shouted, and he heard a splash as the girl left.

He was on a shore, not land, since he could now feel the water lapping at his tail. He moved his right hand over his body, reaching for where his left arm stung and stabbed with pain.

“Hey! Don’t do that!” Small hands grabbed his wrist and he opened his eyes again, blinking to see around tears at the boy leaning over him. “Don’t worry, help will be here soon,”

He decided to believe that, focusing on the boy’s face to try and distract himself from the pain.

The boy was young, maybe twelve or thirteen. Big, bright blue eyes, and sun bleached blonde hair. The boy was grinning, but visibly nervous.

‘Who are you?’ He flashed, not wanting to deal with his damaged throat.

“Me?” The boy blinked. “My name is Link! Do you have a name?”

Warriors smiled. ‘My name is also Link, but I’m not the only Link in my pod. They called me Warriors,’

“That’s such a cool name!” Link grinned.

Warriors smiled.

It took too long, as far as he was concerned, for help to arrive. Wind, Link’s new nickname since he wanted a cool name too, had done his best to keep Warriors distracted, when a very old mer climbed onto the beach next to them.

She hissed when she pressed a hand to his head, and Warriors found himself following her hand when it pulled away, chasing the cool wetness with a weak whine.

“Sun sickness,” she pronounced in an old, creaking voice. “And some very bad burning. He needs medical help,”

She slipped back into the water and the young girl replaced her.

Not long after he found himself gently, but no less painfully, picked up by a pair of merrow and transported back into the water.

He couldn’t help the whimper of relief as he felt the water around his body again, and did his best to bite back any cries of pain as they washed the sand from his body and burns. His spaulder was removed so they could treat his injuries, but he was promised its return.

He was far too gone to care about his property anymore, gripping the arm of one of the merrow supporting him with his good hand and pressing his head to their soft, cool skin.

They helped him down into the water, and set him up in an underwater cave where the sun couldn’t reach him. It was cool, and dark, and Warriors almost instantly curled up and passed out again.

He was in and out of consciousness for the next few days, hiding curled up in the coldest corner of his cave and letting healers come in and out to treat his burns. His skin peeled and scales flaked due to the sunburns, and they rubbed cooling salves into the burns. They treated the burn on his arm with even more care.

When he finally properly came to, he spent a long moment sitting in his cave and looking himself over.

His left arm had been pretty badly scarred, and the fin was frayed and damaged, but hadn’t been cut short. That surprised him a bit, he knew a few people whose fins were so badly damaged that it was better for their health to cut them shorter and he would have figured that had happened. Maybe this pod didn’t do fin cuttings for some reason?

The rest of his burns had healed well, and his throat didn’t feel like hurting him anymore.

He looked up when a mer snuck in, and he smiled when he saw Wind.

‘Hi, Wind,’ he waved, smiling.

This was when he noticed Wind’s fins were much smaller than his, and his scale pattern was different.

Wind was a coastal mer.

That explained the lack of fin cutting.

‘Are you feeling better?’ Wind asked, giving up all form of secrecy as he approached and plopped down right next to Warriors. He guessed Wind wasn’t supposed to be here.

Warriors shrugged. ‘More aware than I was before,’

‘That’s good!’ Wind grinned. ‘I’m sorry we couldn’t fix your fin,’

Warriors lifted his arm, frowning at the damaged fin. ‘You tried to fix it?’

‘Yeah?’ Wind tilted his head, equally confused. ‘Why? What did you expect us to do?’

‘Cut it back,’ he answered honestly. ‘It’s too damaged to save, so back in my pod we would have just cut back the fin and got rid of the damaged parts,’

Wind looked horrified. ‘Why would you do that?!’

Warriors blinked back, not sure what was so bad about what he said.

‘We have very big fins,’ he tried to explain. ‘Dragging around damaged fins can be really annoying, and sometimes detrimental to your health. So anything we can’t heal, we usually cut back,’

Warriors and Wind shared a long look.

They agreed not to talk about it anymore.

‘What happened to you?’ Wind asked instead. ‘Aryll and I found you on the beach and you were really out of it. Gran said you might not remember that,’

‘I do remember that,’ Warriors smiled. ‘Thank you for that, by the way. You didn’t have to help me, but I’m grateful that you did,’

Wind shook his head. ‘Of course I had to help you! You needed help!’

Warriors ruffled Wind’s hair, laughing at the squawk Wind made. ‘You’re a good person, Wind,’

Wind huffed, fixing his hair. ‘So, what did happen to you? We don’t get a lot of tropical mer around here,’

Warriors frowned. Just how far was he from his pod?

‘I, uh, I didn’t leave my pod willingly,’ he didn’t want to scare Wind at all, considering he didn’t know if poachers frequented this area or not.

‘You were kidnapped,’ Wind nodded.

Sure, they could say that.

‘Something like that, yes,’ Warriors nodded. ‘I was on a ship for a while, and the humans weren’t very good at keeping me hydrated. One of them took pity on me, and dumped me over the side once the sun set. I, don’t remember anything after that, until you and your sister found me on the beach,’

Wind reached out and, after a second of hesitation, wrapped his arms around Warriors in a hug. ‘I’m sorry. Usually the bad humans don’t come here,’

Warriors startled a bit, he didn’t usually get hugs from people, but he carefully set his arms down around Wind in turn, not even trying to fight the soft smile on his face.

He liked this kid, he thought.

Wind was chased out by healers not long after, apparently he’d been slipping in and making a nuisance of himself since Warriors arrived, and they looked him over and asked more questions.

After a while, the healers left and the very old mer from earlier returned. Her blue scales had been dulled by age, and her grey hair was pulled up in a bun. She squinted at him through the wrinkles in her face, and he instinctively straightened up. This woman was the matriarch of her pod.

‘My grandson told me you were aware,’ she flashed at him.

He nodded, trying his best to be polite.

‘He also told me you were kidnapped,’ she continued. ‘By humans,’

‘Poachers,’ he confirmed. ‘I got lucky,’

She nodded. ‘Do you know how far you traveled?’

‘I don’t,’ he shook his head, and looked down to his hands. ‘I don’t even know how long I’ve been away from my pod,’

‘A while at least,’ she said once he looked up again. ‘You’ve been out of it for a few days here, and we don’t know when you washed up on the beach. Not to mention that there aren’t any tropical mer pods nearby,’

Warriors nodded, looking down again.

He was probably very far from his pod, and it would take a long, long time to find them again. He wasn’t particularly fond of the idea of heading out into the open ocean with no direction either. Who knows how far he’d traveled. Who knows how far he’d travel in order to find his pod again. If he found his pod again. He might never get back to them.

He looked up when a gentle hand rested on his shoulder.

‘Don’t look so defeated,’ the old mer smiled at him. ‘We’ll help you get back to your pod. And until we find them, you can stay with us,’

Warriors looked at her, kind and helpful and comforting, and smiled back. He nodded.

He could do that.

(---)

Warriors got his spaulder back, and was quickly sussed out by this pod’s, very lacking, guard, and ended up employed. Mostly he was just retraining them, since they needed some help.

He liked having a spear in his hands again. It was a relief to be able to have a weapon.

Wind and Aryll had both attached themselves to him as well, and after a week they were introducing him as their very pretty big brother. Wind had even managed to convince Warriors to teach him how to fight.

Some days Warriors didn’t even mind that he might never get back to his original pod.

He did learn that Wind happened to be friends with a human pirate, however, and that stressed him out immensely.

Maybe he should talk to that therapist Gran had suggested he see. He hadn’t had issues with his podmates speaking to the marine researchers before he was poached.

But, pirates.

It never hurt to be cautious.

[wallgirl]

The Little Nereid Part 9

Record of Ragnarok fanfiction

Poseidon x OC

Word count: 2,800

Dynamene, youngest of the 50 Nereids, has lived most of her adolescence as a servant alongside her sisters at Poseidon’s palace. But with her coming-of-age birthday and other developments, what she initially thought was just admiration of her master blossoms into something stronger and more passionate… and painful.

Categories and warnings: Romance, angst, unrequited love, coming-of-age, earn-your-happy-ending, slow-burn (ish); no sexual content. There will be some graphic violence in the future.

Updated regularly, multiple times a week; will have about ?15? parts total.

---

"Dynamene," a soft voice nudged her hours later. "Dynamene, wake up, we're almost there."

Dynamene opened her eyes groggily and looked up at Eione, whose shoulder she was still leaning against. "Huh?"

"Home; we're almost home." Eione smiled and drew back the carriage curtains to show her, letting in the bright sunshine. Dynamene sat up, quickly awoken by the warmth of the sunlight, and pressed herself to the window.

The rocky terrain and stormy weather had completely disappeared, giving way to rolling green hills lined with thick forest and sandy bluffs. The sky was clear without a cloud in sight, and Dynamene drank in the view of the pristine ocean under the bright blue sky. The gentle waves broke with crests like diamonds in the bright sun, before fading back into the cerulean waters. Dynamene's face lit up and she turned back to Eione, beaming. "It's just as beautiful as I remember."

"Isn't it?" Eione grinned. "We're nearly there. Just around this bend..."

The line of carriages rattled down the well-worn dirt road, turning around a thick grove of fig trees before beginning the final descent down a steep hill.

At the bottom was a sandy delta, flanked on the far side by a gorgeous palace made of sandstone and marble. The palace looked as if it had grown out of the bluffs as a natural extension of it, the exterior asymmetrical and rough but pleasing in a busy way. Sea glass in every color wrapped in whimsical patterns around the pillars and windows before winding down to the ground and forming a mosaic walkway to the entrance.

The ocean flowed into a cerulean lagoon before the palace, where the mouths of several small rivers met. Around the lagoon were large tide pools in which Dynamene could spot people and merfolk playing and basking.

There was a sudden shout from the distance, and the people began to stop what they were doing, looking towards the carriages. Then there was a loud chorus of calls and cheer, and the people scrambled in every which way. A trumpet sounded; now everyone knew that the Nereids were nearly home.

Before Dynamene could say anything, a booming voice came from the oceanside. "Greetings, Nereids!" She turned towards the other window to see a parade of merpeople headed by a handsome merman keeping pace with the carriage, leisurely leaping out of the water to speak to them. "Welcome home!"

Eione leaned over Dynamene and threw the window up. "Aye, merfolk! I thought I smelled fish!"

"Nay, Nereid," the merman replied smoothly. "It is yourself, I reckon." He gave Eione a mischievous wink.

Eione feigned a gasp of offense and flicked her hand. A spray of ocean water splashed the merman's face, but he laughed easily. "We will tell your parents of your arrival. Welcome home!" With that, he and the rest of the group sped ahead down along the beach, their tails glimmering in reds and greens under the surface of the water.

"Ah, that slimy fish," Eione tutted, but she tossed her hair in amusement. "It's so good to be back." She took in a deep breath before exhaling dramatically. "I can breathe here, you know?"

"Yes. Yes, I do," Dynamene whispered, unpinning her travel cloak. It was if the weight of the world had fallen off her shoulders with the fabric, and she began to help Eione get their bags sorted.

Minutes later, they had arrived before the palace. Beings of all sorts had gathered to greet their arrival with much a-do; fresh-water nymphs, dryads, fauns, satyrs, and merfolk. Familiar faces were on every side, and Dynamene lost track of the number of hugs she'd clasped with people she hadn't seen since goodness knows when. Old jokes were exchanged, and new ones made, as the crowd helped the Nereids unload their luggage from the carriages.

"Dynamene!" Actaea called from where a dryad was helping her lift down a trunk. "Look who it is!"

Dynamene turned and erupted once again into a wide smile. A boy with messy chestnut hair and freckles like hers was running down the path from the palace towards the group. "Dynamene!" He shouted. "Actaea! Eione! Everyone!" He flung himself into Dynamene's arms, and she squeezed him tight, rocking from side to side.

"Nerites," she whispered happily, taking the scent of seawater in her little brother's hair. "It's so good to see you again."

He pulled back to look at her with a frown. "You've gotten taller again. But I thought I would get taller than you someday?"

Dynamene laughed and ruffled his hair lovingly. "I think you have a few more centuries yet, little brother."

"That's fine," he replied. "As long as it happens someday." He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards one of the inlets. "I can't believe you're finally here! Even Elasippus came to greet you all today, too!"

Dynamene knelt down at the edge of the small bluff. Basking in the shallow water of the pool was a young merman, barely out of boyhood, with strawberry blond hair strung with ocean droplets and a shimmering green tail. He looked up in surprise at Dynamene. "Hello, Dynamene."

"Elasippus!" She smiled at her brother's friend warmly. "It's been too long. Your tail's gotten longer, hasn't it?"

"Um, yes," he answered shyly, fins curling back and forth. "I just thought I'd come and say hello, since I've known you all for so long..."

"Don't be awkward, Elas," Nerites sighed. "We've been best friends for ages; it's okay to talk to my sisters."

Dynamene laughed. "It's okay, it's been a few years. It's still weird to see that you two have gotten bigger, though," she sighed. "I guess I still remember when you were both little tadpoles, crying when the sand got in your eyes."

"Hey, we're not crybabies anymore!" Nerites protested. "Actually, me and Elas have been exploring a lot recently. We found this underwater cave that's full of oysters, and we've been collecting them to harvest. Some of them even have pearls. We're gonna go again today, actually. If you want, you should come with us!"

"When? Now?" She asked in disbelief as Nerites pulled on her hand.

"Yeah! Come on!"

"Well..." She looked back at her other sisters, who were still bringing the luggage in.

"Go ahead, Dyna," Ianeira called. "We'll join you in a little bit."

"Scratch that," Eione jumped in, boldly tossing off her peplos and chiton. "I'm going with now. Come on, Dynamene! Last one into the water is rotten caviar!" She took a running start and dove head-first into the rippling water.

"Well, if it's alright with everyone else," Dynamene sighed dramatically, undoing her own peplos. "I suppose..."

And bolstered on by the happy exclamations of her brother, she dove in.

---

Hours later, Dynamene pulled herself back up onto shore, breathless from laughter. "Here," she tossed a pearl to Nerites. "Almost dropped that one."

The other Nereids broke the surface close-by, laughing and wringing out their hair. "Did you see how fast Thoe dissipated when that ray went by?" Eione teased. "I thought she was a cloud of silt for a moment."

"Hey, those things have barbs, you know," Thoe sniffed as she smoothed her wet bangs away from her forehead.

"I wish we could've seen some whales," Callianassa sighed as she finished reforming her hands. She gave her fingers a graceful wiggle. "It's been forever since I've heard a whale call."

"There are a lot of whales at the next cove down. They came here for the birthing season," Elasippus told her as he carefully pulled a strand of seaweed from his hair. "We can show you later if you want."

"We gave a few of them nicknames," Nerites added, looking up from where he was admiring his satchel full of freshly harvested pearls. "Two babies have been born so far; we named one Fig and the other Olive."

"That's so... unimaginative," Dynamene teased him good-naturedly, and he splashed her with water.

"You come up with better names, then!"

"I will," she replied, sticking her tongue out at him.

"I bet I can come up with better names than both of you," Ianeira said, splashing them both. "Just give me until after supper."

"Speaking of supper, I'm starving," Eione groaned. She pulled her sandy chiton back on over her head before giving her hair one last shake. "What's on the menu?"

"Why don't we go inside and find out?" Ianeira said. "It must be nearly time to eat, anyways."

"Sounds good to me," Dynamene affirmed, gathering her clothes back up to get dressed. She paused for a moment, scouring the sand.

"Looking for something, Dynamene?" Elasippus asked.

"No, it's fine, just found it!" Dynamene sighed with relief. She brushed the sand away from where it had lightly blown over her bracelet. "False alarm." She quickly drew it back onto her wrist, carefully dusting any remaining sand off.

"That's pretty," Nerites said in awe. "Where did you get it?"

"Oh, um," Dynamene blushed, smoothing her wet hair away from where it clung to her neck. "Lord... Lord Poseidon gave it to me not long ago, as a birthday present."

"Really?" He asked in surprise. "Wow. He didn't get you guys jewelry, did he?" He asked the other sisters tactlessly.

The sisters exchanged a silent look for half a moment before Ianeira cleared her throat. "Come on, everyone! I'm sure Mother and Father would like to see us at long last as well."

The rest of the girls finished dressing and began to make their way up the beach towards the glittering palace. Nerites said goodbye to Elasippus and ran after them.

"Dynamene, are you coming?" Actaea asked, pausing to look back at her younger sister. Dynamene was still carefully braiding her hair.

"I'll be there in a moment!" Dynamene called back, waving her on. "I just want to finish braiding my hair before it dries again. I'll meet up with you guys at the palace."

"Alright, don't be too long!" Actaea disappeared over the sandy hill, leaving Dynamene alone with Elasippus.

Elasippus remained for a moment, watching in fascination as Dynamene wove her hair back into two braids. "Beautiful," he whispered.

"Mm?" Dynamene looked up.

"The bracelet," he said hastily. "Lord Poseidon was very thoughtful. It's gorgeous."

"Isn't it?" Dynamene sighed and held out her hand so the merman could take a better look. "It's mother-of-pearl, my favorite."

"So it sounds like you get along with him, huh?" Elasippus swam in an idle circle. "That's good. I hear he's not so easy to be around."

"No, he's not," Dynamene admitted. "But, you know..." She remembered the times on the beach with him, and the way he had brushed her hair back. "He's not so bad, deep down." She began to blush.

"I see," Elasippus said slowly, watching Dynamene's face turn pink. "If you say so." He turned to look at the setting sun. "You and your sisters are really brave, you know. I don't think I could ever live with him. Not after what happened with his brother."

Dynamene stared at him for a moment blankly. Then she realized what he was referring to - Poseidon's killing of Adamas.

She stared back down at the ocean. "I suppose so. I guess I can see how that would make people... uncomfortable."

"Does it bother you?" Elasippus asked earnestly, tail flicking.

Dynamene bit her lower lip. What happened with Adamas was justified, wasn't it? I don't know all that was said between them, but Adamas did want to start a civil war, right? So... Is Poseidon really in the wrong for what he did? "No. I... I think he did the right thing," she said, but her voice was shaky.

Elasippus sensed her discomfort and frowned apologetically. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make things awkward. It's none of my business. I shouldn't have asked."

"No, it's alright," Dynamene said quickly. "It's an honest question. I suppose I just don't really think about it much. We'd only been at the palace for a century when it happened, and I was still just a child, so my sisters didn't say much about it around me." Her thoughts went back to that day; what little she remembered of it, that was.

The Nereids had left the palace to picnic on the beach that fateful afternoon. They didn't want any part of Adamas's visit; he was nothing but a jealous troublemaker, and they wanted no part of whatever ill-will he brought.

But when the sound of marble breaking echoed out from the palace, they had rushed back out of concern for their master. Dynamene remembered tagging along behind Actaea, barely able to see past the rest of her sisters as they crowded into the great hall where Poseidon had received Adamas...

"No, don't look," Actaea had said suddenly, covering Dynamene's eyes with her hands. "Don't look, Dynamene." Her sister's voice had wavered in horror. She had immediately steered Dynamene back out of the room, rushing her as fast as she could go. But Dynamene's ears were free, and she heard the rest of her sisters gasp and scream at the sight that greeted them in the great hall.

They hadn't been expected to clean up the mess. Poseidon had ordered them to leave the body where it lay, and continue on with their day as if nothing had happened. The other unseen servants of the palace took care of Adamas's body and the wreckage, and the following day, the great hall was spotless. The wall had been repaired, the table replaced, and no sign remained of the gory mess that Poseidon had made out of his older brother.

Dynamene shuddered at the memories. "Even now, no one speaks of it, especially at Lord Poseidon's palace. That's what he wanted, so we must obey. I don't think we would talk about it even if we could, though. It was so brutal." She swallowed. No one likes remembering that day. That was the first time we truly realized how powerful, and dangerous, Poseidon was.

"That's awful," Elasippus sympathized. "I hope it doesn't haunt you too much."

"No," Dynamene sighed. "No, I guess I owe Actaea for that. I never saw the... aftermath of Poseidon and Adamas's argument. I hear it was a horrible sight."

The two of them sat in silence for a while longer, neither of them knowing what to say. "I'm sorry," Dynamene said finally, getting to her feet. "I didn't mean to make things so dreary."

"No, not at all," Elasippus said quickly. "It's good to talk about things like that sometimes, right? If you ever want to talk about it, I'll listen. It doesn't bother me too much."

Dynamene smiled at him gratefully. "Thank you, Elas. I'm glad my brother is friends with you."

Now it was Elasippus whose face was pink. "It's... It's nothing much, we just have fun together. I'm glad I got to see you all again today."

"Me too. We should all meet again before we go back to the palace," Dynamene beamed. "I had a lot of fun today."

"I'm glad," Elasippus smiled back. "See you later." He sank back under the amber waves.

"Bye," Dynamene called after him. She watched his tail splash through the surface for a ways before he dove deeper into the water, returning to his underwater home. Left alone with her thoughts once more, she sighed.

I'm sure what Poseidon did was justified, even if it was violent. Over the top, even. Terrifying. But I guess that's just how Poseidon is; why would someone like him hold back? I know he'd never hurt us, at the very least.

She stared out at the setting sun, lost in thought, twisting the bracelet around her wrist.

Poseidon... I hope things are okay back at the palace. I hope the visit with Hades went as well as can be expected.

If you were here, I wonder... What would you say to me? She looked away from the sun's burning orange rays to the ocean. The dark hue of the water brought to mind Poseidon's eyes, so beautiful, yet so often cold and empty. Lately, though... Was it just her imagination, or was there truly life in them when he looked back at her?

 Would you tell me that you don't regret what you did? Even if you'd never harm me, surely there are still times that you hurt others. Or was Adamas an isolated event?

 She sighed before turning to make the journey back to the palace. This trip was meant to be relaxing, and worrying over the past did no good. Surely everyone was wondering where she was by now.

---

Author’s Notes: Another chapter that took on a life of its own. I think it'll work okay, though.

Next chapter is one I've been waiting to write almost since I started this fanfic. So much angst. I can't wait.

[anarchy-and-piglins]

Somehow Technoblade had managed the spectacular achievement of becoming the odd one out in an entire community made up of rare and strange beings.

The fact that all the other residents were non-humans happened to be what made him different though. Wilbur had told him the history of the commune, how their town was founded with the direct purpose of being a safe place for mobs and hybrids to live in peace, secluded from the humans who hunted them, enslaved them, or would otherwise harm them. Their location was kept secret, hidden from most by enchantments, and they were almost completely self-sufficient in the way they were run in terms of food and stuff.

Only occasionally would somebody wander out to another village, to trade or just to seek a little adventure for themselves. Phil especially was prone to do this – a traveler at heart, his Elytrian nature – and he was the one who had found Technoblade in a rather... compromising position.

If by compromising you could mean having an arrow sticking out your back.

People didn't like Technoblade. And Technoblade generally didn't like people, but he liked it even less when they chased him out of their villages with their bows drawn. Phil had been kind enough to remove the projectile. Technoblade had bravely said it didn't hurt but then secretly dug his blunt nails into the palms of his hands hard enough to leave white indents. Then Phil had insisted on taking him home to get a proper look at the wound and clean it up.

Not all of the other residents were thrilled with Technoblade's presence at first, scared it could compromise their location. A lot of their tunes had changed when they found out other humans were the cause of his injury, even more so when Techno revealed this was hardly an isolated incident. People didn't like Technoblade at all.

(Most humans had little tolerance for that which they did not understand. And according to them, Technoblade was weird and very hard to understand. Techno understood himself perfectly fine, he always thought they were the weird ones.)

So he stayed and overall things worked out great. There were only minor issues caused by the 'only human around' thing. Their pub was a good example. A few of the others in the commune could simply fly or teleport, and those that couldn't had no problems either since they could rely on inhuman stamina to make the climb tolerable. Techno had a hundred rungs of a ladder he needed to brave with his pitiful human physique if he wanted to get up there. Same thing for Phil's ridiculously high-up birdhouse.

And then one day he got sick.

It was probably his own fault. Last night when it was storming he'd been coming home from mining and gotten completely soaked out in the rain. A small voice in the back of his mind told him he should probably take his drenched clothes off and get warm and comfortable as soon as he got home – the voice sounded suspiciously like Phil when he lectured Techno about fixing his terrible sleeping schedule and eating more regularly. But he had gotten distracted by putting away the materials he'd mined into his chests and starting to smelt the ore and by the time he noticed he was shivering at how cold it was, his clothes were damp more than wet. He lighted the fire and felt too exhausted to bother getting changed, crawling under the covers as he was - though it didn't completely ward away further trembling.

When he woke up his head hurt and there was this annoying tickle in his chest, feather-light touches against his lungs. The clothes had become sticky and uncomfortable, peeling off his skin. Techno coughed into a fist and set out as normal, intent on resuming his tasks where he left off yesterday.

It would probably go away on its own.

Except the coughing didn't stop. Small bursts of it kept coming up when he needed them least. He was in the middle of one when a voice rang out behind him.

"Techno, are you okay dude?" He must have jumped a solid three feet into the air and for a moment Wilbur only chuckled at his reaction.

"I told you to stop doing that," Techno grumbled, a little too sharply. Just because Wilbur could literally appear out of nowhere didn't mean he had to use that ability to sneak up on him for no reason. Techno coughed again, hiding it in his elbow.

"You did," Wilbur acknowledged with a smirk, but didn't apologize. "What are you doing?"

"What does it look I'm doing, I'm headed to the mines." Techno swung his pickaxe up on his shoulder, kind of almost nearly dropping it in the process with how clumsy his hands were being. Stupid.

"It looks like you were hacking up a lung, really." Wilbur's features softened. "Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine," Techno responded. He started walking again, knowing Wilbur would have a hard time following him while in corporeal form. Especially in the daytime.

"Are you coming to the pub later? I've got some new plans to unveil, think they'll be sick." Wilbur did make a valiant attempt at following him, though he quickly started falling behind, floating inches above the ground and unable to keep up with Techno's human strides.

"Uh, I'll think about it?" Techno answered evasively. He wasn't looking forward to braving that ladder in his current state. His arms hurt just thinking about it.

Wilbur stopped to call after him. "What do you mean you'll think about it?"

But Techno was far enough gone to be able to pretend not to hear him as he descended down his mineshaft.

Techno liked Niki's hair a lot. He'd even told her so not long after meeting her.

It was long and wavy and a nice shade of pastel pink that reminded him of the sunset. Technoblade would consider growing out his own hair that long if he didn't know it was way too unruly to keep in shape and stay untangled. And if dyeing it wasn't such a chore – one he knew he'd be too lazy to undertake as regularly as he should – he might have dyed it from its boring brown shade into something more interesting.

Niki was glad he was keeping her company while she tended to it, combing through it with what he presumed was a comb made of a seashell. Techno didn't tell her he had only really left the mines early because his lungs were starting to strain from the dust down there, the coughing fits getting closer together with less time in between to let him breathe. He sat on the sandy shore and traced patterns into the sand with one finger while they talked.

Niki was telling him about her builds, and expressing her disappointment over how she couldn't easily show them to her friends. None of them could breathe underwater or deal with the pressure common at the depths Niki lived. But she loved describing them in detail.

She was just explaining the sea glass she was intending to use when Technoblade started coughing again. His lungs expressed their displeasure through a series of sharp pangs that shot up into his neck. The sound he made was wet and disgusting, like there was something liquid rattling around inside his chest. Niki stopped talking to look at him worriedly.

"Are you alright? Techno, what happened?"

He tried to wave her away but it was kind of hard with his body still intent on making it impossible for him to get oxygen. Techno closed his eyes against the blurriness of his vision to concentrate on inhaling slower instead. "M'fine." He could feel the phlegm in his throat.

Niki was pulling herself onto the beach a little, trying to get a closer look at him. "Are you sick?"

"No." Getting up so fast was a bad idea. His head spun and he felt incredibly shaky. Techno ignored it. "No, I'm not. It's fine. I think I'll just head home now."

He started walking away quickly. The afternoon sun felt unbearable suddenly, scorching. Or maybe that was the beginning of a fever.

Niki called after him to wait but confined to the water as she was, it wasn't like she could do anything to stop him. Technoblade walked until he crested the hill, already seeing the shape of the other buildings in the distance. He made it halfway through the grass field and then he felt too drained to continue. Deciding to sit down for a bit, he lay back and closed his eyes.

"Do you think he's dead?"

"I dunno, we should poke him with a stick to find out."

Techno groaned at the sound of loud voices, ringing painfully around his aching head. He cracked his eyes open – not sure when he had even fallen asleep - and tried to blink the three faces hovering above him into focus.

"Oh, I think he's alive. Kind of." That was Ranboo.

"We could still poke him, just to make sure." Tommy.

Which meant the third person had to be Tubbo.

Techno pushed up on his elbows to get into a seated position, hating how difficult it was. His limbs were weak, as if they were made of jelly or some shit. The light fever had escalated into him feeling like his entire body was on fire.

This was not good.

"-chno? Hey, anybody home?" Tubbo was talking to him, waving one hand in front of his face. If his frown was any indication, Techno had been spacing out for a while.

"Hm?" he asked.

"I think there's something wrong with him," Tubbo said to the others.

"I'm fine." Techno tried standing up but fell back onto his ass a moment later when dizziness plowed into him with the force of a boulder. Tommy snorted.

"Yeah, we can tell." He reached out but pulled his hand back as soon as it came into contact with Techno's skin. "Fuck you're almost the same temperature as Jack Manifold. Pretty sure humans aren't supposed to run that hot."

"I'll get Phil," Ranboo offered, teleporting before Techno had a chance to object.

He covered his face with his hands and sighed. This was going to be a thing now and that happened to be the exact opposite of what Technoblade wanted it to be. He just wanted to go home and sleep this off.

"You're not..." Tubbo broke through his thoughts. The boy hesitated, wings vibrating a bit with nervous energy. "You're not like... actually dying are you?"

Techno tried to answer but was interrupted by another coughing fit first. When he was done Tubbo looked even more anxious than before. "Probably not. It's just a cold."

It was definitely not a simple cold. Pneumonia, more likely.

"Oh good."

Techno agreed. Not dying would probably be good, even if he currently felt like death warmed over.

Philza took him to the pub, much to Technoblade's horror.

All his protests and insistence he'd be fine if he was just taken to his house were brushed off easily, especially when Phil took flight with Techno barely able to keep from falling off his back when dark spots took over his vision. If it weren't for Phil's supporting hands keeping him steady he's probably have fallen off.

Normally Techno didn't dislike flying with Phil – despite the other always making some quip about how little Techno weighed for his height. But this time the vertigo was horrible and made him want to puke. Maybe it was fortunate he had skipped breakfast this morning.

They landed on the wooden porch softly, Phil keeping Techno's arm around his shoulder as he put him down to make sure he wouldn't collapse. Techno wasn't about to admit he probably needed that, though he muttered a quick thanks under his breath, which was starting to get more wheezing by the minute. There wasn't an inch of his body that didn't ache.

There were a few beds in the backrooms of the pub, sometimes used for newcomers to temporarily reside. Techno found himself dumped into one, not really caring where Phil went when he left the room. Not when the sheets were so blessedly cool and comfortable. He could have probably fallen back asleep soon if Phil hadn't returned almost instantly.

"I checked with Sneeg, he said this should help a little." Phil sat down on the bed, holding up a cup with the nastiest-looking brown tea inside it Technoblade ever did see. "I'm sorry we don't have any real potions to give you, but he's closest to you in physiology, so I'm hoping this will be enough. We don't exactly have a lot of experience with human illness."

"Did you ask him if it was poisonous?" Techno asked, eyeing the steaming liquid.

"Don't be dramatic." Phil handed him the cup. Techno sighed and downed the herbal tea in one go, suppressing his gag reflex. Medicinal and earthy, it somehow tasted worse than it looked. He didn't think that was possible.

"Great, can I go home now?"

Phil shook his head as he got up again, taking the cup from him. "You're not going anywhere until your fever breaks. You think I flew you all the way up here for fun?"

"Possibly."

Rolling his eyes as he leaves the room, Phil once again came back only a moment later. This time he was holding a bowl of what Techno could only presume was water going by the cloth that was soaking in it. Phil gestured for him to lie down properly and this time Techno obeyed without complaint.

"I think it's best if you stay here for a while," he said while folding the cloth and putting it on Techno's forehead. The coldness of it did feel nice against his pounding headache. "The pub is the best place for us to take turns keeping an eye on you."

"I don't need you guys to keep an eye on me, though. I'm not a child."

"No, you're just a stubborn asshole with pneumonia." Phil drew back a bit, smile faltering. "And also the only human currently living in the commune. We don't have the needed supplies to treat you should this get worse, so I'd rather not take the risk."

And while he did a fair job hiding it, it was undeniably clear Phil was worried.

"Fine, I'll stay." Techno made an effort of showing how annoyed he was by huffing and pulling the blankets over himself. "But can you at least get me a book or something? Won't help much keeping me here if I'll be bored to death."

Phil laughed – light and teasing. Techno liked that a lot more than he did the worry.

"I'll see what I can do."

He spent a solid week in bed.

Much to Phil's relief, Techno's sickness did not get worse. But without proper medicine, it didn't improve as quickly as they would have liked either. He had to get better the old-fashioned way: waiting for his body to fight off the infection on its own.

Most of his time was spent sleeping. Whenever he woke up somebody else was at his bedside, to make sure he could eat and drink. Phil hadn't been kidding when he said they'd take turns. It was almost comforting to know there was always someone watching over him while he slept, though Techno didn't feel the need to say that out loud.

After that first week, he was recovered enough to at least limp out of his room and around the pub. He was too weak to attempt the ladder and any sudden moves were still likely to throw him into a coughing fit that could last several minutes. But he could sit at one of the tables and talk to Niki when she visited.

Or to the others, who all seemed to be coming by a lot more often than was usual.

Wilbur unveiled his plans and talked Techno's ear off about what he was working on. Fundy came all the way to the pub to try and sell him stolen trinkets. Ranboo was always coming around with some new book for him to read, asking him if he liked his previous recommendation.

(None of them visited as often as Tommy though, who always complained about having to be there while fluffing up his wings, yet always stuck around the longest even when Techno told him he'd be fine on his own.)

And with them around, Techno realized that despite being the only human, he had never felt less alone.

[iatethepomegranate]

We are not alone in the dark with our demons, Chapter 15

In which Caleb buys a house in Rexxentrum with Beau and Yasha, becomes a professor, and goes on cute dates with Essek while learning how to be a person. There's also the little matter of taking care of the other Volstrucker survivors, and the children coming up after him.

Content warnings: references to sex as a coping mechanism, Caleb's backstory, reference to institutionalisation

Chapter summary: Caleb and Essek have a nighttime beach date.

Chapter notes: This chapter gets a bit spicy but there is no actual smut because I don't feel like it. Despite the content warnings, it's a pretty chill chapter.

***

Chapter 15: The blue and green below is a masterpiece, but you are beautiful like I’ve never seen

Caleb and Essek, breathless from kissing, stripped naked and stored their clothes in Essek’s pocket plane. Then they waded into the moonlit water, hand-in-hand, until the sand threatened to dip away from them and Essek could barely keep his head above water. Caleb slid his arms around Essek’s waist, encouraging him to float with his support.

“I’ve never had time to do this,” Essek admitted quietly. “The longest I’ve spent here was… you know.” His face pinched, as it often did when he referenced his treason, and the fact he had betrayed his friends long before he had ever met them. “Not exactly, ah, conducive to recreation.”

“We’re here now,” Caleb said firmly; he would not let Essek spiral into self-loathing again. “And you have changed much since that time. As have I.”

Essek relaxed in his grip, just a fraction. “You’re right. Thank you. I’m… trying.”

“I am proud of you.” Caleb had heard this a lot of late, and passed that gift to Essek. He needed it as much as Caleb did. “Shall we try something?”

“I suppose.” Essek sounded nervous.

“Trust me.”

“I do.”

Caleb stepped back and kicked off the sandbank, propelling himself into deeper water. “Come here.” Essek followed him, a little clumsily. But the old muscle memory was there behind the rust; Essek had probably learned how to swim as a boy, and then rarely used the skill. “Float on your back.”

Essek raised an eyebrow; Caleb could only see it because of the stark contrast of white on dark purple. “All right.” This was also clumsy and awkward, and it took him a few tries. But Essek soon found his balance floating on his back on the surface of the water. Caleb took his hand, and floated onto his back beside him.

The water gently tugged them around, and Caleb was careful not to flinch and lose his equilibrium. He and Essek floated together in the deep, cool expanse of the sea. At this time of night, the water and the sky were almost indistinguishable from each other. Mirrors.

Caleb had a complicated history with mirrors; sometimes he would catch a feature in his reflection that reminded him of his mother or his father, and resisted the temptation to smash the glass. The shocks were less frequent these days, and the violent urges rarely emerged now. He and Essek, however, had been mirrors to each other for a long time. And that was a reflection that he could handle. It allowed him to reach out and help this man he cared about in a way that would’ve frightened him even a few months ago.

They couldn’t talk comfortably like this, but that was okay. Often the two of them didn’t need words. Right now, Caleb just wanted to float with him, tethered together by a single hand and the whims of the sea. He was dimly aware that Essek relaxed by inches, floating more easily as he became used to the sensation. Essek was a quick study, and familiar with how to float in the air. Water probably wasn’t that different, really, except a spell was unnecessary.

Caleb counted stars, traced constellations, followed the slow rolling of wispy clouds a shade lighter than the nighttime abyss. He could sense Essek do the same. They let the seconds and minutes tick by in serene quiet, a low rumble of the water over their ears.

Peace washed over them like the sea.

Caleb counted the passing of minutes. Once ten of them had passed, and he felt almost boneless with calm, he slowly let his legs dip back into the water, gently tugging Essek’s hand to request he do the same. They had floated further out by now, and Essek tensed as he took in the distance.

“It’s all right,” Caleb reassured him. “You and I are skilled enough that we will not drown.”

He kicked off, keeping an eye on Essek behind him. Essek paddled along in his wake, and soon they reached a point where Caleb could stand. Not Essek, though. But Caleb had an idea. He pulled Essek closer, dipping underwater for a second to get his hands under Essek’s buttocks. He lifted Essek so they were eye-to-eye, and Essek wrapped his legs around Caleb’s waist. The water took most of Essek’s weight.

“Is this all right?”

“I could get used to it,” Essek said, already more relaxed. He wound his arms around Caleb’s neck. “There are clear advantages to our position.” And he kissed Caleb, who had to step backwards before he could lose his balance and pitch them both into the ocean. That would have killed the mood.

And Essek was very much in the mood. As was Caleb. Waiting for privacy these last few hours had been torture of the sweetest kind. Now they were alone in the vast expanse of sea, wearing nothing but saltwater and moonlight. And Essek was reliant on Caleb to keep his head above water. Essek seemed to quite like that, as he climbed all over Caleb while they kissed each other breathless once again.

Essek pulled back to run his tongue along the muscles of Caleb’s neck, catching droplets of seawater. “Tower?” he breathed against Caleb’s wet skin, making him shiver with cold and arousal.

“Ja. Let’s go.”

***

The time it had taken them to swim to shore and find a good spot to cast the tower had stretched like well-kneaded dough. It hadn’t helped that Essek had kept kissing his neck while Caleb tried to cast, making it take a little longer than usual. But then they were in.

They wound up on the third floor in the library, in front of the fireplace. The extra few floors to a bed had been far too distant, even for Essek, who had a whole thing about self-restraint. Not tonight, it would seem. This was not the first time they’d had sex in this spot, so Caleb was in the habit of ensuring a soft rug was in place, and other necessary supplies were stashed behind a nearby bookshelf, to be revealed upon speaking the password: Kätzchen. No other member of the Nein had a reason to use the word, and it was, on the surface, innocent enough. Even if the context of its use with Essek was most assuredly not.

Essek was in rare form on this night, shoving Caleb onto his back on the rug. “Let me spoil you tonight.” His voice had dropped in pitch, similar to how he used to speak when he had first met the Nein. Except this time it was entirely due to arousal instead of a façade.

“Sounds good to me,” Caleb replied, already breathless.

Later, Caleb lay bonelessly by the fire, eyes shut to enjoy the calm of the afterglow. Letting his heart and breath slow at their own pace. Essek’s fingers weaving patterns through the hair on Caleb’s chest. Quiet, for a time. Just soft crackles of flame and their breaths.

A hitch of Essek’s breath. Caleb opened his eyes, slowly turning his head to find Essek propped up on one elbow, drinking him in with his eyes, like a parched man throwing back a glass of cool water.

“Hallo.”

Essek smiled. “Hello.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. I…” He chuckled, sheepish. “I am enjoying the view.”

“Oh?”

“You look very… soft.”

“I am now, ja.”

Essek wrinkled his nose. “Shut up. I am trying to be romantic.”

“Then be romantic,” Caleb replied, because he rarely had the chance to stir Essek up like this.

Essek reached out to the far side of Caleb’s face, tracing his cheek. And then he tucked Caleb’s hair behind his ear. “Your hair… it looks like copper in the firelight. It’s… cute. And you look happy.”

“I am happy.” There were few things that made Caleb happier than a quiet night with Essek, who he loved very much. “Are you happy?”

“Very much so.” Essek leaned down, capturing his lips, draping himself over Caleb’s body in a much calmer mirror to their positions mere minutes ago. Under Caleb’s hands, Essek’s body was dewy with seawater and sweat. He traced the bumps of Essek’s spine with a finger and Essek shuddered above him.

Before they could get too wrapped up in this once again, Essek pulled back. They helped each other to their feet. And finally made it to Caleb’s bedroom. Their bedroom now. He had made some modifications now that they shared a room; the furniture was a blend of Zemnian and Kryn influences, and he had finally added a stained glass window, an amalgamation of their journeys together. Scenes from Rosohna such as Essek’s towers, the Xhorhouse, the Dungeon where Essek had crushed the Volstrucker who attacked Caleb; the Balleater where Essek had confessed to treason; various scenes from Eiselcross and Aeor including Essek’s chambers at the outpost, various archive rooms, the strange domes, the Immensus Gate, the T-Dock that Caleb had disintegrated. Caleb liked to tweak the glass a little every time they were here. He had already integrated the two beach trips, one in sunshine and one in moonlight.

Essek examined the changes to the glass for a few breaths, and then shoved Caleb against the nearest wall to kiss him again. “You.” Kiss. “Brilliant.” Kiss. “Brilliant.” Kiss. “Man.”

It was a rare treat to get Essek to push him around like this, so lost in passion that he stopped giving a fuck. Caleb was putty in his hands.

***

In a moment of downtime, when Caleb’s mind was clear enough for conversation, they picked up the thread of last night’s conversation.

“I’m not sure I would want to sleep with anyone else after tonight,” Caleb said, stretching his arms above his head while Essek lay his head on Caleb’s chest. “You are a hard act to follow, my friend.”

Essek’s eyeroll was so powerful that Caleb could sense it. “I appreciate the sentiment… friend.”

Caleb stroked Essek’s hair, smoothing it out after their exertions. “Forgive me. Force of habit. Would you like me to stop using that word for us?”

“No. We were friends before we were anything else.” Essek sighed. “I treasure everything I have with you, including our friendship. Apologies. You were saying?”

“I was saying I appreciate your offer from last night,” Caleb said, with a bit more clarity. “But I’m not sure I will take you up on it.”

“It’s an open offer,” Essek replied. “I know it’s not relevant at the moment, but I wanted to talk about it without the threat of my impending departure. When that time comes and I must be gone for months at a time, if sharing your bed with someone else makes you feel less lonely…”

“Essek, I understand why you are offering.” Caleb sat up, resting his back against the pillows. “I have a question.”

Essek sat cross-legged at his side. “Ask.”

“We both know this is largely for my benefit. Even if we say this offer goes both ways, for example, you are still far less likely to act on it than I am, purely based on our sexual interests as they are defined in language. I am more likely to find someone attractive than you are, and I am more likely to be comfortable having more than one partner.”

“That is all true,” Essek said warily. “What’s the question?”

“Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that we have been apart for months. And we miss each other terribly. For whatever reason, it is not practical to find a way to see each other even for one night. We are both, in theory, free to sleep with someone else to manage the sexual side of this. Let’s say I decide to do that. You do not. I find some measure of relief. You do not. That is not a fair arrangement. Are you sure this offer comes from a healthy place for you?”

Essek sighed deeply. “I have asked myself that question many times. And the fact is, this is a bigger issue for you than it is for me. You have far more feelings of this nature than I do.”

“Ja, I do. But having feelings and acting on them are two very different things. I have crushes on most of our friends, Essek. I am not about to sleep with all of them.”

“Oh? Do tell.”

“No.” Caleb wasn’t resisting hard. If Essek started throwing out names, he would confirm or deny.

“Kingsley?”

“Ja,” Caleb conceded. “That’s an easy one. And very complicated given every inhabitant of his body has flirted with me on at least one occasion. And his late brother was… complicated.” Caleb wasn’t sure how to tell Essek that so much of how he had treated Essek when things had gone pear-shaped was because of Molly’s influence on him.

“Interesting. Who else?”

“Are we really going to sit here on this night of merciful privacy to gossip about my crushes?”

“I rarely have crushes myself,” Essek replied. “Present company excepted. It’s fascinating to me. And, of course, I like to know things about you. And, ah, the next time I make a joke, I would prefer not to make you uncomfortable, even by accident.”

“Well… perhaps you shouldn’t joke about Fjord and Jester in that way again.” Caleb cleared his throat. “Especially Jester.” The closest he’d come to admitting that about Jester had been during a watch with Yasha, a long time ago. And he’d handled it very poorly.

But Essek just chuckled. “I see. Your reaction to my rather poor joke makes sense now. And what of Veth?”

“Complicated.” Caleb had been possessive with Veth some time ago, before he had almost let a horrible cocktail of jealousy and self-loathing drag them apart in a way neither of them had truly wanted. “I love her. As I do the others, ja, but… for a long time all we had was each other. Just two pieces of shit watching each other’s backs because no one else would. Scamming people out of a few coins so we could eat, or find shelter. Sleeping together by the roadside. There is an… intimacy to that. And I have been jealous of Yeza in the past, but that was my problem, not theirs. We’re in a good place now. She will always be dear to me. I’m not sure I will ever truly understand my feelings. At a certain point it no longer matters. I love her, whatever that means. My feelings for you have far more clarity.”

“Good.” Essek leaned in, kissing under Caleb’s jawline. “I am a little possessive of you, myself.”

“Then why offer this?”

“I am possessive, not insecure.” Essek paused, for a split-second, before planting a kiss on Caleb’s neck. “Not anymore. You are a far more sexual person than I, and I am aware you are polyamorous. It is not a hard thing to offer you. I lose nothing from this arrangement.”

Something about that statement bothered Caleb a little, but he didn’t fault Essek for it. “Essek, you know I hadn’t had sex for pleasure in nearly two decades, right? You were the first in seventeen years. I am not about to die if I don’t stick my dick in someone for a few weeks. Or have someone’s dick stuck in me. Either way. Going without isn’t going to kill me.”

“Caleb, that’s not…” Essek sighed. “Look, if this arrangement makes you uncomfortable, you do not need to act on it.”

“I know. I just wanted you to know that, as much as I appreciate your understanding of my sexuality, this is not something I need. I have gone without before, and I would rather abstain than seek comfort in a way that I have found destructive in the past.”

“Astrid and Eadwulf?”

“Ja. There was love, but there was also codependency and using sex as a coping mechanism on the bad days. And then I murdered my parents, had a breakdown, and spent eleven years in a sanatorium while they remained under Trent’s thumb. Not the most auspicious end to a relationship.” He let the bitterness of it all come out in his voice, because he knew Essek would never judge him for that. “For us, it was survival. That’s how it began. Locked in a freezing cold tower that forced us to huddle together for warmth just to stay alive. We never had a chance to be anything else. I don’t want that to happen again.” Goosebumps had spread across his skin with the sensation of phantom cold.

Essek pulled the bedcovers over the both, curling up around Caleb, and the chill was not able to take root. “Thank you for telling me. I don’t… I don’t want you to fall into old patterns. You are getting better every day, and I want that to continue. If the offer of an open relationship bothers you, forget about it. I just… I don’t want to hurt you when I leave. Even if we both know I will always come back as long as there is still breath in my body.”

Caleb lifted his chin and kissed his mouth. “Danke. I appreciate the offer nonetheless. Maybe one day I will be in a good enough place to act on it. But not right now.”

“We have years ahead of us yet, Caleb Widogast.” Essek traded in another kiss. “Speaking of time, the night is still young. How are you feeling?”

***

Later, much later, when Essek had wrung from Caleb every last orgasm he could physically produce in one night, they cuddled in bed. Slowly, Caleb drifted asleep. Safe and warm and loved. This was becoming the norm., and he was learning that he deserved it

Waking with Essek was one of Caleb’s favourite things in the world. After nights like the one they’d just had, Essek preferred to sleep instead of trance, so he would not have to extract himself from Caleb’s grip too soon. That meant they woke at roughly the same time. Finding wakefulness by inches, slowly aware of little aches, and warmth, and points of contact, and Essek’s head on his chest as the man snored softly.

For Caleb, it was a rare treat to wake up first. To observe Essek at rest, especially when he chose to sleep. The tension gone from his muscles, his breathing slow and deep. Curled up like a cat, having claimed one of Caleb’s arms, and his chest for a pillow. Caleb’s arm was dead, but the discomfort was worth it. Essek would wake soon enough; Caleb would never rush this if he could help it.

Slowly, Essek began to stir. A flicker of eyelashes against Caleb’s skin, the tiniest shift of Essek’s cheek against his chest, a flexing of fingers. Sleep left Essek uncharacteristically groggy at first; he typically needed longer than Caleb did to find full wakefulness on the rare occasion he slept.

So when Essek grumbled and smushed his face against Caleb’s neck, Caleb gave him a little squeeze and let him wake in his own time. Even if Caleb needed a piss.

Essek snuggled closer for a few moments, before he rolled onto his back with a put-upon sigh. Caleb kissed his forehead and slid out of bed to take care of business while Essek came to terms with being awake. He also ran a bath while out of sight, because he was sore everywhere and imagined Essek felt similar. Essek was functionally much younger, and more limber, but they also didn’t have nights like that very often. Caleb was sore in places he had forgotten had muscles.

By the time he returned to the bedroom, Essek had grudgingly reached a sitting position with the blanket draped over his thighs, toes barely touching the floor as if expecting it to be cold. The floors were never cold in the tower, because cold floors were terrible.

“Guten morgen,” Caleb said, leaning against the doorframe.

Essek barely turned his head, but did rake his eyes over Caleb’s still-naked body. “The morning could be better.”

“Please eat something first.” Caleb crossed to a fruit bowl he had the cats keep stocked on a small round table in front of his fireplace, grabbing a handful of grapes. He plucked them from the stem, one-by-one, and slid them into his mouth, fully aware Essek was watching him with a rare hunger. “I am running a bath. Care to join me?” He held out the remaining grapes to Essek, who floated over, ducked his head, and pulled a grape from the stem with his teeth.

He slowly pushed the grape into his mouth, crushed it between his teeth, and swallowed it. “I can make time. Bring the grapes.”

They spent far longer in the bath than necessary, and definitely missed breakfast with the Nein. Essek was straddling Caleb’s lap, their hands between each other’s legs. And Essek had absolutely been on the verge of an orgasm.

Then, he froze. Braced both his hands on the edges of the tub, staring up at the ceiling with utter mortification. Before Caleb could ask (though he was sure he knew), Essek spoke:

“Yes, Jester.” He was audibly, and visibly, trying to keep the breathlessness out of his voice, and not doing a great job. “Caleb and I are fine. We will join you later. Please…” His voice became strained, “...do not message us for a while.”

Caleb let out a low whistle. “Bad move, Essek.”

“Shut up,” Essek groaned, shoving his face against Caleb’s shoulder. “Fuck.”

Caleb stroked his back. “It’s all right. She’ll only tease us a little. I can talk to her if she takes it too far.”

Essek let out a long sigh. “I will never recover from this. A traitor’s death would have caused far less suffering than this.”

“Essek? Shut up.” Caleb slid his hand beneath the water once again. “We have better things to do, remember?”

[witchyfictional]

Week 12 pt.2 (SPRING 12/13)

Professional Log of Harper Tobin, Journeyman Witch

[see PART 1 here]

Additional Notes:

Cleaning all the yeti hair off of my bed and out of my kitchen motivated me to find a contractor in town and pay 300 silver for an actual Treatment Room to get built alongside the apothecary cottage. I’m getting pretty tired of cleaning the entire house and disinfecting my own furniture after every patient. I was told it could be finished and ready by the end of the week, which was a relief. I instructed Dwayne to supervise the proceedings and make sure everyone stays on track.

After taking care of that problem, I went to find Ariadne Soriah in the tavern she’s been staying in. I took her out to tea and told her about my struggle with Bàs Bàta’s remedy these past several weeks, and everything that happened today when I was finally able to treat the creature. I described what I glimpsed at the bottom of Meltwater Loch, and asked if it might possibly be in line with what she’s been searching for – the ancient underwater city she want to study. Ariadne was extremely excited and drilled me for all the details. It seems this might be a lead after all.

We picked up some supplies in town and headed out for the Loch, stopping briefly at the Boot & Breakfast (the giant’s shoe where the Trippins live and work) to tell Calliope of our discovery and invite her along. She grabbed her gear as well and the three of us set out on an expedition together. We made our way to the beach, took our breathing pills and dove into the water close to the place I’d last encountered Bàs Bàta. Ariadne was in it for her studies, Calliope and I mostly for the adventure of it – although I also was pretty eager to do some foraging along the way. Specifically, I want to find another of that Fossil Fish that Calliope gave me a few months back. Señor SkeleFins is a dearly sentimental pet by now, and I would be loathe to have to utilize him for a remedy, no matter how valuable he might be.

As we swam just past the sunken pirate ship, the lake bottom dropped into a deeper slope and we could see farther down into its depths. From such a distance – who knew a lake could be this deep? But then, this is also home to a sea dragon and sunken pirate ships, so what do I know – we could not see much, but we certainly saw enough to hint that there was more than sand and algae below. Mysterious silhouettes and the occasional flicker of strange light drew us forward, down farther and farther. We had to take several rests before continuing, but eventually we found ourselves entering a wondrous landscape of ruins rising up from the lakebed. Spires and citadels, gardens and great stone bridges all crusted over with coral and surrounded by shining schools of fish. Among the ruins there were numerous glowing figures drifting about in slow patterns, too far away for us to make out clearly.

We descended into a courtyard to decide where we would explore first. As we swam around the next corner we encountered the sight of a brightly colored merfolk swimming ahead of us. They had hair like fiery red coral and skin tinged a pale, minty green. Its tricky to guess at gender, since they aren’t mammalian and don’t have some of the same differentiating features that we do, but they were very beautiful. The way they moved was mesmerizing, like a spectacular, glittering dance. We were spellbound.

They eventually noticed our staring and approached, beaming widely. We tried to greet them but we quickly found that we didn’t share any language, although we made a very determined attempt using mostly pantomime and hand signs. It’s difficult to say for sure what they wanted to tell us, but I got the hunch that they were celebrating the banishment of Bàs Bàta’s wrath. At some point they tugged at our hands and drew us into dancing with them, humming a slightly surreal but lovely melody. Their voice resonated in the water in a similar way that Bàs Bàta’s did, but on a much smaller and less unsettling scale.

Ariadne has dubbed our new friend “Coral,” because it’s thematic and sounds vaguely similar to the word they used when they seemed to be trying to tell us their name. After we all had our fill of dancing, Coral stuck with us as an impromptu tour guide to the sunken city. The place is magnificent and enormous. I am certain we won’t be able to see it all in one outing. It’s not all dancing and sightseeing, either – as we drifted through the sunken streets, we were able to see those glowing shapes from befores a little more clearly, and realized that each and every one of them was a a ghost. Unsure which, if any, were malevolent, we followed Coral’s lead and did our best to avoid their notice.

As we passed what seemed to be an ancient temple domed in colored glass, which was somehow mostly intact, I finally spotted a Fossil Fish around one of the open archways. I was able to catch it, but then there was a sudden shriek as a ghost darted at me from inside. I’ve never gone up against a ghost (at least, none free of suits of armor). I had no idea how to react. Although it seemed to be trying to strangle me, it passed right through me – harmless, physically – and then faded into the silt. I was paralyzed for several breaths as my vision blurred into what was probably a memory, or the echo of a memory.

The courtyard was under the sun instead of underwater; the air smelled like salt and iron. My hands – which weren’t actually my hands but someone else’s – were wrapped around somebody’s throat. I felt them squeezing and shaking and I felt my teeth gritting painfully and in the distance I could hear another voice screaming…

…Then it all abruptly ended, and I was back in the muffled quiet of the lake, although my hand were still shaking. Although I was fine, and I told my friends I was fine, and we continued our exploration, it took me a while to shake it all off to be honest.

I found another Fossil Fish just before the end of the expedition. Or, well, the end of the expedition for me. After bottling my second catch up, I thought I saw another through the cracks in a stone wall, but it turns out it wasn’t a Fossil Fish. It was a breed I’m unfamiliar with, and it fed from me in a jet of warm water sprayed directly into my face. I lost consciousness, and am writing this now in the wagon home, having only woken up hours later. I’ve already apologized to the others for the necessity of dragging my limp body around.

I’m very embarrassed, but also a little intrigued by the incident. Whatever that fish sprayed at me gave me intensely vivid dreams – not at all horrible like the vision I had from the ghost; these were very, very good dreams. The details will remain private, but I will say I feel extremely well-rested for the first time in weeks, and I’m finally feeling like I’ve got the hang of it here in High Rannoc. It’s an exciting place, and I feel like I have the energy to take on aynthing now.

OOC: Rep – 19 [Intermediate] Silver – 74 Tools – basics / coracle / sickle (+2 foraging points) Familiar skill – Hunter (-3 to find Animal reagents) Golem Helper: supervising construction

Upgrades: – Garden plot (x1; Surgeon Sap) – Raven Loft (take 2 jobs; if both on time, x2 pay for second draw) – Treatment Room (+3 all Timers, +10 silver /successful potion)

Surplus reagents: ** Surgeon Sap [wound] [burn] [+1s]  — (freely available) *** Amethyst Antlers [magic] [curse] [mood] — (x2) ~Candy Rock [+4s] — (x1) * Coldrust [hot] [magic] — (x1) * Deep Reed [ear] [blood] [stomach] — (x1) ** Dentist Crabs [teeth] [mouth] [lungs] [infection] — (x1) ** Foot Fungus [burn] [boils] [rash] [+2p] — (x2) *** Fossil Fish [time] [magic] — (x3) * Gas Weed [lungs] — (x1) *** Ghost Goo [spirit] [curse] — (x1) ** Glittersnow [curse] [magic] — (x1) * Hermit Snails [wound] [bones] — (x1) *** Innocent’s Suffering [pain] [sleep] [nerves] [wound] — (x2) ! *** Jumpkin [stomach] [cold] — (x1) ** Mermaid’s Gift [hair] [+1p] — (x1) *** Moon Moss [blood] [curse] — (x1) ** Princess Toad [wart] [rash] [mood] — (x1) * Scramble Bramble [mood] [senses] [+1p] — (x1) * Skullcap [poison] [pain] — (x4) **Shadow Shark [pain] [burn] [rash] [-1s] — (x1) ** Shockfish [nerves] [pain] [boils] — (x3) * Silverleaf [infection] [rash] — (x1) *** Wigfish [mood] [sleep] [hair] — (x2)