( @grapefruitey ) Said :

━━ ✦ ( @grapefruitey ) said :

🧜 for a mermaid au starter

They didn't have a fin, nor seem to know how to swim. They were struggling, clawing, towards the surface of the water. She knew the stories, the warnings, everything she knew told her to let the sea claim them. But the look on their face, she couldn't let it happen. Taking a moment to chastise herself, she cursed at herself before swimming over, positioning herself behind them, she locked her arms under theirs and then began to swim up, hoping that it wouldn't be too late for them.

━━ ✦ ( @never-surrender )

Grabbing their orders from the counter, he carried the coffees back to where Emma waited. Placing her order in front of her, he slid into the seat across her and took a sip from his coffee. If it could even be considered that, since giving up the drink, sugar had become his substitute.

❝ How do you balance it? ❞ he asked frankly and honestly. ❝ The sobriety, the stress of parenthood? ❞ With his best friend moving soon, it added more to his list of things he was constantly worried about and he didn’t want to burden his wife with his struggles. ❝ I don’t know what to say to him half the time. Not sure if he even really likes me and then not wanting to bother Anna with it all. She’s taken on more than she should and with Lizzie leaving soon, I feel like the proverbial rug has been pulled from under my feet. Things are changing a lot faster than I care for them to. ❞ Taking another sip from his coffee, he chuckled. ❝ And don’t give me that shite they tell us at the meetings about taking deep breathes. ❞

❝ Brave or stupid? ❞ It had taken her forever to find the perfect hiding spot for the things she wanted to greedily keep to herself, that the thought of sharing now made her narrow her eyes at him. Taking a moment to finish the ones in her mouth, she couldn't help it, curiosity would always get the best of her. Would the it be another snack? Chips? Candy? Gum? Her fathers voice echoing the full phrase that people usually only half said came to mind, Curiosity killed the cat, but remember that satisfaction brought it back. Never forget that, Soley.

Bringing the chips out from behind her, she took another chip from the bag while she made up her mind. With a sigh and a smile, she held the bag out towards him. ❝ Hurry up before I change my mind. What you got? ❞

It didn't take Janny long to figure out what Elizabeth was up to. Many times had he done the same and had watched his sisters in laws follow suit. It was a ringing true fact that no one fought over snacks and candies more than the adults did. It was a miracle the kids knew how to share, somewhat. He quietly followed after her getting up from his edge seat, a good thing since his own kids were currently sat in their play pen.

Leaning against the doorframe of the kitchen arch he chuckled under his breath. He had no intention of fighting her over it just was fun giving her a hard time. He knew nothing was safe when the kids peeped them with their eyeballs. "Huh uh. So, listen, I have a proposition for you if you're brave enough to take it." The smile on his face giving away the sparkle hint of mischief. Behind his back he dangled a pack of Wally's stash, eyeing her if she'd be willing to make a trade.

Emma D'Arcy for Arena HOMME+ (Summer/Autumn 2024) Photographed by Fausto Elizalde

Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives-or to find strength in a very long one.

V. E. SCHWAB

Beaming at his agreement, she agreed to his terms.❝ You got yourself a deal, Vincey. ❞ There were still times where she felt unsure about their friendship. What was right to say or do, when they had once dated. There was even the fight that had split everyone up into sides that she thought none of them would ever recover from.

But it was moments like this that made her feel happy that they had finally reached a good place. A place where they could rebuild that friendship that they once had. ❝ As long as it's not pizza. But you also have to do some of the photo ops with me! Has there been someone you've been dying to meet? I can make sure we get passes for those. I just want to meet Elijah Wood this time, then I'll have met the entire fellowship! ❞

He didn't need much convincing. He'd do anything for her, but he couldn't let her know that. Though everyone around them would probably say that it was obvious how much he would do for her.

From that first day at that convention holding all her props and bags of merch she bought from various stands. "Okay I'll go. But only if you also agree to by lunch." He smiled. He just wanted to make her happy.

Even though they broke up, that's all he wanted. To see her laugh and smile. This just friends thing was much harder than he thought it would be.