whisted | for jollyboat: anywhere you go

He doesn't quite fit.

Horatio had known, of course, that he wouldn't. Even if he had managed to make his way onto a ship years ago, everyone would have known he was odd. Perhaps it's for the best that he's clearly just a bit skittish, just a bit uncertain of himself unlike the other young men his age. Perhaps that would distract the human mind from looking to see just why, exactly, this one didn't seem to be quite entirely right.

It was, nonetheless, one thing to know and another thing to live. Being bundled in heavy unfamiliar fabric is surprisingly uncomfortable. The uniform is far more restrictive than the clothing he had forced himself to become accustomed to while hovering around the port. The sensation of being on a boat, despite the familiarity of the sea, is throwing his stomach through something of a loop. He can't shift and change direction. He can't twist along with the waves, comfortable and easy, or cut through below the discomfort of breakers tugging in the wrong direction. It's unnatural, here on a warped version of the surface. It's twisting something uncomfortable in his shoulders, almost dizzying as he tries to find his feet under him.

This is what he wanted, and it doesn't quite fit.

For the most part, feeling his skin in the sack slung over his shoulders is reassuring. His fingers can worry against the familiar softness with each odd rush of discomfort. This, after all, is the back-up plan. This is the fail-safe if everything falls completely to pieces and he needs to throw himself simply back into the sea. This is the piece of himself which will always fit properly, no matter where he is.

That's why it's resting at the top of his sack as he scrambles up properly into the ship. That's why, in the bluster of humanity, the young selkie doesn't notice that his skin has spilled out onto the deck.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

midship

It used to feel like a natural thing from men. It feels entirely wrong in this soft little voice that ought to be barking and yammering with abandon.

"...Horatio."

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

Oh. That’s going to take some getting used to.

“—Thank you, Mister Horatio.”

There’s another beat as he shifts his skin delicately in his arms.

“‘m— Elliot.”

From:

midship

This smile isn't quite the same as the one that comes for Archie. Warmth still sneaks around the edges.

"Of course, Elliot."

The path toward the lighthouse is a rocky thing to navigate, so Horatio slows slightly. Besides, this one must need time simply breathing in the proper salty air.

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

He’ll have to follow very carefully. He’ll have to shift his skin around a few times to be able to balance appropriately.

He’ll have to marvel just a little at the way the sea smells from this close.

But the cautiousness of following does prompt another soft question, “How d’you keep it from falling when y’ve got it— hidden away like that?”

From:

midship

Ultimately, Elliot will manage, Horatio is certain. There's something so incredibly clear about the young one's gaze at the waves that he can't help but feel the truth settle in his chest.

He still feels the sea. She'll welcome him home again.

"...pocket. I'll show you."

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

“‘ll right.”

And hopefully Horatio will forgive Ellio pausing briefly to look properly out into the sea.

“What’s it— like, out there?”

From:

midship

Of course Horatio doesn't mind. Elliot seems to have an eye for the good spots to study from.

"There's nothing like it." Nothing on land, certainly, to analogize to. "Even when it's... difficult and dangerous, you just... You're free."

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

“Free.”

It’s a mournful sort of echo; full of longing.

“Dunno ‘f I— know what that’s like.”

From:

midship

"You will."

Horatio spares a glance back toward the town, then moves a hand close to Elliot's shoulder without actually touching. No need to frighten the pup when he's doing so well with what's clearly been a rough day.

"But first you'll eat. And sleep. Understand?"

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

“I really can’t— go in right away?”

His soul is aching. The desire to be in the water is very difficult to surpress.

Edited Date: 2018-10-05 10:58 pm (UTC)

From:

midship

There's a moment of consideration. There's a slight redirection of his feet, still heading toward the lighthouse but heading almost past it.

"Not all the way in."

But maybe it wouldn't be terrible to go wade into the water a little.

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

“Okay.”

But even the little bit that seems to be being offered is a godsend. Elliot can’t help the huff of utter relief that escapes his lips after being allowed this much.

From:

midship

"Get a good grip, hm?"

Holding the pelt was probably doing the young one good, but years of nerves couldn't be swept away easily.

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

[I was gonna say got her skin back but couldn't bring Elliot with her/couldn't come back but NOW YOU'VE GOT ME OVER HERE THINKING SHE DIED AFTER GETTING HER SKIN AND THAT'S JUST THE WORST.]

"All right."

Scrambling to shift the skin properly into his arms takes a moment, but it's worth it.

From:

midship

"Nice and easy. Good."

There's a relatively smooth patch along the edge of the bay's curve. Once they make the scramble down, Horatio ducks his head slightly and lowers his voice a hair further.

"Once it's dark, hm? We'll come back here."

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

It's not entirely clear if it's the proximity to the water or the words that are the reason, but Elliot's shoulders relax all the same.

"Thank you, Mister Horatio."

So now that they're proper close to the water, he's going to kick off his shoes to at least get his feet in the water.

From:

midship

His breath comes nearly in a sigh, bending slightly as it escapes him. Elliot may not have been raised with his own kind, but even humans could usually pick up the quiet approval in the tones.

"You belong here."

It's really as simple as that.

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

"I want to."

He doesn't know if he believes it.

From:

midship

"You belong, Elliot."

Even if the pup couldn't quite understand the language of his kind. Even if this seemed to be the first time he had set foot in the ocean. Even if his skin was almost brand new to him now.

"This isn't something they can... take away. No matter what."

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

“I don’t even— know how to swim.”

It’s a tortured sort of whisper as he shuts his eyes, breathing in the salty air and taking in the feeling of the water around his feet.

“I wasn’t even— sure until I— met you, really. That any of it was— real.”

He might not entirely believe it until he’s properly changed, really.

From:

midship

This will help, Horatio knows. Letting Elliot simply breathe in the salt air with the waves lapping at his feet will help.

It's still impossibly hard not to clutch the pup to his side, the way his own father might have a lifetime ago.

"Everyone needs to learn to swim."

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

Well. That gets him looking at Horatio again fairly quickly.

“Even—?” Us, he doesn’t say, because he doesn’t feel like part of an ‘us’ just yet.

From:

midship

"Of course." Letting his fingers drift to settle over the slight bulk of his pelt helps keep him from reaching out. "We're born... wanting. Not knowing."

Elliot might not know yet, but the want is plain as day on his face. The very way his feet had been taking him, almost without conscious thought, was as sure a sign as any.

"You've already got-- the hard part down."

Swimming lived in instinct. Once it had been practiced, the shift became one as well. Navigating the world of men was what took most selkies the longest time to learn.

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

"--Yeah?"

That can't help but get a more hopeful expression on Elliot's face. It's a feeling he hasn't really known before, but he likes it.

"And you'll... you'll teach me the rest."

And that's got him hopeful, too.

From:

midship

The hope in Elliot's face is like sunshine breaking slowly through a storm. Horatio is surprised to find that it loosens something in his chest, letting his heart beat just a bit easier.

"Absolutely, Elliot."

It would take time. It would take hard work from both of them (and likely from Archie, because it's impossible to imagine the man's heart not breaking for this gentle soul). It feels like even the struggle will be a reward he had never dreamed he deserved.

"Come on, hm? Sleep will help pass the time."

Before it would be safe to slip down here again and actually melt into the other piece of themselves.