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

"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.

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

"'ll right."

It's a little easier to follow him, now that he's been able to rest in the sea a moment. It's clear that even just this brief time spent in the water has helped to ease much of the tension in him.

Not quite all of it, though, as they approach the lighthouse and Elliot remembers they probably won't be alone.

"He'll-- be in there? The one who-- returned your skin?"

From:

midship

Every little step in the right direction is still a relief. It sets slightly more of a spring into Horatio's step, although he does slow slightly at the question.

It's such a happy thing, coming home to Archie. It's been easy to let the reality of this piece of the current moment keep slipping from his mind.

"He will. I can... go in first. Ask him to wait outside before you come in."

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

That earns a twist of Elliot's lips as he contemplates the offer. The older selkie seems to trust this mysterious man, but the man still is exactly that-- a man, and a stranger.

"I'd like to... at least meet him, I think."

He's not so certain about being in the same space as the man for long, but he won't say so. He doesn't want to be a bother, after all.

From:

midship

It feels like being trusted, more than anything. That twists the corners of Horatio's lips up briefly, more of a half-step taken to bring himself more in front of the pup as they approach the structure.

"If you'd like."

And if Elliot really does look certain once they reach the door.

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

“You... trust him.”

Or seems to, at any rate. That goes a long way.

It doesn’t entirely kill the nerves on Elliot’s face as they make their way up to the lighthouse door, but it helps.

From:

midship

"I do." It doesn't hurt, surely, to underline: "I would not have brought you here if I didn't."

This poor little one shouldn't be led anywhere Horatio wasn't entirely certain of. The signs of strain were far too clear to risk anything other than proper safety.

Horatio moves to unlock the door slowly, only opening the heavy wooden thing partway to stick his head slightly through the gap. "Archie? Will you come here a minute?"

From:

betteralready

“All right.”

It’s a soft response as Elliot lets himself hide behind the other selkie when he opens the door. He won’t be anywhere near Archie’s field of vision when the man makes his way to the door, his brow furrowed just slightly at the somewhat unusual greeting.

“Everything okay ‘ratio?”

From:

midship

Horatio can barely remember a time before he had trusted Archie. One arm still lifts impulsively and slightly to his side, protective without thought of the pup standing behind him.

"Everything's fine. I've just... got someone with me."

By now, Archie seems to understand practically every sigh and huff. Hopefully the faintly affectionate and worried stress around 'someone' will come through well enough.

"Needs some help. And some... time."

From:

betteralready

“Oh.”

That can’t help but earn a fretful purse of his lips as he nods. That, after all, is a kind of worry Archie recognizes.

“Okay. How can I— help?”

If he can help.

From:

midship

"I told him he could stay here for a bit. Rest up for--" Horatio's glance is likely half-hidden by the door, but Archie can probably guess that the selkie's gaze has flitted to the cove. "--tonight."

Which Horatio can't imagine Archie objecting to. Then comes the trickier part of helping.

"And he wants to... meet you."

Maybe, the word practically drips, just for a moment or two.

From:

betteralready

There’s definitely a ‘maybe’ there. It’s definitely a maybe Archie recognizes. He nods rather instantly at that, expression thoughtful.

“He’s welcome t’stay.” Which he knows Horatio knows, “‘ve got to take care of some things in town and should probably go get changed now so I don’t miss it. I can meet him in the morning, when he’s— better rested?”

And more comfortable in himself and in this home. The words are pitched to carry out to where he imagines the other selkie (and it must be a selkie) is likely hiding.

The words are ones that Elliot hears and believes, if the way he relaxes all the more behind Horatio is any indication.

From:

midship

Horatio can practically feel the tension beginning to bleed from the little one behind him. That's half of what brings the smile flitting over Horatio's lips.

The other half is just Archie, pure and simple.

"Perfect."

As is the chance to lean in and peck a brief kiss to the man's lips, breathing a soft sigh of sounds that Archie had long since learned meant 'I love you.'

Then his attention has to flit back over his shoulder, letting go of the door slightly. "All right, Elliot?"

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

The quick kiss earns a bright smile out of Archie and a soft echoed 'I love you' back before he goes to hide himself away. From this angle, Elliot can't see the kiss, but the faint sounds of selkie speak being exchanged reaches and soothes him all the more.

It makes his nod far more certain, when Horatio turns back to face him.

"All right. Thank you."

From:

midship

That's better. That's another layer of Elliot looking more like he ought to. That prompts Horatio to open the door fully, not quite reaching to gesture the younger selkie inside.

"Of course."

The little house attached to the lighthouse is simply kept, more touches of Archie than of Horatio in much of the space. Hopefully the clear weight of humanity won't stop Elliot from being gently hustled into a chair.

Also hopefully Elliot won't mind that raw fish will be offered up with the salted ones Horatio brings to the table.

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

It’s not as frightening as it could be, with the other selkie nearby. It makes it much easier for him to settle in.

Doesn’t quite stop him from looking curiously (and just a hint askance) at the raw fish that’s being offered.

“We don’t— get sick from eating it like this?”

When they’re not in seal form, at least?

From:

midship

Briefly, the question twitches at Horatio's heart. His own mother had needed to chide him into trying salted fish for the first time, his complaint the mirror image of the one being asked now.

It's very difficult not to set a hand on Elliot's shoulder, forcing himself to press briefly again at the folded certainty of his own skin.

"...maybe not yet." Still, he'll take one for himself. "Once you get used to... going back and forth? It stops being two different... things."

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

"Huh."

It's easy enough to sound fascinated by that. It's certainly not something he'd have expected, after all.

Well, none of this is what he would have expected. He takes a piece of salted fish carefully to start eating.

"What-- else changes?"

From:

midship

"Everything. And-- nothing."

The table isn't large, so Horatio leans on the chair opposite rather than sitting. Crowding had never helped.

"Things feel different at first, but then it... all starts to just feel like... you. One self."