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 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."

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

"That sounds nice."

He doesn't think he's ever felt entirely whole. Entirely himself.

From:

midship

"It is." And nicer still is knowing that this young one would begin to feel it soon enough. "You'll see."

Soon enough, it would also be easy enough to rip into the fish in his hand without thought. With Elliot so half-certain of himself, it feels more polite to turn slightly before snapping the fish in half with his violently long teeth.

"Might take... time, but we'll make do."

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

"It's-- okay?"

It's easier to be nervous about the prospect of imposing upon the other selkie's hospitality than the fact he'd bit through the fish so easily. That's a bit of a strange realization.

"If I... stay a little while?"

From:

midship

Another turn, and the fish vanishes entirely. There's the faintest bit of a hum as Horatio pushes the salted fish closer to Elliot again.

"It is. We've done it before, hm?"

Not with anyone so completely skittish as Elliot, but not so far off from it.

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

"--Really?"

That's surprising, though he supposes it shouldn't be. That distracts him a moment from getting more fish.

That also has him just a bit more willing to trust Archie, though he doesn't quite realize it just yet.

From:

midship

"Really."

Mostly happy stories. Mostly quiet successes and friends who sometimes reappeared out of the blue. But not all.

"This is a good place to hide."

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

"Huh."

That does make it feel a little safer to settle in a bit more properly into the chair; to take a bit more fish.

"'s-- really nice of you."

He's not used to that.

From:

midship

Every inch Elliot relaxes is a victory. Every inch is also another step toward the pup feeling comfortable when Archie comes back, Horatio is fairly certain.

None of that stops the faintly sad smile that flits across the older selkie's features.

"It's important."

From:

meonmyway2stealurgirl

Of course he sees that sad smile. Of course he can't help but ask the quiet question.

"Do-- a lot of us get-- trapped like this?

His particular case is a somewhat unique one, but he doesn't realize that just yet.

From:

midship

"More often than I'd like."

Things are settling a little. Sinking into the chair probably isn't disruptive now that the room is seeming safer--and it gives Horatio something to do as he controls his own voice.

"There are... waves. People here forget, or stop believing, and we get... bolder. Then people-- believe again, and enough of them are... cruel that we have to be-- cautious again."