Mermay - an AU (For Mich)
May. 11th, 2018 03:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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It's not every day that Xion gets to go to the beach. It could be, but she's not the healthiest person, and despite living just a short distance away, she can't make it all the time. She can't even go to school regularly, so despite the fact that it's technically summer vacation, she's still catching up.
That doesn't mean she can't take breaks, though, and on the rare days when she feels well enough to leave her house, she makes her way here, to where the waves crash on the shore and the gulls cry in the air, and does something. Sometimes she reads under a tree, sometimes she builds a sand castle, but most often she just watches the horizon, wishing she could someday be free of this.
Today's a little different. There's something - or someone - on the beach, half in the surf. She moves as quickly as she can over, but it's not fast, even given that she's actually on her feet today. That gives her time to be careful and time to take in what she's looking at, though, and something's definitely weird.
"Hey, are you ok?" She calls out, not expecting much of a response as she gets closer.
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Date: 2018-05-14 11:29 pm (UTC)He just needs some time to let his tail heal enough and then maybe he could return before he gets too hungry or dried out. So, he’s washed up to shore for now. A little more relieved that he didn’t have to be victim to where the currents wanted to take him. He can rest here so long as no humans decide to---
Nevermind. Zack curses under his breath and tries to keep his tail hidden within the surf of the water. He knows these beaches well so he was sure to pull himself up to a more remote area but alas...
Maybe if he just plays dead for a second the human would run screaming and he could make his escape back into the water.
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Date: 2018-05-15 02:21 am (UTC)"You shouldn't sleep on the beach, the tide's coming in!" It's weird that she's never seen this person before. Maybe they're a tourist? But this beach isn't a touristy spot, it's all gravel and driftwood while there are white sands closer to town. Plus it's the wrong season for that. And now that she's closer she also sees he's naked. "Where are your clothes?"
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Date: 2018-05-19 03:57 pm (UTC)The voice he hears is somewhat familiar. Maybe he heard it in a dream once, maybe he heard it...
He threatens to peek an eye open and when he catches sight of her face he can't help but to suddenly jolt back in shock.
"Damn it--" No- This isn't good. Zack's tail pulls up from the water and sand as he shimmies backwards away from her. The trail of blood from his tail mixes up with the ocean water.
Not her.
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Date: 2018-05-19 05:12 pm (UTC)"Stop! You're hurt!" She's not sure how she could help, but she drops the stick and tries to follow him... Into the surf. She's not strong enough to swim, her legs aren't even on a good day. But she's got determination.
Sadly determination won't stop a wave from knocking her down if they get any farther out...
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Date: 2018-05-20 09:59 pm (UTC)When she gets too close into the water he forces himself to stop because he knows that her legs won't carry her. He knows that gait and Zack hates it.
So, he awkwardly stops in the shallows of the water. He puts his hands up like he's surrendering.
"Alright! Stop already, you obviously can't follow me into the water! Just- Stop."
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Date: 2018-05-21 01:04 am (UTC)"What happened?" Just like she was as a child, she's still worried about others. Maybe not as trusting - there's only so long you can go with being teased for being sick and still open up easily. But that sense of familiarity is helping with that, and though she stops, she leans forward just a little, to get a better look at his injuries.
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Date: 2018-05-26 01:47 am (UTC)...
"You're not weirded out by this?" Zack bypasses her question with his question. Because really, is she not freaked out by a literal merman washed up on shore?
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Date: 2018-05-26 04:06 am (UTC)But that memory stirs something else. She looks back at his face and furrows her brows. Her father flushed the fish. This merman kind of looks like him. That's weird, too. "You're hurt and you could get sick."
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Date: 2018-05-29 01:04 am (UTC)"I'll be fine, it's just a scratch."
Well, more than just a scratch but he can't deal with her worried face.
"I'm sure you got better things to do, you better get out of here."
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Date: 2018-05-29 01:46 am (UTC)Yes. She's bad enough that she needs that regularly, not just crutches or braces.
"I'm going to be stuck in it forever soon, I want to walk while I still can!" Why is she sharing so much, why is she so comfortable with him? This feels weird.
"... Sorry."
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Date: 2018-06-02 05:32 pm (UTC)So she's still sick, huh? He decides to play dumb just a little while longer, inquiring with a quirked brow...
"What's got you in a wheelchair and crutches in the first place? They don't think you'll get better?"
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Date: 2018-06-02 08:39 pm (UTC)"Yeah. It's not a disease that can be treated yet."
... Wait. "Did I say I was sick?" She's pretty sure she didn't mention crutches, either.
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Date: 2018-06-08 12:46 am (UTC)"Well, I- ... Uhhh...." Zack sputters stupidly for a second as he tries to make up an excuse.
"I assumed. You said wheelchair and all...?"
That's an easy enough assumption for most people to make. Or at least he hopes. The truth is he knows exactly what kind of disease she has and all the equipment that goes along with it.
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Date: 2018-06-11 01:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-06-16 03:11 pm (UTC)"I can't go on land. No matter how much I want to. But if I let you in on a little secret will you leave me alone?"
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Date: 2018-06-17 01:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-06-17 01:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-06-17 02:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-06-17 03:00 am (UTC)"... You don't like people worrying about you?"
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Date: 2018-06-17 03:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-06-23 04:50 pm (UTC)Zack's expression softens. The last thing he wants is for her to cry, that would make him feel like total shit. Although he does understand where she's coming from. It's hard to deal with everyone treating you differently for one specific reason all the time.
"People worry because they care. Not because they're pitying you. It gets hard, I know. But that's how people show they love you."
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Date: 2018-06-26 03:52 am (UTC)But then she pauses. "... So why do you care? You don't know me... right?" She's not sure herself, anymore.