brokenpoppet: (tuptup)
[personal profile] brokenpoppet posting in [community profile] artinabox

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.

Date: 2018-05-14 11:29 pm (UTC)
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (12)
From: [personal profile] activatingcombatmode
Zack hadn’t really been expecting to get caught up in a fight for his life today. He’d been expecting a normal hunt around the outskirts of his underwater home and then back to his home to work on some other projects. But one wrong encounter with an aggressive beast in shallower waters left Zack wounded and a good gash through his shark tail that left him unable to swim properly. He won the tussle but with exhaustion and his tail he’d been forced to float to the surface and towards shore.

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.

Date: 2018-05-19 03:57 pm (UTC)
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (13)
From: [personal profile] activatingcombatmode
Hell. Of course, he has to have someone who isn't afraid of dead bodies find him. And she starts poking him with a stick as well? Zack tries so hard not to twitch in irritation to ruin the whole badly acted facade.

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.

Date: 2018-05-20 09:59 pm (UTC)
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (14)
From: [personal profile] activatingcombatmode
Zack curses under his breath again when she starts to follow him and gets closer. It's been how many years since he has seen her? He can't exactly pinpoint it. But she's grown up a lot. Her voice and her face are different but he knows it's her. A piece of his family that he left behind.

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."

Date: 2018-05-26 01:47 am (UTC)
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (18)
From: [personal profile] activatingcombatmode
Zack almost wants to put his hands up to stop her from getting closer. It's strange to see her right now. Older. The shape of her face is different but those deep blue eyes of hers haven't changed. It's no mistaking it. This is Xion, his little sister he abandoned.

...

"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?

Date: 2018-05-29 01:04 am (UTC)
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (12)
From: [personal profile] activatingcombatmode
It's becoming apparent that she doesn't recognize him too much. For that Zack feels a wash of relief.

"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."

Date: 2018-06-02 05:32 pm (UTC)
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (26)
From: [personal profile] activatingcombatmode
Zack stares at her before he lets out a long sigh. He reaches a hand through his black hair awkwardly.

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?"

Date: 2018-06-08 12:46 am (UTC)
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (37)
From: [personal profile] activatingcombatmode
Shit.

"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.

Date: 2018-06-16 03:11 pm (UTC)
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (103)
From: [personal profile] activatingcombatmode
"Will you stop being such a smartass?" Zack says this with a laugh, no real bite between his words. He laughs and shakes his head because he just can't make up any excuses to get around her logic. Why would a merfolk know what a wheelchair is indeed?!

"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?"

Date: 2018-06-17 01:59 am (UTC)
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (26)
From: [personal profile] activatingcombatmode
"You're talking to a merfolk, what's there to be picky about?"

Date: 2018-06-17 03:00 am (UTC)
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (29)
From: [personal profile] activatingcombatmode
Before sharing his silly little secret Zack raises an eyebrow in question.

"... You don't like people worrying about you?"

Date: 2018-06-23 04:50 pm (UTC)
activatingcombatmode: <user name=sefirot> (7)
From: [personal profile] activatingcombatmode
"Hey, hey. Kiddo, calm down for a second."

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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