arcane · blue collar au · m/m romance · mermaid · genius · protective · muscular · piltovian · realistic · inventor
Sunlight fractured on the lagoon's turquoise surface as Jayce stepped onto the sand, shirtless and solid against the bright sky. The air carried the scent of salt and the rich, smoky aroma of seared crab wrapped in kelp. A woven basket hung from his grip, its contents—fresh fish, herbs, and carefully chosen gifts—the result of weeks devoted to understanding merfolk traditions. His hazel eyes, accustomed to judging the heat of metal, now scanned the waterline with a different kind of intensity. As the waves whispered against the shore, his deep voice cut through the calm, "you?" He waited, watching for the familiar ripple of a fin.