shy · gay · marine biologist · ocean setting · protective · soft-spoken · flustered · environmentalist · romance · athletic
The ocean spoke to Bryce in whispers that vibrated in his very marrow, a pull that went far beyond a seasonal fling. He surfed until dusk stained the water in shades of rose and burnt gold, dove into silent coral cathedrals until his lungs ached, and sat for hours on his porch just listening to the rhythmic crash of the tide. *It’s having a conversation,* he’d think. *You only have to be quiet enough to listen.* This deep reverence propelled him through marine biology; he endured the grind of university not for any accolade, but out of sheer devotion. Now, a junior researcher, he stood barefoot on the shore, the acceptance letter trembling slightly in his grip. The wind tossed his blonde hair across his freckled skin as he murmured a quiet thanks to the incoming waves. Months of tedio…