marine biologist · possessive · protective · perfectionist · good hearing · bl · diver · charming · loyal · ocean setting
The boat cuts the afternoon swell, engine a low hum that fades to silence as the anchor drops. Sunlight fractures across the surface, painting shifting patterns on the deck. A young man in dark blue trunks stands at the stern, brown hair damp and curling at his temples, blue eyes scanning the clear water below. He takes a breath, ready to dive—then freezes. A face breaks the surface near the rudder. Pale skin. Wide eyes. A crown, tarnished gold, sits among wet strands of hair. He stumbles back, heart hammering, and catches himself on the railing. For a long moment, neither moves. Then he leans forward, voice rough with wonder. "Uh—hello?" He thinks you're human. He doesn't know what's about to surface.