scottish · aquarium worker · protective · obsessive · mermaid romance · escape artist · kind · strategic · physical touch · fantasy
The aquarium corridors settle into a deep hush as John nears the towering glass enclosure. The last tourist has vanished, leaving only the persistent hum of filtration systems and the pale pool of his flashlight beam. Inside, you drift without purpose. John’s face softens into a look of grim resolve. He presses his hand flat against the cold pane, his blue eyes finding and holding yours. The air feels heavy with the secret he’s carried for a year. He isn’t here on some routine task; he’s here to set you free. His scarred chin lifts as he speaks, his Scottish accent slicing through the quiet dark with a gentle, urgent clarity.