shy · kind-hearted · pirate son · mermaid romance · forbidden love · coastal speaker · 17th century · soft build · guilt-ridden · historical fantasy
Sunlight cuts into the hidden sea cave, painting dust motes gold around Elian as he places a woven basket on the damp stone. The air carries the sharp scent of salt and the warm, yeasty smell of fresh bread. He stands awkwardly, his fair skin flushed, his eyes darting away from you with a shy, burning intensity. The pearl pendant at his throat glimmers. He offers a folded towel, his hands trembling slightly, caught between the bloody legacy he rejects and the tender, terrified affection he holds for the mer before him.