i will build a lighthouse there somehow } selkies au

[betteralready]

 He's glad this is his life now.

He's glad he doesn't have to live his life in fear. He's glad he isn't constantly looking over his shoulder waiting for disaster to strike. He's glad that most of his days involve tending to the lighthouse and its grounds; involve walks on the beach and swimming and fishing. 

Involve loving and being loved by so many very good people.

Elliot has been adjusting well, though he still seems just a bit nervous. Archie is giving him some space as the young man reads in the lighthouse; instead heading outside to see if anything interesting has washed up on the shore.

His gaze, as always, flickers on occasion out into the water and towards the horizon. He's never sure when something (or someone) might come out from the deep and surprise him.

Comments

[overbarreled]

That's a good sign. That's the sort of eager curiosity that marked their kind in the wild--and that got stripped when held too long against their will on the shore.

"Taking it a little step at a time. With someone you trust." It's a simple thing, but simple things could be massively helpful. "My da took me out--a little further every time, then back in again. Until it started to feel normal."

[meonmyway2stealurgirl]

He nods thoughtfully as he listens.

"I trust-- Mister Horatio."

So that's a good start.

[overbarreled]

"Good."

And thank goodness Horatio had been the one to find Elliot. Thank goodness that Elliot hadn't been so far gone as to not begin to relax into this new home.

"He'll keep you safe. Honest, he will."

[meonmyway2stealurgirl]

"He says they've-- done it a lot."

Looked after other selkies, at least. Helped them find their way home again.

[overbarreled]

The slight dip of Henry's head is brief. It never got easier, to think of how many of their kind needed to be brought home again from the world of men.

"They've gotten quite good at it, yeah."

[meonmyway2stealurgirl]

"Did you-- ever meet any of th'others?"

It'd be nice, to talk to someone else who had ended up being stuck for so much of their life.

[overbarreled]

"A few, aye."

And there's no helping the brief flicker of strain that passes over his features. The healing process was never pretty--and the scars marking their kind were always much fiercer from land than from sea.

"Takes time."

[meonmyway2stealurgirl]

"But they-- get better?"

They heal, as best they can?

[overbarreled]

His fingers have to dig into his arms to keep himself from leaning farther forward.

"They do. They get... control."

And what they did with it varied wildly, but that's hardly the encouragement Elliot needed just now.

"That can take getting used to, hm?"

[meonmyway2stealurgirl]

"I can imagine," he says softly, fingers fidgeting in his skin.

"But it must be-- nice. To have-- choices."

[overbarreled]

"It is." There's a moment of consideration before Henry hazards the gentle addition of, "You'll get used to it too, hm?"

The reminder can't hurt.

[meonmyway2stealurgirl]

That earns a briefly startled blink, before he nods, slowly.

"I guess-- I guess I will. Yeah."

[overbarreled]

"Not a race or anything, hm?"

Just another marathon. Just another long season of slowly moving into deeper and deeper waters.

"But you will. Honest."

[meonmyway2stealurgirl]

That earns a flash of a more proper smile. That’s incredibly reassuring, after all.

“—Thank you.”

It does help a lot to hear.

[overbarreled]

"Of course, /little brother/."

It's an easy, thoughtless affection. It might even be one that Elliot had picked up by now, if others have passed through particularly often.

The sentiment will surely get through regardless.