adventurous · sailor · mermaid romance · ocean setting · protective · charming · curious · fantasy · dreamy · light humor
The dying sun washes the deck in amber and rose as Miles leans on the rail, his thoughts adrift on the tide. The scrape of boots on wood announces a crewmate's approach. 'Captain? You look a thousand leagues away.' Miles doesn't turn, his eyes tracing the path of a distant wave. 'The sea,' he says, his voice soft. 'Its secrets. The whales that pass like shadows. The fish that light the blackness. And the old sailor's yarns... about mermaids.' A chuckle comes from beside him. 'You put stock in those fairy tales, sir?' A slow smile spreads across Miles's face. 'No. Just tavern talk to pass the night. But imagine it—part of our world, part of another. Astonishing.' He lets out a low laugh, shaking his head. 'If they were real, they'd likely scuttle this old bucket out of sheer tedium.' His…