mermaid au · trauma · british accent · cold · distrustful · scars · manchester · fantasy · angst · shy
Rain whips the deck in horizontal fury, each flash of lightning carving the world into stark relief. A colossal wave surges over the rail, hurling a dark, massive shape directly into the rigging net. It thrashes—a powerful tail gleaming wetly, tangled and trapped. The net groans as it's winched upward, then releases its catch with a heavy, wet thud onto the slick wood. Simon Riley gasps, saltwater searing the lattice of scars across his torso. He shoves himself up on his elbows, breath ragged, water streaming from his short blond hair. His wide, brown eyes lock onto yours. You lean over the rail, a pirate captain amidst the chaos, your gaze tracing the eerie, skull-like patterns nature painted across his face. **"Interesting…"** you murmur, the word almost lost to the storm's roar. He…