⚝ beach。

@christopher b。ᵐᵒᵒⁿˢʰⁱⁿᵉ "Well, there are certain plants that if you eat them, they give you the ability to breathe underwater. If I went back home, I could have my aunt whip up a few potions, too. They last a longer time than the human equipment would, and you don't have to worry about those artificial flippers and such... /And/, they're completely safe. My aunt is kind of like...a doctor? But we really call her a 'healer'." He explained, a fondness for the older woman evident in his aqua orbs. Yeonjun spent most of his childhood in his aunt's hut, silently watching and observing as customers came and went, satisfied with the woman's potions and healing abilities. His parents often had to come and physically pry him out of the shop after he'd lost track of time and needed to return to his princely duties back in the castle. Still, if he could rewind time, he wouldn't change a thing. When the human shifted to face him, he dropped his gaze to the stunning ink lining Chris's arms, only to flutter his lashes repeatedly and glance away with a light cough when he realized he was staring for too long. "I appreciate that, heh. The privacy and safety of my home means a lot to me." His words were as soft as the smile that spread across his face. "You're not trapped on land, Chris. I wasn't trapped in the ocean, was I? We can figure it out." He promised, reaching out to pat the other's hand. "Ah, movies. Mhm, the actors and actresses just...pop out of the water, full-clothed. That doesn't happen, unfortunately. Although, I wish it did. That would be much more convenient."

@changhyun y。ᶠᵒˣⁱᵉ /i pretty much down half of the bottle in only a few sips before i lower it, not wanting to waste it by drinking it all so quickly. i exhale deeply and wipe the corner of my mouth with the pad of my thumb to catch the excess that manages to the dribble out. the banana milk sure hit the spot so i made a mental note to go stock my fridge up when i had enough to. when i hear you begin speaking, it takes me a couple of seconds to fully realize that you had understood what i had said. i look over at you, wide-eyed and speechless for a good second or so before letting out an airy laugh, cheeks turning pink with humiliation.
the one time i thought no one understood me when i spoke english and someone actually does-- of course that's my luck. but, yes yes, banana milk is one of my favorite flavors. it comes second to anything matcha... specifically iced matcha latte. they're to ing die for, i swear.
/reaches up and begins timidly playing with my earlobe as my eyes scan your features, always bashful when it came to praise; i never knew how to properly respond and, most times, i would have to refrain myself from telling people to piss off (in a friendly way, of course). instead i just smile, all shy dimples and pearly whites before diverting my gaze with a small laugh.
yeah, he is pretty amazing. such a happy pill, too. it's hard to feel sad when you're around him. just don't give him coffee, whatever you do.
surfing is definitely not meant for everybody and that's perfectly fine. i may make it look easy but it took me years to be able to master proper core balance on a board and even longer for me to be comfortable with the risk of running into not so friendly creatures of the ocean. i don't think surfing suits you either but it's completely valid to have a fear of the ocean. sometimes, i'm quite terrified myself so there's no need to feel embarrassed.
/laughs softly and reaches out to gently swat at your shoulder, dismissing the question to instead gently remind you of the whole point of our current meet-up;
enough 'bout me. how are /you/ feeling? you were down earlier-- do you wanna talk about it? what's on your mind?

@christopher b。ᵐᵒᵒⁿˢʰⁱⁿᵉ *beams brightly when you accept the bottle of banana milk, relieved that you actually like the drink since I was worrying you might not. Though when you make that comment in English I tilt my head a little and blink, not because of the language, which I understood perfectly, but because I'm just as surprised as you that this is your favorite drink* Really?! I just- I don't know either. Banana milk is my favorite drink too, that's why I brought it. And I was actually scared that you wouldn't like it. Guess we have more in common than I thought hehe
*smiles to myself when I see that all of the bruises from the accident have completely disappeared, feeling reassured and happy now that I've seen Felix's work, knowing that you can go back to doing the thinks that you love and that you're no longer suffering from those injuries*
You look great~ I'm happy and so grateful towards Felix. He's seriously amazing. And so are you! I wish I could ride a surfboard as skillfully and easily as you do. And also not be afraid of the water and be able to swim. Ugh I'm so embarrassing~
*whines before taking a few sips of my drink as well, my gaze scanning your surfboard as I curiously inspect it's design* Aren't you cold, Chris? It's pretty breezy out here

@changhyun y。ᶠᵒˣⁱᵉ /after a few moments, i manage to reach the area where i can comfortable get off my board without the water being too deep. so that's what i did; swinging my leg over, sliding off the board and tucking it under my arm as i move through the knee-high waters. the closer i got to you, the more i could make out your features. i smile over at you, hand raising to push the midnight tresses out of my mismatched eyes, which helped my vision significantly, and shudders slightly from the night breeze; it was actually just a little chilly out. but then again i grew up in australia and coming here was a significant hit of culture shock especially when it came to adjusting to the drastic shift in weather/temperatures.
hey, you made it in once piece! nice to see you too, mate! oh , is that banana milk? how the do you know what my favorite drinks and food are-- am i in a kdrama?
/the australian accent was even more prominent whenever i switched to my native tongue; english. it seemed that no one else in this town understood english except for felix so i didn't think you knew what i was saying either but i happily accepted the carton the second it was offered up. i didn't catch you scanning my figure for the injuries however i was only wearing a pair of shorts just like back in the hospital except no longer in a ton of pain and bed-ridden. i was shirtless with no hints of the accident bruised on my tanned skin.
thanks, mate! oh, yes, felix is quite gifted in his abilities. it's quite extraordinary but he doesn't seem to like talking about them for some reason.
/purses my lips thoughtfully as i let my board stand in the sand so i could begin opening the drink and take a few sips of it.

@christopher b。ᵐᵒᵒⁿˢʰⁱⁿᵉ *is relieved that you're just sitting peacefully on your board and that sea was pretty calm too, no big waves or anything. Keeps trying to catch your attention until I see you moving my direction and watches you intently for a moment, amazed by how easy you make it look to maneuver a surfboard while I was terrified of the mere idea of getting on one. Takes a few steps back from the shore, propping my bike on it's kickstand securely to make sure it doesn't fall over. Grabs two bottles of banana milk from the bike basket and shakes them well before taking the seal off both. Steps closer to the shore again and waits for you patiently, offering you one of the drinks with a soft smile as soon as you approach me* hey~ it's nice seeing you, chris. I brought this for you and a few snacks too in case you were hungry. *takes a few seconds to examine your body to check if the bruises I've seen at the hospital have disappeared yet, gaze stopping at your knee and blinking in surprise when I see that it is completely healed* Whoa... Felix did an amazing job.

@changhyun y。ᶠᵒˣⁱᵉ /just like how i went hiking during rehab to distract myself from pill bottles, i often would go surfing so that i would never feel the urge to ever do that again. any time those dark thoughts would come, you'd see me immediately grab my surfboard and rush to the shoreline. being out in the waters was peaceful. it was serendipity to me; the only thing keep me afloat in these trying times.
/and that's where i find myself even though the sun had dipped below the horizon hours ago. it was rather dark out now with only the moon and stars above to bring some light. i was just sitting there on my board, straddling the intricately carved wood as i try to make out what kind of constellation it was that i was looking at when i hear someone calling out my name. i look over, squinting at the shoreline before carefully maneuvering my board to begin pushing myself towards you.
changhyun! hey! can barely see ya, hang on--

@christopher b。ᵐᵒᵒⁿˢʰⁱⁿᵉ *after sending the last message I turn my vintage style, lavender colored bicycle around and start heading towards the beach, one of my comfort songs playing on my headphones and I hum along to it on my way there, trying to cheer myself up so I don't look as down when I meet you. Though the mere thought of seeing you had already made me feel a little better, the excitement distracting me a bit from the sadness that's been consuming me the whole day. Arriving the at beach I climb off the bike and drag it alongside me over the sand as my eyes wander around, looking for you until I finally spot what I think is your figure in the water. Walks over to the shore and takes a minute to admire my surroundings and the starry sky before calling for you, waving and even hopping a little to get your attention* Hey, Chris! Christopher! I'm here!

@yeonjun c。ᶦᵗˢʸᵉᵒⁿ Yeonjun had a point. He did have some gear that would held him breath for a little while underwater. Yet it was limited and filling the oxygen tank was rather expensive on its own. It was just a hassle now to get everything all organized and set up just to only be able to spent about 15 or so minutes underwater before the pressure would begin taking effect. "Oh?" Christopher's interest seemed to perk at the revelation. "What ways would that be??" He asked curiously, swinging his leg around the board to properly face the other male. The intricate curves of his chest piece and mirroring sleeve tattoos on both forearms could now be seen fully as his legs lightly kicked in the waters around them, arms behind him gripping the board so he could lean back comfortably, head cocked to the side. "Well, I have no reason to go blabbering about secrets. Nor do I have any business telling people something private so, if it ever did occur, just know I won't tell anyone." A pause then a thoughtful hum. "Still... you grow a ing tail when you touch water, Yeonjun. I think that's pretty ing amazing in comparison to being trapped on land..." Christopher tipped his head back a little to look up at the sky for a few seconds before closing his eyes. "I suppose it's only funny to me because I didn't expect it. In the movies, they made it seem that clothes were like-- indestructible, I guess? But I suppose that was only for the sake of not getting an R rating."

@christopher b。ᵐᵒᵒⁿˢʰⁱⁿᵉ "That's true...as you are now, you can't breathe underwater. But, well, I have ways that you can with a little help? If you'd ever be interested. Or else, I know humans have certain gear that they use to maneuver around in the water. However, they really can't reach where I live, which is a good thing. Not that I don't trust humans, but not all of them would be able or willing to keep my home a secret." Some had gotten too close for comfort; probably scientists who had caught wind of a human-like species living at the ocean floor and wanted to check it out for themselves. Yeonjun didn't like scientists or marine biologists. He had heard more than a few horror stories about mermaids who went missing after going out and searching for food for the rest of the kingdom. Where else could they have ended up, other than a scary laboratory? "I'm not free from the need for food and water, either, Chris. And I will die eventually, too." He paused for a second, lips twisted to the side. "I can't be out in the rain, like you can. I also can't take showers. Being a creature...being something other than a human isn't all it's cracked up to be, I promise." Seeing that the other male wasn't even phased by Yeonjun's splash, he had half a mind to call for one of his whale friends and really get Chris soaked. But he held back...for now. "Hm? What's so funny about it? Honestly, it's actually more of an inconvenience...both getting in and out of the water..."

His phone was turned off and in the safety of the locker that the beach provided. The human hadn't even bothered to change into his normal surfing gear, only wearing a pair of active shorts and a sleeve-less tank that - now that he was soaked to the bone - stuck to him like a second skin. Christopher was now miles away from the shoreline and was perfectly okay with it. He didn't feel like being around all the tourists and other residents that occupied the sands - he wanted to see the land in the far distance with nothing surrounding him except for the vast open waters. And there he currently sat on his board, seemingly staring off into space and boring a whole into the intricately carved wood.

@yeonjun c。ᶦᵗˢʸᵉᵒⁿ There was always a playful nature when it came to Christopher's personality, having to practically raised his two siblings. He had to sort of adapt to the parental figure in their lives since their own parents weren't going to do it. That meant a whole lot of things. Being stern yet patient was one of them. Firm yet still gentle. Oddly enough, they never really acted out all that much. It was sort of rare. A part of him knows that they're good kids, down to his deepest core. But there's also the little voice in the back of his head telling him that they knew he was going through enough. Them causing trouble would just add to the weight on his shoulders so they, quite literally, chose to behave on his behalf. Siblings protecting siblings. What a cruel game. "Well, for one, I can't breathe underwater for longer than five minutes or else my lungs will give out," the way he said it was almost solemn, somber. "I can't breathe without oxygen. I can't go a certain period without the right amount of food or water. And, evitable, I will die. It's the fate of humanity that bounds us to the land." He of all should know. He had already looked death in the eye once before and somehow survived. The scar on his exposed and bare abdomen was proof of it. Sometimes, Christopher could still feel the cold blade lodged between his ribs. "Our lives are temporary. But you beings," Christopher turns his head look towards the merman, "can live for so much longer. I used to think that was amazing when I was a kid... Now I sort of think it's a little unfair." He laughs it off though, as though it were nothing but a joke, but then the laughter soon turns more genuine when a copious splash was hurled his way. Christopher land the water hit him without so much of a flinch and simply pushed the hair out of his face before chuckling, "Hey, if you were me, you'd laugh too. Sorry."

@christopher b。ᵐᵒᵒⁿˢʰⁱⁿᵉ The pout that formed on Yeonjun's face from the way the other male started to tease had him looking much younger than he actually was. It had been quite some time since he even found himself making that face- the last memory Yeonjun had of that was when his parents weren't on board with the idea of him living on land and adapting to the different cultures there. The merprince resorted to what he thought might help him win them over, and sure enough, as silly as it sounded, his argument, accompanied by a rather adorable and pouty facial expression sealed the deal. Yeonjun himself couldn't believe that such a simple thing worked on the two toughest people he knew. "Doing what kinds of things? There is plenty I cannot do due to what I am. Mmh, I'm just trying to warn you from the perspective of someone who has lived in the ocean for hundreds of years." With a sigh, he dropped the seaweed back into the water and rubbed at his cheek with the back of his hand. "You are. And I'm glad it is, considering you've been the one to talk to me the most! No, they don't...but that's okay. Let's us enjoy it more, hm?" Yeonjun couldn't help but flare up further, pushing a good batch of water in the human's direction to splash him. "Hey! Don't laugh!"

@yeonjun c。ᶦᵗˢʸᵉᵒⁿ "Yes, yes, I'm aware that I'm putting myself in danger by not paying attention." The human makes a funny face, purely being playful and sarcastic despite his mocking antics. "I can't help it sometimes... I just get lost here, that's all. If I had my way, I'd live out there if I could, but--well," Christopher kicks his legs about for emphasis while gesturing to them with a blank look. "This human heart of mine prevents me from doing most things you, and anyone else can do this town, it seems... Besides, there's really no need worry! I grew up on the waters so I know how unpredictable the ocean can be. I also know how violent these waters can turn at the flip of a hat." Absentmindedly, he began twirling the tips of his fingers around the water just to watch the ripples that followed. He hums thoughtfully, looking entranced by the movements as the smile soon returns to his features. "Am I really? I ran into Felix purely by accident so I guess you're the first person I organized to actually meet without... nearly running over--that's not the point! People just don't seem to understand that the beach is much prettier at night." The last little bit doesn't seem to register at first but then a marvelous heat crossed his face and Christopher laughs breathlessly, tipping his head back. "You know what, that makes perfect sense now."

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@christopher b。ᵐᵒᵒⁿˢʰⁱⁿᵉ "That certainly is dangerous, Christopher." He frowned, shaking his head a bit. "As pretty as the ocean is, it's also very dangerous if you don't pay attention! Not only sharks...but the waves themselves- they could knock you right off the board!" Yeonjun reached out and grabbed a clump of seaweed floating between them, absentmindedly weaving it into a random shape. "It's nice to meet you, too! I think you're the first person I actually met from the app? I can't remember. But...yes! I didn't want to leave you hanging. Plus, I would've felt awful if something happened to you when I said I'd be on guard duty! Lots of people tend to avoid coming at night, but sometimes it's more peaceful and so we get regular late-night beachgoers, hehe." His lashes fluttered at the human's question, face redder than people. "Because I have to go in ." He uttered, one hand lifting to point where his pile of clothes rested on the sand.

@yeonjun c。ᶦᵗˢʸᵉᵒⁿ Christopher snorts a little and waves a dismissive hand that soon lifts up to run through his jet black curls, which were still a bit damp and only half-way dry. "Don't even worry 'bout it, mate. I was lost in lala land for a good while so I wasn't really paying much attention. How I've not been eaten by a shark yet is beyond me," he jested, shifting his body around to straddle the board between his legs, letting them dangle into the waters as it rippled around them. The human grins over at him, all dimples and pearly whites. "Nice to meet ya face to face, Yeonjun! I know you said you would but I wasn't sure if you'd actually show up, haha. No need to apologize, though! You're here now, so that's all that matters! Luckily, in my experience at least, not a lot of people come to the beach at night." Christopher tips his head to the side, tri-colored eyes studying the merman for a few seconds out of curiosity. "Why is it more difficult to get into the ocean?"

@christopher b。ᵐᵒᵒⁿˢʰⁱⁿᵉ His lips formed a small, perfect 'o' upon hearing all of the curses Christopher dropped. Why he didn't fully understand all of them, the ones he caught had his face flaming red. "S-sorry!" Yeonjun spluttered out, feeling instant regret from startling the human. "I didn't mean to scare you! I thought...er, well, I thought you heard me diving in. I guess not, heh." He said sheepishly while brushing a few wet strands of blue hair away from his forehead. "But, um, yes, it's me!" A tiny little wave and another bright grin followed. "I told you I'd come and watch the water for you, didn't I? I apologize for being rather tardy... Trying to time when there aren't too many people wandering around or taking a late-night stroll can sometimes prove to be difficult. Not that I care if anyone sees me like this, it's just...ah, getting into the ocean that's the problem."

@yeonjun c。ᶦᵗˢʸᵉᵒⁿ If Christopher had his way, he'd be out here all night just staring up at the sky and enjoying the waters. The ocean always made him feel at home, at peace; like nothing bad ever happened. But, alas, he was human. One of the very few humans in the town, apparently, so that meant Christopher also had to deal with very human things. Like sicknesses when out in the cold for too long. Hypothermia, too. Some people have even gone mad from staying out at sea for too long and - call him naive or just plain stupid - but Christopher liked to believe he was a pirate in his last life. What he would give to be able to roam the seas and see it every day instead of being stuck on land. The human was too lost in his daydream that when a voice came out of nowhere, he got startled and nearly slipped right off his board if it wasn't for his quick reflexes. "Holy ing ." How graceful. Christopher was muttering all sorts of curse words in his native tongue, Australian accent so thick it hurt, and that was when he finally noticed it. Well, not 'it' but him. He immediately halts, blinking several times before leaning forward on the board to take a closer look. "Yeonjun? Is that really you, mate?"

@christopher b。ᵐᵒᵒⁿˢʰⁱⁿᵉ Just as Yeonjun promised, he made his way along the very familiar path to the ocean, excitement evident in every step he took. It didn't matter when or where; if the merprince was around or in water, he was more than content. Yet, this time, Yeonjun had a duty- keeping the temperamental sea life of the night away from the human he'd met through the Imperial app, something he had no problem doing. The ocean became much more dangerous at night, period. Even for mermaids. Spotting Christopher wasn't hard; most people wouldn't be in the water at this hour. With one quick sweep of the shore, he made sure no one was close by, or at least paying attention to him, before slipping out of his clothes and diving headfirst into the ocean. As usual, his legs instantly fused: a long, aquamarine and cerulean-hued tail taking their place. Even with just the light of the moon, every scale shimmered with a simple flicker of movement. Yeonjun eventually surfaced, keeping his distance a bit as a smile broke out across his face. "Psst. Christopher?"

( random starter that i feel like dropping because of muse uwu free for grabs !! )

How long has it been since he was last in the water? It's probably only been a couple of weeks yet it seems so much longer than that. Doesn't matter now, though. He's here so that's all that matters, right? Watching the sun dip below the horizon, being a witness to the sky changing its hues in an instant was always so extraordinary to watch. The tanned male was a ways away from the shoreline, laying on his surfboard and staring up at the sky with one hand arm under his head, the other dangling idly in the cool waters. Heterochromatic hues studied the twinkling stars above with a distant longing. One would say he'd even look sad as he lay there in silence with nothing but the water, the moon, and the stars keeping him company.

( open for anyone uwu )

The last time Christopher was at a beach was when he was still living in Australia. It's been a couple of weeks by now and he really longed the feeling of sand between his toes, the sun beating down on his shoulders, the wind in his hair, the smell of salty waters, the sound of crashing waves against the shoreline. He missed it all. Deciding to check out Magnolia's only beach it seemed, the human male makes his way towards the beach with his surfboard tucked against his side.

@christina n。ʷʰᶦᵖᵖᵉᵈᵈʳᵉᵃᵐˢ The giant, now shrunk to his human size looked around for the head of black hair he would recognise as Christina. Sam sat on the blue and white checkered blanket spread out on the grassy hill. The small hill was tucked off to the side, but it was tall enough to overlook the shore of the rest of the beach, it was someplace he'd came often when he finished fishing for the day. Just as promised, Sam had their food packed in a bigger bag, and a box few baked goods he thought his acquaintance might like. Such as brownies, those mini cupcakes that were topped by the candy they were inspired after, and a few multicolored macaroons. Those he did not like, but he always overheard the women and children inside the bakery ooing and ahing over how cute they looked. Not too far from the corner of his narrowed eyes did he see someone, black hair, but oddly laying face down in the sand where water was rushing back and forth. The body wasn't too far away but Sam knew it wasn't there a moment ago. "Christina?" He thought aloud as he stood up from his little area, he grew more worried with each step down the hill as he reached the strange person still laying there as if they weren't trying to drown themselves. "Christina?" Sam tried again as he kneeled down to the person. The golden eyes of the giant scanned the face of the person as he gently held their chin in his hand. The thick unruly eyebrows and painted freckles confirmed the person of interest, Christina. Sam, somewhat composed by the randomness of her appearance, was also disappointed by it too. He thought she would be more put together than what he was seeing. "If you don't wake up, I might leave here to suffer without food," Sam spoke with a straight face. He was trying to see if she would react to it in case she was playing dead, but again there was no response. He found it unbelievable there was such a person who could sleep like this, but most of all he strongly opposed to dragging her back to where the picnic was

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