CURSED│open to all rp levels discussion

“Come on, it’s going to be fun,” Sader said, skipping down the path to the falls. “I don’t know,” Wolfy said, trotting down beside Sader. “The idea of being close to water doesn’t sit well with me.” “Well we don’t have to be close, but just... admire it,” Sader proposed, picking Wolfy up in his arms. “I have do have cake but if you want to go home. . .” “Okay. But if I get a single hair wet, you’re buying me real meat!” Sader merely laughed with the basket dangling in his hand, promising of yet another good day.

Vee Sky ran through the woods, fast and quiet. She was still new to this power, even though it’s been a month. Or has it been more? Ever since she lost her best friend, Norman, she lost track of time. She just mostly hid in her room, both from people and herself. She didn’t want to face what she has become. But the more she hid it, the stronger it became at moments like these, when she needed to feed, and she hated it. She managed to make it to the woods in an attempt to find an animal rather than attack a human. God, she didn’t want to do that again. So now she moved past trees, stopping and listening for a pray. It wasn’t even her at the moment, but the monster she became.

“Right. Now help me with the blanket,” Sader ordered, despite Wolfy’s protest. They had found a nice spot by the waterfall but not too close where Wolfy would be greatly disturbed the entire time. As Sader began to cut the lemon cake, Wolfy’s ears shot up and his nose started twitching. “Do you hear that?” He asked, head twisting and turning. “What?” Sader replied, barely lifting his head as he ate the slice. “Something’s not right,” the stuffed animal said, pacing back and forth. “Maybe it’s the waterfall,” Sader joked. Wolfy smiled however best he could. “Let’s hope so.”

Vee couldn’t control her feet. She found herself moving closer and closer to the falls. She could hear the water crashing, and if she listened closely, the sound of feet crunching on the forest floor. Blood, she immediately thought. She moved closer, until she was a few feet away from the falls. The falling water would normally brings ones attention to it, but not with her. At least not now. Her eyes rested on the wolf ahead, watching it pace back and forth. She didn’t even notice the little boy. She didn’t have time to, because once the wolf turned its back to her, she found herself sprinting towards it before leaping onto the wolf from behind and knocking it down. Immediately, she sank her fangs into its neck, her thirst making her act like a hungry wild animal.

Sader failed to notice that something quick was headed right for them. So when Wolfy was suddenly snatched, Sader tried to register what had happened. A girl. A girl had taken her only friend. And though Wolfy was only a stuffed animal, he whimpered as the fluff flew out of his body. “S-stop,” Sader said, eyes widening as his plate of cake crashed. He stood up on his wobbly legs like a deer and asked the forks and spoons to help him. The utensils slowly rose from the ground but barely hovered over the floor. Wolfy’s whimpers rang deeply in Sader’s ears. “Let go of him!” Sader shouted, trying to reach for the girl’s hands despite his short arms. “You’re hurting him!” He couldn’t lose his only friend, not now.

Vee’s fangs sank into the wolf, but found nothing but fluff. No blood. No meat. None of that stuff that a normal wolf, or animal, should have, and so it did nothing to satisfy her thirst. But what really made Vee pull away in defeat was the cry of a small boy that she failed to notice early. She felt something brush her hand, and she pulled away from the wolf, falling on her ass and pushing herself backwards as she faced the frightened boy. Seeing the worry and fear in his eyes stirred something in her, and she felt disgusted at what just happened. I lost control, she thought. Her eyes looked back at the wolf than to the boy. “I-I’m Sorry... I didn’t mean to.” She tells him, not sure if he would even believe her. She was too shaken to think about the fact that she was exposed to a young boy, her eyes black and fangs out.

Sader ignored every girl that came from the girl, his eyes were only focused on Wolfy. Cradling the broken animal softly, Sader stroked his neck. Fluff was everywhere. And even though it wasn’t blood, Sader still gagged. His one and only friend was torn up into little pieces. He had to fix him. “Wolfy?” Sader said, voice cracking. “Don’t worry, she didn’t hurt me too much.” But he was lying. The girl had bit halfway through his neck and had even gotten some of both ears. Suddenly remembering the girl, Sader turned around, bones quaking so much that his knees banged together. “W-who are y-ou?” He asked.

What did I do? What did I do?! Vee felt miserable. She couldn’t handle the sight of how devastated over the wolf. Actually, Vee couldn’t help but feel confused at the same time. How had she bitten into the wolf only to have fluff instead of blood come out? Wasn’t it not a wolf? Was that even possible. Then again, she was a vampire, so anything was possible. When the boy turned his attention to her, she was a bit taken back. What was she supposed to say? Give him her name? She didn’t know why, but that idea didn’t sit well with her. Nevertheless, she answered, “Vee, and I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean it. Let me... let me help you?”

Sader clutched Wolfy even harder when the Vee asked to help. Why should he trust her? She had torn Wolfy to bits! And with no reason at all! What did his stuff animal ever do to her! “L-let her help, Sader,” Wolfy croaked. “She can help.” “But. . .” Sader trailed off. He couldn’t lose his only friend to this girl. But Sader didn’t know how to sew. So maybe she did. “H-he,” he wiped his nose angrily, “I need to patch him up. I just don’t. . . know how.”

Even though Vee offered to help him, she had no idea how to, really. The wolf was a stuffed animal. He couldn’t die, because he was already dead. But then again, he was alive... and talking? God... what did I get myself into? Still, Vee made this mess, and had to fix it. It was the least she could do. She hated that she was a vampire, but she couldn’t let it control her actions. She pushed herself up, moving slowly so she wouldn’t frighten to boy. “Yeah.. yeah of course. I knew how to see... but... I don’t have a needle and thread.” She pointed out the obvious, slowly walking over to him. By now, her eyes turned to their normal grayish green color, but her fangs were still out. She still had trouble learning how to control that part.

“I’ll buy some!” Sader exclaimed. “I have to make Wolfy better. I have to. . .” Then he did the most unexpected thing. He grabbed Vee’s hand and ran down the pathway, a trail of fluff trickling behind them. “C’mon. We have to go back to the toy store. I’m sure they have some needle and thread.” He gave her the most brightest smile. “And you can patch him up again!”

Vee’s eyes widened when the little boy to hold of her hand and dragged her behind him down the path. She didn’t expect that at all. Nor did she expect his smile. He must really care about the wolf, which buy the second, seemed to be growing smaller and smaller as it lost its fluff. “Wait!” She said, digging her feet into the ground to stop him. “I don’t think they’ll sell needles in the toy store. But I do know where they sell them. You should stay here with your... wolf. Try to gather the flush that fell out. I’m really fast, so I’ll go and be back before you know it.” She decided to say. Oddly enough, for the first tim ever power was actually beneficial. But then again, they were in this mess because of it.

“They won’t?” Sader asked, cocking his head to the side as Vee told him her plan. It all sounded too good. But what else could she do? Finish him off behind his back? “Okay. I’ll stay here,” he said. And if she really was super fast. . . they might be able to save Wolfy. Sader bent down to pick up the fluff as he gently placed Wolfy by a boulder.

Vee simply nodded, watching the boy for a moment. He looked so innocent. She didn’t understand how he was involved in this supernatural world. He didn’t deserve anything bad to him, yet here he was with a stuffed animal that was his friend about to die because of a vampire. For a second, she thought of how things would have turned out had she attacked him. A shiver ran through her spine at the sight of that. Thank god I didn’t, she thought. Finally, Vee turned around and speed through the woods. A few minutes later, she was back with a plastic bag that held what she needed. “Okay, I have everything.” She tells him.

Sader whipped around when Vee arrived, tears stained on his cheeks. Hastily wiping them away, he nodded and grabbed her wrist, leading her to his torn animal. “I tried to get all the fluff, but. . . they flew away,” he said softly. “Can you really fix him?”

Vee softly gasped at the sight of Sadar, cheeks wet and eyes red. Her guilt only grew. “Yes, of course.” She tells him as he took a hold of her wrist and tugged her to the stuffed animal. How hard could it be to sew up a stuffed animal... that was supposedly alive? She had taken a sewing class in ninth grade, so it should be the same. Right? She came to kneel before the wolf and started to take the needle and thread out of the bag and started to thread it, her hands slightly shaking from all of this.

Sader scrutinized every dip she made with that needle. Would Wolfy feel the sharp pin going through his fur? Was he sleeping or just. . . gone? As he watched Vee patch Wolfy up, he tried to memorize her movements. From here on out, he was going to pack some needle and thread every time they go out, just in case. “Thank you,” he said softly.

Vee soon started patching up the wolf. She wasn’t sure if he would feel it or not, but luckily he was unconscious to make any sound. Actually, she wasn’t even sure if that was a good thing come to think of it. Finally, after finishing up, Vee leaned in and cut the thread with her teeth. She looked over. “Don’t thank me. It’s the least I could do. I’m really sorry.” She tells him whole heartedly. “I-I lose control sometimes.” Her eyes started to burn, remembering her friend Norman.

“But you made Wolfy all better now!” Sader argued, holding the limp stuffed animal. “See? He’s fine now.” He held it up for Vee. “You attacked, but then you made him all better!” Her eyes suddenly looked wet and Sader cocked his head. “Why are you crying?”

Vee quickly rubbed at her eyes when he pointed out her tears. She hadn’t meant to cry in front of him. “It’s nothing,” she tells him, not wanting to scare him with the truth of what she did. Luckily, he was able to make her smile when he told her she saved his wolf. It made her feel better about herself, as if she wasn’t fully a monster. “Always take care of your friends, kid, and let them know how much you care about them, because they could disappear at any moment.” She gives him a sad smile as she places her hand on his shoulder. She learned from her mistake, but didn’t want him to make the same one.

Sader nodded his head with a small smile. “I will, miss. Don’t worry.” And after today, he was sure to stick with it. He couldn’t live with himself if Wolfy just suddenly wasn’t there anymore. “I should do something nice for you,” he whispered to himself. Looking up at the peculiar lady, Sader held her hand and asked, “Where do you live?”

Vee’s smiles turned from a sad one and more into a genuine one at the boy. He really was sweet and innocent, and she was thankful that he forgave her. All this anxiety and now kindness distracted her from her thrist that she had early. “No, you don’t have to.” She tell him. Knowing she shouldn’t stay here long, Vee decided it was best if she left. She was afraid if her thirst were to come back. So as kindly as she could, Vee said, “I should actually get going. Maybe another time. It was nice knowing you kid.” Vee smiled down to him before letting go of his hand and disappearing.

End of roleplay

Melody had gotten off from work rather early since they were training a new waitress and she couldn't help but seize the moment. She need a swim, not just one at the local pool but out of sight of prying eyes. It would be a good way for her to relax and free herself for once. So, Mel drove toward the falls and parked before she walked her way to the water. As she walked further in, she heard the rushing water and it pleased her for the fact she was so close. As she walked she shed her work clothes and shoes and hid them in a nearby bush. She wasn't too careful to make sure no one was around but she instead ran right off the edge of a small cliff and dove into the water. Sometimes she would compare herself to Ariel, the little mermaid, for the sake she was a mermaid like creature and had bright red hair to match.

A moment after she dove into the water her body slowly to to turning into her aquatic features. She always wondered if her tail forming was slower than it should be but she was also a hybrid. Shorter then most and very sharp yet gentle features. A pixie, it explained well enough why she could pass as a kid if she wasn't developed as she had been. That was the only saving grace there. Once her tail was in place she head to the surface before diving back down. She gave a soft song as she swam down as well. One she was wry with when around others. It wouldn't be the first time someone fell and keeled over for her.

Anna swam through the cold water, her pink tail leaving a trail of bubbles after her before rising to the surface. It was funny how a few years ago, she was afraid of swimming. Now, she was moving faster than the fishes next to her. She loved the feeling it brought to her, the feeling of being free. Some people hated what the curse made them into, but she loved it, mostly because of the fact that it actually saved her life.

She was swimming here in the water of the falls because her dads were home and she couldn’t use the pool like she normally did. But she didn’t mind it because she had more space here, and felt more like a mermaid in this water.

As Anna was about to turn to do another lap, she heard singing, and came to a stop. Someone is here... Anna thought to herself. She worried if she was going to get caught. Cautiously, Anna swam to the edge of the waterfall where the water came crashing down. She then surfaced, making sure she was hidden, to see who was here. She knew her pink hair didn’t help to blend it. Still, she watched over the water, trying to see who was out their. Up ahead, she saw something surface before diving back in, and what she noticed made her perk up with excitement. A tail. It’s another mermaid.

Anna left to swim towards the newcomer, staying up at the surface as she searched for the other person. “Hello?” She called out.

Melody had gotten down to the bottom of the lake filled pool of water before she bag to surface some feet away from her original surfacing. She was still singing her soft tune, one that came instinctively to her. When she broke the surface, she heard the hello. Her tone turned into an ear piercing screech as she turned towards the other person. A glimpse of her teeth showed the sharp and scary looking. Her skin was also paler then it should be, kind of sickly looking. Melody in this form wasn't ugly but she also wasn't as attractive as a normal person would be. With her head being the only thing above the water she looked like a kid, thirteen possibly. She was small in proportion and could hopefully use this to her advantage.

Unbeknownst to Mel, she just assumed this girl was a human. She hadn't gave an inspection to see if there was anything else to her and she couldn't particularly leave the falls for the sake she had a tail and a few other things. All she really knew what that this other person could be a danger to her. Or worse, she could be a danger to this stranger. It was why she refused to sing around anyone, Melody got carried away easily and someone always got hurt. Last time it was Carl, her friend. "You should leave," she mumbled as she allowed herself to sink more into the water to hide herself from this other person's eyes. Maybe she could convince this girl to be on her way, she could come up with some lie that would cause her to get out of the water.

Anna searches around her for the girl, but she was gone. She knew she shouldn’t do this. Except she couldn’t help herself. She would get to meet someone like her. Who would give up on a chance like that. As Anna looked around her, she noticed the girl surface back up, but much farther. Just as she was going to call out to her again to get her attention, the other girl turned around, and what was once a lovely enchanting sound that came out of her became a loud screeching sound that made Anna flinch away in pain. She looked over her, confused at why she was doing that. As Anna focused more on her though, she noticed how her features transformed into something terrifying. She’s not a mermaid.... she’s a siren.

Anna gasped softly as she watched the girl who looked very small, disappear into the water. Any joy she felt earlier was gone, and she became a bit terrified. But not too much, because of what the girl said. The fact that she told her to leave rather than do something to her showed that she wasn’t as bad as she looked. However, Anna did dive back into the water, making her way farther from her. She surfaces at the edge of the water and held onto the land. Hopefully, she would be safe here. But she wasn’t ready to give up.

“I want to talk to you,” She called out to her once more.

Melody did sink far enough below the water that she quickly moved to dove down and hide herself. She wanted a relaxing swim and some time that she could use her voice without worry. It was something she feared of doing again. See she worried because she had no clue how to properly use her song for the fact that her mother was killed fairly early in her life. Then her father refused to let her use it as it was dangerous. So Mel only used it when alone or in dire need.

When she thought she had lost the other girl, she had swam up under the falls. Her body being small enough for her to shove herself under it. When she surfaced the and pushed her hair from her face and looked out through the water rushing in front of her. She could see mass, assume it was the other person who was here. She watched her swim close to the ground and stay there. Mel's only hope being that she would pick herself up and walk away. But that didn't happen and she heard the faint I want to talk to you but barely. She did have water running over her head so she could barely hear her own heartbeat. Why would anyone want to talk to her, she was this monstrous thing that actually used her voice to kill people. She ran away because she knew what a danger she could be. It explained why she was this little meek person who spoke softly and carefully around everyone.

Melody was going to reply with telling her to leave again but strayed from that thought. Instead she dove under just slightly and moved so she wasn't in her hiding spot. She surfaced, not fully just where her eyes peared above water but it wouldn't be hard to spot her. The top of her head visible and her hair being red was pretty notable in dark blue water. She was watching from a distance and could easily sink down and hide again if the occasion called for such.

“Tsk,” Anna said softly in disappointment. She really wanted to get to know her. But she wouldn’t be able to do that if the girl kept on hiding away in the water. She could always go under water and find her, but after what the girl said, she figured that probably wasn’t a good idea. So she stayed at her spot, leaning against the packed dirt behind her, waiting.

Just when Anna was going to give up and do as the girl asked, she caught something from the corner of her eye. A flash of red, just barely above the water. It’s her! Anna smiled happily.

Without hesitating, Anna quickly spoke before the girl could disappear. “I’m just like you.” She tells her, thinking that would probably keep her from hiding away. “Well.. kinda. I’m a mermaid. My name is Anna.” There was a slight French accent to her words, but barely. Someone would have to listen to her closely to notice it.

Melody seen that the girl seemed to be ready to leave until she was spotted. She was getting ready to sink down when the other girls said she was just like her. Mel knew that trick, it worked on her when she was with her father. He always said he was like her, a pixie. But he was stupid, he always left out the part where she had been a hybrid. Something more than just a pixie or siren. "No your not," she said back softly. By now her head was fully above the water and again her face was in full view. She definitely had a pixie face, gentle and childlike with a few sharp features.

This girl's name was Anna, a simple name. Mel made sure to note that in case something did happen. She would be able to identify the girl as well as he able to drop her at a hospital with a name if need be. She was being prepared for the worst, something that she knew well after everytime she used her voice.

Melody inched closer, it was more out of keeping the other person safe then to hide. Though, hide came natural to her, something she had learnt to do from a young age. Whenever something bad or scary happened she hid, she guessed it was from the fact that she was used to being hurt. It wouldn't of been the first time that it happened to her either. "Mermaids aren't killers," she mumbled although that was not what she meant when she said they weren't alike.

Seeing the girl show her face now, Anna noticed how young she looked. Of course her sharp teeth did frighten her, and she tried to get past that. The girl, who she assumed was younger than her, couldn’t control that.

When she said that they weren’t alike, she opened her mouth to speak, but hesitated. What should I say? Anna wondered to herself. She didn’t want to seem like she was lying and tricking the girl, because that was the last thing she would want to do to anyone. “I know you're a siren, but we’re kind of similar is what I meant.” Anna heard what she said about killing people, and the idea kind of made her sick. She was glad that she didn’t do that... but did this little girl do it? She was praying she didn’t, and that she wouldn’t do it to her. “I was thinking we could talk about what we are... y’know. I never met someone with a tail like me. What’s your name?”

Anna tried to act cool and friendly, but seeing the girl move closer without trying to keep the conversation going was a little nerve-racking.

"Not exactly," she muttered at the part where she said she was a siren. Yes and no. Melody, of course, being a hybrid could say that. She fit into both yet neither mold of her species. She was pretty, but childlike. She was mischievous yet a danger. It was the fear of not knowing a balance that scared her when she was vulnerable.

By now she was probably teen feet away from her and her upper torso was above the water. She wasn't a little girl like Anna assumed but someone who was developed as an adult or at least been through puberty for a couple of years. "Having a tail is different then being a sea creature." She had met many people with tails in her life. Not many with fish tails, most shifters but they had tails of some sort. But Melody wouldn't call herself similar to a mermaid. They were much gentler then sirens. When in the water, she had sharp teeth, somewhat sickly pale skin, webbed fingers, sharp nails. She was a dangerous creature and definitely looked the part.

"Call me M," she said. No Melody didn't particularly want to share her name. She worked at the diner and no doubt would probably see this girl sometime since she looked to be new and young.

Anna’s brows narrowed in confusion. Not exactly? What did she mean by that? She looked the part of a siren. The sharp teeth. Sickly pale skin. Beautiful yet also shrieking singing. If those didn’t mean she was a siren, then what does it mean? What could she be?

Anna moved a little to the right, finding it a bit hard to stay in place when she’s in this form. She was a little intimated by her, if she were to be honest. Anna was trying to be friendly, but this girl, who said to call her M -which made her wonder if she said that because she didn’t want to give her her name- but it was hard when she was coming off a little... cold. Also, even though she wanted to meet her and actually be close to her, her slow movement to her was starting to freak her about a bit. She had half of her body shown now, and Anna could see that she wasn’t as small as she thought. She was grown, but just a small body.

“Well yeah... I know. But we’re half fish and have humans... we have those type of tails,” Anna tried to fix what she said. Hopefully M would talk in tone that seemed like she was happy to meet her.

Melody wasn't trying to intimidate the girl, she was scared herself. She was also curious but she also wanted to protect herself. Something she always tried to do no matter the situation. Half fish half human. Is that what she looked like? Maybe a human with dwarfism but that was pushing it. Mel wasn't dwarfish looking, her proportion weren't like that. She was fully grown, petite and childlike in features. She didn't look like an adult through her face. Most would call it baby face and that she would grow out of it yet she hasn't.

"Mermaids don't like sirens," she said as she realised she was being scary and back off a bit. Her body lowering a bit back into the water, a sign she was scared. Of what the other girl could only guess but Melody was scared of herself and what she could do. "And sirens not connected by blood don't like each other." Mel found that out the hard way, in a fight. She even had the scars of sharp teeth to prove it.

“I don’t have anything against you,” Anna tells her. She didn’t even know one siren to make that decision yet, since M was her first, and she didn’t even think she would say that even if she didn’t get along with her. Either way, with every attempt Anna tried to come at this girl to show her that this wasn’t as bad as she thought it was, M turned it down. She even brought up how their own kinds didn’t like each other, as if to say this was a bad idea.

With a sigh, Anna watched the girl sink back into the water. She wondered why she seemed so uninterested and a bit scared. If the girl didn’t want to be bothered, Anna would just respect her request and leave. “Fine. I won’t bother you anymore.” Anna said softly before turning her back to the girl and placing her hands on land to lift herself out of the water.

Melody took her chance when she seen it. The girl had turned and was picking herself up from the water. With this, Mel turned and raced to the other side of the falls and to her own things. This wasn't safe running over and over in her mind. She scrambled to get herself out of water and forced herself to to her clothes. She was quick to dry off and start clothing herself. As long as she had her waitress dress on. So, she gathered gathered the rat of her things and rushed towards her car. She had wet hair and shoes in her arms.

"Come one. Come on," she muttered as she tried to unlocked. Why did she have to lock it in the first place. Also she hoped Anna didn't come this way to see her fumbling with her keys. Also her uniform had her name on it.

Anna flopped onto the grass and pulled herself away from the water. She didn’t hear M swim away to get out of the water too. She didn’t even bother glancing behind her, thinking the girl wouldn’t even want that. After taking a moment to dry up a bit and transformed back, which she enjoyed the least from being a mermaid because it was a bit boring, Anna was finally standing on her two feet again. Of course, naked.

She walked over to her bag that she stashed behind a bush and started to change into the clothings she had hidden. Once she was dressed, she started to make her way away from the waterfall. She kept thinking about the girl, wondering if it could have went differently had she been in her human form. Hearing words, Anna looked up to see M at her car. She found her already in her human form too, and she was wearing a familiar uniform that Anna has seen before, and on it was her name tag. Melody. She thought she saw. But she knew she shouldn’t stay too longed because the girl looked panicked. “I hope we see each other again,” she tells her before walking away to head home.

Melody froze for a second when she heard the voice. She listened for a moment to hear footsteps recede away. She sighed and leaned again her car and allowed her head to rest against it. She would of preferred it if Anna hadn't seen her in her siren form. It was the thing she liked to keep to herself. She knew many people didn't like sirens and when she was shocked or scared she was more likely to use her voice. It was a defense mechanism and instinctual to her, just like hiding was.

End of Rp

For Fayza

Jax was swimming against the current of the falls. With the water splashing down at an incredible speed, there was a mixture between its beautiful and danger. He felt his muscles at war between the waterfall and the water bed, attacking one another with all their might. He knew if he stopped with his strokes or was distracted by something in the sky, the water would overthrow him into the surroundings rocks or swallow him whole. He shouldn't be here. The doctor said that the spine had to be delicately treated. He had escaped paralysis once, but they weren't sure he would be so fortunately the next time.

Jax lifted an arm up, and the other. The freestyle stroke, one of his strongest. He remembered the first medal he ever won was in that stroke. Of course, it was a mini event for six year old campers and it was nothing important. But to Jax, it just strengthened that connection with the water. Suddenly his muscles felt as though they have been flash-burned with acid from the inside - just sufficient to make them move like the living cells have been replaced by aging rubber bands, thick and twisted. It began as a dull ache, only pestering him as he swam but one it grew from the side of his right shoulder blade towards the spine. One moment, he raised his arm, then he was underwater.

He raised from down under, grabbing a nearby rock for support. With the strength he had left, Jax pulled himself out of the falls. His breathing quickened, and his eyes closed to fight back the pain. His mind wandered off to New Year's Day, where he met the pink haired girl, Anna. After that night, he found himself annoyed at the fact he didn't even ask for her phone number. Nevertheless, her image lit up in his mind eased away his thoughts of trauma, and soon enough his heart returned to a normal pace.

He sighed, letting himself lay down on the earthy ground. The cold was not as biting as other days, but he knew that he either had to dive back in or get warm soon.

((sorry for the length! got carried away hehe xD))

((No ur good))

It was funny how a few years ago, she was afraid of swimming. Now, she was moving faster than the fishes in the water. She loved the feeling it brought to her, the feeling of being free. Some people hated what the curse made them into, but she loved it, mostly because of the fact that it actually saved her life.

Anna found herself walking towards the water fall with a backpack with her since her dads were home and she couldn’t use the pool like she normally did. But she didn’t mind it because she had more space here, and felt more like a mermaid in this water. She wasn’t sure why. Maybe it had to do with connecting with nature and all.

Soon enough she came into the clearing before the water fall. She dropped her bag to the floor with a loud thud, already wanting to strip out of her jeans and gray sweater to dive in. But as she gazed around her to make sure she was alone, she found her eyes landing on a stretched out figure. Pft. Wonderful. Now I can’t swim.... wait... is that Jax? Anna froze in place as she gazed over the familiar figure, the only difference this time was the lack of clothing. She hadn't seen him since the ball, which has been a while, and she hadn't thought she would see him again.

Jax heard something in the distance, he rolled around so his stomach was on the ground, then pushed himself up to face whatever was around. He was mostly self-conscious about the scar on his back so he had it out of sight and towards the falls. His eyes looked around, looking like a shocked deer in headlights.

He didn't know why the sudden sound had scared him. Perhaps it was that he rarely saw the woods being used in the winter. They were a quiet place that he could go to swim and think. His eyes finally rested on the source of the sound. Anna. Her face seemed to show the same shocked expression he wore now. Jax was confused as to why she was here. Even though she did mention that she enjoyed the falls. But in winter?

"Anna" he smiled sheepishly, offering her a small wave. "Hi. Um. What are you doing here?" he asked. Jax pushed his wet hair out of his eyes and reached down to his bag to search for a towel to wrap himself with. He didn't want her to see the large surgical scar across his back so he moved stiffly to hide it. Luckily they were near where Jax had laid down.

"I thought I wouldn't see you again" he added, voicing out his previous thoughts that bugged him since the ball.

Is this a good thing? Should I leave before he notices me? Was it meant to be for us to see each other? No. That’s stupid. Damn it. What do I do? What do I do? Anna thought. But before she even had a second to make a choice, Jax was already moving to get up, and soon enough he noticed her. Seeing his perfect smile once more made her stomach feel like it was filled with butterflies. A small part of her was actually really glad she saw him, and the other part of her was put on evacuate mode, even though it was too late.

“Hey...” she said softly to him, watching his figure stretch and move as he reached down for grab a towel. God, he was so hot. “Um.... I was.... I was going for a walk.” She quickly said, hoping that seemed reasonable. She couldn’t say she was going for a swim, he would probably tell her to swim with him. No. That was a bad idea. But would it be reasonable to have a bag with her for a walk? Ugh. What did she get herself into.

Pushing away the few strands that fell loose from her messy bun, Anna said, “ What are you doing here? I mean... I know you were swimming... but I thought you said you and water aren’t good?” Wait... he’s wet. That means he’s not a mermaid. Oof. I wanted him to be like me, she thought disappointedly, which also showed in her features.

“In this cold?” He raised an eyebrow, then nodded. “I didn’t think anyone else liked the cold around here” he smiled. Jax tugged close the cotton towel. He felt the goosebumps coming up his arms. Right now the water seemed more alluring than being on solid ground.

“I, um, yeah” he stammered. “It’s complicated” he laughed. “I have to swim to get my strength back” Jax explained. Part of him wanted to show her the scar and let that explain his dangerous antics. But at the same time, he had a voice. “I had an accident a year ago, and I’m still on the road to recovery…” He let the memory leave his mind before giving her a small smile. “Makes you wish you were more than a human” But his lips flattered more into a worried expression at seeing disappointment flash in her face.

He walked towards her, tilting his head to one side. “Is something up?” He asked softly. “I hope I didn’t ruin your walk” he smirked even though deep down he was worried that it might be so. Jax felt the water droplets from his face and hair tumble down. He made sure not to get her wet, so he stayed a good distance away.

“I’m kind of used to the cold,” she admits. But really, once she was in the water and transformed, the cold didn’t bother her at all. She didn’t feel it as much as she would feel it in her human form, it most likely had to do with the fish part of her. After all, almost all fishes are cold blooded, so it made sense.

Anna tried to grasp at his explanation to why he was swimming at the waterfall in this cold. He was injured? But he looks perfectly fine. He eyes scanned over his almost naked body, trying to spot anything abnormal. But she couldn’t find any scars or bruises that indicated he was injured. All she found was smooth perfect skin that held a slight tan from last summer. Not seeing anything made her wonder what it was that needed him to get his strength back by swimming, and how it made his relationship with water complicated.

She was about to ask, when all of a sudden he mentioned being nonhuman. Oh god. Does he know about me? No. He’s just saying that for himself. Calm down. Anna told herself before finally speaking. “You look perfectly healthy to me. Do you mind if I ask what the accident was?” She asked him, a bit curious.

When Jax moved closer to her, as a reflex from being afraid of water, she took a safe step back but regretted it. It probably would bring up questions, or he would think she didn’t want to be with him, though that would actually be a good thing... kinda. “Me... ugh, yeah. I’m fine.” She assures him and brings on a smile to convince him. “You didn’t ruin anything.”

Jax nodded in understanding. He thought Paris must’ve been a cold place to live. He had seen the photos of the snow blanket around the city, and how beautiful the monuments looked. Especially Notre Dame. He wished to go one day, and with Anna from France, maybe she could show him around. At least that was his naivety speaking.

And when she moved back, it was his thoughts confirmed that it might never happen. But he was half naked in front of her. “Good to hear” he finally said, unsure what else to say at the tense situation.

He felt her eyes glancing at him. He shifted from foot to foot, slightly uncomfortable by the gaze but knowing that it was an obvious reaction. He had said he was in an accident. But even so, he pulled the towel as close as possible almost ready to rip from the tension, and expose the accident to her. “I’m sure if you find a newspaper from last year’s regional swim meet you’ll find it” he grumbled. And then the question was asked. What the accident was?. “Un accident de plongeon” Jax looked down. He bit his lip then turned his back to Anna, before dropping the towel to reveal it. She might as well see it. Make her feel disgusted and soon he would hear her footsteps moving away. He looked down and his eyes were forced close to control the shivers and the nightmare of that day. He didn’t know why it always darkened his mind, but at the same time hiding it was just pushing the memory deeper into his mind.

It was weird how seeing him today was very unlike the day they meet at the New Years ball. While they had been happy, entertained, and relaxed, she now felt awkward, afraid, and confused from the tension. What could be so different from then and now? Was it because of the atmosphere, even though it was clear that they were both surrounded by something they loved. It made her wish even more that she hadn’t ran into him.

A brow raised in confusion at what he was talking about? Regional swimming? Newspaper? It only further confused her even more, making the weird feeling in her stomach worsen, almost like telling her there was something wrong. That feeling was confirmed when he admitted what happened and turned around to show her his surgical scar. A soft gasp escaped her lips as her blue eyes rested on mark. A spinal injury? Anna knew the dangers of hitting the spin when it comes to swimming from stories that she heard before, and many were not lucky to leave it without a scratch.

Before she knew it, Anna found herself moving forward until she was standing right behind him. She reached out and traced the scar very gently, wanting to confirm the whole thing. She only touched him because his back was dry from the towel. Anna couldn’t help but feel bad for him, but she didn’t want him to hate that part of him. “Everyone has flaws,” she whispers from behind, sounding small against the crashing water. “You shouldn’t be ashamed of yours.”

Jax knew that chewing his lower lip with this cold would result in it being cut open. But with the nervous habit, he couldn’t help it. Even the rushing of the waterfall failed to supply him with confidence. He wondered whether his relationship with water was truly at a loss. Before the rushing stream would fill him with energy, light and now, he just stood in front of Anna in almost fear. But at the same time catching the wisp of pink mixed with the blueness of her eyes…No. It just made his heart echo in his ears and the surrounding sound to fade in the background.

When his back was turned he steadied his breath. Counted to down from a hundred. Anything to dispel the disappointment that would ensue when she had left. But then his back pricked by the cold that touched him. His eyes blinked open and a hiss escaped his lips. It didn’t hurt him, but feel that soft, cool touch against the bumps of his scar and his skin. He turned his head, and was surprised to see Anna behind him. Her eyes steadfast on his scar. He blushed. He looked away. “I lost everything because of it” he said sadly. “This is what makes me realise how weak I actually am” he confessed to her. “I was an inch away from being in a wheelchair, unable to move from the neck down…” He turned to face her. The mixture of towel and wind had dried some of the water that remained. “What’s yours then?” He whispered. His eyes watching her curiously.

He chewed his lower lip again, then his towel was covering him once more. “Sorry, I just. I’ve never talked to anyone about it” he smirked.

To think that just a slight movement could have paralyzed him and made him spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. It was weird to think of how life worked. For him, water almost ruined his life, whereas, for her, it saved her life.

Hearing his confession, Anna pulled away her hand and rubbed her left arm with her right hand, feeling a bit embarrassed for touching him. Once he was facing her though, she glanced up to him and pointed out, “You didn’t lose everything. You hardly lost anything. As you said, you almost lost the ability to move. So you still have that, and you still have your friends, and I’m sure your family. You still have your life, Jax.” Anna didn’t want to sound like she was lecturing him, but he needed to know the difference between losing everything and losing one thing, which she assumed was swimming.

When he asked her about her flaw, she couldn’t help but look at the water, wondering if it was that. She loved being a mermaid, that was for sure. But it hinged her everyday life. It made living with her family difficult and made socializing almost impossible. Plus, compared to almost everyone else, it made her different, not normal. But she wasn’t ready to call it a flaw, nor was she going to tell him that. So she simply shrugged and said, “I have my own flaws that will come out in its own time.” Did she mean it, no.

Hearing him admit that he’s never spoke to anyone about it made her feel special. Why did he talk to her and not others? Maybe it was because she caught him at the wrong moment. “It’s okay. I’m glad you did though because talking always helps.” However, Anna kind of sounded like a hypocrite when she said that. She just didn’t have a choice though, right?

Anna looked over him for a moment, noticing how close he was, and how bare he was. Even though the tension was gone, there was still this weird feeling that made her all warm and tingly despite the cold breeze that blew at her pink lose strands.

Jax had heard the countless remarks of how lucky he was. How he had a guardian angel that took care of him. But Jax, perhaps selfishly, turned a blind eye at those comments. He was the swimming champion of Warwick and now he couldn’t keep up with the strength of the falls’ currents. He was offered, and recommended, to take physiotherapy to get those muscles working in top shape. But instead of regarding them as helpful, he thought his friends would look at him oddly. That his coaches would think he wasn’t going to be the same Jax as before. He wanted to pretend that the accident was a scrap to the knee. Nothing more. Even with the soreness he would do the same training exercises as his mates. Of course that just made the surrounding nerves and muscles into a tight ball that put him in hold for further training. Thus, this was in the wildernesses of the falls.

When he felt the softness disappearance, his shoulder hunched forward as if trying to make himself shrink. And when her petite figure began speaking words of honesty. Almost drilling the words into Jax’s mind. His parents had tried, even gotten angry at the new Jax who was cooped up in his room or rarely speaking when he left the house. But Anna’s words seemed to do get past into the blond curls of Jax. “I’m sorry” he mumbled. “Swimming has always been such an important part of me, I’ve been swimming before I could crawl” he chuckled. “Now, I can barely get into water without thinking of what happened. I feel empty, scared” He paused, looking at the pink haired girl. “Have you ever felt that way?”

His eyes followed to where hers were trained, seeing the water move in a rapid but consistent pace. He nodded at hearing her response. Jax didn’t know whether he should feel embarrassed at voicing out his flaws and worries, or a bit disappointed that she didn’t speak of hers. Maybe he was too much of an open book that once asked, words just flowed out. The corner of his lips tugged up. “Unless you’re me that talks forever” he drawled. “But thank you for listening” he said, nudging the air instead of her. He didn’t want to move into her personal space, mainly after seeing the reaction she made earlier when he moved close to her.

He needed to get changed. He doubted that getting in the cold water now was an option. He cleared his throat. “Would you mind? I need to change and don’t want to freeze” he joked. As he spoke he moved to his bag, taking out his change of clothes and using the towel to dry his upper body. The blush on his cheek moved higher to nip his ears, but Jax thought it could be passed for the cold weather pecking his cheeks with the bitting wind.

“Unless you don’t want to,” He grinned playfully with an eyebrow raised .