Amphitrite - Wilbur Soot

~three~

 "What can I get you, dear?" The woman asked me, her ring glittering in the warm candlelight. She always looked so at ease, even in such a suffocating atmosphere as this. I envied her and her glowing bronze skin.

"A water, please," I said, and she nodded. I turned my attention to the man who she was talking to. He was a halfling, that much was obvious. He wore the same clothes that a prince would. There was only ever one halfling boy who had the status to be able to dress like that and not be afraid of getting jumped. Prince Ranboo, Queen Callista's crown jewel. On his left hand was a gold band, a singular yellow gem in the middle. Why did I notice? Not sure.

"Three copper pieces, please," the woman said, a warm smile on her face. The halfling, Ranboo, was watching her with a pleased look on his face, his long tail swishing back and forth behind him.

"I uh, I only have pearls. Is that okay?" I asked nervously. My hands shook as I pulled a few small pearls out of the pouch that hung at my hip. The woman's eyes lit up at the sight of them. What else did I expect? Women love pearls.

"Of course! Don't worry about it. One of these is more than enough. Your next one's on me." She winked at me and took one of my pearls from me. "So what'll it be? Mead? Maybe a fine wine?" She spoke to me like I was the only person in the entire tavern. Maybe that's why I liked going there so much.

Looking at her, I realized that we had to have been around the same age. She was probably around a year older than I was. Ranboo got up from his stool and came over to where I was sitting, not a single trace of malice on his face. Trust me. I looked. I had to; it was what kept me safe.

"Hello. My name is Ranboo. Melanie tells me a lot about you," he said. He sounded nothing like how I expected him to. His voice sounded like it belonged to someone centuries older than him, but not in the quality of his voice. He sounded wise. The Queen was right in making him the head of the royal council.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Lorelai," I answered, nodding my head in his direction; a sign of respect. "That makes you Melanie, right?" I asked the woman behind the bar. She hummed in response.

"Callista told me that Wil's supposed to be performing here tonight," Ranboo told Melanie. The door opened as he spoke, a brisk breeze following the newcomer in. And, lo and behold, in the doorway, stood a certain man with a guitar slung over his shoulder and gold glasses resting on his nose. "Speak of the devil."

"We never have this big a turnout unless he's here. Drunks love good music," Melanie laughed and turned her attention to Wilbur. "What can I get you, darling?" She said sweetly, her back facing Ranboo and I.

"She's such a sweetheart, isn't she?" Ranboo mused softly, and the look in his eyes was nothing short of complete devotion and admiration. "Well, I should probably get back to the baby at home." He stood from the stool, towering over my slight frame. My breath quickened. "It was a pleasure meeting you Lorelai," he said and patted my shoulder with his cold hand before leaving.

My vision went blank, replaced with scalding hot memories of the incident. Hands. Hands everywhere. Hands pulling my hair. The sting of ropes against my bare skin, turning it raw. The bark of their shouts ringing in my ears, a calloused hand stinging my cheek. All ending with the icy embrace of the churning waves, water filling my lungs. I was never a strong swimmer. The same scene, replaying over and over and over and over and-

"Are you alright?" A soft voice brought me back to the tavern. I could feel his presence behind me, and I could feel the eyes trained on us.

"I'm fine, thank you," I said, my voice uncharacteristically airy. I looked up at the mystery man to see Wilbur standing there, his guitar in one hand and a drink in the other.

"Do I know you?" He asked and sat where Ranboo had been sitting only a few minutes prior. I looked to my hands and found that they were still gripping the edge of the counter, my knuckles turning white. Carefully I set them back in my lap.

"Probably not," I lied. If he had half a brain he would be able to pinpoint exactly who I was; the weird girl on the rock who watched his childhood fly by.

"Hm. Coulda sworn I've seen you somewhere." He took a swig of his drink. "I'm Wilbur, by the way." He smiled at me, his chocolate eyes twinkling in the candlelight. I almost told him I knew who he was, but ultimately decided that that would probably come off a bit strange.

"Aren't you supposed to be performing here?" I asked. I noticed how his clothes held a princely charm, despite being a bit stained and worn out. A runaway prince. That's how I would describe him.

"Later. What's your name?" He asked me. Melanie brought me by another cup of water silently, the ghost of a grin on her face. My heart was still racing from my episode, and I couldn't quite calm my shaking hands.

"Lorelai," I said, already getting tired of all the introductions. Something crossed his face, but quickly hid itself beneath the soft facade he put up. I knew it had to be a facade because no man is gentle. It is not in their nature.

"Like the legend?" Here we go again.

"Is that what it's being called? A legend?" I asked, hearing my tone go cold. I could tell that he heard it too.

"Are the beaches really cursed?" He asked, dodging my question. "I grew up on these shores, and I've never disappeared under mysterious circumstances." I know, I wanted to say. I watched you learn to play the guitar while I learned how to thrift clothes off of skeletons of pirates. I watched you run in the sand and play tag with your brothers as I learned to fend off the demons in my head. But I couldn't say any of that.

"What does it matter to you?" I snapped. I couldn't calm myself down, no matter what I tried. I never want to break. A vase that falls off the shelf doesn't long to crack into pieces.

"It's just that I love the sea, and I don't wanna get killed, you know?" He said calmly. "The water's so calming to me." There was a dreamy look on his face. If only he knew what goes on beneath the surface. He wouldn't be calmed by the rage of a sea nymph.

"I can understand that," I lied again, just trying to end the conversation. I'd rather watch him from the rocks than face the boy, no, man, himself.

"I've gotta go perform now, like you said. Might see you later," he said. Apollo's favorite mortal with his golden brown eyes and golden brown hair and golden glasses and golden voice walking away. Will I see you again, golden boy? As long as you continue to frequent the cursed beaches, I will. I'll see you again from afar, unseen by your gentle eyes.

I left the tavern before he began to sing.

Maybe next time, golden boy.

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We've got more story boys let's goooo

Make sure you drink water, eat food, get sleep, take your meds, and stay caught up on your homework!!!!! I love you, please take care of yourself :D

I'll see you in the next chapter my lovely gems!