Prompt - Something Lost, Something Found

[infringe]

SONG OF THE SEA ( joshua, alecto ) A selkie far from home, searching for his coat. He meets a kind, lonely, young fisherman who tends the lighthouse near the sea.

Comments

[singinthestorm]

"I was born and grew up here," he replies with a nod, taking the basket and holding it securely. "But I've only recently returned after being away for some time. I live up by the new lighthouse, as the keeper."

He is a little surprised at being asked for his name, when somehow it feels like they're already old friends, but he supposes it's only polite. He certainly had the advantage of him at this point. "Joshua. Joshua Archer."

"Do you already have everything you need?" He glances down at the basket, noting the items inside curiously.

[infringe]

Joshua. He remembers the sound of those letters, being shouted across the bay. No, this is certainly not the first time they've met. "My name is Alecto," he replies, breezily. "I also grew up around here, you could say. Huh. The strangest thing," he murmurs, his voice soft like a melody. "I swear we've met before. But I cannot seem to...place you."

It's more a feeling than anything else, like - like home.

Alecto shakes the feeling off like tossing water off his metaphorical fur. "I...just some potatoes," he answers, lamely, "for supper."

They walk a bit more, searching the stalls but Alecto is hardly interested anymore in what's for sale. He continually peers at the man - Joshua Archer - beside him, as if trying to decipher him. "The lighthouse," he says again, with a touch of longing. He knows his husband would be upset to know he'd run so close to the shoreline again but - "It's beautiful, what they've done with it. Would you mind if I stopped by with you on my way back?"

[singinthestorm]

"I have the same feeling," he admits, quietly, his ears attuned to Alecto even if he's not looking directly at him. "But," he laughs a little bit, and then rolls his shoulders in a shrug, "maybe it's better to just - start again. We can be new friends, even if we're not sure we're old ones."

Overall he feels - odd. Nervous and elated at the same time, as though he were getting away with something. In a way, he supposes he is, for all that he is keeping a polite, courteous distance. He hefts the basket, now definitely full, for all Alecto's apparent disinterest. "I wouldn't mind at all. It's... a long walk though." He knows he would definitely be willing to walk twice that distance, if Alecto were there as well.