Kawaii-Cherii: Yeah, I'm planning some pretty "out there" stuff. That includes twists and things, though I'm hoping it's not too "out there" and puts people off. That would be disappointing. I mean, like all my characters, they're not going to admit feelings anytime soon, because when do they ever. Also, as for the premise, I thought it had been written loads before and would be incredibly obvious. Mermaids are a massive part of Stardew- the necklaces and things, so it's surprising to hear that it's not been expanded upon. As for Sebastian's personal quirks; he had to have some kind of secret/reluctance and the whole touch thing made it fun and frustrating. In all the ways. Honestly, I have loads of "out there" stories in my head, including vampires, cosplay, streaming, Kitsune themed, and things, though I would be really surprised if a VampSeb hadn't been written about already.

No telling what I'll write about next, I'm currently writing four books of my own, (one completed) and so anything is possible!

A/N: I don't particularly like this chapter but I hope you enjoy reading it, regardless!

Chapter 12: Knowing me, knowing you.

Calypso looked behind her at the young woman that was swimming through the surface of the water. 'That is your love?' She asked Sebastian quietly.

He nodded frantically; he didn't have time to correct her. 'Yes! And she spotted me last time I was here because I show up against the reef quite obviously! I need to move,' he said feeling his body tense. Calypso nodded and pointed to a large overhang of rock, it created a large hiding place and would be perfect. All he had to do was get to it.

Calypso kept an eye on Elspeth and motioned with her hand. 'Go, now,' she whispered and moved as Sebastian darted off, as fast as he could towards the shelter. It was only a brief second before he was completely hidden. Calypso followed and gave him a reassuring smile, 'I shall distract her-'

'What?! No!' Sebastian said wanting to grab her and pull her underneath the outcrop, he couldn't risk his movement catching Elspeth's attention though.

The mermaid gave him a look, 'you do realise that I come to your town every year, during the Night Festival?' She giggled. 'I'm literally coming in the next few months,' she pointed out. Sebastian sighed and looked at where Elspeth was swimming. He had thought that she was refraining from swimming in the ocean since the last encounter had scared her so much but it seemed that she was trying to get over that anxiety.

'Most of the people in town think you're just an actress though!' He said feeling his heart race, he wasn't ready for Elspeth to know about this side of him. 'You're going to scare the life out of her, you're going to-'

'Sky-child, relax. She will be perfectly safe. Use this chance and return home. No-one will be any the wiser,' she assures and reaches into her bag. 'Here,' she said as she produced a stone. It was made of a white coloured, mother of pearl and looked like the ones he had been deciding between back in the cave before her arrival. He had dropped them when she hugged him. 'This is from home,' she explained. 'Make the bracelet, give it to her, tell her how you feel,' Calypso smiles and leans forward as she kisses him lightly on the forehead, feeling his scales under her lips.

Sebastian gently took the stone and gave Calypso a gentle hug, 'thank you,' he said quietly. Even though she hadn't helped in solving his problem, she provided a comfort and acceptance that he craved. Calypso smiles and begins to swim to the surface; she knew that Sebastian would take the chance when Elspeth was distracted. They were in very shallow water and all the young woman would have to do is look in the right direction and she would see everything. To make sure that she didn't actually scare Elspeth, Calypso made sure to make a lot of splash and tail flicks as she moved closer.

-x-

I can do this, Elspeth thought to herself as she swam. Just because I saw one large fish doesn't mean that there's going to be some horrible monster waiting for me. I just need to not think about it. She lifted her head to the side to breath and swam another stroke, kicking her legs in rhythm. The burn in her muscles felt good and she was enjoying the feeling of her stress dwindling. There was nothing quite like having your worries being literally washed away by the current and waves. Honestly, that fish could have been anything. I mean, I did some research and it could have been like the creatures that live in the mines. Just some weird evolutionary throwback that's somehow managed to make it to this day and age. It didn't seem like it was going to attack me, more like it wanted to get the fuck out of my presence. Her anxiety was taking a little longer to vanish but she was determined to see it off. She had waited to return to the ocean until the weather was warmer and the days were longer; where there was more sunlight to discourage anything that may have felt snackish for someone her size.

The instinctual part of her brain registered that there were splashing noises that didn't make sense and she paused, looking around. She was just about to put it down to her paranoia when she caught sight of a green fin breaking the surface. 'Oohh.. crap… that's a big fish,' she said as she stilled for a moment, causing the waves to slosh over her head as her buoyancy dipped. It wasn't a shark as it wasn't the right shape and looked to be something you would find on a tropical reef. Her goggles saw to it that she could see everything and in the brief moment that she sank, Elspeth spotted a human looking face. A woman. A woman with a tail.

Who smiled and waved.

Elspeth screams and covers her mouth with her hand as she tries to return to the surface and not inhale a lungful of sea. Her propulsion practically rocketed her out the water and she began to kick ferociously. 'No, no, no, no, no,' Elspeth stuttered, her heart beating in fear as she backed up. 'This is some freaky horror movie shit and I'm not doing it,' she said as she turned and began to swim as fast as she could. Calypso followed with ease and managed to stop her by simply circling around the young woman and trapping Elspeth with her tail. Elspeth had no choice but to stop swimming and slowly rotate to look at the mermaid. 'Oh, Yoba… look if you're going to drown me and eat me, can you like, snap my neck or something first? I really don't want to drown,' she said, her voice thick with panic and it was clear that she was going to cry.

The mermaid laughed which did nothing to alleviate the worry on Elspeth's expression. 'Child… I am not going to hurt you. I simply wish to talk,' she said as she unwound her tail from around Elspeth. 'I come to this town every year during the Night Festival. I understand that you are new here,' she said with a smile.

Elspeth forced herself to relax, not that it really took. She stared at the creature, her eyes feeling hot with the tears of panic she was trying to stifle. Paddling on the spot to stay afloat, her mind raced, Okay. It's taking to me… the… mermaid is talking to me… A mermaid… with a tail… she just kept repeating the phrase in her head hoping that she could convince herself that this was real. 'I… I was told that you were like some sort of actress,' she said, clearly panicking but trying to hide it. 'Well, okay! Turns out you're real! Mermaids are real! That's… new!' She added in fake calmness. 'I'm so glad I decided to come swimming by myself and I didn't ask Bazz to come with me,' Elspeth babbled.

Calypso laughs and tilts her head, 'who is Bazz?' She asks curiously.

'A… friend,' Elspeth said conversationally while moving back a little; the shock had hit hard. The waves bobbed her around and she was pretty sure that she had actually drowned without realising it and this was some weird reaction of her brain being deprived of oxygen. 'Why… Why are you talking to me?' She asked, trying to stay calm.

The mermaid smiled and it doesn't help Elspeth's concern, just like when she laughed. Everything the mermaid did caused a new level of anxiety to be discovered. Calypso flicks her tail, brushing her blue hair away from her face. 'I've met everyone in this town, and have even given some of them their fortunes. I decided to take the chance once I had spotted you, instead of waiting until the Night Festival,' she explains. 'You have an aura about you that is very interesting,' Calypso added as she swam closer.

'Goodie?' Elspeth said, wondering if this was reality.

Calypso dove under the water briefly as she moved around Elspeth. Sebastian was gone which meant that he was probably over halfway home by now. It also meant that she could leave Elspeth alone and let the young woman continue with her morning. She rose to the surface and took Elspeth's hand. 'Come, child. I'll lead you back to the shore,' she said feeling a little resistance from the woman. 'You look like you are going to faint, I wouldn't want to be the cause of harm.'

'I couldn't be more confused right now,' Elspeth admitted. What the fuck is going on? Mermaids are real and there's an actual one trying to take me to the shore? I think I am actually going to pass out. This is insane…

The mermaid didn't give her an inch and led her to the shore, sitting in the surf with her. 'You seem to be in shock,' Calypso said as she flicked her hair back from her face as she looked at the young woman. She was very pretty; Calypso could see why Sebastian had feelings for her. Also, when she had taken Elspeth's hand she had sensed what kind of future was ahead for her and it warmed Calypso's heart.

'I'm literally trying to process what the fuck is going on,' Elspeth said honestly. 'I didn't think mermaids were real, though honestly, now I really think about it, it makes sense. I mean, there's all sorts in the caves and mines. Even in the forests. There's even a wizard in town. Why wouldn't there be actual mermaids in the ocean?' Elspeth babbled, feeling her body shake. 'I'm clearly stupid for thinking that there was no such thing when there obviously is!'

Calypso smiles and gives her a wink. 'Take a moment to breathe,' she instructs as she motions with her hand and watches Elspeth take a ragged breath. 'I am sorry for surprising you in such a way. I didn't think,' she said, feeling a little guilty about Elspeth's current disposition. 'I shall see you in a few months, child. Come see me at the show. We can have a proper conversation then,' she said as she slipped further back into the waves. 'Oh… before I leave… who is Bazz?' She asks. 'I do not know anyone by this name that lives here,' she adds.

Elspeth's face goes pink. 'Oh… it's Sebastian. He's tall, got dark hair… bit of a loner? Robin's son. It's a little inside joke. He calls me, Elsie, I call him, Bazz. It's silly but we like it,' she mumbles. Calypso bites her lip as she tries not to laugh. The mermaid thanks Elspeth for her explanation and waves goodbye before disappearing into the water once more. Elspeth stands up shakily and staggers over to where she had left her things on a nearby rock. She pulls out her phone and calls Sebastian who picks up. 'Hey… sorry to wake you,' she mumbled.

'I just got out the shower, it's fine. What's the matter?'

'I… I think I just met a mermaid,' Elspeth said, completely in shock.

'A what?' Sebastian says with a little laugh, it was fake but she didn't seem to register that. 'Where are you?'

'At the beach.'

'I'll be there in ten,' Sebastian said simply. Elspeth sounded completely shell shocked and he was concerned about how she had taken meeting Calypso. Thankfully, Elspeth wouldn't question about his wet hair, thanks to his shower excuse. He made sure to towel dry his hair, even though he naturally dried off quite quickly. Making sure his skin was fully covered; he made his way down to the beach where he found Elspeth simply staring at the ocean. She was sitting on the sand and had a glazed expression on her features. He made a fair bit of noise and sat next to her, not caring about the sand that'll find its way into his jeans. 'Hey,' he said, softly.

'They're real,' she said quietly as she looked across the water. 'It's not really something that you expect… but for some reason it makes sense,' Elspeth mumbles.

He tilts his head as he pulls a leg up and leans on his knee. 'Are you okay?' He asked, wondering what she made of it all.

Elspeth sighed heavily and looked over at him, seemingly returning to the same plane of existence. 'Did you know that they were real? Like an actual people?' She said, needing to know that she wasn't going insane.

Sebastian shrugged his shoulders, 'well, as a kid, I thought I knew. You believe in everything at that age. As a teen… it seemed silly,' he muses. 'After that… it makes sense. I mean, we have a wizard in town, there are literal monsters in the mine and forests… making the jump to mermaids, seems well, reasonable,' he said honestly. Not to mention that the only reason I survived my teens and the "illnesses" I was suffering from was because Calypso told me to take a swim. That was a terrifying morning. I'm glad she was there. I might have actually drowned, he laughed in his mind as he remembered the first time his other form took over.

He leaned over and grabbed her towel, wrapping it over her shoulders. With a heavy exhale, Elspeth smiles at him. 'Thankyou,' she said as she pulled it around tighter. 'Sorry, I'm just in a little shock. I mean… Hayley had mentioned the mermaid at the Night Festival but also said that she was an actress. Turns out, Hayley was wrong and I've literally just met the real mermaid of the festival.'

'Come on, I'll walk you home and you can babble at me,' he said with a teasing smile. She seems to be taking this whole thing reasonably well. That holds hope… should I ever tell her, he thought to himself as Elspeth got ready. He had stashed the stone in his top drawer of his desk until he could find a pearl and actually summon the courage to create the bracelet. 'Don't you think that the fact that merpeople are real is… kinda cool?' He asked, cautiously. 'Or y'know a word not as lame as "cool",' he adds with a chuckle.

Elspeth gathered her things and wrapped her towel around her, under her arms, keeping her torso warm. She went to pull her backpack on but Sebastian beat her to it and swung it onto his own shoulder. She gave him an amused look and they began to trudge through the sand that happily shifted under their shoes. 'I haven't ever really thought about it until now,' she admitted. Tilting her head she nodded, 'actually that's not true. I've been working on some concept sketches for Haley involving mermaids. She wanted me to design her as a mermaid. I chose to base her on some sort of File fish, it's luminous blue and pale yellow and shifts colours when it wants to. All stripey and thin, it's quite a pretty fish and she likes it,' Elspeth babbled. 'So, yeah, thinking about it, it would be kinda cool. Though, the logistics sound tricky. I know magic is probably involved somewhere but the evolutionary side is probably incredibly interesting. Do they all look half human or are some more… aquatic?'

'Aquatic,' Sebastian said without thinking and then cleared his throat. 'I mean… that would make sense wouldn't it?' He said, feeling that he was somehow lying at that moment. 'That some have more fish-like characteristics? Or maybe it's just the women that look like traditional mermaids,' he said in wonder himself, having never seen another Mer other than Calypso. It was something he was going to have to ask her. What if it's because I'm a "blessed child"? That could be why I look so different to Calypso. She's incredibly traditional. Her mate has white scales and her child has blue, if the bracelet she wore is anything to go by… Sebastian thought to himself as they walked. He looked over at Elspeth, I wonder what you would look like as a mermaid?

Be well. Stay safe.