lotus.

"Look! Look how long this love can hold its breath." Josefina Rivera. she/her. 37 years old. human. high school science teacher.

[jo-rivera]

josefina rivera | lotus

played by rowan, 21, they/them, EST

BASICS

age: 37

species: human

birthdate: november 29, 1983

gender: female (cis)

pronouns: she/her

birthplace: port vale 

length of time in port vale: 27 years or 1 week

occupation: high school science teacher

fc: tessa thompson

HISTORY

past

Jo was born in Port Vale, and she grew up loving her funny little seaside town and the ocean that bordered it. Her father was a cod fisherman, and he taught Jo to swim, to fish, and to sail. Even as a small child, she loved to be in the water, so much so that her parents would call her their little mermaid. Jo never really bought into the town's mermaid gimmick, though, even as a child. She had a curious, scientific mind, much more interested in known sea life than in legends of fishwomen. As she grew older, her love for the ocean developed into a love for marine biology and then a passion for science more generally. Jo's good grades and her friendly nature pushed her to become a teacher, and after graduating high school, she started attending a nearby college and studying biology and education.

It was shortly after starting college that Jo's idyllic life was interrupted. The fishing boat her father was on caught fire, and the Coast Guard was unable to find any survivors. Her father, the man who'd taught Jo to explore the ocean, vanished from her life. However, his love for the ocean stayed with her. She doubled down in her studies, simultaneously an escape and an attempt to respect his memory. A few years later, she graduated and got a job at Port Vale High, teaching biology and chemistry.

In the years after her father died, though, the small town she'd grown up in began to feel almost claustrophobic. Everyone knew what had happened to her father, and their sympathy became almost unbearable, a constant reminder of her family's loss. Perhaps that was what drew her to the mysterious, brooding stranger who showed up in Port Vale when she was 22. He never looked at her with sympathy or pity. In fact, he was actually a little rude at first, before she proved that she wasn't going to take that shit. Two oddballs, both a little haunted, Jo and Isidore constantly stepped on each other's toes at the start. But it wasn't long before they learned to get along. After a year, they fell in love. For four years, they dated. They weren't without their fights, of course, but it was obvious to everyone that they were serious about each other and practically inseparable. Until they weren't. Jo, sick of waiting around for a proposal, began to push Isi to settle down and Isi, without explanation, broke things off. Jo was hurt, angry, and tired of a town where everybody knew everybody's business. So, she did what any reasonable person would do, and moved across the country.

present

For the past ten years, Jo's lived in Seattle, Washington. She's fallen in love with another ocean - and another person. Five years ago, she met her current fiance, and one year ago, they got engaged. Jo's life had settled into a predictable, steady rhythm, and she was actually about to get married. But then, she got the news that her mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness and she didn't stop to think for a second before her bags were packed and she and her fiance were moving to Port Vale so that she could care for her mom. Now, back in Port Vale for less than a week, Jo has to contend with old faces and new ones and reconsider how well she really knows her sleepy hometown.

PERSONALITY

Jo has always been a curious, bright-eyed sort, constantly searching for new information. She loves life, and she's not afraid to face it head-on, facing her challenges directly and with a smile. She loves a good adventure, and her curiosity has pushed her to explore and try new things - but she also loves to have a home to come back to at the end of the day. She cares deeply for her friends and family and would do just about anything for them. She loves in a way that's fervent and all-consuming, both when it comes to her interests and her loved ones. Caring and creative, she makes a wonderful teacher, and she's incredibly empathetic. Still, she's not afraid to stand up for herself, and she can be very assertive when she needs to be, even overly pushy.

[jo-rivera]

isidoredelgado​:

   xx

     As soon as the fire erupted in Jo, it seemed to fizzle - and it took all his patience not to interrupt, to interject, to deny… she needed her space to react, so Isi’s jaw clamped tight. She was so wrong - about him, how it really went down… but at the same time, Isidore was wise enough to see the situation from her lens, too. All those fights, all those unanswered questions, the distance he kept perpetually between them; and worst of all, her willingness to accept it, despite the difficulty. A willingness he hadn’t been able to provide himself. 

   “Would have what?” He couldn’t help but ask - it spilled out, before he could stop it, and Isidore wanted to swallow the words back. This is wrong. It was all wrong, but he was in too deep, and… honestly, he was still reeling from the fact she believed him. At least mostly. 

   Her tears jerked a reaction from Isidore that he hadn’t expected, and once more, he was withdrawing into himself. The urge to reach out and comfort was strong, but the fear of being shoved away was stronger. Isidore didn’t move a muscle, frozen in place. “You are right. I was selfish. Extremely so. “But, please, do not believe it was born from a lack of love… if anything, do not believe that. In all my years-” Which she now knew what that really meant. “There was never anyone like you, Jo. You were the only one I have love like that for, all this time. I was selfish, but it was because I… facing another loss, one that great, I was so scared of it.” Which makes no sense, since I ended it anyway. Isidore could almost hear her reaction to that, and that self-awareness hurt almost as much as her tears and raised voice, laced with betrayal. 

   And then the ring. The movement of her fingers brought his attention to it, and with a sinking feeling of dread, Isidore could almost hear her thoughts as she had them. Of course - Jo would tell the fiancé. “Steph found me out. She put it all together,” He answered, sounding hollow. Feeling hollow. “Just a couple of days ago… Renzie knows, too. And Em- Emilia, from the shop, you remember?” He was nervous, that much was obvious, his voice cracking twice as he spoke. 

   This was exhausting. “I will show you evidence. Soon. I- not today,” Isidore sighed, fighting off tears of his own, and lowered his gaze, chin tilting to the ground. Jo shouldn’t see him weak like this; not when she was the one who was being confronted with the truth about him, not when then was far worse on her, surely - Isidore wasn’t allowed to hurt, he had been the catalyst from the start. “Jo, don’t tell her. The woman you are going to marry.”

   It was an impossible ask. He knew this. “I left you so you would never have to deal with this- any of it. You can still have that,” He sounded hopeful. He needed Jo to have a good life; one with a perfect ending, far from Assyria, far from it all. Otherwise… what had he broken it off for? “And knowing is dangerous. There are some who… well. The secrets I held have been kept for centuries. I do not think if this spreads, things will end well. For anyone. I will protect you, but…”

  Isidore still didn’t even know Jo’s fiancé, to his knowledge. How could he protect an unknown face? 

---

"I still would have loved you," Jo said, voice soft. She could be certain of that, at least, because she still did love Isidore. As angry as she was and as absurd as all of this was, she couldn't help but love him. But now she loved Mina, too, more than anything. Ultimately, it had all worked out for the best. Still, she couldn't help but wonder what would have happened, if Isidore had worked up the courage to tell her about a decade earlier.

"Sure, I remember Emilia. Renzie's girlfriend," she said, voice distant; she was obviously distracted by the rest of what Isidore had said. "If Steph hadn't put the pieces together, how long would you have gone without telling us? I mean...if you're 700 years old and you still look like this," Jo gestured to Isidore's fairly-good-looking-for-a-geriatric self, "I'm assuming you don't age very quickly. Eventually, people would have noticed, right? Unless...can you change the way you look?"

She supposed that, assuming Isidore could already transform from a horse-fish-person to a human, nothing was out of the question. If all of this was real...well, it only served to reinforce how little humanity actually understood about the world around them. The things that they could learn from hippocampi and mermaids were potentially limitless.

Jo was distracted from that train of thought by Isidore's request. She narrowed her eyes, shifting away from him. "Mina won't tell anyone. But Isidore, I have to tell her. She's my fiancee. We don't keep things from each other." She didn't mean it as a barb, but if it came out that way, she didn't intend to apologize either.

[jo-rivera]

@mina-lewis​

The events of that day had left Jo's head spinning. First Isidore telling her that he was a hippocampi and that mermaids existed. Then Steph telling her that her girlfriend (ex?) had been a mermaid who'd left for the ocean. Then Steph...

She couldn't even think about that. It was the last straw that might finally make her slip and lose hold of her sanity. She'd deal with it later. For now, she just had to concentrate on getting home. And figure out how to explain all of this to Mina.

That was not a question. She'd just learned world-shattering information. She had to tell Mina. Besides, it wasn't as if she'd be able to hide how shaken up she was.

She unlocked the door and headed upstairs, careful to be quiet. It was already past nine, and her mom would be asleep. She went straight to her bedroom - her old childhood bedroom. It had been renovated since she'd moved out, of course. The walls repainted to a more neutral color, the comforter on the bed changed to one a bit more grown-up. It was still strange that she and Mina were sleeping there, though.

“Hey, Min," she said as she pushed open the door. She hoped she didn't look like too much of a mess; her eyes still felt puffy from crying. She stepped inside and shut the door behind her. "Are you busy, can we talk? I just...I learned something really crazy, and I need to tell somebody about it. It's kind of a lot, though."

[steph-anand]

After Isidore tells Jo the truth, @jo-rivera comes to Steph to make sense of it all. Some talk happens. Mistakes are made.

Keep reading

[jo-rivera]

renzieanand​:

“Keep your eyes peeled, huh?  If you see anything weird - well, more weird than the usual Port Vale weirdness,”  he chuckled, drinking some more tea.  “That’s how you can help.  Just humour me for a bit, and keep a look out for…I dunno.  Those weird new Hollywood model-girls in town, doing weird things or….well if you get a chance to chat with Xand and Siobhan, see if you get any weird vibes from her.  I’m just saying!  You might!  Do it for me, for old times’ sake.”

He grinned, and elbowed her in the side.  “Maybe if you do me this favour then I’ll finally forgive you for totally ditching me and running off to Seattle for ten years, huh?”  

Shaking his head and waving with the box, Renzie lightly protested.  “Yeah okay enough about Steph and her dumb lovelife, who cares.  What about mine!  What about yours - dude, how’s Mina settling in?  Last time I talked to her, she seemed convinced the town was out to judge and jury her. She could barely carry a conversation.  I tried to reassure her, man, but I don’t think she seemed to believe a thing I was saying.  Then again, I was pretty out of it.  I met her like…days after the whole selkie revelation so I wasn’t my best.  Um.”

Renzie bit his lip.  “So yeah.  Tell her I’m not a dork.  Okay no I can’t ask you to lie.  So…tell her I’m not a freakazoid.  I’d love to hang out with you guys, but I’m worried she doesn’t like me. I think I left a bad impression.”

---

Jo winced at Renzie's description of Mina. "Really? Okay, ouch. Um, every time I talk to her she tells me she's settling in okay, that she likes the town and everything, but...I think she's more uncomfortable here than she's letting on. Can you blame her? This place is pretty insular. Plus, I'm sure it's a lot of pressure, moving to your fiance's hometown where you hardly know anybody and trying to make a good impression."

She reached out and squeezed Renzie's shoulder. "I'm sure she didn't think you were a freakazoid." She had no such confidence. "I'll make sure to tell her. And hey, when you're feeling a little better, maybe all three of us can get together. We can do dinner or something, yeah?"

She let her hand drop back down to her side. "Anyway...what about your love life? The last time I checked, you were Port Vale's most eligible bachelor. Married to Ms. Mermaid and Mr. Starbeach, remember?" She grinned. "You're not cheating on them, are you?!"

[jo-rivera]

isidoredelgado​:

   She was a scientist - in the beginning, that been his greatest fear. The thirst for knowledge. Jo was entirely right, of course… so often, she was. Isidore sighed, knowing it was to do the impossible; a cruel request, to believe on blind faith. That was difficult for all humans, but significantly the scientific type. 

    “Before the mermaids came to the oceans, time had no meaning,” Isidore said quietly, after a long silence stretched between them. He wouldn’t meet her eyes, and had no idea if his free speech would only further cement the idea of his lunacy in her mind. Maybe that was what was easier - if she believed he was crazy, Renzie was crazy, Steph, too. Maybe she would leave (again) and never have to deal with anything of this caliber for the rest of her life. “We just sort of existed. For me, the curiosity came when they did. Assyria, they called it. The oceans divided, each mermaid princess a ruler,” He listed off these things, with a sort of rueful in his voice. Isidore was well aware of how crazy it sounded. He agreed in everything that Jo could say about it - but that made it no less true. “That was when I first started going to land. Over seven hundred years ago.” 

   He kept his level as he said that, waiting until he spoke the words before looking at her again; gauging for a reaction, anything. “I spent a good time above water, too. More so in the past, back before - before all the technological stuff started to really take off, and then… I met you, and I came here, and, Jo, I really did love you. I really do, and that was why I lied. To protect…” He almost said you. “Everyone. Them, my home, as angry as I was, and… and myself.” 

   Too many words. He felt exhausted. “I never questioned why. It was never my place, the reason for me being what I am. For any of us, from the water. I do not want to know why… and if you want proof, then I-” Could he even do that? Let her see him like that - would she ever look at him the same - would he lose all humanity in her eyes? “I can try to be ready for that. You know, even Steph did not ask for proof. I thought of everyone, it would have been her.” 

---

"Seven hundred years?!" Jo's voice came out as little more than a squeak. She stared at Isidore, trying to reconcile that knowledge with the guy she knew. Isidore, over seven hundred years old, who existed in a world with mermaid princesses. A world called Assyria. 

She'd met someone else who'd mentioned Assyria, hadn't she? Elistra. Was she a mermaid princess too? The more information she took in, the crazier this all became...but the more it all seemed to fit together, too. Like a puzzle she'd just been missing some of the pieces for.

But at Isidore's next words, she wanted throw the whole puzzle off the table and smash it to bits.

"You didn't lie to me out of love! You lied to me because it was convenient for you. Because you didn't love me enough to tell me the truth. I was, what, your cute little human girlfriend? And then as soon as it got difficult, you just dropped me, like I was nothing! You could have just told me then, Isidore! I still would have..." She wasn't sure what she would have done. The fight went out of her all at once, and she sank back into the couch, unable to meet his eyes. Jesus Christ, she actually believed him.

"Please." She wiped both hands on her face, rubbing away tears. "If you don't give me some sort of evidence, I'm going to feel so crazy for believing in this shit. But I do. I believe you. I don't want to, but it makes all this weird stuff about you and Steph and the town...if hippocampi and mermaids and everything exist, it all makes sense. Goddamnit, Isidore."

She twisted the engagement ring on her finger. She'd have to tell Mina about all this. How, she had no idea. "You, um, you told Steph. When? Who else have you told? Why now?"

[jo-rivera]

mina-lewis​:

.

“Of course.” Mina assured the other, though it seemed to go without saying. There was a little bit of Mina in every one of her paintings, either by her knowledge and depictions of the ocean, or by what she collected on the beaches and incorporated into her art – why would she not also include some things that Jo picked out? “I’m sure anything you find will fit right into one of my artworks – if not, then I’ll just have to create something brand new for it.” She could use the inspiration. 

Slipping her arms into her coat, green eyes came up when she heard her name on her fiancé’s lips, hearing the inflection. “I told you,” She shrugged. “I grew up all over, never stayed anywhere for long.” The mermaid had long ago come up with a bit of a backstory, enough to answer most general questions. But Jo’s questions weren’t just general any more. 

Her parents were hippies, as the story went, who moved all over the place, never letting Mina settle down for long, being dragged along with them. Her mother had died when Mina was twenty, and she’d never really kept in touch with her father after that. “I’m not like you, I didn’t grow up somewhere nice, somewhere with friends whatnot. There are places I’d like to see in the world, but they’re new places, places I haven’t been before. I’d rather explore those new places with you.” She bit her lip, hoping the truth was enough to cover the lies. Because she hated lying to Jo, it was soul-crushing. But she couldn’t tell her the truth, not when it was so likely to end in her death. Surely Jo would understand that, if she had to? 

---

Immediately, Jo felt awful for asking. She always figured that the fact that Mina never talked about her childhood was a sign that it hadn't been a very happy one. It was just...strange, how she never brought it up, not even to complain. Maybe she was selfish for wanting to talk about something that Mina would obviously rather keep buried.

"Yeah, sure. Sorry, I just..." Just what? Just wanted to dig up all the awful, traumatic parts of her fiancee's childhood because she felt she had some sort of right to know? She shook her head, slipping on her coat and holding open the door for Mina. "Never mind. It was a dumb thing to ask."

She forced a smile. "New places it is." Although these days, it didn't seem like they'd have the time or money to go traveling anytime soon. There was Jo's mom to take care of, of course, and the medical bills were less than ideal. They'd make the time, she told herself, but doubt was heavy in her chest. Desperate to shake it off, she stepped out into the cold.

[jo-rivera]

isidoredelgado​:

    xx

    The expression you could see the wheels turning in their head finally clicked into place for the hippocampi, as he stared back at her, both of their faces deadly serious and in such intensity that even Isidore could, almost, see the comical nature of it all. How ridiculous- how outlandish this whole fucking conversation was without the context of 700+ years living it. 

   He was the one who almost laughed, instead of her. Instead, he closed his eyes and shook his head slowly, trying to remain present, anchored to the floor rather than apart from himself, as he’d been for the past couple of days. In all actuality, she was… taking it pretty well, even if Isidore could hear the disbelief plainly written into each word. “I can’t,” He answered, eyes still closed, and exhaling before opening them again. His spoke rushed, as if with anxiety, losing the calm nature of his voice usually. “I can’t prove it. I have not gone to the water, well, in that way, since I first came here.” 

   Honestly, Isidore wasn’t even sure what would happen, if he did try - fifteen years in his human form was a long time, even for his lifespan. Would it be painful, would it be difficult? There was no eagerness to find out. “We call it Assyria,” He continued, quieter, regaining some of the control over his panic once more, and returned to the stoic, neutral tone that Isi always had about him. “And I left, for good. I made my home here. I have not looked back.”

---

I can't, Isidore said, and the words were like lead weights strapped to her heart.

"You can't? You can't? What you can't do is tell me that you're some horse-fish-whatever and then expect me to just believe you without any evidence, Isidore! You can't just say something that would turn my whole world, my whole life, on its head and not prove it! That's not fair!" The childish cry left her mouth and she cringed internally, but once she'd started, she couldn't stop.

"What...what am I supposed to do? Wonder for the rest of my life if hippocampi are real or if my ex has just completely lost it? You can't do that to me." Because when Jo Rivera - ever the scientist - had a problem on her hands, she obsessed over it, turning it over and over in her mind until she solved it. She had done it with their breakup, until she moved hundreds of miles away to escape it. She was trying to do it with Mina, she was trying to do it with her mother, and now she was doing it with this.

And it would be easy to dismiss this as Isidore being crazy. Except, she found herself thinking about the fact that after fifteen years, he didn't look a day older. The way that he had always been so vague about his childhood. How strange he'd been when he'd first arrived in Port Vale, like he'd lived under a rock. Or at the bottom of the ocean. Jo was too smart to believe in something improbable without evidence, but she was also too smart to ignore evidence that was right in front of her face. Even if it took her a while to notice it.

Maybe that was why she was taking this so seriously. Maybe that was why she found herself shaking even as she insisted, "You can't be a hippocampus. From an evolutionary standpoint, it doesn't make sense. If they were literally half-fish, half-horse...how would that happen? What traits does a creature like that even have that would allow it to survive? And how would it just turn into a human?” Her lower lip trembled as she added, “Even if something like that could exist, the Isidore I know wouldn't have stood by and lied to me and let me be wrong about it for five years.”

[thequeensofbeauty]

TESSA THOMPSON by Erik Carter for Town & Country, February 2021.

[jo-rivera]

isidoredelgado​:

   xx

    She wasn’t going to believe him. That much, Isidore could see plainly, and… well, he honestly wasn’t sure how to proceed with that. What would he be facing? Laughter, anger, mixed in her disbelief? And could he even blame her for it? The human media took the supernatural and butchered it; and they had done the same with merfolk, too. The mermaids and the sirens you saw on TV, read in books, or could see plastered in murals and decor all around town - so far from the truth. And himself, nothing short of mythological, Isidore knew. 

   Of course, she wasn’t going to believe him. “I am not a vampire,” Isidore said flatly, almost annoyed at the comment- so offhanded, so inaccurate, and yet… within the same vein. Not human, anyway. 

   They were both nervous. That was comforting, at least. Maybe Jo was taking this seriously, at least a little bit - and Isidore took in a breath, and decided fuck it. Why not just get the hardest part out of the way? She can have her reaction, and then he could explain. “Not a vampire…” He echoed, once more, psyching up to just stating it. With everyone else, he’d beaten around the bush, and maybe Isi had done that a little here, too, but it was time to just-

   “But I am from the sea. I am… a creature. We are called hippocampi. I lied about it. To everyone. I wanted to marry you, too, Jo… but I would never be able to provide you with a normal life. Not being what I am. It would never be fair to you.” Isidore had done it. He said the words. Now his heart raced, his body entirely still, as if any movement would shatter his confession, break everything apart into even smaller pieces. All that was left was to deal with her reaction - whatever it may be. “Now you know why.” If she believed him.

---

A creature. Jo almost laughed in his face. Instead, she stared at him, one eyebrow steadily climbing up her face. He was telling her that he was a sea creature. A hippocampus, which was some sort of horse fish creature, if she remembered her mythology correctly. Even more implausible than a mermaid. And he was telling her that that was why they'd broken up.

She'd spent years trying to figure it out. Tracing back her steps, to find the moment where she'd fucked up bad enough to ruin the most important relationship in her life. Modifying her behavior, trying to be less pushy, less weird, less herself. He'd told her it wasn't her fault, but deep down, she'd always felt that it had to be. And now he sat there, straight-faced, telling her that he hadn't married her because he was a horse-fish-creature.

Logically, there were three options:

Isidore was the biggest jerk in the world, and he was saying all this just to fuck with her.

Isidore had completely lost his mind.

Isidore was actually a horse-fish-creature. Horse-fish-creatures were real and they could turn into humans and Isidore was one of them.

The first seemed out of character. The second, equally out of character but less unlikely. The third, completely implausible. And even if it was plausible, that meant that all those years, Isidore had listened to Jo rant about how mermaids couldn't be real, about how Steph and the mermaid-hunting tourists were chasing a fantasy...and he must have thought she was a total idiot. Her blood ran cold.

By some miracle, she kept her composure. Maybe because she felt a little like she was floating outside her body, even as she said, "Okay. You're a hippocampus. Where's your evidence? If you are what you say you are, you should be able to prove it, right? Show me that you can breathe underwater or...or turn into a horse, or whatever you're saying you can do." Her face was simply disbelieving, but her voice shook as she spoke, the only true indicator of what was going through her head.

[jo-rivera]

personal color

[steph-anand]

@jo-rivera seeks Steph out after she talked to Renzie about what he saw on Halloween to see how they could make sure if he is okay

Keep reading

[jo-rivera]

isidoredelgado​:

   Well, judging based on her initial reaction to the idea of selkies, Isidore began to have an even worse sinking feeling in his stomach. This was going to go just as poorly as the other times - possibly even, he dare admit, worse. She spoke of Renzie’s reaction, and Isidore nodded slowly as he listened, eyes un-focusing as she heard her human explanations - that desire to wish it away. 

    Was he really doing the right thing here? Was this even fair to her, at all? It wasn’t as if Jo didn’t have enough on her plate - the health problems in the family, an engagement ring on her finger, Renzie’s stress… and now, what, he was just going to hand her a bomb and step back and watch it detonate? 

   Isidore’s lips opened, then closed; and repeated this once more. “No. I had never met Siobhan until the town did as a whole.” Until Moray did. Isidore almost let it slip, bitterly, solidarity for the lightkeeper. “But, ah… I think Renzie is right. I- I know he is.” Without meaning too, Isi began to rub his palms together slowly, nervously - this part never got easier. Not even a little bit. 

   “Jo. I am never going to be able to tell you about my childhood, because I did not have one. Or, I did, but… I cannot remember it. It has been too long. I have lived too long. I cannot tell you what country I came from, because I did not come from a country. If you want answers- real, real answers… you are going to have to understand they do not come from a place you even have belief in. Do you still want to know?” 

   It was, perhaps, the most words at once he’d ever spoken to her. 

---

Jo opened her mouth to interject when Isidore said Renzie is right, unable to believe what she was hearing. First Renzie, now Isidore?! Part of her wondered if they'd always had weird beliefs, and she just hadn't noticed it until now — but no, Isidore had always seemed as confident as she was that mermaids and the like didn't exist. She closed her mouth, frown deepening as he continued.

"Okay," she said softly, because what else was she supposed to say to the revelation that her ex had lived too long to remember his childhood? She was scrambling to decipher that as some sort of metaphor, but with the context of the conversation, it really seemed like he was being literal. "This better not be leading up to a joke. You better not be about to tell me you're a vampire or something, Isidore, because I've seen you in the sun and you don't sparkle."

She laughed, but it was high-pitched and nervous and horrifically unlike her. She took a breath. She was there to listen, not to pass judgment, she reminded herself. "Sorry. I’m so sorry. I'll shut up. I’m just - nervous, I think.” But why was she the one who was nervous? This wasn’t about her. “Whatever you want to say, I'm listening. Go ahead."

[jo-rivera]

isidoredelgado​:

   xx

      Well, he certainly wasn’t ready, but that day would never come; he was more prepared now than he ever had been; and though, even now, he trusted the Anand’s more than anything… Isidore couldn’t be sure they wouldn’t tell Jo, at least not sure they wouldn’t let something slip on accident. And, more than just that fear… Isidore had been forced to think about her, and their split, and his part in it, ever since she showed back up. Steph’s words about his lies had hit home, and… Jo had been subjected to all of that, too. It wouldn’t be fair to not extend an apology, and an explanation, where it was due, to everyone deserving. 

   “Yes, that is probably best…” Isidore nodded, feeling grateful already; she would know how tough this would be. And he felt bad, springing it on so suddenly, but- “It is also best I just… heh, dive in.” His chuckle was humorless, and his smile sad; he would’ve cringed if he hadn’t smiled, the pun a horribly paced one. 

   Settling onto one end of the couch, he left enough room for Jo to sit, too, if she chose - or one of the two armchairs across the room. “I- before I start, have you… talked to Renzie, lately, about… seals?” 

---

Jo took a seat on the other end of the couch, careful to keep enough space between them that neither of them would be uncomfortable, but close enough to give him a hug if he needed one. She was sure this conversation wouldn't be easy. Her gaze was patient, open - but when he mentioned the seals, she couldn't help but groan.

"Sorry, I'm sorry," she said, rubbing a hand over her face. "Just - god, he's talked to you about that, too? I'm so worried about him. Yeah, he's told me about the, um...the selkies. He is really convinced that he saw something out there. Like, he wouldn't even listen to me, basically just said he knows what he saw. I'd expect that from Steph, but Renzie? And he's not even happy about it the way Steph would be, he seems really freaked out. What do you think he actually saw out there?"

Her brows furrowed. "Do seals have something to do with your childhood, or are you just trying to change the subject?" She had to wonder if he was about to tell her he was raised by seals. If he was really doing all this just to make a joke, she’d kill him. Then, her eyes lit up in a eureka moment. "Is this about Siobhan? Does she have something to do with your childhood?"

[jo-rivera]

renzieanand​:

®

Renzie shook the cookie box at her.  “God I forgot how good these are,” he said, eating more himself.  “I’ll buy your mom a new box.”  He nodded and chewed, as Jo offered more logic, and Renzie had a realization then.

“Oh - wait Jo, there’s one part of this I should tell you.  I’m not Steph. I’m not trying to convince anyone that they’re all real.  Mermaids, selkies, I mean.  It’s fine if you don’t believe me.  Steph’s…god that poor kid.  She’s always tried to convince others, at least people who mattered to her, y’know?  Yo -”

He moved, to shift next to Jo and give her a little nudge.  “You matter to me, a lot.  But I’m not out to make you believe fuck-all, honestly.  Jesus I’m still overwhelmed and trying to get used to the idea myself.  I can’t believe it’s true; how’m I gonna convince anyone else?  You didn’t see what I saw, on Halloween.  If you did, dude I think our positions would be switched.  I wish they were…”

Renzie sighed sadly, and smiled at Jo.  “What I wouldn’t give to close my eyes back again and go back to being me.  Renzie Anand, normal guy, just like everyone else.  God I miss that guy.”

He shrugged and continued rooting for Nilla wafers.  “But I’m this guy now.  I just needed you to know what I saw, huh?  Felt good to get it all out. You don’t gotta believe me but.  You were my best friend, Jojo.  We used to share everything.”

Renzie grinned, at Jo’s exclamation.  “I know right? Steph, with a girlfriend.  And Steph fell hard, man.  I think Mellora’s the same, at least what she told me.  I’m just…it’s incredible.”

---

"Okay, but -  "Jo bit her lower lip, concern written over every inch of her expression. Although Renzie said he wasn't trying to convince her, she realized she was trying to convince him that what he saw wasn't real. It obviously bothered him, after all, trying to grapple with this giant, life-changing revelation that sea; people existed. And he shouldn't have to grapple with it, nothing should have to change, because selkies weren't real! She felt like, if she could just show him that, he'd be able to go back to normal, happy Renzie.

But he'd made it clear that he wasn't going to be convinced by anything he said. She didn't understand it, frankly. How he could be so sure of something he ostensibly didn't even want to believe. Even so...maybe it would be better if she stopped trying, as frustrating as she found it. Arguing wasn't helping him either way. She reached out and pressed a hand to his shoulder.

"Well, I'm sorry you're dealing with this," she said finally, at a loss for anything better to say. "I just wish I knew how to help. If there's anything I can do for you, Renz, let me know. I just don't like seeing you like this." She could buy him his own box of Nilla wafers, at least.

"So, Mellora," she echoed. Maybe she was trying to steer the conversation back into more familiar waters, though she wouldn't admit it. Obviously, she was there to listen to whatever Renzie had to say. "Isn't she the new person in charge of the Mermaid Museum? Not exactly a surprise that she believes Steph, then, huh? Wow, they sound like they're perfect for each other already."

[jo-rivera]

gayathri-kumar​:

─── ∘°❉°∘ ───

No appointment, great. What was it with people in this town who didn’t understand that appointments were necessary. This was the mayor of the town! Gaya only smiled up at the woman, though, polite and pleasant.

“I am sorry, the Mayor is currently out on a business meeting,” which he was probably already late to when Gaya reminded him of it. Not the first time it happened since she started working together, but as much as she understood, at least Victoria wasn’t around to see it this time. She was off on her own meeting.

“Oh, I apologize, yes, I’m Gayathri Kumar,” Gaya said, standing up and reaching her hand out with a momentary delay. “I guess you could say I am new, I’ve been here for a little bit. Feels like a long time,” too long on land, really, but this was for a good cause, an important cause, “but it’s not possible to get to know all the locals. I’m assuming you are one, right? If you’re friends with Mr. Blackmoore.” Might as well figure some things out about this lady, if she seemed to be in a chatty mood.

---

Jo's sunny smile wilted when the receptionist informed her that Xander wasn't around after all. If she couldn't even find him at his office, it was seeming less and less likely that she'd be able to find him at all. It was like he was a ghost, flitting around town but always just out of her reach.

"Well," she said, taking Gayathri's hand with a small sigh, "it's lovely to met you, Ms. Kumar. Yeah, I'm a local. I mean...sort of. I grew up around here, but I moved away in my twenties and just moved back a few months ago." She was silently thankful that news of her coming back to Port Vale - and, presumably news of her mom - hadn't spread to people she hadn't met yet, at least.

"Xander and I were really close when we were young, but I haven't gotten to see him much at all since I got back. He's always working." She smiled and shook her head. "I'll track him down eventually. The town's not that big. God, I sound like his stalker. Um, where are you from, what brought you to Port Vale?"

[jo-rivera]

renzieanand​:

Renzie couldn’t help the tired, but fond smile as Jo insisted on arguing.  All these same arguments, the same considerations and ‘okay, but’ that he’d thrown onto Steph for basically most of her life.  

“You know I’m glad you’re doing this?” he said, lifting his mug of tea to her before taking a sip.  “Let’s hash this shit out, man.  Let’s logic it out - honestly I wouldn’t be able to do this with anyone else but you.  Not even Em believes me - no one does except Steph of course.  Which means both us Anands have been hitting up the shisha pipe a bit too much.”

He couldn’t help but chuckle, then open up one of her cupboards, then another.  First dishes, then a shelf of cookies and things.  He pulled a box down, glad that it was already open, so he could help himself to a couple.  He offered the box to Jo as well.  

Renzie chewed, gathering the - oh god, the evidence in his mind.  Now he was really thinking like Steph.  “Okay, so.  Before you got here, after the summer tourists left, a new crop of kids showed up, huh?  Port Vale beauties - these really gorgeous chicas showing up, one after the next, and finding places to stay.  Not temporary, not tourists, man.  Literally stay.  Then there was a crazy storm, the lighthouse actually went out - I’m sure Moray’s filled your ear about that already - and this huge emerald pendant washed up with some sort of…weird writing on the back.  Don’t ask me, but Steph said it was mermaid.  Can you imagine? Mermaid blacksmiths…underwater.  Okay,” he joked, then shook his head and continued.

“All this freakiness going on - the lighthouse turns back on ‘mysteriously’ - which if this was summertime, I’d say it was some ploy on Victoria’s part to generate more intrigue for the tourists, right?  But Moray’s convinced it was all genuine!  The pendant’s stolen, Siobhan shows up on Xander’s arm a frigging week before Halloween so they can get married - on Halloween.  Okay, so Xand’s always been a little spooky, what’s the harm of a theme wedding, even if the spontaneity of his new fiancée is a little abnormal for him.  Halloween rolls around and Siobhan’s a runaway bride, poor old Xand humiliated.  Then I see Siobhan and…and this woman I’ve never seen before in my life.  She’s gorgeous, just like all the other girls who’ve arrived in Port Vale.  They talk - Siobhan says something about ‘bringing the others’ and the stranger hands Siobhan a fur coat.  Then bloop - jumps right off the dock, into the water.  It’s freaking midnight in October, the water’s freezing cold, man!  Only thing that bobs up is a sea, grey-spotted just like the coat.

“Then the woman, dude.  She stares at me and goes like this -”  he shushed himself.  “And then she jumps into the water too.  And - and!  There’s other weird things too!  Elistra - you know, Cecil’s Elistra?  Do you remember her?  I think she believes in all this stuff too.  That’s why she’s always been nicer to Steph than to me. Because she agrees, in fact I think she’s like…actually made contact with selkies or mermaids or something.  And Steph’s girlfriend!  She also believes Steph too!”

---

Jo listened as Renzie went through all of the weird things that had happened in Port Vale lately. She had to admit, he had a point. That was a lot of weird things happening all around the same time. Still, she shook her head.

"Alright, but Renz, none of those things have to mean selkies. I mean, what are you saying, that all of the new girls in town are seal people? That's kinda..." She didn't think she needed to tell Renzie how that sounded. "Maybe Port Vale just got some publicity we don't know about, huh? Maybe we made it onto America's Top 50 Best Small Towns to be a Bachelorette In, or something."

She laughed. "And as far as I know, selkies don't start storms or mess with lighthouses or create pendants. Everything that happened with Xander is, well, it's really weird, but I don't think he's been seduced by a seal. I think he's just going through a lot right now. With his dad and being the mayor and everything...I'm actually really worried for him."

She sighed. "As for what you saw, sometimes a seal is just a seal. Or a fur coat that just happened to look like a seal in the dark. Siobhan and her friend were probably high or drunk or something, it was Halloween. Going for a swim isn’t the dumbest thing people in this town have done on Halloween night. Also - " She paused in her rant, blinking as her brain caught up to what Renzie had told her. "Since when has Steph had a girlfriend?!"