Steph was inspecting the crowd along with Elio, though even now it was hard for her to remain in one place - her hips were moving to the music, enjoying the entire feel of the event, ignoring the Joja involvement and presence nearby. With good music and so many pretty people around, in good company, it really wasn't that hard to.
"This is my first big event around here," Steph admitted. "I grew up in a small town too, they had their own events and celebrations similar to this, but still, this just has its own vibe. Like, it's similar, but still, the town somehow lives in the core of the event, so it's also very different, but in a good way."
And when he asked her to dance, she beamed up at Elia, turning fully towards him, placing her hand into his. "I am not going to say no to a dance. Lead the way, mister."
Elio can find something to like about practically everyone he meets, but with Steph he didn't even have to try, her effervescent personality endearing her to him right away. They haven't known each other for a very long time, but he's come to view her as something of a kindred spirit, a person with an undeniable zest for life that he greatly admires. He has to be careful with what he tells her about himself - more-so than with anyone else - but it's worth it to have her friendship. "I get it," Elio replies with a nod, "I've been all over the place, and it's crazy how similar and how different each of these small towns are. I'll admit, I've got a soft spot for the Flower Dance though - I've had a great time at all the ones I've been to."
His smile only widens when she agrees to dance with him, having been ready to get out there since the moment he arrived. It's easy for him to get swept up in beautiful music and the good spirits of a crowd, and today is the perfect amalgamation of those things. "That's the spirit!" Elio says cheerfully, lifting their joined hands so Steph can twirl under his arm and out onto the dancefloor. "So, tell me more about the celebrations in your hometown - you guys have any dances like this one?"
loathe to wear a shirt at the best of times, elio's outfit is definitely designed to show off the best of his assets, the lace-like material offering glimpses of his tanned skin even when buttoned (which it definitely isn't). his thick dark hair is artfully twisted with sprigs of delicate baby's breath, and he is, as usual, not wearing any shoes.
the flower dance is one of elio's favourite events to attend, and this is his first one in a couple of years, so he's looking to make the most of it!
it was their grandpa's favourite time of year, the changing of the seasons and the flower dance, having always made some kind of dish for the potluck that he was very proud of. most of their dinners together were met over silence these days. they felt tired but enjoyed seeing their neighbours enjoying themselves. they had a plate they were guarding like a dragon and only vaguely listening to elio before seeing a hand stretched out towards them. rory raises an eyebrow. "i just corked down like three mini weenies with some of that onion soup, i think if you throw me around the dance floor... well, fuck it."
"I really like the use of the phrase 'corked down' - it makes me feel extra-confident that those weenies aren't going to make a sudden reappearance if I spin you around too fast," Elio teases.
Still, he wiggles his fingers more insistently in Rory's direction, willing them to take his hand. "Come on, Greer, put me out of my misery. One dance, and I'll personally go and refill your plate."
finn wasn't the kind of person who littered. truly, he wasn't. he cared for nature, loved it. he had a plot of land overflowing with flowers of all kinds to prove it. he enjoyed a good hike through the forest, a stroll along the beach. he cared about nature, and under normal circumstances he wouldn't be caught dead doing something as stupid as littering. it was, however, something he currently had to do. it was the price he had to pay in order to get what he wanted. what he wanted being elio's attention.
it was a subtle, well calculated move. as he pulled out a packet of cigarettes from the pockets of his oversized jean jacket, out fell an old receipt. it was hardly noticeable, and an honest mistake. how could he be blamed for something he didn't notice happening? it was unfortunate, though, unknowingly adding to the already existing trash all over the beach. hopefully someone would notice and do something about it. he pulled a cigarette out of the packet, used a lighter he always kept on him to light it, took a drag of it, and waited.
The current state of Thistleberry's beach is disheartening, to say the least. Of course, any large-scale public event comes hand-in-hand with a certain amount of mess, but what Elio can see here is indicative of a bigger problem - tin cans and plastic bags, discarded security tags and empty bottles - all of this couldn't have come from the festival alone.
He can't, in good conscience, continue enjoying the dance - not when he knows there's something more important that requires his attention - so Elio has snagged a roll of trash bags from one of the vendor tents, and put himself to work.
When Finn passes him, Elio is systematically collecting up every piece of garbage he can, so the errant scrap of paper that slips from the other man's pocket catches his attention immediately. Quickly snagging it from the ground before the ocean breeze can carry it off, he jogs a few paces to catch up with Finn, gently tugging at the back of his jacket to get him to stop. "Yours, I think," he says, holding out the crumbled receipt for him to take.
"It's good to see you again, Elio. I noticed that you weren't here last year," Adrian said, looking as lively as he usually did. He was glad to see his friend again, of course, but was never one to outwardly express his jubilance with a smile. Much less when confronted with so many townies, all gussied up in flower crowns and joy. The atmosphere was exhilarating, which only made him more self-conscious about his own reservations about looking too excited in front of the turnip of his eye, Willow Gillespie.
Adrian blinked at Elio's joke, unsure of how to parse it. He erred on the side of caution and ducked into his drink. "Ah, I'll pass. I'm not much of a dancer." He wasn't much of a partier either, made obvious by how closely he was hugging the refreshments table.
It only occurred to him then how rude he must've looked, leaving Elio's hand floating there like a lone leaf on a tree. "Perhaps you'd like to make some floral garments instead?" he asked hastily, hoping to make up to leaving his buddy hanging.
Adrian's comment only serves to soften Elio's smile, the expression tempered by no small measure of fondness. The nature of his existence as a traveller means he's long-since made peace with the fact that he's only ever going to be a temporary fixture in in the lives of most of the people he meets, but still, he can't deny that there is something special about being missed. "Good to see you too, man. I ended up spending spring out on the west coast last year - you know they don't even do Flower Dances out there?"
"Turnip, you're breaking my heart," Elio sighs, retracting the hand he was offering and slapping it soundly against his own chest, as if he's been mortally wounded by the rejection. Of course, he doesn't really mind - in fact, he would've been extremely surprised if Adrian had agreed to accompany him out onto the dancefloor. "I guess I could be persuaded into a little arts and crafts instead... what're we gonna make?"
Honestly, Kyle wasn't much of a dancer, and he wasn't feeling particularly romantic, either, but he'd promised himself he would show up and try to have a good time. That wasn't going to happen standing there on the sidelines. "Yeah, these events have broken many hearts, and made many matches," he chuckled dryly. Elio was the kind of person you really couldn't be grumpy around for long, so Kyle finished his drink, putting his cup in the garbage. "Alright, fine. Come on." He held out his hand to the merman. "Isn't there anyone you're looking to give your flower to?" He asked, then wrinkled his nose. "That's not a euphamism."
"Hey, you don't have to tell me," Elio chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck, "The last Flower Dance I went to was in Pelican Town a couple of years back - I ended up pairing off with this gorgeous blonde girl, and I thought I was the luckiest guy in the Valley, but boy was she mean." And that's its own kind of heartbreak; the realisation that a person's face might be the only pretty thing about them.
Gallantly taking Kyle's hand, Elio starts to manoeuvre them out on the dancefloor, taking up position amongst the other couples. “I think we both know that the metaphorical ship on my euphemistic flower has already sailed,” he says with a cheeky wiggle of his eyebrows, “But no, not yet. It's still early, I'm holding out to see if I make a connection with anybody." Even if it's just for today. In Elio's experience, a thing being fleeting doesn't mean it’s without value. "What about you, man? Anyone on your radar?"
where: the flower dance
when: afternoon
with: open
"Man, I haven't been to one of these things in ages," Elio comments, gesturing expansively at the festival, eyes bright with warmth as he takes in the scene in front of him. As far as he's concerned, this is one of the things small towns do best - he loves that these tight-knit communities will find any excuse to come together, and how often that excuse involves some kind of celebration. If only Joja hadn't gotten involved, their stall a blue blemish on the sand that Elio is taking great pains to avoid making eye contact with.
"Say, you want to dance? I swear not to step on your toes," he jokes, smile wide as he offers his hand.
the taste of salt. blowing your hair out of your eyes. never settling anywhere. laughter that carries. making friends wherever you go. wearing your heart on your sleeve. cutting through the rings of a six-pack yoke. a hermit crab with a soda can shell. the shimmer of sunlight on the ocean waves. sea glass and driftwood. a bewitching voice, echoing off the rocks. long summer nights. an air of mystery. handmade gifts. an easy smile. affection given freely. speaking your mind.
statistics.
full name: elio
nickname(s): lio, el
name meaning: sun
age: twenty-nine
date of birth: july 25th
star sign: leo
place of birth: the gem sea
current location: thistleberry valley, ferngill republic
gender: cis-male
pronouns: he/him
sexual orientation: pansexual
species: merfolk
occupation: musician, traveller, environmental activist, litter-picker n/a
family: seferino (father), aurelia (mother), a significant number of siblings
education level: self-educated
living arrangements: crashing with a friend in town
financial status: destitute by human standards
spoken languages: english, spanish
biography.
All merfolk are different, of course, but Elio's family is fairly unconventional by human standards. His mother and father are nomads, and weren't committed to each other in the way that human parents typically are, their meetings left instead to fate - as a consequence Elio has several siblings and half siblings, most of whom he's never even met.
His mother took care of him for the first few years of his life, until he was deemed capable enough to set out into the world alone. Independence is considered paramount to a merperson's survival, especially with the way things are now.
Elio isn't particularly close with either of his parents, but they are on good terms, and he's always pleased to see them when their paths cross.
A free spirit, Elio has travelled all over the world in the course of his short life, but he always returns to the coast around the Ferngill Republic. He exists happily between two worlds - land and sea.
He came to Thistleberry Valley for the first time when he was about eight years old, exploring the village in the guise of a tourist - he quickly made himself scarce when questions arose about where his parents were, moving onto the next town and starting the process over.
Independent as he is, Elio loves making friends, and can boast a great many of them up and down the country. Keeping his true nature secret means that there are precious few people that really know him, but he has a way of integrating himself into the places he visits, even if he's only there for a short while.
The older he's gotten, the more he's started to notice the declining state of the world around him, and is desperately trying to turn the tide. He has a particular loathing for the Joja Corporation, who are responsible for so much of the pollution that's steadily destroying his home, and is fairly vocal in his distaste for their presence in Thistleberry.
He tries to keep things light, but Elio is very concerned about the future of his people. If nature falls, magic will vanish, and the merfolk will disappear with it.
other things.
being a merman, elio doesn’t have a last name. it doesn’t come up that often, but on the rare occasion somebody asks, he tells them it’s ‘corriente’.
elio learnt to whittle from henry leung. the pair met when elio was only a child, and though they never discussed it, he suspects that mr leung might have guessed at his true nature.
when it comes to technology, he’s a total luddite. he’s noticed more and more people carrying portable phones in the towns he visits, but doesn’t understand the impulse.
in case it wasn’t obvious, he’s very passionate about the environment, and ocean conservation in particular. you can often find him doing a one-man beach clean-up.
elio has a tattoo of a manta ray on the right side of his ribcage.
although elio is capable of glamouring humans through song, he has to actively choose to do so (and never makes the decision lightly). even without magic he has a beautiful voice, and he loves to sing more than anything. if there's an open mic night, you can count on his attendance, and sometimes he can be found busking on the boardwalk.
if elio considers you a friend, he will make you a bracelet. he whittles the beads himself, and it takes a lot of time and effort.
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