Technically, Simba still wasn’t a teacher. He hadn’t graduated, but he was supposed to, come next June. In the meantime, he was supposed to start teaching full time. Of course, there was another teacher in the classroom, as there usually was for kids in first grade, but--he was in charge this time. Lesson plans, parent/teacher meetings, grading, and...actual teaching all fell to him.
He was...freaking out.
But in his very Simba way, where he was pretending he was completely unbothered by everything.
“Fuck,” he yelped as he stapled his finger.
For the record, there was no little ears around to hear it. School hadn’t started yet. Simba was currently standing on a chair, trying to staple little clouds he’d cut out to the corkboard hanging on the wall.
“Oh, hey, Marzel,” he said when he turned around and jumped off the chair so he could go over to his desk and find a tissue to staunch the bleeding in his finger.
Here he was! His first knight mission! It could not have come at a worse time!
Simba was in the doghouse with his husband, first of all, for reasons undisclosed at this moment in time. Not to mention, it was the middle of Ramadan, which was, probably, not the time to go adventuring into the woods, but--Simba wasn’t going to turn down a mission given to him. He wanted desperately to do something, anything useful. He knew that his family was responsible for this looming threat to Swynlake and the crushing weight of that guilt was only alleviated by action.
So, here they were--him and Marzel--trouncing through the woods, swords in hands. Simba was eager for it, even if he felt slightly lightheaded.
“Okay, so--I think the dragon was hanging out around the rock quarry, but it’s kind of hard to remember because I know the Prince had blocked off all the paths at the time, so that no one could get near her,” Simba jabbered as they headed in the direction that he was 50% sure was correct. It had been a few years ago, after all, that Simba had found and made a deal with the dragon that had lived in the woods.
He might think this was a good idea--and maybe it was, considering what had happened just a fortnight ago--but it also wasn’t. Because give a man like Simba a sword and he was absolutely going to hurt himself with it at some point. Also, he was angry. There were many parts of Simba that were furious and he had half a mind to take his sword out into the woods and ram it into a tree as many times as he could.
Of course, that would break it, and then Simba would have to explain why his sword was broken. He could replace it with his family sword, but he probably shouldn’t do that.
So, he figured sparring was the next best thing.
A few days after Christmas, he’d rung up Marzel, because that was who he knew best, well--besides Belle, but he wasn’t going to ask someone who had just had major surgery a month ago to spar (especially because he figured Belle would try to take him up on it.)
“Hey!” Simba called from his porch--he had some clear land out back where they could practice without people asking why they suddenly had swords and shields. “How were your holidays? Do you celebrate?”
So, Simba had an apology gift for Marzel. It involved a huge bowl of ugali, made with love (the most important ingredient), but also a whole lot of delicious butter, and a six pack. Because nothing said: “I’m really sorry for going out of my mind and punching you in the face repeatedly” better than food and beer.
He waited awkwardly, kind of regretting at the last second that he hadn’t texted first. However, if he had texted, he wasn’t sure Marzel would answer the door. Now that he was standing in front of it, having already knocked, he realized maybe there was a reason for that. Namely, you normally didn’t want the person who’d just beaten you silly showing up without warning at your door. But, well, it was too late for second thoughts--if he started down the hallway now, he probably wouldn’t make it before Marzel opened the door and saw him halfway down the corridor.
Was that better? Worse?
Was he considering ding-dong-ditching one of his good friends?
Oh. The door was open.
Oh. That was Marzel’s face...very beat up.
“Oh, yowch,” Simba hissed, making a face as he saw Marzel’s swollen, bruised one. Man, he was glad there was only one main stop on the Simba apology tour. “Heyyy, mate.” He grinned and held out the gifts.
There were way too many things on top of Minnie’s kitchen counters. There were a plethora of ingredients and utensils, an electrical mixer and so forth. However, none of it felt far too excessive for the brunette, she was about to bake for a whole Kindergarten class so this felt appropriate.
On top of everything else, was a recipe book.
The recipe book took a bit for Minnie to find, but when she did it brought back a lot of memories of her mother. It was her recipe book after all, one that was passed down the line of her family. This was the first time Minnie will be opening it in years.
The book was also in Spanish. It was a good thing she was fluent in the language and so was Marzel.
Speaking of the bell rang just in the knick of time as the brunette walked over and opened the door. There stood Marzel as Minnie smiled bright and allowed him to step in, leading him to the kitchen.
“This isn’t too much, right?” She asked biting at the inside of her cheek. “I figured since it’s for a whole class I had to at least double up on everything. Ever had some Huesos de Santos?”
Summary: Minnie convinces Marzel to go on the Ferris Wheel with her during the Fall Carnival
Trigger Warnings: None this is purrree
@marzelsoto
MINNIE
Minnie had pulled all the stops necessary to get Marzel to go to the carnival. She had the day off and wanted to enjoy the carnival but not alone. Of course, she could be with Peri but she didn't want to be a third wheel between her and her boyfriend, so she dragged Marzel.
"Ever got on a ferris wheel before?" She asked all while enjoying a huge thing of cotton candy she had gotten herself.
MARZEL
Marzel wasn’t intending on going to the carnival, his sister had suggested that he go but he hadn’t really had a need or a want to. Somehow though with a pouting Minnie in front of him he agreed and now here he was in front of a giant wheel and apple cider in his hands.
“I haven’t. How does it even work?” Marzel questioned trying to figure it out though for a moment he forgot that was something a human would know.
MINNIE
Aw, Marzel had never enjoyed a ferris wheel ride. Minnie didn’t know why she found that so endearing, but she did. She was also glad to be the one to introduce him to what was practically a Fall tradition in Swynlake.
Minnie was sure that there wasn’t an old timer in town who has not ridden the Ferris Wheel during the annual Fall Carnival.
“You’ll love it then! The first ride is always the best one, so you see those seats there.” The brunette freed one of her hands so that she was able to point at the seats on the ferris wheel.
“We’ll be sitting on one of those and the Ferris Wheel takes a slow spin completely around, stopping pretty frequently to unload and reload. The best is when we are stopped at the top because you get a beautiful view of town from there, especially if you can catch the sun setting.”
MARZEL
Marzel followed her hand to look over the ‘ferris wheel’ it looked precarious if he was to be honest. How could anything be safely built in the span of a few days and then be taken apart and removed just as easily.
But he was also intrigued. And so many people seemed to enjoy it so really what was there for him to fear?
Hopefully nothing.
“Well we may not get the setting sun but I imagine it will still be a nice view?” Marzel stated simply still amazed and worried about the ferris wheel as they moved to line up. “By the way can I try a little bit of your cotton candy?”
MINNIE
“It’ll be great. The sky is clear and there isn’t a hint of rain. It’s perfect even if the sun isn’t setting yet. I always love going on the ferris wheel. I didn’t get to go on it last year. I volunteered to help with the setup of the festival and then had to go to work that night for a twelve hour shift.”
It had been a switch Minnie had agreed to for Lily, so that her friend could come spend some time at the carnival with a date. Honestly, how was she to say no to that?
“Super glad that isn’t the case this year.”
She perked. She had the entire night off and was just as happy that she wasn’t going to have to get on the ferris wheel alone. Sure, the view was beautiful either way, but it was always better when she wasn’t seeing it alone.
Plus, she always liked spending time with Marzel.
Smiling, Minnie inched her cotton candy closer to Marzel. “Of course. It tastes great. How’s your apple cider?”
MARZEL
Marzel wasn’t even that surprised. Minnie worked too much and that was a simple fact that he already knew very well. But Marzel wasn’t about to let her duck away for a shift unless it was an absolute emergency.
Until then they just needed to enjoy themselves at the very least.
Reaching out Marzel took a piece of the sugar, too nervous to have bought one himself without trying it. It was so cloyingly sweet he couldn’t help grimace a little. “I think I prefer the cider to that.”
MINNIE
Minnie couldn’t help but to laugh even though she had tried very hard to keep it in, really she did. She hid her face with her cotton candy until she finished laughing.
“I’m so sorry but your face was priceless.”
It had been cute how it had gotten all wrinkled and taken aback. It wasn’t an expression Minnie was used to seeing in Marzel. He was always so serious, in this brooding type of way that Minnie had grown fond of. It was nice to see this side.
“You didn’t like it? Maybe I should have warned you that it’s very sweet.”
MARZEL
Marzel blushed, the tips of his ears completely red as he lifted his hand to hide his cheeks. A human should have known. He should have been aware and yet for a moment he had been truly surprised at the taste and hadn’t even tried to mask it.
“I know it’s called spun sugar but I don’t know what I was expecting. If I was expecting anything else.” Marzel admitted slowly. “I don’t think I like sweet things all that much.”
MINNIE
Normally, Minnie was the one who always ended up blushing because it was just so easy to get her to blush, but seeing it now on Marzel was a nice refreshing switch, although she kept that thought to herself.
Instead, she laughed a little more giving Marzel a mock studied look before concluding with a nod of her head.
“You know, I can see that. I would peg you for a no sugar or cream in your coffee type of guy just straight black. Whereas with me I welcome loading my coffee in all the cream and sugar. Never try any of the pastries I eat at Hatter’s if you can’t handle this cotton candy.”
MARZEL
Marzel had to look away from Minnie, the laughter and everything too much that he wasn’t going to be able to stop the blood rushing to his face. “I do prefer it more bitter than sweet.” But Marzel also drank more tea than he did coffee and tea had a lot more flavour to it.
“Perhaps this is how you survive all the shifts that you work?” Marzel questioned as they were ushered onto the ride and Marzel threw out his now empty cider.
And he paid careful attention to see how to buckle up correctly.
MINNIE
“How did I know.”
Minnie teased, popping a little more of her cotton candy into her mouth before she followed Marzel in the ferris wheel seat. She too made sure to buckle up correctly, not that she was thinking that anything bad was going to happen during the ride, but one never knew.
And they did live in Swynlake after all.
“And absolutely.” She admitted with no shame at all. “It’s my secret weapon. One coffee before starting the shift and another one once the shift ends. If the shift is really, really, bad then I go for a third cup in the middle of my shift for a pick me up. Coffee is a life saver.”
Ever wanted to make Minnie’s day? Just bring her coffee while at work.
“Any hospital worker that tells you otherwise is lying.”
MARZEL
Maybe Marzel was too forthcoming, maybe he was too obvious. Maybe Minnie paid more attention then he gave her credit for. Maybe Marzel should have been creating boundaries instead of saying yes and coming out here with her.
“I’m afraid you’re the only one I know so you could lie to me and I would have no choice but to believe you.” Then again he was sure Minnie could tell him anything and he would still believe it.
Creak went the wheel as it started to bring them higher.
MINNIE
“Well, you’re in luck then because I am a horrid liar.”
Not that Minnie would lie to Marzel, she never felt the need to do so. It was probably one of the many reasons she enjoyed spending time with him. She never felt like she had to be anybody else around him. He took her as she was even with every shaken head at her hectic schedule and sad inability to say no.
“I ramble when I lie, like embarrassingly so, so you would know right away if I was. I literally cannot get away with anything.”
She rambled when she was nervous too and whenever she got worried.
“I’m also an emotional eater, like when I’m angry I like to stuff popcorn while venting. I ate a whole bag and a half of popcorn once while angry, not one of my proudest moments if I’m honest.”
The ferris wheel took off and Minnie’s eyes shifted a moment to look through the open space of the ferris cart. In a few they’ll both be able to see the whole of Swynlake and Minnie was super excited for that.
MARZEL
There was an innocence to Minnie, the inability to lie but the fact that she didn’t mind. The fact that she owned that. It was kind of adorable...for a human. It was a reason he trusted her so much at this point. Even holding himself back he had found himself trusting her.
Hence being trapped in this machine that he didn’t understand.
It was shakier than expected but maybe he was just more sensitive to the motion and as he glanced over the edge Marzel immediately wished he hadn’t. He was used to being below sea level or on the ground.
“T-that’s higher than ex-pected.” And damn his voice stuttered too.
MINNIE
There was a shakiness to Marzel’s voice that was very foreign to Minnie’s ears. In fact, she was pretty sure it was something she hasn’t heard out of him. Marzel always held a strong air of confidence to him.
He knew who he was, knew what he believed, was always solid.
And maybe this was the wrong reaction, but Minnie was smiling. It was by no means at his expense, but here she was learning these little hidden pieces of Marzel. They were those pieces that were kept tucked away, the ones everyone had but never wanted to admit. She was given the chance to peek in and see.
These weren’t thoughts Minnie should be dwelling and so she pushed them aside and carefully moved herself so that she was sitting beside Marzel.
Minnie hoped that the close presence would bring some ease. “This is about as high as we get. You’ll be seeing the cotton candy stand very soon.” She teased.
MARZEL
Marzel knew that Minnie had slipped over though his eyes had stayed focus on the ground. How did people like to be up this high and look at it. He had taken a plane here of course but he hadn’t needed to see any of it. He hadn’t even really thought about it and now there was no way to ignore it.
With both their hands on the seat Marzel didn’t even think before he had reached out taking Minnie’s in his own.
“You’re enjoying this aren’t you?” Marzel questioned turning his attention to her and trying to ignore the passing ground.
MINNIE
Marzel placed his hand on her’s and Minnie didn’t know how to react, or maybe she did because she didn’t take her hand away. Truth be told, she didn’t want to. Marzel holding her hand felt comfortable, it felt warm, like it was supposed to be there fitting perfectly well with her own.
Minnie could hear her own heart picking up in pace within her chest, the sound drumming hard against her ear drums. She was probably making this more than what it was and if she didn’t stop all these thoughts there would be a burning red coating her cheeks soon.
This is why they say not to have feelings for your friends. It blurred the lines and made it messy. It was why the brunette was always constantly denying it.
Marzel turned to look at Minnie now, a smile lining her lips. “Maybe just a little.” She admitted with a playful teasing air. “You don’t have to look out of the carriage.” The brunette gave his hand a small gentle squeeze. “It’ll help if you don’t.”
MARZEL
Minnie had squeezed his hand and for the first time Marzel realized he had grabbed onto her hand. He shouldn’t have done that but he found that he didn’t really care that he had. The ever present thought that Minnie was a mundus human was not at the forefront of his mind.
His fear was. But at the same time it was this kind girl in front of him as well.
This wasn’t like what it was with Adella either, he had jumped into that head first without even meaning to. Before he could say no he was in water he had never navigated before.
But here it was soft, the slow ever presence of gentle waves coaxing a shy fish out before showering him with sunlight. That’s what Minnie’s laughter and smile had accomplished, even as it inched toward sunset she offered a gentle warmth.
Marzel didn’t want to lose that, and he wasn’t sure at what point he had become determined to keep her friendship in his life. From the walks home or the slow experience of new things on both their side. Or re-experience for Minnie.
“That would mean I would be focusing on you for the rest of the ride, Would it not?” Marzel questioned lightly, carefully, an attempt to now send a school of fish fluttering away at the sudden sound.
MINNIE
Minnie’s cheeks began to glow a burning red and she wasn’t sure how much was showing through the strands of her hair. For once her hair wasn’t up in a bun where it typically lived because of work. Still she could feel the warmth of her cheeks and she wasn’t even touching them.
Her heart was still raising and Minnie could have sworn that it had even picked up more in pace.
She felt like a fidgeting school girl who had this massive crush but didn’t know what to do with it. Her nerves were all tangled and she felt like mush. All of this because of a question that was asked of her, just one simple question. She wasn’t sure how she was not a physical jittery mess on her seat right now, but that wasn’t something the brunette cared for pondering at the moment.
Not that she could’ve even if she tried, her head was literally firing in every single direction. It was a mess.
“I guess that would.” Minnie was still smiling and had she leaned in closer? She felt like she was closer or the carriage had somehow grown smaller in size around her. “I don’t think that would be such a terrible thing.”
MARZEL
Marzel had quickly forgotten about the potential to plunging to his death when he found himself focusing on Minnie. Her eyes seemed to grow in size and he couldn’t help focusing just on her. She drew in his full attention and Marzel had nothing to spare anyone else and he could only be thankful that no one else was here at the current moment.
He would surely be ignoring them if that was the case.
Reaching with his free hand Marzel gently placed it onto her cheek his thumb running across her cheek. “Is this alright?”
MINNIE
Minnie’s heart was beating so loud she wondered if Marzel could hear it. She wondered if the pad of his thumb could feel the deep heat emitting from her cheek. His touch felt so gentle against her skin, soft, welcoming and warm.
It was something she could get used to.
It was something Minnie wanted to get used to. She wanted this, all of this. All the little moments she could share with Marzel no matter how small or simple. She wanted him around, wanted him to hold her or for her to curl herself snuggled against his chest where she could hear the steadiness of his heart beating. All the walks home she wanted her hands in his and she even wanted all those wrinkled faces he made whenever he tasted something sweet.
Truth be told, she has wanted all of it for a while but she always denied it, and when Marzel began dating Adella she had pushed it away even further, suffocating it all down. It felt like everything was busting open now.
And oddly enough, it wasn’t all bunched nerves and skittish energy anymore, she felt calm and at ease. Being with Marzel always felt so comfortable and right.
Minnie’s smile grew softer as she nodded her head. “I’m not opposed to it.”
MARZEL
Marzel hadn’t planned on getting this far, part of him wanted to run far and fast. To not look back and hide. There was part of him that didn’t want this. To attempt to give his heart to another all the while fighting with some of his most basic instincts.
But the thing was there was more to that then when he had first come to Swynlake. His hatred had lessened, his anger had started to mellow. He was around more good humans than bad ones and he didn’t mind being around some of them.
It wasn’t hard with these realizations to lean closer and it wasn’t hard at all for Marzel to set his forehead against her, sharing the air between them with bated breath before he leaned in gently to steal a kiss.
MINNIE
It felt like an eternity, that in-between moment, that small window of time that was probably only a few measly seconds in real time, it still felt like forever. Even if Minnie was perfectly happy right where she was, getting lost in Marzel’s eyes, the space between them almost non-existent.
That was the thing though, she was so wonderfully close, so temptingly close that Minnie was debating just leaning right in. Screw blurred lines, as far as she was concerned, that line was hopped, skipped, jumped right on over already.
But Marzel had beat her to it and when his lips had touched hers, it made every little second of that eternity worth it.
His kiss was tender, gentle, and sweet. It was the kind of the kiss that made butterflies go all wild in one’s stomach and would steal the breath right out of the lungs. It was everything Minnie never even allowed herself the chance to think up because she thought this was something that would never happen.
Minne inched in even closer, her free hand moving so that it gently wrapped itself around the nape of Marzel’s neck. She didn’t care if the ferris wheel was ascending, descending or whatever the hell else, even if it would stop right this very second and show everyone this current scene, she wanted this moment. She figured if everything went to hell in a hand basket after this, she at least wanted this memory to have and keep safely tucked away for herself.
MARZEL
Marzel's hand moved from Minnie's cheek to her chin. It wasnt as if she was going anywhere but that didnt mean that he wanted to let go of this breath of fresh air.
It was silly how much he had fought this very idea. That he had struggled with it. The memories of his knighthood screamed that he was an idiot for wasting time and the memories of his pod and Valentino screamed at him for being an idiot.
He leaned into the former for the time being.
Minnie was gentle as she was kind. Soft as she was patient. Each breath shared between them was a warm summer's breath and he loved each moment.
Pulling away Marzel only had a moment to admire Minnie before the ride stopped at the bottom and voices urged them to usher off. With pink cheeks Marzel stood and offered his hand to Minnie.
MINNIE
Their carriage came to a full stop more suddenly than Minnie had expected, but then again she had stopped paying attention a long time ago. She was actually sort of upset that it had come to an end because that meant that she had to reluctantly pull away from the kiss that she was very happily enjoying.
Minnie let out a brief bubble of a laugh, skin flushed, and a smile glowing on her features as she got up as asked, happily taking Marzel’s offered hand. They stepped out of the carriage, Minnie tucking herself by Marzel’s arm as the pair of them walked away from the vicinity of the ferris wheel.
The brunette knew she could suggest doing something else in the carnival, play like they hadn’t just shared a kiss on top of a ferris wheel, but that wasn’t Minnie now was it?
She needed to say something if not she would get stuck in her own head and well her head space sometimes was not the best place to get stuck in, so Minnie stopped the both of them from walking and turned to look at Marzel. She was still holding his hand, and could suddenly hear the rapid beating of her heart all over again.
“I like you.”
She paused, taking a breath in because she just admitted out loud the one thing she had been suffocated down for so long. “I mean not like a friend, not that you’re a bad friend because you are definitely not a bad friend at all by any means whatsoever.” It was part of the reason she had stood quiet so long she didn’t want to lose Marzel all together because of her feelings.
“But as more than a friend.”
MARZEL
Marzel wasn’t quite sure what words needed to be said, or could be said. He had kissed Minnie and now they were holding hands but that didn’t mean that Marzel wanted to let her go. He held her close to him just incase the crowds wanted to pull them apart.
But he heard her voice and quickly tuned in.
Stopping them close to another food stand Marzel nodded. “I like you too. More than a friend.” Marzel offered gently. “I’m not quite sure what to do with this information though.”
MINNIE
Minnie found herself smiling upon hearing that Marzel had liked her too. In all honesty, she didn’t know what to expect after she had just admitted to her own feelings. She didn’t know what Marzel would end up saying. For all she knew he could have felt the complete opposite of how she felt.
Her chest had been fluttering a mile a minute waiting to find out what he would say.
But now Minnie was glowing as she took a step closer to Marzel and gently squeezed his hand.
“We don’t have to figure that out just yet. We can figure out as we go.”
There wasn’t a need for everything to be rushed in Minnie’s mind. She was more than perfectly content with just being able to have Marzel close and spend time with him.
“But for right now, we can enjoy some more carnival fun?”
Summer was almost coming to a close, Fall looming in right around the corner for Swynlake. What better way to bring in the beginning of Fall than to go for a swim?
Minnie couldn’t remember the last time she had done this, take a dip in the lake, but she was going to now. She hoped that the water wouldn’t be too cold. It was very nice outside, warm even with the sun peaking through, which isn’t a normal day to day thing in Swynlake, so today was a perfect day.
The light reflecting off of Atlantis’s waters was beautiful and the fact that there wasn’t many people around right now made the lake look even more serene.
Minnie could stay lost just staring at it all.
“We chose a perfect day.”
The brunette smiled turning to look at Marzel. Of course she didn’t come alone. She hadn’t swam in a while, she definitely wasn’t about to swim now without someone with her.
“Hopefully, the water feels as warm as it feels outside now.”
Summary: Marzel and Minnie talk about the recent Swynlake dream and end up in a deep conversation
Trigger Warning: None
@marzelsoto
MARZEL
Marzel had woken from the dream and the amount of guilt that he felt from dating Aquata, from not having any memory of Valentino. It was painful to forget him, to be happy with someone else. It wasn’t painful drowning a bunch of humans, he had done that before.
It wasn’t the worst dream he had, that one from the titanic was worse, rewatching Valentino due. This time he got to see who he might have been in different circumstances.
It had become a routine at this point to visit with Minnie, both planning for the start of the school year so he followed the pattern stopping by her apartment.
“Did you have the same dream last night?”
MINNIE
Breakfast was already done, out and ready when Marzel had made his way over. Minnie had grown very accustomed to Marzel’s presence as of late with the school year fast approaching and all.
She couldn’t believe that summer was already passing them all by. It felt like such a burr for her but then again she has been working crazy hours for the hospital, so it was no wonder summer had gone and went.
But even with everything with the hospital Peri and Marzel have been her continual constant for which she was thankful for.
“Surprisingly, no.” Minnie gave a shrug. “I guess Swynlake decided to be nice to me for once. I normally don’t fare well with them as it is, so I can’t say I’m very upset about having been skipped on.”
Maybe the town realized how she has been working like a dog and thought cutting her a break would be a nice thing to do this once. It was for the health of the town after all.
“But I heard of it because Peri didn’t get so lucky, something about pirates? How did that go for you?”
Minnie questioned with a bit of a quirk to her lips because if she were honest, she was very curious as to how Swynlake decided to place him in the world of pirates.
MARZEL
Maybe it was a good thing that Minnie hadn’t participated, there was part of Marzel that felt a quiet ache at even the thought of drowning her. Even in a dream. He would spend his life having to make that up to her.
“It wasn’t too bad though there was a lot of carnage.” Marzel spoke calmly for a moment judging Minnie.
“The dream let me date one of Adella’s sisters and we were evil mermaids trying to kill whoever it was that we wanted.” Marzel spoke with a raised eyebrow. “Sounds like all the stories about how mermaids are. It’s a shame I ended up such an evil creature.”
MINNIE
Minnie was drinking coffee in the middle of this conversation, normally it was tea but coffee had more caffeine and that aided better for energy needs with her line of work. She had a shift she had to survive through in a couple of hours.
In any case, she had placed her cup down on the counter as she listened to Marzel’s recount of his dream experience.
“Do you really think they are all bad?” Because Minnie didn’t.
“I don’t. I don’t for fairies, werewolves, sorcerers or any other magical being out there but sadly that’s the major belief going around and then they all get this label on them because of that. Did you know that I had this wonderful friend back in the hospital, he was a surgeon, an incredible surgeon, like if I needed surgery I would ask for him to be my surgeon. Anyways, the hospital ended up finding out that he was an empath and it was just awful for him from then on because he was an empath. An empath.”
It always infuriated Minnie when she thought back on Dr. Sweets and all he had to go through.
“I mean what was he going to do? Choke us with our emotions? We can do that all on our own. I have this huge fear of Peri ever getting severely injured where she would need a hospital and no one would know what to do with her because she’s a fairy. It’s absolutely ridiculous. It shouldn’t be like this. I shouldn’t have to have an active fear of my best-friend ever needing the aid of a hospital.”
Minnie let out a huge sigh that was quickly followed by a short burst of laughter as she realized all that she had ranted.
“I’m sorry don’t listen to me. I'm hyped on coffee. I think this is my… second one? But I would have pegged you more as a pirate captain. You can pull that look off and one of the Triton sisters? You think Swynlake is trying to tell you something?” She teased.
MARZEL
Marzel shouldn’t be surprised and yet he was, He had expected Minnie to go with it. Say how mermaids were evil creatures. Less than human. Worth a potential death. He probably shouldn’t, when she had just shown kindness but it was a hard mindset to get out of.
“What about sirens though, that literally drown sailors for the fun of it, Whether it was in defense of their family or not.” Dream or not that had been Marzel’s life for a long time and again he expected the worse from her. “People see them and a lot more like them as something less than human.”
MINNIE
Oh, so this was getting a little more serious. Minnie looked at Marzel a moment as she twirled the cup that was in her hands on the counter.
“A life is a life. My life shouldn’t be worth more or less because I am a siren, mermaid, mundus, wolf or anything else.”
Minnie took another pause at this moment because explaining her view at times was a bit complicated. She didn’t view things like most people. Her moral compass didn’t run strictly at just black and white.
The world she lived in was not a black and white world so why should she judge as if it were so?
“I’m not a judge or executioner. I’m not there present during the everyday steps of any being's life to say ‘yes so and so is evil.’ It’s not simple like that… I don’t know how to explain it specifically but I know that if I were given a siren as a patient I would give him or her the same care as a mundus or anyone I love for that matter.
I know that if Peri ever did something terrible and she landed hurt where she needed treatment, I would still beg and cry to the doctors to do all that they can for her even if she drowned sailors for the fun of it. Every being no matter the evil has another that loves and cares for them and that’s worth something. A life is a life and I don’t have the right to see it as anything less no matter the reason.”
MARZEL
How wasn’t she condemning him, she didn’t even need to condemn him but a magical dream version where mermaids were evil and killed for the fun of it. At least before his goal was protect his pod, he hadn’t found pleasure in the death but it didn’t scare him either.
So she had the easy way out. She could agree and she wouldn’t be the wiser. Marzel could pull away and never feel a second of guilt.
“You are a strange one Minnie. Most would condemn that behaviour and no one could judge you for that.”
MINNIE
Minnie found herself laughing a small bubble of a laugh as she simply shrugged her shoulders in response. She hardly took his words to any type of offense. It wasn’t the first time she has heard that or something familiar to that before.
In fact, her co-workers had said the likes to her when she didn’t press charges against the patient that had assaulted her.
“You know, you aren’t the first person to tell me that.” She took another sip of her coffee before speaking again.
“But like I said, I’m not present in the everyday steps of another being’s life. I’m present for my own and so my actions and my behaviours are the only ones I can judge. I’m sorry if the dream wasn’t comfortable especially because Swynlake makes it all feel so so real.”
MARZEL
Maybe the dream hadn’t been good to him but it hadn’t bothered him. He had done worse. “I’m more thrown for a loop because they decided I would want to date one of Adella’s sisters. Or perhaps I should be thrown for a loop because you thought I would do well as a pirate captain?” Marzel questioned leaving the previous topic behind.
He wanted her to fight him on it but apparently she was too good to hate those that had taken lives and those that were viewed as less than human. He shouldn’t be surprised that was Minnie to a T and he couldn’t even blame her.
MINNIE
“Yes! You have that roguish type look that a captain pirate needs you could have definitely pulled it all off. Plus, you’re a teacher so we already know you have leadership skills. You can captain a ship.”
Minnie teased as she took another sip of her coffee and pulled forward some toast that had already been done.
“Or if you wouldn’t want to be affiliated with pirates then a naval captain would work too, but Swynlake had other plans and with a Triton sister.”
Swynlake was… odd like that. The town would take the liberty to match up people and for the most part, it was hardly done randomly.
It was a thought that was currently wiggling uncomfortably in Minnie’s head but she made super quick work to brush it right off.
“Which one? I’m curious.”
MARZEL
“The roughish look.” Marzel raised an eyebrow before nodding and well running his hand through his beard, Him as Marzel probably would be a pirate but Bors’ honour and memory nearly demanded the navy.
Another weird contradiction in his head to deal with. Minnie just couldn’t even begin to really know how right she was about the leadership aspect. He was raised a prince and a guard.
“Aquata, there were a few of us acting like evil mermaids it seems.”
MINNIE
“Don’t let that head of yours get all inflated now because I’ll take my compliment back.”
Of course Minnie wouldn’t because even if she said she takes it back she was a horrible liar and anyone could tell for sure when she was lying.
The brunette began to spread some marmalade over her toast.
“Well, thankfully we here in reality know that none of you are evil and shame on the town for making people enact an awful label. It’s not bad enough that that is already the common belief so let's plop it right into a dream too.”
Minnie shook her own head.
“How was it though, being a mermaid?”
MARZEL
“You can not take it back. I’ve already heard it.” Marzel challenged with a grin and a shrug. “It’s good to know you like this look.”
Why had he said that though. Why did that even matter to him? It didn’t. It really didn’t. REALLY. It didn’t. He was fine instead sipping at the tea that he had.
“It was interesting, being able to just glide through the water. It’s so much more graceful than being on land.” Marzel explained.
MINNIE
Minnie quirked a brow giving Marzel a look as she settled her toast down.
“Bold. Bold of you to assume that I like that look.” For the record: she does. “I said you definitely have the look but never said it was my type, so for all you know I may not like it at all.” She teased. “And even if you heard it I can just tell you that I was lying.”
Minnie shrugged now.
“But I guess that really wouldn’t work now because I just reaffirmed it by saying that you definitely have it so I guess I can give you this one victory this time around. Don’t get too used to it.”
She took a bite of her toast, envisioning Marzel’s words of his experience as a mermaid. She could definitely see what he meant, nodding her head in agreement as she swallowed down her bite of toast.
“I can imagine. You wouldn’t have the problem of tripping over your own feet like we do.”
MARZEL
The tips of Marzel’s ear burned red, he hadn’t meant to make an assumption but he had and for a moment he was glad that she liked the rougish aspect. He was just glad it didn’t translate too much to his face.
But at least he wasn’t too wrong. He just didn’t have the words to correct or comment on it anymore.
“Do you like to swim? I think it has to be one of my favourite things.” He would rather it with a tail but he could do it with legs too.
MINNIE
There was a fond smile that now began to form over Minnie’s lips at the question of whether or not she liked to swim.
“I do. I mean I really don’t swim too often.” She barely had time to herself these days always drowning herself in work. “But, my mum taught me how to swim. She wanted to make sure that I was well taught in all sorts of survival skills.”
That memory made her laugh a little.
“My dad definitely couldn’t teach me, he was an awful swimmer and an out right klutz on dry land so it was left to my mum, which was completely fine by her. She used to swim all the time back in Spain. I had some of the most fun with my mum whenever we would go out to the lake and she would teach me to swim.”
A small shrug now rolled off of Minnie’s shoulders followed by a whisper of a sigh.
“I should really swim some more, it always reminds me of my mum.”
MARZEL
“It’s not like there are many places to swim.” The lake was fine but it was also too cold for a lot of people sometimes. Even Marzel sometimes considering where he had grown up. But he was happy that Minnie could speak about her parents happily and easily when it came to something like this.
“Before the summer ends we could go swimming at the lake?” Marzel offered.
MINNIE
Minnie had practically lit up the moment Marzel offered to go swimming. Honestly, the brunette couldn’t remember the last time she had gone, that’s how long it has been and she realized that it’s something she was missing.
Swynlake always placed everyone in odd, even crazy situations people hardly wanted to be placed in, so why not actually do something that you like and missed for a change?
The hospital could do without her for one day. In any case, they needed to get used to seeing her a little less with the school year soon approaching.
“I would love that.” She replied, hardly containing her smile. “Just fair warning, I might be a little rusty because it really has been a while since the last time I went swimming.”
MARZEL
Swimming with two legs was clumsy and irritating but it was better than never being in the water. It was better than not swimming at all and he would have no problem doing anything to get back into the water.
“That’s alright, I don’t doubt my own ability so even if you’re rusty you’ll be safe with me.” Marzel offered, he wasn’t about to drown anytime soon and in turn no one he was with would drown either.
MINNIE
“Aw, so you would be my hero if my leg or foot gets caught in something and I just start going down.”
Admittedly, that was very comforting to hear and maybe Minnie should have phrased that a little differently but the words had already escaped her lips so it wasn’t like she could take anything back.
The thought of that brought a very slight hue of pink to her cheeks that she was praying her loose hair was masterfully covering up.
“But um I actually have these next couple of days off.” Miraculously enough and of course it was only off unless the hospital didn’t call begging for her to come in. She was awful at telling them no, but she would for this.
“If you aren’t busy?”
MARZEL
Marzel smiled and nodded, he wasn’t about to let Minnie get hurt or die so she really had nothing to worry about. He imagined he could be the hero to one human and be okay. It wasn’t like she needed to know how rare that was.
“If you want to, sure we could.” He hadn’t been expecting it to happen this soon at all, but he had made the original offer. So he had to go through with it even if there was a feeling in his chest potentially regretting the offer.
MINNIE
“Figured while there are still a couple of Summer days left would be best. Fall brings a bit of a cold bite to it here in Swynlake.”
Minnie enjoyed swimming but freezing her but off not so much. She was never a cold person. The only thing she liked about the cold was the liberty of making a hot chocolate to warm oneself back up again.
Plus it would be nice to do it before school started because once it did it meant Minnie was back to working two jobs. Yes, she cut back on hospital hours during the school year, but two jobs was still busy.
“Hopefully the hospital doesn’t call begging for help, but we’ll see.”
MARZEL
That was true. Marzel needed to consider Minnie swimming in cold water would be dangerous for her and he couldn’t and wouldn’t put her into that danger.
“Even if they do you can say no to them. You work too much in general and you need to be able to enjoy your life too. It can be taken from you so easily and so quickly. Where would you be then?”
MINNIE
This was definitely not the first time Minnie has heard words very similar to the ones Marzel had just finished speaking to her. She knew there was a lot of truth behind his words, she won’t deny it but she also loved what she did.
It never felt forced to her even if she had a problem with saying no.
Minnie took a sip of her coffee and sighed.
“Screwed. I suppose I would be screwed. I won’t even fight you this time.” Although, that didn’t stop Minnie from giving him a face before continuing on. “So even if the hospital were to call me I promise that I’ll tell them no. If I’m struggling to do so I’ll make sure to pass the phone to Peri and have her say no for me. I think that’s a pretty solid bullet proof plan.”
MARZEL
Marzel knew there was no way she could dispute that. Marzel was kind of shitty even bringing up that death could happen at any point but that was so much of his life. Whether it was him ending someone’s life. Or him seeing life being ended due to greed.
“You could even leave your phone at home that way even if they wanted to get a hold of you, you don’t have to answer and even say you’re busy and can’t.” Marzel suggested.
MINNIE
Minnie couldn’t help but laugh because the suggestion of leaving the phone at home was something her and Peri had told each other they needed to do if they ever took a vacation together.
“You know what, I’m going to do that. I’ll make sure to leave it at home or even with Peri so that if there is an emergency at least someone is answering.”
Plus, it meant that there wasn’t a chance that her phone could end up with water damage. It was really a win-win and honestly, she could use a well deserved break from the device and the hospital.
“I’ll let you know then what day works best. You should really have a piece of toast though, not to honk my own horn, but it’s pretty great.”
