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Saltwater Cures All Wounds

A Sea Monster AU fic

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Elaine had started a sort of new routine.

In the sleepless hours before the sun had fully risen, she'd take one or two items to the beaches of Mêlée and leave them there. The next morning, the items would usually be gone.

Part of her brain suspected this was just the tides washing away her things. And if so, she should have simply stopped, because purposefully littering was the opposite of what she stood for.

On the other hand, she didn't believe the ocean could be picky. Or thankful.

This started, originally, with wanting to get rid of some gifts with unwanted memories. Mostly advances from the pirate LeChuck. They were taking up space in the dark corners of Elaine's storage, but trashing them felt like a waste. The gifts were grossly pricey. So her compromise was to set up a little beach giveaway for the lucky soul who discovered the gifts. She put up a "Take One!" sign, though she didn't expect anyone to follow it.

The day after, she discovered that everything was gone, including her sign. That happened faster than I thought it would, she pondered, chuckling to herself.

Even more intriguing was what was left behind in its place. A lovely little shell necklace, threaded with seagrass and smelling of sea salt. Elaine smiled, for whoever did this really didn't have to gift her back. She wore the necklace a few days later for a meeting, under her shirt but still there to give reassurance.

After the meeting, she revisited the beach and wanted to give some sort of thanks. She hoped a simple letter of appreciation was enough. (She just hoped it didn't sound too formal.)

The following evening, Elaine checked the same spot. Strangely enough, the letter was still there, although not untouched. It was damp with seawater, and a bite had been taken out of the corner of the paper.

And, once again, a gift had been left in response. A sand dollar with a large ink blot on it. Maybe they don't know English, she wondered, Is this how they write letters?

She continued this back and forth, exchanging gifts, and learning more about this strange person (if they were even a person. She could be talking to some otherly creature, for all she knew). From what she had gathered, they were interested in very specific things. They would leave behind shells and monetary items, but loved strange trinkets - like miniature ships in bottles, ridiculously-carved brooches, and outdated sextants.

One night, when the moon hung low over the sea, and she was carrying another gift to the shore, she heard something - someone.

It sounded like gurgling water. Gurgling with changing dynamics and tone, as if the water was talking.

Elaine glanced around the corner. Lit by the moon, all she could make out was the silhouette of a person. Blue and gold, and bubbling with delight at the previous gift Elaine had placed for them.

She approached, and the figure caught her with its glowing gaze. It slipped into the waters, trailed by cobalt tendrils.

Disappointed, though not about to leave with her gift, she placed her flowers on the sand for the creature to find tomorrow.

Just as she was leaving, she heard the sea splash behind her. She caught a glimpse of tentacles swapping out the flowers for a bundle of red algae.

Elaine tied up the algae and happily carried it back to the mansion. Maybe the ocean really could be thankful.

#sea monster au #monkey island #fanfic #elaine marley #- this fic takes place probably before the events of the first monkey island?#- a prequel of sorts #- since the sea monster au follows the same timeline #guybrush threepwood #sea adventurers au #- i suppose?#plunderbunnies