#undertow!au

[normakuhlings]

Crockett: did you know that octopi actually use two of their arms to walk across the ocean floor?

Ethan, who was just calling to say goodnight to his boyfriend before he left for work: 👁👄👁

Crockett: also they have three hearts and a beak so there’s that :)

Ethan: sir, why am I in love with you?

[normakuhlings]

“You lost your chance.” Maybe for undertow? 👀👀

CW: Joey 🤢

***

“Sarah?”

The brunette looked up at the sound of her roommate’s voice, twisting a bit to look back at the shore. She was at the far end of the dock near their house, feet dangling in the water and mind far off. Crockett was holding her phone, his own surfboard tucked under his arm like he was planning on going out. She stood on shaky legs, the right one having fallen asleep probably ten minutes before. Once she made it to the other end of the dock, she jumped off, meeting Crockett at the shoreline.

“Your phone’s been ringing like crazy,” he said as he pressed the device into her hand, “It’s the jackass again.”

Sarah had to laugh at that, the curse sounding so funny coming from his mouth. Still, she knew exactly who he was referring to and her heart sank a little. She really thought she had escaped the endless calls and bullshit. Bold of her to assume he would take the hint from her moving to a whole other continent, apparently.

“Lovely,” she huffed, “You going out? The waves look good a little further East.”

“Yeah, I’ll be back before sundown. Pizza tonight?”

“Sounds good,” with that she shooed her roommate away, just as her phone started chirping shrilly. She sighed, knowing it would only get worse if she didn’t respond. Still, she knew she could just block his number and cut him off completely. That certainly sounded more desirable but Sarah was too nice to do that, picking up the phone just before it went to voicemail.

“What?”

“Hello to you too,” the voice on the other end made Sarah want to hang up immediately, sounding way too smug for her liking. She hated him, she really did, and she wished she had understood that all those months ago back home.

“Seriously, what do you want, Joey?”

“To talk to my girlfriend, obviously.”

That had Sarah’s blood boiling, “I am not your anything. We broke up months ago.”

“You broke up with me, I don’t remember agreeing to that. I think you were being a bit brash, I deserve another chance, Sarah.”

“You lost your chance,” she spat, “You dug that grave when you tried to control my life, now it's time to lay in it.”

“I just think that-”

“You just think that women shouldn’t be in science. I know, you made that pretty fucking clear, Joey. I’m done, I said that months ago.”

“Can you calm down? I just want to talk.”

“No! I don’t want to talk about this anymore. You were the one who wanted me to pick between my job and education and you. You just have to live with the fact that I chose the ocean over you, get over it.”

“You chose him over me.”

The accusatory tone had Sarah scoffing, “Crockett? He’s my roommate and my best friend. Even if he wasn’t, he’s gay, dumbass.”

“Right, of course-”

“If the next thing you say is anything homophobic I will hang up on your ass.”

“Calm down, babe.”

“Don’t fucking call me that! Will you just let it go, Joseph? I moved to a whole other continent and you’re still not getting it, are you?”

She didn’t dignify any response he had, hanging up seconds later. Some part of her said she was being mean, should just hear him out, but she squashed that thought immediately. He had been nothing but controlling and manipulative since they started dating eight months before, trying to get Sarah to drop her research opportunities and be his perfect little housewife before they even thought about a long term relationship. A woman’s place wasn’t in the ocean and it certainly wasn’t in the lab, in Joey’s eyes, and that ideal was the final breaking point. Sarah would never let anyone get in the way of her love for marine life, especially not some man. She should have blocked him the second she left Chicago, but better late than never she supposed as she clicked the block button under his contact.

Her life was perfect now, safe and doing what she loved with her best friend. She didn’t need him anymore, not here, and he couldn’t hurt her any longer. She would never give him power over her again. Sarah reclaimed her freedom the second she chose to move to another hemisphere and she would never go back on that. This was her life now and she would be a successful biologist, her wish to continue this dream only fueled by his sheer misogyny.

[normakuhlings]

Undertow | Marine biologist!Crockett

You would be wise to fear the sea; it does not take kindly to those who do not show it respect

[normakuhlings]

Travel | Undertow

Nosdecember day 5 | @neworleansspecial

Undertow!AU; Sarah and Crockett arrive in South Africa

***

Sarah found herself having to hold onto Crockett's jacket for some semblance of security, already overwhelmed the second she stepped off the plane. The airport was bustling with activity, children running around between their parents and people searching for their gate or luggage. It was chaotic to say the least, making Sarah even more glad that her best friend was with her; doing this alone would have been terrifying.

"Taxi should be here soon," Crockett had to speak up as he guided Sarah through the crowd of people. She nodded, before realizing he didn’t see her movement as he was looking ahead, so Sarah made a sound of acknowledgment at his words.

"Okay?" Crockett knew she had a hard time in big groups, especially since she hadn’t slept much in the past 48 hours. The last couple days in Chicago had been spent pacing her near-empty apartment and venting her worries to Crockett over the phone. She was nervous; excited but still scared. The move was huge and the eight hour time difference was proving to be killer on her body already.

"I’m good," Sarah promised, "It’s just a lot."

"I know," he replied and stopped near the entrance of the airport, "We can rest once we get to the house, okay? Beach time first, unpack later."

Sarah couldn’t help but grin at that, the thought of going to the beach raising her spirits considerably. The water was supposed to be gorgeous, warm and full of life just a few hundred kilometres away from Cape Town. She had been shocked when their research opportunity allowed them to rent a beach house right on the water; it would make studying and observations so much easier. Both she and Crockett felt the most at home on the water, so moving to a warm place in close vicinity to an ocean had been on both of their bucket lists.

“We’re really doing this?”

Crockett nodded, nudging Sarah’s arm, “We are. We’ve made it, Sarah.”

***

Less than an hour later they were carrying their luggage across the wooden deck of their new home. The drive to the beach had been rather silent, Crockett on his phone the whole time. He was no doubt texting his boyfriend back home, even though the 8 hour time difference meant it was probably 4 AM in Chicago. Still, Sarah wouldn’t complain because seeing the big smile cross her best friend’s face was good enough for her. Besides the quiet time gave her an excuse to rest her eyes, ending up using Crockett’s shoulder as a pillow after a while.

“Home sweet home,” Crockett said jokingly as he unlocked the door. It was modern as far as cottages go, though the fake-wood paneling walls gave away its true age. Boxes and bags were piled up precariously in every place possible, most of their belonging having been sent to South Africa over the course of the past few weeks.

“So much to unpack,” Sarah sighed as she dragged her biggest suitcase into the living area. The wheels got caught on the grey rug, making it so she stumbled and had to tug the thing a bit harder to move it.

“That can wait,” Crockett reminded her gently as he took the luggage from her hand so she didn’t break it, “Go get changed.”

“Beach time?”

A nod and Crockett’s little half smile proceeded his words, “The water has always been more like home than any house, right?”

[normakuhlings]

Discovery | Undertow

“Crockett!” Sarah’s voice held a lot of excitement as she ran into the beach house. Crockett turned from where he had been chopping up vegetables, being met with a mass of unruly curls way closer than expected. Sarah’s rainbow rash guard sleeves were rolled up in a way that looked uncomfortable and her sandals were missing all together. Still, her excitement was palpable and her roommate couldn’t help but smile. This was the Sarah he knew and loved, not the sad woman who had been stuck in her tiny Chicago apartment; she was free and happy here.

“What’s up, chouchou?”

He noted the way Sarah’s nose scrunched up at the pet name, it technically meant cabbage but it was still a common term of endearment. Sarah thought it was embarrassing but Crockett was nothing if not affectionate in every way. She was his best friend and things like this just felt right. Besides, Sarah would never outwardly complain; it felt nice to be adored even in a platonic sense.

“New turtles!” She recovered quickly and her smile returned, “Just saw a mama digging her nest in a lower dune by the rocks!”

“Ohh,” Crockett shared her excitement because he knew this was big for her research, “That close to the house?”

“Yeah! She’ll lay about 100 eggs and they should hatch in two or three months. I’ll get to watch their walk, Crockett!”

“That’s amazing, Sar,” he nudged her arm, “Are you coming in for lunch any time soon? You’ve been out for hours.”

Sarah glanced at the state of meal prep he had been in and then down at her feet, “Yeah... left my shoes. Gonna go get those and check on the other dunes, then I’ll be in.”

Crockett nodded, an arm wrapping around her shoulders to draw her into a side hug. Sarah didn’t resist, smiling widely when a kiss was pressed to the top of her head. He was never shy with his affection and he knew Sarah quietly fed off it. She never had anyone to care about her like this, certainly not her parents and she lacked a proper support system growing up. Crockett had quickly become her rock and her best friend and he promised he would never let her feel unloved or ignored.

“I like seeing you this happy,” he said softly, “This move was good.”

“It was,” Sarah agreed, “We’re meant to be here.”

[normakuhlings]

Crockett and Sarah spending all day at the beach and they’re supposed to be gathering samples and making notes but it ends with Crockett chasing Sarah through the knee-deep water because she splashed him on purpose and by the time they get home they’re both drenched and a little sunburnt <3

[normakuhlings]

Crockett and Sarah are roommates and colleagues. They were in the same program and so they’re doing a research project in South Africa together. They live in a small beach house on cape west coast, just about 100km from Cape Town. This is a major step for both of their careers and they spend most of their time down by the water or in the lab.

Sarah’s focus is on sea turtles and their nesting patterns, as well as how humans impact their grouping behaviour and lifespan. Crockett studies cephalopods and dolphins, two of the most intelligent sea creatures. He wants to better understand their brains and how their intelligence helps them survive since they aren’t as predatory as sharks.

However, Sarah develops a major interest in seals as well. Particularly the local colony who appears to contain multiple species. Not all of them are South African brown fur seals, which makes her very curious about their apparent migration patterns. She begins to go observe them when they’re most active, which she learns is in the late evening after the sun has set (not a common time for normal seals). Crockett warns her to be more careful, she shouldn’t be on the water alone, but Sarah was never one to listen to anyone but herself.

[normakuhlings]

Undertow | Selkie!Robin

My home will always be beyond the reef but something about the land keeps calling to me