#selkiestory

Galra region! I had to do this.

Despite finishing off the biscuits, the sounds from Marcas’ stomach grew increasingly louder as the evening went on. To Aed’s surprise, the gregarious teen had gone quiet after tea time. Hunger, he supposed. Hunger made men do stranger things. After cleaning his room to a passable degree, he resumed his seat on his bed and watched with a wary eye as the other examined his room with interest. Papers were shifted through, old toys carefully turned, book spines traced. Marcas seemed fascinated with everything that was in the small room.

“Can I look at this?”

Aed nodded and saw other slip a thin blue survey of marine life off the shelf - an old birthday present from the used bookstore. The teen was flipping through it quite quickly - and upside down. It dawned on him that perhaps Marcas couldn’t read.

“Where did you say you were from again?”

“I didn’t say. But I’m from here, you know. Born a bit south on the blasket islands, but raised along these shores.” The teen held the book and squinted at it. Sighing Aed got up from the bed, walked over and set the book right.

“It goes like this.”

“I was done with it anyway,” Marcas’ expression remained cool, but the flush was noticeable on his pale skin. Determined, the other took another book and sat in Aed’s chair flipping through it until Ena returned to call them to dinner. Aed had settled into his own book, and went to grab the cups, but Marcas already had the tray with their tea things. He walked a few paces in front of the other and held the door open before following the stranger downstairs.

*

Neil Carrick stood from his seat, red hair glinting in the overhead lamp as he moved to take the tray off of Marcas’ hands. His dark eyes looked over the teen quizzically.

“Thanks,” the man said simply before he disappeared into the kitchen. Ena came out with a basket of rolls and nudged them onto the table before rushing back as well.

Marcas took a seat and, after taking some plates and bowls from his Mother, Aed took the spot next to him. In the light of the evening diningroom, the hungry look of the dark-haired teen was slightly intimidating. The effect was quickly broken as the other three members of the Carrick household returned laying out glasses, cutlery, and a large tureen of lamb stew. Ena giggled as another rumble escaped from Marcas.

Neil and Flann took their usual seats at the ends of the table while Ena sat across from the boys. Aed nudged the long-haired teen before he could take a roll and motioned for him to wait. The family said a quick grace before they began to distribute food.

“Remember when we saw John at church today, dear?”

“Indeed. What a rarity. ‘Must be that worried about Tom going away.”

Aed stabbed at his potato.

“That reminds me...he said he’d try and help me seal-proof the nets. Said something about them not liking it if vegetables were tied in your rope.”

Marcas’ hand shook as he snapped up a roll.

“It sounds a bit dubious, dear.”

“I’ll try any alternative first before I do what some of the others were planning.”

“Who, exactly? I honestly can’t believe they would want to resort to violence so quickly. Aren’t seals protected by the government?”

“The usual folks. They think the seals are eating up too many fish. But, you know, yesterday Paul’s net got destroyed by a seal, too - new one he saved a two months for, too. It’s scapegoating...but to be honest, if the catch continues like it is some changes will have to happen, whether we like it or not.”

Aed observed that the other teen hadn’t touched his food yet, and was instead giving his stew a contemplative look. Marcas glanced sideways and their eyes met before he shrugged and bit at the bread before quickly engulfing it all along with his first plate of stew, a contented sound escaping from him.

“Hold out your bowl, dear. Have as much as you’d like,” Flann said doling out another portion. The young man nodded and started on his second helping. As this exchnge took place Neil observed their guest with great interest. After the third bowl the stranger slowed down and Neil cleared his throat.

“Marcas was it?”

The teen in question finished off his fourth roll.

“Yes, sir?”

“You’re quite young to be wandering around the countryside by yourself. Do you have any family you can stay at?”

“Y-No, sir” the same thoughtful expression overcame the teen, “you said you’re a fisherman, sir?”

“Indeed, lad.”

“I’ve...actually been looking for work,” Marcas’ changed to have the same sheepish look as earlier, “do...do you or any of the others in this village have any room on a ship? I’ve been fishing since I was very little, so I’m quite good at it. It’s...the only way I know how to live.”

What was he thinking, walking straight into his house and asking for work?

I owe your family one.

Was this how he intended to pay him back? A little extreme wasn’t it? But, a voice in the back of his mind nagged at him: it would be just the thing he needed. What he was thinking of earlier came to mind, but with a twist: Marcas could work on the boat, and he at a desk job. At least he’d have time in the evenings to conduct research, and he could save up for better instruments. And besides...despite the initial strangeness Marcas was the only interesting thing that happened all year. Maybe it was a sign.

Aed, who had been coming to his own conclusions, chimed in, “If you’re going to take this guy in, Father, then I could work with Mam at the bank.” That would be his new plan for now. He couldn’t continue to be inactive about his situation. It wasn’t the best, but he had to do something and Marcas provided just the opportunity. Besides...the guy was more fit than he and would be much better on a boat.

Neil raised an eyebrow.

“Aed?”

“Please Mam! Dad! It would be so cool to have a selkie in the house,” before Flann could say anything Ena finished chewing before continuing, “he’s really nice too!”

Neil shared a look with his wife.

“We’ll have to discuss this more,” Neil replied carefully, “but the least we could do is allow you to stay the night, Marcas, and sort things out tomorrow.”

“Thank you so much,” the dark-haired boy grinned and held out his bowl for a third helping, “I’ll do whatever I can to repay you.”

“If you’d like to, you can start by telling us a little about yourself.”

“Well, I was born along the Blasket Isles...”

The rest of the evening was filled with tales: Marcas and Neil swapping stories of the sea, the adults sharing embarrassing stories about their children, Ena recounting her adventure with making dessert (bread pudding), and even Aed remembering a funny occurrence on a school trip.

Through the evening the red-headed teen noticed something peculiar, however. Although Marcas seemed to speak sincerely he made no more mention of his (self-proclaimed) mythical background. Well it was good that he had given up on the strange game he was playing. His parents would have obviously not bought it.

---

“Well I have to head in. Early day, Monday.” Neil stretched carefully and left for upstairs.

“Mam, I can help with the couch for Marcas,” Aed offered. To his confusion she shook her head.

“He’ll be staying in your room tonight.”

“What?!” He had stood up for Marcas during dinner, but now he was regretting it.

“Aed. Our guest should get a bed.”

He heeded the warning in his mother’s tone and led the teen back upstairs. He had half a mind to sleep onto the couch himself, but he had to protect his data! What if the stranger stole his stuff in the middle of the night?

*

After making a brief disappearance into his closet once more to grab pyjamas, the older teen was annoyed to discover Marcas opening the lid to his rock collection. He was right to stay upstairs.

“Hey, ask before you go into people’s stuff!”

“Are these just normal rocks? I can’t sense any magic…”

“There’re samples from my long-term research project. Nothing you’d understand.” Aed sniffed sweeping the box into his hands.

“Alright, sorry I didn’t realize they were so important,” the other raised a brow, “you’re still in school? A bit old for that right?”

Aed barely avoided rolling his eyes, “Not anymore. I stayed a couple more years so I could go to college.”

“Oh,” the other pushed a strand of hair back, his expression thoughtful, “but on the beach…”

“-My research is about the effects of deep water activity on coastal erosion” Aed interjected having a strong feeling about what Marcas was about to say, “I’ve only been able to collect data on this shore and Dublin, but I know that if I had more information I could prove a cause of correlation between the two as a significant factor of rising sea levels. Unfortunately I was in high school during these initial studies, so it’s been hard to get information from other countries to here. We only have one computer at the school, but the information that would need to be processed would require more power to crunch...I...planned…well...” Words escaped him as dark thoughts that had plagued him all week began to interrupt once more.

“...First you need to know more, right?” Aed was glad the other didn’t pursue his own narrowly avoided subject, “I’ve met guys from Tir ra Nog before, They’d know about the waters all over the world. But...you said deep water,” Marcas frowned, “that sounds like something in formor territory. Dealing with them is not exactly pleasant, I’ve heard. But since you took me in, I might as well do something for you.”

Aed had let his guard down at dinner. There he was again speaking as if the creatures from folk tales were real.

It would be nice if he could send Marcas to just go out into the ocean and record everything he needed but such a scenario was so far fetched. Still, something tugged at his mind. Marcas seemed so willing to do it. Why not let him?

“Fine. I’ll accept your offer.”

“Nice working with you then, Mr. Aed,” the long-haired teen smirked and held out a hand. Aed matched the other’s expression as he reached out to shake.

“Before we decide on anything else, I do have one question, Marcas, ” green eyes flashed with curiosity as the redhead continued, “why did you cover up your ‘selkie’ story around my parents?”

“I was taught to never trust humans.” The younger crouched down and pulled something out from under Aed’s desk. His sealskin Aed remembered as the other draped it around himself, “but...you’re a strange guy. You called me, yet express no interest in stealing this, so my secret’s safe with you. Besides you saw me come out of the sea and all, so how could I lie about that to you?”

Earlier seemed like ages ago. His failure and tears. The body slamming into him from out of the sea. Seafoam curling around a lithe form- No. His imagination was running wild.

“I know the truth. You just washed up on the beach. From...somewhere!”

“...Yep. My secret’s safe with you.”

---

Previous

“The name’s Marcas. Marcas Murtagh.”

Aed couldn’t help but interject,

“I thought you said you’re a selkie.”

“Yeah but my name’s Marcas.”

His sister looked up at the stranger with awe. “You mean what Gran talks about sometimes? The faeries?”

Marcas gave a lazy smile. “Yep.”

Aed noted the barely contained excitement radiating off Ena. He held back a groan as she patted him on the leg.

“Aed look he’s got a coat! We gotta take his coat so he can stay with us!”

The boy’s smile wavered and he drew his cloak closer.

“Ena, that’s stealing.”

“But that’s what everyone does in the stories right?”

“Argh…Ena just...go somewhere else right now. Come on.” He grabbed the stranger, Marcas, and tugged him toward the staircase,“and don’t even try coming in!”

“What happened to kicking me out?” Marcas now was the smug one.

“I’m still going to do that,” Aed retorted tossing his wet clothing save for his boxers on the open windowsill before going to his closet to grab a new sweater and jeans. He didn’t dare change in front of Marcas, but out of pity he thought to offer the other some actual clothes before he kicked him out of his room. He looked back at the other teen and noticed that, curiously, Marcas’ cape was dry. On closer inspection he did see that what he thought was a hood was in fact a-

“Aed, would you and your friend like some tea?”

“Mammy see the sealcoat? See?”

Jesus Mary Joseph. He just told her and now Ena got his own Mother into the mix. The two stood by the door, his Flann Carrick a graceful brunette with piercing green eyes.

“Tea sounds lovely, Miss.”

“He’s not a friend, Mam. He’s some guy who followed me home from the beach... I was just about to give him clothes and get Dad to kick him out.”

The older woman raised a brow examining the stranger for herself, said stranger pulling his cloak closer. After a long pause she tucked a stray lock behind her ear and sighed giving her son a stern look with piercing blue eyes.

“Aed, did I not raise you right for the past 17 years? You welcome strangers into your home, not shut them out,” she turned to the dark-haired teen, her expression softening, “it looks like you're from out of town. Are you travelling with anyone?”

Marcas thumbed his cloak and shot Aed a sheepish expression, “No miss. Just looking for a bit of sustenance, and good company.”

The sudden change in the other’s behavior, this sudden vulnerability, was intriguing. Aed didn’t quite know what to make of it.

“We can certainly do something about food. I’ll send up some tea and things and you may join us for dinner. The other thing you’ll have to explain yourself more, dear, but we’ll do what we can. For now, Aed do give him some clothes, and be a gentleman. I know today was difficult, but your own situation is no excuse to be cold to others.”

Chivvying Ena out his Mam gave Aed one more look before shutting the door. There was a silence while the teen hastily dug into his closet completely avoiding eye contact as he handed Marcas a set of clothes. He turned away once more as the other began to unfasten his sealskin. Coat. Whatever. It dropped revealing a muscular, yet extremely thin frame.

“Thanks.”

“Uh yeah. I’ll be back when you’re done,” Aed knew his ears were beginning to turn red as he swiftly walked into his closet and shut the door behind him, his mind turning. The selkie thing was starting to become more convincing. Obviously this guy had no human sense of decency!

---

While he was in the closet Aed quickly changed pants. It felt much better to be dry once again. He heard a knock and opened the door. Marcas was smirking at him for some reason. The other’s cloak was absent, and he properly dressed, but Aed’s clothes didn’t suit the him at all. Aed’s height and Marcas’ stockier frame made for a tight awkward fit and... the human made fibers seemed to not quite mesh with the teen in general.

The redhead folded his arms and scowled at Marcas.

“You won. There.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. You’re staying for dinner after all.”

“Yes...I owe your family one.”

“Hmph. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Ring ring! Tea n’ snacks” Ena’s muffled voice piped up from behind the doorway.

Sighing Aed went to open the door. He held out his hands for the drinks, but his sister walked right past him nudging some papers aside with the tray to make room. Aed took the cup he was offered and sipped at it.

“Thanks... you did this just so you could bother him again, hm?”

Ena huffed turning her back to him in order to hand Marcas his tea, “At least he’s nicer than you’ve been all week. Hey if you become my brother would I turn into a selkie too?”

Marcas chuckled and accepted the cup. He patted the young girl on the head with his free hand before grabbing two biscuits, “‘Fraid that’s not how it works, but I appreciate the good words, Ena.”

“Aww…” Regardless, Ena smiled as she made her way toward the door, “Mam said if I helped with dinner I’d be able to choose dessert, so gotta go! See you later, Marcas!”

“Thanks for the tea.” As quick steps retreated down the hallway the room became silent once more. The long-haired teen shoved his hand into his pockets looking around the room.

As he followed Marcas’ line of vision Aed hopped off his bed and started tidying. His room had grown extremely messy after graduation. Old clothes were mixed with his notes, and data from past presentations were slopped across his desk. His floor had become a bit of a mine field after he threw his rock collection when he was in an especially foul mood. He was glad his Mam hadn’t said anything when she came in, but the guilt was beginning to settle.

He heard footsteps wander over to somewhere and saw Marcas staring out his window. Shoving the rocks into their proper box he joined the other. The strip of sea that was visible from his room was what held the teen’s gaze. “Miss it already?” He joked lightly. Marcas only grunted in response before turning his attention back to redhead. The boy smirked before taking even more biscuits.

“Wanting me to go back isn't very hospitable. I’m so hurt.”

“Speaking of that,” Aed thumbed the edge of his sweater sleeve as he continued “...Why did you follow me home? I’ve just been...well...a bit of a jerk to you.”

The teen’s expression turned strange once more, “You called me, mistake or not.”

He wasn’t elaborating for a reason, but Aed knew enough when not to push. After all they barely knew each other and he should be nicer to Marcas. He tugged at a knot of string inside his sweater sleeve as he entertained a thought.

Don’t all selkie stories end in tragedy?

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