Stranded: A Lovestruck Merman's Tale (BL)

"Hey Marnthe!" greeted a gruff middle-aged man as he walked past Marnthe and Geale on the street.

He had a pleasant smile on his face before curiously glancing at Geale, who tightened his hold on Marnthe's hand in response. He then offered a sheepish grin to the younger man.

"Hello Tim!" Marnthe greeted back with a smile of his own.

"You're going to be open tomorrow night, right?"

"Yes. We'll have your favorite ale on hand for you."

"Great! See you then!" Tim said, waving goodbye and walking away.

Geale frowned.

Tim was the sixth person to greet Marnthe on the street during their trip. There were a lot more who exchanged smiles with the singer as the two walked down the street.

He realized how popular Marnthe was with humans, especially with women. Geale wondered if it was because merfolk were endowed with just enough facial features to attract or disarm prey - humans included.

But some of them, like Tim, seemed to know Marnthe enough to start casual conversations with him.

Then there were the awkward glances they threw at Geale. Marnthe introduced him as a friend who would stay at the beach house for a year.

The way the humans sheepishly chuckled in response told Geale they had doubts about it.

"I don't know if I prefer the stares or the conversation," Geale muttered under his breath.

"What did you say?"

"Is he another bar regular?" Geale said instead, tightening his grip on the handle of the paper bags of clothes that Marnthe allowed him to carry.

Marnthe told him how the beach house served as a restaurant in the morning and a bar at night. The location of the establishment was far enough that only locals who wanted to avoid island tourists frequented the place.

That meant many of the folks on the street knew Marnthe.

"Yes, he and his crew at the docks drink at the bar after work," Marnthe explained, holding several paper bags in his other hand as he scanned the line of shops on the sidewalk.

"Do you have a lot of customers at the bar and restaurant?"

"We do have peak hours when all our tables are occupied. It's usually around lunch where workers in nearby shops dine there, and late in the evening when people drink and relax to live music."

"Live music? So you sing on stage too."

"I do. We also have guest performers. I perform with them sometimes."

"Who serves the customers then?"

"We have a crew. A small group is in-charge of the restaurant in the morning, and another is in-charge of the bar at night. You'll meet them tomorrow."

"Not tonight?"

"We're closed for the day. We close the restaurant bar from human customers before and after the Crescent Moon Festival."

"Because you serve merfolk during the festival."

Marnthe nodded. "I perform for them. Pterie and Amrin serve the food and drinks. I help out when I'm free."

"Pterie and Amrin? The couple who left you behind!" Geale remembered the bartender and the server he spoke to at the bar when he met Marnthe.

"They left me behind because they knew I can't join them. They're good folks."

Geale guiltily looked away.

Marnthe caught his sullen expression. "Do you regret it?"

Geale raised a brow at him.

"Not listening to them. They warned you, didn't they?"

Geale smirked. "Why would I?"

He gave Marnthe's hand an affectionate squeeze. "I'm here with you now, holding your hand and walking on land with you. If there's anything I regret, it's-"

"Oh, we're here," Marnthe said, catching sight of the establishment he was looking for: a seafood restaurant near the shore.

Geale curiously followed Marnthe into the open-air restaurant that had quite a number of diners. The scent of grilled meats wafted in the air and the plates of vibrant dishes on the tables made his eyes grow wide.

"Marnthe!" greeted a woman rushing to welcome them.

"Hey, Lila. Do you have an available table for two?"

"Absolutely! Follow me."

Geale frowned at the woman who wore her head in a bun atop her head as they followed her to a corner of the restaurant. "Is she a regular at the bar too?"

"No, I'm the regular customer here."

"What?! Why?"

"Marnie?!" a voice called out from the counter behind them.

Lila smiled as she motioned toward a table with two chairs. "Shall I get you and your companion a menu? Or would you like to get the usual?"

"The usual," Marnthe answered. "Do you have seaweed salad and oysters today?"

"We do. I'll get you servings for two." Lila then winked playfully at Marnthe before making a beeline to the counter.

Marnthe frowned, wondering what the playful wink was for. He turned to the direction of the counter where he was sure the owner of the voice who called him from a distance was rushing toward him.

Sure enough, he found a bony, old woman excitedly walking to their table. She was wearing her long grey hair in a bun, her trademark green apron over a shirt and loose pants, and a pair of worn out slip-ons.

"Calista!" Marnthe greeted, to Geale's surprise.

The old woman opened her arms, her dark eyes grinning until it turned into two crescent moons. "Oh Marnie! I'm so happy you're here."

She wrapped her arms around Marnthe who was a full head taller than her.

"Marnie?" Geale whispered.

Marnthe returned the gesture, giving her slightly hunched back a light, affectionate squeeze. "You spoil me rotten."

"You're my favorite grandson after all!" She then looked at Geale; her eyes twinkling with excitement. "And this is?"

"This is Geale. He'll be staying with me at the beach house for a year."

Calista gasped. "Only a year?!"

"Don't worry, I'm planning to stay with him for life," Geale replied before winking at the old woman.

Calista giggled. "Oooh! Then you'll be my grandson too, Gill…is it?"

Geale glanced at Marnthe, wondering if he should correct her.

"Actually, it's-" Marnthe began.

"Yes, Gill it is," Geale said, cutting him off.

Marnthe stared confused at him.

"You can call me Gillie too. It rhymes with Marnie," Geale added.

"Oh! He's a keeper. Gillie it is! You two are such a lovely couple!"

"Couple?!" Marnthe gasped, his cheeks and ears flushed.

"Don't worry," Calista said, patting Marnthe's shoulder. "I'm on your side. You let the bitter homophobes out there be bitter!"

"Homophobes?" Geale asked.

"No, Calista. You got it wrong! Geale is just a friend who needs a place to stay for a year and-"

"No need to hide it from me. No need to hide it from everyone here, either. Real friends and caring neighbors are happy to know you've found someone special in your life," Calista said, narrowing her eyes at the nearby tables.

Geale noticed the diners' shoulders stiffen as if they had been listening to the discussion the entire time. He then recognized some of them as the people they crossed paths with while shopping.

"I'll cook you something special to celebrate!" Calista announced. "On the house. You just get comfortable, okay? And tell Lila whatever you need."

She then quickly walked back to the counter, and disappeared into a doorway behind it.

Marnthe scanned the room and noticed how the customers seemed to avoid his gaze. He sighed and plopped on his seat. "Great. They all think we're lovers."

Geale followed suit. "So I'm not just your friend anymore, right? We're lovers!"

"No, we're not!"

"Come now, Marnie. No need to it hide it from everyone here."

"Shut up!"