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Language:
English
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Published:
2019-11-19
Completed:
2019-12-05
Words:
10,128
Chapters:
7/7
Comments:
52
Kudos:
544
Bookmarks:
102
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4,308

A Garment Ocean-Tinctured Still

Chapter 7

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

First month, fifth day

Shi QingXuan moved in with He Xuan the other day and she made her a special chair on wheels so that He Xuan’s legs won’t hurt so much.  They spend all day with each other, every day.  When they talk, their hands flap around like birds.  I think they think they’re being subtle, but they’re not.  Yin Yu says I should keep my mouth shut and that they’ll figure it out on their own.

I had to take out another loan with Hua ChengZhu, since the storm tore apart my other boat, but with Yin Yu’s help, I don’t think it’ll take too long to pay off.  He comes out to sea with me to scare fish into my net or to bring me pearls or coral or whatever else he finds, but honestly, I like it best when he brings me his seal skin for safe keeping.

He’s leaving again tomorrow, but he says he’ll be back in about a week, and I trust him.

Notes:

Yay!! It's all done!!! I am never writing from QYZ's perspective again!!! I love this boy so much, but I am much more comfortable writing introspective and quick-witted characters, so I was tearing my hair out for most of this fic.

In case Yin Yu's actions were confusing (bc QYZ is not very thoughtful or analytical), QYZ saved YY from drowning, but YY almost killed him in return, so YY feels a lot of guilt and obligation towards QYZ. Kind of like, "he saved me, so I have to make sure he's okay for the rest of his life." That's why he's so concerned about QYZ's health/hair/business/etc. But as a selkie, he can't stay on land for long periods of time and has to return to the sea periodically for migrations and his own mental health. So he's kind of between two obligations: his nature and his debt to QYZ. Because if you didn't notice debt is a big theme in this story!!! Lot's of debt all over the place!!! it makes HC very happy! Anyway, YY starts to realize he has romanitc feelings for QYZ, but lowkey freaks because isn't that taking advantage of QYZ? And also impossible bc how could QYZ ever love someone who tried to kill him! Poor Yin Yu.

Anyway, I had a lot of fun with this AU, and tbh i think it would be fun to explore selkie!QYZ and human!YY. Like QYZ dropps his seal skin jacket, so Yin Yu returns it to him and QYZ is like, "great! we're married" and just moves into Yin Yu's house while Yin Yu is just, "?!?!?!?!!?" Okay, I've rambled enough, thank you for reading, I hope this was fun for y'all!

Notes:

The title comes from "Maighdean Mara" by Seamus Heaney.

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