Chapter Text
Standing at the exit of the train station, Grian looked up to the skies with a frown, watching as the rain poured down even while the sun tried its best to shine through. While he wasn't a stranger to rain it really soured the mood of moving, especially when you were trying to defend multiple suitcases from errant curtains of rain whenever a gust of wind blew the downpour sideways. He was much more dressed for the weather than his luggage, but he still tore his eyes away from the sky to the car park to look for his ride, desperate to finally be anywhere but here. Like his new home.
A shrill, familiar horn immediately caught his attention as a white van turned into the car park, pulling up next to the pavement where he stood waiting. His face easily broke into a pleased smile once he spotted the familiar logo on the side - the lighthouse decorated with swirling, colourful fish, 'Gem's Fish Market' curving around the bottom - and the even more familiar Gem herself stepping out of the driver's side, smile bright despite the weather.
"Grian! You made it!" Gem called out as she approached, not hesitating to reach out for one of his cases and lead him back towards the van, pace quick to hurry out of the rain. "Great timing, too! I've just finished the deliveries. Here, put them on this side."
Sliding back the door on the driver's side, there was just enough room to fit the larger case beneath the sink, the smaller slotted between Grian's legs and the dashboard, the passenger seat pushed as far back as it would go to leave some sort of leg room.
Gem gave an apologetic glance over, starting the engine and looking in the mirrors as she reversed out of the parking spot. "Sorry, you know how it is with these vans. Everywhere else is a little... wet and fishy."
Grian just waved her off. "No worries, I'll take a bit of leg cramp over more public transport, especially in this rain."
"Oh totally," Gem agreed, briefly glancing over before looking back to the road. "It's been pretty gloomy lately. It's fine if you're out on the boats, but I'd hate to show up to my new house drenched. Not very welcoming. Pearl's trying to put things into some sort of order before you get there but yeah..."
Grian hummed in response, letting the conversation lull comfortably as he watched the scenery pass by, until Gem sat up straighter as they started passing through the town, pointing out notable businesses as they passed them and rattling out each owner's name with ease. Grian tried to commit as many as he could to memory.
"-And that there is this cute little cafe we- oh, we should meet up there tomorrow! The owner - his name is Scar - is so sweet, you're gonna love him. He makes the best pastries."
Grian easily agreed. After that, it was only a couple more minutes before they were finally pulling up next to the moving van outside his new house.
Some of the movers were closing up the back of the van whilst one of them spoke with Pearl in the doorway of the house, a couple others putting down the last few small boxes, chatting and only giving the new arrivals a passing glance as they wrapped up their conversation. The mover headed back to his van with the rest of his crew then, pulling away just as Pearl ran over to the pair with a large umbrella open above her head, another in her free hand.
Gem took the umbrella with a grateful smile, holding it open between herself and Grian while they rushed his luggage in and finally closed the door, escaping the rain.
The first thing Grian did was look around at the boxes he could see from the entrance hall, already dreading the idea of unpacking everything after all the trouble it took to pack it all up in the first place. He wasn't left to think about his future plans for long, however, as a loud clap at his side caught him off guard. Grian took a few steps back, surprised, to look at Pearl who was smugly directing him towards the kitchen.
"Come on mate, not gonna offer your guests some tea? Coffee? A little biscuit to nibble?"
"But I don't-"
Pearl interrupted, somehow looking even more smug as Grian stepped into the kitchen, finally laying his eyes on the small pile of shopping sitting on the kitchen island. A quick glance into the fridge would tell him there was even some milk and butter. "Happy housewarming from Gem and I. It's not much, but it wouldn't be very neighbourly of us to leave you to starve on your first night here."
Grian stared back at Pearl, mouth open as he tried to think of something else to say before giving up and sighing, though he didn't try to hide his smile.
"Alright then, find a seat and I'll put the kettle on. How do you take your tea?"
Grian had taken some time to find the box with 'Kitchen Appliances' hastily scrawled on the side, pulling out the kettle with a cheer and plugging it in, filling it with water to boil before presenting Gem and Pearl with their own cups filled with steaming tea, sourced from yet another box while the water had been boiling. After that, he was grateful to pull up another stool and finally feel himself relax, shoving his duties to unpack onto future Grian as present Grian cupped the warm mug and just let himself exist for a moment, taking part in some light conversation with his guests.
By the time Pearl and Gem had washed their cups and said their farewells for the evening, Grian was able to see the faint twinkle of stars just starting to appear in the darkening sky. He'd locked the door behind himself, choosing to aimlessly wander through his house, pondering how he'd place his furniture, until he came to the bedroom and unpacked the bare necessities; bedding, a clock, and a lamp. After that he'd moved to unpack some toiletries and, after soaking in a hot shower until he felt like he was almost too tired to stand, Grian was ready to make one last cup of tea and settle in his new bed.
Doing one final sweep to ensure his doors and windows were locked up for the night, Grian finally slipped into bed, sighing as he sat down on the mattress. Shuffling around, Grian pulled the duvet with him until he could lean against the windowsill and watch the moon try its best to peer through the clouds and light up the ocean below.
Curled up under his duvet and sipping his tea, Grian just stared out the window, eyes unfocused as he let the warmth inside and out start to lull him closer to sleep. He hadn't expected to see anything, with how the rain had only calmed to a fine misty rain, but movement by the water's edge caught his attention, and suddenly the warm tea in his hand was forgotten in favour of sitting straighter to try and parse what was moving down there. Grian squinted a few times, trying to figure out what he was looking at.
It was a... seal? Not an uncommon sight around here, but the fact it was all alone caught Grian's attention. It didn't seem hurt or lost, as it seemed to easily pace back and forth by the water's edge, almost playfully running into the water before letting a wave send it rolling back onto the beach before repeating the action.
It was entertaining to watch, and eventually Grian remembered his cup of tea and finished it while watching the seal mess around, an amused smile slipping onto his face. Soon enough the seal seemed to have enough, Grian making a small sound of disappointment as the seal finally ran into the ocean and didn't surface with the next wave crashing on the beach.
Oh well, maybe he'd see it another day.
After giving the seal a couple more minutes to reappear, Grian finally accepted that it was time to sleep and he made the effort to sit his cup aside and finish settling down for the night. He had then gone to close his curtains, glancing to the water one last time before something moving in the water caught his eye just before he tugged the second curtain over.
Leaning against the window ledge and expecting his little seal neighbour to reappear, nothing prepared him for the massive dark fin that easily breached the water and seemed to sparkle as the light reflected the water dripping off it. He would have almost thought it was something preying on the seal, were it not for said seal to resurface, clearly relaxed despite Grian only being able to see from afar.
Grian stayed still, almost forgetting to breathe as the fin breached the water a few more times, accompanied by the seal before both vanished once more and didn't reappear. Grian watched for a few more minutes, gripping the curtain tightly as he waited for the tail to reappear, only to frown and eventually sit back on his bed, frowning and brows furrowed. He had no idea what he had just seen. An invasive species? Some rare discovery?
He could almost feel himself getting sucked into wanting to investigate what he had seen, but a glance to his bedside clock told him in big glowing numbers that he'd better get to bed now, otherwise he's going to run the risk of being late meeting with Gem tomorrow.
Shutting the curtains and forcibly dragging himself away from the window, Grian settled in under the blankets and eventually fell asleep once his mind stopped running wild. He'd ask Gem tomorrow.