all we are is a bittersweet sundown (Harry/Louis Merman AU #2)

Prologue

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Messages in a Bottle

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4 June (one week after Harry and Louis saw the purple sunrise together)

Dear Harry,

This is a message in a bottle. You told me we could keep in touch in this way. I haven't written anything longhand in a long time. I only really do so when I care about the other person a lot. I hope my small writing doesn't smudge when you read this in the water. Wouldn't that suck?

When is your birthday? I'd like to know. Maybe something can be arranged for when your birthday comes along. Who knows. Maybe I'll get you a new pair of shoes. Or little boats. Whatever you prefer to call them still. That was the first endearing moment about you, when you called them little boats. I don't think I'll ever forget that.

You said that you were now going to be busy. What is it exactly that you're doing? I hope it's not too tedious.

I'm going to make an effort to fill up the entire page. Bear with me.

Did you know that people on land, here, gather tinier bottles and fill them up with sand and minuscule shells? They top it off with a corkscrew and a stringy rope to add to the aesthetic of it all—did I use that word right? Who knows. Zayn says it a lot. He's a tattoo artist and an art person all together. That's where all my tattoos come from (you know, the markings on my arms. I don't think you noticed). Zayn. He's my best friend. I think I told you that already.

Zayn's worse than me. He says a lot about how he hates seeing fish struggle in nets or on hooks. His parents own a huge fishing company (I know, I know, you hate that) and they pretty much go out on their large fishing boats a lot and capture bunches of fish in huge nets. Zayn hates it. I think he's decided to go his own way and become an anti-fishing person, too. His parents bought him a tiny yacht, too. They're fucking loaded. Also, a yacht is like a boat, but much classier and people can sleep and eat in them. I might have to snag the yacht one of these days so I can come see you out in the sea. Yeah! There's an idea!

I'm actually making an effort not to write shorthand, with abbreviations, or anything of the like. I forget I'm pretty literate until I actually read or write. Do you guys read? Have you read? Do you have books from sunken ships? I feel like you'd be the person to steal them if you found them. Anyways, I don't read too much myself. Nothing really interests me anymore. Literature's not so original nowadays.

What are the instruments in your world? You did say you have music. I'd like to know more. I can't imagine what music down there must sound like.

Now that I'm not working for a seafood restaurant anymore, I'm going to try to get a job at the surfboard shack right on the beach. They sell surfboards and other swimming merchandise. It's run by this nice old man named Carl. I've known him for as long as I can remember. He kind of looks like a skeleton. He's super nice but super stubborn.

Thinking of you, wherever you are. It's been a week and I genuinely miss you. Is that weird? I've only met you that one time. I hope you are also enjoying your world, that you don't feel as empty as you used to.

Sincerely,
Louis Tomlinson

P.S.

My birthday is December 24. I'll be turning 25 this year. I'm old oldy old. :(

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11 June

Dear Louis,