Snippets of Eventide

No.2: Cirrus and Millie go Fishing

Face strained with effort, she nodded at Cirrus. "The net!"

Cirrus grabbed the net and held it over the edge of the boat as Millie drew the fish nearer and nearer. Flashes of silvery scales and fins broke the water's surface as she slowly brought it in the last bit of distance. She reached down and guided it by the end of the fishing line into the net. He didn't have a clue what he was looking at, but Millie grinned from ear to ear.

"Perch!"

She reached for the net and took it from Cirrus, trading him for the rod. He watched as she took the fish from the water, stunned it and quickly cut through the gills before removing the hook and detaching it from the rest of the fishing line.

"Nice," she popped the fish into a little cooler under her seat and settled the net along the bottom of the boat. "Good work holding it steady."

Cirrus handed her the rod as she tucked the rest of the fishing gear away. "Welcome."

"Hand me that oar, will you?" She pointed and waited a moment as Cirrus did as she asked. "Thanks." She set the oars into their slots and started to row in long, sweeping motions across the still water. "You can come over later today if you want, I'm probably going to cook this up for dinner tonight if you want to try it."

Cirrus shrugged. "Maybe."

"Well," Millie glanced back over her shoulder to see where she was aiming, correcting her course just a little. "Let me know either way."

She went back to rowing, breathing in time with her practiced strokes. The gentle rhythm of the paddles breaking the water and dripping across it's surface was soothing, and soon Cirrus found himself lulled by the soft sounds.

"I think Cirrus," Millie started between strokes. "That you should consider what's going to make you happy." She met his eyes, dark as wet stones. "Especially if asking him out is what you want. At the very least it'll save you from not knowing."

"I guess so."

"Take you time if you want," She took a deep breath between strokes. "I won't tell."

Cirrus sighed, shoulders falling. "Thanks."

Millie nodded. "No problem, though I can't promise I won't tease you every now and then."

"Fine." Cirrus rolled his eyes, watching the slowly approaching dock. "If you must."

She laughed under her breath. "Oh I must." She paused and nodded towards the fenders tucked into the boat. "Toss those out for me will you?"

He dropped the fenders out into the water, flinching when it splashed his arm, and again when it happened with the second one.

"For a prince of the sea you sure do hate seawater."

Cirrus scoffed. "For a selkie you sure love fishing above the water."

Millie chuckled as she brought the boat into the dock, grabbing onto it with one outstretched arm. "Yeah sure, don't fall in when you get out wise guy."

"I'm not going to—"

The boat lurched when Cirrus stood and the next thing he knew he hit the cold water. He came back to the surface to Millie's laughter, loud and uproarious in the quiet morning. He could barely see her over the side of the boat, but she was hunched over and slapping the side of the boat as she gasped between laughs.

"Sorry, sorry," Millie finally caught her breath. "That was just so perfect." She crawled to the front of the boat, leaning over the edge to peer down at him. "Can you swim to shore or should I get the ladder?"

Cirrus mocked insolence. "Can I swim to shore?" He raised an arm from the water to gesture to how close it was. "It's right there."

"Alright get to it then." Millie shooed him away. "See you when you get there."

She disappeared back to the other side of the boat as Cirrus started to swim, minnows scattering from his path. Thankfully while the water held it's sharp chill, it wasn't too cold to swim through. By the time he got to shore he might even decide it was refreshing. At the very least he wasn't tired anymore. Didn't feel quite so early now.

Cirrus climbed out of the water, sitting himself down on a sandy log as Millie finished settling in her boat. He planted his hands down behind him and leaned back, letting the weak morning sun warm him just a little bit.

Maybe Millie was right. He wouldn't know anything until he asked, but at the same time... It was a lot. He didn't know what to say, or how to say it or when would be a good time. He blinked. What if Millie could help him with that too? She seemed to be a good listener, seemed to give good advice.

Maybe he didn't mind this kind of early morning fishing trip after all.