Message in a Bottle.

9.

A fisherman, an Artist with half a face, a guy who really liked bones and the supposed antichrist sitting on a boat sounded like the start of a bad joke.

But there they were.

Michael didn't talk, like usual. Vincent also didn't talk. Lester didn't shut up.

Bo wasn't as chatty but he wasn't quiet either, just tapping his fingers on his hip while he waited and damned the fact Merpeople didn't have any way of communicating.

He doubted a messenger tuna would work the same as a pigeon.

Eventually, He heard a few people climb onto the boat and he turned around, smiling when he saw Dolly who immediately rushed over and hugged Bo.

"Hey doll" Bo chuckled, hugging the mer back and kissing her temple, "How's the water?"

"Good!" She chirped, squeezing Bo a bit before gesturing, "you have met Lily, this is Rosalie and Raphael!"

Lily was already beside Vincent, chattering away to the man who looked at ease and relaxed. Rosalie narrowed her eyes at them all but waved,

"Hello" she said, sounding annoyed and Bo waved before noticing Raphael staring at Michael.

"He doesn't bite" Bo said and Raphael just cleared his throat,

"You are Bo then?"

As soon as Bo nodded, Rosalie was up in Bo's face. Bo tensed immensely at that but forced himself to remain mostly calm, holding a hand out to Vincent and Lester who had stood quickly.

Rosalie squinted at Bo, frowning and seeming to study his very soul and she huffed,

"If you hurt Dolly I will hang your bones as a garland"

"Duly noted ma'am" Bo said, nodding to Rosalie who still seemed wary about Bo but pleased he had acknowledged her threat.

The group got along fairly well. It was a bit of polite awkwardness at first but Lester actually seemed to get along with Rosalie, showing her his Bowie knife he carried and talking about his bone collection back home which seemed to fascinate Lily as well. Vincent just snuggled into Lily's side happily.

Raphael seemed torn between listening to the stories between Lester, Lily and Rosalie tiredly and staring at Michael from the corner of his eye.

"Everyone seems to get along" Dolly said happily to Bo who nodded, looking at Dolly and smiling a bit,

"Helps my brothers a weirdo with skeletons"

Dolly giggled at that, snuggling into Bo's side.

~!~!~!~

Eventually, the group had to leave once again.

Lester invited them for dinner. Which looked like it had given Rosalie a heart attack on the spot while Lily and Dolly agreed. Raphael seemed hesitant,

"...I suppose" he said and then said something in mer speak to Rosalie which made her huff then nod.

"We'll see you all soon then?" Lester asked, sounding excited. The Mer folk nodded,

"Sounds good!" Lily chirped, giving Vincent a cheek kiss before grabbing Rosalie's hand and jumping back into the water. Raphael waved,

"Pleasure to meet you all" he said, stealing another glance at Michael and going red when he realized the larger man was staring at him, also diving back.

Dolly turned to Bo, giving him a lip peck before he could have said anything, saying goodbye to the others while Bo was stunned then dove under as well.

Bo blinked, still stunned. Lester snorted,

"Ah, love"

~!~!~!~

"I cannot believe we're going to a humans house because Raphael is gay for the man who looks more similar to a house!" Rosalie exclaimed once back in their cave and Raphael went red again,

"I am not gay for him!"

"You were staring at his chest quite a bit" Lily said with a giggle,

"I only came up to his chest! Where else was I supposed to stare?!"

"Anywhere other than his tits!" Rosalie exclaimed again.

Dolly was aware of her friends bickering but wasn't paying attention. She was staring out of a hole in the cave that faced the surface.

"And Dollys love struck" Rosalie said with a sigh, rubbing her temples,
"Y'know what? Least I can see that man's bone collection"

"Peak gay and Bisexual solidarity" Lily said, nodding seriously and Rosalie sighed again,

"This had better not go terribly".