Haley Thistle
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Ellis the Selkie (rough draft)
🕑 Added 2021-08-26 20:00:03 +0000 UTCIt was disgusting. This ratty, almost skin like thing that I had found. I guess it had gotten kicked up from the gutter or tossed out from the trash bin, but it had found its way onto my stoop. It may have been a coat at one time, I’m not sure. It certainly had all the characteristics of clothing, it had just been through everything by the looks of it.
I’m not sure why I felt so bad for it. After all it should have just been garbage to me. But there was this little- I’m not sure what I would call it, maybe a spark. I felt a spark for this discarded piece of trash, and that spark told me to keep it around. I left it to soak in some soapy water while I went out for groceries, hoping it would help with some of the ick that permeated it.
When I got home the sink was completely brown, I almost thought that the thing has dissolved. Once I pulled it out I was surprised to see it was almost black. There were still spots where it was patchy and dirty, but all the grime on it had it looking gray and crusty. I gave it a good hand wash, afraid of what putting it through the washing machine would do.
Once it was dried, I was relieved I kept it. Something told me that someone was missing this discarded piece of clothing. I only hoped that I could find whoever it belonged to so I could return it. I washed it again a couple of days later and gave it a good box dye. The black looked so faded and sun damaged I thought it could use a refresher. I hung it out on my porch so it could get some sun, and in the light it looked so much prettier, although I noticed some spots where it would have to be patched and fixed. I had an old coat I never wore anymore anyways, I rarely wore much black these days. I could probably just take the lining out of it and sew it into this coat and it would look good as new.
Once this thought came to me I was a bit confused. Why was I taking on this extra project that posed so much work and effort? I said before I didn’t want anymore black clothing, I barely wore it! Why was I fixing and renewing this coat I found in the gutter when my only driving force was because I thought someone might want it back.
“You’ve always been a bit odd,” I told myself. “But this really takes the cake.” I rubbed the fabric of the worn coat between my fingers. “Maybe I’m trying to distract myself from something.” I brushed it aside with a huff. I was already so deep into the project, why stop now?
It was a while after I had found the old coat, when I was in the process of sewing the new lining into it, that a friend of mine had to come stay for a few days. Sam was a goblin, and her basement apartment had flooded during the last rainstorm.
“You need to move out of that place,” I fussed at her.
“What for?” She asked. “It’s cheap.”
I wished I could have burnt a hole through her skull so I could find the part of her brain that would make it make sense. “Because it floods! How is that not clicking?”
Sam shrugged. “I just doing get carpeting.”
I rolled my eyes. “Well, you can stay here until it dries out again.”
“I was supposed to have a game night tonight. Is it okay if I hold it here?”
I turned back around and eyed her up and down. “Did you...did you already invite people over?”
“Only a few.”
I scoffed. “Every damn time, Sam. Every damn time.” I shook my head as I wandered back into the kitchen.
“You’ll love it. Just like last time.”
“Last time you tried setting me up. Are you planning to do that again?” I scoffed at her. When she said nothing I came back out of the kitchen to glare at her. “Why do you make it hard to love you?”
“You still do,” Sam with a proud grin. “I’ll handle everything. I’ll even clean up. Don’t worry your pretty, purple head about it Viv.”
I pointed a finger of judgement at her. “Remember those words.”
That evening, some of Sam’s friends filled my apartment. I knew some of them, but there were a couple who were new, and probably one of the people she intended to set me up with. I really didn’t mind that, I liked meeting new people. I was a romantic at heart too, I did want to find love, I did want to be swept off my feet by someone amazing. I wanted someone who loved me for who I was, and I wanted to love them in return. But sometimes Sam could miss the mark, so it wasn’t like I was daydreaming about meeting the perfect one tonight. Not much at least.
I was bringing out snacks when I noticed a corner of the room seemed darker than usual. That’s when I saw there was a girl standing there, dressed in all black and scowling out towards the window. She wasn’t really joining in with anything.
“Did someone wander in?” i whispered to Sam.
“That’s Ellis,” Sam replied simply. “She’s cool.”
Ellis appeared like my exact opposite, everything about her was dark, black, and mysterious, meanwhile I was dressed like I was like a Jem and the Holograms doll. Her eyes were entirely black and glossy, and there was a doll-like quality to her stare. I think she felt me watching her because her glance sliced through the air on a razor sharp blade and met mine with hawk-like precision. I stood there frozen, afraid she was going to turn me into a newt.
Instead, Ellis’ lip just curled and she walked away. I let out a slow, long breath. I had escaped danger for another day!
Midway through a game, I got up to go use the bathroom and fetch more drinks. I went through my bedroom to get to my bathroom and I saw someone standing in my room. I was terrified at first until I saw Ellis turn and look at me. She was holding the sleeve of the coat in her hand.
“Oh gosh, you scared me!” I laughed it off, despite the fact I was still a bit perturbed. “I haven’t had a chance to say howdy. You’re Ellis right? I’m Viv it’s nice to-”
“Where did you get this?” Ellis asked, still holding the coat.
I watched her expression, trying to figure it out. Her brows were pinched, her lips set into a firm line. I couldn’t tell if she was upset or angry. “I found it,” I stated simply. “Outside.”
“Outside?” She definitely seemed angry now, but why she was I had no idea.
I nodded. “Yeah, but don’t worry! I didn’t steal it, I jacket!”
Ellis looked at me like I was crazy.
“Get it?” I watched her expression go unchanged. “Get it because I...I...jacket like I...like I jacked it…” I cleared my throat. “It was in the gutter.”
Ellis looked back at the coat, I suspect to keep from staring at me like a lunatic. “You found a coat in the gutter and decided to keep it?”
“Well,” I murmured and shrugged. “I felt bad for the poor thing.”
Ellis let go of the coat and chuckled. “It’s a coat. Why would you feel bad for it?”
“Okay,” I sighed. “So it is weird.”
Her eyes narrowed on me. “Yeah, a little.”
I chuckled and let a smile bloom. “I know it sounds silly, but I really did feel sorry for it. Something about it made me think that someone was looking for it. I thought if I fixed it up, made it nice and waited, someone would come looking for it. And then I would be able to see how happy and excited they were to have it back. Especially after it had almost been too far gone to get back again.”
Ellis’ expression had changed, it was soft, even beautiful. There was something about her eyes, that once cruel, all black, now seemed like an endless sea. There was so much in all that black, it made me like the color again. “Well, whoever it belongs to, I’m sure they’ll be happy.” She pressed her lips into a tight line. “But what will you do if no one claims it?”
“Oh,” I murmured. “I hadn’t thought about that.”
“Really?” Her expression was cross again. “You thought the owner would magically appear?”
I looked at her with a blank expression. “Kind of.”
Ellis scoffed. “What are you a puppy?”
I pointed to my ears. “No, I’m an elf, see?”
Ellis sucked her lips into her mouth and held an expression that looked like she stubbed her toe. “Sam said you were sweet.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Aww, she did?”
Ellis sighed, turning away from the coat. “So, what will you do if no one comes to claim the coat?”
I thought for a second. “Do you like it?”
Ellis’ eyes widened. “You’d give it to me?”
“If you like it, why not? You’ve been alone with it in my room, so Unless you were doing something else weird-”
Ellis’ cheeks turned bright red and blurted out, “I wasn’t!”
I smiled again. “How about this? If someone does come by the end of the month, I’ll give it to you? I think it would suit you.”
Ellis had a sad pout then. “I don’t want anyone just giving me a coat.”
What a weird way to say that. “I’m not just anyone, I’m Viv.”
“Yes, you’ve said that,” Ellis huffed. “Do what you want with that coat.” She walked by me, brushing our shoulders together. “I wouldn’t know what to do with it.”
“Wear it?” I murmured, but she was already down the hall.
The following morning, I was up and about getting ready for my day. I was just getting out of the shower when I saw the coat from the corner of my eye. I almost scared myself, thinking Ellis was standing there. I went out in my robe to the kitchen to start coffee and Sam was already doing dishes.
“Did you get a chance to meet Ellis last night?” Sam asked.
I stopped from opening the fridge. “Was she the set up?”
“Cute right?” Sam glanced up from the sink with a grin on her face. She was having to stand on a bucket in order to reach.
“I mean,” I huffed. “I guess? She seemed kind of...like a feral cat.”
“Yeah cute! Like a cat.”
I’m not sure how Sam meets these people. “I met her, but I don’t think you’re going to be playing cupid this time, Sam,” I told her bluntly. “I don’t think I’m her type at all.”
“But is she yours?” Sam had me in the trap then.
“She’s cute, sure. But I think most people are.” I get out the coffee and start the percolator. “I told her I could give her that coat though.”
Sam almost dropped a glass. “You would what?”
I’m not sure why she had such a reaction. “That coat I’m fixing. She seemed to like it, so I’m gonna give it to her.”
“You’re going to give a selkie a coat?” Sam asked.
“No, i’m giving it to Ellis.”
Sam set the dish aside and came down off the bucket. “Ellis is a selkie. She’s one of the swamp selkies that lives just outside of downtown. That’s how I know her, because she saved me that one time I almost got eaten by that kelpie.”
“You almost go what?”
Sam waved it off like what she said was nothing. “It’s fine now, don’t worry your pretty purple head about it. But you do know what happens when you give a selkie a coat? It’s basically a marriage proposal.”
“I’m sorry, i’ms till stuck on you almost being eaten by a kelpie.”
Sam scoffed. “I said it’s fine! Me and Caleb are friends now. We laugh about it. But seriously, really think about giving Ellis that coat. It could be a sticky situation for both of you if you do.”
“Caleb?” I balked.
Sam gave you an exhausted look. “I told you, move on, I have. We’re talking about Ellis here and how she’s a selkie. Look, I wanted you two to click, but even I think proposing right away is crazy.”
“I wasn’t! I didn’t know-” I huffed. “It’s not even a selkie coat. I know how that works. I have to give her back her own coat! This is just some random coat I found in the garbage.”
Sam hopped back up onto the bucket. “You need to find a better way to describe that coat.”
“I’m not awake enough for any of this.” I reach for my favorite mug to pour my coffee. “I’m still trying to process this Caleb information.”
“It’s fine, he apologized.”
“No. I’m not arguing this anymore.” I went back to my room to put on my makeup and get ready for the day.
I got out of my robe once the door was closed and I stood in front of a mirror naked. I’ve had troubles with being naked, and it really had nothing to do with being transgender. I didn’t like being naked alone, so I had read online somewhere that standing by myself in front of a mirror and listing off at least three things I liked about myself would help me with this.
I turned to the side, back again, watching myself in the mirror as I tried to think of three things. “Okay,” I huffed. “Boobs look pretty good.” I lay my hand over them. “My thighs look cute today.” I pat my hands over them. “And three-” I murmured. “What’s three?” I looked up. “Oh! Hair is always good.” I stroked the long purple locks. I had wanted long purple hair ever since I was little.
“Okay then!” I grabbed my clothes. “The day begins.”
Many days like that went by. Eventually Sam went back home and I had the apartment to myself again. It was around this time that I decided to take the coat to Ellis. It was the end of the month anyways, and I had promised her. I just hoped she remembered me.
I drove down to the swamp. I had gotten Ellis’ address from Sam. When I got there, along the dock, there were several houseboats lined up. Ellis was number thirteen. I found it, almost near the end save for another boat that was sunk under the water.
“Howdy!” I called out. “Is Ellis there? I have something to give her!”
There was silence aside from the sloshing of the swamp water on the houseboat. I stilled wiated, looking around as if Caleb was gonna jump out of the water and eat me.
“Howdy!” I shouted again, only this time a door opened. Elis stepped out, wearing nothing but a loose fitting tank top and underwear. My breath was knocked out of me. Her skin was covered in tattoos, dark ones that wrapped around her arms and legs, that crawled up under her clothes hiding where I’m sure there was more. Her hair was messy, tousled curls that looked as if they had made sweet love to a pillow. Her grouchy face squished and squinted, but as she opened her eyes, those black pools caught the sun. They looked like dark honey in the light. I realized I hadn’t breathed in a minute so I caught my breath and swallowed hard.
“Oh my god,” Ellis grumbled. “The puppy.”
I smiled. “So you do remember me!”
Ellis looked around, reaching up under her shirt to scratch her belly. “What are you doing here? How’d you find me?”
“I sniffed you out.”
Ellis walked back to the door.
“Wait! Wait! Wait!” I called out. “Sam told me!”
Ellis turned back around and glared me down. How was she so pretty here compared to at the party a while back? Was it because of the sunlight? Was it because she wasn’t forced somewhere she didn’t want to be?
“And why are you here?” Ellis asked.
“Oh!” I gasped. “I brought that coat I promised you.”
Ellis eyes widened, looking even more like dripping honey. “What for?” She snapped at me.
“I thought it suited you,” I whimpered.
Ellis frowned then she kicked down a set of stairs that fell from the boat and down onto the dock. “I should put on pants. Come on up.”
I’d never been on a houseboat before, so I was a bit excited. I climbed up and stood on deck. “Thank you for inviting me! I should have brought a coffee cake or something too.”
Ellis stepped into a pair of pajama pants right in the doorway. “You shouldn’t have even brought that thing back.”
“I wanted to! You seemed to like it and I though tit suited you so I-” I stopped. Her wording had me confused. “Back?”
Ellis scowled. “It’s my coat. I got rid of it.”
It struck me through the heart. I did find the person this coat belonged to! “You’re joking!” I gasped.
“If I was joking it’d suck. But no. Somehow you got ahold of it.” Ellis frowned.
I hugged the coat close to me. “But I thought selkies needed their coats. Why would you throw it away?”
“It’s none of your business,” Ellis grumbled.
I looked down at the coat in my arms. “So if this is yours then-” My heart rumbled in my chest. It grew from a tiny cloud into a raging thunderstorm. “If I give this to you.”
“Just drop it in the water! Let it rot there for all I care.” Ellis looked away.
“No. I worked really hard on this!”
Ellis continued to pout. “Then give it to someone else.”
“That’s like telling someone to wear someone else’s skin. I can’t do that, that’s weird as hell.” Without thinking I thrust the coat into her arms. “Just hang it in your closet!”
A look came over Ellis’ face. She looked at me, her eyes wide, her mouth open. She then lost balance and I followed after her. We fell to the ground and I landed on top of her.
“Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry!” I sat up and the coat was splayed open over her. “Ellis I didn’t mean to-”
Ellis’s hands touched my face and she pulled me down, kissing me passionately. I struggled at first, trying to get off her. But slowly I melted into that kiss. It had been so long, and it felt so good. I kissed Ellis back and she moaned sweetly.
“You’re going to wish you never gave me that coat,” she whispered into my ear.
“Huh?” My body was melting wax.
Ellis kissed my neck and threw me down upon the ground. She licked her lips and smiled for the first time. “Because I’m going to eat you up.”
