forum Are we falling like snow at the beach? Weird, but so damn beautiful.

Started August 05, 2023 by @emilyevewrites group

tune

@Carrots Rosaline/Kaito

weeee whats le plot

Depends how much you want me to spoil lol

aksjaks not a lot, just where we start lol

Okay. Rosaline just moved from London to the Isle of Man. She’s now living in a house named Bayview, and she’s still unpacking and getting used to the new area. Gucci?

gucci gucci babes

Cool! Do you want to start or should I? This is one I don’t mind starting honey asjdjfhfjfk

that would be amazing if you could shnookums lmaooo

Okay sweet tart, it’ll be up in a minute ;)

take your time cutie patootie pumpkin pie

(Here you go lovey muffin 😘)
(Also, did I mention a potential love triangle? No? Well, there’s a potential love triangle. Is that okay with you, sweet cheeks?)

The Isle was peaceful. Much more so than the bustling streets of London that she was used to. Rosaline sipped her tea absently while sitting on the front steps of the house she'd just inherited. Despite not knowing about it until just a few days ago, it already seemed homey to her. But perhaps part of that reason was that she had already fought with her sister inside of it. Multiple times…

Becca was family, yes, but that only meant that the times when the siblings fought, it was more brutal than a fight with a friend. However, they made up right before Becca left for home with her husband and daughters. But Rosaline took another sip of her tea, breathed in the fresh autumn air, and tucked the fight in the back of her memory. She’d much rather think positive thoughts about her sister.

And with Becca back in Manchester again, the elder sister now had the house all to herself. Which was both a relief and a nuisance. Boxes, too many to count, were spread around the house with Rosaline's own things that had been moved in from London. And just this morning, she'd had to send a difficult message to someone back in the city. Again, Rosaline shook her head to clear him from her mind.

Once her tea was gone, she headed back inside and to the kitchen to set her mug in the sink. The quiet of the house and surrounding area was so unusual that Rosaline physically paused for a moment to hear it. There was nothing but a quiet ring of silence in her ears until a soft meow broke it.

Her eyes slid down to the half-full cat bowl on the floor and the grey tabby sprawled across the ground beside it. The cat, also formerly her mother’s animal, still had no name. Becca has wanted to name her, but she’d never actually settled on anything. So Rosaline merely sighed at the creature, and after a moment passed, she headed back to the front door.

To keep herself warm against the cool fall air beginning to sweep through the Isle, Rosaline slipped into her coat and wound a scarf around her neck – one that had used to be her mother's. The memory of Mary again put Rosaline on edge. There was so much about her mother Rosaline hadn't found out until she'd been sent word of Mary's death. So much she hadn't known. And maybe if she had…

No, she didn't have time for maybes. As she'd discovered this morning at breakfast, the cabinets for the house were very much void of food since the sisters had moved in for a few days and Richard, Jim, Lauren, and Molly had been at Bayview for two days as well. So, Rosaline retreated from the house to the small town that was a short walk away.

She hoped the walk would cheer her a bit as she headed down the quaint cobblestone street. It would cheer her up even more to see Jacob, the taxi cab driver she’d met upon her initial arrival to the Isle of Man. They’d steadily and steadily grown closer, and now Rosaline was nearly sure they would be able to start a real relationship. The thought manifested in a pink bloom across her cheeks as she walked.

(that is more than okay sugar plum <3 - also, here is my Kaito pinterest board https://pin.it/5eyfQvG so you can gauge his vibes)

Kaito had chased the sea, the water, since he was born. His first steps had been taken on the soft, warm sands of the beach, he'd been told his first word had been water, and seagulls always managed to flock to him regardless of whether he had a box of hot chips to eat. The Isle was beautiful, situated perfectly in the middle between England and Ireland and had the best beaches that the places had to offer.

Not rocky, grey sand beaches, but good beaches. They weren't like the ones he'd visited in America or Australia, but Kaito didn't care. He loved them regardless, and they were perfect for surfing. The waves were always high no matter the season, and even though the waters were colder half the year, Kaito never felt it. Probably considering who he was and the power he possessed.

When he had gained the abilities he now held as a teenager it had explained so much about his love of everything ocean related. A Sea God. Reincarnation of them. For years he had spent travelling the world trying to help heal the waters, the seas of Earth. It was his job, after all. With the water on his side and the ability to control it, the task had been straightforward enough. Tedious, but straightforward.

Now he had retreated back to his home, the Isle, and was spending his days keeping an eye on the waters. Something about the ones surrounding his home was… different. It felt as if they needed him here the most. And it was why he stayed. The rocky coasts, the hidden rock pools and caves that had pockets of secluded sanctuaries, the coral reefs that were just a short swim away, it was heaven, regardless of whether the waters needed him or not.

And the blonde wasn't complaining.

The small cafe on the edge of the water was his favourite spot. Even when he wasn't working there, he loved to hang out. The owner was like his father, and since he didn't have anyone left in his family, he was more than grateful for Mark. The old man was getting ready to retire and pass the cafe on, but he loved the place too much to go just yet. Mark always joked that he never seemed to leave.

For once, Kaito was in a long sleeve sweater - shorts, still, because he wasn't about to stray too far from who he was - but the surfer was sipping on his mocha and typing away inside the small, plant-filled shop. Trying to organise a trip to Australia for a clean-up initiative. It was taking more brain cells than he had thought it would.

(I love him! The golden retriever energy is real. Here's my board for Rosaline, snickerdoodle)

As she approached the main square, Rosaline began to hum to herself. Too bad she hadn’t brought her earpiece and laptop. She could have gotten a bit of work done during the outing. Damn herself. She thought too much about work. Being on the Isle, away from London and Nick, was relaxing. Now why couldn't she relax like Becca could?

But she prayed she wouldn’t run into Cathy anywhere. She wouldn't be able to relax for a few minutes after an encounter with that woman. The wounds of betrayal were still raw, at least for Rosaline. She had just been starting to get close to the woman too. And if she saw Pete… God only knew what would happen with a conversation between them. He seemed calm enough in his demeanor, but Rosaline? She wouldn't trust herself or her anger around him. Those wounds were still open too.

She was about to enter the grocery store when she noticed a cafe across the street. Rosaline hadn't seen it before, but that was nothing out of the ordinary. She'd only been here a little more than a week. She couldn't be expected to memorize every little detail about Laxey during her short occupancy here.

So, despite herself, Rosaline crossed the street and entered the cafe. It was quaint inside, and she looked rather overdressed at first. She was used to London, where people dressed up to buy groceries or walk their dogs. There was only one other person in the shop – a man with floppy golden hair who was drinking his coffee while busy at work on his computer. Again, Rosaline pursed her lips in irritation that she hadn't brought her device along. But no, this was simply a quick side trip to get coffee before she went grocery shopping.

When the little bell rang to alter that someone else had entered the cafe, Kaito couldn’t help but look up, eyes and ears bring drawn towards the sound of the new person. The Isle wasn’t big, most people knew everyone around these parts. People were on a first name basis with most of the store owners they frequented, and it was one of those places where if you had met someone once you were bound to see them five hundred times again.

So when he looked up and didn’t recognise the woman that had walked in, Kaito tilted his head to one side, sat back in his chair with an ease of causality, relaxed and laid back, and stopped typing, “Hey there, stranger.”

The greeting was followed with one of Kaito’s signature grins. Friendly, easy to talk to you, gold retriever. That much was obvious simply by looking at the man who - half the time - looked like he had just walked straight off the beach. Most of the time he had, “Haven’t seen you around here before.”

She must be new in town. Kaito knew all the regulars that visited the little plant ridden cafe. Even those that popped in on occasion. Everyone new him, he new them, and it was great. Especially when he was able to snag free food from the other cafes and restaurants around the Isle when he was desperate for a snack. But this woman… he couldn’t place her face at all.

Rosaline made it a point to keep her gaze away from the only other man in the cafe. She had one goal: coffee. Other than that, this was a “get in and get out” mission.

Unfortunately, the man didn’t seem to realize that. Rosaline fought to keep the cringe off of her face as he spoke to her. She forced herself to turn to him and acknowledge his greeting with her own short, “Hello.”

His grin was probably supposed to make her feel comfortable, but Rosaline didn’t allow herself that luxury. Her faint smile in return should have been the end of it, but he seemed to want to keep talking to her. Of course.

“That’s because I haven’t been here before,” she answered. Rosaline had only moved into Bayview, her late mother Mary’s house, a day or two ago. Officially moved in. Her belongings were still incoming from London, but the house was hers. She lived there now. And she would likely be seeing this man a lot more often because of that. Great.

Why couldn’t Becca be here too? She had always been the chatty, talkative, people person sister. Not Rosaline. Stoic, distant, blunt Rosaline. It was no wonder their parents preferred Becca to her. She wasn’t exactly a welcoming type.

The Midnight Mocha was one of the oldest running cafes on the Isle. Passed down to Mark from his father, and his father before him and considering Mark didn't have any kids, he had spoken to Kaito about taking over the business when he retired. He spent most of his time here, if not at the beach or anywhere near the ocean. It was practically his second home.

Maybe that was why he knew everyone who ate and drank here, because he never seemed to leave even on his days off. Just today. But now there was someone else here that he didn't know and Kaito was one thing above all else, stubborn.

If she told him to fuck off he would, but until then, he was going to make it his mission to try and get to know the mystery woman that had just rocked up on his island. If there was one person that knew everything that happened, it was Kaito. Well, that and the old people that lived here, they seemed to have more gossip than was necessary. Made for an interesting coffee visit whenever he ran into any of the lovely women.

"Visiting? Or living? I take it you haven't been before considering how you're dressed. No need to be so formal around here." No point in dressing up when no one cared too much about what people wore.

Rosaline had no idea the history of the place or who this man was. Only that he kept bothering her when she wanted to be left alone. But she couldn’t tell him what sheep really wanted to. Being alone her and already having two… enemies wasn’t working well in her favor. She needed to make more friends. Well, she had Jacob. The thought of him almost made her randomly smile. Almost.

Instead, she sighed and resigned herself to listening to the new man here. Rosaline frowned slightly. She cared for how she dressed and presented herself. Before the move, she was a high-flying executive in London. Now… she needed to find a job.

“Was visiting,” Rosaline answered. “Now living.” She prayed he wouldn’t ask her anything else, but she knew she wouldn’t get that lucky. As long as Rosaline could steer the conversation away from Mary, she’d be fine. “And I’ve been here for just under a week, thank you. I dress how I dress.”

"Ah, that's why I haven't seen you around here before." Because she was very knew to the area. Kaito wondered why she had come to stay. It wasn't exactly the place that big city people came to live after their time on the mainlands. It was a quite place. A place you could drive around in a day and be home for dinner in plenty of time. A retirement place for some, a good place to raise kids for others if this was all they had ever known.

But big shots from the city? They tended not to come unless they had an agenda. Usually, they was trying to buy a business and turn it into an upmarket shop where they could hopefully gain traction and steal the spotlight from small businesses. Not that that had happened yet, although there had certainly been people who had tried, to say the least. They had never gotten very far.

"Well, welcome to the Isle, it's a pleasure to have you," Kaito raised his mug in a small cheers before he drained the last of the contents, "You have a name? Or will I have to refer to you as 'the new one' for the duration of your time here on the island?"

Rosaline arched her eyebrows. “Yes, clearly.” She subconsciously wrapped her coat tighter around herself. He hadn’t made her insecure about what she was wearing, but… she’d just wanted to look nice. Honestly, her white shoes, leggings, and sweater were something she would have worn around the house in London. Her hair was curled, making it roll down to her shoulders in soft light golden waves. But here, it was considered dressing up? Odd.

She watched him study her and endured the scrutiny. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time she was watched so closely. Rosaline felt like her life in London had been under a magnifying glass. Moving to the Isle, despite the circumstances she come here under, was the best thing for her.

This time, the brief smile on her face was more real. Her eyes showed it. But she scoffed lightly under her breath at his question and remark. “Rosaline W-” She cut herself off. If this man somehow knew about everything Mary did and who she was here, Rosaline didn’t want his sympathy or the questions he’d ask. “Just Rosaline is fine.”

"An honour to make your acquaintance, Rosaline," It was nice to see that the brief smile that crossed her face was more genuine and real than the other he had received upon first meeting her moments before. Kaito knew he could come across as… a bit much, at times, especially when it came to new people. He would do his best to tone it down when he needed to, but he really didn't want to. It was who he was, after all.

"I'm Kaito. I won't keep you, I'm sure you're a busy woman, but if you're ever looking for a chat," A small shrug, "Someone will tell you how to find me." It wasn't like he was hard to find. If he wasn't here at the cafe he was down at the beach. And if not there at the secluded caves on the other side of the island near the coves and the reefs.

His favourite place to visit. Slightly too difficult for the average person to go there on their own, at least not without a guide. For him, it was more than easy. With his abilities, he could go and do anything in the ocean if he wanted. Use it to his advantage. The cove was really the only place he did so. What kind of a person would he be if he took advantage of the thing he loved the most in the world? Not a good God, either. Regardless, people were aware it was his spot. Usually someone was sent to the lookout over the coves and waved to get his attention. It worked most of the time.

“You’re as well,” she replied politely enough. Where was Becca when Rosaline needed her? She was the true extrovert of the family. Rosaline varied depending on the day. Currently, she was in introvert mode. She didn’t think he was too much, since Jacob had been almost the same way during their first interaction. It was just startling since she hadn’t expected a full blown conversation in the middle of a coffee shop.

“Kaito,” she repeated quietly. Immediately, Rosaline shook her head and waved it off. “I’m often too busy for my own good. A bit of a break is nice.” She paused a moment before speaking again. “Do you know everyone here quite well? Even those who used to live here?”

Bad news. Wrong answers. Trouble. Information she didn’t want. That was what this could lead down, but Rosaline was already moving toward Kaito’s table without thought. She needed to know things, and not from Pete or Cathy. She motioned to the empty seat. “Mind if I join you? I’ll only be just a minute.”

Kaito motioned to the seat in front of him, "Be my guest," He wasn't going to complain about having company, and he was keen to get to know Rosaline more. She seemed like a bit of a mystery, and he was determined to unpack as much as he was able in the little time that he had with her, for the time being. Maybe they would meet again, if they got along well. They were bound to run into one another sooner or later.

He shut his laptop, "Been here my whole life," He said with a soft smile, "Well, I travel quite a lot. I've just returned, actually, from a… trip. Been away for quite some time so, I'm not all that caught up with the current events of the Isle. But usually I am." He shrugged softly, "Perks of being a bit of a gossip and a known face."

Being away all the time meant he was unable to get all the local gossip. So he didn't know about what was happening with Rosaline and her family. Not that she knew, but she was sure to make a guess considering she wasn't ringing any bells in his brain. Or her family, for the time being. He was sure to figure it out sooner or later.

Rosaline hesitated a second before sinking into the seat opposite Kaito. She settled herself, brushed her hair out of her face, and looked at him with deep brown eyes.

“Your whole life?” she asked. Then he’d definitely know about Cathy and Pete… maybe even Mary. He might actually be of help to her then. But as he continued, she frowned slightly. He wasn’t as up-to-date, and everything with Mary had gone down recently.

She inhaled slowly and situated herself in her chair again. Her eyes darted down to his closed computer, then she looked back up at him.

“What do you know about Mary Ward?” she asked, almost in a whisper.

Kaito hummed softly. Mary Ward… the name definitely rang a bell. He tried to think about everything that he knew about the woman, what he knew from months ago. God, he cursed his shit memory. Well, it was to be expected considering he had been away for a while and had been focused on more important things than the people of the Isle.

As much as he was a gossip and loved this place, the oceans would always come first to him. The waters of the world were his love, and nothing was going to change that anytime soon.

That was when it hit him, "Oh, gosh um- I'm pretty sure she passed recently," Kaito frowned, and the look definitely looked strange on his usually happy and golden features, "Overdose, I believe. I only found out the other day, and I don't know if that's correct, but I'm pretty sure it is."

Rosaline watched his features intently as he thought about her mother’s name. Mary Ward. Wife. Mother. Traitor. In that order, Rosaline knew. Though the letter she’d received from Mary had made her cry beyond belief. It had hurt her heart to read it, so she’d thrown it immediately in Bayview’s fireplace, then regretted it.

She stiffened slightly at his news. “Yes, I know,” she replied evenly. “She did. Do you know anything about Cathy?” Obviously he would. Cathy had lived on the Isle longer than Mary had. But it was what he was going to tell her. Whatever he was willing to tell her.

Suddenly, her grocery store trip didn’t seem so important. Becca would likely tell her that she couldn’t leave well enough alone, but Rosaline couldn’t help it. Living here now, permanently, where her mother had made a second life for herself… it made her question things. And wonder if she could do something similar.