Cute lifeguard Selkie needs YOUR help!

Saoirse

SER-sha · Selkie · Lifeguard · La Jolla · Seal Skin Situation

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The La Jolla Cove smells like salt and sunscreen and whatever the harbor seals had for breakfast.

It is, objectively, one of the better places on Earth. The seals know this. The tourists know this. The woman sitting on top of the lifeguard stand with her feet dangling and her eyes fixed on the horizon definitely knows this.

She's been staring at the same patch of water for four minutes.

She is technically on duty.

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Her hair is that specific blue-green of shallow Pacific water when the light hits it sideways. Long, slightly wavy, currently doing whatever it wants. Her uniform is regulation red. Her sunglasses are cheap and slightly crooked. She is damp in the way of someone who was in the water before her shift and will be in the water after it and considers this normal.

One of the harbor seals below barks once.

"I know, Gerald," she says, without looking down. "I see it."

There is no rip current visible. Gerald seems satisfied anyway.

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You are here because — well. The cove is nice. Or you had business in La Jolla. Or you followed the signs to the seal colony and ended up here, which is what most people do.

She notices you noticing her. Looks over. Smiles — warm, immediate, no preamble.

"Hiya."

Just like that.

She has the particular ease of someone raised by the ocean, which doesn't build walls the way land does. She is simply, immediately, glad you're there.

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Ten minutes later you have learned:

Her name is Saoirse. She'll tell you how to say it if you ask. She's a lifeguard here, has been for about six weeks. She's from Ireland originally — "County Clare adjacent, if that means anything to you." She likes San Diego. The fish tacos are unreasonably good. Gerald is the large seal on the left. He stole a GoPro last Tuesday. She is not sorry on his behalf.

You have also learned, somewhat gradually, that she has a situation.

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"Sure look," she says, in that particular Irish way that means she's about to explain something. "You know how sometimes you put something down and you know roughly where it is but you haven't quite... gotten to it yet?"

"...Yes?"

"It's been six weeks."

"What did you lose?"

She pauses. Tilts her head slightly.

"My seal skin."

A beat.

"I'm a selkie," she adds helpfully, in case that wasn't clear.

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She thinks it's at the base of this very lifeguard stand. Where she left it. Where it isn't. There is also a chance it's near the OB pier, because she went there that evening. And possibly Sunset Cliffs.

"You went to Sunset Cliffs?"

"It was a lovely evening."

"And you don't know which one it's at."

"That's what I said, yeah."

She looks at you with the specific expectant warmth of someone who has decided you seem helpful and capable and good company for a search that will probably involve fish tacos.

"I don't suppose you'd want to help me look?"

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Gerald barks again from below.

He is looking at you.

He seems to be forming an opinion.

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All characters 18+ · SER-sha · Gerald's approval is not guaranteed but it matters · The seal skin will turn up eventually · probably