Y'all are really just tempting me with this mermaid AU

I wasn't expecting everyone to like it so much.

Btw if ur wondering why she's not wearing her shells, shells for mermaids in my universe are almost like jewelry. You can wear them if you want, but it's not necessarily something you have to do. Normally, shells are a show of status or wealth.

Fawn's POV

Alastor and I walked hand in hand down the street, once again headed to Edith's shop.

I looked over at him with a small smile before nudging his side slightly to grab his attention.

He looked over at me quizzically, "yes, dear?"

I remember him saying yesterday that he needed to do a bit of shopping on his own. I meant to ask him what he could need to shop for, since he normally takes me along with him for groceries and such.

"You said you needed to shop alone, too," I started, looking up at him, "what for?"

He raised an eyebrow at me, looking amused.

"Christmas is approaching, is it not? Can't have you with me when I buy your present, my love," he chuckled, and my eyebrows shot up in realization.

Oh, fucking duh.

I rolled my eyes at my own cluelessness, and laughed slightly, "yea, that's true. That's actually why I was so excited when Niff asked me," I said sheepishly.

At this, he glanced down at me, "oh darling...you don't need to get me anything, you work hard for that money," he tsk'd and I scoffed.

"Um, excuse me mister but I could say the same to you!" I defended, to which he shrugged and surrendered.

Just then, Edith's shop came into view and Niffty was standing out front with Tom by her side.

She was holding his hand, and he was checking his nails casually.

Hm...Alastor does that same exact thing sometimes. It must just be a boujeé habit.

I giggled softly, leaning towards him to speak quietly, "hey Al, he's checking his nails like you do sometimes," I snickered.

Al hummed.

"It appears so...I believe we do it for quarreling reasons, however," he mumbled back.

This piqued my interest and I looked over at him with furrowed brows, "uh, what does that mean?"

He had a...rather sinister looking smile on his face as he looked forward.

"When I do it, I'm checking for blood."

My expression dropped, and I shivered before cringing.

"Ewwww...remind me to never let you touch me again," I grumbled, even as we were still actively holding hands.

He scoffed and gave my hand a soft squeeze just as we finally reached where Tom and Niffty were waiting.

"Hello, friends! So nice to see you two," Al greeted them as if we don't see them nearly every day.

Niffty waved and then squinted slightly as she gave me a giddy smile.

Oooo...I know exactly what that smile means. That's her 'I have something I need to tell you, and you're totally gonna freak out when I tell you' smile.

I have it memorized, she tells me secrets quite frequently.

"Ah, hello you two," Tom greeted back, smiling between Alastor and I, "ready to part ways? Girls go on their merry way, and us men will depart on ours?" He continued, to which Al nodded.

"I didn't realize I'd be having company on my outing! What a pleasant surprise!" Al commented, and I checked his facial expression to make sure he wasn't upset about it.

It was relieving that he seemed pleased, maybe even slightly excited.

Smiling I exchanged a look with Niffty before turning to Al and getting on my toes to kiss his cheek.

He hummed, leaning into the affection slightly.

"Alright! We'll meet y'all back here in a couple of hours!" I chirped, and it was as if Tom handed Niffty off to me as she went from holding his hand to mine.

We went our separate directions, and I looked back at Al for a second. He gave me a soft smile and a little wave before turning back towards Thomas to start a conversation.

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I am slightly nervous without Al by my side. He's a like a safety blanket.

But, I am excited to get some quality time with Niffty outside of work. This is actually the first time we've "hung out" outside of work.

After we'd walked a good distance, I turned to her with a sly smile on my face.

"Ok, spill."

That's all I needed to say. She immediately burst with excitement and words tumbled out of her mouth at their usual quick pace.

"Thomas asked me to be his! Last night after dinner!" She practically squealed, beaming with joy.

My eyes widened and I gasped, smiling down at her to match her excitement, "really, Niff?! That's great!"

Then I smirked and nudged her, "it's about time," I teased her, to which she snorted softly and nudged me back.

"You're telling me! I've been giving that boy hints for a while now! I need to get him something nice for Christmas...I have tons of savings since we've been courting because he insists on paying for everything," she rambled, her situation sounding similar to mine.

I sighed, "yea, me too. Let's hope that we can actually find something..." I murmured.

And with that, we let the hunt begin.

**

Another exasperated sigh left my lungs as I put back yet another disappointment of a gift idea.

Never in my life would I have realized shopping for a boy would be so hard.

What do they even like?

I've looked at shaving kits, whiskey glasses, knives, guns, belts, shirts, suspenders, wallets...nothing just screams "Alastor" to me.

Walking back over to Niffty, I was feeling a little dejected, "any luck, Niff?" I asked her.

She'd been having just about the same luck as me, but when she spun around with an excited smile on her face, I knew she'd found something.

"Look, Fawn!" She said, then shoved a black top it up into my view. The material was a nice, matte black. Around where the hat meets the brim was a silk ribbon, giving it a little shine.

It looked very nice, and expensive.

She pulled it back towards her, examining it, "it's 30 clams but...I think I'm willing to spend that for him..." she said, her voice growing softer as a blush spread across her face.

To me, it's still a little odd to think of 30 dollars as a lot of money. I remind myself often that this is back when you could grab a full three course meal for 10¢.

Hell, my phone bill that I paid every month was 30 bucks.

"That's great, Niff!" I said with a smile, and then my expression slowly fell and I sighed, realizing I'm now the only one without a present and also I'm running out of time.

Niffty noticed my attitude, and touched my arm gently, "no dice on a gift for Al, huh?"

I sighed, shaking my head.

She hummed, and then pulled out a little pocket watch that looked like it had something engraved on it.

I couldn't quite read it before she tucked it away again.

"Well, we still have enough time for one more store before we have to meet the boys back at Edith's," she said, and then looped her arm with mine, "so c'mon! We'll find a great gift for that stubborn hardheaded man, yet!"

Her excitement was contagious, and I giggled. She paid for the hat, and we left to go seek out another shop.

We'd pretty much been to every one, and I was getting frustrated until we found one shop we hadn't visited on the outskirts of the center.

"Gentleman's Den..." I mumbled, looking up at the sign.

"Oh, there's gotta be something in there that he'd like," Niff commented, and I nodded in agreement.

A little bell jingled as we entered the shop, and a well shaven, put together young man looked up from behind the counter.

He brightened in the presence of customers, "good afternoon, ladies!" He greeted kindly, to which Niffty and I waved and greeted him back.

Then it was time to hunt.

I went through each isle and rack, each nook and cranny and searched for something Al would like, and use.

It was all the same shit...nothing even remotely unique.

Once again, I sighed. Gently, I set a crystalline pocket watch back in its display.

Just as I was about to go tell Niff I give up, something caught my eye. My brow furrowed as something sparkled, catching the light just right.

It was tucked away, far into the display of pocket watches and shrouded partly in shadow.

Curiously, I reached it. It's probably just another pocket watch, but there's no harm in—

My eyes widened as I removed the top of the black leather packaging completely. All I could do was stare, my lips slightly parted in genuine surprise.

Not a pocket watch...

There, surrounded by black velvet to keep it nicely cushioned, was a monocle.

Gently, I picked it up out of the box, observing it closer.

I know Alastor's glasses are only prescripted in one eye, he's told me that before...I thought it was odd, but he explained that those glasses were something his mother bought for him.

He also expressed to me how much he wished he could find a monocle to replace them, so he can keep them somewhere safe.

Holy shit, the stars just lined up and smiled at me.

A huge smile spread across my lips as I examined the delicate piece of glass.

It was oval in shape, and rimmed with thin, polished gold. The rim was then attached to a very dainty, thin gold chain.

The glass itself was tinted red...his favorite color.

Quickly, I checked the prescription. When it was his exact prescription, I got even more excited.

Oh my god, how much does this cost...

Flipping over the package, I nearly choked.

Sixty dollars?!

Jesus Christ! That's all I have...but, oh my god, I cannot pass this up, this is too good.

It's literally perfect!

Chewing on my lip, I placed it back in the box and tapped my fingers against the sides in brief contemplation.

Then I covered it, and plucked it up, heading right over to the cash register.

Niffty perked up when she saw me heading that way, following me, "oooo, you found something! What'dja find, c'mon show me!" She begged, trying to see the package.

Opening it again, I showed her, and she gasped.

"Oh my gosh! That's so pretty! Is that real gold?!" She whisper shouted, and I giggled.

"I think so," I whispered back, and just then we reached the register.

The young man smiled at us, taking the package and examining it closely.

"Ah! What a nice choice, madam. This is the last of its kind actually, the 5th of the only 5 ever made," he hummed casually.

Ah, that's why it's so expensive.

I shrugged, "he's a pretty special guy," I said, blushing softly. He glanced up at me, giving me a long look before narrowing his eyes slightly and smiling wider.

"Hey, I know you...you're the little dame on the radio host's arm! He's a lucky man, indeed. I'm sure he'll love this little gift," he commented, and I blushed deeper at the thought.

Oh me doing something for him, surprising him...making him happy.

I can't wait!

"Let's hope so," I replied, and the man finished packing the box away.

After paying him, he waved at us as we left, and I left the shop a lot brighter than I was when I'd entered.

Giddily, I looked at the bag in my hand and did a little happy dance.

"Yes, I did it!" I silently celebrated, to which Niffty nudged me.

"Yea, you did! Now let's head back. I'm sure the boys are waiting for us by now," she said, and I nodded.

It was only a few minutes walk, and lo-and-behold there they were, chatting away.

Alastor was the one to spot us, and his face brightened immediately upon seeing me. He waved at me, his movements still composed, but it was obvious that he was excited to see me.

I returned his wave, smiling brightly.

We reached them, and Niffty went back to Tom's side, whereas I went to Al.

"Hello, my love!" He greeted me, and then bent down to place a kiss on my cheek, "was your shopping experience fruitful in its results?" He asked, tilting his head.

I nodded my head vigorously, very excited. It's going to be hard keeping this from him.

"Mmhm! What about you?" I asked, to which he nodded, a bright twinkle in his eye that I've never quite seen before.

"Yes indeedy, my dear! Now, Thomas and I were just discussing perhaps finding a restaurant to eat at before we part ways. Does that sound okay to you, ladies?" He asked, glancing between Niffty and I.

I shrugged, and nodded, "sure! I could eat," I said, and Niffty excitedly agreed.

"Splendid!" Thomas said, and then looped arms with Niffty as I laced hands with Al.

Then the four of us set off to eat before calling it a day.

A very successful day, if you ask me.