I come from the depths of school work hell. anyway, have a completely new story by yours truly.

"What'd you come bactere for?" Ivan shrugged noncommittally as the magical sea creature before him began to look annoyed. He wore fine jewelry probably foraged from sunken ships, had a shimmering tail, iridescent cerulean eyes, and thicker human-like skin and body from the waist up. Strange fin-like appendages also jutted out from his arms.

"You're lying." He narrowed his eyes at the fisherman and splashed a strong wave of salt water directly at his face which sent the man reeling back into his small dingy boat.

The boat tilted dangerously to one side as the merman gripped the side and launched himself up and over the edge of the boat with a burst from his strong tail. For a fish out of water, he moved pretty fast and was on the still stunned man in a fraction of a second.

"Tell me the truth if you still value your pitifully short life. Why. Are You. Here." The question came out as a command and Ivan shuddered. The blue creature bared his fangs to show that he meant business and wouldn't be toyed with. Alfred really wasn't in the mood for games today. The frightened young man looked at his fangs warily before finally deciding it in his best interest to just give a straight answer.

"I know you can grant wishes." He blurted out strongly, almost accusatory in tone.
"Oh?" Alfred pulled back from his captive so he had room to lean up on his elbows. He flipped himself over so he had his back resting against his old friend's rags-for-clothes with his long streamlined tail splayed out between Ivan's legs. He had turned from pressing and murderous to relaxed and mischievous.

"You want wishes, boy? But you see, I don't grant wishes." Ivan could hear the quotation marks around the word wishes. "Like a Scottish man once told me, if only wishes were fishes, Ivan, my dearest. But no, I only strike bargains, deals, contracts, call them whatever you want but, trust me, they are nowhere near wishes."

He reached back to brush his hand across Ivan's face; feeling the smoothness of his youth and the slight stubble as a new fisherman's mark. He'd waited so long to do this. Everything was so dry. So weird. It intrigued him and he continued to run his hand over the skin in amusement.
Ivan made a face at that. "Bargains? I have nothing to offer you. I have nothing but half a barrel of fish and this dingy vessel to my name."

"Of course… there are creatures that do give wishes. But often give them out knowing that it will inevitably lead to evil and self-destruction. Sneaky little things. Wishing fish, deep sea lamps that wash ashore. But you don't want any of that I'm sure." Suddenly he stilled, seemingly listening for something before returning to what he was doing prior. His hands traveled higher into Ivan's pearly hair that was damp with sweat and seawater.
"Wow, your hair gets wet so easily. That must be a pain in the neck. Anyway, I'm a business man in a way. Not a wish-giver. It's amazing how many people are misled by language."
"But you can do magic right?" Ivan inquired as the merman pinched his cheek rather painfully, gasping at the immediate red flush.
"The skin is so sensitive. Where do you get your information from? Of course I can do magic! I'm a magical creature!" He let out a long string of strange raucous laughter. He knew Ivan was getting annoyed which only made everything all the more amusing to him.

"Wait. What's that smell?" Alfred lifted his nose to the air and began sniffing at the air. "No." He sniffed closer and closer to Ivan. "Mm mm… It's you! Well, actually you smell pretty awful. It's something on you isn't it? What are you hiding from me human?"
Ivan shifted uncomfortably as Alfred hovered over him with a shining curiosity in his blue Pacific eyes.

"Nothing that interests you."
"Give it to me, or I will take it from you." Alfred grabbed handfuls of Ivan's rags and pulled them close so their heads were touching. His eyes almost painfully close to the human beneath him who was struggling not to go cross-eyed at the painful proximity. Alfred's eyes narrowed and he hissed lowly in his throat.

"Be that way." He spat. He pushed the man back into the hollow in the boat before shredding Ivan's clothing with a few critically aimed swipes; hooked claws extended. Ivan screamed and recoiled to protect himself; genuinely afraid for his life. His old uncle had warned him about merfolk and their mercurial tempers. He had to keep calm or Alfred wouldn't take a second thought in killing him for fun. Shallow scratch marks appeared as an afterthought, blood slightly building up under them and seeping out.
"Hmmm… not there…" Alfred grinned wickedly before flipping himself back into the water with a loud splash, his tail disappearing and blending like food coloring into the waves.
The world went quiet, save for the occasional slap of the gentle waters that licked at Ivan's wooden boat.

He went to reach for his oar and was surprised to find nothing there. An old, cold tendril of fear curled its way into his heart. In a panic, he paced in the small space that his wooden boat permitted him. That fish had taken the oar! He looked out towards the docks that seemed so small. He was old enough to know that the current would sweep him out to open ocean if he didn't have anything to propel himself back. This was his worst fear happening all over again. He was a weak swimmer so he wouldn't be able to swim without drowning in his efforts. As a child he had been taken by the waves once. To this day he didn't know how he'd survived at sea for so long. He couldn't relive that. Nightmares plague him for years and into his adulthood. He couldn't take it. Breathes became wispy, quick and rapid. He needed to get on land. NOW.

"Alfred!" He screamed, voice breaking. "Alfred this isn't funny! I need my oar! ALFRED! ALFRED! …ALFRED! ALFRED! " He stopped screaming to catch his breath which kept evading him.
How pathetic, Alfred mused from his spectating beneath the waves. The human chokes on his own tears. Just a decade ago, he remembered the ashen-haired child do the same. In fact, he didn't seem much of an improvement from the little boy he'd saved from the ocean's clutches on a whim. A shame he still hadn't learned how to swim properly; hanging on too tightly to old demons. He looked at the long oar that he clutched in his hands. It was old, probably a family heirloom of sorts. Strange carvings in a language that was unfamiliar to him carved all along the handle and even beginning to collect on the paddle. He let it go and watched as the thicker paddle end began to float back upwards toward the sparkling surface of the water. He grabbed the end before it could resurface. Ivan didn't deserve this quite yet.
Ivan had quieted; the saltier tears diminishing until they stopped coming altogether. He could feel himself slipping farther and farther from land. His tiny vessel being goaded further and further away by the current's will. He had to swim. Alfred was probably already bored with him. Probably left him here to die. This would be the second time except this time there wasn't a passing sailor to come and get him. Somehow he felt a strange sense of mortality and hurt. Not like the hurt that came from the prim scratches on his chest. He sighed. Ivan knew full well that wishes were a tricky business.

The sun was beginning to hang shallowly over the ocean. A beautifully orange display, had it not been for his horrible one-way situation. He knew what he had to do. If Alfred was still around he would probably come for his personal treasure.

He slipped his hand deep into his pocket to pull out a large sapphire ring he'd been wanting to use for his wish; wiping any tear tracks on dirtied sleeves on a second-thought. It was a strange gem secured by yellow gold straps. When he held it up to the light the sun's rays would refract in such a way so that it seemed there were giant rolling waves inside, even when he held it still. Even in the dimmest of starlight it shone faintly, all shades of blue swirling together like the sea and its foam. An enchanted object. He'd had it ever since he was young when he found it on the sandy shores seemingly asking for him to take it. Priceless to anyone who knew its worth. Alfred probably smelled the magic on him. Carefully, he slid it onto his middle finger and leaned in to take a smell; nose wrinkling when he only smelled his own salt-skin. He himself didn't hold the ability of course but his uncle's tales were anything but tales. They were fact. He stood up before abruptly tripping forward as his boat violently jerked sideways.

"Ah!" He cried out as the boat capsized out of nowhere and his body was slammed into the water. Saltwater stung his eyes and shot up into his nose burning his airways. He didn't know which way to swim and swallowed another searing, salty mouthful of stale seawater in his haste. He felt so weak and powerless, the darkness of the surrounding water blinding him. He worked his arms and limbs tirelessly. Kicking against the ocean and all its might. He must've kicked for hours, days on the minute. Muscles gradually drowning in acid and slowing. Lungs gradually caving in. Eyes gradually closing against the sting of salt.

He gasped one last time, lips forming one silent word, both dread and sea water took up his lungs to the brim. The last thing he saw being the slightly glowing ring that pointed from his outstretched arm to the surface of the ocean that reflected orange light into his darkening eyes. So far away…

Alfred pumped his tail rapidly, a jet stream following behind him as he circled Ivan. Hopeless. His human really was hopeless. At least he wasn't dead yet. He sighed in defeat. He made sure to push enough magic into Ivan to preserve his half-drowned, unconscious state.
"You owe me, buddy." He remarked as he swished around the man again. It's a true shame he can't look so peaceful all the time. He stared for a while longer at his restful face, eyes surveying his form from head to toe; lingering on the sapphire ring that he tried to snuff out earlier.
"Ah, I see. Trying to bargain with my gifts now? Didn't you like it? I left it there on purpose. You were such a cute child back then. Well, I guess I should probably take you to the surface now, huh? If yes, nod. If no, don't say a thing." Alfred waited eagerly and Ivan's body did nothing but bob a little in the ocean current.

"That's what I like to hear! Or, rather, not hear." Alfred giggled to himself. "Sadly my magic can only subdue you for so long. Sentient creatures are less adept at being strung along. Even if it is in their best interests. And…" He swam close enough to grab under his arms and secure his half-dead cargo. "Maybe I was too cruel. I forgot how mentally and physically fragile humans are." Alfred mused to himself as he began swimming off to a Marooner's island that he particularly favored. He hugged Ivan close-almost nuzzling his catch.

This was nice, he decided. He'd been rather lonely without any other merfolk to communicate with in the harbor. Really, he never thought he'd sink to a siren's level. Spiriting away men and women alike. Though he supposed saving someone's life acquitted him.
He reminisced back to when the harbor was full of merfolk of all kinds; traveling from all regions to experience the nice tropical waters. They left when the port was built long ago, complaining about how noisy the ships were and how the fish and other animals weren't as plentiful. He would have left too if he weren't stupid enough to give a human one of his treasures; especially one enchanted with his own magic signature.
How that little purple-eyed boy had wriggled his way into his cold heart was beyond him.
As the bottom of the island came into sight he sliced through the water. His muscles were getting tired due to the drag from carrying such a heavy load and he was unused to such a massive displacement of weight.
He gasped as he broke the surface of the water; excess water expelling out of the gills positioned just under his chest and offset to the sides. They closed up afterwards-nearly becoming invisible against his skin. Switching between gills and lungs were a pain. He grimaced as he remembered choking on water or air when he did something wrong.
Ivan's body thumped dully on the semi-wet sand. Alfred followed after, laying down beside him.
Ivan still wasn't breathing. His body oddly still. Oh, right, he had to take off the preservation seal.
"3…2…1…"
Ivan's eyes snapped open before closing as they stung bitterly. He felt like vomiting and he couldn't breathe. He gasped several times without any air getting into his waterlogged lungs. His diaphragm kept convulsing to try and force up the water.
He gurgled as salt water travelled back up his airways and he leaned to the side to let it run out of his mouth. At least a gallon of foaming water must have been rid of into the sand before he felt he could breathe again, though it pained his lungs and throat.
He caught his breath before dry heaving and hurriedly repositioning himself so his arms were holding him up and his head was hung close to the ground. He had his mouth open wide as occasionally rivulets of spit and saltwater ran down. He heaved again; this time getting another stream to come up and out of his gaping mouth.
His elbows were buried in the beach, and he rested his heavy head on the sandy shore still breathing through his open mouth. He closed his eyes until he saw stars as a wave of nausea ran over him and banged loudly in his eardrums.
He didn't even move as a foreign hand came up to rub his back; soothingly accompanied by a sweet voice that he couldn't hear beyond faint muffled humming. All the water in his ears was beginning to hurt.
Alfred cooed softly as he tried to comfort Ivan; though he had to say, it was never his forte.
"There, there, you're fine. You should probably drink some water though- you seem kind of dehydrated." He sighed as Ivan didn't move. Instead, he began groaning lowly and tried to bury his head deeper into the sand. What miserable sounds came from such an overgrown beast.
It's a good thing water was his element. With a few professional flicks of his hand a small stream of water floated out of the ocean, manifesting in a strange blob that he willed towards him. Freshwater. Free of salt and impurities. A neat trick he learned by himself.
He let it hover between himself and Ivan; who he wasn't sure was still lively at all.
Plunging his hand into the makeshift reservoir he cupped a neat sphere of water just large enough to fit comfortably in his palm. Oh, how he loved the aesthetics.
"Get up, human. It's too much trouble to come close to you when I've got this cumbersome tail." Alfred only got a significantly louder groan in response.
Ivan sluggishly unfurled himself from his current position and slump back, accidentally knocking into Alfred and half-falling on his tail.
"Ow! My tail!" Alfred winced. His tail was more sensitive when dry. He quickly pulled some saltwater out of the ocean and covered his lower half; soothing it without regards to Ivan.

"Ah, enthusiastic are we?" Alfred laughed as his little human just made a disgruntled noise as water got sloshed on him. He still didn't move however.
After the whole tail fiasco was done with, he finally put the freshwater in his left hand to good use; bringing it near Ivan's lips until they just touched to break the surface tension. Slowly but surely, the water began to disappear down the exhausted man's throat. Ivan sighed as he took in the last sip. His mouth was parted, letting out soft pants from not pausing for enough breath in between intake of drink.

"Is there a reason," Ivan paused to wet his lips; displeased to know that they still tasted of salt and acrid vomit. "…why you saved me?"
Alfred shrugged in response looking at the waves that lapped at the beaches edge, receding each time. "What can I say, I love playing hero. I want to hear your bargain too, if you can still speak after being forced to swallow the sea." Alfred replied, quite smug with himself.
Ivan promptly remembered the ring and lifted his left hand, pleased to see that it still rested on his middle finger. It glimmered lightly like the stars.
"My uncle is very sick. I want to trade this ring for his health."
Alfred smiled, to his own chagrin. A selfless act! He could have laughed. How very typical of Ivan's character. "A noble deed indeed. I must decline."
"What!" Ivan scrambled to sit up on all fours. His face a mixture of disbelief and… Was that sorrow?
"Please, he's dying! You said it was a noble act yourself; how could you refuse? This ring is magic itself! Surely that is enough? Please, Alfred, I need to save him. He is the only family I have left and if he goes I will have nothing." There was evidence of tears in his eyes but he was too dehydrated for any to fall, so he sobbed dryly to the cold merman. Grieving to the merman, beseeching the merman who looked even a few years below his own age.
The half-man, half-fish grinned wickedly, realizing his mistake. "Humans really are as selfish as I thought. You only want to save your uncle to save yourself. You did not come when your mother passed on.

You did not come when your big sister was killed with cold steel. You did come when your little Sonya was down with pneumonia, but only because you cherished her the most. And now, you come when the last person who ever cared for you is on his last limb because you are afraid, Ivan. You are afraid of what will happen when no one can offer you that old love that you hold so dear. You are pathetic. A fool." Alfred's words became bitterer as he became green with jealousy. And what of him? What of Alfred? His savior? The creature who not only saved his sorry self not once, but multiple times. Who gave him the Ring of Ocean's bride? How dare he try to return something that he gifted him and ask for more in return.

Alfred felt an unfamiliar feeling bubble up in him and catch in his throat. He let out a wail like a creature dying and began pounding the ground around him with his fist and tail. The saddest and most painful sound of a heart being struck down, cold and unfeeling as it was.
Ivan fell back in horror as he saw the beautiful creature in front of him grow fragmented in distress.

A/n: Wasn't that good? Sorry for the cliffhanger. Please fav/follow/review. They really do motivate me and cause me to favor updating one of my wips over the other.