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The Diver

Summary: Upon visiting an open house for an upcoming exhibit at the museum, you find one of the displays to be more lively than expected. This story is based on a dream I had and has been written as a self-insert, first person POV.

Words: 1.4k

TW: None

The large museum rose above the street with an impressive presence of marbled architecture, illuminated by tastefully placed lights in the spring twilight. I held the invitation in my hands, reading it over again and again to make sure I didn't miss anything. Today, in a yet unveiled exhibit, the museum had chosen to host a limited open house to gain public opinion before opening it officially. The pictures promised a collection of lovingly crafted models and dioramas displaying humanity's advancement in technologies throughout the decades. Being invited to such an event felt glamorous and exclusive, so I made sure to pick out a nice outfit for the occasion.

The doors opened and the guide checked our invitations before leading us inside, down the massive halls toward the exhibit. Sure enough, the displays were delightful and well made. I enjoyed looking over each one, but found myself most enamored by the Ocean Exploration section, presenting intricate ships, newspaper clippings, and a tank of water with a miniature diver. I held back here as my eyes lingered on the small figure in the tank. It donned standard diving dress from the early 20th century and seemed to move much more fluidly than the robotic motions of the other dioramas. With a prickling sensation in my sternum, it turned to look right at me for a moment before walking across the tank floor towardme. I held my breath, stunned as two tiny hands pressed against the glass. I brought my fingertips up in amazement. It gestured, pointing to me, then itself, then up. I tilted my head and it dawned on me: could there be a person in there? 

Blinking in surprise, I asked quietly, "You want me to… pull you out?"

Small hands tapped against the sides of a large bell helmet before they shook their head. They couldn't hear me. I pointed to myself, made a grabbing motion, pointed at them, then moved as if I were lifting them from the tank. They met me with an enthusiastic nod, which came out as an awkward set of bows with the rigidity of the helmet's bonnet against the breastplate. I looked around, finding the group had moved on ahead, then pulled off my jacket. The tank lid thankfully lifted easily and I was able to reach down inside without trouble. The sensation of wrapping my fingers around a humanoid shape dressed in waterproof canvas felt wildly strange, and they made no protest as I brought them up out of the water. For a few heartbeats, we stared at eachother while they lay in the palm of my hand, and I watched as their chest rose and fell with breath. 

A call from further down the room asked me to keep up and remain with the group, and I hastily disconnected the breathing tube from the bonnet before throwing my jacket back on and placing them in my pocket. I speed walked to catch back up with the group, and kept my hand around the form of a person I'd stolen from the exhibit. 

Back home, I threw my keys on the shelf by the door and pulled out the diver. I gently placed them on the counter and watched in fascination as he removed the copper bonnet from his head. A stunningly handsome young man looked up at me with dark brown hair and grey eyes. My fingers itched to touch him again. To feel his body and know this wasn't a dream. 

"How did you get into the museum?" I asked softly, marveling at each motion. 

He pulled the breastplate and diving weights off. "Museum?" he repeated. "I thought I died in this suit… You're telling me this isn't the in between?" The oversized boots were removed next, which were followed by the canvas suit itself. 

I'd never heard of anything like the in between before, but if he were from a different world then perhaps that's what his people called this world? "I'm not sure what you mean by that, but maybe we call it different things. Can you tell me about the inbetween?"

Suit fully shed, he stretched with arms clasped high above his head. He wore a button down shirt with slacks and suspenders, and I imagined he'd look delightful in a newsboy's cap. 

"Well," he placed his hands on his hips in thought. "It's where you go after you die. When you're there, you're met by your patron god who either accepts you into the afterlife or casts your soul into damnation." He leaned over and reached into a pocket on the inside of the suit. With unbridled delight, I watched as he placed one newsboy's cap onto his head.

"And you believe you've died..?"

He looked around, a bit confused. "Yes?" He tilted his head. "I put the suit on for a dare and assumed something went wrong when I was underwater when I ended up here." With a slight discomfort, he gazed into my eyes. "Is that not what happened? Did I not drown? Are you not my patron?"

"I don't think so," I stated. I didn't want to overwhelm him just yet. Before figuring out how to navigate all this, I needed to know if I was dealing with some "magic portal" deal or an isekai. My thoughts lingered on his attire. "What year is it for you?"

"It's 1922," he replied, shifting his weight between feet. "But, where am I if not in the in between? How am I supposed to join the afterlife if you don't swallow my soul? Am– am I being rejected into damnation?"

The awareness of his rising panic completely vanished from my mind at the implications of his last question. "Your gods eat you?"

"No!" he objected. "It's nothing like that!" Silence hung heavily in the air before he continued. "You're… not a god, are you?" he asked quietly, eyes fixed firmly to the countertop. 

"No, I'm not. I'm just human."

With a wobble, he fell to his knees. "Trapped in a land of giants," he mused quietly to himself. He looked up again, fear now lacing every fiber of his expression. I was not his god, but a towering stranger. With wide eyes, he started scrambling backwards. "I–" His breathing staggered. "Please don't– please don't hurt me." His back hit the wall and he cowered. "I'll give you whatever you want."

I reached forward slowly, but that only seemed to terrify him even more. Pulling back slightly, I spoke in as soft a tone I could manage, "I'm not going to hurt you." Obviously, he'd been alright with being handled when he thought I was his god, but now he had no reason to trust me so faithfully. "If I wanted to do so, I would've already. I only brought you out of the tank because you asked me to."

He carefully considered this, eyeing me with understandable suspicion. Swallowing hard after a shaky breath, he relaxed only a little. "I suppose that's true." He leaned forward, planted his elbows on his knees, and let his face fall into his hands. 

His body immediate stiffened when I brushed a knuckle against his side gently, and I could feel his heartbeat increase at the contact. "I understand this is a lot to take in, but it's late. Would you like to sleep?" 

The rigidity within him relaxed almost immediately at the mention of rest and he lifted his head slightly. "Please…" he exhaled. 

I opened my hand and wrapped my fingers around his body, marveling once again at the feeling of a tiny human man within my grasp. He didn't fight, but his heart rate and breathing told me every fiber of his being screamed at him to do so. I repositioned so he lay in my cupped hands and walked into the bedroom, then set him on the nightstand and brought over the softest blanket I had. 

"I'm sorry," I said. "I don't have pajamas in your size." He eyed the bed with a nervous glance. "Ah." My cheeks flushed slightly. "It– it's silly, but I'd like you close by in case you need anything. If there's something else you'd prefer, I'm more than happy to–"

"No, it's alright," he interrupted quietly. "This will work."

I watched as he pulled off his hat and shoes and climbed into the blanket as if it were an oversized nest. "Do you need anything? Pre-bed snack? Water?" He shoot his head. "I'll go change into my pajamas, then. I'll be back."

After retreating to the bathroom to get changed and brush my teeth, I returned to find him snoring softly where I'd left him. It didn't come as a surprise. After all, he'd been through so much today. I climbed into bed and pulled the covers over me, wondering if he'd still be there when I awoke.

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It’s only fair to draw a picture of AU Ever with her little park ranger, Nick. 

Sorry - I’ve got these two and their spicy relationship on my mind!

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Got into Stardew valley recently. My first thought after seeing Elliott was immediately “…is he date-able?”, so don’t mind if I

Tiny Elliott, anyone?

My farmsona (is it what it’s called?) Becky adores beachcombing, and, well, mussels and shells is not the only things that the sea hides

How did Elliott become tiny? No idea, I have zero lore knowledge. Comment your ideas

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Spice after the cut :P

I think this would heal me.

I don't think it's too much to ask for.

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The LITTLE Little Mermaid

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what if…….you had a smol Deacon..?

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Can I squeeze tiny vampire man in a loving way

Did you say loving?

I thought you said emotionally devastating

My bad.

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A lil sneak peak at a comic/tiktok I've been working on

I think I like the creepy lil blackened hands for Aedes.

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“What were you doing in there? You’re not a coin”

Commission from Duskey!

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Sometimes the creature you catch living in your basement has a few wild insider scoops on the world of cryptozoology

Closeups under the cut

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It has come to my attention that I have no idea how big Doritos are

Leaf out here stealing Doritos

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ALSJKAKSK I read this as “What’s stomping ya?!”

The boots, apparently

giamts in beeg black combat boots

WHAT'S STOPPING YA?!

semd post

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Leaf out here stealing Doritos

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TFW you have to make a completely different outfit for every AU…

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Tiny Superman. Big Lois Lane and tiny Clark Kent. Kryptonite makes him tiny. Maybe she doesn't know, and she finds a tiny Clark while investigating a dangerous lair. She wonders where Superman is while freaking out over her tiny crush, trying to figure out a way to fix him. Clark feels weak from the Kryptonite, needing to rely on Lois for help until the effects wear off. What shenanigans do they get up to......

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I don’t know if anyone’s thought of / posted about this before but hear me out.

The human had moved in a few months ago and so far, nothing had been off. They had a regular schedule and were just careless enough to leave out scraps of food for the borrower to get to. When December hit, however, it was like they’d become a completely different person. Their organizational skills took the wheel as they carefully crafted their Christmas aesthetic with candles, lights, garlands, stockings, and a generously trimmed tree. They’d left an hour ago, muttering something about a wreath, which gave the borrower an opportunity to explore the living room. It looked vastly different with its holiday display in full force and they were determined to look at everything. They lose track of time, wandering around until they make their way to the mantle over the fireplace. Red candles that smell of cinnamon, ginger, and pine rest just in front of an evergreen garland woven with white, sparkling lights. They walk down, sniffing each and every candle when the front door unlocks. They’d been out for far too long, decorations having kept their attention away from the clock and passing of time. They panic and turn to run towards the nearest hole in the wall when they trip, falling head first into the stocking hanging just below them. The human comes inside, setting bags of evergreen, holly, and craft supplies down onto the floor. As still as the borrower tries to be, the slow, swaying motion of the stocking catches the human’s attention…

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I wanna eat sal

I can promise you'll get food poisoning, Anon.

I caught him in my garbage this morning.