Shells in the Sand
(Elliot / Gordon)


“Oi, there you are! Ah-what are you doing?”

Elliot is alone- near the furthest part of the beach that’s free from many of the shops, homes, and the hustling and bustling crowd of tourists and neighbors alike. It’s not unusual for Elliot to be alone by himself, but seeing as it’s his birthday today, Gordon figured he’d at least like to celebrate it with all of his friends. As he got closer, Gordon catches something in his hand, a stick, maybe? He’s quietly using it to scribble in the sand, and he hovers a bit higher and notices small doodles of what look to be shells in the sand.

“Shells, yeah?” Gordon speaks.

Elliot just gives a small shrug, and continues to scribble more of them. “If Alba asked you to fetch me, please tell her I’ll join up with the rest of you later on."

Gordon gives a weak smile in return. “Rest assured, I’m not here to relay messages. I just...wanted to talk to you, is all."

Elliot slowly halts his movement in the sand and looks over this shoulder. “Talk to me? About what? Did Alba say something to you?"

Gordon joins Elliot by his side. He doesn’t give a response just yet, and quietly looks over at the 10 some shells scribbled in the sand.

“Well, no. Not exactly.” He summons one of his specter hands and gently scribbles an additional shell on the sand. “I just noticed you seemed a bit sad today. I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

For a moment, Gordon caught just the tinniest bit of hurt in his eyes, before Elliot focuses back on the sand. Gordon watches him as he silently goes back to scribbling another one next to the shell he just made. Elliot was never the type to open up to others, especially to someone like him and Bate. But as time went on, things began to mend, and friendships and bonds started to form. Gordon is still learning- trying to be a better friend, a better listener, a better comrade. So, when Elliot doesn’t respond back immediately, he just patiently waits.

Eventually, a sign escapes his mouth, and Elliot looks back over at Gordon. “...I didn’t expect you out of everyone to pick up on it. Maybe Bate, but not you.”

“For all my talking and never shutting up, I like to think I’m able to pick things up as well.” He says, looking down at the Squid next to him.

“Hm…hard to believe.” Elliot snarks, as Gordon gives him a slight chuckle.

“You may not believe it, but it’s true.” He says, using his finger to etch out the shape of another shell. “I’m more than just some love-stuck idiot, you know.”

“It’s hard to notice when you constantly have my sister on your mind.” He jokes: a small smile forms on his face. “But yeah, I know. Thanks.”

Gordon gives a small nod, and continues to silently scribble as well. It does pique his interest to why he’s drawing them in the first place, but he certainly doesn’t want to pry into his business. He tries to recall Elliot doing such a thing when they all go on beach trips together, but he doesn’t remember him doing anything of the sort.

“Birthdays are nice, and I really do appreciate everything Alba does each year..” He says, knowing his sister closes the bar for the whole day so they can decorate and celebrate together.

“She’s got Bate and I running like clockwork, I’ll tell you that.” He lets out an amused laugh.

“She’s one in a million, my sister.” He muses. Only someone like Alba could get a 1 ton Gordo, and a Warrior of the Stars to decorate a bar for her little brothers birthday. “We should probably get going, then. Don’t want to keep her waiting…”

“Yeah, before she sends the whole platoon to search for you.” He jokes, but not really since she’s done it in the past plenty of times when she couldn't find him.

Elliot nods, but stops following when he looks down at the scribbles of shells across the sand. He stands silent for a moment, looking over each one. Gordon, who was already taking his leave, looks back and notices he hasn’t moved. He silently glides over, and observes it as well.

“They’re really quite nice.” Gordon says. “But, you don’t seem entirely satisfied about it, do you.”

“No, not quite.” He admits.

Looking at the discarded stick on the floor he used to draw them with, Gordon reaches over to pick it up before snapping it into two. Elliot watches as he holds out his hand to give him one half of the stick. He looks at the squid, and gives him a smile as he holds up the other half.

“What can I do to help?”

There was a time where Elliot could never accept any part of Gordon into his life. An outsider, an outcast; Dangerous, scary, unpredictable- everything that represents the outside world that isn’t the safety of Kalmari Town.

A part of him is hesitant, a part of him is surprised, and another part is causing him to slowly smile back.

“It’s…missing a few.” He kneels down. “We didn’t have much, growing up. Birthdays were more of a luxury, if anything, but…there was someone who made them extremely special and memorable...


——---------------------------


An old oak stick slowly glides its way through the sand. Elliot, looks up at his mother with bright eyes, and she looks back and gives a light laugh at the child.

“Remind me again how many shells?”

“8!!!” He happily throws his hands up in the air!

“Ah, yes, eight.” She repeats, and draws one more shell. “There we go, eight shells. I can hardly believe it, my boy has grown so much.”

Elliot happily nods and admired his mother's work. “When it’s your birthday, can I draw them for you? Please, please, pleaseeee!”

“Yes, of course, my dear.” She says. “You remember how many, right?”

“Ummmm….3…” He scratches his mantle, as he tries to remember. “3……”

Pearla picks up the small squid and gives him a tight hug before whispering it to him.

"Ah~! Okay!! I promise I won't forget!" He gives her a grin as they head back inside the house to celebrate.


————------------------------

“There we go, 30 shells.” Gordon speaks was he sets the twig back on the shore. “Happy 30th Birthday, Elliot.”

Elliot stands back to admire their work, setting his stick next to his.

"Y'know..." Gordon says,  "I'm sure she's proud of you, Elliot. Both you and Alba."

"Thank you, Gordon. That...really means a lot." Elliot says as he admires it one last time before the tide begins to reach it.

“ I guess it's time for us to leave now.” Elliot says.

“Yeah?” He looks over at him. “You’ll be okay?”

“Hm," He nods. " I think I'm more than okay now.” He takes a breath and gives the other a nod of reassurance. "I'll be fine."

"Well, then!" Gordon clasps his hands as he leads the way back to town. "Let's get a move on, then! You won't believe what we have in store for you!"

“If it's anything like today, I'm sure it'll be just as memorable." He looks back one final time; the drawing taken away by the ocean waves, carried out to those who wish to hear.


-The End-
​​​​​​Artist Comment:

May 25, 2025

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Happy Birthday my precious little Elliot!!! This was a small, quick little thing I drew and wrote. I've been so busy, so sadly I couldn't spend too much time on it, maybe 2 or 3 hours at best. ;v;;; I still hope you like it nonetheless!

Fun fact! Alba and Elliot are quite unique, as they share the same birthdays as my sister and I! Elliot sharing my birthday of May 25th~! And Alba sharing the birthday of my older sister! 8D She's never read the series, but maybe one day she'll know of Alba. >v<

We got a small little bonding moment with Gordon and Elliot! Gordon notices Elliot was quite sad on his big 30th bday!! He later finds out that it's because it reminds him of his late mother. If you don't know anything about Pearla, then spoiler alert!!! Elliot never got to celebrate her 30th b-day and make the shell drawing for her, because she took her life the day after they celebrated Elliot's 8th bday. Elliot is very reserved about talking to others about his mother, but he realizes Gordon is one of the very few he knows he can trust. uu
Species © Nintendo/ HAL Laboratory
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem