[The harmless appearance does help a lot, as does Jade's explanation. She observes the sea cucumber's mouth, keeping herself in place with increasingly proficient tail movements.]
They're amazing!
[Titans regrow their body parts, too... and they're mindless, for the most part. (She really shouldn't be drawing that parallel, should she?) She's distracted from the sea cucumber when a swarm of silvery fish catches her attention, and gently sets it down on the sea floor.]
Let me swim on my own for a bit, alright?
[She follows the swarm, none too clumsily, though far slower than Jade.]
[He couldn't help but chuckle at how quickly she got distracted, and was off chasing a new fish.]
Of course, I'll be right here if you need me.
[And he follows her, his movements smooth and quiet. Though he does deliberately smack that sea cucumber with his tail, sending it adrift- where it too ejects that white noodle-like substance.
Jade gives it only an amused passing glance as he swims ahead. Probably a bit juvenile, but eh, who is going to judge him?
He stays close in case she needs to grab him, though while her attention is one the school of fish, his is on the rocks below. Lots of things that could be hiding there. Some interesting, some edible, and he suspected some poisonous- hence his observing. Force of habit from back home.
His home waters were notoriously dangerous after all. If it wasn't large enough to eat you, it was likely poison enough to kill you.]
[She honestly could have spent hours observing the slow creature and listening to more facts about it, but as patient as Jade has always been with her, she doesn't want to spend the rest of the day making him hold a sea cucumber lecture for her! (She completely misses his mischief at its expense, too.)
For a while, she enjoys following the fish, watching the sunlight from above reflect off their scales. Does her own tail look the same? As she turns to view it, her eyes are instead drawn to Jade, swimming below her like a protective shadow. The movements of his long tail are so different from hers... he looks captivating like this, like a member of a whole different species, part of a whole different world.
When he notices her looking, she laughs and waves from above. Yes, this is childish, but for the first time in weeks, she can feel carefree and unburdened. It's strange that she can breathe more lightly here, where there's no air.]
You look beautiful!
[While mermaids are the subject of myths and legends in her world, Jade looks like something different altogether to her. Maybe this is what a mizuchi would look like, a water dragon from the far eastern land of Hizuru that was allied with the Eldian Empire until its fall? If it were a person, that is.]
[The comment caught him by surprise, and his usually guarded features let it slip past. Perhaps it was the irony of it, to say he's beautiful while blissfully unaware that it was his true form she was saying such about.
There was even a ripple of light that ran through his bio luminescent fins in reaction. It had been some time since he had to be mindful of that form of expression.]
[He could tell her. He wanted to. Just to let her know that he was a part of this world which had captivated her so much- that he could tell her all of his stories, and show her everything he could.
But no, while he trusted her, he knew she was trusting.
Case in point- she trusted him.
All it would take was someone clever with asking questions to get his biggest weakness in this landlocked world. And so, a secret it remains for now.
So he offers her a smile instead, one that carried just a hint of warmth.]
I could say the same to you. You look like you could be one of the Sea King's daughters.
[And he glided past her, playfully (and maybe flirting a little, she wouldn't know how merfolk flirt) bumps his tail against hers as he passes.]
[The surprise on Jade's face, coupled with that glow running over his body, is such an endearing reaction that Frieda's smile grows even brighter - all the more when he returns the compliment along with that affectionate little tail brush. She follows him, already moving more nimbly than before.]
You flatterer! I'm sure they're beyond compare!
[It still makes her feel warm to hear such kind words. As a human, she'd long have cooled out in this water - while not that deep, it's still deeper than the average swimmer will dive in for long -, but as a mermaid she feels perfectly comfortable, with a lot of energy left to spare.]
What should we look at next?
[It's not like Jade knows these waters any better than she does, but he may just have an idea of where they might find more fascinating creatures or remarkable plants!]
Oh come now, with how quickly you've adjusted to your tail, how could one assume you anything but a native? You could brighten even the darkest depths of the Coral Sea.
[Almost a jest in how he's going a bit over the top, yet there's some honesty in there. She truly would make a fine mate. Maybe he should give it a try? Something to puzzle out later, he didn't know the first thing about human courtship, and he was enjoying their friendship for what it was in the moment.
And gain, it would probably require informing her he was a merman, and he was determined to put that off.
He offered his hand, less so to pull her along, but rather a polite escort, as they did on land. He would offer his arm, however the spiny fins on his forearms made that a bit risky.]
Here, this way. [He leads her deeper, towards the rocks he'd been eyeing cautiously just moments ago.] Be mindful now, during the day places like this are where a number of fish remain to hide from predators, only for predators to adapt accordingly and-
[He starts inspecting the crevices, dipping and weaving with a practiced familiarity as he hunted for something. He briefly let go of her hand as he closed in on his prey, and with a quick motion manages to reach in and grab what initially looks to be a large brown snake- but no it was an eel. Not a moray, which was admittedly what Jade had been hoping for, but perhaps something worth a good lesson.]
ah, well I was hoping for a proper eel, but I suppose this one will have to do. Unless there's something poisonous hiding in these waters that I've yet to find, this is probably the most dangerous thing you'll need to watch for.
[And he flips it over to show her it's mouth. A circle of jagged pointed teeth line it. It's clearly meant to latch on to something, and not come off.]
It's a lamprey eel. A bloodsucking parasite, not unlike a leech.
[In fairness, normal human courtship rules can hardly be said to apply to Frieda. While she is, in theory, free to choose her partner back home, it'd take some serious vetting to decide whether that person can be trusted with her secret. She could, of course, leave them in the dark about it or, in the worst case, alter their memories if they reacted poorly to it, but what kind of relationship would that be? She was too young when she took on the duty of holding the Founding Titan to have had any romantic experiences beforehand, and everything afterwards... well.
She enjoys Jade's consistent gentlemanliness all the more, happy to let him lead the way deeper into the water while she's still beaming from his over-the-top flattery. As he explains what creatures hide among the rocks and goes on the hunt, she's on guard, but not fearful, and when he grabs that eel with such practised proficiency, she can't help but be impressed. She swims closer to observe it.]
Goodness. It could drink enough blood to leave a person weak and feeble for a while, couldn't it?
[It's so much bigger than a leech!]
Do they attack merpeople? Or only prey smaller than themselves?
Luckily they rarely go after humans, unless they're starving. And they're not truly an eel, it's just a common misnomer due to their shape.
[Eels are so much cooler, don't let this thing fool you, Frieda. He can't let his people be misrepresented.]
It would depend on the nature of the merfolk, Azul would likely be safe for example, but for those like us are at a bigger risk. If one does latch onto you, simply go to the surface and keep it above water. It'll let go when it starts to suffocate.
[But then there's his toothy grin as he looks at the panicked wriggling nightmare fuel in his hand.]
The good news is that they are quite tasty. I could bring our new friend here up to the surface for dinner, what do you think?
[Since humans could get squeamish about knowing their food personally sometimes, he'd be good if she wanted the little abomination freed. Alternatively it would make good bait for a more interesting fish... which he could probably do subtly without Frieda catching on. Fun for him either way.]
Octopi are very... squishy and flexible. Lampreys teeth are made for puncturing scales, it would have nothing to latch onto with an octopus.
[Well, Frieda had spoken, so onto plan be "free" the lamprey.]
Stay here, I'll let it go down there so it can't turn around and make a meal out of us instead.
[And he swam to the floor just in front of the rocky area he'd found the creature in the first place. A totally logical and sensible place to put it! All it had to do was swim back to it's little hiding spot. It's not like other predators are sitting in ambush in the same rock formation.
But oh no! Would you look at that. Once Jade lets it go and swims back to Frieda, the eel Jade had been trying to track originally shoots out and snaps the lamprey up in its jaws. Jade has to... actually really try to bite back the laughter at that.]
Oh dear, the hunter became the hunted twice today. Though, not so lucky with it's second eel encounter it would seem.
[Thus heralds the start of episode 4 of Jade Harasses the Local Sea Life.]
[Jade truly knows everything about aquatic life! Frieda contentedly waits as he goes set the lamprey eel free - only to see it snatched up by the larger predator the very next moment.]
Oh!
[She knows it's the law of nature, yet she can't help but feel bad for the creature as it gets chomped up between the other one's teeth. If they hadn't disturbed it and removed it from its hiding place, chances are it would have survived! But then the other eel would have gone hungry... the cycle of life and death is relentless.]
It can be over so fast...
[For humans, too. Whether by accident, illness, or violence, life can be snuffed out in an instant. This place with its Flower Yards seems to present an exception for the otherworlders, and much as Frieda initially disbelieved their function, she only found confirmations that people had indeed been brought back to life through them. Why am I thinking of this now?]
[He watches the scene with a fond familiarity. Perhaps it was his biased kinship with the eel, but he was pleased to see it catch its prey.]
It can, but that’s simply how the sea is, even this small manmade version of it. It gives as much as it takes, but there’s always a balance. I always found a comfort in that.
[But ah, humans tended to be softer when it came to such things. Easy to forget the positive in the face of death. For her, he’d sprinkle in a small positive.]
If it’s any consolation, given this is a carefully cultivated ecosystem, I would suspect the lamprey is something invasive. No one wants to catch their fish bled dry and sickly after all.
[He couldn’t be certain, but given the nature of the lamprey, they’d do more harm than good if the purpose of this lake was to cultivate a steady food supply.
Still he swam back down to, predictably, pester his primitive cousin.]
And our new friend wouldn’t have come out to say hello without it!
[The eel was unbothered by Jade’s presence, only snapping at Jade’s hands off he got too close to the meal it was trying to eat. So Jade settled on lifting it up by its belly for her to touch.]
You can pet it, and I promise, nothing will come by to snap this one up.
[Again, Jade demonstrates his understanding of the cycles... maybe this really is what made Frieda feel so close to him right off the bat. In a way, the parallels between sea and land, along with the differences between both spheres, give her a sense of serenity. With a few movements of her silvery tail, she's by her friend's side, a small smile on her face at his reassurance. She carefully reaches out to run a finger over the eel's smooth skin.]
The sea is cruel yet beautiful, isn't it?
[Much like her world. Despite all the suffering, there's still always the rosy clouds at dusk and dawn, the shimmer of plants' leaves and petals after the rain, the birdsong under the sun, and so much more that gives her people joy.]
I wonder if the merfolk are happier than us on the land.
The eel, oblivious to their frivolous talks of nature and philosophy simply turned its head to show Frieda the underside of its chin- there next scratching beast.]
They're not terribly unlike humans in how they live their lives. I mentioned Azul's family owned a restaurant. His parents have divorced and remarried, if one described only these parts of his life, you wouldn't know he'd grown up in the sea.
[Which was how he was getting away ignoring that detail in his own stories.]
Merfolk are simply forced to live closer to nature than humans are, and much of that nature is quite deadly. You have large predators, violent storms, poisonous and venomous creatures. That's not even taking into account the magical dangers, such as the violent spirits from old shipwrecks.
[She's happy to oblige and stroke the eel under its chin. Sealife is so different from life above the surface, and yet..! She has to wonder if the merpeople keep fish as pets. She wonders, too, what sort of food Azul's family restaurant serves. After all, they can't cook down here... right? Jade's mention of spirits, however, puts a frown on her face.]
If those spirits come from the wrecks, they must be human in origin. It's a wonder the merfolk are still willing to have relations with our kind if we cause them even such supernatural trouble.
[Back home, she never really believed in spirits and spectres, never having seen any evidence for their existence, but the topic reminds her of something:]
Being a winter power holder, you'll be able to see them too, won't you?
[Ghosts, like so many other beings of myth and legend, appear to be confirmed denizens of Ellipsa - and apparently of Jade's world, too. Maybe in his world, everybody has the ability to see them?]
[Jade watched idly as the eel indulged in the attention, even turning upside down for a good scritching at the top of its head. Honestly Jade couldn't help but be a little jealous at that. His primitive relative did seem to be very much enjoying itself. And it didn't even have to do anything for it. Just came out and immediately, free meal and free attention.]
Traditionally, yes, they are human. However they only cause serious trouble during the fall season, and spirits on land tend to do the same. It's simply the violent nature of their deaths that cause the undersea ghosts to be particularly troublesome.
At least their arrival is predictable enough so that measures are taken to ward against them, but every year people still go missing.
[And there are so many stories he wishes he could tell her about that. His and his brother's experiences, their traditions. It would perhaps be a fun gift to give her one of their glowing lanterns used to ward the spirits away.
Ah, but maybe some time in the future. Halloween was months away yet.]
I wouldn't be surprised if I could. I've been able to see them back home in the past. My school actually has a docile group of ghosts that tend to the kitchen- due to the magical concentration of the place, they can maintain their forms year-round.
[Not to worry, Jade, you'll remain the eel that gets the most attention from her, and you won't have to do more than show up, either! Given how much he's been spoiling her and Historia with free home-made meals, she'll keep trying to return that favour, too, much as he keeps beating her to it. (Ultimately, cooking together has been the best compromise.)]
Only in autumn..? How peculiar.
[On Paradis Island - and on the continent, too - that was usually the time for harvest festivals, though Frieda can see how the darkening days and the onset of the cold seasons would lend themselves to an increase in superstitious stories being shared.]
Your world sounds remarkable. Not only humans and merfolk, but even ghosts can coexist peacefully if they put their mind to it. Where I'm from, the fighting among humans alone feels like it'll never cease.
...
How can the ghosts cook when they have no solid body?
[Well it would seem she still has two eels in her thrall, and while he thought he had the home turf advantage, this one acting like a content dog seemed to be winning out. Just going to have to up his land game he guesses. Though he's grossly underestimating the effect of head scritches will have on him. He's playing a dangerous game and doesn't even know.]
Some ghosts. Others prefer a bit of mischief and chaos for their brief window of activity. And autumn is when the barrier between the living and the realm of the dead weakens, which allows ghosts to slip through briefly. Lanterns and gifts of appeasement are common among different lands.
[He certainly hoped there would be some similar celebrations around the fall. If the natives here were bringing aspects of other cultures, then he would not be amiss in suggestions from home. Perhaps he could even pester the Prince of Briar Valley to do that little fire trick of his.
Preferably without accidentally setting the city on fire. Maybe. Because that would also be hilarious.]
Our school is rich enough with latent magic that they have some physical presence, like a gelatin or pudding. you can still walk through one by accident if you aren't paying attention, but they tend to just laugh it off.
[Given how much the fish enjoys being petted, Frieda has taken to running both palms over its long body, still careful to not smush its fins or apply too much pressure. Jade's tales continue to brighten up her face.]
Like pudding? You can't be serious!
[She believes him, but it just sounds so outlandish!]
We should investigate the local customs to see if they do similar things as in your world. You'd think they wouldn't hold seasonal celebrations if all seasons exist year-round, but I suppose people still need those things!
[And that's how they get ice rinks and Christmas decorations even in the summer districts! She can't say that she's opposed to it.
The eel, finally having enough of her ministrations, wiggles free and momentarily rests across her shoulders, looking almost like an open scarf, before swimming onwards. Frieda observes its tail moving the same way as Jade's and tries to copy it, but with her differently oriented fin it only results in an awkward, slow, diagonal somersault. She laughs.]
I've never walked through one myself, it's simply what I've heard from others. But yes, I would rather enjoy seeing that. Perhaps we can make some lanterns together when the time comes, just to be on the safe side.
[He watched at this eel absolutely shmoozed her before taking of, giving Jade's tail an annoyed nip before it slips back into its hiding spot. Jade turned around only to give it a passing frown- which for him might as well be a death glare. Really, the sheer audacity! Looks like this time the sea life harassed him instead. Well played eel, well played.
But, Frieda bring him back to the conversation quick enough.]
I'm curious how such things are decided as well. Perhaps your tail reflects your native homeland in some way. Mine was rocky and could be maze-like at times, and dark much of the year [All of the year.] so a tail like mine, and the luminescence would be useful.
[Which was why his family lived there in the first place.]
A tail like yours is versatile. Better at acrobatics than mine, clearly. [Said with a chuckle at her little somersault.] If you let me take a closer look, I can probably tell you more about where you'll excel.
Edited (reread older tag, thought it had been mentioned she had fancy webbing) 2024-01-15 07:56 (UTC)
[Making lanterns together sounds lovely, but then Frieda can hardly imagine anything not being fun if she's doing it with Jade. They truly are standing in for each other's absent siblings! Frieda, of course, has Historia... maybe the three of them should do more things together, but Historia is a good lot more withdrawn than her, and she doesn't want to push and pull her out of her comfort zone more than necessary.
Jade's description of his homeland sounds positively dreary - not that she'd put it like that out loud. Why would his family stay in a dark and labyrinthine place like that? Well, they must've had their reasons, and his tail certainly is more interesting for it. She observes her own tail again, halfway curled up to get a close look at the shimmering scales. Its shape is fairly standard, sleek and simple with no extravagant details besides the iridescent colour.]
Mine is more or less what people think of when they imagine a mermaid tail. Perhaps it's what people who live in the countryside and cities get.
[She extends her fin towards him to inspect. If anyone can supply more information about how she can maximise her efficiency of movement in the water, it'll be him!]
[Ah. He really should have thought that request through a bit more, because now he has a very lovely set of tailfins in his hands. He is… going to keep his gaze very politely on the tailfins. Only the tailfins. This isn’t even what her lower half truly looks like, he needs to keep it together.]
Well, I can say that the orientation isn’t vertical like that of a fish, but rather horizontal like a seal or whale. So it’s going to be very flexible, hence your skills in acrobatics.
[And he makes the mistake of glancing up at the rest of her tail only for a moment, but that was enough to make his heart race- and thus causing the pulsating glow that ran through his body also quickened.
He was just going to act normal, pretend it’s normal. Not acknowledge the shift and just continue his explanation… while not looking up until he can look her in the eyes again. Tailfins are what he’s looking at. That is all.]
It won’t be as heavy though, since you have webbing rather than bone and blubber, but it still should serve as a good weapon if you find yourself in danger.
[He folded her fins together like a fan, then tilted it to show her.
With minimal touching. Being a gentleman and is looking her in the eye. Just keep looking her in the eye. Ignore the appeal of the vibrant colors reflecting in her scales. Just keep looking at her face Jade.]
See, you can close your tailfins together like this, and you’ll be able to use it like a whip. A good firm blow with this, and you’ll likely drive off most potential threats.
[To Frieda, her tail still feels like such a strange and fascinating thing that it doesn't immediately occur to her that she's doing the direct equivalent of letting Jade take a good long look at her legs. His gentle touch of her tailfins make her laugh and wiggle a little. It's such an unfamiliar sensation! When she sees that glow race over his skin again, she can only wonder what it means... before, it happened when she complimented him. Is he happy? Or... flustered?
A barely noticable flush passes over her cheeks too. Luckily, Jade is keeping his eyes downcast! Focusing on his explanations helps her maintain her composure - she's actually quite surprised to hear that she can use her tail in self-defence (which is a very complicated matter for her, overall, but even her ideology of peace can accommodate the concept of assuring her survival in this world so she can return to her original one and fulfill her destiny there).]
I'll keep that in mind. Thank you for showing me how to do it.
[As always, the contact between them is causing a pleasant energy flow, but in this situation it feels a little different than when they link arms. Is it the change in their physiology, or merely the mood..?]
As I said, it’s quite versatile. Your tail serves as your main defense, your propulsion, and a means for you to direct yourself.
[He let’s her fins open again, and shifts them in a different position.]
Here try keeping them in this position while you swim forward.
[It should have her spin in a corkscrew motion, both something she’ll no doubt find fun, and also gives him a minute to gather himself to quell his lightshow version of blushing.]
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no subject
They're amazing!
[Titans regrow their body parts, too... and they're mindless, for the most part. (She really shouldn't be drawing that parallel, should she?) She's distracted from the sea cucumber when a swarm of silvery fish catches her attention, and gently sets it down on the sea floor.]
Let me swim on my own for a bit, alright?
[She follows the swarm, none too clumsily, though far slower than Jade.]
no subject
Of course, I'll be right here if you need me.
[And he follows her, his movements smooth and quiet. Though he does deliberately smack that sea cucumber with his tail, sending it adrift- where it too ejects that white noodle-like substance.
Jade gives it only an amused passing glance as he swims ahead. Probably a bit juvenile, but eh, who is going to judge him?
He stays close in case she needs to grab him, though while her attention is one the school of fish, his is on the rocks below. Lots of things that could be hiding there. Some interesting, some edible, and he suspected some poisonous- hence his observing. Force of habit from back home.
His home waters were notoriously dangerous after all. If it wasn't large enough to eat you, it was likely poison enough to kill you.]
no subject
For a while, she enjoys following the fish, watching the sunlight from above reflect off their scales. Does her own tail look the same? As she turns to view it, her eyes are instead drawn to Jade, swimming below her like a protective shadow. The movements of his long tail are so different from hers... he looks captivating like this, like a member of a whole different species, part of a whole different world.
When he notices her looking, she laughs and waves from above. Yes, this is childish, but for the first time in weeks, she can feel carefree and unburdened. It's strange that she can breathe more lightly here, where there's no air.]
You look beautiful!
[While mermaids are the subject of myths and legends in her world, Jade looks like something different altogether to her. Maybe this is what a mizuchi would look like, a water dragon from the far eastern land of Hizuru that was allied with the Eldian Empire until its fall? If it were a person, that is.]
1/2
There was even a ripple of light that ran through his bio luminescent fins in reaction. It had been some time since he had to be mindful of that form of expression.]
2/2
[He could tell her. He wanted to. Just to let her know that he was a part of this world which had captivated her so much- that he could tell her all of his stories, and show her everything he could.
But no, while he trusted her, he knew she was trusting.
Case in point- she trusted him.
All it would take was someone clever with asking questions to get his biggest weakness in this landlocked world. And so, a secret it remains for now.
So he offers her a smile instead, one that carried just a hint of warmth.]
I could say the same to you. You look like you could be one of the Sea King's daughters.
[And he glided past her, playfully (and maybe flirting a little, she wouldn't know how merfolk flirt) bumps his tail against hers as he passes.]
no subject
You flatterer! I'm sure they're beyond compare!
[It still makes her feel warm to hear such kind words. As a human, she'd long have cooled out in this water - while not that deep, it's still deeper than the average swimmer will dive in for long -, but as a mermaid she feels perfectly comfortable, with a lot of energy left to spare.]
What should we look at next?
[It's not like Jade knows these waters any better than she does, but he may just have an idea of where they might find more fascinating creatures or remarkable plants!]
no subject
[Almost a jest in how he's going a bit over the top, yet there's some honesty in there. She truly would make a fine mate. Maybe he should give it a try? Something to puzzle out later, he didn't know the first thing about human courtship, and he was enjoying their friendship for what it was in the moment.
And gain, it would probably require informing her he was a merman, and he was determined to put that off.
He offered his hand, less so to pull her along, but rather a polite escort, as they did on land. He would offer his arm, however the spiny fins on his forearms made that a bit risky.]
Here, this way. [He leads her deeper, towards the rocks he'd been eyeing cautiously just moments ago.] Be mindful now, during the day places like this are where a number of fish remain to hide from predators, only for predators to adapt accordingly and-
[He starts inspecting the crevices, dipping and weaving with a practiced familiarity as he hunted for something. He briefly let go of her hand as he closed in on his prey, and with a quick motion manages to reach in and grab what initially looks to be a large brown snake- but no it was an eel. Not a moray, which was admittedly what Jade had been hoping for, but perhaps something worth a good lesson.]
ah, well I was hoping for a proper eel, but I suppose this one will have to do. Unless there's something poisonous hiding in these waters that I've yet to find, this is probably the most dangerous thing you'll need to watch for.
[And he flips it over to show her it's mouth. A circle of jagged pointed teeth line it. It's clearly meant to latch on to something, and not come off.]
It's a lamprey eel. A bloodsucking parasite, not unlike a leech.
no subject
She enjoys Jade's consistent gentlemanliness all the more, happy to let him lead the way deeper into the water while she's still beaming from his over-the-top flattery. As he explains what creatures hide among the rocks and goes on the hunt, she's on guard, but not fearful, and when he grabs that eel with such practised proficiency, she can't help but be impressed. She swims closer to observe it.]
Goodness. It could drink enough blood to leave a person weak and feeble for a while, couldn't it?
[It's so much bigger than a leech!]
Do they attack merpeople? Or only prey smaller than themselves?
no subject
[Eels are so much cooler, don't let this thing fool you, Frieda. He can't let his people be misrepresented.]
It would depend on the nature of the merfolk, Azul would likely be safe for example, but for those like us are at a bigger risk. If one does latch onto you, simply go to the surface and keep it above water. It'll let go when it starts to suffocate.
[But then there's his toothy grin as he looks at the panicked wriggling nightmare fuel in his hand.]
The good news is that they are quite tasty. I could bring our new friend here up to the surface for dinner, what do you think?
[Since humans could get squeamish about knowing their food personally sometimes, he'd be good if she wanted the little abomination freed. Alternatively it would make good bait for a more interesting fish... which he could probably do subtly without Frieda catching on. Fun for him either way.]
no subject
Let it live. We can instead go for dinner at a seafood restaurant, how about that?
[Much as she enjoys cooking with him, it'll be nice to get a ready-made meal when they'll be hungry from swimming all day!]
Why don't these lampreys like the blood of octopus people? Or is it for another reason that they leave them alone?
no subject
[Well, Frieda had spoken, so onto plan be "free" the lamprey.]
Stay here, I'll let it go down there so it can't turn around and make a meal out of us instead.
[And he swam to the floor just in front of the rocky area he'd found the creature in the first place. A totally logical and sensible place to put it! All it had to do was swim back to it's little hiding spot. It's not like other predators are sitting in ambush in the same rock formation.
But oh no! Would you look at that. Once Jade lets it go and swims back to Frieda, the eel Jade had been trying to track originally shoots out and snaps the lamprey up in its jaws. Jade has to... actually really try to bite back the laughter at that.]
Oh dear, the hunter became the hunted twice today. Though, not so lucky with it's second eel encounter it would seem.
[Thus heralds the start of episode 4 of Jade Harasses the Local Sea Life.]
no subject
Oh!
[She knows it's the law of nature, yet she can't help but feel bad for the creature as it gets chomped up between the other one's teeth. If they hadn't disturbed it and removed it from its hiding place, chances are it would have survived! But then the other eel would have gone hungry... the cycle of life and death is relentless.]
It can be over so fast...
[For humans, too. Whether by accident, illness, or violence, life can be snuffed out in an instant. This place with its Flower Yards seems to present an exception for the otherworlders, and much as Frieda initially disbelieved their function, she only found confirmations that people had indeed been brought back to life through them. Why am I thinking of this now?]
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It can, but that’s simply how the sea is, even this small manmade version of it. It gives as much as it takes, but there’s always a balance. I always found a comfort in that.
[But ah, humans tended to be softer when it came to such things. Easy to forget the positive in the face of death. For her, he’d sprinkle in a small positive.]
If it’s any consolation, given this is a carefully cultivated ecosystem, I would suspect the lamprey is something invasive. No one wants to catch their fish bled dry and sickly after all.
[He couldn’t be certain, but given the nature of the lamprey, they’d do more harm than good if the purpose of this lake was to cultivate a steady food supply.
Still he swam back down to, predictably, pester his primitive cousin.]
And our new friend wouldn’t have come out to say hello without it!
[The eel was unbothered by Jade’s presence, only snapping at Jade’s hands off he got too close to the meal it was trying to eat. So Jade settled on lifting it up by its belly for her to touch.]
You can pet it, and I promise, nothing will come by to snap this one up.
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The sea is cruel yet beautiful, isn't it?
[Much like her world. Despite all the suffering, there's still always the rosy clouds at dusk and dawn, the shimmer of plants' leaves and petals after the rain, the birdsong under the sun, and so much more that gives her people joy.]
I wonder if the merfolk are happier than us on the land.
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[The other part being, well, he lives there.
The eel, oblivious to their frivolous talks of nature and philosophy simply turned its head to show Frieda the underside of its chin- there next scratching beast.]
They're not terribly unlike humans in how they live their lives. I mentioned Azul's family owned a restaurant. His parents have divorced and remarried, if one described only these parts of his life, you wouldn't know he'd grown up in the sea.
[Which was how he was getting away ignoring that detail in his own stories.]
Merfolk are simply forced to live closer to nature than humans are, and much of that nature is quite deadly. You have large predators, violent storms, poisonous and venomous creatures. That's not even taking into account the magical dangers, such as the violent spirits from old shipwrecks.
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If those spirits come from the wrecks, they must be human in origin. It's a wonder the merfolk are still willing to have relations with our kind if we cause them even such supernatural trouble.
[Back home, she never really believed in spirits and spectres, never having seen any evidence for their existence, but the topic reminds her of something:]
Being a winter power holder, you'll be able to see them too, won't you?
[Ghosts, like so many other beings of myth and legend, appear to be confirmed denizens of Ellipsa - and apparently of Jade's world, too. Maybe in his world, everybody has the ability to see them?]
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Traditionally, yes, they are human. However they only cause serious trouble during the fall season, and spirits on land tend to do the same. It's simply the violent nature of their deaths that cause the undersea ghosts to be particularly troublesome.
At least their arrival is predictable enough so that measures are taken to ward against them, but every year people still go missing.
[And there are so many stories he wishes he could tell her about that. His and his brother's experiences, their traditions. It would perhaps be a fun gift to give her one of their glowing lanterns used to ward the spirits away.
Ah, but maybe some time in the future. Halloween was months away yet.]
I wouldn't be surprised if I could. I've been able to see them back home in the past. My school actually has a docile group of ghosts that tend to the kitchen- due to the magical concentration of the place, they can maintain their forms year-round.
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Only in autumn..? How peculiar.
[On Paradis Island - and on the continent, too - that was usually the time for harvest festivals, though Frieda can see how the darkening days and the onset of the cold seasons would lend themselves to an increase in superstitious stories being shared.]
Your world sounds remarkable. Not only humans and merfolk, but even ghosts can coexist peacefully if they put their mind to it. Where I'm from, the fighting among humans alone feels like it'll never cease.
...
How can the ghosts cook when they have no solid body?
[Asking the important questions!]
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Some ghosts. Others prefer a bit of mischief and chaos for their brief window of activity. And autumn is when the barrier between the living and the realm of the dead weakens, which allows ghosts to slip through briefly. Lanterns and gifts of appeasement are common among different lands.
[He certainly hoped there would be some similar celebrations around the fall. If the natives here were bringing aspects of other cultures, then he would not be amiss in suggestions from home. Perhaps he could even pester the Prince of Briar Valley to do that little fire trick of his.
Preferably without accidentally setting the city on fire. Maybe. Because that would also be hilarious.]
Our school is rich enough with latent magic that they have some physical presence, like a gelatin or pudding. you can still walk through one by accident if you aren't paying attention, but they tend to just laugh it off.
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Like pudding? You can't be serious!
[She believes him, but it just sounds so outlandish!]
We should investigate the local customs to see if they do similar things as in your world. You'd think they wouldn't hold seasonal celebrations if all seasons exist year-round, but I suppose people still need those things!
[And that's how they get ice rinks and Christmas decorations even in the summer districts! She can't say that she's opposed to it.
The eel, finally having enough of her ministrations, wiggles free and momentarily rests across her shoulders, looking almost like an open scarf, before swimming onwards. Frieda observes its tail moving the same way as Jade's and tries to copy it, but with her differently oriented fin it only results in an awkward, slow, diagonal somersault. She laughs.]
Why didn't I get an eel tail?
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[He watched at this eel absolutely shmoozed her before taking of, giving Jade's tail an annoyed nip before it slips back into its hiding spot. Jade turned around only to give it a passing frown- which for him might as well be a death glare. Really, the sheer audacity! Looks like this time the sea life harassed him instead. Well played eel, well played.
But, Frieda bring him back to the conversation quick enough.]
I'm curious how such things are decided as well. Perhaps your tail reflects your native homeland in some way. Mine was rocky and could be maze-like at times, and dark much of the year [All of the year.] so a tail like mine, and the luminescence would be useful.
[Which was why his family lived there in the first place.]
A tail like yours is versatile. Better at acrobatics than mine, clearly. [Said with a chuckle at her little somersault.] If you let me take a closer look, I can probably tell you more about where you'll excel.
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Jade's description of his homeland sounds positively dreary - not that she'd put it like that out loud. Why would his family stay in a dark and labyrinthine place like that? Well, they must've had their reasons, and his tail certainly is more interesting for it. She observes her own tail again, halfway curled up to get a close look at the shimmering scales. Its shape is fairly standard, sleek and simple with no extravagant details besides the iridescent colour.]
Mine is more or less what people think of when they imagine a mermaid tail. Perhaps it's what people who live in the countryside and cities get.
[She extends her fin towards him to inspect. If anyone can supply more information about how she can maximise her efficiency of movement in the water, it'll be him!]
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Well, I can say that the orientation isn’t vertical like that of a fish, but rather horizontal like a seal or whale. So it’s going to be very flexible, hence your skills in acrobatics.
[And he makes the mistake of glancing up at the rest of her tail only for a moment, but that was enough to make his heart race- and thus causing the pulsating glow that ran through his body also quickened.
He was just going to act normal, pretend it’s normal. Not acknowledge the shift and just continue his explanation… while not looking up until he can look her in the eyes again. Tailfins are what he’s looking at. That is all.]
It won’t be as heavy though, since you have webbing rather than bone and blubber, but it still should serve as a good weapon if you find yourself in danger.
[He folded her fins together like a fan, then tilted it to show her.
With minimal touching. Being a gentleman and is looking her in the eye. Just keep looking her in the eye. Ignore the appeal of the vibrant colors reflecting in her scales. Just keep looking at her face Jade.]
See, you can close your tailfins together like this, and you’ll be able to use it like a whip. A good firm blow with this, and you’ll likely drive off most potential threats.
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A barely noticable flush passes over her cheeks too. Luckily, Jade is keeping his eyes downcast! Focusing on his explanations helps her maintain her composure - she's actually quite surprised to hear that she can use her tail in self-defence (which is a very complicated matter for her, overall, but even her ideology of peace can accommodate the concept of assuring her survival in this world so she can return to her original one and fulfill her destiny there).]
I'll keep that in mind. Thank you for showing me how to do it.
[As always, the contact between them is causing a pleasant energy flow, but in this situation it feels a little different than when they link arms. Is it the change in their physiology, or merely the mood..?]
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[He let’s her fins open again, and shifts them in a different position.]
Here try keeping them in this position while you swim forward.
[It should have her spin in a corkscrew motion, both something she’ll no doubt find fun, and also gives him a minute to gather himself to quell his lightshow version of blushing.]
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