estoria | I'll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue

Entry tags:

I'll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue

Who:

mermaiding & you!
When: 2/24ish?, ICly
Where: Wherever there's still deep flooding
What: Oona struck a deal with Maris and got her scale back, meaning she can turn back into her mermaid form. She's finally taking it out for a spin.
Rating/Warning: Vaguely NSFW, because mermaids do not wear clothes.

[She hadn't expected it to go easily. The process of removing her tail had been painful and clumsy to begin with-- she had never used that magic before, and she had never had to replace said tail either. She knew, in theory, hwo to, but it had taken her a few times to finally get the magic right.

The process had been just as painful-- was it always going to be painful, or was she just inexperienced, doing something wrong? Every movement ached as her muscles got used to the familiar movements of swimming again.. or maybe it had something to do with this crash of energy? Who knew.

She did feel tired, but that wasn't important right now. She decided against going her full form (there was no need for someone to actually mistake her for a monster and try to kill her right off the bat), but the more familiar half-form that most people associated with mermaids was fine enough.

It felt like flying, twisting through the waters, her gills burning with unfamiliar use. It had taken more time than she'd like to admit to get used to using them and she'd spent far too long accidentally trying to use her lungs and choking herself. But now that she was getting used to it, she wasn't sure she'd ever actually leave...]

[Option A]

[She'd never get truly tired of swimming around, but the space isn't that large, so it isn't long before she gets bored--and that's when she takes to terrorizing poor passer-bys. She waits until someone's standing near the edge of the water and slowly surfaces, watching to make sure their attention isn't on the water itself and...

GRABS THEIR ANKLE.

And immediately bursts out laughing at their reaction. Maybe it's you she grabbed? Maybe a random NPC whose panicked screams make you feel like jumping in to help out or investigate? Either way, Oona's clearly having a grand ol' time.]

[Option B

[There's definitely something moving in the water. You might see a flash of golden hair, or light reflecting off blue scales. Maybe you see a light, glowing faintly deep below...

Either way, it entices you to look closer. If you kneel on the ledge and lean over the water to try and get a closer look, you're in for quite the surprise. Oona's stirred up the debris and dirt below to mask her ascent to the surface; male or female or anything inbetween, it doesn't matter; lean in close enough and you'll suddenly find a pretty mermaid breaking the surface to press a kiss to your mouth.

It's a quick one and she swims away a bit right after with a bright laugh and a grin]

[Option C]

[Okay, so maybe the drain on her energy was more than she was anticipating. She pulls herself up out of the water, only barely managing to get herself on land before she curls up on her side and promptly goes to sleep. Her tail dips into the water, occasionally swaying absently and causing ripples in the water.

She may even start snoring softly, but either way it's probably not a good idea for her to just remain there hanging out, right?]

[Option D]

[WILD CARD. Got another prompt you wanna try out? Maybe Oona manipulated the water to splash a nice wave at your character? Maybe you dropped something in the water for Oona to discover?

Go crazy it's all yours'!]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[Her fingers, which had been swirling circles and nonsensical patterns around his leg, stills at his words. She doesn't move or way anything for a moment, lips pursed as she thinks the words over. Slowly her gaze lifts, her head titling to look up at him.

Expression grim, she echoes him quietly:] It will not be enough. [An agreement, if a resigned one. He wouldn't even let her lie to herself, it seemed, and she's not sure if she should smile or be angry.

She goes for a smile, albeit a bitter one, and her hand lifts to his face and the scars there. She doesn't touch him directly yet, waiting for some sign of permission that it's okay, but her gaze is steady on him all the same.]

They can not stop me from being 'me.' I am Oona. I am a mermaid. Legs, or not, that will not change. [Her her tilts slightly, inquisitive.] It is the same for you, you know.

Edited (Fucking html ate a line) 2015-09-09 06:49 (UTC)

[ He wonders if that was a misstep, not that this would be the first time he's turned people off with his words. She somehow still keeps eye contact with him despite his obtuseness, though, so he doesn't do her the disservice of averting his gaze, nor does he flinch at her hand coming near his face. That's his acquiescence. ]

You said as much yourself. You don't need me to tell you.

[ A prickly way of saying that he has faith in her ability for fortitude, even if he doesn't say it in those exact terms. If she's struggling with getting her tail back, he understands that, too: it's cruel to be told that you have to switch back and forth between what you want to be and what they expect you to be. ]

...I'm not the same as you, though. But don't worry about it. It's not important to talk about.

If he's given you something that no one else has been able to, I would say the bias is reasonable.

[Kaoru wonders briefly if it might be possible to ask for Chizuru back, too, since only LILITH had been remotely helpful there and she's pretty dead or something now.]

Ah? [This isn't a situation Kaoru would know how to handle either, honestly, so at least it makes sense... What does one do after achieving revenge?? Set a new revenge goal, obviously.]

I see... Does that bother you? Do you mind it? Finding a new purpose would be a much simpler feat than sitting with nothing to stride toward, I would think.

In that case, you have done well towards your goal! [He says with a nod of acknowledgement. And then he leans down to face Oona.]

Ah... I suppose that I do not have a specific destination. In general, I am looking for anywhere I can provide help!

[ Given the gravity of the latest situation, Jaune's been dedicating his time to more useful things such as training. Lifting, jogging, sparring, you name it... he'll do whatever he can even if he needs to do it outdoors because the gym is in ruins. When it's time for a break, he goes to wash his face by the water, only to be greeted by a sudden attack on his face!

The exchange is so quick that he barely has time to process it, and so he ends up screaming (like a girl) and rolling backwards before standing up, only to trip over something and fall on his butt again.

DID A MONSTER JUST KISS HIM ]

[ Yang's learned better than to stare at the water recently-- she has no wish to be sucked into peaceful feelings and a pleasant inclination to drown herself. But when something glints, and she spots a glow in the water, she blinks and leans--

And finds herself the recipient of a kiss. ]

Wh-- Oona?!

[Edgeworth is feeling so calm and content that it is almost strange. It's as if his world is perfectly balanced, and nothing can go wro -

Except something grabbing his ankle. He lets out a strangled yelp.]

Nnngh - !

[Then he instinctively steps back in time to see who it was. And there she is, laughing. Normally Edgeworth would be yelling up a lecture and possibly panicking, but today, he settles for something more subdued. Besides, at least he didn't fall into the water.]

...G-Good day.

I can't disagree with that, but between random beings? It can be a little startling. [ Kogi definitely likes kissing. And it is fun! Still though, as he shakes his hair out, he's still a little red in the cheeks. ]

Mer-maid... [ Sound it out, Kogi. ] ... do all mer-maids have fishy-bits? Can you speak fish? Do fish have a language?

[ Great. Sorry, Oona. Welcome to Question and Answer Time for Curious and Dumb Fox Sword Spirits. ]

Oh. And is your name also 'mermaid'?

I don't have any reasons to praise you right now. [Ouch..... well, you set yourself up for that one.

As for the rest.....he sits then, because it's becoming pretty obvious that this is going to take awhile, and inclines his head vaguely.]

That is something you are going to have to figure out for yourself. [He can't say he's surprised, because Sousei knows very well what it's like to live for a single purpose. The struggle of learning how to live for something else.

But if he can do it, so can she. It's a good sign that she's already thinking about it. A pause, and then with the vaguest hint of mischief:]

You now have the freedom to decide for yourself. Is freedom not what mermaids enjoy?

Ah, you are rude. As rude as ever.

[She wishes, almost, that she didn't have to figure it out herself. It'd be easier to just have someone point and say, 'go this direction now.' She might have even followed said command... for a little while, anyway, before her natural need to rebel would set in.

Oona gives a huff, both of disgruntlement and amusement.She tilts her head, her amusement turning slightly bitter.] As much as one can be in this city.

[Which reminds her, though, and she perks up some] That man showed me, there are others like me out there. There is a big ocean, and mermaids-- or, close enough. Still my people. [Her giddiness goes straight to her head and makes her feel dizzy a moment with how much she wants to just race out there right away.] For now, that is what I want. To leave here, to see them. They are not my family, but they are as close as can get here.

[Oona pauses, hesitates, and her finger digs into the ground a little more with uncertainty. That's assuming they'd even accept or recognize her and something like kin to them, of course.]

Saying it out loud makes it more real.

[Her fingers slide against his face, the pad of her thumb brushing against his scars. Painful, she thinks. It looks terribly painful. Why couldn't people--humans--leave well enough alone?

Her brow furrows, a mix of confusion and frustration] Say that often. 'Not important.' Of course it is important, why do you think otherwise? Do you not think you are important? Do not be stupid.

[She huffs, like it's possibly the single most stupidest thing she'd heard thus far.]

[ They're not exactly pleasant to touch, the burn marks: he's sure they feel as bad as they look, but the skin is dead and there's no pain in having those fingers brush against his exposed jaw and his metal implants. His expression largely doesn't change, stays calm as his eyes chase her smooth hand hovering near his cheek.

What he wants to say is "I have no idea what it is that could make me important", but that's something he tucks back, as per usual. The beat he takes to think about this is a second he takes to smooth his jacket over Oona's shoulders idly. ]

You're pretty blunt. [ wow Adolf... don't try to change the subject?! ] You say that, but for all you know, I may not be anyone worth defending.

[She blinks at that and looks amused despite herself, eyes flitting down briefly to watch the movement of his hand before returning to his face.] Blunt? Of course. Humans lie. Humans always lie. I am not human, therefore, I refuse to lie. If that honesty is seen as bluntness, it is no matter to me. [She's quiet for a moment, lost in her own memories.

She shakes her head slightly to come out of it and hums in agreement. Well, he's not wrong.] Is for me to decide, then. And have decided I like you. Therefore, will defend you.

[He's not totally human and can shoot electricity or something, it's cool!]

You think being horrible would make me dislike you? [Her smile is sharp and not at all kind; her teeth, which should be fangs, had been ground flat by the scientists before, and unfortunately just returning to mermaid form wouldn't restore them. But there's still something feral in that smile, something dangerous in the way she tilts her head and narrows her eyes in a pleased expression]

Killed every human who had trapped me. Am a murderer, by human standards. I do not care. Would kill them again. Would-- Could-- [A hum.] Will kill others. Humans think such things are terrible. Some think that would make me someone not worth defending either. [Her fingers on his cheek are still deceptively gentle, tracing the implants and over his mouth with idle curiosity] Does that bother you? Even if you told me you have done worse, I do not care.

Or perhaps you say it not because of action, but inaction? [Another hum, thoughtful this time as she considers this new development. She doesn't know anything about him, really, so it's all baseless speculation brought on by being too sleepy and content to bother girding her tongue]

[ This is a lot to take in, and he applies his frame of reference for it as best he can until he decides to discard that strategy altogether. There's something to be said about her lack of regrets— he's full of them— and if he doesn't entirely agree with her methodology, he appreciates that she has no remorse because he, similarly, has very little in the way of the man he killed way back in his childhood.

She says that she doesn't lie, and that's immediately something that settles in his mind and makes him blink, as if she's the one giving off sparks here. She bares her teeth, and even that gesture is as honest as everything about her, he thinks. ]

...It's dangerous, to speak your mind that freely. Sometimes.

[ But he figures she won't care about that either, and he'd laugh if he remembered how— so instead, he exhales softly. Maybe dismissive, but there might be something fond in there. ]

If you had to fight to live, that's fine. The alternative is rotting. That doesn't suit you.

I'm just putting one foot in front of the other.

[She laughs brightly, the feral look gone to be replaced by simple amusement.] Danger? I am not afraid. [Bring it on.] Others' offense to truth is not my problem, it is theirs'.

[In a way she can understand that now, though. Beyond getting her scale and her revenge, the only way she saw her story ending was with her own death. There had been no planning much beyond that, no thought given because the idea of life after all of that was unreasonable to her. She couldn't return home, she couldn't stay among the humans...

A soft exhale to mirror his own.] That is not a bad way to live. It is not laying down and dying or letting the world move on. You are moving forward still. It is admirable too.

[In retrospect he still hasn't answered her, but she lets it slide for now. Not everyone can be as free with their information as Oona is; instead she asks:] And what does suit me? [Since he seems to have quite the opinion of her already, and, well, Oona likes being praised. Who didn't??]

[ Sadly, he feels like this is the most he's ever talked about himself in a while, which is saying something. He's not sure how much of himself he should speak freely about, if any of it even matters now that he's not being monitored 24/7 by the government... though he supposes that it's just switched hands, from the Germans to CERES. Their objectives are different, though, and he's just one of many now.

Her words aren't unpleasant, though. Refreshingly obtuse. Again, dangerous for his heart. ]

So you have all this confidence, but you still want me to stroke your ego.

[ play nice, Adolf. He's a little mean about it, not because he's put off by her behavior, but because he likes to put up that familiar defense. It's depressing how endearing she is to him already. ]

What would suit you is a shirt. [ Let it go, Adolf... ] And, well.

[ His hand moves up to tuck his jacket over his mouth...except it isn't there to hide under, ugh. ]

Your original language. That wasn't bad.

My ego likes to be stroked. [She's not at all bothered by the harshness of his words, seeming to find it all very funny-- which is probably not the reaction he wanted from her. Oops. Was she making him uncomfortable?

Apparently so, in some way, after that shirt comment that startles a laugh out of her] Ah, it is not so bad, is it? You are very concerned about it!

[She feels a little bad though, honestly, because clearly he's uncomfortable without the coat; however, she also doubts he'd easily accept taking it back because it'd mean leaving her upper body bare. Why did people have to be so complicated about these sorts of things??

...Wait, what? Oona pauses and then moves to sit up, tugging the coat around her shoulders for his benefit.] Original... Oh. I was sleepy, so spoke without thinking. Ah, for given value of 'spoke.' [Since it's more vocalizations that spoken word, meant to convey impressions and visuals.

Oddly enough, she looks shy at that bit of praise though, blushing and suddenly finding the surrounding buildings very interesting. It's a little embarrassing to be caught like that, but she's pleased he liked it. When she 'speaks' again it's in that same, melody-like language, the pitches rising and falling softly; it's more whistle-like this time. Unlike the sleepy connotations of last time, this one projects an idea of being happy and content, like for the moment everything is balanced.

She stops it after a moment and laughs low in her throat, closing her eyes and tilting her head to hear the last of the notes as they disappear into the air] My human form can not form these notes so well. It is why I hum so much. Is close, but not quite. But enough. [Much like Adolf's overuse of the word "important" (Well, overused according to Oona, at least), Oona seems fond of overusing 'enough'-- everything is enough, not perfect but something she's willing to put up with for now.]

[ The jacket is a convenient way to hide his expression, which is marginally more important to him than hiding his scars— the former is more symbolically significant, while the latter is more practical. He isn't ashamed of his exposed teeth and the ugly mechanisms fastened to his jaw, but he understands, objectively, that it's not something he wants to alarm other people with.

So it's less nervous when his hand draws up again, more inconvenienced. He doesn't want to be obvious about the fact that his features have softened incrementally, though that may be an uphill battle. For someone so strong-willed (he assumes), that initial bashfulness is unexpected, and the fact that she humors him? Even more so.

It's nice, her vocalizations. He can't think of a better word for it, much like he doesn't really know how to describe his affinity for simple, unspoken things. And even if doesn't speak mermaid, he wants to think he understands the sentiment. ]

...I don't have a point of reference. So I wouldn't know. [ About her singing, he means. Or her inability to sound as good in human form. ] If you want me to stroke your ego on that front, you'll have to sing for me sometime else.

[ Sarcastic? Maybe, but he doesn't usually say things like 'next time'... so he almost regrets it, looks vaguely perturbed at himself for having voiced that. He wasn't supposed to say that?! ]

[Her eyebrows go up in surprise, the statement rather bold coming from him-- at least, from what little Oona knows about him.]

Ah, perhaps I am bad influence. [Her brashness is rubbing off!! Well, she can't say she minds and she gives a thoughtful hum.] Suppose I could. Once the water is gone for good. [She still goes back and forth between her human form when she has to, but when she's forced to stay... Well, the singing will give her something to look forward to.

She twists to face him, sitting up more to take his face in both her hands. Her thumbs smooth over his cheeks, the scars, and she hums again.] Then, I will promise to.

[Oona chuckles lightly.] I like you, Adolf. [She leans in then to kiss him, just something light and sweet. It doesn't last long and when she pulls away, eyes all alight with sly mischief, the corner of her mouth curls up in a smirk] Sealed promise with a kiss.

Haha! What a funny noise! [Gosh what a good day today is. Oona grins and tilts her head, as if daring him to try his lecture-- surely it must be coming, right??]

It is, indeed! A good day, I mean. If only this water would stay forever.

Bother? I do not know. A little, suppose. I simply feel... lost. [It'd be easier to just be told what to do, but Oona knows that she wouldn't be able to accept being given a direction, rather than just finding one herself.

She hums thoughtfully and leans back on her hands, trailing her tail lazily in the water.] Perhaps should just start killing humans who bother me enough, if I can not harm those scientists. [She... She's only joking. At least a little. Oona laughs.]

Do you have a purpose, Kaoru?

[She stares at him for a moment before sighing deeply. Oh boy. She moves to the edge of the water to pull herself up and take a seat, figuring that this might take a while to get through.]

All mermaids are based on sea animals, yes.Not always fish. My cousins are based on seals. Can speak with some animals-- dolphins and whales and octopus. Hmm, some others, maybe. [She tosses her hair with a huff] Of course there is language! Mermaids speak different too.

My name cannot be pronounced. But, you may call me 'Oona.' It is as close as can get. It, eh... It is enough. Is what others call me, anyhow. [She peers at him quietly a moment, expectant] And you have a name, yes?

[What a noble, admirable goal. She's seen a few people express similar interests in the past few days, but it just makes her brow wrinkle in confusion.]

...But why? Are they giving you something for doing so?

I'd imagine that would be a very normal thing to feel after obtaining something that you've sought after for so long.

["Lost" is a pretty good way to put it. "Empty", maybe, given certain circumstances. Kaoru's lips quirk upward into a brief smile at her AWFUL JOKE because of course this punk would find it funny (and honestly encourage it fully like a true shit), but doesn't make any verbal remark in return beyond a simple:]

It might be more trouble than it's worth. [What a normal topic to joke about...

As for her question-] I do. Being without purpose is a difficult thing to imagine, for me.

[He shakes his head.]

Ah... No, I will not take any payment. I just want to help people! I look forward to the opportunity.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 3 of 11

I'll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

B...

b

a

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject