I'll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue

[mermaiding]

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'!]

Comments

[mermaiding]

[She gives him a warm look-- terrible with words though he may be, it's hardly much better than she herself is with them.

But she can read the intent behind them, and she can see that this situation is mildly more distressing than anything else, for whatever reason. What a cute eel. She might like to keep him.

So, to turn the conversation away a little, her expression turns quickly mischievous, her smile cheeky] So, I can have another kiss?

[deontology]

[Yeah, he's just quirking an eyebrow at her for that.]

Is it? Does everyone think so?

[Some people treasure that sort of thing........ like Oona did, he thinks, perhaps. Moms gonna worry.]

[souredsweet]

[It feels a little familiar to Kaoru too, but it's still surprising every time Oona shows just how insightful she can be. Loud and brash doesn't always equate to stupid or unobservant, after all.

It's for that reason that a little more consideration is put into the answer that follows. Kaoru's hands fold together neatly, and the smile remains but fades until it's barely noticeable.]

It isn't unusual for one's purpose to be a very personal thing, I suppose. For me, it would be no different. [Which isn't a lie! But it's definitely a polite way of saying "yeah, it's not something I want to talk about".]

Someday, perhaps. ...Though it's sweet of you to offer assistance already. Your heart is very kind.

[mermaiding]

No one has been... overly mad. So far. [She thinks a moment] Mostly just surprised.

[Don't ruin her fun now, not!mom!!! She's grown a little more cynical to the fairy tale ideals of romance by now, unfortunately.] If they were mad or upset, would apologize.

[mermaiding]

[Oona nods in understanding.] Then, will not pry. [For now, anyway. There's no real reason for her to do so anyway.

But she laughs at Kaoru's comment. Kind? Eh..] Perhaps. Or I am just easily swayed by pretty things. [A little of column A, a little of column B. Her thumb touches lightly at Kaoru's lips, and Oona represses a sigh.]

Can I kiss you again? [Time to change the subject to nicer things, clearly.]

[flaredo]

He might be a little jealous, but I'll figure out a way to make it up to him.

[ She somehow doubts he'll mind the fact that his girlfriend got kissed by a mermaid. ]

... You're having fun, though, huh?

[zitteraal]

[ He finally pulls his hand away from Oona's face, lets it hover for a second in midair as he digests this question, wonders if she's being serious about it.

He has a feeling she's not kidding when she asks for kisses. ]

Try it. I might shock you if you're not careful.

[ That's a lie, he never would. He's not even rude enough to shove her off his lap, as demonstrated by the fact that all he does is crane his neck back at this impending threat. ]

[souredsweet]

[It's nice, at least, being able to more or less say "not gonna talk" and to have it met only with "okay". Lying by omission doesn't count in a situation like this either... Maybe one day Kaoru will tell a small part of the story, and it can count then.

As for the request, despite the lead-in, it doesn't seem to have been expected. Still - Kaoru's head cants to the side a little, and it's difficult to tell if there's anything but ambivalence for the question or gesture. Oona's always been touchy-feely, so that much isn't surprising, at least.]

Ah... Is that your fondness for pretty things speaking, Oona-san? Though I'm a little surprised that you would ask the second time rather than the first.

[beaconed]

[ ABSOLUTELY PERFECT AND SHE SHOULD DO IT ]

W-What?! I, uh... h-hahahaah.... t-that's not... I mean, y'know, you can just do that without, like, without the surprise part, yeah? Like, if... if you really wanna do that, maybe... maybe send me a text! Yeah! Like, "I am going to kiss you at 11:42, wash your mouth" --n-not that I already don't brush my teeth or anything! I dunno why I said that, I'm just-- I'm so confused right now...

[ a pretty girl kissed him, how could this happen to jaune arc ]

[mermaiding]

Wear something sexy. [It works for her, okay??

But she laughs and nods at her question.] I am! And look! [She shifts to bring her tail up and splash it playfully against the water]

My tail! I got my tail back!

[mermaiding]

Perhaps it is just my fondness for you. You are a bad influence, Kaoru. [Her tone is flirty and teasing, though she doesn't really expect Kaoru to give her permission. Kaoru's a bit... prickly like that. Distant. Like there's some wall between them that Oona smashes into but not quite through.]

The first time was just for fun, playing. This time, I want a real kiss. So, I ask first.

[mermaiding]

[Her expression says she checked out of his rambling somewhere around the "t-that's not..." part. She stares at him and yawns, examines her nails, etc...

When it seems like he's done she raises her gaze to him again and looks amused] You should trying breathing. I hear humans need it. [You need to breathe too, Oona... Don't be rude.]

Did I upset you? Will apologize, if so.

[beaconed]

Upset me? Pssh! C'mon, hah!

[ Far from it. This kid used to be bullied in the worst way, and even then he took it in stride. He does finally approach her at least, albeit dramatically... and slightly playfully. ]

I meannn. I... I'll let it go if you forget that I screamed really loud, okay?

[ this is still about manly pride guys ]

[aslyfox]

I'm a spirit of... well, this. [ And Kogi pats his side, showing off the white handled blade that hangs from his waist. The curved blade, roughly 31 inches long, hanging from a yellow strap. ]

Without it, I don't know what I'd do. [ Probably demanifest and not take a physical form, or die. Not exactly something he wants to experience. ]

What did humanity do to you? I've only met kind people here, even though this isn't always the most forgiving of places, like the recent floods we had.

[ It took a long time for Kogi's hair to dry without electricity. ]

b! adds to the kiss pile ...

[cordated]

[ it hits him faster than he can process it — a brush of lips, soft and cool, slippery from water cohesion. and makoto, painfully an amateur to types of affection that circumvented gentle hand-holding or warm hugs, thunks down like a brick on the platform, pupils blown wide in equal parts shock and mortification. ]

W-w-w-w-wah ... ?!

[ motor reflexes upended in complete havoc, he half-clambers, half-trips and crumbles again like the loser he is, which is a better signifier of his predilection for blundering wishy-washiness as of late then he'd ever confess to. ]

Huh?! What — what — ...

[ ARE THERE SEA MONSTERS IN THE WATER?!?!?! HIS NIGHTMARES ARE BECOMING TOO REAL ...

out of the morbid desire to face his fears for once, or possibly be eaten whole by them, makoto scrambles back to peer over the edge, checking the water's depths for the perpetrator at hand. ]

[mermaiding]

Is that a challenge? [She grins, but doesn't push it. Maybe he might shock her, but she doesn't think it'd be on purpose.

Instead she settles in, content to be quiet for a bit as the exhaustion decides to remind her that it's still there. Hanging around. She yawns wide and rubs at her face with a soft grunt of annoyance.]

...Should change back, soon. To human form, I mean. [Slightly bitter, mostly resigned-- it's a fact of her current situation in an ocean-less city that she has to deal with. If she tries to sleep in mermaid form she could find herself stuck at the bottom of a hole once the water drains, or worse.] Am very sleepy.

[mermaiding]

[She presses a hand to her mouth and giggles. Ahh, manly pride. Humans are so funny.]

Yes, yes, alright. I will not tell people, if they do not ask directly. I do not lie, remember?

[So as long as no one just comes right out and asks "when's the last time jaune screamed like a girl?" he should be alright. Should be.] Am sure it will be fine.

[Curious, she adds:] Why are you out here?

[mermaiding]

[She tilts her head, wondering just how many people ask that question without knowing that Oona is always fully prepared to tell the entire story. It's one thing she learned-- people will ask, 'how are you?' and don't expect an actual full report on your current state. But she doesn't believe in lying, so she doesn't bother with nothing less than brutal honesty.

She rolls her shoulders and looks off, feigning indifference] They stole me from home, locked me up for many, many years. Experiments and poking and prodding and cutting me open. Will never forgive them.

[That's the suepr simplified version, if only because she doesn't think Kogi would understand if she went any more in-depth about her tail being stolen and all that jazz. This was straight-forward enough.]

Is that not enough reason to hate?

aaww yiiiiss

[mermaiding]

[She laughs as she glides under the water, knowing full well who it is she just managed to kiss. On one hand she's a little concerned--after all, if he scolded her for her bit of fun play-drowning people, who knows what else he's a stick-in-the-mud over??

Would he scold her for this too? She frowns lightly, a bit apprehensive. After all, it wasn't like anyone liked being scolded (okay some people did, maybe, but that was going into other sorts of territories). Maybe she could tell him it was a mermaid thing...

No, that'd be lying and she'd sworn she'd never do that. Damn.

Realizing she's been down there long enough that A. Makoto already caught a glimpse of her through the settling debris and/or B. possibly was ready to leave now, Oona rose to the surface, breaking through the water without so much as a gasp for how long she'd been down there. (Ah she missed having gills.)]

Makoto. [She greets him with a pleased hum, the sound coming out more melodious than it had in her human form-- her original language was more musical than her normal human speech, and it came across now in these small vocalizations.]

Surprised you? [Her eyes practically sparkles with mischief, like she doesn't totally know the answer to that.]

[flaredo]

Your-- whoa!

[ Yang's instantly leaning down again, wide-eyed. ] How'd that happen? Just all of a sudden? It looks so cool!

[deontology]

Is that so... [He doesn't sound too impressed for a moment, before--] Well, I shall expect you to take responsibility for your actions either way then.

[He can trust her with that much--the mug thing proved as much.]

I assume you are able to change back from that form as well?

[souredsweet]

Ah, am I? I would hope to be a decent influence where it counts. [Except no, no, not at all. What Oona thinks is NOT UNTRUE...

And she's not wrong about that either, since the careful distance is maintained even now. Kaoru is willing to compromise with people like Oona more than almost anyone else, but there are still lines drawn that are better left uncrossed. Besides, since Oona is closer than most, she doesn't get the benefit of being coddled and humored for the sake of Kaoru's very fine and very false outward presentation. A downside of seeing more of the truth, perhaps, but maybe Oona values that sliver of truth more than placation.]

It's kind of you to ask, but I feel it would be cruel of me to say yes.

[beaconed]

[ He sits on the edge, feet hovering above the water. ]

Ah, no reason... I was just training a little... [ He did get recently attacked by the same person who granted Oona her tail. Awkward.

Speaking of which: ] --wait, why are you here? I mean, did you... [ He can't quite see if she has a tail, but... ]

[prosecutory]

[He clears his throat and tries to regain his dignity - which is surprisingly not difficult. (Un)fortunately for Oona, a lecture is not forthcoming and it shows in how serene and content his next expression is.

Edgeworth watches her, clearly enjoying the water...and he notes that those aren't legs he sees there. She had said she wasn't human, didn't she?]

If Maris has his way, it might. [He should be concerned, but somehow...it's okay. It's not like the entire colony was underwater now, right?] I imagine it would be very convenient for you, since the swimming pool is probably a pile of rubble, and the fountains in the gardens are quite unsafe.

[zitteraal]

[ She settles into a distance that's more manageable, a comfortable weight laid across his lap; it reminds him of his own sluggishness, but he doesn't show it beyond a long inhale and exhale. A moment he uses to orient himself. ]

…Are you staying with someone. The Residential District is a mess.

[ If she is, he would be fine with carrying her to wherever she's staying－ it's a better alternative to leaving Oona here wrapped in his jacket and half-passed out.

A tilt of his head, a careful once-over. ]

If you can't walk, I can carry you.