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'!]

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[ Ah. He should've seen this coming, he supposes, but it's too late to move away now.

He blinks down at the pool of long hair and limbs settled on his lap, listens to and digests what he's being told by equating it with the things he knows about transformations— namely, that he would probably resent it just as much if he were shackled to electrodes and made to be an experimental animal again. Being human isn't a gift for Oona, he realizes, just as much as he doesn't appreciate being the first successful human-animal hybrid; there are blessings in the form of curses, and it's that resigned offhandedness that he sympathizes with more than anything. ]

It won't be enough. [ He says, and realizes that that sounds as rude as it is excessively blunt. ] ...But you'll still be you, won't you.

[ Clumsy, clumsy. It's obvious he's fumbling a little. ]

[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.

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.

[ It's an unpleasant thought to leave on, he realizes, to tell her that all this water's going to dry up—

—but suddenly he's being told that he's 'liked', and there are promises being made (no no, not good), and all that blond and blue is coming closer, closer. He has no defenses for something he can't anticipate, so his expression is laughably obvious once Oona pulls back from the kiss: surprised. Startled.

Now who's the one shocking people, huh?

There's literally no way he can look at Oona with a straight face right now, so he sweeps his hand up, presses it over his eyes. He'll never win. ]

...Don't toy with your elder— [ '—s.' But that doesn't apply, does it? She's far older than he is, in terms of years... He trails off, and heaves a long sigh through his fingers. ] ...Never mind.

[ Defeated!! So defeated. ]

[She laughs, but it's a kind one as she closes one smaller hands over his wrist, tugging gently. She doesn't really try to pull his hand away from his face, more just trying to non-verbally tell him he doesn't have to. hat's there to even be embarrassed of??[

Toy? I do not toy. Would not be so cruel. I am very-- what did you say? Blunt. [She laughs softly and presses another kiss to his head]

You are funny. As I said, I like you. [She can read body language well enough, though, and she knows better than to push and push; so she sits back again and lets him go to give him some space.]

Will not make you uncomfortable, though. Hmm... Not too much, anyway. [But Oona watches him sharply-- if he's super opposed to her level of affection, she'll certainly tone it down]

[ He was married once— still is, he supposes, though the wedding ring around his neck, tucked under his shirt, seems more like a weight than a connection. He almost says something to that effect, that Oona shouldn't do that to someone unless she really loves them!! But he also thinks about how it might be better not to think about things like that, that it's fine this way, that his wife is happier now. Without him. Free. If she even still exists at all. (That hurts again, a familiar dullness.)

So he doesn't say anything, swallows it back. Lets Oona tug his hand back from his face, and sighs again. ]

...Don't make guarantees you don't intend to keep. I'll call you out on them.

[ About making him uncomfortable, which she hasn't done so much as... well. Kind of wormed his way through his barriers, which actually isn't terribly difficult unless you're a direct subordinate or someone who may or may not die in the near future. He would be far harsher, in that case.

Offhandedly, he reaches out and pushes some hair out of Oona's face. Excuse him for looking away as he does, he's awkward. ]

[She blinks slowly, tilting her head into the gesture.] I told you, did I not? I do not lie.

[This is a Serious Thing, when it comes to anything affectionate from Oona.] I do not want... [She hums and sighs, trying to figure out how best to word it and presses her cheek against his hand.] Being playful, making uncomfortable in playful way is different. If I make you uncomfortable, to the point you avoid me or hate me...That would hurt me too.

So, I do not want to do that. You are important. Opinion is important. Boundaries are different for different people, so, I do not want to cross them. Too much. [She's still a little shit, of course, but she's not so cruel. Pushing boundaries is fine, but destroying them? Nah.]

[ Why is she doing this... truly, especially regarding how candid she is about not wanting someone to hate her or avoid her?! He feels this too much, he wishes he could just get up and leave because it's going to kill him if Oona is ever in danger, or something similar. His heart is withering already, someone help this eel. ]

That's... [ What does he even say to this. It's too much, is what it is. His eyes swim, before he gathers his composure again and shakes his head. ] ...I didn't say anything about hating anything.

[ Meaning, he's never going to hate her, gosh. She'd be able to see his jaw work, teeth clicking together at the back from where they're exposed. ]

Do what you want. It doesn't matter to me, one way or another. [ Translation: 'it's fine'. Why can't he just use his words... ]

[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?

[ 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. ]

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.

[ 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.

[She shakes her head] I am not. Sort of... eh, floating. [She waves her hand vaguely to indicate the whole of the city. Mostly just sleeping where she can, as close to water where she can find it.]

I do not mind. Before here, was sleeping in forests and such. It is not so different. [A pause, and she adds] Colder. But, I can handle more cold than most humans.

[She looks at her tail with a frown] But, you do not have to carry me. I... can remove my tail again. Should, anyway. It is starting to dry out. [But she still sounds reluctant about it. It has to be done, she knows it, but its unpleasant, like ripping off a bandaid. A... bandaid she's really fond of. The comparison is good enough okay]

[ He's fairly sure that Oona can take care of herself— she's not as young as she looks, that's already been established— but his frown lingers for a second until he sees fit to settle back into reserved neutrality, with a little bump of his knee upwards. ]

How does the transformation work. Is it painful?

[ A brief rummage inside his pockets comes up with a canister that resembles a mint tin, one that he shows to indicate that he also goes through a process. As vague as the gesture is... ]

Tell me if I should get out of the way.

[She glances curiously to the tin, but nods at the question, her smile a tad bitter.] Yes, it is.

My mother... could make it look so beautiful. The power to do this came from her family, her clan. She taught me, a little, before I left to explore. She said even if I could not do it fully, it would impress my cousins in the north when I visited. Make them like me, and also easier to learn.

...Of course, I did not see them before I was captured. It took me long time to figure out how to complete the magic. [It's deceptively simple, though she feels a little self-conscious actually doing it in front of someone. Her hand sweep over her tail, from the top towards the bottom as if brushing the scales off of her. At first she seems fine, but as the scales begin to peel away and disappear, Oona's face screws up in pain, teeth digging into her bottom lip.

The whole process takes maybe only two minutes, but at the end of it her lip is bleeding and her shoulders shake from the effort, but her legs are back and there's a scale roughly the size of her palm sitting in her hand, a brilliant blue like the rest of her scales.

She exhales slowly and sits up straight again, bending her legs as if testing them and wincing from the effort. It's a good thing she's got that coat on too, since she's now totally naked. Oops.]

..It is not supposed to hurt. I am just... no good at this sort of thing. [A half-whispered confession and she shakes her head, mildly disappointed in herself. It's another reminder of what her captivity cost her; if she could have learned it properly, that right way...]

I will be able to move and walk in a few minutes. The pain will go by then. Got captured before because I tried to move right away, did not let myself get used to it. [Oona rubs at her legs, trying to speed up the process and will away the lingering pain]

[ It's difficult to watch the whole thing, not because the transformation itself is unseemly, but because of the clear amount of excruciating pain that comes along with it. His expression darkens, but only enough that it's a fleeting moment of moroseness that Oona won't have to deal with later. ]

...It must be frustrating.

[ The tone here is measured, calm but not unkind. He reaches out to wipe Oona's torn lip with the high collar of his jacket, dismissive of the red streak it leaves on white fabric. It's no great loss to him. ]

If it hurts, say so. If you need to rest, also say so. [ A beat, and he appends: ] ...There's nothing and no one here to judge you.

I'll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue

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