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Who: Adolf ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
zitteraal & Oona mermaiding
When: 3/31 IC
Where: At the aquarium.
What: Fish people being fish people! An eel is dragged out to socialize with a mermaid in a place full of other fish, essentially.
Rating/Warning: None atm, will update if necessary!
[ If someone, anyone'd told him a few months ago back on Earth that there would come a day in which his biggest day-to-day concerns would be what to do about going to an aquarium with a mermaid, Adolf would likely have dismissed them quietly and looked into getting said individual a paid vacation for a few days; they must've been tired. Delusional, even. Long hours at work can do that.
The sad thing is that this is actually the current state of his life, and it would probably be a lot sadder if he'd actually harbored negative emotions about it aside from the usual trepidation and uncertainty. He still isn't sure why people keep voluntarily trying to spend time with him— what a novel thought— but he's still thankful for it, despite all the fronts he puts up that suggest otherwise.
So.
Since this is leisure and not business (even he knows the difference), he's waiting for Oona in front of the aquarium in what he attributes as 'casualwear': aka a highneck sweater and a long scarf that covers half of his face (mandatory). His hands are shoved into the pockets of his pants, and for once, he's not glaring into space as if the mere presence of air offends him.
Maybe he's even anticipating seeing the weird alien fish that might be here... maybe. I-it's not like he likes animals or anything, baka...
When he spots Oona, he pulls one hand out of his pants and raises it to indicate that yes, he is here, and yes, he is Adolf Reinhardt (as if he could be mistaken for anyone else). He also incidentally has a pair of tickets already, because he beat Oona to it and he's a gentleman eel, thank you very much. ]
—Oona.
[ Sup girl you ready to go see some FISH ]
zitteraal & Oona mermaidingWhen: 3/31 IC
Where: At the aquarium.
What: Fish people being fish people! An eel is dragged out to socialize with a mermaid in a place full of other fish, essentially.
Rating/Warning: None atm, will update if necessary!
[ If someone, anyone'd told him a few months ago back on Earth that there would come a day in which his biggest day-to-day concerns would be what to do about going to an aquarium with a mermaid, Adolf would likely have dismissed them quietly and looked into getting said individual a paid vacation for a few days; they must've been tired. Delusional, even. Long hours at work can do that.
The sad thing is that this is actually the current state of his life, and it would probably be a lot sadder if he'd actually harbored negative emotions about it aside from the usual trepidation and uncertainty. He still isn't sure why people keep voluntarily trying to spend time with him— what a novel thought— but he's still thankful for it, despite all the fronts he puts up that suggest otherwise.
So.
Since this is leisure and not business (even he knows the difference), he's waiting for Oona in front of the aquarium in what he attributes as 'casualwear': aka a highneck sweater and a long scarf that covers half of his face (mandatory). His hands are shoved into the pockets of his pants, and for once, he's not glaring into space as if the mere presence of air offends him.
Maybe he's even anticipating seeing the weird alien fish that might be here... maybe. I-it's not like he likes animals or anything, baka...
When he spots Oona, he pulls one hand out of his pants and raises it to indicate that yes, he is here, and yes, he is Adolf Reinhardt (as if he could be mistaken for anyone else). He also incidentally has a pair of tickets already, because he beat Oona to it and he's a gentleman eel, thank you very much. ]
—Oona.
[ Sup girl you ready to go see some FISH ]
no subject
It's a big step up for Adolf, though, because it's one of those incredibly mundane questions that he rarely asks— or has asked, not in a while.
All of this is just to illustrate the fact that what's coming up is incredibly stupid and awkward, essentially. ]
Are you enjoying yourself.
[ He says, flatly, without even an inflection at the end to suggest that it might be a question. He says it as if he's asking for a status report, as if enjoyment is a statistic that is very vital to knowing how to evaluate his current situation.
Maybe if Adolf were less of a nerd, he would have said something like 'I'm having fun so I hope you're having fun', but. God, look at him. He's so dour. ]
no subject
As such, it actually gives her pause to consider. Perhaps a normal person would have said, 'yes!' outright, because the idea that one had to stop and think about it would imply, in and of itself, that she wasn't.
It's not that she isn't, but it's more complicated than that and she wants to make sure she's giving an honest answer.]
It is... difficult, to see them in tanks. [Not a good start, she supposes, but it's the honest one she's always promised to give. She steps away from Adolf then, moving closer to place her hands flat against the glass surface of Sparky's home. Her face is kept carefully neutral, eyes staring into the water.]
I was kept in one for a long, long time. I do not know if it is better or worse to have known freedom for so long beforehand, or to have never known anything but this. You cannot miss what you never had-- I have heard that said before. But I have also heard, 'it is better to have loved and lost, than to never love at all.' When I think of such things, it makes my heart hurt.
The scientists wanted to breed me. [She says it quick, blunt-- she never brought it up before with, well, anyone because how does one come back from that?] I do not know what they would have done when I refused. [because of course she would have] Not that they would have found a merman. They are not so careless and too protected to have gotten caught. I was stupid. [A self-deprecating smile and she shakes her head a little.]
Perhaps they would only catch another mermaid. Perhaps they would have no use for me. Being here makes me think, 'could I have ended up somewhere like this?' Would I be nearly as content as these creatures? Would I settle for 'this is enough'?
[That word again. 'Enough.' It's both a word of comfort and fear; of settling, of growing too content and not bothering to save herself anymore. Her fingers curl lightly against the glass.
Sparky lets out another zap, sending a text up on the screen that just reads 'BAM!' But it catches Oona's attention and she steps back to look at the screen, smiling despite herself.
Gosh, all of that sounds like such a downer, huh?]
I am not as upset as I thought I would be. I thought I would hate this, but... I do not. It brings up bad thoughts at times, and bad memories. I am afraid someone will somehow... notice, that I will be put behind glass again.
[Oona turns to face him then, holding her hands behind her back in a surprisingly confident stance despite her admission of all her insecurities here] But I am not alone. You are here, so I feel safe. If I was alone, I do not think I could do this. But you ask me questions about the fish. You listen. You care, and I know that. [She tilts her head slightly with an expression that seems to say 'don't even try to deny it right now.']
You being here turned an experience that would have been much, much worse to something better.
So yes, I am having fun. I have not laughed so hard I have cried in-- many years. [A pause in her speech, because 'many years' is such an understatement, jesus christ.
Her expression softens as does her tone.] Thank you. [As if, somehow, he's the reason for all of it. Another smile and she repeats herself with more finality:] I am having fun and I am even looking forward to seeing more.
no subject
Comfort seems pointless: he knows what that's like, words that border on pity, words that console but never get at the root of the issue. He doesn't think to correct her or to draw empty observations, the 'it won't-s' and 'you aren't-s'.
She said so herself, all those weeks ago. That she'd never let something like that happen again, and he believes her. ]
—There'll be more things, for you. More opportunities to laugh.
[ 'For you', he says. Optimism isn't a strong suit of his, but he's willing to bend his cardinal rule at the moment.
He reaches out for Oona, puts his hand on her shoulder and applies the faintest pressure— almost a squeeze— before he lets go. ]
...As far as experiences go, it'll only get better from here. I set the bar low.
[ Again, a wry joke: 'don't expect this to be the highlight of the year, you'll probably have a lot more fun than this in the future'. But it's the kind of joke he doesn't make too often, and the quick flick of his gaze to the side should properly convey his mild shyness.
Listen, he just wants Oona to be happy.
(And he thinks vaguely about Rosa, their first 'date', her head pressed against his chest. "Of all the days I've lived, this is the happiest", she'd said.
Don't think about that, he tells himself.) ]
no subject
Still, she reaches out to grab for his hand, her eyes clear and a smile turning up the corners of her mouth a little.] I still have not made you smile. I will do so. [A promise, perhaps a bit arrogant in her confidence] I do not lie, so it must come true. [Okay maybe more than a bit, but there's a playful sparkle in her eyes now.
Her fingers curl over his hand, a light squeeze of her own] I hope you will be by my side for those better experiences.
[So he can have fun too, so maybe he can find some little moments of happiness and peace regardless of how much he might try denying himself.]
I hope you did not think to escape me so easily. [Another light joke. He can't just agree to one or two fun things (swimming at the beach, going to an aquarium) and hope that'd satisfy her for long! He's (unfortunately??) caught Oona's attention too much and there's no way she's letting him slink off into the obscurity again or anything.
Sorry about your life, Adolf.]
no subject
He wasn't expecting the handholding at all, so he stares at the point of contact with a vague expression of incomprehension. That look lingers, before he seems to understand the implication and the sentiment, and he tugs his arm back with a slight undertone of embarrassment— not embarrassed by Oona, but mostly at himself for being so momentarily unguarded. ]
They won't be able to say that I didn't try.
[ Rude Eel... but whatever, he's stuck and he's not going to overcomplicate that notion by being overly dour about it. ]
...Come on. You want to touch the sharks, don't you.
[ He coughs, just to deflect from his own sheepishness. He's so obvious... ]
no subject
But since she doubts it'd be what he actually wanted even if he did say it one day, she doesn't have to worry about it. Doesn't even spare it a thought.
Besides, she's too easily distracted to dwell on things like that for long. Her eyes go huge and her mouth drops] Can pet sharks!? Ah! Why are we standing here? Come, come! We must go, now! [She pulls at his arm with a childish abandon, despite the fact she actually has no idea where to go for these sharks.
DOESN'T MATTER, SHE HAS SHARKS TO PET. WHO NEEDS DIRECTION]