mermaid shenanigans au

[occulthymns]

[This is stupid this is stupid this is stupid.

That's the mantra running through Euri's head as the western ocean comes into sight. This is stupid and dangerous and a plant isn't worth the trouble of getting this close to so much water, even if the tide is out.

... But damnit! If those rumours are true all she has to do is grab one or two plants. Then she can take them home and grow them herself and given how they're rare to the point of mythical she'll be rich.

Euri makes her way down the hill, swallowing thickly as the full ocean comes into view. It's a lot bigger than she imagined, and she tries to focus on the shallows directly in front of her. All she has to do is wade out to that little island - only a few miles - and then she'll be fine.

It takes her about an extra ten minutes to reach the edge of the water, and when she does she holds her breath for a few moments. But nothing happen, so she removes her shoes and stockings and ties the hem of her dress up high so it won't get wet. The feeling of warm water hitting her toes makes her squeak, but a few seconds later she's plowing into it and starting for the island.]

Comments

[occulthymns]

I'm not touchy. I don't want help from my kidnapper.

[She sniffs, looking away.]

[showmeanguish]

Kidnapper? You ventured into my territory. As far as I'm concerned, you belong to me now.

[occulthymns]

[WHAT.]

That's stupid! That island doesn't belong to you! And neither do I!

[showmeanguish]

Yeah, it does. You saw it at low tide; in a few hours all but the highest parts of it get flooded by the sea.

My territory spans three miles in every direction, and everything in it is mine. Yourself included. [And he's fought hard against other, young solitary males to keep his territory that big. The only thing that could throw him out would be a more experienced one, or a group of females (but they probably wouldn't be interested in evicting him, he'd evict himself).]

[occulthymns]

That - that doesn't mean I belong to you! That isn't how it works!

[She's mostly just being stubborn since she's at a loss for words. She doesn't want to know what this really means for her immediate future - she just wants to go home. To make things worse she's going to start shivering, too.]

[showmeanguish]

[Her response gets an unmoved snort, as well as a raise of his eyebrows.]

Fine, then think of yourself as a prisoner. For trespassing.

[occulthymns]

I didn' t know I was trespassing!

[showmeanguish]

You didn't ask.

[And he crosses his arms over his chest.] In fact, you were rude when I asked what you were doing. Then you attacked me, and tried to steal.

[occulthymns]

[Oh hell no]

Those plants don't belong to you!

[showmeanguish]

Not a very good listener, are you? Are all Witches this dumb?

[occulthymns]

[Her shivering is picking up as she gets colder, which makes her more irritable.]

Sh - shut up, we aren't dumb!

[showmeanguish]

[He notices, but since she rejected his offer, he's going to let her be miserable until she asks for help again.]

Dumb and stubborn. It's any wonder why we bothered teaching you anything.

[occulthymns]

[Her response is a frustrated noise as she looks away, curling tighter so as to try and retain more body heat. It doesn't help though and within avfew minutes she's shivering pretty badly.]

H - hate y - you....

[showmeanguish]

For catching and punishing you? I'm well within my rights, brat.

[occulthymns]

I'm - I'm going to f - freeze to death! I want t - to go to dry land...!

[showmeanguish]

[For a moment, he doesn't respond. Just keeps watching her shiver with a sort of cruel amusement. But then,]

If I do, will you finally stop complaining?

[occulthymns]

[Of course not, but she nods vigorously.]

Yes!

[showmeanguish]

[He suspects as much... But since she's so fragile.

He floats a hand out towards her.]

Fine. Hold on.

[occulthymns]

[She's quick to latch onto his hand with both of hers. Fuck yes maybe she can even escape!]

[showmeanguish]

[HAHA. If only, Euri, but your optimism is cute.

When he's sure she's holding on, he gives a powerful kick of his fin that drags her forward with him, swimming back up a little. But they aren't headed for the surface--there's another tunnel entrance to the island, only barely big enough for them both to squeeze through.

And he being the considerate merman he is, makes sure she doesn't get clobbered by the tunnel walls. More than is necessary, anyway.]

[occulthymns]

[Her heart sinks when she realizes they're entering another tunnel. Not the surface? What the hell is he doing??

Of course she quickly becomes a little more preoccupied clinging as tightly to him as possible to avoid the rocky walls, even if that means pressing her body against his.]

[showmeanguish]

[That's slightly distracting (no really, the sensory organs on that side of his tail, that let him detect nearby movement and space are freaking out over being triggered), but he ignores it and focuses on finding his way. It's pitch black, which will probably make her feel even more claustrophobic, and with as many turns they're taking it's impossible to know what way's up or down anymore.

But it only lasts a few minutes, before a current pushes them out into a pool. It's similar to the lagoon Euri'd found, only once they reach the surface, it's clear that there's no way out, here. It's entirely enclosed in by sea rock, with a ceiling that stretches up about fourty feet, some of which is tangled up in tree roots...though from somewhere at the top, there's the sound of rain and a trickle of it down the wall. The entire floor space isn't huge, only about twenty feet in diameter, but there is a ledge of rock big enough for someone her size to lay down on, if she tucked her legs up a little.

And it's here that he swims to, and helps her hoist up. The air is considerably warmer than the water, even if it might still feel chilly against her wet skin.]

There, happy?

[occulthymns]

[It isn't what she was expecting and thanks to her circumstances she can't even appreciate the beauty of the place. Looks like escape is out of the question, for now...

She scowls but nods slightly.]

I need to dry off.

[showmeanguish]

[...Blank look. What, were you expecting him to have towels?]

[occulthymns]

I need fire, or something warm...!