[ you know what's neat? ships! underwater! they bear things from the above water and namu thinks those things are NEAT!
which is why he spends an inordinate amount of time picking through ships that have made themselves homes to sea life instead of doing the thing they were built to do. namu smiles at a few schools of fish milling around the foremast of a ship he hasn't completely picked over yet, wiggling his fingers at them as he swims through, his tail flicking behind him.
he's working on cracking open a chest when light filters through a hole in the ship. he lets out a startled noise, dropping the chest as he panics, eyes swinging left and right as he tries to find a place to hide. this can't be good, right? are there finless here?
beautiful teal scales and flowing fins disappear around a piece of broken ship as the light draws closer and namu settles against the plank, curling against himself as tight as he can. all he can do is hope he wasn't seen... ]
( iseul isn't someone known for a love of nature, no, but he does enjoy walking along the rocky shores of his momentary home. summer theatre along the coast is romantic all on its own but the aura immediately shifts when he learns that there is a shipwreck a long walk away from the main drag. the crew had half survived but the majority of the ship's treasures did not.
iseul loves the mythology around it - lost loves left ashore waiting for their husbands or wives, alleged curses on ships, treasure hunting and all. it's why he's risking his ass to try to sneak a personal peek at the ship itself. it's a mild day, with low winds, but there is always a danger of getting trapped somewhere. he wasn't the strongest swimmer but spending the summer here so far has at least strengthened his muscles.
which brings him here, thankful for his lung capacity and trained breath control, protected only by a black rashguard and swim shorts. it really is eerily beautiful down here, all blues and greens with a few fish he hasn't scared away with his movement. there's something loose along the wood plank and the curious part of iseul thinks to move it — at least until he sees what looks like a giant tail. if he wasn't holding his breath, he might gasp, instead kicking away to hastily swim closer to the surface. )
namu peers out from behind his hiding spot at the retreating form, his eyes widening as he watches the finless move its... its... not-fins to propel it toward the surface. they can't breathe, right? that's always been part of the problem when their ships sink, after all; they just wind up, well, dying, a lot of the time. it's really very sad.
but it definitely saw him. which can't be good.
namu bites down on his bottom lip, wondering if he should chase after it or not. he could also just leave, but there's always a chance that it might be going to get more of its friends to bring them back here and search, and he can't have that. namu can make it forget instead, extend just a bit of his magic, but he'll have to catch it to do that.
with a long sigh he unfurls from his hiding spot and takes off after the finless, catching it under its arms when he gets close enough to propel it even faster to the surface, stopping short of cresting himself as the momentum carries the finless to break through to the air above. namu remains just under the top of the water, peering upward, his tail drifting in the currents below him as he stares and-- oh.
its kinda pretty, isn't it? from what he can see through the surface's distortion. ]
( he's too stunned to react, especially to thrash against the hold this creature (???) has on him. as fantastical as iseul can be, his life is relatively grounded in reality, the fantasy existing on the stage instead. he can feel his heart beating in his ears, almost drowning out the sound of the water rushing past him until he can take a great gasp for air once he touches the surface, long fingers curling into rocky sand.
it takes him a while to steady his breathing as he scrambles to turn around to look into the water again. the land takes a significant dip underneath the water, going from shallow to deep in a near-instant. it gives the creature some cover but iseul can kind of see the shape of it when the sun hits the surface just right.
he knows it's too far away but he reaches down to touch the water lapping at the shore. )
[ he has two options: flee (tempting), or do what he meant to do (not as tempting). but there's a third option, creeping up on him, and that's to stay.
he shouldn't stay.
so clearly that means he pushes himself upward, head and shoulders breaking through the surface of the water. the gills along his neck seal up so that he can continue to breathe properly, the scales along his jaw and neck taking the reflections off the surface of the water to sparkle themselves.
and he tilts his head, curiously, eyes slightly narrowing. ]
( blinking owlishly at the figure that has emerged from the sea, he pushes his long, brown almost black hair away from his eyes. the sun beating down on him has begun to dry his clothes but he still feels a shiver run down his spine when their eyes meet.
it's — he almost looks human. almost. )
I don't know! ( iseul rasps, glued to his spot despite a small voice in the back of his head urging him to leave and forget the whole thing. )
I don't mean any harm, I assure you. You just - you came out of no where.
[ he sounds petulant as he says it, his lips pressed together into a tiny pout. but he doesn't move anywhere, stays where he is, his tail churning water underneath him to keep him afloat.
namu eventually glides closer, the water seeming to just part around him rather than it be him pushing through it. his hands rest on the ledge of the earth where it drops off into the sea, still submerged, and when the end of his tail shimmers above the water for just a moment it matches the color of his eyes. ]
Here?( of course he sounds incredulous. where could one possibly live here? the seaside town hadn't even thought to start building houses down here because the grounds were so rocky.
he loses focus briefly at the sight of that tail and iseul can finally gasp on land, covering his mouth as he leans all the way back, plopping onto his rear in the sand. it is stunning. his bewildered expression says more than he can think to say at this moment. )
I am human. What are you ...? ( at least he asked the question first so it doesn't sound quite as rude as it does in iseul's head. )
[ namu repeats the word to himself a few times, rolling it over on his tongue to get a taste for it. human. a funny word. he likes it.
he giggles brightly, flipping over backwards back into the water. his tail breached fully and follows the motion, looking like an extravagantly fancy dolphin. he pops back up again, still smiling, and rests his hands on the ledge once more. ]
( his lips part in wonder, watching as he disappears and reappears, seeming to show off his entire self even if, as he said, he probably shouldn't. not that iseul would tell anyone... it isn't as if anyone would believe such a story anyway. )
A mer...? ( he automatically wants to add "-maid" but there isn't much "maiden" about it. him. even so, the entire sight is something to behold. he looks at back at him reverently. )
Up here, we're usually told creatures like you do not exist.
That's what we want you all to think, so it looks like we're doing our job!
[ namu pauses at that, his lips pressing together a little. ]
Except me, I guess. I should really be erasing your memory right now!
[ he hums quietly and eventually presses his palms flat against the ledge and pushes up, lifting himself upward so that he can sit on the sand, still mostly submerged. his tail coils with him, half on the sandy bank and half drifting lazily in the water with him. the scales continue following the major lines of his body, iridescent in their coloring and shifting from blue to green. ]
But I don't want to. You feel...
[ he closes his eyes and cants his head to the side, a small smile on his face ]
( the very thought makes him chuckle behind his hand. he doesn't mean to mock him but there aren't many people who would call him "pure." "unusual," maybe. but then again, he seems to be the first person to tell this mer what humans actually are. )
That's what's stopping you? You've only just met me! It isn't too late for you to do what is right. I would be sad for a moment but, well, that is that. ( he's sincere as always, shaking his head as he speaks. ) You shouldn't get in trouble because I was intruding on your home.
I haven't always thought it's what's right, really. Just that it's what's always been done.
[ he tips his head back and gazes skyward for a moment, eyes clear as he watches a seagull sail overhead. interesting things, birds. he wonders what it's like. ]
Namu. What a lovely name, ( he murmurs dreamily, unable to take his eyes off his face, only occasionally flicking up to watch the movement of his tail. while he does love his shipwreck history, he isn't quite as familiar with sea life and momentarily tries to figure out what the beautiful fins remind him of... )
Iseul.
( he extends a hand to shake his, not quite knowing the customs amongst the mer people but wanting to be polite anyway. saving face or something after so rudely intruding on his personal space. )
[ he lowers his gaze, eyes alight with a smile, though the glint in them turns confused as he gazes at the extended hand.
namu reaches out, the webbing between his fingers almost thin enough to not be noticeable at first, and he lightly takes a hold of iseul's hand with both of his own staring intently at the palm for a moment. waiting.
it doesn't do anything, but namu doesn't let go. he just looks up with a confused, questioning gaze. ]
( his hand is smooth compared to the webbed hand but he likes how it feels, how strange it is. while bowing his head, he slowly shakes it before gently releasing it and even resting it back on the sand. )
It is how many of us greet each other here. A handshake. ( he smiles and wiggles his fingers before pulling both his hands back into his lap, adjusting his legs so they're folded close to him. )
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finn.
ollie.
seraphina.
yejun.
iseul.
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which is why he spends an inordinate amount of time picking through ships that have made themselves homes to sea life instead of doing the thing they were built to do. namu smiles at a few schools of fish milling around the foremast of a ship he hasn't completely picked over yet, wiggling his fingers at them as he swims through, his tail flicking behind him.
he's working on cracking open a chest when light filters through a hole in the ship. he lets out a startled noise, dropping the chest as he panics, eyes swinging left and right as he tries to find a place to hide. this can't be good, right? are there finless here?
beautiful teal scales and flowing fins disappear around a piece of broken ship as the light draws closer and namu settles against the plank, curling against himself as tight as he can. all he can do is hope he wasn't seen... ]
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iseul loves the mythology around it - lost loves left ashore waiting for their husbands or wives, alleged curses on ships, treasure hunting and all. it's why he's risking his ass to try to sneak a personal peek at the ship itself. it's a mild day, with low winds, but there is always a danger of getting trapped somewhere. he wasn't the strongest swimmer but spending the summer here so far has at least strengthened his muscles.
which brings him here, thankful for his lung capacity and trained breath control, protected only by a black rashguard and swim shorts. it really is eerily beautiful down here, all blues and greens with a few fish he hasn't scared away with his movement. there's something loose along the wood plank and the curious part of iseul thinks to move it — at least until he sees what looks like a giant tail. if he wasn't holding his breath, he might gasp, instead kicking away to hastily swim closer to the surface. )
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namu peers out from behind his hiding spot at the retreating form, his eyes widening as he watches the finless move its... its... not-fins to propel it toward the surface. they can't breathe, right? that's always been part of the problem when their ships sink, after all; they just wind up, well, dying, a lot of the time. it's really very sad.
but it definitely saw him. which can't be good.
namu bites down on his bottom lip, wondering if he should chase after it or not. he could also just leave, but there's always a chance that it might be going to get more of its friends to bring them back here and search, and he can't have that. namu can make it forget instead, extend just a bit of his magic, but he'll have to catch it to do that.
with a long sigh he unfurls from his hiding spot and takes off after the finless, catching it under its arms when he gets close enough to propel it even faster to the surface, stopping short of cresting himself as the momentum carries the finless to break through to the air above. namu remains just under the top of the water, peering upward, his tail drifting in the currents below him as he stares and-- oh.
its kinda pretty, isn't it? from what he can see through the surface's distortion. ]
no subject
it takes him a while to steady his breathing as he scrambles to turn around to look into the water again. the land takes a significant dip underneath the water, going from shallow to deep in a near-instant. it gives the creature some cover but iseul can kind of see the shape of it when the sun hits the surface just right.
he knows it's too far away but he reaches down to touch the water lapping at the shore. )
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he shouldn't stay.
so clearly that means he pushes himself upward, head and shoulders breaking through the surface of the water. the gills along his neck seal up so that he can continue to breathe properly, the scales along his jaw and neck taking the reflections off the surface of the water to sparkle themselves.
and he tilts his head, curiously, eyes slightly narrowing. ]
I should make you forget. Why don't I want to?
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it's — he almost looks human. almost. )
I don't know! ( iseul rasps, glued to his spot despite a small voice in the back of his head urging him to leave and forget the whole thing. )
I don't mean any harm, I assure you. You just - you came out of no where.
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[ he sounds petulant as he says it, his lips pressed together into a tiny pout. but he doesn't move anywhere, stays where he is, his tail churning water underneath him to keep him afloat.
namu eventually glides closer, the water seeming to just part around him rather than it be him pushing through it. his hands rest on the ledge of the earth where it drops off into the sea, still submerged, and when the end of his tail shimmers above the water for just a moment it matches the color of his eyes. ]
What are you?
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he loses focus briefly at the sight of that tail and iseul can finally gasp on land, covering his mouth as he leans all the way back, plopping onto his rear in the sand. it is stunning. his bewildered expression says more than he can think to say at this moment. )
I am human. What are you ...? ( at least he asked the question first so it doesn't sound quite as rude as it does in iseul's head. )
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[ namu repeats the word to himself a few times, rolling it over on his tongue to get a taste for it. human. a funny word. he likes it.
he giggles brightly, flipping over backwards back into the water. his tail breached fully and follows the motion, looking like an extravagantly fancy dolphin. he pops back up again, still smiling, and rests his hands on the ledge once more. ]
I'm a mer.
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A mer...? ( he automatically wants to add "-maid" but there isn't much "maiden" about it. him. even so, the entire sight is something to behold. he looks at back at him reverently. )
Up here, we're usually told creatures like you do not exist.
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[ namu pauses at that, his lips pressing together a little. ]
Except me, I guess. I should really be erasing your memory right now!
[ he hums quietly and eventually presses his palms flat against the ledge and pushes up, lifting himself upward so that he can sit on the sand, still mostly submerged. his tail coils with him, half on the sandy bank and half drifting lazily in the water with him. the scales continue following the major lines of his body, iridescent in their coloring and shifting from blue to green. ]
But I don't want to. You feel...
[ he closes his eyes and cants his head to the side, a small smile on his face ]
...pure.
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( the very thought makes him chuckle behind his hand. he doesn't mean to mock him but there aren't many people who would call him "pure." "unusual," maybe. but then again, he seems to be the first person to tell this mer what humans actually are. )
That's what's stopping you? You've only just met me! It isn't too late for you to do what is right. I would be sad for a moment but, well, that is that. ( he's sincere as always, shaking his head as he speaks. ) You shouldn't get in trouble because I was intruding on your home.
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[ he's uh. kind of a big deal. ]
I haven't always thought it's what's right, really. Just that it's what's always been done.
[ he tips his head back and gazes skyward for a moment, eyes clear as he watches a seagull sail overhead. interesting things, birds. he wonders what it's like. ]
I'm Namu.
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Iseul.
( he extends a hand to shake his, not quite knowing the customs amongst the mer people but wanting to be polite anyway. saving face or something after so rudely intruding on his personal space. )
A pleasure to meet you.
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[ he lowers his gaze, eyes alight with a smile, though the glint in them turns confused as he gazes at the extended hand.
namu reaches out, the webbing between his fingers almost thin enough to not be noticeable at first, and he lightly takes a hold of iseul's hand with both of his own staring intently at the palm for a moment. waiting.
it doesn't do anything, but namu doesn't let go. he just looks up with a confused, questioning gaze. ]
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It is how many of us greet each other here. A handshake. ( he smiles and wiggles his fingers before pulling both his hands back into his lap, adjusting his legs so they're folded close to him. )
Did you find anything down there?
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neon.
caroline, tvd.
daphne, bridgerton.
wen qing, the untamed.