(Untitled)

[thanoodles]

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[uponhiseye]

( SEA, because Milen has to be weird. )

[sea_grass]

[Nerin doesn't think he's weird at all.]

She's beautiful.

[uponhiseye]

( He looks at her for a moment, seemingly surprised and fascinated by her presence, then finally reacts. )

Thank you.

( Milen smiles a little shyly. He's always been used to thinking of the Sea as a He, the prince trying to win the Sky's affection, but 'correcting' the young woman next to him would probably make him sound both rude and weird. Worse, it could bring up questions. )

I think it's mine. The picture.

[sea_grass]

[She wouldn't be offended for the correction. Her people have always referred to the sea as 'she', mother and mistress, but delve deeper into their folklore, and it loses gender entirely. She looks between him and the photo quietly, can see what he is and how deeply he's strung to the water.]

I think so too. Are you going to take it?

[uponhiseye]

Yes. [He grins at the thought, then realizes something, lifting his eyebrows at her with a little purse of his lips.] Unless you want it.

[sea_grass]

No. [She smiles slightly, shakes her head.] I don't need a picture. I leave the sea very rarely.

[uponhiseye]

Oh? [He seems surprised, pleasantly so.] Do you live on the coast?

[sea_grass]

No. Out on the water, on boats, houses built over shallow islands of sand. My mother brings me to land when she trades.

[And in the hopes it would ease the nightmares Nerin is plagued by, being away from the ocean's currents. But she has her father's heritage in dreams, and they have yet to find a way to sooth her sleep.]

[uponhiseye]

[He gazes at her for a moment, absolutely fascinated by the ideas and images her words bring.]

That must be amazing.

[sea_grass]

[She laughs a little.]

It's the way I've always know it. But yes, outsiders usually say that.

[A pause, considering him, then correcting herself,]

Not that you're much of an outsider.

[uponhiseye]

[He grins when she laughs, but it fades.]

I'm not?

[sea_grass]

[She tilts her head slightly, but she sees no reason not to talk about it.]

The water, under your skin.

[uponhiseye]

[There's always surprise when he meets people who can see through him, but he's less alert this time, simply looking at her to wonder what she's got under her skin.]

How did you know?

[sea_grass]

I can sense such things, it's a gift of my blood.

[And Milen was very bright, shining, impossible not to notice with the way Nerin saw the world. She smiles slightly, leaning in a little closer to whisper,]

Was it meant to be a secret?

[uponhiseye]

... I'm not supposed to talk about it.

[sea_grass]

[Her smile grows wider, briefly, and she leans back.]

Then we don't have to talk about it.

[But she wonders why, if he lives like many of her siblings do, hiding what they are in order to survive. A sad, difficult way to live, and not a topic to dwell on. Best to change it.]

My name is Nerin.