Interlude III - The Third Dream

[rhapsody_onfire]

[She had to stop reading the fantasy novels before bed because now she was a mermaid in her dreams. She blinked at the water around her, a bit unbelieving that she was breathing and see the clear blue all around her. Much of the oceans in Gaia were hardly this clear. But it was also her dream so it could be whatever she wanted. She looked down at

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[waterfell]

[Blue and silver scales flit by. Everything about this change seems to suit Mercury. She seems more at home here than on land, and pauses only long enough to glance back at Genesis before moving on, as if challenging Genesis to follow.]

[rhapsody_onfire]

[Genesis, however, simply raises a brow and frowns. She normally accepts challenges but just to follow?]

I'm not wasting my time.

[She dives down to begin swimming toward shore. She was more curious about where she was than following another mermaid.]

[waterfell]

[Mercury gives a toss of her head, and dives down deep. She prefers to get to the heart of things.

And she certainly doesn't take well to being slighted and ignored.

She doesn't go fully to the bottom of the sea bed, instead staying shallow enough to watch the schools of fish pass by.]

[rhapsody_onfire]

[Genesis made it close to shore and pulled herself up onto outcropping rock. She let the sun warm her back as she laid down, tail lazily floating with the current.

She couldn't see where she was though. The ocean was crisp and clean, could she really still be on Gaia? Or perhaps it was the world in the book she had been reading...]

Or maybe they finally cleaned up Costa Del Sol...

[waterfell]

[Eventually, Mer-cury found her way to shore and the same outcropping, though she seemed to prefer the water; she stayed immersed while she spoke to Genesis.]

Find what you wanted?

[rhapsody_onfire]

No. I still have not a clue as to where I am.

[Genesis murmured.]

Is there a reason why you wanted me to follow you?

[waterfell]

You just said it. [Though playful, her tone lacks the sly bite of insult.] In a new place, it's best to explore, isn't it?

[Besides, Genesis, the water. Mercury's having the best dreams ever this month.]

[rhapsody_onfire]

And I will explore when I want and where I want. To follow you means I will have to be led and explore at your leisure.

[Her stinger tail flicks in agitation, her only sign of how she feels.]

[waterfell]

[She tilts her head, and the smile plays across her face again.]

Is something so wrong with that?

[rhapsody_onfire]

And here I thought you were an observant creature.

[waterfell]

Are you telling me you're not the least bit curious yourself?

[rhapsody_onfire]

My curiosity has nothing to do with following you in my own dreams.

[waterfell]

Haven't you already said that?

[There's a flicker of her tail. She longs for the water, the swimming, the excitement, the water.]

When you're tired of this, I might still let you join in the fun.

[This is twice Genesis has treated her this coldly, and she is finished believing people will change in that respect. She'll cast them off first, before they cast her off.]

[rhapsody_onfire]

I have. You seem intent on making me follow you.

[There is nothing to cast off. Genesis hardly considers Mercury an acquaintance. The first meeting left Genesis with bad first impression. She doesn't like being told she wasn't worthwhile and to try and tell her that she has some sort of advantage to exploring other people's dreams. People who are not on her Planet.

It made her instantly dislike Mercury.]

"This" is simply a dream.

[A dream she wanted to explore on her own. She doesn't like being told what to do or being made to feel like she was missing something.]

[waterfell]

[Offering once isn't quite intent; and she certainly won't offer again. She smiles, that bright and somewhat facetious smile.]

Enjoy it then!

[She slips back into the water, and back towards the deep. Contrary to expectation, the deeper she goes, the closer she comes to swimming through sleep into consciousness.]