And I can't catch my breath

[merrascal]

Who: Urchin merrascal and YOU
Where: The Plaza
When: Mid-morning, March 22
Style: Prose but I can match you
Status: OPEN


The somewhat peaceful morning is suddenly ruined by the sound of very, very loud coughing. A sputtering blond boy pops his head out of the fountain. He hangs onto the edge for a moment before blinking around in confusion. Small little coughs still coming up as the last of the water leaves his lungs.

"W-where am I?"

Not Atlantica...still underwater but with humans around. He sinks back into the fountain a little bit, trying to hide.

Comments

[merrascal]

Yeah, what else would I be?

[He hasn't quite realized his missing tail fin quite yet. Though...he makes a face at Demyx.]

You don't look familiar. How long ago was it?

[Calm down dude, Urchin is getting fidgety.]

[ninthserenade]

A hallucination?

_{[Walking will be a fun thing, that's for sure.]}

Man, like... Almost ten years ago now, I think cuz of Ursula. I went by a different name though--Myde.

[merrascal]

...no way! I'm as real as you are!

[Yes, yes it will be.]

T-the Sea-witch? You knew the Sea-Witch?

{He's heard stories about her. Not a nice lady.]

[ninthserenade]

I'm just messin' with you, dude.

_{[Then he nods slightly.]}

Yep. Big ol' nasty witch who could do magic. S'why I got legs now.

[merrascal]

Hey!

...yeah, I've heard of her.

[And then had avoided that part of the ocean very well thank you.]

She gave you legs? Why would you ever give up your ta-...

[Guess what he just noticed.

Annnnd he's going to pale a bit and just stare at his new bare human legs in the water.]

[ninthserenade]

It wasn't really my choice. If I had known what would've happened, I never would've made the bargain with her. I was kinda stupid back then 'n made a lot of bad choices with the hag.

_{[He looks down and laughs a little.]}

You, uh... Y'want help walkin' around? You're gonna hafta get used to those things eventually.

[merrascal]

[A small frown again because whoa. This guy actually talked with Ursula? Like willingly?]

Huh?

[Oh. Yeah. Legs now.

Walking. Yeah, sure we can try walking.]

What's walking?

[ninthserenade]

I'll tell you later, it's sort of a creepy thing.

_{[Okay, kiddo. Demyx is going to do what he does best and invade personal space by stepping right into the fountain and kneeling down to Urchin's eye level.]}

It's what humans do to get around, kinda like swimming on land for us.

[merrascal]

Er, maybe I'll just use my imagination.

[Good thing he's used to Ariel then because he just blinks and leans back a bit.

He stares at those legs again then back up at Demyx. Yeah, Urchin just thinks your crazy now, D.]

[ninthserenade]

_{[He gets that reaction a lot when he starts rambling.]}

Uh... Here, just kinda grab onto me and I'll help you up 'n show you.

[merrascal]

[His rambles may become entertaining soon. Maybe.

Just know he'll need a towel when he stands up. Ariel had her seashells but Urchin doesn't have much of anything. Not that he'll realize it.]

Okay. Uhm...yeah.

[Holding on and pulling his legs underneath him. Oh hey, he can move them!

Now to just...heft himself up?]

Whoa!

[grabbing more then holding now until he gets his wobbly knees under control.]

[ninthserenade]

Easy, easy--! Jus' take it slow, dude--Ow! Careful with the grabbing, too!

_{[While still holding onto the smaller blonde with one arm, Demyx works on wiggling out of his coat so he could drape the oversized thing over Urchin's shoulders.]}

Jus' hold on like that, okay? I was really really stubborn with this stuff. Lemme know when you're good so we can get outta the water, kay?

[merrascal]

Sorry!

[Ack. He raises an eyebrow and looks at the coat. At least his grip has relaxed and he makes a tentative shift in his weight. Still a little shakey but he's standing up.]

I...okay. I'm not falling anymore. H-how do we get out of the water?

[Never mind him trying to wrap his mind around the idea of actually willingly getting out of the water.]

[ninthserenade]

I-It's okay, dude. S'okay. Uh...

_{[He glances down, then lifts his own leg up.]}

Can y'try doing this? Jus' keep holdin' onto me though. I won't drop you, I promise.

[merrascal]

[Yes?

Urchin nearly tips off balance when he lifts his leg up but regains it when he splashes back into the water. Okay...one more try, but this time he does that weight shift thing and ha! Success!]

Hey that's not so hard.

[Urchin trusts Demyx to not drop him; he's never really had reason to not trust strangers.]

[ninthserenade]

It's not too bad once you get the hang of it. Now, do it again and lean forward a little so you step onto that foot.

_{[Still keeping a grip on Urchin, Demyx moves in front of the boy slowly.]} Just move slow, stay focused, and just think this; If we all go back home you can tell everyone else that you learned how humans on the surface act and how they live!

[merrascal]

Yeah, alright.

[Still holding on and mostly just standing. He's focused on the moving and after a few little fumbles he gets the idea of picking up his feet.

Not moving yet.]

Heh, yeah right. If I said that I'd get in huge trouble! We aren't supposed to even think about gong to the surface.

[ninthserenade]

We weren't supposed to play music for awhile too back home but that never stopped us from findin' underground clubs. 'course that ban got uplifted an' all that.

[merrascal]

Music was banned?

[He's staring down at his feet and a moment of hesitation before he takes a careful step out of the fountain. He pauses to catch his balance before bringing his other foot over.]

[ninthserenade]

Yeah, you didn't know? _{[He pauses to size Urchin up and steps out of the fountain with him.]} Uh... There was an accident when Ariel 'n her sisters were little. They, uh... Their ma' ain't around anymore.

_{[He rolls his next words around in his head. How does he explain something like that?]}

Triton was kinda busted up over it an' he had music banned for awhile.

[merrascal]

I...know about her mom. Just not that; I never really wanted to ask 'em.

{Give him a second to get his balance and take a few small steps. Once he got the whole shifting balance thing it's just learning to repeat.

But...talk of dead parents isn't really making this easier. Subject change attempt!]

So...this is walking?