01

[asea]

Who: Merman Walter and anyone
Where: Island (beach)
When: Afternoon
Style: Either
Status: Open

[Walter is seated at the edge of shore and damp from waist to toe. Under normal circumstances, he would've been out of the beach by now, but one thing is keeping him from returning to the city. That thing is a jellyfish, who's found a new home.

On Walter's leg. More precisely, his left boot. Somehow.

Despite the frustration welling up in him, Walter doesn't tear the sea creature off of him. He submerges that part of his leg underwater and picks almost gently at the tentacles with his bare fingers. In the eyes of others he may run the risk of being stung, but he doesn't fear such an event.

This is going to be a long afternoon.]

Comments

[messianic]

[Yeah he will.

He waits a few beats more and then he reaches for the jellyfish again.

yep.

stubborn.]

[asea]

[Walter can be just about as quiet as Minato, if not more, with little to no provocation. So matching that silence is just what he does. The presence unnerves him, but ultimately negligible with the effort.

Until the hand reaches out again. Walter lowers his own on that side to prevent Minato from making contact. He glares.]

If you'll continue to interfere, then go.

[messianic]

[....headtilt.

Minato is not bothered, Difficult-san.]

But you weren't trying anymore. Was that really interfering?

[Still, his hand retreats.]

[asea]

[Just hearing those words -- "you weren't trying" -- in general irks him, but he keeps down the immediate flare of anger. He nods rigidly.]

It was.

[He was trying.]

[messianic]

[A tilt of his head.]

...Have I done something wrong, or is there something else that's bothering you?

[Pause. Consider.]

Or both.

[asea]

. . . You've done everything.

[It's a half murmur, half audacious accusation. Everything that's led to everything else. He's generalizing, of course. But where has that generalization failed him?

. . . where, indeed.]

Leave.

[messianic]

[Generalizations.

Minato stands.

Tucks his hands into his pockets.

Steps away a foot and crouches again.]

...I can enjoy the ocean too, right?

[...]

What does everything mean?

[asea]

[Quietly, Walter goes back to removing the jellyfish, which, at this point, has come off quite nicely and cooperatively. A little more, and he'll be out of this sticky situation.

But Walter is not one to beat around the bush. He beats right through it.]

You Orerines can never truly appreciate the sea.

[messianic]

[....hmm.

Well okay. Bluntness is fair. And so he tilts his head.]

Orerines...? I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with the word.

[asea]

[Then, suddenly, Walter stands, the loose sand clinging to the edge of his cape crumbling off to the beach. The liberated jellyfish is already long gone to the naked eye. He gazes at the ocean's surface.]

You don't need to know.

[Let the land dwellers remain oblivious.

He marches off.]