"it hurts to become"

She listens to every word. She doesn’t take a sip from her bottled tea, because his story is more important. Her brows furrowed as he continued staring down at her bottle. It was all awful and concerning to say the very least. She can’t imagine the distress of Atlantis, or of the people close to him. 

“It’s typhoon season here, which means it’s stormy a lot at this time, so that’s understandable,” she remarks taking a sip from her tea.

 “As for location, you’re near the city Nago, which is on the island Okinawa, and that’s surrounded by the east china sea, connecting to the major Pacific ocean, “ she explains. She’s determined to help him in any way she can, and she has an idea of how to do so.

“I’m a long way from home.”

this remark is melancholy; he has sparely left the Atlantic Ocean in his travels, and even more sparely yet has he ventured so far from the Atlantic Ocean when he has. he has always stayed close to home- it was foolish to set his training exercise in the Indian Ocean, considering how far away he has been drawn by the will of the sea.

“My most loyal commando. A man known as Murk in Atlantis. He will be sure to find me faster than any other could have; and more than likely with a team at his back, in case they must fight. They won’t, of course. You are not that kind of surface dweller, I can tell.”

“Alright, I’ll go get some.”

She slowly stands up, and Lucie follows, and she brushes the sand off herself and Lucie. She catches his eyes, and for a moment in the sun, it seemed her obsidian eyes had thin rings of blue that flickered in the light. She returned his smile before leaving to get drinks for herself and her new acquaintance. She wonders what it would be like, to see such wonders like Orm had. She also wondered how someone like him, able to breathe underwater, ended up here on the beach not breathing. It was the beginning of typhoon season, so she thought that had something to do with him being here.

Lucie followed with Dana, staying near her in the event her anxiety kicked in again. She also keeps her nose ready in case she could smell either Dana’s anxiety flaring up or more people like the man on the beach come to bring him back to the salty sea.

With a click, Dana opens the cooler and she grabs a bottle of water for Orm and a bottle of green tea for herself while Lucie stood on her hind legs to reach the ice in the cooler. Holding both the bottles in one hand she grabs some ice for Lucie. Lucie grabbed the ice with her teeth gently, waiting for Dana as she closed the cooler.

Then the two walked together, Lucie staying diligently near her as they walked back. When they sat down, Lucie started crunching on the ice. It wasn’t to keep cold, she just liked to munch on the ice.

he accepts the water bottle from her and cracks the lid with a deft twist of his hand; he’s seen enough of them floating in the sea to know how they operate, despite the kingdom of Atlantis not using such things. he brings it to his lips and drinks before lowering it to hold it securely by his side. the water is crisp and refreshing against his lips, revitalizing as it floods his system.

“Yes; I was on a routine training operation with my royal steed when we were overtaken by a large wave that had been disturbed by an unexpected storm system.” 

“Normally, currents aren’t a problem, but we were preforming a particularly risky maneuver, and that resulted in my falling off of my steed’s back, and unfortunately falling unconscious when the Tylosaur fell on top of me. Then...”

“I woke up here.”

he spreads his hands slightly to indicate the beach around them; while it’s a pleasant place, all things considered, particularly for the surface world, it’s not his preferred locale, if he’s honest- and honest enough is his dulled expression at the thought that he might be here longer than anticipated, given that he has no idea where in the world the powerful currents of the ocean have swept him in his state.

She chuckles while her smile grows. This was one of the rare and surprisingly pleasant conversations she has had in forever. It felt…nice to have a conversation like this one. “I like the scientific explanations too, they’re just as beautiful as well, like a poem too,” she remarks.

 “I have a bunch of books scientifically breaking down the process. Not just erosion, but also pressurization of minerals too,” She adds, rubbing the back of her head. The fossilization of bones always interested her, but she decided to leave that subject out because she felt it was too morbid in the presence of a king.

“I have borne witness to the wonders of the pressures this world can put on a thing. Living at the bottom of the ocean... has its moments. And, yes, if you wouldn’t mind so much. A drink would be nice.”

he turns and looks at the cooler, before turning back to her and meeting her eyes, allowing himself a small smile at her to form a kind of gesture of gratitude for her own kind gesture. 

it is not often that someone is so casual with him, despite his nature as a royal; of late, it is Vulko and Nereus who give him these respites, though periodically Mera as well. he is glad to have them in his life, for all the troubles they may bring, Vulko in particular, though Nereus is not to be underestimated.

Kelimutu is a volcano, close to the small town of Moni in central Flores island in Indonesia. The mountain has three volcanic crater lakes that differ in color. The science of the Kelimutu lakes is relatively well-known. Lake colors periodically change due to adjustments in the oxidation-reduction status of the fluid of each lake, and also considering the abundance of different major elements, such as iron and manganese. (Source)

“It’s no problem at all. I’ll be here all day so it’s no trouble,” she quietly affirms as she sits down next to him. Her blackened hand slowly swirled with her pale fleshy skin tone. Not long after, the black is completely nonexistent and all it is left is pale flesh.  His skin does look better though, she thinks.

“And I’d prefer all of me to stay as well. I’m too old to lose any more pieces of me,” She mumbles as she gazes at the sea. 

She wonders what it’s like down there in Atlantis. The ocean was her backyard during her childhood, but it never occurred to her that there would be people down there. So it comes as still a silent surprise knowing her little backyard might’ve contained.

“It does, doesn’t it? Sometimes on the shores, tiny pieces of colored glass wash up. You can tell if they’re old by how smooth the glass is, without any sharp edges. I’ve always liked that about the ocean. I always thought it was beautiful like that, because of how it lets go eventually.”

he is curious as to her remark regarding her age, but knows better than to pry with a stranger on what seems to be a sensitive matter of some sort, and so holds his tongue instead of speaking out of turn and potentially offending she who has thus far been a most gracious host to the wayward royal- he does, however, observe her small smile, as her gaze sets with what he sees as longing upon the waves. he knows the feeling.

“That’s... oddly beautiful. I’m not one to romanticize matters, particularly those of the... friction between surface and sea, but there is something fascinating about what erosion does to such destructive things as glass. And there is... always has been something beautiful about the ocean beyond just being home.”

he thinks on her words for a moment, that it lets go eventually, and wonders at the quiet profundity.

“Good to know,” she responds before she places her hand barely on top of the spot on his sternum. She closes her eyes to try and zone out the noises and outside distractions. Then there is nothing but darkness. Then she reaches out within and asks that what was once hers to be returned.

Outside of the darkness, the cells started to leave, beckoning to go back. Their job was done and there was no need to stay where they were now.  First they came back to her arm as messy droplets, then slowly, they started to come in gushing swirls of black eager to return to their former self.

And true to her word, the cold came. Deep down, cold as winter as it silently snowed. Winter in Seattle was the reminder of the cold, a reminder of her second home, forever cold yet forever kind. 

After the black left his body and returned to her, she opens her eyes and the same black substance trickles from her left eye. She realizes that and she quickly wipes it off her right hand, tattoo in the symbols of her home lost long ago.

“of course. if it’s not all out, I’ll be back within hours. no offense intended, but I am going to have the doctors back in Atlantis check me over with our technology to ensure that all of your, ah, extended nervous system is no longer in my body. I would prefer to be all me, you understand.”

he looks at the waves again, the chill still lingering in his bones from the touch of her blackened hand- he wants to go into the waves, where he’ll feel comfortable again, but he knows he ought to wait here for the Aquamarines to find him with Murk at their lead; it’s just more realistic than hoping he can guide himself back to Atlantis from an unfamiliar corner of the world, even with his nautical wits.

sighing, the king takes a seat in the sand and sifts some between his fingers.

She’s over a hundred years old and but it’s still a surprise to her. Classic. “Well, I’ve never met a king before, but it’s nice to meet you. And I’m glad I could help.”

She’s never heard of Atlantis or the term surface dweller. Maybe it’s because she’s old. Oh well, she can always google it after this schtick is over and done with.

Then’s she reminded of another situation that has yet to be averted and it was right in his sternum. “Yeah, we can totally get that resolve. Normally it acts as an extended immunity system and in some cases,” She points at her arm, now entirely black, “A prosthetic. But I’d rather it doesn’t bind to you as it does with me.”

“cold. I understand. cold will be a unique sensation for me; I am insulated to the cold in the ocean, and so I don’t experience it, despite living in one of the coldest biomes in the world. go ahead.”

he tilts his head to the side and sets his jaw; he doesn’t want to look like a fool if the sensation of being cold is one that he finds... unpleasant. that would be embarrassing for a king.

while an extended immune system, as she calls it, might be useful, he’s quite sure that it also would have unforeseen effects on his Atlantean biology, so he is glad to have her help in removing the intrusion as soon as possible. he takes a deep breath.

She backs up only to land flat on the sand. She is very unsure whether or not this was a good idea. She struggles to come up with a single word as her heart beats in her chest very hard as she was not ready, ready for any of.

Lucie senses this and immediately rushes to comfort her human mother. She immediately places herself in the arms of Dana and immediately does Dana’s heart stop beating hard. She takes the time to calm down gently feeling Lucies’ fur with her trembling fingers and when she has done so, that’s when she answers.

“I’m uh, really sorry about that. That was the only way to help your body expel the water out of your lungs and help you breathe again. The usual CPR wasn’t working, so I had to go to another route.”

She’s less nervous now, but she’s still wary and knows she has to remove her d-cells out of him now that he’s awake. 

“you don’t need to apologize. I'm just surprised a surface dweller went through all of that work for an Atlantean like myself. my name is Orm Marius. I’m the king of Atlantis major.”

he slowly takes his feet, examining the creature that has thrust itself into the surface dweller’s arms and appears to be steadying her trembling, which, as she says, happens sometimes. he’s familiar with the concept; some of the royal children have had the same afflictions, though he’s never been all that afflicted with it. anxiety, if he recalls...

“not to stress you further, but my guard will undoubtedly be searching for me soon. is it possible that we might be able to resolve this... spot, beforehand? I would prefer they not have the wrong idea about what has happened here, and potentially attack you.”

@fourruled

She’s sitting on a beach towel with eyes closed as her pale skin tried to desperately soak up much-needed vitamins from the sun above the sea. It had literally been a century since her time on the beach. So it was very necessary that she took this vacation. A dream come true to just lie on the beach and be in peace at her mother’s beach house in Okinawa. A home she hasn’t been in forever. 

She smiles at her peace, then hears her dog barking, frantic and curious she slowly sits up and her eyes squint to inspect what has Lucie riled up near the waves. Her smile fades and replaced with concerned fear replaces her peace. Jolting she runs towards the waves hoping the man washed ashore is alright. 

She kneels when she does and desperately tries to check for any sign of life. Why he has armor is of no concern though she is confused, that is not her concern. Her concern is getting the man to breathe again so he doesn’t die. Starting, she does chest compressions, to get the heart working to remind his lungs to push out the water. 

he awakens with the water spurting from his lungs to fall tepidly across his chest. it’s an unpleasant feeling, even for one who has spent his entire life, thus far, other than spare moments here or there, underwater; he has never experienced water as such, as it has always been home.

when he is done spitting up liquid, he squints at the woman knelt over him, furrowing his brow deeply in confusion. she is unfamiliar to him, but with a left hand as black as orca hide, and that same blackness spread across the skin on his chest, and, presumably, deeper within him, judging by the veins spreading from it, she is sure to soon be.

“who are you? what have you- what is this on my chest?”

he doesn’t know what has happened; his body expelling water, after all, is a new sensation to experience outside of when he purposely would expel it as a result of leaving the oceans for a short visit to the surface, so that alone has unsettled him greatly. all of this is new territory for the king of Atlantis.

he hopes Murk is already mustering commandos of the Aquamarines to come looking for him. the surface, while not altogether unpleasant, is not a place that he often deigns to be for longer than necessary, and he would very much like for his Atlanteans to come and find him as soon as possible, so that he may be free of this strange experience.

“wait- did you make me expel the water? did you- save my life?”

Me: