#aph naples

They found themself, then, in scuba gear and with an interesting curiosity. They'd always been close to the sea. Never had they considered being this close. But then again, they'd lived a large amount of their days in a lagoon, and the thought of diving there is absolutely horrid. But the gulf, the Tyrrhenian sea... A first for them, but an interesting idea nonetheless.

But upon submersion, they realized, it felt right. One with the sea, like the eels and morays and guarracino. The caves, the sea floor, the reef. It was everything and nothing they expected to see.

Then they saw the villas. They saw statues. A lost city, underwater. Replicas of old marble structures, red streets only for the elite, mosaics and artistic villa floors, lost to time. Submerged for who knows how long (well, Romano likely knew, for the connection between a nation and their art is strong). It was like finding something inside.

Romano was happy to talk about the sunken cities on the boat. He didn't talk much unless it was something he was passionate about—and, oh, did he start talking then—and he smiled even less. But he couldn't seem to get that prideful smirk off his face as he detailed what they'd seen, and Feliciano can't help but scoff at the memory. Danà Napoli...

They watch the dolphins now, off the port of Portofino. The familiar feeling of home envelopes them still, even when they leave the Terrafirma. It's new, and it takes some getting used to. They have not always been so fond of Liguria. Regardless, this is now home, too. They have no say in that matter. They feel the wind in their hair and close their eyes.

These reefs are different than those in Naples. They're bright red and green, unlike the other's shades of beiges and dark greens. The water is clearer, paler, and reflects less sun. But Feliciano things it's beautiful. Red gorgonians and blue schools of fish, each surrounding them. It isn't the sea they're used to, but it's the sea.

Coming along, they find the famous statue. Jesus Christ of the Abyss, signaling grandly to the earth from his spot at the sea floor. Feliciano isn't religious. They gave it up a long time ago, when they forgot their gods and Arabic and Islamic tolerance came to be more important to their survival than pleasing a church. But to them, this Jesus Christ didn't represent Jesus Christ at all. There was nothing religious about it.