Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ys had been accepted for the new school year and she was thrilled to be embarking on this new adventure. Even so, she still needed to take some time away from the excitement of the land inhabitants and get back into her natural element. As much as she loved her cozy dorm pool, there was something revitalizing about getting to swim in the wild waters off the shoreline. It was a little closer to home and nothing could beat the freedom of getting to be without her SCABA suit.

As she lazily drifted along in the water, she too become aware of another presence besides the tiny bits of sea life she had so far encountered, minnows and the occasional little jelly. When she head an actual voice out there, she started. Who could be all the way out here, and talking underwater, no less! Since the voice had seemed a little hesitant, she didn't just dart over toward it despite her eagerness to see who it was, but instead allowed the currents to carry her over at a leisurely pace. "Ahoy there, who goesss?" Even underwater, her voice still had a hiss to it, but her tone reflected her contented mood, with a hint of the curiosity that was so prominent in her nature.

Ys was pleasantly surprised to find that her mysterious company was not some wayward landwalker, but a fellow student of truly aquatic persuasion. She grinned a welcome as the mermaid circled her, fishy eyes crinkling just a touch above the toothy smile. She hoped she met the ghoul's expectations of what a proper student ought to look like, seeing as how she was the newcomer here.

"Sssseemss we are a bit of a rarity around thessse partsss, eh? Sssea folk, that isss," she agreed, having met only land creatures so far herself. Well, there were a few that she wasn't even sure what they were, but that meant they weren't something she had seen before at home. She preened under the barrage of questions, just happy to have some company who would understand the need for a proper swim once in a while.

"Pisscccess," she repeated, "I haven't sssen many of your sssort, but perhapsss I will come to know more now, yess? Your name isss much prettier than mine, it is Ys'lei-nsthath. But everyone callsss me Ys." Here she chuckled, a burbling sound underwater. "My parentsss don't even want to sssay my full name mosst of the time, ssso Ys iss good," she winked slowly, as if it took a bit of concentration. "Have you been at thisss ssschool for long?"

Ys nodded as the mermaid continued, taking in both the questions and interesting tidbits about her life. Despite being fellow sea creatures, Deep Ones tended to be an insular bunch of folk, so a mermaid was definitely a novelty to her. "The pleasssure isss mutual, friend!" she agreed, bobbing enthusiastically. She lazily treaded water to remain near enough for conversation, though she could easily kick into a real swim if needed.

"Ahh, peopless of the starss, yess? That sssoundss like an interessting way of life," she commented, "We do have sssome interaction with the upper worldss, but mosstly to benefit our kind with FEAR. Mosstly, we sspend our time in the deepsss. It isss darker, but we have our waysss," a dryer laugh this time before she went on, "and it iss not hard for usss to ssswim becaussse we are usssed to it." She thumped her chest with one fist. "Sssstrong bonesss, ssstrong heartss." It sounded like it might be part of a saying.

"Heh, sssee why Ys will do? Much easssier for all," she laughed again, she was having a grand time! "It isss even harder for landwalkerss to ssay it in the air. And for you, Amphi sssoundss good, thuss we trade short-namess asss friendss ssshould." She looked thoughtful a moment as she considered the reasons she had ended up here. "I think I may be the firssst of my kind here, sssort of an envoy, maybe? I wasss curious to know more of the landwalkersss, pluss I need training for my abilitiess beyond what I wasss taught at home. I joined a club, but I have no classs yet- which are you taking?"

Suddenly distracted by Amphi's flowing hair, Ys reached out to comb her fingers through it. "Ssso pretty~" she murmured before remembering her manners and withdrawing her hand. "Oopss! I forget that sssome do not like sssuch familiarity, I hope you are not offended?" The last bit sounded like a question, betraying both her hopefulness that she wasn't offended and an eagerness to know that she was still liked.

The Deep One admired the easy way the mermaid moved in the water. It was the goal of her kind to become more fish-like over time, to become like their deities. The water cradled them both as the waves rocked them, alternately pushing and pulling in a gentle tug-of-war between the tides and the shore, the sea and the sky. They were close enough to the surface that the light filtered down from above in rippling patterns that set off the colors of the mermaid in glittering contrast to the somber mixed greens of Ys' own skin.

This pleasant scene was the backdrop for the budding friendship as Ys listened to Amphi's melodic voice, this time with relief that led immediately to happiness. "I am glad then!" she giggled again, little bubbles trailing upward. "Ssssometimes I forget that othersss are not ssso touchy-feely asss my kind, hee~ Perhapsss I may add ornamentsss one day? I have ssseen sssuch, but obviousssly not on my own hair," she pointed to the short-cropped, seaweed colored mass on her own head.

"Ssso your kind travelss much? What sssort of of placcess do you seee?" She cocked her head like a curious seabird, thinking that a nomadic life must surely be an exciting one, and was startled into another quick smile. "Yess, many of uss sssay that, essspeccially our warriorsss," she made a dismissive gesture, "But I am not quite old enough to be one of their number jussst yet. To exxissst in the deepessst placccesss is a gift from our godsss, but we mussst learn to live under the heavy watersss, where the presssure isss very ssstrong." She nodded her understanding, as the mermaid was spot on. "Yess, the darknesss isss both blesssing and curssse. Many thingsss live there that await the creaturesss of the light. Not to sssay that the upper placcesss do not have their own dangerss, of coursssse."

"Doesss the other mermaid'ss clan not get along with yoursss?" she inquired, curiosity obvious in her voice. "Otherwissse, perhapss it iss jussst timing. I have not met her myssself though, do you know her name? The landwalkersss have ssso far been mossstly friendly. I met a very fun goblin named Altesssa, but ssshe doesss not go to ssschool yet. I have ssseen ssssome othersss, but they ssseem to have many friendss of their own. I hope to get to know more in classs or in the BLURP Club."

She shrugged helplessly when Amphi mentioned landwalker traditions. They had so many! "It feelsss imposssssible to know about all of their peopless, doesss it not? I cccertainly am in the ssssame boat." Ys suppressed her amusement as the mermaid leaped from topic to topic, adding her comments here and there. She loved listening to her voice, it was so nice sounding. Not only that, but this time she wasn't eavesdropping on some other group of friends! It seemed that they had a great deal in common besides being water ghouls as well.

"I have not done much with thisss interwebss. Computersss do not like me much, it ssseeems," she shrugged helplessly, technology was beyond her most of the time. It had taken a bit to get used to the SCABA suit alone, and thankfully that was more mechanical. "Maybe we ssshould practiccce our writingss together, I am not ssso good at it either." That thought was cut off by the next bits of information, which respectively caught her attention further and made her blush as much as a fishperson can blush. "Your FEAR soundsss interesssting, yesss? It makess sssenssse, your voiccce is lovely--- and.. uh, what?" She looked greener, comically darker green on her cheeks and neck. "Oh, Jack, that sssoundsss awkward," she stifled a giggle with one hand at the thought. "Do you have to take that classs with boils?"

"Yesss, yess!" The Deep One enthused, imagining all sorts of fun ways to decorate the mermaid's long hair. "I never have had the chanccce to decorate long hairsss before, that would be fun!" She pointed again to her own hair, "It'sss fine if you want to touch it, it isss rather like ssseaweed, and yess, very eassy to take care of." That was no exaggeration either, it really was very similar in texture, color and consistency to the thicker types of kelp.

Ys' eyes widened as she listened to the ghoul's talk of her clan and the human world. "My kind traditionally harvessstsss humanss for both FEAR and food at timess, and there are rumorsss of half-kin between our kindsss, but that isss not ssssomething I know much of," she looked thoughtful, recalling her earlier schooling and stories from her younger years. "Perhapsss that isss a repulsssive thought to sssome, but we are monssstersss who have taken a liking to hunting, you ssssee." She looked confused at the idea of a clan of all women. "No malesss? How do you go about finding your coupling partnersss? We have both in our coloniesss, perhapsss becaussse we are not ssso eassy to tell apart," another bubbly laugh. "Asss we grow old, we become more like the fisssh godss who gave usss our waysss."

She nodded with obvious relief. "I am glad that you have not come acrosss anything too dangerousss then, that isss good," she made a gesture vary like an exaggerated sigh, "Landwalkerss! They really make no sssenssse, do they? Heh! But that isss much of why I am here, to learn."

Horror mixed with the curiosity in Ys' expression at the thought of other mermaids dragging her friend off. "Are the clansss ssso warlike then? What would happen to you if they did that? I ssshould think you would be sssafe enough at the school, ssso that isss a consssolation." She bobbed in agreement, "Yess, the monssster dormsss, near the lake sssside. You would find my dorm sssomewhat comfortable, I ssshould think," she waved about, indicating the water, "It isss a proper placcce for sssea beingss."

"I am relieved asss well! I made a Groanssspring too, but--" she made a face and covered half her face with one hand, "I totally forgot about that! Perhapsss we ssshould both work on it more," she laughed again, this time sounding exasperated with herself, "I wonder what I have missssed by forgetting it." She made a mental note to actually check the silly thing once she got back on shore again. She had yet to encounter a computer that could handle her dorm, so she was restricted to using one of the common ones.

"Ohh, I sssee, my powersss are limited at thisss time asss well," she sounded encouraging and understanding. Though her own FEAR was different, she could certainly relate. Being a first year was a little rough in this way, but at least they were in it together. She giggled nervously at the next comment, considering a moment before responding, "That doesss sssound terribly awkward! I don't know if I am ready for sssuch a thing. I was conssssidering a musssic classs though. Might be a little more my sssstyle," she chuckled, imagining all the squirmy ghouls and boils having to learn about the facts of life. Oh, Jack, what if there were pictures too? She shivered, despite the lovely warm water about them both. Her own blush deepened somehow at that last bit. "Sssssomehow, I think I would jussst rather not have to find out! Hehehe, that ssssoundsss more like punissshment to learn about!"

"I-I actually don't know," Ys laughed, realizing how silly it must sound. "Mossst of uss have ssso little. Mine jussst never growsss any longer," she shrugged, "Never thought of it." As the mermaid continued on, she nodded, "Yess, there are ssstoriesss of humanss that became Deep Onesss, but maybe they are jussst ssstoriesss. Humans tell crazy talesss, sssome of them filtered down to usss. Maybe sssome truth too."

She tilted her head to the side, frowning a bit at the mention of such tragic endings. "That isss very ssssad," she commented, sympathizing with her friend. "I wonder why it isss ssso? I can sssee how that affectsss your musssic though," she added. Her expression turned even more somber as Amphi told the story of her sister. A myriad of questions bubbled up in her mind as she heard that, but it seemed inappropriate to press the mermaid with them just now. Instead, she limited herself to just one, "Will ssshe be all right? Your sssister, I mean." She assumed that the lover was well lost based on the turn of the story as well as her friend's expression. Concern and curiosity warred within her, but most of all she wondered if there was hope for the other ghoul.

The change of subject was a bit of a relief, even if it was a bit embarrassing. "Ah, I ssssee! Our godsss are jealousss onesss too," she nodded, bobbing in the water with the motion. She waxed thoughtful again at the next question. "I have ssseen sssso few of your people, but no, no old onesss," she assented. "Me? We become more fisssshy," she chuckled, "It isss an honor for usss, to become like our godsss and fully embraccce the deep." Deep Ones became more true to their name as they aged, heeding the call to the darkest parts of the ocean. "The eyesss no longer clossse, we lossse the wissh to be on land at all, the mouth changesss to be more fisssh-like." She made a face, sticking out her lower lip and frowning like some of the uglier denizens of the sea in a mock demonstration before breaking out into a smile at her own joke.

Ys was surprised by the hug, but found it to be an oddly comforting gesture and her relaxed posture reflected this. "I think we are in for sssome lesssonsss in landwalker mannersss whether we are ready or not," she pointed out, thinking of upcoming classes and the impending prom. Her reflections on the future were interrupted as Amphi continued on about the interesting customs of her people. "That doesss make sssenssse, yesss. Sssstrength in numbersss." Her grin turned positively savage. "I am told that humansss are very tasssty, I hope to try it sssometime." Maybe it was mostly bravado. A Deep One would never admit to not liking human flesh, it would be positively un-monstrous.

"Yess, that isss a good attitude," the ghoul agreed, "You ssshould do well with sssuch ressolve to improve," she encouraged. "Oh, yess, musssic!" Her enthusiasm was catching and she clapped in an echo of the mermaid's excited applause earlier. "I found out by chanccce, but it was very luck indeed. I got an sssheet to fill out jussst in time. There are sssome sssstrange thingsss to play, ssso many ussse air," she observed. "I think you would be good at sssomething like that, essspecially with your voiccce," she added, squeezing her hand. The mention of the Sex Ed class reminded Ys again of Prom, ironically enough. "Ssssay, are you going to the Prom?" Surely some boil had asked the pretty ghoul already, right?

"It'sss fine, it'sss fine," Ys waved it off, not offended in the least. "We ssseem too be too fissshy for hair, I think, ssso that may exxplain." She nodded, noting the mermaid's swift movement to the logical conclusion. "Hair doess ssseem like it could be a hindrancce in sssome waysss." She didn't have long to think on it because the mermaid caught her attention in an entirely different direction once again by talking more of her own people. It was fascinating to hear about the mermaids, for although they shared the seas, Ys' own people had so little contact with them, it seemed.

"Only sssad sssongsss," the ghoul pondered aloud, thoughtfully. It made sense in a way, with sorrow being linked to the realization of fears, or hopes turned dark. "Perhapsss keeping bussy is keeping her from dwelling on it overmuch," she suggested in reference to Amphi's sister. She knew that she would rather have her hands full than be left alone to think of such things if she were in the same situation. She couldn't even imagine...

She welcomed the turn of topic, not because she wasn't interested, but because she felt that the sorrowful situation might be uncomfortable for her friend. Better to take her mind off it for the moment too, and Amphi seemed so animated about the happier things they had been speaking about. The comment on the sea god sparked a short laugh out of her. "Oh, I sssee! He sssounds like a bit of a troublemaker, yess? That isss probably a wissser courssse you take." She crumpled over in further silent laughter at the thought. "Definitely trouble," she added, arms wrapped around her own body in a self-embrace. Even taking time out of swimming to so casually do this, she didn't sink very fast, instead just drifting with the waves. Sometimes it was useful to not be an air breather.

"Thank you! At leassst, if I am not pretty, I will be a proper monssster, eh?" She gape-grinned, the expression particularly sharky. The scary effect was slightly marred by the twinkle in her eyes and the miniature bubbles that trailed upward from her mouth, but she was unaware of this. "Oh yesss, they are ssssupposssed to be quite deliccciousss," she nodded emphatically, but didn't press the topic as she noted the other ghoul's evident distaste. "Not for everyone, I ssssupposse." Quickly hopping back to a safe topic, she seized on that last comment. "That sssoundss nicce! I do not know him, but I hope you have fun together. I will be there too! I do not know enough boilsss to have been assked by one, I think." That last bit was just a simple statement of fact, and she didn't seem in the least bothered by it. After all, she was rather new.