[013. Part of Your World.]

[lydiascreams]

[First day -- Spam -- Stiles]

[She has no idea what is happening. Lydia was swimming back home when all of the sudden, she found herself on something hard, like the bottom of the ocean. In a-- place. A place that seems to be above the ocean. And father is going to kill her. But she didn't mean to go anywhere! Not this time?

Lydia is freaking out, her eyes are wide and she can't move properly. She smashes her tail against the ground, shifting toward an entrance of some sort. Has she been-- fished? Is she in a boat? Could her dad have been right about humans? But she's not hurt! They wouldn't fish her up and not hurt her if the King had been right, right?

...But. She should hide. Just in case.]



[Second day -- Video -- Public]

[With a very bored expression on her face, Sea Princess Lydia appears in the bathtub in her room. There's a slight pout on her lips as she holds the comm sideways instead of the right way up.]

I can't swim in here. It's too small.

[ooc: everyone is welcome to chat but Jerry, the big bad wolf will be the one coming in to 'help' her to the pool! If your character would come in, too, they can simply find her already gone!]



[Later Second day/Third Day -- Pool Spam -- Open]

[She has a pool! Lydia is happily swimming around the pool and doesn't plan on going anywhere. She's excited to hear more about the humans and everything they have around here that she's never seen, but she's missed swimming.

Most of the time, she can be found lounging by the edge, looking for other humans to chat with, see if she sees Stiles coming back to see her, and more importantly, see what kind of different things they are carrying!

Sometimes though, she dives in deep and disappears for long periods of time. So someone who hasn't seen her on the network, might be surprised to find a mermaid around.]

[ooc: ref post link]

Comments

[Spam][Second Day]

[400yearsofsurvival]

[ The communicator held very little interest for Jerry. It was maddening enough to be stuck in such a human form, which he'd attempted to clothe as close to comfort as he could. But wearing the skins of what he should appear as provided little comfort.

He'd been resting after the previous night's adventures. Curled up on the exposed dirt in his cabin, when he heard the girl's voice from the abandoned device. One eye peeled open, before he moved over to it. Sniffing at it. He knew that face. He knew where she could be found. His stomach growled.

Alternating between twos and fours and ran to the room. Slowing to a stalking gait as he approached the door. A familiar door. Crouching, he dragged wicked, dark claws down it's surface. His voice even rougher and rhaspier than it had once been. ]

Little girl, little girl. Let me in.

[spam]

[lydiascreams]

[Lydia doesn't know where the sound is coming from at first. She looks down at the small screen she's holding and carefully sets it on the side of the bathtub. There's definitely no one in it at the moment. But she sound means there is still someone out there! Someone else she can talk to. Another human.

And she wants to learn as much about humans as she can. She doesn't know how long she will be allowed to be in a ship after all. And with Stiles taking care of her, she does want to stay, but she misses being able to go places and explore.

But she needs to find this human first! And maybe he is coming from the way Stiles left?]

Hello? I'm in here! [Her voice is bright as she calls out from the bathroom, water splashing on the floor as she turns in the bathtub.]

[spam]

[400yearsofsurvival]

[ Shoulders and head rolled in frustration. That wouldn't work. Claws dug against the floor as he sniffed at the door. He couldn't still get in. Even if he could open it. It was something he could feel on a level that he didn't quite grasp.

A tongue ran over over his lips as he heard the splashing inside. A clawed hand resting on his bare stomach. ]

I can't help if you don't say "come in."

[spam]

[lydiascreams]

Oh, is that a game?

[Lydia doesn't know human habits, she's learning them slowly, and she does want to learn as much as she can.]

Come in!

[spam]

[400yearsofsurvival]

[ A wolfish grin spread over his his face as she said it. The invisible barrier that kept him out was gone. He reached up and opened the door. He crept inside. Not quite on all fours, but keeping low to the ground.

He expected a girl. A full girl. But instead, he found...a mermaid. He crept closer. Sniffing at the air in her direction. Oh, she smelled delectable. But could he eat her? ]

What have we here? You are neither girl nor fish. But you are both.

[ He wanted to run and chase. It was no fun if they didn't run. ]

[spam - latter half of second day]

[theresalwayshope]

[When Allison first awoke in this metal prison rather than beneath the gentle branches of her Beacon Forest and the soft, gray rays of first dawn, she was irate. Truth be told, she still is. She has little to no explanation she can wrap her mind around for what's going on, and her men, her pack, has been taken from her.

The agony of that loss fuels her fury, and her desire to see blood shed in their names.

She has taken to stalking the decks, line by line, and investigating each room she can in hopes of finding someone. Gentle Little John, the Friar, Will...her wolves, her family, the only true kin she's ever known...

When she finds the pool, she has no time to wonder at it: there is a girl seated on the edge, and she is clearly a mermaid. Allison has heard stories, legends of these creatures by the sea, but truth be told she is no friend of the water outside of the rivers and lakes of her wood.

Keeping to the shadows, she draws down her lincoln green hood and raises her bow, notching an arrow and taking careful aim...for the stories she has heard are two-sided: tales of friendly merfolk, leading wayward ships to shore by swimming ahead so the sun may glance off the golden scales of their tails...and songbirds that lead ships to their doom, luring sailors off course until they crash on unseen and dangerously rocky shores.

She does not know if this creature will bear her ill will or not, and so caution is needed.]

How do you favor the race of Men? Speak honestly, and your life is yours to keep.

[spam]

[lydiascreams]

[The tip of her tail is splashing against the water gently as she sits on the edge of the pool. She's looking for someone to chat with, another delightful human to tell her stories about their worlds and their lives under the sun.

She's also waiting for her Prince to come back, he has been wonderful taking care of her, bringing her food and keeping her company. She just wishes they were out by the sea so she could show him everything she's found, share all of her adventures with him.

That's what Lydia is thinking about, a smile on her lips as she runs her fingers through her hair. She doesn't see or hear anyone approaching at all. So when someone speaks to her, she turns to face them with the same smile on her lips.

And then she sees her pointing something she's never seen at her. And she sounds serious.

... But Lydia has no idea what she just said.]

I-I... What?

[spam]

[theresalwayshope]

[She seems somehow small and helpless staring up at her with wide eyes and that confused little squeak...it's almost enough to stir her to sympathy, but she keeps her bow trained on the mermaid as she steps forward, keeping her features hidden by her hood.]

I've heard stories of merfolk, both good and evil. [She pulls back a little more on her bowstring, lining up a shot between the girl's eyes. It's for show, at the moment, but she wants to be ready if the little fish does anything questionable.]

I want to know which of them are true so I know whether or not this Goes in your skull.

[spam]

[lydiascreams]

[Lydia still doesn't know what that thing does. But it looks dangerous. And she can't help but wonder if she's one of the people Stiles warned her about.

But she doesn't want to hurt anyone. Why would she want something like that. And-- at least the girl is asking her about it.

She does inch away, toward the water slowly at the threat, though.]

I'm good! I love humans. Father thinks you're dangerous. That you'd wanna hurt us. But I don't believe that. Stiles has been helping me and taking care of me.

I wouldn't hurt anyone.

Second Day Spam

[mistconduct]

[On the second day, Chris saunters over to the pool side where Lydia is swimming.

'Saunter' is right. He practically swaggers his way over, with a mean little smirk on his face. Immediately he begins the cliched but required dialogue when it's time to bully someone]

Well, well. If it isn't the little mermaid.

Looking a little pruny there, princess.

[spam]

[lydiascreams]

I have a name.

[She's been swimming. She misses the fishes. It's awfully quiet without them. But it's still better than the very small lake she was in before. Humans have strange lakes.

While she does hear the mocking in his voice, Lydia is too curious not to ask]

What's pruny?

[spam]

[mistconduct]

I'm just gonna stick with princess for now.

Pruny. It's when your skin gets wet and veiny and disgusting. Sort of like yours now.

[spam]

[lydiascreams]

Disgusting?

[Pout.]

That's not a very nice thing to say. And my skin isn't veiny. It's just wet!

First Day Spam -- Closed

[voluntaryapnea]

[Stiles has been on the ship long enough to know that anytime he's awakened by the boat rocking violently from side to side? It's not good. It always signals the start of a flood, and sure enough he hears the Admiral's voice a few seconds later about the ship having taken on water. Great.

He sits up quickly and looks himself over but doesn't see anything out of the norm. He runs through his checklist of facts: his name, birth date, list of family and friends' names. His room appears to be totally normal but he hesitates before making his way over to the door. He's wearing a red t-shirt and a pair of jogging pants as he unlocks and unalarms the door and peers out. No pillows and blankets. That's good at least. He closes it again and makes his way over to his communicator, yawning and rubbing his eyes as he checks the network but doesn't see any posts about anything unusual happening.

Okay. Maybe this won't be so bad, he thinks, resisting the urge to crawl back into bed and sleep only because he needs to check on his friends and make sure they're all okay. He tucks the communicator into the pocket of his pants and heads for the door again, resetting the alarm and locking it behind him. He makes his way up the stairs, stopping at the fifth floor so he can check on Lydia and he stops dead in his tracks when he sees her in the hallway. On the floor.

...and she has a tail. He gapes, staring at her in disbelief.]

...Lydia?

Spam

[lydiascreams]

[She is on her side, trying to move still and it's hard because whatever this thing on the ground is, it isn't soft like sand. It feels warm against her scales like she imagines fire would. And it hurts.

But when she hears her name, she stills and winces. Maybe someone found her. The voice isn't familiar and she turns expecting to find someone crab-sized on the floor. But instead... she finds human feet. And legs!

Lydia looks up slowly, her eyes widening as she does, mouth hanging open as her eyes finally fall on his face.

And then she sits up instantly, face feeling warm, hands instantly going to her hair, to pull it in place instead of all over her face. And it feels-- different, dry? But anyway.]

...Yes? Hm. Hi.

[She smiles up at him. Because he's a human boy. A cute human boy. And he knows her name. Speaking of...]

How do you know my name?

Spam

[voluntaryapnea]

[Not only is his favorite strawberry blonde now a literal mermaid, she also has no idea who he is. Awesome. He rakes a hand through his hair, mind already jumping to the possibilities that all of his friends have turned into other people and won't know him. Even better. It's going to be a great few days, he can tell already.

Although the way she rushes to pull her hair out of her face, and the sweet smile she gives him is enough to chip away at most of the current bitterness and annoyance he's feeling. He hesitates and then crouches down a few feet from her, mostly so they're at eye level and she's not intimidated by him towering over her when she can't stand.]

I must just be a really good guesser. [He smiles a little.] I'm Stiles.

Spam

[lydiascreams]

[She's not intimidated at all. She bends her tail and sets her hands over where her knees would be if she were human, all the while smiling up at him.]

Hi, Stiles. You really are a really good guesser!

[She's very impressed with him. And so very excited that he seems to want to talk to her.]

I told father humans were nice. He doesn't believe me. He thinks you would hurt me because you'd be afraid of me.

[spam - third day]

[walkingmeltdown]

[This prince in particular is on a quest now, and normally there would be no stopping him. But unfortunately his quarry is one that moves around, and he's having a bit of a chore tracking her down.

The gleaming sword that Koschei gifted him with can lead him in the right direction but little more than that. So he ends up wandering into the pool area, holding it out in front of him as he glances around, wary.

There's no sign of Baba Yaga's hut, nor anyone else for that matter. He has no way of knowing about mermaids that stay hidden in deep water out of sight. Sheathing the sword Prince Theodore sighs, and goes to sit down by the water's edge, intending to catch his breath.]

What I wouldn't give for another piece of help right about now, but oh well. Some things it seems aren't meant to be anything but the hard way.

[spam]

[lydiascreams]

[Even though she's under water, she can steal hear him when he speaks. She pulls back up to the surface a few feet away from him and remains quiet for a second. He seems nice. Not like the nasty people she's met here before. Maybe someone like Allison and Stiles. Maybe another friend. And he seems troubled, she should try to help anyone who seems upset, right?]

Maybe I can help?

[spam]

[walkingmeltdown]

[Surprised, he sits halfway up and turns around swiftly to look. His eyes widen in surprise when he realizes what it is that he sees.]

A mermaid? Can it truly be?

But, this is no ocean, madam. Where did you come from?

[spam]

[lydiascreams]

[Lydia smiles when he recognizes her. He seems surprised, yes, but not frightened. He's also not pointing anything that looks dangerous at her, so she nods in confirmation.]

I just-- woke up here. My Prince found me. I got into trouble but he says I'm safe to swim in this lake now.

Day Three!

[semifreakingnormal]

[Scott has been exploring, fighting (and running from) great monsters, protecting those that need protection, etc, etc, but mostly he's just been making friends. Prince Scott is really, really good at that, sometimes to his detriment.

When he finds the pool - and that would be a discovery all its own, even without its occupant - a grin lights up Scott's face. He's certainly heard tales of merfolk, that they will sweetly drown you given the chance - but that doesn't stop him from approaching the pool's edge.]

Why, hello!

Day Three!

[lydiascreams]

[Lydia is swimming on her back, on the surface of the pool. It's nice, because she's not even supposed to be on the surface back home, but here? It's okay!

She lifts her head and grins brightly at the Prince, waving her hand. She is making lots of friends, too and it's her favorite part!]

Hello!

Day Three!

[semifreakingnormal]

[His smile might actually grow brighter when she grins back, and he drops to one knee in front of her, the better to be near eye level.]

I have never met a lady such as you! Are you a true mermaid, or were you cursed by a witch?

Day Three!

[lydiascreams]

I was born a mermaid! Daughter of Sea King Triton. But my Prince said I can become human so we can always be together! Have you met other mermaids before?

[She grins up at him as she swims closer and rests her elbows on the edge of the pool so she's closer to him, too. He seems so nice!]