Ana
*A chilly wind blew over the coastal waters. Waves rhythmically splash against the sands, sweeping away foot prints. Washing away blood. The crescent moon shone up above, glimmering with pale light. Stars twinkled in the sky. Today wasn't supposed to be like this.*

*Lo had spent the previous days looking forward to today. She had been speaking with a human for a while, always under the docks. He would come almost every day to speak with the mysterious woman under the docks, while he sat above them. Lo enjoyed these talks very much. This man was interesting and funny. And he found her funny as well, though her humorous remarks were not intentional. After a few weeks of talking, he said he wanted to see Lo. Lo agreed. Tonight, they would meet, she said, so long as you promise not to run or scream.*

*To be fair, he did neither. Instead, he quietly whispered "Monster" And began slashing at her with a knife. He got one good slash in, due to surprising the Merfolk. Lo, with a single deft claw, rips his throat open and watches him bleed out on the sand.*

*She kneels down to the dead man, and stares for a moment. She picks up his arm, and lifts it to her teeth.*
Dorothy
Under the soft glow of the moon, she ran. Each step made with fluid grace, a dance atop the ever-shifting waves. She held cerulean braid in hand, warm gold glimmering as she pushed a ring higher up to fit snugly in the weave.

It was a beautiful night, the chill breeze, the crescent moon, the sparkle of starlight bouncing from the surface of the sea, from the metal of the rings in her hair, and from her amber eyes.

It was not the stars that brought Shaye to a halt, nor moon or wind or sea. It was instead a scent, familiar and mouthwatering. The scent of fresh blood. 

Blood could mean danger, a predator in the waters, sharp rocks that could tear skin apart and crack bones clean open to expose the marrow within. But Shaye's decision was made in a moment. *She* Was a predator in the waters, and she was hungry.

Her swift pace brought new sights, a dock, a settlement, the lights of many mortals. A delicious sight. But it was to the docks, or more accurately beneath them that she danced her way towards, swinging about wooden piling to halt her motion and watch a curious scene. And a frustrating one. Shaye was not the first here, and that meant her options were few.

"Will you dine?" She asked, voice carrying faint traces of music in its low tones.
Ana
*Lo was about to sink her teeth into the man's flesh when she heard the woman speak. She had let her guard down, allowing her to sneak up and catch her by surprise. The fact that she didn't attack meant she didn't want to fight. Or, she did, but at least not immediately. Lo's head snapped to face her, and an instinctual hiss emerged out from her throat as she bared her teeth. Then Lo's sensibilities kicked in. She cut off her hiss early and stopped her show of aggression, taking a closer look at the woman who spoke to her. Lo could see it in her eyes, that familiar predatory fire. This woman was like her, in a way. She must be some kind of sea folk. Perhaps a merwoman or siren... Perhaps a kelpie. Kelpie's were dangerous. Lo had killed one before, but it had been close.*

"I would not leave him to the crabs and birds. I have killed him, so he is mine. I will eat him. It is the way it must be... But, you may eat as well. I have no problem with sharing, so long as you do not attack. If you do, I will kill you."
Dorothy
She was tall, this other hunter. And she had the teeth of a hunter, not the useless blunted things that so many moretals possessed. Was she fae? A fellow kelpie? A siren? Shaye had heard of others, other dangerous folks who lived out to sea rather than the moors and lagoons of many of her kin.

She gave greeting in kind, baring her own pointed teeth, with a quiet hiss to display them best. They gleamed unnaturally white under the moonlit sky, a beautiful, if terrifying, smile. And the last thing that many had seen.

"Kind offer, fellow hunter." She greeted, her tone shifting to something a little more polite and verging now on the edge of true etiquette. Her gaze gleamed gold as she flicked it up and down the other figure, measuring. "But I do not take leftovers. I eat what I take for myself."
Ana
*Lo rose to her feet, looking down at this small woman. Her teeth gave her away. Those are the teeth of a Kelpie, meant to pierce and tear flesh, much like her own.*

*As Lo stood, Shaye could get a much better view of her. Tall and lanky, yet well muscled. Her hair was dark green, like seaweed. Along most of her body were dull dark turquoise scales. However, along her neck, chest and belly was pale and smooth flesh, like that of a dolphin. She had a large maw that stretched ear to ear, and wide glassy eyes. Her claws on her hands and feet looked razor sharp. She wore a pale dress. However, in the fight, it had been torn in such away that it hung off a shoulder. This revealed the knife wound on her chest. Going from where her breast would be, to just before her armpit. It still slowly seeped blood.*

"Kelpie. We are kin in a way. I understand the pride of a predator. But pride will kill faster than any claw. You are hungry. You will eat. This is not a suggestion."
Dorothy
It was a lovely smile, wider than Shaye's, sharper even than her Little Red. Beautiful, in its way, and well set with the rest of her appearance. She was not one of the each uisge, but she named Shaye kin. That would have earned a proper greeting, and proper manners of the sort Livia insisted upon. But that tone... Those words...

Not a suggestion, was it? And what did that make it then? A demand.

The kelpie drew herself to her full height, though regretted the motion quickly. Her five feet were dwarfed by the intimidating height of the other, even baring her teeth again would just be inferior posturing. Instead she set her shoulders back and allowed her light blue hair to cascade across her back in the evening breeze, the series of little rings that bound them glinting once again as they waved. The silver of her necklaces gleamed under the moonlight, only to be overshadowed moments later by the intense golden gleam of hungry eyes set in her heart-shaped face. Unhidden here, her dusky pallor emanated a faint internal glow, causing her to shine even without stars or moon to illuminate her.

She matched stares with the other figure for a long moment, chin still lifted in slight challenge. But those teeth, those claws... It would be a difficult fight. And if a difficult fight, then that smooth skin, those large eyes, those feet and hands all showed a swift swimmer. Shaye had never yet been a fight that she could neither win nor at least flee from. Some inner part of her urged her on regardless, the joy of her fae blood surging at the idea of a conflict that would define and complete her life.

But Livia would be upset.

"A liver." She conceded at last, begrudgingly. "One meal til a new one hunted."
Ana
*Lo gazes at her as she stood at her full height, shoulder set back, staring directly into her eyes. Her confidence was astounding. Part of it excited Lo in a primal way. While Lo had little doubt she could kill this woman, she was sure that doing so would kill her. Then there was how she glowed, she seemed almost ethereal. Hand sculpted by Mother Ocean herself. Compact and deadly. But now was not the time to wax poetic about her. She was staring. Staring was rude.*

*Lo turned and sat back down, facing the man. With a single claw, she split open his belly. The scent of blood was overwhelming and almost made her drool. But she maintained her concentration. She would allow the woman to retrieve the liver herself. She wouldn't deprive her of the joy of pulling the organ out herself. Lo then began to eat. Still keeping an eye on her, she pulled the arm off with a grunt and raised to her maw for a bite. Well... Almost. She stopped just before the first bite. She had realized she'd been extremely rude. She hadn't even introduced herself.*

"My name is-"

*Lo produced a bizarre warbling noise followed by a harsh click.*

"Roughly it translates to Venomous Daughter of the Sea. But you may call me Lo Tide. Or just Lo. I am an Abyssal Merfolk. My kind dwell deep beneath the sea. I am an exception. I made the journey to the surface in order to escape that lightless place. Now I am here."

*Then, finally, Lo took her first bite.*
Dorothy
A lovely smile *And* Polite. Shaye would have to introduce Lo to Livia at some point. They could repay the meal so that Shaye could settle this debt. But even as her thoughts drifted to the practical, Shaye felt herself relaxing. Shifting from the cautious greeting of two wary predators to the more amicable company of sharing a meal.

It had been long since she had shared a meal such as this, crouched in the waters with a fresh body at her fingertips, pieces ripped and torn from the whole as the family sated their hunger. Livia did not dine in this fashion, the redcap was all things methodical and precise. She would lay a table, butcher their meal into perfect portions, and even cook some of it first.

"Your name sings like the wind whispering across the crest of crashing waves." Shaye greeted, letting her eyes close and dipping her head politely. "I am Shaye Uisge, of the Each Uisge in Dark Ire. The Kelpies. I thank you for this food, Lo Tide, you may call me Shaye."

She moved closer, about to sink her hands into the still-warm interior but she paused, glancing up again before finally concluding.

"Moon smile upon you and fate find you well, Lo Tide. I shall endeavor to master your true name."
Ana
*Lo gazed at Shaye she spoke. She used a lot of flowy,, pretty sounding words. Whatever she was saying, the meaning came across. Or, at least Lo thought it sounded friendly. She was smiling too. Not a predatory smile, but a real one. A smile that Lo returned, albeit halfheartedly. She was still in poor spirits after having to slaughter a man she thought to be his friend. He often spoke of his brothers. They would miss him. Perhaps Lo should leave enough of him to bury.*

*Lo's thoughts turned inwards as she ate absentmindedly. This wouldn't have had to happen if he had just been reasonable. They had spoken for weeks. He knew her well enough that he could reason she was friendly. She was not wielding weapons when she showed her face under the docks. She was not acting aggressively. She took care not to smile so her teeth wouldn't frighten him. The moron could have ran. But what did he do? He rushed at her with a flimsy metal blade and tried to gut her! It made her so angry!*

*Lo's grip tightened on the mangled limb, crushing the bone on her claws. With a cry, she tossed the limb into the sea. She huffed and panted with anger before turning to shaye and feeling it fade. She drew her knees up to her chin and wraps her arms around her legs.*

"...I am not feeling hungry anymore. You do not need to learn to pronounce my name. Few have the ability to mimic Abyssal speech."
Dorothy
Her long fingers inched towards the wound, seeking the warm rich succor she would find in the remains, the gritty flesh of liver as she tore it between her sharp teeth to spill the coppery contents into her waiting mouth.

But she paused, a high brows dipping lower into a faint frown at Lo's dismissive comment, the merfolk was obviously upset over something. What, Shaye could hardly guess, but this... This was an important matter.

"Names are not trivial things." She replied. "A name is worth being pronounced correctly, even if that requires some effort."

She crouched low next to the body, her split skirt allowing enough motion to shift postures easily, and examined it, though still without picking yet.
Ana
*Lo frowned at Shaye. If she had the capability to narrow her eyes, she would have. Instead she just blinked her nictating membranes to clear out and sand that had been caught on her large glassy eyes. She was awfully polite. Lo had heard stories of magical people who could curse people with just their names. The idea popped into her head, but she dismissed it. If Shaye was still aggressive, Lo would have known. Besides, something else stuck her.*

"...That is not my name anymore. Not the one I use. I do not often venture to the Abyss anymore. I came up her to get away from my old life. My old life of killing my kin to just survive. Of looking into the eyes of those just as intelligent as me as... I...Ate..."

*Lo trailed off, looking down at the face of the man who she called friend just hours ago. His eyes were still open, staring blankly up at the underside of the dock, a look of fear etched onto his face.*

*She reached over and closed his eyes with her fingers.*

"...Your kind eat humanoid flesh to live. It is part of your diet. I understand this. My kind however, dine on the sea creatures that dwell in Mother Ocean. It is her bounty. Sometimes that must include our own kin in times of desperation. We waste nothing. Even the bones we crush and consume. And yet, I find that I do not want to eat this man. Even though he attempted to kill me, I still called him friend for a time..."

"Shaye Uisge. You say names are important, yes? His was Sodir Bersk. You may continue your meal, but I want you to remember this name. You do not have to thank it, I would not expect you do so. Just... Remember."
Dorothy
The Kelpie nodded, as if this were a matter of course. Her hungry gaze drifted from the innards that would most sate her up to the mans face, carefully tracing its fearful contours.

"Sodir Bersk, I will remember." She said before reaching out to at last pull free the soft, fatty tissue of his liver. 

It pulled free with the satisfying snap of tendons, the scent of it already rich and tantalizing even before she had pierced it. As she raised it to her lips she found herself still staring at the man's features.

"It is a sad way to part with a friend. In fear." Shaye commented, lingering in thought. "I... Would not dine upon the remains of a friend either. It would be... Impolite."

She glanced back up to the merfolk, pulling the fresh meat a little further away as she did.

"Would it upset you, for another to do so? I can manage my hunger well enough without."
Ana
"Eat. It will not upset me. One way or another, his body will be reincorporated into the world. Either through you, me, or the countless other creatures looking for meat."

*Lo frowned down at the body, a thought nagging at her.*

"Humanoids often put the bodies of the dead into wooden boxes and put them underground. Why do you not just place the body underground by itself so it will be reincorporated quicker? Land dweller customs are still so strange to me. I wish I could learn more. However, whenever I try..."

*Lo gestures to the body before her.*

"They do not take kindly to me."
Dorothy
"They are strange." Shaye replied with a shrug, as if the statement was all one could need for an answer.

With no offense now given, she gleefully tore into the soft flesh she held, her chin immediately coated with a trail of thick liver-blood. An appreciative hum filled the silence as she savored the taste of her favourite meal.

"Mmm, but they can be enjoyable." She continued. "A treat as food, a delightful mood, they ebb and flow, come and go, they love, they cry, all doomed to die."

She gave a soft sigh, enjoying the opportunity for speech. To paint with words the tapestry of life. And mortal life! Mmm, there were few finer subject. So tumultuous, brief, chaotic and violent. So beautiful in all its hues.

"Perhaps that is why they put their dead in boxes." She mused. "To try to hold onto their fragile existence a little longer. To rage and fight against their ultimate fates. A beautiful, if futile struggle."
Ana
*Lo watched her as she ate. Messy. Not like Lo can say anything; she's not exactly a clean eater. But with her larger mouth, she can take larger bites and get more of the blood actually in her mouth. Shaye here was getting blood all over her face. Thick, rich, black blood...*

*Lo had the strangest inclination to lick Shaye's face. You know, so no blood would go to waste. She has a feeling Shaye wouldn't appreciate the gesture, though, so she does not.*

"I have befriended a few land dwellers before. But they never stick around. They always have somewhere to be, or they lose interest, or I offend them in some way. My interactions are often just watching from afar so they do not become afraid or aggressive. In a way, I envy you. You could pass as human to them. You could walk among them freely. I can not."

"Despite how short their lifespan is and how poor hunters they are in comparison, I find myself fascinated by them and their ways of life. So bizarre and convoluted, yet intriguing and compelling."
Dorothy
Shaye nodded in her agreement, sharp teeth making short work of each bite and leaving her somewhat free to continue their conversation without spilling food. Something that Livia had been so clearly upset by that Shaye swore never to do it again.

"They are interesting. Bright. Vibrant. They feel.. Hmm... They feel less than fae, I think, or less intesely. But with more... Purpose?"

She mused on the thought, considering the humans that she had seen, met, and spoken with. Lo was right, Shaye *Could* Blend in relatively easily. Her teeth could set some on edge but oftentimes people preferred not to ask, not to know the answer.

"I like to watch them dance." She said quietly. "It is very... Different. Deliberate? They put strange rules and order into everything. Perhaps Livia could explain better, she is a little closer to them in those ways."
Ana
*Lo changed position, sitting more comfortably on the sand with a sigh. The night was still young. Crickets were chirping in the distance, waves were crashing, and two sea monsters sat over a fresh corpse. Quite the relaxing atmosphere.*

"Livia. Who is that? A friend of yours? Mm... No. I can tell. I see it in your eyes when you say their name. They are someone special to you. I would love to meet them."

"I have watched humans dance before. Once, they held a festival on the beach. They brought out a lot of sweet-smelling foods and liquid that burned when I stole some to drink. Alcohol, they called it. Played music on fancy instruments and danced with fervor. As the night wore on, the dancing slowed, and they split into partners. Each person dancing with their special one. It was mesmerizing to watch. They all looked to be having so much fun. I wish I could have joined."
Dorothy
"She is a friend. And she is more, else. She is... She is Livia." She said, ending with a little shrug.

The dynamic seemed to confuse some people. Especially humans. But to Shaye they needed no particular term to define what they were to each other they were just... Them. Sea Glass and her Little Red.

"We are separated for now." Shaye explained, glancing across the long stretch of sea. "But perhaps one day I could."

Her head tilted as the merfolk continued, describing some human festival. Shaye had been to some before, but mortals seemed to hold different customs everywhere and would celebrate for any of a dozen reasons. It was one of their more endearing traits.

"Would you like to?" Shaye asked, curious. "I have whiskey, wine, and the pan pipes are easy to dance with."
Ana
"One day, perhaps. It is always nice to make new friends. Perhaps in the meantime, we could be friends. You seem quite nice. I have known few Kelpies before, but they were aggressive. Different from you, I believe. You say you are from a swamp. The ones I meet dwelled in the open sea. Perhaps I encroached on their territory, because they came at me with the intent to kill. It is a shame I had to kill them first. To cut short the life of one so magnificent is always a disappointment."

"Oh, are you asking me to dance? I would love to! I have watched them very closely while they danced, so I believe I know how it is done. Also, I am assuming whiskey and wine are a kind of alcohol yes? What is the purpose of drinking it? It doesn't taste very good... And my body recognized it as a type of poison so i didn't drink very much."
Dorothy
"The purpose?" The kelipe asked, grin now stained with red as she licked the last of the blood from her fingers. "The purpose is to enjoy! To revel, delight, celebrate, and to live!"

Her eyes gleamed once more, shining with the fae's inner delight. To celebrate was to live, and Shaye literally shone with her enthusiasm for life. And further... Lo had met other Kelpies out to see?! She had nearly to restrain herself from leaping immediately into the waves to search.

"I have never met others who enjoyed the sea. Of my kind, at least. Some sirens, some mortals who sail the waves instead of stride them. But none who... Mmm..."

She glanced up to the moon's soft glow above, eyes distant and thoughtful at the idea.
Ana
*Lo gazed blankly at Shaye for a moment, tilting her head to side slightly. Obviously the point of the dancing was to enjoy it and celebrate. She knew that. But how did drinking foul tasting liquid help that?*

"I don't understand. How does drinking poison help you celebrate? Does it not hurt you? Do some people enjoy the taste? Or maybe the poison does something to your mind. Like how some kin will deliberately consume pufferfish poison to enjoy the effects it has on the mind. Is it like that?"

*Lo spots Shaye's enthusiasm upon hearing about Sea Kelpies. In truth, she finds it rather odd that she's never encountered one before. Then again, they are few and far between.*

"You will likely find them if you search far and deep enough. They only made themselves known to me purposefully, so I've likely missed them before while they remained hidden."

*Lo stood up and stretched, gazing out towards the sea. All this talk of kin has made her remember her sisters. She never truly knew them. Her siblings hatched earlier than her and set off while Lo was still maturing. She had never encountered them in all the wide oceans... Or perhaps she did and simply didn't recognize them. That thought made her strangely sad.*
Dorothy
"I suppose, in a way." Shaye said, with a mirthful chuckle. "For humans and others of mortal-kind at least. Among fae it is no poison to drink our wine, or whiskey. Would you like to try?"

She rose, using the back of her hand to wipe her mouth clean. Still savoring the taste of her meal, she followed Lo's gaze and began to hum. Quiet at first, but then picking up in volume and rhythm until she seemed to hit upon a beat that felt... Right.

Her voice seemed to subtly shift, as though harmonizing with itself as her foot tapped along on the sand. As she softly began to sang she stepped forward, feet light upon the sand as she danced on the shoreline.

"Will Lo by moon's soft silver glow,
Dance with me in blood-red flow?
By ocean's edge, in ebon grace,
Step quickly now to keep apace.

Words and music, trip from tongue
Song of depths from siren sung,
Wine to drink, and bottle kiss
Reel with me, while friends we miss

The tides shall hum, the stars will shine
They'll watch our revel, yours and mine
On shores we step, and high we leap
Dance with me Lo, and closely keep."
||
Ana
*Lo turned to face her again as she offered to share the drink. Perhaps this is how she plans to pay Lo back for the meal. Who is Lo to refuse?* "Alright, I will drink with you Shaye."

*Lo turned to face her as she began to sing, listening intently to her words. It sounds ethereally beautiful, and almost familiar in a strange way. Lo attempts to follow her steps as she dances, but she is not nearly as coordinated as she is. Her long lanky body may be a thing of beauty in the ocean, but on land it is slow and clumsy. Either way, she still tried her best.*

*As Shaye's song picked up and grew more predictable, Lo began to hum along with it. As she finished her final verse, Lo began to sing. Unfamiliar with common, music craft, she was tempted to sing in Abyssal. But she tried to come up with something similar to what Shaye was singing.*

"Tides lay low and stars hang high,
Blood will flow from hearts torn wide..."

"Um... Hand in hand tonite we sing
For next night we know will bring
Struggle, grief and fear once more,
As blood again shall stain the shore..."

*Lo giggles to herself and stops dancing for a moment, turning to Shaye with a big grin.*

"I am sorry, my words are not as beautiful as yours. My part was rather grim and sad, wasn't it? I'm not used to singing in common."
Dorothy
Shaye grinned wide with glee, her hands clapping delightedly together at Lo's own verse. The willingness to make the attempt more than making up for any unfamiliarity with composing.

"It was lovely." She said, still smiling. "I'm an unseelie fae, almost all of our songs get grim or sad or both."

She lets her own swift-stepping slow, settling back until eventually she stills. Drawing in a full breath of fresh sea-air she sighs happily in the evening chill.

"Company is worth far more than a meal." She said. "I find myself increasingly indebted."
Ana
*Lo giggles happily at the praise, it's not often that she receives genuine compliments. Plus, she made her new friend smile. She likes making people smile. It's certainly a nice change of pace from the fear she usually causes.*

"I am glad you like it! But I liked your part better." *Lo stops her dancing as well, slowing to a stop with her feet in the water.*

"Debt? There is no debt. You owe me nothing. If it helps, I enjoy your company as well. Though, if you insist, maybe you could join me in the waters so I could show you how my kind sings. It is very different from how other people do. You may not understand the meaning, but I think you may enjoy it anyway."

*Lo holds out a hand to Shaye, taking another step deeper into the waves.*
Dorothy
Shaye stretched her hand out to Lo, following pleasantly along. It had turned into quite the night. A dance, a meal, some company, and now a song?

"Mmm, below the waters?" She ventured to guess. "I've heard some sirens sing so, the sound is different."

She waded quickly into deeper waters, making not even a reflexive attempt to gasp air before plunging below the waterline and breathing the water with just as much ease.
||
Ana
*Lo swam deeper into the water, just until she reaches the shelf break. An undersea cliff dropping into the vast abyss below. She stands on the very edge. She looks different in the ocean. More composed, natural, and confident. Her movements are much more fluid and purposeful.*

*She starts off slow, humming a low tune. As she does, she dances along the edge of the shelf break. Twirling and spinning as her feet trace and sandy drop-off.*

*Then she finally begins to sing. She sings in a bizarre form of Abyssal (an already bizarre language). It sounds like low warbling whale call. It's haunting and ethereal, carrying through the water almost supernaturally. As she sings, the water starts to swirl and churn in unnatural ways, ebbing in and out in time with her singing. Eventually, she ends her song with a low quite whine and the ocean calms once more. When she finishes, she turns to Shaye and gives her a bow.*
Dorothy
A little more still this time, Shaye kept quiet as Lo swirled and drew the waters around them. But her eyes gleamed even brighter at this performance than the last, her smile was subtle but conveyed a deep appreciation for this eerie beauty.

"That was... Beautiful." She said at last, giving a grateful nod of her head and squeezing her eyes shut to help convey the depth of emotion. "I am not... It is rare outside our kind for someone to share something like that."
||
Ana
*Lo smiles gleefully at Shaye, showing all her teeth in a grin that would be disconcerting to anyone else.*

"It is a very special dialect of Abyssal. The oldest dialect, in fact. The Mother's Tongue, we call it. With it, we are able to speak directly with Mother Ocean. Precious few of my kind can speak it. With it I am able to ask Mother Ocean for favors as one of her children. The way the waters moved while I sang? That was Mother showing her appreciation! She likes it when I sing for her."
Dorothy
Shaye hummed softly once more, trying to at least follow the warbling tune, even if the vocalisation would be beyond her. For a moment she had it, but soon enough she gave up with a little chuckle.

"Mmm, well beyond me I think." She said. "Though we have had something similar, a rare talent for us as well."

She trailed her hand through the water carefully, voice sleeping into a haunting verse of Sylvan with that same odd self-harmony again. As she sang, the water twisted about her, twining around her form and slipping through her fingers. But only immediately behind her.

"I had none to learn it from." She finally admitted, the water stilling again as she sighed with a little burst of bubbles. "It feels like it could be more, but this was all I was able to manage teaching myself."
||
Ana
*Lo tilted her head with interest as Shaye sang ethereal manner. It was unfamiliar to her, different from anything she's ever heard before. It was utterly captivating.*

"What a beautiful melody. It sounds so unfamiliar to me, I'd love to hear more! I hope you find someone to teach you, or perhaps you could even find out how to sing even more on your own with enough practice."

"Shaye, the more I learn about you, the more alike I feel we are. Maybe... Maybe we could be more than just friends. I feel as if there was a special term for it in common..."

*Lo thinks for a moment, trying to recall a conversation she overheard a long while ago. Suddenly it struck her, and she beamed at Shaye with a big goofy (and terrifying) grin.*

"Best friends!"
Dorothy
The kelpie arched one thin brow at the comment, but her slight grin undercut the usual severity of the expression. Lo certainly progressed things quickly. But... There was a certain kinship here. A similarity and shared joy.

And most of all, Shaye was used to acting swiftly on instinct herself.

"Should you cross any others of my kind." She said, still smiling but once again lapsing into strange formality. "You may tell them that Shaye Uisge has named you friend."
Ana
*Lo let out her characteristic bubbly giggle. It feels good to make friends! Perhaps this day could be salvaged after all. She lost one friend and gained another. Sure it isn't a gain, but at least it's not a loss!*

"Yay! Friends!"

*Then there is a sudden burst of motion from Lo, swimming forwards at high speed, completely blindsiding Shaye. She wraps her long arms around her in a big strong hug. Shaye suddenly finds her face pressed against Lo's featureless chest. While she's down there, she would her the irregular heart beats of her two hearts. Beating slightly out of sync. Though in truth that's hard to hear over her giggle fit.*
Dorothy
Shaye blinked with startlement at the unexpected speed, more than the embrace itself. Once the initial rush ended and they drifted softly with Lo holding Shaye to her chest, she stiffened momentarily. Shaye had enjoyed plenty of pleasant times. With mortals, with the few other faekind they had met, with other creatures fantastical and rare.

But only with Livia, her Little Red, was she... Tender. She had hugged before, sometimes even in purely platonic manner, but something about the sudden rush, and perhaps a little irritation at the obvious disparity of their heights, made it uncomfortable still.

"I... Hmm... Well I suppose this once." She finally conceded, relaxing and softly wrapping her arms around the merfolk in a loose hug.
||
Ana
*Lo holds her there for a moment before she realizes that she is making Shaye uncomfortable. She releases her grip on her and swims back a small distance.*

"Ah! I am sorry about that! That was very rude of me. I should have asked before hugging you, instead of just doing it like that. It has just been a very long time since someone called me their friend. I got very excited."

"...So what do we do now? What do friends do? Talk to each other? Go places? I... Don't really know. Most people I've called friends I've never met again after we parted. The ones I did, we just kept talking. Is there... Something you want to talk about?"

*Lo is suddenly feeling quite awkward. Her inexperience is showing. Most people she sees together at the beach are clearly more than friends. She doesn't think that friends touch each other and kiss like that... Do they? Is... Is that what land dweller friends do?*
Dorothy
"You shared your hunt, you danced with me, you repaid one song with another. I have met few more polite than you." Shaye said, accepting the distance but smiling again. "And a friend is excused some over eagerness."

Some mortals had attempted similar things, before Shaye had named them friend. It had not ended well. But for such a pleasant meeting, Shaye could make this allowance.

"Hmm, well I have some travels ahead but no great rush. I can pass a day or two- do you live here? You said the mor- the land dwellers are rude, but perhaps somewhere nearby?"
||
Ana
"Oh! Yes I have home near here. If you will follow me, I'll show it to you. It is deep enough under the water that no land dweller will find it and hidden enough that most seafolk will miss it. Follow!"

*Lo turns and swims away, off into the blue, swimming down off the shelf break. She swims quite a distance down. The pressure can be felt, but it is not as intense as the bottom of the sea. She makes her way over to a rocky wall covered in seaweed. She pushes it aside like a curtain, revealing a hollow in the wall, a naturally forming small cave. Lo swims in, holding it open for Shaye to follow.*

*Her home is... Humble, to say the least. One of the cave's walls is lined with trinkets from the land. Metal silverware, coins, brushes, and other things. Miraculously, there is a single perfectly maintained blue dress among them. Along the other wall are trophies from Lo's hunts. Shark teeth, narwhal horns, chucks of shell, along with several fantastical and unidentifiable teeth and horns. Laying along the ground is a bed of seaweed. Interestingly, there is a single bright pink anemone on a rock in the corner.*

"This is my home! It isn't much. I do not stay here very often. But it is where I keep my stuff. Oh! And the anemone is my friend. His name is-"

*Lo makes a short chirping call in abyssal.*

"I think it translates to Little Friend in common."
Dorothy
*With swift strokes through the water, Shaye followed behind. Clearly pleased to not need to slow herself as she cut through the sea.*

She paused at the threshold of the cave for a moment, taking in the interior and as Lo continued to hold the seaweed to the side she drifted slowly in to examine it further.

She rarely swam this down herself, the odd pressure around made her feel a little short of breath, but it was still manageable enough not to cause any real discomfort.

"My greetings, Little Friend." Shaye said, giving a little nod to the wavering pink tendrils. "Hmm... It is an interesting home you have, more fascinating than most of the mortal houses I have visited."
Ana
*Lo looked around at the humble space before looking back at Shaye, a little interested. She'd never been inside a land dweller's home before. Even with the few land dwellers she had befriended, her six hour time limit and the fact she is always dripping water made it inconvenient.*

"Is it? I've never been inside a land house before. Even a friends. They do not like that I drip water everywhere and that I am so tall I'd hit my head on the doorways. What are they like inside? Are the big? What is everything made of? What things do they have inside? Do they have a lot of rooms?"

*Lo rapid fires questions at Shaye with genuine curiosity. She realizes she may accidentally overwhelm her, so she stops... Even though she still has more questions. She looks to her seaweed bed and frowns. Only enough room for one. Unless Shaye wanted to cuddle, Lo would have to find somewhere else to sleep.*
Dorothy
"Mmmm, Livia can get a little cross when I drip on the floor too. Though I... Don't have that problem with doorways."

She looked rather upset about this fact as she once again looked Lo over, head to toe, and examined the woman's height with a touch of envy. It was less obvious underwater, height being a little more malleable here, but even so...

"Hmm... The houses are big but they have littler rooms in them. Feel a little too small for me usually."

She liked to have room to pace, and to shift into her other form if she needed to. The close confines of many houses could be... Unnerving.
Ana
"Ah? Why are looking at me like that? Did I upset you? You don't look very happy. You keep looking at me up and down... Do you... Not like my dress..?"

*Lo looks down at her outfit. It's in pretty rough shape, all torn up and soiled with blood. She fiddles with the torn strap on it and frowns. Then she looks over at the other dress.*

"I guess I could wear the other one. But I save that for special occasions. I guess this counts as special..."

*Lo muses to herself in her misunderstanding of the situation. Shaye's outfit was pretty. Maybe shaye could show her where she gets her pretty clothes...?*
Dorothy
"Mmm, well it is a little torn, but that happens." Shaye said, giving a little shrug. "There's some towns around, want me to get you another?"

It would be an easy enough trip to make, she still had some coins taken off of one of her previous encounters with a mortal. Enough for new clothes certainly, and it wouldn't hurt to have another set or two for herself.

||
Ana
*Lo looked at her in amazement. She was offering to buy her a dress? For free? That was so kind! But... Did she have the storage space for that? Looking around, she only had space for the one dress on the wall...*

"You would do that? That's so nice! But... Are you sure that's not too many? Where am I going to find the time to wear three dresses? Also, I don't have much space to store clothes here. I mostly just wear this one or nothing at all. I only wore this one because I was meeting that land dweller in person today. Land dwellers are very weirdly insistent about wearing clothing like that."
Dorothy
She gave an understanding nod to that. Mortals had some very strange hangups about that kind of thing. It wasn't that Shaye didn't enjoy wearing a nice outfit from time to time, something to accentuate, a skirt to twirl in dance, pants with beautiful patterning, but mortals seemed to want to wear them *All* The time.

"Mm, they have their customs. We all do." She said. "But clothes will store fine, I keep a few with me too and that's just in a bag."
Ana
"Alright, if you insist. It would be rude to refuse your offer if you are being so kind. Oh I must get you something too! Since I can not follow you up to land to buy the outfit, I will hunt a trophy for you! I'll make sure to get you something very special."

"Oh, that reminds me! Do your kind sleep? I know that there are certain people who can go without sleep for a very long time. I myself have to sleep at least once every cycle or my instinct dull. If you need to sleep, you can use my bed there! It is cozier than it looks. I will find somewhere else to sleep. I do not think you would appreciate me being so close to you."

"...I am also told I look scary when I sleep. I think it's because I don't have eyelids like land dwellers."
Dorothy
"Mmm, I sometimes don't when spending the night with company. But yes we do need to." Shaye replied, glancing about the room again before looking critically at the bed. "Mmm... Looks like plenty of space for two to me. Cold down this far anyway, nice to have someone to warm you up."

One of her less-favoured aspects of travelling. One night outside of towns with the solitude of her thoughts to enjoy a quiet evening could be nice. Two became a little uncomfortable. More than that? Well, Shaye didn't particularly enjoy feeling lonely.
Ana
*Lo looked at with a curious smile. That sounded like an invitation to cuddle to Lo. Strange, considering her earlier showcase of discomfort during Lo's sudden hug. Perhaps it's because she didn't expect it? Or maybe it's because of the cold... Either way, Lo was excited at the prospect of spending the night with Shaye in her arms.*

*Lo was about to swim over to the bed when she looked down and realized she was still wearing her torn up dress. Earlier, Shaye didn't seem to mind the thought of nudity, Lo herself certainly didn't care. So she just shed the dress and left it on the floor. She poked a bit at the knife wound, testing it to see if it bled. It did slightly, but not enough to warrant worry.*

*Lo moved over to the bed and laid down, arms outstretched to welcome Shaye.*

"I promise I can warm you up! I am good at keeping warm, and my chest is quite a bit softer than my scales."
Dorothy
Glancing for only a moment before shedding her own shirt and skirt, Shaye drifted over by Lo. Close like this she was reminded again of the difference in their height, a difference that still bothered Shaye after years of teasing by her family.

So she perhaps let herself drift a little higher up so that they were eye-level as she reached the merfolk with a small sinister little smile.

"Mmm, be careful not to prod that too much." She said, nodding to the wound. "You'll make me hungry again."
Ana
*Lo giggled and grinned at Shaye, she gently ran a clawed hand through her hair, scratching her scalp with sharp claws.*

"Oh no, I wouldn't want that would I? Totally not! I definitely do not want you to bite with those pretty teeth of yours!"

"...That was a 'sarcasm'...I think. From what I've gathered, it's when you say the opposite of what you mean. So, in reality, I *Do* Want you to bite me with your pretty teeth. Calling your teeth pretty wasn't a sarcasm though. I meant that."

"I feel like I'm explaining this too much. I am going to stop talking now."