I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Suiko on 26-06-2014, 18:41:55</h2>
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				Title: <strong>I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Suiko</strong> on <strong>26-06-2014, 18:41:55</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs50/f/2009/264/1/b/Isomnia_by_vegarden.jpg)</div>Stark white sails blew high overhead as a favourable wind encouraged the large ahip on it's coirse across the vast ocean. Birds flew across a sky shot with the occasional drift of cloud, screeching and cawing at one another - all cast against the brilliant sun that shone high abive the horizon. The day began as a perfect one for such a voyage, and it's many passengers bustled about the deck discussing business or leisure, or what they would be doing when the ship finally docked.<br><br>Stead upon a small wopden stool in front of an easel, slender fingers blackened with chalk, sat a young man, smiling gently at the passersby in hopes of a portrait or two to earn himself some funds for his journey. He was rather unassuming and perfectly usual. While more attractive than the average human, he didn't hold himself with the pride of someone flaunting their looks or wealth. Avery certainly had none of the latter.<br><br>He was an artist, though not a well known one. In the hometown he had left behind he'd made a little reputation among the people, and it was his mother's encouragement that he branch out to the Northern Continent that spurred him to make the week-long voyage across the sea. There was gold to be had in the northern lands - great dwarven mines had been unearthed and the wealth flowed freely in rivers of jewels and precious metals, so said the stories. Avery could only hope to earn his share.<br><br>A young couple finally approached him, all smiles and hope for thd future. They wanted a simple sketch together as a souvenir, and Avery was happy to oblige.<br><br><hr><br>The day wore on as it had done previously. Passangers knew little of unwelcome signs of trouble, but as an acute observer, Avery noticed the sailors hurrying a little faster from their posts, looking more anxiously up towards the sky. It was only when he paused to think on what the trouble might be that he noticed the definite lack of birds in the sky. The sun had also faded steadily behind a haze of cloud that had so silently drifted overhead.<br><br>"Excuse me..." He stood and stopped one of the workers. "Are... we expecting bad weather?"<br><br>"Don't worry, lad. The ship's sturdy and there probably be nothin' but a breeze. Settle yourself down and don't startle the other passengers."<br><br>Avery frowned, but returned to his stool, peering up at the cloud as it scuttled overhead. Slowly more and more passengers became aware as the sky turned darker. Waves rocked the great ship more than was comfortable and finally the Captain's voice echoed through the amplifiers. "All passengers kindly returb to their cabins! Sailors to your posts!"<br><br>There wasn't panic yet. Things seemed tricky but under control, and so Avery followed the crowd below deck and into his tiny cabin. He looked out of his small window, seeing the waves roll over it and he looked anxiously back towards the door. <br><br>The weather steadily worsened. Wavea grew higher, the sky grew darker, and it was the first sharp crack of lightning against the sea that heralded the initial cry of panic from another cabin. Another announcement came as another bolt lanced down against the ever-growing waves and the ship began to rock more obviously. "Passangers don your jackets and return to the deck. We're manning ths lifeboats!"<br><br>The true gravity of what was happening only became apparent as Avery hurried from his cabin. They were all muffled with privacy enchantments, but once outside the loudness of the storm outside and the cries of panic were all the more alarming. There was a dash towards deck and Avery fiddled with the straps of his life jacket as he moved with the frantic crowd.<br><br>On deck the scene was worse still. The small lifeboats hovered above the swaying deck as people hurried to board, waves battering the hull and washing over onto the deck itself to douse the terrified passangers. People skidded and slipped, Avery gripped hard on the railing as he tried to keep his balance as thunder boomed overhead, a bolt of lightning following, almost in slow motion, barely a foot beside the ship.<br><br>The resulting wave rosw higher than the ones before, looming for a terrifying instant over the ragged sails before it tumbled downwards with a great roar.<br><br>Avery shut his eyes and felt the sudden impact of water against his front. The jacket automatically formed the protective barrier of air around his body, but it couldn't stop him being thrown back and over the railing. Other people fell too. The noise was deafening and there was a ringing in his ears as he plummeted downwards before he struck the water's surface, falling down... down, down, down.<br><br>He realised that something was wrong when he tried to inhale and swallowed only water. The impact must have damaged his jacket, and he frantically tried to swim, pumping his arms and legs to make himself go up. The waves were too strong however, his efforts only serving to tire him out as his clothes sagged with extra weight. His eyes widened as he coughed, bubbles forming in front of him as his vision began to grow dark.<br><br><em>I'm dying... I'm going to die...</em>
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				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Observing Trifles</strong> on <strong>26-06-2014, 20:16:44</strong>
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				The sea was angry that afternoon. Only a few short hours prior, the sun had shone brightly, bathing the uppermost crests with enough warmth for pleasant basking. Now the water churned with unhindered violence, tossing with the fury of a predator in a death roll. Ordinarily, Aeriphos's (http://37.media.tumblr.com/940da2505a3684b76329c1befd1d3b60/tumblr_n6yohni2tb1tvcc99o1_400.jpg) kind might not have bothered with retreating too far from the surface, but the recent presence of a human vessel prompted him to send them away for their own safety. It wasn't as though the landwalkers were oblivious to the existence of merfolk, but should the ship begin to suffer damage, he had no desire to become a casualty of shrapnel or other debris.<br><br>It was with that in mind that the dark-haired merman began to swim down, bound for safer, calmer waters. While the storm raged above, the waters beneath were placid, particularly near the reefs large enough to curb any stronger wayward current. Originally, he had intended to make his way back to the colony, where he would remain until the inclement weather passed and would again allow him to breach the surface. All that changed, however, when sharp green eyes spotted an object in the water. Not shrapnel or debris as he had originally feared, but a human.<br><br>Aeriphos spurred into action before he had time to think. With a thrust of his powerful tail he changed direction, sapphire scales refracting the low light in a flurry of greens, blues, and yellows. If the cloud of bubbles above the human's head were any indication, he didn't have long. But Aeriphos's movements were swift, swift enough that in short order, he had closed the sizable gap between himself and the drowning landwalker.<br><br><div class="floatright">(http://oi60.tinypic.com/24cfhmu.jpg)</div>Slipping a long arm around Avery's middle, he began hoisting them upward. Even with the strength of his tail propelling them to the surface, the trip took longer than he would have liked, given the extra weight he carried. Every few moments he glanced down, checking for signs of consciousness. He couldn't have been sure, but he made out what he believed to be a heart beating, which told him that his attempts were, at least for the moment, not in vain.<br><br>At last, Aeriphos brought Avery to the surface, grunting softly with effort as he fought to keep his head above the water. A human's weight was more difficult to bear at this level, and the waves crashing all around them wasn't helping matters. At this, the merman glanced about, reacquiring his bearings. He knew the area well, well enough to know of a little cove a short swim away. And there it was, due west, away from the ship tossing violently only a short distance from them.<br><br>Securing his hold on the human's middle, Aeriphos rushed him to the cove. The journey was rocky, given the state of the water, but he crossed the distance in good time. He guided them toward a great rocky pillar, beyond which sat the shallows and the yawning mouth of a cave. There, where the waves broke on the shore, the water was shallow enough for him to slow to a stop, laying Avery down on the damp sand.<br><br>The trip had tired him a bit, enough so that his secondary lungs, those designed to breathe air, ached from the effort, but he paid it little mind. Instead he leaned back a bit, supported by the blue mass of scales curled behind him, checking that the human had managed to survive the voyage.
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				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Suiko</strong> on <strong>26-06-2014, 20:56:26</strong>
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				It was difficult to see. Thought slowed down almost to a complete stop as Avery became very aware of the <em>thump-thump</em> of his heartbeat steadily slow. He felt remarkably peaceful now that the finality of death had clpided him - there was no way he would get to the surface, no way he'd survive, so why bother getting frantic about it?<br><br>Hie eyes blinked, vague black shapes twisting and moving about him as he was buffeted to and fro by the vicious waters, but even the pain of his body was distant to him. He'd miss his mother... and he wished that he could have seen the elven forests, drawn them... there was a lot he wanted to do...<br><br>A sudden rush of black swam into his vision and he coughed once again in shock. What was it? He couldn't make it out through his hazy vision, but he thought he saw the shape of a fish tail; a shark? Was he going to be eaten? His fear was waved away as he felt what seemed to be an arm wrapping around his waist, his body limp as it was dragged with more purpose upwards towards the surface. <br><br>What was happening? Magic? A rescuer?&nbsp; Avery couldn't think very much, but thw sudden flood of bitterly cold air against his face helped to jolt him at least partially to life. He tried to suck in a deep gulp of breath, but only spluttered, water having almost filled his lungs entirely. He was still being pulled along by something unseen, until eventually he felt the angry waters steadily fade away, until the calm sea rolled gently underneath him.<br><br>Ground. He felt ground underneath him. He slowly blinked, dark brown eyes unfocused as he tried and failed to move. Only his fingers twitched to grip some sand between them, and he managed to turn his head weakly to the side as he sensed someone close by. <br><br>"Who...?" It was a man from what he could see. Was he a mirage? Shocking beautiful to look at...<br><br>"You... saved-" He was unable to continue speaking as he broke into a sharp coughing fit, spouts of water rsther unpleasantly spilling between his lips until he was left heaving again. Only then did his eyes trail lower towards the waterline, and then he spotted it. The scales glittered like jemstones, Avery's lips parting in awe as a slightly delirious smile came to his paled lips.<br><br>"... Beautiful..."
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				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Observing Trifles</strong> on <strong>26-06-2014, 21:21:46</strong>
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				As he watched Avery struggle for breath, his body struggling to regain its bearings, the thin, translucent tip of his tail flicked uneasily. He surmised that he had gotten to the landwalker in time, but he could still drown from the water he had inhaled. Briefly, Aeriphos entertained the notion of bearing down on his chest to expel what liquid remained in his body, but that passed quickly when the human's reflexes did it for him.<br><br>It was most ungraceful indeed, the way Avery's body purged itself. Rather like a whale forcing out the last bit of water from the hole atop its head. Regardless, it brought the faintest hint of a smile to the merman's finely sculpted features, for it meant that the human would live after all.<br><br>As he settled more comfortably, the uppermost portion of his tail wriggled about in the sand for a moment, creating something of a cradle for the graceful, streamlined shape of his body. He gathered he would be there a while, at least until the storm had passed and the man was well enough to take care of himself again, so he wasted no time in making himself comfortable.<br><br>"Relax for a bit," he urged. Threaded into his low timbre existed an ethereal undertone, something entirely otherworldly. "Your body has suffered a great trauma. You will require plenty of rest."<br><br>It occurred to him then that he hadn't considered how to return the human to civilization. The cove was hospitable enough when the weather was clear, with an abundance of springs and edible vegetation. All the same, he doubted that the man wanted to spend his remaining days there. But that was a chore for another time. Whenever the storm clouds cleared and the sea was once again more accommodating.
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				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Suiko</strong> on <strong>26-06-2014, 22:01:41</strong>
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				Avery wished he could move. Now that the threat of death had gone and he found himself in the presence of a being so much more wondrous than his own, he felt all the more silly for laying in the wet sand, most likely with bits of seaweed decorating his body. He supposed it couldn't be helped however, and his merman saviour didn't seem to find him immediately repulsive.<br><br>He had heard very little of the merpeople, save that they tended to keep very much to themselves with few coming into prolonged contact with humans. The more superstitious of folk claimed that a merman would ensnare your soul and take it to the bottom of the ocean, but he never believed in such rubbish. When the voice came to his ears however, Avery wondered whether there was some truth to the tales; it was a voice that could definitely lure anyone to the unknown. There was a power to it beyond what even elves held. Something different and amazing.<br><br>"I... should thank you..." He managed to speak, managing a weak smile as he tried and failed to sit up once again. "You... saved my life and... you didn't have to... Thank you..."<br><br>Avery swallowed and closed his eyes for a brief moment, trying to blink the salt from behind his lids to better look upon the figure before him. How had he ever thought that the merman was human? No human face could ever look so much like porcelain.<br><br>"Ah... my name is... Avery... I hope I... wasn't too heavy..." He chuckled quietly, coughing a little with the motion.
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				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Observing Trifles</strong> on <strong>26-06-2014, 23:24:03</strong>
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				It had seemed such a natural reaction, saving Avery from drowning. In truth, Aeriphos hadn't thought it terribly heroic. Indeed, it had simply seemed the right thing to do. As such, for a moment, he wasn't sure what to do with the expression of gratitude. In response he shook his head, reaching out with a slender hand to nudge Avery back down as he tried to sit up.<br><br>"Never mind that," he told him. In a way, he supposed that saving Avery was his responsibility. This was, after all, his part of the ocean. No one could ever hope to own or control the seas, but in his way, he guarded it and all those who visited. To have left the human to drown would have been highly irresponsible. What was more, it seemed a terrible waste. The man was youthful and lovely; it would have been a crime to simply swim away and let him die.<br><br>Still, it was remarkable that, after nearly drowning, Avery's main concern was that he hadn't been an imposition. Aeriphos chuckled. "Hardly. You are a slip of a thing, but I would have carried you regardless."<br><br>Briefly, the merman glanced beyond the mouth of the cave to the storm raging outside. In the distance, he could see the ruined ship twisting left and right in the waves; it was only a matter of time before it went down. He was a touch concerned that, if it did sink, the wreckage would settle a bit too close to the reefs than he would have liked, but there wasn't much to be done about it. His colony was far enough away.<br><br>Turning back to Avery, the dark-haired figure gently dragged the lower half of his tail through the water, idly splashing the rest of himself for comfort. Staying beached wasn't a problem and he was certainly in no danger of dehydration, but all the same it helped to keep his body temperature down.<br><br>"I am Aeriphos. I safeguard these waters. I intend to remain with you until you've recovered, at which time we will see about getting you where you need to go."
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				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Suiko</strong> on <strong>27-06-2014, 11:20:38</strong>
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				&nbsp;Avery didn't understand how someone coukd be so casual about saving another life. Was the merman simply modest? Or were all his people so calm and collected? Aeriphos was so different to everything he'd seen of people and dwarves that he wasn't sure how to properly react. He didn't want to accidentally insult the merman, after all.<br><br>"Ah... well that's good at least..." He murmured softly, smiling a little at the confirmation that he hadn't been so heavy. He had barely been abke to kick his legs with fabric weighing him down, but Aeriphos had pulled him through the water as if he'd weighed nothing. It was amazing. <br><br>As the merman turned away briefly, Avery followed his gaze beyond the safety of the small alcove to look out towards the angry ocean. The sight of the ship in the far distance made his stomach lurch and he swallowed thickly, quick to turn away again. He hoped that everyone else had made it out safely... it seemed selfish to miss his personal effects under such circumstances, but he felt strangely lonely without his paper and chalk...<br><br>"Aeriphos..." He repeated quietly, slowly in an attempt to get the pronunciation right. "You'll... stay with me? Don't you have people you need to get back to? Not that... not that I want you to leave..." He shifted slightly against the sand and grimaced. The aches and pains had begun tk sink into his body, and the chill of soaked clothing made him shiver slightly.<br><br>He hardly expected a merman to have clean clothes... it was a problem, but he wouldn't voice it yet.
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				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Observing Trifles</strong> on <strong>28-06-2014, 02:43:58</strong>
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				At the human's near-protestation, Aeriphos raised both brows in surprise. For one who had nearly died, he was remarkably concerned about not inconveniencing his rescuer. It brought out the faintest hint of a laugh from the merman, who shook his head in reply.<br><br>"They can manage without me just fine for the next little while," he said. Although Avery did present a fine point. If he was away for too long, his people might start to worry, particularly if they had spotted the ship passing by before the storm. It wasn't common practice for landwalkers to exercise violence against merfolk, but it wasn't unheard of either. Best that he didn't leave them to think he had met an unsavory fate.<br><br>"In the meantime..." Aeriphos's brow furrowed in the slightest. It looked as though the shock had lessened, and Avery was now able to acknowledge a sense of discomfort. Not only that but cold too, it seemed. Aeriphos found the temperature agreeable, but humans required warmer climates, without which they needed proper coverings. That was going to be an issue. There was no established civilization on the little island from which to procure any dry clothing.<br><br>Reaching out, the merman slid an arm under one of Avery's, helping him up into a sitting position. "If you have the strength," he said, "I would recommend removing your clothes so that they may dry. If you are especially modest, you need only remove what you are comfortable with. My only intention is to ensure you don't freeze to death."
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				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Suiko</strong> on <strong>29-06-2014, 10:59:13</strong>
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				Avery offered a modest smile in response to the waving away of his concerns, nodding towards the merman. "You must... think humas to be very clumsy things in the water. It would nice to be able to swim..." He had probably looked ridiculous, flailing his arms and legs when merfolk cut through water without effort. He wished that he'd been able to see Aeriphos better in motion, but then he also wished the ship hadn't been wrecked...<br><br>He blinked as the arm helped to ease him up, muscles fiercely protesting the motion eith a low groan. Sand trickled down his back and clung unpleasantly to his mess of dark, damp hair. Avery looked rather bedraggled and sorry for himself, but there was still the attractiveness f his features that couldn't be denied. He cradled his head in one hand, wrapping the other arm around his shivering shoulders as he fought the urge to curl up into a ball and wait until he felt better. <br><br>"Clothes? Oh, ah... yes, I am quite cold..." There was modesty that kept him from going completely naked in front of the merman, but he awkwardly pulled off his soaked shirt, kicked off his shoes and socks, and pushed down his leggings. It left him only his underclothes and he pulled his knees up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them with a shudder.<br><br>"Hopefully I'll dry soon..."
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				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Observing Trifles</strong> on <strong>04-07-2014, 23:15:24</strong>
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				Aeriphos's kind had very little reason to be modest about their bodies. Although some adopted a slight notion of clothing, the idea related primarily to a sense of individuality rather than the need to cover up. Humans were very different, and for that reason he didn't assume that the task would necessarily be an easy one for Avery. But it was necessary. At some point he would require dry clothes if he didn't intend to freeze.<br><br>Fortunately, Avery seemed to understand the necessity and didn't argue the topic. He seemed to take off all but the undermost layer, which would hopefully be enough to keep him from catching ill. Dutifully, Aeriphos gathered the discarded pieces of clothing, swimming to a nearby cluster of rocks far enough from the cave mouth that no wayward drops of rain would hit them.<br><br>Satisfied for the moment, the merman returned to his charge, taking a moment to size him up. He seemed fairly young, which made Aeriphos wonder if he had traveled alone, but he supposed Avery might have mentioned otherwise. Still, his curiosity wasn't quite sated, which emboldened him to ask, "From where were you traveling? Or, to the point, where can I take you once the storm passes?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Suiko</strong> on <strong>07-07-2014, 16:19:09</strong>
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				He honestly did feel rather embarrassed, and more than a little ashamed of his body next to the merman's, but Avery also knew that this was hardly to time to worry about such things. Freezing to death because of too much modesty wouldn't help him realise his dreams at all; he rather enjoyed living, especially if it would mean him meeting more wonderful and exotic people as Aeriphos.<br><br>He watched as the merman moved gracefully through the water to place his clothes where they might dry faster, sighing wistfully at the lovely image. His fingers twitched, longing to capture the moment on paper, but sadlg all of his supplies and belongings were far below the waves and out of reach... Gods, his money as well. What was he going to do?<br><br>He frowned, glancing up only when Aeriphos spoke to ask the question. "Oh, I was going to Osteria Port. I had plans to open a small workshop there and make a fresh start..." He trailed off with a small amd bitter laugh, running a hand through sodden dark hair. "Though with all my belongings and money gone... I confess I'm not sure what to do. Osteria is not a cheap place to live..."<br><br>Avery sighed and tilted his head back to look up at the rocky ceiling. "I'll think of something. I wouldn't want to trouble you for too long..."
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				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Observing Trifles</strong> on <strong>11-08-2014, 08:12:47</strong>
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				At that, the merman's brow furrowed with some concern. Osteria Port wasn't terribly far if one possessed a tail like his, but Avery wasn't in much shape to make the journey on his own. Even a raft wouldn't carry him that far. Aeriphos was nothing if not a caring soul, so while it would have been easy to simply dismiss the human now that his life was no longer in danger, it seemed cruel to simply leave him there.<br><br>"I may not be able to take you as far as Osteria," he thought aloud. "But perhaps I can help you make it to Aravail." Aravail was another large port city, albeit not quite as busy as Osteria, in which Aeriphos had made a second home. He enjoyed a bountiful lifestyle both below and above the water, and the city had proven a nice little getaway from his responsibilities beneath the surface. If nothing else, the journey was a shorter one, one that Aeriphos could help him make.<br><br>"Once the weather has cleared, I can get you that far. Would that be an acceptable compromise?" He had yet to think of what Avery might do once he reached dry land, but that was a problem for another day. The first obstacle would be making sure that the human didn't freeze to death overnight.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Suiko</strong> on <strong>13-08-2014, 16:08:12</strong>
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				Avery smiled slightly and waved a dismissive hand. He didn't want the merman to feel somehow guikty about bwing unable to take him to his preferred destination - he was quite happy just to be alive, and while he was worried about what he would do with no money or supplies, his life was something to be thankful for. "Oh, Aravail? Really?" He didn't expect anything more from the merman. From what he'd heard they didn't indulge the company of outsiders, but perhaps Aeriphos was more open.<br><br>"That would be more than acceptable. Honestly I'm just glad to have my life, and I've no broken bones either... you've done much more for me than I thought possible, so thank you... very much." He offered a light bow of the head, lifting a hand to run through his damp hair with a grimace. It wasn't on his list of priorities, but the salt did feel quite unpleasant in the dark strands and on his skin. What he wouldn't give for a wash...<br><br>"Do you know much about Aravail? Do merfolk visit human ports often? I'm sure I would have noticed others of your kind in the bays... you're so striking to look at." The young man tilted his head to one side, his natural curiosity likely ensuring a pleasant conversation and no awkward silence. Even if his comment might have been a little forward. Maybe all artists spoke a little too freely of beauty, but never mind.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Observing Trifles</strong> on <strong>14-09-2014, 00:15:55</strong>
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				Grateful as Avery seemed to have his life, at least, Aeriphos wasn't about to abandon him there. Chances were that he would die within a week, were he left to his own devises, if not in the storm then later when he was unable to find food or clean water. This was a much better idea than leaving him to rot.<br><br>"I have a connection or two in Aravail," he offered. Although it was a half-truth. Aeriphos did, in fact, have a lavish oceanside abode there, where he intended to take Avery, provided he proved trustworthy. He didn't imagine that the human would cross him in any way after saving his life, but merfolk hadn't gotten anywhere by blindly trusting landwalkers.<br><br>Sprawling out on the sand, just where the water was deep enough to keep his tail soaked, Aeriphos propped himself up on his arms and smiled lazily at the compliment. "You flatter me," he remarked. "Some of us spend a bit of time near ports. My kind is very inquisitive. That being said, we tend not to linger long, for our own safety. We have found ourselves trapped in fishing nets on more than one occasion, so human civilizations are dangerous for those of us not familiar with your environment."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Suiko</strong> on <strong>17-09-2014, 18:25:45</strong>
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				"Then Aravail it will be." Avery smiled softly and nodded, thanking yet again his lucky stars at being rescued by a merman so well-versed in human port cities. He had always thought that merfolk weren't fond of their land-based neighbours, but perhaps he was wrong. Assumptions were dangerous things. "I'll confess to being a little excited. As much as a danger this voyage has been, I can't be entirely upset with it... This is much more interesting than being on a simple ship."<br><br>He watched as Aeriphos laid out on the sand, the smile dazzling all by itself as the merman spoke. Avery only lamented further that he had no means of capturing that lovely expression, but he would be sure to remember the face once he found his feet again. Then he would capture it.<br><br>"You'd think after so many years of our races living beside each other that we would have found a safer way to fish." He furrowed his brow and shook his head. "I suppose that would be why so few people have ever seen a merfolk. I'll count myself lucky in that regard if nothing else."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Observing Trifles</strong> on <strong>20-09-2014, 08:12:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Avery was right about that. The fishing industry made things terribly dangerous for merfolk, particularly young ones who didn't know what to watch out for. Aeriphos was old enough to identify major threats, but most of his kind were too sheltered. Such was largely why he instructed them to stay away from the surface for the most part. He wasn't terribly strict on such matters, however, provided they went in groups. That made things much safer.<br><br>"We prefer to keep to ourselves," he replied. "Although this is something that should change, one way or the other. But that is a challenge for another day." And certainly not a conversation to have with Avery. As such, he drifted away from the topic, glancing out the mouth of the cave to where the storm raged on. Some part of him ached for the humans who hadn't been as lucky as Avery, although he had spied lifeboats, giving him hope that most had made it safely from the ship. Something to look into when the ocean stilled.<br><br>"Perhaps I should take this opportunity to find food for you," Aeriphos suggested. "There are plants that thrive underwater suitable for humans to eat. Ordinarily, I might suggest finding something growing on land, but I would not recommend that you leave the cave. The winds will make that too dangerous."<br><br>Slipping away from the shore, Aeriphos made his way toward deeper water. "Wait here. I will be back shortly." And then he dove beneath the water, safe from the storm above the surface, heading out of the cove to find sustenance for his charge.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Suiko</strong> on <strong>30-09-2014, 21:00:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He chuckled softly and nodded. Certainly it would do neither of them any good to debate the morals of current fishing trends in their current situation. Avery let the subject drop and his gaze cast out towards the violent sea that raged in the distance. His pleasant mood dried up as he thought of the many other passengers on board - hopefully they managed to get onto the lifeboats quick enough, or else find some means to reach safety. Somehow he didn't think that there would be anymore miraculous merman to save the day...<br><br>The young man blinked back to Aeriphos as the merman suggested fetching him some food, parting his lips in some small surprise. "Oh, well... If there is anything to be found that i could eat, I would appreciate it..." He hadn't realised his hunger in the aftermath of the shipwreck, but now that it had been mentioned he was acutely aware of his empty belly. "Thank you. I won't move, don't worry."<br><br>He watched the merman swim so effortlessly out of the cave, sighing in appreciation as he glimpsed that beautiful glittering tail once again. Things definitely weren't as bad as they cold have been... he had been sure that he'd die in the murky darkness of the sea, but instead he'd been saved. He would have to thank know Aeriphos somehow, once they were back on land.<br><br>True to his word he didn't move too much, though he did push himself to his feet and casually wander around the small cave. He needed to keep his body moving to try and keep as warm as he could. Even with the effort he was shivering slightly, and stood against one rocky wall to shield himself as much as he could from the elements. His saviour would be back soon, he assured himself - food would make things seem better.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Observing Trifles</strong> on <strong>06-10-2014, 01:01:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Although the ocean carried plenty of delicacies for Aeriphos and his kind, he wasn't entirely sure what he could find for Avery. Something that required little to no preparation, which meant no fish. But that was just as well, for Aeriphos' colony never consumed fish on moral grounds. Some seaweeds were out of the question as well, if only because he had grown accustomed to the landwalker palate and knew they were either too bitter or too salty.<br><br>Fortunately, the area just outside the cove had other options. A short swim took him to a small crop of small red fruit not entirely unlike pomegranates, which he hoped would be a suitable alternative for the human. Aeriphos gathered what he could carry, five of the fruits, and made his way back to the cove.<br><br>Breaching the water's surface, he swam back to shore, where he settled on the sand and extended one of the red orbs to Avery. "I would advise against eating the outside of these," he told him, "as most landwalkers find them too salty from growing in seawater. The seeds inside, however, are very sweet. If you don't find those to your liking, I can find something else that suits you."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Suiko</strong> on <strong>12-10-2014, 11:12:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It was depressing to be left alone. Thought was left to run rampant and conjure up worst-case scenarios; what if he wasn't able to find his footing once he was taken back to land? What if e er one else on the ship had perished? What if no one had any idea that he was still alive? Avery wasn't the sort to worry, but this was an exceptional situation that he wasn't sure how to handle. <br><br>He closed his eyes and sighed inwardly, feeling a shudder run over his cold body as he tried to rub blood into his arms. His lips weren't as blue as they had bee&nbsp; to begin with, but they were certainly an unhealthy pale shade. Thankfully Aeriphos returned soon after he began to fear the worst, and he smiled slightly towards the merman and the red fruit that was offered to him.<br><br>"I'm in no position to fret over taste... but thank you. I appreciate this." He sat cross-legged on the shore close beside the merman, using his nails to dig into the fruit and pry it apart. A cautious sniff told him that it was definitely edible, and he took a small, experimental bite at the insides of the fruit. Flavour burst on his tongue and he sighed happily, liking his lips free of the juices that had spilled out.<br><br>"It's delicious. I had no idea that these things grew underwater." Avery smiled and continued to eat, his empty stomach offering a loud grumble of gratitude. "Ah... apologies." He coughed, a faint blush on his cheeks at the rather loud noise.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: I Dream of the Sea (Kho / Trifles)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Observing Trifles</strong> on <strong>07-12-2014, 03:34:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Aeriphos watched the human for a bit, gauging his response to the fruit. Most undersea foods were not to the liking of landwalkers, owing to their salty taste, but this seemed to be the exception. He considered himself fortunate, however, that most didn't grow within the humans' reach. It remained something rare.<br><br>Pleased at Avery's response, Aeriphos set the rest of the fruit near him, to be peeled and eaten as he liked. Then he settled back, his lower body close enough to the waves that the cool water soaked his scales, regulating his body temperature. "No need," he assured. "Your body has been through a great deal in the past little while. It is only natural that it requires sustenance."<br><br>Sprawling out on the sand, the merman lazily slapped his tail against the water. Sitting still for long didn't suit him. So accustomed to keeping his body in motion, laying still in the cave to watch over the human felt odd to him. Not bad, but certainly odd. Still, he was determined to make sure Avery fared well. At least until he fell asleep.<br><br>"I have a home in Aravail," he told him. "I keep a residence on land that I visit from time to time. You are welcome to stay there until you get your bearings."
			</dd>
		</dl>
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