terrariums | open; 2024

Jade watches as Rook eases into the water with the smallest bit of envy. Is it cool or does it feel like wading himself into warm soup by this point in the day? Either way the merman watches attentively as he sets the borrowed hat back onto his head. He straightens up, but doesn't move any closer in favor of watching from his spot. It's a good technique... one he's intimately familiar with. While normally he would be nearby hiding within those water-grown plants, he can't fault Rook by how careful his steps are.

What would he catch, he wonders? He won't deny he's curious and a little intrigued...

"I had expected it to be flat, but the ground itself is surprisingly hard. It makes it for an interesting walk that is quite different from my usual hiking." His feet hurt in a way he finds comforting. Different, but it gives almost the same satisfaction as he gets from a particularly rough climb. "Not to mention the texture the rocks, grass, and hidden animal hides add to it."

Did he really piss off that lizard by nearly stepping in the poor thing's hole in the ground that it used for a den? Yes. But it worked out fine.

"Mmmhmm! It softens up a little more during the rainy season. But anyone who thinks it's all soft and smooth has only looked at the grass, not gotten down--!"

Rook interrupts himself with a burst of excitement, abruptly stabbing down at a shadow in the water. A few moments of struggling, trying to pierce the creature through and pin it against the mud with his arrow, and Rook tosses the half-full canteen over his shoulder in favor of splashing deeper into the lake. He plunges his free hand into the water to grab a thrashing tail, digging gloved fingers hard into slimy scales; if he can keep a good enough grip on it, a couple violent shakes should snap its spine, and make the rest of this Effortless. Who cares about a little water and mud?

How must the savannah look when the rain is pouring and the wind tears through its vast open land? Would it be anything like when he and Floyd would rise to the surface during storms just to experience the waves despite how their mother would tell them to stay clear? How wood and debris would fly through that they would whisper and theorize about its origins while rolling it through their young, clawed hands... or when the storm passes and the clear sky becomes so full of stars that shine so brightly it takes their breath away.

Even the sun hanging so heavy in the sky here and now is beautiful... he can only imagine what the moon surrounded by stars looks like.

But watching Rook work now is even more fascinating and familiar. While his own teeth would be involved if it were himself in the water, the rest is intimately similar. He catches himself watching intently as he leans against his palm. The water thrashing about certainly makes whatever Rook has his hands in look fairly impressive... "My... you seem to have found something decently sized."

Maybe someday, Jade can see for himself. They could disappear into the long grass and enjoy how there's almost no light pollution at all out here, to make the moon and stars less gorgeous. They could watch the grass whip around like the waves of a stormy sea, and see how the rain pounds down on a land that it pulverizes but only partially penetrates, flooding everything underfoot until it finds a river or lake to help convince to burst over its banks in a display of breathtaking power. The violence of the savannah's weather may be different, lurking a little further out of sight, but that doesn't mean it's not still there.

If only he had teeth like Jade's, to help him do this job properly..... It probably would have been even easier than doing it with a rod and tackle, honestly. But Rook reemerges triumphant nonetheless soon enough, muddied and dripping wet but grinning as he carries his prize. "Not bad, right? It's only okay for a catfish, though..... I've seen a few bigger than you before."

That is quite the fish... how many others can even reside in this water with a opportunistic feeder like a catfish this size calling it home?

"Larger than me? How terrifying." He doesn't sound like he means it at all, but what being from the ocean would think of a fish from land as 'large'? "I would like to see one. Truthfully, I am surprised that a fish in a body of water like this can be even this size." Jade steps forward, hand digging into one of his pockets to pull out his handkerchief to wipe at the mud caked on the human's cheek, the fabric soft as it brushes over freckled skin.

"I wonder if you would say the same if you truly saw 'me'."

"It's pretty hard to find any that manage to get that big, but maybe....." Who knows? If he checks around the dorm, maybe he could find one eventually. And if he finds one impressive enough, he could invite Jade out specifically for a fishing trip? Does he even like fishing, the way humans do it? Or hunting?

Well, they can think about that later. For now, Rook can lean into Jade's handkerchief with a happy little hum, peering up at Jade skeptically. "How could I ever be scared of you just because you look different? You're still you, no matter what. I bet you look beautiful." And someday..... someday, he wants to be able to see that for himself. He wants to be able to cup Jade's face in his hands, and run his hands all over that sleek tail, and admire him to his heart's content, exactly the way Jade should be.

Is that a faint look of surprise in Jade's eyes? Though his brows quickly pinch together with a soft laugh, head shaking as he continues wiping off Rook's face. When his hand withdraws he looks down at the fish to partially avoid the hunter's gaze.

"I meant more my size. I am quite a bit larger when I am myself." Though no doubt more terrifying to the average human. It isn't like he looks the way that merfolk are so often portrayed in paintings and books. His species so much more... ancient in design. It's one of the strangest parts of the transformation, he thinks. How so much of himself gets squashed and molded into an arguably smaller body. "I would say I am at least twice as large as I am now in length. In width... is debatable."

But he knows his body is stronger. "Although I am unsure if I will look at all how you are imagining."

"Twice as much of you just means twice as much to like, non?" Rook winks mischievously, as much to reassure the man as to play. Why should he be so surprised, after all? If something is scary, then it's scary, no matter how small a package it comes in--but if it's not scary, then who cares how big it is, or how many teeth it has? He's met plenty of fearsome beasts that he absolutely adored, even if most other people would be terrified of them.

"How do you look, then?" Surely his imagination can't be too far off, can it? Sleek, powerful, dangerous, inhumanly beautiful..... He should probably get ready to start a fire and cook this fish, rather than daydream about how handsome Jade must look as his true self, shouldn't he?

Jade takes a step back, tucking his handkerchief away back into his pocket before going to retrieve the poor, hard-working but abandoned canteen. As much as he'd love to bite into that fish raw, he does figure it would be more appropriate to wait so they can share it together. Though with how hard Rook worked today perhaps he would be a proper competition for the merman's own appetite right now.

"As I am sure you know by now, I am a moray eel." Because even if he hasn't seen him doesn't mean that Rook hasn't heard the term from Floyd or another student from Octavinelle. "Our bodies are long, green and strong."

Once he's sure the canteen is full he removes the filter before screwing the cap back on so he can bring it back over. "Our breed is differently evolved than most in the Coral Sea with sharp fins and slightly less human traits." Still clearly a mermaid, but... not the type that people would want to run into when they're lost in a waterlogged cave. Although he actually believes Rook a little bit more today. "Most creatures born in the deep sea as we are look less pleasing to...most human sensibilities."

Rook flaps one gloved hand a bit to help it dry, before ripping up a few handfuls of grass around a rock near the edge of the watering hole. It's enough of a bald patch that he's not especially worried, even as he piles the grass on the rock for kindling--once they find a handful of sticks to feed it, a tiny fire should be more than enough to cook with. Maybe the added heat won't even bother Jade too much, as long as he doesn't get too close?

"That sounds amazing..... Do you think I might be able to see, sometime?" It isn't likely unless he asks, after all..... But how could he not be intrigued to see what sounds like such majestic power and grace?

The question makes him pause, but not for the reason he'd expected. They were talking about him, after all.

Not Floyd or even just other merfolk in general. He eyes the hunter's back for a few moments before walking up beside him. It's almost like some things are settling into place as he kneels down to help push the leaves where they should go. "It's a shame I do not have an additional potion with me today, then. I am due to transform back tonight at midnight."

So he shouldn't linger for too long before making it back to the mirror.

"Oh..... some other time, then." There's a flicker of disappointment in his eyes that he just can't help, imagining Jade's body unraveling as the enchantment binding and constricting him to such a limited shape fades. His heart aches to see the real Jade, the one he's only caught the most fleeting glimpses of in conversation--the truth in his heart, and all the beauty that must surely shine through in it. He wants to see Jade at his happiest and most comfortable, his most authentic self. He may have to take a different shape to walk the land, but he doesn't have to hide who he is, does he?

A few tiny sparks of fire magic jumping from his fingertips, and grass and leaves start smouldering; Rook leans over the first few embers, patiently blowing on them to fan them into flames strong enough to start accepting proper kindling. There now, they can start cooking once it stabilizes..... Though maybe he should prepare the fish, first? Jade probably wouldn't mind scales or guts, given his heritage, but that doesn't mean he has any excuse to be lazy.

He likes this part. While fire used to be so unusual to him, he's grown to like it more now for times like this. A warm fire when he's settled under the stars with nothing but the sky and nature around him... though it's not exactly dark just yet and he isn't alone today. He has Rook who has been nothing but a help in his own rough, enthusiastic way. Seeing him on campus is a completely different experience to seeing him like this... soaked in water, covered in dirt and globs of mud. His trophy of a fish hanging from a gloved hand.

It's attractive, really, even if Jade thinks that it shouldn't be. "Next time." Which could be any day he wanted, really, but... there is the issue of water and privacy to consider. "Or... if you escorted me back to Octavinelle, I could show you."

Even if he hadn't known it until now, it's a far more constrained experience, seeing Rook on campus, isn't it? Like squeezing himself into a human guise, rather than the mer form he's so accustomed to, behavior more subdued and rough edges gently smoothed out. Out here, there's room for Rook to stretch out and be himself, wild and dirty and joyful a way that he's fully aware would probably overwhelm his classmates.

Once the fire is crackling, Rook unsheathes his knife, turning to start prepare the fish over the water. After all, why not return the scraps to the watering hole, for all the other fish to feed on? If they want more, it'll only make it all the easier to catch something else, too. "I could do that! I doubt anyone would catch me, even if I was breaking curfew." He hasn't been acting particularly stealthy today, but who knows?

Maybe it would be beneficial to show himself to him? While Rook is clearly interested, it could be a learning experience for him. Something to give him a taste for what he might be in for... and give Rook the chance to re-evaluate if it ends up being something he isn't interested in. Better him than Rook seeing Floyd and disliking how they look... right? At least Jade can handle his own feelings being hurt, but for his twin to see looks of interest vanish or twist into something unpleasant just by being himself is too cruel.

"So long as you are careful not to get caught, then I can make an exception for educational purposes." He watches as Rook's knife works into the fish, only slightly lamenting the draining of blood that to him adds so much flavor... but it's for the best for the sake of human bodies. "Azul should be participating in club activities should we wait just a little longer."

It's not a difficult task, even with the size of the fish. Quick, confident cuts shear away curtains of scales, send viscera cascading into the watering hole to cloud it with blood. Now, to fillet it so the pieces will cook faster, if Jade wants to leave relatively soon..... His own excitement over the finale to their ~~date~~ excursion aside, it would be awful to inconvenience Jade by holding him in the savannah too long, when he needs to refresh his transformation potion.

There! A bit of work to strip a few sticks, and Rook starts impaling pieces of fish onto them, offering a few to Jade to hold over the fire. That should hopefully be enough to satisfy both their appetites, right? Have a sly, borderline smug grin. "I might not look like it, but I can actually be pretty sneaky when I want to be. Think he'll be gone by the time we're done eating?"

He doesn't really even need to cook the fish himself, but Jade obediently takes the offered fish to hold the sticks as intended. Perhaps he could give them just the slightest char for the experience and flavor...

"He should be. I imagine he will take multiple hours arguing--" A pause. "Pardon me. discussing the rules for the game he will be playing with Idia-san tonight. Normally the showers are empty this time of evening, though I can make arrangements..." A sign would be easy enough and fetching the potion he needs from his room would be an equal lack of effort. Perhaps not the most comfortable place, but it would surely be enough for Rook to get a good look at him... as a thank you for their ~~date~~ adventure today.

"Heheh..... Board Game Club sure sounds complicated, if they can't even agree on the rules. Is everyone in Octavinelle really all that diurnal?" What a strange thought..... He's far too used to there being some level of activity in Savanaclaw at all hours, given how many beastmen can lean towards being nocturnal or crepuscular. Then again, he guesses time of day is less important in the depths of the ocean, where natural light struggles to reach, hmmm?

Well, that's fine. It just means Leona is lax at best about enforcing curfew. Nobody will particularly care about him slinking back into the dorm so late, even if it does raise a few eyebrows.

"A fair few, but not all. Floyd, Azul, and I prefer the darker hours." Though with their classes it isn't the easiest thing to be. He's positive that many of the beastmen that roam the halls are equally displeased--some even having a much more obviously difficult time keeping themselves awake during lessons. "We simply tend to keep our halls empty to not disturb the other students."

The stick is turned so the other side of the fish can begin to be licked over by the flames of their little fire. How easy must such dry grass be to catch? How devastating an event that could be...

"Does Leona-san not demand quiet hours?"

"Roi des Lions gets mad at anyone being loud in the halls or dorm rooms at night. But if you're around the common areas that late, then it's your own fault if the noise bothers you. You should just stay curled up in your own burrow when you want to get some sleep." It's just obvious to stick to your own territory when you need to, right? It isn't as though Savanaclaw isn't thoroughly enough sectioned off to keep its communal living areas apart from its sleeping quarters, knowing the needs of its students.

It's rare for someone to be able to sleep anywhere, the way Leona can. Rare and impressive, honestly. How does Octavinelle live, that they need to be so strict with their hours? As often as Rook drops by the twins' dorm room and the Lounge, he can't say he's ever really cared much about the rest of the building. Not many of even the other merfolk fascinate him the same way these three had.

Jade reaches out to pinch quickly at a couple of the nicely butchered chunks of fish with a thoughtful expression. The heat seems sufficient enough... Not too hot to the touch where it would burn his mouth or throat. At least he's grown used to eating warm and hot foods now compared to when he was still so fresh to land. He still blows on it to be safe before digging his teeth into his first bite.

No blood or guts to enjoy, but no less good. Perhaps a little salt would be nice, but that is just the fate of freshwater fish.

"Mm..." His hand comes up to cover his lips as he chews. Shielding away from human eyes how his teeth shred and puncture. "I feel the same, but I believe Octavinelle students prefer their personal dwellings. It can be difficult to have privacy under the sea."

"Oui, it's the same for a lot of us from Sunset Savannah! Plenty of people seem like they have trouble moving up to third year; the lounge is always stuffed with juniors." After all, going back to their own rooms to sleep means that juniors are returning to emptiness and silence. Sometimes it can feel a little unnerving, not having anyone nearby for once. Rook would say he's considerably more tolerant of (and fond of, for that matter) privacy than most Savanaclaw students, but it gets to even him every once in a while.

"Maybe it's just a human thing from other countries?" That's his best guess, anyway--after all, it sounds like merfolk culture is more reasonable and understandable, leaning towards communal living as they do. A moment or two longer to let the edges of his fish start to blacken, and Rook tears into his meal with exactly the level of decorum (or lack thereof, rather) that Jade had probably expected from him, heedless of the heat. They may have missed a meal or two, but at least they'll go to bed sated, hmmm? Hunger is the best seasoning, as Ruggie has often pointed out.

Not that he has any plans to go to bed when he gets back. It may be late, but he'll still need to do some midnight hunting so he can get that meat to his cheetah friend, just as he'd promised.

Even when they rise in grade enough to get their own rooms, Jade doesn't doubt that he and Floyd will stay together. Who would clean it if they didn't? Azul would be upset at the very least if Floyd did something to one of the dorm rooms because he was left to his own boredom...

And there's a comfort to having his twin so close, too. When you have never slept apart it can be daunting to make the change to solitary living. Wouldn't Azul prefer them entangled around his extra limbs, gnawing away as they drift off to sleep like they did during naps when they were young? ~~Absolutely not~~. Jade allows himself to watch Rook bury his meal in his own mouth, even as he almost daintily in comparison takes another (larger) bite of his own. It's... comfortable. A human giving in to a nature that they feasibly shouldn't have but that so aligns with his own.

"Perhaps." Normally he finds the humans mingling with non-humans quaint at best, but... he's growing used to it. He lets Rook linger so close, after all. "Some humans seem to struggle with how particular merfolk can be with their personal space, even when we mingle in common areas. I have denied many wishing to visit before and after curfew."

"Do they? Why did they even want to?" Hmmm. Hmmmmmm. He's not sure he likes the sound of that. He comes and goes as he pleases, of course--but that's because (he hopes, at least) it pleases Floyd and Jade just as much to allow him to. Even if he had thrust himself into their lives to start, and simply refused to leave. They're glad he had, right? Maybe even as glad as he is to have them. Because he does have them, doesn't he?

Jade had refused whoever their other human visitors were, whoever else had tried to invade their space. He doesn't need to worry about it. (Even if it's hard not to, just a little.) Although..... no, nevermind. If Jade dismisses them out of hand, it's probably not worth lurking and watching to see who might be trying to pay those two calls at night. "I had no idea you two were so popular..... Does Roi d'Effort have people beating his door down at all hours, too?"

Edited 2024-05-01 09:34 (UTC)

He offers a little shrug of his shoulders. Does it matter what they were wanting? Neither Jade nor Floyd are fans of being on the receiving end of needless interaction. They might float around the lounge like it's second nature and embed themselves in with their classmates like they're meant to be there even though they're a solitary species by blood, but it's a different draw.

"I am certain he does, though that is why he has me. A considerable amount of people come to me because they wish to speak with Azul in private." And they don't actually have anything to offer or want to necessarily make a deal. The now bared stick is tossed onto the fire to help its flame. "Others have claimed to just wish to get to know us better."

He stands, picking his bag back up to pull onto his shoulder. "Would you like to get going?"

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