Marla the Mermaid~♪ ♫ ♬ &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;

Marla’s Illness || Marla & Cyan

Cyan was silent for a while, a frown on his face. She thought he was wasting his powers by healing her? He didn’t see how she could think that, it wasn’t what he had meant at all. “I did not do it only because I had to, Marla,” he stated, wanting to make that clear since her words made it sound like she might be looking down on herself again.

She really taught them about him though? Even as he was in the ice, even after his admittedly irrational temper tantrum? There was really no reason for her to do so…Though, he supposed he would come to love them, if he were to ever meet them, much like he does Scarlet. Much like he does Marla, though he tries to hide his feelings for her. “It sounds as though you did the best you could, given the circumstances my actions forced upon you. Why do you feel what you did was not enough?” It seemed a bit strange, though he supposed it might have had something to do with the fact that Pia and Leia were not still with her when he came out of the ice? That they left her as he did?

Hearing him state that there was more to it than having to do so made her feel a little better, however, it was probably going to take a lot more to get her to open up to the idea that he truly cares for her. It wouldn’t be much of a surprise to her if he felt that he had to only because she was the mother of his children. Where were these insecure feelings stemming from anyway?

“Izotz...” Saying his real name brought some comfort to her, but it also left a sour taste in her mouth since that name no longer mattered to him. To say it was difficult to separate her feelings between the past and the present would be an understatement. “...When you first found me, I was separated from my family and I had no one to turn to for years. It was lonely considering how wide and vast the ocean is... As much as that world may have been so huge... It was overwhelming for someone all by themselves.”

Marla took in a deep breath, sitting up in the mean time to lean forward before placing her hand upon Cyan’s shoulder. “Inside that cave, it was very much the same feeling even though the world in there was much smaller and safer for the three of us. However, it was my choice to stay and wait for you. I didn’t want to place that decision upon their shoulders when they showed interest in the outside world.” How could she expect them to remain patient when they didn’t even know the man within the ice cocoon? The mermaid tried her best to maintain eye contact for the most part, but she had to look away when it came time to making things crystal clear. “...I told them to be happy and to live their lives freely.”

Marla’s Illness || Marla & Cyan

“It is by fault of my own that you fell ill. If nothing else, caring for and healing you was my duty. I am glad you feel well again however.” This was not him showing her kindness. If anything, it was him attempting to ease the difficulties his ‘gift’ of legs had caused her. If he ever told her about the gems needing to ‘recharge,’ then she wouldn’t have gotten so sick, if at all. It was his fault. So. as long as she desired to live with him though, he would ensure it didn’t happen again. It was the least he could do at this point.

At mention of Marla’s children, Cyan nodded. “If you are well enough to speak of them.” He wasn’t sure if he could call them his own, considering he had never seen them and she had raised them alone, but he did want to know more. He was curious about who they were and how they turned out. He was curious about how Marla raised them and what she might have told them.

How could it be his fault and why did he have to say it’s his duty? Doesn’t that mean he didn’t do it because he cared for her then? The mermaid’s lips were pursed for a few seconds before she replied with the first thing on her mind: “It’s not your duty to take care of me. I only want you to do so if you want to, not because you have to, so please don’t waste your powers on me.” That probably sounded cynical, like she was belittling herself again, but she honestly wanted to release him from taking on an extra burden when he didn’t have to.

“I am fine... I don’t know where to start-- I never thought I’d be able to tell you anything... Mmmmm-- Oh! I told them all about you, I’ll admit it was probably very strange for them to grow up seeing you that way, but I always told them that you would love them when you would come out of there.” There was never a moment where she taught them something negative about Izotz, all she gave them was loving comments and details about their two years worth of adventures. She never even told them why he froze himself, so she hoped that maybe they grew up thinking this was normal for a deity. “I taught them how to write in the sand, just as you taught me how to write. And... I tried my best to raise them and give them all of the love that I had... However, I didn’t feel that it was enough...”

Marla had been wearing a half-smile for quite some time, until it finally vanished within the last sentence that slipped past her lips. Would he care about finding them? Does he even want anything to do with the three of them? ...How is he going to react to her setting them free?

Marla’s Illness || Marla & Cyan

Another flicker of relief passed over his face once she made her choice, happier than he wanted to admit to himself. Even if he was clinging onto his old feelings of betrayal and hurt, he was glad they would be able to see each other more. And beyond her decision making him feel warm in that regard, her staying here made it easier to assure the gems stayed charged and she stayed well.

Cyan’s gaze was brought back to Marla as she apologized and he shook his head. “I had not given you the opportunity for things prior to now, do not put blame on yourself for this, Marla.” He wasn’t asking for her forgiveness on the matter yet, merely accepting the blame as his own.

A smile graced her features again after hearing his response, she was thankful that he wasn’t upset with her and that he was being very sweet to her even though she was so emotional since waking up. Hopefully he didn’t think that she didn’t appreciate his efforts to take care of her.

“...Thank you for showing me so much kindness... And thank you for making me feel better, I believe you carried me here, am I right? ...Using your magic to heal me too... I feel a lot better, so thank you...” Now that she thanked him, she was wondering if he would like to ask more about the other topic at hand. She didn’t know if he would even accept her guppies as his own... There was still the chance that he may feel detached. How would a deity deal with such things? “...Do you want to know more about your children?”

Marla’s Illness || Marla & Cyan

Pia and Leia… They had two kids then, twins. Cyan wondered why Marla picked those names. Was there a significance to them? He wasn’t sure if she would have payed much mind to the meanings mortals give names, considering much of what she experienced with land-dwelling mortals were things he was around for. He wasn’t even aware of what the names might have meant, there being so many parts of the world such names could have come from.

“You will not be a problem or cause any harm by choosing to stay here, Marla.” He wasn’t sure how she got the notion in her head that letting her stay be a bad thing. He would not have offered if he didn’t want her to stay. And she never caused harm, not counting what happened before he fled initially. But… it was becoming apparent it wasn’t intentional harm on her part. “I would rather you remain here,” he admitted after a pause, glancing away to avoid potentially forcing his desired choice on her.

As he glanced away, the mermaid made a full turn around onto her other side and stared at him for a long moment all while clinging to her knees again. “...I would like to stay here then.” There were butterflies fluttering about in the pit of her stomach as she thought about how they’re going to start seeing each other every day, a welcome change to never knowing where he is or if she’ll ever find him again. Hopefully, she could mend things between them if she was going to be allowed to reside here with him... Sighing softly, she closed her eyes and placed her hands under her face instead of resting directly upon his pillow.

“...Thank you very very very much, Cyan.” Her attitude seemed to have shifted far away from the earlier moodiness, there was even a lighter side to the tone of her voice, and she even started smiling again. “I am sorry for being rude... And-- I... I’m sorry... For not telling you sooner about our daughters... I wanted to tell you back at the cave...” The words trailed off into silence just before a frown made its appearance. How could she tell him that she had no idea where their children may be? Surely he would want to know that much...

Marla’s Illness || Marla & Cyan

Cyan was silent for a while after Marla lay down and rolled away from him, just staring at her back as he digested the small bit of information and held off other thoughts. He was a father. Marla had had their child, or was it children? He knew it was possible for many to be birthed from the same term…

Had she raised them down in the cave? But… wouldn’t she and the possible children have been happier else where? It didn’t make sense for her to have really stayed the whole time he was frozen, even more so given the apparent family now.

Why hadn’t she abandoned him?

“… What did you name them?” He wanted to know more. About why she didn’t leave him to raise their child somewhere better. About the child and where they might be now. But if she was not feeling well, he knew it wasn’t wise to pry. So, he dropped that potential line of questioning to at least make sure there was a chance to learn more at a later time. “If you truly wish to return to the ocean, I do not believe I have the say to stop you. However, you are welcome to live here, if you so desire.”

Glancing back, over her shoulder, she gave Cyan a confused look since she half-expected him to tell her that she had to be lying. Wouldn’t he do the same considering the fact that she was basically calling him a liar not too long ago? That and he didn’t seem upset with her... He was offering her a place to stay... So he must care, to some degree.

“I named our daughters Pia and Leia,” she started, pausing briefly to gather her thoughts. “...I would like to stay here... But only if you don’t think that I will be a problem...” Although she was double-checking to make sure that he actually wanted her to stay, his words did lift a great weight off her shoulders and she felt a lot better now that there was less things to worry about. Then again, she didn’t even know that days have passed by and she was running out of time to move her belongings out of the apartment... That didn’t matter right now though. “...I would like to avoid causing anymore harm, you see.” There she was, trying to drop hints because she really needed to know if he cared for her or was only being nice to her.

Marla’s Illness || Marla & Cyan

“I only say that which I mean, Marla.” He didn’t fully understand why she thought he was lying. Up to this point, he never intentionally lied. At most, information was omitted and he kept silent on matters in the past, but he did not lie. He never saw the point in such acts, mortals only ever seeming to dispute when the false information fell through.

He didn’t understand this change from the Marla he had known in the past and encountered since waking, and the one who was closing up before him. He didn’t understand the pain he caused her.

“You do not need to leave,” he repeated, trying to work out how respond to her. How could he help? How could he assuage her anxieties when they seemed so strongly held in her? Could he even do anything? He couldn’t even keep his cool six centuries ago, let alone recently at the festivity they had run into each other during. And with her final line on that matter, he had no real way to respond. Did she really think she belonged in the ocean? …Had him granting one passing wish only ever brought her suffering? To the point where she felt so strongly about this? Maybe that was why what happened in the past between her and Ignis had happened. Because his first gift was only a curse, and she had been to kind to say as much.

Perhaps things would have been better if he just acted like his brother and only ever did his duty.

But his concerns could be addressed later. He had plenty of time to think on and regret the few small choices he made in the past that brought him apparently temporary happiness. He had plenty of time to freeze himself again, metaphorically this time. Marla did not have that… luxury, she was mortal and the sooner her concerns were addressed, the sooner she might be able to be happy again. Without him and the trouble he has caused the unfortunate mortal he warmed up to.

There were tears escaping her now, from what he could see around her legs and arms. What she expressed however, it kept him from making any real move to comfort her. He was a father? But wouldn’t that mean… she was pregnant when he froze himself? She was pregnant… he left her like that? “I had not known…”

Of course he wouldn’t lie to her... What was she thinking? Maybe it was easier to be angry with him for the moment. It’s been a long time since they were ever alone with one another and finally dealing with the real topic at hand, which was about their children... That she had no idea of whether or not they were even around, let alone alive. This was a very touchy topic for her. Furrowing her brows, she let a sigh escape her lips as she opened her eyes.

Unfortunately for her, not so much for him, she ended up making eye contact with him despite her wishes to remain angry with him. Her heart was beating rapidly against her chest, making it clear as day that she wanted nothing more than to forgive him and show him affection to make up for being so unlike herself... However, that couldn’t happen. Not because she wanted to keep her walls up or anything, but it was simply because she felt sick to her stomach.

“I’m so sorry-- I need to lie down.” The mermaid pressed the back of her hand to her forehead for a short moment before wiping the tears away from her face, then she rolled away from him to curl up into a ball in his bed. If he wanted to know more, then he’d have to do something to encourage her to talk.

Marla’s Illness || Marla & Cyan

Her mortal friend had left her? Had it been before or after she started feeling ill though? He might have been able to brush off the fact for now if it had been before, but he surely would never forgive them for abandoning her when she was unwell.

Though that was not as pressing of a matter. “Do not speak or think so poorly of yourself, Marla.” She was much more than she gave herself credit for, and Cyan didn’t like hearing her talk down about herself, even clinging onto his negative feelings as he was. “You are not useless,” he said, stopping himself before a forgotten term could be spoken, brought on by the fish comparisons she made when she was last awake. They weren’t close any more, he was no longer her “angelfish.”

But what was this about her leaving? He did not quite follow why she felt she needed to return to the ocean since her mortal friend had disappeared. “You do not need to leave, Marla. You are not being a burden, there is no cause for you asking forgiveness.” This was mostly his fault anyway. “What must you tell me?”

#ac:cyan #(( you're a wizard harry ))

Why is he being kind to her? Isn’t it far too late for this kind of encouragement? She really wished that she could accept his words and move on from her negative thoughts, but she couldn’t. Not when she spent centuries at his side, watching and waiting for him to come back to her... Only to watch him leave her as soon as he possibly could. Why should she believe anything he had to say?

“Please stop saying things that you don’t mean.” Her response came out in a whisper, but it was still loud enough for him to hear at the very least. For one reason or another, the mermaid had to protest his kindness in order to grasp the concept that she had made some kind of terrible mistake way back when. That she had to have messed up royally to deserve the treatment she received from the one person she had ever fallen in love with. The one and only person who gave her a family again, then managed to take it all away for the second time in her life. Her tears and her deeply-rooted pain had to mean something all this time, or else she wouldn’t know what to do with herself.

Ignoring those thoughts for the moment, she shifted in the bed to bring her legs up to her chest and tightly wrapped her arms around them to sit there like a closed off clam. Of course he didn’t know, maybe he didn’t think things through enough to understand much more about her situation. “It’s not like I want to leave. I have to leave! I-- I’m not from this world... A few months is not enough time to learn how to keep up with all of the new things that this world has come up with! I don’t understand how to... It’s too much...” There weren’t enough words to describe how lost she has been since coming back from her peaceful little lake. Her roommate took care of the bills while she tried her best to work and earn money to help pay for things. That was all she could really understand, and even then she made countless mistakes as an employee and a “human.” How could she maintain a lease and other such things? “None of that matters to me anyway, I belong in the ocean.” Her tone must have sounded harsh, leaning heavily upon contempt towards herself.

Honestly, she really and truly wanted to be happy right now. But thinking about everything had put her in the most fowl mood ever. She had bottled up so much that she wasn’t sure how to let anything out in small doses, it was too difficult to be alone and it was certainly too difficult to process her feelings. She was afraid that if she didn’t say everything that was on her mind as swiftly as possible, then she’d lose her chance. He’d leave her again. What would she do if he ran away from her for a third time? That thought alone had her body trembling. Tears were already breaking free-- This was too much... And she had to tell him about their daughters...

Marla kept her eyes closed throughout her venting, refusing to make eye contact or back down from expressing her thoughts. “You...” You left me while I was pregnant, that’s what she wanted to say, but that was way too mean for someone like her to say aloud. She was frustrated and upset, she knew she had to calm down. Put things more gently... If possible. “You are a father, Cyan.” That was much better than the alternative.

alteliacity

I will be buying the house in Waffle District at West Toy Flower Road #8964 for 20,000G! I will also be adding on the following things: 3 Rooms (36,000G), Big Kitchen (6,000G), Child's Bed (2,000G), Big Bed (4,000G), and the 3 Furniture Packs (15,000G). That all comes out to 83,000G as the grand total. Also, Cyan / Scarlet / Micah will all be coming with me!

Make sure to update your Bank Account and your Biography page then! The Housing page has been update and the Furniture Packs will be sent to you momentarily.

#ac:money #(( goodbye money hello big family ))#(( Casually forgot to add in that during paycheck ))

“Everything’s ready to go then! I can’t wait to show Cyan and Scarlet the new house… Oh and Pia too, of course! Maybe they’ll all agree to come live with me… And then we can be one big happy family! …Now I just need to find Leia…”

Current Bank Account: 88,141G

Total Balance: 5,141G

[+2,000G] Halloween Festival - Participation: You will get 2,000G for merely participating and a 50% Off Coupon to a location of your choosing.

Total Balance: 7,141G

Marla’s Illness || Marla & Cyan

Cyan didn’t know how many days had passed between Marla passing out and her waking up this time. Had it been days at all? He assumed it must have, given the changes in lighting while he sat in the room with her, though the passage of time in such small increments was not as easily noticed for him. It all felt much shorter than what he imagined mortals perceived them to be. That said, with him having plenty of time to read and reread the books he gathered shortly after the healing process, it was easily understood that a fairly notable period had passed before the mermaid let out her loud yawn.

He didn’t say anything as she started moving, pushing herself up in the bed and stretching. He didn’t say anything as her eyes caught his either. He just continued to sit quietly as she started becoming more aware of where she was. It wasn’t until she got up that Cyan himself went to move, standing up and taking a few steps towards her. A precaution, so he could catch her if her body’s strength failed her.

It was too soon for her to be doing much, too soon for her body to have accepted the ordeal and healing it had gone through.

“Marla, you must sit back down,” was the first thing he said to her, stepping closer and putting one hand to her back while the other took her small hands, gently urging her back onto the bed. “You are still recovering.” He didn’t give much explanation other than that, not until she was seated and he himself had knelt down in front of her.

“You are not dreaming, Marla. This is the apartment I have come to live in,” he stated first, holding her hands between his and looking at the gemstones on the backs of them for a moment, a trace of relief flickering through his face. Though she wasn’t completely better yet, they had been fixed and she would feel back to normal soon enough.

“I’ve thought about this moment for such a long time... Spinning the way I’d say something over and over and over... I have so much to tell you and something very very very dearly important to say--” Allowing herself to be cut off by Cyan, she merely complied to his demand and walked back towards the bed to plop down upon it as he wanted. She waited patiently to hear what he had to say before speaking up once more, “I think I remember what happened now... I was feeling really sick for many days now, but I wasn’t too sure what to do! I needed to pack because my friend moved out-- I have to get rid of everything and go back to the ocean... Yet, here you are having to care for me... I’m a useless mermaid...”

Marla had stopped explaining what was going on since she found herself frowning heavily, there was way too much stressing her out and she could feel panic building up again. How was she supposed to find their children and bring them to him if she had to worry about trivial things such as her material possessions and a job? But if she left to the ocean, then she would hardly see Scarlet anymore... Scarlet wouldn’t even know where to find her either. This whole living situation was not ideal at all.

Casting her eyes away from the man kneeling before her, she lowered her head and spoke in a much quieter tone than earlier: “I’m very very very sorry for being a burden... Before I leave... I have to tell you something, Izotz.” She wasn’t even going to bother correcting herself at this point. The man she needed to talk to was the one who ran away and froze himself... Not this Cyan. Not the man who seemed to hate her for whatever reason she still couldn’t even understand deep down.

Marla’s Illness || Marla & Cyan

Cyan didn’t notice Marla waking up as he cleansed the gems on her hands, eyes shut and focused as he was. He hadn’t noticed her own eyes opening, couldn’t see when they looked his way. He didn’t even feel her eyes on him as she stared. His lips just kept moving as his hands held hers between them, magic practically pouring out of him.

He didn’t even pause until he heard her speak, his mouth stuttering to a stop and the flow of magic flickering as his eyes opened.

She was awake….

He couldn’t stay too warm about that fact for long though. “Marla, you must not move yet, I have not finished,” he protested, leaning forward in a small attempt to catch her hands. She thought this was a dream? What part of it made her think as such, he had to wonder, falling silent at her request for a kiss. It wasn’t like her, they way she spoke enunciating that fact. If she were more aware at the moment, he knew she wouldn’t have asked for such a thing, nor would she have made the next request and waited for his answer. “… My feelings towards you have not change from the past, however I do not think I can be called your ‘angelfish’,” He spoke calmly, though he wouldn’t look her in the eyes. He had to assure himself that she was likely too ill to remember this at a later time. She did think it was a dream.

“…If that is how you perceive me,” he murmured after she had fallen back asleep, adjusting pillows and the blanket for her comfort before taking up her hands again and finishing the healing process. When he had done all he could, he stopped, leaving briefly to gather some of the books from the main room of his apartment before he sat down inside the bedroom, near the door.

He would not leave until she awoke, his mortal jobs be damned.

#ac:cyan #(( You can decide how long she was out. ;) ))

Some time had passed in between her passing out again and the second time she woke from her slumber. Instead of rushing to her feet, her eyes focused on the ceiling that appeared to be similar to the ceiling of her bedroom. There wasn’t much reason to believe that she was in someone’s bedroom when she had forgotten what happened in the hallway and everything that lead up to this point. The mermaid yawned loudly, feeling safe and comfortable for the time being, before she gradually came forward to a sitting position then she stretched her arms upwards all while assuming she was alone. Eyes fluttering open after her mouth was shut, that was when she noticed Cyan sitting in front of her door, but this couldn’t be right at all. Scanning the room as swiftly as she could, she realized that nothing looked right. Where had her furniture gone? This wasn’t even her bed either, these sheets did not belong to her, and why was Cyan even here?

Was she dreaming?

She had to be. Why else would her love be here with her? Wherever this place was.

Marla stood up in a hasty fashion, but she didn’t know it would feel like such a rush-- Her knees gave out beneath her and she ended up stumbling towards the wall to keep herself from falling over. Something felt off. Which was probably her body trying to accept the damage that has been done along with the healing that took place, it was too much for her to deal with all in one swoop especially when it’s been so long since she last felt his magic... Not that she knew what was going on at the current moment.

With a strained look plastered to her face, she turned her gaze to Cyan and bit into her lip at the same time as she felt a stinging sensation in her nose. She wanted to cry... Only because she was happy to see him once again. Even if this was a dream, it was better than nothing.

“Izotz-- I mean, Cyan... I’ve missed you so much and I never even had a real chance to tell you while we were at the Carnival-thingy...” There was a hitch in her voice as she thought about her the sadness she’s felt for so long, but she tried to hide it as best as she could-- Even now, as she thought this was a dream. “...Where am I? I must be dreaming... I feel so strange...” Thankfully for Cyan, she wasn’t as loopy as she was before.

Marla’s Illness || Marla & Cyan

Living in one of these mortal buildings known as ‘apartments,’ Cyan was growing used to odd sounds and voices leaking through the walls into his own living area. He had been living there for months now and, though he rarely interacted with others who took up residence there, he could often hear them when their volume rose. When a neighbor would bring over guests, or decide to turn up their sound-making devices, he could hear more than he felt was acceptable. But those sounds were easily just white noise to him, the current sounds of humanity. It was all blocked out easily enough.

That said, someone shouting for help was not one of the common sounds he was getting used to. A familiar voice shouting about needed help was definitely not something he had heard since he had taken up living there.

Was that…. Marla?

It sounded like her, at least, and that affected him more than he wanted to admit. Standing up, Cyan headed for the front door of his living space, pulling it open with a bit more force than was necessary, and stepping out. Looking left and right, Cyan’s expression hardened as soon as he saw her crumpled on the ground. Marla didn’t look well, and the signature he always used to feel after giving her the gemstones in the past seemed incredibly weak.

Without a word, Cyan went over to where the small mermaid had fallen, crouching down to pick her up. Without a word, he straightened back up once she was in his arms and headed back into his apartment. He went and laid her down on the bed he rarely uses, looking her over for injuries before his attention went to the gemstones on her hands. They looked dull and cloudy, not at all like how they were supposed to. That explained the weakness in the ‘signal’ they gave out.

The little mermaid…. hadn’t she known the gems needed to rest in the lake to recharge? ….No, she wouldn’t have, he thought, grabbing both her hands and holding them between his. He doesn’t remember ever telling her about that before he froze. This would be primarily his fault then.

Sighing, Cyan’s mouth started moving silently, eyes closing as he focused on manually fixing the gemstones.

Moments passed by as the mermaid laid there in his bed, unconscious due to how overwhelmed her body was, before it finally came time for her eyes to flutter open as the healing process kicked in big time. At first, she had to close her eyes and concentrate on remembering what happened. She wasn’t even sure about where she was or who was holding her hands, all she knew was that she felt warm... Yet cold, at that same time. Centuries have passed since the very last time she has ever felt this familiar aura wash over her form, but she still had a little clue about who it belonged to. Izotz.

Was this even real though?

Flashing her eyes open once more, she set her focus on Cyan’s face and stared at him for a long time until she decided to speak to the “ghost.”

“This has to be a dream...” A welcomed dream, no less. The woman pulled her hands away to press her palms upon the bed, pushing herself into a sitting position even though Cyan was probably going to protest her moving about. “Izotz... Give me a kiss, you big tuna...” It should have been obvious that she will still very much out of it with the way she was speaking slowly, and even acting weirdly affectionate. “...Tell me that you’re my angelfish and that you still love me...” Marla paused for a moment, staring at him while waiting for him to respond, but she wasn’t going to remember anything that he’d say so his words didn’t matter much. Once he had his opportunity to speak, she simply replied with “...You’re almost as silly as a clownfish, Izotz,” before she suddenly fell backwards and went out like a light once again.

[BttP] Marla’s Old-Flame || Marla & Ignis

harvest-king

Ignis walks, his bare feet on the cold crumbling earth and his long untidy hair rustling in the breeze. He does not take this mortal-appearing form often; it is uncomfortable, all his powerful magic crammed into one form. His skin is tight and hot. His foolish brother freezes everything in his wake - as Ignis steps towards where he believes Izotz is, the air becomes noticably warmer.

His foolish brother. Ignis has long given up any hope of convincing his sisters to not linger on humanity and instead pay attention to their duties, but he does not descend to the mortal realm to remind them often. Ignis did not think he would have to do so to remind Izotz, although Izotz is even worse than the Harvest Goddesses in doing his duty. (Ignis does not understand - their duty is theirs, why do they detest it?)

…nor did Ignis ever think he would find Izotz not doing his duty and instead being with a mortal. He notices the mortal girl near where he knows Izotz was - no, not human, a mermaid. Although she appears human… disregard that, what difference is there between mortals? But it is unexpected.

Ignis approaches the girl. What is she doing? She looks up, bending her head backwards and Ignis is disconcerted by the look in her eyes. Usually the mortals are fearful: of his power, of his height, he does not know or care. She has no trace of fear nor any negative emotions in her eyes.

He is still disconcerted when she speaks to him and he is silent for a moment after she stands up. It perhaps does not matter to this Marla. She is… laughing, although for what cause he cannot decipher. “…I am the Harvest King,” he eventually replies. He does not deign to give his true name to mortals; that information is reserved for deities alone. Although he lacks any mortal concept of beauty: “Thank you. Your hair is quite beautiful as well.” It is only polite, yes? He means to ask where Izotz is but he opens his mouth and instead he asks, “What are you doing here?”