[ozheik]

@carasoliz

They had grown custom to their habits. Cara and him had interacted almost everyday, in one way or another. Quackert didn’t seem to begrudgingly look at the money or clothes that his best friend had left him. However, this day and a few days other something had changed significantly. One day of the pair missing each other was normal, but a second day was all but unheard of. 

Nested in a pile of clothes Cara had left, Quackert sadly nuzzled the cloth with his beak. The first thing the small judgmental terrorist noticed the golden hair at first and sped up towards the figure. Small wings flapped as he chirped happily, but when he noticed it was the female and not his male counterpart he let out a morose squeak in protest.

The clothes unmoved, the money untouched, and the Merman was nowhere to be found. 

[viv-adair]

Manipulation and Mermen || Oz

[ozheik]

viv-adair‌:

The professor wasn’t the best at reading people’s emotions, other than what she’d studied to be more like the average person. It had taken years of hard work, but she still missed a fair amount of what people said underneath their words. When she was a kid, she didn’t pick up on social cues and it showed in her lack of friends. She didn’t mind being on her own, eventually, but she knew it would be easier if she learned to fake the small nuances people used.

Watching Ozskar work through the clearly foreign words, Viv got the sense he was on a similar journey. Her eyes narrowed, trying to place him into some sort of box: foreign, alien, supernatural, or even just like her. No, his eyes were too warm. Not like Sugar’s, or her own, or even Fergus’. Social cues may not be Ozskar’s thing, but not for the same reason Viv could understand.

For now.

The man quickly became a puzzle just begging to be solved, and there was nothing Viv liked more than a good brainstumper. “You may call me Viv, if that’s easier,” she allowed. “How long has it been since you’ve seen the ocean?” Small talk. Another necessity she had to pick up, and one she greatly detested, though the doors it opened were admittedly beneficial.

“No,” she considered the man’s feathery companion. Her father had detested animals, believing them to be utterly untrainable. He had only one soft spot for a german shepherd her uncle owned, but the moment that dog chewed on his favorite pair of Allen Edmonds Carlyle Oxfords it wished it had been sent off to “gramma’s farm upstate”.

“No, I’ve never had a…friend like Quackert.” She let some wistfulness fall into her tone, playing off the societal norm to comfort people who sounded as if they lost or missed out on something. It suggested vulnerability.

 Little was he aware that he should likely be talking to anyone else. Even the janitor or the trash can outside was less likely to harm him. However, he tried desperately hard to throw what his parents had taught him about humans out the window or inside the tank. He moved his friendly gaze from the water to glance down to her thoughtfully. “V-ee-v. Viv.” Oz repeated with a gentle smile assuming he had done a good job. Except for his accent the name sounded right for what she had said. Flaxen locks drop pat his shoulders while he tilted her head towards her bemused.

“Ah.. “ Oz paused as he started to murmur gibberish while counting his fingers. “Ahh last see home.. twenty suns now.” He explained with a slow nod followed by a frown. He missed his home dearly, the peace that existed in the ocean that he would never find here. No matter where he swam in the Lake, it wasn’t the ocean that he was accustomed to.

“It good.  Ahh you get Quackert friend it nice.” The jovial grin still across his features as he held the creature close to his chest with a soft hum. Part of him wanted to control the water on the other side of the tank. Vivienne seemed nice enough and he didn’t see anyone near them that looked bad or scary.  He took another steady exchange between her and the tank. “Secret?” Oz whispered with a hopeful furrow of his brows.

[ozheik]

carasoliz‌:

Carina let out a shaky laugh as he mentioned it would be his favorite day, apart from the fish. The memories of passing by the vendors in the festivals, so filled with fish and various plants and other far rarer and delectable mermish foods at the festivals went through her head. 

The two young merfolk separating from their parents and Cara’s elder siblings to race through the water and pick out the best fish and snacks they could find to eat as they watched the migrations and the various traditional shows together. The snacks and the time they spent together had more impact on her than any of the traditional mermish celebrations. She tried to imagine the two of them doing similar things now - on land. Hopefully some day.

“Good,” she said in Mermish still, beaming up at him as they seperated from the embrace. “Take good care of yourself until then, my friend.” Cara bent over to give him a kiss on the cheek before backing away and picking up her large work bag. She waved energetically at him, a bit of melancholy in her expression before she had to turn away to rush to her shift.

༻῾¦، END

🧜‍♂️ END

[ozheik]

[ozheik]

percystone‌:

Percy wasn’t quite sure how to respond to someone seemingly so excited to see her. It was enough to cause her to lift an eyebrow, curiously. Especially when she had been pretty.. well, she’d been an asshole to fish boy last time they’d seen one another. Then again, fish boy had used some weird magic to try and get her naked, so maybe, just maybe, she had that right. Either way, she was pretty willing to let bygones be bygones at this point. He hadn’t tried to kill her or anything. In her book, that was pretty okay.

“Sup, fish boy?” She definitely could have been more creative with the nickname, but it was funny to her, looking back on it. Sure, in the moment she’d been pretty weirded out by the dead fish thing, but… Well, there were things that she was a lot more weirded out by now, a guy trying to give her a dead fish was the least of it. 

Once she was back inside the building, she dropped the box, turning to look at him. “You can drop it anywhere you want. What are you sorry for?” Not that she didn’t appreciate the apology, but it would be nicer to know what apology she was accepting. “But, like, you’re forgiven or whatever. How’ve you been?”

Oz had been so worried when he never caught a glimpse of Percy again. Though he didn’t really know how to convey that to anyone. And since he didn’t really understand most people’s answers, he thought asking the coffee shop people would turn up with nothing for him to use. Quackert chirped happily, but Oz pointed a finger to where the duckling could be around that didn’t have any sort of boxes or hazardous things around. At least, nothing Oz noted out of the corner of his eye.

“SAHHP, Percee?” He repeated with a beaming smile as he mimicked her words. The nickname didn’t seem to really bother him. He liked fish and well.. he was a boy so it fit. Oz didn’t feel comfortable yet to give anyone their own nickname using his own words and phrases.  He placed the two boxes carefully down just in case there were breakable items in them. Oh good. He could tell her now that she had spotted him. “Sorry for.. ah make..me make..you..mad.. me wanting …shirt.. I got..shirt see?” Oz said proudly and pinched the fabric of the shirt proudly.

“Me ok. Ahh I teach Quackert fish. How you?” Oz asked still listening as he went back outside to grab another couple boxes and bring them in to continue to help her out. He look around quizzically at the shop. “What dis?”

[ozheik]

juliettelikethesun‌:

It was quite hard not to be extremely amused by this particular… human? Not quite, Juliette had to assume, but the man was quite… something. He seemed extremely naive, extremely innocent. That made for an interesting character. Someone who seemed to be learning everything about the world as he observed. Something sweet and innocent. It endeared him to her easily, and she would happily keep an eye on the boy around this little town, watch out for any trouble that he might find himself wandering into. It had been a while since she had found someone that tugged at the protective instinct in her so quickly. A nice change of pace.

“It means ‘my duckling’ in French.” She offered, smile permanently etched onto her lips as she watched him light up with excitement at the idea of being her friend. How charming. Of course, it made sense. Juliette was excellent company to keep, though most people didn’t understand why until it was a bit too late to think too hard on it. She watched the little duckling waddle into her hand at a snails pace and once he was there, she lifted her hand enough to meet him at eye level. “Well hello, there, belle. You have quite lovely eyes… for a duck.”

She glanced up at the boy again, smooth eyebrow lifting slowly, evenly, and her head tilted a bit to the side as she did her best to work out what he was trying to ask her. “I don’t… think so. Not quite sure what you’re asking, darling, but I have never cared much for looking at shirts…” She played around with it in her mind for a moment, finally offering up the only thing that seemed to make sense. “Shopping? I’ve not particularly picky, so long as things look nice, so I don’t shop for pleasure.”

A weakness or a strength it was hard to say, but he felt this Juliette was friendly enough to trust. Then again, he knew not of her past or her present, and only went strictly by the fact that she hadn’t tried to harm him or Quackert. Nor did she seem to be bullying anyone or harming anyone just in the library with Willow’s Quackerts. At least that was his understanding of the library books and how precious they were to his friend. The word French made him quirk a brow with a blank slate across his face. What was that?

“French?” Oz inquired without moving the arched brow and letting it indent the wrinkles in his forehead. What did that even mean?  He felt a little nervous when Juliette lifted Quackert to look at him eye level. Oz was more worried because the duckling was unpredictable in its tyranny. He silently hoped that he didn’t try to peck their new friend. He tilted his head at the name ‘belle’, that sounded familiar. He cleared his throat slightly and spoke softly, “Quackert no belle.” Oz tried to politely correct her thinking that she was calling him the wrong name. Which was fine, he was called a shortened version of his middle name, but he didn’t want Quackert to become confused.

“Oooh.” Oz listened and nodded his head slowly as if he understood. Spoiler alert, he half understood but he got the gist of it at least he thought he did. “You…just.. pick shirt and shoe? Then go?”  The tone of his voice taking on a questionable end as he tried to sort it. “Quackert like ..shirt for bed.” Oz offered with a friendly grin. “I ahh.. home have no shirt. Here I have shirt.”

[ozheik]

@fangbites

It had taken him forever, but he had managed to keep a bit of paper money in a large empty coffee cup near the lake. Often leaving it near Quackert as his alarm in case someone tried to take it. Oz wasn’t even sure how to count it, but he remembered Peter mentioned the bank. Honestly, he had started that way but the display windows caught his eye. “Shirts!” He pointed with the bottom of the cup with Quackert quacking behind his heel. “We go in tiny to Baank.” Oz said to the duckling whom had already started his judgmental glare.

He stepped through the door and turned towards the small bell that announced his entrance. Oz should be familiar with this by now, but it’s one small detail he always forgot about. One foot propped the door open for Quackert to come in behind him. Quietly he fixed the coffee cup under one arm and leaned down to pick up his duckling child. Oz hummed as he looked around in slight awe of the fabrics. He vaguely remembered Cara talking about one of her friends. What had been his name? Kolya.  He doubted this place was that small that he would run into him.

Oz turned as his golden locks whipped behind him in a disarray. “Ah.. Hallo.” He pet Quackert who was already giving the other a smoldering look of disapproval. “ Quackert..it shirt.” The merman moved a hand to motion towards a mannequin to try to take the death glare away from Kolya. His actions were futile, Quackert had already made his mind that he would rather stare down the poor man.

[percystone-blog1]

@ozheik

It was so bizarre, Percy thought. Especially after her recent bizarre thing with Anastasia, that now she was standing in the middle of her (completely empty) shop, looking around the place with a little half grin. Maybe she needed some kind of therapy to explain away her extremely bizarre reaction to bad shit happening to her. Maybe she was some kind of sociopath, or maybe she had bled out all of the fear and disgust from that night already.

Sure, she was still pretty freaked out, and the idea of running into the woman again was not high on her list of ‘potential exciting things’ or whatever, but as she stood in the center of this shop, looked around and took it all in, well… It didn’t really matter. Because she had made it out alive, and she was fine. Sure, she was currently looking for a new place to live, and she had about enough things to fill up about a quarter of the space in this shop, but that was beside the point.

She had a shop. 

She was a business owner.

That was pretty fucking terrifying.

She took a step out to grab one of the boxes by the door, spotted a familiar head of hair and even managed a small smirk. “Hey, fish boy! Come give me a hand?” 

[ozheik]

It had been many moons between the last time he had seen Percy. He could probably tell someone if they asked, only because that’s how he tracked the days. There wasn’t a Roman Calendar under the water for him to check and compare. Ever since the thing with Josie he felt a deep rooted amount of guilt. Quackert seemed a bit more attached which he could only assume the duckling knew something he didn’t.

The familiar voice caused him to turn and he excitedly waved towards her. This time without a dead fish. “Perceee!” Oz exclaimed and bound forward into a jog towards the building. It didn’t look familiar to him, and he found himself looking around curiously. “I sorry.” He said at first before he picked up that she needed help with the boxes. The assumption was there once he watched her carry a box in, so he bent over and retrieved two to follow her inside. Quackert squawked in greeting now on the ground behind Oz carefully waddling  in behind him. 

“Where?” He asked and peeked his eyes over the cardboard to watch for her direction.

[ozheik]

carrionhead‌:

The lake fascinated him. Chances of seeing an ocean or another large body of water in his life nowadays were realistically none and optimistically very, very slim, Baltasar had to be content there was a lake here at all. The surroundings, much like lake’s surface, were still and quiet on most days, peaceful. Not a bad place to rest after a shift. He didn’t dare go for a swim yet, though. Too dangerous, He had a feeling he’d drown all by himself before any aquatic demon thing had a chance to drag him down to the depths with it.

Today something was making ripples in the water. Baltasar approached against his better judgement, curious and ready to flee at the first hint of danger.  It was, a person? Or person shaped at least. They carried a suffocating fish in their mouth, with which he assumed was also the way they used to catch it. He was too occupied being puzzled by the sight to notice the little duckling by his feet. The duck had no problem announcing his presence with a squawk and a look that oozed disdain. An apology left Baltasar’s lips under the weight of the duck’s withering gaze.

Another fish laid close to the duck, Baltasar crouched to examine it. Seemed normal enough, considering where it had been taken from. He jumped back to his feet and prepared to run as soon as he heard the person hurriedly leave the water but he froze at the sound of the other’s voice. They sounded like they had just learned the language, still figuring out what tones meant what and the order they should be said in. Much like his early English after the witch decided he should learn it alongside Spanish, “Ah, um, hi. Y-yours? No problem.”

Baltasar eyed the offered fish warily  and with a dash of suspicion. Maybe the stranger took his scrutiny of the fish as want for one? Well, he wasn’t gonna refuse and risk the other’s anger. Besides, he hadn’t had fish in a while. “T-thanks.” The fish struggles grew weaker by the second. “Wh-, um,” Almost asked a stranger what he was. Probably not the best thing to say to a stranger. “Who’re you? Did you just, catch these like,” he used his hand to mimic jaws snapping shut. “Like that?”

Quackert waddled up to him practically tattling on the other with his wings flapping dramatically at his sides. Much like a Chicken Little with the sky falling. Oz glanced to the new person and then back to the baby duckling. “It ok.” Oz points to the peace offering as if Quackert could even understand him. He thought back to the dictionary and tried to think of the word in English. He was pulling up a blank to instead murmured the words in Mermish. “we share.” Much like a parent would scold their selfish child. Quackert let out a quack and turned the envious judgement gaze back on the other. 

“Sorry..Quackert.. mad..all the..time.” Oz explained with a softening gaze. He really didn’t want enemies this close to the lake, especially ones that had seen his duckling.  He grinned widely when Baltasar took his offering and he plopped down beside them on the ground. Quackert still fussed as he leaped to settle on Oz’s knee. He processes Balt’s question with a glance from the fish and turned towards the lake thoughtfully. The swift turn caused the flaxen locks to follow which exposed the gills on the side of his own neck.

Then he nodded happily, “I fish. You fish?” He asked and grabbed onto the fish from earlier that he thought Baltasar wanted to steal. Without warning he took a bite out of the fish and chewed the small frigid bones in his mouth. He placed it between his legs as Quackert started to peck at it. “Sorry.. Ah... me is Oz. You is?” He gave up telling people his whole name, and lived with the fact no one would likely call him his actual name. 

[ozheik]

letemburnmoore‌:

A wall of fire seemed to arise from nowhere, firmly blocking Oz from coming any closer. Dresden stared at him from the other side, head cocked to the side, and for a moment he considered attacking, possibly just for the fun of it, just to see what would happen. But Oz was right…promises should be kept, and he’d made one to not go looking for trouble. This couldn’t really count for self-defense either, not when the mer had really threatened him in any way.

“I’m Dresden.” The voice came from behind Oz this time, the fae having cloaked himself and relocated elsewhere, reassuming a safe distance. One soft wave of his hand, and the fire wall faded into whips of smoke. “And I am a fae, very perceptive of you.” Dresden mused. “Never almost drowned, but I sparred with a water fae once, and it really proved how much of a pain in the ass water really is in large quantities.”

The wall of fire was a surprise that made him jump back slightly. His knee jerk reaction caused the lake’s water to rise towards them in rapid form. Oz blinked at his eyes started to glow a more lucid blue.  He simply shook his head and motioned at the fire. “No. I don’t like fire.” He said simply as he felt the coolness of the lake current on his ankles. The only time he used fire was to cook the fish so other people would eat it, but otherwise the flames were something he didn’t want to get acquainted with. 

Oz slowly put the pieces together and sighed more at himself. “Ah. I think I understand, but why would you.. come out here if you don’t like water?” He  shrugged his shoulders, “I’ve never been dehydrated before. I think it’s the same thing. I can’t drown.” He quirked a curious brow, he hadn’t sparred in awhile. “Do you like sparring?”

[memories]

In my next life I will be reborn as #☼percy002☼.

[ozheik]

@percystone

[ozheik]

juliettelikethesun‌:

“Very good.” Juliette offered the praise easily as her name fell in a strange accent from the boy’s lips. It was a valiant attempt, and she would argue that she was exceedingly proud of his attempt. It wasn’t as if her name was something that just gracefully fell from the tongue, anyway. When he spoke his own name, she lifted an eyebrow. “Ozskar…. Oz. It is an absolute pleasure, Mon canard. I do hope we become fast friends.”

A manicured eyebrow rose when the duck was offered to her, and she watched the thing carefully before extending one hand smoothly. “I would be honored, if Quackart would allow me the pleasure.” She halfway directed her words to the little duck itself, considering it seemed that the thing had quite a bit of agency. “I don’t have a snack to offer, I’m afraid, little Quackart, but I have washed my hands recently, I swear.”

The next question caught Juliette so off guard that she felt herself choking on air as she laughed out loud. “Do I like shirt? As in the one you are currently wearing?” Her eyes trailed down to examine the boy’s clothing for a moment. “It’s a bit tight, but it’s a good color on you, darling.”

Oz beamed glad that he hadn’t butchered the name, at least it didn’t seem he had. It was a pretty name, one that he hadn’t heard underwater. At least not near his home, he had heard of Julianne. But the pronunciation in Mermish was slightly different. He cants his head to the side as the long flaxen locks sway with the direction of his head. Almost fluidlike themselves in nature, a large welcoming smile across his lips. “Friends? Yes! Friends good..Ahh..What Mo-an Can-erd?”Oz inquired about the French word and blinked at her curiously. Was that English?

It was said with a slightly different accent, and it had Oz more curious than ever. Even more curious than the first day he tried to offer Percy a dead fish. Quackert looked at the hand with scrutiny then looked back up at Oz again. He just gave the duckling a reassuring nod, before it waddles from his hand into Juliette’s albeit slower than a turtle. “Good, yes. He go. Quackert like Chee-rios.” Oz said with a smile as he lightly petted Quackert’s head giving the duckling validation for doing such a task of moving from his possession to someone ese’s.

Oz became a bit concerned when he heard the choke but paused when he heard the laugh. He mimicked the laugh unsure of why he did so or why she laughed, since it was an innocent question, he poised to her. He glanced down to his shirt and gently ran a finger over it. “You like ahhh look shirts?” He tried again trying to ask if she liked shopping.

[ozheik]

willowxwispxrp‌:

He asked her if she was good, and it was with such a genuine concern that Willow’s heart ached with affection. “Yes, I’m okay. I’m not alone, there are other people that help keep my Quackert’s safe,” she assured, reaching out to give Oz’s shoulder a reassuring pat. It was true that sometimes Willow felt like the other workers at the library didn’t care quite as much about the safety of the books as she did, but one worked with what they had. She prayed vehemently that Quackert remained equally safe because she didn’t doubt for a second that the male would be devastated, that his heart would be hurt.

OH. OHHHH. She vaguely remembered Percy telling her about an extra weird customer interaction. Willow’s eyes widened and she gave a delighted laugh. “Oh I know Percy, she’s my friend. She likes fish alright but much more when they’re cooked and they don’t still have eyes.” She realized he probably wouldn’t understand her sentence as it was, that they were going round and round in an unproductive circle. A merman…that’s what she was looking at. Her grandpa had sworn they existed, but she’d never thought she’d see one. “No, no I don’t speak Mermish on my own,” she admitted, friendly smile and her body language light as she headed for her desk. “But I have a special tool that might help.”

Magic was imbibed in a lot of technology and tools within town. Willow gestured for Oz to take a seat in the computer chair at her desk, letting her own frame claim the desk as her perch. She began rooting through a drawer, letting out a triumphant sound as she straightened, an old school tape recorder in hand. Willow wasn’t sure what that meant…old school…but the item had been heavily magicked to understand and adapt to languages and provide translations. “So if this works right…it’s going to take my english words, and then play them back to you in Mermish. And then it’ll play anything you say back to me in English.”

Pointer finger settled on the red record button, pushed hard, microphone pressed to her lips. “I don’t think Mermish has been spoken in this town in a long town, if ever, so I’m not sure if the device will catch onto it. But if this works, if you understand me, you’ll take this into your hands, push down on the red button while you’re talking, and then let go of the button when you’re done.” Anticipation and curiosity mingled in her gaze as she stopped recording and then hit the play button, eagerly watching Oz’s face for signs that the words were being translated for him.

Oz furrowed his brows with concern and motioned around them quizzically. “More.. hoomans.. help?” He asked and found himself trying to peek around for any other souls helping keep her Quackerts safe.  The merman’s mouth opened and his jaw slacked as if he hesitated trying to figure out the appropriate words. “I help? Quackerts?” The man’s eyes travel from them to Quackert and then to the books. He just had to make sure no one took them from their chains? He could do that. He did guard a prison at one point, even though.. he didn’t do a very good job at that. Still the question was practically glowing across his forehead.  ‘WHO?;’

The man stared at her blankly, blinking rapidly at her comment. She knew Percy! This was perfect! “Ahh Percee yes..” He tried to soak in what Willow had told him, but the only thing evident was the growing wrinkle between both of his brows. “She like fish? I ah.. make mad…how..sorry Perceee?” He asked and tilted his head curious how to right his wrong. Since he hadn’t seen Percy in such a long time, but then again he didn’t really go to the coffee place anymore. The few times he did venture he hadn’t caught the familiar sight of the woman. The full lips drop down into a pout when she seemed to say she didn’t speak Mermish.

He followed her unsure of what he would find. The items behind the desk were mainly foreign to him. One finger extended to poke at the computer screen, and then softly knock on it. Quackert let out a challenging squeak so Oz leaned over and set him down atop of the desk with Oz. The little terror had become occupied pecking and chasing a pen across the desk. Closely he watched when the tape recorder was set on the desk. He moved his hand and pointed down to it riddled with fascination. “Mermish?”

After she hit play though. It registered on his face. Some of the words were gibberish, but not all of them. Oz stared wide eyed from the contraption to Willow. Then he carefully hit the red button and repeated back in Mermish, “It works a little bit. What is this?” He let go and grinned excitedly hoping it translated back correctly.

[ozheik]

carasoliz‌:

“Good. Yes,” she agreed, feeling a bit choked up. Carina had always been overflowing with emotions - as changeable as the tide when it comes to her feelings and waves of them that could be just as powerful as a stormy sea. She was loathe to leave her friend how but she was also devoted to the new work she had picked up. She wanted to make this place her home, and so she had to go and learn and be the healer the humans and creatures needed her to be.

“I-I shall try to stop by tomorrow. If you are not here, right here, do not worry I shall…” She looked around and then pointed to a cluster of rocks, smiling. “I will leave a note there and clothing and currency for you to use. And if you take them I will know you are okay.” Cara looked back at him with a wider smile. “Okay? Everyday, I will be making sure you are okay and then go to my classes and work. Once my training finishes, I shall have days off and we can do even more. Just stay safe. I will figure out a way for us to be closer.”

Oz grinned down to Carina. Her heart was golden, and perhaps if they had never crossed paths he would be a very different person. It was her that imbued in his mind that intuitive empathy. Surely he didn’t get the ability from his parents, maybe just the general curiosity. However at the festivals whenever he crossed her vibrant persona he questioned everything he had been taught at a young age. Carina wasn’t only his best friend, she was his whole world. If anyone could bring him out of the lake it was her. It’s just he had doubts on the timing. 

“I will be right here.” He reassured her but glanced to where she had pointed. “I will leave those things there if they’re missing. So you know I took them.” He pointed to a shrubbery bush that only held an empty coffee cup for now. Oz’s own smile grew at her mention of everyday and he nodded firmly. “Every. Day. Maybe we can walk further a bit further each day and then I can meet you with the humans so it’s closer.” He suggested with a pained expression. He wished that he had been ready to live among the humans. There’s nothing more to tell her that he was ready, but he knew that would be a lie. And he didn’t want to lie to Cara. 

“Be careful. I’ll watch for you every day, and that’ll be my favorite time of day besides when the tide brings in a bunch of fish.” Oz beamed idly twirling a finger through her hair before he gave her one last hug and started to back away towards the lake. 

“Tomorrow. Right here.”

[padalecksis]

[thecarriesdiaries]

[ozheik]

@carasoliz

[ozheik]

carasoliz‌:

Carina smiled with more affection than her usual excitement. When she was excited, like she was now, she would beam bright enough to light up the room. Her eyes would crease and her shoulders slightly come up as she if might jump. Now, however, the mermaid simply looked lovingly at her dear friend, peaceful and with bated breath. Though her expression was bright, it was more warmth than anything. It was a special smile that she saved for the most special. 

Exhaling slowly she nodded a little as he reassured her they would go through this together. Expression than gave way to amusement then to pride as he spoke of hair dye. He even pronounced it more or less perfectly despite the accent. Cara beamed at him and let out a soft, breathy laugh. “Absolutely,” she agreed, continuing on in Mermish.

“Lots of fish. Lots of fish, and lots of learning.” She let in a sharp inhale and her eyes widened as if she realized something. “And catching up! My Gods, Oz, you must tell me how you and your family have been and what you have all done in these years,” she said excitedly. “Okay? I will… I believe I will be good this weekend. Which I suppose is in… 3 moons? Yes, 3. But I shall still check up to see if you need anything tomorrow and the next day. Okay? Okay, you won’t disappear?”

They were meant to cross paths, and it did feel Oz’s humble heart that his best friend wasn’t one of those deceased among her people. That had been his largest fear, and the second had been coming to the land. Her smile was one of the most infectious he had ever encountered. No matter who he grinned at or new friends he found. Hers was always the smile that stood out to him, even when it changed meaning. He was much more attuned with human’s emotions if only he could realize it. It was arguable, but he liked to think his ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about’ grin was different than his grin he had now being reunited with his best friend.

“All the fish we could eat. I’ll grab us some seasoning too. The plants are not that bad here to have with.” Oz explained with a sincere smile. It was hard to feel sad or uncomfortable for too long with Carina around. That was probably the thing he looked less forward to was catching up on his end. He had always lived a more submerged life than Cara, so he enjoyed hearing her stories where his were.. less enjoyable. “I’ll tell you everything. We will eat, learn, catch up, and swim together whenever you’re free.” Oz reassured and took another step forward to pull her in for another hug. “Three moons? I’m not going anywhere I promise. Now that I know you’re here, I will be content being here and waiting for you.”