escordvi | closed 🌠⚡ it's far too easy to miss the beauty in the simple things

[He hastily pulls back on the ribbon to bring her in closer before turning around to see...

...Ah.]

I guess we forgot it. Sorry.

[He'll reach up to stroke the pouty seahorse's head, and there will be a bit of a tail flick and toss of its head... But it will forgive.

Eustace then looks at Tifa.]

You okay?

[Spinning, spinning, spinning... Maybe she won't ever get used to this.]

Yeah, I'm fine, but... was that really necessary?

[The seahorse grunts at her, flicking its tail again as its ears pin down slightly.]

Try to be more careful!

[She really could have snapped off there! But it seems to understand her tone, at least, so she won't scold it anymore.]

We can probably ride it to the markets.

[He can't really blame Tifa for scolding the seahorse, so he just leaves it be. It does seem to understand before holding her up. He wishes he could help with the spinning, but...alas. The best he can do is just keep the bubble steady until she straightens out, and only then will he carefully set her back on top of her head.]

Would make it faster, and hopefully less likely to be bumped.

[Having the seahorse would likely bring more attention and make people move away from them, so this may work better in their favor. So once he's sure Tifa is on his head securely, he'll mount up on the seahorse and they'll start moving forward again.]

Let me know if you start feeling unstable.

[She's a little nervous about this, but it's better than all of their other options. With the markets being on the other side of the village and the place starting to get busier, they'd be safer on a seahorse, won't they? Like him, she thinks it would at least keep the path relatively open for them!

But as they start to move, Tifa does feel the bubble jiggle a bit, but nothing too terrible...

Enough that she can rest at the bottom.]

Think your ears could hold it in place?

[She's mostly joking... But she would be impressed if they could—]

....Hm.

[Honestly, he had wondered, but...]

I don't think so. They don't really move inward like that.

[And he's afraid of moving them now because what if they disturb the bubble and sends her flying out!!!]

[A squeaky laugh echoes from her and the bubble.]

Yeah, I figured. Still, would have been cute if they could. Could always tie me around your head.

I don't think we have to go that far.

[He tilts his head a little back up to her, as if to tease her.]

[The bubble bounces at the motion, but Tifa is all laughs. At least it's cheered her up somewhat...]

You don't want a cute bubble bunny bonnet for your trip? I think it'd be cute. The whales would probably be more inclined to help, too.

We'll be lucky if they don't mistake you as a ball and try to bounce you around.

It's alright, I have my wolf eel boyfriend to protect me.

[And she would kiss him right now if she could but instead, she just nuzzles the bottom of the bubble where it's nestled in his hair as it wisps around her.

But as they turn onto the next street, there's a lot more whalefolk and mermaids alike, and probably some locals from above that she recognizes as well. But that isn't what Tifa is staring at in awe...]

Oh, that must be the market up ahead? It's so big...

[For Tifa it must look huge, but even to Eustace it is quite large and busy. Makes some sense given that the native inhabitants are whalefolks and large from the beginning. Even so, he tightens his hand on the ribbon.]

Try not to move around too much... But if you see something you want me to stop at, just say so.

Are you sure about that...? We'll be stopping at every single stall, in that case.

[A quiet laugh.]

You should save some for when you're back to normal.

But look at it! Even the stalls outside...!

[As her eyes are drawn to a stall selling kitchen wares made of shells.]

I think we might be in trouble either way. Let's make it quick, before we get stuck outside and don't even make it in.

[He just shakes his head slightly, still smiling.]

Just try and remember where they are. Looks like what we need will be over there.

["There" being what looks to be where a lot of ingredients are, so he'll direct the seahorse to mosey on over before Tifa gets too distracted.]

[Too late, she's already completely distracted, and he'll hear her making small sounds of wonder as they swim through the markets, with little exclamations on the way about something cute that she's seen, only to be disappointed when they keep moving.

And as they approach the underwater apothecary table, Tifa pouts.]

I thought you said that we could look.

If I stopped at everything you pointed at, we'd still be at that third stall.

Fine...

[And she leans over in the bubble far enough that he'll feel it start to tilt on her head.]

But there are some nice shells here, too...

[He'll glance up at her as he feels that tilt.]

Which stall?

That one there.

[As if she can point to it, but she's nudging her nose and her ears in the direction of the very stall that they need to go to.]

I'm pointing...

...

[There is a flaw in this plan and that is the fact that even if he could normally see her point—she's on his head. So he just picks her up to hold her in front of him—]

Over there?

[And move in the general direction of where she pointed.]

Yeah, that one. With that pretty mermaid...

[Point point with her ear as it twitches again.]

Looks like it's got a lot of other things we need, too.

[A low hum of agreement, and as they draw nearer they can see the various shells and trinkets on display, including colorful pearls and accessories. To keep things from being crowded, Eustace stops the seahorse off to the side to dismount before swimming over with Tifa still in his hands.

Seeing them, the mermaid will greet them cheerfully before cooing upon seeing Tifa.

"Oooh so cute! Your pet??" ]

[Oh, that makes her face heat up, and those bristles on her back puff up and out, making her look more like a ball than a bunny slug.]

His girlfriend, thanks.

[There's a defiant huff, and the mermaid just...

...

Stares at Eustace as if to say "really?"]

[She answered before he could, and for a moment he's silent before he smiles and holds Tifa's bubble up to his cheek.]

It's true, isn't she cute?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject