Chapter Text
Holy crap.
Last night was way too risky. It was fun at first no doubt about that, and spooking humans was always fun. But obviously getting cut on the arm and losing all my loot wasn't as enjoyable. The morning had arrived and the boat had to be gone by now. I awoke on the seafloor. Been a while since I've spent the night in water, and I forget how calming and quieter it is than above. No loud humans yelling in their boats and the lack of gulls is especially calming. But nonetheless, i still gotta get back. But before I do I need to look for my stuff.
I glided around the ocean, staying close to the floors and trying my best to avoid any other sea folk.
Wherever I looked I couldn't find my stuff, until I spotted a glint in a bed of seaweed. Maybe that was the ticking circle.
I swam closer until I heard a voice approaching. And usually, I wouldn't swim away from something but this was a special case since this voice in particular seemed to be guiding a group this way, from the sounds of it at least.
I quickly hid behind a rock, hearing the voice talk once again, asking the other sea folk to let him know if they need anything. Before I swam away to look for my stuff, something caught my eye. Clear as water, my gold ticking circle! I wanted to snatch it up but I had to make sure nobody's looking. slowly I peeked over the rock and -
There isn't a huge group of sea folk at all! just an abundance of goatfish and a young Shepherd sitting on a rock. Strange kid, I guess, talking to fish isn't something I'd personally do. Speaking of fish, one began headbutting my ticking thing.
I try my best to quietly shoo him off as to not bring any unwanted attention. Unfortunately, it does. The shepherd boy swims over, just feet away from me. I duck down into the seaweed and peek as he gets scared at the sudden ringing. I'm praying he leaves my stuff alone and goes on his merry way, but he doesn't.
He finds more of my stuff and there's a certain look in his eyes. He's not frightened by human stuff, nor is he disgusted. He's...intrigued. Never have I seen that reaction from a sea creature towards human things. And vice versa.
He gets spooked by a boat passing above us which is understandable I guess. I stay low in my seaweed bed and shift around so I can keep my eye on this kid while he retreats back into his field with my stuff in hand. And from what I can see, his eyes light up. A beat passes, and a slow smile spreads across his face as he emerges from his hidey-hole and he just seems so happy, full of hope, peaceful. And alarmingly cute!
I won't lie okay he looks good, and just... I can't put it to words this feeling in the pit of my stomach. Maybe happiness? Gee haven't felt that one in a hot minute. I just need to talk with him and see what this feeling really is.
I should introduce myself, show him human stuff, I'm sure he'd like it. I can teach him about the fish in the sky, about Vespas! All kinds of surface things!
Before my imagination could venture even further, a shrill voice yells out for him.
"Luca! lunch is ready!".
Luca.
As he scurries off with his herd, I do too. I have to talk to him, he's curious I just know it. I swim in circles, concocting a plan until I spot yet another one of my trinkets. Glass cup and a singing lady machine landed next to one another. And that's when it all came together.
I swam forward, placing the cup on one rock and the machine in an opening. I swam to my tower and back, having had to retrieve a special sort of get-up.
I wanted to show someone else the treasures of the above-water world, someone who will take kindly to the things I have to offer. And this kid could be it. Someone I could share my tower with again. But the feeling that he would hate everything I had to show him wouldn't go away. The logical side of things, not my crazy imaginative one.
As I predicted, Luca took the bait. As most curious fish would. He went from the silver tool to my glass cup and finally, the big one. I waited on the top of the rocks for a cue. And once he took a gander at the music machine that was it.
Side note: Scaring a cute shepherd boy isn't exactly how I'd want to introduce myself, but what's the harm in a charming introduction. And he gets to see first hand what a diving suit is! along with a harpoon! The one those humans threw at me last night.
I approach and what a surprise! he gets scared, knocks his head on a rock, and backs up into a corner. I think of all the possible things to say, reassure him? tell him my name? wait! I got it!
"Boo".
~~~~~
He thanks me and bids me a good day before submerging back underwater. And once his tail rounds the corner my legs turn to jellyfish, collapsing I spread like a starfish on the cool pebbles.
Although he denied it I know how much he loved the surface. His expression was the same one a child would make when seeing snow for the first time!
I made another prediction, but it wasn't entirely true. While it is happiness, the feeling in my stomach was something else. When I feel happiness, like when I acquire an especially interesting find I feel giddy and excited. Talking and seeing Luca was like a fluttery feeling. I can't exactly explain it.
I sit up and haul my loot to the tower, thinking over what I could do to talk to him tomorrow. Another human trail? Nah, too creepy. Maybe I could make him a drawing? Yeah, a drawing sounds nice! One of us together being all buddy buddy. But how so?
I chuck my human stuff into a corner and place the singing lady machine on my bench. It won't work though, probably broke when it was down in the ocean. I push it off to the side and snatch up paper and pencil. Taking a seat in my hammock I think, now time to create art!
An hour passes
UGGH! It's taking so long to think of an idea! The paper's still blank and I haven't got a clue what to draw! All I want is to make a drawing, Is that too much to ask for! I give up and tuck both pencil and paper away for later, in case I suddenly get a stroke of genius.
Maybe instead of a drawing, I could simply talk to him. Yeah! I'll go out tomorrow and search around for him, maybe go to the field, if I can remember the way there.
I mean, if he wanted to be my friend he'd come to me. And surely he will, I hope. But he did just scream, roll around and swim away after being on the surface for a minute. But then again! The look on his face was unmistakable, he wants to be up here again. And when he does, I'll be here, waiting.
Although, it couldn't hurt to go looking for him for a few days. Stomach growling I jump out of my hammock and look around for something to eat. Nothing, oh well. I guess I could just go borrow some food from some fisherman boats.
But that can wait for tomorrow when I go looking for Luca.
I go trudging upstairs and yet again lay starfish on my back. The summer weather has begun rolling in, a nice warm breeze coats my body in a blanket. The sky is dim, a mix of purples and blues. I can hear trees rustling, waves rolling in and fishermen cruising their boats away. Further and further away.
I'm tired, I think I'll turn in for the evening. Tomorrow will be a great day, I just know it.