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The cold Snezhnayan breeze that brushed through his tousled hair hadn’t been much of an issue, because as Mitya stood in front of the Tidesong Cavern’s opening, he found that looking down from the height of that ledge was the greater contributor to the chills he felt this time around.
He looked up again, wondering where he’d be seeing Vodyanitsa. This was where she’d insisted they rendezvous… Turning to his scarf, he raised a brow in silent confusion.
It seemed to understand the gist and maneuvered to tap the scientist on his other shoulder before pointing back at the space behind them.
As soon as Mitya turned around, his eyes only widened in shock as he attempted to conceal the pang of fear that was sent throughout his body.
Clearly, that wasn’t enough to keep himself composed, though. The triumphant smirk that appeared on the face of that woman who stood right in front of him couldn’t be any more of an obvious giveaway.
Vodyanitsa happily closed her eyes, not even trying to suppress much of the snickering that escaped her lips as she patiently waited for a greeting.
Mitya brought up his hand to comb back the curtain of loose strands that fell over his face, awkwardly laughing alongside her. The scarf by his side merely gave him a light punch to the shoulder, insisting he actually say something.
“Miss Vodyanitsa! I was starting to think you’d up and gone to someplace else… Did I keep you waiting long?” He managed to muster, followed by an awkward wave that was mimicked by his scarf.
Instead of gracing him with the simplicity of a direct answer, the water imp insisted she mess with him a while longer, resorting to responding to his question with a tease.
“Hehe, you’re much easier to scare than the other two! I didn’t even need to break out in song this time,” she smiled, opening her eyes and giving Mitya a playful look.
“And by ‘much easier,’ I assume you mean they don't get startled at all,” he replied, hoping to save some face. “You’re comparing me to quite the vigilant group of people here… Don’t you think that’s a bit unfair?”
Bemused by her attempts at joking around being deflected as fast as she fired them, Vodyanitsa let the question fly over her head and redirected the conversation back to its initial point.
“I actually just got back,” she mumbled, crossing her arms. “There were a few travelers who needed help before you came, and who am I to leave people in need, right?”
Just like that, she was beaming again, her act of selflessness outshining the disappointment from moments prior.
“That’s a relief,” sighed Mitya. “For both those travelers and me, I mean.” He jested as the scarf gave the water imp a thumbs-up in praise of her efforts.
Vodyanitsa held her hands behind her back and relished in the short-lived appreciation before looking towards the scientist expectantly.
“Now, what are you waiting for? You’re not trying to hold off on that personal performance I planned, are you?” the girl queried.
She wasn’t even presenting a serious question, but Mitya felt obligated to defend himself in the situation to avoid another mess on top of how easily he managed to get himself startled by her presence. If anything, this felt like another setup of hers…
“N–No, no. I’d never! Really, it’s an honor to even have the opportunity…” The scientist stammered, tripping over his own words as if he wasn’t already telling the truth.
“Is that so?” Vodyanitsa asked, contemplatively tapping a finger to the side of her chin. “It’s just that you’ve been standing there for so long, I'd have thought you were only finding new places to hide from your own duties!”
With a defeated sigh, Mitya felt like he’d been caught red-handed for something he hadn’t even done… Well, at least, not today.
“I can assure you that definitely isn’t the case. I’m not on the run all the time, y’know,” He pleaded, shaking his head in detestation as the scarf wagged one of its fingers in the air.
“So there’s no reason to stay out here!” The fae argued, ultimately suppressing the need to say more as she paused and fell into deep thought.
“Unless…”
“Unless…?” Mitya nervously probed, afraid of what assumptions could possibly be pinned on him.
“You’re afraid of heights!” Vodyanitsa exclaimed, leaning forward with confidence in her answer.
“That isn’t the case, either.” He clarified with a pitiful stare and half-hearted smile.
The water imp looked away for a second, racking her brain for any more absurd conclusions to throw his way. Her attention locked back onto him, briefly scanning his person from top to bottom to deduce anything that’d lead to a reasonable answer.
“You don’t wanna get your clothes wet, huh?” Vodyanitsa asked ingenuously, her fingers curling the ends of the long locks of hair that sat just past her shoulders.
Bashfully, Mitya brushed the specks of snow off his coat, not having expected to have the truth feel this embarrassing to come to terms with.
“Okay, okay… You’re not wrong there. That’s only because I have places to be, though. I only have so much time to stick around, and we went over that!” He said exasperatingly, hoping that his honesty would let him off the hook.
“Then there’s no time to waste!” Vodyanitsa exclaimed instantly, taking a step closer. “You really should’ve thought this through before coming to see me!”
So, while that response did get him excused for his hesitance, that only gave Vodyanitsa bolder ideas. Neither he nor the scarf was spared a single second to protest before the girl came rushing his way and getting a hold of his wrist, continuing onward towards the ledge and dragging him along.
“W–Wait!” Mitya yelped, but it was only a matter of time until he was sent plummeting through the air of the cavern’s pit.
What he failed to mention prior was that using his Stellar Linchpin would’ve been the more practical way around this…
He instinctively closed his eyes to block out the harsh winds that threatened to dry them out, his priorities in disarray regardless of the given circumstances.
What in the world was Vodyanitsa thinking, hurling the both of them off a cliff like that? Never mind his safety, but wouldn't bringing him down in this fashion be more of a hindrance on her part? Talk about taking an initiative…
On his end, he figured it’d be best to stick to the original plan and bring them both safely to the ground. However, hadn’t been able to utilize his elemental powers before he felt Vodyanitsa's grasp slip loose from his wrist.
The realization of that loss caused him to turn around in a panic, uncertain of how Vodyanitsa was faring. If she’d somehow thrown herself in harm’s way, Mitya wouldn’t know what to think if he couldn’t step in to prevent further trouble.
He turned around to catch a glimpse of her, hoping he’d be able to still have enough of an opening for an efficient landing. Yet, apparently, all of this had gone according to Vodyanitsa’s grand plan of saving the day herself…
The descent came to a sudden halt as soon as Mitya felt the support of her hands on the underside of his legs and back. The water imp caught sight of the staggered look on his face, and watching her eyes exchange a glance with his own only made the scientist’s cheeks feel more flushed.
“Hehe, I got you again, didn’t I?” Vodyanitsa gloated. “It’s not like I’d let anything happen! I practice here daily, remember?” she reminded the boy with a smile.
The scientist struggled to summon the means to say anything in reply, and that was out of line, even for him… He hadn’t really taken into mind just how long he’d been silent up until the moment he blinked, with that scarf of his waving its hand in front of his view.
Now that he was back to reality, Mitya just realized they’d only been suspended a meager few inches above the ground that would’ve otherwise been a rough landing if it weren’t for Vodyanitsa.
“Wow, you really are speechless, aren’t you…” The nymph hummed contentedly, just barely hiding the smug satisfaction that was already evident with that calculating sparkle in her eyes.
“If you’re impressed by this,” she said, bringing the finned tips of her tail up closer to his field of vision, “just wait until you hear what I’ve been rehearsing!”
Not a word dared to come out of his mouth despite his efforts. By the time he’d regained any of his senses, Vodyanitsa had already lowered herself to let him get on his feet and went ahead to get to her makeshift stage.
None of the relentless pestering from Mitya’s sapient companion could stop him from staring off into the distance, awestruck by how effortlessly she always goes about things. It was funny, thinking about how Vodyanitsa can implement this much glamour into even the most mundane aspects of daily life.
Watching as she had returned to her human form and skipped through the thin waters beneath their feet, the scientist had hardly moved a spot, not even phased by the nudges from his scarf that only got progressively assertive.
Never would Mitya have figured he’d be able to see her off the stage as frequently as he had been recently. From evading conversational landmines over misconceptions at Podvorye Restaurant to arranged get-togethers like this, he was reminded of just how much everything between the two of them had been changing.
Well, not everything was different, of course. There were a handful of things that had stayed the same, such as the outspoken demands Vodyanitsa gave out when it came to getting things her way…
“Hey, I hope you don’t need me to bring you the whole way there!” She shouted from across the cavern’s passage. “It’s not far off, so come on!”
In spite of her “sternness,” Vodyanitsa still cracked a smile before turning back to continue on with Mitya lagging behind. He felt a smile creep across his face, too. Just sharing that excitement with her finally allowed the scientist to get a hold of himself and run after her.
“I don’t think I’ve ever gotten around to saying this,” he said between the short breaths of jogging, “but this place is absolutely beautiful.”
“Hehe, thank you! Restoring it was no easy feat, so I’m glad you’re putting in the time to really take it in,” replied Vodyanitsa, who notably added more of a pep to her step.
As Mitya got closer, he progressively slowed down to regulate his pace, aligning it with hers as best he could. As they continued onward side by side, the scientist turned his head to get a look at the girl to his left.
“I mean, why wouldn't I? He whispered. “The sight is enough to leave me breathless."
While the compliment prior was sincere, the scientist was no longer focused on the scenery around them anymore. Mitya was completely smitten, and the smile on his face was just as soft as the look in his eyes as he was lost in admiration for the one who stood beside him.
Vodyanitsa fixed her gaze on him in return, a moment of hesitance lingering before her lips curved up, too.
“I would only hope you think so,” she giggled.
The girl perked up as she came to the realization of what they both came here for, suddenly grabbing at the hems of Mitya’s sleeves and stepping in front to face him.
“But stay here!” She urged, gently tugging at the fabric in her grip. “I’m about to show you something just as great!”
Mitya didn’t even get the chance to nod back at her before the excitable nymph donned her other form once more and glided through the air as if it were the ocean’s depths, seamlessly somersaulting into the waters of her shell with a graceful splash.
Vodyanitsa resurfaced with a look of triumph before lifting a hand to the mic on her chest and looking to Mitya for approval, to which the scientist chuckled to himself in response. Archons, he’d never get tired of all the tricks this girl seemed to always have up her sleeves… Unanimously, both Mitya and his scarf gave Vodyanitsa the “okay” gesture, waiting patiently for her next move.
Flashing a wide grin his way, Vodyanitsa relaxed her body and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, and lifted her free hand forth as a melody poured out from what felt to be her very being.
The sound of her voice echoed all throughout the cave’s interior, and those gentle melodies she carried still managed to feel more powerful than ever. Whether it was from this hymn rebounding off the surrounding stone walls, or… Something else, Mitya couldn't help but feel as if the experience shook him to his core.
Having lived through this countless times already, he didn’t think he’d find it to leave this kind of impact. He was already an avid visitor to the theater, of course. In fact, he could recall just about every time he walked through the doors of Korolevskiy, getting himself seated in the front rows to each show whenever the opportunity presented itself.
It wasn’t just any other visit to the theater, though. This time, he’d been presented with a song he hadn’t yet heard before, and the star of the show left no one else in the audience to treasure this but him.
As surreal as it felt to even think, this performance would be a moment in time that would only be shared between the two of them, and them alone.
Just the sheer idea of it all brought forth a wave of emotions that came crashing over Mitya, a flurry of memories were brought back by the serenade’s resonance. And even in the face of feeling everything rushing throughout him all at once, the feeling that lingered was a sense of serenity that washed away the chronic restlessness that had been a weight in his subconscious.
Not only that, but a faint remnant of familiarity caused his body to instinctively take a step towards the sound.
He had felt something like this before– being beckoned by the call of a song.
Reliving the experience over again, Mitya felt compelled to make his way even closer. Pushing aside his previous worries about avoiding this problem, he set foot in the surrounding waters without a second thought. Each step was taken with caution, ensuring that no sudden disruption would put an end to this.
The scientist’s pounding heart was silenced by the overlapping seraphic notes that rang throughout the cavern’s enclosure, but that didn’t quell the feeling in his throbbing chest that only grew more powerful with every bit of distance he dispelled between the two.
It was just like that night at the theatre. The night when he had lost his sense of self, only to have his clarity restored by the company of a voice that had guided him the way through the blinding white of that never-ending winter.
Mitya’s experience from his time in the theatre had been reduced to a fickle memory, diluted by the grand scheme of all the things that have been said and done at the hands of that “Grim Reaper.” But now, relishing in the benevolence of the fae in front of him, Mitya was reminded of just one of the countless reasons why Vodyanitsa had his heart.
He had just advanced the last few inches of the way up to that large fluorescent shell, stopping directly at the base. From here, the Prima Soprano's projection sent a shudder running down his back. There was something so vexing about the way her singing had this effect on him.
Every chance he had at hearing her always left him with the small desire to listen to it forever, regardless of how naive of a dream he knew that was.
Ironically enough, the song had ended before Mitya knew it, coming to a close with the gradual quietness that settled in after Vodyanitsa’s final notes. The nymph opened her eyes, immediately knowing to look down from her shell rather than catch him in the vacant space where she last saw that scientist stood, catching him by surprise.
“I told you to watch from a distance, didn’t I?” She wondered aloud, surprised by the amount of ground he’d made the choice of covering just to see her up close. “As much as I’d love for people to have a better look at me perform, I know the volume gets a little out of hand for others here…”
Mitya only looked to his scarf, who was wagging a finger in the air to reprimand his impulsive decision of “going against” Vodyanitsa’s request. He sheepishly chortled with a guilty shrug of his shoulders as he returned his attention to the water imp, knowing he was left helpless when it came to a force like her.
“Never mind that,” she sighed. “Now that you’re here, come and sit with me!”
The sudden request managed to catch Mitya even more off guard, which was odd considering how eventful his stay here had been the very second he set foot by the entrance of Tidesong Cavern. Just thinking of climbing his way up that dampened surface made him antsy, but it wouldn’t have been anywhere near the worst of what he’s experienced in this lifetime.
“If you really insist, Miss Vodyanitsa,” Mitya agreed, not being able to refuse such an invitation.
With the help of his scarf, he propped himself atop the ledge of the conch, Vodyanitsa lending him a hand to pull the scientist up. Carefully, he got himself seated, his legs crossed over one another as he used an arm as support to lean on for precaution.
Observing as Mitya got in place more comfortably, the fae swam closer, positioning both elbows atop the shell’s ledge and resting her head in each of her hands. She looked up at Mitya with that smile that never seemed to waver.
“At least now you decide to listen,” the water imp taunted, tilting her head at the boy who just couldn't seem to make up his mind today. “You were pretty worried about heading back with your clothes all soaked, and yet you trudged through that body of water the second I told you to stay put!”
With the ends of his trousers now damp with the water that seeped into the cloth, Mitya broke into a grin, indifferent towards the predicament at hand.
“It’s as they say, Miss Vodyanitsa,” he began. “Your voice really does tend to pull others in.”
Not willing to give in to his attempts at flirting, the nymph let out a huff and flicked a few specks of water his way. Much too busy, Mitya hadn’t even tried to deflect it, wiping the droplets off his face with a rub of his sleeve.
“Nice try,” Vodyanitsa managed through giggles, “but that’s obviously out of the question!”
The scientist sighed hopelessly, with lighthearted laughter following suit. He looked to the side, having already known how hard it was to please this girl. He expected to get a funny look from her by the time he’d turned back, but the nymph was now seen tracing a circle on the edge of the shell.
Mitya paused, unsure of what to do for a moment. Moments like these were rare when it came to the eccentric personality of the girl who had always been bearing a light, shining wherever she walked.
“Is something the matter?” He asked, slightly leaning forward from where he sat.
Vodyanitsa looked up, her eyes slightly widened in shock. Perhaps she hadn't expected her subtle moping to catch his attention, because just this once, it wasn’t exactly for show.
“No, not at all,” she clarified for the scientist. “It’s just— all the others have been busy lately, and I’ve been looking forward to spending time with someone like this for a while.”
Fidgeting with the wet ends of her curled hair, she gave Mitya a soothing smile to let him know that this was no huge ordeal.
“I’m glad it just happened to be you,” the fae said in a hushed breath. “And you really didn’t let me down this time!”
The boy wasn’t entirely sure if he was meant to feel flattered or ashamed. Afraid to find out the answer, he tested his luck with a tease.
“This time?” he questioned playfully.
There it was, that “funny look” he expected to receive earlier. For some reason, it felt worse to be stared down after asking a question like that. Had he actually managed to mess up somewhere?
“Come on, I couldn't possibly be that bad, right? The first and last time I ever did such a thing only happened because of forces out of my control,” he reasoned, recalling their encounter with Death.
It might not have been the best idea to joke around about things like that, so he hadn’t even bothered specifying. And yet, he felt that one of the worst things that had happened to come out of that eventful week was the fact that he’d seemed to have forgotten the songs Vodyanitsa performed before their first meeting at the diner…
Regardless, the water imp caught the hint, seeing clearly the sincerity written all over his person.
“Hehe, I guess that’s one way to put it,” she admitted. “But I’m not too sure about that being the first…”
Mitya only gave the girl a perplexed expression, raising a brow as he awaited an explanation as to what she meant. He was genuinely curious as to where he might've gone wrong and let it slip unintentionally, hoping that he could still make amends for it somehow.
“What’s that face for? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about all the times you’ve had to turn down our discussions beforehand, too!” Vodyanitsa complained in a joking manner.
Mitya’s head drooped as the scarf resumed a scratching motion against an area of his hair, messing with the already unkempt locks of lavender.
“Well, I thought we’d already gone over the issue that day we finally landed a successful get-together,” he answered meekly. “I haven’t failed a single one of your surprise questionnaires since then!”
The nymph lowered her head, bringing a hand to the bottom of her chin as she contemplated the credibility of Mitya’s answer.
“Hmm… That does sound about right,” the girl concluded, staring back at the nervous pair of eyes (and strip of sentient fabric) in front of her.
The scientist's tense shoulders relaxed as he caught wind of the reply that alleviated his worries. Mitya knew being right alone wasn’t enough to eliminate Vodyanitsa’s own woes. Like in any other situation, he’d need to ensure the elimination of all doubt.
“See?” He whispered. “I haven’t forgotten a piece since, and I won't let anything of the sort happen again,” Mitya affirmed tenderly, his voice still steady with the determination all the same.
The tables turned on the fae, who looked at him with widened eyes. Now, she was the one driven speechless. Vodyanitsa hadn’t meant for the conversation to take this turn, but… The nymph had never seen Mitya like this before, so she was deterred from letting this end here.
“I mean it, really,” Mitya continued, oblivious to Vodyanitsa’s gaping. “I don’t keep track of them just to pass your little games nowadays, or anything… I cherish every performance of yours because I’m moved by each one.”
“As embarrassing as it is to admit,” he coughed, “it hadn’t always been this way for me, but I’m sure you knew.”
The water imp stayed quiet, recalling the early days of his visits to the Korolevskiy. He hardly used to stop and say hello to the staff in the same way he did these days. Let alone lift his head from his notes, which he hardly tries in current times…
It was hard to fathom that right now, she’d been staring at the very same man she’d gossip to Odette about— the very same man that she’d never be able to catch a glimpse of outside the theatre— was now the one pouring his heart out for her.
“I would originally just stop by now and then for sources of inspiration. The usual,” his eyes were half-lidded as he looked down.
“Back then, though… The performances would pass me by, slipping through my fingers while they were still playing out,” the scientist explained with a twang of guilt.
“Not because they weren’t anything notable, but… I would always be in a haze, trying to get out as much work as I could,” taking a deep breath, Mitya continued to make sense of how he felt, regardless of the slight embarrassment that left him unsure if this was the right thing to do.
“It actually took me some time to come around from those habits and instead take the time to appreciate the work, let alone the things that go unseen behind the curtains…” He said with a small shake of his head. “Even then, Odette and the others still don’t feel quite convinced when it comes to receiving my full attention.”
It was no surprise, anyhow. The scientist had always kept his head buried in the pages of his notebook, making it hard to believe that he’d ever acknowledge the details of what happened on stage. Even Vodyanitsa thought so.
It may not have been as serious to her as she made it look with her jokes and all, but that didn’t change the fact that Mitya was set on taking in as much as he could.
“The unfortunate thing is the speculation isn’t very far from the truth. I can only keep my eyes peeled for so long before diving back into what I have to prioritize.”
The scientist paused, feeling as if his heart skipped a beat when he realized how long his tangent had been going on. He most likely would’ve kept going on and on if it weren’t for that patient look written all over the water imp’s face, her eyes sparkling in anticipation to hear more.
Vodyanitsa had listened to all sorts of explanations and elaborations that had slipped out of his mouth time and time again in times prior, except… This was no conversation about his field of expertise. Reminding himself of the extent of how he’d been rambling about his past grievances in front of someone like her made Mitya all tongue-tied, nearly letting the main point escape him.
A small nudge from his scarf reminded the boy that he still had someone listening in. Mitya cleared his throat as a brief recovery.
“All of that is why I enjoy your shows so greatly,” Mitya professed, fidgeting with the golden rims of his chest piece. “While your visuals leave me in awe, I think highly of the way your voice is the key to conveying everything there is to know about the stories you carry through song…”
“Up until I first got to witness your spectacles, I hadn’t found many shows that were easy to keep track of on top of all the work in my hands,” he sighed, imagining himself in the theater seats with his pen and papers resting on his lap.
The stories behind each song had no need to be accommodated by any depictions, and that enabled his visits to the theater to be more fulfilling than they were before… Not only had he been able to get an actual grasp on the depth of those tales in the midst of his duties, but the inspiration Mitya had been seeking out had always hit him the strongest whenever it was Vodyanitsa’s voice that fell upon his ears.
Vodyanitsa inched even closer, her upper body practically out of the water. Tucking a slicked curl of hair aside, she gave Mitya a small smile, hoping to hear just a little more of what he’d been keeping from her all this time.
“You really saved me, Vodyanitsa,” the scientist said under his breath, knowing that the two of them were close enough for the faintest of whispers to be heard.
“Not just from that stormy night at the theater, but in so many more ways than you know," he cooed. "Even before I’d even figured it out,” that gentle murmur was the last thing Mitya was able to get across before he was hushed by the loving gesture of a peck on his cheek.
Vodyanitsa backed away with sparkles dancing in her eyes, her lips just barely parted from the shock that coursed throughout her body. Likewise, Mitya had to have felt it, too. The heart that beat profoundly in his chest was threatening to burst out the longer the two kept their gaze locked on one another.
“Who knew you had such a way with words, Mitya?” Being the first to break free from the spell, the nymph cracked a smile with rosy cheeks.
“Well, in return for all I’ve done, do you think you could do me the favor of getting in here to blow some bubbles with me?” She asked teasingly, refusing to swallow her pride despite everything that’s been shared between the two of them.
Mitya blinked, not expecting such a forward response. That didn't happen to affect much, though. Anything Vodyanitsa were to ask of him, he would gladly oblige.
“I don't know about the bubbles, but…” he trailed off, remembering all that waited for him back at the research facility.
“I guess my job could be put on hold for a little while longer,” he smirked, already dragging the coat off his shoulders.
Vodyanitsa beamed, a grin widening from ear to ear. She’d only half-expected the scientist to play along, but in truth, she couldn't be any happier with the decision he made just now.
Ignoring the scarf’s obvious dismay at the news, Mitya placed his cloak to the side, rolling up the sleeves of his white button-down. Turning around to lazily kick off his boots and socks, he tilted his head back to look at Vodyanitsa from his periphery.
“What am I gonna tell them when I come back? That I got dragged into the sea, or something?” He laughed, attempting to pass off his underlying worries through jokes.
“Something like that,” the water imp giggled. “If you really don’t want to deal with that mess, you can back out if you want! I know you have things to do,” she offered, giving him one last chance to opt out.
It was a surprise to see Vodyanitsa refraining from the use of her usual antics to make him stick around. The choice of backing out now wasn’t an option for the scientist, however. He had already rotated back to face her, a smug expression written all over him.
“No, no need! That’s a problem I won’t have to resolve until later,” he joked as he adjusted the jabot collar around his neck.
Vodyanitsa hesitated, her demeanor eventually becoming more relaxed as she accepted Mitya's choice. She reached a hand out to him, beckoning for him to take it.
No further words were needed, for what the two desired in this little sliver of time together was so incredibly simple…
Mitya extended a hand out all the same, letting their fingers intertwine as he was guided closer.
Playful laughter filled the air as they both went to the deeper end, the love between them now emitting a song of its own.
The freezing waters felt like light needles to his skin each second he allowed himself to remain submerged, and yet, the sensation didn't linger for much longer as Vodyanitsa pulled him into a warm embrace.
Wrapping their arms around one another, they remained in a time and space where the outside world would simply have to wait.