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 Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 11:39 am
"Most of us can," replied Katalina amiably, unsurprised by his question. She'd been wondering when it would occur to him. "As to how we learned it, well...There's an old legend that once, there was a mermaid that fell in love with a human sailor. She mentally connected to him - you know, how Lucian and I did with you - so that she could speak to him. Over time, she learned his language through his thoughts and taught it to her clan. The children that left for other clans - because of unions and such things - taught their new clans, and eventually all clans knew it." She smiled a little. "It's a pretty story, even if it doesn't have a pretty ending - eventually he dies, of course, and so she kills herself to be with him. The truth is probably far more prosaic - we picked it up from listening to sailors or something."
She shrugged a little. "I believe there are still one or two clans far out in the open ocean who don't speak any human tongue, but that's because they don't want to rather than because they can't."
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 12:32 pm
 Joshua had to wonder why it hadn't occurred to him that all the merfolk he'd met could speak english. Maybe it just because they seemed so human most of the time. "That is a neat little story. You'd be amazed how many stories there are about humans and mermaids. Enough of them that tales of mermaids are still floating around, even in our 'science' culture." He made a face at the idea of a science culture. Too much science, logic, and facts with not enough belief. He shook his head to clear it, then grinned. "And yes, I said mermaids cause pretty much all of the tales feature only mermaids not mermen." 
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 12:49 pm
"Considering that most sailors are men, I'm not surprised," replied Katalina laughingly. "Boys will be boys, as I heard one female passenger say once." She tilted her head a little and then asked quietly, "Could you tell me one? I'd like to know what most humans think of mermaids these days."
She looked up at the sky and realized with some consternation that they'd been out here working languages for quite a while. She'd meant to go to the Sirens' cave and check on Narcis - because he hadn't been a hundred percent when he'd gone home, and Riiya...
She shook her head, and returned her attention to Joshua. She'd go after the boy got tired. Or she'd bring him with her. Whatever. She didn't think he'd want to go, but it was always worth making sure.
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 12:59 pm
Joshua blushed when Katalina asked for one of the stories. Several of the ones he'd heard weren't very appropriate. Searching his mind, he found a different one that would do. Sure, The Little Mermaid was a child's tale but it was probably the most famous one. "Alright. I'm going to shorten it as the full version is an entire novel." He took a deep breath and started telling the tale. "The story begins deep in the sea, focusing on a young mermaid. She's the youngest daughter of the king, wanting to go and explore the forbidden surface. The place is such a mystery to her. One day...."
He finished the story in about half-hour. It wasn't bad for condensing a full-length novel that had also been a movie. "That's about the most common mermaid story. It's usually considered a child's fairy tale. What'd you think?" Joshua was curious as to what she thought. He'd always wondered what the merfolk would think if they knew some of the tales told about them.
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 1:28 pm
Katalina had been listening silently while he told her, then she grinned. "She sounds like Nezik," she observed. "Except for the whole romance thing, I mean." She could easily have believed in the part about the little mergirl, and it amused her a bit. "She could be one of our more impulsive young ones, certainly," she mused. "Although all that stuff about a king is just silly. Perhaps the youngest of the leader of her clan?"
Shaking her head a little, she laughed and said, "A lot of the details are off, but they certainly got the personality right. I could believe there was such a child somewhere."
Then her gaze flicked to the sky. "Oh, right. Joshua, I need to...that is, well. I...um. I need to go check on Narcis. I'm a little worried about Riiya. Did you...did you want to come along? You don't have to," she added quickly, remembering his reaction to them the first time. "I shouldn't be gone all that long."
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 1:41 pm
Joshua was surprised to hear her say that the young mermaid was well portrayed. "They probably didn't know that the proper term would be leader. In older human countries, the leader is called the king."
He followed Katalina's gaze to the sky, noting how much time had passed. 'It didn't seem that long. I guess it's true, time flies when you're having fun.' He glanced at the mermaid, hearing her offer. He shook his head, smiling. "Thanks, but no. Riiya.....Well, to be honest, she scares me. I'll just wait here."
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 1:51 pm
"No, I guess they wouldn't," murmured Katalina absently. "I guess they wouldn't. Who would they ask, after all?"
She wasn't surprised when Joshua refused to come with her. "All right," she replied. "If you're sure. I think I could head Riiya off with Narcis's help, but..." She trailed off, not sure how to say that she didn't know if she would have Narcis's help. That was why she had to check on him. "Well, I'll be back real soon. Then we can work on the language a bit more." She was reluctant to leave Joshua by himself, for some strange reason - he'd obviously be fine.
And she had enough of a headache to deal with, if she had to get through Riiya.
Smiling at him briefly, she turned away, towards the Sirens' cave.
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 1:57 pm
Joshua shook his head. "You go check on Narcis. I'd rather avoid Riiya." He waved, watching her turn away. When she was out of sight, he stood and brushed sand from his clothes. The beach was suddenly quiet. It felt emptier than it had in a long time. The teen shook his head at his folly. 'Before I relished the quiet here. Now, the quiet seems almost eerie. With everyone that has come and gone recently, this place seemed much more active. Now, not sure much.' Shrugging to himself, Joshua headed back to the main section of beach to look for something to occupy himself.
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 3:31 pm
((OOC: Lol. Long post. Sorry.))
Without Joshua coming along, Katalina's speed was much increased. She didn't like to think so, but she knew it was true. It had taken them nearly three hours to get to the Sirens' cave before. It took her just under an hour when she was alone.
She entered without bothering to make herself known. They would know she was here. "I assume Narcis reached you?" she asked quietly once Riiya entered the slim tunnel outside the cavern itself.
"Indeed he has," replied Riiya, a snap of temper coming into her eyes. "Is it not enough, cousin, that your clan wishes to take him away from us as they took away Aura? That he spends all his time fixing your mistakes? Must you come here, too?"
Katalina blinked, taken aback. Had Narcis told Riiya of her father's request? She hadn't thought - she had never considered the effect that that would have on Riiya. That either of the two Sirens he lived with might care for him. She had assumed it was just a matter of fulfilling their culture. How had she not thought of this?
"I don't want to take him away, Riiya," she said quietly. "I don't know who you spoke to, but they clearly didn't tell you everything. He said no, as did I. They can't make him do it. His choices are his own."
A soft splash caught her attention. Riiya, too, glanced around.
Narcis entered the tunnel. Katalina knew immediately that he had mostly recovered - a lot of his old grace was back. He placed a hand lightly on Riiya's shoulder. Katalina glanced away as - she assumed - he spoke to the other Siren. Telepathically, it must have been, as after a moment Riiya simply turned away and returned to the cavern.
"Cousin," he said softly, addressing Katalina. "I'm sorry about that. Riiya and Korai were not pleased to see me come back that way."
"Did you know?" she asked. "Did you know how she felt?"
"I did," he replied after a moment. "She understands that it can't be that way between us." He looked tired still. "Still, she would rather I didn't leave, nor unite with you. You know how our cultures differ."
She did. If a union did take place, Narcis would have to leave Riiya and Korai behind. Merfolk didn't believe in such things. She understood Riiya's animosity towards her far better now. "Yes, I know," she replied quietly. "I just came by to be sure that you were all right - we were a little worried about you."
Narcis smiled faintly. "Well, as you see, I'm all right," he said reassuringly. "I'll come visit you and your friend soon, I promise."
Katalina smiled back, a little, and nodded. "I'll see you. Later. I should probably go back," she added. At his mute nod, she shifted back, hesitated, and added, "Tell Riiya I'm sorry. I didn't know."
Then she went out of the tunnel and started back towards the cove, taking a whole host of emotions she hadn't had before. As she drew in view of the beach, probably having been gone not more than a few hours, she shook her head.
She had a lot to think about.
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 4:14 pm
Joshua spent the time cleaning up around camp. He didn't necessarily like cleaning, but it kept him busy. Before too long though, the camp was spotless and Katalina had yet to return. Propping his hands on his hips, the teen looked around camp. He glanced over his shoulder, looking at the waters. It was then he recalled that he'd left the notebook on the sands of the crescent. Trotting over, he picked up the book before heading back to camp.
He set up a hammock between two trees and settled himself in. Joshua flipped through the pages, making notes here, adding diagrams there. He paused on the page that was Katalina's name written in his smooth letters then in the mermaid's childish writing. 'It's an odd thought, merfolk writing.' He looked at the page for another moment before flipping to the next one. There, the teen continued his sea-creature log. He worked on it until the shadows were long.
Tucking the pencil behind his ear, Joshua closed his eyes and relaxed, waiting for Katalina to return. He knew it had taken them quite awhile to get there before, but that was with him. He had no illusions, knowing he slowed Katalina down quite a bit. His mind drifted, jumping from one topic to another. He folded his hands behind his head, swinging lightly in the hammock.
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 4:33 pm
Katalina came in towards the beach. It took her a few minutes to spot Joshua, but spot him she eventually did. Smiling a little, she looked at the hammock. It looked like he was asleep, although she couldn't be sure - it was possible he was just thinking. Possible he was working things over in his mind.
Cheerfully, she said, Hey, sunshine. You awake?
Coming as close to the beach as prudence allowed, she waited to see if he had heard her. If not, he was probably asleep and she would go. Brood about this whole thing on her own.
She wondered how much Joshua had pieced together of the differences in the ocean world.
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 4:40 pm
Joshua jumped at the sound of Katalina's voice. Twisting around to look for her, he only succeeded in dumping himself from the hammock. He sat up and glared at the hammock as if it was the things fault. With a flash, he recalled why he'd jumped like that and spun to look at the water. Spotting Katalina, he grinned and waved. He stood and trotted out to the sandy arm of the crescent. The edge there dropped off sharply, making it fairly deep almost right to the edge. "How was Narcis? Was he okay?" Joshua called out to the mermaid. As much as he didn't really care for the siren, it didn't mean he wanted Narcis to be hurt. Especially since Joshua had helped cause the issue.
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 5:04 pm
Katalina's eyes lowered a little, and her hands began to twist together even as she floated over to meet him at the deep point of the edge. "Yeah. That is, he seemed a bit tired, but fine otherwise. I...yeah." She trailed off. She didn't really know how to address the issue, particularly since Joshua didn't know anything about it - or so, in her naïveté, she assumed.
She glanced up and offered him a sad little smile. "Everything looks okay."
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 5:09 pm
Joshua frowned, watching Katalina's body language. "Are you sure?" He asked in a quiet voice. "If he's fine, then what's wrong?" He was sure something was wrong - her smile was too sad for it to all be okay like she said. He sat on the ground, debating whether or not to ask. Finally, he sighed and asked, knowing this was probably going to get Nezik in trouble. But he had to know. "Did something happen? With you and Narcis?"
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 5:14 pm
Gaianame: HippieLover255 Name: Katerina Nicknames, if any: Kate Age: 17 Gender: Girl Orientation: UMM, get back to u! Species: Mermaid Personality: (I'm flexible, but try to make it more than just one sentence, and aim for three or more.) Very quiet, knows how to do it and when. History: (At least five sentences.) Kate has always loved humans... everyone trustworthy. She can only trust a few people;mermaids. She is quiet, very shy and she gets seen a lot. She has been captured once, but is sly enough to get away. She needs some friends. She hates asking people, and she can't always make'um. Appearance: (pictures, links, or a good description)  Theme Song: (Optional.) Powers: Abilio (see future, read minds, telipethic, make things apper, wish maker{Uncontrolably})
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