[ deep blue drift ] 1x1

[fern fawn]

[ • Aspen • ]

Aspen had froze up, the absolute worst reaction in that particular situation. She was overwhelmed with worry and guilt. Once the necklace was back around Nora's neck, she closed her eyes for a moment and told herself to calm down. It did little good. Once more swimming to her side, her eyes fixated on the necklace, gently moving it around with her fingers. "I don't know, maybe." She should have realized how loose it was. Partially wrapped around the girl, with her hip near the human's and her tail behind her back, Aspen studied her features, the hint of a frown tugging on her lips. She lifted her hand and trailed them lightly down Nora's cheek. The girl was clearly cold, and surely it wasn't good for her lungs to switch between air and water so many times. "I should bring you back. You shouldn't be here." she spoke softly, her fingers trailing down her neck to rest above the necklace, her eyes following.

[skyprincess]

• Nora •

Nora shook her head and closed her eyes for a few moments. "I can go get my wetsuit. I want to stay here with you." She whispered and frowned a bit. She was never hanging out with friends because she had no friends so she was always lonely. She liked to finally have a friend. She wasn't close with her father and her mother had moved away a bit after Nora was born. Nora lived in a small beach house and didn't have her own room so slept on the couch because she was forced to give up her room to her little sister. "I like you a lot and I never want to leave your side right now." She told her softly before her eyes lit up with the smallest bit of joy.

[fern fawn]

[ • Aspen • ]

Aspen removed her hand, pulling it back to her side. The current caused her to constantly drift away, so every once in awhile, she'd gently stroke her tail to bring her back in place. She couldn't help but smile at Nora's words. "I can show you somewhere warmer." she suggested, lifted a hand to flick back her pale hair. The place she spoke of wasn't exactly warm, but compared to the chill of this water, it would likely feel like it. She glanced up to the choppy surface, then back down to Nora.

[skyprincess]

• Nora •

Nora nodded slightly and grinned. She only showed her teeth when she was extremely happy or someone made her laugh. She had perfect, straight, and sparkling white teeth but she was for some reason embarrassed to show them "I love your hair, it's beautiful." Nora's own hair was still in a messy bun on the top of her head. "I can let down my hair... if you want" She was still tired from swimming but she looked at Aspen and swam closer to her. She smiled without showing her teeth and touched the mermaid's hair softly.

[fern fawn]

[ • Aspen • ]

Aspen once again smiled, shifting her eyes to glance to a few strands of hair that floated out to the side. "Thank you, you're sweet." Personally, she didn't like her hair too much. She loved the styles humans could pull off on land, but out here, all she could do was decide on a length. She returned her attention Nora's hand, watching as she reached out to gently feel her hair. "I'd love to see your hair down. It feels better that way to me in the water."

[fern fawn]

[ • Aspen • ]

She watched as Nora let her hair down, her gaze following it as it splayed out in the open water, drifting slightly with the current. "No, no, it's beautiful!" she assured truthfully, reaching a hand out to run her fingers through it, but the girl was already beginning to put it back up. She gave a slight frown as she listed off two of what Aspen assumed were her insecurities, tilting her head just slightly as she studied her. "Well, whichever you prefer I suppose. As long as you're comfortable with it." Remembering their plans to go somewhere warmer, she extended a hand towards Nora, a soft slime playing on her lips once more. "Shall we?"

[skyprincess]

• Nora •

Nora let her hair down again and smiled. She showed her nearly perfect teeth and took Aspen's hand. "Yes we shall." She smiled a bit more before closing her lips and grinned instead. She let Aspen pull her along and touched a sea turtle along the way. She smiled again and shrieked when she realized there was a dolphin right next to her. "There's a dolphin right next to me. She said with fear in her voice. She's had bad experiences with dolphins so she was terrified of them.

[fern fawn]

[ • Aspen • ]

Aspen smiled as her companion let her hair down, as well as showed her teeth. It seemed like a trusting moment, the girl allowing her to see both the things she had just mentioned. She took Nora's hand in one of her own and began on her way, swimming quicker than she had before. As the human shrieked, she suddently stopped, their momentum slowing, but continued with a small laugh as she realized what it was. "It's okay, they're friendly." The dolphin made a few clicking noises, and Aspen reached her free hand out to gently run her fingers over the creature's skin. "She's probably curious because she's never seen you here before." With a grin, she tightened her grip on Nora's hand and pushed herself to go quicker, the dolphin surfacing for a breath before speeding up to keep pace.

[skyprincess]

• Nora •

Nora was embarrassed. Her face turned red as she held onto Aspen's arm with both hands. "Dolphins scare me. I had a bad first impression on them when I was 12." She murmured and took in a shaky breath. She looked at the dolphin and buried her face into the mermaid's side. She was trembling with fear as the girl went faster. She sighed in relief when she felt warmer water on her skin. The dolphin swam closer to Nora and she tried to swim away. She was terrified. "Make her go away." She squealed.

[fern fawn]

[ • Aspen • ]

Aspen felt terrible for laughing when she realized that this was an actual fear of Nora's. She stopped swimming, and the pair eventually stopped moving altogether. The dolphin continued for a few moments, but circled back around once she realized they had stopped. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't know." She wrapped one arm around the human, narrowing her eyes toward the sea creature. She didn't actually know how to make her go away, never having had the need to. The dolphin swam by them, nudging them with her side along the way. "She's harmless, I promise. She'll leave when she realizes we don't want to play." Aspen bit the inside of her cheek, pulling Nora closer and resting her chin on top of the girl's head. She felt terrible, but she didn't know what to do. They were almost to the location she was going to bring them.