"There's a reason we have gills," Allyn grumbled. But he grumbled a lot, so that was kind of normal.

"If we weren't meant to be able to survive in both places, we wouldn't be able to change form," Primrose pointed out. She grinned a bit. "Although we might have to find you something to wear outside of the tank. Humans still have this thing about covering the body."

"Yeah, I've noticed." Allyn's lips twitched in a grin. "You missed it yesterday while you were napping. A small child tried to disrobe, and his parents looked horribly embarrassed."

Primrose snickered.

"I'll bet," she said. "Although small children are forgiven for it more easily than anyone else."

"So I've gathered." Allyn shrugged. "But yes, we will have to find something suitable for me to use. Perhaps a towel."

"I know where they're kept," Primrose replied. "I can get them, once we're out."

Allyn nodded his agreement of that. "Well then, once the aquarium has been closed for the night."

Primrose nodded.

"I know the guy who comes on for security after dark," she said. "I'll talk to him, see what it would take for him to let us out for a bit."

Allyn nodded and remained quiet until after the exhibits closed and all the tourists were gone.

As it turned out, though, the director came to see them first.

Primrose noticed the director. She hadn't expected him to show up. Curious, she went up to the surface so they could talk properly.

"Primrose." The director looked down at her, sitting near the edge. "It doesn't feel right to make you stay here at night, I've known you for too long to do that. So you can go home."

Primrose raised an eyebrow.

"That's the deciding factor?" she asked, leaning on the edge of the tank with her arms. "That you've known me longer?" She looked at him. "What about Allyn? It's not right just to let one of us out to wander. He's not like some common fish or something."

"I know I can trust you," the director explained. "I know you won't just run off and leave. You wouldn't do that. Him, I have no idea. He probably would try it."

"What if I kept him with me?" Primrose asked. "It isn't fair to keep him cooped up like this. I've been in here four days and I'm already stir crazy, I can't imagine what being in longer would do."

The director's eyebrows shot up. "You'd be willing to keep him with you?" he asked, looking speculative.

"Why not?" Primrose asked. "Back... under the surface, it would be a privilege to host someone like him, for as long as he needed to stay."

The director looked at her for a few moments before he nodded. "Very well. We'll try it tonight and see how it works out."

Primrose smiled a bit.

"Thanks," she said. "Can I please have someone bring us towels? We're going to need them until I can find us clothes."

The director nodded and motioned to one of the security people. "I know you want to help him, but don't just let him run off," he said quietly. "Don't make me regret this."

Primrose looked at him, and then nodded.

"Alright," she said.

The director nodded and moved away as the guard came back over with a couple towels, setting them to the side so the two could get to them.

Once Primrose was certain they would be allowed out of the tank, she went back down to get Allyn.

"Come on," she said. "We're allowed to get out for the night. We may as well head back to my place, we just have to be back by opening tomorrow."

Allyn blinked. Twice. Then he nodded and swam up to the top, getting out of the tank. He grabbed a towel as an afterthought, blinking to adjust from not having saltwater in his eyes.

By the time Allyn was climbing out of the tank, Primrose was already on her feet and wrapping a towel around her waist.

"I'll call Lilac and see if she'll give us a ride," she said.

Allyn nodded, content to walk around a bit while they waited.

Lilac picked up on the third ring. "'Lo?" She hadn't looked at the caller ID.