"I'm not all that fond of crabmeat," Glory admitted. "Never have been. I know what the crabbers go through to catch those crab, though. It's considered the most dangerous job in the world, especially the winter season."

"Most humans think that they're the only sentient beings, I think," Glory said. She grinned when he asked if she could carry him. "I got you in here, didn't I? I think I can get you back outside."

"The sand is softer now that it's dry again," Glory teased. At his look, she grinned. "Nah, I remember. It's all good." Carefully, she lifted him from the tub, being careful of his cuts. Then she gradually made her way outside, making sure not to trip or stumble on anything that would make her drop him. "Where do you want me to put you?"

"Alright," Glory replied. Carefully, she made her way to the water. Wading a foot or two in, she put him down as gently as she could. "There."

Léan jumped a bit--the water stung a tad, as he had predicted, but he swam out a bit deeper, thankfully allowing his tail scales to regain their bluish sheen.

For a moment, he regained his bearings, diving up and under, looking content. Then, while he was underwater...

...something tackled him, out of nowhere.

There was a lot of strange chittering and chirping before both Léan and Archie resurfaced from the water--Léan looking grumpy about having the wind knocked out of him and Archie grinning happily. Floating next to each other, they looked exactly the same...creepily, so...but their expressions and demeanors were so vastly different...

Taking off her shorts and shirt, Glory sat in the shallow water in her bathing suit, watching them. The really did look exactly alike... Except for the fact that Léan still had his injuries, she wouldn't have been able to tell them apart. Already, Léan looked happier and more relaxed, and she grinned, happy for him. She wasn't sure why she suddenly felt such affection for him... Mentally shaking herself, she brushed the thought aside.

Archie clung to Léan's waist, burying his face in his neck. "Léan! I missed you..." He grinned. "Didja enojy the get-well fish?"

Léan, unlike his brother, just leaned on Archie instead of lavishing him in attention. "I did, actually. I am surprised you remembered. You do have the memory of a common goldfish, after all..."

Archie pouted, slapping him underwater with his tail. "Hey!" He huffed, folding his arms across his chest. He happened to catch the overly happy look on Glory's face, and his tail swished back and forth with interest, suddenly.

"Hey, Léan...if you wanna meet my mate, he's over on the rocks, perched up," he informed him, pointing to the rock farthest out. Damon had pulled himself up onto it and was basking in the sun, resting.

Léan nodded wordlessly, seeming wary of his brother's strange enthusiasm, and swam off to properly greet Damon.

As soon as he did so, Archie flipped around to face her, a smug and expectant look on his face. He didn't say anything, but the look on his face certainly implied that he thought she was hiding some...ulterior motives.

Glory watched Archie warily.

"I know what look," she said. "You pull me in and I'll fillet you." She wiggled her toes into the sand. "I'm good sitting right here."

Glory raised an eyebrow.

"Define 'thing'," she said. Inside, though, she knew what he was asking. But she'd only known Léan for a few days... That wasn't anywhere near long enough for what Archie was suggesting... Was it?

Glory blushed.

"I don't think what you're suggesting could even work," she pointed out. "Besides, anyone would have..." she trailed off. That wasn't true. NOT anyone would have helped him, not if what Archie said had any truth to it. "It just wouldn't work."

Glory blushed more, speechless. She couldn't believe she was actually having this conversation. This was not how she'd figured her day would go. Actually, three days ago, this isn't how she figured her LIFE would go.

"Isn't that what friends do?" she finally managed to squeak out. Granted, Léan probably didn't really think of her as a friend... It was just a convenient excuse.

"He really didn't talk about anything," Glory replied, relieved at the change of subject. "So I really don't know anything about him. Then again," she added as an afterthought, "he doesn't know much about me, either. Just that I live with Nana, really."

Glory nodded.

"Yeah, he changed the subject a few times... I didn't push too hard about it, though. I figure it's his business, not mine," she said. Absently, she played withthe sand just under the surface of the water, watching it run slowly through her fingers. The sunlight played off of the paint on her nails, making them shine.

"That's terrible..." Glory said softly. "Obviously, what's-her-face wasn't right for him, then. I guess any story I have doesn't really compare to that..." Pulling her knees up to her chest, she wrapped her arms around them. "I don't blame him for not being very sociable. He deserves to be a little bitter after that."

"He was a bitter old man even before that," Archie informed her, amused by that fact. "He just got worse after that. He rarely even smiles anymore..."

He stretched a bit. "And yet, after all that, he seems to trust you. A human and female, no less--the kind of human he hates the most, because of his experience. That really should say something."

He glanced over at his brother, who was now sitting alone on the rock as Damon swam along below him.

Léan had his arms wrapped around himself, and was staring off into the distance, absently. He always seemed to look lonely, for some reason...

Glory watched Léan. He looked lonely... Standing up, she waded deeper into the water, until it was deep enough that she could go from walking to swimming. Then she started to make her way to the rock where he was sitting.

"You look like you need me to bother you for a bit," she said as she pulled herself carefully up the rock, offering a bit of company.