"I guess so." Archie glanced upwards. They were not too deep under the Bering Sea--just a few miles offshore, after the drop of the continental shelf. So, it was just barely visible.

Monty followed his gaze after a moment, then sort of crossed his arms over his chest. "How many...umm....mates have you had?" It was a strange question for him to ask, because he'd never had a permanent one.

Archie knew it was unintentional, since he didn't know, but a wave of pure sadness and grief washed over his face, and he looked down at his tail morosely. "One."

Monty froze, sort of staring at him. "Oh..." He instantly wanted to die....what had he done?

Archie suddenly couldn't stop the words, since they wanted so badly to flood out of his mouth. "I met him three months ago," he murmured, eyes still fixed on his tail. "I loved him. I'd never loved anyone that way in my entire life. He was someone I could be completely honest with...a few weeks ago...he was pulled up by a human ship, in one of their fishing nets."

He said nothing more, since his breath had caught in his throat. A side-effect of trying not to cry.

Monty felt retched....the lowest of the low. He couldn't even say anything, he felt so awful that he'd dug all this up. But, he knew that he had to get it out. He suddenly wrapped his arms around him tightly, not going to let go no matter how hard he tried to get away. "I'm sorry..." His words came from the heart as he held him.

Archie blinked, a bit surprised by the sudden hug, but he didn't try to pull away. Instead, he curled up tightly in his arms, nestling his head on his shoulder comfortably. He was clinging, and now allowing a few stray tears to leak out of his eyes and float up towards the surface. His arms were shaking a bit.

Monty didn't move really, just held him. He didn't know how to make him feel better....not in the least. But...sometimes when he was feeling bad he'd wished he had someone to hold him. So, he was trying it out.

It took a few minutes for Archie to calm down. His arms gradually began to still, and the tears came to a halt. He was breathing in a synchronized manner. Being held seemed to have done the trick for him.

Monty slowly relaxed a little when Archie seemed to. "....do you feel any better?"

"Yeah..." Archie replied softly, his voice barely a whisper. He seemed much more relaxed and less jumpy than he had been since they had all met him.

Monty sighed softly and just held him. "I'm glad to hear that I'm useful."

Archie didn't know what to say to that, so he only snuggled a little closer, closing his eyes. He seemed happy and relaxed...

Monty just smiled a little and gently rubbed his arm a little.

Archie, not too used to being touched like that, blushed, his cheeks tingeing slightly pink. It was a rather adorable sight.

Monty could stop staring at that moment, it surprised him. He smiled a little, thinking it was pretty adorable.

Archie was staring down, at his tail, once more. It seemed to be his defense, of sorts, when he was embarrassed--he would drop his eyes down to his tail.

Monty couldn't help but chuckle slightly. "I'm sorry. Didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"Oh! Um...you don't need to be sorry..." Archie assured him, lifting his eyes. There were still hints of a blush in his cheeks, but it had vanished for the most part.

Monty shook his head slightly, trying to hide a grin. "I embarrased you...didn't I?"

Archie shook his head, frowning. "No...no, it's fine..." His eyes dropped down to his tail again, suddenly very interested in his bluish scales, which shone in the slight sunlight their semi-shallow home offered.

Monty just grinned slightly, still sort of holding him, which he didn't even notice. "So...its ok then?"

Archie blinked, tilting his head slightly. "...Yes?" he answered, unsurely. He wasn't quite sure what sort of question he was answering, in truth. He just knew that he still wanted to be held...

Monty smiled and tightened his arms for a momont to give him a hug. "Thanks."

"You're welcome..." Archie hesitantly rested his head on Monty's shoulders, smiling. He was comfortable being held like this...