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"...If you don't mind having surprises spoiled, you can watch me work, but..." Léan trailed off slightly. "...I should be done with this one later on, if I hustle."
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Alice held up her hands. "Oh i don't want to ruin it. Take your time. I'll be fine on my own for a while." She smiled. "Go work on your bracelet." She took a few steps back giving him space to go off and work.
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Léan nodded slowly, dipping underwater. He disappeared underneath the rocks in less than a minute. He had left the bag of jewels and charms on a rock near where he was currently working, so they would be safe and he wouldn't forget about them.
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Alice watched him leave and then pushed herself away from the rock to float just like he had taught her. She closed her eyes and just let herself drift in the water, a smile on her face. No wonder Lean liked doing this, it was so calm and quiet and relaxing.
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Léan worked feverishly on the bracelet for hours on end. It didn't take him as long as it had taken him with the other one, though, and before sundown, he was up out of the water again, clutching the finished product behind his back.
He glanced around for her, curiously. He idly wondered if she'd gone inside for the day. |
Alice had floated around and swam for most of the day. She disappeared inside for a short while to get some food, but came back out to swim more. Lean was still away so she swam for a bit more til she got tired. She climbed up on one of the rock and decided to take a nice little afternoon nap. She curled herself up in a ball on the rock. She hoped that she would wake up before Lean showed back up...
...But that didn't happen. |
Léan somehow felt bad, possibly for making her wait. He shifted in the water, and then reached up to lay the new bracelet on the rock where he'd left the cloth bag. It shone in the light, and would probably still shine in the moonlight if she didn't wake up right away...it would be easy to spot alongside the bag.
http://www.1uniquedecorandgifts.com/...4238081404.jpg He figured that since his stomach was complaining at him, he had better find some food. He turned and disappeared into deeper water, off to catch some fish for himself. |
Alice opened her eyes when she thought she heard a splash. IT was right around dusk, the moon already rising. She rubbed at her eyes as she looked around and then something caught her eyes, glinting in the bright moonlight Alice found another bracelet sitting next to her. "Oh! It's beautiful!" She smiled as she gently picked it up. She slipped it on her other wrist and looked around for Lean she wanted to thank him.
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Léan hadn't had to look long. He'd found some crabs loitering along the sea floor, right near the rocks. He'd captured a few and gobbled one up--he was returning to shore with the other one when he noticed Alice was awake.
He poked his head above the water, nibbling on the crab absently. "Hello." |
Alice was so surprised by his sudden voice, she jumped and toppled over backwards into the water. She stood up sputtering and coughing, her face red. once she finally had her breath she smiled at him. "Hi." She grinned and waded her way over. "I found the bracelet. It's just as beautiful!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him, a little bit longer than the last on. "Thank you so much!"
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Léan blinked, surprised once more by the hug. This time he was able to pat her awkwardly on the back before she pulled away. "Thank you. And, you're welcome." His tail swished back and forth underwater, spunkily. It seemed he'd gained most of his strength back already. His injuries were healing quickly with the re-introduction of salt water into his system.
He rested his head on one of the lower-lying rocks, closing his eyes. He somehow found himself wishing that the two of them could do more together, possibly on land. But it was an impossible sort of hope. There was no way for him to adopt legs, no matter how much he wanted to try them out. |
Alice smiled at him, happy with the progress their friendship was making. When she saw him rest his head and close his eyes, Alice decided to imitate him on the other side of the rock. "Is everything okay?" She opened her eyes and looked at him with a small smile.
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Léan nodded, and then looked up at her. "I simply wish we had more to do than swim together and run out of things to talk about," he teased, pointedly. He was running through a few different things in his mind, but none seemed to be plausible for them to do together.
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Alice let a sigh out. "Yeah i know what you mean. I wish i could actually swim somewhere with you. Or maybe show you something on land." She thought a moment. "We do have a wheelchair at the house, James has broken enough bones." She didn't know if he would like the idea of being so out of the water. "Too bad i don't have gills." She joked, but it was a little disappointing at the same time too.
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"If you could find a way to hide my tail...a chair with wheels on it would be a good idea..." Léan wasn't sure he knew exactly what the use for a chair on wheels was, but if it was going to work...he'd be willing to try it, as long as his true identity wasn't revealed.
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Alice was surprised at his interest. "R-really?" She thought a moment as she looked at his tail. "Well, if you can kind of fold in back, we can wrap it in a blanket, lots of handicapped people do that..." Her voice trailed off before she got up excitedly. "You really want to come to town with me?" She asked with a smile.
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"As long as my identity isn't revealed," Léan repeated, firmly. He seemed worried about having his tail fall out in public, or having any talk of him being a merman overheard by others. "If it isn't...then...yes, I won't mind going onto land with you..."
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"Well, if we wrap your tail up right, it shouldn't fall out." She smiled at the thought of taking him on land. And then a question occurred. "Have you ever been out on a date?" She asked, her cheeks a little pink.
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Léan froze, seeming a little intimidated for some reason. Then, he gradually started to relax, and he cleared his throat. "...No," he admitted, quietly. "I haven't. Never..."
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"Oh," Alice's face turned a bright red. "Well, uh, would you like to go on a date with me tomorrow?" She asked finally. She was terrified he would say no, but it didn't hurt to ask. She couldn't look at him while she waited for an answer.
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Léan chewed on his bottom lip, the nervousness clear in his expression. He was a little intimidated, still. Dating was something he had absolutely no knowledge on...and he hated to feel like an idiot around someone else, especially a potential mate.
"...I'll go, as long as it's nothing too over-the-top..." he agreed, finally. |
A grin broke out on her face as excitement took over. "Don't worry, i thought maybe i'd take you to lunch and then walk around the market or something." her smile faded. She had seen the nervousness on his face. "If that's okay with you that is. I mean, i have only been on a fwe dates ever, but i thought it sounded like an okay plan."
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Léan shifted, semi-uncomfortably. But then, he nodded. "All right. That...that isn't so bad. As long as my tail is covered up tightly...I should be fine. I hope I don't end up shedding everywhere."
That was a concern of his...his scale-shedding would be a problem. Perhaps there was lotion or something he could use to make sure his scales didn't peel off and shed all over the place? |
"They fall off because they get dry right?" She thought a moment. "Well, we can try some lotion, its supposed to help dry skin so maybe it'll work, but, your tail will be wrapped up too, so if any do fall off, they should just stay in the blanket." Alice was trying to stay positive, she was really looking forward to this date. But she wanted Lean to enjoy himself too. She didn't want him scared or worried.
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Léan's tail flicked back and forth slightly. "...All right. I hope the lotion works..." There was still a chance scales could slip out of the blanket and trail along behind them while they traveled. He wasn't sure if he was looking forward to this or not...it was too early to tell.
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