"Of course it is. I can't help it, you know." Lleu turned to Glory's parents. He'd explained what Glory and Léan were discussing as they were returning to the beach. "What do you think?"

"I think it's nice in theory," Glory said. "But I think we'd end up arguing too much."

"As much as I hate to admit it, she may have a point," Clarissa agreed. Neither of them had any delusions as to their rather rocky relationship to this point. They were too much alike not to clash.

"There's really no other way for all of you to get to know each other well..." Lleu hummed, breaking away from them to swim around in slow, lazy circles, before glancing back at them with a knowing, pointed glare.

"...save for having a nice beach-side dinner where all species can attend..."

"I hear your not-so-subtle hint," Glory said dryly. "I still don't know how well that would go over."

"It's worth a try, is it not?" Lleu retorted, grinning. "It's better than trying to force one party into the water, and one party out...and everyone could be involved in discussion..."

"Wouldn't things be best in small steps?" Clarissa broke in. She was a bit apprehensive to the idea as well. So many of them in one place would be much more easily noticed, even at night.

"Small steps would work well for everyone. Except, for Léan's brother..." Lleu flashed Léan a knowing look, upon which they both nodded. "If relations are taken in small steps...Arcturus will find a way out of anything that involves getting to more closely know humans...or anything that involves the world above the water. He is afraid of humans, you see. Little steps...they won't do much for him."

"Why are you so interested in the first place?" Glory asked. She wasn't trying to be nosey or rude, she was just curious.

"I have a gut feeling about something. I'm afraid that's all I can share with you. My gut feelings are usually right on the money...whatever they're about..." Lleu explained, vaguely. "I think you would want to trust the gut feeling of a psychic...hmm?"

"One of these days, I'm going to get a straight answer out of you," Glory said.

"That was as straight of an answer you'll ever get from me," Lleu argued, arching an eyebrow. "I like to talk in riddles. It makes people think. You should be glad I don't do it more often..."

"Then you won't mind if I still try to get that straight answer," Glory replied, grinning.

Lleu shrugged, amused. "Sure. Go for it. But don't expect me to give it to you...hm?"

"We'll see," Glory replied, dropping the subject for now.

"We shall, indeed." Lleu tilted his head slightly. "I still think the idea of a nice, beach-side dinner is good. There won't be many cars on the road tonight. Besides, you won't have to pay for anything food-wise...we can all chip in, and go out hunting...bring back some nice fish..."

"We'll see about it," Glory said. She was still skeptical of the idea.

Lleu seemed to think it was a brilliant idea. He twirled around slightly, and then half-bowed. "For now, you should try to work on Arcturus' feelings. He will be the most difficult one to crack..."

"You speak as if we didn't know that," Glory said. She was tempted to say something about 'master of the obvious', but she was pretty sure only her mother would get the joke.

"Perhaps you underestimate just how bad it is," Lleu suggested, before quietly turning tail and drifting away. "I'm off to hunt...I'll be back later to check on things..."

"Well, forgive me for trying to be optimistic..." Glory said. Her good mood from earlier was starting to tank a bit.

Léan wrapped his arms around her, giving her a reassuring kiss on the cheek. "I'll go play with Damon and Eden...you and Arcturus go do something fun. Try to gauge how bad it is, okay? It isn't that he doesn't like you...he's always had that underlying fear in him..."

Glory cuddled into his arms.

"I'll try," she said. "I can't guarantee anything, though."

Léan smiled, waved goodbye to her parents, and then quietly guided her back to the shallows.

Archie and Damon were playing with Eden, who was still adorably small. They waved politely when they saw the two approaching.

Glory stayed close to him as they got closer to shore. She wanted to see what the others would do first.

Archie snuggled with Léan when he got closer, and the two had a quiet, semi-heated conversation in their native language, presumably so Glory could not hear. Once they finished, Archie nervously left Eden in the hands of Damon and his brother, and drifted over to Glory. "What do you want to do?"