Kratos shook his head. He'd rather wear it with the siren. When he'd heard, though, what it'd do to Léan, he frowned. "Why's that going to hurt for him and not for me instead?" he asked, looking rather protective as he tightened his hold on Léan. The cold didn't seem to bother him now. It was his worry over the siren that seemed to come above everything. The life man looked back down at the necklaces and then at Léan.

Was the merman going to wear it now or wait for more explanation from Shadow? As always, the fallen angel was talking in verses that neither of them could understand. What kind of power did it hold? And, why was Shadow giving them such things? Weren't they fine the way they were?

- - -

Kenichi looked confused. "Then, why are you here?" he asked as he realized he'd been spending far too much time with Rousel. "Is it that you want me to leave you alone?" Kenichi can do that, but he doubted it'd fare well with his fear of, well, sea and non-human creatures.

Shadow arched an eyebrow. He sighed, then, and simply shook his head. "Listen. If you wear that in water, Kratos, you will turn into a siren...like Léan." Léan suddenly perked up, looking shocked. An old tale he used to hear as a child was coming back to him...he remembered hearing something about these necklaces. "And as for you, Léan...if you wear yours on land...you will turn into a human. It's a simple as that. I thought it might be easier for you to spend more time with each other this way."

Léan didn't quite know how to react to what Shadow was telling him. There was a forcibly blank look on his face. He didn't want to show that he was possibly...grateful to Shadow.

- - -

"I'm here because Shadow wanted me to visit, and possibly stay. I might stay yet--I'm kind of liking being around others for once." Rousel stretched out slightly, leaning against the glass. "You can stay--I don't mind."

"I will turn to a what?" Kratos couldn't believe what he'd heard. His eyes had widened and his jaw would've had gone to the ground if that was possible. His protective hold on Léan suddenly wavered as he looked down at Léan. The very thought that the both of them could spend more time together in either environments really did cross his mind. He didn't even think it was possible but now, well, he was glad. Really glad. Kratos was pretty sure Léan was too.

Looking back up at Shadow, he nodded once as a thank you before he'd tapped Léan's cheek with his forehead. "Let's go back to the room." They were done with dinner. There was really no need for them to stay out. Yet. "Too cold here." With that said, he stepped out of the room and followed the path to the not-so-cold hallway to wait for Shadow.

- - -

Kenichi looked confused again but he'd smiled nonetheless. "Sounds good!" That meant, more oogling time at the kraken. Honestly, he was still fascinated by him. "And, I will stay until my three hours is up." Will he be able to keep up to four hours on one day?

Léan looked more nervous than anything else. He was happy about the idea of spending more time together, but...just how much would changing, at least for the first time, hurt? Now he didn't seem to want to touch the necklaces, as he was holding them out like they were going to spring up and bite him. Some reassurance and a quiet environment to change in might make him feel a little better.

Shadow stepped into the hallway after Kratos, closing the door and heading for the vault door. Once he was out into the main part of the basement, Shadow held the door open for them. "I'd advise changing one at a time. And...make sure you're in a comfortable place to do so."

- - -

Rousel stuck his hand up out of the water. "You feel confident enough, yet, to touch my hand?" Sure, Kenichi had touched those extra limbs of his. But, he had yet to touch the human half of him in any way, straying close from time to time but always backing off.

Kratos took note of that and grunted as a reply before he'd brushed past Shadow to head back to the villa's main floor. The curious stares of Gian and Hebs were ignored as the life man brought his siren with him back to his room. Once there, he'd set Léan onto his lap as he shifted a little and relaxed agains the wall. "We don't have to do it now," he started as he leaned in to kiss Léan lightly on the lips, "I really don't care for those necklaces." It should stretch the hours to which they could spend time together but it didn't really matter to Kratos. As long as Léan was by his side, he was fine with how things were.

There was also the matter of Kratos and 'change'. He never really did like changing himself and the thought of having a tail like that of Léan's was just hard for him to imagine. "I like everything of you." It was rather obvious that Kratos had already accepted Léan and his tail since a long, long time ago.

- - -

Surprise was apparent on the white-haired male's face when he'd seen the hand out of the water. He could feel his heart ramming against his chest and his face looked troubled. "I'm... not sure." And, he really wasn't. The man rubbed his hand against the grass and stared at that hand like it was some sort of alien-like hand, fascinating and beautiful.

Léan set the necklaces slowly on the nightstand once they were safely back in their room, staring at them uncertainly. Those necklaces meant that it would be much easier for the siren to get around with Kratos' help. He was wary of them, but...if it meant that he could spend more time with Kratos, he was willing to deal with some pain. "Whenever you want to use those necklaces, we can. I mean...the longer we dwell on it, the worse it's going to be." The merman made a face. He'd learned that much from past experience...

"I know, I know...but still, it will make it much easier for me to get around and for us to spend time together." Léan, despite their close connection, was well aware that they were creatures from two totally different worlds. It was hard on him, at least, knowing that he couldn't move around freely with Kratos and spend as much time with him as he wanted.

- - -

"Oh, please. It's just a hand." Rousel stared flatly at Kenichi from inside the aquarium. "You're not afraid of touching giant tentacles, but you're wary about touching a hand? Come on. You can't be serious." There, once again, was that harshness that Rousel had coming to light. He still wasn't used to having to walk on eggshells around other people.

Kratos understood what the merman was trying to say but he really didn't like it. "Why does it have to hurt for you?" he asked, obviously irritated at that little tidbit of fact. His hold on Léan tightened and he buried the half of his face on his shoulder. "I don't like it." Kratos was well aware he was acting like a child but he didn't care. Letting his eyes slide shut, the life man only continued to hold him. He was curious how he'd be like as a siren and how the other would be as a human. As intriguing as it is, though, Kratos did a very good job of ignoring that said feeling.

- - -

Kenichi crossed his arms over his chest, rather stubbornly too. It wasn't his fault he was less afraid of those tentacles than he was with touching Rousel's hand. He really hated this fear thing of his. It wouldn't be surprising if Rousel would tire of him one day. "Fine." The male looked at that hand again. "What am I going to get out of this?"

"Well...it will probably hurt for you, too," Léan pointed out, arching a blond eyebrow. He reached up to thread his fingers through Kratos' hair, purring softly. "It's nice that you're worrying about me. But I'm not made of glass. I'll be all right, I promise." He did want to see how Kratos looked as a siren...he didn't know how he'd look as a human, but he figured he'd be ugly, as he thought human legs weren't really that attractive in the least. They weren't colorful at all.

He closed his eyes, nuzzling gently against the human's neck. He really did love him, it seemed. He absolutely adored Kratos...

- - -

Rousel was frowning--he could feel the frown pulling at the corners of his mouth. "More guts?" he suggested, looking not amused in the least. He really wanted to break the other of this silly fear he had. It was stupid, and it wasn't really fruitful when he wanted to flirt and his interest was always running away.

Kratos blinked at that. "Oh," was the only word he was able to say before he'd felt the sides of his lips pull up into a small smile. That soft purr and the way the other was nuzzling his neck made him lean in to kiss his cheek. "Do you... want to try out the necklace?" he asked, raising his eyebrows a little, looking rather curious and a bit wary as he eyed the said items on the bedside table. It didn't matter who wore it first.

If Léan would ask him to wear it and wear a tail, he definitely would.

- - -

Kenichi made a face at that. "Fine." He could see the look Rousel was giving him and he sighed. Rousel had been bearing with him the past weeks. He should really just try getting a little closer, at least. He can't be running away all the time, after all. His hand gingerly reached out, only to stop when it was close to Rousel's own. Looking back down at Rousel's face was enough to have him push himself to have the tips of his fingers brush against Rousel's hand.

The white-haired male's eyes shut tight at this contact, like that hand was about to do something. But, when he'd cracked an eye open, the tips of his fingers brushed down. It felt like... a human hand. "I thought it'd be rougher." He blinked in surprise.

"...We could..." Léan suddenly seemed hesitant. "But...I suppose I should go first, then? So...if you want to go afterwards...I can help you up into the tank? Oh, but...will I be able to walk right away, or will I have to learn?" The siren had never had legs before. It was possible that he would have to be taught how to use them and walk, like a newborn taking his first steps. Would he ever be able to walk like a normal human being?

The merman fidgeted where he was laying, peering up at Kratos and waiting for him to make the final decision. If Kratos wanted to do this, he wanted to do this. If the tank wasn't an option for Kratos--that is, if the siren found he couldn't walk--then...the bathtub would work, maybe?

- - -

"I don't have scales or anything on my hands," Rousel reminded the human, his voice somewhat playful. "Really. It's just a hand..." That hand slowly, gently closed around Kenichi's fingers, attempting to reassure him that it was safe. Kenichi was improving, but far too slowly for Rousel's impatient tastes. Though he'd been patient in the past few weeks, that patience was quickly starting to dwindle. Soon, he would get fed up and try to speed things along...

Kratos nodded at that. That made sense. If they transformed together, it'd be bad considering Kratos didn't know how to use a tail. Surely, Léan wouldn't be able to walk on his own as well. "We'll have to see then," he said as he brought his hand up to hold the merman's chin and lift his face up to him. That was probably the first time Kratos had smiled before he'd leaned in to capture his lips for a light, lingering kiss.

- - -

Kenichi blinked when that hand had closed around his fingers. He could feel himself want to pull away but he held himself from doing so and raised his eyebrows in awe. "It is," he started before he'd smiled brightly. It looked like he'll be fine without seeing Rousel's lower body. It's when the kraken's whole body was up on the surface, standing at that tall height of his that made Kenichi act like a wuss. At least, that's what he thought.

Léan melted into the offered kiss, curling into Kratos' arms. He was the first to pull away, needing to catch his breath. "...If you want...I mean, since we're already comfortable here, I can try on one of the necklaces. It won't be as bad if you're close to me and I'm comfortable," the merman informed him, tentatively peering at the two necklaces still resting on the nightstand. He would probably sleep very well for the rest of the day after going through a bit of pain over the transformation--it would take a lot out of him.

- - -

Rousel brought his other hand up, offering that to Kenichi as well. "Since you don't seem to have too much of a problem touching me...I think the next thing we need to work on is how close you can get to me when I'm standing at full height." He knew that his overall large size--his upper body combined with his huge lower body--intimidated the human. "Maybe...if I sit completely still in the living room...and you take your time working up the courage to sit right next to me on the couch? I can watch that movie-box thing while you do this."

Rousel had never seen a television before in all his life. When he first saw the television in the living room, it was like love at first sight. He would lounge out there sometimes late in the night and watch different programs.

Kratos was rather disappointed the siren pulled away from the kiss but he understood it when he'd heard the way the other was breathing. The life man only gave his lover a nod before he'd rested his hand back on the bed. Idly, he wondered how the necklaces would work. On Léan first. Will he be able to walk on his own so soon?

- - -

Kenichi took that offered hand and gripped at it tightly before he'd blinked at his next words. Was the other... serious? "You sure love the TV," he started, a grin touching his lips before he'd given him a nod. He supposed he could work with that. That way, he'd have lots of time to work up the said courage to sit right next to him. He'd seen him sit once and it was rather amusing. Honestly, he couldn't take his eyes away from him even when he did his things: get water from the kitchen, walk along the hallway, go outside for a short walk, or just, well, random things he'd think of doing.

Sometimes, he'd join the other watching television. But, he'd stay away from him, sitting probably a meter away from it.

Léan stared at the necklaces, wondering how they could possibly look so intimidating from their place on the nightstand. He was afraid to put one of them one. He didn't know how much it would hurt and for how long. Clearing his throat, the siren turned toward Kratos. "...Could you put one of them on me? I don't think I can work up the courage to do it myself," he admitted, looking ashamed.

- - -

Rousel chuckled. "Well, it's interesting. Lots of things happen in it, and they're actually happening somewhere else--and sometimes they happened a long time ago! It really is fascinating. I've never seen anything like it before. No such thing as electricity underwater." The big siren shifted slightly. "Tomorrow, then, we can try the TV method out. I hope you don't chicken out. I'd be pretty disappointed."

He gripped Kenichi's hand tightly for a moment before pulling his hands away. "I'm going to get some rest. Being in the sun so long made me all kinds of tired."

Kratos found that admission really cute. Smiling softly, the life man reached out to get one of the necklaces and looked at it for quite a long time before he'd looked back at Léan. "Then..." He put it around Léan's neck and slowly worked with the clasp. There was worry written all over his features as he continued to hold the other close to him.

Gian was bored. Hebs was amused. The boy was making all sorts of face in front of the mirror that was set by the kitchen. "Shadow will be coming up to take the both of you next, don't worry," he assured him as he turned to look at Damon and smiled. "Do you want to go back to your room or go to the living room to watch the television while waiting? We could also take an evening walk out." Jae might still be in the cafe at this time. Maybe they could go there for some cake.

"Do either of you want cake?" he asked as he looked curious. Gian's hand immediately shot up in the air. Hebs chuckled. "All right, one for Gian. What about you Alfie?"

- - -

Kenichi nodded at that. The way the other was gripping his hand tightly made him just the slightest bit of fearful as he quickly took his hands back once the other had pulled away. Rubbing his hand lightly, he frowned. That contact gave him an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach. Looking back down at the body of water, he had been unaware that he was forming some sort of dancing drops of water on the surface, causing a few ripples here and there. Once he'd seen them, though, they splashed back down into the water and he got up to his feet. He might as well get some rest, too.

Léan closed his eyes when Kratos brought the necklace closer to him. He knew that it would hurt--Shadow had hinted at that much. There were a few seconds of silence as Léan shifted beneath the blankets, hiding his tail from view. Then all of a sudden, his entire body went stiff. His face scrunched up in pain. He clung to Kratos extremely tightly. Despite the pain, Léan was deathly silent. He began to shake after a minute or so. The change wasn't visible beneath the blankets, but the blankets were starting to show a change in shape...

He didn't say anything during the ten minutes, at the very least, that he clung to Kratos so tightly. There were some painful snapping sounds beneath the blanket every once in a while, but that was the only sound that filled the room.

"Gian, Alfie..." Shadow was waiting by the kitchen door, looking cheerful for some reason. Alfie glanced at him, but he was more excited by the prospect of cake--his hand also shot up with Gian's. "Cake is good!" Damon, who hadn't moved his wheelchair from the spot where he'd eaten. He watched Hebs closely while he talked and then made a nonchalant humming noise. "I wouldn't mind having some cake...as long as there are no animal products in it, of course."

Kratos could feel his heart squeezing at the sight of the other clinging onto him tightly. It was even much more painful when Léan didn't make any sound at all to let him know that it was hurting. The ten long minutes felt like forever as he held him close, afraid to even make him know he was deathly worried or make a word.

Hebs chuckled and he turned to look at Shadow for a moment before moving his gaze to Damon. "Does animal products include egg?" Gian got up to his feet and he turned to look down at Alfie. "Come on!" He was excited for some odd reason as he took Alfie's hand into his own and gave a little tug. "I want to see this scary-sounding vault!" Hebs, on the other hand, got up to take Damon's chair. We'll be out for a while.

"Do you want anything, too, Shadow?"

When Léan's grip finally did loosen, the siren very slowly opened his eyes and met Kratos'--his were glazed over with pain, still. "...Ouch," was the first thing out of his mouth before he cleared his throat. "That was awful." He paused, then, and glanced down toward the covered lower half of his body before looking away. That necklace, now that his eyes were open, matched his eyes very well.

Damon suddenly looked wary. "...That depends on where the eggs came from and if the chickens were treated nicely," he revealed finally. A lot of vegans wouldn't even touch eggs. Damon would only do so if he knew that the chickens who laid them were treated nicely. He was a pacifistic, peaceful man at heart. Alfie hesitated when Gian grabbed his hand before slowly following after him, toward Shadow. Shadow himself nodded in Hebs' direction before turning and starting to head down the hall toward the basement.

Chocolate cake with chocolate icing and a strawberry on top...that would be perfect for me.

Kratos' heart was crushed at the sight of Léan's eyes. He pursed his lips a little before he'd held him tightly again. "Good job," he mumbled, hoping his words were sent through. He was proud of the siren to get through that pain without even a single sound coming out of those lips during the process. It made him love him more. When he'd seen him look down, though, at the lower half of his body covered with the blanket, the life man watched him for a second or two before he'd tilted his head towards his own so he could capture those lips for a soft, lingering kiss.

"May I touch you?" It was all the life man had said as he lowered his hand to the other's hip. He wanted to touch Léan's legs, see if there are legs there and not. And, of course, he'd noticed the necklace. It sure was really beautiful on the siren.

Hebs blinked and chuckled. "I'm sure we could ask him," he started as he wheeled Damon with him out. Before they could step out the door, though, Hebs shut it again to raise an index finger. He disappeared a moment and came back with Damon's coat and his own. "It'll be cold out. I wouldn't want you to catch anything." Smiling softly, the snake man continued on wheeling Damon out with him for that little 'walk' to the bakeshop. Jae hadn't come to the villa yet but he supposed he had a reason. Jae should be busy.

"You can. I don't...I don't want to see. Not yet. It's too much to take in." Léan closed his eyes, laying his head against Kratos' shoulder once the other pulled back from his kiss. He was fidgeting around nervously. The very idea that he had legs was frightening to him. He wasn't comfortable around humans to begin with...and now he greatly resembled one, if he did have legs (which he did). It was a little too much to take in at the moment. He just wanted to rest--the pain was still lingering in traces in his tensed, hard muscles.

Damon looked wary, but he did nod. It had been very hard for him to keep up his vegan diet so many years ago, when food was very scarce. But Shadow had made sure he got food that he wanted to eat, using his great stow of money to his advantage. He shifted slightly in his chair, looking puzzled when Hebs suddenly scuttled off. When he returned with his coat, though, Damon mirrored his smile and reached for it, slipping it on slowly. His coat was more like a cloak--a long, white cloak, made of thick white cloth.

Shadow had reached the vault door by now. He spared a glance back to check on Alfie--who still looked nervous--before opening the door for them. As he did so, he glanced back once more. "Tell me...what sort of things are you looking for? What have you always wanted but could never have, in all your wildest dreams?"

Kratos was afraid himself to see Léan's legs. Honestly, he didn't know how they'd look like. He rested his hand on the other's head while he lifted the covers and put them aside. To his surprise, they looked absolutely normal. The only difference was that, Léan's legs were beautiful. He was unable to keep himself from running his palm over the other's ankle up to his thigh. They were smooth. His heart skipped another beat and he was pretty sure Léan would be able to hear that with the way he was resting his head against his chest. "They're..." he trailed off to smile softly, "Beautiful."

Hebs finally reached Jae's working place with Damon and he waved a bit when he'd seen the boy who looked flustered the moment he'd seen Damon. He was quick to leave his workplace. Apparently, he was just about to close it with the overturned chairs now set on the table. "Do you have time for us?" he asked him as he set Damon again in one of the booths outside, "We'd like slices of cakes, if you would." "For one?" Hebs thought for a moment. "For five, actually."

Jae smiled at that and nodded. "We have an array of selection of cakes. I'm sure your family would love it." Hebs chuckled lightly and he turned to look at Damon. Apparently, he'd almost forgotten. "Before that, though, are the eggs from the chicken treated well?" Jae looked surprised and he blinked for a moment before he'd heard Hebs add, "Damon here won't be eating cakes if the chickens from whence the eggs came are treated roughly." Jae looked enlightened and he turned to look at Damon. Despite the blush on his cheeks, he gave a little bow. "The ingredients used in this cafe is from a farm land of the owner's. I go there to get the ingredients myself and I will say that he treats them with great care, even much like a family."

Gian looked at Alfie for a second or two and then at Shadow. His hold on Alfie had tightened visibly so and he stepped closer to him. The vault looked pretty scary but it was all right considering he had with him their ringleader and Alfie. It was better than being alone, that's for sure.

Léan didn't open his eyes as he felt the blankets being moved. His legs were very, very still--he didn't know how to move them properly yet. They did, however, jerk and tense when Kratos so gently ran his palm up and down them. They tingled, as well--they were new limbs that had never been touched before, and therefore they were very sensitive. The siren nibbled on his bottom lip. It hadn't occurred to him yet that he was stark naked without a tail and would need to put some pants on if he planned on keeping the necklace on for a while, yet. When it did...oh, the merman was sure to be embarrassed.

Speaking of being embarrassed...when Kratos claimed he had beautiful legs, a brilliant scarlet blush flushed all over Léan's face. He grumbled under his breath, melting into Kratos' embrace.

Damon was quiet as Hebs wheeled him outside and to the cafe--he was far too focused on studying the scenery around him to want to talk. Then again, he was a quiet person in general in the first place. He did look up when Hebs finally spoke, addressing Jae. He hadn't forgotten about the eggs at all, and as Hebs and Jae conversed, he was waiting patiently for the scaled man to mention something. When he did, Damon watched Jae very, very closely. He detected no hint of deception in his voice, and finally, he smiled.

"I see. Then, I don't mind eating the eggs here. If they're from a good place where the chickens are treated well, I have no complaints," he revealed agreeably. Damon had yet to respond to the coy and very subtle potentially romantic reactions that Jae had to him. If he were anyone else, it just might be possible that the was leading Jae on. But he wasn't. It was not easy for anyone to win Damon over, especially romantically. Shadow had started displaying interest in him when he turned eleven--very early. And yet, Damon hadn't even started mirroring the interest until he turned fourteen. It took three years, even though they'd known each other for much longer than that.

Alfie chewed his lip slightly, huddling closer to Gian. He didn't quite know what to make of Shadow's question. "...Um...I don't know?" Honestly, Alfie didn't know what he wanted. There was nothing really that he wished for...

Kratos didn't mind at all the nakedness. In fact, he was allured with the siren's beauty all the more. It made him possessively hold him while he leaned in to kiss his cheek. That embarrassed look on Léan's face was, to him, priceless. "I love you," he whispered into his ear before he'd let his eyes slide shut. He was simply enjoying holding the merman close to him. If Léan were to keep the limbs, though, he won't have an excuse to touch him, to carry him, will he? That thought disturbed Kratos. He wanted to hold Léan all the more as if he were making up for the lost time of his admiration for the siren to have turned to something like this: a relationship.

Jae's heart skipped a beat when he'd seen Damon's smile. He was obviously entranced as he nodded quite dumbly at the other's words. Hebs caught on to that. He could read the man's words after all and only smiled in amusement. "We'll have three chocolate cakes with chocolate icing and a strawberry on top for take out. I'll have your strawberry cake and Damon here will have..." The snake man stopped as he took his seat on the chair across him. "What will you have, Mister Barrow?" It looked like Jae had asked the question for him. This made him smile again.

Gian looked at Shadow and frowned. He also didn't know what he wanted either. "Can't you think for us?" he asked him as he stroked the back of Alfie's hand, "You're the one who knows your vault really well."

Léan seemed to relax almost completely in Kratos' hold after the human spoke those words. It was reassuring, almost, to hear those words coming from Kratos. Until now, honestly, he hadn't been sure how strong Kratos' feelings were. After all, the life man honestly didn't seem like he had many genuine feelings. It was the impression that the siren got from Kratos, and though it did hurt him at times when he got little emotional response from him, he knew that it was just the way he was and there was going to be no changing it no matter what he did.

Damon tilted his head slightly, pondering. He finally settled on his choice and nodded once, firmly, before speaking. "Chocolate sounds fine to me. Chocolate with a strawberry on top." He still didn't seem to have too much of a reaction to Jae's blushes and his freezing up around him. Was he oblivious, or was he just ignoring it all?

"Well, I don't know what either of you want. Honestly, I don't. I can read your minds, but I don't know what your innermost desires are--you don't often think of them so freely," Shadow hummed as he walked into the vault. Alfie shifted uncomfortably, peering into the vault slowly. It wasn't very dark in there even though there weren't any lights...

Jae smiled at that. "All right then," he said, rather cheerfully, to which Hebs only chuckled to. Once the boy was gone, Hebs leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest. He was silently watching Jae and oddly getting the thoughts that ran along the lines of, 'He talked to me!', and 'I'm so happy!'. Idly, he wondered if Damon was aware of Jae's feelings. He seemed rather open like an open book. It made him interesting. "Damon, what do you think of Jae?" he asked as he finally tore his gaze away from the boy who was getting their orders to look at him, "I can tell he's really interested in you."

Gian did the same. He peered in, too, and raised his eyebrows a bit. It was surprising when he'd seen that it didn't look very dark. It made him a little excited. "I don't care what I get," he started before he'd turned to look at Alfie and grinned. Tugging a bit at his hand, he led the way in. "But this place is really cool! Has this really been here for a long time now?"