"This is true," Kato mused. "And we already have the proper guards on our side..."

Leto grinned. "Exactly. See, we can still have fun. So long as Mother and Father don't flip out."

"We'll see how long it lasts," Kato said. He looked at his brother. "You know how they can be sometimes."

"I know." Leto huffed. "I know they just want the best, but they can be really overbearing sometimes."

"No kidding," Kato agreed. He waved a hand. "Come on, we should get back before they realize we're gone, or else we''ll both be skinned."

Leto nodded and headed back to the palace so they could (hopefully) slip in unnoticed.

Kato was pleased. He and Leto were able to sneak out fairly frequently to talk to their new friends, and it definitely helped ease some of the weight on his shoulders to be able to talk to someone not in the royal court. It only took him a few weeks of this to realize that yes, he really did like Elea, and he was starting to want a bit more than just friendship.

Tristan, on the other hand, saw Elea far more frequently. Now that he knew where she worked, he stopped by all the time to talk to her. His girls weren't pleased, but he was the one in charge, and it was his choice whether or not to add someone to his harem. And he wanted Elea, so he was doing his utmost to woo her.

Elea, so far, had deftly ducked both of their attempts to woo her. Tristan she kept at a safe distance, and Kato she enjoyed talking to, but she wasn't yet comfortable moving past that.

With a huff, she moved into the exhibit again to check on the seals, clucking at one who was lounging with his head on the bottom of the tank.

The same thing, just about, happened with Rory and Leto. Leto snuck out as often as he dared to talk to Lotus, while Rory found out where she worked and visited her as often as he could.

Which is how Rory ended up trying to get her number.

"Hey, Lotus," he greeted. "How are things going today?" He grinned at her.

"Rory, this isn't a good time," Lotus replied as she ran back and forth trying to get her boutique cleaned. A rush of teenagers had just blown through, and the place was trashed.

Tristan, on the other hand, had been convinced by one of his girls to take her to the aquarium, so he was working on keeping her amused while trying to find Elea at the same time.

"I can see that." Rory blinked at the state of the boutique. "Need some help?"

Elea glanced over when she heard someone cooing over the sea lions. That was unusual enough to catch her attention, and she looked over into the other half of the exhibit to see Tristan with another woman. Her eyebrows shot up, but she tried not to jump to any conclusions.

"One of my other girls should be coming back from break soon," Lotus replied as she deftly hung a pair of dresses and three shirts before sorting out a tangle of jewelry.

Tristan happened to glance around just as Elea came into view.

"Ah, there she is," he commented. Una looked over and raised an eyebrow.

"That's the one you want?" she asked skeptically. "I suppose she's kind of pretty, but really, Tristan?"

"I told you it's my decision," Tristan reminded.

"Okay." Rory backed off a bit, smiling a bit. "Just thought I'd offer."

Elea glanced over at them, quietly assessing the relationship between the two. It certainly looked like they were a couple. And that was just so not okay.

"Thanks, but I can handle things," Lotus replied, dropping a handful of rings into a glass bowl.

Una huffed a bit, and Tristan gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.

"I'm going to go talk to her," he said. "You stay here."

"And what am I supposed to do?" Una asked.

"Talk to the sea lions," Tristan suggested. "They're gossipy, you should like it." With that, he left Una there and went to try to catch up to Elea.

"Alright." Rory smiled a little. "Well, mind if I hang out for a few minutes? I think Tristan's gone to ogle your friend again."

Elea glanced at Tristan, her eyes narrowed a little, before she moved out of the exhibit so she could talk to him.

"Back again?" She raised her eyebrows at him. "Brought your girlfriend this time?"

"I can't stop you," Lotus replied as she went to do a quick sweep of the fitting rooms. She let out a brief but impressive string of profanity as she found a mountain of clothes that had been left behind, and carried the piles up to the counter to sort and rehang all of it.

"Una insisted," Tristan said, waving it off. "How have you been today?"

Rory shook his head. "You sure you don't need help? I don't mind. I've worked retail before."

"Okay," Elea answered slowly. "Why are you here with your girlfriend? I thought you've been making passes at me the past few weeks."

"I'm sure," Lotus replied as she sorted out the clearance from the markdown from the full-price. "I'm about to set a new sale, anyways."

"I told you, Una insisted on coming to the aquarium," Tristan replied. "Did you not like my attention?"

"Alright." Rory shrugged. "You own this place?" He glanced around. He had to admit he was rather impressed.

"I don't understand," Elea admitted. "You're flirting with me but you have a girlfriend? I'm very confused."

"I manage it for the owner," Lotus replied. "Pretty close to the same thing, really."

"Darling, we're selkies," Tristan replied frankly. "What is there to be confused about?"

"Ah." Rory smiled a little. "Well, sounds interesting. And not always fun. But I guess if you enjoy it..."

"My mom raised me," Elea said just as frankly. "All I know is what she told me. So that whole big overlaying excuse? Means absolutely nothing to me."

"It's a job," Lotus replied. "Keeps the bills paid."

Tristan raised an eyebrow.

"You weren't raised around your father?" he asked. "In a colony?"

Rory nodded. "Yeah, I've had a few of those before. Go, do the job, endure, get paid. Not nearly as much fun."

"Uh, no. I never knew my father. I never even knew my mom had been in a colony." Elea eyed him like he was crazy. "What are you going on about?"

"Occasionally, I help out at the aquarium," Lotus said. She grinned a bit. "They put on a 'mermaid' show a few times a summer. I've got a stash of ribbons and streamers that I glue on for them, and I make a bit of money on the side."

"Well no wonder," Tristan said. He sighed. "I thought you knew." He looked at her. "Selkies are just like their natural cousins, they have harems. Una is one of my girls."

Rory laughed quietly. "Well, sounds fun," he said with a grin. "Ever thought about telling them you have your own costume and going as yourself? It would be fun."

"...I beg your pardon." Elea started at him for a few moments. "And that's what you want of me. To be part of your harem."

Lotus grinned.

"That's what I do," she said. "I guess I wasn't clear enough. I have sparklies and streamers that compliment my scales, I glue them on to make my tail look more like a costume, and I give them their show."

"That was the general idea," Tristan admitted. "You're beautiful, fiery, and unattached. I like you. Why wouldn't I want you?"