{Video; UN: scraps}

[disgracedprince]

Ah...help! {Xie Lian now resembles a merman. Or, rather, a Koi merman. He flaps uselessly in his garden and covers his face with his hands, his finned ears fluttering in embarrassment.}

I think...I need...a pool? A...um...bathtub? Something!

What happens if I dry out?

Comments

un: happyaround

[roundandaround]

Wah! Did you transform by accident? I've only been able to do it on purpose!

[disgracedprince]

I have been thinking about it, but I never considered a fish!

[roundandaround]

Really? You can get a transformation you didn't pick on purpose? I wanna try that next! --oh, wait, you still need help, huh?

[disgracedprince]

Apparently I can. {Could this be a form he has always wanted deep down?} Does a martial god fish sound silly?

{He shakes his head and tucks his hair behind a finned ear.}

Yes...unfortunately I do.

[roundandaround]

Coming!

[The video's switched to her phone, where Rinku is running out of her apartment building, Travel Crystal in her other hand.]

I don't really know what all we can do, but I bet it'll be enough! I think I still have your address! --Oh, and I don't think it's silly? I mean, koi are supposed to turn into dragons, right? In the story, anyway. And dragons are cool!

[disgracedprince]

Thank you, Rinku. {She is such a sweet girl. Xie Lian doesn't want to worry her, but thus far she has proved very resilient. He will just have to repay her somehow.}

Just bring me some water to keep my gills wet. {That's a good start anyway.} Oh that's right, they do.

{He smiles and smooths his hands down his tail.}

I used to watch the koi fish darting around our ponds when I was little. They were always so pretty.

[roundandaround]

That sounds fun! I bet that's why you got that for a fish form. All my animal forms are something I thought was cool!

[One teleport from the nearest Teleport Crystal and a quick run to his house later, Rinku arrives in time and knocks.]

Hi? Oh, I guess we should go into the yard, huh? Where's the gate --

[Hina, for her part, flies out from under Rinku's hat and is already heading over the fence, even though she can't really do much. Rinku blinks, exchanges her hat with a lop-eared rabbit headband in her purse, and proceeds to try to super jump over the wall, Mecchan in tow.]

[disgracedprince]

Maybe! I don't mind it if... If I can find a pond? {That's the major issue. He re-wets his gills, which are on his sides, and waits. The knock gets his attention and then he sees Hina. A smile crosses his lips and he holds out his hands for her.}

Hello, little friend. Did you come to check on me? {She will be given all the pets for being so thoughtful! Then Xie Lian cocks his head, worried that Rinku won't be able to operate the gate. Using his upper body strength, he tries to pull himself to the fence.

But then his friend leaps over the barrier! Laughing, he pauses in mid-crawl.}

Well done! Aw you have Mecchan too?

[roundandaround]

[Hina flies around him and gently bonks into his hands before settling in to snuggle. She gives a worried squeak or two.

Rinku nods and helps Mecchan down to the ground.]

Yeah! Mecchan, can you help him?

[Mecchan gulps and nods up at her. He shoots water up into the air over Xie Lian, so when gravity brings it down, the poor beached fish will get wet.

Rinku claps and bounces on her heels a little. She ends the call and puts her phone in her bag.]

Great ♪ A pond, huh... I know just the place! Do you mind warping? I know there's a Teleport Crystal out there!

[She helps Mecchan back onto her shoulder and holds up her Travel Crystal.]

[disgracedprince]

Careful, sweet girl. {Xie Lian rubs over Hina's cute cheeks and cuddles her close to him. Until Mecchan soaks him! Then he holds Hina safely out of the way.}

Oh thank you! That is much better. {He smiles at Mecchan and tucks Hina on his shoulder.} I don't mind if your little friends don't.

{He sits up and reaches out for Rinku's hand.}

[roundandaround]

[Hina snuggles and squeaks at Xie Lian. Rinku grabs his hand and calls out to her Travel Crystal.]

Secret Getaway!

[In a flash, they warp to a Teleport Crystal in the Spring Segment. There's a dock leading into a placid pond surrounded by flowers. Mecchan smiles and makes a happy noise, and Rinku spins in a circle and puts her crystal away.]

Frieda-chan showed me this place! It's a safe spot 'cause the monsters don't like it here. I think the plants repel them? But it's kinda fun to go swimming around in there.

[disgracedprince]

{The little squeak calms him and he rubs his cheek against Hina. He holds onto Rinku's hand while keeping his little bat friend steady with his other hand. And then they are on their way!

Breathing out in relief, Xie Lian scoots his way to the water's edge.}

Tell them thank you for me! This is perfect. {He kisses Hina's belly and make sure she is flying before he hops into the water. The relief is immediate and he swims lazily around the dock.}

Thank you to you too, Rinku. {He beams up at her.} Come swim with me, Mecchan!

[roundandaround]

[Hina squeaks happily and starts flying around. Rinku helps Mecchan into the water and follows, shifting into a fish and poking her face out of the water.]

Yeah, it's fun! She took us here so Mecchan could play with her Magikarp. Right, Mecchan?

[Mecchan nods. He shoots a series of rings of water in the air to demonstrate, and Rinku swims around with a giggle before shifting back to human.]

Animal transformation's fun when you get used to it!

[disgracedprince]

{Good girl! Xie Lian will find some fresh berries for her later - and maybe a cookie or two for Mecchan. They are such darling little friends.

Much like Rinku. He really is lucky!}

That's a big fish, isn't it? {The game Mecchan sets up is adorable and Xie Lian claps for him. Then Rinku turns into a fish! He watches how she swims and learns a thing or two, wiggling his tail experimentally.}

...you're really good at it! I'm impressed.

[roundandaround]

Yeah! Karpje-chan doesn't do much but flop and jump, but Mecchan gets along with her.

[Rinku smiles and hums at the praise as she treads water.]

I've been working a lot at it! I took a long time to really start learning the magic here, but my sister helps me a lot now.

[disgracedprince]

I'm sure she has her own language. {Xie Lian dips under the water and marvels at how good it feels. This is where he belongs...ah...currently.

Once he surfaces again, he pushes his hair out of his eyes.}

Your sister is here? When did she arrive?

[roundandaround]

Evangeline-neechan and I aren't related related, like, we're not from the same world. But we're still family. Sometimes you just see someone like that. There's a lot of people here who feel that way about other ones.

[disgracedprince]

Oh yes! I remember her name now. Mm I like family like that. {The kind you choose; the kind that becomes dear because of their actions not because of blood.}

[roundandaround]

Yeah, she's the greatest ♪ Does that mean you have someone like that too?

[disgracedprince]

I have a few people like that in my life. Three of them are ghosts!

[roundandaround]

[Hina squeaks, landing on a log sticking out into the pond. She ponders this and bites a nearby flower's stem, then lets go with as much of a disappointed face as one can have without eyes.]

Like from home, because there are ghosts there? That sounds nice. I know you said it was lonely where you lived.