{Video; UN: scraps}

[disgracedprince]

{Xie Lian is walking on a beach, clad only in his white trousers. His hair hangs almost to his thighs, covering the majority of his back, but his chest is bare and there are telling marks on his skin. Thank you, San Lang!

He crouches before a cute sand castle and smiles happily, reaching out to smooth out a tower.}

What else does my castle need? {His ears are shaped like fins and there are golden and orange scales scattered over his torso.}

I think a little King and Queen. Oh and they need a baby or two, right?

{Now his smile dims slightly.}

Those with aquatic transformations are welcome to join me! Things have been a little tense, haven't they? Swimming can be...a release.

{He brightens again.}

San Lang~ I'm putting you here. {Xie Lian forms a little person, crudely, out of sand and places them right beside the royal children.}

Comments

un: iudex

[inexorablejudgment]

[Swimming can indeed be a release. He isn't ignorant of what Xie Lian is doing - making sand castles is practically a national pastime where he comes from - but the comment on swimming itself is what catches his attention.]

Have a care while you swim. Not everything in the water is tolerant of company.

[It's spoken mildly, a simple comment rather than a warning or a threat.]

Though I share your view on the activity.

[disgracedprince]

{He looks up at the unfamiliar voice and nods. The warning is sound and he looks out over the water, wondering what could be near the shore.}

I don't mean to bother any creature. Should I enter their territory on accident, I will find a way to make amends.

{He doesn't seem scared of being bitten.}

Then join me!

[inexorablejudgment]

[He does have a small concern that this man may disturb something that would not be interested in amends, but such things are always a risk when setting foot outside of territory that is meant for you.]

If the invitation is in earnest, then I shall.

[So long as he isn't intruding.]

[disgracedprince]

Of course it's earnest! Everyone is welcome. The water feels good.

{He splashes with his koi tail and smiles brightly. If something takes offense to him, he will deal with it. His guests will be safe.}

[inexorablejudgment]

[Neuvillette, thankfully, needs no protection from anything that might take offence to finding them in the water. Given the invitation is in fact an earnest one he decides to take it, and after a time Xie Lian would find that he has company.

Said company is in the form of a white-haired man cutting through the water as easily as if he had a tail or flippers, yet he has neither. A pair of glowing 'wings' trail after him and the pair of long horns that sweep back along his hair are also shining a faint blue.

He pauses to observe the man from a short distance and raises a hand in a brief greeting.]

[disgracedprince]

{How remarkable! Xie Lian hurries to the water and waves happily. It only takes a few moments for him to undress - the rest of the way - and hop into the water; his transformation comes a few seconds later. His koi tail is a wonderful combination of black, orange and white and his finned ears are orange, too. There are also gills along his sides.}

Thank you for coming! How do you like the water?

[inexorablejudgment]

It is--

[He realises, before he starts to ramble, that this man is not asking him for an in-depth analysis. A trap he has fallen into many times before. Neuvillette politely cuts himself off and smiles, nodding slightly.]

Pleasant.

[And it is. The water in this part of Ellipsa is always pleasant.]

You choose an interesting form.

[disgracedprince]

{Xie Lian's finned ears perk up at the hesitation. Is there something his new friend isn't saying? Xie Lian lowers himself into the water, his dark hair floating on the surface around him.}

I guess I can't choose between being a koi fish and being a man. {Er...god.} But I have let myself be a full fish! It's fun.

[inexorablejudgment]

Not an experience I can claim to have had.

[But considering his current shape and the power radiating from him as a result, perhaps it is evident why he has not needed to even attempt it. Truth be told he has not changed his form at all while he has been here, though he is aware of the possibility.]

Have you explored much of the area? I am somewhat familiar with it.

[disgracedprince]

Try it if you have the chance.

{Being a fish is fun! Their point of view is amazing, but Xie Lian feels safer in his pond than in the sea~ He is a little fish!}

I've kept close to the beach. I just wanted to feel the water and swim some.

[inexorablejudgment]

Hm...

[To feel the water... Yes, he can have some respect for that particular desire. It's one that he feels quite often, himself. Neuvillette glances away, to the deeper parts of the space around them, then back to Xie Lian.]

Would you care to see more?