Lapidot - Ocean

...So I'm not even gonna try to make a good title.

Lapis grinned, her spirits rising. Talking to Peridot was fun, because she was such a curious and innocent person – like a little kid, only smarter. And now that the conversation wasn't super awkward, it was very enjoyable. Her grin faltered for a moment at the thought of Peridot's previous offer to kiss her (even if she hadn't meant it that way), but then she decided that Peridot probably honestly didn't mean it and just didn't know what a kiss was (which she had doubted slightly before, but had now concluded was really true) and her smile returned.

"Humans aren't that different from mermaids, then," Peridot was saying thoughtfully, resting her chin in her hands and waving her tail slowly to keep afloat. "Except that you have ecklecktricity."

"Electricity," corrected Lapis, "and you're sort of right I guess, but that does affect our whole lives, so we're a lot more different than just that."

"I guess," Peridot shrugged. "But I bet I could live just fine among humans. I'd love to try one of those phone things you talked about, they sound cool."

"I would bring mine," Lapis said, "Except it might fall in the water and get ruined, or you might drip water on it by accident."

"I wouldn't," denied Peridot, indignant. "I never drip water."

"You don't?" That was slightly confusing; after all, Peridot was always in the water. Wouldn't she be soaking wet when she came out?

"No," Peridot retorted, as if it was obvious, "I have magic, so why would I want to get wet if I could help it? There's always a little less than this much of not-wet between me and the water, unless I want it to be gone – I, what's the word? Repel it. What, do humans not have that?"

"Humans don't... Wait, but you have magic? That's awesome!" Lapis reached out and touched Peridot's arm gently. It was, indeed, dry. And really soft. Only a moment passed before Peridot pulled away, but it was enough time for a sort of jolt to run up Lapis's arm. She stared at her hand curiously. What was that?

"Yes," Peridot said simply. Then, after a moment during which Lapis stared at her wonderingly, she added, "I can't do much with the magic though, it's not as if I'm a faerie or anything–"

"There are real fairies, too?!" Lapis thought she might faint if she suddenly found out that all magical creatures were real. A mermaid was surprising enough.

"Not that I know of," Peridot said. "They're just an old tale. Humans have stories about them too? That's interesting. Maybe that means they do exist... or did, a long time ago, and are gone now."

"Maybe," Lapis replied, slightly impressed. Part of her had always believed that humans were the only species capable of logic, although she had already figured out that it wasn't true. At first, she even thought Peridot was a human. She did look human and speak a human language – wait a minute... "How do you know how to speak English?"

"We learn it at school, mostly. Is English what it's called, then? I didn't know that – we mers just picked it up by listening to humans a lot. Some humans talk with strange words. I know three ways of talking, but you won't be able to hear or understand the underwater talking. It's actually more like hand-movements and tail-flicks, but with noises too. And then there's the one I made up with my sister back when she actually talked to me." Peridot suddenly went quiet, and Lapis guessed she was thinking about her sister – whoever that was. She was curious, but decided not to delve into that; better to respect Peridot's privacy. She turned around and squinted towards her watch, which was resting a few rocks away together with her shorts (she had come with just a swimsuit and shorts today, thinking she would be going into the water to talk with Peridot. She ended up not doing so, but that was alright.

Suddenly it hit her: It was almost an hour past the time her mother had told her to be back at the cabin! How had she lost track of time like that? Talking about internet, and computers, and electricity, and magic... Lapis got to her feet even as she said, "I have to go, Peridot, sorry," and hopped towards the rock. Her foot slipped on a strangely slippery rock and she bit back a curse when she found herself falling into the water. Whyyy? She groaned inwardly, spitting out some saltwater and rubbing her burning nose. Peridot was snickering in the background, and Lapis turned her eyes suspiciously towards the mermaid.

"S-sorry," gasped Peridot, not looking sorry at all, "but that was kinda hilarious."

"Did you do that?" Lapis asked, narrowing her eyes. Peridot shook her head, but Lapis still wasn't sure she was telling the truth. Grumbling, the human climbed out of the water again, careful not to slip. Peridot swam up closer to her, still chuckling.

"Wow, you weren't kidding when you said humans don't repel water," she observed cheerfully.

"Hmph," grumbled Lapis, shaking her head to dry her hair off a bit. Water droplets flew everywhere. "I still think that was your fault."

Peridot shook her head, grinning. Lapis got to her feet slowly and hopped over a few more rocks until she reached the one where her stuff was. The mermaid swam after her slowly, watching as Lapis slipped on her watch and shorts and put on her hat.

"Come back the day after tomorrow if you want to see me," Peridot said as Lapis got ready to leave. "I won't be here tomorrow; it's the full moon."

"The full moon? What does that have to do with–" Lapis turned back, but Peridot was gone. Oh well. An extra day would give her time to read up on mermaids and see if she could find anything out – obviously it would be fantasy but she might as well. And maybe she would bring her phone the next time she came... Oh man, her mom would be so mad at her for being out late... Lapis sped up slightly, stumbling over the stones. Day after tomorrow, she repeated in her head. Day after tomorrow.