[ gasp. furry ears. hello? this is new??? he's biting his lip, trying to ward off the temptation of just running over and giving them a few touches. do they feel like his? they look so white! they match her hair so well, even when obviously annoyed by his...

ah. ]

... I am. [ a nervous glance to his feet, then off to the side. ] But I didn't want to transform underwater. Don't know how it'd affect my breathing.

[ then, after a beat: ]

It's not because of the water, okay! I'm not afraid of it. Just feels weird, being underwater like that. I didn't like it before, either.