nysalogs | what is your name? what is your quest?

[ no it's so cute.. how he holds his tail so high to keep it from touching the water.. weh, puppies!! ]

All different sorts, really. Last I swam here, I grew silver scales on my arms and legs.

[ SHE SAYS, SO NONCHALANTLY.. ]

But the enchantment wore off rather quickly, and I was none the worse for wear.

[ but you're already in the lagoon now, buddy, so uh.. might as well get comfortable!! ]

Silver scales?!

[ both eyes widen, and instinctively he takes a few more steps into the water where he scrunches his face up.

his tail has... touched... water.

not panicked in the slightest (jk), he huffs. ]

Where did they go, did they just fall off? Don't tell me you just let them float away!

[ ah.. of course he's concerned about where they've gone. what a waste to leave rotting scales behind, huh. alisaie levels him with a world-weary look.. but she has learned quickly enough that it won't get anywhere, so at last, she only shrugs. ]

No, they simply.. disappeared.

[ don't ask her how it worked?? it was an enchantment. aether scales, or something. but look how brave he is, there is water on his fur, what a good boy. time to GET TO WORK. ]

Now, how about I dive for the crystals and bring them to you, and you can ferry them to the shore?

Oh. Well... I guess that's okay. As long it didn't hurt you when they shed.

[ because it's not always about the treasure! friendship and safety, good health and wide smiles... those are treasures too? well, at least Keaton kind of recognizes those things as such, though it would have been kinda neat to chew on one.

anyway.

he nods, having some time to acclimate to the water. it's not bad. if anything, whatever enchantments that reside make it easier for him to wag it while it stayed submerged. ]

I can do that! I can definitely do that. You'll be careful, right? What kind of signal will you give if something goes wrong...?

[ aw, that's so sweet, puppy!! but no, she didn't even really notice them disappearing anyway, so.. ]

Well, I can breathe beneath the water, so do not be alarmed if I do not resurface for a bit, but the water is rather clear, so I will try to not go so far that you cannot see me.

[ she's never encountered anything besides magic in these pools anyway, but if it makes him feel better, she will play it extra safe. ]

But should an emergency arise, I shall.. blow bubbles?

[ he'll look out for her well-being no matter what! this is what good puppy friends do best. ]

... it's still unfair that you can breathe underwater. [ huff! ] You're no fish, and you certainly don't sport gills.

[ which makes her a dirty cheater kinda, but eh. ]

Blow... bubbles. [ that has his tail swish in the water, the ripples of movement making the smallest waves behind him. ] You better show me what they'll look like!

[ wow she's not a cheater, don't be jelly!! ]

Show you?

[ they'll look like BUBBLES... how bubbles look. but okay, you know what, fine, he's been such a good boy getting in this water, she will sacrifice a little bit of dignity to reward him, just so he doesn't go running off. AN ALMIGHTY SIGH.. and then she dips beneath the water, sinking low enough to blow out a spectacular array of bubbles. enjoy.. ]

[ look. let him see the bubbles. it's not like this should be that difficult! besides, it makes him totally super happy when he sees them, enough so that he can flash her a thumbs up and another swift wag of his tail. this time, the ripples are more like small waves, as whatever dust that comes off of it slowly turns into grey clumps behind him.

yeah. a little dirty, that tail. ]

Be careful, okay? I'm not gonna go deep swimming in either form. Can't let my hair get wet!

[ why can't his hair get wet.. but his tail can?? and wow, she definitely doesn't miss the filth coming off of it as it wags, puppy you really need a bath!! ]

Of course. I won't be long.

[ and she dives in earnest now, swimming straight for the bottom where the light is dim but the crystals are larger, heavier. give her a couple minutes here, buddy. ]

[ because the hair is the most Important Part of a Wolfskin! look how soft and fluffy it looks, it'll take forever to dry. his tail probably needed a nice cleaning at some point anyway, so.

but he'll still worry, anyway. even though he can follow what she's doing down there. it's amazing to Keaton, who has never seen an Elezen before. it's a little mesmerizing watching her sink so low into the darker parts...

eh. he can get his hair wet to see her work. it's worth it! so he takes one big ol' breath of air and plunges in, sinking slowly into the water naturally.

~~it's not all dirt and dust weight. ]~~

[ please don't sink to the bottom and drown, puppy.. at least it's a small pool, so if he gets in trouble she'll be able to figure it out pretty quickly.

for now though, she studies the floor of the pond until she finds the biggest, most lustrous gem she can. it's heavy, and takes a bit of effort for her to wrench out of the mud and into her arms, and she has to strain a little, swimming hard to carry it back up toward the surface again.

but of course, she pauses when she sees him. ]

What in the world are you doing?

[ it's... huge?! IT'S SO SHINY? and honestly this would be a huge deal to someone who isn't him, but it's just so boring. like, people would totally fall over their asses to get a jewel this massive and probably expensive.

but he shrugs. he's not fazed by this. he points to his eyes, then to the gem, and then to her before he smiles, starts to let his sight wander... he can't respond, they are underwater after all.

then he spots it.

a stick. a greenish-blueish stick.

and there goes his tail. ]

[ can't talk under the water, what a scrub.. but it's obvious enough by his clear body language that he wants something. ]

What?

[ alisaie looks puzzled, but it only takes a moment for her to follow his line of sight to the.. slimy, algae-coated stick. honestly. dogs. heaving a great sigh (underwater, how cool, right?), she lifts the large gem in her arms and holds it out to him. he still has a job to do!! ]

Take it to the bank, and I shall get it for you.

[ ah, well. she understands him! truly, the underwater language of 'flailing about' has finally worked. one day he'll do his best to capture the nuances of his tail wagging while the rest of his body vibrates in kind, desiring a gross stick that's just below his comfort zone of Not-Drowning.

also he's still super jealous. he wants to sigh underwater... sob, the scrub life. at least he can do what she asks, picking up the gem in both arms and then realizing how heavy it is as he kicks his legs and doesn't go anywhere.

hm.

well. he doesn't need to breathe to live or anything! and panicking will certainly make this easier.

/s ]

[ .. you had one job, puppy!! how is alisaie, a tiny 4'7" elfling, able to carry this crystal upward when you, a strong doggo, are not?? granted she had some trouble with it but still!!

a scrub indeed.. so she heaves yet another aquatic sigh, then wrests the crystal from his grasp again, before jerking her chin upward. ]

Go. Up.

[ how long has it been since he's taken a breath?? please go get some air.. ]

[ noooo! he's super strong, he can do this... but the burning in his lungs tell him otherwise, and both of his ears droop a little more than normal as he starts the slow ascending up to the surface. breaking up through its surface, he gasps and wheezes for a full breath of air. ]

D-dang... [ paddling over to somewhere he can stand, he pants with his mouth wide open. ] ... why was it so heavy down there... ?

[ thank the gods he relents, the last thing she wants to deal with is a friend drowning.. i mean, she'd probably be able to save him, but she'd rather not have to!! it's a struggle for her to lug the heavy crystal upward as well, but she manages with a few powerful kicks. with a grunt of effort, she shoves it up onto the bank before turning her gaze on keaton, her ears laying back in aggravation.

yeah. yep. her ears. her now white, furry ears, not so different from his own. ]

Come now, I thought you were stronger than that!

[ 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.

[ yes, they're so big and fluffy and furry, so qt, but she doesn't seem to have noticed them at all, despite how.. animated they are. ]

I suppose so, but still..

[ even in this form, he's still not strong enough?? ah, what a weak puppy, how embarrassing, outdone by a tiny elf. but the job is done at least, so she climbs up and out of the lagoon, gathering up her hair to wring it out, water streaming from her tail.

yup. it's wet, but it is so fluffy. ]

Well then, you can be responsible for carrying it back.

[ wow! not outdone, just... look, power levels are totally different and he really does need the assistance of his stone to do a lot of things. pick up bones? nope. sprinkle dust on his tail? nope. carry big ol' gems and punch sea serpents? yes. big yes.

and now it's her tail that gets his attention. his own tail's movements will match hers as it goes, but. the lightbulb goes off. ]

Hey. You... uh. You said you grew scales and stuff before, right? [ a beat: ] Were there any in the water with you last time you were here?

[ does this make it his fault??? he probably didn't HAVE to go too far into the water but... ]

[ weak........

but she's going on with her business, wringing out her wet hair further and tying it quickly into a messy tail to keep it out of the way, before padding across the sandy bank to lift the gemstone, setting it onto a warm boulder to dry, before climbing up to sit beside it to do the same. getting back into clothing covered in saltwater is no picnic. ]

Scales? In the water with me? No, not that I recall..

[ why do you ask???? ]

[ he rubs his eyes. maybe the magic in the water has him hallucinating? but no, there's no possible way. and the curiosity is becoming TOO strong, as he takes very slow and cautious steps forward and points at one of Alisaie's ears. ]

Maybe we're not too different after all.

[ though he can't help but laugh with a little hesitation. who knows what kind of assault upon his own furry ears he may receive if he mocks her? because that's surely not his intention! Alisaie is a good friend, and the last thing he wants to do is... upset her...

with a wag of his tail, he quickly turns around. ]

But uh. Yeah. I can probably carry that gem back, if you need me to.

[ well whatever she might've said about him carrying anything back will remain a mystery for the moment, because she's working it out.. he points to her ears, snickering in a way that is very telling, and so instinctively she lifts her hands to her ears and - ]

Oh, seven hells -

[ that's fur, for sure. alisaie's face scrunches up, but she's less shocked about it than she is.. embarrassed? or put out. she's braved these waters enough times now that she's used to these shenanigans.. but she still slaps both hands over those fluffy ears as she stands up, as if she is trying to hide them. ]

It will wear off soon..

[ ..ish. ]

[ as mischievous as he could be with this very unique situation thrust upon him, all he can do is tilt his head with a somewhat confused look on his face. ]

Why? I think you look one hundred percent cooler this way!

[ not that she didn't look cool before, but any furriness exponentially increases the Cool Factor. it's true. ask anyone. real maths here, okay? ]

Besides, you could probably pass as my sister... if I had one.

Well, I am certainly glad you think so.

[ she says, flatly, clearly not at all glad. though she supposes that, for all who could have seen her this way, keaton is more than likely the ideal choice, all things considered..

still!! she doesn't like it!! with a scowl, alisaie leans to scoop up the canvas bag - and it's hardly in her arms before she yelps in surprise and drops it immediately. looks like she's noticed the tail. ]

Oh, for the love of -

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