He floated close enough to see the marks she spoke of, noting the similarities to some objects which he recognized - bones - and others he was less familiar with, such as the cards. The scars which she called 'freedom' were in a shape completely unknown to him, and he studied them more closely, ever-curious to learn more of dryland custom and communication.
Her own curiosity was met with a tilt of his head and an amused gleam in his eyes. "Survival, mostly," he rumbled. The mermanta lifted himself out of the water nearly to the waist, timing the movement to a ripple of light across the water. Gold gleamed in twisting lines across his dark skin and darker manta hide; scars left by tooth and coral, metal and burn, tattooed over with an almost metallic ink. Not so many as a warrior or hunter might have, but enough to show the dangers of living three decades in the sea.
He subsided back into the waves, the night-dark waters hiding the golden traceries of his past once more. "For my own intentions... hmm..." He considered the marks on her arms and those visible above the mask as he floated beside Chaele for a little while before continuing. "Strength. Protection." That which he gave. And for what he carried: "Duty."
He turned his gaze outward once more, green eyes bright. "What words would you use for your future?"
Her own curiosity was met with a tilt of his head and an amused gleam in his eyes. "Survival, mostly," he rumbled. The mermanta lifted himself out of the water nearly to the waist, timing the movement to a ripple of light across the water. Gold gleamed in twisting lines across his dark skin and darker manta hide; scars left by tooth and coral, metal and burn, tattooed over with an almost metallic ink. Not so many as a warrior or hunter might have, but enough to show the dangers of living three decades in the sea.
He subsided back into the waves, the night-dark waters hiding the golden traceries of his past once more. "For my own intentions... hmm..." He considered the marks on her arms and those visible above the mask as he floated beside Chaele for a little while before continuing. "Strength. Protection." That which he gave. And for what he carried: "Duty."
He turned his gaze outward once more, green eyes bright. "What words would you use for your future?"
