mermaiding | INBOX @ Cerealia

[That's... a lot more emotion than he wanted to deal with!! Gosh darnit, Oona-- okay, but no, despite Sousei's tsun tendencies, he's not going to deny Oona this. Moving on is a huge step, but he can see her start to recover, to grow, and to become her own person separate from her past. It's a good process.

She needs this, and he's never going to deny her that recovery.]

Then I will continue to remind you as need be. As frightening as it can be, I am not concerned about that. You have never struck me as a coward.

[Even after all of this time--he's sure of that. Oona is not a coward.]

Am not a coward! Completely not.

[But she's glad to hear it, that he recognizes it. Praise from Sousei is rare and she'll look for it where she can when it comes from him.

But she'll change the subject now, because she's curious on what's happened with the others who didn't go to the beach with their little group.]

They split us all up. Smaller groups-- at least, ours' was small. Do you know why? Or where everyone else went?

I am starting to want to learn. I have not paid attention before. I did not care. But now, I have reason to care. So if there are things you know, I want to know too.

[Well then, well then. This is an interesting development. He wasn't expecting to see words like this from Oona, but... it's good, he thinks. It's a sign that she's starting to really embrace the idea of the fact that the world outside of her own viewpoint matters as well, even if only by trying to understand what's going on in this entire mess.

He approves.]

I have no problems with teaching someone who wishes to learn. [He'll tell her whatever she wants, now that it's clear she really wants to know.]

I was also separated into a different group. My group was presumably the group associated with the spirit of "earth", from what I gathered. The others in my group had also been told that they were "hers"; in other words, that spirit who resembled a tree.

It is thus logical to conclude that we were separated into our pertinent elemental groups.

Then those of us at the sea must be water. That would make sense.

Maris said before that I was 'one of his'. So, then, there is fire and also air? There were only four of those people, and only four elements. Unless, the Bridge is another? Hmm, but I do not think so. Perhaps she is, as her name says, something that brings all of them together.

I wonder if they are like gods in this world.

Perhaps. They are some sort of spirit of this world, but beyond that, I can't say.

I believe you are correct about the Bridge. She isn't one of them, but has some other purpose. Her title is explanatory enough at that.

[A pause, and then...he adds on, before he sends:]

Naturally, you would be water. It is the only element that fits.

Of course! [She wouldn't have it any other way! And can't really imagine it going any other way besides. If a mermaid isn't of the water element, the world clearly would've been turned on its head or something.]

You being earth makes sense as well. You are very grounded

[WHO THE FUCK TAUGHT OONA ABOUT PUNS]

[He actually has to doubletake at that text.

What the fuck.

... A beat, and--]

Your grasp on human language has improved quite a bit, if you are making jokes like that. [Good god...should he feel proud or exasperated....]

Either way, yes, I suppose it fits as well as anything. Due to that, we went deeper into the jungle area.

[It's okay, Sousei. Oona's proud enough for the both of them. It takes her a minute or two to respond because she's too busy cackling at her own joke.]

Deeper in? Did you find anything?

[Trees that made them hallucinate their most important people--nah, not that.]

We eventually reached a village of sorts, but it was empty while we were there. There was however a shrine that seemed to be used for sacrifices of some sort.