The Sky's Eternal Sunset

Flap About In Bathtub Gin

♉Good morning!♉ Axel grins at everyone once he reaches the top. Remus and Riku help him the rest of the way with a tug.

♈Morning Axel,♈ Remus laughs. ♈Did everyone make it in?♈

♉Some are late but most are here,♉ he answers with a nod.

The older Hikaru's talk to him for a while about the new arrivals with the binder out for him to look at. They clear up a few questions to fill out the appropriate information on a few family lines while he's here. This is when Kairi inserts herself into the conversation to ask about the Aicayas. She wants to know their connections in relation to one another and if they're ready to meet with the scientists.

♉They're still hesitant,♉ Axel admits sheepishly. ♉They've never been close to humans before.♉

♈How close do you think they'll let us get?♈Remus wonders.

From where they are now it looks like the Aicayas are all sitting on a central float. They flash their markings at each other in quick rhythmic pulses and smile. One of the females is twisting the other's hair into braids.

♉It might be best to hang back and let them come to you,♉Axel says with a smile. ♉I did tell them you mean no harm. So if they want to come close, they will♉

♏We can at least get some pictures in,♏ Riku suggests patting Kairi's shoulder to cheer her up. ♏Maybe once the migration is in full swing, they'll let us get closer.♏

♈Sora, didn't you have a question for Axel?♈Remus calls out. ♈Sora? Hello?♈

Sora is a million miles away. He's got his feet hooked into the railing and leaning out with his binoculars. Hardly paying attention to them at all as he searches the waters. It takes Kairi throwing a marker at him before he notices and  hops down.

♈You had a question,♈ Remus points to the merman.

⛎Oh. Oh yeah! Right!⛎ Sora blinks with memory and comes much closer. He gets down to his knees the way Remus is so he can be level with Axel's sharp green eyes.

God, he's so outstanding. All the merfolk are. And for a second he's struck by that awe that he's finally achieving his dream. But then his thoughts come back and he shakes his head with a cough.

⛎The spiky golden blonde merman. The outsider. Is he--would he let me study him?⛎Sora finally asks.

Axel pauses with uncertainty and bites his lower lip in thought.

♉You mean Roxas,♉ he says. Axel looks hesitant to talk but smiles anyway. ♉I don't think he can help you much with your studies. He can't speak. And he doesn't understand your tongue.♉

⛎But he'd be perfect for my paper. Look,⛎Sora says, pulling out his sketchbook. Axel looks on with keen interest at the drawings before giving an impressed nod. ⛎I've already got a bunch of sketches but I need detailed measurements. Scale and blood samples for medical review.⛎