The water was cool--a very rare occurance. Not too warm for Caspian's skin to be uncomfortable or too cold for him not to be able to swim properly due to his tail being numbed, just right. Just perfect for him to swish around, thrashing with the other creatures that swam by him, stopping to give him a quick wave and passing by.

The saltwater's bitter taste was accustomed to his tastebuds as he gave a deep inahle, his gils opening and closing to extract what his lungs needed to function.

"Auntie Adella!" He called out, finding the place in which his family--more so his six aunts and grandfather stayed--his nicely combed hair being messed as he swam right up to the dark brunette collecting shells.

"Yes, Caspian? What do you need hun?" His aunt's expression soon turned from caring to confused, eying a utensil in his hand. "Caspian?"

The boy quickly took his hand and put it behind his back, giving a nervous chuckle, bubbles plowing up after his words. "Yes, auntie Adella?"

"What is that in your hand?"

Caspian pulled it out, a shamed look overcoming him. "This? Its a dinglehopper!"

  She gave a twisted expression as she placed a shell on the rock beside her to leave more room in her left arm. "And where did you exactly find that? Surely not on the shorelines where we have forbidden you to travel to, correct?"

Caspian's smiling expression turned downward, his face turning into a sorrowful look as he tilted his hand down. "I-I mean.."

"Give me it, Caspian."

"It's not like I did anything to bad, Auntie Adella!"

"You went behind our backs to go on the shoreline Caspian, now give me it."

"...Can I have it back later on?"

The women soon grew frustrated and went into the palm of his hand and took it, hiding it a fairly large seashell she was carrying and tossed it.

Caspian, out of instinct, went to go find it but Adella grabbed his wrist.

"I don't see what was so wrong with it!" He bellowed, his fists clenched as he looked down, his tail swooshed upwards.

"How are we supposed to trust you when you keep sneaking into places where you don't belong, Casp? If you don't stop I might have to bring grandfather into this again, as much as I would rather not."

  Caspian looked up and huffed, bitting his lip he turned the opposing direction and let his tail work as a prepeller and went the other direction as fast as he could.

"Where are you going there young man?"

"Away from you!"

~~

Caspian felt horrible yelling at Auntie Adella.

In fact, he felt horrible for all he did, besdies the one thing he should've felt bad for--sneaking.

He wanted to be up there. Where all the royals walked and chatted, doing human things and being able to go on land with their separated fins and..what were they called? Feet. Yeah, feet!

  He wanted to be where they were, in the room where it happens. Where they talk about human things and all the magical forests and dragons he read in the books his Auntie Alana lended him from time to time.

He wanted to be dressed in those cool pieces of cotton that slipped on your chest and sepreated fins and the leather on your feet. He always wanted to just walk on the streets and be normal.

But no, he was stuck here, in this random underwater cave he found to sulk, with his aunts and his grandfather and-

"Who the hell are you!?"

Caspian turned around to find a very angry eelman next to him, his expression mansfesting into slanted eyes and a snarl lining his mouth.

"Oh-! I am deeply sorry sir, I had no idea this had any inhabitants! It just looked too bland for anyone in the whole wide ocean to live in!"

The man sighed and placed his hand on his temples. "True to that, my apologies, but would you kindly please leave."

Caspian was going to turn around and leave. He was going to just call it a bad day and go home to read his books. But he decided another thing entirely.

  "I know! So no one else can break into your little abode, I can help spruce it up a bit!"

"Please don't."

But there was no trying to stop him, he was already bringing in everything he could find to decor the little place. Seaweed, bottom little weeds on the ocean bed, starfish and sponges and plenty of tiny little shells.

The man wrapped his arms around his chest and let a long sigh escape. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I thought maybe I could help you!" Caspian gave a smile and swam up to him with a giant pile of the supplies in his arms. "I had a bad day too, but we can both try to cheer up!"

"I'm..." The man said and paused. "I'm always like this."

"Oh!" Caspian said, ignoring his words. "I never catched your name! What is it? I'm Caspian!"

"Neptune." The man bowed his head, swallowing as it seemed he gave into the young adults antics. Caspian started to hang up some fragments of seaweed as he started asking questions.

"How long have you been living here?"

"Are you sleepy? You look sleepy."

"Do you need anything?"

Neptune swam up to Caspian, his arms slugged at his sides as he eyed the patterns he made with the seaweed, sloppily may I add, and the pictures he tried to form with the shells and sponges.

"Why do you even care?"

"You look lonely, and it's my job to help people with that!" Caspian chirped and punched the boy's arm playfully.

Neptune swan around a bit, looking (and silently grimacing) at the decor Caspian laid out on the ash grey rocks, the eye straining colors popping like a bright pink clown in a group of mines.

  Caspian finally ran out of the green and pink vomited colors he found on the sandy floor and Neptune was left to look at it, his face trying not to seem too displeased.

"Do you like it, grumpy pants?"

  "Do not call me that."

  "Too late!"

Neptune eyed him a stink look as he did with the decor.

"If my eyes could talk, they would be yelling."

"At least no one's gonna break in anymore after me!"

Caspian was finally able to get a good look of Neptune. He was no older than early twenties, 23 at the oldest, and he was heavyset. His skin was riddled with acne and his teeth were somewhat crooked, his black hair messy and swirling in with the ocean water as he tilted his head. He wasn't the most charming in actions and looks, but Caspian saw a twinkle in his eye he wanted to bring back.

"Well, I'll give you that much."

Caspian giggled and folded his hands, looking at Neptune and the wall and back at Neptune.

"So, I did good?"

"Yeah, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night."

  Caspian nodded viscosity and gave a soft squeak, making Neptune look over at his direction.

"So, may you kindly leave my house?"

"Can I come by tomorrow?"

Caspian was hoping for a yes. He seemed so depressed living in a cave like this. He must've been so grumpy all the time because everyone was that to him--rude and snarky. Maybe, just maybe, if he showed him what friendship was, he could help him with everything wrong and make him smile!

And to his suprise, he muttered a sure.