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Iseult had come to the shallows to enjoy the sun and examine the tide pools, but the ocean had soon presented her with something much more fascinating.

While she had been playing about with anemones (gently flicking them with her tail) and trying to pick out a starfish friend for her mane (she had always been a fan of her dad's), Iseult noticed a face staring down at her. However, after the initial jolt, she realized that it wasn't staring at her - the usdia's eyes didn't gaze quite that deeply into the distance. He was focused on the surface of the water, and in this light, surely that could show only one thing: his reflection.

As she looked up at him, however, his eyes focused more - and made eye contact with her. He scooted around the pool, possibly frustrated? Iseult giggled, a few bubbles escaping her. Why was he so obsessed?

Taking a closer look at him, she couldn't help but wonder... Was it vanity? She had to admit, even in her own brief study of him, she found his appearance breathtaking, and it... stirred something in her. She had never been one to desire material possessions - her own hoard was so meager that her dad sometimes shook his head. But this feeling...

Iseult acted on impulse, swirling her tail so that she slowly rose from the water. Biting her lip - she was about to say something most unlike her, and gods did she want to stop herself - Iseult blinked at the stranger. "Hello, gorgeous," she murmured. "Would you like to go somewhere you'll be a little more appreciated?"

Internally, Iseult screamed a little, but externally, she remained as cool and confident as she could. Perhaps she had finally found a prize worth winning.

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294 words.

Iseult smirked (gently) as Buziba stepped forward, clearly interested in her proposal. His tail seemed to wag a little with enthusiasm at the possibility; Iseult knew she had made the right choice, whatever chagrin it caused her. He was adorable.

"My name is Iseult," she murmured, swaying a little closer. "I am a daughter of the Grail, a place where treasure hunters bask in the sunlight as it shines through the shallows, tend hoards of shimmering riches, and adorn themselves with jewels. Beauty is prized above all, and I think you clearly exceed that particular requirement." Her smirk fully evolved into a grin. She was at least a fifth generation pirate; if nothing else, she knew how to steal. Attention, loot... hopefully hearts.

"The Grail is built amidst the gardens and chambers of a coral reef; its residents are all aquatic soquili who have the means to get there." She swirled her tail a little as she said this, splashing a gentle wave at his hooves. "We share the reef with fish and other natural life, but it is quite a populous place. My family has resided there for many generations." She did not mention her grandfather's grandmother, who still ruled her family's part of the reef, and the mare's disdain for nixies... That was more of a "we'll swim that channel when we come to it" conversation. Etain had nearly disowned George when he conceived Iseult's father, Eoin... But Iseult wasn't sure what Etain expected. The whole point of the Grail was that it was a "melting pot" where everyone was welcome - somebody was bound to fall in love outside of Etain's expectations at some point.

Now, Iseult wasn't sure "in love" was the right descriptor for this particular situation... But she definitely intended to persuade this gentleman for a long stay with her little hoard, if he could be convinced. "What is your name?"

316 words.

Iseult's breath ran off as the nixie blinked his golden eyes at her from under the eaves of his lovely sea green hair. "It is a very lively place. There are plenty of little islands where the reef meets the surface of the waves, but I am not sure how stable they are. I think there are a few outcroppings of plain stone if you want a bit of solitude every once in a while. Most of the herd's members are fully aquatic, but there are a few nixies and kelpi, as well. It's wonderful to meet you, Buziba."

Giving him a wink, Iseult gathered herself up, put her hooves on the rock beside the tide pool, and pulled herself up and over to the next tide pool. "What say you to an introduction?"

Iseult grinned. "I hope you can keep up!" Her fins weren't really made for fast swimming, but she knew the way, and she had some training - her father had made sure she was prepared to live among a culture of vagabonds, even if she herself did not follow the traditions quite so strictly as some. "It is a decent swim, so I hope you won't mind getting a bit damp."

Intentionally not giving him time to reply, Iseult gave him another winsome smile and did a quick turnabout. The turquoise shallows and deep blue waters beyond opened their cool arms to her, and she wove through the seagrass. Given her coloration, she did glance behind her a few times - she imagined she could be easy to lose, depending on how the sun hit the water that day. The light shining through the surface glimmered on Buziba's jewelry and shimmered across his hair. For a moment, she thought she caught his eye, and her face heated - but she held his gaze as long as she thought it was safe to do so before looking away. (It would just a liiiittle embarrassing to bonk into something while staring at him.)

Something about this whole situation made glee bubble up in her chest. Not only had she found something beautiful - she was bringing him home! And he seemed to be interested in checking it out - and, she hoped, maybe interested in her? Nothing had ever struck her like this before.

They were about halfway to the reef when Iseult stopped at a sandbar where he could rest if he wished to. The nature of the reef meant they would mostly stay in the shallows, with places to rest on the journey. The blue sky had just a few clouds above them; she stuck her hooves in the yellow sand to anchor herself in the shallows as the waves rolled over her. "We're about halfway there, so it's not too much further on. It's generally a quick journey to the mainland, as long as the weather is decent and the currents aren't too rough."

As she took off, Iseult heard something echo in the space above her head, but she was too far off to make it out. There wasn't much she could do besides shrug and continue on - if it was important, he would probably bring it up again.

As she let her body float near the surface, Iseult thought about his question. She had a brother, but it had been a long time since she or her father had seen him; to her knowledge, he had been raised by her mother, who was very quiet and kept to herself. She didn't even know his name. "I have a brother, but I haven't seen him since the day we both emerged from our shells. I was raised by my father; he was raised by our mother. What of you? Do you have family?"

Iseult raised an eyebrow at Buziba as he expressed ignorance of his familial ties. She supposed that with the way soquili were born and placed in baskets or shells, it was possible he might not know his family. After all, she did not know much of her own. But to have neither parent present upon emergence from his shell or basket... How lonely that must have been.

But, she thought, given her own upbringing in such a boisterous place... If he was content with his own company (which he very much seemed to be), such might also be peaceful.

Nodding at his assertion that he was okay to continue on, Iseult pushed off the sandbar with her hooves. "We ought to continue, yes. There can be feral kelpi and mer that lurk around twilight and after dark, hoping for an easy meal. It's best not to linger where there are decently-sized hiding places." Slipping into the water with a tiny plish, Iseult led the way to the reef.

WC: 168

Iseult nodded at his concerned reaction to her mention of the feral soquili - they were probably one of the most concerning things around here, if she was honest. She didn't know how it happened - she had no desire to go too deep - but it seemed that sometimes, minds were left behind in the depths. She knew of only a single kelpi who had regained her wits after such an experience, and only after a near-mortal injury.

Wiggling along, Iseult made her way carefully through the kelp fronds, navigating slowly enough that her charge would be able to keep up in the unfamiliar territory. Her sense of direction was generally reliable enough that she could zip right through here without any weaving, but today, she needed to take it a little easier. After all, she couldn't be marring any of his lovely features if he were to meet the pirates.

Finally reaching the other side of the kelp forest, Iseult stopped just on the other side of the threshold. "We've arrived," she said, bubbles leaving her mouth as she spoke. Before them, a vast expanse of reef thrust up from the seafloor, covered in stag coral and all manner of other sea life. It was bursting with color - and glimmering bits shone everywhere in the muted sunlight as hoards spilled from their caverns. This place was rich in trinkets; the individuals were not always sure of the value of this or that, so they hung onto it all. "This is what we call the Grail."

WC: 254