Private ocean, take me away

"Now?" Jae blinked, as he had considered the offer as a now thing. Though, he thought about it and decided why not? Why couldn't they go now? "I don't see why not." He said. It wasn't like it would be a long trip. Jae studied the starry sky, thinking. He'll need to be able to swim under the water to make the trip in a reasonable amount of time.

"How long can you hold your breath?" Jae asked, not expecting Quincy to be able to hold his breath for long. "I'll have to go under water to swim fast enough. And you'll have to hold onto me again." If Quincy laid on Jae's back and wrapped his arms around his neck then that should be secure enough. Especially if Jae holds onto his hands as well.

Perhaps if Jae weren't feeling so bold and excited, he would think to test the position out first. Or to suggest another night after thinking over it more. Normally cautious, Jae felt greedy in the emotion's place.

Really, how could he say no when Quincy seemed so excited about it? Jae couldn't say no to that enthusiasim for what lay beyond the limited horizon. He smiled as Quincy wrapped him in a hug and professed thanks.

Quincy said he could hold his breath for a while, and Jae believed it. This didn't seem like the time to lie about such a thing. "It's simple." And Jae talked Quincy through how the other was to hold onto him. "Then I'll dive under, about a foot or so and I'll be going fast. When you need to breathe squeeze your arms and I'll surface. And don't push yourself." Jae said firmly. He didn't need Quincy blacking out in the middle of the water because he thought he could hold his breath just a little longer.

Then Jae smiled, "And if your arms get tired let me know and we can take a break." With maybe one break and minimal surfacing they could make the trip in fifteen, maybe twenty minutes. Jae turned, his back to Quincy and nodded. "Whenever you're ready." He said.

With Quincy's arms secured around him, Jae gently pulled them away from shore and told Quincy to take a big deep breath. Then with a powerful flex of his tail they dove under and rocketed off. Even with a tail not designed for speed, Jae could be fast when he desired it.

The speed invigorated Jae. Something about propelling himself forward and watching the land fly away. Jae reeled himself in, as he wasn't alone. The merman swam fast, but never so fast that Quincy couldn't keep his grip. The first time Quincy squeezes his shoulders Jae took them to the surface and turned his head to check on his companion.

"Hey, how are you doing?" Jae felt good, and hardly tired even with the extra drag Quincy provided. "Ready to go again?"

Jae tried not to worry as Quincy coughed and sucked in deep breaths. It was short lived and Jae felt himself relax. Quincy was fine and had not pushed himself too far. Though, the teen did worry he may have gone too fast. Upon Quincy's signal to go again, Jae took them under.

The second dive was gentler, not so sudden and the merman tried to think of his companion, rather than the joy of speed. Jae felt the slower progress, but kept a steady pace. By the time Quincy signaled to rise again, the island was gone from sight. Above the water Jae swept his electrolocation sense across the water around them. Large fish, a few sharks but nothing close. "Almost there," Jae said to Quincy with a small smile.

The teen turned his gaze to the open sky above. The stars were on full display and covered them like a blanket. The ocean expanded as far as the eye could see. Jae smiled, imagining themselves caught between two broad, vast expanses. This is what he wanted to share with Quincy. The joy of isolation.

"It is, isn't it." Jae hummed. How many times had he come to the edge of the limnal space, watched the stars and float in the ocean all by himself? Many times, but never with someone else. Never with someone who understood the magic of the open ocean. Jae gave Quincy another smile, brilliant and relaxed. It quickly turned into a blush when he caught Quincy's curious gaze.

"We're almost there." He said, and he could feel the barrier in a sense. A curved line where fish and other aquatic life did not pass. "Come." With Quincy's arms secured around his shoulders, Jae dived and took them the rest of the way to the edge. It was easy to tell when they hit it as Jae slowed to a stop. A gentle pressure keeping him back. The edge, it didn't look like the edge of anything. The sky and ocean seemed to extend beyond even further.

"We're here." Jae said and twisted so he floated on his back. He could keep both of them afloat for a while, should Quincy hold onto him like a floaty. Jae turned his gaze back to the stars. "The edge of our little world." The two of them afloat on the water.