They sat side-by-side on the pale shore, twin silhouettes against the backdrop of sea and night sky.

The tide was a natural performer, its ebb and flow attuned to their shared heartbeat, as it reflected the twinkling stars above.

“Why’d you stop?” Freminet spoke up, breaking the lull of silence they’d lapsed into. His voice was soft with weariness, so much so that it was nearly lost to the lap of the gilded waves.

He opened his eyes to search the darkness, his expression softened in sleepy confusion; he’d had them closed for a while now, focusing his attention solely on the sound of his companion’s voice, fully immersing himself in the new story being woven for their pleasure.

The diver had appeared so relaxed in the previous moment, it was natural to assume he’d drifted off to sleep: he was hugging his mechanical penguin on his lap, strands of platinum-blonde hair falling forward like a curtain as his head lolled.

If he’d been a more outgoing person, he may have said that Pers had also been enjoying the tale…But the words had stuck to the roof of his mouth like sweet candy, rendering him mute.