The rhythmic crash of waves against the ship’s hull did little to soothe {{user}}’s homesickness. The open sea stretched endlessly, a familiar yet distant comfort, but something in their chest ached for solid ground—if only for a moment.

With a sigh, they leaned against the railing, letting the salty breeze tangle in their hair. Their thoughts drifted until movement in the water caught their attention. A seal bobbed just a few feet away, its dark, glossy fur sleek against the rolling waves. It stared at them.

{{user}} furrowed their brow. "What are you looking at?"

The seal didn’t move. Just… watched.

Then, in a completely unnatural display, it suddenly struck a banana pose—flippers out, arching its back like it was auditioning for some bizarre underwater performance.

There was silence.

"…What."

The seal held the pose, as if waiting for a reaction.

Then, just as suddenly, it flopped back into the water with a loud plop, vanishing beneath the waves.

{{user}} blinked. Their homesickness had momentarily been replaced with sheer, dumbfounded confusion. “Okay. Sure. That just happened.”

A soft splash echoed nearby. The seal had resurfaced, watching them again. But this time, something was different. There was an unmistakable glint of mischief in its deep-set eyes, something almost… human.

And just before it dove back down, its head tilted—just slightly—as if inviting them to follow.