[attr="class","beck"]here, in the still shallow depths of the ocean, they are nothing more but guests, observers, and so he remains respectful. he doesn't reach a hand out to touch anything no matter how much he wants to. he simply floats, swims, and admires.

but what happens when the ocean approaches him?

he floats to a still at the sight of a finneon. its pink stripes glow under the sunlight, absorbing and reflecing as it swims towards him. its scales glisten and sparkle as it swirls right in front of theo, coming to a stop as well.

for moments, they simply watch each other, both equally as curious, and both equally as innocent.

[attr="class","noodles"]eliora potts

[attr="class","beck"]just this once, he makes an exception and raises a hand that gently glides across the water before stopping before the finneon, seemingly held back by unvoiced hesitation.

he waits for what seems like too long, perhaps hopeful. just when he's about to pull away, finneon swishes forward and brushes against his hand. he smiles behind his regulator and watches it swim off into the distance.

satisfied, he follows after ellie, approaching deeper waters.

[attr="class","noodles"]eliora potts

[attr="class","beck"]his senses are drowned out; ears muffled by the pressure of the ocean. it's only then that he realizes how easy it is to forget down here. all he has to do is let go, allowing his thoughts to drift.

naturally, a few rise to the surface.

could they still reach him down here?

of course.

they have a fucking submarine.

but the thought doesn't linger long; it fades with the passing of a mantine large enough to cast its shadow over several others. he catches a glimpse of something on the sandy floor; not the slowpoke, but something underneath it.

theo gestures and points right as octillery shifts out of the sand. it slowly blinks, eyes likely readjusting to the light, before it pushes off its SUCTION CUPS and glides across the water, swimming.

[attr="class","noodles"]eliora potts

[attr="class","beck"]the appearance of a kingdra draws his attention; not towards it, but behind it, below it, and around it. sure enough, he finds what he's looking for: small whirlpools in the near distance, shades of blue and black twisting and mingling and combining.

thankfully, they're safe from being pulled into them.

his eyes glance down to sift through beds of seaweed; there, he finds small horsea chasing each other, darting in and out and around long leaves that sway with the tides.

[attr="class","noodles"]eliora potts

[attr="class","beck"]the shadow is noticed.

his eyes narrow, peering across in an attempt to identify. he comes up short; so he reaches a hand out to tap at ellie's shoulder, then points in the direction of the shadow that quickly approaches.

[attr="class","noodles"]eliora potts

[attr="class","beck"]at the sight of a sharpedo, theo reaches a hand to where his pokeballs would normally be only to realize he hadn't brought them with him. surprisingly, he had forgotten to. so there's nothing left to do but watch.

maybe his fishie wrestling would save him.

thankfully, something else does.

as quick as it had appeared, the sharpedo's knocked away, disappearing behind a rock. theo eyes the gyarados with caution; it's far too big and strong for him to wrestle, so his eyes shift back to ellie just in time to see her point.

nodding, he kicks his legs, slowly swimming back to the surface.

[attr="class","noodles"]eliora potts

[attr="class","beck"]it takes theo a bit longer than her to finally surface. his regular pops out of his mouth when he does; he breathes, appreciating fresh air more than he normally would.

turning his head, he meets ellie's gaze and smiles, genuine.

"that was fun."

[attr="class","noodles"]eliora potts