1567/The Demands of the Oceans

The Demands of the Oceans
Date of Scene:	20 July 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Aspen Matthews meets Kaldur'Ahm of Atlantis; they agree to represent the nations of the Sea to the surface, as partners.
Cast of Characters:	Fathom, Aqualad

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Fathom has posed:
    Aspen's been spending more and more time in the water than she has in the past...and, that's saying something. In fact, she often spends days at a time deep under water, swimming with the creatures that call it home, as it is home to her kind. But, she keeps her house on the beach prepared and tidy just in case she needs to host people who don't share her abilities. And, it's during one of those trips to the surface that she finds herself tidying her house, dressed in an off-the-shoulder t-shirt that's seen better days, worn so thin as to almost be see-through, and a pair of comfortable cutoffs. Her hair is gathered on top of her head in a casual ponytail, some few tendrils escaping to frame her face.

    She exhales as she sinks onto the couch, having just completed the worst of the cleaning, leaving only the finishing touches to take care of-- putting the pillows back in their proper places on the couch and armchairs, arranging the decorative items on their shelves, and so on. That's when her doorbell issues its gentle notification that someone...is at the door. She gets up, slipping her feet back into her house shoes, and pads to the door to peer out the peep hole. Strange. She wasn't expecting company. She opens the door and rests her side against it, "Hi. Can I help you?" Her voice is polite, her smile is friendly.

Aqualad has posed:
The fellow standing at the door... is definitely not the UPS guy.

He is tall, for one, and broad shouldered like a professional swimmer. His skin is a dusky, deeply mocha tone, his short-cropped hair pale yellow-- and when Aspen answers the door, he bows deeply, kneeling with a rigid formality before rising a beat later.

Oh-- and he has gills.

"Please pardon the interruption," Kaldur'ahm says, dipping his head with extreme courtesy. "I am Kaldur'ahm, of Atlantis. I have been sent by the royal Court to see out Aspen Matthews, of the Blue. It is a matter of some formality," he remarks, in level, clipped tones that speak of an extraordinarily civil politeness. "If this is an inconvenient time, I can wait on the beacb," he suggests, eyes flickering minutely as if taking in Aspen's casual garb.

Fathom has posed:
    Aspen's blue eyes widen a bit as the young man bows so formally and begins speaking, her roving gaze taking in and noting the gills that are all too visible on the sides of his neck. When he's done delivering his very informative greeting, she gives him a long look, her eyes ticking back and forth to look into his eyes more directly. Her teeth tug at the swell of her bottom lip, as though she's contemplating how to respond to this situation. A slow smile grows on her face as she finally speaks, "Well, Kaldur'ahm of Atlantis, you are in luck."

    She steps back, drawing the door with her as she does so, widening it so he can enter. To ensure he doesn't misunderstand her, she sweeps an inviting arm in the direction of the wide open space of her living room. "Just, ah, be sure you wipe the sand from your feet here in the vestibule," she says, gesturing to the very Asian-inspired slightly depressed area of the foyer wherein one would, if they wore shoes, remove them and slip into a pair of house shoes before entering the house proper. "It cuts down on the sand that makes it inside," she says by way of explanation, demonstrating for him how to do the deed with the broad, long mat intended for sand removal.

    Afterward, she slips back into her house shoes and continues inside, certain that Kaldur can handle it from there. "Please, make yourself comfortable," she says, indicating the seating arrangement featured in an attractive place in the lower floor of the house. Much of the lower floor's walls are floor-to-ceiling glass panels that are slightly tinted, to ensure that people aren't blinded by the rising/setting sun. The decoration in this place is much like Aspen-- casual, attractive, breezy, aquatic-chic. "I'm dying of thirst. Water for you?" she asks as she shuffles toward the kitchen.

Aqualad has posed:
Kaldur stops at the indicated point, wiping his feet.

Very, very carefully.

"Water would be most welcome, thank you." Kaldur's pale eyes track Aspen's motions as she walks to the kitchen. But, he does not sit-- he waits for her to return with the drinks, and takes several sips. Atlanteans can consume saltwater easily enough, but freshwater is a little luxury- a bit less work for the kidneys to filter.

Once she's situated, he produces a carved seashell. Letters of marque and proclamations never really caught on underwater; messengers and diplomats were trusted with their own words, to carry the name of Atlantis with nothing more than a royal seal in hand.

He seats himself on the edge of a sofa seat, stiff backed with the need for formality.

"I apologize for the abrupt intrusion, Lady Matthews," Kaldur begins. His voice is low and steady; a bit on the raspy side, but a confident baritone. "Atlantis and the Blue have long been allies," he begins, with careful deliberation. "I have been charged by my King to maintain that alliance. Our homes share a common interest in the world above; to ensure the nations of the surfacers remember Atlantis, and to bring knowledge of the surface back to my people."

He clears his throat, looking at the leggy woman across from him. "To that end, my Lord has a request-- that you and I join the diplomatic mission to the surface, as joint representatives. He hoped that you would accept me in this endeavour as your bodyguard."

Fathom has posed:
    Aspen returns with the bottled water. Being who she is, gifted in the way she is, she's uniquely positioned to provide the best, tastiest, and freshest of waters. Considering it's her favorite and constant drink, she's very picky and only gets the best for when she's abovewater. So, when she hands the water to Kaldur, it might be the best fresh water he's ever had. This is because Aspen takes the time to prepare her own batches of the fresh water, removing all of the impurities and leaving behind only sparkling, pure liquid. The process by which she does this is actually fascinating to watch, but it's not something she talks about, unless asked.

    She settles herself, crossing her legs criss-cross-applesauce in the chair as Kaldur holds out the shell for her to see. Now, she's met Atlanteans before, but always in passing, and she couldn't tell the official royal insignia from a fake, but Kaldur is so earnest. Something in her tells her that he's not lying to her, and really..what reason would he have to lie, anyway? As he finishes speaking, she places her water down on the end table near her before turning her eyes back to his face.

    "Well. That's certainly something," she smiles, leaning back into her seat and rubbing the tops of her thighs. "I'm a bit at a loss for words, Kaldur'ahm. I wasn't expecting this kind of...formal meeting, today," she laughs softly, rubbing the back of her neck next. "I guess... I should ask some questions before I accept?" she says, her brows hitching upward in her uncertainty. "I'm very flattered that your king thought of me, when thinking of my people... But, I don't know that I'm /qualified/ to be a representative of the Blue. I mean... Well, the politics are confusing and probably boring to you, but.. I'm partially of the Blue and partially of the Black. They don't get along, really. So, if I agree to represent them, I'd need to agree to also represent the Black... And, I'd feel more comfortable if I could get the okay from people who are...more official than me..." she rambles.

    "Basically," she says, finally putting a stop to her babbling. "I need to know what's expected of me in this position. And, why would I need a bodyguard? Is danger going to be involved?" she asks, framing her face with her hands as she tries to figure out the implications. Being the hybrid child of two unfriendly tribes is a drag, sometimes. Times like right now. What's the right choice to make? She's got no idea.

Aqualad has posed:
Kaldur looks... a bit uncertain. As if he expected Aspen's response to be more urbanely diplomatic. "...I ... do not know," he admits, finally. "My Lord will, no doubt, have more information forthcoming in the days ahead."

That's what this is then-- a pre-meeting. To arrange the offer ahead of schedule, so that the actual agreement is not perceived as a diplomatic ambush ahead of many witnesses.

"You are of the Blue-- and the Black. Both tribes have power and mighty, but their voice is not not well heard on the surface."

"I believe it is my Lord's intention to represent not just Atlantis /or/ the BLue, but-- the oceans. To have a voice and a presence on the surface. There have historically been dangers on the human's lands," Kaldur reminds Aspen. "And times when the oceans have lent their support to the surfacers. As diplomats, it would behoove us to aid our surfacer allies in their time of crisis; and my Lord asked me to ensure that your safety is protected during such times."

"What tasks you might consider worthy, however, is up to you."

Fathom has posed:
    It's clear that Aspen feels out of her depth with all of this diplomatic talk, but the wheels are turning in her head as the young Atlantean speaks. Her blue eyes are sharp as she takes in what he has to say, but her expression is neutral. "Lofty goals," she murmurs, in reference to Kaldur's statement that his king plans to represent not only Atlanteans, but also /her/ tribes. She's quiet for a moment as she sorts out her thoughts on the matter, because she's actually the type of person to think before she speaks.

    Taking a long draft of her water, she places the now-empty glass down and sits back in her seat. "I know you don't know me that well, Kaldur'ahm. I don't know you very well, either. But, let me ask you something. How do you think your king would feel if I had come to you with the same offer?" she begins, maintaining eye-contact. "How do you think he'd take the news that I, as the common thread between the two tribes of my people, planned on representing not only my people, but also his?" she smiles lightly, hoping she's conveying the message clearly.

    "I don't have any great desire to take on tremendous amounts of responsibility, but I don't think the Blue or the Black would look kindly on being swept under an Atlantean umbrella, as far as surface dwellers go. It'd be like... Well, that probably wouldn't make sense to you, unless you know a lot about surface politics, actually," she trails off. "It'd be like Britain deciding to represent all of Europe. Or, America deciding to represent all of North America. Or, the entire Earth," she offers.

    Rubbing her face a bit, she drops her hands to her lap and she smiles at Kaldur. "I'm totally cool with being your friend. I'll happily help you out, if you want my assistance with something. But, I can't agree to your king absorbing my people and their domain under his rule, even if it's only as far as the surfacers, as you call them, know. I can't see that my people would be very pleased with that idea. Atlantis is sizeable, certainly. But, its people aren't the only ones of the oceans. Y'know?" she says, opening her palms up in a gentle fashion, showing she harbors no anger.

Aqualad has posed:
Kaldur nods understandingly. "Yes, I see what you mean," he tells her, bowing his head a few degrees. "I am well familiar with the general scope of surface politics, though I know these lands only by reputation and name. I have spent very little time among surfacers."

He falls silent, considering his next words calmly. "I believe I may have misspoke," he concludes, finally. "If my words have led you to believe that my King seeks to absorb the Blue, then I have been over-careless with them."

"I am not a diplomat; I am a warrior," he tells her. "The nuances of court escape me at times. In this measure, you are perhaps more suited for this mission than I am. My Lord seeks to establish better relations with the surfacers," he explains, haltingly-- trying to speak deliberately and clearly. "He instructed me to aid the surfacers in securing their safety and well-being by whatever means I deem prudent."

"As Atlantis is not the only voice of the ocean, he suggested that first I seek you out and ask if you would be my counterpart among the Blue. As partners-- equals, representing our respective tribes."

"Is that a more suitable arrangement?" he inquires, gazing at her with cool, fathomlessly pale eyes.

Fathom has posed:
    Aspen listens intently to all that Kaldur has to say, nodding her head to show she's following him, and remaining silent until he's completed his thoughts. "If your king wants to represent the oceans, there's not really any other way I can think to look at it. That's probably a failing on my part," she says self-deprecatingly, pressing a hand to her chest and smiling crookedly. "But, when you say that you'd like to team up as ambassadors from our respective tribes, to work alongside each other to represent our people... That sounds perfectly swell to me," she says with another smile.

    "I'll talk with my people, just to ensure there won't be any issues with this arrangement... But, I don't think it'll be a problem," she says, getting up from her seat and scooping up her empty glass. "More water?" she asks with lifted brows, her eyes meeting Kaldur's as she smiles. "I don't know about you, but I can never get enough when I'm out of the water," she adds. "And, that's with my humidifier keeping the air in here more tolerable," she glances up at the humidifers that are placed throughout the abode.

Aqualad has posed:
"Yes, more water would be most welcome," Kaldur agrees, readily. Fresh water is an incredible luxury for most Atlanteans, after all. "It is very fresh and clear. I am unsure I have ever had something quite so... tasty. Save for at my Kings' table."

He watches Aspen walk towards the kitchen, assessing her with a flat, inscrutable gaze. "I believe that a formal overture will be issued from my King to your homeland as well, by courier," Kaldur offers, a few beats later. "There will be no doubt proclamations signed and bargains struck. I understand such is the way of politics," he remarks, cooly.

"But my King told me, too, that great things come from honest, blunt conversation-- and he said this is a concept I welcome most readily."

Fathom has posed:
    Aspen brings Kaldur's empty glass along with her as she walks back into the kitchen to refill the water from her refrigerator. On her way back, she smiles prettily. "Why, thank you. I clarify it myself," she says in response to Kaldur's compliment. She doesn't go into detail about what it's like to clarify gallons upon gallons of water...or what she has to do with the leftover residue that eventually forms on the containers from which she pulls the cleanest, freshest water before transporting it into clean containers.

    Handing the glass of water to the young man, she sinks back into her seat comfortably and nods to his words as she drinks more. "There is a lot to be said for being blunt and honest...if with a healthy dose of tact, too," she smiles agreeably. "But, as long as he's very clear about his intentions, if they are as you say, I don't anticipate any blow-back from the diplomatic envoy's visit to my people's neck of the ocean," she says, lifting a shoulder with an easy smile.

Aqualad has posed:
"My lord earned his reputation as a fair and honest arbiter for the people of Atlantis," Kaldur assures Aspen, sipping the water a bit faster than is strictly polite. If he's concerned about how she makes the water, he doesn't mention it-- and it doesn't slow him down.

"He is an honest fellow, and I hope his blunt words will cut through the cloud of the aristocrats. I have little use for formal court, but I have been assured they are important to the function of any government; so, I remain mystified, but I endure for the sake of my King," he tells Aspen, eyes flickering and a small smile matching her warm expression. He is not so much a dour fellow as very self-contained, it seems; perfectly self controlled.

Fathom has posed:
    Aspen smiles, liking the open way Kaldur enjoys the water. She doesn't mind the almost-slurping the young man does, but also drinks her water at a similar speed, perhaps to make him feel more comfortable about it, or to ensure he doesn't feel self-conscious about it. "I have plenty of this, so drink as much as you like and don't hesitate to ask for more," she adds, placing her glass aside on the endtable next to her armchair.

    She nods to his words about the king of Atlantis, her eyes sparkling with amusement. Kaldur very clearly thinks ever so highly of Arthur Curry, and seems more than happy to sing the Atlantean monarch's praises to any and all who might hear them. She doesn't mind this, either, finding it to be cute! If only she felt such strong convictions about someone! "I'm certain it builds character, though you're in no short supply of that, I bet," she says kindly. And, those baby blues of hers are twinkling with mirth! But, perhaps he doesn't take particular notice of that. "How often do you make it to the surface, Kaldur'ahm?" she asks after a moment of silence.

Aqualad has posed:
Kaldur is definitely a bit of a stoic; it's hard to guess /what/ he's thinking, though there is a faint hint of pleased amusement at her reaction. At her question, he shakes his head a little and with a visible effort of self-restraint for its own sake, he sets the glass of water side.

"Very rarely," he confesses. "This will be my first sustained trip on land away from Atlantis. I have travelled coastal regions extensively and I have been honored to be part of the royal guard on occassion. But never have I ventured topside for so long; nor on my own. It is a strange thing, to be under the open sky, but .... not wholly unpleasant," he concedes.

"But you are not of the Blue, yes? Rather, you were born to the surface world," He inquires, scraping his memory for some of the more commonly known details of Aspen's early life.

Fathom has posed:
    Aspen nods her head to his question, waving a so-so gesture with her hand. "While I can't remember back to my birth, and years of my early life are lost to me, I'm almost positive I was born in the deep. Based on what I've learned, so far," she shares with him. "But, since I was eleven, or so, I've grown up mostly on land. As you might imagine, it was rather hard to keep me out of water," she chuckles softly, her hands finding their way up to her loose, messy bun and releasing her hair to spill around her shoulders.

    Shaking her head to get her hair to fall behind her back, she regathers it with combing fingers and tames it into a high ponytail with her elastic. "I can tell you this... It's going to be rather an adjustment. It always was for me when I was coming out of the water, even though I spent a lot of time outside of it. I mean, being in water was the most comfortable, and I always lingered for as long as my adoptive father would allow me to," she smiles fondly, thinking of Captain Matthews, the kindly man who took her in and raised her.

    "He was lenient with me, so I didn't suffer too greatly. And, neither will you, as long as you're mindful of your needs and take care of them. I've got beachfront property for a reason," she grins a bit, hugging her knees to her chest, looping her arms around her shins comfortably.

Aqualad has posed:
Kaldur watches with a little surprise as Aspen lets her hair down; her relaxed demeanour seems to be a little discomforting for the serene warrior, though he hides it very well. A man of endless self-discipline.

"I have a coral float not far off shore," Kaldur says-- basically a submersible light skiff, common to solo Atlantean voyages. Simple engineering, designed for no more than two to three crewmen.

"I do not intend to impose on your hospitality, Lad--" He pauses, frowning at himself. "I must apologize. I do not know your formal title, Aspen Matthews. Is Lady sufficient? Or do you style yourself some other rank?" he inquires, bowing his head apologetically.

Fathom has posed:
    Aspen nods her head in response to his comment about the coral float. "My people have similar devices, also made largely of coral, but I generally don't need them," she says. It could be that she means she doesn't need to use one because she doesn't travel very far... Or, perhaps, she means that she doesn't need one because she swims rapidly over very long distances without issue. Only asking would further elucidate the matter, though.

    To someone as formal and staid as Kaldur is, Aspen's easy comfort is likely to make him feel awkward. But, Aspen seems anything but! So at ease, so relaxed. At the question, she smiles and shakes her head. "Just Aspen. If you feel you must, for your own sake, Lady wouldn't be out of line, I suppose. I'm a lady, after all," she winks, and laughs! "Anyway, you're welcome to stay in one of my guest rooms. It's no imposition. I literally have no use for the rooms if I don't have guests. And, I just cleaned, so it's nice and tidy," she says. "If you've somewhere else you'd prefer to stay, of course, I won't take offense. Just know that you're welcome to one of my guest rooms, if you've nowhere else to go."

Aqualad has posed:
Staid! He's just polite!

Kaldur blinks at her extremely polite offer. "I-- that is very kind of you, L-- Aspen," he tells the woman, nodding at her gratefully. "I suppose I should get used to working above the seas. Sleeping beyond the waves is the sort of thing I will only get used to with time. And there is no time like the present."

"If it pleases, you-- I am known as Kaldur, to my friends. If we are to be assigned together for some time, then we should be friendly, though I will of course observe the proper formalities in the company of strangers," he assures her.

He is sitting reclined in the chair like Aspen is-- after all, that's how you sit-- but he somehow manages to make a relaxed recline into the chair look stiff-backed.

"Oh-- before I forget," he adds, shaking his head. "A diplomatic pouch is stored on my coral float. It contains several gifts of appreciation for you and The Blue, to do with as you will."

Fathom has posed:
    Yes, very, very polite. (And a little staid.) But, Aspen doesn't seem to mind.

    Aspen nods her head encouragingly to the young man as he finds his reasoning for accepting her offer. She smiles more brightly as he offers her use of his nickname, "Kaldur. I shall definitely call you by it! Though, if you prefer, I'll be sure to refer to you as Kaldur'ahm, should strangers be present, as you say." She tries to keep a sedate, sober expression on her face, but those eyes of hers have a hard time hiding her relaxed nature.

    "Gifts? Really, you needn't have done that," she says with a soft laugh. "But, I am grateful for your people's generosity. I've been working on constructing my home beneath the water, nearby. This," she gestures around her, "...is more like my home away from home. But, at least it's fully completed." She exhales and smiles, "So. Have you ever seen television, before?" And, already, she's thinking of ways to blow poor Kaldur's mind.

Aqualad has posed:
"It was from Atlantis," Kaldur hastens to tell Aspen. "A custom, or so I was told; a thank you for your time."

He perks at the mention of an underground home. "Ah, so this is not your primary home," he realizes, nodding his head slowly. "I was unsure; I knew you were in the area, but I wondered why you were living above surface with the water so nearby," he confesses to her. "How goes construction?" he inquires, eagerly. "Are you building it from kelpcrete or coral emulsion?" He sits forward a little, clearly excited by the idea of what Aspen would build as a 'proper' home-- clearly equating her to the same level as the royalty of Atlantis, in his mind.

Fathom has posed:
    Aspen leans back a bit as Kaldur's excitement over her building project increases his personal intensity, a grin on her face. "Well, I'll admit that I'm new to building underwater structures, so I'm in the early stages. I've mostly picked the location for my home, and cleared out space for it, ensuring I'm not negatively impacting anything by putting a structure there. My people use both kelpcrete and coral in their building materials... But, this is my first project on my own. I could use suggestions from someone who's clearly an enthusiast," she smiles slyly. Then, in too light a voice to be wholly innocent, she says, haltingly, "..Would you...perhaps...have any advice to impart, Kaldur?" Again, that easy, friendly smile of hers.

Aqualad has posed:
"Advice?" Kaldur blinks, then shakes his head ruefully, smilightly very faintly at Aspen. "No, I am sorry. I am not of the Crafter caste," he apologizes. "I know only a little of how our homes are formed; though I have always been partial to kelpcrete," he offers. Is there a little construction nerd, somewhere in the back of Kaldur's stoic poise? "It seems most durable and is easier to shape; Coral is less grown than it is cultured and tended," he says. "You must compromise with the coral to let it become what you wish."

He clears his throat, ducking his head. "I... er,... apologize, Aspen, for my forwardness," he tells her, cooling his voice again. "I am sure that whatever your decision is, it will be functional and a testament of aestheticism."

Fathom has posed:
    Aspen nods her head, closing her eyes briefly as he explains his thoughts. "You're right about that, regarding coral. Though, I must say, it's probably a gift of my people, but I can talk to coral and encourage it to grow and shape as I like. It's really rather a difficult thing for me to reconcile, sometimes." She shifts a little so that her feet are tucked to one side, her knees bent in the other direction. "See, ever since I was little, before I knew my true origin, I've been obsessed with water. So, when I graduated from high school-- which is the last portion of regular schooling that surfacer children get-- I knew I would go on to college to study it in as many capacities as I could. College is advanced schooling, for specializing in what you want to do with the rest of your life-- though, that said, it doesn't mean you'll end up doing what you go to college for," she begins.

    Absent-mindedly, she summons more water from the refrigerator and, before Kaldur's eyes, the water zips out of the kitchen, floating in liquid bubbles (as though gravity had no effect on it) that split themselves between Aspen's glass and his own. The liquid simply sluices neatly into the glasses, filling the glasses completely, without spilling a drop. She reaches over to lift her glass to drink from it before continuing.

    "So, when I went to college, I studied marine biology. I have multiple degrees in the field, which ended up in some alphabet soup behind my name, but... More importantly, it gave me a different understanding of the deep. Then, when I learned about my true heritage, I learned I could speak to sea creatures, including those I normally eat! It's like... How do you learn to be okay with the fact that what you eat, what you crave eating...is something you can speak to, that has thoughts of its own... Like coral. It has its own way of thinking, even though it hasn't a brain. And, because they do have a very simple nervous system, it might indicate that corals can feel pain... But, I kinda feel bad using it to make my house, if that makes sense," she says, lifting her shoulders.

    "I think it's going to be lovely, when I'm done with it.. But, I'm struggling with guilt, for the moment. I think that's why I haven't really started on it, just yet. But... What about you? You grew up in water. Can you speak to creatures that are also your food, too? How do you...not feel bad for needing to eat, too?"

Aqualad has posed:
Kaldur appears utterly unflapped by the hydrokinesis, holding his cup steady in both hands. "My thanks," he murmurs, immediately sipping more water and then forcing himself to set the glass aside again. So delicious! Apparently Aspen's talents are not so surprising to the dusky-skinned Atlantean.

He nods along at the appropriate spots; he is clearly missing some of her idioms and cultural references, but he remains politely composed during her revelations, and his head ducks once, at the end as he acknowledges her concerns and the question she provides.

He is silent for a beat-- the sort of fellow who thinks through his response quite carefully, rather than speaking off the cuff. "My King can speak with fish. Others among Atlantis have had that gift," he remarks. "I am not his equal in many ways. But I can ... empathize with them, to an extent. Their animal reactions. Still, few are the equal of dolphin. Or octopus," he reminds her. "I would perhaps feel some guilt before eating a cuttlefish; it is a creature of rare intelligence," he says, using the Atlantean names for those creatures.

"It is the way of nature to consume. We all must eat. Fish do not feel guilt for eating one another. It is the nature of plankton to be consume, and larger fish to eat guppies, and sharks to eat /those/ fish. And all is rendered unto plankton again."

"I have always done as I was raised; I do not waste the gift of fishy flesh, and I do not hunt for sport. I am grateful to the fish for the gift it gives men, and the ocean for providing. And, I am sure, someday a fish will feed on me. Thus is the natural cycle."

His brows tug for a second, slightly confused. "Is... is this teaching no longer common, among the Blue?"

Fathom has posed:
    Aspen smiles as Kaldur explains things to her as he understands them, finding some real comfort in those words. Then, at his question, she purses her lips briefly before responding. "I believe it's the standard, yes. But, remember, I have gaps in my memory of when I was a young girl, when I learned those things, the way of my people. I was raised topside by an adoptive father, and I didn't..." She pauses, trying to find the right words. "I didn't know I could speak to sea creatures, back then. I've always shown a preference for seafood, which is probably unsurprising. But, I do struggle a little with the idea that I can communicate with creatures I eat on a regular basis. Shrimp, for example, which are gathered by the pound, up here. Lobsters, which are an affordable kind of delicacy. Tuna, which are now on the verge of going extinct, due to overfishing..." she says.

    "It's not uncommon for my people to teach those ideals that you shared with me, no. It's just that I don't remember having those ideals instilled within me. Perhaps, some day, my memories will return in full. Bits and pieces come to me, here and there... But, alas, not a complete picture, so far," she smiles lightly, sipping at her water.

    "You mentioned that you're not of the building caste, but you haven't told me what it is you like to do. You show a definite interest in building and construction, which I think is fantastic. Can you not befriend someone of that caste to learn about it, as a hobby?" she smiles, trying to shift the subject to something more comfortable.

Aqualad has posed:
"My parents were both of the Noble caste," Kaldur tells Aspen. "I was raised in the military academies; I believe my parents expected me to return to the family businesses after I finished my education."

"I was permitted to attend the Trials," he says. Atlantean tests of youth, requiring courage, wits, and strength all in measure. "My friends and I elected to attend the college of the Magi and study magic. I am... admittedly an indifferent student at the mystical arts," he concedes. "However, Queen Mera recommended me to our King for alternative training. I have been a member of his personal bodyguard for some years now; I suppose they both agreed I am a better warrior than I am a scholar," he says, his eyes crinkling slightly in a self-amused moment of deprecative humor.

"But there is little time for friendships with the other castes, particularly for the royal guard," he tells her. "It is perhaps the small scholar in me that finds architecture somewhat of interest; but my first and foremost passions are the art of war," he explains, absently touching his elbow to the bone-colored magical shortstaves on his back.

Fathom has posed:
    Aspen nods as she listens to her house-guest's history, finding it quite interesting, indeed! "Magic!" she exclaims with wide eyes. "That's interesting. The Blue aren't especially gifted with it, but the Black are," she says companionably. "I'll admit that I'm much more familiar with the Blue tribe of my people than I am with the Black. They're more secretive and reclusive, preferring to stay in the deepest parts of the oceans. But, I'd still like to hear more about your magics!"

    She smiles at the confession of his being a better warrior than scholar. "Well, who's to say that scholars are better than warriors? Everyone has their place and they're as useful and wonderful as the next," she says, offering kind words from her heart. "But, I am sorry to hear you won't get a chance to befriend..." She pauses, looking thoughtful. "Kaldur..." she starts off, her expression brightening as she leans forward. "If I asked, as a part of the ambassador agreement, for the aid of one of your builders...to help me with my endeavor..." she says, unraveling her idea with a broad grin. "Could you not, perhaps, befriend this builder, and learn more about the subject, along with me?" she finishes, her elegant brows lifted high.

Aqualad has posed:
Kaldur's brows level to a straight line at Aspen's request, even as her mirthful, bright eyes dance with her impish expression and broad grin.

"If you desire an Atlantean builder, I will relay your request to my king," Kaldur assures Aspen. "He would be surely pleased to offer you such services."

"But no. I will not guarantee that I will befriend anyone," Kaldur tells Aspen, his voice perfectly polite and even. "Friendships are rare and treasured. I have lost friends to war; to injuries and even to time. A friend is a rare and treasured thing, and to create a friendship on... a whim, disrespects the many friendships I have forged through blood and fire."

"I am here to serve; if your wish is for me to help you learn, I will help you learn." He bows his head and shoulders with that formal expression of contrition. "I apologize that in this venture, I am not of more assistance, Aspen."

Fathom has posed:
    Aspen's buoyant mood deflates a bit at his reaction to her idea. She slumps a little, but it's not from devastation. It's more that she thought she'd found a reasonable way for him to learn more about something that interests him, and helped her, in the same turn. She smiles and shakes her head, "No, Kaldur, that's okay. It'd be nice to have help, but I was really hoping it'd be more of a mutually beneficial situation." She pauses a moment, then adds, "Just to clarify, I want to make sure you know I wasn't insisting you befriend anyone. I simply thought it might be a chance to indulge in something that could prove to be very useful in other situations, something that interests you, already. I'd never presume to try to force you to become friendly with someone."

    She rubs her neck in an embarrassed fashion, clearing her throat. "I apologize that it came off that way. I just thought I was being clever," she says in a quiet way, clearly feeling foolish for having tried. "Anyway! No, I'm sure I can handle it just fine on my own. No need to relay anything to anyone," she smiles and tugs at the length of her ponytail, smoothing it, even though it's already smooth. "You're perfectly suited for what you're here to do, Kaldur. No need to apologize," she reassures him.

Aqualad has posed:
"My thanks," Kaldur says, dipping his head again. "No offense was intended; no apologies are needed."

Awkward silences are awkward. Kaldur clears his throat, sitting stiff-backed into the low chair with his forearms resting between his knees. Silence ticks past them for several long moments before Kaldur exhales, preparing to speak.

"I am... not a diplomat, Aspen Matthews," Kaldur says, his voice low and difficult to read. "I am a soldier. A warrior. I am unsure why my King has sent here. One of the Magi, or a nobleman from my home would be better suited for this task."

"There is much of the surface world I do not understand. The ways here are ... strange." His lips thin slightly and he stares at the coffee table between them. "I do not wish to excuse my poor behaviour. Merely help you... understand my frustrations."

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    Aspen smiles a little as Kaldur navigates the hurdles of social propriety to make himself understood while keeping to his sensibilities. "I think..." she says, dragging out the words as she lets her brain unfold her thought process. "I think that, in your loyal years of service to the king and queen of Atlantis, they saw something great in you. You might think you're 'just' a soldier. But, clearly, your king thinks you're capable of more. He's sent you on this mission to be put in situations that will be outside of your comfort zone, because he trusts that you're up to the task. He must believe you're more than capable of representing your people and, of course, uphold his good name, even in these unfamiliar situations you find yourself in. Right?" she says, smiling reassuringly.

    "I know it's a lot to process. I know you're maybe feeling a little homesick. You're perhaps apprehensive and concerned you can't fulfill your duties. I'm just guessing, here. But, from what I've come to know of you, I can see why your king would see more potential in you," she says kindly, without pretense. "Anyway, I'm here to help you in whatever way I can. You can teach me the ways of your people, and I can teach you about topsiders. Anything I know about that you want to learn, I'm happy to teach you about it. More than," she smiles. "Annnnnd, if you just want to wallow in it for a while, I can stop trying to comfort you, too," she finishes with a grin.

Aqualad has posed:
Kaldur nods along slowly, listening dutifully while still mulling over his own thoughts-- but when Aspen accused him of wallowing in his misery, he blinks twice, then looks sharply at her. Somethin wry softens his features, and he chuckles, very softly and nods his head.

"It ill becomes a warrior to sulk, and a diplomat even less so," he concedes. "My apologies for the moment of self-pity. I will try to refrain from such expressions going forward," he remarks to her. "I appreciate your candor. It is a language I speak well."

"You are wise beyond your years, Aspen Matthews," he tells the woman, meeting her eyes with his pale, inscrutable gaze. "I see now why my King bid me seek you out. Perhaps we will both learn from each other."

Fathom has posed:
    Aspen's eyes widen and her brows lift as Kaldur looks at her sharply. She holds her hands up in a 'whoa, peace' gesture and she laughs, "No, no. I wasn't accusing you of wallowing! /Everyone/ needs to feel what they feel before they can move on from it. Everyone should wallow when they're feeling overwhelmed, if only to acknowledge the feeling, so they can move on to more constructive things. What I meant to say was, if you want to feel how you're feeling without me actively trying to improve your mood, that's okay, and I'm happy to stop trying," she says. "That's all I meant."

    "We're newly acquainted, and I don't want to....impose my infectious good mood on you. Some people need more time to process. After all, you just got here," she points out. "You tell me what you wish to tell me, what you feel comfortable telling me. I don't want you to feel as though you can't be open with your feelings with me," she says, biting her lip. "If we're going to be close and learning from one another, I definitely want to culture a sense of freedom to be ourselves with each other, as different as we might be to each other," she says with a smile.

Aqualad has posed:
"I will.... try. To be open," Kaldur says, in his most stoic of unreadable features, holding Aspens' gaze.

Something twinkles in his eye-- just for a moment. He's teasing her! It's subtle, but there's a real humor, though Aspen only can perceive it thanks to the scrutiny it takes to pick up on Kaldur's subtle amusement.

"We will be certainly spending much time in each other's company in the weeks to come," Kaldur agrees. "You are kind enough to make allowances for my customs, and I will honor my King by showing you at least equal tolerance," he offers. "There will undoubtedly be conflicts in the days to come, but proceeding from a position of mutual trust and respect is the surest solution to preventing such violence. And it is the duty of the warrior not to seek out violence, but to prevent it from happening."