and I tried to remember how nice it had been
Vai merely sits for a moment, smoothing down her son's hair, listening as he speaks. "That's my boy," she murmurs, sounding proud of his actions to get away from the Mer who had trapped him. "But... it's not fine, Felix. We both know that." Sitting back a little, Vai gives him an encouraging smile. "Maybe if we lived somewhere that's not quite so close to the ocean, it would be reasonable to never go back in it. But... you can't guarantee that you won't have to swim in there again. What if something happens? What if someone's in trouble?"
Moving properly to her chair, the witch gives his shoulder a gentle squeeze. "I won't push you, to do anything you don't want to do. And I'm glad you told me about this." As if to reassure him, Vai turns back to their meal. Nothing like food to make everything feel normal. "If you do need any help, though - and you want to go back in the sea - I'll be here for you."
Moving properly to her chair, the witch gives his shoulder a gentle squeeze. "I won't push you, to do anything you don't want to do. And I'm glad you told me about this." As if to reassure him, Vai turns back to their meal. Nothing like food to make everything feel normal. "If you do need any help, though - and you want to go back in the sea - I'll be here for you."
a long long time ago
Vervain
