Like Fazia, he had heard tales of Baltia growing up, though his storytime seems to have been cast in a far less flattering light than hers. But, that's likely a common theme amongst the taboo children born of a Baltian and Stratosian union.

Still, he feels a similar connection to the submerged kingdom and that is what brings him to the water's edge today. As is typical for him, he pauses to stare pensively at the horizon beyond the gentle ocean ripples. He is usually consumed by reminiscence and, while he is still distracted today, it is for a different reason.

He knows that something has changed about him, and he doesn't mean the obviously physical alterations. While he is accustomed to having tentacles, he is not used to their constant presence—normally, they only show themselves when he wants them to, which is usually in order to spend time beneath the surface, and they've always served as a replacement for his equine hind end. But now?

Now he's realized he has lost the ability to change and has been left with these ever-present (and fairly useless) tentacles sprouting from unlikely places. There is a small, short cluster that hangs from his chin like a wriggling goat's beard. Several more protrude from his shoulders, nearly resembling a strange, slimy pair of flightless wings. And as though a reminder of the loss of his shifting, more tentacles, long enough to teasingly brush against his pasterns as he walks, hide amongst the stringy tendrils of his yellowed tail.

Thankfully though, his Baltian gills (and other Baltian/Stratosian traits) remain unchanged, so he can still explore the ocean's depths whenever he pleases. But it feels wrong, it feels as though he's lost a part of himself, a connection to his past. So, as he stands alone, wondering how he managed to bring this upon himself, he leaves himself vulnerable to and unable to recognize Fazia's attempt to take over his mind and body.

Just as he thinks he needs to snap out of it and get moving, one of the longer tentacles at his left shoulder suddenly lashes out and strikes his cheek, just below his bright blue eye.

For a moment, he is frozen in stunned disbelief, but then he begins to laugh—slow and unsure at first, but eventually loud and sharp (a bit unhinged, really). He can't help but find it maddeningly humorous that his body could turn one errant thought into such a fitting action. After all, why wouldn't he want to physically punish himself the same way he does mentally?

Something changed again, but never having been exposed to someone that could influence thoughts and actions, he still doesn't recognize the loss of Fazia's mental connection. As his crazed laughter trails off, he realizes that someone else is nearby and unless he is very much mistaken, they had also been laughing (at him or with him.. who knows?)

Odd.

He lifts his head to scan the area and he is quick to locate Fazia, as she is already approaching him. He has only a moment to begin processing her appearance, which is somehow familiar, before her question causes his face to flame with embarrassment. Naturally, there had to be a witness to his misfortune. His first instinct is to avert his gaze, and he nearly does, until something clicks into place.

Her eyes—wholly black, except for the swaths of silver at their centers, they are exactly like his father's. This eases his anxiety a bit and he offers her a small smile.

“Sure. Bit more surprised than hurt, I suppose.” He knows he's staring longer and harder than he should, but he can't quite help himself. She's the first Baltian he's come across since finding Beqanna and he's not quite sure how he feels about it, but he can't really see any harm in engaging further.

“Name's Eddie,” he pauses, curiosity in his icy blue eyes as he tilts his head toward the open sea. “I was just headed in, if you're interested.”