The rays of the sun gently shine through my window, waking me up from my first night at the hotel and officially starting off my vacation proper. I've needed this for so long now, and it feels really good to finally take a load off. Now I've got a few weeks entirely to myself, in a new place I haven't been before, the weather's great... this is going to be great. Who knows, I might even run into someone, hit it off and have a new friendship form, or maybe even more, who knows, the sky's the limit for me! There's plenty of interesting places around: there's historical landmarks, beautiful parks, I'm told of a bustling nightlife... but I think right now, the one thing I need is a good old trip to the beach. Nothing fancy, just relaxing, soaking up some sun and going for a swim.
So I go through the usual vacation start business of getting something for breakfast at the little bakery next door to the hotel, procuring a map just in case, grabbing some basic groceries, and so on to pass the morning and mid-day hours. Once the afternoon comes around and we're past the absolutely brutal high noon heat, it's time to hit the beach. With a quick route to the beach just outside the hotel, I only have to get into my trunks and pack a towel, and off I go, ready to get sandy. Surprisingly enough, the beach isn't that populated, just a few people hanging out around, but that's just fine with me, I prefer a day at the beach to be more quiet anyway. I pick out a little spot for myself, lay out my towel, and relax for a while.
Minutes pass by in warm, casual bliss, but eventually, I get the hankering for a bit of a swim. However, before I head for the ocean, something catches my eye, or rather, someone coming out of the ocean. There, like it's nothing, walks the spitting image of one of my favorite online streamers, somehow. Like, looking exactly like her online image, complete with a shark tail behind them? Is that a costume or something? If so, it's a damn impressive costume. Except they're only wearing swim trunks, so I guess they're a guy? Either way, I'm curious enough to walk over, intending to start a conversation. The closer I get, the more bizarre the shark tail seems. It's like it's actually part of the guy, but how? It boggles the mind, just straight-up boggles. He's about chest high compared to me, so he's got the size down pat too.
When I approach, he turns to face me, and even his face looks just like her, the hair is exact... and then, he talks. "Howdy! What'cha lookin' at?" he says, and his voice is just hers. Not even like hers, it just is hers.
At this point, I'm just so floored that I can only stammer out a vague "Um... are... are you, uh... Gawr Gura, by any chance?" Like, just the most blatant, stupid question.
And the guy laughs, though it doesn't seem mean-spirited. "Well, who else would I be? The Grim Reaper?" he replies.
So, wait, this actually is Gura? Except... "But, but... you, you're..." I mutter, dumbstruck.
"A guy? Well, I dunno if you know, but sometimes we put on a little bit of a character for the Internet when we go online. Sure, I might be tellin' the truth about my age and such, but a bit of fibbing just enhances the whole thing," he explains, like the fact that Gura is actually a guy instead of a girl is the big surprise, and not that he actually has a shark tail and, apparently, is actually from Atlantis and several thousand years old. I can't even muster a response at this point, and Gura chuckles. "So, you a chumbud, then? You're lookin' real starstruck, y'know?"
Again, I've yet to find my verbal faculties, so I just nod, because, well, yes, I am indeed a big fan of hers... his. His. This is going to take some getting used to.
"You're kinda cute, y'know? I mean, not as cute as me, because I'm super cute, but you're pretty good yourself. You wanna hang out?" he then asks, overwhelming me even further. He wants to hang out? "Maybe even have ourselves a little date? You're not from 'round here, right? Some vacationer or somethin'? So I could show you around, show you the good spots," he continues, a coy, playful smile on his face. "C'mon, what'cha wanna do, stinky? Maybe take a dip first?"