@Jay, I think we said Friendo & Barnacle could meet at a park or something? Here's Barnacle's POV :D 

~~~ 

Barnacle

It's early morning, and there's a slight fog misting around the oaks and sycamores in the park. Somewhere up in the thick canopies is the treehouse that Mirage, Lore, and I built last summer. Speaking of the other AEs, they're probably still sleeping -- I always wake up early so I can head to the park and have some time by myself in the mornings. 

There's an average-sized lake in the north-eastern corner of the park. I stop on the lake's grassy shore and gaze out at the mist coming off the silver water. A duck glides through the mirror-like water, sending ripples out behind it. The shoreline is rocky, and it's thick with cattails and bulrush. The trees overhead block out the sun, which means it's a bit chilly this early in the morning, but I'll be thankful for the shade later. 

I turn on some music, stretch, and set out on my morning run around the lake. 

Barnacle

I'm halfway through my jog around the lake, thinking about what I'll do later -- probably head back home, bother Koi, then go into town and maybe get a donut and an iced tea at that shop on the corner, whatever -- but my thoughts are interrupted by wild barking coming from behind me. There's a small dog running right towards me, an Australian Shepherd, I'm pretty sure. The dog reaches me and jumps up on me, pink tongue hanging out of her mouth and tail wagging happily. "Hey there," I say softly, crouching down so I can scratch her behind the ears. "Where's your owner?" 

The dog doesn't answer, of course, but my query is answered a few moments later when a person bursts onto the path, holding tightly onto the leash of another dog. "Sorry about that," he gasps. "The leash broke." He's probably about my age, and his hair is black with a streak of pink that contrasts sharply with the greenery. 

"Oh, don't worry about it," I say, standing up. "Your dog's really sweet. What's her name? And by the way, I really like your hair," I add, grinning. 

"Oh, her name's Junie, short for Juniper. And this is Root," I say gesturing to Root. The stranger compliments my hair, and okay, maybe I blushed a little. Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. Stop grinning at me like that, Skree. Anyways.

"Thank you." I say, bending down to pick up Junie's leash and wrapping the broken end around my hand. "I'm Friendo. What's your name?"

Junie pants happily and ignores me, continueing to happily bounce around and lick the stranger's ankles. Root, feeling jealous, butts his head into the stranger's armpit for attention, nearly knocking them over.

"Stop that, Root." I scold him, chuckling a little.

She walks by the water, her
spirit reaching out.

  
It reaches and reaches, trying to grasp the salty water in its ghostly
fingers, but never close enough. A voice calls from the water, but the noise of
the city, the pollution, the unnatural, vile, man-made creations stifle it and
snuff out its flame.

 
 She wishes and wishes, wishing
the noise away, wishing her useless human fingers away. In her mind, she is
lithe and strong, and twists through the water like a flickering flame, never
tiring, ever playing.

  
Come, come, the voice whispers. Enter the water. Join us. The
whispers of many voices reach her ears, and a trickle slips from her eye and
streaks down her face. She wants to enter. But she is still looking back, still
wondering whether to look forward, to wander instead of wonder.

  
Come, come, calls the voice. Slip your human skin. Nuta,
nuta, cacunt rita muluk trinak.

  
They speak in a different tongue, in a beautiful waterfall of words. She
closes her eyes, enraptured by the foreign whispers that are truly not foreign
to her. They sound like a melody, like bells ringing, or flutes warbling. She
wants to join them, to slip her skin, to leap into the waves, to be among her
true kin.

  
Come, Miika, come. Come, sister.

  
She squares her slender shoulders. Her loose, flowing dress pools to the
ground. With scarcely a splash she leaps into the water, her skin slipping away
to reveal thick, wild brown fur. Her face is like a full moon, soft and pale
and round and beautiful, seeming to glow as she dances among the dark kelp.

  
Come, come, slip your skin, join your true otter kin.

  
Welcome, Miika.

This took way too long to post for the length/quality of it, sorry! :/

Barnacle

Friendo replies that he comes to the park in the mornings to walk his dogs. I wonder why I've never seen him before -- I feel like if I'd met him before, I'd certainly remember him. "And you?" he asks. 

"Yeah, I come to the park every morning for a jog. Then if there's other people around, I might play pickup baseball or basketball or football..." I stop myself before I go on to list every sport I've ever played here. That'd be weird. (Argh! Why am I so worried about being weird? Snap out of it, Barnacle. I cannot be self-conscious like this! It doesn't suit me well!) 

Friendo offers me an Oreo from his pocket. 

"Yeah, sure," I say, taking the oreo. I split it in two, eat the filling, and then eat the cookies, which is the only proper way to eat an oreo. "Thanks!" 

Now introducing, drumroll please... my new AEs! (Not counting Kya, they're sticking around)

Name: Basil

Pronouns: he/they

Appearance: Light skin, soft golden-yellow eyes, shoulder length wavy dark blonde hair, glasses.  Typically wears academia-style clothes with gold jewelry.

Personality: Knowledgeable, inquisitive, charismatic and wise, typically having a relaxed and altruistic attitude.  However, he puts a lot of pressure on himself and is overly idealistic.  They’re thoughtful and caring but used to being self-sufficient and detached.

Likes: Tea, seashells, the smell of old books, writing, classical music

Dislikes: Unrealistic expectations, fire, too-sweet things

~Name: Clove~

~Pronouns: she/fae~

~Appearance: Deep sepia brown skin, freckles, hazel eyes, long dark red-brown hair.  Likes to wear overalls, blouses, skirts, and anything floral.~

~Personality: A very sweet and devoted person, often with her head in the clouds.  She’s fiercely loyal to those she cares about, but can get overly attached and reluctant to change.  Fae seeks harmony more than anything, humble and conflict-avoidant.~

~Likes: Simplicity, coffee, plants, sunlight, insects~

~Dislikes: Minimalism, crowded places, being busy~

Name: Saffron

Pronouns: she/her

Appearance: Tawny beige skin, deep brown eyes with long eyelashes, medium-length coiled mauve hair, lots of piercings.  Pretty much the peak of fashion, her sense of style is chic and luxurious.

Personality: Confident, assertive and ambitious, with strong personal convictions and goals.  She is often full of unique, innovative or simply interesting ideas.  Saffron is also more than a little arrogant, and sometimes intimidating and dismissive.

Likes: Jewelry, EDM, sparkling water, sunsets, the city

Dislikes: Deadlines, being interrupted, lonliness

-Name: Rue-

-Pronouns: they/them-

-Appearance: Rose-toned brown skin, long black locs, sparkling blue eyes.  Typically wears thrifty, unique, colorful outfits.-

-Personality: Artistic, optimistic and curious, with an open-minded and warm attitude towards life.  They’re generally flexible and free-spirited.  Their empathetic nature makes them easily stressed and self-sacrificing.-

-Likes: Painting, roller coasters, bubble tea, curry, tarot-

-Dislikes: Purely practical things, winter, feeling lost- 

/Name: Aster/ (previously Carnelian)

/Pronouns: he/him/

/Appearance: Olive skin with sharp features, gray eyes, messy curly black hair, a thin scar over one eye.  Has a grungy sense of style, usually wearing a leather jacket and silver sword earrings. He’s kind of got a biker or punk vibe./

/Personality: He's bold, clever, energetic and truly a daredevil, defiant and independent to a fault.  He buries his strong, sensitive emotions beneath a rough, reserved attitude.  Aster is very strong-willed, which can make him stubborn and impatient./

/Likes: Competition, motorcycles, seafood, staying up late, fireworks/

/Dislikes: Showing weakness, strong scents, being told what to do/