As well as can be expected

For a while, Alyssa floundered about in the waves in a panic, unsure what to do or what way was up. But after she started slowing her breathing, she realized she had floated to the surface. She bobbed up and down slowly.

It took another while for Alyssa to work out how to properly maneuver instead of just being a beached whale. She need to kick her legs and dolphin dive to move forward, and lean forward to go deeper. Going back up was easy, as the inflatable straitjacket was buoyant enough to pull her up to the top.

After several minutes of experimentation, Alyssa was hesitantly confident that she had got the knack. She began swimming in deep parabolic arcs. She was occasionally interrupted by Vanessa rubbing up against her from below. Alyssa had no idea how Vanessa knew where she was. Perhaps she had cheated and found a way to remove the eye patches.

As Alyssa got more confident, she started doing more complicated tricks. Flips in the water. Spins and barrel rolls. Without any scenery to grab her attention, the only thing she had to focus on was her own swimming. In fact, Alyssa was pretty sure that the inflatable jacket had been designed to make it easier to do such tricks. She was actually enjoying herself.

After an indeterminate amount of time of acting like a dolphin, Alyssa decided she would like to go and rest up, but realized she didn't know how to get out of her current activity. So instead, she floated to the top of the water and lay on her back. Sure enough, after a period of waiting, Alyssa felt something wrap around her leg and pull her to shore.

She felt herself get pulled up onto the sand, and waited patiently as she was let out of her bondage. The jacket went first, then the patches. Light flooded back into her eyes painfully, but she then adjusted to the dusk sky. Finally, the ropes and the gag were removed. Alyssa sat up, and saw Vanessa already on the beach, reclining on the sand, her hair covering her breasts, as if she was a classical depiction of a mermaid.

"You were in there longer than I was," Vanessa told her.

"I was?"

"yeah. Hard to keep track of time, I get it. But I wasn't expecting you to like it that much."

Alyssa blushed. She did have to admit that the activity had been rather exhilarating. "I uh...did like it, yeah. I'd like to do it again."

"Good. There are other variations of it around the island. This was just the dolphin one."

"We should go see the other ones," Alyssa suggested.

"Yes. However, not tonight. I'm hungry."

"Same."

"Shall we go get something to eat?"

"Provided you pay."

Vanessa chuckled. "Don't you have money?"

"Yes, I just thought that since it was your idea for me to go through all this, you could compensate me with food at least."

"Well, if you're going to be crabby about the bondage you should leave." Vanessa sounded different. Less peppy and more...tired. Was she annoyed at Alyssa?

"Oh," Alyssa suddenly felt ungrateful. Vanessa was just trying to get her to have fun. And here she was complaining. "Sorry. I don't mean to complain. This was all a lot of fun. Really."

Vanessa looked at her with skepticism. "Really?"

Alyssa smiled back. "Sure."

Vanessa's usual smile and warm demeanor instantly returned. "Perfect. In that case, I would be all to happy to shout you dinner. Provided you switch that tail for something else. I'm getting tired of the two of us hopping around the island."

"So instead you want me to carry you?"

"Yup."

Alyssa laughed. "Very well." She turned to the staff member who had given them the scuba gear. "I'll take the gag."

"And the eye patches," Vanessa added. Then added, after Alyssa looked at her. "The gag on its own is too easy."

Alyssa wanted to roll her eyes. But Vanessa looked so happy when the two of them were goofing around. So she rolled with it. "And the eye patches. Just to add to the challenge."

Vanessa beamed at Alyssa as the gag was added around her mouth. She heard a lock get added and she moaned in delight. The mermaid tail was then removed, and Alyssa relished the chance to spread her legs again. While she was distracted with her returned dexterity however, the staff member reached behind and quickly applied the eye patches. Alyssa's visions turned black, but this time she tried to enjoy it.

"Ooh, the patches even match your swimsuit! How adorable!" Vanessa commented.

Alyssa decided to strike a little pose