I know it's out of context, but I love how Shirley's positioned in a "I don't know this guy" manner in the first icon. ...I just love that icon, for some reason.

The way Shirley is catatonic is incredibly like how Stella was in the Ruins of Frozen Light. Except, since she's in the ocean, she shares Nerifes' awareness -- so she can stretch herself consciousness out to wherever there's a link to the ocean, which is how she contacts Stella and Walter.