TIMING: Current
PARTIES: @eldritchaccident & @oceansrevenge
SUMMARY: Coming across Teds destroying a ship, Marina mistakes them for their father. A tense interaction ensues.
CONTENT: Mentions of child death
After so many years locked away in an artificial recreation of the ocean, Marina found it hard to pull herself away from the waters for long. There were things that needed to be attended to on land, yes, but every fiber of her being craved the sway of the waves, the feeling of life encompassing her. The waters here felt her rage and welcomed her as their protector. She dove into the feeling of chaos that passed through every current in this area. She loved the thrum of it going through her, there was simply never a dull day in the waters of Wicked’s Rest, yet they still offered her peace. Given, she found contentment in the violence the ocean possessed, but there were little hidden alcoves all her own, too.
Marina dived deeper into the ocean, spinning as she swam around a small octopus. Delighted in the way the gesture seemed to be returned, the sense of whimsy it gave her, but then she felt it. From her depth, the change in the current was slight, but for her to feel it all, that meant something big was happening above. Whatever it was, she was not about to miss it. “You stay safe, mikros,” she murmured to the octopus before swimming away at a full speed.
As she neared the source of the change, Marina felt a growing feel of warmth. Leviathan. Its form looked a bit different this time. The dark scales were familiar, but they had a different hue to them. More of a purple than the seafoam accents it had before. What were the odds there could be two such beautiful creatures in the same waters? Was it Leviathan or kin of it? She swam closer, happy to help speed up its destruction of the human vessel it was currently terrorizing. There were strange crystals on it that reminded her of the ones she’d seen in the fissures around town. Had something happened to it? Had the humans' careless disregard for the earth somehow harmed this beautiful being?
“Leviathan,” her voice questioned, deep and reverberating in the currents around them, “Is that you?” The feel of thrashing overhead caused her to instinctively dart a tentacle upwards to grab the struggling human. They kicked and clawed at her grip, but she cared little. Her focus remained on the demon.
—
Nighttime came and went like a hazy memory. Each and every one the same. The sun sank below the horizon, and deep deep below the leviathan’s ward somehow knew. Something in Teddy’s body rose, ripped through the skin carefully reconstructed each night and slipped into that more monstrous visage. Nor baring the monstrosity moniker a bit more literally. Attacking with abandon, no clever plots, no meaning behind the senseless destruction left in their wake.
Occasionally they would drag some poor soul down to the mines. Sometimes they’d be alive. Sometimes they wouldn’t be. Thankfully, the demon came back to their senses long before ever piling corpses around the kids that acted like the place was a clubhouse. It made sense with Nora. She was afflicted too, but Cass? Aside from a lovely little encounter where the girl professed how much she loved Big Finn, Ted didn’t know much about her. Enough to know she probably wouldn’t like fresh meat in the same way a little demonling might. Probably. You never really know, right? Stranger things had happened over and over again in Wicked’s Rest.
While the demon slumbered, the beast lumbered. Their body, its mind. And that night it was on the prowl for blood, rather than new companions for the mine. The ship was large, but no match for claws that rendered hardened steel as soft as paper. It wasn’t long before it began to sink, and the feast aboard became a panicked mess. Gills flashed and fluttered under the waves as something else drew near. As a voice called out beneath the depths. Uttering their father’s name. One of many.
“Who calls for the Leviathan?”
—
While it had the same destructive tendencies and looked similar to the Leviathan, something didn’t seem quite right. Even when Leviathan had shifted from one large form into something even more massive, its glowing accents had remained the same beautiful shade of seafoam. Marina wondered if it had something to do with crystals that seemed to be stuck to its body. They looked… painful and not in a way that could be considered pleasurable. The voice that reached her soon answered her questions. It was not Leviathan, she would remember its voice anywhere. The way it had thrummed through her, it was more a feeling, but she would know its voice anywhere all the same. This was not Leviathan, but it knew Leviathan.
“I am Marina,” she answered the creature, who she suspected bore some relation to the demon she had grown fond of, “You are not Leviathan, but you look… similar.” Who was this? After their more violent endeavors, it was not as if there had been much in the way of talking. The resemblance was far too uncanny for her to not assume some sort of relation and its tone seemed knowing.
There was thrashing in the water from some of the overthrown humans, but they were of little concern to Marina at the moment. If this creature let her join it, she would gladly pull a few under the surface. She always did love the feel of them fighting to break free from her grasp. Her focus remained on the creature behind the wreckage. “I am a friend of it. A new friend,” she recalled their meeting fondly, “We enjoyed quite similar recreational activities together.” She gestured towards the pieces of ship floating in the water.
—
Many eyes rolled about until they focuesed entirely on the cephaline creature before it. Teddy’s mind was not entirely their own right then. A bit more animalistic than the usual candor the sea beast took upon. They’d been doing this since they were just out of adolescence. Just not the same way. Normally (save for a few life saving moments) it was Ted’s choice to change. However ill advised it might be, considering the weight it put on their joints when they returned to ‘normal’. This was not.
This was torn flesh, viscera coating the cave floor. This was dreamlike delusions driving destructive direction. A dragon of sea and crystal. Somewhat suspiciously it eyed the octopus. Settling slightly as she went on to describe the way she knew its father. Something of a toothy grin spread across its maw. The crystalline coated tendrils that stuck out from Teddy’s face flexed. Frilled outward and rippled in the water around them.
“Any friend of my father is a friend of mine.” Ted’s voice was pushed outward, into Marina’s mind rather than through the liquid between them. In the same way Leviathan communicated, the way they’d learned over the years. Distracted, however. Sounding just a bit far away, like this conversation was not the forefront of its mind. Unfortunately.
Had they been present, Teddy would have loved this. Would have been swimming circles around this bathypelagic queen. Would’ve soaked up every inch of her, and been just flowing with compliments. For now, they were cautious.
“Care to join me for dinner then?”
—
Father. Was it her surprise or had its words really sounded distant while inside her own mind? Admittedly, there had not been much in the way of conversation during their first meeting. Marina of course wanted to learn more about the demon, but their chance meeting had been far too wonderful to sully with topics that could add an air of sadness to the day. Because surely a mention of its child would lead to sharing that she had been a mother and there would be strain in her voice in the use of those words in the past tense. She hadn’t been a mother for decades and no longer being one would never not ache. The love she possessed for her daughter never diminished just because Eula was no longer there to receive it. That protective instinct didn’t just fade. It was alive and well now as she examined the crystals protruding from it. This was Leviathan’s kin and the connection she shared with its father had been so instantaneous, so natural, that concern for the safety of the demon’s child was just as instinctive.
“A new friend,” Marina answered thickly, “But a good one. It had a similar meal when we met. Enjoyed how the propellers tickled its maw.” Something in the creature seemed guarded in a way that Leviathan hadn’t, which only furthered her sense that something with these crystals was not right. Even if her intentions had been ill, Leviathan and its child both could easily dispose of her. Not even her pull on the water could counteract their massive size. “What are you called,” she asked.
While humans were not a meal for her as much as they were play things, Marina would join for its meal. The iron in their blood made them painful to digest, but drowning them was always great fun as was watching their vessels sink. That didn’t take away the sense of unease she felt. There was much she could protect in the sea, but these crystals seemed too large a problem to simply drag to the ocean floor. “I would love to join you,” she told it, “But…”
She trailed off and refrained from reaching out to touch the young demon. “Are you alright? These rocks, they look painful.”
—
The sea beast’s head tilted. Its gills flushed and flattened as it eyed the octopus. Watched it partake in the destruction, listened to her honeyed words. It wrestled with a decision, to trust or to take? She’d be a lovely addition, the crystal chorus sang. Just get her close enough to the mines. Get her to touch the crystals. Join. She should join them. The obsession wasn’t as strong in Teddy as it might have been in Nora, but it was still there. Growing stronger each night. Each shift. A small part of the demon’s mind may have known this was an outside influence. That all of this was wrong somehow but every day down in the mines had soothed these thoughts into smooth fabric running over their eyes. Blinding them to reality. To what was really happening.
This was the best they had ever felt.
When the crystal's melodious tune rang throughout their body, the aches went away. Thoughts that should pry and hurt and winnow at the demon’s spirit were a thing of the past. There was only the song. Only the union. It had brought them a small family, and all of them could stay. No one would ever leave. No one would ever have to move again. Teddy wanted to share this joy, wanted to rush around the neired and welcome her home until– Until…
‘Those rocks, they look painful.’
In an instant a defensive wall shot up. She wanted to take this away. Wanted to pull the stones from its beautiful carapace and leave it dead on the ocean floor.
The smaller creature encroached on Teddy’s space, and they should have been enthralled. Should have enjoyed the close contact, reveled in it. Instead its mind reeled. Paranoia tinging every thought with delusions of deception. Ideas flitted through, casting doubt on the word friend. The crystals accusing this Marina of nefarious dealings. Had she hurt Leviathan somehow? Was she lying? Just barely below the surface, the choir thrummed. They sang so much louder in this form. Pulled the creature like a puppet on strings. Easier, perhaps, because it was much more a beast than a person like this. Because they were too wrapped up in a panicked wave that they didn’t stop to think about the fact that fae couldn’t lie.
“This is just my new form.” Teddy snapped in her mind while a low growl pushed out of its gullet. Jaws clacking shut just inches from Marina’s closest tentacle. It swam back, leaning more on the boat until it sank further. Trying its best to divert attention away from itself. “They have helped, if anything. The crystals. There is no pain here. Not when I am like this.”
—
The greeting from the Leviathan’s kin had already been lukewarm at best and Marina had clearly said something to insult it. The gems were just a bit curious— a bit concerning. It was evident it was not something she should push as the creature approached her aggressively, its maw stopping just shy of a tentacle. Whereas with Leviathan, she would have found thrill in the move, the show of dominance— she didn’t have the same trust for its kin. Almost immediately, she had the sense its father would do her no harm, but the same could not be said of the child.
“My apologies, agapité machití, I did not mean any offense,” Marina spoke gently, careful to not push the creature further, “Forgive me, I was a mother. You are the Leviathan’s child. Being protective is somewhat of an instinct. I know you do not need my protection.” A tentacle carefully gestured at its size, “But I hope you can at least tentatively accept my interest in your well-being.”
Marina didn’t dare move from her place. One wrong move could be a lost appendage or worse. She tried to keep her tentacles close to her body, give herself the illusion of being smaller to assure the creature she was no threat to it. “The gems are beautiful,” she spoke lowly. It wasn’t a lie, but some crucial details were left out. “Almost reminds me of an oread,” she added as soothingly as she could, “I did not mean to imply you were anything but a beautiful creature.”
—
Something deep inside raged, fighting a losing war against the paranoid mind that had been woven around it. Teddy was still in there but so many layers of abstraction turned worries about letting their father know of their condition turned into malice at the person who could divulge the secret. In Teddy's mind, it was going to get fixed. It had to be fixed. Leviathan did not need to know. Just like it did not need to know about the pains and aches that plagued the young demon. In Ted's mind it was a weakness that would eventually be purged. They just had to slog through the present until the skies cleared up.
Same with this mess.
Emilio was working on it. The man might have the world's most piss poor self image but Teddy had seen. He was a damn good detective. And he clearly cared a LOT for Nora. He'd do anything to fix her, they could tell. Teds was just a bonus.
All of this, however, twisted like the demon's skin. Wrapped up in delusions and obsessions. The sea beast grumbled. Seeing the octopus' words for an attempt at self preservation. Not actual care. "This is boring me. I do not need this care. You are right about that." Any other day Teddy would have preened like a vain little bird at the compliments. "They are and I am." It responded, coldly.
Every instinct provided by the crystals simply bid the creature to end it. That nothing could possibly get back to the Leviathan if this nymph had no mouth to speak with. Only a fighting spark kept the beast from attacking. A glimmer of their true personality, one that hated the idea of violence against one so beautiful as Marina. One that truly meant that any friend of their dad's was welcome around them. They'd be embarrassed about all this later, surely. But there had to be a later for that to happen.
The creature growled, eyed her closely and ignored the impulse to rend flesh apart. Instead of snapping again it simply adjusted its trajectory. Acting as if it were to get a better angle on the boat. Instead it waited until it was out of sight, then dashed downward. Crafting a torrent of bubbles and viscera as it fled. Dragging down bodies and broken parts of the ship alongside the massive frame. Hoping it was enough to deter her. Hoping it was enough to get away.
@oceansrevenge replied to your post “[pm] I met your child. [...] I believe I may have...”:
[pm] So those weren't normal. I feared as much. [...] Do you know the trench that has that one strange looking banana vessel sunken in it? About 100 meters south. I can show you where I saw them if needed. Please, don't hesitate to ask if I can assist in any manner.
[pm] Fuck shit-- Yeah, take me there. I'll meet you at my dock, get there as soon as you can.
[pm] Oh? Yes I like this idea very much. When shall this happen?
If you would let me, I’d like to join you in in marring all of their bodies with your vengeance. As well as disbanding the aquariums. You have me, my sweet nereid. Our waters do not mix but the essence of our hearts do. Fate has blessed me with your presence and I will do what is needed to help you and your wonderful ocean. My heart aches for your family, and together we will make this right. I myself have been trying to right my family’s misfortune, but have gotten a bit lost. This anger has festered into something I can’t control, but you? No, this is fresh. You need closure for what they’ve done. You’ll get it.
Yes, let’s coordinate this. My brother is even in town, though I don’t know for how long. We’ve been estranged for 15 years. Touchy subject. In the meantime, perhaps you can visit when Arden is here. She was once almost taken by the ocean as a child and it makes her shake like a leaf. Strong one she is, though. I’ve been helping her swim in the lake. She’ll be a strong swimmer yet. I’ve never connected with someone like this before, so I truly hope you two can get along swimmingly. Made a pun there.
I would be honored, when the time comes. The aquarium must come first. Though I believe I found someone to help me investigate the business, which can be helpful on both fronts. You have me for all your fights to, my dear nixie. The Fates have blessed me with yours as well. My heart aches, but I am not sure there is any truly making it right. Revenge is for myself more than anything else. How are you lost and how can I help you find your way?
I would love to meet your brother if timing allows for it. I understand if you do not wish to speak of it, but if you ever wish to, I am here to listen. I would like to meet your human, yes. If you see something special in her, I can make sure the ocean welcomes her. I trust she has respect for the waters to have you so taken with her.
I think he's not alive. I think they want a villain. I think octopuses (octopi??) are cool and not villain. I think she wants legs because she wants to be different and it's a show of how she's rebellious. I'm sorry you didn't like the movie.
So I am gathering though apparently his head is frozen somewhere though I'm uncertain of how or why. I am not even certain the one in the movie is a villain. What did this King Trident do to her? Laughable to suggest mermaids are respected among oth Ah, adolescent rebellion does provide some context. Why are you apologizing? Were you involved in the making of this film?
I really liked Finding Nemo! It's a bit less dramatic and a lot more cutesy. Basically it's a movie about a clownfish going on a journey through the ocean to find his son, who was taken by some divers and put in a tank at a dentist's office. Really emphasizes the point that humans should probably just stay away from ocean habitats.
Finding Nemo. I am not sure I find cutesy enjoyable, but I will give it a try. [user reads the description and feels an intense desire to break the phone, but refrains] The point is one I agree with, ocean habitats should be left alone. I am failing to see who the missing son and his kidnapping makes for a cute story. It sounds incredibly tragic and hits far too close to home. [...] Is the family reunited in the end?
TIMING: About ~2ish weeks ago
PARTIES: @mortemoppetere & @oceansrevenge
SUMMARY: Marina goes to the Wormhole to meet some handsome private detective the internet. Instead, a vampire decides she looks like a snack (not a snacc) and Emilio saves the day. Marina and Emilio realize they were the parties the other intended to meet, so they enjoy some drinks before going back to Emilio's.
Since emerging from her glass prison, Marina had been doing fairly well for herself. She had met a few beautiful fae and had a whole cohort of Bradleys to do her biddings and finance her navigation through capitalistic society. Her own duties were far too important for something as arbitrary as working for currency. Tonight Bradley number 4, or was it 5, was funding her evening with an apparently good-looking detective who was not part of the human police force. Even if this detective who would likely become a Bradley himself never thanked Marina or offered the right promise for her to thread into something binding, it seemed there was a certain inevitability that she would at least end the evening with an attractive bed mate. It would just be more fun if said attractive bed mate was also of use to her in other ways, but 50 years in a tank with no human contact made her more than willing to accept the detective as just that, another warm body.
Excitement thrummed through all of her hearts as she approached the bar, eager to learn more about this detective and eager to spend a chunk of Bradley’s money. Even in better spirits, Marina still possessed a rage that made her want to punish the humans. Murdering anyone who went to the aquarium wasn’t the right approach, she’d need to blend in if she really wanted to take the place down and to do that, she’d need humans to vouch for her… expertise. Or at the very least help fund or arrange her appearance as a perfectly normal “marine biologist”. Perhaps a private investigator could be of use in that department. It seemed humans had a great deal of documentation and identification forms that went into their day-to-day lives.
Her plans of her less than pure intentions were rudely interrupted. Marina wore a look of disgust as she tried to rip her arms away from the surprisingly strong grasp of the man pulling her into the alley. “Unhand me if you wish to keep your hands,” she spat. However, the strength behind the grip was far stronger than she expected. There was little chance of her getting out of this situation without dropping her glamour. The human arms didn’t possess the power of her tentacles, couldn’t sink ships or pull an adult human down to the depths. But that was too risky, especially with the article in the paper about a killer octopus that escaped from the aquarium and land was not where the nereid thrived. Before something of a plan could formulate, there in the darkness of the alleyway, the man’s eyes glowed red and she could faintly see the outline of fangs. Vampire. Her features twisted in disgust. She’d heard of how they enjoyed the sweetness of fae blood and this one thought it deserved a taste. She kicked his shin which did not even warrant a flinch from the vampire before it sank his fangs into the crease of her neck.
In a perfect world, vampires would have the common decency to limit their hunting grounds to cemeteries or forests. Secluded places that innocent people were less likely to stumble upon, where their prey would be limited. But, of course, this kind of thinking didn’t exactly sound good to the undead. They didn’t want limitations on their prey; they wanted to gorge themselves until they were full to the bursting, wanted to eat their fill and keep eating. Not all of them, Emilio reminded himself by force. Not every vampire. But enough to be a problem.
So, instead, they came to places like this. Seedy neighborhoods with broken street lamps and people who didn’t ask questions. Ironically, it was the kind of neighborhood Emilio preferred, too. He wasn’t at the bar for a hunt; he was there for a drink, meeting some woman he’d met online who might be good for a quick distraction. But before he even got to the goddamn door, he felt it. That shiver up his spine, that clench of his stomach, that feeling that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up on end.
A second later, he heard a quiet commotion from the alley. Angry conversation, the solid thud of something hitting against something else, the almost undetectable sound of teeth breaking skin. A vampire, then, and an unwilling meal. It was really all Emilio needed to know. Palming a stake, he sighed and moved over to the alley, silent in the shadows. The vampire had a woman trapped in its grasp, its mouth already at her throat. Emilio’s lip curled up in disgust as he folded himself out of the shadows, grabbing the vampire by the shoulder and yanking it back. “Not exactly smart to do that shit in an alley, pendejo. I’d tell you to get better at being discreet next time, but… You don’t get a next time.”
This was an unfortunate situation and Marina refused to believe the fates would let a lowly vampire of all things be her undoing. At least going down by the hand of a skilled warden had some honor to it, but this? It was unacceptable. Perhaps if she thought of the Bradley who promised to take care of her, the pain of breaking his word to her would bring him crawling her way. No, that wasn’t how binds worked. Bradley was hardly smart enough to find her and likely even more useless in any attempt to save her.
A voice emerged from the light creeping into the alley and Marina rejoiced that the fates weren’t quite so cruel as to let this be her end. They knew she had much to do yet. Shadows danced across the man’s face that was quite fantastical though she supposed the blood loss could have her sight a bit blurry. It was still a beautiful sight— it reminded her of the way Ozul would make the shadows flow and crash like the waves of the sea just for her and Eula. It was almost enough to make her crave the woozy feeling and intertwine herself with the memory. There were more important things to do than relish in her own loss. She’d had nearly five decades for that.
So, Marina used the distraction to dole another kick, this time more placed toward the deplorable vampire’s groin. It was enough for him to drop her and turn his attention fully to the presumed slayer that was now covered in shadow and prepared for the delicate yet lethal dance of combat. Her hand covered the wound at the crook of her neck in hopes of slowing the bleeding. The blue of her blood, while not entirely visible in the black of night, would draw attention to her own nature. She still smirked at how off guards the vampire was caught. “Well, I’m certain someone wishes they had listened when I demanded to be left alone.”
She watched intently with awe as their battle took off. There was a certain satisfaction Marina carried that this likely hunter was saving her. Better yet, there was the possibility she could charm this hunter, coax the right phrase from his lips and bind him to her as her blade on land.
The woman was fierce. Not the kind of person to take things lying down, it seemed. Her kick, landing between the vampire’s legs with a firm thud, was enough to make even Emilio wince in something that might have been sympathy if the man in question hadn’t so surely deserved it. The vampire faltered enough for the woman to get free, and Emilio expected her to run for it. People usually did, after something like this. It must have been a terrifying experience for someone not used to such things, he knew.
But this woman didn’t run. More than that, she didn’t seem particularly shocked by the encounter. She was adding input, she was making comments. She wasn’t saying what the fuck or questioning why a stranger had been so interested in drinking her blood. Emilio didn’t need to be a detective to deduce that this probably meant she knew what vampires were and that they were real. He was glad for that. It was always a pain in the ass to explain it.
In any case, the vampire seemed more interested in fighting for its life than finishing its meal. It launched itself at him, and he ducked the blow. With how much it had eaten just moments before, it was clearly energized; it managed to come at him shoulder-first and tackle him onto the concrete hard enough to knock the air from his lungs and send his head slamming back into the pavement, but it wasn’t quite enough to daze him. He’d had this fight before. Once, twice, a thousand times. So far, it had always ended the same way.
The vampire went for his throat. They usually did. He was never sure why, if it was because they forgot that slayer blood was more toxic than other humans or if they were driven by instinct in the moment. The answer didn’t matter. If a vampire ripped out your throat, you were dead no matter how your blood tasted. So Emilio had learned not to let vampires rip out his throat. Easy stuff.
The stake in his hand was thrust upwards, sinking in between the ribcage and meeting the muscle of an unbeating heart. There was a moment of surprise that painted itself over the vampire’s features, as if it couldn’t believe it had lost. It always took them a moment to come to terms with their deaths. Some never did. This one seemed to accept it, its eyes meeting Emilio’s momentarily before it crumbled into dust. The weight on top of him vanished and he groaned, shifting into a sitting position. “Qué pendejo,” he muttered to himself, rubbing a hand against the back of his head. His fingers came back bloody, though that wasn’t surprising. He doubted he was actually concussed; he’d taken enough knocks to the head to know the difference.
Looking up, he was somehow both surprised and not to find the woman from before still standing in the alley. “Hey, you all right? Might want to get something to eat.” She probably lost a lot of blood, though not enough to take her off her feet. That was a good sign. “Supposed to be meeting someone in the bar, but I can raincheck with them and walk you home if you need it.”
Despite the force behind it, the dance of violence was a delicate one. There was a push and pull, a string of split-second decisions that could push the outcome of the battle one way or another, and Marina adored it. The blur in her vision only made the shadows of the alley move all the more erratically in a way that made her long for a lampade who had once spun shadows in a similar fashion just for her. Those moments were long gone, as the thud of the slayer’s head against the pavement reminded her. Perhaps exiting the alley was in her best interest, but she saw something in the hunter still, an instinctive swirl of motions that could tip the balance in his favor.
The potential danger only made it all the more fascinating to watch though Marina found her confidence in the outcome grew as she saw the stake in his hand. It would be a shame to miss the best part of combat, the moment someone emerged as the victor, when it seemed all but certain that her safety was ensured. No vampire would get in the way of the work she set out to do. It was quite amusing that a hunter was unknowingly assisting in her efforts, if only by keeping her alive long enough to see her objectives reach fruition.
A wicked grin spread across her features as the vampire turned to nothing more than a cloud of dust that settled on the dirty alley ground. Marina offered him a pleased look that slightly faltered as he realized his own head was bloody. No need to feel bad for the spilled blood of the hunter, though she supposed some of the gentleness was warranted. The man seemed little concerned with his own injury and was checking on her. Blue blood was still leaking from the nape of her neck and she had positioned the light jacket she was wearing to cover as much, but it was taking an increasing amount of focus to keep her glamour intact. Food was a good idea.
“I’ll be alright,” Marina answered, “Food is likely not a bad idea.” She glanced over toward the light peeking through the alleyway. She had only been to the establishment once before and food had not been at the forefront of her mind. “Does this place serve food,” she asked, doubting they had fish or anything of the sort that would be most helpful to her healing. His words were a reminder that she was supposed to meet someone here too. A private detective, an attractive one. While the promise of physical intimacy was tempting, she found she was more curious about the hunter who saved her life. There was a gentleness there, and even in her lightheaded state, she couldn’t resist the temptation of potentially coaxing the right phrase from his lips.
“I was supposed to be meeting someone as well,” Marina noted, “Some private detective.” That could likely be rearranged. “I believe it would be appropriate for me to at least buy you dinner and a drink, if we are both fine to rearrange our other engagements.” She looked him over for a minute, taken with the way small flecks of his own blood painted his forehead. “You saved my life,” she started, her lips playing into a smirk, “I’d very much like to express my appreciation.”
There was always a rush of adrenaline that accompanied a fight, even a short one. There was always a moment where you knew you might die, no matter how many times you’d fought a certain thing before. Emilio had seen slayers more skilled than himself brought down by undead things less dangerous than the vampire in the alley. Half of it, he knew, was luck. Good luck, bad luck. Tonight, his luck was good. Tomorrow, it might not be. That was all there really was to it.
He eyed the woman warily, trying to determine whether or not she was as good as she said she was. She seemed to be hiding her wound, almost; he wondered if it was some strange response to the trauma that he didn’t understand. Someone trying desperately to pretend that something hadn’t happened by keeping it out of sight. But she didn’t seem to be struggling emotionally, did she? She was grinning, she was enjoying the show. It was all around strange, but the blow to his head kept him from thinking too heavily on the topic.
Glancing to the bar, he nodded. “The food here’s bad, but it’s food. Better than walking someplace else, probably.” At this hour, bars would be the only thing open, and most bars that would still allow Emilio inside had food on the same level as the Wormhole — which was to say, shit. He wondered if he ought to message the woman he’d been meeting up with, or if he could just find her inside and make a raincheck. She might not be interested if she saw him walk in with someone else, but… That was life, wasn’t it? Win some, lose some.
Or maybe not.
His brows shot up as the stranger admitted that she, too, had been meeting someone here — a handsome private detective. Emilio flashed her a wicked grin. “Ah, we might not need to… rearrange.” His accent curled uncertainly around the last word, though he covered it well. “I’m some private detective who was meant to be meeting a woman here tonight. And I’d be happy to let you buy me a drink.”
That was terribly convenient. There was no need to choose between an evening with the private detective or an evening with the likely hunter as they were the same person. While Marina would have preferred to have not been bitten by a vampire at all, it had allowed her unique insight into this man and where his skills would best be suited should she be able to capture him in a bind. Plus, there was something particularly alluring about tricking a hunter. It made him more attractive than his friend online had hinted. She nodded, opting away from a shrug that would expose the wound leaking blue blood down her collar bones. “Bad food will do,” she agreed, not particularly wanting to push her luck with how far she could make it before cleaning her injury, “Too bad our friend here didn’t have the same mentality.”
Her lips twitched upward as she looked at the pile of dust scattering in the wind where the vampire once stood. Marina had no feelings about vampires one way or the other, but she bore no love for one that dared to view her as a meal. The realization that there was no need to rearrange plans only made the smirk grow. She looked over the man slowly with a playful glint in her eyes. The private detective was attractive and she made sure the approval was evident in her grin. “You’re the private detective,” she crooned, “Your friend was truthful, you are very good looking.” She extended the hand on her uninjured side to trace some of the dust that settled on his jacket sleeve. “Even more so with ash littering your coat.”
“I’m Marina,” she greeted, “It is good to meet you…” A hint of a question hung in the air. She was curious to know the man’s name and toyed with the idea of even calling him by it should she remain pleased with him. She extended her arm, indicating that she wanted him to loop his into hers. The fuzziness was dancing at the edge of her vision, a little added support would hardly hurt until she cleaned herself up, had a few salty shots, and some food in her stomach. There was the fact she still craved proximity and every tactile sensation, something she doubted the man would mind much. “Lead the way?”
Wicked’s Rest was a small town. It reminded him of San Agustín Etla, sometimes; the way everyone seemed to know one another, the way you couldn’t go out in public without running into a familiar face. It ached, sometimes, that familiarity. It let him fall back into a comfort level that didn’t belong, had him glancing into a crowd and expecting to find Juliana’s face sometimes, or Edgar’s or Rosa’s. Familiarity was a dangerous thing, sometimes. But right now? It was more convenient than anything else. It meant he didn’t have to cancel on someone and risk talking his way out of what had the opportunity to be a fun night.
“Guess he learned his lesson,” he replied with a shrug. This was the easiest kind of kill — the one that came with the immediate result of saving someone, the one that left you with a conversation instead of an empty alley. Emilio rarely felt guilty for killing vampires — he did his research beforehand, made sure that they were dangerous before he drove the stake home unless they attacked him first — but there were days when the dust settled and the emptiness replaced the adrenaline where he just felt empty after. And it wasn’t a good feeling. He much preferred this.
A momentary expression of confusion crossed his face as she mentioned his ‘friend,’ smoothing when he remembered their first conversation online. “Ah. Less of a friend, more of me talking myself up. Oops.” He didn’t look particularly apologetic about it, and didn’t feel very bad. It wasn’t as if he’d lied to her, after all; he told her she’d be meeting a handsome PI at the bar, and she had. She seemed to think so, too, based on the way she was looking at him. Emilio smirked as he hand found his collar. “I like to think I pull it off. Emilio.” He took her arm, leading her towards the bar.
“Emilio,” she repeated with a small smirk still glued to her face. It was a nice name, one Marina supposed she could get used to using. “At least you were honest in talking yourself up,” she added, giving his arm a squeeze as she took it, “I’m sure you find I was just as honest in my own self-assessment.” It wasn’t a question. This glamour was beautiful as far as human forms went. It held no candle to her true nature and the way her tentacles danced with the waves, but it was far more than adequate.
They made their way inside to the crowded and rowdy bar. Establishments like these always left Marina feeling a certain hint of excitement. The mixture of alcohol and humankinds not-so-upstanding citizens usually led to some amount of chaos, even if it was just another fight to watch. She leaned into Emilio slightly as they walked, it allowed her some steadiness as the edges of her vision became more clear. The bleeding was slowing and while it wouldn’t fully heal until she nestled into her welcome waters, it was becoming manageable. As they entered the establishment, she said, “I am going to clean this bite and then our evening plans can resume.”
While not ideal, the freshwater from the bathroom faucet was enough to at least cauterize the wound and the change of blouse she had in her bag would have to suffice. Marina slipped into the coral tank top and rejoined Emilio at the bar. She moved her stool close to his and asked, “Did rum still suffice? We can get a bottle of whatever your favorite is.” It was a small nicety, a token of appreciation for his life-saving escapades that did not require any admission of debt on her part. With confirmation on acceptable alcohol, she waved the bartender down and had their drinks started.
Marina scanned over the menu, frowning slightly when she saw calamari, but deciding to overlook it for the moment. She could deal with the so-called chef of this establishment another night. “So private detective,” she wondered aloud, “What all does that entail?” Her hand found its way to his leg and she grinned playfully, “If a show like that is part of your regular workload, I already have more trust in you than I do the authorities.” It was the truth, though admittedly it was one that did not say much. Still, flattery worked for all of her purposes.
“I’m honest when it serves me.” A true enough statement. Emilio was honest most of the time, really; the lies he told tended to be ones of omission, or ones tied to emotions that he wasn’t quite ready to deal with yet. The wedding band on his finger felt a little heavier for a moment, the way it always did in moments like this one. He shoved his hand into his pocket to help him ignore it. “No, you didn’t lie, either. Definitely worth leaving the couch for.” And worth staking a vampire for, though he would have felt that way about most people. He was trying to outgrow the views he’d been embedded with when it came to the undead, but he wasn’t quite there yet. It was a slow process. Everything always was.
The Wormhole was just as seedy as ever. A few regulars paused in conversations to give Emilio brief nods of acknowledgement; a testament to how much time he spent in the shithole of a bar. Because it was both cheap and close to his apartment, he tended to find himself there often. “I’ll get you a drink,” he told his new companion with a nod. He didn’t ask what she wanted; Emilio might not be good with people, but he knew alcohol well enough to know what most people would want. Marina didn’t strike him as a cocktail kind of woman.
By the time she made it back to the bar, he’d already ordered. The bartender set down two glasses in front of them, and Emilio nodded at him as he started to walk away. “We’ll take the bottle,” he said, nodding to it. The bartender eyed him warily. “Relax, wey. She’s paying.” This seemed to ease the bartender’s mind, and he left the bottle as he went to talk to other patrons. Most of the bartenders on rotation here were familiar enough with Emilio to know that he tended to run up a pretty high tab and leave without paying it. It was always settled eventually, one way or another.
He watched Marina survey the menu, noting the look that crossed her face as she scanned its contents but unsure what it might mean. He decided to push that, too, aside. It didn’t matter in the long run. “In this town? A lot of missing persons cases. Taking a look at things the police don’t want to deal with, or the things they get wrong. There are a lot of those.” Like the polar bear at the zoo with Nora. If they’d let the police handle that one, an innocent bear would have died while a guilty man roamed free. “You should trust me more than them. They’re idiots. And assholes, usually. You need a detective in this town, I’m your best bet. Maybe there are other PIs, but they don’t know what I know.” In Wicked’s Rest, a PI without any knowledge of the supernatural wasn’t going to solve many cases.
The sentiment wasn’t one that Marina could truly appreciate, so rather than say anything about how dishonesty was disgraceful, she simply shrugged. Humans lied. This was hardly groundbreaking information by any measure. Instead, she focused on the compliment, happily accepting the praise. He agreed that she had been honest in calling herself a beautiful woman, and while this visage was hardly as beautiful as her true form, it was still pleasing. The show of a human form she paraded was still more awe-invoking than that of any human. “I suppose I’ll have to make sure that sentiment continues,” she responded with a sly grin.
When the bartender passed back by, Marina was certain to get her fish and chips ordered. Her head still felt considerably light and sipping on rum likely wasn’t helping, perse, but she’d tested her limits enough times to know she didn’t have to worry about keeling over the bar just yet. Based on the bartender’s attitude about this Emilio would pay his check, she went ahead and gave him a Bradley’s plastic card that now housed human currency. An oddity that never made much sense to her, but it was effective in getting the things she needed from the human world and blending into better. “Do you make a habit of not paying your barkeep,” she asked with a laugh.
The nereid listened intently as Emilio spoke of what his work as a private investigator entailed. It was likely that his skills in that department could be of use to Marina. She needed to know more about who owned the aquarium and tracking down the surviving men who had been involved in Eula’s untimely death. “Interesting,” she pondered, swirling the rum around in her glass before setting it back down on the sticky bartop, “Are you able to find people that may not necessarily be in the area?” She knew technology had some fascinating aspects to it, but it all went a little over her head, not that she cared too much to know the ins and outs.
Marina nodded, “I do see how your particular… skillset and clear knowledge of certain things in this place could get you much farther than the so-called authorities or other private detectives.” She was unable to lie, even if she had wanted to, not that she would ever disgrace herself in such a way. After another sip of her rum, she looked back to Emilio, wearing a face that was slightly more awestruck in hopes of coaxing the right words out of the man. “You know, the way you moved out there,” she started, eyes lingering on some of the specks of blood he hadn’t quite wiped off his forehead, “It was really something. You move swiftly like waves in a storm, but with the fluidity they possess when the waters are calm. Quite amazing, really.” She leaned a bit closer and whispered, “Almost worth being turned into an appetizer just to see the show.”
He liked the sound of that, of her ensuring that the sentiment would continue. The adrenaline of the fight with the vampire was still buzzing in his chest, dulling the pain where his head met the concrete and intensified by the potential of a different brand of action later. It would surprise no one, he suspected, to learn that Emilio often found himself craving one exercise when the other ended. Back when he and Juliana had been at their best, the punctuation mark at the end of a successful hunt usually took them to the bedroom. He missed that. (He missed her, too, though he rarely let himself admit it.)
At the bar, he watched Marina carefully for signs of major blood loss. Emilio didn’t know much about health or first aid — that had never been what his training focused on — but he did know a thing or two about blood loss. He’d been on both sides of it, for obvious reasons. Marina seemed all right, though. A little woozy, as was to be expected, and probably getting drunker faster than she normally would have, but not in any danger of keeling over. Well enough to make jokes, in any case. “I pay them off eventually.” After a successful case, usually, when he had money left over. Technically he had quite a bit of that at the moment, thanks to Levi and his babysitting gig, but he’d yet to utilize it. He had it squirreled away for the moment, thoughts of Nora and Wynne and Ren and what they’d be left with when he inevitably bit off more than he could chew one of these days. That money ought to go to something better than his drinking habit.
“Sure,” he shrugged, thinking of the people he’d found so far. In Wicked’s Rest, ‘finding’ someone usually meant finding them in pieces, but there were exceptions to the rule. Sometimes, there were people who didn’t want to be found. Zack came to mind. “Costs extra, sometimes. Depends on how far I have to go to find them, how hard they are to find. You got someone you need found?” He wouldn’t mind it, doing a job for her, though he had no intention of keeping this relationship professional unless that was what she wanted. He was fine with accepting whatever it was she wanted this to be, was good at respecting that there were two halves to every equation. But Marina seemed just as interested in making this go beyond a professional thing as Emilio did. A night of fun wouldn’t hurt whatever case she needed him to solve, anyway.
He pursed his lips, huffing a laugh as she mused on how his ‘skillset’ must come in handy here. That was something of an understatement, he thought. He couldn’t imagine a human private investigator surviving in this town. Not for more than a few cases, at least, not indefinitely. Marina went on, really laying it on thick as she looked at him with a hungry expression. She knew he’d already sleep with her, didn’t she? There was no need for all the extra pushing. “I’ve been moving like that since I learned how to walk,” he replied with a shrug, sipping on his own drink. “Not as good at it as I used to be, but I hold my own. And I try to keep people from being turned to appetizers when I can.”
There was a certain small amount of respect that the man paid his debts, not that she much cared about debts of humans unless they were owed to a fae. Marina possessed a bit more respect for hunters than she did most humans. Well, most of them anyhow. Andrew had been a coward and hardly worth the title of warden. From what she could tell, Emilio did not have the same sense of greed despite also having a business, given his business was not a display of imprisoned life. He killed the vampire, plain and simple, like a hunter was meant to do. While she bore no loyalty for the man, there was a certain quiet respect for his place in the order of things, though she wouldn’t quite go as far to say it was for the man himself. He may have had the potential to serve multiple purposes, both for vengeance and pleasure, but he was still human.
“Cost is not a concern to me,” Marina responded, because it wasn’t. There was a certain foolish confidence about the wealthy and single, they believed their wealth made them appealing to her, and promised her pretty and foolish things. Their funds would be much better suited toward helping her find the spineless men, old as they were, who had taken her sweet girl from her. Emilio was intuitive, put it together she had someone she wanted to find, and asked her as much. The question tugged at something in her that she didn’t wish to unleash in such an open environment. She looked down at food and drink in front of her, unable to quite meet the man’s eyes. Finding further questions in them might tug at and unravel answers she preferred to keep close to her chest, not as some display for humans to observe and dissect as they had all those years in the tank. She was not a show for them, she would not peel away at those layers in a room full of them.
Marina let out a steady breath, eyes still locked on the remaining chips as she answered his question. “I do, yes,” she started, “I’ll provide relevant information another time. I do not wish to ruin the mood of this evening.” She turned to Emilio, donning a smirk that didn’t quite ring true. If his investigative skills were as good as he said they were, surely he’d see right through it, but she was near certain the redirection would work anyhow. The evening had been planned with certain pretenses in mind. Speaking of the men who killed her daughter, letting that ache and anger paint her words and fill the air, had not been one of them.
If Marina hadn’t been certain he was a hunter before, he essentially confirmed it in that statement. Learning combat at such a young age seemed to be necessity for them as they’d spend their whole lives fighting. “I see,” she said, softly. Flattery would not get her everywhere with this one. She almost respected him a little more for it. The operative word being almost. Perhaps he wouldn’t utter just the right words tonight, but he still had his uses, ones that she made abundantly clear as she placed a firm hand on his thigh. “I hope you only mean in the literal sense,” she remarked, “The youth seem to be using food as euphemisms today. In that sense, it could be a good deal of fun.”
The hand that wasn’t still firmly planted on Emilio’s leg fished into her bag for a wad of cash that she didn’t bother to count. There was a couple hundred dollars there, as the bartender would find later, and Marina could not be bothered to care that it was significantly more than the cost of their tab. Or that they may still run the card. That was a Bradley problem. She put the cash down on the counter and grabbed the bottle of rum. “Are you nearby or do we need to get one of the phone cars to take us to my accommodations,” she asked, eager to leave the crowded room of humans.
So she had money, and she was willing to spend it. It was something he tended to try to find out about potential clients early, because there were different types of people where money was concerned. There were the ones who had next to nothing, but would throw it all at you anyway if it meant you could find out what they wanted to know. Those were the ones that usually came to him with deeply personal cases, the ones he never felt right taking money from at the end of the day. Javier claimed that those were the ones that were going to bankrupt him, and Javier was probably right. There were others who had money, but didn’t particularly want to spend it. Those usually came with divorce lawyers who wanted to bleed an ex dry, and they’d always come up with some reason or another not to pay in the end. The job wasn’t done fast enough, or it wasn’t done in the way they liked it, or Emilio was rude to them. He had to strong arm his way into getting the paycheck he’d earned with those jobs, and that was always annoying.
And then, there were the ones like Marina. People who had money, but didn’t mind parting with it. These were the most lucrative clients. The cases still tended to be personal — things people found more important than money usually were, no matter how much money they did or didn’t have — but Emilio felt less guilty taking it from them. It meant he got to solve a case that didn’t make him feel like shit about himself and could still buy himself a drink after. It was an added bonus that Marina was the sort of person he wouldn’t mind spending time with throughout the duration of the case, too; whatever she asked him to do, he was sure it’d be fine. Given the look in her eye, it might even be the sort of thing he’d want to do regardless of the payday.
“We’ll talk about it later,” he agreed. Tonight was for something else, something much more entertaining than work. And the smirk on her face wasn’t entirely genuine — another sign, he thought, that the case she was going to hand him would be the kind that made it easier to live with himself instead of harder when it was finished — but it was present all the same. An olive branch, a pin in the conversation, a promise to return to the heavy stuff only after a fair amount of light.
And there would be light moments. Her hand on his thigh promised as much, her words confirmed it. Emilio’s smirk was a little more genuine, not weighed down by whatever it was in her head that she hadn’t yet spoken aloud. She was forward. He liked that. He was a decent enough flirt, charming when he wanted to be, but he preferred to get right to the point of things. Saying what it was you wanted was far easier than flirting; Marina seemed to agree.
“I’m right down the street,” he told her lowly, sliding off the barstool and offering her his arm. It was why he tended to frequent the Wormhole — easier to get people back to his apartment when the night began to wind down. “Come on. I can think of better ways to spend the night than this.”
TIMING: Current
PARTIES: @faustianbroker & @oceansrevenge
SUMMARY: Your typical sea monster meet-cute or something. Marina happens upon Leviathan swimming in the ocean and unfortunately for boaters, the two had a great time.
There was nothing in the world that compared to the open sea. The motion of the waves, even on a calmer day, soothed Marina in ways no tank ever could. No matter how meticulously the water was monitored to ensure her survival, it didn’t have the pull of the tides or small crevices to squeeze into while she slept. Since escaping the glass prison, she simply couldn’t get enough time in the ocean. Every cephalopod protected and in her presence helped return the strength that had been taken from her, healed the aches in all but her hearts. The feeling of strength in her tentacles had her craving one of her favorite pastimes. It had been too many years since her tentacles had wrapped around in a ship and sunk it to the ocean floor.
The summertime months were filled with various vessels venturing into waters that were not theirs to explore and Marina longed to sink them all, but today, she would start with one. Test her strength and affinity with these new waters. She swam swiftly through waves as searched and finally laid eyes upon a vessel filled with humans with their phones out. There was a slightly satisfied curve to her mouth as she raced ahead, only to feel something else in the water swimming in the same direction. Something that mirrored her in size and intensity. She stopped in her place and laid eyes upon one of the most stunning creatures she’d ever seen. It had a dragonesque look that reminded her of tales the other nereides back home had told of sea monsters like the kraken and the Leviathan and it had a pale turquoise glow around some of its parts. It was remarkable. Would it like to toy with the humans in the same way she did or would it consider her a foe? It was decidedly not fae, the familiar chiming feeling under her skin wasn’t present and it was not one of her cephalopods. It was a risk and it was thrilling. She approached more slowly, wonder present in her eyes. “Wow,” her deep voice vibrated through the water, “You magnificent creature. What are you?” She didn’t expect a response, but she was curious to see what it did next.
—
Some days Leviathan wanted nothing more than to return to the sea from which it had come, but it had things keeping it here, now. People. Besides, that sea was decidedly more lonely than this one, and so the demon often compromised by spending a day or two shifted and in the water until it felt ready to return to the human life that waited for it.
This was one of those days, and Leviathan swam lazily through the water, fully aware that it had wandered into the path of one of the vessels from its tourism business, figuring that it might as well give some lucky bastards a show while it was in the area.
But… huh. What was that? Many pairs of eyes flicked this way and that as its great, frilled head turned in the water, massive clawed and webbed feet pawing at the water to turn the serpentine body in a tight formation.
Behind it was… whoa. Whoa. That giant mouth hung open in surprise at the sight of the… the what, exactly? Octopus… person. Fae? Had to be. It didn’t know of anything that looked like that, and fae were probably the most diverse species in appearance.
I am the Leviathan, it answered honestly, voice sounding in her head and hers alone as it swam a little closer. Its heart thudded against its ribcage, gills flaring and bubbles erupting from its snout. What are you?
—
The way its voice reverberated through her mind made it feel as if its words were a song meant only for her. If Marina were to hazard a guess based on the clarity, she was almost certain that the words were for her and her alone to hear. There was a certain thrill to that, one that made her confident that its words were true and she was truly swimming before the Leviathan itself. And it was a thing of beauty. She wanted to see it in action, live the many stories she had heard of its antics. Her imagination surely could not do it justice.
“Your words are true,” she stated plainly, her eyes still carefully monitoring its movements. As if taking in every small detail of its form, the way its gills moved, and the way she felt the change in the currents changing path around the large creature would commit it to memory with flawless clarity. “Leviathan,” she repeated softly, intrigue clear in her voice even under the water.
The Leviathan was a legend, one she remembered telling tales of to Eula when she was just a young little thing. That thought added another layer of longing, one mixed with an ache that her sweet girl didn’t get to experience this moment of wonder alongside her. The memory still stood, Leviathan was the thing of legends and she would not slight it by leaving it waiting for an answer. “I’m a nereid,” she offered, “You may call me Marina.”
Somehow, she had the feeling her name would sound something akin to the symphonies inspired by muses hearing it echoed in her own head in the voice of the beautiful sea serpent. A tentacle tentatively extended toward the demon, unable to help herself, but not foolish enough to show the creature anything but the utmost respect that its notoriety commanded. “May I?”
—
Marina… its voice vibrated through her head once more, swelling and bursting like waves crashing through the entrance of a sea cave. Its many eyes danced to the tentacle she extended, and if that great, toothy maw could have cracked into a smile, it would have. Yes. Even in this body, it craved all the same things it had grown accustomed to by living among humans, and touch was top of the list. And to be touched by such a magnificent creature of the sea, well… that was simply a bonus.
It swam closer, serpentine body coiling behind it as it leaned into the grasp of her many arms, clearly welcoming the closeness that it brought. She was small compared to it, but Leviathan still marveled at her size. I have never seen one like you, it mused, claws dragging lightly across her body as it admired the form. You are very beautiful, Marina. Marina… The voice now rumbled almost as if it were laughing, a theory backed up by the way its jaws parted and its head lolled as it pressed its snout against her. All those aquamarine eyes closed and the beast coiled tighter, basking in the effortless and mutually respectful connection that had been forged in an instant. If only it were always this easy.
—
Had her own name ever sounded quite so beautiful? The way it flowed and ebbed through her so that she could feel every syllable, feel the wondrous way in which this legendary being regarded her. If Marina hadn’t already been thoroughly taken with the magnificent creature, she would have been in that moment— instead, something akin to affection swelled through her that only grew when Leviathan leaned into her touch. The sensation of its skin was rough and she could feel its power. The very maw that danced into her touch could destroy even her and there was something exhilarating in that fact.
There was a wave of pride in her. The Leviathan found her form beautiful and its appreciation showed in the gentle way its claws moved across her skin. Marina could hardly believe something so large, so powerful, could have such a light touch. She hummed in contentment. There was something especially thrilling in the promise of pain the sharp claws held despite the soft way they grazed her form. “And you are absolutely stunning,” she practically sang, leaning into its form as it looped and coiled around her, “What beautiful destruction you must be capable of.”
Tentacles with a mind all their own, followed delicately across the demon to bask in its affection. Marina already felt a sense of adoration for it, one that normally only came so easily for other fae, but this creature so embodied the ocean that it was easy to feel at home in its touch. Her eyes drifted towards the vessel in the distance and she gave the creature a small nudge. “Perhaps you could show me,” she said deviously, low voice carrying in the water.
—
Head turning in the direction she’d indicated, Leviathan let out a low, gurgling laugh. You know I would love to, it thrummed, but that vessel actually belongs to me. Looking back at her, it cocked its head to the side. Still. I will happily show you what I am capable of, Marina. You need only follow…
Uncoiling from around her, the massive beast started a swim deeper out to sea, listening for the roar of engines. While it could travel at frightening speeds, it kept the pace leisurely, instead enjoying the feeling of swimming in a spiral around the nereid, brushing its scales against her body.
If she was this gorgeous looking like herself, it could only wonder what her human disguise might look like. If she had one of those: it wouldn’t fault her if not. The ocean was a far more preferable place to be, after all.
I have a home among them. For entertainment, mostly—this town provides plenty of that. You are always welcome, should you feel the urge to venture onto dry land. The house is on a beach, so there isn’t much arid travel required.
A far off rumbling met its ears and the demon gestured with a jerk of its head. There we are. It was one of the big ones that hauled shipping containers full of god knows what—amazon packages, probably—overseas. A sizable boat, but nothing that the demon’s powerful jaws couldn’t rip through. As they approached the ship’s powerful propellers, Leviathan placed itself below Marina, eyes growing dark as pupils expanded in excitement. I like going for the propellers, it explained, they tickle. But, ladies first, if you like.
—
Bubbles seemed to surround them as the Leviathan seemingly laughed and there was something strangely endearing about it. Many stories of it had been told from the limited viewpoint of humans who were terrified of it and had painted it as a terrifying monster. Marina had no doubt that it could inspire terror in the hearts of many, but there was something so delightfully playful in the way it coiled around her and how she could feel its chuckle shifting the current around them ever so slightly. “Curious,” she thought aloud, letting her tentacles brush against its scales as it unwound itself from around, “I would not dream of destroying anything that is yours.” As much was true and not only because even she looked small next to its massive form. No, there was a kindred nature— a connection she couldn’t quite place. It wasn’t the same humming of bells under her skin she felt in the presence of other fae, but the feeling brought its own kind of warmth.
“Lead the way,” Marina hummed, eager to follow alongside it. She had the feeling they could both swim faster, it likely considerably moreso, but the relaxed swim held its own magic to it. The way the great creature spiraled around her in a way that allowed them to brush each other every so often. It was an all encompassing experience that only became more so when its voice swam through her mind again. Even more curious. It had to have a human disguise, one she was almost certain could not hold a candle to the beauty it possessed now, but she wanted to see it all the same. She wanted to know where it fit into the human world and perhaps what it could teach her in that regard.
“A home and a boat,” Marina wondered aloud. The more human-like arm of her form reached out toward it and her fingers stroked its scales as it made another loop around her. A quiet show of acceptance as she gathered her thoughts. “You divert expectations,” she finally said, “I appreciate the invitation and will likely take you up on it.” She paused briefly. “I have matters on land to attend to.”
For now, Marina would leave it at that. Discussing her business with the humans meant letting her thoughts drift to the circumstances that inspired her vendetta. The glass tank. The isolation. Eula.
No, this particular moment was a bright one that didn’t need to be marred with thoughts of vengeance and rage. Marina could carry the happier memories of her daughter with her and let this experience be what it was— something beautiful, magical. As much became all too easy when she could hear and feel its voice again. Her skin flashed from its normal orange to an inky black before finally fading into a light brown. Somewhere alongside its voice, a laugh from her memory rang clear, too. Her own shortly followed.
“Ach nai,” Marina let slip in her native tongue, before slipping back to the English they had been conversing in, “Surely just a tickle for one with such thick skin.” The powerful propellers on the vessel likely wouldn’t be quite as kind to her. Instead, she watched the vessel momentarily and focused on the movement of the water. Her eyes flit shut as she allowed herself to fully feel the current and tides, let herself become fully one with them. When her eyes fluttered back open, they gazed upon the ship. She willed the water to form waves larger and choppier than they were previously on such a clear day. The water was happy to oblige and the boat began to rock slightly. That was her moment.
Marina drew in closer toward the ship and reached a couple of tentacles out to grab along some of its side railings. Paired with the motion of the water, she was able to gain enough leverage to violently jerk the vessel from side to side, sending a few of its crew over and into the water. She was quick to wrap a tentacle around one of the trashing humans and pull it under the surface with her as she moved closer to Leviathan. “I have a few humans to drown,” she spoke, “That’s my favorite part.” If she had been wearing her human visage, a devious grin would have painted her features. “Your turn. Show me your worst.”
—
Watching delightedly as the nereid commanded the water to do her bidding, Leviathan flexed its claws and flared its gills, now itching to take a bite of the vessel itself. It paced in the water, if you will, swimming to and fro as the massive nymph sent men hurtling overboard and into the stormy waters, where she snatched one up, ignoring his struggling and muted screams as he tried to claw himself free of her grip.
Damn. That was pretty hot.
My worst, my worst… Its worst would require a different form. Larger, more lethal than this gentle cruiser. But that was easily done. Of course, Marina. Diving deeper, the demon opened its jaws as wide as it could, and something began to emerge from them. Tentacles, not unlike her own but scaled up considerably. They writhed and grasped the side of its great head, ripping the lower jaw off of the body. A split ran down the beast’s side, clouding the water down deep with blood, and something burst forth. Impossibly large when compared to the vessel it was vacating, unfolding like it had been vacuum sealed inside. It looked different, lacking in clawed appendages and with an enormous mouth like a lamprey—a gaping, circular opening lined with hundreds of jagged teeth. Once it was free of the gore of its former body, it sped toward the surface and crashed against the underside of the cargo ship with enough force to launch it out of the water about twenty feet. Its tentacles wrapped up and around the ship, circling it fully as that horrific mouth clamped down on the propellers. They groaned and stuttered before being ripped from their bearings, and the rear of the ship dipped low, the upper deck sinking a few feet beneath the water. Leviathan opened its maw wide, tentacles gathering at the end of the ship nearest its head, making it tilt at an even more extreme angle—and the desired effect was realized as a few of the crewmen fell, screaming, into the sea monster’s jaws.
—
There was a hum in the currents as Marina watched the creature change into something bigger, something far more terror inducing but somehow even more beautiful. It carried into her hearts which pulsed with excitement as she watched the change and delighted over the inclusion of tentacles in this form. A deep laugh rang around her as she watched its massive maw go straight for the propeller. She imagined a mirror of a tickling sensation in her own beak, knowing full well the massive propellers would be more than a tickle for her. The way its tentacles wrapped around the ship and the loud crunch it made under its grasp had to be one of the most amazing things she had the fortune of seeing.
Then the Leviathan was holding the ship at an angle, letting its crew fall into its jaws, and she knew those humans would never see the light of day again. Marina was giddy at the thought. It was magnificently destructive, a show to let the humans know they weren’t welcome here. The demon had taken her favorite pastime and made it into something even bigger, even deadlier, and it made her feel warm in a way she hadn’t in decades.
“Brilliant,” Marina encouraged. She practically danced around the wreckage, grabbing wayward crewman who hadn’t quite made it into the Leviathan’s late afternoon snack and pulled them under. Some were easier to pull down than others, she took her time with the ones who trashed against her grip. One, two… a dozen? In the excitement, it was hard to keep count.
“Such quick work of it,” Marina awed, “With a flair for the dramatics. I approve.” More than approved, she craved more. She could watch it swim and rip things apart for hours, but she longed to see its human disguise too— perhaps become better acquainted with it. It could create such carnage and wreckage with ease and lived amongst the humans from time to time. The Leviathan was a curious creature and this show only left her only more awestruck.
—
Satisfied with its work, Leviathan dragged the ship below the surface with those massive appendages and slithered along the bottom of it, distributing its weight more or less evenly on each end of the ship before gripping tightly and ripping. The vessel cracked in half and began its descent to the sea floor where it would, in time, create a new reef. Whatever humans were still aboard, huddled in their hiding spots, would make food for the predators that were already headed this way.
I am glad to hear that, the demon responded to Marina’s approval, moving her way again, its sheer mass shifting the currents around it and nearly pushing her about. And I am glad to see you… have enjoyed yourself. If it had had a mouth capable of smirking, it would have done so.
If you have business among humans… I’d like to show you where you can find me up there. Wasn’t the only thing it wanted to show her, but that didn’t need saying. Yet.
—
There was always something satisfying about watching human-made vessels sink. Slowly, it’d be pulled to the ocean’s floor and be reclaimed by the life there. Algae and corals would grow on the surface, smaller fish would swim through it and make it their own. Larger predators would find meals in the remaining humans abroad. For all they took from the ocean, in moments like these, they were giving back. Marina found satisfaction in her waters reclaiming something so large. It’d soon be home to many more deserving and she found it easy to bear affection for the creature who made it possible. In such a stunning display, the kind sailors of older days wrote shanties about.
“I’ve most certainly enjoyed myself,” she hummed, “And I’m glad you got a good meal out of the endeavor.” In so many ways, the demon embodied the ocean that its form was suited to it. It was capable of great destruction like the waves in a storm, but had a certain whimsy about it, too. The kind that made the sea enchanting and the subjects of poems and paintings, century after century. Just like its voice in her mind, the shift in the water as it moved toward her again felt all encompassing. As it neared her, she reached toward its tentacles, not asking this time before feeling them against hers. Even with her own considerably large size, her tentacles seemed so small in comparison. It didn’t scare her. Intuitively she knew Leviathan would do her no true harm, but the fact that it could was thrilling.
“It’s as if you read my mind,” Marina responded, her hands brushing along some of the seafoam colored accents in its scales, “Though I have no intention of ruining such a wonderful day with business as such. I had… more exploratory endeavors in mind.” This form, while far superior to the glamour she wore, didn’t quite allow for the same expressive mannerisms. She hoped the emphasis on certain words served the same purpose as a smirk or the strange winking thing that humans did. Her fingers traced its scales a moment longer before gesturing ahead, “Lead the way.”
What did you expect from a man that launched a media company into the modern day stratosphere with only his imagination? Legend has it that he's gonna come back one day. I'd like to see it.
Florida is as south as you can get, I think. Where are you from?
I think the original is probably worse. The mermaid like dies at the end and it's all about true love or whatever. Smells like bullshit to me.
[pm] A woman after my own heart. Well, well, well. Are you perhaps one of the fairest folk around? And what would you say if my heart desired your name?
[pm] Yes, one could say I'm especially fair. Faetal, even. I would say you cannot have my name, dear Beau, but you may call me Marina. Though if you desire more names, I have several who are inclined to do as I please. I call them all Bradley anyhow, their names are rather meaningless to me. Would you like them?
[pm] Curious choice of phrasing, Beau. Almost as if you were to receive the name if given, which I certainly hope is the case. If your intentional choice of wording is any indication, you very much deserve any name your heart desires.
Walt Disney is in a cooler somewhere in Florida. I don't think you'll be able to get ahold of him. But the movie is based on a fairy tale written in like the dark ages or something. You'd have to go back pretty far to take it up with the author.
Cooler, chamber, vaults-- I am getting some rather troubling information about this Walt Disney man. Florida... that is south, correct? I am not familiar with human names for locati the geography of this country. A fairy tale written in the dark ages. Was the original any better than the film adaptation?
I think you can probably find the address to his cryo chamber on google! I don't know if he can still read though. Sure, but who cares about realism when the people are hot?
What is a cryo chamber? I have gathered this man is diseased from several correspondences, but have heard of vaults and now chambers? Are you saying that you find the animated characters in this film... attractive? I suppose the crab had a certain appeal about him.
Walt is dead, but I think you can find his head somewhere deep in the vault. If you do find somebody to talk to, can you yell at them for taking Willow off of Disney+ too?
What vault is this that you speak of? A conversation with his head would suffice. And it would look much better among the drowned ships. I do not know what Willow is, but expressing more anger sounds entertaining. What can you offer in return?
Fins are far superior. Tentacles even more so. Do you have legs you no longer wish to have?
Oh, it's a board with a bunch of letters on it, some people think it can communicate with the dead. Walt Disney died a long time ago, so you won't be able to get a hold of him directly. Idk, the mermaids I've met in my life are pretty dumb Yeah she really wasn't thinking logically there. But hey, that's teenagers for you, I guess.
Well, seeing as how the man is long dead, I don't think you could. I will say that Disney movies should be taken with a grain of salt and not taken as serious pieces of film. They're fantasy.
I cannot honestly say that I am saddened by this discovery. Whose fantasy?
[pm] I apologize that our previous correspondence was cut short. As you can likely imagine, I have been spending much of my time in the ocean since my escape.
I am still very much interested in the crochet octopus and Bradley recommended $25 each, if that is acceptable to you.
How long have you been around? I know vampires can survive an incredibly long-time and you seem to possess a fair amount of wisdom. I've been alive a little over two centuries myself.
