gabidrake

[gabidrake]

theoseong​:

Theo always wondered what the new people must think about mermaid theme. It was different for tourists who sought it out, but what about those who moved here and had to live with it? Gabi seemed to think it was silly, and Theo had to agree with her. “I’ve never thought about it like that before,” Theo said when she compared him to a captain. It wasn’t like the boat ever went anywhere, so he felt more like a bartender on a slightly rocky surface. “Sounds very official.” Theo was always willing to talk about his life in New York. Maybe not the failed musician part, but the excitement of living in the city. “Everything?” He said with a weak laugh. “It’s noisy, but not in a bad way. It all becomes background noise, and if it ever went silent it would be disturbing. There’s so much good food from all around the world. Lots of interesting people from all over the world too. It really is the city that never sleeps. There’s something to do at all hours of he day.”

.

“It’s as official as you allow it to be- as long as you don’t let it go to your head.” Gabi could hardly conceptualize how a city could be so noisy as she had never lived in a large human city before. She had never even visited. If she started traveling around further than a couple of towns away, then Gabi was sure that she would never want to come back. The idea of this city sounded so promising and curious that she could not help but feel jealous. The sense of responsibility for something seemed have brought back Theo to this strange little town. “Mm, so the complete opposite of here. The woods and beach can be loud in their own way, but it can’t quite be the same. You might go back there or somewhere else interesting if you’re no longer tied down.”

[gabidrake]

Gabi was only familiar with this term because she had a moderate fondness for older films which used the phrase as something of an innuendo. “Perhaps it would be best if you didn’t use that phrase as is, Aylin. It means something different around here than I assume you mean literally,” she said gently. Al she had wanted to do was get a glimpse of the seals here. She had always been fond of seals as a whole, in this was the best place to get a glimpse of them. Unfortunately, it wasn’t exactly a private location, which meant that Gabi had to sigh and accept that other people would bring their own eccentricities nearby.

location: marine research centre

time: afternoon 

status: closed for @gabidrake​

          Fish. So many fish.

          Aylin loved the research center because she loved getting to see the different fish they had. And there were other seals! She loved looking at the seals. It sort of sucked that they were not able to talk to the seals… like as a seal. But that was the point, she supposed. It was a bit weird if she just had a fur coat made out of seal fur. Still, Aylin wanted her own fur back at some point. So on days when she missed the sea, missed seeing the different fish, she found herself going to the research center, watching the different creatures in their different habitats. 

          “How much do you think I’d have to pay to swim with the fishes?” 

[gabidrake]

ronandelgado​:

“Sounds like a pretty good assessment of myself” Ronan nodded with a smile. “But you forgot the part about how it’s caused by a conjunction of all my life experiences that make it hard for me to form meaningful relationships with others and how it’s all a way to mask deeper issues.” He took another bite out of the mini sandwich like that was a way to prove the point. “Or, maybe, I’m just very, very bored. And, while I can find better company elsewhere, yours is a great way to deal with said boredom.”

.

Gabi exhaled and shook her head. This was her patience being tested, and she did not like it one bit. “I’m not going to be your entertainment anymore for today, so you can enjoy your ridiculousness without me, then. I don’t have time to be used for your deep-seated issues that are not my problem.” She gestured dramatically, and then turned away from Ronan as if that would help make the situation sway further in her favor. It... probably wouldn’t do much good, but Gabi was too annoyed for something like logic at the moment.

[gabidrake]

Gabi still insisted that coffee was only best when consumed in its purest form- black. She had gotten used to that at this point, and appreciated the experience very much. What she did not appreciate was having her medicative caffeinated experienced interrupted by nosy siren captains. This was in public, and Gabi kept her private feelings to herself at all times. She had never even told Allegra that she had been saddled with unnecessary feelings for Gemma, but this was not the time, place, or topic. “Did you have something important that you wanted to talk about, Allegra, or did you want to make up more foolish nicknames? We are not going to have a conversation if all you are going to do is make fun.“

(closed starter for @gabidrake​) 

It had been over a month since the ridiculous blind date paring, a little less since the Valentines party. A month in which Allegra had not forgotten that Gabi had —- something going on for Gemma. It had been when the other siren asked why Allegra hadn’t taken the other to bed that Allegra had started suspecting something, and a few well placed questions had pretty much confirmed it in the other siren’s mind. Whether it was true or not… well, that hardly mattered. It was clearly some kind of sore point for Gabi, and that was too fun not to poke at. 

So when Allegra spotted Gabi sitting in the café, the brunette dropped into chair opposite them. “Hey lovebird.” They smirked, before covering their lips with the coffee cup in her hands. 

[gabidrake]

renzieanand​:

“Ooooh tough crowd.”  Renzie mock-winced for Victoria’s sake after Gabi’s review.  “What’d you think of the music?” Renzie asked, just out of a cultural curiousity.  What would sea people even consider music under the water?  How terrible must it be, to emerge from sound carried by water, to a world of sound carried by air?  Or maybe some of them found it beautiful, and not cacophonous.  Whatever Gabi said, he wouldn’t consider it the opinion of all her people.

Siren, Steph had theorized.  Or mermaid, but Renzie was leaning towards siren.  If only because there was literally no reason for him to talk to Gabi, and yet here he was.  He wasn’t sure what appeal she saw in talking to him; he certainly lacked the allure she possessed.

“I - what?  Ha! Mermans don’t exist!  Mermen…”  Renzie laughed, positive Gabi was trying to be facetious, even if her face had yet to crack any indication of amusement.  “Okay, I’ll try not to worry.  But you know me - I can’t help worrying.  For my sister if nothing else.”

After his talk with Steph, about Victoria and what she expected from his little cousin, he was genuinely worried now.  “I’m sure…I’m sure Victoria is just annoyed at how overdone some people are about their mermaid schtick.  Maybe she wants Port Vale to have more…I dunno.  Dignity.  You’re not a merman either, right?”

.

“It wasn’t to my taste. I like musicals, and apparently nobody likes to play show tunes out in public.” This was absolutely Gabi’s least favorite aspect of modern human culture. For all of the excellent storytelling they had out of this wonderful genre, nobody could be fussed to actually play anything of quality or cultural value in public. 

It was like the theater was some dark secret that only those who cared were fortunate enough to experience. Taylor Swift was the only popular artist whose storytelling Gabi could truly get behind at this point. “Why are you asking about the music? Did you like it?”

Gabi didn’t know which part of this was so funny. Maybe she didn’t understand Renzie’s weird jokes, or he could just not be very funny. Most humans were less entertaining than they thought they were. It was almost funny how baffling she found them, but it was more often than not frustrating or confusing. Or maybe this wasn’t a joke? She couldn’t really be sure, and didn’t know if she actually wanted to ask. No, she did not know Renzie well enough to understand why he was the way she was, and no, she was not a merman. She could agree that those weren’t exactly real, but the way that the human said this was bizarre. “No, what in the world- I’m a woman.” Gabi rolled her eyes. “Port Vale isn’t going to gain any dignity by getting rid of that. There isn’t much dignity to be gained. What are you going to do? Hide all the statues and signs? Hide your cousin?”

[gabidrake]

amitygracebright​:

          “I had to learn them and it took a while. Technically, some places have different meanings, but I think that’s kind of cool. Not everything is the same everywhere. One of the many fascinating things about different cultures.” Aamity-Grace had always loved plants. Even in the sea she had thought the different aquatic plants were neat. She nodded at the other’s words. That sort of art had never been here thing, but Amity-Grace respected someone that could take a simple piece of wood or a blank canvas and make it something entirely new. “Isn’t it neat how many different mediums there are? Even in paint there’s acrylics and oils and watercolors.” Going to art museums had been her favorite thing to do the first time she visisted somewhere new. “If you want, I can talk to my boss and see if there’s budget to buy something for you for the shop. It’s always nice to have local artists have their pieces on display in local shops.” 

.

“So it really is a set of languages. Interesting.” Good thing Gabi never planned on giving plants to anybody- less margin for error. Unfortunately, a less ridiculous person would probably have been grateful or even self-deprecating about this offer. Gabi was grumpy on a good day, and apt to cause a fuss over the most good-intentioned of things. “You don’t even know what my art style is. The gesture is appreciated, but I’d rather you understand what I do further than the medium before trying to push for this. It would be different if your boss was actively seeking out commissions, but you don’t know how I paint at all. You sound like you know what you’re talking about otherwise, but you don’t know me.”

[gabidrake]

steph-anand​:

While Gabi was a seasoned warrior, knew how to handle herself in battle, against probably much worse odds than what they were facing currently, Steph grew up in a quiet small town where this didn’t happen. In Port Vale, you didn’t have to worry about people jumping you in the middle of the night. You just had to worry if you were a teenager and you already passed your curfew. It wasn’t that hard for parents to find their kids if they stayed out too late, this was a small enough place that it was hard to hide out.

So Steph absolutely did not know how to not freak out and freeze up in a situation like this. She was panicking, close to hyperventillating and with the positions of the attackers she didn’t even have the chance to run away. Which she would have attempted to do if she was alone. But Gabi was here.

Gabi was here, Gabi was here, Gabi knew what she was doing, that is what she kept chanting for herself to calm herself down. Who, without a doubt, has done more than she has already, and for a few moments that froze Steph even more because she was panicking and she didn’t know what to do or how be helpful.

But then Gabi snapped at her to move away fast just when one of them jumped for her from the side and it was like her instincts kicked in and she jumped - granted, with a loud yelp, but it was still a fast enough movement for her to get out of the way. And then Gabi’s other words rang in her ears - go for above the stomach area.

They didn’t get too far into teaching, but Gabi did teach her one thing and when the hooded figure came for her again, when Steph jumped out of the way, she jumped to the side instead of backing further towards the wall, fingers into a fist and hit as hard as she could, aiming for the spot where Gabi taught her.

It wasn’t a perfect hit, not by a long shot, it could have been stronger and more precise, but it was quick and close enough that the figure doubled over, wheezing in pain and Steph let out another squeel, still terrified but at least some triumph mixed into it. “Look, Gabi, look, I– shit, shit,” she cursed, another person grabbing onto her hand and she just moved, throwing the first things she got in her hands which was her bag, and smashed it against the person who grabbed onto her once, twice, three times and stepped onto her leg along with it, enough to get her to let go and get further back.

.

Getting back into a fight was almost like breathing. It had been months since she had been able to get into the thick of a fight. And as much as she loved sparring, it had been several years since she had even put herself through such an immersive training exercise. But she remembered what do. Of course she remembered what it took to survive. How could she ever forget that much? It would be easier if she could allow herself to do more than maim her opponents. Although these were probably rogue sirens or maybe even wandering mermaids, she couldn’t say this with absolute certainty. They didn’t seem to be hers at the very least, which was a small relief.

Yes, good. Now that Steph wasn’t completely cornered, she could do a lot more. A wall was the best thing a group could have at their disposal. Okay, Steph was looking for affirmation after some very unorthodox maneuvers. Perfect form didn’t matter if it couldn’t keep you alive, so Gabi was genuinely pleased. “Good job,” she called out, side kicking neatly into someone’s stomach for herself. “Keep going.” It occurred to her that although Steph was the noisiest, Renzie and probably Emilia probably could use some help too. Ugh, she didn’t have time to think about this now- not while she relished the fight.

Now that Steph had a little bit of space to move, it was much easier for Gabi to weave among the more distracted opponents. She took fewer hits now. If she was in the water, she might have gotten away with taking a very small handful of blows, but there was certainly still fight left in her. She jabbed with her elbow in someone’s nose, which was an interesting experience. Deciding she liked that, she wove between a couple of opponents until she could find an opening to do that again.

Most of the group had taken a bad hit by now, so she was able to start to get closer to Steph. Just a few more... “What did you say to them to get them this mad?” She was still ‘playing human’ at this point because of course Gabi knew. Of course she had heard enough to understand. If she could just figure out how to rewrite this situation so that sirens didn’t look absolutely horrendous after this...

[gabidrake]

theoseong​:

“I think so too,” Theo nodded, a little relieved to hear that from her. He grew up having mermaids shoved down his throat to the point where he felt like he couldn’t openly admit he didn’t believe in them, which wasn’t an issue just about anywhere else. “It’s unpopular here, but some people just don’t want to admit the mermaid theme is for money and not actually based on reality.” Theo almost laughed when Gabi advised him to move away, as if he hadn’t tried that already. “I did actually. I lived in New York City for years. I only recently came back, and now I kind of have to stay for The Houseboat. Where would you go next? Back to Miami?”

.

“You know that I’m not from here, so I’m not going to be precious about how silly this mermaid belief is.” If she said it loud enough, maybe she could will it into existence. As bizarre as it was, a safe human life was nice to pretend that she had gone through. Even with the fake rough adolescence... “If you’re obligated to stay with your ship, then that’s like being a captain.” She didn’t want to talk about where she would go next. “Maybe. The plan was to go back eventually, but it doesn’t feel right. I’ve always wanted to travel, though. New York City was on my list. What do you miss about it?”

[gabidrake]

nereidamalik​:

It was an oddly kind thing to say, even if it wasn’t intended to be. Nereida rarely heard anything positive about her reign anymore, it was usually either scorn or pity. She wasn’t sure what to do with defense on her behalf, but it was her instinct not to trust it. If Gabi was actually there, she probably wouldn’t think the same way. Her own followers were so quick to turn on her after all. Nereida nodded hesitantly, deciding against arguing but not willing to fully accept her words either. “Times are certainly different,” she commented flatly, “especially after the treaty.” Which Nereida broke, but she didn’t accept it to begin with. Why would she agree to peace when there was still such an unfair division between sirens and mermaids?

These were the consequences of her actions, like sitting in a human library and staring at maps, and she had to live with it until she could figure out a new plan. She studied where Gabi pointed on the map, trying to visualize the sea instead of the drawings on paper. The first time she saw the Black Sea on a map, she didn’t understand how that was supposed to represent her home. Nereida didn’t know the princess of the South Atlantic, and she wasn’t interested in fixing that, but she understood that they had to at least talk to the mermaids if they wanted to help save Assyria. “Land is strange, and this town is even stranger, but I suppose it’s convenient that we’re all in one spot. Even without your advisors, it should be easy to speak with the others to help visualize the territories better,” she said. 

Nereida was once again surprised when Gabi explained why she came to her for help. Just like she rarely heard good things about her reign, she also rarely heard her ego be considered her strength. She couldn’t help but sit up a little straighter with pride. At first, she wanted nothing to do with this mission to help Assyria, but she was starting to get her stride back and feel like a leader again–despite having no one to lead. “It makes sense,” she agreed, careful to keep her expression neutral. “I may not be a captain anymore, but I still know what I’m talking about.”

.

“And we change with those times, however difficult it may be. The treaty was a big change, but it’s allowed us time to breathe and understand who we are in addition to our ferocity.” Gabi did firmly believe that mermaids as a whole were a weak-centered people, but at least they had a basis in being something more than fighters. It would be difficult to persuade Nereida of this entirely because it was so difficult to change, but it made her feel some pity for the other sirens that were stuck only clawing for more. Why not be both interested in more power and have something more to live for?

“Yes, exactly. You have a unique perspective and the knowledge that comes with your experience. It doesn’t mean that you can or will exert any authority over me, or that I can truly exercise any over you. However, based on your valued input, I can do some better decision-making from here. I am not a good ruler without the counsel of those that can see what I cannot. Otherwise, I’m just someone good at fighting.” She glanced down at the book and her territory that felt so far away. “You don’t need to help me, but I’m a good leader only because my best decisions are based on the sum of the knowledge of those that I trust to bring good counsel and dare to disagree with me in the decision-making process.” It was a subtle form of flattery that was meant to bring Nereida around to see Gabi’s perspective. Gabi was good in combat, but she wanted to progress siren society forward in a way further than who had the sharpest blade. Her reign was tentative, and hung on the understanding that her decisionmaking was not just her own voice at work. She needed Nereida to listen and reason with her because this was the closest that Gabi was going to get to someone with an opinion that wasn’t also spoken for in leading another territory. “It would be a non-binding arrangement. No need to swear fealty to me- only accept that these are my decisions in the end and not to disclose them to others. But it would allow you opportunity to have influence over them.” To what extent of influence, Gabi was not sure, but she wanted Nereida to consider this.

[gabidrake]

mikethompson​:

“Sure, no worries,” Mike agreed easily, unfazed by Gabi’s somewhat sharper response. It did occur to him that she seemed a little stressed about something, though he wasn’t quite sure what. He’d figured that the humans at the bar were far enough away not to be listening in too close to what they had to say, so the idea that that was why she didn’t want to hear more about his experiences in Miami hadn’t really occurred to him. “Well - if there’s anything else I can help ya with lemme know, yeah? Or I can leave ya to enjoy your drink if you’d rather,” he offered. He was happy to stick around and chat if she wanted, but it seemed just as likely that she might just want some time alone to decompress.

.

Sighing, Gabi actually put some effort into not being too mean here. “I’d like to enjoy the drink by myself. It was a good choice, but I would appreciate my own company now. You may continue your shift attending to someone else better equipped for conversation.” Gabi turned her head away now, which meant that she was looking at a wall. This was not especially exciting, but it did potentially indicate that she would prefer her own company at the moment. Even if Gabi was a little desperate not to feel so lonely, Mike wasn’t doing much to relieve that for her. He did make the experience of drinking better, though, by being competent in selecting ingredients.

[gabidrake]

renzieanand​:

“Cool, yeah great.  Another thing to add to my plate,”  Renzie said ruefully, as Gabi lectured him.  It made him feel tired to think about.  He didn’t want to get involved in politics, it was so much easier to just trust in the people who he’d thought worked in Port Vale’s best interests.  Maybe they still did, but it was now all cloaked in so much mystery and intrigue that Renzie wished he could just wash his hands of it all.  He yearned for his normal life, before all these sea-people stuff.  

And he was sure the sea people yearned to be as far away from humans as possible.  It was a numbing, disheartening conundrum.

If anything, Gabi’s lecture sounded like it was coming from personal experience, but Renzie had learned by now not to inquire further about details pertaining to Gabi’s non-human life.  In ‘Miami’.  He didn’t want to force her to generate lies, and Renzie didn’t want to hear lies and parse them. 

Instead, he huffed a little laugh at Gabi’s judgement.  “Ominous, right?  Like, who wanted to finish their cheesecake after that speech.  You’re right, her PR rep should be fired.”  Because of course Renzie wouldn’t think Gabi meant ‘terminated’ fatally.  “Who knows, maybe she wrote the speech herself.  Hey - at least the food wasn’t so bad.  Well, not for me, anyway.”

.

Inferring what this expression meant worked out, and Gabi decided that she actually liked this one. After the experience of getting to have a great many foods added to her plate, she could get behind dealing with the consequences of all of them.

“The food was very good. We can agree on this much. I can’t say much for Victoria’s taste in conversation, decor, or competency, but she does know how to ensure the food is worth trying. Although I didn’t have too many problems eating after the speech. I think that might have been a personal problem. You’re not secretly a merman, are you? Victoria can’t do anything except make people miserable, so don’t worry about that.” She could pretend to be casual about this while talking to Renzie. He didn’t need to know any of the details or her fear.

She had barely spared a thought until now toward that missing mayor business. In her haste to investigate, she hadn’t realized that a human going missing might have something to do with her own problems. The reopened investigation had some potential implications, Gabi now realized. If the darkness had started taking humans in the water, then things were worse than Gabi had thought. It was really too bad that there was no way for her to overthrow the government to take power for herself and keep everyone out of the water. There wasn’t a real way for her to do it back home either without being physically present to exert her will. What a disturbing and ironic situation she was in. How long until the tourist season started? The clock was ticking until things were about to get much worse for unsuspecting tourists, wasn’t it? She needed to solve this soon.

[gabidrake]

amitygracebright​:

          Ever since coming to land, Amity-Grace had loved flowers, so she had quickly learned everything she could about them. She loved being a florist and working with them. Art that didn’t stick around for a long time except in photographs. Nature had always been the biggest draw to her about the land, just like it was to her in the sea. “I do enjoy it. Ever since I was little I’ve always really liked flowers. I love their meanings and colors.” She figured that not that many people would understand why she liked her job, but honestly, it was a good fit for her. “Flowers make people happy and I like putting smiles on people’s faces.” Amity-Grace nodded. She actually liked talking about her travels, but she had been a lot of really cool places over the years. “What about you? What’s your job?”

.

“I know nothing about flower meanings. Didn’t even know they had any further than whatever they need it for in nature.” Gabi’s tone was moderately disapproving. To a degree, she understood that the colors were nice, but any meanings couldn’t do enough to counteract how ridiculous she found florist things to be. “But I’m an artist. I work in wood, and I paint. I don’t paint the wood, though. Two different disciplines altogether.” If she had it her way, she wouldn’t need to expend so much effort into learning how to paint properly. But for whatever reason, it was her paintings that had made people want to actually buy something. If they wanted a novice painting for them when there were many more accomplished artists around the region, that was their prerogative.

[gabidrake]

islamarin​:

Isla gave Gabi a reassuring smile and nodded, grateful her words resonated with her at least. “I don’t mind staying on land for a while,” she admitted with a small shrug. “I just don’t like that it feels like we have no choice. I’d rather be here on my own volition.” Isla did choose to follow her mermaids here, and she was excited for an excuse to return to land, but she also valued her free will. She usually chose when she traveled and returned home, which distressed her advisors, but she never prioritized their comfort. She blinked in surprise when Gabi suddenly announced she needed to go before nodding in understanding. She was sure the siren had other things to do than take care of her all day. “Of course,” she said. “Thank you for bringing me all of this. I’ll let you know what works?”

.

“I’d like that for you too,” Gabi said softly. It bothered her too, but she was too emotionally compromised right now to complain about it. “You don’t have to let me know if you don’t feel like it. But you can if you want to. I don’t control what you do. But... you can always reach out if you need anything further from me.” A distant look was in Gabi’s eyes as she walked away. She was a little stiff and uncomfortable on a good day, so that wasn’t much of anything new- just a different shade of it, perhaps. There weren’t that many other people currently on land that Gabi cared about more, so this was all she could exert her desire to protect what mattered to her.

[gabidrake]

amara-marino​:

Amara was inclined to believe Gabi’s claim, she wouldn’t say Gabi wasn’t nice but she definitely was someone who’s trust needed to be earned. In a way that was comforting, Amara herself was pretty open with giving her trust to others, or at least befriending them. Gabi seemed more likely to reserve that friendship and trust for people who showed that they deserved it. So her word could be trusted with ease. “Thanks, yeah, I’d like that. More friends are always welcome. Especially if you can vouch for them.” She glanced around the party at the mention of her finding a way to enjoy it. Besides the food Amara didn’t know what else she could find fun about this gathering. “I’ll see what kind of fun I can muster up. I don’t think there’s much room for nonsense around here but I’ll talk to you later. Maybe we can do something another day when we’re not all forced to be the same big building together.”

Gabi couldn’t easily say that the other sirens were delightful people to hang out with, but she knew that they could be good allies. It wasn’t lying exactly to say that much. “Let me know if there is anything that Gemma or I can do to make you feel secure in meeting them. You know how to get in touch with me, I imagine.” She agreed that this conversation was coming to enough of a close now that she should leave Amara to her antics. Having the last word was nice enough, but she didn’t need it to be anything significant. “Of course. Another day with fewer inept politicians around.” She ducked her head down and walked away in no particular direction. It was not as if Gabi was heading anywhere in particular, but if she acted like she was, then it might better solidify her reputation. Hey, Gabi didn’t have a lot going for her on land right now.

[gabidrake]

steph-anand​:

The thing about this situation was that Steph didn’t think it was really happening, not until she saw the flash of the knife in one of the hooded figures’ hands and even then, her brain could hardly comprehend what was happening. This was Port Vale. This didn’t happen in Port Vale.

The last openly, outrageously violent act in town was when two teenagers ended up in a fight and both of them got a couple of kicks to the others in and ended up bruised up badly, but even that wasn’t actually dangerous. It was two people getting into a tiff and jumping each other for it. She did hear that Isidore punched a couple of people recently, and she punched Tayden, but those situations weren’t like this one either.

No, this only happened in movies and books and dingy parts of big cities, not in Port Vale. Not in this town and certainly not to Stephanie Anand. And yet, here she was and apparently it wasn’t even something completely random, these people, whoever they were, seemed to have been looking for her. Or at least somebody like her, who knew about the sea people, it seemed.

She pulled away, jumped back, everything leaving her mind and all she wanted to do was scream, but it wasn’t enough, it wouldn’t save her, it only resulted in her backing against the wall, and then more showed up and Steph was terrified except–

The new person showing up wasn’t one of the hooded figures, no, it was Gabi, and Steph could have burst into tears from joy, but she was just frozen on the spot at that point, as Gabi moved and punched and gotten in front of her, standing between her and the attackers now.

One of them surged forward, clearly not bothered by one more person - they were still very much outnumbering them -, and even though there was something weird, something clumsy about their movement, they attacked Gabifrom the left, while another one moved in from the right, trying to gain an upper hand, while Steph could hear one of them bark, “What are you doing? Protecting one of them? Protecting this one in particular? She could ruin us all.”

Oh no. Oh no! Ohnononononono. Suddenly it all hit Steph and she wanted to cry even more and finally she could move which meant she dumbly moved forwards too, “No, please, I am not going to hurt you, I swear, I am not going to hurt any of you,” she said desperately, her hands up in a defensive position, trying to convince them, and only realizing the last second that one of those who was staying back from Gabi moved in on her, and Steph was only able to jump out of the way of the knife the last moment, the tilt of it scraping against her coat. She hit without thinking, without intentionally doing anything Gabi tried to teach her, and it connected, but it was barely enough, probably, but at least it was enough to give her a chance to move back.

“Gabi. Gabi, what is– how is– are you okay?” Please help me get out of this.

.

Gabi was working off of a combination of experience and adrenaline at the moment. She clenched her jaw. Human teeth didn’t work in quite the same way as her teeth as a siren, so she had practiced this while training on land. She would have cursed about being irritated for being found out. They might or might know exactly who she was, but her top guess was rogue sirens at this point. Whoever it was, they were fools that didn’t understand consequences. If the last Port Vale mayor’s death was being investigated, this might make even more leads. She would have to deal with these idiots one way or another. Maybe see if someone had a basement that she could lock these all into and do some nice interrogation.

The attackers’ movements were awkward, which indicated to her that they did not have ample experience on land. If they had resided on land at all, it wasn’t among humans, and probably not spent much time in shoes. Perfect- she could work with that. She hadn’t had the opportunity to practice her kicks on people, but she had an idea of what to do with this knowledge. Leveraging how sturdy her boots were, she aimed for the lower legs. She got one of the knuckleheads felled in a way that looked like they wouldn’t be able to walk, but there were so many. She’d taken a few hits for herself, even if she was giving more than she took. But she’d gotten through decades of war before, and she wasn’t going to go down against some Assyrians playing games at having legs. 

Gabi knew that each word was a risk, so she ignored responding to the Assyrians. They could insult her all they wanted for protecting the somehow less-foolish human, but she wasn’t completely blowing her cover in public. Dodging a grapple, while slicing at another opponent’s arm and kicking at yet another enemy’s leg, she snarled at Steph, “I’m fine. Move away fast. Go for the calves if they get too close.” If Steph was the target, they might all try to go after the human. If she could predict their movement on those baby deer legs, then Gabi just might be able to divide and conquer. Between having knives and her legs to work with, she could try to go after them one by one instead of trying to create a one-woman shield wall. She’d take fewer hits if she didn’t have to play traditional defense. It had never been her style for good reason.

[gabidrake]

theoseong​:

Yeah, Gabi was definitely intense. Maybe it would’ve intimidated Theo enough to get him to just walk away ten years ago, but after living in New York City, he was used to intense. It was just strange to see in Port Vale–his tiny hometown where nothing ever changed for years up until now. “Yeah, Port Vale has its own unique brand of small and nosy,” he agreed with a quiet laugh. “Everyone knows each other’s business that we just end up getting bored with each other. All these new people is probably the first exciting thing to happen here since they founded the town.”

.

“Hm. So I’m guessing that you don’t believe in mermaids. That’s sensible.” Even if it was true, the way that humans believed in mermaids and sirens so ridiculous that she liked the humans that didn’t believe that much better. Also the Anands were nosy, and couldn’t see far enough beyond their own noses to understand that sometimes the truth was none of their stupid business. “Delightful atmosphere for any nosy little town. Maybe you should consider moving away if everyone who moved here is going to get boring to you eventually. I don’t plan on staying here in the long run. One nice coastline is just that- one nice coastline. There’s more to see.”

[gabidrake]

renzieanand​:

“It’s okay, I’m getting an upgrade later this year,” he said idly, then paused as he considered.  His old phone would get ‘recycled’, which, as he’d read in a depressing deep dive rabbit hole of news and wiki articles, meant most of it would end up in a landfill, and that landfill would end up in the ocean.  His heart dropped, the futility of being a human threatening to overwhelm him.  

“Or I’ll get it fixed.  Reduce, reuse, rethink!” He smiled.  “It’s fine. I’m fine. Thanks.”

He chuckled wanly about the ‘throwing water on everyone’ quip, but in a way he found himself agreeing with Gabi, much to his chagrin.  “I always believed Port Vale’s government was working to the best interest of our town.  Now…honestly after that speech, I’m not that sure.”

Xander making Steph do his dirty work.  Now Victoria making Steph do the same.  And good little Steph, passionate worker that she was about all things mermaid, didn’t see how she was being used for whatever political weirdness was happening over their heads. Between humans, sea people…all of it.

“It’s distressing at best and disheartening at worse. I…I just don’t know.  I guess her speech was meant to be positive, but it left me feeling…ominous.  Re-opening the investigation on the Mayor’s demise? And Xander didn’t even say anything about it! He just got drunk - in front of the whole town.  I don’t know, Gabi.  Maybe you’re right about all of it, huh.”

.

Gabi was not at all familiar with the concept of an upgrade. She had been under the impression that phones would last for many years once purchased. She could understand upgrading a phone out of preference for a new one, but it had not yet occurred to her that the lifespan of this technology was very limited. Also, it was her assumption that an upgrade would happen on the same device. “Oh. Well. Good luck until your scheduled upgrade. Or fix. Perhaps the next incarnation of your phone will behave better.” The idea of a phone doing rethinking was mindboggling, but she was too afraid to ask what kind of thoughts phones could possibly have. She did not know if she wanted to know. It could be an exhausting topic.

“Your government is vulnerable and self-interested. If you still haven’t realized that for yourself yet, then make inquiries. A good leader is there to serve as an example. The power and prestige and perks of leadership should only be permitted if earned.” Gabi hadn’t done a great many things that she wanted to as captain because it would either end up hurting her people in the end or stand a strong possibility of causing them suffering and discontent. With so many seeking safety from the sickness, it took everything in her not to investigate seizing the North Atlantic; her sirens were staying out of water for the same reason as those mermaids that had chosen to.

“I think she meant it as a positive for her. There’s nothing pleasant about reopening that kind of investigation. If someone is doing coaching or speechwriting for anything other than creating that ominous atmosphere, they should be terminated immediately.” It was unclear whether Gabi meant termination as an end of employment or something less pleasant. Either way, she was facing in the same figurative direction as Renzie for once, and that was a relief.