plunderwater

[plunderwater]

TIMING: Recent LOCATION: Worm Row PARTIES: @plunderwater x @spice-and-fire SUMMARY: Devi & Shan reunite. For better or for worse. (Probably for the worse.) CONTENT: Alcoholism (someone gets wasted) & vomiting (someone vomits because she gets wasted)

“I don’t suppose any of you would rather settle this over a game of cards,” Devi suggested, stepping on a single Queen of Hearts on the ground as she backed away, having unintentionally dropped a few cards from her personal collection even before she had started speaking. “...a little Black Jack? Maybe a couple of beers, too! First round’s on me, if you’d like?” She was hugging a wall in a dark alley, her back feeling the cold, stiff hardness of the solid surface, as she wiped the spit off her mouth with a thumb. “Hell, I’d even be up for a game of Crazy Eights. I’m not that good at it, but I can manage.”

“No takers, huh?” Her words were met by silence. Devi sneered, shaking her head. “All right, but unfortunately for you…” She reloaded her biceps, prepping for a fight. “...I’ve got you surrounded.” Her bravado wasn’t false, even as she stood her ground, herself all alone against eight other thugs, all of them furious that she had beaten them a few days ago when she was just doing her job, protecting a client from their attempted shakedown. 

Meanwhile, at Harborside, Shan was about to leave her teahouse, which was more modern and…sugary than the traditional fare, than she personally liked, when a small child came stumbling out of the shadows. With an eyebrow raised, she looked around, making sure no one else was there. Once she realized it was just the two of them, the secretive selkie made her way to the street rat, who quietly mumbled something only she could hear before running back toward the shadows. Not the weirdest thing that has happened to her in town. Or anywhere else. She doubted that would change. “What a drag…”

Groaning, Shan rolled her eyes and went back inside the teahouse, Mist Tea Boba, and straight into her makeshift office, which she rarely used outside of official tea shop owner business. She wasted no time in unlocking a drawer with a key that was hidden inside the locket strapped around her neck and immediately rummaged through the papers in that same drawer. Squinting, she could barely make sense of the letters she was skimming through in that terrible lighting. She could’ve turned on the light, sure, but she was in a hurry. When she found what she needed to find, a figurative lightbulb shone brightly above her head and a triumphant smirk conquered her lips. “Things are about to get dicey…”

As they began to move toward her, Devi threw the first punch. Or at least tried to. Seemed the guys knew what they were doing and waited for her to down all those beers at the Wormhole just a few minutes ago. Despite being intoxicated, obviously, she realized she was being followed as soon as she got out of the bar. Not wanting to put anyone else in danger, she had lured her stalkers to this dark alley, failing to realize there were more than three of them. The guy she had tried to punch first easily dodged her attempt and instead struck her in the gut. 

“Oof!” Devi was sent back again, back-first, against the wall behind her. “Haven’t had enough yet, huh?” They descended on her like a pack of wolves. Or maybe more appropriately like a group of sharks, whatever those were called, after drawing first blood. One of them punched her straight in her face, which she tried to dodge but couldn’t. Another kicked her in the back, a cool move to see but a very painful one to experience. A third slammed her back into the wall with a side kick, as if establishing his dominance over a pathetic prey. 

“Little advice?” Devi spat before pulling herself up from the ground. “If you’re going to beat someone down in a dark alley? Make sure you’re not leaving yourselves vulnerable from behind.”

Crack! The guy at the farthest back fell to the ground, having been tapped on the shoulder, only to receive a kick in the face when he turned to see what that was all about. At the commotion, the rest of the thugs turned around, taking a step back, distancing themselves safely from both sides of possible danger. Shan stood tall behind them, grinning from ear to ear, a playful smirk on her luscious lips. “Sweetie, you’re drunk.”

One of the remaining hooligans threw a punch at her, but Shan was nothing if not quick, agile, and she managed to effortlessly dodge the strike, swiftly grabbing the same man’s arm and using his own momentum to whip him toward his friend. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” she purred, taking to the other woman’s side. Going back to back might give them a much better chance to survive the attack. Then again, Shan has survived worse on her own. “Something came up at the teahouse, and I needed to make sure — Is this another one of your fancy midnight brawls, Chopra? I know I’m a few hours late, but why do these charming fellows seem…hellbent on seeing you dead?” 

“And you’re late, darling,” Devi did not appreciate being called out like that, but it was what it was. Her occasional employer wasn’t someone she’d agree with on a daily basis, not even on an hourly basis, but she did pay her good money and she was, well, very hot. If there were two things that could always sway the tempered phoenix’s opinion, it was the amount she was getting paid and how attractive her employer was. Doesn’t always work, though. Pitted against each other, money vs. hotness won’t always end the same way. “But I wasn’t going to mention that.” 

Devi heaved a sigh, shaking her head, “Something always comes up.” She threw a punch at an oncoming thug, and despite her intoxication, still managed to make the hit, forcing the unlucky dude to stumble back toward another one of them. Without missing a beat, she then placed her back against Shan’s, readying a standard defense against a numbers advantage. What else could they do? Old her would have set the guys on fire but she’s a much better person now. Still getting into drunken fights in dark alleys but no longer setting folks on fire.

“It was a…misunderstanding,” Devi was technically correct. If these guys actually understood the situation, not to mention the cause of all this, she doubted they’d intentionally offer themselves up as prey for the phoenix. “You got your business, and I got mine.”

She did. Shan had business that was different from that of Devi's and vice versa. While she considered the freelance security girl as a mere blue collar hand with a hidden darkness on the side — after all how would anyone not have that kind of streak with that kind of job — the selkie considered her business much darker and more an acquired taste. Not everyone can survive in her world of secrets and betrayals and, well, disappearances. Devi was a good weapon, but she was just a weapon. Shan was the black heart drenched in the oily globs of often-immoral necessities.

“We’re not having this conversation while you’re drunk,” Shan rolled her eyes as she kicked another thug off of her. The boys after Devi didn’t seem like they were any good at this. If they were, one of the girls would have been on the ground now. But maybe they were just distracted. Maybe they just didn’t expect another pretty face to join in on the fun. Some guys are all talk, all bark, but when presented with more than one woman, they’d falter, only confident against a lone target. Some girls were like that, too. But there were no girls in their opposition at the moment.

“Darling, we haven’t had this conversation…” Devi stopped herself mid-sentence. She felt something brewing deep within her. Not the flames of rage, no. Not an enlightening development, a realization from the divine that could help change something on a much grander scale than anyone would have ever expected. No. What she was giving birth to was not anything positive. It was definitely not something she’d intentionally call forth, even wish for. “Oh...no.”

Now, to be fair, Devi hasn’t lost a drinking game. Not once in recent memory. But, if her memory serves her correctly, she has not drunk so much and then gotten into a fight thereafter. She instinctively puffed her cheeks, turning to Shan with a horrified look. Never mind the still standing thugs still wanting a piece of them. Never mind the threat of physical hurt surrounding the both of them. What could flow out of her right then and there would be worse. So much worse. 

“Don’t you dare!” Shan screamed. Honestly. Not a single attempt to hide her disdain for that possible end. There was no need to. Why would she even try disguising that disgust? Most normal people would hate that, especially when the...explosion would hit them. Shan was especially annoyed, considering she had her favorite fur coat on. At least let the girl take it off before you shower her with…fluids. Even that’s beyond my threshold. 

Fortunately for Shan, one of the thugs lunged at her again. Taking the opportunity, she threw herself at him, deftly dodging his thrown punch to instead slither around him, over his body, taking him down with a submission hold worthy of the Octagon. Shan was no avid fan of fighting sports, but she’s learned a few things from those folks. While she wasn’t as physically imposing or impressive as Devi, she was more limber and dare she believe a lot more creative. Her attacker found himself on the ground, screaming in pain, while the selkie effortlessly tugged on his vulnerable arm. One wrong move, that arm would go off. Its socket. Literally. 

A thug tried to help free his friend from Shan’s impressive submission hold, but Devi intercepted him with an effortless knockout punch. Stealing a glimpse at the woman on the ground, her limbs wrapped around her prey, the tempered phoenix couldn’t help but grow a little bit envious…of her prey. In fact, Devi took too long staring at them with a devilish smirk that another thug, the only one still standing, hit her with a straight jab in the face, sending her stumbling back in a drunken haze. “Ow! Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to hit a beautiful woman in the face?”

The man mumbled something crude, sexist, and honestly, surprisingly violent. It was one of those gross things a stupid “manly man” liked to throw at a cornered woman, a sample of disgusting verbiage from a deluded self-proclaimed predator when trying to break down a victim, its prey. Unfortunately for this idiot, Devi didn’t like the idea of being seen as a victim. Even if she was, technically, she’d rather be seen as a survivor. That was emphasized by her battle cry, a thunderous roar that spooked the guy when it came out of nowhere and rendered him defenseless to a pair of punches that inevitably ended his night.

“YOU NEVER SPEAK TO A LADY THAT WAY, YOU SORRY EXCUSE FOR A TADPOLE!”

“If I remember correctly, we agreed to meet at the Wormhole,” Shan shook her head, arms crossed, as the last of the thugs were finally vanquished. She had let go of her own victim, kicked him in the face to immediately knock him out, and picked herself off the ground, dusting her clothes and her body for any unwanted gravel or sand. There was a moment when she considered just biting a chunk out of the unruly boy’s neck, a well-deserved fate for someone so eager to muddy up her outfit. But Devi was already screaming in rage, and she thought it better not to add to that display of savagery. “...not some back-alley dumpster filled with hooligans.”

“Unfortunately, there’s nothing new about having to save you from yet another drunken misunderstanding, Devi,” Shan shook her head, helping the intoxicated woman on her feet, as the pair made their way to Devi’s apartment. This wasn’t the first time she had to bail the tempered phoenix out of a misjudged bout, though to be fair, the latter had saved her from a few deathly predicaments as well. It was perhaps one of the reasons why the selkie had a soft spot for her. Another was that she was cute. 

Once they had arrived at D’Arden House, Shan took Devi’s key from inside her pocket, and with the phoenix’s arm still over her neck, brought them both inside, but not before locking the door behind them. Worm Row was not a place to be lax, complacent, and even though Shan didn’t live there, she has had many dealings with the more flexible folks in need of a few bills to pay their rent. One of them, she gracefully deposited on her bed. 

“I was only trying to spice things up,” Devi groaned as she laid on the bed. All alone. Limbs sprawled everywhere and nowhere. Her entire, uncooperative body taking up much of the space. Sweat drenched most of her, the tight contact between her back and the sheets only inspiring them to make her feel even hotter, and not in a good way. Her insides were spinning, not to mention her head. She’s always been better at controlling her alcohol, but the fight and the fact that she had thought Shan had once again stood her up made that less of a priority in the past few hours. 

“You wound me, darling,” Devi groaned again, taking her hand off her head and instead placing a handkerchief over her eyes. She tried to make herself feel better by moving her entire body. Big mistake. She just felt even more nauseated, almost to the point of letting it all go right then and there. “...and slightly nauseate me. Mind holding still for a bit?” If she was in her right mind, she would’ve balked at that imagery herself. This beautiful East Asian woman of mystery? Nauseating? The world has gone to hell, and Devi would have fought herself.

Shan had begun pacing at the foot of Devi’s bed, “And here I was, thinking maybe we could finally have a night to ourselves. Our first in — who even knows how long? I thought we’d finally get a chance to reconnect, to establish a new normal now that we’ve found each other again after all these years. But I guess old habits truly die hard.” She brought her A-game with that monologue, making sure to emphasize that this was all the phoenix’s fault while at the same time not making the effort to hide the fact that it was all a ploy meant to tease her in her current condition.

Once the intoxicated woman made the request, Shan acknowledged and indulged it without outright referencing the matter, instead sitting gracefully on the edge of the same bed, as carefully as she could. “I did warn you about that, sweetie,” she groaned before taking out her purse, water resistant by necessity. “Too much of a good thing, that isn’t me, will only lead to your suffering!”

Devi groaned, stealing a glimpse of Shan from underneath the handkerchief that was over her eyes, “That’s not funny.” It was. At least if she was sober, it would’ve been. But she was feeling all sorts of woozy at the moment, making her sense of humor a bit off, maybe more out like a light than she was thankfully. Shan wasn’t lying, though: They met each other a few years back, lost contact for a while, and were now unexpectedly reunited in this weird, small town. Coincidence? Most likely, but she didn’t count the selkie’s schemes out. Shan always had something up her sleeves. Whether she wore them or not.

“By the way, you said something came up at Mist Tea?” Devi had visited the place only once, under the selkie’s request, but it was mostly for another unrelated job. She promised to visit again, next time outside of work hours, but never did. The place was too swanky for the phoenix, and she was a little embarrassed at the fact that she might not be that financially flexible to visit a sugary sweet tea shop on her own time. Still, she made plans. Still do. “Did something happen?” 

Devi groaned again, slowly lifting herself out of the bed, forcing her body to settle for a sitting position, determined to hear whatever made the selkie late for their alone time. Despite Shan being sneaky, Devi gave her the benefit of the doubt, specifically that she wanted to hang out with zero strings attached. “Tell me.”

“Funny? I’m not trying to be funny,” Shan raised an eyebrow, continuing to take things out of her purse, mostly papers, also water resistant. She smirked at Devi, also continuing to throw shade at her and at the same time foreshadowing something else, someone else, a familiar face. To both of them. “There’s only one joke in this room.”

“Something will happen,” Shan emphasized the second word in that statement, heaving a sigh as she presented a photo in Devi’s face. “ — and while I have no qualms about interrupting your alleyway brawls — ” The photo was of a man, though it was not a portrait of the man. The photo was taken on higher ground, without the man’s permission, or more importantly, knowledge. “I would not have gotten late if it was not important.”

“For now, I need you to trust me,” Shan removed all other notions on her face, except for dire seriousness. This part? It could not be misconstrued as anything but serious. “I need you to help me get this man. You remember him don’t you?”

Devi squinted. The man was familiar, but how? Why? She tried to rummage through her brain to find the answers to those questions but could barely make sense of the memories that came flooding to her. This is why you should never drink at work. Before work. Something like that. She heaved a sigh, annoyed at herself. Why did she drink so much? Just because she thought Shan had stood her up? They’re not even together. Yet.

But then it all started to make sense to her. Slowly, the man’s face started to reveal itself to Devi, specifically the reason why it was so familiar. She had worked with him before. Helped her get to places she needed to, mostly as another hired help by a previous employer. He had a shop, too, a place where he kept his cars, his tools, not all of them legal, not all of them safe, not all of them…normal. Devi never asked for his name, but he was introduced to her as… “The mechanic?”

“The transporter,” Shan corrected her, even though Devi wasn’t wrong. Ewan Falcone was a mechanic these days, in Worm Row of all places, but he was still semi-active as a transporter of most things barely legal. He used to be a mercenary, too. Among other things. They’ve each had a brush or two with Falcone, if she remembered correctly. The selkie had even hired him before. This time, however, she would not. Could not. “I can’t trust just anyone with this information, Devi.”

“The time has come to take him off the board,” Shan continued, shaking her head. There was no other way to say it, no other way she felt she could get the point across. The man was going to get in the way of their plans, her plans, and Devi was the only person in town she trusted to get the job done. Of course, the selkie could get it done herself, but her association with the man might be too recent — He could remember her before she could get any closer. Like in that botched job with the pretty little thing that betrayed her. “It is imperative that we bring him down.”

“Hold on,” Devi shook her head in confused protest. Big mistake. Doing so only aggravated her throbbing headache. Still, she fought through it, against that annoying pain, as she knew she had more important matters to contend with. “You haven’t even told me what’s going to happen, but you want us to take out this guy?” She yoinked the photo from the selkie’s hands, put it closer to her face so she could squint at it, and then presented the face to the other woman again. Needlessly so. “Is it important now? Or can it be important later?”

Devi heaved a sigh. Normally, she didn’t ask for more information than what was given to her…if by normally, she meant in her old life. As a mercenary. A gun-for-hire. A soldier who took down anyone and everyone for money. But that was all in the past. She wasn’t that girl anymore. These days, she needs more information than a target’s face. Can’t secure a place, or a person, if you don’t know what’s coming for it, them. “This isn't a lot of information, darling. Actually, it’s no information.”

“It’s not that complicated, sweetie,” Shan frowned, placing a hand on Devi’s face. It was genuine. This time. She truly felt like a mother explaining to her daughter a sad or tragic event. But she immediately shook it off, not wanting to be Devi’s mother. That would make things extra weird, especially since she thought she was attractive and thought even more inappropriate things for the two of them. The fact that the phoenix was barely at her best didn’t help. Shan wondered if she had rushed things? Maybe they could take it slow. Even if she wanted to get on top of things right now, Devi was in no state of mind to function efficiently. “Perhaps I can explain later once you’re feeling, thinking much better?”

“I understand that I’m asking for your blind trust in me, Devi,” Shan heaved a sigh. Normally, this whole thing didn’t bother her. She’d just forgo the emotional anchors, easily dupe someone into doing her bidding or helping her at least. But the phoenix was different. She was a friend. Perhaps she was even more than a friend. She had duped her before, yes, but that was before they knew each other, before she’d come to know her. The selkie sincerely pleaded for her close ally’s help. “This matter is delicate, and there is no one I trust more than you. Whatever trust you have left — Please place it in me now.”

Devi squinted at Shan, crossing her arms over her chest. The selkie’s touch was nice, made her feel warm, but the rest of those words were a bit more complicated to her ear and mind. The tempered phoenix took her time, thinking things through. It just wasn’t about trust for her. She’d go over the moon for the selkie. Truth was, it was more about going in blind. Devi has done that, never liked it. But for Shan? Well, she’d go over the moon AND back for her. Even blind as a bat. Simple as that. “Great. Then we need to find the mechanic, transporter, that guy…”

“Anything else you can tell me?” Devi reached out and held her hand, as if pleading for more information than she was given. If you’re going to send a soldier to war, at least give her a weapon, even if it’s just a small knife. Better yet, give her armor, something to make her feel safe and not just another tool, another fodder. There isn't a lot a soldier would ask for, as following orders for the common good is what a soldier's supposed to do, but you could make the blind trust thing a whole lot easier. Without saying those things and more, Devi tried to plead her case to Shan.

Shan heaved a sigh of relief, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She had no doubt Devi would trust her, as there was no reason not to, at least not in this situation. Everything she had said was truthful, genuine, though some things were of course better left unsaid. “I can tell you where to find Ewan Falcone, of course, because I’ll be going with you,” she shrugged, gently caressing the phoenix’s hands. “But you’ll be the one who has to convince him, by any means necessary, considering he may not trust me.”

Falcone had all the right reasons not to trust the selkie. After all, their last job together didn’t exactly endear Shan to the man. Who would, when the job ended miserably, and the selkie bolted to save herself, leaving him to fend for himself, and with a clear disadvantage, having his face exposed and his only way out lost to their hunters. “Falcone…will not blindly follow my…directive...ever again. He may assist us through your call, but he follows his own agenda. And there’s a very good chance…” The best chance indeed. “That he won’t come with us willingly.”

Devi heaved a sigh, crossing her arms over her chest once more. This time, she also closed her eyes, as if that would help as she tried to go over everything that was shared with her. It wasn’t much, it was barely anything, but she did trust Shan, even if she had a reason not to after their past encounter. People change, the tempered phoenix believed in that, so she had no reason to not give Shan the benefit of the doubt. If she didn't, then that would mean she couldn’t do the same for herself, and she was the one who needed that whole thing to be true. People have to change, including her. Especially her. 

“Alright then,” she heaved yet another sigh before opening her eyes, an eyebrow raised at the attractive woman with her. Her lips slowly curled into a playful smirk…before all the bad things rose up from inside her. Fighting after those bottles was not a good idea, and even though she’d vow to herself she’d never do it again, it was the least awful thing that’s happened to her, that she’s experienced, that involved her. “But first, let me take a nap,” Devi plopped backward into the bed, immediately surrendering to slumber. “It’s not like we need to do all that right away, right?”

“Right,” Shan heaved a defeated sigh, a weak smile forming across her lips. A part of her wanted the job to be done right away, so they could quickly move on and do something else. She would never lie about wanting to spend more time with Devi, time that wasn’t spent on the clock in business terms, time that wasn’t always running against them, putting them in danger. Devi could handle danger, she knew that, and she could handle it herself as well, but some days, it just gets too much, and all the selkie just wanted to do was hang out with someone she didn’t need to lie to, to put up defensive barriers again. “Take your nap, Devi. Tomorrow can wait.”

Rising from her seat on the bed, the selkie took a good long look at the sleeping phoenix before making her way to the table with a massive mirror, perfect for doing one’s make-up. Except Shan didn’t need to do her make-up. There was no need to. Instead, while still standing, she looked at her own reflection before taking off her white fur coat, the one that hid her pelt within. It wasn’t as heavy or as thick as most fur coats, instead weighed only by the malfunctioning pelt that was most of it, the fur coat exterior a thin mask to hide the true danger within. 

Shan had the thing made by a spellcaster that traded craftsmanship for magic, and despite her better judgment, she ignored the pelt’s hunger for the long-term investment. Better judgment then, at least. Clearly, the trade worked in her favor. She smiled at the thought, placing the coat over the table’s chair, before crawling into bed next to the unconscious Devi. With a smile, she looked at the other woman, heaving a sigh that felt more like peace than anything else. At least for a few hours, she would have peace. Then the cycle of survival begins anew.

[plunderwater]

Exactly! Who wouldn't love games, anyway? Weird people, that's who. It's no different from a puzzle or a game of chess. It's just something to be solved, a mystery to be unraveled! If you ask me, those are very good games for the creative mind.

True. But it's in the past now, buried and all that. Although some things in the past never stay buried, do they? Ah, well, we're in a much better place now, with or without them, so things turned alright, didn't they? Ah, just [...] curious. I [...] love people from the South. Their culture is [...] very unique [...] and interesting to me. Except maybe those memes

Most people would call them mind games, I say we're just keeping people on their toes.

Even it worked out for you, it shouldn't have happened. People deserve better than that. [...] Yea, my biological father. Why would you think we're from the south?

[plunderwater]

Ugh, what's another year that brings you closer to death? Time is never anyone's friend, though it's not anyone's enemy either. Just another tool that one must respect. Or it won't respect you. Fortunately for me, I've always respected time, so time doesn't ravage my looks. Birthdays are just another reminder that we're all closer to the end.

Okay, question because I'm curious: Do you actually enjoy celebrating your birthday? Or are we all dead inside as adults?

[plunderwater]

What shop is this? Is this in Harborside? Are you talking about the horny seagulls? Because they are a problem. One of them stole my sandwich. It had tuna in it. I love tuna, and that seagull needs to die.

PSA: Be careful if you wanna stop by the shop. The birds that hang around outside have been fucking on one these days.

[plunderwater]

[pm] Ah, well, that's a [...] thing. Let's just blame creative difference on that and move on. But, no, they are not a siren. At least not the one I know.

I'm sure that's [...] a way of thinking. Putting people first can get you in trouble, you know? And how would you be of use to anyone if you're the first to die? When you could instead survive to make sure those other guys' sacrifices weren't in vain? Or some bullshit like that. I already feel good about myself. Because I look good. I am good. So very good. Wanna peek? ;p

[pm] Huh, my bad then. I just thought [...] since, you know, you said something about birds of the same feathers, that was another thing [...]

[...] was what it was. Good is good, darling. Nothing debatable about that. Put people first, before you, and make sure everyone's hunky dory. That's basically it. You should try it sometimes. Would make you feel a whole lot of good about yourself.

[plunderwater]

Oh, of course! My friend is [...] a cop. Cybercrime division. So he may be looking for someone who can [...] counter-hack [...] hackers who [...] hack people's bank infos. Something like that. So, would you be able to [...]?

CV should be fine, of course! Doesn't yours have your photo? Just in case my cop friend needs to run it through his [...] cop database. So many people use fake names these days. It's so [...] unnerving.

Not really a question of if I can since, y'know, it's kinda illegal. Which you should definitely tell your friend.

Why do you need my photo? I don't code with my looks, you can have my CV if you want?

[plunderwater]

Describe your character's moral compass. Is there anything that would make them abandon or shift their morality? If so, to what extent? If not, why not?

[meta] Shan has a very survivalist moral compass in that she's always had the kind of "me first" mentality. Does she care about other people? Only when it suits her. She doesn't care about following or breaking rules. Whatever works to get her ahead, that's the only thing that matters to her. She rarely abandons or shifts her morality because even if she does, she'll just gaslight herself into thinking it's still for her and only her benefit. Do bad things? Could be for her benefit. Do good things? Could still be for her benefit. She's very flexible in that sense.

[plunderwater]

Can you hack someone's bank info? Asking for a friend. Coffee? I can do [...] coffee. Send me your photo. [user has just seen that one episode of Luke Cage]

I'm desperately looking for work at the moment and open to whatever weird shit you might new challenges. You want to get your shit app out into the world or fix a horrendous faulty website? I've done game development as well or if you just need a simple program to make your life easier. Plea

Fair prices and in-house service so you don't have to venture into the goo streets. As long as I get coffee while working.

[plunderwater]

Hmm, that makes sense. Opposites do attract more sometimes. What kind of games are we talking about? I love games.

Yes, well, mine were never around when I needed them, so [...] But it all worked out since I've never really needed them in the first place. [...] Just so my brain doesn't go awry, this is your biological father we're talking about, right? And are you guys from [...] Alabama North Carolina the South?

Glad you know your worth. Not exactly. My mom and I are a lot alike which means we tend to clash a lot. I'm a daddies girl through and through he just doesn't like the games we partake in.

Sounds like you're not too fond of your own though. I'm sure my dad would love extend his fatherly knowledge if you ever need anything.

[plunderwater]

[pm] Mm, sounds exciting. Not a siren, no. What made you think that? Is it the birds of the same feathers thing because that was just a phrase choice

It does, doesn't it? Hmm [...] [user makes a mental note on that feedback] Like I said, I'll make it up to you. You don't have to keep bringing that up! I just needed to survive, and I made a choice, all right? It was what it was. Besides, good is debatable, friends are a distraction in my line of work, and I get plenty of blessings all the same. There are plenty of hot "blessings" in this town alone

[pm] Exactly. I won't let you. This time. But that does sound very appealing. Are you saying the owner of the Codfather is a siren?

That just sounds messed up, darling. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt [...] this time. Huh, okay, that's [...] okay. Wouldn't say we're the same, especially since I don't abandon my allies in the middle of a fight, but I could see some [...] similarities, sure. How has your style of surviving been to you? Good? Gave you lots of friends and blessings?

[plunderwater]

TIMING: Recent LOCATION: Sea Breeze Boathouse, Harborside, White Crest PARTIES: Shan "Aika" (@plunderwater) & Jasper (@eatdearth) SUMMARY: Shan "Aika" and Jasper go on a boat ride together! With Val the dog! CONTENT WARNINGS: Technically an attempt on someone's life

The last time Shan was around these parts was not that long of a time. At least not in her seal form. Renting a boat has never been something she was interested in either. For obvious reasons. Why row a boat, after all, when you can swim far better than any boat could float? But she did promise some guy she’d keep him company. Much easier to get secrets out of someone when they’re alone or lonely. Big catch if they’re both.

“Well, hello, handsome!” Shan waved at the arriving man from a distance, a huge smile on her face. Finally, he has arrived. Finally, they can rent a boat as per their discussion, all expenses paid by him, of course. Most importantly, finally, she can drag someone deep into the waters for a laugh or two. It’s not like she’s going to leave him there, anyway. It’s always more fun when they start wheezing, trying to catch their breaths, after her game. “Are you ready for some fun?”

The recent surge of arcane power from the blue moon has certainly made Jasper much more confident than usual. The geology professor had always been a little awkward, if not hilariously annoying. This time, however, it was evident in his strut, in the way he winked and smirked at everyone he passed by in his path to the boathouse, that he was feeling like a new man, maybe even a different man. It hadn’t been too long ago since he lost his face to the mines, thanks to a volmugger with a gagging problem, a traumatic tragedy in his life, but now here he was, already experiencing another strange, supernatural occurrence in just a few months, only this time, he’s liking it.

At the sight of the lovely young woman waving at him, Jasper would’ve gone cartoon wolf and made that ‘awooga’ noise. Given enough time, and perhaps leeway, he would’ve. But Val tugged on her leash, forcing the earth magician to focus his attention on her or risk an escape into the water. Despite their, well, differences, Val and Jasper decided on a truce, realizing this trip would benefit both parties: Val, so she can finally leave the creepy manor Jasper’s uncle bequeathed him, and Jasper, so he can finally leave the creepy manor his uncle bequeathed him. 

All those days moping and skulking because of his missing face left Jasper gravely in need of this trip. He was very excited when he realized he would be experiencing it with a beautiful stranger, so much so, he didn’t even care if Val was included in the package. “You must be…the person I’ve been talking to online! How do you do? You look absolutely amazing! Stunning, even!” 

Shan smirked as soon as he opened his mouth. Her first thought was that he must be an experienced charmer, though something about him made her very curious. Almost like he was being too much of a charmer. In her line of work, too much of anything can be very revealing. Especially when it comes to strangers. Trying to match his excitement, Shan widened her grin and offered her hand to shake. An introductory refresh should balance the scales between them. “Aika Chan,” she gave her one of her aliases without a single sense of hesitation. She’s done this before. Numerous times already. It was second nature by now. “And I see you’re quite the ladies’ man, professor.” Professor Jasper H. Langston. Geology professor at the University of Wicked’s Rest, Maine. She already knew him. At least the things on his online profile. She wasn’t quite sure digging further would be necessary. Maybe she’ll find out soon enough.

A stolen glimpse, a momentary distraction, however, revealed something else, something much more important — The professor had a dog! Crap! The swear word quickly exploded in her head, though it was already too late. Shan was already bowing down, toward the dog, already squealing like an elated lover, drowning in good, positive vibes at the mere presence of a furry cutie. “Aww! Who do we have here? You have a very adorable wingman, professor!” She heaved a sigh of joy, giddy at the four-legged angel. “Who’s a good boy?” 

Aika Chan? Jasper paused, caught off guard by the name. Not because it was suspicious, at least not to him, but because it sounded so very cute! Like how the girls say their names, introduce themselves, in those Japanese cartoons. Wait, is she Japanese? Jasper would have lucked out if that’s the case. He does love gyoza. “Aika Chan… That’s a lovely name,” he gave her his hand, waiting for her to reciprocate so that he could shake her most likely soft fingers. “Am I? I can only attest to the fact that I am indeed a professor… Professor Jasper H. Langston, University of Wicked’s Rest, Maine!” There was pride in his introduction. A lot of it.

But before he could turn that pride into something else, Val took over the scene, stealing the show with her cuteness. The half-beagle, half-Japanese spitz bounced on all fours as she skipped toward Aika, her tongue out and her tailing wagging excitedly. Aside from Jasper’s coworker/ex, the dog has suffered a lack of beauty around her, with only the spellcaster and the boring silence keeping her company since the death of her previous owner, who was Jasper’s late uncle. Without much prodding, Val was all over Aika, sniffing and licking whatever she could of her, much to Jasper’s dismay. “She’s a she, actually,” he scratched his head, an awkward smile on his face. “Her name’s Val. She’s 50% beagle and 50% Japanese spitz.” 100% butthole.

Yes, I already knew that. Shan hid the truth of her prior knowledge of his identity behind her impressed gaze complete with wide eyes and an innocent smile. A geology professor might not be the most useful of contacts, but he does seem very proud of his affiliation with the university. Who knows? Maybe she can make use of him in other ways. A quick but thorough look-over of the otherwise charming and dusky man seemed to support that thinking. Underneath that pride must be an equally potent virility. “A pleasure to meet you, professor!”

“May I?” Shan posed the question to both the human and the dog but did not wait for the former’s answer. When Val allowed her to touch and pet her furry being, the selkie took the opportunity to carefully and gently lift the dog and carry her in her arms. As if Val’s cuteness had given her the extra strength to do so. At least for the few seconds that she could. Shan gracefully deposited Val back on the ground when she realized she could not keep the physical charade up, awkwardly giggling to mask her failure. “I’m so sorry! I’m getting way ahead of myself! Should we find a boat first?”

“Oh, yes, of course!” Jasper was so caught up between getting jealous of Val and getting distracted by Shan Aika’s charming good looks that he almost forgot what they were there for. No matter. That was easily remedied. He was a well-dressed man. She was a very attractive young woman. And they had a dog with them. Talking up the boat rental girl was easier than making next week’s lesson plan. In a span of minutes, seconds even, Jasper had secured all three of them (sadly Val had to be there) a boat. Not long after, they were on it, rowing across the waters, all three of them (sadly Val had to be there). “You do this often, Miss…Chan?”

It was a strange feeling. Not just the unexpected but welcomed surge of mystical powers in his bones, not just the trauma of having his face stolen by a creature he did not understand in a place he could barely make sense of, but also being a distance away from any semblance of earth. Jasper, being a spellcaster with a strong elemental affinity to the element of earth, had never been that far from the ground, off the ground, with the sole exception of the plane rides he had to take during his overseas seminars. This was perhaps the first time he was distant from his element in his hometown. As he rowed and rowed, that was all he could think of, though a stolen glimpse of Aika and Val made him smile. This was the perfect family he’s always sought, the vision of which, an idealized version. Shame it wasn’t real. At least not yet.

“Perfect day for a boat ride,” Jasper muttered under his breath, uncertain if she’d hear him, though he wouldn’t mind either way. “Perfect company, too…”

“Not often,” Shan purred, as she combed Val’s fur, the satisfied dog on her lap. They sat across from Jasper who had to row on his own, as there was nowhere else to sit and Shan had lamented her lack of upper body strength to ferry the three of them across the waters. Jasper seemed at that moment like any giddy lover, one who craved the opportunity to impress their better half and make themselves feel worthy in everyone’s watching eyes. It was a role she liked to play against, mostly because it gave her more power than the others tended to realize until it was already too late. “I prefer actually getting down and dirty in the water… You know? Get wet.”

“Oh, sweetie,” Shan gave her her sweetest smile, the best one she had in her arsenal. Funny story: That same smile was actually stolen from a naive boy in Japan. Or was it Korea? Either way, she was the last person he ever shared that smile with. “You flatter me too much! I could say the same thing…” No, she could not. Jasper didn’t seem like anyone important to, well, anyone. Might as well just spend the day with his cutie patootie dog! “I don’t think I’ve ever been with a distinguished professor before…” She had. Years ago. But that one wasn’t a geologist. “And a geologist at that!” The selkie made the effort to flutter her eyelashes, making him feel she had more of her interest than he actually did. Most people rarely get that opportunity. That was why, whenever it happens, all the moths slowly surrender to the flame. No questions asked. Only she had them. The questions. A lot of them. As per usual. 

“Does that mean you know a lot about the recent goings-on in town?” Shan tried to be as coy as possible, but with all the flirting and the faux weakness she had shown him, surely he wouldn’t think of her as anything more than just a curious little lady throwing so much interest in him and his line of work. “With the crystals and the mines?”

Jasper almost choked on air when the lovely woman spoke the words “dirty” and “wet” but mostly only after his dirty mind processed the equally unclean association of those words with her existence. He was an idiot, too, so that didn’t help. He quickly tried to regain his composure by returning her smile, chuckling with the confidence of a confidant at the exchange of the flattery. “Oh? But you’ve been with other professors before?” A stupid question, prompted mostly by his lack of other alternatives. “Yes, you could say that. Crystals, the mines, face thieves made of crystals from the mines… One could say I’m an expert on those things and more!”

Just because he got his face stolen doesn’t technically make him an expert on any of those things, especially the part about there being more. Jasper was a geologist. That was it. He was an expert in geology. That was it. Anything more, especially the supernatural? He was a noob. Barely even well-versed in the basics. But he was surging with power and pride, so he felt like he was the king of the world. Or at least, of the town. “Why do you ask? Are you interested in crystals and the mines? Because I could maybe take you on an expedition…maybe?” 

They were so far from the rest of the docks now, shrouded by the distance, barely visible to anyone who dared to care. In fact, if anything happened to either of them right then and there, no one would probably notice. Jasper thought about this, strangely, but immediately focused all his attention on the beautiful Aika. Maybe they’d share a kiss there, away from prying eyes. Ohoho!

Shan nodded, a playful smirk on her lips, already expecting Jasper’s manly man brain to go this route, “Plenty of professors.” She even made sure to add a hefty helping of confidence in that delivery, pride as well, just to draw him in. Like fish to bait. “Some of them, not even mine.” The truth was not far off, however. Shan has been with several professors, though not in that context. In her line of work, having access to an expert close by was always a boon. Speaking of experts…

“An expert? That’s very impressive! Only with you leading me by the hand, Professor,” Shan giggled. Like a schoolgirl. Or more accurately, the bait to his fish. It wasn’t just because he was a professor, too. Most men, though to be fair, also her, have a special place in their heart, a soft soft spot in an otherwise hard location, for school girls. Japan’s greatest export, maybe. A cultural gift. “Oh, we’re so far from prying eyes now, it seems,” the selkie feigned obliviousness to their current whereabouts, even though she had designed the entire play, so to speak. 

Releasing Val from her arms, Shan carefully inched her way closer to Jasper, her eyes seemingly drawn to his lips. “I think you have something on your lips, Professor…” She made sure to stop a breath away from him, her lips from his lips, enticing the man to take the first step, tricking him into thinking he still had control over the situation, even though the selkie had already researched him months ago. 

It wasn’t that hard, considering he had revealed as much online, starting with how he had lost his face in the mines. All Shan needed to do was follow him where she could, chat up or overhear the students that attend his class, even befriend his ex who also works at the university… All he needed to do was kiss her, have a little taste of her lips, let her pull him close… Into the waters. All her pelt needed to do was consume his magic, and if he had none, well, who was going to miss a geology professor who had no social life?   

Jasper’s eyes grew wider than he thought they ever could, and his grin did the same. He wasn’t a prude. He didn’t have the time or the right to be one. Hell, he didn’t even want to be one. People deserved the opportunity to enjoy themselves, their bodies, and Jasper would be lying if he said he didn’t want that opportunity for himself either, especially since he rarely got one. 

“You’re more impressive, I think,” Jasper almost howled, and he did in his head. Like a cartoon wolf. Awooga. “I would not mind the opportunity…to have you join an expedition in the future. I can check my calendar and maybe we can compare schedules once we’re back on dry land, hopefully at my place?”

But it seemed that they didn’t need to wait to get back on dry land, much to Jasper’s excitement. At first, he was worried he’d look like a fool in front of Aika, thanks whatever grime was on his lips. He tried to remember what he had for breakfast and failed. Was it jam? Was jam going to ruin this otherwise wonderful boat trip? 

No. Apparently, it was just an excuse for her to get closer, and how could Jasper decline an opportunity given to him so obviously? With only a second of hesitation, trying to gauge whether she’d pull away (he thanked his luck when she did not), the geology professor planted a soft kiss on the beautiful lady’s scrumptious lips and felt “sparks” fly around them, him, all over the place.

The selkie wasted no more time. As soon as Jasper kissed her, Shan pulled him close, her arms wrapping around him, his back, his body, like an octopus wrapping its tentacles around its prey. His dog stared at them, a little miffed, but perked up when the selkie leaned back, throwing herself and Jasper into the waters. Val barked and barked and barked, but it was too late. The dog could do nothing else but wag its tail and bark in alarm at the loss of her owner as splashing water almost ruined her dry fur.

This wasn’t the first time that Shan had done this, and she doubted that it would be the last. With her pelt malfunctioning, its hunger for magic too strong for the selkie to overcome, she had to resort to this tedious process. The manner would often be different — sometimes her victims would fall on dry land, without the need to drown in water — but the point was always the same: for her to survive, these spellcasters and fae must be sacrificed. Not something she wanted personally, in fact she loathed the thought of it because she perceived it beneath her, but beggars can’t be choosers.

Shan felt the panic set in within Jasper as soon as he realized what had happened. Or more appropriately, the change in location. Most men aren’t quick on the draw, especially if the selkie’s lips were still on theirs. Confusion takes them first. Why are we wet? Are we floating? Did our boat sink? But the panic can never be denied. Even if the mind remains clueless, the body will do whatever it can to survive. The struggling was annoying to her, but they were in her waters now, her territory, and all things considered, she had the home field advantage. Until… 

At first, Jasper just thought Aika was pulling him closer, on top of her, as all lovers kissing on a boat tend to do. At least that’s what he thought they did. But then things got a little wetter. Jasper thought their kiss was getting more passionate, more unruly, more uncontrollable. Because of course it would be, considering they both wanted this. But then things got a little too wet for his comfort and everything else, including his clothes, were now soaked. That couldn’t have been just a kiss, right? Definitely nothing normal.

So he panicked. His eyes shot wide open, the waters around him and her surprising the geology professor. Did she throw them overboard? Aika didn’t look like she was worried, much to Jasper’s concern. To him, she was enjoying herself so much, she was oblivious to the danger they were in. He tried to pull away, shake her awake, and even drag her upward, back to the boat, but her grip felt stronger, tighter, and the waters as well. They were going to drown. They were going to die down there. 

All rationality left Jasper, replaced by his survival instincts. His body and his mind did not want him to die down there, did not want Aika to die down there with him. But they could only do so much. Luckily for him, there was another aspect of the geology professor that could do more. A lot more. So, as soon as Jasper started to lose consciousness, his magic kicked in, wild and surging, overfed by the strange blue moon that the scientist could not explain himself. 

Pieces of rocks and stone from the waterbed suddenly shot up, a few hitting Aika, like missiles aimed at Jasper, except they didn’t hit him. All they did was surround him, forming a shell of sorts, before sending him back out of the water, spitting him on the nearest shore and crumbling like sand swallowed by the sea. The geologist was still unconscious but at least he was no longer drowning.

Where did the projectiles come from? Even under attack, Shan was still trying to make sense of things before taking cover. When the first hit came, however, when she was struck by one of the rocks for the first time, her instincts took over, and the selkie quickly spun around to avoid the second. At the same time, she withdrew her pelt hidden sneakily within the fur coat around her shoulders, the entire thing technically the pelt wrapped inside a thin but magical bag that resembled a fur coat’s exterior. It was a hard thing to acquire, rather a hard thing to make a spellcaster give her, but everyone would do anything to live. Just like Jasper and his magic, it seemed.

More rocks started to unearth themselves from the ground below, deep underwater, forcing Shan to wear her pelt despite it still needing a bit of mystic juice. Can’t be helped, however. She was ambushed by some sort of surging earth spell. If she delayed any further, she and her pelt would be floating in the waters, only found much later by curious passersby. Shan wasn’t going to die there. Not anytime soon. Draining the few magic that remained in the pelt, Shan transformed, and as quickly as she could, mostly because she feared taking her time would endanger both her and her pelt further, the Seal swam away to safety, catching a stolen glimpse at the last minute of the strange earthen shell, egg, that had consumed Jasper and whisked him back up to safety. So close.

Like Jasper, Shan managed to get herself back to shore as well, though he was nowhere to be found. She quickly took off her pelt, scowling at how her prey had escaped her. All she needed was for him to go unconscious for a few, so that she could steal his magic. She wasn’t going to kill him…probably. Shan planned to get him back to the boat as soon as her pelt was recharged. Did she consider his survival heavily? Not really, but she didn’t consider his death heavily as well. That should count for something, right? 

“Ugh, looks like it’s back to the drawing board,” Shan heaved a sigh of disappointment, shaking her head, as she picked herself off of the ground, once again stowing her pelt within her fur coat, rolling it to give the exterior the bounce most people liked, them oblivious to the true danger the somewhat fashionable apparel hid. “But we’ll meet again, Professor… That’s a promise.” 

When Jasper came to, he was back on solid ground. His throat immediately tried to regurgitate the remaining water in it, violently forcing as many of the foreign liquid out as possible. The geology professor coughed and spat and technically vomited the waters out, heaving on the ground as he turned himself as upright as he could, only noticing then that he wasn’t alone. Val barked, wagging its tail. The dog looked concerned, the first time she had ever been when it came to him, and sniffed him all over. When their eyes met, however, and Val realized its late master’s only living relative was pretty much all right, even though Jasper was wet and still suffering the effects of almost getting drowned, the dog raised its nose at him and looked away. 

“So you do care about me?” Jasper coughed, chuckling. He couldn’t believe all he needed to do for his late uncle’s dog to show some semblance of affection toward him was to almost die. He’d done worse for a human girl. “Exposed!” He doubled down, much to Val’s annoyance. The dog growled and sat with her back, mostly butt, to him, pretending to not care about his well-being anymore. Maybe it no longer did. After all, Jasper was now conscious enough to pick himself off the ground, and Val did not have to worry about who’ll feed her anymore. “Where is…”

A sharp pain in his head interrupted his train of thought. Jasper coughed again, drops of saltwater still inside him. Maybe even clinging to his lungs or whatever. Shaking his head, he tried to pick up Val but the dog was like eww no you’re wet you dipshit and avoided his touch. Jasper grinned. Shaking his head again, he gestured for Val to just follow him as he tried to find their way home. “That’s the last time I’ll go on a date with a hot girl I’ve never met.” It won’t.

[plunderwater]

You and me both. ;p Ah, a momma's girl? Dads are overrated anyway. Pretty much useless after they make their donation IYKWIM

I deserve a lot from this life, actually, but we'll see. She still is. Him? I'm starting to wonder He's not much for it, would rather stay out of it altogether.

[plunderwater]

[pm] They're dangerous? Don't worry, sweetheart! I won't hurt you. This time. Yes, it is! My treat. I know the owner, you see. We go way back. Birds of the same feathers and what-not!

Because she's dead? I thought that would be a very effective proof of my trustworthiness to you, but I suppose I thought wrong. Nothing is up. Trust me. On my mother's grave. Just wordplay: Things go south, why not east? I do, actually. We all do what we need to do to survive. See? We're pretty much the same, you and I.

[pm] You know what I mean, darling. It better not be. You know what they say about cornering animals, right? Oh, come on! Let's not bring anyone's mother into this. [...] Fine. Dinner. Codfather [...] That's in Harborside, right? Great, more homefield advantage for you.

Why do you keep saying your mother's grave? You know, the more you say that, the more I start thinking something's up. East? I mean, I was, so I guess that's fair. Orders, you understand?

[plunderwater]

Getting my hand on a classic is the priority, but I'm sure a contemporary piece would suffice as long as it's worth a lot, too. To some people, it's both. But I do agree more with your ideal. I do have a painting at home myself. Just a piece of art. Not a product. Worth nothing to no one else but me. And I, you! Paintings, mostly. I used to have a mentor who adored paintings. Rubbed off on me. Among other things. He did have sculptures, too, mostly heads, busts, but I could never make sense of them. Why would you want a life-like head in the middle of your place? Creeps me out sometimes [...]

I think primarily contemporary, yeah. Classics tend to sell for higher prizes in some cases, I guess, but there's less of 'em on the market. But it's art, not just a product. Well, I'll be glad to see you there! What kind of mediums do you prefer to work with?

[plunderwater]

Some people find that fun, unfortunately, so your plea may fall on deaf ears. I am curious, though: What do you mean by you're "always happy to help" and "you can only do so much"? Like, guard cemeteries?

I understand that Halloween and cemeteries seem to go hand in hand but I do ask that you do not go to a cemetery tonight with the intent of disturbing the dead. I had to drop off Zane's cupcakes early to make it to the cemetery I am of course always happy to help however I can only do so much.

Those ghosts did not deserve to be turned.

[plunderwater]

Ah, of course. Temporary one? This permanent collection [...] Are any of them classics? Or just [...] contemporary ones? Which one sells better? Mmm, that is true. You know what? I'll definitely give it a shot. Could be profitable interesting. I'm a bit of an artist myself [user is not], though sculpted works and installations are beyond me sadly.

There's paintings as well, in the permanent collection as well as in the temporary one. Sculpted works and installations are quite interesting as well, so I do think you should give it a shot. Art should not merely be twodimensional, after all. [...] Not in this current collection, but there must be something in the archives.

[plunderwater]

[pm] Why, whatever do you mean? Then let me make my dearest amends. Please. It's not a trap. I swear to you. On my mother's grave. Don't threaten me with a good time. Well, we can't always remember the correct information on the spot, can we? My apologies. Dinner it is then. How's the Codfather sound? I can get us a reservation easy peasy.

Lovely! I promise you, on my mother's grave, things will not go south again. Not even east. That was [...] a misunderstanding. I thought you were trying to kill me, too, so I just did what I had to do to survive. I'm sure you understand?

[pm] Not just hearts, I bet. I meant Thanks, I guess, but yes, I'm still pretty miffed, Yeshan. You literally My men were This isn't a trap, is it? Because I can still set people on fire. Probably Why wouldn't I be? If it's free dinner, I'm down. But maybe not in Worm Row because of the [...] you know.

That's all I wanted to hear. I'm in, then.

[...] AH! Yes, birds, me, that's actually pretty funny. [user laughs irl] Pokemon? Nah, I'm just not a fan of being dragged near a large space of water by a selkie who once tried to kill me. You know? Just making sure I won't be at a disadvantage if things go south. Again.