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[dadication]

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[gr1m]

There were no words in turn, simply watching Jack leave, sunk back in that tub and left to his own devices- for a little while at least.

Gave him time to better look around the bathroom itself, pulling the blanket off of him and letting it hang over the side of the tub. Dripping on the floor yes, but he wasn't of a mind to much care about that. Hauling himself to sit on the edge of the tub a bit, more of his tail in the bloodied sea water; a better position to look, even if there wasn't that much to see.

And would be how he was found, albeit tying his hair back with something, long and curled since it had dripped dry just enough to get a spring back. Watching Jack from the corner of an eye-

Before he was leaning over and pulling the plug for the water to drain.

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Maybe he should have put out a hair brush or something, but honestly, he used a comb or his fingers these days, so he wasn't certain that either would be up for coping with the sheer thickness of hair that the merman was sporting. The locks looked good tied back, and they were drying nicely as well. Sorry, no hair dryers here.

He stepped closer to watch the tub drain, expecting that being exposed to room air wouldn't actually be a problem since he had carried the other as far as he had without the benefit of water.

Once the tub was empty again, he gestured with a hand. "Alright, plug back in so I can fill it again. This water should be cleaner now that we've treated your wounds."

When the plug was replaced, Jack began to systematically refill the tub with buckets of hauled salt water. "Better?"

[gr1m]

Clawed fingers seemed to have done the job well enough with the hair at least, and he was just glad to not have it plastered and bloodied against his skin anymore. Just a good reason he kept that thick string around his wrists, prepared enough even if he had lost a few to the currants and what caused him to wash up on the shore in the first place.

That tail of his sort of curled against the empty bottom of the tub, only moving to press the plug back in to place. Kept himself perched, only sinking back down bodily in to that tub once there was enough water in. All the better to not over-fill it with him in it.

Fingers moved through the seawater slowly, swirling it almost idly at his side. "Better. Having me here is going to cause you some inconveniences."

[dadication]

Back and forth he went from the barrels outside to bring enough water to fill the tub comfortably. That seemed like a job well done, even if it was very unexpected. His new house guest seemed to settle well enough, though that tail was going to be quite the challenge with how long it was. Definitely was never going to fully fit in the tub with the rest of the merman.

He set the bucket aside and shrugged his shoulders at the comment. Not a lot of people paid him that much mind, mostly because he had come here keeping to himself. He wasn't unfriendly, but he wasn't welcoming either.

"Ah well, I'm not big on baths anyway. A scrub down in a bucket isn't the worst thing I've had to do for hygiene." He ignored all the other complications for now. He figured he'd cross that bridge when he came to it.

[gr1m]

"A bucket." Really? "Do you not have a shower?" How does he even know about showers in the first place? "There's also the smell this may cause, salt water isn't very kind after all. More so when brought in from the water itself." Someone didn't mind pointing out a few things.

Like how much trouble this was likely to bring on the man. Why point it out? Why not point it out.

Did sink in the water as best he could, tail curled over the end of it a bit as fins almost idly twitched while in the air there. Leaning back against the tub itself was enough to support his back, tied back hair hanging over it as well.

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"Yeah, I do, but you're laying in it," he pointed out easily. He definitely wasn't going to be standing in the tub letting water cascade over him and fill the current water with soap and the like. No, he was perfectly fine washing up either outside or at the kitchen sink. "The cold doesn't bother me either, so I have a tap outside." He shrugged like it was normal even if it wasn't.

"The smell doesn't bother me. We'll change the water often enough that it shouldn't be a problem," he remarked. The salt water would help to heal wounds, and that's what took priority at this point.

He figured that the reason this one knew about showers and the like was from experience. Maybe stories? Probably experience. "Have you done all this before?"

[gr1m]

His head cocked to one side- "You could always shower between re-filling the tub. The seawater has to be drained anyway, and it wouldn't hurt to clean the tub so you showering would do that well enough before I have to get back in." Just haul the water to the house first, didn't doubt he'd be fine being out of water for that long at least and it seemed reasonable to him. A bit of extra work, but still reasonable.

More so if they'd already be hanging the water often enough anyway- "I also use fresh water for things every now and then, so your tub wouldn't have to always be seawater each time it's re-filled for me."

An eyebrow arched for a moment before he was leaning forwards again, arms propping him up on the side of the tub, just that much closer to the man- "No. Have you, Jack?"

[dadication]

"And you're offering to lay about on the bathroom floor while I shower, are you? I don't think that's particularly good for your wounds." He appreciated the offer all the same. That was far more conscientious than he was expecting from his new house guest. It wasn't even that he had problems showering in front of another creature either; shame died a long time ago. Those wounds needed to be taken care of.

He tilted his head as he considered for a moment, not certain what sort of creature this was to be so adaptable. It was amazing. "Do you? And what would you like me to refer to you as? A merman? A selkie?"

He shook his head and gave a bit of a helpless shrug. "Can't say that I have. Usually the only people I bring home are drunks who need a dry place to sober up. You're a first."

[gr1m]

"I have the ability to sit," spoken so dryly that it was a surprise he was from the sea. "Close the toilet seat and I can sit there if you'd prefer to keep me hidden away in your bathroom."

Funny, eyes did very visibly roll, "Do I look like a seal to you? Poor excuse for a fisherman or anyone that lives by the sea if so." Tone a little dramatic with some played up offense just to add to it, because really. "You don't have to refer to me as anything- besides, don't your kind often mistake merfolk for sirens and vice versa?" And that was more of a sort of teasing jab than any real information.

His nose wrinkled briefly, not in any offense, more an itch with how a hand passed over it. "Then we're on even ground, it's not like I come to land often."

[dadication]

"If that's the case, you can have free reign of the house. Probably can walk while you're at it, right?" He was issuing a bit of dry teasing humour, though he wasn't even certain where it came from. He wasn't one to joke around at all these days. "You are free to go wherever, just keep away from the windows so people around these parts are peering at you."

He tilted his head and squinted as if he actually had to think about the answer. "I've only been fishing for a eight months, so no, I'm not that good at it. I was born in a land-locked state and the only water was what came from a tap or the well." Look, he was trying here, and yeah, he was real bad at this fisherman thing.

He nodded, expecting that to be true. "Can't say I've heard many rumours about you or your kin. Must stay pretty hidden."

[gr1m]

"Only if you've got any pants that'd fit me," tossed right back without missing a beat, that fin of his tapping against the side of the tub almost idly. "Ever heard of curtains, or even blinds? I hear they're very useful, and some even nice to look at."

Well wasn't that something? "So why did you end up moving out here from your landlocked home?" At least there was some genuine curiosity, even if asked with a slightly arched eyebrow.

Shoulders shrugged, letting hands fold just against his midsection that was only partially covered by the seawater in the bath. "Hidden or deeper out to sea. There used to be more that lived closer," used to.

[dadication]

"We might be around the same waist size. Not so certain about that tail of yours though," he remarked as he examined the scaled tail with keen interest. "Curtains stay open during the day. It creates less suspicion among nosy neighbours." He preferred to be left alone, but he liked to know what was going on around him as well, which involved curtains being open. It was routine as well. Positive daylight effects and all that.

He shrugged his shoulders and looked away, examining the bathroom sink as if investigating if it needed to be cleaned. "Because I was told the sea was beautiful and calming. Maybe the sound of the waves would help me sleep." There hadn't been much of that happening on the farm anyway.

Ah, used to. He could imagine a few reasons for the decline at least. "So are there more of you? A family? A group you socialize with? I can try to let them know you're alive if that's the case."

[gr1m]

He made a show of arching himself in a stretch, showing off that waistline of his and hands actually setting on either side of it and then very clearly eyeing Jack up- "Mine's just a little smaller than yours, hips are around the same at least." How could he even tell? Probably best not to ask, really. Also wasn't saying no to the pants or commenting about the tail bit. "Got a story if someone sees another shadow or figure in here that's clearly not you then?" Possibilities.

Settling right back in to that tub then, blowing a loose piece of hair from his face that had fallen from his earlier movement. "Any luck?"

"Our far deeper and in warmer waters. I'm solitary, only socialize with the few that migrate near the edge of my territory." So no one to try and reach out to was what was being got at. There were more, most of them migrated rather than keeping to one area all year.

[dadication]

Jack averted his eyes to be respectful with the arching and stretching, taking the merman's word for having a slimmer waist than what he had. He supposed he had seen it when he had laid the other in the tub, but now didn't seem like an appropriate time to be gawking at the alluring creature in his bathtub. "I'm going to say that an old friend has come to visit, but they aren't much for the sea or something. I have excuses." He was very good painting a narrative.

The line of questioning was uncomfortable for him, and his hands folded together to keep them from twitching. "On some nights, yeah. Others, not so much."

Ah, so they were a migratory species, were they? And this one had a territory he probably guarded from rivals. It was more information than he was expecting, and he filed it away for the time being. "Don't you find that lonely? What to do like to pass the time aside from hunting?"

[gr1m]

"Work well enough," even if there'd yet been any sort of name given for Jack to give these people if anyone did ever ask after this 'visiting friend' of his, if it was what he went with. For the man to worry about ore than him, he supposed.

There was a low sort of hum. "Never an easy fix for things." No matter whatever the problem was, sounded like a large sort of living shift to him. Curious all the same and little more to it than that.

Fingers flexed in the water, almost idly. "Just how it is. Used to be more here, a lot more. I'm the only one that kept where I have." Others had left for one reason or another, and even he didn't stray too far in the areas that humans frequented. "Explore the territory. Things shift and change."

[dadication]

He was perfectly fine making up a name on the fly, and it wouldn't be the first man found in his house that he had covered for. He had plenty of time to come up with the necessary backstory and fleshing it out, though he wondered if it would be more entertaining for them to get to know each other by making it up together. He decided that might be a bit too personal.

He nodded, aware that it helped to a degree, but the isolation wasn't easy either. He was so far removed from what he had been that integrating back into society was compounded even further. He didn't yet regret the decision. "Well, we can't expect everything to be fixed in a day. Or a few months, in this case."

That was answer enough for him. Just how it was. "There's a military frigate out, I see. Probably making lots of noise in your waters."

[gr1m]

His tongue clicked, sinking a little further in the tub, even if it meant more of his tail was no longer in the water- or the tub itself. Really, he was built for open water and it showed; scarred as his tail already was, how a few of his fins were more shredded in places than others. Strength in it was clear enough. The scars all along skin and scale alike told their own stories in a way.

A slight nod, "Time." Quite a few sayings about it and patience. Quite a few.

"Destroyed quite a few territories, reason most left- others simply followed," out of fear of being caught up in it, or tired of seeing parts of hat had always been called home destroyed. All the reasons he stayed.

[dadication]

That was quite a sight, he would admit, and he it was one that he was going to have to get used to. That tail - even damaged - was impressive. He could only imagine what it might look like while in motion through water. Maybe in time when he returned the other to the sea he could see it briefly. He supposed he was making a trip to town though. Pet store might have something to help with the damage?

"You fight a lot, do you? I was noticing your scars." They had that in common at least. Lots of scars.

"But you stayed. You must have a cream of the crop territory," he remarked, not certain what that actually meant. He didn't know enough of this sea creature to know what it was that kept him. A part of him hoped to find out.

[gr1m]

Wouldn't hurt to ask around at least on that trip, never knew what could be found in anything this close to the sea.

His head tipped, "Not as much as I once did," but yes. "Not all of these are from fighting, but enough are." Waters were deep and much was hidden there, but he wasn't going to say that not all of them had come from those depths or shallows.

He did stay, "It's mine to keep." Whatever that could entail wasn't exactly given for free, but it was his all the same. "It will remain that way," as long as he could fight to keep it that way.

[dadication]

"Are some from hunting?" He wasn't certain what he was expecting really. He thought fighting, but then again, prey was probably equipped to be nasty in their own way. Scars told a story after all, even if he had no idea how to read those particular ones. His own were covered in his clothing... except the two across his face.

"Do you have... well, kids?" How maternal and paternal were they? It was awkward and he probably shouldn't have asked, but this was honestly the weirdest and best conversation he had had in a long time. No pitying looks. No silent questions.

"That's fair enough. How long have you had that territory?"

[gr1m]

"A few," not enough to account for the expanse of scars on him, but a few of them were from while he was out hunting; accidents, something bigger and desperately hungry out there, the usual. None of it pretty, but he was the one who came out of it whole and alive. That was what mattered in the end.

That was a question alright- "I don't see them a lot since my partner and I separated quite the many years ago, but I know I have grand-kids. They've brought them when their migration had them this way." No hard feelings by the sounds of it, simply how life went at times even under the water. "Do you?"

Eyes lifted towards the ceiling, trying to re-call a number as his brow furrowed- "It always belonged to my family, through my mother, from her father. I can't give an exact time, but it has always been since it was passed on to me."

[dadication]

There were plenty of stories there, and they didn't need to get into them here and now. They had just met after all, and asking after the reasons of someone's scars was sometimes deeply personal. He knew that he didn't like to talk much about the ones that marred his face, especially because they were so obvious and thus drew more attention.

It was probably supposed to be awkward, but he didn't find it so. "Grand-kids? That's great. Everyone needs to have family," he said with a nod of his head, the pleasure of family lighting him up. His family was a long line of farmers and soldiers, and they had a lot of pride. He didn't see them much, not with the sleepless nights and nightmares. He needed space, but he called regularly. "Um... no. I don't have kids or... grandkids." Never found the right partner for that, too focused on his career. "I have lots of cousins, nephews and nieces though."

No wonder the merman wasn't about to leave his territory. Like Jack's farm, that territory had been in the merman's family for generations. It wasn't something to just abandon unless absolutely necessary. "Sounds like a place to stay, yeah."

[gr1m]

"I see them maybe once a year, if that." Just the way it was. The were safer, all of the, off where they'd gone to so far away from humans and in to much deeper waters. Where their mother was from, while he stayed where he needed to be no matter. Better off for them, and he was more of a solitary creature after so many years anyway. "As do I, but they too have moved to other waters."

He was the only one stubborn enough to remain, and was very good at keeping himself hidden for the most part. Sure, others did roam the area, but not over the territory he claimed; neighbors of his own in a way, really.

"At least I do not live where the waters turned on me," and washed him up on shore, but still not close enough to make it back out there in his condition.

[dadication]

"Would you want to see them more?" He folded his hands together, and it seemed that this creature very much was solitary, and he couldn't tell if that was what they wanted or if it was little more than a fact of life. Maybe everyone battled loneliness at some point. "Well... you're welcome to be around here if you need company after you heal up." He assumed they could arrange something.

He finally rose from his seat to retrieve the plate that had once had the fish on it. He left to set it down in the sink to wash then returned, leaning on the doorframe again.

"I'll ask around the village about the waters. They have been muttering about things changing the last week or so," he remarked.

[gr1m]

There was a slight shrug, "They've got their own lives. Wasn't a part of that when their mother left with them, it's enough that they've got good memories that they want to stop by with their own kids at all." Place had gotten too dangerous for them to come by more often than that, but that wasn't something he was going to bring up so easily. Head tilted to the side a bit- "We'll see." Not a yes, but definitely not turning down the offer, just perhaps thought it strange.

Had sunk back down further in to the water when Jack returned, hair still tied back and kept out of the water.

Hummed softly, "Be nice to know what it could be."