"It's not like any of us wear much-" A little gesture towards himself, because outside of what looked like an oddly colorful amount of 'jewelry' and a few scraps of fabric, he wasn't really wearing that much at all. "-and so what can be managed suits just well, and others use it as a sort of camouflage while hunting in shallower water." So that bit was a truth at the very least. "Among what we've managed to cultivate elsewhere."
The cookie was taken, and once again he broke it in to pieces to eat it, rather than just biting in to it. Seemed to make it last longer. "It depends on the season, how the weather turns. Usually the water is something of a buffer."
"No, I don't suppose that you have to. Scales are probably insulted and you have a circulatory system built for cooler water temperatures." He had gone into the water once not that long ago. He hadn't exactly been cold for long, but he understood how someone could get themselves into trouble. He liked the mixed jewelry and fabric scraps though. "Well, if you get cold, let me know. We're about the same size in the torso, so you can borrow a shirt or a sweater."
He found himself amused to watch this magical creature eat a cookie in such a dainty way, savouring every bite and clearly enjoying himself. "I have heard that ocean water does help with wound healing."
Was certainly built to survive- "Used to go to warmer places during winter here, but I've adapted to not be bothered by temperature differences in the water." Wasn't as bad as in the air, and luckily seawater didn't freeze that easily. "Sweater might be better if I do ask, yes."
"So long as the water of the area itself is healthy, other times it can cause greater sickness should it not be." As with anything else, so he figured, a ecosystem helping to take care of itself, thrown out of whack otherwise.
Migration had been given up so this merman could remain in his territory. He supposed that was lucky for him, since they might not have met if this creature had decided to migrate to warmer waters for the winter months. "You don't have trouble finding food in the winter months then?" Many fish migrated after all. "I have a few sweaters that are loose enough to not catch your fins too much."
He nodded his head, having not particularly used salt water himself. His ability to heal was accelerated as it was, and it was difficult for infection to take root for long. "And is the water healthy right now? I want you to heal well and as quickly as possible." Not to remove this one from his house, but he had seen enough things in pain to not want to watch that suffering prolonged.
"I go out in to deeper waters, there is enough food there when it comes to fish- I venture inland a bit as well, up rivers enough to pull in deer." He could hunt land animals from the water, and also go on land further if he so wished it. Not that he was going to go in to that just yet. "Any of those would work well then."
His head tipped, thoughtful for just a moment- "Where you got it from before, yes. That water was healthy, so far most areas around the territory I claim has remained so," but further out he couldn't be sure of the same. Not after running in to something that knocked him badly enough to end up washed ashore.
"Ah, that makes sense. Fish travels up through the deeper waters," he remarked. Or so he had been told and what he had gathered from his studies of the migration patterns that he looked into. The whole going up stream to kill deer was interesting too. "You must move remarkably quick to get the jump on a deer drinking or traveling through the waterways." That indicated a physical prowess that wasn't on full display here on his bed.
Jack nodded his head in understanding. There were still clean up efforts for plastic waste, and there were the unseen chemicals that corporations dumped into waterways like it was their right to do so. "Clean up efforts are being made, though let's hope it's not too little, too late on that front."
There was a nice trick to getting deer without ever having to get out of the river, and he was quick enough after years of practice. "I at times get other creatures, but deer meat is something I've grown fond of, and after enough time and attempts I have grown quick to have that." Had a few antlers as well, they made nice enough tools and lasted long enough to be that useful.
"Time will tell on that front, as it always does." So far he hadn't a need to leave because waters had become too polluted at the very least. Showed for something?
"Nothing wrong with venison, no," he agreed. He ate it when he could hunt it, and he had grown up on it as well. He had no doubt that it was quite the process for nabbing a deer while they were drinking. "No doubt a few trail and error times under your belt... er, that would make more sense if you wore pants." Which the merman clearly didn't.
"Conservation efforts are in full swing, but it's not like that can undo years of neglect anyway," he murmured with a shrug of his shoulders. Maybe people could learn. Only time would tell about that too.
"Found a way that worked and perfected it over time- and it was a lot of hit or miss, yeah." Fins curling a bit along with that tail of his, and at the very least the red of fins looked brighter than they had when he was first dragged in. "I get the expression, even if it makes little sense for me," amusement there in his tone for just a moment.
No, it couldn't undo but the attempt could save a few things. "Better many realize the damage done and are trying," even if others couldn't care less and continued to do damage.
"You'll have to show me some time if we ever go upriver together," he remarked. He figured he could have this one in the back of his truck, and he could take them somewhere private to strengthen that body after healing. Right now, it was all about rest. "Ah well... it's a human thing. We wear clothes after all, so we have to come up with phrases related to that. I'm sure you have scale or fin phrases native to you."
He nodded his head and moved to sit on the edge of the bed, looking around his sparse and clean bedroom. Like anyone could live here. "That's all we can do, right? Make up for the wrongs of the past."
He hummed, the sound low in his throat, "Sure. Sounds like it could be an interesting outing while bringing home some fresh food to share." Because he figured at that point he would still be staying with the man, judging by things now. Wanting to make sure he was fully recovered if he took him in at all. An assumption yes, but it was what he had to go on for the moment. "We do, yes."
"It is, in many ways, better than doing nothing at all. Things may not be undone, but it means it can be recovered from with time." Like anything else, even if it's just new growth over what was lost.
"Yeah, and if you don't catch anything, I'll show you how I hunt." Though, there was a chance that the merman was already familiar with human weaponry on some level. He figured their current state was settled until those wounds healed and then they would discuss getting the merman safely back to the sea. "Do you all sing?"
He nodded his head, in agreement. They had to do their part given how much they had messed things up as it was. "Time will tell how well we do. New technology is coming out every day that is based towards cleaning up our waterways and oceans."
"Gun, trap, or bow? I know of some methods, but I haven't seen any outside of trap hunting." He knew of guns because they certainly weren't quiet, and he'd been told stories of those who hunted with bows when he was a kid. Trap and bow hunting were rather old. His head tipped and he actually shifted himself closer, that second cooking gone.
Interesting question- "Yes, all of us sing. Only some have any power to it, while the rest use it as part of story telling, or just to try and keep entertained on longer trips."
Time would tell. "Finding out how important the waters are, and wanting to save them."
"Gun for me, though I have used snare for smaller animals. Not proficient with a bow, but I could learn," he replied with a shrug of his shoulders. He once picked up new skills very easily, eager to learn, eager to help. "Firearms are effective at a quick blow if you know where to hit. Don't want the animal to suffer." It made the meat taste bad anyway, too much fear.
"I figured as much. So at least those stories are correct," he reflected, noting how the merman had shuffled closer to where he sat. "I expect you have powers for your voice, yes? Going to lure me into my own bed?" He issued a soft laugh, though it was kind of stupid given he was already sitting on his bed. Oh well.
Water is important. We need it to survive. All of us."
Another soft little hum- "I've only heard gunshots, never seen the hunt with one." So it sounded like he was agreeable to a hunting trip with Jack whenever that time arose. Later, when he was more healed of course, but agreeable all the same.
His nose wrinkled, amusement clear in his eyes at the very least. "Perhaps a little correct, but not overly so. Tales do warp overtime, right?" But there was a second of thought, as if debating something as he leaned a little to where an arm brushed against Jack. "I clearly do not have to sing for that- but there is when I will it so. I do not sing much anymore." If at all.
"Well, when you're stronger and able to travel without aggravating your wounds, we'll go hunting and I'll show you what firearm hunting is all about." He might even consider letting this one shoot with some careful instruction and practice, assuming the merman was agreeable to it.
"Especially sailors. They are drunk an awful lot," he said with a deep sigh. He had been told all sorts of wild stories, and he hadn't found much basis for believing it. He turned his head to the physical contact, looking at the merman, corner of his lip twitching. "Why not?"
"Something else to look forward to I see." He wouldn't object to watching, or even holding the weapon himself. It would come down to the moment itself if he'd want to fire it himself or not- "And I can definitely show you how I hunt in turn." Even if not something Jack could replicate, it wasn't something any human would have ever gotten to watch before.
"They certainly are." Little else to do on the open sea when stuck on a moving ship and not much else to do when a coarse was set. Shoulders shrugged, enough to be felt where he was still close to the man. "I have no one to sing for, or with. Don't use it to hunt either," his singing voice with power in it.
"Looks like we are forming plenty of plans for us to do together when you're healed up," he remarked with a nod of his head. That was strange in a way; he thought the merman would heal up and be eager to get out of dodge again. Apparently not so far. "Let's hope there's more than one deer in that case, though I can show you with a rabbit or something smaller too." Maybe let the merman go first.
They were better these days, busying themselves with movies and other such on-board entertainment. They could tap into news and call their families too, if the weather was good enough for it. "Is that what you would want to do with your singing voice? For or with someone?"
"You're in no hurry to be rid of me, so I figure why not make a few plans until you're sick of me?" It was teasing, and he figured if the man was willing to not just rescue him off a beach, he owed him some of his time. It was also rather interesting to spend time with anyone after so long, even if they were human. "We'll just have to wait and see, until then."
Fins flexed a little, tail still curled as he sat in the bed. "It's what it's meant to be used for. Singing is... special, for the most part." Or even defensive if caught by anything that could be affected by the more powerful sort of singing.
"Not particularly in a hurry, no. Just want to make certain you're safe and comfortable here," he replied with a shrug. He knew how confining it might be stuck inside like this, but he hoped that the merman would find it an enjoyable change of pace. "Right now, let's get you healed up and ready to swim safely again." And he could admit that it was nice to have company with no expectations of him.
He noted the way those fins flexed, and he almost reached out to touch them, but he stopped himself. He figured it was rude. "I always found it an annoying part of school," he said with a sigh, though he could sing, just... didn't. Now was even less reason to.
His head tipped a little, he'd been watching Jack closely enough, and for the moment the talk of hunting and his healing was left behind. Instead? Well, he shifted himself on the bed and offered a hand out to take one of Jack's, because he'd noticed that hesitation- "Here, let me see your hand." An easy enough question, right?
"It's how we communicate over a distance at times- the singing. Of course it's at a different sort of pitch that carries through water better, and isn't exactly done with words." More sounds that carried pretty far.
He turned his head to regard the merman behind where he sat, making certain that all was well for the time being. He blinked when his hand was taken, a subtle flinch likely felt, but he also didn't pull away. He was a man who was not used to being touched anymore. "It's not webbed or anything," he joked as he settled his unease to touch and allowed the merman his hand.
"I figured as much. We have land animals that do the same, elephants they are called. It's not singing that we know of, but it's a low resonance that travels long distances." He had a feeling that water made it all the more complicated.
His hold was loose enough he could have pulled back, more his own hand had moved underneath Jack's as an offer to let him guide it. Their hands much the same size, the major difference no just color back the fact there was slight webbing along with claws. "So I noticed," and yet he was guiding Jack's hand, letting it move over black scales with bits of purples and reds near the fins, and stopped it just near a fin-
"You're fine to touch," given permission as well there.
Water did make it a bit more complicated. "We also sing with those we care about, for and with those we love." Not (just) to lure sailors to their deaths.
He allowed the guiding, eyes drawn to where their hands seemed to fit together nicely, and he was keen to see the differences. Webbing yes, but those claws and the fine scales that were a different contrasting colour to his own sun-kissed skin. His fingers flexed when they were brought back to a fin, and he glanced up at the merman's face to make certain it was alright.
Slowly, he dropped his hand to caress that fin, feeling the thin tissue between supporting cartilage. It was smooth and warm, like touching silk. The corner of his lip twitched at the novelty of it all, him touching such a beautiful creature of the sea. "Like silk."
He nodded his head. "So you must sing whenever your family comes back to your territory, yes?" It was interesting to think such an advanced creature of the sea could sing out of love. Sounded like a romance novel.
Those scales on his hands, fine and forming a pattern that went up along his forearm as well like little jewels on their own, a mix of black and those subtle reds and purples. Skin a darker color around them as well. His and left Jack's, letting him feel as he wished freely. Comfortably.
Fins shifted a little under touch, but never away, simply because it had been a while since anyone else had touched. "Strong as well," no matter the scars some of his fins carried, the fact there wasn't more proved that well enough.
He nodded, "It is how they announce their return, and how they know I am still there for them to return to. That all is still well, and safe." Or else he wouldn't be there- a sure sign for them to turn back if he was gone.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2020-03-05 03:38 pm (UTC)The cookie was taken, and once again he broke it in to pieces to eat it, rather than just biting in to it. Seemed to make it last longer. "It depends on the season, how the weather turns. Usually the water is something of a buffer."
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Date: 2020-03-06 03:09 pm (UTC)He found himself amused to watch this magical creature eat a cookie in such a dainty way, savouring every bite and clearly enjoying himself. "I have heard that ocean water does help with wound healing."
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Date: 2020-03-07 11:45 am (UTC)"So long as the water of the area itself is healthy, other times it can cause greater sickness should it not be." As with anything else, so he figured, a ecosystem helping to take care of itself, thrown out of whack otherwise.
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Date: 2020-03-10 03:57 am (UTC)He nodded his head, having not particularly used salt water himself. His ability to heal was accelerated as it was, and it was difficult for infection to take root for long. "And is the water healthy right now? I want you to heal well and as quickly as possible." Not to remove this one from his house, but he had seen enough things in pain to not want to watch that suffering prolonged.
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Date: 2020-03-10 09:55 pm (UTC)His head tipped, thoughtful for just a moment- "Where you got it from before, yes. That water was healthy, so far most areas around the territory I claim has remained so," but further out he couldn't be sure of the same. Not after running in to something that knocked him badly enough to end up washed ashore.
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Date: 2020-03-10 10:32 pm (UTC)Jack nodded his head in understanding. There were still clean up efforts for plastic waste, and there were the unseen chemicals that corporations dumped into waterways like it was their right to do so. "Clean up efforts are being made, though let's hope it's not too little, too late on that front."
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Date: 2020-03-10 11:23 pm (UTC)"Time will tell on that front, as it always does." So far he hadn't a need to leave because waters had become too polluted at the very least. Showed for something?
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Date: 2020-03-12 11:12 pm (UTC)"Conservation efforts are in full swing, but it's not like that can undo years of neglect anyway," he murmured with a shrug of his shoulders. Maybe people could learn. Only time would tell about that too.
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Date: 2020-03-13 01:08 am (UTC)No, it couldn't undo but the attempt could save a few things. "Better many realize the damage done and are trying," even if others couldn't care less and continued to do damage.
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Date: 2020-03-13 04:47 pm (UTC)He nodded his head and moved to sit on the edge of the bed, looking around his sparse and clean bedroom. Like anyone could live here. "That's all we can do, right? Make up for the wrongs of the past."
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Date: 2020-03-13 11:21 pm (UTC)"It is, in many ways, better than doing nothing at all. Things may not be undone, but it means it can be recovered from with time." Like anything else, even if it's just new growth over what was lost.
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Date: 2020-03-14 03:27 am (UTC)He nodded his head, in agreement. They had to do their part given how much they had messed things up as it was. "Time will tell how well we do. New technology is coming out every day that is based towards cleaning up our waterways and oceans."
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Date: 2020-03-14 07:56 pm (UTC)Interesting question- "Yes, all of us sing. Only some have any power to it, while the rest use it as part of story telling, or just to try and keep entertained on longer trips."
Time would tell. "Finding out how important the waters are, and wanting to save them."
no subject
Date: 2020-03-14 08:09 pm (UTC)"I figured as much. So at least those stories are correct," he reflected, noting how the merman had shuffled closer to where he sat. "I expect you have powers for your voice, yes? Going to lure me into my own bed?" He issued a soft laugh, though it was kind of stupid given he was already sitting on his bed. Oh well.
Water is important. We need it to survive. All of us."
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Date: 2020-03-14 08:59 pm (UTC)His nose wrinkled, amusement clear in his eyes at the very least. "Perhaps a little correct, but not overly so. Tales do warp overtime, right?" But there was a second of thought, as if debating something as he leaned a little to where an arm brushed against Jack. "I clearly do not have to sing for that- but there is when I will it so. I do not sing much anymore." If at all.
That was very true.
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Date: 2020-03-14 09:10 pm (UTC)"Especially sailors. They are drunk an awful lot," he said with a deep sigh. He had been told all sorts of wild stories, and he hadn't found much basis for believing it. He turned his head to the physical contact, looking at the merman, corner of his lip twitching. "Why not?"
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Date: 2020-03-14 10:12 pm (UTC)"They certainly are." Little else to do on the open sea when stuck on a moving ship and not much else to do when a coarse was set. Shoulders shrugged, enough to be felt where he was still close to the man. "I have no one to sing for, or with. Don't use it to hunt either," his singing voice with power in it.
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Date: 2020-03-14 10:31 pm (UTC)They were better these days, busying themselves with movies and other such on-board entertainment. They could tap into news and call their families too, if the weather was good enough for it. "Is that what you would want to do with your singing voice? For or with someone?"
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Date: 2020-03-14 10:58 pm (UTC)Fins flexed a little, tail still curled as he sat in the bed. "It's what it's meant to be used for. Singing is... special, for the most part." Or even defensive if caught by anything that could be affected by the more powerful sort of singing.
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Date: 2020-03-14 11:30 pm (UTC)He noted the way those fins flexed, and he almost reached out to touch them, but he stopped himself. He figured it was rude. "I always found it an annoying part of school," he said with a sigh, though he could sing, just... didn't. Now was even less reason to.
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Date: 2020-03-14 11:44 pm (UTC)"It's how we communicate over a distance at times- the singing. Of course it's at a different sort of pitch that carries through water better, and isn't exactly done with words." More sounds that carried pretty far.
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Date: 2020-03-14 11:57 pm (UTC)"I figured as much. We have land animals that do the same, elephants they are called. It's not singing that we know of, but it's a low resonance that travels long distances." He had a feeling that water made it all the more complicated.
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Date: 2020-03-15 12:14 am (UTC)"You're fine to touch," given permission as well there.
Water did make it a bit more complicated. "We also sing with those we care about, for and with those we love." Not (just) to lure sailors to their deaths.
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Date: 2020-03-15 05:09 pm (UTC)Slowly, he dropped his hand to caress that fin, feeling the thin tissue between supporting cartilage. It was smooth and warm, like touching silk. The corner of his lip twitched at the novelty of it all, him touching such a beautiful creature of the sea. "Like silk."
He nodded his head. "So you must sing whenever your family comes back to your territory, yes?" It was interesting to think such an advanced creature of the sea could sing out of love. Sounded like a romance novel.
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Date: 2020-03-15 10:38 pm (UTC)Fins shifted a little under touch, but never away, simply because it had been a while since anyone else had touched. "Strong as well," no matter the scars some of his fins carried, the fact there wasn't more proved that well enough.
He nodded, "It is how they announce their return, and how they know I am still there for them to return to. That all is still well, and safe." Or else he wouldn't be there- a sure sign for them to turn back if he was gone.
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