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Post by Erik on Aug 12, 2008 14:59:50 GMT -5
Erik, too, had drowned his share of passers by, so this news did not concern him. Still, he wondered when, and how he had not known...
He brushed it off, eagerly wading until the water buoyed him up. It felt good. No pain. He did not feel strong, but he was not afraid of drowning. Erik knew water well enough. And Wanizame would never let him. He knew that, too, with the instinct of a young boy.
"Erik will be careful," he promised. Experimentally, he kicked out, half floating and half swimming on the surface of the water.
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Post by Wanizame on Aug 12, 2008 15:06:53 GMT -5
It trilled happily and ducked under the water, swimming lazy, graceful circles around Erik, its sharp and dangerous-looking dorsal fin causing a slight wake around the man.
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Post by Erik on Aug 12, 2008 15:52:33 GMT -5
For a moment, Erik found himself wondering what Wanizame was, with the eyes of the grown man he was now who had taken nearly everything in the world apart and never seen anything like him.
But then he was just appreciating the creature's smooth, effortless motion, and envying it even as it made him feel younger and stronger just watching. He swam a little, working his muscles until he needed a rest and turned onto his back to float.
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Post by Wanizame on Aug 12, 2008 15:56:38 GMT -5
The creature popped up beside Erik and mimicked him, rolling over onto its back, its belly glaring white in the dark for a few moments until it turned over again and went under, coming up, carefully, under Erik's back, its dorsal fin rising up between Erik's arm and ribcage until the man rested just barely on the velvety monstrosity under him. Thus arranged, Izame glided around the water, gently towing Erik along.
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Post by Erik on Aug 12, 2008 16:35:24 GMT -5
As they glided through the water, Erik towed along, a laugh bubbled up within him that echoed softly across the surface of the underground lake. All at once he turned, flipping himself so that he lay belly down with his arm arranged the same way.
"Faster, Izame," he whispered. "You won't hurt Erik."
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Post by Wanizame on Aug 12, 2008 16:39:36 GMT -5
The merman chirped and let out a laugh of its own, clicking in mimic before bringing its arms and legs against its own sides to sleeken itself out, using the thick tail to move them through the water with increasing speed.
"Is good, Care care?" It grinned and ducked its head down again, giving a push and propelling them forward, leaving a wake that splashed and lapped at the dark shores.
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Post by Erik on Aug 12, 2008 16:55:54 GMT -5
"Is good," Erik said, but water splashed into his mouth which he spit out. And kept it closed, though a laugh remained within him. The speed pleased him, movement for its own sake, joy in motion. No plotting, no heartache, no injury.
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Post by Wanizame on Aug 12, 2008 17:02:21 GMT -5
The creature plied in circles and patterns, sometimes slipping them both beneath the surface for a moment before coming up again. It did not tire, but understood that Erik would, after several long minutes of racing around the lake, it returned to the area in front of the house and slowed, then carefully slid out from under Erik and let him float on his own merits. He would have to work his own limbs to gain strength, after all.
"Want out now, Care care? Sleep? Eat? Drink tea?"
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Post by Erik on Aug 12, 2008 17:38:05 GMT -5
Exhilarated but tired, Erik floated. And chuckled.
"Who is caring for whom, hmm?"
Oddly, he was hungry, something he rarely felt. He did a few lazy strokes (which actually took some effort) and then headed to shore and put his feet down carefully. He was tired, but it was the good kind. The kind that came from work rather than inertia.
"Thank you," he said. "Erik would not have thought of such an activity." He headed slowly back into the house, the water dripping off his white shirt and black trousers.
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Post by Wanizame on Aug 12, 2008 17:44:55 GMT -5
The sharkman took a moment to shake itself off, water fell easily from its sleek hide, and followed the man inside.
"Pretty Julian can make tea? Bring apples, chocolate? F' Erik too."
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Post by Erik on Aug 12, 2008 17:54:42 GMT -5
"That would be nice," Erik agreed. "If he's home."
Erik opened the door, hoping Julian had returned from wherever he'd been. He rested a hand on Wanizame for a moment, unconsciously.
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Post by Julian on Aug 13, 2008 7:17:52 GMT -5
"If who is home?"
*Julian stepped into the room, his mind obviously only half there at the moment, the rest trying to sort some matter. He looked to Erik, his expression softening at the sight of him, looking a bit like a drowned rat.*
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Post by Erik on Aug 13, 2008 9:22:32 GMT -5
Indeed, Erik's clothing stuck to him, emphasizing his emaciated form. But a smile lit his ravaged face.
"You neglected to mention our guest," he said, but his voice held no trace of blame.
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Post by Julian on Aug 13, 2008 9:58:10 GMT -5
*Julian looked confused for a moment, but then noticed the sharkman behind him.*
"Oh, of course. I have been...distracted."
*He arched a brow.*
"But it would seem that the two of you have made reunion well enough."
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Post by Erik on Aug 13, 2008 10:34:17 GMT -5
"Indeed," Erik said happily. "Erik had not expected to see him again."
In Erik's mind, dogs were male, cats were female, and toothy little shark things without privates were certainly masculine.
"We knew one another long ago."
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