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Post by Julian on Jul 3, 2008 9:22:59 GMT -5
*Julian urged the fishman into the room and started the bath in the over-sized tub (since Erik obviously spent a lot of time and money installing all the most modern plumbing.) He gestured for the other to get in. At least there he could get a better look at what was wrong.*
"Please."
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Post by Wanizame on Jul 3, 2008 9:29:21 GMT -5
Izame whimpered but got into the bath, immediately curling up on its side as the water filled up the tub, washing pink around it.
The skin along the entire length of its spine had split (sadly bisecting the intricate inkings on its body) and the first inch or two of a thick dorsal fin was protruding from between its shoulder blades.
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Post by Julian on Jul 3, 2008 9:35:22 GMT -5
*Julian's frown deepened as he carefully washed the shedding bits away, trying to clean the open wound as much as he could.*
"A fin." *He answered plainly.*
"You are still growing?"
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Post by Wanizame on Jul 3, 2008 9:40:33 GMT -5
"All alone, shark changes. Less-people." it whimpered, then screamed as the fin pushed up, a mass of muscle along with it that forced the creature's back to split wide like an old skin.
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Post by Julian on Jul 3, 2008 9:42:50 GMT -5
*Julian seemed indifferent to the sudden change, but moved quickly to see it cleaned out.*
"I could try to remove it, if you'd like."
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Post by Wanizame on Jul 3, 2008 9:49:29 GMT -5
It didn't quite understand what Julian meant, but he sounded as if he were trying to help, so the little monster nodded, having sat up and bent over double in the bath, its clawed hand scrabbling at the porcelain under them.
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Post by Julian on Jul 3, 2008 9:55:16 GMT -5
*On first attempt, he tried to peel back the skin that seemed eager to be removed around the budding fin. Careful not to pull too hard though, as he didn't want to make it any worse. He urged the skin away, trying to peel it up with a firm, yet gentle, hand.*
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Post by Wanizame on Jul 3, 2008 10:08:35 GMT -5
It was more than skin that was peeling now, though. The split went through muscle and fascia as well, and what was underneath, attached to the new fin, was slick and red and solid and pushing its way out of the skin, causing the little sharkman to roar and writhe around. Something was being birthed out of it.
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Post by Julian on Jul 3, 2008 10:12:07 GMT -5
Intriguing.
*Julian leaned closer to the tub, watching in unblinking fascination as the creature squirmed. But his hands never lost hold of him and one hand held loose skin as Julian worked his other fingers delicately in the crease, trying to separate it further.*
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Post by Wanizame on Jul 3, 2008 10:19:56 GMT -5
The process seemed to go more quickly from there, the creature thrashed and pulled out of its own skin, leaving a heavy, hollow mess in the bath and emerging as something new, red and slick with birth and shivering in confusion, huddled in one corner of the bath away from its own former body.
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Post by Julian on Jul 3, 2008 10:58:55 GMT -5
*Julian watched in awe, enthralled by the process. When it seemed done, he moved to pull the old skin from the tub, setting it on the floor. Then he opened the drain and started running some new water, looking to the new and foreign shape at the other end of the tub.*
"Is it...better now?"
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Post by Wanizame on Jul 3, 2008 11:06:17 GMT -5
Black eyes--tinged now with more green than they had been--swiveled toward the man and the odd little shape shivered and worked its jaws but made no sound. When the bath was filled up, it rolled around in the water to get itself clean and revealed a pale bluegrey skin and a stark white belly, all still birth-soft and tender.
The ghost of the ink still lay in its skin, pale gray patterns stretched over its snout, arms and the fin on its back, and the old slit scars of its gills were still in place along its sides.
It sat up and held its muscular little arms up to Julian.
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Post by Julian on Jul 3, 2008 11:12:18 GMT -5
*Julian finally blinked trying to understand. He leaned forward, offering to lift the creature, but not actually touching him just yet.*
"Did you want out?"
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Post by Wanizame on Jul 3, 2008 11:17:04 GMT -5
It nodded vigorously and clutched at Julian's shirt, semi-transparent membranes flickered across its eyes momentarily, and it had either gathered more water in the hollows under its eyes, or it was shedding tears.
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Post by Julian on Jul 3, 2008 11:20:03 GMT -5
*Julian lifted the being without further question, taking its dripping form back to his room and setting it carefully on the bed.*
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