Just off the Boardwalk, all day Sunday

[boneyard_girl]

Something was...moving. Out in the water. Flickers of shadows under the waves, and glimpses of something red, glowing, watching before the current shifted and it was gone again.

There were more people out and about than usual, more sunshine, and even the water tasted Different. It was Interesting, and she liked Interesting. She wasn't hungry, yet, but but there was a fine line between curiosity and snack-time.

[OOC: Open for all your murderfish interaction & sighting needs!]

Comments

[rebelseekspizza]

"So you're here too, huh," Dante said.

He had his hands shoved down his pockets. He was looking out over the water.

[boneyard_girl]

There was something close to the water! The sunshine made it hard for her dark-adapted eyes to see it clearly, so she swam a little closer, face barely cresting out of the water to try and peer at the Thing and see if it was Interesting or Tasty.

She gave a disgruntled whistle of dismay. The Not Food was not Tasty, though sometimes it was Interesting.

[rebelseekspizza]

"Sorry. No mermaid chow for you today," Dante said.

He sat down, his feet dangling over the water.

[boneyard_girl]

Just because whatever of her had been Ada Miller had washed away a very long time ago didn't mean she didn't understand that tone of voice.

She spun, her powerful tail propelling her up and around and--

Her tail slapped down on the water, sending a small spray of water in his direction. Apparently being a brat hadn't gotten lost along with the rest of Ada.

[rebelseekspizza]

The water splattered all over Dante's coat. He didn't mind. "Hey, come on," he called merrily. "Play fair, Ades!"

[boneyard_girl]

Oh, she liked that sound! It wasn't as nice as some of the other sounds the Not-Food made sometimes, but it was still Interesting, and that was nice.

She quickly dove down to the bottom of the water, snagging a lobster and pulling it up with her to the surface, where she rolled over on to her back to start tearing it apart and munching happily. There was more food in the water than usual, and that was nice too.

She wasn't going to share, mind you. She typically only shared with the Other One when it was a game, like playing 'catch the bodies.' But she was going to float near the Not-Food, watching him with interest while she snacked. She wasn't going to get too close, in case the Not-Food decided to try and eat her, but... close. Ish. Occasionally chittering at him between bites of tasty tasty food.

Who knew a murderfish could so resemble an otter?

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante let out a soft laugh. He got what she was getting at. "You minx," he said. "Keeping all the good stuff to yourself, huh?"

[boneyard_girl]

She wrinkled up her nose, moving her mouth silently as she tried to mimic his laughter.

The lack of human vocal chords was an obstacle she couldn't overcome, unfortunately, though she managed something halfway between a purr and a chirp. She gave a satisfied whistle, before looking at him expectantly.

Was that close? Did he have more sounds? The ocean had lots of sounds, beautiful songs, but nothing like the ones he made.

[rebelseekspizza]

"Are you trying to make music again, babe?"

Dante smiled down at her, clicking his heels together. Then, after a moment's thought, he hummed - a deep baritone to match her purr.

[boneyard_girl]

Always. Yes, it gave her Feelings, which she normally hated, but it was pretty and soothing and it made the constant hunger a little less sharp and a little less urgent and overwhelming.

Not-Food was the only thing that would make sounds with her without her trying to eat him. The Other One didn't make sounds at all, and while food-screams were beautiful, they weren't as interesting.

She chirped and cooed and purred along with his humming, only occasionally pausing to take another bite of lobster or lick her claws clean. This was a Safe Place to Eat, most of the other big predators of the island avoided the Not-Food even more than they avoided her. She remembered that much, at least.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante continued to hum until she was almost done, shifting his pitch around to fit her noises. "We still make pretty music," he concluded. "But you're singing and I'm not. Maybe I should sing too."

[boneyard_girl]

Her red eyes blinked at him uncomprehendingly. Her English comprehension these days was pretty limited to the word 'no' and screaming.

Not that she tended to listen when people said no, because, well, they were tasty and she was hungry.

[rebelseekspizza]

"You know, like we did a while back," Dante said patiently - not that he genuinely thought she'd understand a word he said. "Life is a mystery..."

[boneyard_girl]

Her attention had begun to wander while he was talking, because despite her tasty tasty crustacean snack, it was almost finished, and there was all this prey up on the boardwalk and along the beach. Tasty human prey, and it was making her hungry again having it so close.

So it was a very good thing her attention snapped back to him after the first few notes. At least for the continued safety of Fandom.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante smiled, launching into a low-pitched cover of Madonna's Like a Prayer. He should've brought his guitar, obviously.

[boneyard_girl]

You were probably the only living thing that actually smiled around her, Dante. Except for the rare occasions when the murder-boat-formerly-known-as-Isabela felt like smiling.

But oh, this was nice! It sounded...familiar? Like something right. It certainly put her attention squarely back on Not-Food, and she chittered in excitement.

Yes, that. She liked that.