From the Deep [NorthernBard X WhiteLily]

NorthernBard

Junior Member

Private RP for NorthernBard and WhiteLily only.


A massive storm comes through a coastal area, wounding merperson and leaving them stranded on a beach. A human from a near-bye town comes down to the ocean and finds the merperson. The human offers to help the merperson in recovering from their injuries.








Name: Calder


Age: 22


Gender: Male


Appearance:
garrett_hedlund_12227105051.jpg



Calder's tail is long and serpentine, making his length from head to fin tip eight feet. It is covered in black scales that reflect the light and colors of anything around them, rimming his scales silver in moonlight, and varying shades of blue during the day. A large fin, semi-transparent and milky white, is settled at the end of his tail. Much like the fins of a beta-fish is is really made up of a dozen tiny joined fins of varying lengths, giving it a slightly ragged look.


He has another set of large fins that stretches from his hips where skin meets scales to his elbows. It's really a pair of fins but they are attached slightly at their bases making them look like one fin. Calder has three gills on each of his sides running the length of his ribs, and a pair of gills behidn each ear. They all have their own little finger-like fins which fold down to cover then when he is above water. He's never had need to, but should Calder ever have need to breath above the surface he needs to couch up the water in his lungs first.


Across his shoulder and arms are patches of tiny scales matching those on his tail.
 
Name: Ele Daniels


Age: 21


Gender: Female


Appearance:





Ele tends to be a loner, enjoying solitude and walking alone on the beaches of her hometown. In her spare time she collects seashells and sea glass, always daydreaming about the ocean and what lies below its surface.
 
The storm had come out of nowhere. Calder had been deep enough for the water to be almost black, hunting squid, when the storm rolled in. He felt the shift in pressure and a soft change in the current around him, but nothing else. Nothing to suggest the massive waves and viscous winds that tossed the merman about when he surfaced.


Wind and wave pushed him towards shore, where something sharp, a rock or general debris left a painful aching in his back. The storm left him sprawled across the shore of a beach in some secluded cove, sand stuck in his hair and under his nails.
 
It was early morning and Ele was excited, there had been a storm the night before, it had woken her in the night. Storms meant new things to find on the beach and she wanted to get there before other treasure hunters did. The others weren't like Ele, they wanted to find things like lost jewelry, money, or other shiny trinkets. Ele wanted to find treasures from the sea. Shells, glass, and stones that could never been found on land. Getting up she hurriedly pulled a brush through her hair and dressed in jeans and a tank top with a jacket over that. Tugging on her sneakers as she hurried out of her small house, Ele used her other hand to put in a pair of headphones to listen to music before jogging the short distance to the beach knowing exactly the spot to start looking.


The beach had been full of interesting odds and ends, lots of kelp and seaweed, some shattered shells but nothing like what Ele wanted. Slowly making her way to "her" cove, Ele climbed climbed up a natural rock wall, then sidled through a narrow gap and found herself in the secluded cove. It was her most favorite place on earth. Quiet and hard to get to no one else ever really bothered to get to the place so Ele was left alone most of the time. Sometimes a hiker or surfer would find their way there, but they would soon leave when they realized that there were no waves or any other way out of the cove but to go back the way they came or swim.


Now Ele slid down the rocks, landing softly in the damp sand, her music on loudly in her ears as she circled the cove, eyes on the sand until something shimmery claimed her attention in the water. Going over the young woman looked into the water, kneeling at the edge, the palms of her hands and her knees being dug into by the sharp rocks. Reaching out Ele dipped her hand into the cold water and touched the glittery thing, immediately she knew they were scales... but of what? There were too many rocks between her and the thing. Putting her free hand in the water, Ele pulled a rock away wondering what she would see.
 
Calder felt something touch his fin and he snapped awake. His tail coiled, knocking away rocks and debris that had been covering his tail and the rest of himself as he pulled away from the contact. He twisted to face what he assumed was an attacker, wiping seaweed that had been sprawled over his shoulders at it and giving off a warning growl from low in his throat.


He knew he must have looked like some kind of viscous animal, hair skewed, drying on end and crusted in sand and salt with a few bits of kelp still on his shoulders and waist, and his own blood from the wounds on his back he could feel in a few small patches across his neck and shoulders. It was that he used to his advantage in his vain attempt at scaring away his possible assailant. With his fins spread wide, teeth barred and another low growl forming Calder attempted to look as big and strong and unbeatable to his attacker as he twisted himself to face them.


Which was a human, he realized, taking in the all to familiar facial structure and legs. He knew he was cornered, the water was to shallow here for a quick escape, and he didn't know the cove so couldn't hide. If there was one thing he knew about human it was that they were deadly, they were deadly and strange and Calder would have no possible change of escape if he didn't scare this one away. So he let the growl turn into a viscous snarl as he pulled his tail farther from the human.
 
"Woah!" Ele jumped when the scales moved, and just about screamed when she realized the scales were a tail and the tail was attached to a human. Well, human looking thing. Falling back onto the rocks, Ele scrambled back as the things growled at her, showing its teeth and spreading its... fins. Shaking her head, Ele pulled her headphones out of her ears and shoved them in her pocket. It was then that she saw the blood, whatever this was, it was hurt badly.


"You're bleeding," She said, pushing herself back onto her knees, but not moving any closer. Whatever this was, she wasn't ready to admit it was a mermaid... merman, just yet, it was hurt, in pain, and obviously not friendly when it felt cornered. Very slowly Ele raised her hands to show it that they were empty,


"Easy, I'm not going to hurt you. Do you understand?" She asked, her voice low and even. It was like she was talking to a stray feral dog or something. Once, not that long ago, Ele had found a stray in the side of the road and had coaxed the growling thing into her car and had driven it to the vet. But this was no dog, and there was no way she was going to take it to a vet.


"I can help you."
 
Calder's hiss died down as he human lifted empty hands. He understood bits a pieces of what the human said, enough to realize she hadn't known he was there and meant him no harm. Though Calder wouldn't be fooled easily, he knew she could be lying and was still wary, leaving his fins spread and teeth slightly barred. But he made no more threatening sounds.


For a long moment he stayed silent, considering his options before nodding firmly. If the human would help him Calder would be a fool to no accept the help.
 
She honestly didn't know what she would do to help him, but Ele decided that the best place to start would be the rocks still over the tail of the man. Standing up, Ele took off her jacket and let it drop in the sand before she kicked off her shoes and rolled up her jeans to her knees.


"I'm Ele, by the way." She said, trying to make small talk as she sat down on the rocks again and scooted to the edge. Lowering herself into the cold water, Ele ignored it and reached down into the water, picking up the rocks she could and rolling the others until the tail was clear. Ele drew in a sharp breath when the extent of the damage was revealed.


"Oh man, I need to get you out of the water." She said, slowly wading around to the merman's side,


"I'll need to pull you farther onto the sand, is that okay? Don't bite me please."
 
Calder still watches the human, Ele she introduces herself, warily. Though it is all he does as she pulls debris off his pinned tail. The water turns a shade of soft pink as rocks take scales off with them. Calder hisses in pain and pulls his tail in close to his chest once it has been freed. The saltwater stings but he knows that it cleans wounds and accepts the pain as is.


When Ele says he'll need to move farther out of the water Calder nods and begins to pulling himself up towards the beach with his arms.
 
"Here," She said, placing her hands under the merman's arms. She could see that his back was cut up pretty bad, like he's been tossed against the rocks a few time before the tide dragged him into the cove. Trying very hard not to hurt the merman anymore, Ele helped the guy further onto the shore. Once he was a safe distance away from the water, Ele retrieved her jacket and spread it out so that he could lay down without the sand getting in the wounds.


"I'll have to run back to my house to get some bandages and antiseptic... Though it may be faster to run to town..." Ele said, thinking aloud as she looked over the merman. He was certainly good looking, his human half anyway, kind of like a male model or something. His tail was gorgeous, like the night sky or something.


"Just... I don't know, what do you want me to do?" She asked, looking at him in the eye.
 
When Calder was completely pulled onto the shore he rolled onto his stomach so the wounds across his back would be away from the sand. He propped his head up on one hand and looked up at Ele as she spoke.


"Stay," he stated simply. The last thing Calder wanted was to be left alone out on the sand. If anyone else came along... he shivered a little at the thought.


"Stay and..." he waved vaguely at the bucket Ele had been carrying, not knowing the human words for his though but hoping she understood.
 
He wanted her to stay, and it kind of flattered Ele. When he looked down at her bucket, she nodded, knowing what he needed. Half man, half fish and fish need water. Dumping out the contents of the bucket; shells and the like, Ele hurried back down to the water and filled the bucket then heaved it back to the merman. Slowly she poured it on his tail and up to his rib gills. There was still about half the bucket left, but Ele needed a way to keep the tail wet for longer. Sighing she straightened and pulled off her tank top, revealing a black bikini top. Dunking the top in the water, she laid the soaked shirt on the tail, covering only a bit of it, but it was better than nothing for now,


"Okay," Ele said, kneeling in the sand,


"What do merpeople usually use when they get cuts? What do you wrap it in?" She asked."
 
When Ele dumped the bucket Calder shifted a little closer to the pile of shells. He gave off a deep rumbling sound from low in his chest, almost a purring sound, as she poured water across his back and tail. Carefully, he lifted one of the large shells between his fingers and examined it closely, only pausing when Ele placed her wet shirt on his tail. He set the shell down and twisted to grab the shirt and pull it over the gills on his chest.


"More important," he said, hoping the few words explained well enough that keeping his gills damp was much more important than his tail. The scales would retain enough water and help prevent his tail from drying out so he didn't need to worry to much; his gills had nothing to protect them but the thin fin coverings they had which would dry out fast.


"Water to clean, no wrappings." He replied to Ele's question. Calder had been wounded before by territorial fish and other merpeople, and just the sea water had done enough for those wounds. Though none of the times before had he been up on land while wounded.
 
Ele nodded and sat next to the merman, watching his examine her shells. He was so intriguing to watch, but Ele felt a sense of responsibility towards him. She had found him in this vulnerable state and he trusted her enough to allow her to help him. She would stay with him for as long as he needed her, if only to keep away those who would want to hurt him, or worse. She knew night would come eventually, and they would decide what to do then.


"So what's your name, merman?" Ele asked, picking up a sand dollar and turning it over in her hands. She had quite a few of the things back at her house, but each one made her happy,


"I can't keep calling you merman... Unless you don't want me to know your name." She said, setting the dollar down and picking up the shirt again and dunking it in the bucket to keep it soaked before laying it back on his gills.
 
"Calder," he responded as Ele removed the shirt. He picked up the sand dollar and examined it for himself while she soaked the shirt once more.


"That is my name," he added on, unsure if his meaning had been clear, as Ele placed the shirt on his back again. He set the sand dollar down and rested his chin again his forearms. He flicked his tail fin in contentment and gave a little sigh of approval as the water soaked into his skin.


Land was more pleasant that he recalled.
 
They stayed like that for a few hours, Ele going back and forth to the water periodically to refill the bucket and pour it over Calder. She was glad there was a name to use now, she really did feel awkward calling him 'merman' in her mind. Having a name made him seem less foreign and more like something she could firmly grasp, rather than being constantly reminded that she was looking and caring for a creature of mythology. Laying down on her back now, Ele had her eyes closed against the bright sun, her head cushioned on her hands. The two of them had made some small talk, but now they were in comfortable silence, and Ele didn't mind at all until her stomach rumbled hungrily. She smiled, her eyes still closed,


"I should go get us some food. Do you like pizza?" She asked, turning her head to look at Calder,


"Or are you a sushi fan?"
 
Calder raised an eyebrow when he hear Ele's stomach rumble and let a little chuckle escape under his breath. At the question he paused and his smile faltered a little. He had no idea what either of those things were and it made him just a little upset. Calder took pride in what he though was a wide knowledge of humans. Though he was obviously wrong.


"I... do not know what those things are." He began, looking anywhere but at Ele as he spoke.
 
"Then you're probably in for a treat," Ele said, getting to her feet. She brushed the sand off of her before pulling the watter filled bucket closer to Calder so that he could reach it.


"I'll be back as soon as I can. If someone comes, do that hissy thing again to scare them away then when I get back we'll move you." She waved as she jogged away, trying to hurry as much as possible. She ran into the town, going first to the local pizza shop for a pizza and then to a cafe for a box of sushi. By the time that was all done, Ele had been gone probably an hour or so. Running harder now, Ele made it back to the beach and to the cove, vastly out of breath, but pleased to see no one had come by the looks of the footprints in the sand.


Going back to Calder, Ele set the pizza box down next to him and opened it with a flourish as she sat with her legs crossed,


"This, my good merman, is a cheese pizza. I didn't get the whole shebang of toppings, but this is a pizza just plain and simple." Holding up the sushi box, Ele shrugged,


"Sushi may be more your speed. It's fish wrapped in seaweed, rice, and some other stuff. " Nudging the pizza box with her hand Ele nodded to him,


"Try a slice and see if you like it."
 
Calder watched her go, a little upset about being left alone. But when he noticed she'd left her bucket and shells Calder was re-assured she would return. So he idly waited, soaking the shirt a few times and toying with the shells within his reach.


When Ele returned Calder looked up and grinned at her. He eyed the boxes in her arms curiously. He lifted the lid of the pizza box and examined the pizza for a moment before lifting a slice out. For a moment he looked up at Ele before looking back at the pizza slice in his hands and taking a bite from it.


"This is... interesting." He said after swallowing. "Like nothing I've every had before." He took another bite.
 
She smiled and took her own slice, biting into it happily,


"If I could choose one food to be my absolute favorite, pizza would be it." Setting down the sushi, Ele opened that as well,


"If the pizza is too much, try this." As they ate Ele began to think of the coming evening.


"What are we going to do about the night? It gets really cold here, even in the summer, and putting you back in the water may not be a good idea.."
 
Ireth took one of the sushi pieces and found it much more familiar than the pizza, so he ate more of that. At the mention of the cold Ireth nodded.


"I doubt cold will be a concern for me. The water I normally live in is much colder than this. I will survive." He paused for a moment before continuing. "Though I worry about drying out in the night."
 
There was no easy answer for Ele to give Calder. She fiddled with a seashell for a few silent minute before speaking in a quiet voice,


"We could get you to my house," She offered, not looking at Calder.


"I have a huge tub that we could fill for you, and I'm close enough that I could pull my truck up to the entrance to the cove easily."
 

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