ACTION / backdated to the event; nova city waterways

[gastronomics]

[ Look, if she's going to be a mermaid she's going to get the freshest sea food ever and enjoy not being cold while wearing a ruffled bikini top in the fall, the colors matching the vibrant blend of reds, oranges, and pink scales of her tail. It's a unique experience and she's not going to give it up.

It just turns out that when you are part fish, you can keep up with the other fish just fine. But when you're in Nova City, most of the waterways are man made and, while clean, it isn't exactly brimming with life. So much for locally sourced ingredients! But Alice isn't one to give up. Anyone with underwater capabilities can see Alice going around trying to catch fish under Fayren's waters, though from time to time she comes back to the surface and just lets herself float while staring up at the sky in frustration, visible from any of the sidewalk that goes along the Nova City waterways. ]

Comments

[sarcaskick]

[ When he first realized he could transform into this new form, it was something surreal. He hadn't felt anything at all below his knees in years, and while he technically didn't have knees in this shape it was still a bit offsetting. Besides, he didn't have much (any, really) experience with swimming, having lived in the mountains his whole life, only ever seeing the oceans with his own eyes well after he obtained his new legs which... weren't really designed to be aquadynamic. He could swim, sure, but it wasn't one of his finer skills.

Until now. Now, sharklike from the waist down, he was as much a predator in the water as he was on the land, just lacking any suitable prey... until he spots a familiar face a ways off in the water, just as she surfaces to float on her back. Naturally, he makes full use of the opportunity to zip towards her beneath the water, remaining out of her line of sight as he carefully pokes his head above the water just next to hers, and mutters: ]

Boo.

[gastronomics]

[ Alice is no fighter. She does not have amazing reflexes or the ability to know when someone's creeping on her. That's what Ryo's for and he's not water-bound right now (he's around in a boat somewhere, but mermaids are much faster than boats so she keeps accidentally losing him). Which means had a full shark decided she would make a good meal, she probably would not have fared so well.

As it stood, Mercury's just being a spook so she jumps out of her skin since she'd gotten used to there not being anything else in here! She lets out a loud yell, though only gets about halfway through it before she sees his face and seems to immediately calm down, stare at him for a brief second, then go full wobbly-eyed pouting. ]

You scared me!

[sarcaskick]

It's almost like that was the point.

[ He drifts back just enough to begin circling her, as if he really is eyeing her up as prey. He's not, not really. Eyeing her, certainly, because there's still plenty to... Look at...

But he's harmless! For now. ]

Looks like you're having some sort of trouble.

[gastronomics]

[ She ducks down in the water slightly after he's eying her, blowing bubbles in it while she keeps her eyes on him, but once he brings the focus to what she was having issues with she pops up like nothing was happening. ]

Oh! I was looking for fish for the restaurant, but I don't think there are very many here. I saw a couple of little schools but they're not big enough to do anything with.

[sarcaskick]

Ooh, a hunter on the prowl?

[ The end of his tail peeks out of the water, sharp fins splashing a bit of water at her face. ]

You don't really look the part.

[kyoken]

[He's not a merperson, so he's just following along with her in a boat. Because of course she brings him along. He has towels and a change of clothes for her in the little boat with him. He's always happy to let Miss enjoy herself.]

[gastronomics]

[ Hopefully it's a stable boat because Alice's upset at not being able to find fish involves her going to the side of the boat and rocking it back and forth. ]

Ryo why aren't there any fish!?

[kyoken]

[He grabs hold of the boat so that he doesn't go toppling over. It's still pretty stable, though. So there isn't too much risk of that.]

I don't know, Miss. Perhaps this place is over fished?

[gastronomics]

There aren't even robot fish!

[ Look, it's Nova City. She expects there to be cyborg versions of everything, including fish. ]

A cyborg fish probably wouldn't taste very good though, it'd probably have leeched whatever metal was used, even if the metal wasn't toxic it'd take a lot to make it edible...

[kyoken]

Not to mention whatever they have running around inside of them. [He wasn't sure what sort of fluid kept cyborgs going.]

[bloodheels]

[While Lenalee hadn't exactly been the most happy with the change. It made her ant to at least try swimming a bit more while she could. So she had found as many areas as she could to swim, even if it included Nova City. But she hadn't really expected to bump into anyone while she swam underneath.

It was surprising when she saw someone. It was at least enough to cause the young woman to wave slightly before going to the surface.]

[gastronomics]

[ Alice waved back cheerfully, not looking too bothered by seeing another merperson. she wasn't the first she'd seen after all. She swims over, staying underwater until she's about two feet from where Lenalee was underwater, then surfaces herself. ]

[bloodheels]

Taking a swim?

[She assumed it was either for a reason or for the reason she went for a swim, just for fun and to see what it was like.]

[gastronomics]

I'm trying to catch fish! Though there aren't many here. We should've gone to Fayren.

[bloodheels]

I didn't think there would be any fish here. But I guess if Fayren you'd get some interesting ones.

[Not that she actually knew for sure or not.]

for mercury!

[gastronomics]

[ Despite how they had.. ended the night, Alice had already promised to make him something. She hated to waste ingredients if he wasn't going to show up, but she was fairly certain he would. After all, it was her cooking. He said he knew an ego when he saw one, and he was right. She was confident that her food had enough of an effect on him last time he tried it that he wouldn't miss the opportunity for another taste. So she had prepared it, not knowing if he actually would or wouldn't show.

But until he did, she was busy working in Nakiba for the regular customers, even if the table was still reserved and she had readied any parts of the dish that required preparation ahead of time. It would take her only a short period of time to fix it up once he appeared. And he would, so it wouldn't be a waste. Of that much, Alice was sure.

..And if he didn't, she'd just never cook for him again because he was a stupid buttheaded shark. ]

*for stupid butthead shark

[sarcaskick]

[ He almost didn't. He almost didn't, because to show up would be to concede, and he doesn't like letting other people know they're right. But damnit, god damnit the woman can cook, and between the boring leftovers in his fridge and the lack of interest in any nearby takeout...

Ugh.

He shows up at Nakiba, dressed a little different than usual - the same boots, for sure, but his outfit is a little less blatantly combat oriented. A dark gray buttondown (rolled up to the elbows) hanging open with a black undershirt, deep blue jeans, black biker gloves. Not at all fancy, but a little sharper than his usual look.

He doesn't say a word as he finds the reserved table, striding over to it and flopping down in an empty chair with his hands clasped behind his head.

The things he does for free food. ]

what a typo i made with that one, i'm embarrassed..

[gastronomics]

[ When she sees him, there's a little bit of excitement for her. This means she was definitely right and he couldn't resist. Which is just as well because she's fairly certain that this one is going to make him moan before he can stop himself. Once she finishes what she's doing she comes out to say hello and bring him something to drink. The drink itself is nothing special- she doesn't want to overshadow the main dish after all. But it is a palette cleanser- something to make sure that if he was chewing on anything or had weird breath or anything like that, it wouldn't interfere with the dish. So he gets a Sorbet Shot- a one and a half drink of equal parts grappa and limoncello, with a sprig of rosemary on top for decoration. ]

If you push me like that again I'm not going to serve you anymore.

[ It's not said with a pout though, more of a confident smirk. Because he came, so that means he really does want it. Before he can answer, she turns around to go back to the kitchen to finish preparing his dish. ]

As you should be, tsk tsk.

[sarcaskick]

[ He would have said something about her not liking the rough stuff, but she's already turned around to head back to the kitchen to get to work. A bit annoying, sure, but he is here for free food and he's not getting it if she never gets to work on his dish.

Man. Man! Being friendly(?) is a real pain.

He downs the drink about as fast as he can, rocking back in his seat so it's resting on its two back legs, the rosemary sprig tucked between his teeth as he waits.

A little longer. He can deal. ]

SMH ASHAMED

[gastronomics]

[ It doesn't take long. For the most part, all she really has to do is plate it- most of the components are cold or room temperature for this dish. She comes back out after a moment, placing the dish in front of him. She'll wait to watch him eat it, of course. He's the only one with this dish after all, and she wants to watch him concede.

The dish visually is a very circular dish, the overall appearance almost looking like a twisting yellow galaxy. On a black plate, a white orb lies surrounded by crystallized mango slices- sweet, but crisp. At the center of the white is a golden yellow center, the glistening substance almost glittering like a pile of melted gold and only giving itself away because of the small chunks of mango suspended within it. Almost as if a halo around the gold, black and red flecks surround it just enough to make it look like space was peeking through the white and gold. Surrounding the central food were circular streaks of a pale yellow sauce sprinkled with more of the red speckles, surrounding it like stars being pulled in like gravity. At the very center of the dessert, in the middle of that golden center, is a piece of angel-hair spun sugar in red, spiraling out from the center and up over the piece itself, as if bursting from the center of the galaxy to create its own new world.

As visually stunning as it is, of course, it's nothing compared to the array of flavors Mercury is about to experience. Upon taking the first bite, the first note that will hit his tongue is neither the mango nor the white substance, but the granules of red. Spicy, a heat that's enough to sear the tongue but only for a mere second before the soft creaminess of the white- a sweet and creamy Panna Cotta that soothes the tongue, taking that brief spice and turning it into something comforting, delicious, enough to make every muscle in one's body relax in relief.. only to be then lifted up with a subtle saltiness. At the bottom of the panna cotta, a hidden surprise that bursts into his mouth. Salty, umami-filled orbs pop on his tongue and add new flavors to the mix. Fish eggs, turning the sweet dish into an almost savory treat before its pulled back by the gold in the center. To get to the gold, one must crush the red spun sugar. The sugar adds a crunchy texture but is too thin to add more than hint of sweetness- but more than enough to highlight the mango chutney at the center of the dish, a strong, sweet, and spicy flavor that highlights the aphrodisiac-esque nature of the salmon roe and truly completes the flavor in his mouth. Exactly as he asked for: spicy, a little sweet, creamy, soft and her own addition of savory. He asked for a dish that represented her, and it wouldn't be her without reaching into the unexpected. ]

So~? How do "I" taste?

[stairsbro]

[ there is a unique experience to be had here, be it mermaid or whatever. he could do flying already. going through walls ultimately gets boring after a while and it's not like he can pick up cash in a bank valut even if he wanted to use these powers for evil so that's out. was playing with nova's high-tech sensors and security cameras. guess who doesn't show up on half of them but automatic doors still work for? weird.

so. after the realization (that should have been so obvious) that any breathing he was doing was more of a reflex and he wasn't actually consuming any oxygen, you know, because he's dead, the whole water thing is next up.

he's just going to pop up next to her. it's hard to miss the colorful mermaid when there isn't a lot of brimming life in here. the water probably makes it a little easier to spot him. ]

'Sup, Alice. Whatcha doin'? Mermaid stuff?

[gastronomics]

[ She can spot him but he looks weird. And while she can definitely breathe underwater, that isn't to say that it's easy to understand her or him. Water has a way of muffling sound like you would not believe, which she quickly realizes after whatever Dave said came out sounding like adults on the peanuts. She points up, and then very quickly swims up to the surface- he might have a big of trouble catching up since she's a super fast swimmer.

She surfaces full mermaid-hairflip style, though her hair's much shorter so it isn't really as majestic, and then waits for Dave curiously. ]

[stairsbro]

[ dave gets it once she starts moving and floats up after her, not in much of a hurry. he surfaces, definitely not as majestically. more like he's on an invisible elevator. he's sitting crossed leg on absolutely nothing and the rule of "water makes things wet" doesn't apply to something that everything goes right through.

where the hell did she find a matching bikini top? did it come with the tail? ]

So, do you have to be in the water? How's the mermaid thing work?

[gastronomics]

[ She may never figure out what the first thing he said was, but it's obvious what he is. He's a ghost. She's being haunted!! ]

No, I can get out. When I'm dry it turns back to legs. [ Which is a problem because she hasn't really figured out how to control it beyond wet=tail, dry=legs so she's had a couple of accidents. ]

[stairsbro]

[ spooky dave, totally haunting all his friends.

he was already pale, so he feels there isn't too much of a difference outside of the transparency. and how there's a nonexistent breeze that blows his cape around. #dramaticghosteffects ]

What happens if you drink water? Do your legs merge together?