01

[asea]

Who: Merman Walter and anyone
Where: Island (beach)
When: Afternoon
Style: Either
Status: Open

[Walter is seated at the edge of shore and damp from waist to toe. Under normal circumstances, he would've been out of the beach by now, but one thing is keeping him from returning to the city. That thing is a jellyfish, who's found a new home.

On Walter's leg. More precisely, his left boot. Somehow.

Despite the frustration welling up in him, Walter doesn't tear the sea creature off of him. He submerges that part of his leg underwater and picks almost gently at the tentacles with his bare fingers. In the eyes of others he may run the risk of being stung, but he doesn't fear such an event.

This is going to be a long afternoon.]

Comments

[messianic]

[Minato was walking along the beach, enjoying the sunshine and rainbows after the rain, but he pauses when he sees someone with...his leg submerged in the water?

...

...

So of course, he approaches.]

Are you alright?

[asea]

[He stops mid-pinch of a tentacle and lifts his head to look at Minato. After a moment, he nods impassively before turning back to continue his work, as if that'd be enough to drive the unwanted company away.

He's not as tense as he could be, though. Which is bound to change sooner than later.]

[messianic]

[Yeah Minato is so unbothered.

Just.

Peeering closer.]

...You would probably have more luck if you tried to grab the body itself.

[asea]

[Without even glancing up at Minato or changing his routine, he states flatly:]

That'll tear off its tentacles.

[messianic]

..If you're careful, it should be alright, shouldn't it?

You don't want to hurt the jellyfish, after all...

[... : |b]

[indoorscholar]

[Shinra had been trying in vain to air out his soaked lab coat when he noticed another figure further down the beach strangely bent over his leg. He catches sight of the jellyfish attached to said appendage as he idles closer, pausing behind the poor soul to watch his progress with a curious expression.]

Better watch out for those tentacles. One wrong move and they'll fire thousands of venomous nematocysts straight through your epidermal layer.

[asea]

[Walter stops and looks over his shoulder, his peripherals catching sight of Shinra. With that brief glance, he turns back to the jellyfish.]

. . . I know.

[Not to such a scientific level -- he doesn't understand most of what the man just said -- but he knows the consequences of handling this the wrong way.]

[indoorscholar]

[Shinra leans forward to get a closer look at the cnidarian, nodding thoughtfully as Walter continues his work. If this was his first time handling a jellyfish, he's doing surprisingly well. Still, handling those tentacles with bare hands is a recipe for disaster.]

Want some help? I think I still have my kit with me.

[He turns to the soaked coat in his hands and starts rifling through its pockets. After a few failed attempts he pulls out a small metal box and pops the clasp open, pulling out a pair of surgical tweezers.]

[asea]

[Walter largely ignores Shinra until he hears the sound of something popping opening. Looking out from the corners of his eyes, he hoarsely mutters.]

I don't need it.

[He doesn't want the help. If it takes the whole afternoon on his own, so be it.]

[indoorscholar]

[Shinra grins and reaches out to start removing the—

Oh.

...He wants to deal with a venomous sea creature in the most hazardous way possible?]

You sure? Getting stung by a jellyfish isn't really a walk in the park, you know.

[After years of trying to persuade people to agree to experimentation, he isn't one to give up too easily.]

[medama]

[ popping up randomly, and peeking over his shoulder!! He may or may not have noticed her. ]

There's a jellyfish on you.

[asea]

[ He doesn't even have to turn to know that she's right there and who the owner of that all too grating voice is. (It's really not grating; he's just automatically bothered by the association of the sound to the face.) ]

That's obvious.

[medama]

Does Blondie like jellyfish?

[ Yes--you are blondie.

Guriko raises a hand to point at the creature, wearing an all too serious look on her face. She's using this opportunity to learn more about him!! ]

[asea]

[ . . .

He ignores her. She can talk and gesture all she wants. As of now, he would consider paying attention to them a waste of time. Thing is, her jabbering is costing him his concentration. But he's used to working in noise. ]

[medama]

...

[ rude. ]

Be careful, Grouchy. If you get stung, you have to pee on it to stop that pain.

[ sagely nod. guriko is like ten times your age, she knows this stuff. ]

[spiria]

[ suddenly, there's a Kohaku right there beside you, staring curiously at the jellyfish. ]

I've heard that they sting. Has it tried to sting you yet?

[ hi, by the way. ]

[asea]

[ ugh, where are all these people coming from? she's already right there. Walter has half a mind to ignore her. ]

No.

[spiria]

[ wow, Walter, rude. :T but not as rude as you think you are, apparently, because you did answer. ]

Huh ...

[ inspecting the jellyfish more. ]

It's kinda cute, actually.

[ looks to Walter with a smile. ]

Sorry, I kind of just started talking, didn't I? I'm Kohaku. It's nice to meet you.

[ if she holds a hand out to you, will you shake it? ]

[asea]

[ no. ]

. . .

[ he shouldn't have said anything. Walter only glances at her for a brief second before turning back to the jellyfish, her existence already ignored.

nice to meet you, yourself. if she wants to share her name, fine. he's not obligated to do the same. ]

[spiria]

[ okay, this is kind of awkward. that earns a bit of a bored stare from her before her attention turns back to the jellyfish. ]

Are you going to kick it off?

[ can I touch it? no? probably not a good idea. ]

JAE I HAVE ARRIVED AND I AM SO LATE. AND ALSO MY SHIRT OPENED?

[lowlands]

[A weird sight, clearly, but not one the nation is about to let slide by. The Netherlands pulls out a piece of paper from his jacket and scribbles something on it quickly before approaching the stranger and tapping him on the shoulder. He holds up the makeshift sign: Jellyfish €5 each.

He holds his empty palm out.]

OH SNAP I FORGOT TO PUT MERMAN, I'M SORRY. punch me now.

[asea]

[Annoyed by the interruption and that someone dared to tap his shoulder, Walter glances over his shoulder. And pauses. And stares at the makeshift sign, then at the outstretched palm, then at the man.

What the hell is a €.]

. . .

/PUNCHES I had no idea who he was and it's all your fault.

[lowlands]

[€ is a kick to the buttcheek if you don't cough up some cash soon.

The Netherlands keeps his hands steady though his lip curls a bit in impatience.]

Hurry up.

I fixed it now, are you happy.

[asea]

[That does it. Sending the Netherlands a glare, he flatly shoots back,]

The jellyfish doesn't belong to you.

Hmmmmm. I suppose it will do.

[lowlands]

[Sure it does, mermaid boy. As of five seconds ago, the Netherlands is the proud owner of that jellyfish.]

Then I can take it.

[He crumbles up the note and sets to removing it. With his shoe. It's alright if he kicks it off the guy, right?]