Aquata Cove Chapter 81: Undersight
A cloudy, wondrous lion trots about the wide-open spaces of the wavering green. His huge, fluffy mane billows about the winds as he sniffs about the air, detecting a delightful aroma that draws his tongue out, and across his chops.
The lion looks, and sees a bright wisp of a blue and white butterfly wafting up and down in the abstract breeze. He growls as he crouches down, his eyes locked onto the beautiful wings, his hips wiggling back and forth, before he leaps for the butterfly!
The insect jumps up, in time to jet from his mighty paws, pressing on the mid-air. The lion checks under his paw, before looking up to see the butterfly flying up away from him. He meowed thickly before he trots on the air after it, pouncing upon it once more, only to have it slip from his golden, furry clutches.
The lion steps down onto the windy green, and makes another jump for the fairy-like target, until it rests ontop of a rock in the middle of a body of water. The lion grins as he crouches down again, his throat rumbling lowly as creeps slowly, closer and closer to the beautiful pair of wings, slowly moving back and forth as it rests. His haunches rise up again, priming his hind legs as he prepares to attack.
The large feline roars as his body fully jumps in a sloppy launch of his force, going for a wild jump, until his big paws aim for the rock, just as the butterfly shimmers away!
His paws land onto the small boulder, growling with fret as he tries to maintain his balance, seeing small ripples on the water surface. The lion moaned with defeat as he looks up at the fleeting butterfly, no longer able to get to it as it disappears into the vast space above.
His back paw slips for a moment before he got his grip back. The lion murrs with fear, looking at the water around him, stranded on his tiny island, probably looking rather silly, as if standing on a basketball. He paws at the water below, meowing with remorse at his situation, suddenly at least a mile away from the shore.
The lion grumbles sadly, until his eyes spot a keen shine from within the water. He mewls with interest as the blue light shines brighter until another feline feature peeks from the surface. A white panther-like creature with big, dazzling sapphire scale armor along its forehead, neck, legs, back, and along an elongated fish tail.
The aquatic animal beams to the lion, purring a strange riveretting sound as it seems to float from out of the water. They look into each other as they came to muzzle-to-muzzle. The fish panther playfully licks the lion's nose, prompting a light sneeze from the golden one. The lion snips back at him, purring and swatting his paw at it, losing balance for a second before retaining again.
The flying blue and white sea panther looms around the lion. In a different point of view, humanoid hands reach out, and feel into the lion's large, fluffy mane. The lion's eyes cross as he purrs madly, his tongue lolling out as those hands scratch and ruffle into his field of thick fur.
The panther purrs as his furred and armored arms reach deeper and scratch into the lion, more and more firmly and rolling him onto his back. The lion drools in a drunken stupor as his broad belly is roamed, rubbed and toyed with. His legs hang up as his upper paws hang limb while the panther's frilly fish tail waves in the air, making the lion squirm and purr loudly.
The lion groans as it rolls over lazily, finding out that the mystical panther fish is suddenly underneath him. The lion smiles as he opens his maw, and bite down onto the armored neck. The panther meows weakly as it feels the gentle gnaw of the furry king on top of him. The lion's tail flops about as he playfully chews and licks the panther's soft, furry neck, his teeth clanking with the thick blue scale, while his white, glowing body pushes up below the lion's underbelly.
The lion's ears quirk as he licks lovingly along the white panther's cheek, before the magical fish licks the lion's nose again, putting his paws around and into the lion's flowing bush.
Suddenly, the lion is yanked backward! He yowls in pain as his whole body is pulled backward. The panther gasps as he jerks upward, seeing smoking black anchors and chains gripping twisting around lion's torso, dragging him backward. The lion roars and cries out as his claws rip and tear into solid rock as the hooks stab into him.
The panther swims quickly, and hold the lion tightly, flapping his tail as hard as he can up and down to pull the lion backward, only making him shriek in agony. The lion cries and howl in pain, unable to get away, as the panther roars in sadness and frustration.
Then, several claws start grabb1ing and pulling the lion's mane. The lion's eyes widen as his maw gaps as handfuls of rich, golden shine is removed from him. The panther growls as he swerves round him, and claws at the tangling darkness. He lashes his fish tail violently and roars vigorously at it all.
Alas, with every move the panther made, nothing is changed. His arms and claws go right through the ethereal forces as they continue to drag and injure the lion, streams of golden mists floating away as well.
The sea panther looks back, and watches in horror as the lion struggles less and less, having lost a significant shine from his being. The white fish feline swims quickly back around to the lion, the look of shock and terror still frozen on the lion's face. The lion claws weakly as he fails to fight any longer, his mane reduced to a barren land on his body, a grey layer of faltering embers where the cloud of gold used to be. The panther weeps as he gazes into the blank eyes of the lion, as he rolls onto his side, staring straight into the void before him, groaning feebly as the nothing fills inside him.
The panther looks down with tears at the lion, mutilated and hollowed. He too begins to lose his light as he lowers down, resting down upon the motionless lion, unable to feel his soul, his mind, his heart anymore, even as the lion's grey stomach rises and falls still.
The panther's scales and fins start to disintegrate and scatter into dust in the wind as he rests his chin the lion's body weeping as the tears drip and fly from his eyes, his brilliant glow quickly dimming away as lies there, letting everything turn black...
()()()
Merrick's eyes open casually. That was some dream... His body feels heavy again... A moment of observation tells him that it is still night out, and a quick check on his phone tells him it's in fact 2 in the morning.
"Mnnh..." Merrick groans as he makes himself get up, before he stares at the floor. His face shows no expression as 5 straight minutes go by of just doing nothing.
"... Wha?" He looks down, feeling a drop hit his thigh. Just a regular drop of clear fluid. He reaches up, and felt his face. Both of his cheeks are soak in wet. Looking at the pillow, there's a noticeable streak of moisture on the middle.
"Was I crying...?" He asked.
"Ennhhh..." Darkness is pierced by calmly dimmed light that burns and aches, as his eyes are extremely sore. Shuffling sounds can be heard, as well as a click. His mouth moves open as his arms attempt to move, despite feeling as though iron has been transfused into his veins. "Uhhh... Nnnhhh..." "Hm?" Says another voice, "What?" "Wha... Whe... Whas..." "Adam?! Adam!" A woman's voice asks. He squirms as his vision spreads in the gentle lighting the room, pushing through a short ringing in his ear. "Unnhhh... My head..." "Oh my God, Adam!!" He squints and groans, barely able to manage to focus at all. The voice is coming from a blurry image of a light-skinned woman with long, straight black hair, wearing a white coat. Her narrow eyes beams at him as he whines weakly. "Aa... Adam..." He copies. "Oh my God, you're awake!" She said, "Yuh-You're finally- Oh my gosh!" She whimpers with excitement, her hands covering her mouth. "I... What... Happened..." He can barely speak. "S-Sorry, you um... You, hang on." She says as she dashes to the end of the bed, and picks up a clipboard, "It's... It's been about 3 weeks. Oh my God, 3 weeks, oh my God," She puts the board down, "H-How do you feel?? Right now, physically, what are you feeling right now??" "Unnhh... My... My chest is hurting... I think..." He winces as his hands strain, "I'm just... Pain, I don't know... Where... Like, something is stabbing me inside..." He observes feebly, "I feel so heavy..." His fingers twitch as they manage to fold in, and back again. "Alright, one moment," The hasty, Asian doctor grabs what looks like a pen, and then removes the blanket from his feet. "Tell me if you can feel this..." After a second, his mouth quirks as his foot flinches away, before he feels another tingle on the other one, "What... What're you doing..." "You have feeling in both your legs!" She excitedly said before pulling the blanket back over. "What about your arms??" She asked as she came to his side. "They... I feel so heavy... Why am I hurting... I doh..." "Can you feel this?" She asked as she traced the pen along his arm. He groans as he manages a nod. "How about your fingers? Try to move your fingers." "Feh... K..." His fingers twitch, before he winces and hisses, "A-Ahhh!" "O-Ok, stop, stop stop." The doctor instructed. He starts to whine and pant as his face distorts with pain. The machine next to him starts to become erratic with its noise. *Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.* "I'm hurting... What happened... NnhhhhAA-AAaahh...!" "Alright alright, hold on!" She says as she whips around, and sorted through a couple of tiny glass bottles, as well as a sterile syringe, "I've got your anesthetic right here, hold on." She hurries as he hears him squirm. *BeepBeepBeepBeepBeepBeepBeepBeepBeepBeepBeepBeep * "Adam you need to calm down, please!" She said, "Just stop moving for one second." "K-Kay..." He huffed, grunting as his internal pain crawls inside him in almost everywhere. "AwwWWHhhhlll... Please hurry, I can't..." His head starts turning side to side. The young doctor comes to his side, turning his arm over, and wiping a chilling wet pad onto the middle of his arm. "NNNhh!" He cringes as he feels a sharp pain insert into his arm. "Easy... Easy there..." A second or two later, the pain is gone, and something small and soft replaced the puncture, "It'll take a few minutes to kick in, but you'll be fine, I promise. Just don't move, ok?" "Please..." He struggled to talk, "Where am I right now... What... A-Ahhh," He grimaced in pain as he clenches his eyes, "My head hurts, it's pounding..." "It's ok, Adam. You're just having a migraine, it's still recovering. The solution I just injected should take care of that too for the time being." "Aa... Adam...?" "Yes, that's right, that's your name, you remember, right?" She asks casually. "Remeh..." His panting eases down as he peeks at her, "Wha..." "... Um, what?" She gives him a hesitant look, "Ok... Just take a moment to um... Think back... What's the first thing you remember?" "Unnhh..." He grunts as he furrows his brow, "C... C-Can you help me? L-Like give me a hint or... Something... I... I don't know if I can think, I..." "U-Um, ok..." The doctor's heart pounds as she stares at him, "Ah... What is your last name?" "Ah... Wha... Adam?" "No, that's your FIRST name... Please, do me a favor and tell me your LAST name." "Wha... What IS a last name?" "No..." She said, "No no no no, not this. Please not this, come on... C-Can you tell me what MY name is? I-I'll give you a hint -- i-i-it rhymes with `Hurry'. I-It starts with a `Y'." "Ah... I..." He closes his eyes, and whines as his forehead starts to throb, "I dunno... My head is hurting... Can we stop for now...?" "A-Adam, please tell me, this is very important." Her voice is getting very shaky, "Do you know where you live? I-I'll give you another hint -- you're on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, called Haaaaa..." "Ha... Wa..." "Yes! You're close, Hawa..." "I... Hawa?" "No... It's `Hawaii'..." "Oh... I... I'm sorry..." "I-It's ok..." She sounds like she's about to cry. He opens his eyes, and sees the doctor rubbing her eyes. "You're... Are you crying? ... Is something wrong... What did I do..." "I-I just... I just have one more question, A-Adam, th-then you can go back to sleep." Her voice is filling with fear. "O-Ok..." "Please... Just please do you remember..." She picks up her phone, and taps it a few times, rubbing and tracing though it, before going back to his side, "Can you tell me the name of this man??" He looks drearily at the image... The picture of a happy young man with short, bright blonde hair. He's in a charming orange and brown and yellow and red sweater vest with a white shirt underneath, and complimenting trousers. In the picture, he has a big smile on his face as he holds a broad knife and a large 2-pronged fork, while standing next to a golden brown roasted bird. "He... Looks very happy..." He said, trying to muster a shrug, hoping to provide one right answer to maybe cheer up this stranger, who seems to be growing more scared and upset by the minute. "Yes, but I need a name. I-I-I," She quickly makes something up, "I'm looking for him, he-um-he-I owe him a huge amount of money, and I need to know his name right away, and you're the only one who knows him. Can you help me, please??? I just. Need. His name." "Uh... Agh..." None of this is making any sense, her frantic talking is rushing everything, and it's just cluttering up his head. "N-Not even the full name! Just the first letter, please!" The doctor pleaded, "Just the letter, just one." "I... I'm sorry," Adam shakes his head, whimpering like a child about to be in trouble, "I don't know anything... I'm so sorry..." The doctor takes her phone back, and looks upon him as he closes his eyes "Ennhhh... My head... It won't stop hurting..." "Oh no..." Yuri muttered.The door opens to Nick's apartment. He, Jamal, and a strapping young man with bright red-orange hair come right in. Nick closes and locks the door as Jamal puts his arm around the Scottish trick's waist.
"You ready to get started?" Jamal grins.
"Ready for anythin." William said in his charmingly curvy accent, putting his hands up on Jamal's bulging pecs.
"Good. Cause I'm just bout ready." Jamal crosses his arms as his hands takes the hem of his shirt, and pulls it off of himself. As soon as he does, William grins as he sees a thick, silver ring embedded on each of Jamal's thick, juicy nipples.
"Ohhh, fock yas..." William says as his hands hold onto Jamal's sides as he ducks his head in, and latched onto one of those pierced teats.
"FFfff, ooooh." Jamal staggers a bit, his nipples completely healed, but still very tender.
"Hohhh..." Nick huffs before coming up next to him, and taking the other nipple into his mouth.
"Awww, shhhhiii..." Jamal huffs, his pants already pushing forward as the two men nurse and suckle on his chest.
Moments later, Jamal is shoved forcefully onto the bed, right before William and Nick start nursing him again.
"Ahhh! Easy, watch the teeth." He winced. He takes a few breaths, before easing down, "Awww yeah, just like dat - oooohhhhhh" He coos, "Aww man, yeaahhh." Jamal's legs move a little as both men slurp and lick into and onto Jamal's sensitive nipples, tugging at the rings, and sucking gently around the nubs' circumference.
Nick climbs down and unbuckles Jamal's pants, pulling them down, and then pushing his nose and his mouth into Jamal's fully loaded tighty-whities. William huffed loudly as he licks all into the crevice of Jamal's pecs, and grabbing both of them as he digs his fingers into those thick yet soft muscles.
"Heh... You gettin nice and dirty, boy?" Jamal smirked as his own big hands cup both sides of William's ass.
"Weh... Aye go' a theng fo tets." He grins, "And truth be told, you've go' theh beggest ones Aye's seen in a while."
"Ahahahaha!" Jamal laughs, "I ain't no bitch, bitch!" He spanks that cargo butt before he tugs those shorts off of William. He throws his tight shirt onto the floor, now clad in lime green boxer-briefs and his socks. He has a rather fine build -- slim, but more muscular than Nick, with a thin layer of red gold on his chest, with beautiful treasure trail leading down to a warm and shiny patch down south.
William firmly massages Jamal's huge pecs, his hands delving into Jamal's underarms as William gives a hot bite down onto a broad piece of chest meat, before giving a ringed nipple a few licks, a tug of the silver metal, then a thick kiss onto the nub. Jamal bites his lip, curving his back as he immediately starts to feel wet velvet on his hung dick.
"Awwwwwwwwwwww..." Jamal moans long and low as Nick's face starts to descend down upon his black tower, "Yeeeaah..." His large hands slither down into William's underpants, groping his fuzz butt as William continues to lick and slurp along both of his pecs. Damn, this guy must really like breasts. William's fingers squeeze and roll Jamal's spit-wet nipples firmly and slowly, grazing his teeth on that hunk of dark, hot flesh.
Jamal's penis starts to curve as it reaches its absolute limit on stimulation as Nick bobs his head up and down, somehow fitting all 10 by 3 inches in his head! It's been so long since Jamal has busted a nut. And as it turns out, Nick is much more of a Nympho than he thought; on a previous night, Nick as walking bo-legged at King Tut's due to Blue Balls, before Jamal had one of the bartenders give Nick a handjob since he was too stubborn to go and get a guy while Jamal deals with his problems -- Nick barely lasted 5 minutes before he creamed all over the booze-skilled hand.
William goes down to Jamal's crotch, and joins Nick in worshiping Jamal's throbbing cock. He pulls his legs out of jeans while Nick tugs Jamal's underpants down just enough to free his balls while they shared a sloppy meal. William felt along Nick as they mesh their mouths between the huge, fat log between them.
Jamal growls lowly as he moves his hips back and forth, sliding his dick back and forth, racing a manwich into it as both men lick and kiss all over that dark meat. "Hoh! Ohhhh"
Jamal moaned before the two of them started to make out with his hot, sweaty sac. William moans and pants as he slips one ball into his mouth, meshing forward to smush into Nick's lips. "Hot dayum..." Jamal huffed as he starts to masturbate. He takes a deep breath as one hand holds the back of his head, while the other rubs up and down his massive monster.
"Gah fuck, mah balls..." He growled as his loose, fat balls are sucked, licked and bathed in the pair of hot mouths. His hand squelches with his oozing precum, He puckers his lips as he strokes fast and hard as his balls are savored and suckled.
"Mfff, aw yas..." William says as he sits between Jamal's thighs, gripping his uncut dick while it presses with the thick, hard log. Jamal holds the bottle of lube over their throbbing cocks, pouring the slick all over their dongs as William rubs them together. "Fock, never done this before."
"I have," Jamal said as he shuddered from the delightful frotting and oiling of his massive member with the shorter one.
Nick strokes his own dick as he crawls around, and above the two laps. "Ah shet, is he really gunna," William grips the two penises as Nick squats down.
"Aight..." Nick huffs as he feels the glands of Jamal's black mushroom push into his taint, before sinking up into his oiled anus. "Nnnhh..." Nick steadily goes down, his manhood flopping idly as he holds onto the couch cushions, as he started to feel the second head knocking on his entrance.
"Oh, here we go..." William says as he holds the two dicks.
"... A-Aaaahhh!" Nick leans his head back as his mouth gape as his asshole is forced open little by little. "Ayy papiiii... O-Oh shit!" He exclaimed as he sits down, taking in both cocks into his tunnel.
"Fuck, lower, yeah..." Jamal muttered as Nick lowered down, his tight sphincter swallowing down all that meat. His cock twitches as precum oozes around his Prince Albert, moaning and jerking as he feels those cocks shift and slip inside him. Nick strokes himself as he stirs his ass around, clenching his eyes as the pain is almost too much for him.
"Ah man, so fuckin tight." William says as he as Nick turn around.
"O-OHH!" Nick scoffed loudly, "Oh fuck!" He moans out, just before William glues his lips to his. "Mlllmm!" He tenses and irks as their tongues lashed around against each other.
Jamal shifts a little, putting his hands onto Nick's hips, and start to slide his huge rod inward.
"AHHHH fuck!" Nick breaks the kiss as he feels that massive Soul Train run into his tunnel, rubbing against everything in his ass, as well as every inch grindind every inch of William's willy.
"Oh aye," William grins as he undulates nicely, "That ain't half bad." He grooves himself, loving how that throbbing log is running along his wang. "Ooh yeah, go in fahster!"
"A-Ahh! Easy, Papi~!" Nick moans out. William gnaws on Nick's shoulder while Jamal starts to hump into Nick's bubble butt. "Ohh! Ohh! Ohhhh!" Nick moans out with each thrust. William's hand moves down, and starts to toy with Nick's penis piercing. "OHHH!" Nick hisses through his teeth before he rolls his head.
"He likes it roff, yah?" William says, biting the fuzz below his lower lip as his dick throbs inside the tight, shifting anus, still pulling on Nick's ring.
"Heh, go `head and spank'im" Jamal smirks, pounding into him steadily. He can already feel himself climbing up, thanks to the intense stimulation.
SPANK!
William's hand bounces one of those cheeks with a hard slap.
"OOOHH!" Nick howls as his back curves, like that of a wolf.
SMACK!
"Hohh Fuuuck!"
SLAP!
SPANK!
"Hoh!" William's hands suddenly squeeze Nick's hips. "Hold, laddie, I'm bout to shoot." "Heh" Jamal grins as he pushes balls-deep into Nick's rotund bottom.
"OH! Back up!" William's toes curl, "Ya gunna make me blow!"
"Hah, like this~?" Jamal swerves his hips left to right.
"Ahhaoohhhoohhh!" Nick moans out continuously, his hole opening and closing with each move from the contents inside.
"GHHHHH..." William clenches his eyes tightly, before his head droops backward, "Ahhhh!" His hips buck and shove up inside him. Nick pants and groans as he feels one of his supple buttcheeks.
"Heh, you cum already, man?" Jamal sneered.
"Eh's been a while, lay oof." William grunts as he shifted and pulls himself out of Nick's abused anus, peeling off his condom as he goes.
"Ah dios mio." Nick moaned. William grins as he gives a few playful spanks before going down, and letting Nick's dick go into his mouth, "Ohhh~! Ohh! Ohhh~!" Nick whimpers as Jamal humps him faster, feeling himself climb closer up to orgasm. With each pound Nick takes to his rump, it shoots his smaller member into William's mouth.
Nick's body curves as Jamal's hand feels along his slender torso as he slows his rolling hips into that slutty Latino.
"Aw fuck~" Jamal growled as he flexes his heavy penis inside of that hot ass, rubbing into every sensitive spot of his pent-up lust. He grits his teeth as he pulls his cock out, throws away the condom, and starts to jerk off. "Awww fuck... Ohhhhhh ffffuuuu..." He grunts as he then pushes and rubs his whole dick between Nick's very smooth crack, his dark meat soaked in precum and lube, reaching total can complete satisfactory feeling, with Nick moaning with abandon with William sucking his dick.
Jamal's strong hands squeeze harshly on both of Nick's tan buns until that keen electric surge dives through his entire manhood, "UHHH! AHHH! MMMF!" Jamal's thick dick erupts with hot, white thick ropes of cum leaping from him, and painting along the smooth, brown tone of his lover, some of his thick spunk sinking into Nick's black, spiky hair.
Some time later, and two or so ejaculations later, Jamal lays there on the couch, his arms spread out, lolling dreamily as the two men kissed his abs and rub his spent cock, already feeling stirrings of recovery baking in his fat meat. Nick moans quietly as his asshole still stings -- and only wanting to have more, even as he licks the mixture of sweat, fluid, and fruit-flavored lube from Jamal's thick testicles, while rubbing and massaging his own member between his thighs. William huffs as he continues to fondle Jamal's pecs, licking one of those dark, silver embedded nipples while his other hand grabs and rubs his other pec.
"Gahh yeeeaahh..." Jamal sighs. He needs a couple of girls in here. Maybe Sasha would be willing to join in? He and William can do a spit roast on her. But then again, Nick's not gonna have any part of that, he feels uncomfortable if there's a naked lady in the same room as him. Yuri jokingly calls him heterophobic, but hey, it's not like Sasha's gonna do him any favors. Maybe Nick can go check out the Hermit Bathes? Well, maybe not; Adam and Merrick went there once, and Adam got actual crabs, and Merrick actually did step on a hermit crab that time, Jamal only goes there once a week or two after that.
Just then, Jamal's phone starts to ring out from the side of the table, "Gaaahhh shyiiit." Jamal whines.
"Just let it ring." Nick said in between slurping and letting one ball slide from the corner of his lips as he polishes that sac.
"Naw, just hand it over." Jamal said. William turned around, and took the phone, giving it to Jamal before going back to biting softly onto Jamal's pecs while draping his arm over that row of abs and holding firmly.
"Hey, what's up?" Jamal answered casally, as if he wasn't being sucked and groped by a couple of guys. "Oh hey, gurl, what's goin' on?" He listens as his member starts to inflate back up again. He blinks as he takes it in, "Fo real? He's up??" He sits up a little, Nick and William still feeling around him. "Since when?? ..."
"Almmff," Nick starts to take Jamal's rod into his mouth.
"Ah- hang on," Jamal pulls his dick out, and gestures for Nick to stop, "Hold up, man." Nick looks up, as well as William from the groping and feeling, "Go on..." He listens to the phone while the other two paused, "Ah shyit, is it getting that bad? ... Aight, aight, calm down, gurl, I'll be right over... No, I'm not busy, I'll see ya in a few. Aight, bye." Jamal ends the call. William scoots over to the side to allow Jamal to get up, buck-naked with a full erection bouncing from his pelvis, "Kay guys, party's over."
"Wait, what?" William says as he gets up, "Weh were just gettin stahrted."
"What's going on, Papi?" Nick asked.
"Adam's outta his coma." Jamal said as he picks up his jeans, not even bothering with his underpants, "His parents are there, and they's falling apart."
"Adam's up? What happened??" Nick said as he gets up too to get dressed.
"Long story, Yuri's freaking a lil too, I gotta git down there."
"S'he a friend of yours?" William asked, confused, "What's goin on?"
"It's mah roommate," Jamal answered, "He's been in a coma fo' over 3 weeks now, and he just woke up."
"Ah." William nods, "I'll let m'self oout then?" He said as he picks up his shirt.
"Sure, whatev's." Nick hurries.
"Hello, are you Dr Umiyama?" Comes a male voice. Yuri turns to see the bailiff from the courtroom, big and brawny in casual clothing, and a shorter man with groomed black hair and ebony framed glasses. They both carry a stuffed animal and a candy bucket as they come. "Yes, Hi- Hello," She strides to them, "You are... Daniel, right?" Yuri asked as she shook hands with the taller man. "Yes." He nodded. "So you must be Jacob Wellspring." "Yes, we um... Are acquainted with Mr Adam Bryant, and we... Wanted to pay our respects while we were here." "Alright, that'll be fine." Yuri said. "Um... I uh..." Jacob looks around, before turning back to Yuri, "I-Is there a Merrick Piscien around? I-I-I'm not sure I should be near him, considering the circumstances..." "No, Merrick isn't around right now. Trust me, you are the LEAST of his problems right now." Yuri checks her phone for a moment, before pocketing, "So, if it's alright, I'd like to get right down to business." "Of course..." "Um, may I go anf visit Adam while you two talk?" Daniel asked. "Go ahead." Yuri nodded, "Those, by the way, are Mr and Mrs Bryant, please, you know... Bare with us." "Yes..." "Alright, this way." Yuri then takes Jacob away, while Daniel enters into the room. Yuri and Jacob walk to a secluded porch area, closing the door behind her so no one can hear them. "So how is Merrick taking it?" Jacob asked, "I can't really say we're on the best of terms." "About as well as you'd expect," Yuri answered, "With his fiancé half dead and a judge distorting what justice there is left." "I heard. Daniel has been asking around, and he thinks he might have the judge reprimanded, if he ever feels well enough to get out of his house. Is the judge really STILL sick, by the way? That's almost a week I've heard that Judge Harris has been reporting violently ill. "I haven't been checking up on him, because I don't think I can stomach even looking at him after what he did." Yuri said, "They can't seem to figure out what's wrong with him, I gathered. Just severe stomach cramps, vomiting, dehydration, fever. His life hasn't been in danger, but every time the medicine seems to take effect, the very next day, he comes back here a complete mess." "Can't say I'm sorry to hear that." "Alright, so..." Yuri said, "Did you bring what I asked for?" "Yeah..." Jacob takes out a small box, and took out a small glass bottle, and gave it to Yuri. "This is just the basic serum, but even then, it's just a step below penicillin. "How far have you developed into it?" She asked. "I've been able to tweak the compound in many different ways with the replication I was able to concoct from Merrick's tears. The chemical make-up is extremely flexible." "What have you been able to do with it?" "From what I've learned, evidently mermaid tears are like the ultimate cleansing agent. I've been able to make at least 10 different vaccinations out of it. That said, keep in mind that there's only so much I can tell you about this." "Why's that?" "Well, I got a research grant to fund and conduct my studies with, and, well..." Jacob sighed, "Higher-ups have authority over my findings. I'll spare you the details and just say I'm limited as to how much I've been able to do with my research. By the way..." He shrugged hesitantly, "Don't suppose you could uh... Persuade Merrick to give me a fresh bottle of tears?" Yuri gives him a dirty look, "Really. Really?" "I take it back. Just thought I can see the glitter in the liquid one more time... It was really pretty, you know?" "Wouldn't really help anyway." "How do you mean?" "Well, I've seen Merrick cry lately, and, well..." She sighed, "His tears don't sparkle anymore." "They don't?" "No. He's hardly expression much feeling anymore. And when he does, it's usually a very short tantrum. Mrs Byrant says it's him compressing himself to cope with what's happened, and trying to keep himself from hurting anyone in a rage." "My gosh..." "And something's different about him... Half the time, when I see him... It's like he's not even there. Like I can't... FEEL him around, you know? It's like I hardly even notice him there." "You mean, like... A Perception Filter, from Doctor Who?" "I don't really watch that show, that's Adam's department." "Well, a Perception Filter is where something can still be seen, but it doesn't quite register to the human senses." "... That's actually one way to put it." Yuri nodded. "He's probably still in shock." Jacob said, "He just needs more time to sort himself out." "Anyway, back to business," Yuri said, "I don't suppose you've been able to make a solution that might be able to give something like... say, Alzheimer's a good work-over, have you." "Alzheimer's Disease?" He asked, "Like, as in specifically?" "Sort of. Like, anything to help cure in mental deserialization or recovery?" "Not exactly. I've mainly focused my work on counter-acting viral diseases." "Um... Could you figure something out with it?" "Hm..." Jacob pondered for a minute, "I'd have to submit a request to deter my research course and subject, as well as look into what sort of chemicals and compounds are used for medicine and vaccinations for such treatment. Why do you ask? Does this have anything to do with..." "It's... For Adam..." She said. Jacob shifted a bit, "When we came, I couldn't help but notice his head was covered up in bandage..." "Yeah..." Yuri looked to the side. "Please, fill me in.""So maybe YOU can tell me..." Donna said, her eyes still soaked, looking a little defensive at Daniel, sitting opposite them, with Luther right beside his wife, and Adam having dozed off from the aesthetics to keep him stable and dormant. "How and why did the judge get the fake accusations against our son??"
"Believe me, I am just as shocked as you are." Daniel said, "I took a look at the file Harris was reading off -- it's from a different police officer who came to arrest the attackers."
"Who was the officer?" Luther asked.
"I don't know him; he just barely started working for the patrols." Daniel answered, "Either he's a crooked cop, or incredibly naïve, I can't say for sure. But HIS was the report Judge Harris was reading off, not mine."
"Even then," Donna shook her head, "Our son is here, in the hospital, and those criminals were still walking. He honestly deemed it just fine to convict Adam at all??"
"Judge Harris is well known for being ridiculously old fashioned -- he's earned a reputation for conducting right from the Dark Ages. That report was as good as any."
"And there's nothing you can do?" Luther said, almost accusingly, "You're tied up."
"No, I didn't say that." Daniel said, "I've already filed a claim on the reports, and personally submitted my report instead of the other one."
"Honestly, I just wish you would've just... WAITED until Adam was up and fine before you did anything..." Donna sniffled.
"I'm sorry... That as poor judgment on my part..." Daniel admitted, looking away. "It's just..." He looks back at them, "I didn't have very good teen years... I've pretty much been on my own when I came out to my parents..."
"Wait... You're saying YOU'RE gay too?" Luther asked.
"Yeah, I came here with my boyfriend." Daniel said, "When I came out... My parents beat me before they kicked me out, and even then, I was always getting into fights in high school because of it. And just hearing about it happening in my own neighborhood... I was hasty, I'm sorry."
"We understand..." Luther said.
"I honestly thought this was going to be an open-shut case, but it just all went to hell." Jacob huffed, "I thought I was helping by pushing this case..."
"Next time," Donna said, sobbing and wiping her eyes, "We need to get a lawyer... I don't want to leave anything to chance..."
"Thank you for your time." Yuri said, "I appreciate your help in any way." "I'll start my research as soon as I get home. I'll keep you updated every time I've made some progress. But..." "What?" "Any result I come up with will be totally experimental. Are you sure you want to use it on Adam fresh out of the beaker?" "Normally, I'd go with the orthodox way, and only use anything that's been approved and prescribed. But..." She shrugged, "Call me a romantic, but I want to believe anything that came from Merrick can only help Adam." "... Alright. From what I can already figure, there shouldn't be any side effects with anything I concoct." "Thank you. Oh yeah! Hang on..." Yuri dug into her pocket, and took out a small folder, "Here you go." She opens it up, and takes out a fancy envelope, laced with beautiful sparkling snowflakes. "What's this?" Daniel asked as he accepts it. "Your invitation." Yuri smiles. Daniel opens the envelope, and takes out the very elegant card, opening it up, and widening his eyes. "Wait, is this... Dr Yuri, I can't accept this." He said, after scanning the fancy lettering of the silver words. "Wouldn't it be awkward?? After all that's happened?" "Look at the bottom." Yuri pointed to the signatures. "Merrick is sort of the traditional type -- he and Adam both signed each invitation personally. They've both let it go." "I... Guess..." Jacob said hesitantly, "I'm going to go see Adam now..." "Alright, go on." She said, glancing to the room, and seeing Jamal there, comforting Donna.Several days later, after the sorrowful dream of the lion and the panther, Merrick walks down the docks, his hands in his pockets, and his eyes to the old, sea-stained wood. He doesn't seem to bring himself to think anymore, he's been having an easier time moving about here and there. He hasn't had a single anger-filled blackout in a long while...
Dressed in his Lovers uniform, Merrick walks idly to work... Only now does it occur to him that he forgot to get his scooter. He blinks, turning around, realizing that he's walked all the way from the house to the docks. It doesn't even feel like time has elapsed...
"Ohmf!" Merrick feels shoved from behind, staggering a bit for a moment, "Ah- hey!"
"Wha- Oh, Merrick, I'm sorry." Kevin said, turning about, "Didn't see you there."
"Didn't see me...?" Merrick gives him an annoyed look, "I was right in front of you."
"Sorry, we got distracted I guess." Syrinx said. She takes a moment to study Merrick. He's not looking at them, but rather... Looking through them. His eyes aren't reflecting the sunlight, and his complexion seems paler. Upon close inspection, his clothing seems to be fine, but his whole being seems withered.
"We just stopped by the dock to go shopping before we go-"
"Merrick?" Syrinx said. Merrick's dulled eyes looked up to hers.
"Yes?"
"Merrick, are..." She takes a step to him, "Merrick, are you alright?"
"Is that a serious question?" He responded back.
"No, Merrick, talk to me." She persisted, taking a serious tone suddenly, "Tell me, right now, what you are feeling."
"Why? Shouldn't you already know what I'm feeling? My lover has a foot in the grave, and the powers that be are laughing about it. Is this some kind of nuance that I'm not familiar with?"
"Merrick, I'm being serious here..." Syrinx said, "Look me in the eyes, and tell me what you're feeling." Her hands find his shoulders as she talks to him. Merrick simply frowns down on her.
"Why are you acting like this, Syrinx? I don't feel anything right now, why are you asking these things?"
"Just answer!" Syrinx rocked him a little, "Merrick please, just TELL me you feel SOMEthing!"
"Calm down." Merrick grunts as he pushes her away, backing away. He looks at her defensively, "What's your problem?"
"Syrinx, what's the matter?" Kevin asked.
"Merrick, you're acting like Gelentea!" She said.
"Acting like who?"
"Gelentea! I told you about her! She was a mermaid from my pod, the one who lost her mate and child to the Ghost Whale!"
"And what does that have to do with me?" Merrick asked, "I am me. I am no one else, I'm not a mermaid who slew an Adra Noita in a mad rage. You're not making sense to me, Syrinx."
"That's just it! You're acting like her BEFORE she went on a rampage!"
A pause rolled by as they look at each other. Merrick glares at them with disdainful, hollow eyes.
"I refuse to feel anything." Merrick finally said, "Are you going to judge me again like on the cruise?"
"Merrick, please just..."
"Syrinx." Kevin stepped in, "Just leave it be. He'll be fine now."
"Kevin..." Syrinx says with unease.
"... So what are you doing here?" Merrick asked.
"We came over to see Adam, if that's ok." Kevin snidely answered, "He's our friend too, you know."
"... What's the point?" Merrick said with his head bowed down, "It's been almost 30 suns since this happened. Our voices can no longer reach him where he is..." His voice weakens as he talks, "The endless sleep, right?"
"What are you talking about, Merrick?" Kevin asked, "Adam woke up three days ago."
"?!" Merrick blinked as his whole being shifted. Syrinx gasps silently as she immediately feels a change from Merrick's presence. He looks back up at them, "What did you say...?"
"Didn't... Wait," Kevin took a step forward, "Didn't anyone tell you? His parents? Yuri? Jamal?"
Merrick feels his body shaking, his eyes feeling fluid coming to the rims, his hands trembling.
"Adam's... He's alive?"
"We were going to see him."
"3 suns... 3 suns?? 3 suns and no one told me Adam..." His heart feels animated for the first time for what feels like years. His chest starts to tighten and tense as he looks at them.
"M-Merrick," Syrinx said, "Please, just stay calm."
"How can I??" Merrick asked, new tears emerging from his eyes, "H-H-How can I???" He sobbed and quaked, his voice thickening, "My Adam is alive. He's ali-hi-hive..." The emotional water glitters in the sunlight.