Wistful Shark of the Pool

Log Info

• Title: Wisftul Shark of the Pool
• Emitter: Irshya
• Characters: Irshya, Skielstregar
• Place: TarRaCe Bathhouse
• Time: December 22nd, 2021
• Summary: Skielstregar is taking a day trip away from the forests to reflect on his current situation. Irshya is present in the bathhouse, her working on maintaining the pools. She brings him drinks, and offers him some advice. As payment, he chucks her into the pool.

The snow falls thickly, and drifts along the streets of the city. The chill and damp is enough to settle in one's bones, but at least the wind is feeble. The Tarrace does good business this day, hot drinks and hot meals bringing a busy main room.

The baths are serene by comparison. The sounds of quiet conversation seep out from the woman's side, and from the men's, one can hear the sound of scrubbing and cleaning. A sign, blocking the doorway to the men's side, says, "Closed for Maintenance".

The main pool appears empty. A traces of steam waft from the surface of the bath, and upon closer inspection, a faint shadow floats near the bottom of the pool.

This was the right place. Right..?

A towering figure lumbers into the bathhouse. There's an air of anxiety around them, on that shows on their face as dead silver eyes glances around. Too long talons grip at a too small robe wrapped around him. He had a white shirt on, and red swimming trunks that were meant for giantborn.

His head swivels towards one way. Women only. Swings over to the other side. Men only, yet it was closed. And right before him was the mixed baths.

Sighing, he walks in, careful to make sure his taloned feet don't destroy the tile and grout.

The water is on the thin line between 'warm' and 'hot', and once settled in it, one finds that the water is circulated, flowing in from openings on the sides, and draining out the bottom. A faint scent is noticeable, some traces of lemon or another citrus fruit.

The little shadow stirs as Skielstregar steps into the bath, and it begins to circle around the outside of the bath, avoiding Skiel's form.

Skiel doffs his robe, carefully placing it and a towel on the bench nearby. Emboldened that there was none nearby, he puts a testing foot into the waters. His brows raise, surprised by the warmth. Well, best to rip the bandage off.

The large, half dead makari steps into the waters, him softly hissing as the water level goes up, up, up and over his shoulders. The water level visibly rises a few inches.

There's a heavy sigh that leaves him, a gout of frozen air spilling from him. He rumbles contently.

A wee face surfaces, the eyes blinking and then fixing on Skiel. Small slits on the side of her neck open and close a few times, before she takes in a breath of air through her nose. "Oh! Hello!" The head ducks back under the water, and the wee woman's form is seen, as she dives back down under water. A stubby tail, and small fin, are present as part of her form, and a few moments, she surfaces again, to Skiel's side.

"Irshya is pleased to meet you."

The massive makari jolts upright at the sudden voice, a wave of water sloshing against the opposite wall as he looks around. Then the voice comes from right beside him.

Silver eyes, dead, lacking the luster of life, snick close twice.

"... hello," the bronzescale greets, raising a hand. "Thisss one is Sssskielssstregar. Sssskiel if that'sss too much. Thisss one did not sssee you, they apologozie."

The Gobbo snorts and gestures dismissively with a hand. "You don't need to apologize, Skielstregar. This is the mixed bath, so anyone can settle in here. Irshya is sorry that the men's bath is closed. There's a leak somewhere, so some work needed to be done."

She floats lazily around the Sith, eyeing the big man up and down. "Irshya can't help but notice that something has er chewed upon your arms some. Was it a shark?"

Skiel makes an 'ah' sound, him nodding and sinking back down to his neck in the waters. "That isss okay."

The question makes him look to the side, then rub the top of his head. "Ah, no, thisss one did not fight a ssshark."

He brings a scaleless forearm to his mouth, opens up and gently places his fangs and gnarly teeth atop it.

All the scars line up.

He pulls his arm away. "Thisss one used to do it to themselves to... ah... use some magics. It's not pretty."

Irshya is immensely fascinated with this, coming up close to peer at his teeth, and the matching scars. She gently holds onto one of his arms, and opens her own mouth, showing off an array of triangular, shark-like teeth. With row upon row of replacement teeth, awaiting their turns. She seems to be comparing her bite size to Skiel's scars.

"Irshya understands, have seen similar magics on her journey to here." She looks around and then to Skiel. "How are you finding the water? Good? Did you want anything? Food or drink? A massage? We also offer a laundry service for those relaxing here."

The man's maw was an array of gnarly teeth. The set of fangs on him long, and when he shows it, there's a second set of fangs behind the first, much smaller. His brows raise at seeing Irshya's arsenal. "Huh. Interesssting..." he idly comments.

He lightly smiles. "Ah, thisss one is finding it well. Err... perhapsss a drink? Thisss one could ussse sssome to mull over a few thingsss. Do... you work here?"

The wee woman is half out of the pool before she pauses. "Irshya have just the drink.", she says, grinning brightly. She pulls on a towel to cover herself, and nods. "Irshya is the owner and proprietor!", is her enthusiastic answer. She speeds out the door, a trail of wet, bare footprints following behind her. She returns a few minutes later bearing a silver tray. With a little shake, four thin little legs appear, swinging down from the underside of the tray. This is set down on the third 'stair' in the pool, where it stands just above the water. A large pitcher occupies most of the tray, filled with a pink, translucent beverage. Two glasses are set behind it.

Irshya struggles to carefully pour a glass of the liquid, dribbling a little of it into the pool itself, which causes her to frown lightly. Her grin returns as she offers him the glass. "Vodka. With a little bit of pink grapefruit juice added."

Skiel blinks. "Oh, you own the placcce-" Words are cut off as she gets out, as the makari looks away and clears his throat. He idles in the water, little thoughts starting to creep up before she returns, holding a drink out to him. "Oh. Thank you. Thisss one will give you the coin when they leave the bathssss," he bobs his head. Curious of the drink, he takes a little sip, makes a content sound, and takes a longer pull at it. Which, considering his size, is half the glass. "It tassstes well."

She laughs, floating around on her stomach. "It's on the house." Reaching out a hand to snag his arm, she pulls herself close once more. "Irshya thanks you, it is a drink we usually make in summer as the grapefruits are hard to come by in winter. But we were able to trade with a few of your People. They were trading fruit from your homeland."

The Gobbo takes up the pitcher once more, and refills his glass. Setting the pitcher down, she ends up occupying his lap, resting on her stomach.

"So. If Irshya may say? Irshya thinks that you are looking to relax. Relieve some stress, perhaps? Do you work a difficult job? We have good masseuses here, they can work all the knots out of your back."

Skiel raises a brow at that one. "... very well. Thisss one appreciates your generosity." He smiles some, nodding in thanks for refilling it. Though he pauses, looking down at her and the seat she occupies.

"... what isss it with ssssmall softskinsss using thisss one as a chair? Thisss one is /not/ comfortable..." he murmurs, but doesn't protest it. He got free drinks after all.

"Ah, yesss thisss one isss looking to relax. A... massage ssssounds nice, but was looking for more reflection than relieving aches. Thisss one'sss job is none too ssstressful."

The Gobbo laughs lightly. "Sorry, anything that stops moving in here is likely to be settled upon by Irshya." She eyes him curiously for a moment, and nods. "Well, the baths are a good place for reflecting. The water and all that." Irshya sits up and pours herself a glass, taking a lengthy sip.

'So what did you wish to reflect upon, if Irshya may be so bold as to ask?"

Skielstregar downs another half of his cup, though he reaches over to fill it up himself, the pitcher almost like a large flagon in his hand.

He lulls his head back against the wall of the pool, and heavily sighs. "... thisss one is thick skulled. And might have wounded some heartssss," he mumbles, closing his eyes as he could feel an inkling of the drink hitting.

A light hand pats him on the forearm, followed by the Gobbo gulping down a bit more of her drink, and holding up her glass for him to top up.

"Oh? Stealing all the ladies' hearts, are well?" Irshya giggles lightly. "And not noticing that you have done so?"

Skiel tops her drink off before downing more of his and refilling it. He chuffs, looking into his drink. "Not like that..." he murmurs. "Jussst.... there are two people thisss one has apparently caught the eye of. One is kin, one is not. Kin hasss helped thisss one a great deal with sssome... personal issues. They regard them as a close friend. The other issss more recent, and more forward. Thisss one went to their kin to ask for advice, but learned that kin harbored feelingssss for thisss one assss well."

His head clonks against the glass. ".... thisss one was unaware. And presumed otherwissse. Thisss one hasss ssssome... thingssss they have to work out before searching themssseleves for their own feelingsss towards either. And now they are sssstuck between hurting sssomeone, or both."

"Oooh.", the wee woman says, before taking a drink. "Irshya has good news and bad news, which would you like to hear first, Skielstregor?"

The makari sighs, closing his eyes. "Give thisss one the good newss first, o wisftul sssshark of the pool."

The Gobbo-shark settles cross-legged on the bronze-scale's knee, holding her glass between her hands. "Irshya does not know your exact circumstances of the things you are working through. However, it is pretty common, in Irshya's estimation, that people find themselves with multiple others finding them desirable."

Irshya holds up a wee hand. "The problem lies with people not sharing their feelings. Sometimes, like you, they don't even realize how they feel about someone. Sometimes they are confused about such things."

She leans forward slightly. "So the good news is... not entirely your fault. Do not feel badly. It happens, and we all play a part in it."

She giggles lightly. "Wistful Shark of the Pool? That is now my new title."

Skiel tilts his head to the side, him giving a long sigh and nodding. "You're... mossstly right. Thisss is good insssight. Thisss one doesssn't know how to feel. Thank you for your insssight, wistful sssshark," he lightly smiles.

He tilts his head to the side. "... and the bad newsss?"

Irshya takes a long sip of her drink, the glass dangerously empty. "Irshya thinks that you will have to be honest with both ladies, and hope that they are not hurt by your honesty. Be kind and gentle." A bare foot is stretched out, her big toe poking Skiel in the ribs. "Better to be honest, than try to lie just to avoid hurting feelings and hearts." She pats his forearm again. "Are you able to do that?"

Skielstregar's ribs lack a distinct resistance of scales underneath the shirt. He shifts a bit, looking away with a sigh. "Thisss one hatessss lying. They intend to do no lying. What you are sssaying is thisss one should tell the not-kin what isss going on? But what if thisss one makes their not-kin friend not like their kin?"

"Well. Look at it this way. How do you think that the non-kin will react if she finds it out on her own, some time from now? She may end up hating you both." She cants her head slightly, her hand reaching out to touch the same spot her toe did. "Would you rather that? If she is jealous of your kin, then that is on her, not you. But if you hide things, and she gets upset finding out, that is on you."

The touch to his ribs again makes him idly shift a hand to gently push the hand away. Seems like he didn't his chest being touched.

Skiel sighs, looking off to the side. "... you are right. Thisss one ssshould inform her. It just... what do the sssoftskins say? It sssssuckssss."

Her mouth opens, when he gently pushes her hands away, and her teeth are slightly bared, as if to bite at his hand. Glancing up at Skiel, she lets out a soft huff of breath. "It does. But it makes you a better person to do so. The truth hurts sometimes, but that does not mean you should wield it like a knife. Be gentle, and it should turn out okay."

Skielstregar gives a small nod, and an apologetic smile at pushing the hand away. "Thisss one hass no intentionsss of hurting with the truth. Their wordsss are good. They are jusssst.... thick ssskulled. Thank you, for your wisssdom."

He shoots the last of his drink, and lulls his head back with a more relaxed sigh.

"Irshya finds this to be good. Now. Throw Irshya across the pool, please." Her tail thrashes about behind her.

Skielstregar snorts, him putting down his glass, and taking hers as well. "Asss you wisssh. Payment for you wisssdom."

He scoops the pool shark up in a large hand, slides over to one corner of the pool, and cocks his arm back.

This is... one strong man. Those are some big muscles.

The shark is flung in a high arc with minimal effort.

The Gobbo-shark lets out a cheery squeak as she's tossed, and she splashes back into the pool, disappearing beneath the surface. Her progress back to Skiel is easily tracked, her little tail and fin stick out of the water. Irshya beaches herself in his lap once more. Giggling, she pats at his forearms. "Irshya enjoyed that! Many things, Skielstregar!"

-End Scene-