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Post by Eleanor Byrne on Dec 28, 2008 16:46:27 GMT -5
Eleanor coughed, gripping her sides. "I'm not that old! I won't give myself a heart attack for laughing. Besides, I'm sure that, if I was going to have one at some point, it probably would have come when a teenage mermaid burst in on me." She raised her eyebrows.
She nodded. "Yes, that's true. Not much else that can be done at the moment." She shook water out of her hair.
"Well, keeping an eye out, spying... Essentially the same thing. If I suspected there were people that were onto me, I suppose I'd do much the same thing. At the very least, I'd stay away from water more than I already have to."
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Post by Rikki Chadwick on Dec 28, 2008 16:56:26 GMT -5
I'm not that old! I won't give myself a heart attack for laughing. Besides, I'm sure that, if I was going to have one at some point, it probably would have come when a teenage mermaid burst in on me. Rikki rolled her eyes, then glared at Eleanor at the last sentence. "Burst in on you?" Rikki asked in her sweet sarcastic voice. "I'm ever-so-sorry. I didn't mean to." Her voice became normal again. "You said yourself that everyone who knew Mako's secrets were welcome here," she reminded her, never uncrossing her arms. Well, keeping an eye out, spying... Essentially the same thing. If I suspected there were people that were onto me, I suppose I'd do much the same thing. At the very least, I'd stay away from water more than I already have to. Rikki nodded her head.
"But it's not exactly spying. Spying is keeping track of you every minute of the day, practically the same as stalking. Keeping an eye out, I'm just checking in on you whenever I see you around," the blond said. "And I agree about the staying away from water more thing. That would be important," she agreed.
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Post by Eleanor Byrne on Dec 28, 2008 17:07:45 GMT -5
Eleanor opened and shut her mouth a few times before saying, "I didn't mean... Look, you surprised me. That's all I meant. There's no need to get testy with me." She crossed her arms as well, leaning back against the rock.
She chewed on her lip a moment before replying. "I suppose you're correct. Besides, one of us would be bound to notice if we were constantly in the same places, doing the same things." She chuckled. "Even if we never realized just why it was so.
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Post by Rikki Chadwick on Dec 28, 2008 17:18:06 GMT -5
I didn't mean... Look, you surprised me. That's all I meant. There's no need to get testy with me. Rikki threw up her arms, but they were still bent at her elbows. "Forget it. I told you I was irritable," Rikki said, bringing her arms down. "Forget it," she repeated. "It never happened." I suppose you're correct. Besides, one of us would be bound to notice if we were constantly in the same places, doing the same things. Even if we never realized just why it was so. Rikki nodded. "Yeah," she agreed, drawing randomly with her finger in the sand. A thought sprouted in Rikki's mind. She quit her sand-drawing for a moment. "You don't happen to know a Louise Chatham, do you?" she questioned, narrowing her eyes a bit. She didn't go back to her drawing, still awaiting Eleanor's response.
If she knew her, that would be surprising. If she didn't, well, that wouldn't be a shocker.
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Post by Eleanor Byrne on Dec 28, 2008 17:23:23 GMT -5
Eleanor resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Teenagers would never change, would they? "Chatham, you said? No, I don't think so. Why?" She furrowed her brow. She'd heard the name before somewhere, though she wouldn't be able to say where. "Didn't she save a man from drowning when she was young?"
Yes, that was it. Some old news story her mother had mentioned when Ella had flat-out refused to take swim lessons. For obvious reasons, of course, but the point just would not stay dropped.
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Post by Rikki Chadwick on Dec 28, 2008 19:36:28 GMT -5
Chatham, you said? No, I don't think so. Why? So she didn't know. That made things a bit less awkward, for Rikki at least. It made her feel better for some reason. She opened her mouth to say that she was just wondering, but then Eleanor spoke again. Didn't she save a man from drowning when she was young? Rikki nodded her head. "She did," the blond said, going back to her little drawing in the sand. "Emma, Cleo, and I know her," she said simply as if it wasn't a big deal. "She helps us out during full moons and all of that." Rikki paused, looking intently on her drawing of nothing. She momentarily looked up at Eleanor to speak. "She was a mermaid, too. She was with her two friends and they all got the same powers we did," she explained, taking a break from her little picture to brush the hair from her eyes.
"So now, I know there was or is at least ten of us," Rikki said, wondering if the woman before her would pick up on ten instead of nine. There was Eleanor and her two friends, Mrs. Chatham and her two friends, herself and Emma and Cleo, then Charlotte. And part of her didn't feel like discussing the Charlotte story. Rikki didn't like the girl from the first place - she knew she was pure evil.
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Post by Eleanor Byrne on Dec 28, 2008 20:10:00 GMT -5
Eleanor nodded. "That makes sense, I suppose. I know that if I somehow figured out the three of you were mermaids, I'd definitely warn you about the full moon. Goodness knows what would have happened otherwise." She looked at Rikki's drawing for a moment before continuing. "As far as I've noticed, our powers deal with the states of water. Myself and Cleo work with its liquid state, you and Fee use the gaseous state, and Emma and Lilly use its solid state. It makes sense to me that there wouldn't be different powers because there aren't any other states of water. It can't be a plasma, after all." She grinned. "Chemistry. I used to think it was useless, but it came in handy after all."
She made a mental note about this Louise Chatham. She would have to make an effort to speak with her in the near future. So that made ten current or former mermaids... Wait. She furrowed her brow. The math didn't add up. "You mean... Nine of us, right? Three groups of three."
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Post by Rikki Chadwick on Dec 29, 2008 11:20:58 GMT -5
That makes sense, I suppose. I know that if I somehow figured out the three of you were mermaids, I'd definitely warn you about the full moon. Goodness knows what would have happened otherwise. Rikki finished up her random picture as Eleanor spoke these words. The blond wiped off her hands and then stuck them back in the water, making herself comfortable again. "Well, y'see, it's not exactly like that. She spoke to Cleo at the Marina first. When Cleo told us, we thought she wasn't getting enough oxygen or something," Rikki began calmly. "So, Mrs. Chatham approached us, already knowing we had already been effected by this pool," she said. "She's like a savior or something for us during full moons. But the bad part is, she doesn't always get to us on time," she finished, looking down at the water and thinking of what her friends had said happened when Rikki had first gotten moonstruck. She had set fire to most of Mako and caused Zane to have a heatstroke. By kissing him.
As far as I've noticed, our powers deal with the states of water. Myself and Cleo work with its liquid state, you and Fee use the gaseous state, and Emma and Lilly use its solid state. It makes sense to me that there wouldn't be different powers because there aren't any other states of water. It can't be a plasma, after all. Rikki nodded, looking back up again. "That makes sense," she said. "I guess we fall in magic water, we get water powers," she agreed, chuckling. Chemistry. I used to think it was useless, but it came in handy after all. "It came in handy in an awkward way though." Rikki groaned quietly when Eleanor noticed her saying ten mermaids instead of nine. "No. There was another," she said, feeling her blood pressure rise. "A tenth who didn't deserve any of this," she growled.
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Post by Eleanor Byrne on Dec 29, 2008 14:25:15 GMT -5
Eleanor nodded. "Well, I suppose it would be rather hard to help someone when they thought you were crazy. Knowing me, I would have just blurted out 'I know you're mermaids!'" She shook her head. "That would have gone over just brilliantly, wouldn't it?"
She laughed at Rikki's terminology there. Never once had she heard someone call the moon pool 'magic water.' "Yes, well, what else would it be good for? I used to own a bookshop. How would I incorporate sciences into that?"
Another mermaid? Was? She almost hated to ask, considering the obvious tension the line of conversation was causing. But she had to know. "You don't have to tell me what happened. Just the name. I'll figure it out for myself."
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Post by Rikki Chadwick on Dec 29, 2008 14:44:22 GMT -5
Well, I suppose it would be rather hard to help someone when they thought you were crazy. Knowing me, I would have just blurted out 'I know you're mermaids!' That would have gone over just brilliantly, wouldn't it? Rikki laughed softly. "Yes, that would have gone over absolutely wonderful!" she agreed sarcastically, tilting her head back for a few seconds. Yes, well, what else would it be good for? I used to own a bookshop. How would I incorporate sciences into that? Rikki shrugged her shoulders once again. "I guess you could have chemistry books or something there. Maybe hold lessons for kids wanting to learn chemistry?" she suggested, bringing her head to normal level now. From what light she could see at the top of the volcano, the light outside was slowly dimming. What time did she head outside? Five forty five? Not that late. She had to have only been there about ten to fifteen minutes.
Then Eleanor asked about Charlotte. You don't have to tell me what happened. Just the name. I'll figure it out for myself. Well, that was a good thing. Rikki wouldn't have to stress herself. Anger wasn't the best thing for her. She tended to get out of control during anger, which never resulted well. "Her name was...Charlotte," Rikki told her with a scowl. "Cleo wasn't really fond of her, either. When she pretty much took over Lewis," she added, pursing her lips.
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Post by Eleanor Byrne on Dec 29, 2008 22:27:11 GMT -5
Eleanor grinned. "I never did have good people skills. I wouldn't know what to say. In fact, I probably never would have spoken to you or your friends had you not caught me here." She ran a hand through her hair, laughing. "How do you approach a stranger and tell them that, not only do you know their biggest secret, but you're a part of it?" She shook her head.
"I... don't think people would appreciate me teaching their kids chemistry stuff. I... may have started a fire when I was in school. A little one! And I put it out almost immediately." She paused. "Although the base I dumped on it did just as much damage." She shrugged. "I don't do well with hands-on kind of material." She noticed Rikki staring at the sky. "I'm sorry - did you have to be somewhere? You don't have to sit here and listen to my ramblings. I'm sure I must be boring you to tears."
Ella nodded. Charlotte. Charlotte that was disliked by Cleo and that had been after Lewis. She'd ask around quietly. Just to meet this girl and quietly threaten her into silence. Yes. Or perhaps she would just talk to her, get her side of the story, and then persuade her that it was in her best interests to keep the secret. That, and no one would believe her.
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Post by Rikki Chadwick on Dec 30, 2008 11:59:47 GMT -5
I never did have good people skills. I wouldn't know what to say. In fact, I probably never would have spoken to you or your friends had you not caught me here. Rikki nodded. She probably wouldn't have spoken to her if she had saw her anywhere else, either. Mainly because she doesn't speak to strangers unless she's scolding them. How do you approach a stranger and tell them that, not only do you know their biggest secret, but you're a part of it? Rikki smiled and shrugged. "Wouldn't be easy, I can tell you that. But I probably wouldn't be dumb enough to tell anyone, especially a stranger," Rikki said, being thoughtful for a moment. Doctor Denman had said that she was going to...Africa, was it? For research, but Rik wasn't all too sure that she believed her. With her luck, Denman was still on their case. Hard on their case.
I... don't think people would appreciate me teaching their kids chemistry stuff. I... may have started a fire when I was in school. A little one! And I put it out almost immediately. Rikki laughed aloud, holding a hand over her mouth. "Smooth, Eleanor. Smooth," she commented, chuckling throughout the sentence. "Are you sure Felicity didn't do it?" she questioned, grinning faintly. I'm sorry - did you have to be somewhere? You don't have to sit here and listen to my ramblings. I'm sure I must be boring you to tears. Rikki shook her head. "No, no. Just wondering about the time. I honestly don't need to be anywhere soon," she assured the woman, scratching at the back of her head. "And I'm actually enjoy myself, believe it or not."
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Post by Eleanor Byrne on Dec 30, 2008 20:10:02 GMT -5
Eleanor laughed. "If I had extremely reasonable suspicion that the stranger already knew about us, I would... still not tell them. Hm." She grinned. "I'm a creature of habit. Years of keeping the secret is a tough thing to break. I should hope so, at least."
She snorted. "If Fee started the fire on me, she had good reason for doing it. I did mention that we teased her mercilessly, correct? On one occasion, I caused her to fall in the ocean in the middle of a date." She grinned sheepishly. "Sure, in hindsight it seems cruel, but it was downright hilarious at the time."
Upon hearing that Rikki was curious about the time, Ella said, "Hold on a moment. I might still have a few tricks up my tail for that one," and dove underwater. She felt along the rock for a moment before pulling a watch from its hiding place in the underwater cave. Triumphant, she showed it to Rikki. "I have several water-proof things hidden underwater. It seemed rather silly at the time, but it proved to be very helpful."
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Post by Rikki Chadwick on Dec 31, 2008 12:13:35 GMT -5
If I had extremely reasonable suspicion that the stranger already knew about us, I would... still not tell them. Hm. Rikki grinned, stretching her arms out a bit. I'm a creature of habit. Years of keeping the secret is a tough thing to break. I should hope so, at least. "I can't say that we've been doing a spectacular job on keeping the secret with, well, Denman and Zane's father pretty much discovering us...but I guess we've done a fair job if nothing else," she stated, twirling a piece of blond hair with her index finger. If Fee started the fire on me, she had good reason for doing it. I did mention that we teased her mercilessly, correct? On one occasion, I caused her to fall in the ocean in the middle of a date. Rikki raised her eyebrows at this, kind of feeling...surprised. "She probably did start the fire on you!" she exclaimed. "Into the ocean? With water?" she questioned, knowing that her friends would have gotten an earful if that had happened to her.
Sure, in hindsight it seems cruel, but it was downright hilarious at the time. "At the time," Rik mumbled, looking down. Hold on a moment. I might still have a few tricks up my tail for that one. Rikki looked up at this being spoken, only to find Eleanor gone. She raised her eyebrows again, wondering how she could have missed her disappearing. A few moments later, Eleanor returned with a watch in hand. A wet watch, at that. Eleanor explained on how she had hidden some water proof things down there. Rikki nodded, looking at the object. About five fifty seven. She nodded her head again, showing that she now knew the time.
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Post by Eleanor Byrne on Jan 1, 2009 11:24:13 GMT -5
Eleanor grinned, leaning back against the stone. "The way I see it, you're not in a tank at some zoo or in some lab... Or even in a straight jacket. So I'd say your secret is pretty secure at the moment."
She mock gasped. "Water? In the ocean? Since when?" But, being her, she couldn't hold back the fit of giggles. "I'm sorry. Of course I used water. It was perfectly timed to ensure no mermaid exposure. They were on the pier anyway, so it wasn't like I dragged her from the JuiceNet."
She placed her old watch on the edge of the cove. She'd bring it back to shore later. Goodness knew why the thing even still worked, let alone had been where she'd left it years ago.
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