Down By The Docks [Eli, Jason, Kennedy]

[littleredsiren]

 She'd been worrying about this all week. It was one thing for her friends to say they wouldn't freak out at her siren-ness, and another thing completely for them to actually see it. She'd set up three different times for them to meet, figuring one-on-one would probably be a bit easier to handle.

Iris flitted around her kitchen all morning, putting together a picnic basket with different treats inside. It all quickly started to get out of hand and she was glad she'd set up a plan with Jason to provide meals for the other homeless people in town, because she had way too much for just four people right now.

A quick glance at the clock nearly sends her into another fit of panic. Throwing on a bathing suit under a cover up and grabbing her basket, she makes her way to the beach nearest the docks in a hurry.

No one's there when she gets there and she breathes a sigh of relief, setting down the basket and hauling off the cover up, heading into the surf to swim off her nerves until someone shows up.

Comments

[jasonwright]

Jason spent his one day off doing a few things. He visited Wulfric, who had returned from the hospital, helped make arrangements for Edbyrd and for everyone in the community to say their goodbyes, and then spent the rest of his day exploring the town with Alfredo. It had been a crazy week and he was determined to relax at least for a part of his day off.

So he's happy when the time comes to meet with Iris at the beach. He changes into something more comfortable (shorts and a shirt borrowed from Eli actually) then stops by the pet shop to buy Alfredo just a few cheap treats and a toy ball. The dog follows happily at his heals as he arrives at the beach. Seeing Iris is already in the water, Jason tosses the ball a few feet away from her, Alfredo diving after it and paddling with little barks along the current.

"I'm not late, am I?" he asks, stuffing his hands in his pockets and smiling as Alfredo realizes Iris is near and tries to make his way to her.

[littleredsiren]

She yelp as the ball smacks the water next to her, startling her out of the quiet peacefulness that came with swimming. Spinning in the water, she grins when she sees who it is. "Not at all! I was just getting some swim time in," she explains, reaching out and scratching Alfredo's ears as he paddles up to her. Picking up the ball, she tosses it a little further in so she doesn't have to yell, and swims closer to the shore. "Did you have a good day?"

[jasonwright]

"I did. Productive with a bit of relaxing." Jason sits down in the sand as Alfredo fetches the ball and brings it back to his side. He tosses it down the beach and the dog dashes after it. "You?"

[littleredsiren]

She combs her wet hair out of her face and gestures at the basket next to her pile of clothes. "I baked!" she chirps, figuring he could guess what that meant. "But swimming has been nice. Relaxing."

[jasonwright]

Jason glances over his shoulder and immediately opens the basket, knowing it's for him. He pulls out a roll and cream cheese, smiling to himself as he doctors it up. "You swim a lot?" he asks as he takes a bit out of the warm roll.

[littleredsiren]

"As much as I can," she admits, rolling over lazily in the water. "I guess it's a siren thing? I just know it's calming, and good exercise. I got a lot of Little Mermaid quips growing up."

[jasonwright]

"I can see why," he says with a grin as he feeds Alfredo a bit of food. "Swimming really clears your mind. I prefer to be on a boat, but I'm happy to be in the water as well."

[littleredsiren]

She finally climbs out of the water, giving her muscles, warm from the exercise, a good stretch before wringing out her hair and sitting nearby. "I've never been on a boat," she admits. "There are ferrys in Seattle but we never used them. Is it nice?"

[jasonwright]

"It's amazing," he admits. "Hard to describe, really. You'll just have to go on one. There's something oddly freeing about them." He hands her one of the cookies from the basket before taking one for himself.

[kennedyk]

Kennedy's spent the day planning a few new things for the shop and squeaks when she realizes she's late to meet Iris at the beach. She chunks her pens and notebook on the ground, grabbing her bag and locking up the shop before taking off at full speed to the beach.

She screeches to a halt when she reaches the water's edge, spotting her friend already out for a swim. Kenned leans over, hands on her knees, trying desperately to catch her breath. "Shit, I haven't run like that for anyone before."

[littleredsiren]

Iris hears Kennedy gasping when she approaches and she has to stifle a giggle. She swims up to the beach, wringing out her hair as she climbs up next to her. "Why did you run, silly? I told you it's not time sensitive..."

[kennedyk]

"Because I'm an amazing friend like that, duh," she gasps, dropping onto the sand. "And because if I didn't rush out right then, I wouldn't gotten distracted again."

[littleredsiren]

Iris shakes her head, hauling over the picnic basket. "I made you food and there's water in there," she explains. "Were you painting again?"

[kennedyk]

"Not this time," she answers, opening the basket and fishing out a sandwich. She unwraps it and takes a huge bite. "I have a new business venture idea! Well, a girl Emily gave me the idea."

[littleredsiren]

"Tell me all about it!" she chirps, sitting down in the sand next to her.

[kennedyk]

"Have you heard of those paint and wine events? You pay an entrance fee and learn how to paint a certain picture and enjoy wine with your friends! Think people here would be interested?"

[littleredsiren]

"Yes!" she squeaks, excited. "Definitely! That would be so cool! And you'd be perfect to lead those kinds of classes, I can tell."

[elidixon]

Eli shows up exactly at the time Iris arranged for them to meet down at the the docks. Not only was he anxious to see what she had in mind for today, but he never liked to keep people waiting when he could avoid it. Especially not Iris since she was one of his favorite people. He had spent most of the morning cleaning out his apartment, trying to rearrange all the boxes he had brought home from school. He was determined to streamline some of these items when school started up again. He really just needs his life back in order before he can concentrate his summer vacation down at the garden.

He had changed into his best swim trunks and a white t-shirt for this little outing at the beach. He had never witnessed a siren transformation, and he certainly wasn't going to let a little water some him. He wanted to be prepared. He sees Iris waiting for him up ahead, bright red hair, hard to miss. He immediately waves and grins at her when she notices him approaching.

"Look who's arrived! Your best guy," he says, holding out his arms for a hug.

[littleredsiren]

She lets out a loud squeal, popping out of the water and scurrying over as fast as she can. She collides with his chest, hugging him tight. "You made it! Yay!"

Iris dances back a little bit and grabs the picnic basket. "I brought food! Again!"

[elidixon]

He laughs when Iris pops up out of the water like a tiny little excited fish. He doesn't even mind she gets water all over him because he can't deny Iris hugs. He wraps his around her with a good natured laugh. "Of course I made it. I knew you were going to have food," he says, squeezing her a final time and moving back.

[littleredsiren]

She gives him a quick squeeze before sitting and patting the ground next to her. "Come eat something and then I'll transform for you, okay? As long as you promise not to freak out too bad."

[elidixon]

He plops down in the sand, clutching the basket of food she's handed him with an eager growl of his stomach. He opens the containers, placing down the food. "As long as you don't transform into a clown, I promise not to freakout," he says.

[littleredsiren]

She shudders at the though. "Noooo way. If I turned into a clown, I'd lock myself away for the safety of others. You want to see now? Or after you eat?"

[elidixon]

He stuffs one of the cookies she's packed, savoring the moist texture and chocolate flavor. He wondered if he was just hungry or if these were this delicious. He smiled at her with a toothy grin. "This is your show my dear," he says. "I just showed up as requested."

[littleredsiren]

She covers her grin with a hand, glad he's enjoying the cookies so much. "All right... I've already showed Jason and Kennedy, so I'm not super nervous about it anymore," she admits, getting comfortable in the sand.

"Brace yourself." Iris shuts her eyes, reaching out and grabbing onto the feeling of transformation and the sea, and within moments, red, iridescent scales are crawling up from the tips of her fingers and toes to cover her. She can feel her nails turn to claws and her teeth sharpen into fangs and when she opens her eyes they've gone completely black.

"Did you brace yourself?" she asks, with a nervous giggle. She may have been lying a bit about not being nervous, really.