LOW TIDE CANNIBAL

Sypha had worked with a broad manner of higher beings, demons, spirits, and other mythical sorts in their spellcraft over the years, though a merman might be a first... if he was feeling so charitable. The wizard was under no illusions that he'd be remotely interested in acquiescing, but the level of power they boasted (however unsaid it went) made them a bit cocksure at times. As the waves lapped upon the seaweed-encrusted stone they balanced upon, Sypha considered their predicament if it would go in such a direction. It'd hardly be the first time an immortal they spoke to would try and entice them to make prey, but Sypha's solution was always straightforward and simple if it came to that: chaotic and unpredictable levels of violence.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ❝ Long, and boring ... ❞

Oh, how woefully correct ; for, in the passage of time, MUNDANE had the routine grown. The sea, held many secrets, aye, but he was no fool. WITCH OR NO, he'd ne'er travel the depths, to see what savagery lie beyond the suns' reach. Mincing words, while in his nature true, was not necessary here. Tail curls 'long rock, o'er barnacle that clings for its' life dear. Eyes fall to claws, elongated and hazardous, inspecting them with perceived indifference.

❝ I suppose you're right, in a way. But, what does a land- dweller, have to offer me ? Your magicks do not work in the seas. It's weak, frail. Just like your kin. Sad, really. ❞

Laughter, is a gentle thing, mocking in its' tone. Body slips with ease, into ebb and flow of the sea, enough to wet gills and keep him steady. He moves close ; but safe, in distance. Only enough to inspect them closer.

the sound - it cascades 'cross the water, floats along the air 'til it reaches your ear. something about it.. it's enticing, magnetic - there's a pull that has you walking towards it, walking and walking 'til you stumble 'pon some.. thing? your eyes are wide, a mixture of confusion and and intrigue. feet stumble clumsily over top of rocky surface, shifting worried glances at the nearby water (you can't swim so one misstep and.. immediate disaster).

" i.. i.. " stumbling over words as much as you do your feet, wanting to go near but afraid of falling in the midst of getting there. shifting body side-to-side anxiously, fingers fidgeting with each other to try and keep your nerves at bay. " was that you? t-the noises.. it was, r-right? " you nearly loose your footing, waving arms around wildly to desperately regain balance.

your curiosity is getting the better of you.. enough so that you continue to linger despite everything inside of you telling you to go. " i-i'm.. it's.. i'm not shy, i just c-can't swim well.. being over here feels safer.. s-sorry! " an apologetic smile, a bashful expression; you would get closer.. if you didn't feel like you'd fall right into the pool of water. " y.. your voice is lovely, by the way. i-if that was you.. i liked it a lot.. "

ㅤ

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ❝ It was. ❞

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤDELICIOUS. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤTRULY.

Luring the lesser masses in, was no fantastical feat ; all it took, was a simple melody. A tune, merely hummed, and those 'pon land, would sit pretty in sea - kissed palms. What he did with them, thereafter, would hinge entirely on his mood ! She was of a beautiful sort - one of those fortunate few to be neglected by Aphrodite, lest she be transmuted to something foul.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ❝ Can't swim, or won't ? Either way, what tragedy. ❞

From rocky surface does he part, glimmer and glitter of dark scales reflecting 'to her sight. He surfaces once more, closer to her ; by now, it would be too easy, to take her by the ankle, bash her skull against a rock and drag her down. Kalon, however, was - alas - known to play with his query.

it should come as no surprise that creatures, thought to be nothing more than mere myth, were as real as anything else in this world. xander, though inconspicuous in nature, was proof of that. he hid it well, blended in with the rest of society to the point where no one would ever be able to tell the difference and yet, he still displaced from the world.

neon lights and the regular sounds of city life were too much for overactive senses, overwhelming and bordering on unbearably painful at times. so he finds himself here, a cove of sorts, secluded from the outside world and quiet, save for the gentle breeze and crashing of waves against jagged rocks.

curious, though. he hadn't expected company - more than that, he hadn't expected them to come from the depths themselves. he masks his brief moment of surprise well, expression unshifting even as his visitor swims closer.

ㅤ

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤWhat an irritating ordeal ; ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤGuppies, had known not to come here. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤToo, did their elders.

ㅤWRETCHED HE - BITCH, A PRACTITIONER OF FOUL DEEP - SEA MAGICKS. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤThe monster, merfolk told their offspring of. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤA boogey - fish. A bad omen. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤA WARNING.

So, when a body, is in his cove, 'pon the sandy shore, he cannot help but raise brows, eyes and nose peering above the water, dampened hair swirling 'round his head like so many pale tendrils. Voiced pipes up, and he cannot help the allure of it ; food, perhaps, comes to mind - but it would be a shame, to devour first, and be left to wonder.

Digits, so ginger at the small edge 'tween land and sea, tail peeking so briefly from gentle waters before curling 'neath him, snaking along the shape of cliffs' waterlogged form. Eyes, bluer than the clearest waters stare, before smile crawls across his lips.

truly, she shouldn't be here. there were nothing but bad stories about being caught up here, legends told of the being before her. each one stated that you should not get close, that you should keep yourself as far away as possible. but something had called her in here. marea wasn't one to usually listen to such calls, knowing they wouldn't end in her favor, but today she'd trusted it. and this is where it had gotten her. that would teach her.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ❝ A little Sea - Witch, in dormancy, perhaps ? ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤOh, I've always wanted a student ... Even if I ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤplan on living forever, we all want a legacy. ❞

She was pretty. Not too bright, but knowledge, could be taught. A call, she says, when he'd not made such ; interesting, certainly. He encroaches closer, webbed fingers coming into her hair, if only to inspect. She was pretty enough ; most of them were. A soft tsking came from his lips, stroke of tail carrying him only a small measure away.

❝ You do have desire ... we all do, dear. But if you seek to learn, what I have to offer ; know that if you betray me, I have no qualms solving issues on my own. Not with magic, but teeth.

he knows that look only all too well, for it's one that he wears often himself. there was admiration, of course ; human nature, though neither of them were particularly human despite initial appearance suggesting otherwise. it was hard not to admire when something so perfect was right in front of your eyes, and romance himself was not immune to the pull.

he has never been one for praise ━━ preferring adoration above all else. but to be told that his blood alone was gods - sent, that he alone was something so divine that others could not possibly compare ? oh, how he longed to hear such words again and again and again ; like a mantra, like devotion in it's truest, purest form.

he wanted nothing more than to make the one before him happy, feed him, adore him ━━ let the very thought of one so exquisite consume him to the point where nothing and no one else mattered.

" as fair as can be. " he murmurs, eyes following such beautiful blue as it drips down perfect skin. he'd never seen it such a colour, enamoured by that alone. romance leans forward, tongue darting out to catch the blood as it drips down the other's hand ━━ he cannot help himself, caught up in the moment as he is, from watching kalon's expression. a soft sigh as the taste hits his tongue, as he drags it up until he reaches the source then, and only then, does he take finger into his mouth - mindful of the sharp claw that threatens to take his tongue clean from his mouth should he make a wrong move.

romance does not shy away from the attention upon him, a moan ( of genuine joy, as opposed to an act ) as he frees the digit with a small pop. " delicious. "

ㅤ

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤTemptation, given FLESH - FORM !

Everything of him desired. Every kiss, every sigh, every little hitch of breath and exhale of laughter. A HUNGER, BEYOND THE PHYSICAL ; something Kalon, with confidence, can say he has yet to feel, in this life. For the appetite to be slicked, now, was not merely 'pon his tongue.

Hue, of truest blue, does not stain his skin for long ; eager tongue dragging upward to take in the flavor, the consistency. With baited breath, does he watch, fluster of pale blood settling in his cheeks. Digit is taken into heated maw with care, lest mer slice open the roof of Romances ' mouth ; far from a want. Blood, itself, is a clear delicacy. Something, ne'er before tasted, a delight to the senses. Were he younger, act of devouring alone may have aroused. But, his control was far more firm, now.

Laughter is soft, distance all but closed between them as arm, damp, come to rest at Romances' legs. A blood exchange, itself, was an intimate thing; something, to his own surprise, not given to another. Not prey, to persuade it, and not a former partner, to solidify a bond.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ❝ You truly are enchanting ... ❞

Hand slowly withdraws from the others grip, joining its' twin along the demon's knee, tail so slightly raised from waters. There was no shame, no purpose in hiding, here. For all he was, did Kalon want to be seen, accepted, ADMIRED. Even now, as he reached for stray tresses of pink to tuck them back, he moved with the purpose of drawing in.

❪ ⋅ ☽ ⋆ — ┊❛ ​🇾​​🇴​​🇴​​🇳​ ​🇲​​🇮​​🇳​-​🇯​​🇺​​🇳​ ❜ ❫ ❝ YOU'RE THE ONE WHO CALLED it mine in the first place, ❞ he'd argue back, lips pursed in irritation. Of course, Min-jun is aware there's no actual lying to this guy ; why would he try when he's obviously not one of those lab coat donning faux pas freaks of nature? He's more into the fashion game than anything else, but who could blame him for wanting to sneak in after hours?

      Apparently jokes weren't on this guy's list of skillsets, huh?

      Besides that, why would he want to own an aquarium? Outside of the novelty of looking at fish and the like, it's basically equal to returning back to school to stress over the finer details. If anything, he'd be more enthused to take on the role of being a mermaid swimming around in the tank than trying to comprehend the schematics of deep sea life.

      ❝ Mm... ❞ Finger goes to lip, tap tap tapping at flesh in quiet contemplation. It's all for show ; he wouldn't dare enter the tank offered to him. He's seen how kangaroos will wait in the water to drown their next victims and he would be a fool to even consider that. It's impossible to tell if this guy were a demon either ; he could easily have hidden his patterns beneath the suit of flesh. As an agwi, a demon, and one who isn't nearly as strong as other demons in the underworld, it's unwise to take such chances and be caught off guard.

ㅤ

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ❝ Your, as in, those that trod upon the land. ❞

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤWas such, not so obvious ? ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤWould he have to hold the others' hand, through logistic loops ? " ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤIt would come as no surprise ; land - things, were hardly intelligent.

Claws tap, restless at thick glass that meant to contain him. How they underestimated, the abilities of merfolk ; the size of their brains and their want for the freedom of the sea. But, this was too far inland to slither to, and knowing the length of time legs would last ... he'd be dead on the black pavement, before he reached home. If, he was forced to endure this place, he'd at least find some means of knowledge, and some means, of entertainment.

It's clear, vivid, really, that other mocks the idea of thought, digit steadily tapping at lower lip, as if to decide next movements. Kalon, was wise, by now ; he would not, get in the water. And though hypnosis was an option, it was an unfair one. Arms cross, as he lies them across curvature of tank's rim, head resting 'pon them as cascade of long hair floats at the surface. Half - exposed like this ... he could garner a better smell. FIRE, did this young man reek of, but not the sort that would scorch forests to the south, or the sort men would stoke to keep themselves warm. This was more... devious ; evil.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ❝ Do you always, assume the worst ? What a miserable existence. ❞

it does not matter, how cold skin may be as his hand is brought to cheek, because to him there is an undeniable warmth that feels unlike anything he had ever experienced before. it's not something he understands really, and perhaps it wasn't something that required understanding ━━ but something to simply be felt. the thought of such a sentiment is almost enough to make him laugh, how disgustingly human of him to feel such a way.

and yet, he does not deny it, does not shy away from it but rather, leans into it ━━ the lingering sentiment of what remained of his humanity.

" you might've been a poet if you'd chosen a different path. " he says softly, the ghost of a smile upon his face before he simply cannot help himself anymore as those very same lips press against kalon's own and oh, it was perfection in it's own right. how lucky was he, that he'd found someone to compliment him so well ━━ how lucky was he, that perfection ( not unlike he himself was referred to as ) was within his grasp ; everything he could have ever wanted, right before him, and his to keep.

" but, if you'd been a poet, we might not have met ━━ and that would have been a disaster. now that i have you, i couldn't possibly imagine a world where you're not the center of my attention. " as close to a declaration of love as he was capable, but the sentiment remains - it was there. for no one in his life ( that he could remember, at least ) had captivated him so. the urges would never leave, but a desire to keep kalon with him, always, far outweighed any desire that might take him away.

ㅤ

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ❝ A poet, he says ... ❞

Infernal heat grips, tight 'round ; from thin digits, to occupied lips, affection bringing the softest of blue - fluster, into his cheeks. A poet, would lack the word, the appreciation, a poet, would be starstruck, struggling to even jot down stanzas, to formulate sonnets. He was a creature beyond it all. Where and how Romance came to be, remind still, an unspoken subject ; all Kalon had come to know, is the depths of Tartarus burned in his blood, and the subtle smell of soot and flame hung 'round his skin. Infernal, beautiful he.

ㅤㅤㅤ❝ You would have devoured me alive, if I were anything but this ... ❞

But was that, too, not a declaration if love ? To want so deeply, so vehemently, that you take in another, to make them part of you ? Preserve their bones, bask in their blood, keep them, close ? Was that, in and of itself, not the ultimate sign of devotion ? Tail lifts, from clear waters, draping 'round Romance in a loving, scaled coil as Kalon moves to kiss his forehead, smooth digits soothing over perfect skin. What was this, if not love ..?

Daily, if not hourly, minute by dreadful minute, does he ache. Ache, to sink teeth into flesh, ache, to crawl into demons' ribs and house in his heart, there, but it is all impulse that is controlled. Soft trill leaves the mer, a practical purr in his throat as ear - fins lower, an ultimate sign of comfort. To be free, at ease ... what an act of ultimate surrender.

"Too damn bad, guess I missed the No Fishing sign. Try t' put it above water, next time."

That scowl, though, oh, that makes Nnoitra's features split in a grin. He chuckles, to add insult. Goad, hopefully, into a fight. He loved taking on those that underestimated him, tearing apart anyone that looked down on him.

ㅤ

A WRINKLE, of his nose in distaste ; where - ever this one came from, it was clear boundaries and decorum, were near alien concepts. Dorsal fin deflates and retracts flat against his back, Kalon moving to nearest rock, hoisting himself half from waters, in efforts to ... what ; ease the other ? Hardly ; lapping tides were going to become difficult to fight, by the time visitor departed with his prize.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤEfforts to goad, are not missed. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤEntirely, ignored.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ❝ Merely advising, it doesn't happen again. ❞

Tail is tucked tight against him, though much of it continues to drape into unsteady sea, head turning. The tide was indeed, ebbing outward. This little encounter, could not be entertained for much longer, lest the Mer find himself beached.

' i have no use for your turning of tides. '

she's glad he's away from her, that there is distance between them. the last thing she wants is to be close any longer. she remembers her pod telling her to stay away, to keep herself from the he-witch of stories as old as time. she's not entirely sure how she'd even allowed herself to wander to his dwelling place.

' i certainly don't need to be owing you anything. '

ㅤ

A soft bout of laughter, a giggle near, as she speaks with bravery. The fins of too many, too many, wilt to his voice, concaving to his will without a mere ounce of effort exuded. Yet, now, he is faced with another query ; if she was not here, for his assistance, his abilities and talents, WHAT, in the breadth of the seas, could bring her here ?

"Yes, yes, you must be very bored."

The briny tang of the salty sea air did something to ease what might have otherwise been a tense confrontation, but after so long, too many of these encounters panned out similarly. Maybe it was arrogance to be so self-assured in their ability, but it was far better than being unsure and feeble. That would've been far too exploitable.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ❝ Is that so ... ❞

THE BAY OF SORROWS ; A name given, by those that would suffer, at the webbed hands of those who would merely call the sea HOME. Mage, or otherwise ; They were brazen, bold. It was almost as refreshing as fresh - water to the ever - parched throats of men. Tentacled accomplice is set back into its' pool, where promptly it does swim away, to hide, to prolong whatever meaningless existence it'd found.