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 Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 5:44 pm
"Its rude to leave him out," Maia said, making a face at Toby. "And he likes swimming, don't you, Dari? It'll be even more fun with all of us going." She helped gather their things. "We could have our picnic on the boat," she suggested, looking out towards the water.
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 5:48 pm
Over the years, Toby and Dari had come to an understanding of each other. Toby always preferred to have his partner with him, but sometimes the risks weren't worth the benefits. That was always Dari's choice. It had taken Toby a long time to really believe the alien didn't mind, but sometimes he didn't. Sometimes he liked to be doing his own thing as much as anyone else, and so nobody responded to Maia's initial comment.
"Sure, we can," Toby said with a nod. He tucked everything back into its now minutely more sandy bag and started for the parking lot barefoot.
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 6:17 pm
Maia followed Toby up to the parking lot, making a face at the sensation of hot sand against the bottoms of her feet. She offered Dari her hand. "When we do go swimming together, you can help me splash Toby."
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 6:40 pm
Rather than respond verbally, Dari's expression went thoughtful. What would be the most effective shape and strength for splashing? Something hard. How long would he have to prepare?
Back at the car the cooler was gathered and the beach items set aside, as well as a new layer of sunscreen on the bathers. Then it was to another area of the lake, to the launch, then Dari and Maia got to keep the boat steady while Toby reparked the car nearby, and within minutes he was back and the group of them were adrift in the water, Toby at the controls. The werewolf sighed happily.
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 7:08 pm
Maia immediately went closer to Toby. She took the seat nearest to him. "Can you show me how to drive a boat?" she asked, curiously. Toby seemed to enjoy it so much, it must be fun.
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 7:11 pm
"Uhhhh..." There were certain risks when allowing untrained folks to take over large vehicles, especially if they didn't have a driver's license as it was. "Maybe so other time, when there aren't so many people out." People, innocent children, public property, expensive boats...
Dari lounged in front of them, staring out at the water. It was a shame nobody he loved would ever see it the way he did.
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 7:22 pm
"Next weekend?" Maia asked. She seemed to lose interest in the boat's controls and instead followed Dari's gaze. She moved to sit beside him instead. "Its beautiful, huh? A different kind of beautiful than the ocean, but still beautiful." She gave him a smile.
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 7:46 pm
"Maybe," Toby replied. Probably not. He was relieved when Maia abandoned her post to chat with his partner.
"It is," Dari responded. His eyes didn't move from the water, but then they really didn't have to. "It's different, for certain, but water is always rather beautiful."
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 8:08 pm
"I love it," Maia said. She wondered how safe it'd be to climb closer to the water on this boat. With Toby behind the wheel it was bound to go fast. "It looks different to you?" she asked. He certainly seemed intent on it.
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 8:10 pm
"Different than what?" Dari asked, turning his head to Maia. It was a function he'd had to learn. It was something else to keep humanity from growing unnerved at how different he was. It made him feel like he fit in, even if he didn't really have to do it. "Different from the ocean? Or different from what you see?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 8:18 pm
"Both," Maia said. "I think the ocean has more color, but only because of what lives inside it. The fish I saw were tiny here. Minnows maybe?" She climbed to the front of the boat and sat, watching the water. "Dari, come on," she invited.
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 8:28 pm
"The answers are yes and 'probably yes.' We've determined that I can see things that humanity cannot, but what those things are is hard to describe. The colors, though. Many more colors." He watched Maia move to the front of the boat and, at her urging, went with her. He tilted his head up against the misty spray. His eyes didn't close, it would be a difficult procedure, but he could feel the same bliss.
"People believe that trout are rather monochromatic," he said then, looking down at the water. No fish had come near the wake of the boat. "Brown. So many colors are under the human label of 'brown.' They're not the most exciting-looking for sure, but they're not the most boring either."
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 8:40 pm
"There's a lot of shades of brown, though," Maia tried to assure him. "I know shrimp see so many more colors than we do, and you probably see even more than they do--she looked to the water and tried to imagine what Dari might have been seeing.
"Nothings boring to me," She mused. "Well. Not yet. I'm seeing everything for the first time still. And feeling things. My heart kept acting up earlier. I'm going to ask Lori about that Monday." Bleh. She hoped it wasn't some human sickness.
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 8:46 pm
"Oh, yes, of course." There was no question that every color came in all sorts of different shades. Some shades, though, were entirely different colors at times. "We'll never know how many colors there are. Some may only exist on different planets or in different solar systems. It's better to be grateful for what you do have than worry about what you don't."
The mention of some ailment worried him, though.
"Your heart? What did it feel like? Did you feel faint at all, or nauseated?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 8:54 pm
"It's exciting to know there's always going to be things to learn about and see," Maia said with a smile. New things certainly caught her interest. "We have all the time in the world to see what's on this planet. Maybe one day we could visit another." She looked towards the sky. "What do you see when you look at stars at night, Dari?"
"No, neither. It sped up and it felt like I'd eaten a bunch of live fish and they were still moving."
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