|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 11:39 am
Poor, stupid female. It was a wonder she was still alive. Letting freaks lurk outside her place? A shame. Even humans should have enough sense to defend their own territories. Bolide rolled his eyes (a complicated procedure) but remained silent. Honestly, the way they acted, he wouldn't be surprised if humans went around apologizing to their own murderers for the mess the killing made. It was a disgrace.
"I am Bolide," he rumbled, shambling along after the woman. He had been spending too much time in the sea lately. Walking on dryland was even more difficult than usual. Bolide measured his steps carefully, not wanting to make a mistake and squash the woman. "A-lex-izzz," he drawled. "A lex is what? Ha! You see?"
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:56 pm
In all honesty, Alexis was too afraid to act on her suspicions. It wasn’t like the Pikaia’s Children fanatics went around wearing badges and costumes to identify themselves. They could be anyone, anywhere and that frightened Alexis. They used to just be an annoying nuisance, but now they were a threat. Any police officer could turn against her in an instant if they ever found out about Eclipse. Hey, she caught that eye roll!
“Well, it’s very nice to meet you, Bolide.” Alexis kept her distance from the giant shark-creature but tried to maintain a friendly appearance. His joke was lame beyond belief but she chuckled. “Yeah, that’s a good one!”
She wiped a bead of sweat off her forehead and glanced at the noon sun. If they didn’t find the pet shop soon, they’d have to seek shelter elsewhere. Alexis didn’t think the clearly aquatic being would particularly enjoy being stuck with her outside for any length of time anyway, and she didn’t want to make those teeth cranky.
“You wouldn’t happen to know where the pet store is, would you?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 9:38 pm
The city confused Bolide. Even before his lengthy absence, he hadn't known its layout very well. Still, it wouldn't do to seem stupid in front of his new friend. She was counting on him! Bolide frowned fiercely as he concentrated. Pet shop. Pet shop. Yes, he had been to pet shops. He knew that she wanted fish, so it would have to be a fish store.
Fortunately, an aquarium store was not far away. Even with the hotdoggy stench sliming up his sinuses Bolide could pick out a trace of chemicals in the air. Fish people liked to dump chemicals in their perfectly good water. Bolide knew this. He had once stuck his head in a tank for a snack and the slightly weird tang of not-real ocean water had put him off his lunch. Gross, it was.
"We are going," he said proudly, stomping down the street. The scent was faint, yes, but stronger now. Coming from ... there. Bolide stared blearily at the cluster of glass-fronted stores. The neon signs hurt his eyes too much for him to attempt to read them, but he recognized the crude outline of a fish.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 9:56 pm
Wow, he really did seem to know his way around. Alexis hurried after him, though there was little chance of losing him in a crowd. Before long she found herself scanning the signs above the charming little shops that lined the street. The neon fish caught her eye and she smiled.
“Thanks, Bolide!” Alexis exclaimed, very impressed. She thought at the rate she’d been going that she would be lost in the back streets forever. “I’ll just be in there a minute; I know exactly what I need. You don’t have to wait for me though, if you don’t want to.” She didn’t know what sort of social lives Cambrian creatures had. Bolide could very well have a pressing engagement or a date lined up and she didn’t want to impose.
The image of Bolide in a suit and tie was too much.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:10 pm
Bolide nodded regally and settled himself down outside the shop. If Alexis too k too long he would have to leave. He was already getting dirty looks. They would probably call the police on him for 'loitering'. Or being a public nuisance, ha, that was a good one. People could be so irritating. But this Alexis seemed nice. Bolide needed friends, needed them badly. He would wait for as long as he could.
Even with his tail curled primly about his ankles, the ungainly Cambrian looked more like a giant gargoyle than an inoffensive non-loiterer. He kept his mouth shut and held himself perfectly still, not wanting to unsettle anyone as he waited for the human to come back out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:28 pm
Alexis glanced back at Bolide before entering the shop. He looked almost cute, in a monsterish sort of way.
She hurried through the aisles, shaking off the employees that came to help her. This would not be a repeat performance of the last time she tried to purchase this stuff. In the end, Alexis emerged from the store burdened with a large tank and several bags containing treats and toys for Eclipse to enjoy.
“I think we should get out of here,” Alexis said, as soon as she was close to Bolide. “People are looking at you kind of funny, and these bags are pretty heavy”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:40 pm
She wanted to go too? That was a relief. Bolide rose slowly, wincing at the effort it took to stand straight. He really did need to get out of the water more. The Cambrian offered a foreclaw to Alexis. "I am carrying it for you?" That big bag of junk looked far too heavy for the little human. Didn't seem to be any fish in it, though. Just junk. Oh well, not that he would have eaten a pet fish anyways. Really, he wouldn't have.
Alexis seemed rather nervous. Maybe she was still worrying about those bad folk. Huh, Bolide could take care of them if they tried to bother her. To be safe, he would guard her on the way to wherever. His legs were getting tired, but he liked being the protector. It was nice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:04 pm
“Thank you!” relieved, Alexis handed the tank over to Bolide, but kept the bags herself. She didn’t mind sharing the load (in all honesty, she’d been hoping he would offer) but she wouldn’t make him carry all of it. Girls weren’t weaklings, after all.
“I think I can find my way home this time,” Alexis chattered. “See, I moved here pretty recently and I haven’t really learned my way around the city all that well. After Eclipse came along I just sort of stopped going out.” This was pleasant. It had been ages since Alexis had just gone for a walk on a sunny afternoon. If she wasn’t looking, she could sort of pretend that Bolide was normal company.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:03 pm
Bolide wasn't much for small talk. The huge Cambrian nodded affably, making a grumbling noise. Silly of her to insist on carrying the smaller bags, but he supposed she had her pride. He clutched the tank protectively to his chest. He wouldn't drop it, oh no, no.
"How far?" Bolide was enjoying the company, but he was also getting tired. The thought of going too deep into the city made him anxious as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:11 pm
“Not much further,” Alexis said. As much as she was enjoying their walk together, she was starting to miss Eclipse. The thought of him in his lonely little bowl tugged at her heartstrings and she unconsciously picked up the pace.
The trip home was certainly easier than the trip there, and before long Alexis found herself in an area she recognized. A few blocks later, she stopped in front of an apartment building and turned to Bolide. “Well, this is it. I would invite you in but …” she didn’t want him eating her fish. “I’m a little tired now.”
A thought struck her. “Hey, don’t forget that fish! When you bring it over, I could cook it for dinner, if you’d like to join me.” If she was going to be a part of the world of the Cambrian-folk, she may as well make some friends. Besides, it was getting pretty lonely with only a glorified betta for companionship.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:21 pm
The fish! He had almost forgotten it himself. Bolide carefully handed the fish tank over and puffed himself up proudly. "Okay. I go back to the beach now, to be bringing you fish tomorrow, hey?" He was a little tired too, but he didn't want to admit that. A good, long, and most importantly buoyant nap was what he needed.
Bolide stepped back and bobbed his head in a slight bow. "Good bye, Lex. To be seeing you." It hadn't been too far after all. If he shambled off at speed he could probably make it to the soothing water well within the hour. Bolide grinned at his new friend and turned to leave. Good, good. He had made a friend. Feeling quite cheerful despite his fatigue, the Cambrian turned to go.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:45 pm
“That sounds good to me.” With a broad smile, Alexis grabbed her aquarium equipment and watched the Cambrian leave. She didn’t know much about his anatomy, but he seemed a little worn out. Dinner would be interesting; what did Bolide’s species eat?
“Bye, Bolide! Thank you for your help!” With that, Alexis entered the building, thoughts of pH and water filters on her mind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
