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Taavi's Profile

Name: Taavi Jӓrvien
Age: 58 (Rough estimate. My Daughter is 38, so I expect I'm some bit older than that. I don't really know for sure, my parents never kept good records.)
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Bisexual.
Species: Merman. Slightly altered from the norm, but I am indeed a fishman.
Any Children?: Yes, two. Siska is the older one, a girl, and Veli is my younger son.
About Me: Ah... I wouldn't say I'm hard to get along with. I'm intelligent, that is for sure, and I may not always get jokes. I won't lie and say I'm not odd, however. I am quite odd. I don't understand a lot of things, and any person that I meet will have to understand that.

I am mostly quiet when left to my own devices, enjoying to read and research. When exposed to other people I enjoy watching them, observing their dealings and such. I do have a sense of humor, though it is odd, just like the rest of me.

Hobbies: Reading and learning, as nerdish as that is. I also enjoy gardening, landscaping, and martial arts. Not for the fighting, but to stay limber and to know how to move. Perhaps I will take up dancing.

Talents: Of course, there are my racial talents. I can breathe underwater, am a talented swimmer, and have the ability to manipulate water. I'm also talented in baking and gardening. I have quite the green thumb. I'm also fairly good at pleasing my partner. Call it a gift.

Looking For: Hmm... A partner. I'm not interested in anyone who'll try to dominate me, nor am I looking to dominate anyone else, nor am I interested in someone who is weak. I look for someone who can stand on their own feet, yet can stand to be pulled into a couple. I would never loose my sense of identity for a relationship, and I do not want someone who will cling to me, who thinks that a couple will identify who they are. I... Am also somewhat slow to admit feelings, so someone who could understand that would also be prudent.

Other I am afraid that I may not be a nice person if I am annoyed. I can revert to some... Very eccentric tendencies which have banned me from several restaurants after bad dates.

Fun fishy facts! surprised !

* Taavi does not, in fact, know how old he is. He knows that his oldest daughter is thirty eight, so he just added some numbers to that. He's guessing low.

* He has two children, Siska and Veli, and one ex-wife-thing, Taika. He is on speaking terms with the first two, not with the last.

* Veli is not his son by blood. Taika slept around, got pregnant with another merman's baby, and left soon after he was born. Taavi raised him by himself in the water around Hawaii.

* In his family, each member has one of the three main 'talents' of their race. Siska can sing like a siren, drawing all near her into a hypnotized state if she wants. Veli can talk to fish and other aquatic animals, gaining their trust. Taavi has control over water. Anything liquid he can make move if he concentrates enough, though it's much easier to do if he's in the liquid. Do not screw with him when he's in the water.

* He heals abnormally fast, and is immune to most human diseases. He also has gills, because homeboy has to breathe underwater somehow.

* Most Mermen have a human and a merman form. However, Taavi is a combination of both forms. He can not change anymore human, nor anymore like his merform. This is caused by neglecting a ritual of his people for too long.

* When Taavi ignored said ritual, it caused him to loose some racial qualities that he had. Originally he had possessed a small bit of animal empathy, but that's gone now. Ignoring it nearly killed him, and he will fondly refer to it as: 'That time I got too curious and nearly killed myself'. Of course, there are many times like that...

* Siska frequently checks up on him now that Veli is happily paired off. Taavi frequently changes his phone number.

* He is proficient in marine wildlife and plant life. He is good with computers, having a penchant for most simulation games.

* When a merperson falls in love, they can be controlled by their love with a single word. When told to do something they must do it. Taavi does not know if his mixed form would protect him from this, since he's lost some of his other racial qualities. In any case, Taavi has never been in love.

* Without a doubt, he's smarter than he pretends to be. But then again, it'd be hard not to be...

Family

Siska: The first child. Siska is what you typically think of when you think a mermaid. Blonde hair, large blue eyes, buxom, beautiful. What that hides, however, is a very cool, calculating mind. Unlike the silly males of her family, Siska sees no point in settling down and is out to have as much fun in life as she can. While she is reckless, she is also terribly protective of her 'boys', as she calls her father and brother. She will do anything for them, except perhaps curb her behavior with men.

Veli: The second child. Veli is... Not your typical merman. His merform looks more like an angler fish crossed with a naga than a handsome man with a fish tail. His human form is also imperfect. Veli is, in fact, a child born out of wedlock, his mother's little mistake. This doesn't change the fact that Taavi loves his little mistake dearly. Veli is sometimes silly, and used to follow in Siska's footsteps until he met a man at a bar that stole his heart. He shares his life with him, in more ways than one, and is happy. Useless in many ways, but happy.

Taika: Taavi's 'wife'. Merpeople do not typically fall in love, and Taavi's union with Taika was only because she found him attractive. When she found someone she found more attractive, she went on a tryst with him and Veli was conceived. After he was born she left Taavi for good, returning to her northern love. Taavi does not speak of her by name. He's still kind of pissed off.

Dates to remember

Barry sat a bit nervously on a chair outside the cafe. On the table in front of him was a pair of dampened rings; one from the green tea he had just finished, and one from the chilled mint tea he was currently sipping.

Oh, the man on the note had been...large. Tan. Masculine. He was frightened, even if he seemed to think so closely to Barry's beliefs.

"Daddy...whew iss he?"

"I don't know," Barry replied to the spotted child in his lap. God, it was covered in gelato...

Being outside would put the man at a good position to see anyone who would walk up to the cafe. The usual Gaians walked by, in all their odd glory, and one man fit in decently well. Tanned skin, teal hair and, now that the weather was warm, one could see the fins on his arms.

He spotted the man and his child on his walk up, so went to their table, grinning. Such a nice smile. "Barry?"

It'd have to be, after all. He hadn't seen any other Ursisks, and those ears were rather unique.

Barry's ears folded back. Oh shi--

Maybe he'd just forgotten, or maybe he'd blocked it entirely. That day at the pond..that man swimming naked...oh, blessed beansidhe...

"Yes, of course," he said with a small smile and a blush, "It's nice to see you again." He raised his hand for a shake.

"It is." Taavi agreed, still standing. "And it's nice to see you too, Quinn."

Hey. Man raised two kids of his own. He understood that sometimes, you just couldn't get someone to watch them. Luckily, he had a good sitter for Cal, who was quite used to the horrible little screams he would give if touched.

"May I sit, or do you want me to just keep on walkin'?"

Barry grinned and his ears slowly perked back up.

"Oh, no, please, sit," he said, gesturing to a chair, "Can I get you anything?"

Quinn just waved to the man and blinked zher wide eyes. Hm! This was the man with the Little White Boy!

Taavi smiled at him and sat, leaning back against the back of the chair. "No thank you. I'm fine for now. If I need anything, I'll hail a waitress."

God, his ears were cute.

Barry nodded and one of is ears folded back as he looked over is shoulder. That damn cafe had brownies, he was almost sure of it.

That, or he was going crazy.

"Well, then," he said finally, turning back to Taavi, "How has life been?"

Taavi was watching those ears. Tee hee.

"Mmm, quite well. Still looking for a doctor for Cal, evading my daughter's phone calls, getting used to Gaian life. You?"

"I'm afraid my life is terrible uninteresting," Barry said with a little smile, "Work, sell, eat, work, eat, work, eat, sleep as much as Quinn will let me." He shrugged. Poor man.

Taavi laughed, looking down at Quinny. he knew that stage of life. Veli had been in it for years. He decided not to mention that. Might make him sad.

"What do you do for a living, then?" He was a curious man, after all.

Barry blushed again.

"I build toys," he said softly, "Toy trains, dolls, the like. I have a store on eBay." A fairy who worked on eBay. Hell yeah!

Taavi chuckled at the blush, leaning one elbow on the table. "Really? That sounds like fun." He said, grinning. "I'm terrible with computers, myself."

"I forced myself to learn," Barry nodded, "but aren't you a...scientist? Something like that?"

"I work with a lot of marine life." Taavi smiled. "But I'm useless when it comes to computers. I've ruined one or two, so I mostly keep my notes on paper."

Barry shook his head.

"I can do eBay. That's about it."

"Still, that's something." Taavi argued. "About the only thing I get is the Sims. I can usually manage to start that up without destroying my computer."

Barry nodded and sipped his tea. He had never been good with idle conversation, and he blushed deeply. What a date this was turning out to be...

Taavi leaned back in his chair, looking at the cafe. Hrm...

"I think I'm going to go ask for something to drink. Would you like anything, Quinn?"

Because, hey. Little one was here, and he wasn't gonna ignore her.

Quinn just shook zher head. She was quite happy with zher huge bowl of gelato, thankyouverymuch!

Taavi nodded and stood, disappearing inside only to return soon with a glass of water. Simple man.

"Sorry. I'm a bit rusty on the dating business on my end."

"I can't say I've ever been on a date," Barry said, face going a deep, deep red. Oh, jeez. The poor thing.

Taavi just smiled.

"Granted, we don't normally date in my culture. S'more of a... 'I find you attractive, so I'm going to beat up my peers to hang around you' kinda thing." He laughed. "Trust me, Dating's nicer."

Barry smiled.

"With my race, there is no reason for dating. We are all male. We reproduce asexually." Was that too much for a first date?

Pssssh. Man was interested in all sorts of things.

"I don't know enough about Irish Sidhe." Taavi mentioned. "But don't worry. Dating's not so bad. My son met a very nice person and's quite happy."

D'aaaw, Veli. You made your daddy proud.

"I'm happy for him," Barry smiled, "and very few know anything about Irish Sidhe. Even the Irish."

"Secretive bunch you all are, hmm?" Taavi laughed. After a moment he fished out his wallet, removing a picture.

"This is Veli, and Noah." It was a picture from the time he'd visited them in Washington. D'aaaw, Taavi was proud of his kids. His wallet was full of pictures of Veli, Siska, and Cal.

Barry smiled.

"They look happy."

He understood that love made people happy, but not what love was by any means. The poor man.

"They seem to be." Taavi smiled and put the picture away. D'aaaw.

"Good," Barry nodded and bounced Quinny on his lap a bit. He sipped his tea, and his smile only broadened.

"You seem to be very kind."

"I try." Taavi smiled.

"It hard to raise a child on your own. Good job." He knew firsthand, after all.

Barry just smiled.

"Quinn is no walk in the park, but I love it." 'It' in reference to the child.

"Every little smile is worth it."

Taavi smiled softly.

"That's generally how it goes."

Heh. Two fathers, both older than they appeared, out on a date. How amusing.

Amusing indeed. Also pretty cute.

"So. Tell me more about yourself. That profile did not divulge much." Barry shifted Quinn in his lap and ruffled zher not-hair.

"Not too much to say." Taavi crossed his arms. "I was born in Finland. Three children, Siska, Veli, and Cal. I've swam about earth a few times, settled into Hawaii while Veli grew up. Came to Gaia when I decided I needed a change. I like to garden, swim, read and research. I can't sing and fish hate me."

He laughed at himself. "I also talk too much."

Barry's eyes went wide as Taavi listed the places he'd been.

"Wow..." he mused, "I've only ever been in Ireland...and here, of course."

"Ireland is a wonderful place." Taavi grinned. "I enjoyed visiting there. Would've stayed longer if I could've."

"Oh, yes, it's wonderful," Barry grinned, "I would visit more often if I had a place to stay!"

"Hmm, I'd like to visit it again myself." Taavi smiled. There were a few people in that area he wouldn't care to see, but they could be easily avoided. "Perhaps we can do the whole tourist thing someday."

"That would be great," Barry smiled. Even if this didn't end in a romantic relationship, they would certainly be friends. Friends traveled together, right?

Why, yes. They did.

"So, what else do you like to do besides swimming and fishing?"

"And building," Barry smiled, "Ah...not much, really. I do whatever my Quinny wants to do. I'm afraid I don't have many friends."

"Quinny's lucky to have such a good father." Taavi rested both elbows on the table, looking at the pair.

"Do you think that Quinny would mind if I took you out again? Say, next week if that's good for you?"

Three things happened then in quick succession.

First, Barry's eyes wet wide

Then he blushed violently.

Finally, his ears folded back.

"Sure," he said, a slow smile crossing his face, "I'd like that."

Taavi grinned, reaching over to give his arm a little squeeze. Taavi was normally quite the touchy man, and he was being remarkably good.

"Great." He said. "And since I am the most stereotypical ba-... Merman you'll ever meet, how does dinner and a walk on the beach sound?"

Barry nodded, his blush only deepening.

"That sounds wonderful."

"Great." He said again, grinning. The man had an excellent smile. "I'll give you a call later then, to finalize the details?"

Oh, yes. Brilliant indeed.

"Yes. Yes, that sounds perfect." He took a napkin from the table and scribbled down his home number with the pen the waitress had left.

"Here," he said as he handed it to Taavi, "I'll see you later, then?"

"Of course." Taavi grinned, tucking the piece of paper into his wallet behind a picture. No loosing the number!