A small tropical forest borders the beach, cliffs and a majestic falls towering overhead. In the water there's clusters of boulders, carefully arranged for comfortable and communal sunbathing. Starting on the shore and leading into the water is an odd, clear tunnel that goes all the way down to the underwater visitor center. Massive, with clear walls, the center offers a dramatic and breathtaking view of the park's underwater life. A large open pool lay near the middle of the facility, where creatures can swim up and visit those inside the center.
By the edge of the water, a figure lay prone on the warm, dry sand, body glistening with the remnants of salt water which clung to fur and flesh as he basked in the sun. Sprawled out on his back, his lower body stretched out on its side, the Kelpietaur seemed completely at ease despite the clumps of wet sand which clung to his golden-copper hair, beginning to mat in his tail of the same color, the horse half of his body starting to seem a more dirty tan color than the light, penny color. Every once in a while, a wave would wash dangerously close to him, the tide beginning to roll in, but he merely stretched a little further, flicking his tail and ignoring the sea foam as it began to lap at his hoofs, washing over his flank.
Fynn sighed a little as he dozed, arms folded loosely across his bare chest, rumbling a content sound in the back of his throat.
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Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 9:26 pm
Nadya was nervous. Very nervous.
This was a big day and it would become a major test of her work with her 'babies'. Did she remember to feed them? Did they take their 'medication'? Did they have everything they needed? The young woman made a quick step or two toward where she usually knew 'Ariel' hung out. Nadya had sighted Fynn and offered the the figure a bright smile before she turned her attention toward the water.
She took out a clicker from a small pocket of the belt of tiny pouches while she set down a bucket near her feet. Bucket full of fish. "Ariel, my doll, are you awake?" she called, two quiet clicks came after her voice. Nadya was trying to disguise her nervousness as cheerful calmness.
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Staff Name: Nadezha Utkin [Goes by/Listens to Nadya] Job Description: Staff - Handler - Mostly at Underwater Center
Physical Description: She stands at around 5'1 with dark brown hair that cut about shoulder length and usually kept in a braid. Her eyes dark brown colored - they almost look black. Nadya is not very thin, in fact she has curves, and well built legs - like she could probably crack heads like swallows eggs with them. She smiles often and wears perscription glasses when she reads. She has a Russian accent and is very proud of her heritage.
Brief Character Profile: Miss Utkin is friendly and cheerful it probably has a lot to do with the fact that she deals with water creatures a lot - her specialty having been dolphins while she was working in college for her Marine Biology degree. Nadya never intended to stick around Wonder Park and wanted to persue her own research, but things happened. Nadya had gotten attached to some of the critters that she works with. She is motherly and protective of those she cares for.
Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 9:35 pm
Several dozen feet away, a fin splashed happily at the sound of the bucket. The water settled around the single splash, and mere moments later, a little head popped up just a few feet away, as the mermaid slid on her belly onto the coast, her tail flapping excitedly. Cordelia, known to the staff as Ariel, looked absolutely desperate for the contents of that fish bucket. She flipped over onto her back, and held her hands out, making grabby hands.
Mere seconds later, she saw the glint of Fynn nearby, and let out a sharp sound, crying out to him. Her grabby hands itched in that direction, instead. She couldn't shimmy that far, and she was already getting hesitant about how far out of the water she was, but her begging could not be helped.
The Kelpietaur opened one eye at the sound of footsteps along the beach, glancing in Nadya's direction before he opened the other, sea green eyes reflecting distinct pleasure at her approach, echoed definitively in his broad, easy-going smile. Bending his legs beneath him, Fynn rolled to push himself up, struggling to stand from the awkward lying position as his hoofs struggled in the sand. Sleeping in the water was far easier for him, but strangely enough he vastly preferred the nice warmth of the beach. As long as he didn't dry out completely, he was fine. Giving a rough, dog-like shake, the Kelpie-Centaur grinned as he trotted towards the aquatic trainer, flicking his tail contentedly back and forth. Cordelia's approach onto the beach only quickened his pace, until he was practically galloping, slowing back down to a trot as he approached the pair.
And Nadya had fish. Another day in paradise indeed.
Leaning a little up against the trainer, Fynn offered her an affectionate greeting before turning his eyes to the form laying prostrate on the sand not too far away, her hands extended to him in a distinctly begging fashion. And, as he did most days, he approached Cordelia almost immediately, his grin a little teasing as he danced around her a bit, taking a few moments before he bent his front legs, bowing enough that she could grab his waist, his forearm extending to give her something to use as leverage.
Nio Love
Pales
Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 10:00 pm
Nadya knew that if she was patient with him, Fynn would come up to her on his own and offer a greeting. One she returned with an affectionate happy sound, she was careful never to press her luck with him, just like she never pressed her luck with Ariel. She trusted them both implicitly but at the same time she was careful.
"There you are my Doll," she said softly to Ariel offered her a fish as Fynn went to interact with the mermaid. Slowly she was feeling more at ease, these were things she was used to by now. Once Ariel had her fish one was offered to Fynn as well.
"I hope you are both ready for today! Be well behaved, hm? Maybe we get good things from this, da?" She was trying to give them both a peptalk or perhaps she was more giving one to herself to calm her own nerves. Nadya was never sure how much they understood her but they seemed to on some level.
Quote:
Staff Name: Nadezha Utkin [Goes by/Listens to Nadya] Job Description: Staff - Handler - Mostly at Underwater Center
Physical Description: She stands at around 5'1 with dark brown hair that cut about shoulder length and usually kept in a braid. Her eyes dark brown colored - they almost look black. Nadya is not very thin, in fact she has curves, and well built legs - like she could probably crack heads like swallows eggs with them. She smiles often and wears perscription glasses when she reads. She has a Russian accent and is very proud of her heritage.
Brief Character Profile: Miss Utkin is friendly and cheerful it probably has a lot to do with the fact that she deals with water creatures a lot - her specialty having been dolphins while she was working in college for her Marine Biology degree. Nadya never intended to stick around Wonder Park and wanted to persue her own research, but things happened. Nadya had gotten attached to some of the critters that she works with. She is motherly and protective of those she cares for.
Nio Love
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shadica
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Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 10:17 pm
Bloodwater swam through the clear water his long red fins flowing behind him as he moved gracefully. From the distance people might mistake him for a female because of his long fins, that and people usually though of mermaids not mermen. Seeing one of the trainers come into the exhibit he swam to the area they were in. His onyx scales glittered in the sunlight as he swam just below the surface of the water
Spotting a large smooth looking rock near the surface of the water he ran his hands over it to see if it was smooth, his fins where not that strong and could tare if they got caught on sharp edges. Deeming that it was smooth enough he settled himself onto, watching the trainer intently as she talked to the others. He kept his arms in the water, he disliked how heavy they were above the surface, where his fins wouldn't weigh him down. He would stay where he was unless she called him over.
Bloodwater has short black hair, red eyes and his ears are small black fins. He has black scales going up his arms and shoulders he has fins on his arms from his wrist to his elbow and one along his back. His tail is made of the same black scales that show up on his arms and is framed by long red fins on each side and one hanging down at the bottom. His skin is a lighter shade of black than his scales.
Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 10:35 pm
Cordelia caught the fish in both hands, and rolled, hugging it as if it was the greatest of toys. She let out a sharp sound when Fynn came to play, and hugged him around the middle, pulling herself up to sit against him. There, she finally dug into her fish, her precious little face turning into a fanged, toothy nightmare. She ripped and rended the fish into pieces, chomping happily on it until it was nothing but a few bones left behind. Then she used the bones as little toys, making them walk like humans did.
Nadya was speaking, and Cordelia was listening, but she did not react. She simply played with her toys, until Nadya said the word ready. It was a trigger word, and it caught the mermaids attention instantly.
She pushed herself off, sliding back into the water, and swam deep, only to come back up to the surface and wait for a signal.
And there was the merman they called Bloodwater, watching them from afar. Cordelia's face squished with distaste. She was proud of how easily she'd taken to the training. She could do flips twice as well as him. Her tail flipped at him haughtily, but otherwise she acted like she didn't see him there. But she saw. Oh, she saw you.
If she was bothered or frightened by the way the mermaid ate her fish, it didn't show and likely because Nadya was very much used to it by now. The young woman thought it was adorable actually and that probably said something about her mindset now a days. She made a sheepish sort of expression as Ariel took her mark. The movement of Bloodwater was noted.
Well, may as well see if Ariel remembered the last trick they worked on, "Give me a beautiful flip!" She called out accompanied by a familiar series of clicks.
As she waited for Ariel to take her cue she quietly tossed over a fish to Bloodwater to see if he would catch and eat it. She was still trying to get to know that particular specimen.
Quote:
Staff Name: Nadezha Utkin [Goes by/Listens to Nadya] Job Description: Staff - Handler - Mostly at Underwater Center
Physical Description: She stands at around 5'1 with dark brown hair that cut about shoulder length and usually kept in a braid. Her eyes dark brown colored - they almost look black. Nadya is not very thin, in fact she has curves, and well built legs - like she could probably crack heads like swallows eggs with them. She smiles often and wears perscription glasses when she reads. She has a Russian accent and is very proud of her heritage.
Brief Character Profile: Miss Utkin is friendly and cheerful it probably has a lot to do with the fact that she deals with water creatures a lot - her specialty having been dolphins while she was working in college for her Marine Biology degree. Nadya never intended to stick around Wonder Park and wanted to persue her own research, but things happened. Nadya had gotten attached to some of the critters that she works with. She is motherly and protective of those she cares for.
Nio Love
shadica
x_Nata_x
Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 11:21 pm
Nadya's voice called out a command, and Cordelia responded instantly, diving back down once she pressed on the clicker. Down, and down she went, distracted only for a moment by the sight of Bloodwater's arms waving weightlessly in the water. But soon she was nearing the bottom, and she twisted up, her tail pulsing in the water hard enough to speed her journey upwards. She zoomed up, leaving a trail of bubbles behind her, until her body tore out of the surface of the water, and she flipped in a perfect circle while up in the air. The water clung to her body, leaving echoes of her movement in droplets. She straightened out once she fell, diving back into the water perfectly.
Then she stayed, just under the surface, one ear always listening for commands, while she watched from underwater for reactions. Was she perfect? Did she get a fish now? Fish now, please.
There was a soft chiming peel of delighted laughter from Nadya as the feat was performed wonderfully by Ariel. There was just something about seeing it in action that made her very happy and pleased, probably because she and the mermaid had worked tirelessly to perfect it. This wasn't the work she came to do but damned if she didn't love moments like these.
It wasn't superiority she felt. There was something deeper and kinder to it. Nadya felt she was protecting them by giving them tasks to perform and keep others from hurting them out of fright. They were her children.
"Beautiful, my Doll, beautiful. Come another fish for you," she beckoned Ariel forward so she could toss her a fish with more confidence.
Quote:
Staff Name: Nadezha Utkin [Goes by/Listens to Nadya] Job Description: Staff - Handler - Mostly at Underwater Center
Physical Description: She stands at around 5'1 with dark brown hair that cut about shoulder length and usually kept in a braid. Her eyes dark brown colored - they almost look black. Nadya is not very thin, in fact she has curves, and well built legs - like she could probably crack heads like swallows eggs with them. She smiles often and wears perscription glasses when she reads. She has a Russian accent and is very proud of her heritage.
Brief Character Profile: Miss Utkin is friendly and cheerful it probably has a lot to do with the fact that she deals with water creatures a lot - her specialty having been dolphins while she was working in college for her Marine Biology degree. Nadya never intended to stick around Wonder Park and wanted to persue her own research, but things happened. Nadya had gotten attached to some of the critters that she works with. She is motherly and protective of those she cares for.
Nio Love
shadica
Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 11:42 pm
Sanji noted the presence of one of the handlers on the beach below. He twisted through the air, a silver ribbon barely avoiding tying itself into knots. He could only go so high, but he loved the height advantage it gave him. Especially when it made it easy to see when there were handlers with food about.
He watched as one of the mermaids performed a trick, and scoffed at the pitiful jump. He harrumphed further when the faint sound of the handler's delight reached him. Really. What was so fantastic about mermaids and their little tricks?
Sanji flew lower, intending to show the handler a real feat, and make sure she knew who was really deserving of praise. Him. It was Sanji.
Name: Sanji Species: Shenlong Park Location: Curiosity Coast - Hangs out near Figment Falls most of the time. Physical Description: White with vivid red eye spots traveling down his body. Golden mane and horns. Azure eyes. Brief Character Profile: Sanji loves to fly, and can generally be found zipping in, out, and around the waterfall. He's generally benevolent, but arrogant, although he can be manipulated like butter if he's given enough compliments.
Cordelia's bobbing head disappeared the moment Nadya said fish, and her sleek body swam through the water, popping up on the shore again. Fynn was still there, and fish were still being given. It was a perfect day! She slid on her stomach, her tail flickering up into the air as she made grabby hands for the fish.
But what was this? That big flashy dragon had come to try and steal her thunder. Cordelia's handgrabs quickened, as if to say reward me please before you get distracted by the pretty dragon.
She could already felt the anxiety of the day weighing her happy little heart. Everyone was out to show her up.. everyone!
Pales
Zee Oddwyn
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 12:17 am
Thankfully Nadya didn't seem willing to tear her eyes off of the mermaid just yet at least not until the poor thing got her fish. Her eyebrow raised at the anxious way that she made her hand movements, did they have visitors already? Oh. Oh no. She forgot her speech.
Nadya paled greatly as her head tilted over toward where she expected company to be coming up to ask her questions and to make her ask her charges perform and only saw another creature coming their way.
She offered a smile. Nadya was more used to Ariel and Fynn but she was kind to others as well. "Ah, worry not little Heart. He won't take all your treats," she assured softly toward Ariel. At least she didn't intend to have the Shenlong have all the treats, that would just be rude!
Quote:
Staff Name: Nadezha Utkin [Goes by/Listens to Nadya] Job Description: Staff - Handler - Mostly at Underwater Center
Physical Description: She stands at around 5'1 with dark brown hair that cut about shoulder length and usually kept in a braid. Her eyes dark brown colored - they almost look black. Nadya is not very thin, in fact she has curves, and well built legs - like she could probably crack heads like swallows eggs with them. She smiles often and wears perscription glasses when she reads. She has a Russian accent and is very proud of her heritage.
Brief Character Profile: Miss Utkin is friendly and cheerful it probably has a lot to do with the fact that she deals with water creatures a lot - her specialty having been dolphins while she was working in college for her Marine Biology degree. Nadya never intended to stick around Wonder Park and wanted to persue her own research, but things happened. Nadya had gotten attached to some of the critters that she works with. She is motherly and protective of those she cares for.
Nio Love
Zee Oddwyn
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Zee Oddwyn
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Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 12:32 am
Sanji hissed unhappily when the handler figured out his plan. He altered his path of flight, and haughtily landed some yards away from the small gathering, acting as though that had been his plan all along.
He arched his back, and rippled his scales so that the eye spots would wink at the handler. He totally wasn't begging for treats. Sanji never begged. The handler simply had to be reminded about the proper level of awe to be shown in his presence.
And he was hungry, darn it! He sidled closer to the handler and her bucket, keeping an eye on the mermaid in the surf, and the other creatures as well.
