What Settled Ashore

Players:

Theresa

Durante

It's a quiet, sunny afternoon here at South Beach. There are a few people milling about and enjoying the end of summer and still others just strolling the boardwalk with just enough determination to prove that they're on their way somewhere. The water's relatively calm today, crashing upon the shore with minimal noise. The scent of the sea is especially powerful; salt and just a hint of something less than pleasant.

Durante walks down the boardwalk in thought on an out-of-the-blue idea he had earlier in the day. The young man looking to be about fifteen oddly wears a long sleeve coat, his hands out of sight due to the length of the sleeves.

Dressed in a light pair of faded blue jeans, sneakers and a light green babydoll t-shirt, Theresa walks along the boardwalk apparently enjoying some of the end of summer sun, despite her fair complexion. There are signs of sunblock, however, including the scent of coconuts around her person. She stops for a moment and leans against a lamppost, looking out across the sand to the water before drawing in a deep breath of that salty air; she then makes a bit of a face as she seems to pick up very faintly on that other scent, but then looks on, apparently dismissing it.

A young woman's set up a couple of chairs and seems to be offering caricature drawings. There are four framed examples leaning against the bench she's taken up ranging from realistic to silly. Without a customer to help, her attention is on the water and she's drawing something with earnest. She's roughly mid-twenties, blond and dressed in black jeans and a white blouse with the sleeves rolled up. Hair's tied back in a hasty sort of way as if little attention were paid to her appearance.

Durante continues his thoughtful walk, at least until he draws near the artist on the boardwalk. He then glances up to look to her and then the art smiling softly. He seems almost ready to have a seat but seems to change his mind last minute. He then seems to just watch her paint, as though to get his mind off things for awhile.

Slowly, Theresa is also drawn to the young artist, pushing away from her lamppost leanings so that she can approach to watch her with a bit of a trained eye. It's only when she's gotten a little closer that she speaks. "You have good form," she offers in that sing-song quality of dialect which makes suggestions of an emerald isle far across the ocean. She looks to the sketch, then back at the girl, not yet turning her attentions to the other standing near.

"Thank you," The artist turns to look at her building audience and flushes just a -little-. Enough to put pink her cheeks. "I don't usually do landscapes but there's something about the sea today that spoke to me. Either of you interested in one of the caricatures? They're going cheap today since I'm mostly just doing it for nostalgia purposes."

A sand fight breaks out on the beach between two kids who laugh and shout. The parents watch impassively, debating privately as to whether or not they should stop it. They get bored literally in less than a minute and gather up buckets to start an excavation project. The digging begins and things seem to return to a normal volume and state for the time being.

Durante continues to watch the brush strokes, however when the artist and the other woman speaks he simply answers the former's question with the word "Beautiful." though whether he is talking about the art or the artist is subject to debate. He glances to the 'fight' for a moment before looking to the sea and back to artistic version as though comparing them further.

Smiling broadly, Theresa replies, "Caricatures are quite difficult to master and do just right. I never could get the hang of them." Another artist in the crowd? Shaking her head, she murmurs almost self-consciously, "Oh... no, no, thank you however. That's quite kind of you. It's such a lovely day. I don't believe I could sit still too long." Glancing over at Durante as he comments on the art, she nods at him as she adds, "Perhaps the lad would like one." The childish sand-fight catches her attention briefly as she chuckles in amusement because of it, momentarily distracted.

The details of the drawing are exquisite. It's beyond just a representation--it's a truly captured form of what a person can see out there and there's something more: it's hard to explain but one can feel the sea in looking at the drawing. This is likely what art students and teachers refer to as layering; drawing out the visual and turning it into something spiritual.

"Sure," The artist motions for Durante. "Have a seat if you'd like. I can work on the seascape anytime." She waits for his answer before setting up for the drawing however.

Meanwhile, one of the kids stands up from what they're doing and points out at the sea. "Look Sarah!" He shouts his sister's name and she lets out an annoyed sigh. "Whhhaaaat, Marcus?" She turns to follow his finger and shouts out "Whoa!" They seem to be looking at an especially big wave some hundred or so yards from the shore. It's just a big bulb right now; not dangerous or anything. Just way bigger than what's been crashing for a while.

Durante states, "I'd better not." then looks out as the children make their exclamations. His attention now seems focused on the odd wave, with a curiously raised brow.

As Durante declines, Theresa looks back with a chuckle. "Aw, the poor lad's shy, perhaps. Well, if he won't, perhaps I shall after all. An artist needs to make her pence somehow, righ--?" She pauses as Durante's expression catches her eye, stopping her in mid-sentence and mid-seating as she had been moving into one of the chairs. She slowly rises again to look out toward the water. "What?" she asks, apparently both questioning what it is he's seeing... and perhaps seeking confirmation of whatever she's managed to spot.

"Stay back from it, Marcus," The boy's mother says this loud enough to be heard but the boy is having none of that. He's moved down to the edge of the water and is peering hard. He points excitedly, bouncing in his step.

"There's something in it Sarah! Look! Look! Look!" Sarah doesn't seem so keen to satiate curiosity so she moves back by her mother and asks "What is it?"

The artist glances over casually and frowns. "There -is- something in it..." She mutters softly, closing her book and rising up slowly. "Do you see it?" And as she asks that, there obviously -is- something in it. Something big... green and it's moving--writhing around as it comes crashing toward the shore.

Durante darts forward and jumps over the railing using his hands as a fulcrum, though his hands are back under his sleeves before any can really notice their coloring. He then starts a steady but calm pace towards the boy silently. Though what his intention with the boy is is up to perception and assumptions. Though his pace seems to attempt to match the being in the wave, as though trying to get to the boy first.

At first, she thinks it's simply the imaginings of two young children, but as the artist confirms what the children are seeing, Theresa turns herself bodily toward the incoming wave and... big green thing, instead of looking over her shoulder. Her eyes slowly widen as she murmurs, "Sweet Mother of God..." As she sees Durante vaulting over the railing, she hollers out shrilly, "The children! Get the children out of there!" Already, she's in motion, climbing over the railing with less grace than Durante, apparently only thinking about the kids... or at least the one who seems to be in the direct line of whatever is hitting the beach right about now.

The parents also begin towards Marcus. And people are starting to stop what they're doing to watch. No one had taken much note of what was happening til the shouting started. Now, there's an audience. The wave begins to crest and there's a gigantic roar; a monstrous sound like a cross between an elephant and a lion. The head of this beast can be seen. It's like a picture of Nessy or something but with fangs. This is not the benevolent beast that takes out kelp and weeds. It looks like it could swallow a great white in a single gulp. Worse though, it seems to be injured and cuts can be seen all along it's neck.

Durante reaches over to grab the boy and sling his arm back. It is enough force to send the boy flying a few feet but given the relatively little force of the throw and the softness of the sand it wouldn't hurt the boy. As Durante places himself in the path of the wave standing firmly as though to take the force with his own body. Though a bit small he is wiry. He seems more concerned with sacrificing his own health to ensure the children are unharmed. Durante however seems intent on facing down the beast but does raise a brow for a moment at the wounds. He seems to be waiting for the creature to move first. Though his small lean form would suggest a degree of agility and speed if he is fit enough.

"Sweet Mother Mary and Joseph!" Theresa cries out, stumbling a bit in her run across the uneven sand until she actually stops, caught up in the sheer terror of viewing such a sight. Watching the beast for a moment, she temporarily forgets about the young boy in her own fear until she sees him flying back a few feet. Drawing in a deep, shuddering breath, she launches herself forward again, trying to get to the boy to drag him further back, yelling at Durante, "Get out of there!"

As might be expected when a big green sea monster decides to come ashore, people start panicking and freaking out. Those immediately on the beach start to flee. Marcus cries out as he's tossed and when he lands he starts freaking out too. However, Theresa gets to him and drags him back to the parents who collect their children and retreat to the relative safety of the boardwalk.

Other people take pictures, run, scream, point and do all the things that make mobs interesting and dangerous. There were people in the water that are carried by the wave to the shore as it prepares to crash down on the sand. The beast will be there shortly as well, landing about half way up (at the exact point that the children were sand fighting specifically). It roars again and now it's massive body can be seen with additional wounds all over it. Especially observant people might notice that dolphins had been chasing it and giving it a watery beat down.

Durante jumps back as the beast lands, however he just now crouches ready to move if needed but seems to just focus his mis-matched on the beast's own. As though daring it to act or possibly trying to achieve some degree of understanding or show his passive intentions... At least passive for the moment. Though his last minute jump helps him avoid some of the water as he lands he hits water before he hits beach. Though as momentum sends him into the crouch he submerges for a moment before the beached wave starts to return to the sea. This leaves Durante soaked head-to-toe but he seems more focused on the creature currently. He is also visibly shaking, though whether this is due to the water, fear, or bother is open to interpretation. He doesn't appear to notice the dolphins, but then the beast does kind of take up his field of view given he is now only six to ten feet away.

Once Marcus is safely in the arms of his parents, Theresa jumps back up to her feet and turns to face in the direction of the beast. As she's standing further back than Durante, she takes a brief second to note the dolphins before she drags her fearful gaze back up toward the creature. "You're certainly not a wee beastie, are you?" she says apparently to the enraged thing, more out of a need to say something lest her brain focus on trying to comprehend what she's seeing. But for the moment, she seems rooted to the spot, waiting to see what the creature will do, perhaps.

The wave crashes down hard and the beast strikes the sand with a momentous thud. It's not quite enough to shake the ground but it's definitely loud enough to draw screams from the crowd. As the water drifts back into the sea, the body of the thing can be seen; bulbous, meant for deep sea travel with large fins and it's beyond injured. Gaping wounds hang open with slabs of flesh pealed back to reveal bones. It barks out its rage and lashes out at the nearest person; at anything to satiate its need for violence.

Durante thrusts his body forward as the beast lashes out in violence i an attempt to avoid the attack by moving under it. However he also use the motion to thrust his body towards the creature's chest in a kind of double-punch. However hidden under his sleeves he now sports a couple stiletto spikes over a foot long. Though his soaked coat creates more drag then normal, if timed right it should be effective.

Despite the fear in her and the shrill screams and yells of fear around her, Theresa has not once screamed. Perhaps she's just been too terrified to do so or perhaps she just has a fair amount of control. Once more, she yells to Durante, "Get /out/ of there! Get back! It's going to hurt you!" Or worse. "What are you doing??" Her voice just barely contains her panic, but so far, she has not yet moved forward.

A man who has just gotten out of the water is literally snapped in two as he tries to flee. This gives Durante enough time to sink his stilettos into the beast but it's fairly obvious that it's flesh is far too thick for anything short of a whale skinner to do much good. Whatever caused those cuts must've been huge--perhaps a submarine propeller even. The thing doesn't even seem to notice that it's been attacked and gobbles down the torso person of the person slain. That's enough for people to run, screaming and fleeing from the beach.

Durante pulls out the tips which have barely pushed into the springy flesh. As he seems mostly unnoticed so far he reaches into his coat a bit below the collar to press an unseen button, though as it was submerged for a few seconds in salt water, whether it still works or not can only be guessed. He then shouts, "Clear the beach!" He then moves around and tries to find the largest damaged area he can and 'punches' it with a reformed spike. Perhaps with the flesh out of the way he can draw attention to him. As he seems to be getting all the attention on him and away from the crowd.

Blinking at the sudden carnage, the blood rushes from Theresa's face. Her fear doubles, triples... multiplies faster than she can control it. As she sees the creature feast upon the torso of the person snapped in half, something happens that hasn't happened in a long time... she opens her mouth and suddenly voices her terror in a way she she's been so careful not to. She screams. The sound erupts from her like a freight train, echoing and reverberating off of every surface before her as it very quickly becomes sonic, aimed apparently haphazardly at the beast before her... though because it's out of terror, it's out of any kind of control...

At this point, the beach is mostly cleared. Anyone left is running like crazy. The beast continues to flail around, it's maw now bloody. The scream draws it's attention however and it turns to look -right at- Theresa. All that crazy rage that it was exposing before seems to be gone and it has a very sentient gleam in its deep, black eyes.

Durante jerks back at the last minute due to the scream, hands of exposed bone covering his ears due to the scream, though Theresa is likely the only one close enough or paying attention enough to notice it. After a bit of 'ringing' he jerks his head to the creature as though expecting an attack. However as the creature seems more entranced he stands down and slowly and calmly makes a wide circle around and away from the creature as though to move beside or behind Theresa. He now seems to be studying the creature more.

Durante's motions aren't even noticed. Eventually, Theresa seems to run out of breath for the first scream and the sonic sound dies on her trembling lips. She's staring, wide-eyed, at the creature which seems to be so intently focused upon her. "Oh God," she whispers before she realizes what she's done. Perhaps recognizing that the thing might very well come after her at this point, she sucks in another breath of air, this time intending to release another scream...

"Please," The voice from the creature might be more startling than it's form. It speaks with a clear, deep diction though the fangs get in the way of some syllables. There's weakness in its face. It's fading quickly. "Help them all. They do such terrible things to... to us... to all of us.. help them..." It struggles to hold it's head up but flops, striking the sand with a whimper and a sigh. Into death.

Durante moves beside Theresa and gentle grips her shoulders and whisper, "Don't. Either you've got it curious or your sound might remind it of whales or possibly it's own language. If it sought to harm you it likely would attack by now..." Though his hands are shaking about as much as Theresa is. But he is cut off as the creature actually speaks which just stuns Durante into silence, slack jawed.

Theresa just about chokes on her own breath as the voice issuing forth from the creature grabs her attention more than Durante's whispered words. Knees trembling, she doesn't let loose another sonic scream, but she doesn't exactly move closer to the dying beast, even after it finally drops its head in death. Its words ring through her shocked brain for a moment before she begins to shake uncontrollably. "What... what on God's green earth.... was that?" she manages to murmur, staring at the thing.

The two are approached by the young artist who never actually left the scene but she definitely kept her distance back at the boardwalk. "Are you both alright?" She asks, deeply concerned. "That was brave. I think the police are coming or something... there're sirens." And they can be heard off in the distance. "That poor man..." This said in the direction of the guy who was bitten in half; her comment might seem a bit obvious but there's not much more to be said. She maintains some distance from Theresa and Durante though her attention is now on the beast. "Did that really -talk-?"

Durante shakes his head, brought out of his own stunned silence by Theresa's words and utters softly, "I doubt it'd Nessy." he then starts to move towards the creature, more visibly shaken by fear now the ordeal is over. He seems to want to take another look but doesn't appear concerned about a possible attack. He doesn't seem to notice the artist or the sirens yet, as though curiosity is stronger right now.

Still shaking, Theresa replies almost hesitantly to the approaching artist, "Hm? Wh-what? Oh... I'm f-fine. Not hurt. More than I can say for that poor fellow down there..." Come to think of it, she had forgotten about him until now. Spotting the portion that wasn't eaten, she suddenly turns very nearly green, looking quite ill as she glances away, gripping her stomach as she takes a few deep breaths. "I just... yes... unless we're both mad as hatters, it spoke..."

"Maybe we should step further back," The artist offers to Theresa, extending a hand. "Until the authorities arrive at least. Lord knows what that thing might have... some kind of.. illness or something. Who knows?"

The creature itself sizzles in the sun like bacon on a greased up pan and the flesh smokes. If the area had a hint of stink before, it's far worse now. In fact, it smells like a slaughterhouse with blood thick in the air: irony, thick and sickly-sweet.

Durante looks over the corpse as though to imprint in his mind all he can about the details of how it looks, size, even looking to the corpse and seemingly swallowing some vomit coming up before placing a sleeve to his nose and steps a bit closer as though to examine the bite mark. He then quickly turns away and takes a few steps away before coughing harshly, bordering on dry-heaving for a few moments. He then looks up to notice the other two, the ringing in his ears calmed a bit. He however now hears the sirens and seems torn between leaving, possibly further study of the creature, and the other two. He then mutters, "If only it could be moved before they got here.

Theresa accepts the artists' offered hand as she moves back with the woman on shaky legs. She doesn't seem to be too concerned with the sound of sirens approaching. "You have a point, lass," she replies. Glancing over at Durante as he re-joins them, she asks curiously, trying hard not to gag at the smell and the sight just down the beach, "Why should it be moved? Shouldn't the scene be just as it was so they can figure something out about it?"

"I'm Cassandra by the way," She adds as they start to step back and adds in Durante's direction. "Yeah, they won't be moving that without a chinook or something though frankly, I think that they'll be lucky to get anything from it before it sizzles away. It's like... a slug or something the way the sun's getting it. See?" And it's true; the skin seems to be melting just like a slug's body in salt. People who fled before have returned, curious but careful. Taking more pictures and filming it with miniature cameras. Someone even gets up the nerve and chucks a rock at it.

Durante coughs loudly, likely to drive the smell from his nostrils and says, "It's last words about horrible things being done to it's 'people', yet what do you think will be done to that thing?" He then looks back to the sizzling remains and says, "And if it couldn't be found, then it could be viewed as some freak occurrence even with witnesses. But if it wasn't here it wouldn't be butchered. And most likely humans did this, look at those wounds. Something strong and sharp had to go through that flesh how spongy it is." He then looks to notice the dissolving body and nods to Cassandra. However at the return of cameras he turns his back to the crowd or tries to use the two women to block a view of his face and body.

Theresa bobs her head a bit at Cassandra, replying with, "Theresa," before glancing back over toward the sizzling mass. Glancing back away, she replies, "I don't think we need to be worrying ourselves about moving that thing, no..." As Durante starts going on about 'butchered' and 'spongy flesh', she starts to look even more green around the gills, placing her hand over her mouth as though to prevent herself from losing her lunch. "Please... just... somehow, answers need to be found and hiding it isn't going to do that," she states.

"Look!" Someone close to the beast is gesturing excitedly to the front fin. The guy in question has a shirt pressed hard over his mouth and nose as he looks. "It had a ring! A big ol' diamond ring!" He snatches it up and withdraws, coughing a bunch of times. "That fin thing had a hand on the end! Like a human hand!" People are obviously disgusted but curiosity wins out and some of them join him, peering over his shoulder at what he's holding. And indeed, it's a diamond engagement ring.

"I think I'm going to pack up," Cassie moves over to her little area and starts putting things away. "Before -I'm- sick, this place lost it's appeal for the day." To Theresa she asks. "Can I get you a coffee or something? You look like you could use a drink."

Durante starts to speak but as the business with the ring comes out he moves to join the group, though what his interest is doesn't seem to be curiosity. Though he is still a bit wet despite a bit of drying, that coat is likely fairly absorbent.

Theresa hears the commotion about the ring but can't seem to find any further curiosity within herself right now, considering the carnage from earlier and the stench currently on the beach. She couldn't get close to that thing if she tried right now. Perhaps she'll be able to think more on it later... when she isn't focusing herself solely on keeping her stomach contents in, well, her stomach. Shaking her head at Cassie, she replies, "Coffee? That black stuff isn't strong enough. I don't even think the real Black Stuff is strong enough. Whiskey might be what the doctor ordered at this point..."

"Irish Coffee maybe?" Cas asks, glancing at the crowd with a frown. "Scavengers." That said with a bit of disgust. "I can't believe people can be so callous. Someone died here..." She shakes her head and turns her attention back to securing her attaché case. The authorities have arrived at this point and take charge, asking questions even as the paramedics move in to help anyone that might have been hurt.

Durante pushes through the crowd as though to look at the ring, however he actually tries to get close enough to take it if he can.

"That might work," Theresa agrees weakly with a bit of a nod, following the artist, looking to ill to be too disgusted. However, she does comment, "Everyone's looking for something to gain from... even another's demise." Apparently, she's not interested in staying behind to talk to the police. Nausea probably wouldn't allow it anyway. So she moves off with Cassandra, leaving Durante behind.

The guy holding the ring is allowing people to look at it, he's got a pretty good grip on it. There's a look in his eyes that suggests he feels like this is his lucky day. Even as someone in the crowd says that the cops won't let him keep it, he gives them a look that says 'let's see them take it'.

Some people do get the chance to bail without the cops stopping them; Cassie and Theresa are two of those people that can make it away without being bothered. There are more pressing matters; like a teenager who has decided to climb up on the beast and slips on the rib bone before falling into where it's stomach was. His cries can be heard even as his callous friends laugh at him. The cops, not amused, send some guys over to secure that nonsense even as two officers approach the 'ring' crowd.

Durante moves to grab the 'ring bearer's' arm as though to move it out of sight and pull it down and tries to whisper, "The cops are coming, come on I got an idea to get ya out." in a conspiratorial way.

Theresa idly glances over her shoulder at the sound of the teenager's cries from within the creature grabs her attention. Her gaze flickers onto Durante's form curiously, as though she's wondering what he's attempting to do.

"What've you guys got going on?" The cop asks the ring crowd and most of the people disperse, leaving Durante and the 'ringbearer' alone.

"Nothin' officer," Says the guy, who's arm is being held by Durante. "Just found somethin' on the beach. I figured I'd give it to lost and found or something." He tries to shake his arm free of Durante.

"Uh huh," Says the cop. "What was it? Let's see?"

Durante let's go and starts to walk away with the rest of the group as though to leave the man red-handed with the ring. He just says, "I was trying to get a look at what the fuss was about."

Theresa shakes her head and doesn't bother hiding her disgust, following Cassie along toward the boardwalk, though her steps have slowed considerably.

The ring is confiscated. The guy, irritated, doesn't put up any sort of protest but goes back to his business. The flesh of the monster has entirely disolved away and the bones seem to be next. The remains of the man are removed (including the upper half of him that was in the stomach of the beast and consequently, the reason that the teenager was freaking out--he fell right in them).

Durante unable to get a view at anything he moves to try and leave the area, maybe he can catch back up with the two older women.