Strangeness at Sea

Players:

Miriam

Jean

Arranged through Caitlin, Miriam's set up a time to meet one of the people associated with a very interesting sort of place. Not that she has much in the way of details, but it did sound interesting. And, she really didn't have much to lose, by indulging curiosity. Her description's been given to Jean, and she's found them a table that allows at least for a little privacy while they talk.

Jean steps into the room, clasping her satchel to her side. She's wearing a light gray jacket that's buttoned up to the pointed lapels. Boots tap the floor as she looks around. As her eyes fall on Miriam, she smiles a bit and heads in that direction, clearing her throat as she approaches. "Hey there," She says. "I wondered if we had met from that description." She takes a seat.

Miriam looks over, and smiles when she sees a familiar face. "Hello again." she replies as Jean gets settled in her seat. "It does seem to be a very small world, for such a big city."

"Depends on who you know I suppose," Jean shrugs off her bag and settles it on the floor next to her chair. "I got Caitlin's message. How're things? How're you?"

Miriam thinks. "Things are weird." she settles on for her reply. "Between that gypsy 'Light' stuff and the sea monster off Staten Island. Heard much about all that?" she asks.

"I've heard all about it... students were present at the first and the sea monster was hard not to hear about in the news," Jean shakes her head. "You're telling me. There's a lot of weird. I also heard that someone was decapitated at a barbeque recently by some crazy person talking about the Light."

Miriam nods. "I heard about the barbecue. From two people, actually." she replies. "And I went into the water where the sea monster was seen, to have a look. Interesting stuff. Icky stuff."

"Yeah... I was trying to look into that more but I didn't have much in the way of luck. I don't have the resources to do as much about it as I'd like," Jean frowns. "What did you see anyway? I heard about sharks and some kind of disgusting... skin thing..."

"From Caitlin, you mean?" Miriam replies. "Yeah. I've actually gotten a reply from another friend, with an analysis of the sample I brought him. It used to be a person, apparently. Someone out there is really sick."

Jean noticably shivers. "I agree. What do you think this has to do with the sharks? What do you -assume- is down there? Maybe that would make it easier to organize an expedition."

Miriam looks curious. "Could you manage an underwater expedition?" she asks. "I mean, I'm fine, but others tend to need gear and all. And gear can be unwieldy, with sharks and all." She shrugs then, and says "I don't know what's down there, but it was directly under the ledge where something large had dragged itself up from. Probably whatever that sea monster really was."

"I could manage it," Jean nods. "But we likely need to figure out what's up with those sharks before we risk anything. I don't think anyone's interested in being bitten or half eaten. I would like to find some people that were -there- when it crawled out."

Miriam mmms. "I have no idea who was there. I just saw a report about it and went to look. We have to be careful about the sharks, though." She pauses, then chuckles. "I mean, moreso than normal sharks. They shouldn't have paid any attention to me at all, but as soon as I got closer, they all noticed me."

"Did you get the sense that they were... normal?" Jean shrugs her shoulders. "That they were typical sharks? I mean, biologically? They could be tampered with just as the creature that you found the skin of..."

Miriam shakes her head. "They weren't, or they wouldn't have paid any attention to me." she replies. "Even physically, they didn't look exactly normal. I'm not sure how abnormal they are, though."

"Any idea of how we can find out specifically?" Jean asks. "Do you remember how many there were? I wonder if we can lure them away... with meat or something..."

Miriam thinks. "There weren't a huge number of them or anything, but I'm not sure they could be lured off. Sharks don't protect things. These were circling around whatever was there, and not leaving it." She considers for a moment, then says "That puppeteer guy. Maybe he can control sealife, too? Or maybe it's something completely different. I dunno."

"Yeah, that's strange... it could be technology based too. I've heard about that kind of thing," Jean looks down at the table. "Well... if you can lead someone to it, then I think I can organize the equipment."

"I can find it again, sure." Miriam replies. "Assuming it's still there. That spongy stuff that used to be human needs to get brought to the surface, too. So it can dry out and die. Apparently it was a forced mutation, however that could happen. And it regenerates, unless it's completely destroyed."

"Wow... I think that it needs to be handled quick," Jean leans her head in her hand. "Hmm. I'll try to gather the necessary stuff together for this by tomorrow. Would that be too soon do you think?"

Miriam shrugs. "It should be alright that soon. It was about the size of a side of a van when I saw it last. We really need to take care of it before it's too big." she replies. "I can go have another look at it today, to see how it looks. Should I reach you through Caitlin?"

"You can reach me through this," Jean offers a card with her number and e mail address. "I don't think Caitlin wants to go but she'd be welcome to I think."

Miriam looks at the card, curious, then stows it in her shoulderbag. "I wouldn't blame her for not wanting to go. It really is all pretty icky. When I found he sponge, there was a human leg coming out of it."

"That's just... absolutely terrible," Jean shivers again. "We might need a damn crane to pull it out of there if it's gotten bigger. That's going to be problematic maybe. I'll ask around right away."

Miriam says "It'll be hard for the normal people to miss that. A crane, I mean. But it does have to come out. The poor thing."

"You raise an interesting point... what if whoever did this knows? It might be best if we played our hand closer to the chest at first," Jean frowns. "That's going to be problematic. Whoever's responsible for this... it could get ugly. What to do... what to do... it can't be that obvious. Yeah, I'd love it if you would check and see if it's still there."

Miriam's expression says she isn't at all versed in the 'close to the chest' thing. "I'll check, sure. It didn't seem aware or anything, last time. Do you want a sample, too?" she offers then. "It didn't react at all to a piece being cut out of it."

"If it's not too much trouble, the sample would help attain resources for sure," Jean says. "But do not place yourself in danger whatever you do. I don't want you to be hurt or anything... just recon."

Miriam smiles. "I don't want me to be hurt, either. I'm not in this for any sort of thrill. I just think it's stuff people need to know about, so I'm sharing." She asks then, "So, what do you do? Caitlin told me you help people like us who need it?"

"I'm a teacher actually," Jean smirks at this. "And yeah, I help as much as I can when I can. It's one of those things that I feel compelled to do... I wouldn't be complete if I didn't do what I could I guess. That might sound a little weird..."

Miriam thinks about that, then shrugs again. "I'm probably not the one to ask. I've always been kind of away from the rest of the world. I usually don'y think too much about it." The waitress finally notices them and comes over, and Miriam orders a light beer.

Jean considers a choice of what to order and finally selects water, looking a touch sheepish when she earns an annoyed look. As the waitress departs, she leans back. "That's true of a lot of people... I've spoken to tons that have the same problem. Solitude can be really hard."

"I guess so." Miriam replies. "I'm just used to it by now. Not that it hasn't been nice to talk to others lately. It's strange, but nice. I had no idea there were so many around here."

"Yeah, there are -many- of us," Jean smiles about this. "And it's nice to know that you're not alone. I get that. It's important to remember it in fact."

Miriam chuckles. "It is nice. I've made some actual friends." She sounds surprised. "It's meant more time on land, but I can handle that. I think."

"Is that hard? Spending time on land I mean? Are you considerably more at home out at sea?" Jean pauses a moment as the water and beer shows up. She takes a sip. "I felt most at home in Africa. It was strange."

Miriam smiles, and then waits for the waitress to leave. "I just prefer staying near the water." she says. "And I prefer more being in the water. I don't get out that far, of course. My boat really isn't suited to it. Someday, though. I really want to do some deeper diving someday." She has a small sip, then.

"How deep can you go anyway?" Jean asks. "Have you pushed it? What sort of pressure can you endure?"

Miriam thinks about that. "I have no idea." she replies then. "I haven't had the chance to try. I'm looking forward to it, though."

"That would be a fascinating study... I'd love to know how far you can get," Jean sips the water again. "I like hearing about people's potential. Especially when they're pushing it."

Miriam chuckles. "I don't push a lot." she admits. "Most was in Florida, the first time I ran into sharks. But then they didn't pay any attention to me, so I was good. None of the sea life I've run into pays any attention to me. I could just be another fish."

"Is that part of your gift then? Something that you give off that makes you seem a normal part of the water?" Jean blushes a little. "Stop me if I'm being too nosey."

"I guess?" Miriam replies. "I really don't know much about how it all works, though. And it's okay. It's kind of nice to be able to talk about it at all with people." She asks then "How about you? What do you do?" She doesn't seem bothered by 'nosy'.

"Telekinesis and Telepathy actually," Jean replies. "To the point that when I was younger, it was absolutely uncontrollable. It took... considerable work to fix that. And now, so long as I maintain a sense of calm, I can actively block it all out. But yeah... that's me."

Miriam ohhs. "Huh. Can't imagine that, I guess. I just grew up with mine. And it wasn't really anything that could hurt anyone. Or me. I just stayed home."

"I ended up... well, in a hospital for a while. Just... zoned out and staring into space. I swore I had lost my mind. It was pretty bad," Jean shrugs. "Water under the bridge now. I've got it under control and somehow recovered."

Miriam smiles. "That's good, at least. And it was the place you are now, that helped you? I wonder how many other mutants are locked away somewhere like that."

"Lots I'm afraid," Jean frowns. "I'm sure of it... but yeah, someone helped me. Maybe that's why I'm willing to help others."

Miriam nods. "I can understand that. I never really felt like I needed help. Once my mother realized I wasn't drowning in the pool in the backyard, I spent most of my time in there."

"The people that can hide what they are tend to be of a very different opinion than those that can't," Jean replies. "In fact, it's pretty hard to handle for some. To the point that their bitterness is dangerous."

"I'm sure." Miriam replies after another sip of beer. "I feel badly for them. I really can't help them, but I do feel badly for them." She looks curious, then. "Dangerous? You mean, lashing out at the normals?"

"Amongst other things, yeah..." Jean says softly. "I have seen it too. During protests... during petty crimes... it's rampant because that sort of anger will get out of control -fast-."

Miriam nods. "I really don't watch the news much, or go near those kinds of things. I'm happy to stay pretty well unnoticed. I'm not sure it'd be good for business."

"I'm bound to all the news I'm afraid. It's been a thing of mine since I went abroad and I really started to pay attention," Jean brushes her hair back. "The world can be a really ugly place and it's not just us doing bad things to them or vice versa. They hurt each other just as much and sometimes more awfully than you can ever imagine."

Miriam thinks about that. "I've studied history, at least enough for my GED. I know what people can do to each other. I'm not in a rush to be a part of all that. I'm happy just doing salvage and coming up to sell my finds. It's worked out pretty well for me, so far."

"How do you feel about this situation?" Jean asks. "With the whole sea monster thing. You're potentially helping a lot of people. It's sort of a step into a different world than what you've been used to."

There's more thought, then Miriam replies "Eh. I mean, I don't mind helping, at all. I don't want to get caught in the middle, of course. Apparently this puppet guy is really nasty, so I don't want him getting my number if he's part of the sea monster thing."

"Yeah, I don't know what he's about... I think he might be a separate issue though. He seems to be more personally motivated than intentionally mutating people into monsters but... one never knows," Jean shakes her head. "We have so many little things they're starting to mount up to one mamoth thing."

Miriam tilts her head a bit. "More than the Light thing and the sea monster?" she asks, looking curious.

"Yeah, there's more than the light and the monster... there's a new thing with a whole bunch of... well..." Jean shrugs. "Cats."

Miriam apparently hasn't heard anything about this. "Cats? Really?"

Jean nods. "Yes, they were let loose in an arcade apparently. Over one hundred of them in fact."

Miriam blinks. "Wow. That had to have been...uh... funny." she finally settles on. "Sort of."

"From what I hear, it was pretty amusing, yeah," Jean chuckles. "But there could be something insidious behind it. I have yet to speak to anyone involved but I'd like to find out."

Miriam hms. "Sounds like just some prank, really. No idea where someone would get all those cats, though."

"And that's where I'm confused... I mean, twenty cats? That's a prank," Jean smirks. "Over one hundred? That's something more complex."

"I guess so?" Miriam replies. "I don't get people really well, so I don't really know what makes sense and what's over the top."

"Well, honestly if I -wanted- over one hundred cats, I don't know how I'd go about it," Jean suddenly laughs. "I'm sorry, it's so absurd... it's just funny."

Miriam grins. "I don't know how I'd do it, either. A shelter, maybe? I'm not sure it ranks with the other stuff going on, though."

"Nah, it's not a priority by any stretch," Jean thinks about that. "But it could be a good project for some of the students..."

Miriam ohhhs. "I guess so? What kinds of stuff do they learn, that you'd send them after a swarm of cats?"

"They are all terribly curious about that stuff," Jean replies. "And I'd rather them looking into something that isn't like the light or the other thing... something that has the potential to not be so dangerous."

Miriam nods. "I can see that." she replies, then has another sip. She doesn't seem to be much of a drinker. "Anyway, I don't usually do charters, since I don't like a lot of people around, but if you have people that want to go somewhere on the water or whatever, I don't mind."

"That's very generous of you, thank you," Jean looks around the bar. "I'm thinking that when this is all over, I might take a trip myself. I haven't decided for sure yet but... I'd like to go somewhere foreign again. Different than here."

Miriam smiles. "I've never been outside the country. There's places I want to go of course, but they're all offshore. Ruins and wrecks I'd love to explore some. Places divers can't really get into so easily because of all the gear."

"Yeah? Interesting... I've always wanted to visit the Mayan ruins and such," Jean considers Miriam. "I would love to see what you'd gain from that kind of expedition. Maybe you need to be like that French explorer guy from the 80s."

Miriam replies "I'm sure I'd find a lot that others just can't get to. It'd be amazing. Of course, if I was known I'll bet I could make a fortune guiding divers. But, I'd have to be known. So not worth it. I'll stick to ebaying my finds, and staying low key. For now."

"Though your documentary would be -awesome-," Jean smiles. "Especially in Hi Def. But yeah, low key... I agree with taht."

Miriam laughs. "Documentary. That might be interesting. Especially if I could do it anonymously. You know, film it all myself, then add narrative afterwards and release it without giving my name. Can you do that?"

"Of course you can do that and it would totally work," Jean considers that for a moment. "You'd just have to sell it. And the way you'd do that would be to get yourself a camera of lower quality to show what you can do. Then explain what you need to get started and go from there."

Miriam hms, giving that some thought. "But someone would want to meet me that way. It couldn't be really anonymous. Anyway, it's something to think about for the future. I'd need a bigger boat, to get out to those locations."

"Nah, you don't have to be the one to do the selling," Jean replies. "You get someone else to do that who you trust."

Miriam chuckles. "I don't know many people, really. Maybe in a few years. There's no rush, right?"

"Never is really, nope," Jean answers. "It's cool to think about though, that's for sure. Maybe you could bring a camera with you this time in fact to take some pictures of the sharks and the fleshy thing."

Miriam considers. "I don't have anything waterproofed like that." she replies. "Not camera-wise. Those are kind of pricy. Know anyone with one?" she asks.

"Maybe," Jean chews her lip. "How much do you think one would cost?"

Miriam replies "They run around $250 and up. I don't usually need to take pictures of my finds before I get them up on the boat, so it's never been worth that kind of investment."

"Oh, well that's no problem," Jean replies. "In fact, I'll get you one later this afternoon if you'd like. I'd need it back but if you can wait that long before going back down, I'll have one for you."

Miriam blinks. "O... kay? Teachers make more than I thought. And sure. I can stick around the city for a bit today, before heading back."

"Perfect," Jean grins. "And I haven't -just- been a teacher. I've got a few resources. And they're not all money. How do I get back ahold of you?"

Miriam ohhhs. "Cool." she replies, then offers Jean one of her business cards for James Salvage. There's a cell phone number written on the back of the card. "There you go."

"Perfect," Jean puts the card in her pocket. "I'll call you as soon as I get my hands on the camera."

Miriam nods. "Great. Maybe I'll see if a friend is available this afternoon sometime, to hang out." She doesn't at all know Kurt's schedule, after all.

Miriam pauses, then says "You might know him, actually. He knows that girl you were with at Coney Island. Kurt? German guy?"

"Yeah, I know Kurt," Jean chuckles. "He's a friend of yours? The world gets smaller and smaller."

Miriam chuckles. "It does. And yeah, he's a nice guy." They've got an interesting number of things in common.

"That's cool. Have you told Kurt anything about this stuff?" Jean wonders. "Does he know about the sea monster thing?"

Miriam thinks. "A little, when I talked to him last. He was at the last gypsy thing I went to. I told him if he knew anyone who would be interested in this stuff, to let me know."

"Interesting. I'll have to talk to him as well,

Jean adds. "For now though, I think that I should get that camera and hook you up so we can get this under way."

Miriam smiles. "Definitely. If it's gotten really large, better to know before anyone tries to move it."