The Mermaidiness in this chapter was supposed to be spread over the next two or three chapters, due to a critical shortage of screen caps from my regular household due to ongoing issues (which are still not presently resolved), prepare to be bombarded with well lit scenes of sunshiny beachy goodness. (For those of you used to the bizarre lighting of Midnight Hollows, sunglasses are advised.)
Jess posted the last bill payments and wandered over to the harden gate as Cindy's familiar green ute pulled into its regular parking spot. "Who are you, and what have you done with out Hyacinth?", Jess inquired aggressively to the sim with Cindy's face, but not the hair or style of clothing that Jess was accustomed to.
"It's not that bad, is it?", Cindy laughed as she ran her hand across the almost military hair style. "It's... different.", Jess replied as diplomatically as she could. "And whats with the shirt and vest?", Jess asked, attempting to avoid discussing how she felt about Cindy's almost buzz cut.
"I've been trimming my hair weekly since high school, so this will grow back in no time, and the clothes are for another committee meeting. I got a makeover because if I want the other business people to take me seriously, I need to look the part.", Cindy explained, knowing Jess well enough to spot that her friend didn't like the new hair style. Jess and Cindy went inside to escape Midnight Hollow's incessant rain.
Coral meanwhile was sitting on the beach soaking up the sunshine and watching Merfolk at play in the distance.
Coral watched in fascination as the Merfolk entered the small cove near her old house. Other than Jess's aunt Sophia, Coral hadn't seen a Mer since her mother had whisked her away from the islands as a teenager.
The three Mermaids were close enough to call out to, but Coral sat quietly, she remembered enough about wild Merfolk to know that they could be quite skittish and difficult to befriend.
Coral pretended not to notice as two of the Mer got into animated conversation which ended with the third Mer splashing them both with a torrent of water. "Stop your chattering, Shreiker is right, it is her."
Coral was stunned when the three Mer transformed their tails and traversed the hot sand up the beach to talk to her. "Coraline Seabreeze, it has been many tides since last we met, you may not remember me, you where but hip high and clinging to your fathers leg, last we met.
The leader of the group re-introduced herself as Silka-Lee or Silky.
Her younger sister Sharri-Kah, or Shrieker as she was known for her ability to produce
the resonant frequency and volume required to break glass.
And Shari's twin Seren-Yah
'I Feel Love - Blue Man Group & Venus Hum
Melissa and Nerissa spent hours reading and re-reading their small collection of books. If the twins circle of knowledge extended as far as being aware of public libraries, they would have insisted that their mother take them there at once. Nerissa had the current book so many times that she she was now able to read the book upside down.
Evie and Delilah raced out to their cars, Evie leaned over and kissed Delilah, "See you in a few days sweetheart!", she called out as she slid into her new SL65. Both Evie and Delilah where having to travel further away from the 'Hollow' for their work tasks, and were considering moving to a more central town, although they hadn't discussed with anyone yet.
Cindy also had gone away for the weekend on business, leaving Jess and the twins home alone. Jess who was a social butterfly practically felt invisible when her children slept, not having anything to do or anyone to talk too.
Jess put her sleeping babies in their beds and crept across the hall to her own bed. It was cold and lonely. Jess contemplated how nice it would be to have a warm body sharing it with her, even it was only occasionally. Other than the twins father, who turned out to be (A) a notorious criminal, and (B) dead the following week, Jess hadn'y met any men that she was interested in that wasn't gay, married, or in some other sort of relationship.
Jess briefly considered going to a bar one night and bringing home the first single man she met, but she knew there was no way she would bring a stranger home, not with her beautiful babies to consider. Jess feel into a fitful sleep dreaming off white knights riding into her life, and other fairy tale romances.
Coral, Silky, Sharri, and Serri spent many days conversing and swimming in the secluded cove. During one of their many conversations, the Mer had disclosed that they preferred this side of the island to avoid the skirmishes against the Old Ones, which was becoming more prevalent, and Coral had revealed that she had been hoping to live on her fathers old battle barge, but that it had sunk a few weeks ago.
"The great ocean takes many treasures in its fury, but soon forgets them. I think I know where your fathers boat is resting.", announced Serri.
The following day Coral and the Mermaids went in search of the boat that Serri had seen earlier. Other than a small hole in the hull in seemed to be mostly intact, and in no time at all Coral had arranged to her have her boat floated and repaired. Coral had the boat registered as 'Sword of Semiramus', and applied for membership on the war council.
Author's Note:
Atargatis - The first mermaid - Assyrian legend, oldest historical mention of mermaids
Semiramis - A queen of Assyria, daughter of Atargatis, born before Atargatis became a goddess.
