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dmgdstar · 4 years ago

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Plotted starter @praeteritus-memories

The stand arrows had started showing up again. And just when he thought he had dealt with them for the time being. Two years ago, he had gone to Morioh, Japan with the intention of meeting his Uncle to settle a dispute in the Joestar inheritance. However, that had evolved into a couple of things while he was working things out there. One of those things had been the appearance of a stand arrow. A mysterious artifact that had been found in Egypt. It appeared to have the ability to unlock one’s soul. If they had the potential, then they could survive the attack of the arrow and develop an ability—a stand. Those that didn’t meet up to those standards though died from the impact of the arrow. There had been many that had died and become stand users at the hands of those who used the arrow. Which was why it had been so important to find them since their discovery. In between his work as a marine biologist this had been his focus. He thought that the trail had gone cold after he left Morioh. Not getting any other reports of a spike in stand users for a while. It had allowed him to continue on with his other work that is until his attention was brought back to the subject. This time, the location seemed to be Naples, Italy. It was interesting to find how far the arrows had been spread. What one was doing in Italy, he couldn’t imagine but what he could guess was that it was being used to create stand users. That could be a danger to the citizens of Naples and potentially the rest of the world, if it fell into the wrong hands. It was important he track it down and got ahold of it.

That’s why he, once again was putting aside his work to set out on this mission. Heading to Naples himself, deciding that it might be a good idea to investigate the issue personally. When dealing with a stand arrow, there was no telling who or what they may come across. Jotaro had a stand that had proved to me unmatched—for the most part—by any other stand. Star Platinum was one of the strongest stands out there. He was confident that if he came across any other stand user that had a powerful stand like his own, he would be able to handle it. Not that some of the other stand users he had met couldn’t, it would probably just be a better idea if he handled it. As much as he would have liked to pass the mission along to someone else with how busy he had been and trying to juggle visitation with his daughter at the same time. This couldn’t be ignored. So, reluctantly, he made arrangements for his stay in Italy and got everything he needed to depart.

The trip hadn’t been horrible, he had gotten used to traveling through different airlines by now. With how often he was gone from home and how much he traveled, it was just another plane ride for him. Getting off the plane though, he had made specific plans to meet with someone from the Foundation at the airport. Although Jotaro was knowledgeable about some other countries and had done a little bit of research on his way to Naples, he couldn’t say he was fluent in Italian. Perhaps he knew a few words here and there that he had picked up on while looking into a few things. But most of his research had been over the city itself. How it functioned, who was running it—things of that nature. His plan was to further investigate these things once he landed in the city. Getting a good idea of how things were done on a ground level. He had a vague idea of what he was heading for, but not entirely sure where it would lead him. He supposed he was about to find out though. From the things he had learned though he heard of some trouble with drugs being moved throughout the country recently. Although he didn’t particularly see how this might be related to what he was looking for, he made note of it. It could mean that he might need to be careful in case some shady individuals came his way. If there was trafficking though, there might be some interest there. A stand arrow could make moving drugs easier if the people moving them happened to be stand users. It was a weak link, but something he would probably at least keep an eye out for, just in case. Going in blind with only rumors and scraps of information on the stand arrows.

He stood now outside the airport, his hands in his pockets. Blue eyes scanned the street, looking for any signs of the car that was supposed to be picking him up. With a sigh, he removed a hand from his pocket to glance down at a watch. They were running late it looked like. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that the time zones here were a little different. He wasn’t sure, honestly. But he didn’t really have the time to stand around and wait for someone to show up either. Jotaro needed to get to work as soon as he possibly could. He would just have to put in with the airport to have his things sent to the hotel instead and get there himself. Although, being in this foreign country, he couldn’t say he trusted the cabs around. The hotel he had booked wasn’t too far from the airport, he could walk the distance. With that in mind and taking it as a preference just to make sure he didn’t run into any trouble, he headed down the street. Maybe walking would be a better option, anyway, given the fact that he could learn a little bit from the people around him as he passed by or simply by watching. Jotaro was pretty keen on details, having naturally been a wallflower his whole life. There really wasn’t something that escaped his careful gaze. He could detect small changes or even when someone was lying to him by watching their expressions and picking up on the cues. A skill that had saved his life once back when he had to use it against Darby to get the souls of his friends and grandfather back from him.

He kept his hands tucked in his pockets as he headed down the street. His eyes were set forward, but they picked up on small things as he passed by. A pair of tourists standing on the sidewalk, discussing where they should go first. The line of people waiting for the bus or taxis to come by. He even spotted what he assumed to be a group of locals lurking about, probably watching for tourists that they could pick on. Maybe to sell them something at a ridiculous price or lift money off them. He couldn’t say for sure, but he made sure to keep a careful eye on them. Getting too close could mean trouble and although he could just as easily stop time and avoid any of it, he didn’t want to have to use Star Platinum if he didn’t have to. The more discreet he was about who he was and what he was able to do—the better. Jotaro was already known to some stand users as the man who had defeated Dio, the man who had saved the world. If whoever had the stand arrow became aware that he was in the city too soon, it might ruin his investigation. The arrow could just as easily slip from his grasp if that happened. It was better just to keep an eye out for anything like that and keep his guard up.

#praeteritus-memories #VA #jjba rp

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smooth--criminal · 6 years ago

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OC List!

About The Characters

Papa Bean / Doctor M

Basics: Mun - They/them or she/her pronouns - age 21 - 5'9” - demisexual

Personality: A rather emotionally neutral cyborg with a strange sense of humor.

Background: TBA

Misc:

A doctor to all of those present on the blog

Works as Assistant M for Doctor Silverhart

Regina Loreto

Basics: She/her pronouns - age 33 - 5'2” - aromantic - bicurious

Personality: She’s a narcissistic sadist that loves getting into and causing trouble wherever she goes. There’s no real reason for it, she doesn’t want vengeance on anyone or anything… it’s just good, dishonest fun to her.

Background: She had an average childhood, growing up in a higher middle class neighborhood with her mother and father that, although separated, still shared the home as friends and parents. Despite all the opportunity she was given, Regina went out of her way to start conflicts in school, commit small crimes, and hang out in the more dangerous parts of the city. Thankfully her siblings never followed the same path, as she was abused by some of the men she hung around with, but it didn’t deter her much. She’s worked her way up to be an informant for multiple gangs and criminals, often trading secrets for more secrets, or trading secrets for her life if she gets in trouble. But she hasn’t completely thrown her life away. She works as an assistant to the town’s detective, Jazz, but she works the job just like she works her personal “business.” She works as an informant to the detective and trades information to avoid getting arrested for her hobbies.

Misc:

She’s a dominatrix

She’s inherited her parent’s home because they figured she needed the support more than any of her four siblings

She uses the basement of said home for her sexual ventures as a dominatrix

She likes wearing dresses and has sewn hidden pockets into all of them

One of the things she puts in her pockets is a small pistol

Despite the company she keeps, she does not do drugs and drinks in moderation most of the time

Regina has been pregnant before and has since ensured that she can’t get pregnant ever again with whatever the magic equivalent of getting your tubes tied is.

Jazz Mullin

Basics: He/him pronouns – age 45 - 5'9" - graysexual - grayromantic

Personality: Death before dishonor. He takes his job as a detective very seriously, in fact, he takes everything seriously. That isn’t to say he doesn’t have a sense of humor or a heart, but he doesn’t let it show much when he’s on the job (except to rescued victims.)

Background: He wasn’t a planned child and his parents were struggling financially for the first few years of his life, but slowly the family recovered until they owned a farm house a bit outside of town. For the sake of preserving all they achieved, however, his parents decided against having another child. His mother was a cop and his dad a college professor for psychology, and he admired the work that both of them did, and sort of ended up putting them together to become a detective It took him awhile to land on detective, but he’d always wanted to help people and now he was. At least, he hoped he still was considering his assistant’s lifestyle.

Misc:

He’s a recovered alcoholic after turning to alcohol when his parents died in a car accident

He loves kids

He also loves dogs

Bro has a lot of soft spots

He also inherited his parents’ home

He’s on the clock even when he isn’t on the clock, playing vigilante sometimes

He’ll probably end up starting a homeless shelter when he retires

Bobby (Robert) Rosalio

Basics: he/him pronouns - age 26 - 5'11" - pansexual

Personality: He’s a protective, caring guy that tries to convince himself that he’s protective for the wrong reasons. He comes off as gruff and bossy, but he’s a huge emotional sap that just wants to be respected.

Background: Bobby’s family was never well off, but that didn’t stop his parents from having nine kids. He grew up sharing food, clothes, and small spaces with his brothers and sisters, not that they seemed to mind. It was all they knew- that and Catholicism which Bobby has since distanced himself from. He dropped out of high school at the beginning of his sophomore year after retaking his freshman year and decided to get to working instead. He stuck to jobs in restaurants and bars, and is currently working as the owner/bartender of The Falling Star. He’s sharing an apartment with his high school bud, Alex. But ever the mama’s boy, he doesn’t live far from where he grew up.

Misc:

He’s also one of the middle children

Bobby is a hardcore submissive my dudes, and a kinky one at that

He is one of Regina’s “pets.”

He’s a twin, but it’s best not to ask about that

He’s chubby with both fat and muscle. He has thick thighs that can save lives

At one point he wanted to be a chef

He has a cat named Simmons

He’s deathly afraid of driving, but owns a car.

Alex Triar

Basics: they/them pronouns – age 27 – 5'8” (without ears) – greysexual – androromantic

Personality: Alex is a snarky, sarcastic kid of a bitch. Regardless, their demeanor is pretty laid back and chill and they’re very good at finding the silver lining in any situation. There’s few things that get them riled up. If you do manage to make them angry, however, their usual laid back attitude does not mean you’ll be forgiven easily. Alex is known to hold grudges even long after they’ve gotten over the issue, simply because they don’t want to risk another issue happening.

Background: Alex shares quite a bit in common with Bobby; they come from a poor, religious background and have many (12) siblings. Their parents took the bunny stereotypes a bit too seriously. Alex is the youngest, and has decided to do the minimal amount necessary in their own life and just live vicariously through their siblings. They did finish high school however- even if only for the social scene. And how else were they supposed to get drugs without going out of their way?

Misc:

They were raised vegetarian but have since deviated from it.

They’re very into psychedelics but more often than not they just smoke weed (errday.)

They don’t have a steady job and instead work odd jobs. Sometimes they look to prostitution for cash.

They always have potato chips on them. A L W A Y S.

They keep their sex a secret. The only way you’ll know what’s in their pants is if they let you in them.

They have a strange fascination with fish and have a small aquarium in their room. All of the fish are named after Star Wars characters.

Vincent Prari

Basics: He/him pronouns - age 28 - 6‘2“ - bisexual

Personality: Vince is a bubbly marine life enthusiast, his life revolving around his job as a marine biologist in one way or another. He’s silly, there’s barely a serious bone in his body.

Background: As a child he’d nearly drowned during a beach vacation. For a few years he was terrified of the ocean and plagued by thoughts of what could’ve gotten to him if the water in his lungs hadn’t killed him first. His fears pushed him to research, and through research his fears were replace by respect, admiration, and intrigue. He ditched his plans to become a teacher and got a degree in marine biology, moved to the beach, and began anew. His dad was a bit disappointed that there wasn’t going to be another professor in the family, but his parents support him nonetheless! And he visits them whenever he can find someone willing to feed all of his fish.

Misc:

Goes by Vince

He’s a vegetarian.

Nearly every wall in his home is lined with an elaborate fish tank that has become an ecosystem of its own.

He wears contacts to make his pupils wide and more fish-like.

The tattoos on his neck are meant to be gills, his Mohawk a dorsal fin.

He envies fish.

He’s afraid of flying bugs.

Naia

(adopted from @devilchicky210)

Basics: She/her pronouns - age 30 - 5’4” -???sexual

Personality: She may be initially cautious and reserved, but her sassy nature is hard to keep at bay. She’s quick to call out and easy to agitate, but she means well (usually.)

Background: Naia has not a clue where she came from, but she knows she’s different than other octopi. She grew up in the ocean, every once in awhile coming across other octopi that looked different than her- and seemed awfully afraid of her. Despite not being accepted by the species she identifies as, she is instinctually reluctant to trust land-walkers, especially humans. She has found that she can go on land and be accepted, as many other monsters are, but she still prefers the ocean.

Misc:

Eats but also respects sea-life.

Hates glass/transparent objects

Goes onto land for a drink every now and again.

Atlas

(adopted from @flargahblargh)

Basics: He/They pronouns - age ??? - 6’5” -???sexual

Personality: He is a quiet giant.

Background: Atlas began as a human living in a small fisherman’s village. He had a wife, two sons, and a daughter. They all lived happily in the routine of the town, spending days fishing and nights enjoying each other’s company. But all of that is gone from him now. Contaminates reached their waters through means still unknown, bringing disease to the village. It was an awful, parasitic virus that ate away at whatever it could, from brain matter to bone. Atlas’s wife was one of the first to go. When his daughter got sick, he ran off to search for help outside of their village. Little did he know that he too was infected, and by the time he knew it was far too late. He was found struggling by Cog, sho could tell based on his state that most of his body would not be salvagable. She took him to the Sweep N Clean, heavily brain damaged by the virus with his body almost literally falling a part and his organs failing. Doc helped rid him of the virus, but only part of his brain and what was left functioning of his body could be saved. With Cog’s help, what remained functioning was assimilated into a robot of sorts to keep him alive. Despite being alive he was in a comotose state for quite some time and was simply monitored in hopes he would awaken. When he did awaken, he was alone with no recollection of who or what he was. In a haze he left the building before he was found awake and has been wandering since, only taking occasional refuge in an abandoned shack by a lake.

Misc:

It is unknown to him whether he is a person in a suit, a cyborg, or an actual robot.

He meditates regularly

He is afraid of needles despite them not being able to penetrate him.

Di (Dichotomy)

Basics: He/They pronouns - age 21 - 5’10” - panromantic - graysexual

Personality: Di is shy and reserved, but once he gets to know a person he’s more silly and sarcastic. Loves a good dark joke.

Background: Sadly, Di was born in a place where monsters were barely tolerated. They’re forced to live in slums otherwise avoided. Di was left at a Monastery doorstep as a baby by his parents under the impression that he would live a better life under them and be accepted.

His parents were wrong. Di was kept as a supposed “test from God,” a chance for humans to make monsters worthy of Him. This involved harsh punishments and awful living spaces. Di escaped less than a year ago.

Misc:

Di is a lovely singer.

He knows Latin.

His parents were brothers, but he is unaware of this fact, and it plays a part in his features along with his abuse and neglect growing up.

He yearns to be helpful.

He has a dissociative disorder.

Vani

(adopted from @tehparodypunk

Basics: They/them pronouns - mental age 18 - 5'5 - Pansexual

Personality: A coy and attention seeking but also shy and sensitive slime that accompanies the mun wherever she goes either as a companion or as her leggings.

Background: Raised after adoption as Doctor M’s Assistant.

Dimitri James Parker

(adopted from @flargahblargh)

Basics: He/him or they/them pronouns - age 48 - 6'2” - bisexual

Personality: He’s a calm, quiet, focused individual. He’s happy to observe but doesn’t mind contributing to conversations and situations either.

Background: James was adopted by visible parents and grew up thinking that everyone was invisible to themselves. It wasn't until middle school when people started wearing makeup that it occurred to him that somehow people were applying it. The whole time his parents had been completely unaware that he saw the world this way, and had to sit down and explain that it was only him and a select few other monsters that were truly invisible, not everyone. Which also meant that this whole time, he wasn't visible to others. The fact that he didn’t have a visible form like everyone else threw him into a bit of a existential crisis/depression his late middle school and early high school years. But in his later years he would draw inspiration from just how different the world can seem to every individual person and start getting into detective work, to discover everyone’s perspective and use it to decipher the truth and bring about justice.

Clarence [Entry Redacted]

(adopted from @flargahblargh)

Basics: He/him pronouns - age ?? - 5'6” - asexual - aromantic

Personality: The purest of chaotic neutral, he likes to cause trouble because he can. Life is finite, might as well have fun with it! And his idea of fun is quite destructive.

Background: [Entry Redacted]

Misc:

Can summon fire sprites to do his bidding since his arms are restricted.

#oc list #character bios

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aviewfromthepanopticon · 5 years ago

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Phantoms of the Deep

Big Finish’s Summary: On their mission to explore the Mariana Trench at the very bottom of the ocean, the deepest and most inhospitable place on Earth, the crew of the deep sea vehicle Erebus make an unusual and startling discovery. A battered blue police box. As the Doctor, Romana and K9 join them on their journey, the submariners soon discover that the TARDIS is not the only unusual find lurking on the sea floor. Super-intelligent squid, long-lost submarines and their miraculous occupants are only the start of their troubles. The Goblins are coming. And they won't let anyone out alive. Written by: Jonathan Morris Directed by: Ken Bentley Release Date: May 8th, 2013 Series: Fourth Doctor Adventures, Series 2, Story 5 Cast: Tom Baker (The Doctor), Mary Tamm (Romana), John Leeson (K9), John Albasiny (Chris Fleming), Alice Krige (Dr Patricia Sawyer), Gwilym Lee (Jack Hodges), Charlie Norfolk (Terri McCulloch)

I love this story, it somehow manages to be spooky while still having humor. It also bridges the gap between Seasons 16 and 17 in a very real way.

The opening conversation in the TARDIS for example is one Romana II and Four very easily could have had together, with the key difference being that Romana I phrases things in a totally different manner than her next self.

Aside from the differences in word choice and syntax between incarnations, it is a typical (and very well done) Romana and the Doctor arguing about Four being irresponsible with the Randomizer scene.

DOCTOR: Now let’s see, reconnecting cerebral core… K9: Master? DOCTOR: K9! How’re you feeling, my old friend? K9: All motor systems operating at full efficiency. Batteries charged to maximum capacity. DOCTOR: Full of beans and raring to go, eh? K9: Negative. This unit does not contain any plant seeds of the family Leguminosae. DOCTOR: *groans* ROMANA: Ah, I see K9’s molecular recalibration has been successful! DOCTOR: His what? I repaired him. After all, I built him, didn’t I!?! ROMANA: Yes. Which is possibly why he needs repairing so often. DOCTOR: WHAT?!?!?!?! Don’t listen to the nasty lady K9! K9: Negative. My programming dictates I must pay full attention to all instructions given by Romana-Mistress. DOCTOR: Who programmed you to do that? K9: You did, Master. DOCTOR: Ah. Uh - yes, well, I probably had a good reason. At the time. ROMANA: *clears throat* Doctor, would it be terribly indecorous of me to inquire as to our whereabouts? DOCTOR: Where I’ve parked the TARDIS, you mean? Oh… somewhere out of the way. Somewhere quiet. ROMANA: So you haven’t just landed us on the planet Earth again? DOCTOR: Oh of course not! *laughs* Don’t be ridiculous! *Sounds Of Switches Being Hit* ROMANA: Current location... the planet Earth. *sighs* Doctor. Our destinations are supposed to be randomly generated, to prevent the Black Guardian catching up with us! That’s why you fitted the randomizer in the first place! DOCTOR: I shouldn’t worry if I were you, he’s probably still following that false trail I created, and Earth’s the one place the TARDIS didn’t go. And besides, he’d never think to look for us down here! ROMANA: Down here? *Sounds Of Switches Again, Followed By The Scanner Being Turned On* ROMANA: Oh. I see. We’re at the bottom of one of the oceans. DOCTOR: *laughs* Well I did say, it was out of the way! Somewhere quiet. ROMANA: Not that quiet. Look! DOCTOR: Hmmm. A submarine! Of a highly advanced design for the year 2040. Fascinating! ROMANA: Fascinating? Doctor, in case you hadn’t noticed, it appears to be extending a robotic claw towards us! Oh, but Doctor, I hate to be unduly alarmist, but shouldn’t we consider dematerializing? DOCTOR: No, not just yet! I’m rather curious to find out what they’re doing here! ----------- DR. SAWYER: Well, if it is a hallucination it is a damn odd one. McCULLOCH: It can’t be. I mean if we were all suffering from inert gas narcosis, we’d imagine something more sensible than this! FLEMING: But it’s made of wood! At this depth they should have been crushed! *TARDIS doors open* DOCTOR: Crushed? Pah! I landed the TARDIS in the heart of a star once. Barely dented the paintwork. DR. SAWYER: Ok. Now I am definitely hallucinating. MCCULLOCH: No. I’m afraid I can see him too. DOCTOR: Of course you can! Hello! I’m the Doctor. This is Romana! ROMANA: Hello! DOCTOR: And this is my other friend, K9. Mark II, to be precise. FLEMING: K9? DOCTOR: Mmmm. FLEMING: Oh! ‘Cause he’s a dog! Very clever. DOCTOR: *laughs* Yes! Yes he is. K9: Affirmative! DR. SAWYER: Ok. And now, perhaps, you’d mind explaining how you’ve come to be inside a box at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean? *TARDIS doors close* DOCTOR: Oh, well that’s a long story, and you won’t believe it, so let’s not waste time, shall we? I mean, I might as well ask how you’ve come to be inside a submarine at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. McCULLOCH: We’re on an exploration mission to the Mariana Trench to study tectonic activity and catalogue the indigenous species. This is the DSV Erebos. ROMANA: DSV? K9? K9: Initialism. Deep Submergence Vehicle. DOCTOR: And Erebos after the god of darkness! How apt! McCULLOCH: Well it was my idea. I’m Terri McCulloch. The designer and pilot of this ship. This is Chris Fleming, our geologist… FLEMING: Hi! DOCTOR: Delighted! Rocks are such fascinating things, aren’t they? McCULLOCH: And this is our mission leader, marine biologist Dr. Patricia Sawyer. DOCTOR: Ah! Dr. Patricia Sawyer!!!! DR. SAWYER: You’ve heard of me?! DOCTOR: Not yet, but I’m sure I will. I don’t suppose you’ve room for two more? DR. SAWYER: Two more? DOCTOR: Two more. ...and a dog. DR. SAWYER: I suppose I don’t have much choice. Given the alternative is to abandon the mission. Chris, show them to the control cabin, will you? FLEMING: Oh so what, I’m the tour guide now? Fine. This way! ROMANA: K9, would you like me to carry you? K9: Negative, Mistress. I am perfectly capable of traversing on flat metal floors.

How many times did the two of them argue over that Randomizer anyway?

Poor Romana really has no idea how often she’s going to be echoing this conversation throughout her travels with the Doctor over the course of the next few decades. No wonder she always sounds so incredibly frustrated when it comes up, she’s been having the exact same argument with the Doctor since before she even regenerated.

After they board the sub, the TARDIS gets sent to the surface, so they are stuck on the sub with the research team. Together they find a shipwrecked sub from WWII in the trench.

Weirdly, there is still a survivor inside the hundred year old downed vessel. He’s named Jack Hodges, and he is nineteen years old. He thinks his ship went down just a day or two ago, and is very shocked to learn it is 2040 and NOT 1940.

There are also bioluminescent squid who are blinking in patterns that correspond with complex mathematical codes, and they find a wrecked spaceship down there as well.

Oh I should also probably mention that the Humans on the sub are starting to become hyper-intelligent and they are developing telepathic abilities.

There are also strange phantom creatures Hodges has taken to calling Goblins. They are what he believes have been keeping him alive. They were tormenting him when he was on the crashed sub.

K9 gets taken over by the Goblins, and while under their control, it appears as if K9 murdered Romana.

Only the Humans can see the Goblins, so at first the Doctor and Romana just dismiss them as hallucinations whenever the Humans are reacting to them. As things go on they get more obviously real (but they remain only ever visible to the Humans). Generally the scenes with the Goblins are amazingly creepy when you consider that these creatures are crawling around on the walls and ceiling, but neither the Doctor nor Romana can see them in any way. So the Humans are reacting to aliens surrounding them, while for the Doctor and Romana the Humans are just panicking over nothing.

The sound design does wonder with the Goblins, and there are several scenes (such as when Romana and Terri are in the airlock together) where I find myself picturing what the scene would look like for the Humans involved vs how things appear to the Time Lords, and that extra level of horror when both the Doctor and Romana keep dismissing the presence of these creatures out of hand.

Eventually, fairly far into the story, the Doctor and Romana learn not only that the Goblins are really there, but also about the Humans newly developing telepathy and higher intellectual capabilities.

McCULLOCH: Romana, I think you were wrong about this spacecraft not having any passengers. Look! ROMANA: There’s nothing there? McCULLOCH: Can’t you see them? They’re swarming all over the walls! ROMANA: What are? -------- DOCTOR: Phantoms? FLEMING: Yes, they were sort of drifting in the water. HODGES: Goblins. DOCTOR: Yes Jack, the same ones you saw. HODGES: No Doctor, outside! FLEMING: What on Earth? DR. SAWYER: You weren’t joking about them looking like ghosts. FLEMING: Shimmering. Like they’re made of light itself. DOCTOR: K9, can you see them? K9: Negative Master. No life forms detected. DOCTOR: I thought as much. I can’t see them either. DR. SAWYER: What does that mean? DOCTOR: It means they’re illusions. Creatures of the mind. Only apparent to Homo Sapiens? HODGES: But they’ve been hurting me! DOCTOR: Oh, Jack. Jack. Just because something’s imaginary doesn’t mean it can’t hurt you! --------- McCULLOCH: They’re beautiful! Like children! ROMANA: Listen to me Terri. These creatures don’t exist! McCULLOCH: But I can see them! ROMANA: No! This place, this spacecraft, it’s affecting your mind! Just as it affected you before. McCULLOCH: When before? ROMANA: When you were speaking to Chris on the intercom, you thought you heard him say he’d join us in the control cabin. McCULLOCH: I heard his voice! ROMANA: You heard what he was thinking! You only think you heard his voice as a post-hoc rationalization. McCULLOCH: This spaceship is making me telepathic? ROMANA: It looks like it. McCULLOCH: But … why? Why turn us into super-intelligent Humans? ------------- DOCTOR: A guinea pig! HODGES: What? K9: Guinea pig. A rodent species of the family Caviidae, or any creature used as a test subject. DOCTOR: And that’s what you were, Midshipman Jack Hodges! HODGES: I don’t follow you, Sir. DOCTOR: You said these Goblins were playing tricks on your mind. I think you were being assessed for your psychic potential. See if you were a suitable candidate. DR. SAWYER: A suitable candidate? Suitable for what? DOCTOR: What’s two to the power of thirty one? FLEMING and DR. SAWYER (in unison): Three thousand, one hundred and forty seven million, four hundred and eighty three thousand six hundred and forty eight. DOCTOR: Is that correct K9? K9: Affirmative. DOCTOR: Hwoooooooooh. Something’s expanding your minds. I ask you a difficult mathematical question, and you answer without even thinking! FLEMING: Like the squid we saw before! You said they were communicating using advanced mathematics! DOCTOR: I imagine whatever’s behind this came in contact with the squid and massively increased their brain power. And if that’s what it could do with a primitive species… just imagine what it might achieve with the Human race! McCULLOCH (echoing): But … why? Why turn us into super-intelligent Humans? FLEMING: Yes, why? DOCTOR: What? Sorry? FLEMING: Patricia just asked why turn us all into super-intelligent Humans. DR. SAWYER: It wasn’t me. I thought Jack said it? HODGES: No. I thought you said it. DOCTOR: Well it wasn’t me. Was it you K9? K9: Negative. I did not make or hear any such communication. DOCTOR: Interesting. We must have a crossed wire somewhere! ----------- McCULLOCH: But if it wasn’t either of us, then who was it? ROMANA: Concentrate on the voices! Who do they sound like? McCULLOCH: Uh… Ok… Um…. They sound like… Chris? And Patricia! ...and another man? ROMANA: Of course! You’re making telepathic contact! McCULLOCH: Like a radio? ROMANA: Precisely! They must have just come into range. McCULLOCH: Then the Erebos is somewhere nearby? DR. SAWYER (echoing): Yes. We’re on our way. McCULLOCH: She answered me! Romana, Patricia answered me! ------------ DR. SAWYER: Just hold on, ok? We’re going to find you, I promise. DOCTOR: Who are you talking to? DR. SAWYER: To Terri. She’s alive down there. DOCTOR: You can hear her voice? FLEMING: I can hear it too. She’s speaking to someone else, but I can’t make out what they’re saying. DOCTOR: K9, did you hear that?!?! ROMANA’S ALIVE!!!! K9: Affirmative. Logical analysis indicates that when I was possessed it was not my intention to kill the Mistress- DOCTOR: Oh, yes? Well it’s easy for you to say that now! FLEMING: Doctor! I think we’ve found the source of the interference! DOCTOR: I say! What a beauty! That midshipman Jack Hodges, is an alien spacecraft. DR. SAWYER: A giant sea urchin! ----------- DR. SAWYER and McCULLOCH (in unison): A glowing sphere at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. ROMANA: The source of all the life we’ve encountered down here. McCULLOCH: Like the coral reef and that giant jellyfish? ROMANA: It’s generating the forcefield to maintain a low pressure environment. A laboratory.

Not long after this scene McCulloch collapses from a horrible headache. Romana telepathically eases her pain and tries to help her, but it seems Terri’s brain had expanded past what was actually physically possible for her. Romana determines that Terri will die unless they destroyed the source of the activity.

So they do.

There are some deaths in the process, and it almost kills the Doctor as well, but they do it.

At one point the Doctor nearly drowns and Romana needs to perform CPR on him (according to Romana, just before she starts what really does sound like CPR, he was down to just one heartbeat and it was very very faint). I am noting it mainly because I sometimes forget that Time Lords would have normal basic medical care training like CPR. I do wonder how Gallifreyan CPR might be performed differently from the CPR we know. I figure it’d have to be a bit different, what with their respiratory bypass systems and two hearts and the like.

DOCTOR: Goodbye Romana, it’s been fun. FLEMING: We’re too late! He’s dead. ROMANA: Not necessarily. One heartbeat. Weak, but he’s not gone yet! *Grunts In Rhythm, With Pauses Between, That Can Only Be Her Performing CPR* Come on Doctor! Breathe! *Resumes The Rhythmic Grunts And Pauses* BREATHE! *CPR Noises Again* You’re not going to do anything as straightforward as dying, are you? DOCTOR: *gasps* Hello, Romana! Did I miss something?

I really feel that the dialogue throughout this story is great. Humor is peppered around, with small jokes and quips scattered all over the script. This is not to the detriment of the spookier atmosphere at all, and instead serves to ease the tensions that build during the more serious scenes.

From Romana continuing to talk about that thesis of hers:

McCULLOCH: This friend of yours. Is he quite… sane? ROMANA: That’s a very interesting question. I intend to write a thesis on the subject one day.

To the Doctor getting offended for K9s sake:

McCULLOCH: Doctor! You’re alive! DOCTOR: Yes. I’m rather surprised by that too. K9’s got your engines working again I see. McCULLOCH: Yeah! He’s a pretty helpful gadget! DOCTOR: GADGET? How dare! How dare you! He’s not a gadget! He’s my second best friend! FLEMING: So Terri, can you get us back to the surface? McCULLOCH: Ouch, you bet I can! I’ve had enough of being at the bottom of the ocean. Pretty as it is. DOCTOR: Was, I’m afraid. Was. Without the forcefield to sustain it, the coral reef will soon die. McCULLOCH: Oh, uh, what about us? Do we stay super-intelligent and telepathic forever? DOCTOR: Oh. The effects should fade… ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh in a couple of hours? I’d make the most of them while you can! Think deep thoughts!

To the Fourth Doctor simply being silly and well... being Four.

McCULLOCH: Here you are Doctor, your TARDIS! DOCTOR: Ah! Old Girl! *laughs* Did the rough sailors look after you? FLEMING: You… errrrrr…. You still haven’t said what you were doing down there inside that thing. DOCTOR: Yes well… *coughs* that’s a very interesting question, isn’t it Romana? ROMANA: A very interesting question. K9: Affirmative. A very very interesting question. *TARDIS Doors Open* DOCTOR: The thing about very interesting questions is they deserve very good answers! ROMANA: Yes! Very good answers. K9: Very very good answers. FLEMING: So uh… what were you doing? DOCTOR: Well, the best way for me to answer is by showing you. In you go Romana! K9! ROMANA: Yes Doctor! DOCTOR: You see, when K9, Romana and myself are inside the TARDIS, we like to do this! *TARDIS Doors Shut* McCULLOCH: Do…. what? *TARDIS Dematerialization Noises* McCULLOCH: Oh! FLEMING: Ehhhhh… ok. I’ve seen some weird stuff today, but that takes the biscuit.

This audio is bursting with fabulous dialogue.

While this is not my favorite story in The Fourth Doctor Adventures where the Doctor and Romana find themselves dealing with aliens experimenting on the crew of a WWII submarine and making the crew super-intelligent and telepathic, it is an all around wonderful audio.

#Doctor Who #Big Finish #The Fourth Doctor Adventures #Fourth Doctor #Romana #Romanadvoratrelundar #Romana I #The Phantoms of the Deep #K9 #K9 MK II #The Doctor

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evilsnowswan · 8 years ago

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Summary: [Rumbelle Mermaid!AU] based on this prompt by repeatinglitanies: “In a world where people are aware of the existence of mermaids, Belle is a mermaid who lives in the world’s largest aquarium along with other sea creatures. She enjoys looking at the little humans who come to visit, especially a floofy haired boy who comes every week with his father….” An injured Belle is captured and brought to Gold and Milah’s aquarium. Gold is a marine biologist dedicated to protecting the creatures there, Milah wants to turn a profit, and their son has his own ideas about how to befriend a mermaid.

Rating: G Link to full story: [Read on AO3] Previous Chapters: [Coverart][Chapter 1][Chapter 2][Chapter 3][Chapter 4][Chapter 5][Chapter 6][Chapter 7]

Current Chapter: 8/?

A/N: Song choice for this chapter: [listen here]

Only after the tears had stopped running down Bae’s face, did they leave his office. He took his boy by the hand and directed their steps outside and towards the diner. One of Granny’s famous hot cocoas - with cinnamon, rainbow sprinkles, and whipped cream - would do the boy good, and he’d feel much better knowing him in the widow Lucas’ care - rather than alone in his room or with his mother. He hoped the friendly atmosphere would calm Bae down and that the everyday hum and hustle would help take his mind off the matter.

Of course he hadn’t thought that last part through properly, and Gold sighed when he spotted the Nolans and their little girl sitting in a booth in the corner. Emma Nolan was wrapped in a green bathrobe and an old beach towel and grinning as broadly as the shark head that her robe had for a hood.

“... and then, woosh, she was gone!” Emma’s little hands shot through the air. “And Dad, Dad, she’s super-fast. Like superduper … uber-fast!” Face flushed, the girl threw her arms up higher and the terry shark slid off her head and shoulders, exposing her arms and neck. Apparently, the shock of the incident had already worn off and morphed into wide-eyed, breathless overexcitement.

Her mother immediately leaned over to fix Emma’s robe.

“You mean to say-” David Nolan lowered his voice-“that mermaid’s faster… than me?!” His tone matched his daughter’s in pitch and volume and he seemed just as enthusiastic about the topic, which Gold knew couldn’t be true. Had it been Bae -and hadn’t he known for a fact that merfolk did not harm humans - his expression would have been much more like the one Mrs. Nolan wore: concerned, displeased, disapproving.

“Excuse me,” Gold said. All eyes fell on him. He cleared his throat.

Bae had steered them towards his friend and her family, but was uncharacteristically quiet now that they had arrived at their table.

Gold and David Nolan exchanged a look and small nods of greeting, Mrs. Nolan, however, only pursed her lips. She was still fussing over Emma’s clothes and towel.

“I only just heard,” he began, his face growing warmer under Mrs. Nolan’s stern gaze. By the dirty looks she was shooting him, it might as well have been him - the culprit, the guilty party, persona non grata - who was to be held personally responsible for Emma’s accidental adventure in the reef tank. “And I wanted to apologize. Bae knows better than playing by the tanks -” Her eyes narrowed- “but, of course, we shouldn’t have left the children unsupervised at any time,” he added quickly and Mrs. Nolan nodded along in agreement.

“Our Emma knows not to go too close too. She’s here a lot,” David interjected, placing a hand on his daughter’s head. He smiled. “Right, kiddo? If anything, we should have checked that the gates were properly locked. That’s not the kids’ responsibility. They were just having fun.”

It was a noble attempt at defusing his wife's anger, but it all boiled down to him and Milah as the ones to blame either way. They had failed to perform their supervisory role properly - either neglected their duties as parents or employers, or both. Probably both. Simultaneously.

“It was an accident, no one got hurt. No harm done.”

Bae tensed at Gold’s side. Gold let go of his hand and put his arm around the boy’s shoulders.

“That’s a very kind way of looking at it, Mr Nolan. My wife and I are, however, truly sorry.” He spoke mostly to Mrs. Nolan, despite keeping his eyes firmly on a spot somewhere behind her left ear. “And I wanted to personally come and check in with you both - make sure your daughter was alright.”

Finally, a little smile. Mother’s absolution.

“But I’m fine, Mr Gold,” Emma piped up, turning in her seat to look up at him. “I just got wet.” She grinned. “Almost dry now.” She flapped her arms a little, as if to prove she wouldn’t shower him in droplets or leave puddles where she stood - or sat, respectively. Her mother shot her a pointed look. “If- if we promise not to get into trouble again and to do what we’re told, can Bae stay and play? Please?” She reached for Bae’s hand. “Please?!”

“If your parents are alright with that-”

“Of course!” David said. “Sit with us for a bit, buddy.” He smiled at Bae and scooted over to make room, patting the seat. “My wife is heading home to get Emma a change of clothes, but I’ll keep an eye on them. My shift’s over, I don’t mind hanging for a bit,” he looked at Gold, keeping eye contact long enough to make it significant. “I’m sure you’ll look into the mermaid business? Check that things are good over at the reef? Gates closed and all?”

Gold nodded. “Absolutely. I’m headed there next. Thank you. We really appreciate your help and understanding,” He turned to Mrs. Nolan - “and we’ll make sure something like this won’t happen again -” and then addressed his son: “Bae, listen to Mr Nolan, alright? Have Granny fix you a cocoa, if you like - but no pastries. It’s almost dinner time. Your mother or I will come and get you in about… an hour,” He checked with Mr Nolan. Yes, an hour would be fine. “No wandering around without an adult, ok?”

“Yes, Papa,” Bae said. Then he shifted in his seat, beckoned him closer and whispered, “We were just playing, she didn’t mean to,” He hesitated. “Papa, her tail looked all… funny. What if-”

“I know,” He squeezed Bae’s shoulder. No need for the boy to get all worked up again. “Don’t worry. I’ll talk to her.”

Leaving Bae with the Nolans, he returned to the main building. Now that he knew him in good hands, his only thought was Indigo.

***

Things were much worse than he had anticipated.

In the time it had taken him to calm Bae down enough to speak and tell him what had happened at the reef tank, and then walked the boy over to Granny’s, Milah and Gus Gaston had made a good job of it and - without waiting for Whale’s approval or his - begun medical procedure.

He was done yelling at them about it.

Unfortunately, the yelling hadn’t made Gold feel any better. It was too late for that and it was his fault anyway. Had he kept an eye on Bae, had he gone to check on Indigo sooner that afternoon, had he paid better attention, had he not gotten so carried away with his research on corals and plants that he forgot to ask her about herself, this whole situation could have been prevented.

He should have known.

It was hypocritical to vent his anger and blame his wife and their employees. Gaston was a brainless brute, his methods questionable at best, but he had detected what Gold had not: Indigo had been in pain and immediate action necessary. Of course, immediate action should have meant dialing 911 for professional veterinary care, not a thoughtless DIY-approach.

Gus Gaston had dropped out of the program back in the day, they knew, but still acted like he held a double degree in veterinary medicine and marine biology. He had claimed that caring for a mermaid’s tail was no different from declawing a cat or filing down horses’ teeth. Easy. Quick. And he had handled the anesthesia with such confidence that no one had stopped to question his actions. How they had gotten Indigo to keep still long enough to do it, Gold didn’t want to know. Hadn’t Gaston’s family been big money, he would have fired him long ago, would fire him now- going on his unpleasant gut feeling alone.

He’d deal with the idiot later.

“Murchadh?”

It took all the self-control he possessed to keep the grimace off his face and the anger out of his voice. No matter how pissed off he was, he would not argue with Milah in front of their son.

“Yes?”

She gave him the once-over.

His old wetsuit wasn’t something he particularly wanted to be seen in. It had fit snug as a glove once, but was now rather too large in the body and perished in places. He had had to roll up the sleeves and legs a bit too, which made him feel like the boy he’d once been: Forever embarrassed by his size and build, stumbling about in second-hand rags he never quite managed to grow into. He had been the smallest boy in the village, but also the fastest, and he held his breath longer than anyone else, which had saved his life more than once. Standing here now, in his baggy suit, barefoot on the slippery tiles made him feel small and vulnerable, and he had to fight the urge to hold his breath, close his eyes, and count in his head until the danger had passed.

He glanced at the boots lying by the holding pool, then forced himself to look at her face. In her heels she was taller than he was.

“Dove will take us to the airport,” she said, and he was grateful she had chosen to keep any remarks on his appearance to herself. God knew she didn’t think him attractive, they didn’t need to rehash it in front of Bae. “Our flight leaves in three hours.”

“Give Ethel my best,” he said, making it sound almost like he meant it. The old hag would love this. Another opportunity to meddle and tell her daughter how much better she could do if only she divorced that good-for-nothing cripple of a husband. And hadn’t they warned her about him from the start? Hadn’t they told her so? She needed a real man. A man to worship the very ground she walked on. A man to teach her son how to become one. Play some ball, shoot a deer, memorize useless facts about overpriced motorized vehicles that cost more than the average person made in a year. That sort of thing. Gold’s lip curled.

“Thank you. I will.” She checked her watch. “Come on, Baelfire, the car is waiting.”

“I don’t want to go!”

Bae’s face darkened and Gold felt a twinge of guilt. He didn’t want him to go any more than the boy wished to spend the remainder of the summer at Montgomery Manor. Yet, fighting Milah on this would only have the opposite effect. He might have been a runner by necessity in his youth, but it was she who had running down to an art form. He needed to let her go.

“Bae,” He opened his arms for Bae and hugged him close as the boy came running into them. “Listen, your grandmother called and she’s really looking forward to your visit. She hasn’t seen you and Mama since Christmas and I imagine it might get quite lonely in that big old house all by herself… “

“She’s not alone. She’s got Dougal.”

He had almost forgotten about the Doberman. His mother-in-law loved that creature. Her late husband had bred Doberman Pinschers, a favorite pastime of his, and Dougal was the last one he had trained himself before his accident. Ethel held onto that dog like it was the son she’d never had.

“Yes, but I’m sure she’s excited to hear all about your summer, Bae. Dogs don’t make the best conversationalists.”

Bae looked at him, eyebrows arched.

“You can’t expect them to tell good stories,” Gold explained.

“I know lots of good stories,” Bae said.

“I know you do.”

“Why can’t you come?”

“I have to work,” Gold said, catching Milah’s impatient eye. Her lips were a thin white line. She hated how much their son didn’t want to belong to her old world, how reluctant he was to visit her childhood home, how little joy he got out of the things and activities her family valued. He felt almost sorry for her sometimes. Not today though.

“Marmie told me she’s having the big pool ready for when we arrive,” she said, her gaze fixed on Bae’s curls. “You can work on your butterfly and dive. Maybe beat me at freestyle?”

The one thing they had in common. Watching his wife in her tailored suits and high heels, it was hard to imagine her as a young girl, swimming laps, racing for Gold in a Speedo and swim cap. She was great in the water. Before all this, she’d killed him in a race for the best waves and won. He still didn’t know why she’d asked him out after. Milah had been 30.000 leagues out of his back then - just as she was now - and they both knew it.

“That would be great, wouldn’t it?” He broke the hug to steer Bae back to his mother. “Marine biologists and trainers need to be good swimmers,” he said encouragingly, and Milah released the tension in her face long enough to give him a fleeting smile.

This wasn’t for her. It was for his son. Bae shouldn’t have to feel like he had to choose sides. There weren’t supposed to be sides.

“Okay,” Bae said. “But I’m not wearing the cap Marmie got me last year! It looks stupid.”

Milah laughed. “We’ll get you a new one. Now-” She held out a hand for Bae to take. “We’ll call you when we get there.”

“Have a safe trip,” Gold said.

After they had left, he went and pulled on his boots, grabbed the temporal artery thermometer from the tray, and carefully stepped down the ladder into their largest quarantine holding pool. Even if it was the largest they had, it wasn’t much bigger than a very spacious bathtub or two, and, as his feet touched the ground, the water only went up to his thighs. The water resistance meant he didn’t need his cane walking in the pool, and, as he didn’t have to swim, the low water level made it easier to use his hands freely.

“Good evening.”

With his left hand, he made little waves in the water to announce his presence - in case she was awake.

Indigo was their only patient in the med wing, which had become restricted-access and special-permit-only with her arrival.

When Milah had pushed for an upgrade from their old Med Shed, a regular garden shed on the premises they used to operate out of, and which had served them just fine up to that point, to what was now the medical wing with several indoor holding pools and an airlock door for quarantine purposes, she had also insisted on having a security system installed that required ID and allowed communication via intercom. He had deemed it extravagant and unnecessary at the time. Now he was grateful for the extra security.

The medical wing was top-notch and allowed them to do terrific work. His team now rescued, rehabilitated and released more than 200 animals each year; last year, they had rescued more than 270 animals and made the papers as Ocean Angels when they’d taken in large numbers of California sea lions, northern elephant seals and harbor seals, as well as sea otters, turtles, a baby dolphin and a porpoise after a horrible oil spill higher up the coast.

“For every patient, the goal is to treat, rehabilitate and return it to the wild as soon as possible,” Milah had told the press. “Maintaining the animals' wildness and reducing the stress they experience is an integral part of our work. The animals are not used to interacting with humans, and we want to be able to eventually return them to their habitat with their instincts and abilities intact.”

It was the same line she had used on the investors and generous sponsors, and the reason why they now had a facility that included not only a ridiculous security system and optional quarantine space, but an exam and surgical room equipped with a new endoscope and x-ray. The total budget for the facility was $554,000; which had been raised entirely by private donations, with 346 donors supporting the project. Husbandry still was the core of all their rehabilitation efforts - including nutrition, handling techniques, hygiene and sanitation, housing, disease prevention, and stress reduction, but the new equipment and ongoing cash flow made their work a lot easier. As did qualified staff applying for their team and the many volunteers that more positive press coverage had swept in, who were eager to help with their rehabilitation and release efforts and regular work, including much of the day-to-day care of the animals.

Gold turned on the thermometer and gently swept it across Indigo's forehead. He read the number then double-checked the reading with another go, nodded, and waded back to the stairs to heave himself out of the water. Grunting, he limped over to the tray and table, and, checking the time on one of the screens, jotted down both the temperature and the time in the notebook.

Whales, dolphins, seals and other marine mammals could generate their own heat and maintain a stable body temperature despite fluctuating environmental conditions. Like people, they were endothermic homeotherms, meaning: warm-blooded, but unlike the average person, they could endure water temperatures as low as -2 degrees Celsius and air temperatures reaching -40 degrees °C. Indigo’s inner thermostat, however, was out of whack.

He went over the older entries. Not better, not good, but at least her temperature had been relatively stable for the last couple of hours.

Just like with human patients, the first twenty-four hours after trauma were the most critical, which was why he was determined not to leave Indigo’s side tonight, and also the reason he hadn’t fought Milah on her decision to up and leave, taking Bae across the country on the next machine available to see her mother. They needed a break and he needed time to fix his mistakes.

With a sigh, he looked through Indigo’s chart, scanned the printouts (they might as well have been in Chinese) and notes in the margins, then watched her vitals on the screen. The steady hum and whir of all their fancy equipment was both alienating and soothing, a constant soundtrack in the background like a mechanical heartbeat. His hand hovering over the computer mouse, Gold wondered what would be a mermaid’s favorite music genre, wondered if the legends were true, wondered what she sounded like singing. Then he clicked play.

The music filled the air like mist, like a cautious creature, shy and soft, treading with utmost care. A timid fawn in the snow.

He adjusted the volume and the lights. “I hope you like this one, sweetheart.”

He looked at Indigo in her sling. She didn’t stir.

Upon arrival, staff had immediately begun administering emergency therapy. There were several lacerations along Indigo’s tail, likely caused by their nets and Gaston’s crude attempts at removing infected tissue- infected, inflamed tissue, caked with sand and blood- which had done more harm than good. Indigo had been dehydrated and unconscious, and she required around-the-clock care.

Whale had been in multiple times, put her on antibiotics and blood pressure medications. In addition to fluids and meds, veterinary staff had to use a wide array of their equipment to rule out severe internal injuries – including ultrasound and x-rays. Stitching up the cuts had been tricky. Just like pinnipeds, Indigo had a thick blubber layer that rejected many suture materials, and surgery had been complicated further by her dive reflex; a reflex which caused a pinnipeds heart rate to slow down, their breathing to stop, and their blood to pool centrally during anesthesia. It made keeping her under for longer periods of time extremely risky, especially after she’d been out of the water and under for an undetermined period of time prior to surgery already.

“I’m so sorry,” Gold told her, tracing the outline of the IV needle in her arm. They had struggled with that too, intravenous fluid therapy, unsure whether to adhere to human or marine mammal guidelines. The fluids and drugs had to be monitored and adjusted frequently. Indigo was too weak to swim on her own and needed to be supported in the pool, for which they had come up with a special sling: A sort of hammock made from swimming noodles and a harness that held her floating comfortably in the middle.

Indigo’s eyelids twitched, indicating rapid-eye-movement and dreams. Stroking her temples, Gold could only hope they weren’t nightmares. They had pumped her full of drugs and she didn’t appear to feel anything - not on the operating table and not now - even though they had yanked at her body, sticking her with all sorts of implements, rough and messy and bloody.

It was almost completely dark in the med wing, with the music playing softly and the machines beeping like it was them who breathed, deep and calm, and fast asleep. The doctor had ordered bedrest and close monitoring and would be back in the morning.

Until then, Gold would stay with Indigo.

Floating in the salt water beneath her harness, holding her and rocking them gently, he thought of Chipper, the dolphin.

Estimated to have been just four to six weeks old at the time of rescue, weighing under 15 kilograms when found stranded on the beach, she had been in very poor condition, dehydrated and close to death. Rescue staff did not expect her to survive the first few hours, let alone live through the night. Regardless, they had stayed with her, providing treatment, fluids, and supporting her in the water. The next morning arrived - they were still there. The first day came and went. Chipper stayed. For days and weeks, staff and volunteers worked around the clock to save the youngster. In addition to food and medication, they used close contact and music to treat the calf - which had given Gold the idea.

Indigo was breathing on her own. The tubes made sure she got everything her body needed. The drugs kept the pain at bay, the meds helped her heal. He would provide comfort and company as best he could, and she would wake up soon.

#rumbelle fic #rumbelle #rumbelle au #mermaid!belle #ouat fanfiction #my fic #fic: indigo

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