Hold me down in the siren lights. (Open)

[suchgoodluck]

She's been restless all day, stocking books with itching fingers and rushing to pick up extra groceries for Jasmine with a twitch to her step. She'd rushed through this day with her thoughts whirling about her mind like a hurricane. Only at dusk, alone on a near empty beach in one of the more desolate corners, has Cosette felt at liberty to stop and take a breath, inhaling the salty air with the hunger of a vagrant poet.

That had been an hour ago. Now, she's fully formed as her siren self, the naked chest of a human woman and the lower body of a seal. She weaves in and out of the water, playing with some wandering fish and dancing in the waves. For a good ten minutes, she remains beneath the surface, taking pleasure at the distorted world held behind the water as though it were made out of glass.

She breaks through the surface when she feels the urge to recreate that particular scene from The Little Mermaid, even indulging a bit in singing part of "Part of Your World." She doesn't care who hears her.

As she reaches a particularly high note, she is suddenly and abruptly drawn beneath the surface.

Cosette barely has time to scream when she feels a strong set of teeth dig into the seal part of her body; she feels rather than sees the blood seep from her. She twists and shudders as much as she can with her upper body, managing to bring her attacker above the surface with her. She turns to catch a look at it, and what she finds horrifies her. A Beisht Kione, dark and vicious with teeth like swords piercing through her skin. She screams for help even as she fights it off with all of her might, using her fists to gather the energy of the water around her and shove it in the face of the beast.

The creature proves especially determined, sinking its teeth further into her and beginning to whip her back and forth like its next meal. She's losing blood, fast, and her vision is starting to darken at the edges.

"COSETTE!" She hears Spencer approaching, confused as her energy drains from her. She never even knew him to be on the beach, but he proves otherwise as loud splashes indicate his approaching presence in the water. She wants to warn him, to tell him to turn back. All she can manage is a strained groan, however.

(OOC: Cosette has been attacked by a mythical Irish sea beast sent by her relatives (not her parents) who feel her as a threat to the lineage in her former siren community. Spencer just happens to be nearby and well. Erika and I are terrible people and wanted to hurt our characters. This post is open to any and all rescue attempts, and eventually the beast will give up and slink back into the ocean, summoned back to its master.)

Comments

[doublethepain]

He'd decided to take the scenic route home from the library today, having been overcome with the strange desire to hear the crash of the ocean waves and feel the sand between his toes. He's not much of a swimmer but sometimes he still feels the water's calming effects.

He isn't surprised to find the beach void of people, save for those who'd apparently been craving the same closeness to the atmosphere that Spencer had. The sun is just starting to go down and there's a chill in the air that Spencer is certain is due to something a bit more nefarious than just Mother Nature.

He pauses for a moment, setting his shoes down on the sand and leaning his head back so he can feel the rush of the ocean breeze over his face and through his hair. The corners of his lips turn up as he smiles to himself, enjoying the private moment of contenment, this one moment that he will allow himself to forget about everything else that's going on, everything's he's seen and learned over the course of the past week.

Of course, the moment couldn't have lasted long. When he opens his eyes, he sees a familiar face not far from the shore, placing her as Cosette. His smile is quickly replaced by a look of horror when he realizes she's struggling and he doesn't even think, he screams her name before barreling straight into the ocean.

He fights desperately against the waves, head ducking under the water more than once and his nose and throat burn from the salt water, but he doesn't stop. He can't stop, not if Cosette needs help. By the time he reaches her, he's gasping for air, kicking erratically to keep himself afloat and he really hadn't thought this far ahead. "Cosette, what--"

It's then that he feels it, a figure slithering beneath him and around him and before he can do anything else, he screams as he feels the razor sharpness of the beast's teeth clamp down on his side.

[starsfallen]

Corrine is on her balcony, curled up with a warm cup of tea and a blanket tucked under her injured arm, staring vaguely out at sea. She's so lost in thought that it takes her a moment to register the shouts and commotion coming from the water line.

"Hello?! Are you alright down there?" Her first thought is that the dragon has been replaced by a sea creature. The second, that her arm will likely preclude her from diving in. And thirdly, the terror that its been 10 years since she last transformed and isn't sure she's ready.

"Do you need help?!"

[just_another]

With the shop closed, Joel stands in the centre of the bookstore, internally debating whether he should simply retire upstairs for the evening or go for a walk. The problem (but was it a problem, really?) is that the last time he'd gone for a walk he'd found himself at Spencer's home without purpose and he doesn't want the same thing to happen again. Or maybe he does, but he doesn't want to dwell on the fact that he does.

Still, a walk might clear his head and so he heads for the door, locking the store behind him and purposely turning toward the beach. He can keep his feet from wandering, he can keep his focus on the water, he can rid himself of all the thoughts he's been having lately. In ten years he's kept his abilities fairly well guarded, but now people know. More and more people know. He remembers all too well what happened the last time too many people knew.

He's not so deep in thought that he doesn't immediately register the screams and his gaze snaps up toward the water. Before he has a chance to consider what he's doing, he's running, kicking up sand as he goes, stripping off the sweater he's wearing over his t-shirt, because he recognizes that scream. He recognizes both of them. "Cosette!" he shouts, kicking off his shoes before he plunges into the water.