#nereidiris — Public Fediverse posts

Iris Part 18

Colin thought he had decent breath control. He'd been diving in the North Sea since he'd been ten, and had had lots of practice free diving. He was not, however, foolish enough to try to keep up with Indigo. He could see the gill slits on her sides open, the way she held her mouth wide, and knew that she could stay under the water indefinitely.

The surprise had been Alice. He'd heard Indigo mention her friend often enough, but he had no idea how much of an accomplished diver she was. And she was clearly better than himself. He watched as she followed Indigo to the bottom, and then pointed something out to her before rising to the surface.

Alice broke the surface and took a deep breath "Head straight down, and Indi will introduce you to Otto."
"Otto?"
"You'll see! Otto's cool."

Colin stabilised his breathing, took a deep breath, and dived.

Beneath him he could see Indi by a dark hole in the reef. As he came near, she looked up, grinned, and reached into the hole. From within, a large tentacle emerged, followed by the largest octopus he'd ever seen, wrapping two of its tentacles around Indi's left arm. It looked at him, and flashed a series of colours.
Indigo sang. Only a few bars, but it was almost enough to make him forget to hold his breath. The octopus then flashed some more colours, and released Indigo's arm.

She turned, grabbed him by the elbow, and pulled him to the surface, her long tail propelling them at a remarkable speed. They hit the surface, and he felt himself rise halfway out of the water, before falling back.

"Are you OK, Colin?" were the first words from her mouth when their heads were above water.
He shook himself a little "I ... I think so? What was that?"
"I don't know! You looked like you were hypnotized! Otto asked why you had turned into prey!"
"I ... you started singing..."
"I was just telling Otto that you were a friend!"
"It was like the old legends about sirens", he protested.
"It has never affected Alice like that! Alice? Back me up here!" Indigo turned to the other girl.
Alice thought a moment "Nope, never. It just sounds like noise to me." There was a beat, and then she added "Just like your karaoke."
"Hey!"
"Um" Colin broke in before it could escalate "Indi, have you ever sung underwater when there was a guy around before?"
That stopped both of them, the girls looked at each other, and then both shook their heads slowly. "I've only dived with Dad, and I've never sung around him under water" Indigo slowly replied.
All three of them looked at each other, and then Alice said "Iris" at the same time as Indigo said "Mum."
They took off towards the boat, Colin trailing behind.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy

Iris Part 18

Colin thought he had decent breath control. He'd been diving in the North Sea since he'd been ten, and had had lots of practice free diving. He was not, however, foolish enough to try to keep up with Indigo. He could see the gill slits on her sides open, the way she held her mouth wide, and knew that she could stay under the water indefinitely.

The surprise had been Alice. He'd heard Indigo mention her friend often enough, but he had no idea how much of an accomplished diver she was. And she was clearly better than himself. He watched as she followed Indigo to the bottom, and then pointed something out to her before rising to the surface.

Alice broke the surface and took a deep breath "Head straight down, and Indi will introduce you to Otto."
"Otto?"
"You'll see! Otto's cool."

Colin stabilised his breathing, took a deep breath, and dived.

Beneath him he could see Indi by a dark hole in the reef. As he came near, she looked up, grinned, and reached into the hole. From within, a large tentacle emerged, followed by the largest octopus he'd ever seen, wrapping two of its tentacles around Indi's left arm. It looked at him, and flashed a series of colours.
Indigo sang. Only a few bars, but it was almost enough to make him forget to hold his breath. The octopus then flashed some more colours, and released Indigo's arm.

She turned, grabbed him by the elbow, and pulled him to the surface, her long tail propelling them at a remarkable speed. They hit the surface, and he felt himself rise halfway out of the water, before falling back.

"Are you OK, Colin?" were the first words from her mouth when their heads were above water.
He shook himself a little "I ... I think so? What was that?"
"I don't know! You looked like you were hypnotized! Otto asked why you had turned into prey!"
"I ... you started singing..."
"I was just telling Otto that you were a friend!"
"It was like the old legends about sirens", he protested.
"It has never affected Alice like that! Alice? Back me up here!" Indigo turned to the other girl.
Alice thought a moment "Nope, never. It just sounds like noise to me." There was a beat, and then she added "Just like your karaoke."
"Hey!"
"Um" Colin broke in before it could escalate "Indi, have you ever sung underwater when there was a guy around before?"
That stopped both of them, the girls looked at each other, and then both shook their heads slowly. "I've only dived with Dad, and I've never sung around him under water" Indigo slowly replied.
All three of them looked at each other, and then Alice said "Iris" at the same time as Indigo said "Mum."
They took off towards the boat, Colin trailing behind.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy

Iris Part 17

The trip to the small island to the south of the main tourist trap took about three quarters of an hour, and they anchored inside the reef on the back side.

Indigo was sprawled on one of the gear boxes on the afterdeck, as Alice and Colin shrugged on their wetsuits. Alice's was bright green, with yellow and black detail panels, in a light 2mm, while Colin's was a simple black in 6mm neoprene.

"I guess you'd need something like that for the North Sea, wouldn't you?" Indigo observed.
"Yeah, I'll probably cook if I stay out of the water too long around here," he replied.
"You have your sunscreen on?" Iris asked.
"Yes, Mrs Chandler."
"It's just Iris, Colin."
"Yes, Mrs Chandler," came the dutiful reply.
"He's not going to budge on that," said Dave from the shade where he was gently rocking Elizabeth.
"How come Adele gets to be Adele then?" Iris complained.
"Because she's scary, Mrs Chandler!"
"Oh, come on, she hasn't had someone shot in years!"
"Not helping dearest," Dave grinned.

Indigo, seeing Alice and Colin were in their suits, grabbed the gunwale, and slithered over it, scales catching the sun as she vanished over the side.

"Um, Alice, do we need to worry about sharks?" Colin's accent was slipping back in again, revealing his nervousness.
"You'll be fine. We've never seen anything bigger than a little carpet shark around here. And they're fine unless you actually stick your hand in their mouth or something stupid like that. Anyway, Indi can be right scary underwater when she wants to be."

With that Alice pulled on her goggles, and tipped over the side backwards, hitting the water with a splash.

Colin followed her in.

Iris looked over the edge, and watched the three swim towards the edge of the reef, Indigo circling around the other two impatiently. She felt a presence next to her. "I don't know if I'm happy or annoyed with you right now."
"Both is quite normal," Adele replied looking out towards the swimmers.
"You clearly think he's OK, but what is your read on Colin?"
"He loves Iain. I bet Iain loves him just as much. They're the brothers neither had. Whoever Iain ends up with is going to have to cope with them being a package deal," Adele's expression became pensive, "I'm rather glad he's turned up, really."
"Oh?"
Adele paused "They both need someone somewhat normal."
"The girls have had their classmates, but couldn't really get close to any of them, could they?" Iris mused.
"No, and the selkie mob don't have anyone around their age to socialise with either."
Iris bit her lip. "Do you think they'll be OK?"
Dave spoke up from behind them "Yeah, they'll be fine. But you're both right. So I think we should reach out to Alice's old teacher and see if there are any kids around their age they can hang with. Now Alice is out of school, we can do that without attracting too much attention, although I fear this will become The Party Boat for a while."

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy

Iris Part 17

The trip to the small island to the south of the main tourist trap took about three quarters of an hour, and they anchored inside the reef on the back side.

Indigo was sprawled on one of the gear boxes on the afterdeck, as Alice and Colin shrugged on their wetsuits. Alice's was bright green, with yellow and black detail panels, in a light 2mm, while Colin's was a simple black in 6mm neoprene.

"I guess you'd need something like that for the North Sea, wouldn't you?" Indigo observed.
"Yeah, I'll probably cook if I stay out of the water too long around here," he replied.
"You have your sunscreen on?" Iris asked.
"Yes, Mrs Chandler."
"It's just Iris, Colin."
"Yes, Mrs Chandler," came the dutiful reply.
"He's not going to budge on that," said Dave from the shade where he was gently rocking Elizabeth.
"How come Adele gets to be Adele then?" Iris complained.
"Because she's scary, Mrs Chandler!"
"Oh, come on, she hasn't had someone shot in years!"
"Not helping dearest," Dave grinned.

Indigo, seeing Alice and Colin were in their suits, grabbed the gunwale, and slithered over it, scales catching the sun as she vanished over the side.

"Um, Alice, do we need to worry about sharks?" Colin's accent was slipping back in again, revealing his nervousness.
"You'll be fine. We've never seen anything bigger than a little carpet shark around here. And they're fine unless you actually stick your hand in their mouth or something stupid like that. Anyway, Indi can be right scary underwater when she wants to be."

With that Alice pulled on her goggles, and tipped over the side backwards, hitting the water with a splash.

Colin followed her in.

Iris looked over the edge, and watched the three swim towards the edge of the reef, Indigo circling around the other two impatiently. She felt a presence next to her. "I don't know if I'm happy or annoyed with you right now."
"Both is quite normal," Adele replied looking out towards the swimmers.
"You clearly think he's OK, but what is your read on Colin?"
"He loves Iain. I bet Iain loves him just as much. They're the brothers neither had. Whoever Iain ends up with is going to have to cope with them being a package deal," Adele's expression became pensive, "I'm rather glad he's turned up, really."
"Oh?"
Adele paused "They both need someone somewhat normal."
"The girls have had their classmates, but couldn't really get close to any of them, could they?" Iris mused.
"No, and the selkie mob don't have anyone around their age to socialise with either."
Iris bit her lip. "Do you think they'll be OK?"
Dave spoke up from behind them "Yeah, they'll be fine. But you're both right. So I think we should reach out to Alice's old teacher and see if there are any kids around their age they can hang with. Now Alice is out of school, we can do that without attracting too much attention, although I fear this will become The Party Boat for a while."

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy

Iris Part 16

Colin sat hunched over, apparently out of words.

Adele came over and handed him a mug of tea. He nodded a thank-you and breathed deeply from it before taking a sip, followed by a larger swallow. As they watched, they could see as he made himself relax. Finally he looked up again.

"I'll start again" he said, and took a deep breath before continuing, "I don't really have many friends back home. There's Iain, but that's different. And me and my family, well, aside from my uncle Joe, we don't get too well. And Indi always seemed so with it and happy and everything. I wanted to see what that was like."

Alice frowned "Colin, did they hurt you at all?"

He shook his head "No, nothing like that. They just, well, I love the sea and boats and all, but I hate the fishing and the by-catch and all of that. They just don't get that. The family's been fishing for centuries, so I just don't fit. And then there's Iain."

"Iain is?" asked Iris.

"He's me best mate. He had some trouble with a teacher at our old school, and that's why we moved back to town. I couldn't survive without him, though. He's what has kept me going. Him and Indi."

"So you're travelling together?" continued Iris.

"Yeah, we look out for each other. He keeps people off me back, and I pull him away from the obvious red lights."

Alice tipped her head, "So you ... what, are you together?"

Colin gave a snort "Nah, people keep thinking we are, cause Iain's as gay as they come and not shy about it. But me, I'm not. We're just good mates."

"So you wanted to see if you could make something with Indi?" she pressed.

"No! No, when I said I'm not. I meant it. I'm simply not."

Indigo nodded "And I bet your family couldn't deal with that too well either."

He nodded sadly "Yeah, I think they'd have been happier if I'd been gay."

Adele shook her head "You happy travelling with Iain like that? How about him, is he happy with it?"

"Yeah, he knows I don't swing at all, and is good with it. He knows that if I'm warning him off someone there's good reason, and doesn't get snippy. And I like seeing him happy. Maybe one day I'll get to be his best man."

"Right. We can hold off departing for a couple of days can't we?" Adele asked, and then turned to Colin, "Can you leave Iain alone for a couple of days?"

"Yeah, he's with a good bloke right now. It's not going to last, but they'll be OK for the next couple of weeks."

"Did you bring your wetsuit?"

"It's back at the backpackers, but I can get it."

"Ok, we'll delay our trip for two or three days, take you out to a couple of dive spots. You can stay aboard, and then we'll bring you back," Adele looked around again, "Everyone good with that plan?"

Iris and Indigo nodded, then so did Alice.

"Right then. Off you go, and remember the rules. We'll set off when you get back."

"Yes ma'am."

"It's Adele."

"Yes ... Adele."

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy

Iris Part 16

Colin sat hunched over, apparently out of words.

Adele came over and handed him a mug of tea. He nodded a thank-you and breathed deeply from it before taking a sip, followed by a larger swallow. As they watched, they could see as he made himself relax. Finally he looked up again.

"I'll start again" he said, and took a deep breath before continuing, "I don't really have many friends back home. There's Iain, but that's different. And me and my family, well, aside from my uncle Joe, we don't get too well. And Indi always seemed so with it and happy and everything. I wanted to see what that was like."

Alice frowned "Colin, did they hurt you at all?"

He shook his head "No, nothing like that. They just, well, I love the sea and boats and all, but I hate the fishing and the by-catch and all of that. They just don't get that. The family's been fishing for centuries, so I just don't fit. And then there's Iain."

"Iain is?" asked Iris.

"He's me best mate. He had some trouble with a teacher at our old school, and that's why we moved back to town. I couldn't survive without him, though. He's what has kept me going. Him and Indi."

"So you're travelling together?" continued Iris.

"Yeah, we look out for each other. He keeps people off me back, and I pull him away from the obvious red lights."

Alice tipped her head, "So you ... what, are you together?"

Colin gave a snort "Nah, people keep thinking we are, cause Iain's as gay as they come and not shy about it. But me, I'm not. We're just good mates."

"So you wanted to see if you could make something with Indi?" she pressed.

"No! No, when I said I'm not. I meant it. I'm simply not."

Indigo nodded "And I bet your family couldn't deal with that too well either."

He nodded sadly "Yeah, I think they'd have been happier if I'd been gay."

Adele shook her head "You happy travelling with Iain like that? How about him, is he happy with it?"

"Yeah, he knows I don't swing at all, and is good with it. He knows that if I'm warning him off someone there's good reason, and doesn't get snippy. And I like seeing him happy. Maybe one day I'll get to be his best man."

"Right. We can hold off departing for a couple of days can't we?" Adele asked, and then turned to Colin, "Can you leave Iain alone for a couple of days?"

"Yeah, he's with a good bloke right now. It's not going to last, but they'll be OK for the next couple of weeks."

"Did you bring your wetsuit?"

"It's back at the backpackers, but I can get it."

"Ok, we'll delay our trip for two or three days, take you out to a couple of dive spots. You can stay aboard, and then we'll bring you back," Adele looked around again, "Everyone good with that plan?"

Iris and Indigo nodded, then so did Alice.

"Right then. Off you go, and remember the rules. We'll set off when you get back."

"Yes ma'am."

"It's Adele."

"Yes ... Adele."

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy

Iris Part 15

Adele stepped out, leaving the girls alone for a moment.
"I guess you've been dying to meet Colin for years" Alice's voice was subdued.
"It is exciting, but he's the first person outside of," Indigo gestured around the boat, "here and the exotic community that will know about me. I'm a bit scared. Sit by me? Please?"

Alice shuffled over so she was properly next to her friend. Indi leaned back a little against her.

Outside, Adele looked across at Colin. "Indi says you can come aboard," she made the invitation sound like a threat.
Colin gulped, and stepped aboard. Adele moved next to him, and whispered "If you ever hurt either of them, I will end you."
"Yes, ma'am!", he said, accent back in force.

She opened the door to the saloon, and gently pushed him in.

"Girls", she announced, "this is Colin. Colin, meet Indigo and my daughter Alice."

Colin stared, then shook himself. "Uh, hi. Um."
Indigo blushed hard "Uh, hi, Colin. Uh, yeah, it's real. Er, Adele? Can you get mum or dad from below. One of them should be here."

Adele nodded, and went below. As soon as she was below decks, Indigo asked "Did she threaten you?"
"Yes?" Colin said softly.
"That tracks. Don't worry about it. She hasn't had anyone shot in six years."
"Is that supposed to be reassuring? And what about" he pointed at her tail.
"I'll explain when mum or dad are here. I figured you had your secrets, this one is mine."

Alice looked on as Colin continued to stand awkwardly in the middle of the cabin. "Oh for crying out loud, just sit down!" she finally burst out, just as Iris came up the companionway, Adele following.

Colin, quickly stood up from half sitting. "Uh, hi Mrs Chandler. Sorry for turning up unannounced."

Iris looked over the slender dark haired young man and sighed. "Well, I see the girls have already introduced themselves. Welcome aboard. Dave is looking after Elizabeth, she's fussing a little. As Alice just said, do sit. Tea?"

A look of absolute relief came over Colin's face. This was something he could deal with. "Yes please, white with two, please."

"I'll look after it. Girls?", Adele asked.

"Yes, please," they chorused back.

"Now, we have some rules. Firstly, no photos, and no telling anyone - not family, not friends, no-one - about Indi. Unless you know some other people who are similarly gifted?"

"Uh, no. No, I don't. Does that mean there are other sorts of people out there too?"

"Oh yes. For example..." and Iris turned to water "I am a naiad, or water nymph." She turned back. "I know you are taking a gap year, backpacking. But what are you doing here, specifically?"

"I came to see Indi. Uh, not like that. Cause we've been sending letters so long and well, I got my passport, and um" as he spoke he sped up, and his accent started to get thicker, and then stuttered out.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy

Iris Part 15

Adele stepped out, leaving the girls alone for a moment.
"I guess you've been dying to meet Colin for years" Alice's voice was subdued.
"It is exciting, but he's the first person outside of," Indigo gestured around the boat, "here and the exotic community that will know about me. I'm a bit scared. Sit by me? Please?"

Alice shuffled over so she was properly next to her friend. Indi leaned back a little against her.

Outside, Adele looked across at Colin. "Indi says you can come aboard," she made the invitation sound like a threat.
Colin gulped, and stepped aboard. Adele moved next to him, and whispered "If you ever hurt either of them, I will end you."
"Yes, ma'am!", he said, accent back in force.

She opened the door to the saloon, and gently pushed him in.

"Girls", she announced, "this is Colin. Colin, meet Indigo and my daughter Alice."

Colin stared, then shook himself. "Uh, hi. Um."
Indigo blushed hard "Uh, hi, Colin. Uh, yeah, it's real. Er, Adele? Can you get mum or dad from below. One of them should be here."

Adele nodded, and went below. As soon as she was below decks, Indigo asked "Did she threaten you?"
"Yes?" Colin said softly.
"That tracks. Don't worry about it. She hasn't had anyone shot in six years."
"Is that supposed to be reassuring? And what about" he pointed at her tail.
"I'll explain when mum or dad are here. I figured you had your secrets, this one is mine."

Alice looked on as Colin continued to stand awkwardly in the middle of the cabin. "Oh for crying out loud, just sit down!" she finally burst out, just as Iris came up the companionway, Adele following.

Colin, quickly stood up from half sitting. "Uh, hi Mrs Chandler. Sorry for turning up unannounced."

Iris looked over the slender dark haired young man and sighed. "Well, I see the girls have already introduced themselves. Welcome aboard. Dave is looking after Elizabeth, she's fussing a little. As Alice just said, do sit. Tea?"

A look of absolute relief came over Colin's face. This was something he could deal with. "Yes please, white with two, please."

"I'll look after it. Girls?", Adele asked.

"Yes, please," they chorused back.

"Now, we have some rules. Firstly, no photos, and no telling anyone - not family, not friends, no-one - about Indi. Unless you know some other people who are similarly gifted?"

"Uh, no. No, I don't. Does that mean there are other sorts of people out there too?"

"Oh yes. For example..." and Iris turned to water "I am a naiad, or water nymph." She turned back. "I know you are taking a gap year, backpacking. But what are you doing here, specifically?"

"I came to see Indi. Uh, not like that. Cause we've been sending letters so long and well, I got my passport, and um" as he spoke he sped up, and his accent started to get thicker, and then stuttered out.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy

Iris Part 14

Adele got out of the ride-share and lifted the duffel bag onto her shoulder. A fortnight in the tropics was looking very attractive now that the girls had graduated from high-school.

Indigo couldn't do the usual sort of graduation trip, and Alice wasn't going to go off without her, so this was the alternative. That she got to go as well was an added bonus. Plus someone had to give Dave and Iris a bit of a break - with a newborn daughter, they had their work cut out for them.

As she approached the Nereid, she saw a young man, maybe 18, staring at the boat with a serious look about him. This was not good. He might be a scout from one of the gangs.

She had not got as far as she had, nor survived retiring, by holding back. She quietly walked up behind him, dropped the bag, and before he could turn, had an arm around his neck, and a knife pressed just above his kidneys. "You are going to tell me who you are, and what you're doing here. Now," she hissed into his ear.

"I came to visit Indigo! I'm a friend of her's that's all! I'm Colin!" This all came out in a rush, and in an accent that made it almost unintelligible. Adele took a few moments to process this, eventually figuring what he'd said. The accent alone was enough for Adele. No-one in the local gangs had an accent like that. This boy was fresh out of England.

She let him go "Sorry, the girls have had a problem with a stalker" she explained "Indigo know you're here?"

"Uh, no, Mrs Chandler. I wanted it to be a surprise." He was talking slower now.

"I'm not Iris. I'm Indi's godmother."

"Oh! The mum of her mysterious friend!"

"Yes. Now wait here. I'll see if Indigo is accepting visitors."

With that she picked up her bag, made the knife vanish, and stepped aboard.

Inside Alice and Indigo were hunched over video game controllers. "Hi mum!" said Alice without looking up.
"How do you know it's me?"
"New camera looking out on the afterdeck. I've got it on my phone."

"Well done. Pause the game please."

The girls paused it.

"What's up?" asked Indigo.

"Are you accepting a visitor? From England."

"What? Colin's here?" Indigo's excitement spiked and then her face fell. She looked at her tail. "I'll have to tell him. Should I let him aboard?"

"That is up to you. Do you think he can be trusted?" Adele's face was grim.

Indigo closed her eyes and thought for a moment. Then opened them, looking straight at Alice. "Ask him aboard, please."

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy

Iris Part 14

Adele got out of the ride-share and lifted the duffel bag onto her shoulder. A fortnight in the tropics was looking very attractive now that the girls had graduated from high-school.

Indigo couldn't do the usual sort of graduation trip, and Alice wasn't going to go off without her, so this was the alternative. That she got to go as well was an added bonus. Plus someone had to give Dave and Iris a bit of a break - with a newborn daughter, they had their work cut out for them.

As she approached the Nereid, she saw a young man, maybe 18, staring at the boat with a serious look about him. This was not good. He might be a scout from one of the gangs.

She had not got as far as she had, nor survived retiring, by holding back. She quietly walked up behind him, dropped the bag, and before he could turn, had an arm around his neck, and a knife pressed just above his kidneys. "You are going to tell me who you are, and what you're doing here. Now," she hissed into his ear.

"I came to visit Indigo! I'm a friend of her's that's all! I'm Colin!" This all came out in a rush, and in an accent that made it almost unintelligible. Adele took a few moments to process this, eventually figuring what he'd said. The accent alone was enough for Adele. No-one in the local gangs had an accent like that. This boy was fresh out of England.

She let him go "Sorry, the girls have had a problem with a stalker" she explained "Indigo know you're here?"

"Uh, no, Mrs Chandler. I wanted it to be a surprise." He was talking slower now.

"I'm not Iris. I'm Indi's godmother."

"Oh! The mum of her mysterious friend!"

"Yes. Now wait here. I'll see if Indigo is accepting visitors."

With that she picked up her bag, made the knife vanish, and stepped aboard.

Inside Alice and Indigo were hunched over video game controllers. "Hi mum!" said Alice without looking up.
"How do you know it's me?"
"New camera looking out on the afterdeck. I've got it on my phone."

"Well done. Pause the game please."

The girls paused it.

"What's up?" asked Indigo.

"Are you accepting a visitor? From England."

"What? Colin's here?" Indigo's excitement spiked and then her face fell. She looked at her tail. "I'll have to tell him. Should I let him aboard?"

"That is up to you. Do you think he can be trusted?" Adele's face was grim.

Indigo closed her eyes and thought for a moment. Then opened them, looking straight at Alice. "Ask him aboard, please."

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy

Iris - Side note - M.V. Nereid

The boat Dave Chandler purchased was a remodeled ex-trawler. 53' long with a 17' 6" beam, drawing 7'.

The M.V. Nereid has a single 480hp diesel engine and single screw.

On the main deck, the cabin has been extended, and (from the bow) has a bridge, head and shower (port), galley (starboard), two bunk cabins (port and starboard) with a central passage, and a saloon area, opening to a rear deck and swim deck.

Between the saloon area and the cabins is a pair of companion ways, starboard leading to the engine room, and port to below deck cabins. There is a ramp to the swimdeck with handholds left and right, to make it easier for Indigo to get up to the main deck. Yes, Indigo does have rather impressive upper body strength.

Below deck there are two cabins, one bunk, adjacent to the engine room, but to starboard, and a double stateroom in the bow. Both have ensuite showers and heads.

She has sonar and radar, and a SOLAS life raft dispenser to port. To starboard is a hoist for an 8' RIB.

When Indigo is sleeping aboard, she takes the maindeck port lower bunk. Alice usually takes the upper when sleeping over.

When she stays aboard, Adele takes the below decks bunk, sleeping in the lower one.

The starboard above deck bunk is usually used for extra storage.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy

Iris - Side note - M.V. Nereid

The boat Dave Chandler purchased was a remodeled ex-trawler. 53' long with a 17' 6" beam, drawing 7'.

The M.V. Nereid has a single 480hp diesel engine and single screw.

On the main deck, the cabin has been extended, and (from the bow) has a bridge, head and shower (port), galley (starboard), two bunk cabins (port and starboard) with a central passage, and a saloon area, opening to a rear deck and swim deck.

Between the saloon area and the cabins is a pair of companion ways, starboard leading to the engine room, and port to below deck cabins. There is a ramp to the swimdeck with handholds left and right, to make it easier for Indigo to get up to the main deck. Yes, Indigo does have rather impressive upper body strength.

Below deck there are two cabins, one bunk, adjacent to the engine room, but to starboard, and a double stateroom in the bow. Both have ensuite showers and heads.

She has sonar and radar, and a SOLAS life raft dispenser to port. To starboard is a hoist for an 8' RIB.

When Indigo is sleeping aboard, she takes the maindeck port lower bunk. Alice usually takes the upper when sleeping over.

When she stays aboard, Adele takes the below decks bunk, sleeping in the lower one.

The starboard above deck bunk is usually used for extra storage.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy

Iris Part 13

Alice got off the train, and walked down to the boat harbour. After six years her mum had finally decided that it was reasonably safe for her to travel alone on public transport.

When she got to Dave and Iris' boat it was clear that something was going down, as there were several people she did not know aboard. Her mum was with them and when she saw her, waved, meaning everything was OK.

"Hi Mum! I thought you'd be at home, what's up?"
"I got called in for crowd control and to keep Indi company", she smiled, "Today's the day. These folks are selkies, and one of them is a midwife."

Alice's eyes went wide, and she darted into the cabin. "Indi?" she called as she ran.
"In here! Oh, Alice! They're all down in the galley!" Indigo was stretched out on one of the benches in the saloon, her tail slapping against the cushions in excitement.

Alice knelt and gave Indi a hug. "So, big sis Indi any time now, huh?"
"And Aunt Alice!"
"I will, naturally be the coolest Aunt."
"Yep! Oh! Wait! How did your graduation go?"
"Our school doesn't stand on ceremony, thank goodness. I've got my results. Number 16 in the year. Bang on the 76th percentile, just as we planned."
Indi grinned. Part of the plan Alice and her mum had was for Alice to do just well enough to get a good round of offers, but not so well as to attract attention. "Perfect! So when," Indi broke off as a pained groan came from below, followed by Iris shouting "DAVE, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" and then, just slightly less loud "Kirsten! Give me that fucking jab!"

Alice looked at Indigo.

"Mum just went to water for me. The ultimate C-section. She can't do that with Elizabeth," Indigo explained.

Alice blinked "I never thought to ask. That would have been so strange to see. So she was alone for you?"
"Yep. Dave found out the following morning."
There was another pained groan from below. This time it sounded like Dave.

Looking a Indi's twitching tail, Alice decided a change of subject was called for. "What about your results, do you have them?"
"What, oh, yeah, my results came in earlier. 86th percentile. If I could, I could enrol in just about anything. Actually going to university with you would be so cool."
"Tell you what, I'll go external, too. That way we can still study together."
"Alice - but the whole " she broke off as a new sound came from below - the cry of a baby. Indigo's eyes go wet.
"Congratulations big sis!" Alice hugged Indi again.

Adele rushed in "Did I just hear?"
Indi grinned over Alice's shoulder "I'm a sister!"

One of the selkies came up from below, grinning. "Elizabeth Adele Chandler has entered the world. Mother and child are doing well. Father will, once he gets the use of his hand back."

Adele Ringly, former mob boss, stared in shock. "Elizabeth Adele?"
"Welcome to the family, godmum!" Indigo grinned, "Again."
Alice held Indi at arms length "You didn't tell her?"
"Nope! First name only."

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy

Iris Part 13

Alice got off the train, and walked down to the boat harbour. After six years her mum had finally decided that it was reasonably safe for her to travel alone on public transport.

When she got to Dave and Iris' boat it was clear that something was going down, as there were several people she did not know aboard. Her mum was with them and when she saw her, waved, meaning everything was OK.

"Hi Mum! I thought you'd be at home, what's up?"
"I got called in for crowd control and to keep Indi company", she smiled, "Today's the day. These folks are selkies, and one of them is a midwife."

Alice's eyes went wide, and she darted into the cabin. "Indi?" she called as she ran.
"In here! Oh, Alice! They're all down in the galley!" Indigo was stretched out on one of the benches in the saloon, her tail slapping against the cushions in excitement.

Alice knelt and gave Indi a hug. "So, big sis Indi any time now, huh?"
"And Aunt Alice!"
"I will, naturally be the coolest Aunt."
"Yep! Oh! Wait! How did your graduation go?"
"Our school doesn't stand on ceremony, thank goodness. I've got my results. Number 16 in the year. Bang on the 76th percentile, just as we planned."
Indi grinned. Part of the plan Alice and her mum had was for Alice to do just well enough to get a good round of offers, but not so well as to attract attention. "Perfect! So when," Indi broke off as a pained groan came from below, followed by Iris shouting "DAVE, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" and then, just slightly less loud "Kirsten! Give me that fucking jab!"

Alice looked at Indigo.

"Mum just went to water for me. The ultimate C-section. She can't do that with Elizabeth," Indigo explained.

Alice blinked "I never thought to ask. That would have been so strange to see. So she was alone for you?"
"Yep. Dave found out the following morning."
There was another pained groan from below. This time it sounded like Dave.

Looking a Indi's twitching tail, Alice decided a change of subject was called for. "What about your results, do you have them?"
"What, oh, yeah, my results came in earlier. 86th percentile. If I could, I could enrol in just about anything. Actually going to university with you would be so cool."
"Tell you what, I'll go external, too. That way we can still study together."
"Alice - but the whole " she broke off as a new sound came from below - the cry of a baby. Indigo's eyes go wet.
"Congratulations big sis!" Alice hugged Indi again.

Adele rushed in "Did I just hear?"
Indi grinned over Alice's shoulder "I'm a sister!"

One of the selkies came up from below, grinning. "Elizabeth Adele Chandler has entered the world. Mother and child are doing well. Father will, once he gets the use of his hand back."

Adele Ringly, former mob boss, stared in shock. "Elizabeth Adele?"
"Welcome to the family, godmum!" Indigo grinned, "Again."
Alice held Indi at arms length "You didn't tell her?"
"Nope! First name only."

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy

I have a question for followers of my #microfic serial #NereidIris :

What do you think Colin's secret is?

I have a question for followers of my #microfic serial #NereidIris :

What do you think Colin's secret is?

Iris Part 10a

Indigo and Alice were sprawled in the cabin working on their chemistry homework, when they felt the boat shift.

Dave, Indi's dad, called out from the deck "Mail call!"
"We're inside Dad!" Indi called back.
Dave stepped into the cabin with a bunch of post in his hand. He looked around. "OK, pretty good. Where is it?"
Alice pointed to the blanket. "In there", she added.
Indi pulled it back, revealing a gidgi or fishing spear laid alongside her long tail, and pointed towards the hatch.
Dave nodded. After four years there was still a risk of the old business associates of Alice's mum coming after her. The spear was a reasonable precaution, and suitably deniable on a fishing boat.

"Okay then. We've got the next month's assignments for you, Indi", as he handed over a large and thick envelope, "And this", he passed over a much smaller envelope.
"Oooh! A letter from Colin!" Indigo exclaimed excitedly.
"Who's 'Colin'?" asked a puzzled Alice.
"I don't believe I've never told you about him! He's pretty cool - he's been my pen-pal since we were ten. He lives in a fishing villiage in England, at the top end of the Channel."
"So he knows about you?"
"Nah, I sanitise my letters pretty carefully. Mind you, I think there's a bunch of things he's not telling me either. Like I think his family do a little smuggling on the side to go with the fishing. From what I've read it is just about a tradition."

Alice looked at Dave "And you're good with your daughter associating with criminal families? I'm shocked."
Dave laughed "We shouldn't have shown you Casablanca! OK, you two, finish your homework, and then you can read your mail"

With that the two girls settled back into their studies.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy #SliceOfLife

Iris Part 10a

Indigo and Alice were sprawled in the cabin working on their chemistry homework, when they felt the boat shift.

Dave, Indi's dad, called out from the deck "Mail call!"
"We're inside Dad!" Indi called back.
Dave stepped into the cabin with a bunch of post in his hand. He looked around. "OK, pretty good. Where is it?"
Alice pointed to the blanket. "In there", she added.
Indi pulled it back, revealing a gidgi or fishing spear laid alongside her long tail, and pointed towards the hatch.
Dave nodded. After four years there was still a risk of the old business associates of Alice's mum coming after her. The spear was a reasonable precaution, and suitably deniable on a fishing boat.

"Okay then. We've got the next month's assignments for you, Indi", as he handed over a large and thick envelope, "And this", he passed over a much smaller envelope.
"Oooh! A letter from Colin!" Indigo exclaimed excitedly.
"Who's 'Colin'?" asked a puzzled Alice.
"I don't believe I've never told you about him! He's pretty cool - he's been my pen-pal since we were ten. He lives in a fishing villiage in England, at the top end of the Channel."
"So he knows about you?"
"Nah, I sanitise my letters pretty carefully. Mind you, I think there's a bunch of things he's not telling me either. Like I think his family do a little smuggling on the side to go with the fishing. From what I've read it is just about a tradition."

Alice looked at Dave "And you're good with your daughter associating with criminal families? I'm shocked."
Dave laughed "We shouldn't have shown you Casablanca! OK, you two, finish your homework, and then you can read your mail"

With that the two girls settled back into their studies.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy #SliceOfLife

Iris 3b

Indigo was ten, and one of the surprises for her birthday was getting a small present from her pen-pal Colin in England. Somehow the two of them had hit it off even better than the teachers had expected, and while all the other pen-pals in her online class had dropped off, she and Colin kept going.

The present was a book about the maritime history of the town he grew up in. Most of the year now he lived in London at a boarding school. It sounded like a tough time for him, but his speed in the pool had brought him respect from his classmates.

-----------------------

At eleven, Indigo's letter writing to England continued. If Colin ever wondered about the odd gaps that she left in her letters, he never mentioned it. The idea of living on a boat, though, thrilled him.

Indigo's letter to him for his birthday that year was returned "Addressee unknown" which left her in tears. Iris and Dave started checking news records in case something had happened to the boy. Nothing.

A week later a letter with a strange address appeared in Dave's post office box, addressed to Indigo.

It was from Colin. There had been some trouble at his school, and he had moved schools, so now his letters had to go via his home in Walberswick. Indigo immediately re-sent the birthday letter.

#SF #SFF #UrbanFantasy #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris 3b

Indigo was ten, and one of the surprises for her birthday was getting a small present from her pen-pal Colin in England. Somehow the two of them had hit it off even better than the teachers had expected, and while all the other pen-pals in her online class had dropped off, she and Colin kept going.

The present was a book about the maritime history of the town he grew up in. Most of the year now he lived in London at a boarding school. It sounded like a tough time for him, but his speed in the pool had brought him respect from his classmates.

-----------------------

At eleven, Indigo's letter writing to England continued. If Colin ever wondered about the odd gaps that she left in her letters, he never mentioned it. The idea of living on a boat, though, thrilled him.

Indigo's letter to him for his birthday that year was returned "Addressee unknown" which left her in tears. Iris and Dave started checking news records in case something had happened to the boy. Nothing.

A week later a letter with a strange address appeared in Dave's post office box, addressed to Indigo.

It was from Colin. There had been some trouble at his school, and he had moved schools, so now his letters had to go via his home in Walberswick. Indigo immediately re-sent the birthday letter.

#SF #SFF #UrbanFantasy #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris Part 3a

Dave had resigned from the police force just over a year ago, sold his home, and was now renting a place next to the river. Dating Iris had been an experience, especially with a young daughter in the mix. Mind you, almost as soon as she could talk she was calling him "Daddy", and with that he was family.

Indigo was five, nearly six now, and a bundle of curiosity. Both Dave and Iris had their work cut out keeping her out of the public eye, and keeping her stimulated.

Keeping her out of the public eye was mainly for her safety. Because of the circumstances leading to her birth, Indigo was a mermaid. Blue and silver scaled tail, subtle gills along her sides, and all. She could also breathe air, but would never be able to walk on land.

Dave and Iris had been teaching her as best they could, but keeping up with the precocious bundle of energy was a full time job. Which was why Dave was on his laptop investigating The School of the Air. That this was for a child of the Sea made Iris laugh every time they talked about it.

The gotcha was that they would need ID for Indigo. And Iris would need to come back from the dead.

Fortunately Dave still had a few contacts, and was able to bring Iris back to life under a pseudonym. Indigo was more trouble, but Iris had managed to make contact with a group of selkies who lived off the coast, and they had been wriggling their way into the records for decades.

Armed with the paperwork, Dave completed the application. All that was left was setting things up so that Indigo would appear as a normal kid online.

Iris was in the lounge room with her, and he could hear Indigo giggling as they played with the web camera.

---------------

Indigo was in grade four now, and their teacher was encouraging them to try sending actual letters to students in other countries. Pen pals. This had followed on from a discussion about email, privacy, and some of the more unpleasant aspects of the modern online world. One of the things the teacher was trying to encourage was patience - with actual post it could be days or even weeks between messages.

Which was why she was carefully hand writing a letter to a boy in England. Colin had been chosen by his teacher as a good match - he was a keen swimmer and was obsessed with the sea life of the English Channel. For privacy, his letters were directed via his school, and Indigo's via Dave's post office box.

All Dave and Iris had to do was make sure they never actually met. At least not until Indigo could properly look after herself.

#SF #SFF #UrbanFantasy #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris Part 3a

Dave had resigned from the police force just over a year ago, sold his home, and was now renting a place next to the river. Dating Iris had been an experience, especially with a young daughter in the mix. Mind you, almost as soon as she could talk she was calling him "Daddy", and with that he was family.

Indigo was five, nearly six now, and a bundle of curiosity. Both Dave and Iris had their work cut out keeping her out of the public eye, and keeping her stimulated.

Keeping her out of the public eye was mainly for her safety. Because of the circumstances leading to her birth, Indigo was a mermaid. Blue and silver scaled tail, subtle gills along her sides, and all. She could also breathe air, but would never be able to walk on land.

Dave and Iris had been teaching her as best they could, but keeping up with the precocious bundle of energy was a full time job. Which was why Dave was on his laptop investigating The School of the Air. That this was for a child of the Sea made Iris laugh every time they talked about it.

The gotcha was that they would need ID for Indigo. And Iris would need to come back from the dead.

Fortunately Dave still had a few contacts, and was able to bring Iris back to life under a pseudonym. Indigo was more trouble, but Iris had managed to make contact with a group of selkies who lived off the coast, and they had been wriggling their way into the records for decades.

Armed with the paperwork, Dave completed the application. All that was left was setting things up so that Indigo would appear as a normal kid online.

Iris was in the lounge room with her, and he could hear Indigo giggling as they played with the web camera.

---------------

Indigo was in grade four now, and their teacher was encouraging them to try sending actual letters to students in other countries. Pen pals. This had followed on from a discussion about email, privacy, and some of the more unpleasant aspects of the modern online world. One of the things the teacher was trying to encourage was patience - with actual post it could be days or even weeks between messages.

Which was why she was carefully hand writing a letter to a boy in England. Colin had been chosen by his teacher as a good match - he was a keen swimmer and was obsessed with the sea life of the English Channel. For privacy, his letters were directed via his school, and Indigo's via Dave's post office box.

All Dave and Iris had to do was make sure they never actually met. At least not until Indigo could properly look after herself.

#SF #SFF #UrbanFantasy #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (Part 9a)
Dave pulled the boat into the secluded cove on the back of the little island. Normally it would be crawling with visitors, but it was late in the day, and everyone else had gone home.

He dropped anchor behind the reef that protected the beach, and called down into the cabin "We're here!"

Twelve year old Alice was first up on deck. As the only daughter of the woman who, up until very recently, had been one of the biggest mob bosses in the city, she had rarely had a chance to try the simple things. Least of all with an actual friend.

Adele, her mother followed, and then Iris, his girlfriend. Alice immediately dived over the side. Adele opened her mouth, but Iris got in first "Don't worry, Indigo will keep her safe."

A voice called up "Daaad!" Dave picked up a mesh bag and looked over the gunwale at his semi-adopted daughter. "Yes?" he asked mildly.
"Can you throw the bag down?" there was a pause "Please?"
Dave dropped the bag over the edge, and Indigo caught it. "Thaanks!"

The two girls swam to the beach, Alice doing a strong overarm, while Indigo's scales and tail flashed in the afternoon sun.

Indigo had discovered over the past few weeks that Alice had never had the opportunity to simply play on the beach, and was determined to fix this. Despite their ages. So they dug in the sand, played in the shallows, then Indigo hauled the mesh bag ashore.
"OK, sandcastle time!"
Alice looked sceptical "Sandcastles?"
"You've never had the chance, and I've never got to do it with a friend, only mum and dad, so sandcastles!"
As Indigo's construction grew, Alice's not-quite-teenager reservations vanished, and she started to turn what had started as a half-hearted effort into a grand fortress.

It was only a little while later that she noticed that Indigo had vanished. As she looked around, the young mermaid suddenly surfaced near the reef with a cry of triumph, and sped back to shore, clutching a double handful of kelp.

"Right! Now for the best bit!"
Alice, now used to Indigo's enthusiasm waited.
"Destruction time!"
"What? We just built them!"
"Yep! I'm going to be a giant sea monster. What about you? Godzilla?"

Watching from the boat, Adele looked at Dave and Iris. "Is she always like this?"
Iris shrugged. Dave said "Pretty much. She's never built a decapitated snowman, but that's only because she's never got to play with snow. She's a menace in Mario Kart, too."

As they watched, the two girls demolished their sandcastles to loud roars.

#SF #SFF #UrbanFantasy #IAmWriting #NereidIris #tootfic

Iris (Part 9a)
Dave pulled the boat into the secluded cove on the back of the little island. Normally it would be crawling with visitors, but it was late in the day, and everyone else had gone home.

He dropped anchor behind the reef that protected the beach, and called down into the cabin "We're here!"

Twelve year old Alice was first up on deck. As the only daughter of the woman who, up until very recently, had been one of the biggest mob bosses in the city, she had rarely had a chance to try the simple things. Least of all with an actual friend.

Adele, her mother followed, and then Iris, his girlfriend. Alice immediately dived over the side. Adele opened her mouth, but Iris got in first "Don't worry, Indigo will keep her safe."

A voice called up "Daaad!" Dave picked up a mesh bag and looked over the gunwale at his semi-adopted daughter. "Yes?" he asked mildly.
"Can you throw the bag down?" there was a pause "Please?"
Dave dropped the bag over the edge, and Indigo caught it. "Thaanks!"

The two girls swam to the beach, Alice doing a strong overarm, while Indigo's scales and tail flashed in the afternoon sun.

Indigo had discovered over the past few weeks that Alice had never had the opportunity to simply play on the beach, and was determined to fix this. Despite their ages. So they dug in the sand, played in the shallows, then Indigo hauled the mesh bag ashore.
"OK, sandcastle time!"
Alice looked sceptical "Sandcastles?"
"You've never had the chance, and I've never got to do it with a friend, only mum and dad, so sandcastles!"
As Indigo's construction grew, Alice's not-quite-teenager reservations vanished, and she started to turn what had started as a half-hearted effort into a grand fortress.

It was only a little while later that she noticed that Indigo had vanished. As she looked around, the young mermaid suddenly surfaced near the reef with a cry of triumph, and sped back to shore, clutching a double handful of kelp.

"Right! Now for the best bit!"
Alice, now used to Indigo's enthusiasm waited.
"Destruction time!"
"What? We just built them!"
"Yep! I'm going to be a giant sea monster. What about you? Godzilla?"

Watching from the boat, Adele looked at Dave and Iris. "Is she always like this?"
Iris shrugged. Dave said "Pretty much. She's never built a decapitated snowman, but that's only because she's never got to play with snow. She's a menace in Mario Kart, too."

As they watched, the two girls demolished their sandcastles to loud roars.

#SF #SFF #UrbanFantasy #IAmWriting #NereidIris #tootfic

Iris (Part 12)

Alice was really annoyed. She had absolutely wonderful news, and there was absolutely no-one she could share it with. None of her classmates knew about her mother or her best friend. They couldn't. It would not be safe for anyone.

So there was no-one that she could tell. Indigo, her best friend was the one who told her, so she was out. Her mum already knew. There was no. No, wait. There was someone else.

Siobhan was marking history assignments when there was a knock on her door. Final bell had been a few minutes ago, so probably another teacher. "Come in!" she called.

Alice opened the door, and stepped in.

"Miss Ringly!" Siobhan was surprised to see her, given how low a profile Alice kept.
"Hi Ms Embrason. Um, can we talk?"
"Of course, but you're not in any of my classes this year."
"It isn't about school. It is a private thing."
Siobhan frowned. "Are you sure you should be talking to me?"
"Absolutely! You're the only other person who knows."
"OK, but you will have to leave the door open. School policy."
Alice paused, and looked up and down the corridor. No-one. She sat down. "OK."

"So, what is it? Is there some trouble?" As soon as she had spoken, Siobhan could tell that it wasn't. Alice was practically vibrating with excitement.
"No! It is really good news! Iris, that's Indigo's mum, is pregnant! Indi is getting a sister!"
"So another mermaid in the family?"
"No, Iris said that was only because of the fish. Long story. No, Dave, that's Indi's sort-of-dad, is the father, so she'll be a Naiad like Iris."
"And she'll be a girl?"
"Yep, all Naiads are!"

Siobhan smilled. Alice had had a rough life, really, having to cover for her mother's past, and being unable to explain her absent friend.

"Well, I am certain you'll be the best Aunty for her!"
Alice froze. "Aunty?" she asked in a small voice.
Siobhan revised rapidly "Well she'll be your best friend's sister, and there's going to be nearly seventeen years between you. So, yes, honorary Aunt."
Alice relaxed.
"Oh. Cause Indi isn't like that, not that that would be a problem, she'd still be my best friend, but um" Alice's words came out in a rush, tumbling over each other. She stopped.

The teacher smiled, "Well, that is wonderful news. I'll send a card via your mother. Off now, you don't want her to worry."
"Yes, Miss" was the meek reply, and Alice fled.

Resting her head in her hand for a moment, Siobahn smiled. Alice had it bad for her friend, she could tell. Ah, teenagers. All drama and angst. She picked up the assignment she'd been marking. Yep. Drama and angst.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy

Iris (Part 12)

Alice was really annoyed. She had absolutely wonderful news, and there was absolutely no-one she could share it with. None of her classmates knew about her mother or her best friend. They couldn't. It would not be safe for anyone.

So there was no-one that she could tell. Indigo, her best friend was the one who told her, so she was out. Her mum already knew. There was no. No, wait. There was someone else.

Siobhan was marking history assignments when there was a knock on her door. Final bell had been a few minutes ago, so probably another teacher. "Come in!" she called.

Alice opened the door, and stepped in.

"Miss Ringly!" Siobhan was surprised to see her, given how low a profile Alice kept.
"Hi Ms Embrason. Um, can we talk?"
"Of course, but you're not in any of my classes this year."
"It isn't about school. It is a private thing."
Siobhan frowned. "Are you sure you should be talking to me?"
"Absolutely! You're the only other person who knows."
"OK, but you will have to leave the door open. School policy."
Alice paused, and looked up and down the corridor. No-one. She sat down. "OK."

"So, what is it? Is there some trouble?" As soon as she had spoken, Siobhan could tell that it wasn't. Alice was practically vibrating with excitement.
"No! It is really good news! Iris, that's Indigo's mum, is pregnant! Indi is getting a sister!"
"So another mermaid in the family?"
"No, Iris said that was only because of the fish. Long story. No, Dave, that's Indi's sort-of-dad, is the father, so she'll be a Naiad like Iris."
"And she'll be a girl?"
"Yep, all Naiads are!"

Siobhan smilled. Alice had had a rough life, really, having to cover for her mother's past, and being unable to explain her absent friend.

"Well, I am certain you'll be the best Aunty for her!"
Alice froze. "Aunty?" she asked in a small voice.
Siobhan revised rapidly "Well she'll be your best friend's sister, and there's going to be nearly seventeen years between you. So, yes, honorary Aunt."
Alice relaxed.
"Oh. Cause Indi isn't like that, not that that would be a problem, she'd still be my best friend, but um" Alice's words came out in a rush, tumbling over each other. She stopped.

The teacher smiled, "Well, that is wonderful news. I'll send a card via your mother. Off now, you don't want her to worry."
"Yes, Miss" was the meek reply, and Alice fled.

Resting her head in her hand for a moment, Siobahn smiled. Alice had it bad for her friend, she could tell. Ah, teenagers. All drama and angst. She picked up the assignment she'd been marking. Yep. Drama and angst.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy

Iris (Part 11)
Adele pulled up at the dock in a thoughtful mood. Checking the surrounds, she got out of the car, and went aboard. "Just me!" she called out.
"In the galley!" Came the reply. That meant that all was well aboard.

She went into the main cabin, and found Iris and Dave on one of the couches. "The girls?" she asked.
"Swimming" Iris answered "What's up? Something happen?"
"No, yes, sort-of, but nothing bad?"
"That sounds like an answer that needs support. Hang on," Dave said shaking his head. He poured a small measure of brandy for Adele, a shot of Irish for Iris and himself, and carried them over.

Adele nodded her thanks, had a small sip, and then looked at the couple. "The meeting did not go how I expected. The teacher just knew that Alice is fudging her scores. Then she smelled me. And that 's where it got strange."
"Your daughter's teacher smelling you isn't strange?" Iris asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It was not like she sniffed my hand. She just sort of opened her mouth and inhaled. The weird bit was when her hand went furry."
"What?!" exclaimed Dave.
"As I watched, her hand became a furred claw, and then changed back. She said she was a werepanther."

Iris and Dave stared.

"You've never heard of them?"
"Uh, no. Iris?"
"No, nor any other sort of were. I mean there are selkies and some dolphin and shark shapeshifters. But then, I'm a water sprite, and I only really know about that side of things. It kind of makes sense that there are other people out there."
"Siobhan called you 'exotics'."
"As good a term as any, I guess."

There were noises from the aft of the boat. "Mum?" called Alice.
"In the galley" Adele called back.

Alice came in, with Indigo flop-sliding behind her. "How did it go? Did she buy it? Do we have to move?"
"Ok, no, and no."
"Great ... Wait? How?"
"Well, have you ever noticed anything odd about Ms Embrason?" Adele asked.
"Uh, I know she's got a black cat from the bits of fur. She's gay, but in the closet. That's about it."
"Well, it turns out she probably does not have a cat. She is one. A panther."
Indigo excitedly broke in "Like in that movie?! Did she try to eat you?"
"Who let you watch Cat People? And no. Not really, she can control it. Even change just part of herself. She smelled you and your mum, and then showed me. She's not going to push about your marks anymore."
"That's good?" Alice's reply sounded like an uncertain question.
"Alice! Your teacher's a werepanther! How cool is that?" Indigo was practically vibrating with excitement.
"And I'm still waiting for an answer about the movie, young ladies."
"Yes, we'd like to know, too" Dave added. Iris nodded.

The two girls looked at each other and said together "It's my fault."

#SF #SFF #Microfic #Tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (Part 11)
Adele pulled up at the dock in a thoughtful mood. Checking the surrounds, she got out of the car, and went aboard. "Just me!" she called out.
"In the galley!" Came the reply. That meant that all was well aboard.

She went into the main cabin, and found Iris and Dave on one of the couches. "The girls?" she asked.
"Swimming" Iris answered "What's up? Something happen?"
"No, yes, sort-of, but nothing bad?"
"That sounds like an answer that needs support. Hang on," Dave said shaking his head. He poured a small measure of brandy for Adele, a shot of Irish for Iris and himself, and carried them over.

Adele nodded her thanks, had a small sip, and then looked at the couple. "The meeting did not go how I expected. The teacher just knew that Alice is fudging her scores. Then she smelled me. And that 's where it got strange."
"Your daughter's teacher smelling you isn't strange?" Iris asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It was not like she sniffed my hand. She just sort of opened her mouth and inhaled. The weird bit was when her hand went furry."
"What?!" exclaimed Dave.
"As I watched, her hand became a furred claw, and then changed back. She said she was a werepanther."

Iris and Dave stared.

"You've never heard of them?"
"Uh, no. Iris?"
"No, nor any other sort of were. I mean there are selkies and some dolphin and shark shapeshifters. But then, I'm a water sprite, and I only really know about that side of things. It kind of makes sense that there are other people out there."
"Siobhan called you 'exotics'."
"As good a term as any, I guess."

There were noises from the aft of the boat. "Mum?" called Alice.
"In the galley" Adele called back.

Alice came in, with Indigo flop-sliding behind her. "How did it go? Did she buy it? Do we have to move?"
"Ok, no, and no."
"Great ... Wait? How?"
"Well, have you ever noticed anything odd about Ms Embrason?" Adele asked.
"Uh, I know she's got a black cat from the bits of fur. She's gay, but in the closet. That's about it."
"Well, it turns out she probably does not have a cat. She is one. A panther."
Indigo excitedly broke in "Like in that movie?! Did she try to eat you?"
"Who let you watch Cat People? And no. Not really, she can control it. Even change just part of herself. She smelled you and your mum, and then showed me. She's not going to push about your marks anymore."
"That's good?" Alice's reply sounded like an uncertain question.
"Alice! Your teacher's a werepanther! How cool is that?" Indigo was practically vibrating with excitement.
"And I'm still waiting for an answer about the movie, young ladies."
"Yes, we'd like to know, too" Dave added. Iris nodded.

The two girls looked at each other and said together "It's my fault."

#SF #SFF #Microfic #Tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (Part 10)

Alice had a reputation at school for being a stickler for the rules. She was the one who never got hauled up, never got sent to the headmistress. She was not top of the class - but in the upper third. Good enough to not need attention, and not good enough to attract it.

It was the end of term, and Alice had just picked up her first report card for year 10. She looked it over, and saw what she wanted to see. Steady "B"s and "B+"s - a single "C+", and a single "A-". Then she read the comments.
"Shit." she said softly.

Nearby one of her classmates looked up "Alice? Did you just swear?" he asked in wonder.
"What?"
"I thought I heard you swear."
"Swearing is uncouth." was Alice's prim reply.
Tim looked at her. Alice looked back.

After a few moments, Tim looked away "Whatever."

That evening, she showed her mum. "Alice is holding herself back, and deliberately dropping marks. Parent-teacher meeting required." was the comment from her homeroom teacher.

"Alice, what do you want to do?" Adele, her mother asked.
"If I change schools again, it will attract attention. I guess, you'll have to meet with Ms Embrason."

Two days later, Adele dropped off Alice with Indigo and her parents on their boat, and drove to the school.

"Ah, Ms Ringly. I'm Siobhan Embrason, thank you for meeting with me. I'll get to the point. I want to know why Alice is throwing tests and assignments. She should be straight 'A's and in line for Dux in a couple of years."
"I am sure my daughter is doing the very best she can."
"And I am certain she isn't. Is there some sort of trouble at home? I've noticed that she does not really make friends - " Siobhan broke off, and deeply inhaled through her mouth. She let out a small "Oh."

"Ms Embrason?" Adele started to look alarmed.
The young teacher shook her self. "Ms Ringly, please look at my left hand."
Adele looked down, and her jaw dropped open, as she watched the hand turn into a hairy claw, and then back into a hand. She looked up.
"I am a werepanther. I can smell that you have met other exotic people."

Adele sighed. "My daughter's best friend is a mermaid. Her mother is a Naiad."
Siobhan nodded "I see. And her marks?"
"To protect me since I retired."
"Retired from what?"
"Mob boss."
"How does dropping marks?"
"Low profile, no attention. Never stand out, nothing that might end up in the press."
"Couldn't you move?"
"Alice would kill me if I tried to take her away from Indigo. Assuming Indigo's parents didn't get to me first."

Siobhan sighed. "OK, I'll drop it."
"Are there many exotics around?"
"A few. I'm surprised you've not met any others."
"Only Indigo and Iris."
"What about the father?"
"Oh, he's just a pain in the butt ex-cop."

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (Part 10)

Alice had a reputation at school for being a stickler for the rules. She was the one who never got hauled up, never got sent to the headmistress. She was not top of the class - but in the upper third. Good enough to not need attention, and not good enough to attract it.

It was the end of term, and Alice had just picked up her first report card for year 10. She looked it over, and saw what she wanted to see. Steady "B"s and "B+"s - a single "C+", and a single "A-". Then she read the comments.
"Shit." she said softly.

Nearby one of her classmates looked up "Alice? Did you just swear?" he asked in wonder.
"What?"
"I thought I heard you swear."
"Swearing is uncouth." was Alice's prim reply.
Tim looked at her. Alice looked back.

After a few moments, Tim looked away "Whatever."

That evening, she showed her mum. "Alice is holding herself back, and deliberately dropping marks. Parent-teacher meeting required." was the comment from her homeroom teacher.

"Alice, what do you want to do?" Adele, her mother asked.
"If I change schools again, it will attract attention. I guess, you'll have to meet with Ms Embrason."

Two days later, Adele dropped off Alice with Indigo and her parents on their boat, and drove to the school.

"Ah, Ms Ringly. I'm Siobhan Embrason, thank you for meeting with me. I'll get to the point. I want to know why Alice is throwing tests and assignments. She should be straight 'A's and in line for Dux in a couple of years."
"I am sure my daughter is doing the very best she can."
"And I am certain she isn't. Is there some sort of trouble at home? I've noticed that she does not really make friends - " Siobhan broke off, and deeply inhaled through her mouth. She let out a small "Oh."

"Ms Embrason?" Adele started to look alarmed.
The young teacher shook her self. "Ms Ringly, please look at my left hand."
Adele looked down, and her jaw dropped open, as she watched the hand turn into a hairy claw, and then back into a hand. She looked up.
"I am a werepanther. I can smell that you have met other exotic people."

Adele sighed. "My daughter's best friend is a mermaid. Her mother is a Naiad."
Siobhan nodded "I see. And her marks?"
"To protect me since I retired."
"Retired from what?"
"Mob boss."
"How does dropping marks?"
"Low profile, no attention. Never stand out, nothing that might end up in the press."
"Couldn't you move?"
"Alice would kill me if I tried to take her away from Indigo. Assuming Indigo's parents didn't get to me first."

Siobhan sighed. "OK, I'll drop it."
"Are there many exotics around?"
"A few. I'm surprised you've not met any others."
"Only Indigo and Iris."
"What about the father?"
"Oh, he's just a pain in the butt ex-cop."

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (Part 9)

They went back into the cabin, and Adele looked up. "Well? He clearly was not buying it."
Dave sat down "He accepted that I was protecting Indigo, not that I mentioned her name, and that everything else was above board."
"You're lucky they sent him."
"No luck, I knew they'd send him. It helps that he's seen Indigo a few times, although he has no idea she's a mermaid."
"How?"
"He's seen Iris and I playing with her down the beach. He just never got to see below her waist. Speaking of which - Hey, Indi!"
The bench seat opened, and Indigo hauled herself out. "Phew - it was really dark in there!" Dave gave her head a scruff. "Daaad!"
"Good work keeping quiet. You heard everything?"
"Yep. Is Alice still with her doctors?"
Adele responded "Yes, it is likely to be quite a long session. He won't be able to give her anything to tide her over and give her a chance to process."
Indigo looked down. "She's had it really hard, hasn't she?"
"She has - and most of it is due to me. So, yeah, time to wrap up the business and move on to something else."
Iris looked at Indigo, and her face set into a hard line. "Adele, you know they'll still gun for you for a few years yet, don't you. Even if you go completely straight right now."
Adele glanced at Dave and Indigo "Yes. I could move cities, but that would be no guarantee, and I couldn't do that to Alice now."
"So what will you do?" Indigo asked.
"What I can to mitigate things - make them not as dangerous. I'll put the word out that secrets will be kept, unless someone goes for me or Alice. Or you three, I guess. "
"Will that work?" Indigo looked worried.
Adele smiled grimly at Iris and Dave "She really is sharp, isn't she?", and looked back at the young mermaid "A bit. But only a bit. I'm going to have to be on my guard for quite a few years to come."
"Couldn't you get all the other bosses arrested?"
Dave grinned "I like the way you're thinking" and then he turned serious "But it would not work. We'd not be able to get them all under lock and key quick enough or for long enough."
"Sorry Indigo, yes, we break the law, but we also keep a lot of very good lawyers on retainer."
"So Alice won't be able to come and visit?"
Adele looked down at her "Only if I want a complete revolt in my own house. We'll be able to visit, we'll just have to be clever about it."
"So let's make plans!" Indigo bounced in excitement.

#SF #SFF #microfiction #microfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (Part 9)

They went back into the cabin, and Adele looked up. "Well? He clearly was not buying it."
Dave sat down "He accepted that I was protecting Indigo, not that I mentioned her name, and that everything else was above board."
"You're lucky they sent him."
"No luck, I knew they'd send him. It helps that he's seen Indigo a few times, although he has no idea she's a mermaid."
"How?"
"He's seen Iris and I playing with her down the beach. He just never got to see below her waist. Speaking of which - Hey, Indi!"
The bench seat opened, and Indigo hauled herself out. "Phew - it was really dark in there!" Dave gave her head a scruff. "Daaad!"
"Good work keeping quiet. You heard everything?"
"Yep. Is Alice still with her doctors?"
Adele responded "Yes, it is likely to be quite a long session. He won't be able to give her anything to tide her over and give her a chance to process."
Indigo looked down. "She's had it really hard, hasn't she?"
"She has - and most of it is due to me. So, yeah, time to wrap up the business and move on to something else."
Iris looked at Indigo, and her face set into a hard line. "Adele, you know they'll still gun for you for a few years yet, don't you. Even if you go completely straight right now."
Adele glanced at Dave and Indigo "Yes. I could move cities, but that would be no guarantee, and I couldn't do that to Alice now."
"So what will you do?" Indigo asked.
"What I can to mitigate things - make them not as dangerous. I'll put the word out that secrets will be kept, unless someone goes for me or Alice. Or you three, I guess. "
"Will that work?" Indigo looked worried.
Adele smiled grimly at Iris and Dave "She really is sharp, isn't she?", and looked back at the young mermaid "A bit. But only a bit. I'm going to have to be on my guard for quite a few years to come."
"Couldn't you get all the other bosses arrested?"
Dave grinned "I like the way you're thinking" and then he turned serious "But it would not work. We'd not be able to get them all under lock and key quick enough or for long enough."
"Sorry Indigo, yes, we break the law, but we also keep a lot of very good lawyers on retainer."
"So Alice won't be able to come and visit?"
Adele looked down at her "Only if I want a complete revolt in my own house. We'll be able to visit, we'll just have to be clever about it."
"So let's make plans!" Indigo bounced in excitement.

#SF #SFF #microfiction #microfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (Part8)

Dave had called his old station, and they'd sent his old partner around. Liam could tell that there was something screwy with the story, but could not work out what, so he took the statement, and then asked Dave to walk with him back to the car.

As they walked, Liam stopped and turned to Dave "That was so much bulldust, Dave. What is going on? Does Adele have something on you?" That got a reaction. Just not the one he'd been expecting. Dave burst out laughing.

After he'd settled down a little, he managed to get out "If anything, we've got something on her!" And then started laughing again.

Liam waited. And waited. Eventually Dave pointed to a bench, and they went over and sat down. Dave still having the occasional fit of laughter.

Dave forced himself to stop, and went on "Yes, the statement has been doctored a little, but only so someone gets left out. She's a kid, and was just helping. Involving her would just add to the target list."
"Who's the kid?"
"My girlfriend's daughter."
"I didn't see her?"
"Nope, we kept her out of the way on purpose."
"What's this about you having something on Ms Ringly?"
"Well, she's kind of responsible for Iris and I getting together. And very indirectly responsible for Iris' kid," seeing Liam's face, he hurried on "Nothing like that - she just set up a bunch of events that resulted in Iris choosing to have a one-night stand. So her kid now reckons that makes her her godmother."
"Your girlfriend's kid thinks Adele Ringly is her godmother?"
"And has convinced April that they are therefore godsisters. An idea April also adores."
"That is really ... I don't know."
"Look on the bright side, it is driving Adele nuts."

Liam thought about this for a few moments "OK, I'll not say anything about the kid. Is everything else above board?"
"Yeah, I think they'll both testify and follow the statement. So you've got the Watson boys cold."
"And Ringly?"
"I think you'll soon stop having problems with her organisation."
"Really?"
"Yep. I've got the perfect weapon up my sleeve."
"What?"
"Two pre-teens making puppy eyes and looking sad at her."

Liam shook his head "If anyone else said that, I'd say they needed their heads examined. But you know what? I think you might actually be right."

With that he got up and gave Dave a half wave, half salute "OK, go back to them. I'll write things up. And Dave?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't make a habit of this."
"Oh, no, certainly not Officer!"
"Stick it, Dave."
"Say Hi to the team, will you?"
"Sure."

Liam headed to his car, and Dave back to the boat. Iris met him at the side "Everything OK?"
"Yeah, Liam's good, but won't press. Let's go back to our guests."

#SF #SFF #microfiction #microfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (Part8)

Dave had called his old station, and they'd sent his old partner around. Liam could tell that there was something screwy with the story, but could not work out what, so he took the statement, and then asked Dave to walk with him back to the car.

As they walked, Liam stopped and turned to Dave "That was so much bulldust, Dave. What is going on? Does Adele have something on you?" That got a reaction. Just not the one he'd been expecting. Dave burst out laughing.

After he'd settled down a little, he managed to get out "If anything, we've got something on her!" And then started laughing again.

Liam waited. And waited. Eventually Dave pointed to a bench, and they went over and sat down. Dave still having the occasional fit of laughter.

Dave forced himself to stop, and went on "Yes, the statement has been doctored a little, but only so someone gets left out. She's a kid, and was just helping. Involving her would just add to the target list."
"Who's the kid?"
"My girlfriend's daughter."
"I didn't see her?"
"Nope, we kept her out of the way on purpose."
"What's this about you having something on Ms Ringly?"
"Well, she's kind of responsible for Iris and I getting together. And very indirectly responsible for Iris' kid," seeing Liam's face, he hurried on "Nothing like that - she just set up a bunch of events that resulted in Iris choosing to have a one-night stand. So her kid now reckons that makes her her godmother."
"Your girlfriend's kid thinks Adele Ringly is her godmother?"
"And has convinced April that they are therefore godsisters. An idea April also adores."
"That is really ... I don't know."
"Look on the bright side, it is driving Adele nuts."

Liam thought about this for a few moments "OK, I'll not say anything about the kid. Is everything else above board?"
"Yeah, I think they'll both testify and follow the statement. So you've got the Watson boys cold."
"And Ringly?"
"I think you'll soon stop having problems with her organisation."
"Really?"
"Yep. I've got the perfect weapon up my sleeve."
"What?"
"Two pre-teens making puppy eyes and looking sad at her."

Liam shook his head "If anyone else said that, I'd say they needed their heads examined. But you know what? I think you might actually be right."

With that he got up and gave Dave a half wave, half salute "OK, go back to them. I'll write things up. And Dave?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't make a habit of this."
"Oh, no, certainly not Officer!"
"Stick it, Dave."
"Say Hi to the team, will you?"
"Sure."

Liam headed to his car, and Dave back to the boat. Iris met him at the side "Everything OK?"
"Yeah, Liam's good, but won't press. Let's go back to our guests."

#SF #SFF #microfiction #microfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (part 7)
Alice emerged from the spare cabin to the sight of her mother banging her head against the table.
She looked at Dave, who pointed at Indigo. Indigo grinned unrepentantly "I explained about the godmother thing, sis!"
"Sis?"
"Well, we're godsisters, right?"
The banging got louder.
"Err, Adele, careful, or you'll do yourself a real damage" Iris said with concern.
She paused, and looked up at Iris "Why would that bother you?"
"Well, you are my daughter's godmother."
"Argh!"
"Er, Lawson, you can come in now" called the other doctor. The rotund therapist got up from where he'd been enjoying the show and went over to where Alice was standing, and in a stage whisper said "I think it is quite wonderful", before leading her back into the spare cabin.
Adele had faced down other gang bosses, been in fierce firefights, but against something like this all her defences and attacks went out the window. Then the infuriating Detective Chandler had to get his two cents in "You know, they say that the best way to destroy your enemies is to make them your friends. I think making them family is even better."
That started Indigo and Iris laughing. Adele just glared at him. "You're retired aren't you?"
"From the force, yes. You know after this Alice is going to want you to go straight."
"What?"
"Well, if you don't and you're family with an ex-cop, it will paint us in a pretty bad light, and that would make her unhappy I would think."
Adele looked around the cabin. Indigo made puppy eyes. "Shi... OK. Fine." she ground out. "I hate all of you."
"No you don't godmum!" A vein in Adele's forehead began to pulse.
"Now, we know Alice's birthday, Indigo's is June 11. When is yours?" asked Iris.
Adele groaned.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (part 7)
Alice emerged from the spare cabin to the sight of her mother banging her head against the table.
She looked at Dave, who pointed at Indigo. Indigo grinned unrepentantly "I explained about the godmother thing, sis!"
"Sis?"
"Well, we're godsisters, right?"
The banging got louder.
"Err, Adele, careful, or you'll do yourself a real damage" Iris said with concern.
She paused, and looked up at Iris "Why would that bother you?"
"Well, you are my daughter's godmother."
"Argh!"
"Er, Lawson, you can come in now" called the other doctor. The rotund therapist got up from where he'd been enjoying the show and went over to where Alice was standing, and in a stage whisper said "I think it is quite wonderful", before leading her back into the spare cabin.
Adele had faced down other gang bosses, been in fierce firefights, but against something like this all her defences and attacks went out the window. Then the infuriating Detective Chandler had to get his two cents in "You know, they say that the best way to destroy your enemies is to make them your friends. I think making them family is even better."
That started Indigo and Iris laughing. Adele just glared at him. "You're retired aren't you?"
"From the force, yes. You know after this Alice is going to want you to go straight."
"What?"
"Well, if you don't and you're family with an ex-cop, it will paint us in a pretty bad light, and that would make her unhappy I would think."
Adele looked around the cabin. Indigo made puppy eyes. "Shi... OK. Fine." she ground out. "I hate all of you."
"No you don't godmum!" A vein in Adele's forehead began to pulse.
"Now, we know Alice's birthday, Indigo's is June 11. When is yours?" asked Iris.
Adele groaned.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (part 6)
By the time Dave docked young Alice had had a shower, and was wearing one of his t-shirts as a dress. She was also starting to come off her artificial calm, and was starting to head towards a full panic attack.

Indigo and Alice had quickly become as thick as thieves - and Dave had been surprised to learn that Alice was only nine months older than his daughter. As it was, it was only Indigo that was keeping her together as Dave and Iris tied up.

His former nemesis, Adele Ringly was waiting for them, along with a young woman and a short, round man of around sixty.

"Ms Ringly."
"Detective Chandler. These are Drs de Walt and Lawson", the young woman waved, and the man nodded, "they are our GP and Alice's therapist."
"Come aboard. All I ask is that you repeat nothing about what you see on board," Dave's eyes grew sharp as he spoke.
The three people on the wharf nodded, and stepped aboard.
"Just through here," Dave opened the door to the main cabin.

Inside Adele could see two figures on a padded bench. One was Alice. The other, that Alice looked like she had a death-grip on, was a girl of around the same age, but with bright green hair. And a tail. A long, silver and blue-striped tail. With scales. A mermaid. Even from the door, Adele could see that it was not a costume.

She paused, blocking the door, "Doctors? Not a word to anyone ever, OK?", and then she stepped in as Alice looked up and tried to get up, only for the two girls to get tangled and collapse back into a heap on the bench.

"Mum!" Alice called as she wiggled free, and then ran over and hugged her. "Mum, please don't hurt anyone, they've been really nice and Indigo is so brilliant, and..."
Adele crouched down "Alice, it is alright. I'm calling it water under the bridge. After all, they did save you. Now let Dr de Walt have a look at you, and then have a bit of a talk with Dr Lawson.
"They can use the spare cabin" Dave pointed to a door.
"Thank-you," Adele gently passed Alice to the young GP.

"Come and sit down. We have a bit to talk about," said Dave as he sat at the table on the other side of the cabin. As he did, Iris entered.
Adele looked up "Ah. The annoying girl who refused to stay dead. And what's this godmother business?"
"I'm Iris. I'll let Indigo explain that."
"Ms Ringly" Dave started.
"Adele."
"OK, Adele. You're not going to like this. Don't strike back at Watkins. Go to the police and report the abduction and attempted murder."
"What?"
"It is the one thing Watkins won't be expecting. We just need to tweak the events slightly. We'll say Iris and I were diving. I have a scooter, so we can make the times line up."
"And we don't mention your daughter?"
"No."
"OK. Now I've a question for Iris. Why didn't you die?"
"Because I'm not really as I seem" Iris replied, and became a human-shaped mass of water "I'm a Naiad."
Adele closed her eyes and sighed.
"And the godmother thing?"
Indigo helpfully explained.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (part 6)
By the time Dave docked young Alice had had a shower, and was wearing one of his t-shirts as a dress. She was also starting to come off her artificial calm, and was starting to head towards a full panic attack.

Indigo and Alice had quickly become as thick as thieves - and Dave had been surprised to learn that Alice was only nine months older than his daughter. As it was, it was only Indigo that was keeping her together as Dave and Iris tied up.

His former nemesis, Adele Ringly was waiting for them, along with a young woman and a short, round man of around sixty.

"Ms Ringly."
"Detective Chandler. These are Drs de Walt and Lawson", the young woman waved, and the man nodded, "they are our GP and Alice's therapist."
"Come aboard. All I ask is that you repeat nothing about what you see on board," Dave's eyes grew sharp as he spoke.
The three people on the wharf nodded, and stepped aboard.
"Just through here," Dave opened the door to the main cabin.

Inside Adele could see two figures on a padded bench. One was Alice. The other, that Alice looked like she had a death-grip on, was a girl of around the same age, but with bright green hair. And a tail. A long, silver and blue-striped tail. With scales. A mermaid. Even from the door, Adele could see that it was not a costume.

She paused, blocking the door, "Doctors? Not a word to anyone ever, OK?", and then she stepped in as Alice looked up and tried to get up, only for the two girls to get tangled and collapse back into a heap on the bench.

"Mum!" Alice called as she wiggled free, and then ran over and hugged her. "Mum, please don't hurt anyone, they've been really nice and Indigo is so brilliant, and..."
Adele crouched down "Alice, it is alright. I'm calling it water under the bridge. After all, they did save you. Now let Dr de Walt have a look at you, and then have a bit of a talk with Dr Lawson.
"They can use the spare cabin" Dave pointed to a door.
"Thank-you," Adele gently passed Alice to the young GP.

"Come and sit down. We have a bit to talk about," said Dave as he sat at the table on the other side of the cabin. As he did, Iris entered.
Adele looked up "Ah. The annoying girl who refused to stay dead. And what's this godmother business?"
"I'm Iris. I'll let Indigo explain that."
"Ms Ringly" Dave started.
"Adele."
"OK, Adele. You're not going to like this. Don't strike back at Watkins. Go to the police and report the abduction and attempted murder."
"What?"
"It is the one thing Watkins won't be expecting. We just need to tweak the events slightly. We'll say Iris and I were diving. I have a scooter, so we can make the times line up."
"And we don't mention your daughter?"
"No."
"OK. Now I've a question for Iris. Why didn't you die?"
"Because I'm not really as I seem" Iris replied, and became a human-shaped mass of water "I'm a Naiad."
Adele closed her eyes and sighed.
"And the godmother thing?"
Indigo helpfully explained.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris 5/5 (for now)

The girl looked around, saw Iris' fingers still made of water, and then up at Dave.

"I know you. You're that cop Mum hates. Chandler." Her voice was decisive, and cultured. It was then that Dave saw the chains around her legs. It must have taken all of Indigo's strength to get her onto the deck. She looked around twelve, maybe a little older. Dave was surprised at how calmly she was taking all this.

"I've not been a cop for quite a while. What happened? And why are you so calm about this?"

"I'm on some really strong drugs right now." Dave looked at her dilated pupils. "They didn't want me screaming so they gave me about three days worth of my anxiety drugs. The Watkins gang wants to knock off Mum. They thought they'd start with me."

"Who's your Mum?"

"Adele Ringly." Dave's eyes widened - Adele was the boss of the gang that'd been his last big bust before he left the force, but she'd wiggled out of any visible involvement.

"I remember her!" Iris interrupted "She was the one who shot me in the head!"

Indigo had been quiet, but then looked thoughtful. "I guess in a weird sort of way that makes her my godmother." Everyone looked at her. "Think about it - if she hadn't shot you, Mum, you wouldn't have had me."

Everyone fell silent, then the girl spoke again "Mum's going to have fits over that," and she giggled despite everything, "I'm Alice. Can you get these chains off me?"

Dave put down the rescue kit, and hunted around for the bolt cutters. This was going to be a complete nightmare.

"Indigo? Did anyone see you?" he called out.
"No, if they had their fishfinder running I would have looked like a shark taking her."
"This is going to be a real problem to sort out, but I'm proud of you, Sardine."
"Dad!"
"Alice? What's your mum's number?"
Alice gave it, and Dave dialled, handing Iris the bolt cutters.

"Adele Ringly? It's Dave Chandler. My daughter just rescued Alice." There was a pause. "Not until she's properly up on deck. I don't want the phone to go for a swim too." Another pause "Watkins. He's gunning for you. The important thing for Alice is that you don't respond. They'll be expecting you." "Meet us as the fishing harbour, pier 17 in about four hours.Maybe bring a proper doctor with you. Ah, here she is."
Dave handed the phone to Alice as she got up onto the deck.

"Hi Mum, they grabbed me during an outing. They chained me up and threw me overboard, but then Mr Chandler's kid saved me and brought me back to his boat." She listened "Oh, they found my anxiety meds and gave me a bit of an overdose. Not dangerous levels, but I am going to so break down in about six hours. Indigo says you're sort of her godmother." Dave could hear the yell of outrage "That's his kid. She's really pretty and clever, oh, I think they might have given me something else as well, I'm starting to babble."

She sat down. "See you soon, Mum. They're nice." She handed the phone back.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris 5/5 (for now)

The girl looked around, saw Iris' fingers still made of water, and then up at Dave.

"I know you. You're that cop Mum hates. Chandler." Her voice was decisive, and cultured. It was then that Dave saw the chains around her legs. It must have taken all of Indigo's strength to get her onto the deck. She looked around twelve, maybe a little older. Dave was surprised at how calmly she was taking all this.

"I've not been a cop for quite a while. What happened? And why are you so calm about this?"

"I'm on some really strong drugs right now." Dave looked at her dilated pupils. "They didn't want me screaming so they gave me about three days worth of my anxiety drugs. The Watkins gang wants to knock off Mum. They thought they'd start with me."

"Who's your Mum?"

"Adele Ringly." Dave's eyes widened - Adele was the boss of the gang that'd been his last big bust before he left the force, but she'd wiggled out of any visible involvement.

"I remember her!" Iris interrupted "She was the one who shot me in the head!"

Indigo had been quiet, but then looked thoughtful. "I guess in a weird sort of way that makes her my godmother." Everyone looked at her. "Think about it - if she hadn't shot you, Mum, you wouldn't have had me."

Everyone fell silent, then the girl spoke again "Mum's going to have fits over that," and she giggled despite everything, "I'm Alice. Can you get these chains off me?"

Dave put down the rescue kit, and hunted around for the bolt cutters. This was going to be a complete nightmare.

"Indigo? Did anyone see you?" he called out.
"No, if they had their fishfinder running I would have looked like a shark taking her."
"This is going to be a real problem to sort out, but I'm proud of you, Sardine."
"Dad!"
"Alice? What's your mum's number?"
Alice gave it, and Dave dialled, handing Iris the bolt cutters.

"Adele Ringly? It's Dave Chandler. My daughter just rescued Alice." There was a pause. "Not until she's properly up on deck. I don't want the phone to go for a swim too." Another pause "Watkins. He's gunning for you. The important thing for Alice is that you don't respond. They'll be expecting you." "Meet us as the fishing harbour, pier 17 in about four hours.Maybe bring a proper doctor with you. Ah, here she is."
Dave handed the phone to Alice as she got up onto the deck.

"Hi Mum, they grabbed me during an outing. They chained me up and threw me overboard, but then Mr Chandler's kid saved me and brought me back to his boat." She listened "Oh, they found my anxiety meds and gave me a bit of an overdose. Not dangerous levels, but I am going to so break down in about six hours. Indigo says you're sort of her godmother." Dave could hear the yell of outrage "That's his kid. She's really pretty and clever, oh, I think they might have given me something else as well, I'm starting to babble."

She sat down. "See you soon, Mum. They're nice." She handed the phone back.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

The old pier was a little way outside of the modern harbour, a leftover from the days of sail. These days it was popular with swimmers more than boats. At night, though, it was unlit and very lonely.

Detective Lieutenant Dave Chandler looked around the dark beach. No-one. It seemed unlikely that someone would bomb the pier, and it would take a professional sniper to hit him from the nearest cover - and if that was the threat, he was already dead. He pulled his windbreaker closed, and started up the wooden stairs.

The old pier was nearly three hundred metres long, and it was distinctly odd to be walking it at night, with no-one around. He reached the end, checked his watch, and looked around. No-one. No boats, nothing.

"Down here" came a voice, a familiar one, if only heard in passing. He looked down, and there was Iris, in the water.
"Iris? Here, let me give you a "
She cut him off with "No, I'm better off here for now," and then pointed "Come around to the swim deck so we can talk."
He walked back to the steps down, and then sat at the edge of the deck.
"Hello, Dave. Sorry I've not been able to come by like usual."
"Iris, why don't you come out? It must be freezing in there."
"That's part of what I have to talk to you about. Look down into the water."
He started to look down, and snapped his eyes back to her face, blushing. "Err, Iris, you're, um" he stuttered.

She giggled, sounding years younger.. "I know, go on, look. It is important."
He looked down again, and then stared. And kept staring. Halfway down her naked breasts, just where the water met them, they vanished. Like there was only half a torso bobbing on the surface.
"Now watch carefully" as she spoke, the rest of her body faded into view below the water, and then faded away again.
"What...how...Wait! You're not human! That's how you survived! But why are you not coming out of the water?" He paused. "Actually, what are you?"
"Turns out being half naiad is still a naiad."
"A naiad?"
"A water nymph. My mother is one. As for why I'm not coming out, that's a bit more complicated. I will be able to in a few weeks, but I'm really going to be stuck here for a good few years."
Dave frowned, clearly not following.
"I can't leave the water because it would hurt the baby."
He stared again.
"They won't be like me. They'll be a merperson, and I'll have to take care of them full time."
"A merperson?" he asked, bewildered.
"You know how fish spawn? Well, fish like to spawn near naiads. The offspring are lucky or something. I was unconscious after getting shot in the face, and some of what was going on ended up in me."
Dave didn't know if he should be horrified.
"I'm fine with it, but it is going to make it hard to keep the mob under control" Iris continued "and I had hoped we'd get a chance to date."
He ran out of surprise at that and squeaked "Me?"

3rd part of the now ongoing https://aus.social/@rdm/114704704529092909
#SF #microfiction #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris .

The old pier was a little way outside of the modern harbour, a leftover from the days of sail. These days it was popular with swimmers more than boats. At night, though, it was unlit and very lonely.

Detective Lieutenant Dave Chandler looked around the dark beach. No-one. It seemed unlikely that someone would bomb the pier, and it would take a professional sniper to hit him from the nearest cover - and if that was the threat, he was already dead. He pulled his windbreaker closed, and started up the wooden stairs.

The old pier was nearly three hundred metres long, and it was distinctly odd to be walking it at night, with no-one around. He reached the end, checked his watch, and looked around. No-one. No boats, nothing.

"Down here" came a voice, a familiar one, if only heard in passing. He looked down, and there was Iris, in the water.
"Iris? Here, let me give you a "
She cut him off with "No, I'm better off here for now," and then pointed "Come around to the swim deck so we can talk."
He walked back to the steps down, and then sat at the edge of the deck.
"Hello, Dave. Sorry I've not been able to come by like usual."
"Iris, why don't you come out? It must be freezing in there."
"That's part of what I have to talk to you about. Look down into the water."
He started to look down, and snapped his eyes back to her face, blushing. "Err, Iris, you're, um" he stuttered.

She giggled, sounding years younger.. "I know, go on, look. It is important."
He looked down again, and then stared. And kept staring. Halfway down her naked breasts, just where the water met them, they vanished. Like there was only half a torso bobbing on the surface.
"Now watch carefully" as she spoke, the rest of her body faded into view below the water, and then faded away again.
"What...how...Wait! You're not human! That's how you survived! But why are you not coming out of the water?" He paused. "Actually, what are you?"
"Turns out being half naiad is still a naiad."
"A naiad?"
"A water nymph. My mother is one. As for why I'm not coming out, that's a bit more complicated. I will be able to in a few weeks, but I'm really going to be stuck here for a good few years."
Dave frowned, clearly not following.
"I can't leave the water because it would hurt the baby."
He stared again.
"They won't be like me. They'll be a merperson, and I'll have to take care of them full time."
"A merperson?" he asked, bewildered.
"You know how fish spawn? Well, fish like to spawn near naiads. The offspring are lucky or something. I was unconscious after getting shot in the face, and some of what was going on ended up in me."
Dave didn't know if he should be horrified.
"I'm fine with it, but it is going to make it hard to keep the mob under control" Iris continued "and I had hoped we'd get a chance to date."
He ran out of surprise at that and squeaked "Me?"

3rd part of the now ongoing https://aus.social/@rdm/114704704529092909
#SF #microfiction #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris .

Detective Lieutenant Dave Chandler never forgot the day he first met Iris. He'd only just made Detective, and was doing a coffee run for the 'pit and this girl - no young woman - bumped into him, quite deliberately, and made a big to-do about him walking into her. And in the middle of it all, he felt her hand go into his shirt pocket, so slickly and smoothly, he was certain she was a pro. But a shirt pocket? So when she'd moved on, and he was in the queue for the coffee, he'd checked it. And there was a folded note with times, dates, and what looked like cargo manifests with ship names.

It took some convincing of his then boss, but he got permission to do a stakeout. And it had all checked out.

With the photos he'd taken that night, they'd made quite a hit on the local drug smugglers.

It had stayed like that for a few years, this pretty woman with blue-green hair would bump into him somewhere, and he'd find a note.

So he'd asked around, and found out her name, and that she was actually a year older than him. The daughter of a fisherman who'd disappeared the day she turned eighteen. No one knew who her mother was. She had a small fishing shack and a boat.

Then one night he saw her get shot, and fall into the harbour.

He'd almost gone charging in, but there were far more of the mobsters than there were of him and his partner. So they called for backup, and by the time they got there it was all too late.

But the next day, Iris had bumped into him again, and this time softly said "I'm fine." She'd known he was staking out the scene. And somehow managed to not only survive, but dodge the sweep they did to try and find her body! He'd tried to grab her, but she'd given him the slip in seconds - despite the distinctive hair.

That was the first time. Over the past year, he'd seen her shot, clubbed, stabbed and run down at least eight times. Every single time ending up in the harbour, and each time she'd bump into him the next day as if nothing had happened.

This last time, though, she'd not been back.

And now there was this letter. Telling him to look after the shack and the boat. And to go out to the old pier tonight. Alone. He had not planned on following those instructions, except for two things. A single strand of blue-green hair folded into the letter. And another list.

#microfiction #SFF #SF #Microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

A companion to https://aus.social/@rdm/114676145868865943

Detective Lieutenant Dave Chandler never forgot the day he first met Iris. He'd only just made Detective, and was doing a coffee run for the 'pit and this girl - no young woman - bumped into him, quite deliberately, and made a big to-do about him walking into her. And in the middle of it all, he felt her hand go into his shirt pocket, so slickly and smoothly, he was certain she was a pro. But a shirt pocket? So when she'd moved on, and he was in the queue for the coffee, he'd checked it. And there was a folded note with times, dates, and what looked like cargo manifests with ship names.

It took some convincing of his then boss, but he got permission to do a stakeout. And it had all checked out.

With the photos he'd taken that night, they'd made quite a hit on the local drug smugglers.

It had stayed like that for a few years, this pretty woman with blue-green hair would bump into him somewhere, and he'd find a note.

So he'd asked around, and found out her name, and that she was actually a year older than him. The daughter of a fisherman who'd disappeared the day she turned eighteen. No one knew who her mother was. She had a small fishing shack and a boat.

Then one night he saw her get shot, and fall into the harbour.

He'd almost gone charging in, but there were far more of the mobsters than there were of him and his partner. So they called for backup, and by the time they got there it was all too late.

But the next day, Iris had bumped into him again, and this time softly said "I'm fine." She'd known he was staking out the scene. And somehow managed to not only survive, but dodge the sweep they did to try and find her body! He'd tried to grab her, but she'd given him the slip in seconds - despite the distinctive hair.

That was the first time. Over the past year, he'd seen her shot, clubbed, stabbed and run down at least eight times. Every single time ending up in the harbour, and each time she'd bump into him the next day as if nothing had happened.

This last time, though, she'd not been back.

And now there was this letter. Telling him to look after the shack and the boat. And to go out to the old pier tonight. Alone. He had not planned on following those instructions, except for two things. A single strand of blue-green hair folded into the letter. And another list.

#microfiction #SFF #SF #Microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

A companion to https://aus.social/@rdm/114676145868865943

@SFFMagazineCovers

Iris was a source of endless trouble for the local Mafia. She'd rat to the local police what was happening on the docks, and they'd send her off to "sleep with the fishes". Then the next morning she'd be back.

Of course Iris was the daughter of a naiad, but she never told them that. Getting shot was not that much of a problem either - a quick dip, and she was as right as rain, so to speak.

And she'd been getting shot a lot. And she was not always conscious when she hit the water. It took a little while for the water to heal her, so she did not wake up straight away.

The problem was the local fish. They could tell her heritage, and would take any opportunity to spawn near her.

So now she was pregnant. She couldn't blame the fish, they were just doing what fish did, but it was inconvenient - raising a mer-child around here was not going to be easy, and it was not like there was a colony of them near here to foster them with.

So she was going to have spend the next eight or nine years down here at least. Which was going to make it hard to keep those pesky gangsters under control.

And was going to be especially hard to explain to that nice police lieutenant.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

@SFFMagazineCovers

Iris was a source of endless trouble for the local Mafia. She'd rat to the local police what was happening on the docks, and they'd send her off to "sleep with the fishes". Then the next morning she'd be back.

Of course Iris was the daughter of a naiad, but she never told them that. Getting shot was not that much of a problem either - a quick dip, and she was as right as rain, so to speak.

And she'd been getting shot a lot. And she was not always conscious when she hit the water. It took a little while for the water to heal her, so she did not wake up straight away.

The problem was the local fish. They could tell her heritage, and would take any opportunity to spawn near her.

So now she was pregnant. She couldn't blame the fish, they were just doing what fish did, but it was inconvenient - raising a mer-child around here was not going to be easy, and it was not like there was a colony of them near here to foster them with.

So she was going to have spend the next eight or nine years down here at least. Which was going to make it hard to keep those pesky gangsters under control.

And was going to be especially hard to explain to that nice police lieutenant.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris