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"Not necessarily," Glory said. "And on the chance she's a live, and there IS a chance, then she's probably being taken care of. I've got a little bit of information right now on the guy who owns that boat, but I should have some more info in a few days."
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Betelgeuse's eyes narrowed. "Pff. I am not going to believe you unless I have proof of this information," he jabbed, sourly. It was just as predicted, his attitude...
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"We figured you'd say that," Glory said. She took out the printout. "I can let you read this, but just be careful, the ink runs if it gets wet."
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"Set it down by the sand I will read it, then." Betelgeuse seemed wary that it might be poisoned, or rigged to explode...or something crazy like that.
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"Alright," Glory said. She set it down on the sand, just before the water so it wouldn't get wet. Then she backed away a bit and sat down on the sand.
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Betelgeuse swam up, suspiciously, and read over the paper. He spent more than three minutes skimming the paper's contents, and was silent.
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"Like I said," Glory said, "I should have more information in a few days. This is all I have for right now."
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There was still bitterness in Betelgeuse's eyes. A lot of it. Even more than Léan had had, when Glory had first met him. But there was also a sense of understanding. "Fine," he muttered, unhappily. "Fine..." He ducked back down underwater, moving out to where he previously was. Instead of acting violent and standoffish, he curled back up where he was, to take a nap. He would strike out if touched, or even disturbed.
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Taking the printout back, Glory got up and turned to head back inside.
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Léan looked so relieved. He had been so shaky while watching, afraid that violence was going to break out. But a big weight had been pushed off of his shoulders, now.
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It didn't take Glory long to get back to her room.
"See, I told you I'd be alright," she said. |
"That did not stop me from worrying." Léan's tail was flicking back and forth, in an agitated way. "If I was sure he wasn't going to resort to violence, we could go swimming again. But there are only two ways I would be sure. If my mother was with him, and if he were dead..."
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"Give Arabella a few days," Glory said, sitting down on the bed next to him. "She'll get her hands on all the information available, and then we can decide what to do from there." Once they had something concrete, maybe an address or something, Glory could figure something out.
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"...A few days may not be enough. When will the others return, do you think?" Léan asked, resting his head on her shoulder. "If he is here when they return...and he finds your mother changed, and he finds Eden..." He trailed off. He didn't want to think about what would happen. "...Maybe we can force him into the tank in here, and seal off the top...say that if he doesn't come in here, we'll stop researching..."
He paused again. "But we would need someone very strong to carry him, in case he retaliates. I know he'll bite and scratch, at least..." |
"I don't know when they'll be back," Glory admitted. "I wish there was some way to contact them... But I know my mother doesn't have her cell phone or anything on her. It would have stopped working a long time ago, because of the water." She looked at him. "And would you really want him in the next room?" The only person she knew of who would be strong enough, anyways, was probably Curry, and that would require telling him about everyone.
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"That tank is strong. It was strong enough to hold the shark when he panicked. It will be strong enough to hold my father," Léan replied, determined. "...The two strongest people I can think of...would be Viktor and his very tall friend..."
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"I was just thinking that," Glory said. "But that would require enlightening Curry, which is something I'm a bit hesitant about."
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"...Perhaps you should ask Viktor if it is a good idea," Léan suggested, hesitantly. "Viktor knows Curry better than any of us do. He would know how he would react to something like this."
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"Alright," Glory said. "I'll see what I can do." She still wasn't comfortable about having his father in the tank in the next room, but she wasn't sure if they had any other options.
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Léan was idly thinking about throwing a blanket over the tank so he wouldn't have to look at Betelgeuse. It seemed like an amusing idea.
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Glory snuggled into his side, wanting to be close to him.
"It seems to be just our luck that every time we get the chance to go swimming together, something stops us," she said. |
Léan sighed, also shifting closer. "It's true. We do not have good luck...not in the least." He closed his eyes. "...When should we talk to my father about this? Or, rather...bribe him?"
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"Bribe? Blackmail is more like it," Glory commented. She laid her head on his shoulder. "Maybe tomorrow, unless you wanted to try now."
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"Either or...either works. It's up to you. He's calmer than he was before, now, but he might be better once he's gotten some sleep..." Léan replied, thinking. "What shall we do for the rest of the day?"
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"It's up to you," Glory said. She'd been kind of hoping to see the reef, but that was out of the question now. For now, she was content just snuggling with him.
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