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"I don't mind," Glory replied. Well, not much. "You helped me out when I needed it, now I'm helping you. That's how a relationship works."
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Léan sighed and then nodded, reluctantly relenting. "All right...just...don't get hurt, all right? I know what he's capable of..."
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"You know I'll be careful," Glory said, giving him a kiss. "I'll make sure to come back."
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Léan smiled, returning her kiss affectionately. He then pulled back, to curl up in the deeper shallows and keep an eye on what little of the tank he could see from here.
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Pulling herself up onto her favorite rock, Glory made a mental note to leave a towel or a blanket near the shore for next time as she waited for her tail to change back. Once she had legs again, she gathered up her clothes and got dressed before going inside.
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Betelgeuse was curled up in that same corner of the tank--he could see what was going on in the entire room from that corner. He was wide-awake, and his eyes narrowed minutely when she walked into the room.
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Glory settled herself on the couch, a good distance away from the tank.
"I just wanted to talk," she said. "That's all." |
"Hmph." Betelgeuse turned on his side, away from her, and pointedly ignored her. He would probably cut it out if she had something interesting to say--otherwise, he was going to be a spoiled child about this.
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"If I can get us out of here and on our way to the Gulf by tomorrow, would you be willing to give me some information in exchange?" Glory asked. She hoped that would interest him enough to answer.
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"You have my attention," Betelgeuse replied, simply. He still wasn't turned back towards her, since he didn't hear anything of distinct interest.
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Glory thought for a moment about how to ask. Once she'd figured out how to explain the situation, she did.
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Betelgeuse was silent the whole time, and he didn't answer her in the way she wanted. Something seemed to have struck his memory, though, for he'd turned back towards her halfway through. "What do you want me to do about it?"
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"Like I said, I'm just looking for information," Glory said. "That's all. Anything that might help."
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"It's human-caused, anyway, his affliction. Why should I have to fix the problems your kind gave him?" Betelgeuse sneered, stubbornly. So he did know more than what he was implying.
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"You don't have to," Glory pointed out. "Besides, the faster I get the information, the faster I can be out and back so we can leave." Hopefully, the thought to being able to leave for the Gulf would prod him into helping a little.
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"I can't help you," Betelgeuse hummed. "I've seen it before, but I don't know how to cure it." ...It wasn't clear if he was lying about this or not...
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"Can you at least tell me what's causing it?" Glory asked. If she knew what was causing it, she might be able to figure out how to cure it.
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"Something human-made. That is all I know." Betelgeuse curled up slightly again, trying to relax. "Honeydew came home a week before her death or capture, or whatever it was, and had that rash and the mood swings."
Honeydew must have been Léan's mother. |
"Interesting..." Glory mused. "Perhaps we should head to the Gulf first, then... Maybe we'll find out a lot of things there." Getting up, Glory went and grabbed a couple of gallon-sized Ziploc bags. "Let me gather my things and leave my grandmother a note, then we can get you out of there and see about leaving."
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Betelgeuse's tail flicked back and forth. It was yet another resemblance to Léan--their tails almost moved in the same way. He gave her a simple, curt nod as a response. Getting out of here was worth just about anything.
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Glory went into her room and quickly put a set of clothes into one of the bags, folding them as small and flat as she could. She made sure to put a pair of shoes in as well. Once she'd found everything she'd need that she could take with her, she went back into the living room and studied the tank for a moment.
"If I ask a friend of mine to come over real quick to help, would you let him get you out of the tank?" she asked. That was the easiest way she could think of, and the fastest. |
"I can get out of the tank myself. I just need something to pull myself out with. Something about as tall, and twice as solid." Betelgeuse would rather die than be carried again.
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"Alright," Glory said. "I think I can do that." The closest thing that matched that description was the cabinet that held the television, so she quickly draped towels over the electronics before pushing the cabinet over. "Just try not to get everything too wet, they're expensive to replace."
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Betelgeuse quietly grabbed onto the cabinet, and vaulted himself out of the tank. Without assistance, he crawled out towards the water, where he knew his son had already fled, anticipating his arrival.
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Glory watched to make sure he at least got out the door alright before turning to leave a note for her grandmother. Once that was done, she made sure her things were as waterproof as she could make them, since she was taking her cell phone as well as some clothes, and then went back out to the beach.
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