For the love of all things shiny!!! (Caleb/Alison)

[siane]

Siane took in a deep breath of salty air as she reached the beach. It had been a while since she's returned to the island of her birth but she needed a break, the past week had been beyond trying....Her mind wandered over everything that had happened before she was brought sharply back to reality by a loud meow from the basket she was carrying. "Alright Cat, just a minute" Setting it down on the sand she let the ginger tabby out , giving it an affectionate stoke. The mermaid might not be too fond of people, but she did love animals. Cat's especially. They were so much like her, not completely averse to affection if it came from the right source but proud and independent, fond of their peace and solitude.

She had come across Cat in a small park a week before, and he had followed her home. Siane hadn't been pleased at first about having to care for something else, but she soon warmed to her new confidant, allowing him to sit on a stool in her bathroom while she had her baths, and letting him curl up on her pillow at night. It was sort of nice, having someone to talk to. Even if it was only a cat.

Slipping off her skirt, she folded it along with her t-shirt, and then, dressed in her underwear she made her way to a rock, peeled off the pants when no one was looking and quickly plunged into the cool water, wincing slightly as she changed. She took a few seconds to re-adjust then swam down deep and out. She only encountered one other mermaid, whom she didn't know and after she'd had her fill of exercise she stretched herself out on a flat rock to soak up a little sun, one hand trailing lazily in the water and completely unaware that her lovely iridescent tail was just visible from the beach.

[alisontheperson119]

Caleb wandered the beach curiously. He had never been here before and was intent on exploring it before he returned to the nice mermaid he was staying with. His paws made small indents in the sand and for a while he occupied his time with trying to make nonsense words in the water swept sand. It lasted only a few minutes before a glint of light caught the shapeshifter's attention. His ear perked up and he padded over to it. A shell, pale yellow and orange and polished by the water, lay just beyond the surf. Caleb stared at it intently, eyes following the light gliding across its smooth surface. Deciding that the nice mermaid would like it, Caleb reached out a paw. He paused then, staring at the paw in confusion before a light came on in his mind. He back up a few steps, so he wouldn't damage the pretty shell, and began the painful process of returning to human. Grunts and whimpers joined the sounds of bird cries in the air until Caleb was content in his dominant form. He stretched, wincing at the unfamiliarity.

He hadn't been human since the nice mermaid took him into her house and began feeding him. He didn't find a reason to. If he needed something the nice mermaid would get it for him. Besides, he didn't need to get dressed everyday if he remained a cat. Clothes could be annoying, though Caleb liked how they kept his vulnerable human body warm.

A seagull interrupted Caleb's thoughts and he looked at the sky before turning his attention back to the pretty shell. He picked it up, smiling widely. He spun around, giggling at the feeling of sand between his toes, and began running back to where he thought the mermaid was. He didn't go very far, however, when something else captured his attention. It was a glimmer, a sparkle, of something off by the rocks near the water. Blue green eyes locked onto it and stared. His hands went limp, dropping the shell to the sand. He took a step towards the new shiny, then another, then broke out into a full run. He jumped onto the rocks and stopped, staring at the glittering tail. “Shiny,” he breathed reverently. He reached out a hand and ran it across the scales. The tail twitched and Caleb jerked his hands back, eyes widening. “Shiny moved, why did shiny move?” he asked excitedly. His hands immediately went back to the tail and searching for the reason why it moved.

[siane]

Enjoying the warm feeling of the sun on her back, Siane twitched her tail slightly turning her head to rest on her other cheek. Something brushed against the fins at the end and she gave an irritated flick, there shouldn't be any flies around this time of year. She closed her eyes and drifted back off before there was another brush. Siane gave a low growl of annoyance and flicked again. Good, that seemed to have gotten rid of it.

A few seconds later however she was jolted out of her dreamy state when something gave her tail a sharp tug. Letting out a shriek of pain and outrage Siane turned, and peered of the rock that was shielding her, and straight into a mop of red hair. A string of curses flowed from her lips before she got herself together enough to hiss "What the hell are you doing to my tail! Get off!" How dare he! How DARE he! Who was this...this person...anyway? She glared at him, eyes narrowed, he was young, not more than 16 or 17 at her guess, with pale skin and delicate features. He was also, she suddenly realized, completely naked. Okay...what? Siane gave an outraged squeak before diving back behind the rock. A few seconds later, clothes back on, she stormed towards the boy, keeping her eyes fixed firmly on his face. "You better have a REALLY good explanation!" Her voice was like steel, and her eyes were cold and she glared at him, visions of drowning him running through her mind. Scanning the beach she noticed that there was no sign of her cat..if this boy had anything to her pet, she would kill him.

[alisontheperson119]

Caleb blinked at the infuriated mermaid. She looked familiar for some reason. He stared at her, trying to figure out why, before her question registered in his mind.

"Pretty." he replied. The mermaid looked confused but no less angry. And still, very familiar. Why did she look familiar? Had Caleb met her somewhere before? And where was the nice mermaid who had been taking care of him? Caleb tilted his head to the side and furrowed his brows in thought.

He wanders off to explore new beach, finds pretty shell, finds pretty...tail apparently, and finds pretty new mermaid but loses the nice mermaid. Caleb frowned. Was this considered a good day or a bad day? He didn't know. And it was starting to make his head hurt. Oh! Maybe this mermaid knows where the nice mermaid went!

"Hey have you seen another mermaid around here? She's pretty and tall and pretty and I can't find her. I found a shell for her but I think I dropped it when I found your tail, which is really really pretty by the way. And feels like a snake, have you ever eaten snake before? They taste weird and aren't very filling. I don't recommend it unless your really hungry. I haven't been really hungry for a while because this nice mermaid has been taking care of me. Have you seen her? She's really pretty and tall, like you! Your really pretty did you know that? Like, really pretty. Are all mermaids pretty? I haven't met many, only you and the nice one who has been taking care of me. Have you seen her?" he spoke quickly and animatedly, his arms waving around in wildly.

[siane]

Siane stared at the boy in astonishment for a long moment. Still simmering over what he'd done to her tail she kept her eyes narrowed and face hard. It took a few seconds to fully process what he'd been saying.

"What.are.you.talking.about?" It was snapped out from between gritted teeth. "Another mermaid? Who'd been looking after you? Poor thing was probably driven insane. I don't have time for this Mr...whoever you are.." She turned scanning the beach again and loudly calling "Cat! Caaat!" When there was still no sign of him she turned back to the boy .

"You are in SERIOUS danger of ending up at the bottom of the bay. What did you do with my cat? I want him back. Now." This was too strange. Why? Why her? After everything that had been happening she just wasn't able to cope with naked teenagers and missing cats. She was getting more and more frustrated and a scowl flitted across her normally blank features as the mermaid glow finally faded completely. Where was her cat? She wanted nothing more to do with this kid, but she couldn't leave without the creature. She'd grown very attached to it, and was slightly worried about what could have befallen it.

[alisontheperson119]

Had Caleb been in his cat form his ears would have perked up and he would have jumped right into the mermaid's arms. As it was he wasn't and therefore couldn't without risk of serious injury. This mermaid, he realized, was the one who had been taking care of him. Which was why...
"So that's why you look so familiar!" he blurted out, eyes going wide. He smiled widely at the nice mermaid before another realization struck.
"I dropped your shell!" he exclaimed. A frown appeared on his features and he began whipping his head around. He dashed off, leaving the mermaid, before returning a second later.
"Wait there I'll be back!" he ordered. He was gone again, retracing his footsteps in the sand.
"Pretty shell, pretty shell, where are you pretty shel!?" he called. He whined in distress. He really wanted the nice mermaid to have it! It was pretty and shiny and he wanted to say 'thank you' for letting him stay!
Caleb kept searching, his frown deepening with each passing second. He huffed and stomped his foot in the sand. He yelped, jerking back and staring wide eyed at where his foot had been. Sunlight glinted off the visible surface. His frown was replaced by a wide smiled and he swooped down, grabbing the shell and holding it up in triumph.
"Pretty shell!" he cried. He ran back to the mermaid.
"Here!" he announced thrusting his hands in front of the mermaid's face. "Look, look, look! Isn't it pretty? I found it and wanted to give it to you because its so pretty but then I dropped it when I saw your tail. Take it!" He continued to hold his hands out to the mermaid, the shell gleaming in the sunlight, a pleased smile spread across his face.

[siane]

Siane's violet-blue eyes widened as the boy rushed off. "That's why I look so familiar??" She muttered to herself "What? Shell?" Then the pieces started to click together. There hadn't been anyone else on the beach when she'd arrived, not had she encountered anyone on the way there. It was always deserted, not being as nice as the other beaches around the island. The boy was a red head and was looking for a mermaid, she was a mermaid looking for her ginger cat. No.Way. She spun around , her eyes trained on him and her jaw almost dropped. This b boy was her cat? "Oh no, NO, NO, NO!" She clenched her fists and took a deep breath, determined to keep some semblance of composure. This wasn't happening.

When the boy returned with the shell, it became obvious that however much she wished otherwise, she wasn't dreaming. She let out a groan and grimly took the boy's offering (It was very beautiful, and quite rare). "You're a shapeshifter." It was a statement, not a question.Suddenly fury overtook her as she remembered him sitting on a stool listening to her talk about her day while she was in the bath. Her eyes blazed as she took several slow, menacing steps forwards, until she was looming over him. "How DARE you pretend to be a cat! And not even tell me! You watched me in the BATH!" She yelled. Her hands were shaking trying to control the impulse to kill him there and then, however, she couldn't shake the image of the lovely ginger cat from her mind and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She stared at him for another long moment before turning abruptly "I can't deal with this. I'm going home." And with that she began to walk back towards the path in a sort of haze, still not sure why the universe had decided to gang up on her in such a way.

[alisontheperson119]

Caleb watched her leave in confusion. He hadn't been pretending to be a cat. He really had been the entire time he had been staying with her. At least she had taken the shell. She couldn't be too mad then. Pretty things made everything better. At least, that's what past experience has taught him. The mermaid's last words clicked in Caleb's mind and he ran after her.

It didn't take long to catch up to her. She was walking and Caleb was a fast runner even when he wasn't trying. Caleb fell into step beside her, glancing at her every so often. A cold breeze licked at Caleb's bare skin, causing him to shiver. It was only then that the shifter realized he was naked. Caleb frowned. He couldn't remember where he had hid his clothes and by now he was sure that they would be gone. Various animals, dogs especially, were always able to find his belongings and drag them away from wherever they were hidden.
"When we get back can I borrow some clothes? I think I lost mine," he said with a sheepish smile.

[siane]

Siane paused and a low growl made it's way out from between her clenched teeth. This boy was pushing it. If they'd still been on the beach, she wouldn't have hesitated about killing. Well, probably. Her eyes flashed with temper and giving an incredulous scoff she continued on her way, refusing to look at, or speak to the boy. She was embarrassed and very angry. She was also in shock, which was lucky, for the boy at least. They walked in silence until they finally reached what Siane liked to call the portal, the way back to the human area. Finally making it back to her apartment she stormed into her bedroom, the door slamming loudly. In her anger however, she'd forgotten to lock it.

While on the outside, Siane's reaction may have looked like pure fury, she was actually, also quite upset. Typical of men, even when they were young. To pretend they were something else and leave you high and dry! Flopping onto her bead she let out a muffled scream of frustration, quickly followed by a yelp of pain and curse as she tried to punch her pillow, missed and got the thick wooden headboard instead. She took deep calming breaths, before giving up and, since she was in the privacy of her own room, kicked the mattress furiously until her legs ached. This childish, but very emotionally reliving display over, she crossed to the window seat and sat for a long while, kegs tucked up under her, staring at the sky. She needed to do something, but what?

[alisontheperson119]

Caleb followed the mermaid in silent thought. She was angry, that much he knew, he just didn't know why she was angry. It didn't make that much sense to him. A loud noise startled the boy out of his, admittedly not very deep, thoughts. He stared at the door. The stare at it some more. Then he blinked and stared some more.

The door was closed. How does one open a door again? Caleb whined and pawed at the door, much like he would had he been a cat. No response. He looked around and noticed, by sheer luck, the doorknob. People used doorknobs to open doors. Caleb smiled at the information and tried it. He pushed and the door swung open.

Caleb padded into the apartment, eyes wide as he took in surroundings that were so familiar but made alien by the new point of view. He walked around idly until he reached the room the mermaid was in. He peeked inside and, after hearing no yells, walked over and sat on the ground beside the mermaid. He looked at her then followed her gaze out the window. After a while he looked back at her and just stared expectantly.

[siane]

Siane was aware that the boy had come into the room and mentally slapped herself for forgetting to lock the door. Slowly she turned her head to look at him. Taking a deep breath bent so their heads were level. Looking him straight in the eye she spoke. "Rule number one. You never, EVER come into my room in human form, unless you're invited. Because if you do, I. will. kill. you. Got it?" She gave a the sort of smile which would have had quite a few people running, had there been anyone else around.

Getting up she muttered, I liked you SO much better as cat" The funny thing was, that she couldn't find it within herself to actually hurt the boy, although, if he came into her room uninvited again there was a distinct possibility of there being a few bruises. She still thought of him as her cat...and felt a sort of..responsibility was the word she supposed. She wasn't going to chuck him out, the realization made her stop in a moment for surprise. Siane wasn't known for her tolerance. She opened her cupboard and threw some old jeans and loose green t-shirt that she sometimes used to sleep in at him. "Change. You've got 5 minutes." Her tone was no longer angry though, just mater of fact. She went into the bathroom and a quick shower (Well, as quick as having a tail would allow) and changing into a flattering lilac dress, she went back into her room to get her shoes and purse. Cat had better be ready. She though for a second just before opening the door, he probably had another name, she should ask him at some point. For now though, Cat would do just fine.

[alisontheperson119]

Caleb blinked but nodded. That was easy enough. He just hoped he could remember that rule. He guessed he could just stay in cat form the majority of the time. As long as he didn't have to shift too often it wouldn't be much of a hassle. He glanced at her as she got up, hearing her muttered musings. He frowned. Does that mean she doesn't like him? Caleb didn't like not being liked. Especially when he liked the person who didn't like him.

Caleb jumped as the clothes hit him. He looked at them in confusion then irritably. He didn't want to put on clothes. Why couldn't he just walk around as a cat? But, he thought as he stood, she said to change so I should change. Maybe if I do what she says she'll like me more! With that thought in mine he pulled on the jeans and shirt. He kicked his feet playfully, giggling as the pant legs flapped around. Caleb smiled. She had given him clothes, big clothes yes but clothes all the same. That meant. Caleb paused and tilted his head to the side. What did that mean? He kicked up a foot. Giggled. Then kicked up the other. In a matter of seconds he was dancing around the room without a care.

[siane]

Siane opened the door and stood still for a moment watching the boy dance around in jeans that were too long for him. She tried to keep her face neutral but couldn't completely fight off a slight smile.

"Having fun?" She inquired wryly. "Come on Cat, I want to get to the mall before it closes." She quickly ran a brush through her long hair, delighting in the feeling. She loved her hair and was very proud of it. Brushing it always soothed her. She supposed it was a mermaid thing. Finding her car keys she picked up her bag and stood waiting by the front door of the apartment. "Do you have a human name?" She asked him, almost as an after thought. She really couldn't imagine calling him anything but cat. Still, it was always useful to know these things.

[alisontheperson119]

Caleb looked up at the mermaid when she entered. He smiled at her and nodded.
"Pants are fun," he announced. He paused.
"Mall? We're going to a mall? Ooohh what are we getting?" he watched her brush her hair.
"You have pretty hair." He followed her to the front of the apartment.
"OH! Name's Caleb. C A L E B. What's yours? I bet its pretty. Pretty people have pretty names." Caleb thought over his words. "Names don't look pretty. Well not always. You can write names a pretty way but they are not naturally pretty when you look at them. It's how you say a name that makes it pretty. Take my name. If you say it Ka Leb it doesn't sound very nice. Cay lib, while not the prettiest name in the world, is better and flows better. So, what's your name?" He smiled up at the mermaid.

[siane]

Siane scrunched her nose slightly as the boy talked. She wasn't used to this..it was going to take some adjusting. She hoped he didn't talk ALL the time. She needed her quiet, especially for the last hour or so before bed. Still, it was quite amusing, and she supposed she'd be able to deal with it. She still wasn't quite certain why she was doing this, it was completely against her nature. Yet here she was. Taking her pet...shapeshifter...shopping. If this was going to be a regular occurrence, she might have to get a job in order to pay for everything...that would be annoying. Oh well, she'd cross that bridge when she came to it. Her finances were in pretty good shape at the moment.

"Caleb" She tested it out. "Hmm. I still prefer Cat" She pressed the button for the elevator and the doors opened. She stepped in before saying "I'm Siane. What about a last name? Do you have one of those as well by any chance?" They arrived on the ground floor and she walked out to her car, unlocking it.

[alisontheperson119]

"Siane. Siane. Siane." Caleb tested. The name rolled off his tongue nicely. It was, Caleb decided, a pretty name.
"I like it!" he announced with a nod. He stepped into elevator, careful to make sure the pants didn't get caught. That would hurt.
"It suites you. Very pretty. And rolling. Like a wave. And your a mermaid which works out rather nicely." He paused briefly.
"Haven't used my last name for a while. Not since I left," he murmured. He grew silent and remained that way until the elevator dinged and the doors opened again.
"Anyways it's Thompson." He gave Siane a teeth filled smile. "And I don't mind if you call me Cat. You've been calling me that for long enough I'm used to it already." A cat was a nice form. They were well liked pets and were well made for living alone in the wild. And no one knew what a cat was thinking so Caleb was free to run and jump and sleep to his heart's content. He kicked his legs again, meowed, and giggled.