(Untitled)

[it_has_teeth]

There is ice on the lake; winter always brings ice, though the cold of the water here is far less than that of the crushing deeps of the Sea.

Ed knows.

Ed remembers.

And, as always, Ed circles.

There is little enough else for him to do.

Comments

[alorn_bear]

Ed is not the only one in the lake, although he's bigger by far than the dark shape that cuts through the upper waters in places where the ice has broken.

[it_has_teeth]

Even novelty, such as it is, holds little interest for the Master Shark--and an orca swimming nearby is not truly new.

But this one--well. Not every shape is as important as what lies behind it.

So he swims closer to the surface, bone-white shape shadowing the orca, circling.

Circling.

[alorn_bear]

It's a big circle. The orca is only orca-sized, for now, so when the echoes come back it hesitates a moment.

Okay. You, I totally didn't notice before. Are these your waters, dude?

[it_has_teeth]

"Dude? You would call the Master Shark, the Pale Slayer, 'dude'?"

The voice is very dry, and backed by a deep and fierce hunger that never fades.

It certainly doesn't sound affronted.

[lissla_lissar]

They see him. The dog, the dog doesn't care. She is a dog, and all is right with the world.

The woman, oh, the woman she has carried distress so long she doesn't even notice it anymore.

[it_has_teeth]

The woman might not, but the shark does.

It is how he was made, so very long ago that none but he remembers.

"And have you come down to the water to swim, young human?"

[lissla_lissar]

"No." She tells the thing of teeth and age. She doesn't fear him. "It is cold."

[it_has_teeth]

"And your kind is hardly meant for such temperatures."

He circles beneath the ice, gradually drawing closer to the shore.

"Though you do try at exceeding your limitations often enough."

It is unclear, from his dispassionate tone, exactly how he regards such striving.

[young_tmriddle]

Having heard of the new mountains by the lake, Tom decides to brave the cold and take a look.

Yes, there are mountains, indeed. How... unusual.

He considers approaching the Black Pearl but then decides to let a little more time go by before he faces Captain Jack Sparrow, considering the last time he was onboard he was wearing a corset.

Whilst he regards the lake, he can't help but notice- a shark fin?

"What the- a shark?"

[it_has_teeth]

"And shall I reply, then, with 'what the--a man?'"

The tone is very dry and, perhaps, very slightly amused.

And it is coming, most decidedly, from near the fin on the lake.

[young_tmriddle]

"Er, do excuse me. I was rather- startled, is all."

Ah, Milliways and its sentient species. It's hard to remember that nearly anything can speak here.

[it_has_teeth]

"I am not unaccustomed to such reactions, even here."

The fin continues to circle, ice chunks scattering away before it.

[hatchingviper]

Wesker has picked his way out on some rocks--nice broad ones, since hypothermia is not on his agenda--and has settled down to admire the way the light falls through the icy lake.

He likes the outdoors. It's been some time since he was able to roam outside. Part of him is still on edge at this unexpected freedom. So he's at the edge of the rock looking into the water.

The shape is a surprise.

[it_has_teeth]

"And shall you, too, not choose to swim this evening?"

The voice is dry, and passionless, and doubtlessly coming from the shape under the ice.

The very large, very pale shape.

[hatchingviper]

"You're not a Neptune." It's a simple statement in a dry tone, but the relief in his voice is immeasurable.

[it_has_teeth]

"No."

He circles again, movements slow and deceptively lazy.

"I am ed'Rashtekaresket, the Master Shark."

[it_has_teeth]

He is welcome to try, unwise as it might be in the long run.

Or if he is at all distressed.

"You, I think, are no wizard. But I do wonder if you are one of those who claims business with me."

Some have, after all. Even here.

[it_has_teeth]

"I am rarely disturbed."

It might be entirely possible to substitute 'never' for 'rarely'.

"And you might call me ed'Rashtekaresket, the Master Shark."

Also the Pale Slayer.

Both are descriptive and accurate titles.