sweethymns | Pictures in the Dark

[Does this look like a man who jokes very often? He just figured Lulu was being presumptuous; how would he know otherwise, having just met her?

Regardless, he just raises a brow at her.]

Well, remind me not to ever get on your bad side. [He sighs.] What's a gorgon doing at a pool party, then?

[Of course, the same could be asked of himself, but never mind that!]

Oh, simple really. I crashed!

[Well, somehow that's not surprising given how she's presented herself so far.]

No one's complaining as you can see.

...Really? [He can't decide if he's impressed or concerned.] Even I was invited.

[And of course no one's going to complain to see a pretty young woman at a pool party, he thinks to himself, but doesn't find it necessary to share those thoughts.

Still, why did she have to take over his chaise lounge?]

Is that what a Gorgon does now? Crash parties and steal perfectly good seats? How things must have changed in the years past.

Just occasionally. My sisters didn't want to leave the house so I decided to stalk somewhere else, is all. Not that there's much going on here.

[She twirls a strand of her hair idly.]

But you talked to me and got me to notice that something was off about you. At least something got done today.

[...And now he doesn't know if he should be offended or just... what.]

I'm not a line on an itemized list to be checked off, you know. And I'm of the opinion that there's too much going on here. Everyone's so loud; the bass of the music literally feels like it's jostling my ribcage around. The men are too drunk and the women are too loose.

[At least he tells it like it is.]

[She lets out a laugh, wholly amused by him.]

Well then, ditch! What's stopping you?

[A shrug of slender shoulders. It's a legitimate question.]

I was dragged along by a friend. Probably expected me to be his wingman, or something like that. Seems like he doesn't even really need my help.

[So basically he's bumming around because he has nothing better to do.]

You have an actual friend???

[LULU...]

[r u d e]

And what is that supposed to mean?

[the rudest monster on this side of the galaxy probably]

Mm. Well, now that I think about it, having a friend isn't unusual. It'd be more unusual as a human to have no friends whatsoever especially after several years, right?

I suppose that depends on the person. I've met plenty of humans with few friends, who lead happy lives.

[He flips the question around.] What of your friends? [What kind of friends do Gorgons have? DOES THIS RUDE LADY HAVE FRIENDS?]

Sisters, like I said. We're not quite blood related, but our origins are the same.

[They're all Gorgons, each had been a strand of snake hair at some point in time. But they strangely looked different from each other with only a few unifying features that linked them to each other.]

As for the mundane, not many. I'm much too abrasive.

[ah, so she is aware]

[He sets his jaw at the mention of her sister again. Family. At least she was friendly with hers. He couldn't quite say the same.] Mm. [-is his only real response to that, though.

As for being abrasive... Malus thinks, Isn't it worse to be self-aware of your own faults and not bother trying to fix them?] Maybe you should work on that.

Oh? You think so?

I'll dial it down when I want to.

Are all Gorgons as headstrong as you? I suppose I shouldn't be surprised; it's always the odd ones that do whatever it is they like.

[He nearly shrugs again, a half-gesture that looks like he gave up halfway through it.]

May I have my seat back?

Are you calling me odd?

[A beat. And then she beams.]

I don't mind that! I'll take it! And as for your first question, I wouldn't say so. All of us turned out differently one way or another.

I still want to sit.

[and of course he gets the headstrong one that won't relinquish his seat-]

Fine. [Malus stands, and makes his way over to the edge of the pool. As much as he hates the water, Lulu has exasperated him enough to hop in with the most subtle splash. It isn't the deep end of the pool, so the water goes up to his waist as he rests his arms on the poolside, leaning forward.]

And for the record, yes. I was calling you odd. [He rests his chin on his arms, closing his eyes. Maybe she'll let him relax now??]

[There's no response. When he opens his eyes, Lulu will have suddenly disappeared from her seat.

Now where could she have gone??

(She went to put on her bathing suit and disappear into the crowd and then slip into the water, like motherfucking Jaws that's where)]

[When he hears little more than silence, Malus opens his eyes... to see that the strange lady isn't there any more. He furrows his brow, but then decides that maybe she had finally lost interest.]

...Weird.

[WHATEVER just closing his eyes again, gonna try to soak up some sun. He can't be bothered to pull himself out of the water and reclaim his chaise, anyway.]

Boo.

[GUESS WHO'S BEHIND YOU ASSHOLE, WET HAIR DRAPED ACROSS HER FACE AND ALL]

...?

[It's not so much the "boo" than the fact that SHE'S RIGHT THERE when he turns around, all up in his business, that shocks him.] What the-?! [He flails just a little, making a splash with one arm, the other trying to hold onto the pool edge so he doesn't slip and fall--

--But he loses his balance and falls under the water rather ungracefully. Way to go.]

[Okay laaaaauuuughiiing here, she is so mean!? But she reaches underneath the water to pull him up, while using her other hand to brush through her hair (although one side of it continues to drape over her right eye.]

Oh, that was so worth it.

[The sound of water is rushing past his ears as he falls, and consequently finds his footing on the pool floor. He grits his teeth under water, bubbles rising from escaped breath--

(And he remembers when being under the vast ocean was his home, and the memories of thrashing beneath it, pulled from his slumber, tossed onto the shore, half-dying and betrayed.)

His head breaks the surface of the water and he gasps for air, even though it's unnecessary. Human habit.]

-fuck! [Comes the explicative, though it sounds weak. Malus shoots her a glare, frowning, and considers yelling at her, his irritation spiking sharp.

...But instead, he merely turns around, pulling himself out of the water and pool, wordlessly. He drips wet onto the pool's edge, moving damp hair out of his eyes.]

Haaaa...

[Lulu lets out a deep sigh after recovering from her laughter and she lounges in the water lazily as she watches Malus.]

It was a ripe opportunity and I'm glad I took it.

[why does she look so proud, really now]

[w o w excuse you, Malus does not find this hilarious at all. So much that he can't be bothered to make a quip in return, he just pulls himself out of the pool, water dripping from him. All he can manage is an annoyed:]

Good for you.

[mcgrumpy pants, stop triggering him ok]

Pictures in the Dark

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