Xanadu

Absolute Comics - Season Two: The Monster Within

_{Location: The Home of Erika Watson - San Diego}

The Storm: 02 - Water, My Dear Watson

---

_{Interaction(s): None}

Previously: The Storm 01: Strangers in the Foam

Erika Watson awoke to what could only be the sound of a small army trying to break through her front door. She grasped around in the dark failing to find the switch on her bedside lamp. Curtains drawn closed in a desperate attempt to keep the mid-morning light from breaching into the room. She was up all night last night typing up another report for work - smuggler bust. Giving up on finding the switch she pushed herself up into a sitting position. She grabbed her clothes stacked in a crumpled pile on the floor, a worn pair of blue jeans ripped on one of the knees and a men’s small black t-shirt thoroughly shrunken. As she finished pulling on her t-shirt the banging at her door only seemed to intensify in volume.

“If you break that door, you are fucking paying for it!” Erika shouted at the top of her lungs. If this was that postal worker that I said was knocking too quietly, I swear to God... She considered taking her gun from her drawer for a moment but thought against it.

She exited her bedroom brushing down the stray strands of her pixie-cut blonde hair as she did. By the time she finished, she had crossed the length of her tiny bungalow - if she was honest it was more of a nice shack really - and had reached the front door. The knocking ceased after Erika had yelled her annoyances to the world, but she was still fuming. Angrily, she slid back the deadbolt and yanked the door open, the hinges screaming at the brutality.

“What the hell do you... Arthur?!”

He was drenched from head to toe and the I ❤️ SAN DIEGO sweatshirt that she had bought him last Christmas was torn in places and stained with blood. That wasn’t as surprising, Arthur had a habit of getting into fights, he said it was because of his “big personality” if that was what he wanted to call his dumb hot-headedness she didn’t seem to mind. What was surprising was that slung across his shoulders in a fireman’s carry was an unconscious body.

“Can I borrow your kitchen table?” Arthur sputtered out between labored breaths.

“....Okay?”

“Thanks.”

Erika stepped out of the way of Arthur letting him in. She made sure to get to the table first pulling together the scattered pieces of paper that littered it. Most of it was work papers, their placement sketching semi-coherent lines of thinking slowly plotted out over several sleepless nights and countless more glasses of whiskey. All that work was gone in a matter of seconds as she pulled them into a loose pile and dropped them onto the floor. Erika didn’t even think about it autonomous motions driving her body forward as she made room. She could worry about work later.

Erika watched as Arthur gingerly placed a stranger on her table. Erika didn't have much medical training besides a mandatory CPR class, but it didn’t take a doctor to tell he was in rough shape. Sweat poured down his face and an experimental touch to the forehead revealed skin that burned to the touch. All the while, he kept on mumbling what must have been fragmented words or phrases in a language that Erika did not understand. She turned to Arthur; his gaze was directed downward at the man, his brow furrowed in concentration.

“Where’d you find him?”

“The beach.”

“Why here? Why not the hospital?”

“I don’t think he would be safe.”

Erika instantly regretted leaving the gun in the drawer.

“What happened on the beach Arthur?”

He turned away from her.

“People were hunting him. Police? Or something, I don’t really know. They were definitely hunting him though. And, I know if I didn’t step in he would already be dead.” Arthur stated more reassuring himself than her as he still refused to face her.

“You attacked police officers?” Erika asked trying to hide the concern in her voice as she reached a hand out touching his shoulder.

“I told you. I don’t know!” Arthur took a deep breath trying his best to not let his anger get the better of him before he continued “They came out of the water dressed in freaky looking armor like something out a movie. When I didn’t comply with their orders they attacked. It wasn’t my fault. And... I came here because I trust you”

“I’m not saying it is,” Erika reassured him. She ran the hand that was on his shoulder down across the arm where the sleeve was still ripped from whatever fight had led him here. This close to him, Erika was able to survey the damage better. He was bleeding a lot more than he usually did, the cut on his arm ran deep. His jaw was swelling up and little trickles of blood ran all across his body from where jagged splinters of wood pierced through clothing into exposed flesh, almost like he had been at the center of a bomb or something. “Arthur maybe you should sit down”

“I’m fine.” He lied as he pulled away from her touch.

“We both know that’s bullshit.”

“I’m fine!”

Erika would have pressed harder but at that moment the man on the table began to thrash about screaming in his alien tongue. Arthur sprang into action immediately running towards the sink. He began rifling through her cabinets looking up and down. Erika ran over to the thrashing stranger and quickly attempted to hold him down so that he couldn't hurt himself further. His strength surprised Erika as she was forced to press her entire body weight down atop of him to get him to stop flailing and even then he still struggled beneath her. She called out to Arthur.

“What are you doing?!"

“Where did you put the cups?!" He shouted back.

“They are in the cabinet next to the refrigerator!” She directed him before adding “And why do you need a cup?”

“Why did you move them?” He called back as he pulled out a plastic yellow cup from the cabinet and rushed over to the sink turning the faucet on.

“Because I needed a chang-” She started before stopping “You still didn’t answer my question!”

“Water!” Arthur exclaimed as he sprinted back over. Erika moved off of the man as Arthur approached looking at him puzzled. She watched as Arthur quickly handed the plastic cup over to the man. To Erika’s great surprise rather than drinking the water, the man splashed the contents out and onto his face. He shouted something that Erika couldn’t comprehend dropping the plastic cup to the floor as he did.

“More!” Arthur rushed back to the sink

“Wait! You can understand him?” Erika asked Arthur as she thought of what to do next.

“Yeah,” Arthur replied like the answer was obvious “you can’t?”

“Obviously not!” She yelled back as she looked back at the man. He was beginning to fade away again as his movements becoming more lethargic by the minute. Water...Water...Water..!

“The Bathtub!”

“Genius!” Arthur called his eyes lighting up with new vigor as he rushed back over to pick the man back up. Maneuvering past him, Erika ran into the bathroom and quickly began turning the knobs as quickly as she could. In short order, Arthur was able to deposit him into a shallow pool of lukewarm water. The two sat down next to the bathtub, watching closely for any signs of improvement. Erika let out a gasp as the change began almost immediately. Sickly white skin slowly began to regain color as the large burn wound on his chest slowly began to heal and repair itself, old skin falling away and new skin growing to replace it with a rapid urgency like somebody had left the remote on fast forward.

“Arthur. You have to tell me everything.”

“....”

“Arthur?”

Turning, a small smile began to form on her lips. Arthur had his back pressed against the bathroom wall with his legs stretched out in front of him, the cramp quarters forcing him to pull his knees up against his chest. His head was tilted to one side, and his eyes were closed. This last burst of activity the final push that was needed from exhaustion to take its hold. Erika got up and quietly went back to the bedroom to retrieve a blanket. Returning with a spare blanket and pillow in hand, she managed to wedge the later between his head and the wall and then laid the former out across him.

Before exiting she regarded the stranger in the bathtub for a moment longer.

“The water huh...”

Veritas Lux Mea- Firefly inspired rp (FULL)

Oooh, I have an idea for the mercenary position if that would be okay!

Veritas Lux Mea- Firefly inspired rp (FULL)

I'm always down for a good space western!

Mass Effect: Renegade

---

Welcome to the Terminus System <--- Click for Muzak

The year is 2179 CE, a year has passed since the raids on Torfan and Theshaca. While many mercenaries and batarian raiders were killed, many more escaped deep into the Terminus System beyond the judiciary reach of the Systems Alliance. Yet the Alliance still demands retribution for the blood drawn and many bounties exists for the taking by those willing to risk life and limb making a considerable amount of credits in a comparatively short amount of time. Professional killers, naive up-and-comers, and anyone else with a death wish flock to the borderlands of civilized space all entranced by fortune's seductive call. Each player will in turn portrays one such daring, conflicted space adventurer who reaches boldly beyond their current safety and means in a bid to make a name for themselves amongst the stars

Our story, however, begins much more humbly. as a handful of wandering destinies slowly begin to intersect. This wanders thread have been drawn together by the promises of one Nikolai Tsoi, an ex-Alliance soldier who was stationed on Elysium during the Blitz and has made a career hunting down those that prepertared those crimes ever since. Tsoi’s last job having left his old crew dead and leaving the mercenary in need of a new one. The job listing the Tsoi put out promising lucrative pay to those willing to put up with the harsh and often then not deadly working conditions. For many especially on a hellscape such as Omega any opportunity to escape and start anew is tantalizing. Some of Tsoi’s new hires are old hats at the mercenary business and are just looking for reliable pay; others spent the last of their credits on a pistol half chewed by a vorcha and armor that was more adhesive then plating. It didn’t really matter in the end where they came from, credits called to everyone in the end.

The crew already has their first mission. One of Tsoi’s old military buddies tipped him off on a score, an Asari Matriarch by the name of Salisa Sarsi. She used to run with the Eclipse, but eventually after awhile went independent. She was on Torfan but managed to escape the Alliance forces, and the Alliance was willing to pay big money if she was brought in alive to stand trial for war crimes she committed during the Blitz. Soon though it becomes apparent that not just the Alliance wants to bring Sarsi in and unlike the Alliance, they are not too particular whether the asari is brought in dead or alive. And so, the crew is gonna have some competition if they are gonna be the ones that bring her in.

---

Welcome to Mass Effect: Renegade, a roleplay run by yours truly.

The premise of this roleplay is simple enough; your character will be one of the crewmembers of the Achilles, The Achilles was once a well-armed turian patrol craft, but while it’s been repurposed in its new life, it still has the sleek lines, limited crew, and cargo space of a predator. You are effectively bounty hunters and extraction specialists, the type of group that will kick down any door and get into any firefight as long as the pay is good enough. Luckily for your in the Terminus system work is never exactly hard to find. And so the general arc of the story is going from a relative group of newcomers to a highly sought after group of mercenaries, the classic rag to riches story.

Posting standards are your typical Advanced fare with the primary focus being on a steady rate of IC posting. Personally, I am not a fan of setting a strict you must post X number of posts in Y number of days, but if I feel that things are beginning to slow I will say so in the OOC and state a “checkpoint” is coming in such a scenario all active players who haven’t posted should at least check in with me. Failure to do so will result in either me effectively making your character into an NPC or in the worst case scenario shoving them out an airlock. Though that being said, as long as you communicate and inform me of any real life shit^tm that is going on then this of course will not be a problem. Real life, of course, takes priority over your hobbies.

Gameplay is arranged in a mission/downtime structure. If you have ever played something like Blades in the Dark or Scum & Villainy you understand the general idea. What this structure means for you is that the RP will generally be broken up into two sections: mission & downtime. Missions are much more linear experiences that are strung together to lead you from set piece moment to set piece moment in a cocktail of frantic and highpace action. Expect like all the explosions. Downtime segments occur whenever missions are not occuring and are sandbox in structure allowing you freedom to do as you please. Though the general focus of this structure will be character interaction and to be able to provide a breather between the frantic action of the missions. Beyond standard set piece missions, there will also be the potential later on for “side” missions. These missions while sometimes not directly affecting the plot are typically centered around the backstory of your character’s to allow us to spotlight them. These missions will be collaboratively brainstormed between the Player controlling said character and myself. Because in the end, I always try to make my RPs character focused first and story focused second, I having found that the former usually informers the later.

At the start, I am setting the player cap at approximately 7 players beyond myself. Character sheets will be done via application process where the main criteria will be based on the base quality of the sheet (writing ability, command of the language, etc), the strength of the concept being presented, and what characters I feel will create the most interesting dynamic. If more players apply then spots available, said players will be contacted if such a spot becomes available, gaining first priority to submit a new application. The general reason I have a hard limit set in the first place is primarily because of personal experience that anything beyond 10 tends to bog down the RP, so I’m aiming to play it safe with a solid 8.

---

► Follow all pre-established Guild rules.

► For the love of all things holy don't be That Asshole^tm.

► If you have any questions please ask them.

► Don't be arguing with everybody and causing problems. And before you get up in arms, don't worry there is a difference between friendly discourse and discussion and being That Asshole^tm. I know the difference and so do you.

► Your characters are people not superheros. Any blatant Mary & Gary Sues, cases of god-modding, et cetera, and I will have to drag you out back and tell you to think of the rabbits.

► In the same idea, PC death is not out of the question per say, but highly unlikely. That being said, if you go into a firefight where there is one of you and fifty five of the other guys and you think your going to come out without a scratch please think again. Injuries are a thing cause they present interesting story choices.

► In terms of characters and their equipment please do your best to keep these consistent with the lore and technology for the time. This is pre-ME1 so I don’t want to see geth running around or Everett the Human Specter before Shepard that nobody talked about. If you need a link to figure out what is exactly happening around the time period of the RP may I suggest this link on the Mass Effect Wiki.

► In terms of posting length and content. This RP is going to be following Advance standards. Though if you can't hit that level with every post don't sweat it, as long as I see your trying we gucci fam. I'm basically giving you enough rope to hang yourself with here, there is a difference between I tried my best and I wrote a single paragraph that adds nothing to the greater context of the story of the whole. I know the difference and you know the difference. Don't make me proud, make yourself proud.

► Romance is not one of the core pillars of identity for this RP but I’m also not here to discourage it. Falling in love happens and it's probably even believable given the heated circumstances our characters may find themselves in . But for you horn dogs out there please keep what I would call scenes not safe for the children to the PMs. Alright? Cool.

► This roleplay will potentially address some mature themes. So what I’m asking is that y'll have the maturity to treat these themes with the respect that they deserve. And that is all I'm gonna say about that.

►Last but not least. By submitting a character sheet to this RP, you are in a way, signing a strange eldritch contract that states that you agree to follow these rules. Kinda like a DnD Warlock but less cool.

---

_{N A M E S U R N A M E
⟁ Age ⟁ Sex ⟁ Race ⟁ Class}

_{A P P E A R A N C E}

---

A detailed description of your character. How they look, what they normally dress in, and how they usually present themselves. Do they walk tall and wear nice suits? Or do they slouch and look like they have been sleeping in trash for the last week? You get the general idea. Along with this, you can optionally put a picture up at the top to help supplement this description.

_{B A C K G R O U N D}

---

A detailed and accurate history and upbringing of your character from childhood to now. This is the most important part of your sheet; helping me determine your writing ability and dedication to wanting to be in this RP. In short if you give a two paragraph summation of John or Linda's entire life then don't expect to get very far here. This also helps you, because the more you write a nice detailed history for your character, the better you get to understand them as a person.

_{S K I L L S}

---

Generally what does your character bring to the table. What are they good at? What do they specialize in? Specific jobs, skills, experience and stuff like that. Think of it almost like making a tiny cover letter for your character.

_{E Q U I P M E N T}

---

Weapons, armour, and other important bits. They say you can tell a lot about a lady by what she has in her purse. This goes by the same principle. Don't feel like you only have to add the important fancy stuff, feel free to add things important to the character as well. Picture of somebody, lucky fuzzy dice, and things like that.

_{A B I L I T I E S}

---

Pick four class abilities

<sub>PSYCH PROFILE

T R A I T S</sub>

---

Instead of doing a traditional personality section, I’m doing something a bit different. I’m looking for broadstroke ideas here, so on that note please list three positive and three negative traits below

_{V I C E S}

---

Everybody has their guilty pleasures, the thing that they do to cool down and clear their head. For some people that is getting into a fight, for other people its drinking, and others its gambling. List at least one vice for your character and how they came to it.

_{H A U N T}

---

In the Mass Effect games, every character has a spot on the normandy where they lurk. Where they tend to lurk tends to tell us a bit about them as characters. The same goes for Renegade and the Achilles. In this way, we each get to add to ship and give it character. Describe the space where your character hangs out and why they like to hang out there.

_{D R I V E}

---

Everyone has something keeping their personal fire going. Everyone has something that motivates them. Be it some deep held grudge, a childhood dream, or even just pure spite. What drives your character forward?

code

[color=dadada][sub][color=BABABA]N A M E S U R N A M E[/color]
[color=BABABA]⟁[/color] Age [color=BABABA]⟁[/color] Sex [color=BABABA]⟁[/color] Race [color=BABABA]⟁[/color] Class [/sub][/color][/center]

[color=BABABA][sub]A P P E A R A N C E[/sub][/color]

---

[indent][color=dadada][/color][/indent]

[color=BABABA][sub]B A C K G R O U N D[/sub][/color]

---

[indent][color=dadada]A[/color][/indent]

[color=BABABA][sub]S K I L L S[/sub][/color]

---

[indent][color=dadada][/color][/indent]

[color=BABABA][sub]E Q U I P M E N T[/sub][/color]

---

[indent][color=dadada][/color][/indent]

[color=BABABA][sub]A B I L I T I E S [/sub][/color]

---

[indent][color=dadada][/color][/indent]

[color=BABABA][sub]PSYCH PROFILE[/sub][/color]

[color=BABABA][sub]T R A I T S [/sub][/color]

---

[indent][color=dadada][/color][/indent]

[color=BABABA][sub]V I C E S[/sub][/color]

---

[indent][color=dadada][/color][/indent]

[color=BABABA][sub]H A U N T[/sub][/color]

---

[indent][color=dadada]color][/indent]

[color=BABABA][sub]D R I V E[/sub][/color]

---

[indent][color=dadada][/color][/indent]

---

General inspiration: Mass Effect Video Games (duh.), Cowboy Bebop, Firefly, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Scum & Villainy.

Music I listened to while writing this: New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down, Chromakey Dreamcoat, Love Theme, Music Sounds Better With You

Absolute Comics - Season Two: The Monster Within

I'm traditionally very bad at combat heavy posts... and yet I started my first IC post with a combat heavy post.



_{Hopefully it is still okay though!}

Absolute Comics - Season Two: The Monster Within

_{Location: Oceanside - San Diego}

The Storm: 01 - Strangers in the Foam

---

_{Interaction(s): None}

Previously: Prologue - Eggs & Conversation

Arthur closed his eyes feeling the rain splash against his face. He could feel the electricity in the air as the storm swirled above him. Spring’s deluge coming to wash away winter’s death and decay bringing with it new life. Maybe I should let myself get washed away. Might be more interesting.

Ahead of him the ocean churned and twisted with activity. A jumbled mass of gray interspersed with brief periods of tumbling white. It was a powerful roaring declaration of nature’s strength, and it was awe inspiring. Not much was able to humble an ego like Arthur’s but the sea never failed.

As Arthur stared out across the horizon something caught his eye. Out on the horizon and rapidly approaching was a series of explosions in the water. They followed a linear pattern of approach deviating only slightly to the left and right with each denotation. Even with the noise of the storm above, Arthur could hear the low rumble coming from beneath the waves. A final explosion bursted close to the wave’s breaking point. Through the cloud of steam and kicked up sand was the shape of a man crashing ashore a mile down from Arthur. Arthur looked about frantically but he was the only one crazy enough to be on the beach in this weather.

“I did want it to be more interesting.” Arthur muttered as he sprinted across the beach grinning ear to ear.

It was a man that had washed up on the shore. He was smaller than Arthur possessing a stout frame, wispy goatee and a balding head. Steam rose off of a strange looking wet suit, a combination of a dark blue mesh composite and interlocking fish scales. Most of the steam was coming from a large wound centered around the man’s right pectoral. The exposed skin was an angry red color like the whole thing was becoming one giant blister.

Arthur squatted down next to the man to examine his injuries better. Gingerly, he lifted the man’s face out of the sand, feeling the warmth of his shallow breath. He looked for any sort of identifying documents but found none. All the man had on him was a series of metal cylinders, no bigger than Arthur’s fingers, attached to his belt.

“H...Hel...Help” The man managed to spit out nearly causing Arthur to fall flat on his ass out of surprise. The man had turned to look at him struggling to keep his eyes open. He made an attempt to move, but he body thrashed and spasmed in pain and he was unable to get that far. Arthur placed a hand on his stomach trying to calm him down.

“Don’t worry you will be at a hospital soon.” Arthur stated unsure if the man could even hear him. He was about to pick the men up when a voice rang out over the roar of the storm.

”Step away from the body earthwalker.”

Arthur slowly froze turning to face the voice as he rose to his feet. Emerging from the water was three figures. They dressed in what armor reminiscent of a strange merger between a knight and an astronaut. The armor was white save for the one that had called out to Arthur, who had a streak of red across his right shoulder pauldron. They froze in the surf looking back at Arthur.

“Are you guys lost? The astronaut convention is at the next beach down! ” Arthur shouted back not moving an inch. It was hard to tell the reaction of the trio beyond their tinted visors. Arthur felt his hands begin to curl into fists as his fight or flight responses began to kick in.

“This is none of your concern earthwalker." Redstripe warned the tone of his choice clear. Arthur didn't have an option in this matter there was no ultimatum, he was going to move one way or another.

”This man needs a Doctor!”

SNIKT!

A blade came protruding out of a hidden slot in the man’s gauntlet. A flash of lighting in the sky reflecting across the cold metal. Redstripe took another step closer and stared back at Arthur.

“Move.”

Arthur looked at the ground around him looking for something to defend himself with. His eyes settled on a piece of driftwood by his right foot that he leaned down to pick up. Arthur gripped his improvised club and smirked at Redstripe.

“No.”

Redstripe began to move before Arthur even finished the word. He was much faster in the armor then Arthur would have expected closing the distance with rapid speed. Arthur breathed as he gripped his improvised club tighter in his club. In his days swimming with his old pod, they had faced down predators much bigger and stronger than them. Overconfident great whites and tiger sharks that thought that they may make an easy meal. They won those fights by staying mobile, hitting hard and hitting fast. That was Arthur’s plan now and that was fortunate because he was very good at hard and fast.

Redstripe made the first move ending his charge with a punch thrown from his bladed gauntlet. Arthur pivoted his body turning parallel to his opponent dodging the punch. He swung his club using his momentum as he pivoted back to connect it with the back of Redstripe’s head. The other man staggered by the blow stumbled forward before catching himself. He spun around to face Arthur who smiled back at him.

Redstripe retaliated with a quick flurry of blows that Arthur had trouble keeping up. A few times the bladed gauntlet came close to puncturing Arthur but he kept one step ahead. Arthur didn't like being put on the defense like this and he knew sooner or later he was going to slip up. So he seized the initiative and moved in closer to the assailant with the bladed gauntlet.

The blade came soaring past Arthur’s shoulder Redstripe having overextended. As he pressed in, Arthur dropped his shoulder into a rugby tackle hitting Redstripe’s chest. His opponent unable to bear the full brunt of his mass went tumbling down into the sand back first. Arthur followed with a downward smash from his club into Redstripe’s faceplate. The glass buckled and fractured from the blow as water began to leak out as Redstripe’s body went limp.

Arthur turned to the face the other two still standing in the water yelling as he did. “Come on! You gotta make it harder than tha-”

SPLURSH!

A column of jet-propelled water smashed into Arthur’s club splitting it into two pieces. Arthur winced in pain as the splinters dug their way into his flash. One of the remaining two soldiers was pointing some sort of large cannon at him steam rising off the barrel. The other drew a sword from a scabbard at his belt and charged Arthur screaming.

”A sword? What is this medieval times?!" Arthur questioned as he charged at the swordsman.

The man brought the sword down with a vertical chop. Arthur lept backward but was caught by the follow up left hook. The metal covered fist made solid contact with Arthur’s face. He saw stars as he stumbled to the ground as blood began to drip out of his nose.

"That's more like it!" Arthur panted grinning with glee even as the world spun around him.

As Arthur struggled to orientate himself, his opponent brought the sword down again. At the last second, Arthur exploded upwards catching the blade with his forearm. The swordsman let out a gasp as Arthur’s flesh while pierced and now bleeding held firm against the blade.

“After a few bar fights you find out your body is pretty resilient to sharp objects,” Arthur told the swordsman that was now locked into combat with him as the two pushed up against one another. Behind him, he could hear the whir of what he could only assume to be the cannon charging up for another shot. Quickly, Arthur began to come up with a plan.

SPLURSH!

Arthur moved in a blur, using the swordsman's own blade as a pivot point he spun the two of them at the last moment. The swordsman shouted in pain as the column of hyper-fast water slammed into his back. As the swordsman’s body went slack Arthur let him drop to the ground.

Arthur picked up his fallen opponent’s sword and it one quick motion threw it like a spear at the last soldier. The sword went soaring through the air plunging into the weapon right as it was about to fire again. This was a spark of electricity, and the operator had only a moment to yell before the cannon exploded.

SPLURBOOM!

The adrenaline rush began to taper away and the pain rushed to replace it. Above him, the storm continued to rage as another rumble of thunder tore through the air. Wincing and bleeding from his arms and face, Arthur trudged back over to the injured man. Muscles protesting he leaned down and picked him up in his arms. Arthur looked back to make sure he was alone again before he started the long journey back to his truck.

“Maybe I shouldn't take you to the hospital...”

Absolute Comics - Season Two: The Monster Within

Aquaman

AQUAMAN

---

^{_{Arthur Curry ♦ Surf Instructor ♦ San Diego ♦ Atlantis}}

C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T:

---

^{"I’m a blunt instrument and really good at it."}

With his recent victory over the Brine, Orvax Marius’ Atlantean Empire surges forward on a wave of expansionist fervour. The only bulwark standing between Marius’ complete domination of the seas being ever defiant Xebel. Namor, a captain in the Xebelian Home Guard leads a brutal guerrilla campaign amongst the vast shipwreck fields of the Bermuda Triangle that surround the besieged city state. Yet now with the Atlantean Second Navy lead by the Crown Prince himself no longer tied down to efforts against the Brine, it is only a matter of time before Xebel cracks beneath the weight of the Atlantean military.

Even as Orvax’s victory seems to grow more inevitable by the day forces still plot against him. One of those force through fate’s cruel irony comes from Marius’ former spymaster Nuidis Vulko. The ex-spymaster having fled the city under the suspicion that his old friend was getting wise on his treasonous activities. Even since, Vulko has searched the seven seas chasing after whispers of a legend. A fated successor of Atlan said to possess his mastery over the water prophesied to save Atlantis in its greatest time of need. And while Vulko chases after legends and rumors resistance continues to brew in Orvax’s own backyard. As a rebel movement lead by the combined efforts of Orvax’s own bastard daughter Tula and the hotheaded young firebrand known as Garth continues to cause trouble on the Atlantean homefront.

The missing piece to this dramatically unfurling puzzle is an unassuming surf instructor named Arthur. For a brief time the entire world knew about Arthur as the “Dolphin Boy”. Arthur was a scientific curiosity recalled with figures such as Oxana Malaya and Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja, yet while the later two were raised by canids, Arthur was raised by dolphins of all things a fisherman accidentally catching him in his net. Arthur becoming the pet project of a team from the University of California San Diego lead by semi-famous behaviorist Dr. Stephen Shin. The world slowly began to forget about the Dolphin boy, news coverage peaking briefly when Shin's team reported that they successfully managed to reintegrate the child, now a grown man back into society.

Yet Arthur's tale is much more complex than mere scientific curiosity. Arthur's full name is Arthur Curry, his father was Tom Curry the keeper of the Amnesty Bay Lighthouse, his mother Atlanna the Queen of Atlantis and Orvax's wife. The pair meeting when Atlanna saved Tom's life when he slipped on the rocks slick with seafoam that surrounded the lighthouse. Yet their idyllic life was shattered soon after Arthur was born. Atlanna had originally came to Amnesty Bay as a runaway having abandoned her kingly husband at the altar. Orvax's hunters had after many months managed to track the missing Atlanna down. In the resulting conflict Tom was killed and Atlanna recaptured by Orvax's forces but not before she was able to send young Arthur into the nurturing arms of the sea to live another day.

C H A R A C T E R M O T I V A T I O N S & G O A L S:

---

I have been replaying Dark Souls 3 recently and because of that I've sort of been consumed by the idea of cycles. There are smaller cycles such as the heroic cycle that centers around Arthur as the next inheritor of the Clear. The idea of King In The Mountain that comes and goes as the kingdom needs them. Yet my primary focus will instead be on the much larger and in my opinion more interesting cycle of Atlantian politics and its relationship to violence. The question then being are we inherently condemned to such cycles or is there a possibility of breaking them.

This version of Arthur then exists to help approach these questions. His backstory is a synthesis of several interpretation of the typical gambit of Aquaman origins. The first immediate twist is that rather than Tom having raised Arthur, he was at least partially raised by dolphins. This being a reversal of the more traditional narrative were Tom raises a baby that was initially being cared for by dolphins. Arthur as a result is more rough around the edges. His starting point closer to the barbarian-style hero that he became in Peter David’s run. Part of the story then being tampering this wildside into someone willing and able to lead a kingdom.

For my first season my aim is to focus primarily upon Atlantean affairs. The idea being introducing Arthur to this underwater world and have him start to make inroads with the rebels lead by Tula and Garth. Eventually the rebels will win a major battle in the Xebel Campaign with Arthur’s assistance. This giving the rebel faction more legitimacy and an established base of operation from which they could reach out to forces on the land for help. Helping create an avenue for Arthur to enter into the wider world Absolute Comics

C H A R A C T E R N O T E S:

---

Allies on Land

Doctor Stephen Shin:

The leader of the team that found Arthur and reintegrated him into human society. A kind of father figure to Arthur and still heavily invented in his development as Arthur’s mysterious case still remains at the center of his research.

Erika Watson:

Arthur’s on and off again paramour. (They are currently on an off period) Erika is currently an office in the San Diego Police Department.

Allies at Sea

Nuidis Vulko

King Marius’ former spymaster partly responsible for organizing the realpolitik that allowed him to assume supremacy. Having now switched side joining up with the rebels, Vulko is now on a search for Atlan’s successor who has believes might just be the key to winning the war.

Garth

One of the co-leaders of the rebel forces. Garth is a young overconfident firebrand that was initially driven to the cause because of simple revenge. His father having been an officer in the Atlantean Navy that opposed Marius’ rise to power and was killed for his ideas.

Tula

King Marius’ bastard daughter born through an affair with one of the Queen’s handmaidens. Tula along with Garth leads the rebel forces. While Garth is the leader on the ground Tula is the strategic brains of the operation.

Mera, Princess of Xebel

The Princess of Xebel and current liaison between the Xeblian forces and the rebels. Her father, King Nereus is an ardant Xebellian nationalists who refused to bow to King Marius’ rule leading to the brutal war that everyone has been swallowed into.

Namor

Orphaned at birth, Namor was taken in by King Nereus family and raised as one of his own. Having grown up with her, Namor is a close friend and confidant of Princess Mera. Namor now servers as a captain in the Xebelian Home Guard and currently leads the brutal guerrilla campaign against King Marius’ forces.

Dolphin

A strange and mute young girl that was saved at sea and given miraculous powers by the water spirit known as Qwsp , Dolphin is Queen Atlanna’s most trusted handmaiden and serves as the Queen’s messenger between her and the rebel forces.

Atlanna, Queen of Atlantis

Queen of Atlantis, mother to both Orm and Arthur, and direct ancestor to the great Atlan himself. King Marius’ forced her to marry him to give legitimacy to his coup d'etat. Despite her marriage Atlanna still tries her best to aide the rebel forces.

More to be added

Enemies

Orvax Marius, King of Atlantis

Orvax began his career as a famed admiral in the Atlantean Navy. Of noble-birth being able to trace his bloodlines back to a tributary branch on the family tree of King Atlan’s brother Orin. Orvax saw Queen Atlanna’s rule as troubling seeing her as too kind to the Atlantean tributary states such as Xebel. Riding a wave of nationalist fervor starting amongst his allies in the military, Orvax seized the Throne and sought to reclaim “rightful” Atlantean land.

Orm Marius, High Prince of Atlantis

Orm is in many ways the perfect son. As cruel and cunning as he is handsome. What drives Orm forward is the challenge, what he might call interesting opposition. He is a solider much like his father before him and a better soldier at that. As a result, much of his sense of identity and self-worth are wrapped around being a handsome fighter, fantastic skills, cutting wit and stunningly expensive equipment that it severely hampers his empathy for anybody who he does not see as worthy.

Llyra, The Spymaster

Llyra is Marius’ spymaster replacing Vulko. A cunning and shrewd women. Loyalties mean little to Llyra who instead would rather work for whomever she sees as the winning side.

Krang, The King’s Fist

Commander of the Atlantean First Navy, Krang is a warmonger that had long served as Marius’ second in command during his military days. Now Krang serves as the commander of Marius’ conquests currently leading the siege of Xebel along with his trusted bodyguard, the abomination known as Orka.

More to be added.

S A M P L E P O S T:

---

_{Location: Pat's Diner - San Diego}

Sample Post: Eggs & Conversation

---

_{Interaction(s): None}

Previously: None

Doctor Stephen Shin peered anxiously through the diner window at the dark grey clouds gathering on the horizon. For the third time since sitting down, he opened his briefcase to check that he had brought his umbrella. He sighed flipping the digital page on the newspaper that he was reading on his iPad. Another opinion piece about New York’s Man-Spider.

The click-clack of heels against tile announced his waitress’ return. The woman held a large tray aloft as she navigated the maze of booths and tables, the large mass of auburn hair gathered on her head swayed from side to side with each step. Drinks continued to disappear from the tray and by the time she reached Shin a single cup remained. Smiling she placed the white mug down.

“Your tea darlin’”

He grabbed a small plastic pod of milk kept from a bowl on the table and poured its contents into his cup. Shin couldn't drink tea straight in fact he didn't even particularly like tea, but with age, he had lost his ability to stomach coffee and needed another way to please his caffeine addiction. Satisfied, he tentatively took the warm cup in his hands and took a long sip. The entrance's automatic chime made Shin look up and let loose a sigh mixed with relief and agitation.

Arthur stood at the entrance surveying the room. His long blond hair pulled back into a messy ponytail paired with an equally large beard that while maintaining its shape appeared to be in the early stages of being overgrown. He wore an oversized black sweatshirt that proclaimed “I ❤️ SAN DIEGO” and a pair of ripped white boardshorts. Arthur’s spotlight gaze froze on Shin’s table and his face brightened with recognition. As he made large strides over towards him, Shin couldn’t help but shrink in his seat.

“Doctor Shin!” Arthur bellowed his voice filling the air. He plopped himself down on the bench across from the Doctor, a wide smile on his face. He rested his large elbows on the table causing the table to pitch towards him as Shin scramble to pick up his tea before it slid away from him.

“You are twenty minutes late Arthur!” Shin nearly shouted as he snatched up his tea.

“It wasn’t my fault this time!” Arthur protested, and Shin could only raise an eyebrow at him in disbelief. “I’m telling the truth! This girl, that I was with last night hadn’t woken up yet, and I didn’t want to disturb her rest.”

“A girl?” Shin questioned taking a longer sip of his tea. And we thought he was going to have problems acclimating...

“She was at the Mission Beach Boardwalk last night and lost her purse. I returned it to her and well...”

“Enough Arthur,” Shin insisted nearly spitting out his tea “I have little interest in hearing about your sexual escapades.”

“You’re the one that asked!”

The two sat in silence for a long afterward. In many ways, Arthur was like the son that Shin had never had the time to have. He’d seen the boy grow through the decades helping shape him from a feral beast into a productive member of society. Despite his own paternal instincts, he knew that Arthur did not feel the same way. When their relationship was in better states, such as now, he saw him at best as only a friend, somebody to swap stories of your triumphs in the bedroom and beyond with. The silence was interrupted with the click-clack heels of the waitress returned, summoned back into existence to attend to her new customer.

“What do you want sweetie?” The waitress asked as she produced her pad and pencil.

“Well, I assume you are off the menu?” Arthur asked with a sly smile.

“Honey, I have kids your age” The Waitress fired back shaking her head but smiling, nonetheless.

“Has not stopped me before” Arthur started with a smile.“Though if I can’t have you, a cup of orange juice and scrambled eggs suits me fine.”

“One glass of OJ and some eggs coming straight up.” The women sounded back with a wink as she scribbled the order down on her pad and walked away. The click-clack of her heels fading into the clattering cutlery and hushed mid-morning conversations of the other patrons.

“Are you finished?” Questioned Shin as he looked up from his iPad,

“What?!”

The waitress returned a few minutes later with the orange juice and eggs. Arthur was upon his meal the moment that it was set on the table. Shin’s team had managed to teach him how to use a fork and knife, but they never found a way to tamper the way which he enthusiastically and viciously tore at any food that was given to him. It seemed like two Arthur’s doled in and out of reality in front of Shin in real time. The boy that he had found and the man that he had become.

He would be hard pressed to imagine that the little boy that his team found all those years ago would become the broad-shouldered giant that sat across from him. Last time they performed a physical on him they found his cardiovascular health and muscle density were on par if not exceeding the levels of most Olympic athletes. It reminded him of a talk given by Charles Xavier about his fabled ‘X-Gene’ at a conference at Stanford. But this wasn’t just a singular gene, Arthur’s entire DNA was slightly off in several areas. The team still wasn’t done analyzing the results yet, but it was almost as Arthur wasn't even fully human.

“How have things been going Arthur?” Shin asked his voice taking on a more professional demeanor as he pressed a button to start a recording app on his iPad.

“Oh you know,” Arthur started between mouthfuls of eggs.“Still too early in the season for most people to wanna get into the water so business isn't exactly booming. Though I do get that stipend from the state as part of your research, so I'm not worried.”

“That’s good to hear,” Shin responded making a note before continuing “and are you happy?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? I get to wake up every day with the sand between my toes and breath in the ocean air. That’s a pretty enviable life if you ask me.”

“And are you satisfied with your current life?”

“....”

The silence that followed surprised Shin. The broad shoulders that Shin himself was examining a few moments ago seemed to sag beneath a colossal and unseen weight. Arthur’s gaze turned away from him looking up towards the dark skies above. His seemed focused on an unseen spot amongst the storm front. He tapped his fingers against the table in small rhythmic pulses with no set time interval between them.

“I guess...” He took a long sip of orange juice “I guess I’ve been feeling a pull recently.”

“A pull?” Shin asked unable to suppress the intrigue and excitement in his voice.

“Towards the ocean,” Arthur explained like it was obvious “like I’m missing something.”

“And you feel that the ocean has that something?” Shin suggested

“Well,” Arthur thought about it “the one thing I do know is... Whatever the hell it is, I’m not going to find it on land.”

A flash of lightning danced across the sky followed closely by the boom of thunder. The rain came soon afterward. It fell large, heavy, and unrelenting the last struggling breaths of a tropical cyclone that had died at sea. Shin looked out at the window and then down back at his briefcase. Finishing the last of his tea, he rose to his feet.

“I hate to cut this month’s meeting short Arthur,” The doctor spoke as he rose to his feet “but I should really get going before the weather gets any worse.”

“It’s fine,” Arthur replied.“I should be heading back to the beach anyway.”

Arthur rose from his side of the booth, the table jerking back into proper alignment as the weight of his arms vanished. Next, to the rail-thin and aging shin, Arthur seemed impossibly large. He reached a hand out towards the Doctor who took it in a firm handshake. As soon as the hands made contact, Arthur pulled the Doctor into a hug slapping a hand across his back. When he released the doctor Arthur was now smiling his pensive expression gone.

“Try not to melt doctor.”

Doctor Shin shook his head but smiled none the less. He moved towards the diner’s door freezing to produce his umbrella. As he unfurled the umbrella ready bracing himself for the journey back to his car, he turned his head over his shoulder. “And you stay out of the water today! It’s dangerous even for you.”

Arthur grinned as he watched the old man disappear into the rain.

“A little rain never scared me.”

P O S T C A T L O G:

---

The STORM

• 01 - Strangers in the Foam

Absolute Comics - Season Two: The Monster Within

And I think I'm done! Please let me know if anything isn't up to snuff! ^<^

🎵 I can talk to some fish. Yeah, I'll go have a chat with some fish.🎵

AQUAMAN

---

^{_{Arthur Curry ♦ Surf Instructor ♦ San Diego ♦ Atlantis}}

C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T:

---

^{"I'm the bulwark upon which it breaks. "}

With his recent victory over the Brine, Orvax Marius’ Atlantean Empire surges forward on a wave of expansionist fervour. The only bulwark standing between Marius’ complete domination of the seas being ever defiant Xebel. Namor, a captain in the Xebelian Home Guard leads a brutal guerrilla campaign amongst the vast shipwreck fields of the Bermuda Triangle that surround the besieged city state. Yet now with the Atlantean Second Navy lead by the Crown Prince himself no longer tied down to efforts against the Brine, it is only a matter of time before Xebel cracks beneath the weight of the Atlantean military.

Even as Orvax’s victory seems to grow more inevitable by the day forces still plot against him. One of those force through fate’s cruel irony comes from Marius’ former spymaster Nuidis Vulko. The ex-spymaster having fled the city under the suspicion that his old friend was getting wise on his treasonous activities. Even since, Vulko has searched the seven seas chasing after whispers of a legend. A fated successor of Atlan said to possess his mastery over the water prophesied to save Atlantis in its greatest time of need. And while Vulko chases after legends and rumors resistance continues to brew in Orvax’s own backyard. As a rebel movement lead by the combined efforts of Orvax’s own bastard daughter Tula and the hotheaded young firebrand known as Garth continues to cause trouble on the Atlantean homefront.

The missing piece to this dramatically unfurling puzzle is an unassuming surf instructor named Arthur. For a brief time the entire world knew about Arthur as the “Dolphin Boy”. Arthur was a scientific curiosity recalled with figures such as Oxana Malaya and Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja, yet while the later two were raised by canids, Arthur was raised by dolphins of all things a fisherman accidentally catching him in his net. Arthur becoming the pet project of a team from the University of California San Diego lead by semi-famous behaviorist Dr. Stephen Shin. The world slowly began to forget about the Dolphin boy, news coverage peaking briefly when Shin's team reported that they successfully managed to reintegrate the child, now a grown man back into society.

Yet Arthur's tale is much more complex than mere scientific curiosity. Arthur's full name is Arthur Curry, his father was Tom Curry the keeper of the Amnesty Bay Lighthouse, his mother Atlanna the Queen of Atlantis and Orvax's wife. The pair meeting when Atlanna saved Tom's life when he slipped on the rocks slick with seafoam that surrounded the lighthouse. Yet their idyllic life was shattered soon after Arthur was born. Atlanna had originally came to Amnesty Bay as a runaway having abandoned her kingly husband at the altar. Orvax's hunters had after many months managed to track the missing Atlanna down. In the resulting conflict Tom was killed and Atlanna recaptured by Orvax's forces but not before she was able to send young Arthur into the nurturing arms of the sea to live another day.

C H A R A C T E R M O T I V A T I O N S & G O A L S:

---

I have been replaying Dark Souls 3 recently and because of that I've sort of been consumed by the idea of cycles. There are smaller cycles such as the heroic cycle that centers around Arthur as the next inheritor of the Clear. The idea of King In The Mountain that comes and goes as the kingdom needs them. Yet my primary focus will instead be on the much larger and in my opinion more interesting cycle of Atlantian politics and its relationship to violence. The question then being are we inherently condemned to such cycles or is there a possibility of breaking them.

This version of Arthur then exists to help approach these questions. His backstory is a synthesis of several interpretation of the typical gambit of Aquaman origins. The first immediate twist is that rather than Tom having raised Arthur, he was at least partially raised by dolphins. This being a reversal of the more traditional narrative were Tom raises a baby that was initially being cared for by dolphins. Arthur as a result is more rough around the edges. His starting point closer to the barbarian-style hero that he became in Peter David’s run. Part of the story then being tampering this wildside into someone willing and able to lead a kingdom.

For my first season my aim is to focus primarily upon Atlantean affairs. The idea being introducing Arthur to this underwater world and have him start to make inroads with the rebels lead by Tula and Garth. Eventually the rebels will win a major battle in the Xebel Campaign with Arthur’s assistance. This giving the rebel faction more legitimacy and an established base of operation from which they could reach out to forces on the land for help. Helping create an avenue for Arthur to enter into the wider world Absolute Comics

C H A R A C T E R N O T E S:

---

Allies on Land

Doctor Stephen Shin:

The leader of the team that found Arthur and reintegrated him into human society. A kind of father figure to Arthur and still heavily invented in his development as Arthur’s mysterious case still remains at the center of his research.

Erika Watson:

Arthur’s on and off again paramour. (They are currently on an off period) Erika is currently an office in the San Diego Police Department.

Allies at Sea

Nuidis Vulko

King Marius’ former spymaster partly responsible for organizing the realpolitik that allowed him to assume supremacy. Having now switched side joining up with the rebels, Vulko is now on a search for Atlan’s successor who has believes might just be the key to winning the war.

Garth

One of the co-leaders of the rebel forces. Garth is a young overconfident firebrand that was initially driven to the cause because of simple revenge. His father having been an officer in the Atlantean Navy that opposed Marius’ rise to power and was killed for his ideas.

Tula

King Marius’ bastard daughter born through an affair with one of the Queen’s handmaidens. Tula along with Garth leads the rebel forces. While Garth is the leader on the ground Tula is the strategic brains of the operation.

Mera, Princess of Xebel

The Princess of Xebel and current liaison between the Xeblian forces and the rebels. Her father, King Nereus is an ardant Xebellian nationalists who refused to bow to King Marius’ rule leading to the brutal war that everyone has been swallowed into.

Namor

Orphaned at birth, Namor was taken in by King Nereus family and raised as one of his own. Having grown up with her, Namor is a close friend and confidant of Princess Mera. Namor now servers as a captain in the Xebelian Home Guard and currently leads the brutal guerrilla campaign against King Marius’ forces.

Dolphin

A strange and mute young girl that was saved at sea and given miraculous powers by the water spirit known as Qwsp , Dolphin is Queen Atlanna’s most trusted handmaiden and serves as the Queen’s messenger between her and the rebel forces.

Atlanna, Queen of Atlantis

Queen of Atlantis, mother to both Orm and Arthur, and direct ancestor to the great Atlan himself. King Marius’ forced her to marry him to give legitimacy to his coup d'etat. Despite her marriage Atlanna still tries her best to aide the rebel forces.

More to be added

Enemies

Orvax Marius, King of Atlantis

Orvax began his career as a famed admiral in the Atlantean Navy. Of noble-birth being able to trace his bloodlines back to a tributary branch on the family tree of King Atlan’s brother Orin. Orvax saw Queen Atlanna’s rule as troubling seeing her as too kind to the Atlantean tributary states such as Xebel. Riding a wave of nationalist fervor starting amongst his allies in the military, Orvax seized the Throne and sought to reclaim “rightful” Atlantean land.

Orm Marius, High Prince of Atlantis

Orm is in many ways the perfect son. As cruel and cunning as he is handsome. What drives Orm forward is the challenge, what he might call interesting opposition. He is a solider much like his father before him and a better soldier at that. As a result, much of his sense of identity and self-worth are wrapped around being a handsome fighter, fantastic skills, cutting wit and stunningly expensive equipment that it severely hampers his empathy for anybody who he does not see as worthy.

Llyra, The Spymaster

Llyra is Marius’ spymaster replacing Vulko. A cunning and shrewd women. Loyalties mean little to Llyra who instead would rather work for whomever she sees as the winning side.

Krang, The King’s Fist

Commander of the Atlantean First Navy, Krang is a warmonger that had long served as Marius’ second in command during his military days. Now Krang serves as the commander of Marius’ conquests currently leading the siege of Xebel along with his trusted bodyguard, the abomination known as Orka.

More to be added.

S A M P L E P O S T:

---

_{Location: Pat's Diner - San Diego}

Sample Post: Eggs & Conversation

---

_{Interaction(s): None}

Previously: None

Doctor Stephen Shin peered anxiously through the diner window at the dark grey clouds gathering on the horizon. For the third time since sitting down, he opened his briefcase to check that he had brought his umbrella. He sighed flipping the digital page on the newspaper that he was reading on his iPad. Another opinion piece about New York’s Man-Spider.

The click-clack of heels against tile announced his waitress’ return. The woman held a large tray aloft as she navigated the maze of booths and tables, the large mass of auburn hair gathered on her head swayed from side to side with each step. Drinks continued to disappear from the tray and by the time she reached Shin a single cup remained. Smiling she placed the white mug down.

“Your tea darlin’”

He grabbed a small plastic pod of milk kept from a bowl on the table and poured its contents into his cup. Shin couldn't drink tea straight in fact he didn't even particularly like tea, but with age, he had lost his ability to stomach coffee and needed another way to please his caffeine addiction. Satisfied, he tentatively took the warm cup in his hands and took a long sip. The entrance's automatic chime made Shin look up and let loose a sigh mixed with relief and agitation.

Arthur stood at the entrance surveying the room. His long blond hair pulled back into a messy ponytail paired with an equally large beard that while maintaining its shape appeared to be in the early stages of being overgrown. He wore an oversized black sweatshirt that proclaimed “I ❤️ SAN DIEGO” and a pair of ripped white boardshorts. Arthur’s spotlight gaze froze on Shin’s table and his face brightened with recognition. As he made large strides over towards him, Shin couldn’t help but shrink in his seat.

“Doctor Shin!” Arthur bellowed his voice filling the air. He plopped himself down on the bench across from the Doctor, a wide smile on his face. He rested his large elbows on the table causing the table to pitch towards him as Shin scramble to pick up his tea before it slid away from him.

“You are twenty minutes late Arthur!” Shin nearly shouted as he snatched up his tea.

“It wasn’t my fault this time!” Arthur protested, and Shin could only raise an eyebrow at him in disbelief. “I’m telling the truth! This girl, that I was with last night hadn’t woken up yet, and I didn’t want to disturb her rest.”

“A girl?” Shin questioned taking a longer sip of his tea. And we thought he was going to have problems acclimating...

“She was at the Mission Beach Boardwalk last night and lost her purse. I returned it to her and well...”

“Enough Arthur,” Shin insisted nearly spitting out his tea “I have little interest in hearing about your sexual escapades.”

“You’re the one that asked!”

The two sat in silence for a long afterward. In many ways, Arthur was like the son that Shin had never had the time to have. He’d seen the boy grow through the decades helping shape him from a feral beast into a productive member of society. Despite his own paternal instincts, he knew that Arthur did not feel the same way. When their relationship was in better states, such as now, he saw him at best as only a friend, somebody to swap stories of your triumphs in the bedroom and beyond with. The silence was interrupted with the click-clack heels of the waitress returned, summoned back into existence to attend to her new customer.

“What do you want sweetie?” The waitress asked as she produced her pad and pencil.

“Well, I assume you are off the menu?” Arthur asked with a sly smile.

“Honey, I have kids your age” The Waitress fired back shaking her head but smiling, nonetheless.

“Has not stopped me before” Arthur started with a smile.“Though if I can’t have you, a cup of orange juice and scrambled eggs suits me fine.”

“One glass of OJ and some eggs coming straight up.” The women sounded back with a wink as she scribbled the order down on her pad and walked away. The click-clack of her heels fading into the clattering cutlery and hushed mid-morning conversations of the other patrons.

“Are you finished?” Questioned Shin as he looked up from his iPad,

“What?!”

The waitress returned a few minutes later with the orange juice and eggs. Arthur was upon his meal the moment that it was set on the table. Shin’s team had managed to teach him how to use a fork and knife, but they never found a way to tamper the way which he enthusiastically and viciously tore at any food that was given to him. It seemed like two Arthur’s doled in and out of reality in front of Shin in real time. The boy that he had found and the man that he had become.

He would be hard pressed to imagine that the little boy that his team found all those years ago would become the broad-shouldered giant that sat across from him. Last time they performed a physical on him they found his cardiovascular health and muscle density were on par if not exceeding the levels of most Olympic athletes. It reminded him of a talk given by Charles Xavier about his fabled ‘X-Gene’ at a conference at Stanford. But this wasn’t just a singular gene, Arthur’s entire DNA was slightly off in several areas. The team still wasn’t done analyzing the results yet, but it was almost as Arthur wasn't even fully human.

“How have things been going Arthur?” Shin asked his voice taking on a more professional demeanor as he pressed a button to start a recording app on his iPad.

“Oh you know,” Arthur started between mouthfuls of eggs.“Still too early in the season for most people to wanna get into the water so business isn't exactly booming. Though I do get that stipend from the state as part of your research, so I'm not worried.”

“That’s good to hear,” Shin responded making a note before continuing “and are you happy?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? I get to wake up every day with the sand between my toes and breath in the ocean air. That’s a pretty enviable life if you ask me.”

“And are you satisfied with your current life?”

“....”

The silence that followed surprised Shin. The broad shoulders that Shin himself was examining a few moments ago seemed to sag beneath a colossal and unseen weight. Arthur’s gaze turned away from him looking up towards the dark skies above. His seemed focused on an unseen spot amongst the storm front. He tapped his fingers against the table in small rhythmic pulses with no set time interval between them.

“I guess...” He took a long sip of orange juice “I guess I’ve been feeling a pull recently.”

“A pull?” Shin asked unable to suppress the intrigue and excitement in his voice.

“Towards the ocean,” Arthur explained like it was obvious “like I’m missing something.”

“And you feel that the ocean has that something?” Shin suggested

“Well,” Arthur thought about it “the one thing I do know is... Whatever the hell it is, I’m not going to find it on land.”

A flash of lightning danced across the sky followed closely by the boom of thunder. The rain came soon afterward. It fell large, heavy, and unrelenting the last struggling breaths of a tropical cyclone that had died at sea. Shin looked out at the window and then down back at his briefcase. Finishing the last of his tea, he rose to his feet.

“I hate to cut this month’s meeting short Arthur,” The doctor spoke as he rose to his feet “but I should really get going before the weather gets any worse.”

“It’s fine,” Arthur replied.“I should be heading back to the beach anyway.”

Arthur rose from his side of the booth, the table jerking back into proper alignment as the weight of his arms vanished. Next, to the rail-thin and aging shin, Arthur seemed impossibly large. He reached a hand out towards the Doctor who took it in a firm handshake. As soon as the hands made contact, Arthur pulled the Doctor into a hug slapping a hand across his back. When he released the doctor Arthur was now smiling his pensive expression gone.

“Try not to melt doctor.”

Doctor Shin shook his head but smiled none the less. He moved towards the diner’s door freezing to produce his umbrella. As he unfurled the umbrella ready bracing himself for the journey back to his car, he turned his head over his shoulder. “And you stay out of the water today! It’s dangerous even for you.”

Arthur grinned as he watched the old man disappear into the rain.

“A little rain never scared me.”

P O S T C A T L O G:

---

N/A

Absolute Comics - Season Two: The Monster Within

@Lord Wraith
It's coming along! I'm currently about half-way through my sample post and once that is done it should be ready for review. Thanks for checking in!

Absolute Comics - Season Two: The Monster Within

Thank you for the assistance! I should be able to sketch something out over the next couple of days. And if I have any other questions I won't hesitate to shoot them your guys' way.