Bloody Mary

[Marsaili]

An mmmm-ing sigh left her mouth at his oh-so-apt metaphor.

"It is amazing the flavors of folk one can find in a given bar on a given night," she agreed in an almost dreamy voice, her eyes flicking over the bar's other patrons. All right, maybe she was hungrier than she let on. Of course, she preferred thinking of them as a buffet platter rather than a stew - fewer vegetables to put up with - but his analogy still struck home.

At his hint - it was subtle, but she caught it - she merely returned a coy smile. What fey would offer a direct answer unforced?

"Indeed, I doubt you have," the kelpie answered with obvious mirth.

[William Meeran]

William smiled, and gave an elegant shrug, "But then, I'm not exactly from these parts, now am I?" he replied, knowing his accent was showing through more than normal and that she had caught it.

Just as he had caught her longing looks at the people around her, like a beggar child in a store of meats and breads and sweets but not allowed to touch or taste any of it. As a ghost, he didn't require food. And had long forgotten what hunger felt like.

He almost missed it. But seeing that look of torture pass by her face in a flicker and warble her voice just slightly. The 'almost' became more prominent.

[Marsaili]

"No, I don't suppose you are," she permitted herself to muse, knowing she could bide her time before her next meal. Her eyes narrowed as she thought, analyzing the shape of his vowels, the patterns of his phrases.

"The last time I heard words like yours... there was quite a stink about tea, if I recall." A smirk crossed her lips again. Yes, she was more certain of it now. "You're a colonial?"

To be honest, she hadn't understood what the big deal was. Who needed tea when the barbecue had been invented? The appeal of leaves boiled until the they were limp and then strained out, leaving only leafy water, escaped her.

[William Meeran]

William chuckled. "Yeah, those yanks did put up quite a fuss over their tea, they are always fussing about something, and their fussing always leads to wars. I say, if it ain't broke don't go pokin' at it to see why." he paused and watched her for a moment, he cocked his head to the side and studied her, "That's a purty accurate guess, there, if I didn't know better, I'd say you know a fair thing or two about yanks as well, know a thing or two about them the way I do, maybe. Though you don't look to be the right age to be so old." he squinted, using his ghostly powers of perception. "In fact, I'd say your form is just a mask, like a costume of sorts, am I right?" he drawled, that south-carolinan accent slipping out just a bit more.

[Marsaili]

Marsaili smiled, baring her innocent pearls of teeth just enough to show her humor.

"Neither of us look our age, it seems," she confirmed with a slight nod of her head. "Though as to yanks you have me at a disadvantage. I admit I've sampled a fair few of them through the years, but they never seem to make lingering company."

She watched as he squinted at her, and shook her head almost as if she were in her truer form, tossing out her mane. It was dripping now, in slow trails that vanished into the fabric of her garments.

"Mask, or... mmm. A familiar skin." Her grin widened. "Shall I hint at my true self?"

[William Meeran]

William found her wording of 'sampling' to be a bit off-putting. What did she mean by that, she almost sounded as if she had them for supper. Maybe she did. The way she was looking earlier, it would make sense. He gave an American teenage shrug and nod. "Sure, let's have a hint" he replied. Then gave her his undivided attention. Maybe he could guess what she was?

[Marsaili]

"Ah, a guesser are you? Very well then."

She twirled one wet strand of hair around her finger, pondering what sort of hint she could offer. At length, she smiled.

"I was born in a loch, far enough from here, if that aids ye." There were only so many creatures who could call the lochs home. A great many of them were her relations.

"And I'll go further; I came here seeking a much more filling repast than a simple drink."

[William Meeran]

William knew that some natives to this region of Europe used 'loch' instead of lake. So, that did help him a bit. He knew she had an accent that some of the natives had, but still, one could get an accent from staying in one place too long. But to be born 'in' a lake, as in, actually in the chilly water. That was new. WAs she some sort of fish creature, a fish creature that can shift and look human? Something more filling than a simple drink? That one was a bit more confusing. He squinted and studied her a moment before he guessed the only thing that came to mind. "A mermaid?" he asked.

[Marsaili]

Marsaili cackled, with enough elegance to maintain her sultry illusion.

"You will not find me in a Hans Christian Andersen tale, nor do I spend my time luring sailors with song," she explained, tsk-ing as she waggled a finger.

She pondered how to further reveal herself, short of shedding this skin here and now.

"My natural shape is in no way human, or even human-like. Does that aid you?"

[William Meeran]

William frowned in thought. "No way human, born in a loch, colonial .... repast ..." he murmured under his breath as he stared at the table, drumming his fingers on the table, it took a strenth of will/power to display oneself to only one person and touch things as if he were a tangible person.

"Wait, don't tell me, you're the ledgendary, Loch Ness Monster?" he asked, a hint of teasing in his tone.