Mano's Scars
This has been on my hard-drive for a while now. Decided to give it a re-write because the previous version didn't sit well with me any more.
Please excuse any grammar/spelling mistakes. I don't normally upload anything I write (Simply because it's shit)
Anyhow, small story about my OC Man? and how he got his scars.
It's funny, how some stories start. Some start with a bang, others with a major battle or upheaval.
_Ours? _
Well ours starts with a Shark falling out of bed.
The shark in question, now groaning and swearing with his sheets wrapped around his legs and tail was called Man?. Not the most original of names, seeing as it meant Shark in Hawaiian. But his parents weren't the most original of people when it came to picking names (or clothing, or food or anything else for that matter. Quite how he had ended up like he had was beyond him and possibly modern science).
He stood at 5 foot 2 inches tall, was a deep dark blue, was a lighter shade of blue almost white on his chest, legs, and thighs. Black stripes ran down over his back, fins, and tail and faded off before they reached his already mentioned chest. . In other words Man?, was just your typical Tiger Shark. (In his own eyes, he was god's gift to women of any species. . . Be it human or anthro)
With a groan and yet another grumble, he picked himself up and padded towards the bathroom, his thick tail swinging slightly behind him. Light filtered in softly through the blinds to his small beach house, and as he padded onwards he scratched his muscled chest slightly. Stopping at a window he opened the blind slightly and winched as sunlight shone in, blinding the shark for a small moment.
"Another lovely day" he mumbled to himself, before he continued onwards towards his bathroom.
A couple of hours later. . .
Padding back out, with a towel hanging around his neck, steam rising from his blue skin and water drops hanging off his tail. The shark headed into his small kitchen, opened the fridge, reached in and pulled out a smoothie he had made the night before.
Heading into his main living area, he picked up his discarded faded brown khaki pants, after rooting around in the pockets for a second he proceeded to pull them on, and then reach behind and do up his 'butt flap' as somebody once called it (Having a thick muscled tail it wasn't super easy to find clothing that fitted and looked fashionable, you'd have figured that clothing manufactures would have worked that out. . . But alas no.)
Seeing as the shark was alone, he decided to forgo the clothing on top. Walking out onto his deck, yawning he drank down his smoothie in one big swig.
Gazing out at the view, he performed his morning exercises.
He wasn't rich, hell far from it, but the area he lived in was nice, huts were dotted around and the beach was a 1 minute walk from where he lived (hell he could see it from his deck) palms trees dotted the ground and there was a wooden walkway placed upon the ground for people who went to the beach but didn't like the sand (This was something had had perplexed the shark for a long while)
Normally he would head out, onto the beach, strip down to nothing but his shorts and proceed to be god's gift to all female creatures, with his deep green eyes normally hidden behind his custom made glasses, and bandanna which he kept tugged into his low riding swim shorts, he would slowly walk up and down the beach tail swinging behind him.
Notice here, I say normally?
Well, that was what normally happened during tourist season. Currently, it was the middle of December, and everybody had decided that a sun bleached beach wasn't what they were after and had headed off to the sun bleached ski slopes instead. (Lucky ski instructor Snow Leopards)
So, as he stood there looking out at the view, (Which normally had several hundred people included in it,) he saw.
Nothing.
"Damn off season," he said to himself, before heading back inside.
Several months later.
The shark, once again opened his eyes. As he viewed the world upside down, he grumbled and growled to himself.
"What the hell is your problem bed?" He asked to the ceiling, and with a deep sigh, he pulled himself up, tossed the sheets to one side and padded off to the bathroom like he did every morning.
Standing under the hot water of his shower, the shark sighed and gave himself a once over with some homemade soap.
"Tourists" he muttered to himself. They never seemed to understand anything. It seemed like they left their brains back at whatever country they had come from.
Lost luggage, lost items, lost children, drunk people picking a fight with others, he'd seen it all.
He worked in a bar, both as a bouncer and as a barman, he'd seen his fair share of fights, stopped the most rowdy of people entering, and yet, had never been in a fight.
Sure, he knew how to throw a punch, but he didn't ever want too. But being a shark, being slightly muscled and working security it made him a target to others who thought they could get some 'street cred' by having a go at him. So far, he'd managed to just give them a look or a smile and they'd slowly backed away.
With a sigh and a shake of his head, he turned the shower off and stepped out. Collecting his towel and giving his hairless head a good rub he proceeded into his kitchen area. Opening the fridge and taking a swig of a smoothie, he opening the blind slightly and peered out through half lidded eyes.
The sky was blue; not a cloud in sight. He grinned and nodded to himself before he wrapped himself in his towel, and headed out into his deck. Going about his exercises as he did every day he looked over the scene before him. The sea was clear waves crashing against a self-made jetty. The sun beat down upon his bald head and he grinned widely, it was going to be another fine day. A day of surfing, relaxing and... His mind shut down slightly as he happened to see a pair of gecko girls run past the little path which extended past his home. One turned her head, before slowing down slightly, and then stopping altogether, proceeding to do exercises right in front of his little deck area she kept her dark blue eyes on the shark. Her friend also slowed down, before noticing her friend's interest and, with a small giggle she rolled her eyes and proceeded to head off down to the beach alone.
Stopping his stretches the shark grinned, walking towards the little railing on his deck he leaned upon it and watched for a moment before speaking.
"Hi There" was all he said.
Later that Evening
Man? grinned his big sharky grin. Who knew lizard girls could be so damn flexible he thought to himself. She had left about 2hrs ago, after taking his number of course.
Wiping the grin from his face, long enough to let him take a sip of his beer he checked himself over again in his mirror.
It was finally his night off, and he had planned on heading down to another local watering hole. He tended to avoid his work place like a cat avoids water, even if he did get a discount to many people knew him there, and he just wanted a quiet evening having a few drinks and checking out the local scene.
His blue ripped jeans were moulded to his slightly muscled legs, and the clean (for once) white shirt he was wearing was unbuttoned at the neck letting his Jade Koru hang free. He didn't wear a watch, and didn't wear shoes unless it was stupidly cold, giving his big teeth a once over he nodded to himself downing the last of his beer. Grabbing his wallet, and keys he headed out of his door.
A tourist island, always has plenty of hotels. They, give people those added extras whilst on holiday. If you're looking for something slightly cheaper, or you're on a budget, or even want more money for booze then you could always book yourself into a Youth Hostel.
This island has several. They are far from hotel standard, but seeing as most of the cliental are normally so far out of it, they don't really care.
In one such hostel, a rather large tiger has just kicked in the bathroom door, to his small room. Belching loudly, and taking a swig from his bottle he looked around. Broken mirror, broken shower, broken toilet, was anything NOT broken in this shithole?
Ok, HE had broken the shower and the toilet, but the mirror wasn't him. That was like it already. (At least that's what he'd be telling security)
Dropping the empty bottle into the bathroom sink and giving another loud belch, he checked himself out. Standing at 6'5, muscled with a full head of dark black hair, he grinned to himself. He was a stunner, he knew it, the ladies knew it and by the end of the night the entire island was going to know it. He planned on getting wasted, finding a fit female, bringing her back here and showing her he wasn't just big in height.
Grabbing another bottle, he headed out the door on his way for an evening he wouldn't forget.
Man?, walked down the paved street, nodding to a few couples he saw along the way. He was feeling relaxed, excited about the evening and just generally in a good mood.
Finally, seeing a bar he hadn't visited too often he decided to head in. Music pumped out of the bar, and lights caused the windows to illuminate, die then illuminate again. With a grin he pushed open the door and headed inside. His sensitive nose instantly picked up a few familiar smells. Stale cigarettes, old booze and was that blood? He sniffed again and chuckled softly to himself, it was blood. Guess some people didn't understand the word 'No'.
Weaving his way through the crowd, and making his way up to the bar he nodded to the bar tender (A rather large elephant, who appeared to be mixing drinks and using his trunk as another appendage)
Waiting his turn, he glanced around at the cliental. Lizard/Dragon/Big cat/another lizard and a Manta Ray?!? Well, that was something you didn't see very often, dolphins sure but Manta Rays tended to be rather low key.
Perhaps she was here for the waves? He knew they were pretty famous, and a fair few people purposely came to the beach to have a ride on them. His eyes travelled up and down the Ray, checking her out as she danced with a group of people, the tight blue jean shorts she wore clung to her shapely rear, her small tail swaying slightly to the music. She spun for a moment and shark managed to catch a peek at her rather ample chest, almost bursting from the white sleeveless t-shirt she was wearing.
Breathing through his nostrils as he continued to eye up the fellow fish, he didn't even notice the bar tender walk up to him. "You gonna buy anything bud? Or just window shop" he asked with a surprisingly soft voice for somebody working behind a bar. Man?'s head snapped back around and he grinned rather sheepishly, having been caught. "Um, yeah. I'll have a beer to go" The bartender nodded as his eyes travelled over to where the shark was looking. With a small shake of his head he went to fetch the drink.
Popping it down in front of the shark and accepting payment, he walked away to serve others in the bar. Man?, lifted the drink to his lips, his eyes still looking over the dancing beauty on the floor. He didn't even notice the rather large tiger come barrowing in, making a direct b-line to the bar until he felt himself being rather rudely pushed out of the way.
"Hey, watch it." He said to the wall of fur now standing beside him. It appeared the wall wasn't paying attention as he was waving his arms around rather widely trying to get the barkeeps attention. When that failed he opened his muzzle wide and started shouting
"Hey, barkeep, they teach you nothing in school? Or were you too poor to go to school? Where was it? India? Back of beyond?"
The elephant turned and slowly started walking towards the tiger, flopping a rather meaty fist down upon the bar, he looked the shouter in the eyes. "Say, that again I will pick you up myself and kick you onto the street." His voice was soft but his eyes burned with an inner fire. The tiger stopped, and then grinned "Hey, was just teasing dude. No harm meant." The elephant continued to look him, before he nodded "This is your only warning, another peep out of you, I get you banned from every bar on this here island." The tiger nodded before he looked around.
No, No, ugh def not. Where were all the fit ones? He glanced to his left and spotted the shark stood beside him and grinned widely, another red blooded male he was sure to know where all the fit ones were hiding.
Man? felt a tap on his shoulder, and tried to ignore it. He had heard the exchange between the two and didn't want anything to do with it. Yet the tapping was instant. With a sigh, he put his bottle down and looked up at the wall of fur. "Help you?" he raised his voice to be heard above the music. "Yeah dude," replied the tiger, "Where the hell are all the fit ladies at? There is nobody here I'd touch with a 10 foot barge pole" Looking around at the crowd himself the shark sighed again. "I couldn't help you there dude." "What are you? A fucking homo?" Came the reply. The shark jerked his head around and just stared at the wall of fur. That was something he hadn't expected, and to be honest it was something he couldn't be bothered with. Picking up his beer, he started to walk away he wasn't a fighter if he could help it and it was obvious the guy was slightly drunk, that or just looking for a fight.
The tiger couldn't believe it, he had spoken to a homo, and if that wasn't the worst part he was sushi (The tiger called all fish species sushi) now that piece of sushi was walking away from him, and was he wiggling his ass, the tiger sure as hell thought he was, he wasn't gay and he wouldn't be hit on by somebody who was. Slamming his drink down on the bar and alerting the barkeep in the process he yelled at the shark "Hey homo, don't you walk away from me!"
Man?, heard what the tiger said, and deep down wanted to just walk away, but as the tiger kept yelling insult after insult at him, he had finally had enough. He had ruined his evening, was causing a nuisance to himself and was generally just acting like some kind of spoilt child. Turning around to tell the tiger to just shut up, his eyes clocked the fist, for a brief second before it connected with his nose.
Now, as most people can tell you, sharks have sensitive areas, eyes and gills for example and like most species the nose. The fact that the punch was unexpected and connected directly with Man?'s nose also didn't help.
He went down, and as the world spun around him he thought to himself. "Boy I have a love affair with the floor as of late."
The floor was sticky and smelt slightly of blood, that was that second thing the shark thought to himself as it rushed up to meet him.
He hit it hard, and skidded slightly, as he came to a rest, other patrons rushed to make sure he was ok, and the barkeep stepped out from behind his place of work.
The tiger turned and grinned at him, he towered above the barkeep and he knew it. "I warned you..." That was all he had a chance to say, the tigers first connected with the side of the elephants head and knocked him for six. Turning he grinned at the now rather still club "So, which of you fuckers wanna go next eh?" Nobody moved all of them waiting for security to come in and kick this dude out.
Now, as stated above Man? wasn't a fighter. He had planned on walking away from everything, but the fact the tiger threw the first punch for no reason, had spilt his beer, called him a homosexual and was now laughing and gloating above him, his eyes travelled over the bar and noticed the keep laying on his side out for the count, well that was too much for his mind to take.
The patrons around him, managed to help him back to his feet, his thick tail providing some counter balance as he waited for the room to finish spinning. He spat and watched a glob of blood escape his mouth and go flying towards the ground.
"Yo." He said quietly looking at the tiger. "Take this outside. You've gone too far now." He was in full security mode now, and just wanted him out of the premises before he caused any more problems or caused any body more pain.
The tiger turned and looked him up and down "I thought I put you down?" He snarled looking at the shark "Oh well, guess I'll put you little puff ass back on the floor again."
Stepping forward slowly he grinned. Oh he was going to enjoy this, so he was. . .
Man? watched him advance, his mind thinking of ways he could get the guy outside without causing any more problems. His eyes scanned the room and landed on the ray he had seen before, she was standing as still as the rest her own eyes fixed on his. He gave a small smile and nodded to her, just as a first connected with his stomach. "Don't you smile at me you little fucking prick" The tiger roared as he slammed his first into the sharks body "I." He slammed it again "Ain't" And again "A fucking prick"
Man?, went down again gasping for breath, he wasn't expecting those punches and by god they fucking hurt, gasping for air he looked up at the tiger before his head snapped back as a mighty boot connected with his nose again. His world swam as his vision clouded over, laying curled on his side he watched the tiger leave. Trying to stand he felt his vision blur again and curled up a little more tightly.
The tiger panted looking down at the shark now laying in a stupid little ball on the floor, he had done it. Shown the fucking prick who was in charge here! Turning his back upon the shark he started to head towards the exit, tired of this bar and tired of the fight.
A few people tried to stop him, but he just shoved them out of the way, just as he reached the exit a female came up before him. He looked her up and down and shoved her away with the rest, fucking sushi all the same as far as he was concerned.
From his curled up position Man? watched the tiger make his way towards the exit, pushing people out of the way. He tried to stand, but his head spun and his chest ached as he slowly drew in shallow breaths. Just as the tiger reached the exit he appeared to shove a female out of the way, not just any female mind. It was the ray from before, she went down with a thump, hitting her head on a table as she did.
Man?, cursed, that was too much for him, and she had done nothing and didn't deserve that type of treatment. With a growl he slowly uncurled himself and reached a hand up to the table beside him.
Pulling himself up onto his knees and then back onto his feet he swayed slightly. Spitting, more blood he licked his tongue over it slowly.
"Y..yo.." He managed to stammer out between breaths "W..Whats up? T..Think I'm done?"
The tiger spun, his eyes turning to small pin pricks before he snarled, what was that fish stick still doing up, he had put him in his place twice already, and still he wanted more? Well that was fine with him. This time he wouldn't be getting back up. Walking back, he snarled some more his tail twitching from side to side in a threatening way he grabbed a beer bottle as he went flipping it upside down letting beer trail behind him..
Man?, continued to pant heavily, watching as the tiger approached him. He hadn't felt this much pain in a long time, and as he watched the tigers advance his mind flashed back, to a time when he was younger. He had felt pain then, but he had also inflicted the pain as well. But that was long ago, and he was a different person now.
The tiger stood in front of the shark and stared at him his fist wrapped around the neck of the bottle. He had balls the tiger had to give him that, but he was going to win this fight come hell or high water. Man? eyed the tiger up, and spotted the bottle in his fist, 'Such a big man aren't you? Bringing a beer bottle with you, what's the matter afraid I'm going to take you down?" The tiger's eyes continued to remain fixed upon the sharks, the bottle in his grip being held more and more firmly. . . Then without warning he smashed the bottle down upon the table beside him and held it in front of the sharks face "You want this? You want me to use this fish stick, because I will . . . I will shove it so far into your face your own momma wouldn't be able to tell who you are" Man? couldn't help but give a slight chuckle at that, before more pain flared through him and he grunted slightly. The tiger spat and gave a deep growl within his chest, before thrusting the bottle forward into the sharks face.
Man? managed to just bring his hand and arm up before the bottle made contact but the force of thrust drove the bottle deep into his hand. With a scream of pain the shark lunged forward and sunk his razor sharp teeth into the tigers wrist causing him to cry out in pain, the tiger hung on dragging the bottle downwards across his hands and down along his arm. Both males fell to the floor as the tiger managed to get the upper hand and pushed the bottle deep into his arm, before pulling it out and sitting upon the now thrashing biting shark. The tiger had the upper hand again being the heavier of the two males. Grinning down at the shark, bloodlust in his eyes, he raised the bottle again and slammed it down across the shark's chest cutting him deep. Man? screamed in pain as he started to buck and thrust under the males bigger frame, finally he managed to finally knock the tiger from his chest.
He knew he was losing blood and all he could feel was pain, in arm felt numb and he chest was thumbing in his head, panting and growling in pain, he pushed the tiger away, and taking two unsteady steps he finally collapsed before he passed out he heard the taunting of that tiger, telling him how he failed and above it all he heard the screams and panic of the other patrons of the bar. Then without warning sweet darkness overtook him.
Several Months Later.
The world was upside down.... Again...
With sheets tangled around his tail, legs and body. Man? let out a groan, and sighed, "Again, he was upside down again"
Picking himself off the floor he headed towards the bathroom, checking himself in the mirror he smiled, the wound across his chest had started to heal nicely, the doctors had said it would leave a scar not that Man? minded much. Glancing down at his right hand, he removed the bandage and slowly flexed the two rather stiff fingers and thumb. He couldn't recall much after the incident since he had passed out, but his memories from the hospital were clearer. As he head hit the floor at the bar he heard the mocking voice of the tiger and then a female voice begging for somebody to call an ambulance. He felt the ground raising away from him and then being placed on a firm surface, somebody appeared to be calling his name from far away. The next thing he recalled was waking up in a hospital bed, and and slowly turning his head to the left, he was in the islands hospital, and it appeared he wasn't alone in the room either. On the bed next to him was a bird, a crow it looked like. He appeared to be missing his beak and his right hand appeared to be missing as well.
With a groan he looked up at the ceiling, before he became aware of yet another presence in the room. Glancing to the right he noticed the Manta Ray female from the bar and groaned inwardly. . . "Hi." He managed to say with a rather dry throat and the female glanced up almost started, "Hi" she replied softly before he closed his eyes and let darkness overtake him once again.
When, he awoke she had gone and he figured that was the last he would have seen of her. The crow was still there and as Man? recovered he found out he was called Atros, and it appeared he had lost his hand and beak in an accident at sea. He has been fitted with a new one which the ship's doctor (and part time inventor) had managed to fix a beak up for him from a model of a clockwork robot they had aboard.
Several weeks of lying in a bed can take its toll on anybody, and at the end of it he was glad to just get up and stretch and flex his tail. Atros has vanished at some point, leaving only a small note addressed to the shark wishing him good health. The doctors had said the bottle had sliced through two of his fingers and they couldn't be saved. He was lucky he wasn't dead the cut across his chest would leave a scar, but if it had been any deeper he would have bled out there and then.
The tiger it appears came off a lot worse. He had to have several stitches in his wrist from the bite mark, and when he had recovered enough he was promptly arrested and thrown into jail. He had tried to say that Man? had started the fight first of all, but the barkeeper and several of the patrons, including the unnamed Manta Ray female had stood witness to say he had started the fight first and the shark was trying to defend himself and the people in the bar. The tiger had since been thrown off the island and local authorities in his home country had been informed.
Stepping into the shower he flinched slightly as the hot water hit his chest and arm. "What was that flinching for, your nothing but a big baby are you?!?" Came a now familiar voice. Turning around, he smiled warmly at the Manta Ray, she made her way out of the bedroom, shorts resting low on her hips as she pulled on a tight t-shirt, just barely hiding her rather large assests.
Riley was her name, and she had turned up rather out of the blue last week, Man? at the time had been feeling a little sorry for himself sitting out on his deck with a beer held in his good hand, his rest were resting on a chair and he had his eyes closed enjoying the last of the summer sun.
"Hi there" came a rather unexpected voice, and he almost fell of his chair when he opened his eyes and saw her standing on the steps before his deck. She had disappeared, mostly to make sure everything was still fine at her hotel room and to check in with her friends the bump she had was checked out by the doctors and they said she would have nothing more than a very sore head. She had continued check in on the shark from time to time, mostly whilst he was asleep, and then had flown home. It seemed she couldn't stop thinking about him and on a whim had decided to fly back out. It was only after she had landed, and gave herself a slap that she realized she had no idea who he was, what his name was or where he lived.
After asking around for a-bit she finally returned to the bar of the accident and had asked the bar keeper who had recognized her. He had informed her that the shark was out of hospital and had given her his address.
Standing on the steps looking up at him, she smiled lightly "So we never got to be properly introduced The names Riley"
Man? smiled down at her as lightly as she smiled up at him
"Man?, pleasure to meet you, why don't you come up and take a seat" She had decided there and then that she was going to stay, for the first few nights it was a case of tiptoeing around each other, finding out what they like and what they did, then one evening feelings had just overcome them and they had ended up in bed, then In the bathroom, and then outside under the moonlight. . . But that is a different story.
End.