Gone Fishin'

Parish LOVES going fishing! It is a pastime... but above all it is a sport! One thing doesnt have to be one or the other! and this is the case for fishing and Parish. He is able to disconect from the world, from the 15ths of september, and even from his love for cooking... Fishing is... his reset zone... and the thing he enjoys the most after cooking. Would this 15th of september be the day when he finally catches the big pray of the lake? However, despite fishing is a sport for him, he does not kill his preys. He likes to return them back to the lake, so they can grow bigger and catch them another day! Also this lake is special and there are... special creatures in it!

Many days Parish goes fishing alone, but today it seems that other guests of the B&B are joining! That is... wonderful!
Parish wears today his special fishing hat, and his shorts. Ah! and a beautiful blue-shirt full of strawberries. He takes a lot of care of his equipment! His beautiful and flexible pole.... the fine thread... and the items he temps the lake's creatures with! He has a box full of different items: gold coins, mirrors, a spoon,... And of course, his fishing chair.

He waves a happy Hi! to Gertrude when he sees her approaching.

Sal rifles through his makeshift fishing kit, its exterior adorned with stickers from one of his favorite bands, Wormstönk. The fishing rods are old and beat-up and the lures are less lustrous than they might be, but he considers fishing to be a pastime and not a sport, so it's all good with him.

"Here, Gert. I've got an extra rod you can use," he says to Gertrude. "No stress, though. We're just here to chill and vibe out."

"Ey Sal! Welcome broooo" says Parish to Sal trying to be cool and crossing his arms as a rap singer might do..."I can borrow you a lure, come and choose if you want" he says to Gertrude offering his box full of lure treasures: gold coins, mirrors, a tiny silver spoon, a little yellow duck...

"Allow me, Lady Sheridan," Sal says, moving to assist the elderly vampire. He finds a nice shady spot for her and stakes the umbrella down into the soft dirt so the wind won’t blow it away. "There you are! All spick and span!"

He returns to the water’s edge as he starts to spool the fishing line through his rod. "This is going to be fun. Fishing’s, like, super easy. I know that I’m gonna catch the biggest fish in the pool!"

Parish smiles to Sherry despite her words to him. He knows how she is... and she is fond of her "Ma'am... may I say that you look fabulous under this light?"

"Oh no my dear Sal... Easy you say? Fishing is an art! You must relax and become one with your pole and your lure... move if just a little... then slightly more.... and then... just follow the beat of your heart and your deepest instincts The creatures that inhabit this old watering hole are intelligent creatures, and they are going to bite your lure so easily... Look at me... You see... this soft movement of my wrist... tap tap there you go... once more... tap tap.... you see... the water is moving softly.... I imitate the steps of a fly... can you imagine a fly walking? oh... Hmmm Know I am hungry... I could eat that fly myself... I have to think about dinner...." Parish keeps muttering about flies and food... and moving his rod with care, whithout taking attention if Sal is listening to him or not... he is too concentrated in fishing right now

Sal shrugs at Parish's instructions. "That seems like a lot of work. How about I just toss the line in and see what happens? Yeet!" With a flick of his wrist, Sal casts his reel, sending the hook and sinker into the watering hole with a *PLOP.* He then kicks back, pops open a soda can, and sips as he waits.After a while, the line goes taut as the hook snags something. "Alright, I got one! Come to Sal!" He reels in his catch, pulling forth a golden statue of a fish. "Huh? That's weird. Looks cool, though. Think I'll keep it!" He tosses the statue into the cooler with a grin.

Parish smiles smiles at Sal's catch
"Oh my! Look at you! You really have a talent for this! Isnt it a great feeling to get something? But... you really want to keep it? If so, next day, there will be one thing to fish less....

Oh! Look! I got something too!
Now with precision I need to bring it to the surface... Slowwwwwly.... slowwwwwly"


12- A Massive Chthonic Catfish (4 points)

"Uoooo That is... massive! Look at that! The great Salomon I will call you! But... I will free you... allow me... allow me... noooo dont bite me big fish! I want to catch you again!"

The fish is bigger than Parish and it is quite a comical and dangerous show to see him freeing the big creature, and he almost fells to the water... but he manages.

Sal chuckles and shakes his head. "Nah, don't worry, Gert. He's a frog. He swims. He'll be fine. Kick back, relax. You'll give yourself hives."

He follows his own advice, munching on some pretzels as he watches Parish flail and flop in the pool.

While the others are fishing, Sherry fusses with her equipment. And then fusses with it some more. Then stops, sets up a little camp stool she brought, and sits down with a huff. She tries to be aloof, but that turns out to be boring.

"When I was in my prime, I could call animals to do my bidding. LIke, like," she looks around. "There!" she says, pointing to a large bird in a tree. "I could just call down a bird liek that. Except, a fishing bird. A Kingfisher or an osprey. They'd just bring me fish. Alas..." Sherry stares off into the distance and sighs.

Sherry watches Gertrude and the fish with some curiousity, but loses interest when Gertrude walks away whispering into the bucket.

Sherry returns her attention to the fishing rod and lures, trying to determine how this process is going to be relaxing. After a few moments, she gets her gear into a functional configuration and casts her line.Sherry's heavy lure sinks quickly. She tries to sit back and remain patient. After a moment, she starts to slowly real the lure back in. Then it gets stuck on something. Maybe? Then there is a tug on the line. Sherry continues to reel in, but whatever is on her hook seems quite heavy.

"Well, now. What do we have here?"

Shelly cocks her head and stares at the strange thing she has pulled to the surface. She continues to reel it in, across the ground, until it is riggling at her feet.

"Sal, what do you know about this watering hole? This... thing is definitely not normal." She looks out over the water, and then at the trees surrounding it. "I think this whole watering... hole... is not normal." Shelly cuts the line, leaving the lure stuck in the bug. It immediately scurries back to the water and disappears below the surface.

"I once killed this cult - bunch of loonies - that believed monsters lived below the water, dreaming dreams that changed the world. I think maybe you've got one of those monsters here in the watering hole. Maybe best to be careful what you eat out of here."

Parish observes the pond
"Yes.... I agree it is a weird pond.... you wouldnt believe some of the things I have fished in here!!
ha! I love it! Isnt fishing wonderful?
Everyone already tried their luck isnt it? Fantastic! What else would we find? Dont keep trying!

Oh! But where do I have my head.... come come everyone, take a refreshment! It is important to replenish liquids while spending time in the outside! I brought a little bit of everything, water, lemon soda, tomato juice, even tea... ask for it and I will have it!

Miss Sherry, dont need to move I can bring it to you, what do you want?"

Monday had heard the news about the fishing trip and wondered why nobody asked for her help in the first place. After all, she was the go-to merchant of the B&B, wasn't she? She figured that they were probably too shy to mention it and shrugged it off.

She had even gone fishing before! Well... That is to say, she had caught fish before. Not necessarily in the 'regular' way. A little fairy magic help never hurt anybody. Besides, that's what made it a sport! If it wasn't a sport, why would anyone make an effort to cheat?

Monday put on her best outdoor outfit, made sure she had some 'interesting' things to sell today and headed on out the door to find the group of fisherfolk.

It didn't take her long to find them near the old quarry. The cheers and sounds of conversation guided her there. To her surprise, it looked like they were already catching fish. Perhaps she was too late. No matter, they'd fall into a dry-spell sooner or later and she'd have just the deal to offer anyone in that case!

---

"Yes, a wonderful place indeed, Parish." She interjects as she floats slowly down next to the refreshments. "Some might say, it's magical!" She winks while saying that last word as if hinting to know something more than the others. "Caught anything noteworthy yet?" She asks, her smile unwavering as always.

Sal sips on the lemonade that Parish offers him. When Sherry muses about the nature of the strange watering hole, Sal offers his own thoughts. "I bet if you swam all the way to the bottom, there'd be, like, this big canister of ooze leaking into the water, mutating the fish and stuff. Like in Ninja Turtles." Once Monday arrives, the Night Porter gives her a lazy wave. "Hey, Monday! I got this cool fish statue. Wanna see?" He holds up the statue proudly.

---

Monday can't hide her curiosity for the golden fish statue. "Well what do you know, that looks like a great catch. Lucky!" However, she's not so happy with Gertrude's catch. "Oh, Harrold, it's you." She says to the wishing fish. Harrold was an old acquaintance of Monday. "I haven't seen you since Magic-con." Just for a second her smile wavers as she mutters under her breath "And you should have stayed there."

"Honestly, Gertrude, if you needed magical assistance I don't know why you didn't come to me first!" She adds, sounding offended by the fact that Harrold had been consulted before her, yet said with a smile on her face.

Parish smiles to Monday
"Ohhh it is great you decided to join! I got a giant giant fish! You wouldnt believe how big it was... and then I freed it again... I ended in the pond... but that is another story" he adds giving a blink to Gertrude

"Did you brought your tools? You can take one of my lures! Choose the one you like the most!" he says offering his box full of lure treasures: gold coins, mirrors, a tiny silver spoon, a little yellow duck...

"Perhaps it is time to try again? The show must go ooooooooon chan chan chaaaaan The show must go oooooooon." adds with a big smile and moving his hips from side to side, trying to make the other "fishermen and fisherwomen" join himHe tosses the line into the pond and waits

Parish notices Gertrude's awkwardness and tries to go to the rescue
"Come on little girl... turn a deaf ear to foolish comments!
Now relax and enjoy everyone! We are fishing... Can you hear the wind moving the trees leaves, and the water soft movement... Delicious.... "
Parish closes his eyes as he moves his lure in the pond

"Oh the night market is going well." Monday tells Harrold. "Yes, a real shame you can't make it there." She says trying her best to mask the dishonesty.

She flutters over to Gertrude, ignoring her words completely, and puts an arm around her, hand resting on her shoulder. "Now, my dear, tell aunty Monday what you're desiring right now." She says in a voice like honey. "Do you want to fish like the best of them? I can help you." She waves a finger and one of Parish's spare lures floats upwards and into the water. "Just like this."

"Ooh! I feel a bite!" She says excitedly and waves a finger again, making the lure rise up out of the water again. Now with something attached. But it's definitely not a fish like Monday was expecting.

"Thank you, dear," Sherry says to Parish when offered refreshment. "But I brought my own." She they produces a thermos whose style is very old, but which seems to be in very good condition. Sherry removes the cap and flips it over to become a cup. Then she unscrews the inner cap enough to allow her to pour out the liquid. Wisps of mist rise from the hot beverage as she fills the cup - a translucent, reddish drink. Tea perhaps? Sherry takes a small sip.

"Ah. That hits the spot."
"Honestly, Gertrude. Don't get all pouty because of what other people say. If you wanna get wishes from fishes, do it!"

Sal squares his shoulders and takes a deep breath. He's made up his mind to get up and help Gertrude with her fishing technique...

...but he's very comfortable right now, laying on the grass, staring up at the sky. Everybody else seems to be helping her. They've probably got it under control. He'll just chill here a bit longer. Such a beautiful day...

---

Parish smiles broadly as Gertrude takes the lure's box and is determined to go fishing.
He gives a blink to Monday.

"Ahhh and now relax... and fish... " he says to himself

Parish closes his eyes again as he moves his lure in the pond
trying to convince a fish (or any other thing) that it is tasty"Ohhh what did I get here! Hello little friend! How are you? I believe we have met before. I am happy to see you are fine and growing.
Now come come, I will return you to your pond.
See you another day! "

"Nothing like a good cup of ... tea to reinvigorate you," Sherry says. She sets her cup down on the ground beside her and then readies her rod. A quick cast, then she sits back to wait.In short order, Sherry pulls out the same 3-eyed fish Parish just put back.

"I think maybe this fish wants to be eaten," Sherry says to Parish. She gets the fish off the hook and looks it in its three eyes. "You should have swam away when you had the chance." Something stirs inside Sherry, and she starts to squeeze the fish in her hand. She slowly increases the pressure until the fish's three eyes start to bug out. What sounds like a hiss escapes her mouth. "You do want to be eaten, don't you?"

As the fish looks like it might burst, Sherry relaxes her grip. She looks around to see who might have been paying attention. She relaxes back into her seat. "I guess you're too small to be even a satisfactory snack. Back you go then." With a flick of her wrist, Sherry tosses the fish unceremoniously across the water and it drops into the pond with a plop.

Sherry sighs and readies her pole again.

"See?" Monday continues. "With just a simple flick of the wrist, anyone can catch a..." Then she looks at what's been caught and a sense of dread comes over her. Don't panic, Monday, you can fix this! She hears her inner-self say.Using her other hand, she snaps her fingers behind her back and transforms the toilet seat she had just dragged up from the depths into a toilet seat fish. Hopefully nobody noticed that!

With an internal sigh of relief she guides the fish into the cooler. "It's that easy." She tells everyone with a lovely smile to keep up appearances.

Even though it didn't really go as planned, she's happy to see that Gertrude heads to fishing box. Looks like she has taken the bait.