A Place to Hide

"Oh, darling. I meant your family. Sometimes I get carried away with terminology. But I was curious where your family comes from. Though if I'm thinking of a better word I guess it would be a Clan" Vanessa shrugged a little as she gave a small laugh at herself. Though when she heard Anna say she was only nineteen she gave the girl a playful eyebrow raised. "Anna dear. You do know that here on the island the age of majority is 18? That means you can smoke, drink and... putting it delicately, consent to romantic relations while being on the right side of the law."

Even as she spoke Vanessa put the shot of rum on a coaster and placed it on an end table between the two sirens. "But we digress, what would you like to know first?" Vanessa then took a big swing and bottom up the glass drinking the rum. Letting it burn down her throat. "I'm more curious as to what you might ask then for me to ask many more questions of my own."

Hearing this Vanessa nodded and stayed quiet to let Anna recover from the telling of her story. After a quiet moment just listening to the music she gave a sad smile and looked at her empty cup before refilling it and taking another quick drink before she glanced at Anna. "When I was young, just barely old enough to swim at a distance from my school. I saw something new, a large ship of some design. It was not until later that I found it was an old frigate that was in the use of deserters who had become pirates. But at the time i was curious, so I followed it aways. I'm sure the men aboard thought I was one of the dolphins. But as my curiosity was sated I tried to turn back to home..." Vanessa let out a sad sigh.

"... I could not see my home any more. The only thing left to me that was familiar was the ship. So I followed it as far as it went. And they landed here. At the time there was only the pirate city, but I could not know if that ship would return to my home. I wanted to rest and this being a very plentiful Island for both sailors and fish there was no better place. After a while I worked my way onto land and lived among the pirates here. Though every now and then I would have to fake a drowning so they did not know it was still me when I would come back. And so that was my life, living here on the island until the school was founded and other magical races began to show up... I still haven't found the heart to return home. And if I'm being completely honest, I've lived here longer than I did with my family..." Vanessa shrugged, she was sure that her school was still out there some where but it was no longer her home.

Turning to look at Anna she gave her a smile. "This place has a way of doing odd things to people. Dragging all sorts from every place, some come for the school. But others might just find themselves pulled by the tides of fate and chance. Just know that you are not alone Anna. There is much that can happen and all has its reasons, even if you do not see it immediatly."

"Just know that those who work for me are in a small part more to me like family then Employees. You don't have to be alone." Vanessa gave Anna a soft smile. In more ways then one she now felt responsible for the younger siren. Though what she said next Vanessa raised an eyebrow at. "You don't normally swim?" This made Vanessa bring a hand to her chin in thought.

"But yes. I'm a Mermaid, though I'm also classified as a Siren because of my voice and because I choose to be one as well... Though I suppose that's semantics." She shrugged. With a hand placed on the side of her armchair in a specific spot and pushed down. After a moment one of her larger guards came in. "Yes Mam?"

"Lets have some of the chef's best tonight please. Enough for two." Vanessa's tone was casual and unworried. The guard saluted and closed the door behind him. "If I remember correctly, the menu has both some traditional Japanese sushi dishes. But they also have some Alaskan King Crab and Cocunut shrimp. Hope you are as hungry as I am. I haven't eaten yet tonight, Normally I do so after I perform normally..." She turned to Anna with a evil grin. "...Though that was interrupted tonight."

Vanessa tried to give Anna a reasuring smile as she shrugged as well. "You do not look like a bird-person to me either love. But I don't look like much of a Mermaid right now though so I think it's just a matter of time. It could be a coming of age thing or it could be something else. I was born and raised underwater so I knew nothing but my real form. Though if I'm thinking correctly, aren't those Sirens originating from the Mediterranean?" After a moment she waved her hand though.

"We can dwell on that later, I'm rather curious to know what other things might interest you?" Vanessa waved her hand as if displaying everything below. "I found a head for business and rather like entertaining others when I was young. Plus collecting old instruments from all over the world and fixing them up to be good as new. I'd love to hear more about you."

As they talked dinner eventually arrived and Vanessa shared the meal with Anna. While learning more about the other Siren as they ate Vanessa found herself becoming attached to this younger woman. She had never really felt this before and she could only assume that she would want to help Anna with anything she needed. If need be she would be Anna's island mom if she decided she wanted one. It was going to be nice to have another Siren about, even if they weren't exactly alike. All this made Vanessa smile warmly, this was certainly going to be an interesting life.