Another little chapter :) Just setting the mood for what is about to come later. I couldn't resist giving the dolphin boss a silly name X) I think his attitude speaks for itself.
The inside of the abandoned submarine was littered with the remains of poor souls who didn't make it out, nothing but gleaming bones in the light. Windowless, for obvious reasons, the dolphins had to think of another way to illuminate their chosen stronghold. They had lured glowing organisms to the ship, keeping them in glass jars that were fixed to the rusty metal walls, casting surreal light on everything moving and still. The odd patch of moss was left to grow, but the inside was pretty much clean. The dolphins had an image to uphold after all.
The mess hall was abuzz with chattering clicks and whistles, and the groaning whale-song of complaining pilot whales. Most, if not all, of the dolphin families had bet on Bono to win, so they were understandably disappointed with his loss. But neither of them particularly missed him when he didn't appear for dinner. Not all the bottlenose dolphins were present. The boss, Tooti, was secluded in the control room of the submarine. Only the ghostly white figures of his beluga guards were present, perched like bookends at the entrance. Tooti stared at long-since dead screens used for navigation, his flipper tracing idle patterns. At that moment, a small hourglass dolphin swam in, carrying something in his short beak.
"Here's the info ya wanted boss. The boys had a hard time wi'dis guy," the dolphin addressed Tooti, giving the customary nod of respect and dropping a beige folder-file in front of him. "He's about as slippery as an eel."
Tooti nodded his thanks at the smaller dolphin. He opened the folder-file, flicking through some of the sheets of stats and data. He picked up the photo. It was Vincenzio.
"Perfect target practice for darts," Tooti chuckled, looking at the photograph. "Not much useful in here except for the addresses of his relatives…we need to hit him harder than that." Tooti leaned back in the swivelling chair, flipper to his beak in thought.
"We did find sumfing that ain't mentioned much in the press. It turns out Vincenzio is married. Moby knows how he kept sumfing like that secret," the hourglass dolphin clicked in quickly.
"Now that's something more interesting," Tooti mused, looking back down at the folder-file. He swam out of the chair, holding the photograph in one flipper. He stuck it to a metal column in the room, picking up his darts as he swam back to the chair. "Maybe we should pay her a visit, eh boys?" Tooti smirked cruelly, his beluga hench-whales sniggering. He threw a dart and it hit Vincenzio right in the middle of his head.
BANG! Vincenzio burst into his apartment, carrying a few bags. He shut the door behind him and swam into the kitchen, putting the bags on the table. Mona was on the floor, cleaning up the plate that she'd just dropped when Vincenzio made her jump.
"I do wish you wouldn't do that, we'll need a new door soon – " Mona began.
"Where's Bambi? I bought her something," Vincenzio interrupted her excitedly. Ever since Bambi was born, he had been buying all sorts of presents for her.
Mona tutted and rolled her eyes. "She doesn't need any more toys, Vin. We can't fit anymore in her crib without drowning her," she said.
"Oh, but I had to get this, she'll love it. And I promise it'll be the last one I buy for her…" Vincenzio ruffled about in a baby blue bag.
Mona couldn't stay mad at him for long, he was just too much like a little pup. "She's in the sitting-room," she laughed.
Vincenzio gave her a kiss on the cheek and swam into the sitting-room. Bambi was sat on her play-matt, hitting the coloured buttons as hard as she could, just so she could hear the noises again. Vincenzio swam down and scooped her up with one fin.
"There's my little girl," he beamed, nuzzling her and smiling as she giggled in delight. "I have something for you…now close your eyes, no peeking," he said. She put her podgy fins over her eyes, peeking just once, then closing them again. Certain that she couldn't see, Vincenzio brought a soft white sea-unicorn toy from behind his back. It was as big as Bambi! White plush, with soft pink fronds for its mane, iridescent wings and a little soft horn on its head.
"OK, open your eyes," Vincenzio smiled, waiting for her expression. She couldn't wait to see and as soon as she moved her fins, her eyes lit up. She reached and grabbed for it, cuddling it viciously. Vincenzio was as pleased as could be.
Mona poked her head into the room. "Dinner's nearly ready – Oh, what's this, a new friend?" she said, speaking more to Bambi than Vincenzio. Bambi waved the plushie about frantically, showing it off to her mother and smiling with a toothy smile. "Looks like I'll have to set an extra place," she cooed to her daughter and tickled her cheeks gently.
Vincenzio chuckled and followed his wife back into the kitchen to start the often hilarious task of feeding Bambi, where he usually got more baby-food down himself or on the kitchen floor than he got in Bambi's mouth.