a/n Ratings update. upped it from G/T to M. not for fun sexy reasons. Unshackled never been quite Stingrays 'Family entertainment' rating sure but I just feel like This and then next couple of chapters have strayed from say teen, into more young adult terrtory. theres gonna be bits that might hit pretty hard for some and i'd rather be over cautious. please tc
"…It looked like a shackle."
Marina drew in sharp breath and squeezed her eyes shut.
Oh no. Oh no please, Atlanta thought. But her mouth seemed to be running off on its own; worse than the fellas ever did even.
"You know that word?" She asked. "What it is, in English I mean."
Marina nodded, eyes still shut.
"I've only seen pictures in American history books about slavery and what shackles did. But the mark on your foot there. It looked like that." Atlanta said. "I know it did."
Marina swallowed and opened her eyes.
"...Is that what caused it, Marina?" Atlanta said.
Marina gave Atlanta a look of despair then turned away; closed her eyes again and pressed her hands to her face. Then gave a single slow nod.
And then still with her face in one hand, Marina reached out with the other. Against Atlanta's hand, tapped once, a hesitant yes tap. Atlanta let her breath out in a rush.
"Clapped in irons," had been the first thing that unwittingly sprang to mind when Atlanta had first seen the ankle scar. The confirmation of her suspicions did not make Atlanta feel any better about it. In fact, she tried not to gag at the idea.
A part of her, a big part of her, had been hoping all this time she'd got it wrong, that she must have been mistaken about what she'd seen. That it had been some misunderstanding or trick of the light even perhaps. A miscommunication the two of them could sort out and laugh off.
Instead she'd been right. Marina had been chained up by the ankle. like a slave on a ship, like an animal. Shackled tight enough to hurt, to cut. To leave a mark. Enough to scar.
"Oh …heck…" was all Atlanta could manage. she felt her eyes prickle and took Marina's now free hand in both of hers. Marina glanced her, then down at their joined fingers. But didn't pull away, her own eyes also wet with unshed tears.
"That's why I've been so worried Marina. Especially when you started avoiding me and not feeling well." Atlanta admitted thickly, cursing herself for being an easy crier. She gently pulled their hands close and held Marina's tight to her. "That's a lot of hurt to just keep carrying around with you honey. An awful awful lot."
Marina shrugged, fingers of her other hand in the hem of her dress again. Though she squeezed Atlanta's hand back. She straightened up as if to face this head on. But Then the mergirl got scared and Curled in on herself again, tucking herself into Atlanta's side a little. And Wiped her eyes with the now crumpled handkerchief.
"Hey. I'm here for you." Atlanta repeated. "Any time. We all are, actually. It'll be okay…But I should have supported you better. In hindsight we should have asked more questions. I wish I'd Realized sooner. You were kept a Prisoner for goodness sake. I should have thought to look out for that sort of thing. Thought that was a possibility-!"
"Worrying again." Marina told her.
"Oh, gee I know." Atlanta sighed. "But Marina, I am sorry. For this. For worrying and for what has happened to you."
Marina Shrugged again, almost indifferent and shook her head. Almost indifferent, but not quite managing it. But she signed thanks wrapping her other hand about Atlanta's two and her own.
"I know you don't want to tell me and that's absolutely okay. I understand. But given it was a shah- '' Atlanta said then slipped unable to now say the word. "Given that's what your scar is from, I do think you need to talk to someone. Or like I said if it's still physically hurting we can get you help."
Marina Pulled one hand free and gave a sharp tap on the table again interrupting Atlanta.
"Yes."
Atlanta stiffened.
"Yes?"
"Yes." Marina repeated.
"you want to get some help with it then? Or yes you want to talk about it?" Atlanta tried, confused.
Marina Gently pulled her hands free to explain, again with mostly mashed up divers and gestures rather than actual sign language. Two fingers. B. Both.
"Both. And not both." Marina said with a nod and shake of her head. And signed slowly. "Changed mind. I want to tell. Explain. But. No -"
She broke off briefly when Atlanta didn't recognize what she signed, finding the word 'stranger' in the dictionary instead.
"No stranger. Not yet. Please not now." Marina said. "But you, To you. I would like to talk to you. I trust you, Atlanta, you."
"Oh. Now? Alright." Atlanta nodded Suddenly out of her depth Despite all the questions she'd been asking.
Especially when Marina winced.
"… If it is right?" Marina asked.
"Yes. Marina, I meant it. You can always come to me about anything. Including this. now." Atlanta insisted. It was the truth, even if she didn't quite know how to handle this. What would mom say? How would she fix this? Atlanta wasn't quite certain.
To be fair Marina looked just as uncertain what to do or where to start herself. She Pulled away from Atlanta. Then shifting closer again, Fidgeting seeming to be fighting with herself.
Emotion dancing on her normally quite passive face looking around. Maybe this conversation would be better suited to the beach or the pool. Atlanta thought. The water, the ocean especially, would help marina breathe easier.
She offered to they go elsewhere but Marina shook her head, clearly wanting to just get it over with. Just … not quite able yet to do so. She even started Tap tap tapping on the table. One two two taps one tap. Yes. No yes. No-.
"Not sure?" Atlanta tried. Marina agreed.
"Ready not ready. Not ready, ready, ready, not ready." She Said flipping a two-sided flashcard back and forth and over. Then fiddled with its edges.
"Scared."
"I know I know it's scary. And you don't have to." Atlanta reminded her. "You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to."
If the mermaid could hum hmm sounds she might have there. She Shook her head instead.
"I know. But I've made you sad. This Has Upset you. Will upset you."
Atlanta shook her head back.
"I know. But I'm listening, Marina. Really."
Marina frowned again, stressed, and tried to collect her thoughts. But then they all came out in a quick jumble of signs. A Very quick jumble. Atlanta only just caught a couple of their meanings in time. But it was a start at least.
"Unsure. Scared. Unclean. Traitor. Weak. Unclean dirty." Marina began then tailed off Holding herself around the middle.
"Wait a second." Atlanta asked and made the sign back. "You keep saying that. Unclean. Why?"
Marina frowned. "Because It is. Unclean. Me. I am." She sighed glaring bitterly at the floor. "Because of the scars. Unclean. Dirty."
"Marina!" Atlanta scolded. "No. That's not true."
"Is."
"Oh really? Would you say that about me?" Atlanta argued.
Marina looked appalled and gave two taps for "No."
"Would you say that about any of your people who'd been hurt like that?" Atlanta put. "About Troy or Phones?"
"No. No never. No!" Marina replied.
"Or about my father's chair?"
"NO!"
"Well then." Atlanta told her sternly. "Don't You dare think about yourself."
"Different. That's Different." Marina argued.
"No, it isn't." Atlanta argued right back. "It's not true. And very it's an unkind thing to say about yourself."
"Is true. But humans are different. Different lives. Marienville. Not unclean."
"Neither are you. It's no different at all." Atlanta said stubbornly.
Marina sighed and Gave up arguing on that aspect folding her arms with a pout. One Might mistake it for Sulking.
"Okay, not unclean. If you say so." she said (although she didn't seem to believe it!) But then she looked away Still Ashamed. Timid at first Marina continued,
"But still weak though. And Hurt…"
"I was Hurt." She said after a pause. And made a love heart with her fingers then clenched her hands into fists crushing it. Before Tapping her chest.
Then added, "It Hurts me here too."
"Yeah I bet… Take your time honey. You've all the time in the world." Atlanta said seriously; Then looked at the clock. "Well. Till next shift or the fellas show up."
Marina ignored that last bit.
"No one. No more. No one else. No one else hurt."
Atlanta wasn't quite sure if Marina was telling her, or reminding herself for courage. Then with suddenly stubborn movement and a hard-sharp set look on such normally soft features, Marina Took hold of the hem of her dress and tugged it up revealing the warped flesh.
No. Not the hem at her ankle. Atlanta only just realised as Marina brazenly tugged the snug sleeves all the way, frills and all; just as Atlanta had with her red and gold trimmed cuff. First one, then the other. And Marina sat there Both forearms bared. Atlanta's Stomach flipped, again Sickened.
"Oh Neptune... Oh Marina, you poor thing."
