Gerard isn't sure when he started to be able to understand sea creatures. It wasn't one of those things where he woke up one morning and bam, he could talk to his goldfish Herbert about things like the best flavor of fish food. No, it was more of a gradual process, weeks and weeks of murmurs and mutterings just at the edge of his hearing, especially when he was on the shore, until--until.

Well, until now, really. He's standing on the beach and there's a lobster looking up at him. He kind of wants to name it Sebastian, except he's pretty sure that would be impolite. After all, the lobster might have an entirely different name.

"Well?" the lobster says impatiently. He looks like a Sebastian, Gerard decides.

Belatedly, he realizes he's supposed to answer. "Well what? What I think about the shore developments?"

"I believe that is what I asked, yes," Sebastian (Gerard is just going to call him Sebastian now--this Disney obsession is All Mikey's Fault) says primly.

"Well, it can be good, right?" Gerard tries. "I mean, they're constructing fucking houses, right, instead of hotels?"

Sebastian huffs. "Yes, but in doing so they're ruining the homes of an entire maritime community."

"Oh, oh, I didn't know that."

Sebastian looks disappointed. It's something about his claws, Gerard thinks. "Humans are so--you don't think about anyone but yourself, do you?"

"No, I didn't--I just didn't know." Gerard takes a deep breath, trying not to remember all the other times he tried to help and how badly they went, and says, "Can I do anything? Can I help?"

And maybe, just maybe, Sebastian is starting to smile.