It's mid-afternoon in Waikiki, and it's tourist season, so relatively crowded. Not so much so that it's totally impassable, but there are plenty of people on the street. Some of those people are a group of what look to be protesters who are standing on a corner, and lo and behold, the pasty guy from the boat, Yahir, is with them. He doesn't look very happy.
"...said it was supposed to //repel// the sharks!" he's saying in a hissed whisper, but he's angry enough that it could be heard if someone is focused on him. "So the trip would be a bust! You're out of your fucking mind!"
The guy he's talking to, who was the one who'd tried to get Iara to sign the petition against the shark tour in the first place, shrugs. "I don't know what you're talking about," he says, which only makes Yahir more pissed off. "You're an idiot, Kaliko," he fairly growls. "Next time, you fucking do it. I didn't sign up for getting eaten by a shark!"
Iara isn't a big fan of crowded places really, so it may just be a surprise to find her here in the first place. However, she is determined to track down those protesters for a couple of reasons. It's not hard to hear them, especially with her heightenned senses; Nor is it hard to find them - just follow the rowdy crowd of familiar looking people. She easily spots Yahir and the protestor guy who she talked to the other day, and is actually quite surprised to see Yahir among them. However, Iara is even more surprised when she hears what they say about the shark incident. With a soft frown, she steps towards them, nodding to Yahir and the protestor guy from before. "Aloha again. How are you doing, Yahir? You seem better since that shark cage incident." She also glancing thoughtfully at the protestor guy. "You never gave me your name, but I did get a chance to investigate that little shark cage trip..."
When someone comes into their orbit -- and, more importantly, starts speaking to them -- and //most// importantly, starts speaking to them about //the incident// -- Yahir turns and looks, and some of the color drains from his face. It may be hard to imagine how that's possible, with how pale he is in general, but it happens. "Hi," he says, and he nods once. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks." He doesn't say much else about it, but the other guy, who looks to be in his early-mid 30's and at least part Native Hawaiian, turns, too. "Oh, good," he says. "Then I'm sure you have figured out how invasive the shark tours are to the natural habitats."
Iara watches Yahir carefully, nodding slowly. "Then I am relieved you are doing better. I was really worried there for a moment or two. I really thought you were in serious danger there." Looking towards the other protestor guy, she sighs and shakes her head.
"To be honest, I haven't really decided yet. From what I saw, we were simply observing them in their natural habitat. I have seen no evidence of us harming sharks by simply watching them. In fact, it felt like we were in more danger of being attacked by them. Of course, that would not have been an issue at all, and neither party would have disturbed the other...If the cage had not been tampered with."
Iara narrows her eyes intently at the guy who still hasn't given his name as she says that..But she did manage to overhear it from Yahir. "Kaliko, is it? I really appreciate and understand your desire to protect wildlife, however, I really do think that observing sharks in their natural habitat is more beneficial to educating the public of them, than is fearful ignorance of them."
"Yeah, me too," Yahir mutters, shooting a glare at Kaliko that probably calls to mind the expression 'if looks could kill.' Of course, they can't -- at least, Yahir can't. So Kaliko remains, unfortunately, unharmed. And he, meanwhile, is focused on Iara now. "Tampered with?" he asks, and his eyebrows raise, as though he's surprised. "Well. Maybe the tour guides were just careless. Even worse for the people who go on those tours." He shakes his head then, though, and says, "The best way to take care of the wildlife is to leave them alone. Tourism is ruining this island. Soon, there will be nothing left to look at. Everything will be gone."
Iara nods slowly to Yahir, "Is that why you came along too, Yahir? To see what it would be like, before you decided to join this group? In fact, I'm curious, why DID you decide to protest against the shark tours?" Glancing back at Kaliko, she folds her arms, holding his gaze quietly, shaking her head.
"I seriously doubt that one of the crew would have sawed one of the bars off and risked their job and reputation. What would they possibly gain from endangering their clients? Besides, they offered to give us a refund for our money. However, it seems more likely that such a stunt, if overlooked, would scare a lot of people away and spread rumours that Shark Tours is dangerous. If that was successful, it could even shut them down. That would be mighty convenient for your cause now, wouldn't it, Kaliko?"
As for his last remark, she just shrugs, "It would be nice if we could live our lives separate from the wildlife around us. Unfortunately, it is simply impossible to stop hundreds of thousands of people from visiting Honolulu after so many years of civilization and progression. The best we can do, is to learn to co-exist with our wildlife as best as we can. And the best way we can do that, is to educate ourselves, rather than learn to fear them. Don't you see, Kaliko? If we teach people that sharks are dangerous, then that will only make them want to hunt them more. If however, people discover that they are actually harmless in their natural habitat, and in fact quite vulnerable, then people will take greater efforts in trying to be more mindful, or even take steps in protecting the wildlife around them."
Iara is quite passionate in her speech, and perhaps bolder than she usually is. She takes another step towards Kaliko, her expression softening a bit, more compassionate than threatenning. "Listen, Kaliko, I am not going to be so bold to accuse you of this because frankly, I have no solid evidence to do so. However, I understand your frustrations. I really do. However, I really hope there will be no more..Convenient..'Accidents'."
Yahir mumbles something, but it's unintelligible, not a real answer to her question. He still looks angry, and maybe a little embarrassed. Slightly. But only slightly. He sticks his hands into his pockets and hunches his shoulders a little bit, a sullen look on his face. His demeanor matches.
Kaliko shrugs, too. He watches her as she comes closer, his eyes narrowing a little bit. He does listen to her speech, but it's pretty clear he's dismissing a lot of what she says, whether empirically it makes sense or not. It probably does, honestly, but right now, for him, that's beside the point. "Accidents happen every day," he points out. "Even more when there are dumb tourists involved who don't know what they're doing. But yeah, hopefully no one will get eaten." This is added as an afterthought.
Whatever compassion or understanding that Iara may have initially felt for Kaliko is quickly swept away when he makes comments about 'accidents' and 'dumb tourists'. Her usually warm golden eyes seem a fair bit colder as she regards him more firmly now. "You're right, accidents do happen every day. However, if anymore 'convenient' accidents happen, then we're gonna have a little talk. And I can't guarantee that I will be as forgiving as I am now. Oh, by the way...Are these yours?" she pulls out a pair of shorts - THE pair of shorts - that she found in the woods a few weeks back, next to that mysterious bramble bush. Yes! She did actually keep them. And Iara carefully studies his face for any kind of reaction, no matter how subtle, as she presents them to him.
If those shorts are Kaliko's, he's extremely good at hiding it. They do smell like him -- yuck -- but the look on his face is totally neutral -- well, with just the perfect amount of, 'what the hell lady why are you holding a pair of boxers in my face that aren't mine.' "No," he says, and he shakes his head with a little snort of laughter. "I prefer briefs. I could show you if you want." But it doesn't sound flirty -- he just sounds snarky, as though he can't believe that she's just asked him what she's asked him.
Iara falters just a bit - he's that good of a liar. However, scents dont lie and she shakes her head with a smile. When he doesnt take them, she just shrugs and places them back in the plastic bag she brought with her. "Alright then, if you say so. I guess I'll just keep these as potential evidence. Just incase..You're really good at lying. But I happen to have a pretty good sense of smell. And that cologne you use is pretty unmistakable." her smile quickly turns into a frown, "However, there was a little 'accident' that happened in the forest a few weeks ago...Right where I found these. I REALLY hope you were not involved in that as well. But that now places you at the scene of two accidents. Coincidence? Maybe..Maybe not. I'm keeping my eye on you, Kaliko. And you, Yasir. You nearly got yourself killed during that other unfortunate accident. I'd think twice about getting involved in this. Next time you may not be so lucky. And you at least seem like you're willing to listen to reason, unlike your friend here."
Kaliko snorts again, and rolls his eyes. He does not touch the shorts. "Are you done?" he asks. "Because some of us have an island to save." He doesn't seem to care whether she keeps the shorts or not, so either he's very confident, or somehow he really is telling the truth and she's mistaken. He turns away, sticking a hand into a pocket and pulling out a pen, starting off in another direction, before he turns to look at Yahir again. "Come on, Yahir."
Yahir looks slightly torn for a minute. He does, at least, hear what she's said, because he's standing there. But then he mutters something about knowing what he's doing, and turns to follow Kaliko as well.
Iara shrugs, "Sure, whatever you say, Kaliko." she watches as he takes off and doesnt follow, however she does glance towards Yahir with a bit more compassion. "Yahir, hold on." she moves quickly towards him, even resting a hand lightly on her shoulder. "Please think carefully about what I've said. I want to protect the wildlife on this island too..But not like this." more quietly she says, "Let's talk about it sometime, okay?"
Yahir is stopped briefly by the hand on his shoulder. He does look back to Iara, and again there's that moment of hesitation, teetering on the brink of indecision. After that second, though, it's gone. "I know what I'm doing," he says, shaking his head. "The tourism industry is a blight. We have to stop some of it before it ruins the island." And then he turns away again, taking a couple of quick steps to catch up to Kaliko as they walk away.
Iara sighs and shakes her head. "Then, I guess you just need to see for yourself. Stay safe, Yahir. Just remember, these tourists are only human, just like you." she watches them leave and doesn't follow this time. The shorts are given another quick glance, pondering something before she walks off in the opposite direction.
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