Usually. And hell, most people could lie to themselves enough that the swimming men making pace with ships really were dolphins and sleep all the more soundly at night. But Tucker was there, was close, was unfurling his tail and smacking it against the rocks. It wasn't so easy to dismiss when he was just inches apart.

Tucker smelled like the sea as he got up close; not like a fish, but clean and natural and made of wind and water. The brown eyes blinked, rolling again as he sat back to give him a little space. Hysterical. People were always so hysterical.

"You want to touch me? Would that make you feel better?" Fins waved once, a beckoning. "I'm trying to help you here because bleeding to death would be pathetic after you just survived drowning."