...well.

Does she mind company?

She does not!

Cool.

As they walk along the railing of the observation neck, April can observe some smaller dark shapes moving next to the boat, near but not quite at the surface. They're gray, and long, with fins and flippers and a long bottle-shaped nose. 

Huh, how about that. She's not sure she's ever seen a dolphin in real life before. When would she have, right?

Morrison sees her and comes over. "We're docking soon, there will be some people here to greet us when we do." 

She notices her looking at the dolphins. "Those are one of the reasons why you're a lot safer here than elsewhere, by the by," she adds, indicating with a tilt of her head. 

"...are...they...?"

She chuckles. "Occasionally, someone would make an attempt on your uncle. They would rarely make it past the dolphins." 

"..."

"They patrol the waters around the island," she continues, not quite noticing April's expression yet. "Not much gets past them." 

She notices April's expression. "Is something the matter?" she asks. She's concerned, but there might be the tiniest hint of amusement hiding in the corners of her smile. 

She chuckles again. "Well, I didn't want to ruin the surprise, but it seems like you might have some idea of what they're like already. Though I'd suggest waiting for the full experience." She looks to the dock where a man and a cat are walking towards the Lawrence. "Come on," she says. "Our welcoming party is here." 

"So, you remember not too long ago, when I asked you if you had any more nasty surprises for me, and you said you didn't think so?"

She looks confused. "Nasty surprise? You already know about smart cats, smart dolphins isn't that much of a leap. Honestly, they were pretty smart already. What's the problem?" 

"Never mind."

She looks at April for a few moments, then shakes off the confused look. "Let's go meet them," she says, pointing, and leads April towards the gangway to meet up with the people at the dock. 

Pippi walks a little ahead of the group, and greets the approaching cat, a black-and-white shorthair. Pippi and the new cat do a brief head tap, and then, after a look backwards at April, Pippi starts to head off with the new cat back towards the main complex. 

"—oh. Bye, Pippi," she says, trying and failing not to sound disappointed.

Pippi turns and meows softly at April, then turns back to go with the shorthair. 

"Don't worry," Morrison tells her. "She'll be back with you in a few hours. That's the head of the Feline Intelligence Division. Pippi needs to be debriefed." 

But what if I want to snuggle her instead no, stop that. C'mon, April, you've never been like this about any of your other friends and there's no call to start now.

She doesn't say anything.

Morrison's attention is back on the approaching man, to whom she holds out her arms with a smile. He returns the smile, raises his own arms, and the two fall into a hug. 

"April, this is Joseph Williams," Morrison says, once they're done hugging. "And aside from being the best dancer on Saint Genevieve, he's also the general manager for Albany Hospitality here. That means he runs the place." 

"Well now," he says. "We both know that's not true. I don't run the place. I'm just responsible for all of it."