Come Seek Us Where Our Voices Sound
Somewhat pleased by the charming land-dweller's willingness to imbibe in their mermish fare, the Merchieftess gave an approving nod and a teeth-baring smile to the man (Hugo). "There is no need," she said in reference to the woman (Vivi) who clearly did not trust their beverages. Her eyes, squinted slightly at the woman as though daring her to try at least one mermish food or drink, said otherwise. To the minister's proposed toast, the chieftess took another glass, bowing her head graciously for the toast. "Flowing prosperity," she echoed. The metaphorical high ground, it seemed, was not as dry and terrible as the literal one.
Before she could take her drink and drink to the prosperity of Atlantis, and the collaboration with the land-dwellers, she was jostled by a hasty blond man's dash for...far more drinks than she had believed a single land-dweller could consume. "What in the seven seas...?" she exclaimed as her drink fell from her hand, steam rising from the puddle of broken glass and beverage on the floor. She watched as the man broke several more glasses and then proceeded to dump the remainder out, soon joined by two others (Jane and Damian).
What treachery was this? She was less concerned about the mess and the wastefulness (all liquids eventually returned to the sea, after all) than by the disruption and the general rudeness of the acts. They came into her city, were welcomed in, and this was how they responded? "Control your people," she hissed to the minister. -----
The merman continued to scan the crowds, catching what he thought was called a smile from one land-dweller (Brody), which he returned with his own attempt at baring his teeth and curving his lips upward. There. He was good at this human interaction. His "smile" soon fell from his face, replaced by a look of concern as his brows furrowed. That land-dweller (Alana) was spilling water. He had thought the land-dwellers had good coordination skills, so this...not normal. He swished his pale tail to cautiously approach her.
Before he could get to her, another land-dweller (Sophie) joined her and, aside from making a mess of some breadsticks, was lapping water from a bowl on the floor. THIS, he was certain was not normal human behavior. He swished his tail more forcefully, propelling the bubble right up to the two women and coming to a stop. "If you'll please come with me," he said, straightening to his full (not very tall) height and glowering at them. The Merchieftess would want to know about their suspicious behavior, he was almost certain. -----
And yet another land-dwelling person had joined them (Dylan)! The mer singer felt bubbly with all the compliments. "Oh, thank you," she said, inclining her head in thanks toward the newcomer. "Are you familiar with mermusic as well?" Surely it were so for the first one, otherwise they would be unable to discern the bad from the good. Unless they were just complimenting her for the sake of being nice, which...yes, that would be acceptable too. She liked compliments, whatever the motive.
__________________ |