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“Hopefully this is comfortable enough. I don’t really have space for guests inside, especially, uh...” Shelby takes another look at her new-found neighbor. For all she doesn’t know about them, they for certain are a lot bigger, scalier, and slimier then most other visitors she gets. The fish person, who she still doesn’t know the name of, carefully sits down on the wool blanket she'd set on the muddy ground. Their steaming cup of tea comically small within their glove-like hands.
“It’s fine. Thank you.”
She gives a stiff smile, sitting down as nonchalantly as possible at the other end of the blanket. On the ground the difference in size felt a lot more apparent. The way they hunch over to face her better. Their long arms extended awkwardly in front of them, how easily they could strike her while she struggles to stand back up. No, she breaths. No need to make rude assumptions until those assumptions have any backing in reality. The smile gets a bit less forced.
“So uh, we haven’t done introductions yet! My name’s Shelby. I’m a witch. N-not the scary kind though! And in training! I’ve been living here in the Evermoor for a few months now to focus on my studies and to help the people living nearby when they need magic! It’s a part of the Witch Academy curriculum.”
The fish person gives a small nod before turning to take a sip of their tea. They stare absentmindedly at something behind her. Man, she wasn’t good at leading conversations. She clears her throat a little before continuing on.”
“And, um, what’s your name?”
Her guest snaps back to look at her.
“Oh, uh. Jimmy.”
What a weird name for a 12-foot fish monster. Definitely the last thing she expected.
“Jimmy, that’s a nice name! I actually know a Jimmy!” She takes another sip of her tea. It burns her tongue a little. “And- and I don’t mean this to be rude at all! But uh, what are you, exactly Jimmy?”
The now Jimmy looks down into his cup for a second, brows slightly furrowed.
“Y’know I… I’m actually not entirely sure. A, um. A cod I guess.”
“… No.”
“No?”
“I mean- ack! I just, I’ve seen cod before and they’re usually… kinda small? And limbless and don’t talk. And they don’t live 1000 years. Wait are you what cod become if they live 1000 years?”
“No no, I mean, maybe? These are the questions I probably should have asked…” he pauses for a second before quickly taking a sip of tea. “I’d say probably not, I had limbs 1000 years ago so...”
“So you’re 2000 years old?” Shelby leaned forwards.
“I don’t want to be 2000 years old! That’s too old!”
“I... guess there is a 1000 year difference between being 2000 and 1000 years old.”
“1000 is too old too!" He sighs, exasperated. "Never mind. I’m getting myself confused” Jimmy slumped a bit more, pouting into his cup.
Before she can help herself, she lets out a small giggle. It was half the good idea of laughing to diffuse the tension and half the bad idea of laughing because seeing this fish person getting so worked up was just a bit funny to watch. Jimmy’s reaction looks a smidge surprised, he at least stops pouting when he looks at her, but he doesn't maul her for her slight faux-pas. Whew.
She sips her tea again. It's a smidge too cold now.
“I guess it doesn’t matter too much. But I have some smart friends I could ask, if you’d like to try and find out what you are?”
“What, with the witches?”
“Oh no! I mean-" She chokes a second. "Maybe they’d know? But uh, my friend here would be quicker to ask! And sending mail takes a while, y’know? Or I guess not since you live in the swamp. Or the sea?”
Jimmy looks past her again, cradling the cup in his hands. It's probably empty, given how large he is. If it got awkward again she could go back inside to refill it.
“I used to live in a swamp. When I had to leave it I lived in the sea instead. And then I guess I ended up in another swamp.” He puts his cup to his mouth again. She’s starting to suspect it’s definitely empty and he’s just doing that to be polite. Or for a pause, as is the purpose of talking over tea.
“This swamp is nice though! Didn’t have these kinds of trees at my old one.”
“Yeah, haha! They’re everywhere. You kinda uprooted one when you came out of the ground there.”
Jimmy looks behind them at the massive hole in the earth he was slumbering in an hour ago. “Oh, uh, sorry about that.”
“No it’s good! It’s good. I’ve been chopping them down around here so you’ve kinda helped me out a little!”
“Oh, okay.” He takes another fake sip.
She sips the last of her now cold tea in solidarity. Ugh, it was getting awkward again. With the catalyst of tea gone there was nothing left for them to do but talk about themselves. And that sucked. She instead stands up.
“If it’s alright, I’m gonna go message one of those smart friends I mentioned earlier, okay?” She gestures behind her, the universal symbol of “I’m going over there now”.
“Oh! Yeah sure. I thought you said mail would be too slow though?”
“Right! Right, I should have mentioned.” She puts her hands on her hips. It should be mentioned with a bit of authority, she thinks.
“I’m. An Emperor!” She realizes why she didn’t mention it. “Do you even know what that is?”
They’re staring again, right into her eyes. Or maybe it’s through her eyes. A few more second pass than she would like... she's made it weird again. She should start explaining it now.
“An emp-”
“I know what it means.”
Ah. Okay then! Explaining that the ground is magic and slightly sentient and gives whoever promises to take care of it and the living things within it cool powers like not-dying and being able to instantly communicate with other Emperors is one more thing she can remove from her to-do list. Neat!
“Alright, I’ll do that then. You stay comfy, okay?” She turns around before Jimmy can respond, which would have been rude if he did respond. Luckily he didn't, resolving to stare at nothing again. Shelby quietly releases a sigh crammed in her chest and pulls up her messages with Pixlriffs, the archaeologist that lived further inland. The tea was a good idea! It had broken the ice a little and that was all she'd wanted it to do. But it didn’t make the situation as a whole any less anxiety-inducing. She types up a quick message, trying not to let her nerves show in her writing.
ShubbleYT: Hey Pix! Nothing serious at all! Just was wondering if you knew anything about fish people? Since you’re smart and all. Thanks!
Perfect.
She looks back at Jimmy, who was now starring at his hand, opening and closing his fingers like he'd never seen them before... she turns again so they don't catch her staring, nerves making her shoulders tense. Sigh…hopefully Pix will have slightly more of a clue than she does.