Video @splash

[soundsfishy]

[There's a lot of water drops on the camera before someone wipes it off. The amount of wet red hair that follows isn't better for visibility, but someone is definitely in water at least up to their chest.

The voice is clear, thank god.]

This place is so fascinating! Have anyone else been displaced like this in other places? How many realities does even exist?

[Another wipe of a (webbed?) hand over the camera, and there's more visibility. There's a smiling face of a man in his mid-twenties with odd scars on his cheeks and fully black eyes.]

Are there any humans here that are just humans? Or do you all know magic? Do you know about non-human beings back in your world? If so, what do you think about them? If you're a human with no magic, do you wish you had such powers? Do you have any other abilities that make you more than the average person?

If you're non-human, do you hide that at home? Or do you get along with them? Is it weird to be open with it here? Are there a lot of different non-humans or just a few? Are your vampires dead or alive? Do other weres than wolves exist? Fae? Have you ever fought humans? Do you know any divines?

Do you like the sea?

[He laughs, and the camera bobs under the surface thanks to that. He quickly pulls it up again with a 'whoops'.]

Now the most important two questions! What can you tell me about the aquarium and the hydroponics garden?

...and can I buy a bunch of portable phone chargers and plastic bags from someone in exchange for fish?

Comments

@dodger/audio

[smokedout]

[Well that's... that's something.]

I'm non-human, but we don't have vampires or werewolves back home. Least not in as many words. I don't hide what I am, but a lot of people do. I've gotten some human blood on my hands. There's not much of a border between humans and mutants, though, couldn't tell you a ratio.

Can't help you with finding a bartering pal, but I can probably point you toward someone that'll exchange the fish for some common currency. Or I might take them off your hands if they're anything special, I'm big on collecting curiosities.

And I like the sea, sure.

audio

[soundsfishy]

So what do you have at home, then? Mutants, you said?

[He sounds curious, trying to piece together what the man said.]

Oh, I was thinking of that earlier. I'd still need someone to go use that money for me, however, so it's easier to cut out the middle hand. As for fish... I guess they're weird if you don't have the species in your world?

[smokedout]

Mutants, yeah. Humans with a few misfiring lines of genetic code. Makes some pretty crazy results - anything from shooting fire and ice from your hands to being able to change your appearance at will, or just having horns. Humans might have an issue with us if we weren't stronger and with just as much access to guns.

[He lets out a quiet chuckle. Dodger hates humans, but he hates mutants equally.]

I'm happy to do your buying and selling for you, if you don't mind me taking out a fee for the effort - I make most of my business as a middle man. Once I can figure out how much the fish are worth on the market, we can figure out a conversion rate for fish to units. From there you can give me a shopping list whenever you need something, and I can give you the cost in fish.

[soundsfishy]

Really? You get superhuman powers from genetic anomalies? [Oh no, now he's so excited.] How is that even possible? Your world is impressive.

[This is about the biggest difference in worlds he had heard of so far, so of course the merman is curious] So do mutants rule humans, then, since they're stronger?

[Pause. Right, business.]

Alright, that sounds good. When I get more into actual work at the Aquarium, I can pay you in actual money, too. For now, the battery packs are the most important part - so I can charge this phone. Otherwise I won't be able to have contact with anyone unless I scream a lot.

[smokedout]

I'm not a scientist, I couldn't tell ya how it works. It just... does. [The second question makes him pause for a moment.] And... I guess that really depends on what you mean by 'rule'. It's a little more complicated than just saying who's in charge.

[He nods along to the rest of it, grabbing a notepad to jot things down.]

Where can I find you? I'll take whatever you've got off your hand and get you its weight in battery packs. No such thing as too many.

[soundsfishy]

It always is, isn't it?

[Shrug. Humans are weird.]

I'm in the river, so if you know the place were people were putting down the lanterns I can meet you there. It's the closest 'landmark' I can think of right now.

I'll bring my stuff and we can see how much I can get for it.