[Kiel]

Like, Kiel probably ought to have tagged along with Jeri and Maaike and them just 'cause, like, you know, he was meant to be the muscle for this gig and all, but, like, he was kinda bored with getting his butt handed to him, you know? And, like, he could fight if he had to even one-handed, but, like, Aifric and Misha and Nin and them were all going and he figured there'd be tons of talking and he really needed the fresh air, like, okay? So instead, he stayed behind on the dock while the others tottered after the Ohani Jericho called Ambassador Serin (like, he didn't know if that was actually what she was, you know, but until they learned different, that was kinda the title he'd saddled her with).

It didn't take more than a few seconds for them to disappear into the deep shadows cast by the city's buildings and, like, for Kiel to get bored of staring out at open ocean. “Hey, hey, you think they'll let us explore a bit? Like, you guys were talking about us looking for the eggs, right? And, like, is anyone else, like, killer curious about this place? Like, dude, how'd they even build buildings like that, you know?” Like, he'd seen some crazy awesome monuments in his travels, you know, like, Dionica just for starters, and he'd learned a whole new respect for engineers and architects and stuff, but, like, he bet they'd have a field day with this place. “And, like, how the heck does it even float, you know? It floats, right? Like, I kinda wanna stick my head underwater to check. Anyone check? I bet it floats, you know?”

He'd already wandered past the two guards, slow enough the probably didn't think he was threatening or something. And, like, there was so much curiosity and awe on his face as he wandered back and forth across the platform and, like, slowly encroached across the "invisible line" he felt they'd drawn in the sand. Or, like, on the platform. You know. And they didn't say anything or stab him in the back or something, so he tottered further along the walkway, his head twisting this way and that. He couldn't see the others at all so he figured they must have gone into the city proper by now, and then the walkway opened onto another platform that, like, split in three directions like a crossroads so he turned back and almost tripped over Shane to yell, like, “Hey, hey, who's coming with? This place is awesome!”

[Rahil]

With Jael and Na'im following the "main group", Rahil was left to his own devices—or rather, without the constant eye of his allies bearing on him. The trio tended to appear too focused with time, which would only betray them at some point. Rahil certainly wasn't betraying the Cause.

He instead chose to follow the Dracovarian who appeared to be exploring, for he was far too loud to be doing stealthy reconnaissance. Rahil sighed. It was going to be difficult to follow this one's speech, he could tell. Rahil just let it drop at the fact that if something dangerous were to happen, the Dracovarian made for a nice, large target. Better one of those of the other races fall, rather than himself. Regardless, as Kiel had passed two guards, Rahil sublimated the feeling of danger into writing in his notebook as he watched the path ahead.

He noticed off in the light of the distance that one Ohani pulled a type of shrimp from his bag and gave it to another, speaking to the green biped all the while. The other promptly ate the shrimp, and then walked into what appeared to be a corridor of coral a few moments after speaking once more. The opposite Ohani seemed to say his goodbyes during this, and merely walked once more—back off into the darkness afar.

Rahil looked at the scene with curiosity, and refocused his gaze on the Dracovarian who'd already set off ahead of him.

Between each known race to Rahil, perception came first and foremost, with intent hidden or entirely neglected. Especially within his own people. Yet these fish-folk appeared to make no excuses between one another, just an honest offer went between one and another. Neither seemed to make proud or polite commentary, weaving bargains or what was to be gained, there was just an unsaid transaction. Rahil, perplexed at this, did his best to shake off the thought.

If the item had been given for free, the regular tone of the acceptor had to be rude. Either that, or there had been some prior arrangement for the meeting. There had to be an equation, for there would have been no reason for the action otherwise.

As Rahil finished that line of thought, merely half a minute after the team of "explorers" had set out, one of the fish folk approached him, now not far behind Kiel. It spoke, waited for a response, and then began to change its skin pigment. A new puzzle formed in Rahil's mind, as the Ohani's torso changed from a dark hue of green to a darker blue.

Rahil folded his arms, unsure of the creature's intentions in the action. "Impressive."

Undoubtedly being slightly rude, Rahil continued staring as the fish's hues had slowly changed to form an image. An image he couldn't manage to figure out, at least not at first glance. He called out to the Dracovarian ahead, hoping to be able communicate in Elysian well enough to follow his words. It was not his duty to communicate with the Elysians or these...fish folk—however interesting they may be. “What is this?”

[Kiel]

That Zanaryan dude was following him but not saying anything. It was kinda creepy, you know? Like, he just scribbled in his notebook and looked around with this kinda arrogant scorn on his face and Kiel kinda wanted to punch him but that would be bad and, like, maybe he couldn't understand Elysian so it wasn't really his fault, you know, and, like, maybe the scorn wasn't scorn after all but, like, loneliness or something, you know? So Kiel grinned at the dude over his shoulder and kept walking, slow enough for the dude to keep up but, like, not make it look like he was waiting, 'cause it seemed kinda like the guy didn't want to look clingy or something. And then he forgot all about going slow when a streak of colour splashed up out of the water right near the edge of the platform, just so he could dart across to stare and be all, like, “Dude! Didja se that? Didja see that? What was that? Like, huh?”

Rahil could speak Elysian after all. It took a second for that to sink in past Kiel's sudden excitement, and then he got excited about something else entirely. “Like, dude, I thought you only knew Zanaryan. That's awesome, wahahaha. Like, we can totally play I spy on the way home, man, wahahahaha. What's what?” Kiel skipped back toward the pair, ruffling the hair at the back of his head so his hat tipped forward a little bit. “Like, um, I don't think you can say that, man. Like, they're Ohani, you know? Not 'this' or 'that' or something. That one looks different from the others. Guy, you think? Like, maybe they're all, like, dude!”

Forgetting the fact that he had essentially just reprimanded Rahil for being rude for saying "what is this", Kiel pointed at the Ohani's belly. “Wah! Wah!” Pause to breathe and think. “Wah!” Still pointing, his gaze flicked between the Ohani's eyes and the image that had taken shape on its bared midriff. “Dude, like, wah! Wahahahahaha, that's awesome, it's awesome! What is that? Is that a fish? Wah!” Turning, Kiel clutched at Rahil's clothing to shake the Zanaryan as if he hadn't already seen it. “Dude, they can do stuff! That's awesome. Do another one. Do another one!” Bouncing on his toes and grinning like it was his birthday and he was, like, sixty all over again, Kiel clapped his hands. “Do a dashiri! Do a dashiri!”

[Official NPC]

“Yerk!” Having someone point at him very suddenly was frightening. Yacobi shuffled back a couple of steps and stared at the two with wide eyes, until the air dried them out and he was forced to blink-blink-blink. His gaze flitted from the pink-eyed man with the strange feline at his heels to the winged, horned man whose arrogant bearing suggested he was some sort of queen. That the pink-eyed man could treat his queen so informally made Yacobi's jaw gape, and he wrung his hands and patted his belly apologetically.

“I meant not disrespect. I meant to cause not trouble.” The pink-eyed man seemed overly excitable, an enthusiasm beyond Yacobi's understanding. He fished; he was of a worker. He was happy to serve his queen and colony, and he was satisfied with his lot, but there wasn't much to get excited about down here. “I only meant to warn...” He scratched a tentacle that had drooped down from the top of his sea-green head to curl around his jaw. The group of Acanthans were milling quite near to the edge of the platform and walkways, so he was trying to warn them about the many great predators lurking in the depths. Ohani like him knew the signs to watch for; already a few of their braver 'neighbours' had come to check out the newcomers.

But it was clear that these people could not speak Ohani, so Yacobi was left only with visuals. Across his belly played out a scene of a simple figure — he made sure to give it wings so they would know he was speaking of them — getting too close to the edge; a great fish leaping from the depths with fangs bared; and of said winged man being snatched into the water to be gobbled up. “Be careful. Careful.”