deeper waters [critical]

@"Critical"

Humans were, indeed, fascinating. Not something he'd had extremely close interactions with, as their species tended to keep to the trenches while humans kept to the land. In the past he'd occasionally come to the surface to mingle with them, but not for long and only enough to glean the barest of information. Lelei seemed to have been in close contact with them for a while, though. He could use that sort of information.

Especially because he walked openly among them.

"That would be impossible for me." He had to change form, a human male that looked a little too waterlogged. His true form would crush the island, and if he didn't, he'd be as useful as a beached whale. The physical differences were enough for him not to be immediately identified on land, but he still needed to be careful.

"Not immediately. We have our own matters to tend to, first." Namely, the war between the northern and southern factions of the royal family. Of course, that didn't look like it would end any time soon but that didn't stop them from tearing each other apart. The hope was that one side would win before they all spiraled into extinction. "But I may have a bit of business to tend there soon. Information would be helpful."

Soon as in he started a week or two ago. A bit of business as in rearing a child here both parents were at a disadvantage.

@"Critical"

Humans were hard. Not because they were vastly complex - though they admittedly were confusing - but because it wasn't a culture he had grown used to. All the little things would escape him, and the little things were what made for a convincing disguise. Nicolas had already told him that challenging another person to combat was generally a bad idea, even though it was commonplace for his own species.

A tour of the land, however, did sound interesting. Nicolas had lived on land all his life, but not on the Manta Carlos islands. He would still no doubt be useful, but apparently Lelei had been on the island for quite some time no and had grown accustomed to it.

"That would be rather helpful." He wanted as few people to know he was residing on the island as possible. It would be a very fine balance of letting very specific individuals know and just blending in, which he rather hoped would be soon. Lelei didn't even have to know he spent a lot of his time there, only that he needed to learn about humans.

"A small tour would be ideal. I imagine you're quite familiar with the place already."

@"Critical"

Ulrich paused, then laughed.

The water seemed to rumble, but at least the outburst was rather short. Ah yes, he could imagine it now. He'd have to poke one of his heads out of the water to follow a small sharkman around town while the rest of his body remained underwater. His necks would be long enough for that, would it? The mental image of the humans either scattering like a shoal of fish was, indeed, quite humorous.

But no, he needed to remain at least halfway discrete. A giant hydra head coming out of the water to take a peek was anything but.

"Yes, I have a form that is slightly more subtle." He couldn't go crawling onto land as a hydra, either. Too big, and the weight of gravity would likely crush him. "Soon would be preferable. This business on land is a bit urgent."

Rearing a child was, apparently, urgent business.

@"Critical"

So it was decided. Lelei would give him a small amount of assistance in showing him around the island. It would be slightly more helpful than what Nicolas could provide, considering he was just as new to the place as the king was. Since Lelei had been there longer, he could get to the more important things a lot faster.

He gave a slight nod of his head, his multiple other heads swirling into view as the various leaders were once more called back to the last of the summit. Drab, and usually only a formality, but it would do.

"I will see you then." He'd be able to recognize him, but probably not the other way around. His more practical land form was just too different. No matter, he'd make sure it was done.

With a final little tip of his head, the king returned his attention to remainder of the summit.