introductory paragraphs [lelei]

@"Critical"

Well, the land could be pretty, too. Not as pretty as the sea, but still pretty enough to spare a glance or two.

The rest of the island sprawled out in front of him, while the sea rolled behind him. He was waiting at a certain spot that Lelei had told him to meet him at. The message had come rather clearly; he'd show him around. A particular day and a particular time, they'd agreed and off they went until their meeting.

Nicolas had gone ahead and outlined a few things about humans, walked with him along the beach a couple times and had been somewhat helpful in assisting his understanding of social norms, but he was just as new to the island as the king was. Lelei, apparently, had been here for a while.

Gazing further along the shoreline, Ulrich spotted the pier, some seagulls, a few people wandering about...

But where could the landshark be?

@"Critical"

Usually, people wouldn't be able to recognize him at all. The rift between his true appearance and his humanoid shift was too vast, both literally and figuratively. The size was mind boggling; one couldn't even see him from end to end while underwater. As a human, he felt like he had too few limbs and not enough eyes to see. His jaw was weak, definitely not enough to defend himself even if it was strong by average comparison.

"Not at all." He gave Lelei a small nod in turn, but remained as stonefaced as always. They had already come to the agreements, so there was really little that was required other than small introductions. He wasn't much of a fan, anyways.

"I take it the beach is popular?" This stretch probably wasn't but nearer to the ports was undoubtedly so. Thankfully he'd chosen a lonelier stretch to make his human home, and so did Emma.

@"Critical"

Yes, that was right, humans needed creature comforts. Ulrich could suppose that everything did, from himself to the sharkman to his various guards. Ulrich himself had picked up the habit of sitting on the back deck with his feet in the water at night when he spent time on land.

"I see..." A vague mutter under his breath as his eyes traveled the length of the beach, resting on the distant shadow of the pier and the little dots that made up the humans who lingered there.

He followed Lelei towards the specks on the pier, but his eyes wandered back and forth between land and water. He was just being wary, all things considered. He was a king and as of current, he was without his usual guard. Better be a little nervous than a little dead.

"Nothing in particular. I just need to familiarize myself with the place, so the most popular locations would be ideal."

@"Critical"

Contrary to general belief, Ulrich wasn't utterly incompetent when it came to humans. He'd lived long enough to see them evolve from the muck on the ocean floor and interacting with them, though halted and stuttered, wasn't completely out of his capability. Human food wasn't all too otherworldly, either, even though he much preferred the raw seafood he'd grown accustomed to.

Walking right into a throng of them was a bit startling, but Ulrich kept his composure as a king would and held his head high. They parted, though it was more likely because of Lelei than the king himself. No matter, as long as they got where they needed to go.

The bustling port wasn't all that different to the beach parties he'd attended, and there had been many. A multitude of cultures sold their wares, from the same Hawaiian shirts that Lelei wore to some rather odd straw hats, various meats in pits of coal and drinks sold from coolers.

The cart of meat they stopped by smelled rather burnt, and the plate he was offered looked quite... well done, especially compared to the fish he was used to tearing apart raw. He took it with a 'thank you', poking at it briefly with a fork.

"And this would be?" Probably one of those four-legged, hoofed animals that were so plentiful on land. "It certainly looks heavier. Would that be why humans are so slow?"

@"Critical"

Cow meat. He'd seen a cow. In ancient (at least in the human scope of things) times, sailors would occasionally toss a cow into the sea for him in return for a safe passage. His parents and grandparents had received some similar offers... Slave humans didn't taste so bad, either.

He began to chew away at the hunks of meat on his plate, finding the flavour and texture wildly different than his usual diet of fish. Not to be deemed as rude, he resolved to finish his plate anyways.

But humans, in his eyes, were quite slow. Compared to the average fish, they were much easier to catch. Hell, he even felt more vulnerable than he should have just being on land, and on two legs. "Hm..." Was all he offered in turn.

It seemed that Lelei was quite fond of these humans he lived among, while Ulrich wasn't too big of a fan himself. Maybe he'd grow to like them one day, but for the time being he kept his distance.

"That... does sound exceptionally bad for your health. Do humans do this for fun?" Ruin their health? Was it a pleasure over the body sort of thing? He wasn't entirely sure, but humans liked to party and they liked their alcohol, so this probably wasn't much different.