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i hate this

the sky has been leaking for DAYs... WEEKS??

it's so cold my eyes are frozen!

i hate this weird white water

i want to go outside...

[ A photo of a colored pencil drawing is attached... depicting Alberto "(in a blanket)" beside his familiar Carlo and his pet compsognathus Sofia, trapped inside his home "(forever?)," labeled "cold, alone... and fed up!" beneath falling snow — AKA "weird white water??? (every day...!!!)" — outside the window... All of them clearly "very unhappy" — the sheer image of misery itself. ]

SO!
let's trade!!!
anyone who can help me find or make something like this, i'll cook you food or something, whatever, we'll talk......
but as soon as possible,
i need one of THESE:

[ Another image is attached of Alberto wearing what... seems to be a diver's suit? Or something??? Holding a "giant umbrella" in one hand and Sofia on a leash in a harness in the other, Carlo floating above, all "dry, safe, warm, and NOT at home..." There's still plenty of ~~snow~~ white water around them, "but not on Alberto!" Most importantly, though, in this drawing, they're all happy! — as... baffling as it is to anyone else, surely... No thanks, no niceties, just complaints and demands, urgent, desperate, and maybe a little, um, bizarre? Un po. The kid's gone mad with cabin fever, possibly? This is... well... th-this is something. Definitely something. Ahem. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Compliment might be a strong word, but there is no reason to be insulting even though he could probably find a million mean comments to slip in here and there. But he can hold back for the moment since he is here on a mission. And he's only a month into his life in Avalon, so he knows he needs to reserve himself at least a little. For now.

He sets his bags down though and takes a second to brush off the coat he is wearing, removing some of the damp from it before shedding it, folding it, and setting it on one of the bags. He then decides to take the opportunity to sit down, settling himself on the designated spot.]

Espresso is fine, yes. I was out for a bit and it's a little cold even for me.

[Jade's eyes peered under the bed, but he couldn't catch a glimpse of this mystery occupant. Yet.]

I will keep that in mind. I would hate to leave your companion out if she wishes to join.

[He continued to glance around thinking a bit. There was a lot one could learn about a person just by seeing their possessions, but that wasn't the same as hearing it from the horse's mouth.]

You must have been here for a long time to have yourself so settled. It's very homey.

[ Alberto sets about preparing the espresso in his old tarnished stovetop pot, but it's well-used and well-practiced, as scary as such an obviously chaotic pre-teenager having unregulated caffeine intake may be... He's got his whole set-up for it. But as he goes about it and hears Jade's quite polite and friendly comment about Sofia maybe wanting to "join them," he can't help but bark a laugh. ]

Hah! Yeah, maybe she'll wanna "join us", hehe, but I meant more like, y'know, be careful in case she tries to bite you... She'll go straight for the ankles. Pfft, but you'll be fiiine, a fish will win her over if she tries~

[ The coffee's set to brew, and Alberto steps nearer to Jade, leaning casually against the desk with his arms crossed over his chest, the same smug smirk painted on his face still. "Homey" is a nice word to describe his place... and it being obvious how long he's been here, apparently, makes him feel like some kind of expert on Avalon-ing. ]

Anyway, you're right— I've been here since August. One hundred twenty-two days. Or something like that.

[ N-Not like he's counting...? ]

And you?

[Well he's not afraid of a little bite or two. He can tolerate a little nibble if he has to but he keeps it noted. He almost hopes this Sofia does come out if only to satisfy his curiosity. There are so many odd things here.

This boy included. The smugness is charming in how to put on it is that it's hard not to play along for the moment.]

Oh my! That is a long time indeed. And at your age.

[But he sighs a little.]

About a month now I would say. So it's all a bit strange still. But fortunately one of my oldest friends was already here, so I have been very fortunate. [He chuckled at that.] I do not know what I would do without Azul.

Oh! Azul, eh? I think I know that guy! Isn't that the sea mon— [ He stops himself, a nervous glance at Jade before he interrupts himself entirely and sweeps that slip-up under the rug quickly with a forced smile and mirthless puff of a chuckle under his breath. ] ...Heh. ...Isn't that the guy with the restaurant? With the ironic fish? Y'know, a bunch of pet fish in a seafood restaurant? Swimming around watching their friends get eaten...?

[ grhiusfjkd th-that's his take on a decorative aquarium in the lobby, k. At least he seems good-humored about it? ]

[Oh Alberto, you can't slip up around Jade. If he senses any weakness, he's like a shark drawn to blood. So he mentally notes that little slip and files it away as a topic of conversation for later.]

Yes indeed, he is. He had a restaurant back home at our school as well. So it's nice to be able to work together again and fall into a routine.

[He raised an eyebrow at that comment and chuckled. How pure-minded.]

That is an interesting way to put it I suppose. Granted, plenty of fish eat one another, so I wonder if it really bothers them or if they feel envious?

[He's joking, with a slightly dark tone. Granted, this guy's favorite food is octopus carpaccio. And considering his best friend is an octopus...]

Ah, so you work at his restaurant...? He wouldn't let me. He said I was too young. Even though I told him I'm an expert on fish and pretty much the best fisherman back home! I used to work in a pescheria. But I dunno, I guess he thinks fourteen is too young to do the thing I already know how to do...!

[ Who's salty? Not Alberto. Ahem. ]

Well, it is a bit illegal, particularly where we are from. Child Labor is a frowned upon practice back home.

[But it's okay to enslave your classmates, Jade? Not that they are doing that anymore, but...]

What are you doing to make a living here though? If I am not prying too much?

Nah, not prying. I do some quests, but, y'know— most quests aren't really asking people to go fishing or make them pasta, heh.

[ He says with a dismissive wave of his hand and a roll of his eyes. ]

That Azul guy told me about another pescheria or two in town where he buys his fish from, but they wouldn't hire me, either...! Everyone just keeps telling me to go to school. Pssh~

[ Another, more subtle roll of his eyes and a light scoff at the suggestion. Clearly that's not on the table. ]

Not a fan of school? Really? Then again, you might end up going to school with people of this world who wouldn't understand where you're coming from.

[That might get a little annoying fast.]

Though I always found school to be quite engaging. There are a lot of strong people to learn from. Though maybe that's just magic schools...

Believe me— magic school, human school, normal school— people won't understand where I'm coming from.

[ Another slip-up. "Human school" is not "normal school?" ]

Besides, pretty much anything I wanna learn, I can teach myself. I learn from life.

[ He gives a little shrug and pushes himself off the desk, stepping back toward the kitchenette to check on the espresso, though still within eyesight and earshot. ]

Your school back home was also a magic school, then, eh?

[ Redirecting the question pretty obviously away from himself. Smooth, Alberto. ]

[Someone is not a very good liar, but Jade will wait a bit longer to point that out. Jade leans back to eye where Sofia is supposed to be, but keeps his attention to the conversation.]

From life is it? I mean we all do in a sense. There is no better teacher than brutal experience.

[He will allow the redirection for a moment since he knows he can turn the convo back.]

Yes indeed. Night Raven College, one of the most prestigious schools in the world. It's a boy's school, so no girls, but we're all talented magicians there. And humans, beastmen, fae, and merfolk all go there together. We even have a cat monster taking lessons.

[A little bait thrown in there for good measure.]

[ Alberto slides back over at the explanation of this weird integrated school, stretching theatrically to crane his neck to do so, espresso pot in his hand and eyes wide.

Yup, took the bait, hook, line and sinker. ]

Humans and monsters all go to school together where you're from? Really?

[So easy. He smiles softly though.]

I won't say we always understand each other, but yes we do. Though monsters are not how I would describe everyone not human. Just a different species.

I take it there are only humans in your world?

Nooo...

[ He throws his gaze aside awkwardly, before sliding back into the kitchenette to pour two little white ceramic cups of espresso for them both. He returns with them, having also prepared a response in the moment it took him to prepare their coffee, and hands Jade his cup before taking a seat at the desk chair, a bed pillow tied to its back with rope as a creative cushion. The song in the background has since shifted on his phone's shuffled music library. He sits with his legs crossed comfortably, ankle resting on his knee as he takes his first sip. ]

...There are also monsters where I'm from. But they don't typically live with humans or go to school together or anything. Usually.

[He observes the body language for a bit, maybe staring a bit too intently before he closes his eyes to take a sip of espresso.]

Very good. I usually have tea, but this is pleasant too.

[He takes a few more sips appreciating. He can tolerate the cold far better than some, but even his bones need to be warmed up a bit.]

Usually? So you have met one? What are they like? Are they different from someone like me?

[He slips it in so casually, that last bit.]

"Someone like you?"

[ It's evasive and telling enough, and an excellent way to stall the focus from himself and Luca, his friend he has in mind as he takes a tentative sip of his espresso with raised brows at Jade, before he reveals too much. Two can play this game. ]

Ahaha, well you know you can't see it now, but normally I have a very long tail instead of legs and fins. Gills as well and all that.

[He smiled, those sharp, pointy teeth of his in full view.]

This is just a landform, a tool if you will. Or are you referring to a different sort of monster?

[ Alberto all but slams his espresso cup down on the desktop, a few drops escaping in the upset, as he jumps to his feet. A wide grin spreads over his face, eyes absolutely fixed on Jade in his seat, a certain heat and intensity and sparkle about his gaze suddenly. He claps his hands excitedly and then ~~finger-guns~~ points to Jade with both hands, like an epiphany struck. Almost on cue, in time, the quiet pop song ends, and the energy takes a steep boost along with Alberto. ]

Hah! So you get it! You make the Change, too! You're a sea monster~!

[ He rubs his palms together, grin turning into an excited smirk, tapping his bare feet a bit in anticipation, already feeling the espresso, his tiny cup half-empty by now. He's got a little fourteen-year-old body and he's a noodle, okay. ]

Okay, okay, show me the anti-water clothes you brought! Let's do this!

[ Cutting right to the chase. There... wasn't much need to redirect the conversation after all. Alberto did it himself, big reveal, however anti-climactic and conversational. ]

Aha, Merman is the preferred term. Specifically an eel merman, but that is beside the point.

[But Jade won't hang onto the subject either, because he has confirmation and info that may or may not be useful in the future. But he gets up, downing the rest of his espresso quickly.

It won't hit him for a while, but Jade's invigorated already. It's not been a boring visit. He heads over to the bags and fishes around in them, pulling out a bright yellow and blue number that looks like it might fit.]

I do not know if anti-water is the right word, but it should keep most of it off. And I have a few other sizes and styles as well.

[ Alberto is eager and at the ready, and slips the raincoat on as soon as it's handed to him. He examines himself, looking down, but then rushes to open his bathroom door, revealing a full-length mirror on the inside. It came like that, not something he found or purchased himself. But is finally coming in handy! He gives a little spin, grinning all the while, looking at his reflection over his shoulder.

He turns back to Jade with the same amount of excitement, undeterred, but without comment on this garment. It fits well enough, but Alberto's distracted by the suggestion of options. ]

What else did you bring? "Other styles?" Like what~?

[ He's never had a large wardrobe... Or frankly even enough to call his closet a "wardrobe" at all. He barely had more than three outfits or so back home; barely one or two as a little kid, just wore shorts woven from seaweed, mostly. Here he has barely more than six outfits. This is the most clothes he's ever owned in his life. And it's... still not a lot... He's anxious for a mini-fashion show here, okay. ]

Oh, I wasn't sure what you would prefer, let alone what would fit you so I selected a few. Also don't forget, I shall take your measurements before I leave and write them down. That way it'll be easier to pick your own clothes in the future.

[Normally Jade would have made sure that Alberto was wearing something a little bigger so that he could grow into it. But in this place, it that advice became worthless.

He pulled out a few others: a plain yellow raincoat along with a sweater to go underneath it, several loud prints, like this one and so on.]

Feel free to keep whatever ones you like and don't mind the price. We shall negotiate an appropriate favor at a later date.

[Whatever he meant by that Jade wasn't going to elaborate.]

[ Alberto scoops up all the clothes Jade pulls out, spreading them out on the foot of his bed unceremoniously as he quickly pulls the green and blue raincoat on. He goes straight for the dinosaur print, slipping that on and admiring his reflection. It's a little snug and short in the arms, a little small for such a gangly boy, which is a little disappointing; he has to scramble a little to get it back off, but he loves the print, and prattles on as he goes about his fitting. ]

Yeah, yeah, that sounds fine! I know how to do all kinds of stuff! Just lemme know what you need~! Hah, this is great~!

[ Finally free of the too-small dinosaur raincoat, he's pulling the sweater on over his head and moving onto the classic yellow raincoat, smile permanently stuck on his face, seemingly. ]

Oooh~!

He's acting like he's never worn clothes before, jeez... What a strange kid... ]

[Oh Alberto, don't make promises you are going to regret keeping...

But still, it's funny to watch him dash about trying everything on. Jade tried to get things that were appropriate to his age at least and likely simple tastes]

I would advise that you also buy some boots to go with them. That's something better done on your own though since one shouldn't just guess those things. And good shoes and boots are important on land. At least that is what my Father always said.

[Really, he is wondering who had taught this boy... well anything? Had he not been to land long before coming here? ]

[ Alberto is charmed by novelty — and indeed, he'd spent less than a month amongst humans before arriving here, so simple or extravagant, anything humans do, say, eat, or wear is a novelty to him still, even after quite a few months here in Avalon. He'll never tire of experimenting.

He does hop to at the mention of boots, though, still wearing the sweater and yellow raincoat. It's actually pretty cute on him, with the faded old blue jeans he's wearing with the cuffs rolled up, though those still needed to be held up with... what looks like rope that he's using as a belt, there. He really mustn't have been on land long before coming here. To the same effect, he whips out a pair of worn brown boots from under his bed, a bit too big for him but fit well enough, just a size or two up. Not meant for snow, though — clearly more like hiking boots. He holds them up proudly, like look, he knows what he's doing!!!

...Those are his only pair of shoes.

...And he doesn't own any socks.

But he's got shoes!!! That's new! It's a start! ]

Ooh, I got those, yeah, look! I mean— they hurt my feet, but they kinda work. Better than being barefoot in the snow, hah! Back in Portorosso— that's the human town I lived in, heh— I didn't need shoes, it was sunny almost all the time! Even a lot of the human kids didn't wear shoes. And Dad never got me any shoes on the island, cuz, y'know — it's an island... [ The hell does that mean, what, what kind of island is he talking about ]

So your dad taught you all about human stuff, too, then?

[ There's some excitement in his voice at that. Apparently he does at least have a father who taught him some things, allegedly? These revealing little blips and clues he peppers in completely transparently, just from sheer energy. He's very curious to hear about Jade's father suddenly, though, practically beaming at the other, still showing off his off-season boots to him, hanging in his hand. Woohoo, shoes, a mark of a sea monster's success on land, obviously. ]

[When Jade sees those boots he frowns for a moment, because that won't do for many reasons. But one thing at a time. This is becoming a project, but it's not like he has much to do in this place right now. And it's amusing enough.]

You should be wearing shoes either way. Or something on your feet. It's better in the long run.

[Human feet and bodies were so delicate and it took far too long for him to acclimate when he first came to the surface. He is surprised to hear this boy mention a Dad and has to wonder even more now. Were the merpeople of his world that different?]

He taught me some things, yes. Not everything of course, because the lifestyle is that different from our own. But as a man of business, he has to visit associates on land and so he learned a thing or two that he passed on to my brother and me.

[Jade does walk over to look at those boots, because yes, at least Alberto would be able to hike. Which he might have to make him do some time in the future if they continue this acquaintance.]

He always told us you have to look your best, or else the land dwellers will not respect you. And respect is very important no matter where you are.

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