[open network - video] backdated to beginning of August

[ruevealing]

Who: Delloso de la Rue
Username: rue
Warnings: mentions of murder/dissection, non-human

[After the last few difficult months here, is it any surprise that the first network message from Rue in some months now comes with none of the cheerful optimism and excitement of their last? Instead, the owlbear looks exhausted, tightly wound and deeply troubled.

Something they have recently learned has set them on edge.]

I am afraid I must be the bearer of unfortunate news.

Though our numbers have dwindled greatly these last few months, there are still those of us non-humans simply trying to live in this world. But I have recently been informed by Nia that there is a greater chance of danger coming for us. My worst fear about being seen by humans was the terror the sight of me would incite, but now I have learned that was only the beginning.

Pray, if you are weak of constitution, I beg of you to turn this off. I do not wish to distress anyone, only to inform.

To put it plainly, Nia said that if we were discovered by those government forces outside of ADI, that we would very likely be killed and dissected. Such news has weighed heavily on my heart, I can not think how any of us are meant to reaction to such horror.

Comments

[graveyounglady]

Of course. [She'll keep an eye out for those vans.] There's a shop opened up that's got all sorts of fishes in tanks that people can look at and touch. Been thinking about seeing what it's about. Maybe if they're treating the creatures there well. If you don't got a particular place in mind. Or I'm happy to go anywhere you got your heart set on.

[ruevealing]

I have nowhere in particular in mind, so I think that would be lovely. I only want to spend time in town, with my dearest friends.

[but also like, rue is fully down to heist those fishes out of there if they are being mistreated too.]

[graveyounglady]

Then let's do it! Meet you at the entrance to ADI headquarters in half an hour? Just need to wrap up a few things here for a shift in medical.

[ruevealing]

I shall see you shortly, dear one.

>action

[graveyounglady]

[And shortly, indeed, Mercy is at the entrance to ADI HQ, ready for a new (small) adventure.]

Hey there, Rue!

[She puts on her best smile for the owlbear. Rue's mind must be in a dark place after what Nia told them. This trip is to get their mind on things a little less dire. Just... normal things that anyone might do, whatever their creed or species.]

You ready to take a gander at some fish? Maybe rescue 'em if we need to?

[She means that second part as mostly a joke.

But what if...?]

[ruevealing]

[But what if.

The only nice thing about their glamour is how much less Rue emotes in this face, their human expression pulled into a careful, unreadable stare. Even without a mouth, they've always been infinitely more expressive in their true form.

But even still, haunted by terrible fears or not, Rue is always grateful to see their young friend.]

Hello, dearest. I suppose I am, though let us hope they do not need any rescuing.

[graveyounglady]

Hope it well enough, but we're ready, if not.

[And this time, Mercy has decided, they won't get caught. The business at the liquor store was a massive misunderstanding and a mistake she won't repeat. Tasers are just the worst, really. She offers an arm to her friend in most gallant fashion for the walk over.]

And I'll fend off any of those vans that're creeping around town. No one's getting to you. Brought my dirk this time.

[ruevealing]

You're very sweet, dear, but I do hope to avoid their notice completely instead. I don't think my heart could take any of that today.

[Just a normal, easy, totally uneventful trip out with their friend. That is all Rue is asking for.

But even as worried and sorrowful as Rue is, Mercy raises her arm and the owlbear's disguised face softens as they accept it, talons resting carefully at Mercy's forearm.]

Now! I will let you lead the way.

[graveyounglady]

[It's a relatively short jaunt to the mini-aquarium attraction. Gloucester isn't an enormous city to begin with. As they walk Mercy regales Rue with fish facts... some of them more true than others.]

I been looking up little facts about fish since I heard about this. Did you know wabbegong are floor-feeding fish? Sharks of a sort. They swim along the bottom of the ocean sucking things up. Oh, and there's these things called cookie cutter sharks. Have you used cookie cutters here? Fancy things for making sweets in cute little shapes. The sharks pull a perfect 1-inch circle outta the things they latch onto. Scary, but it's impressive as much as anything. And then there's the flying fish. They fly through storms like birds, looking for rocks and ships and anything else they can find to land on.

[ruevealing]

[For all of the Animal Planet specials that Rue and Hob watched together, very few were ever centered around fish. So honestly? Every fish fact that Mercy shares with them, Rue believes entirely no matter how obscure.]

I have never heard of a wabbegong! Or cookie cutter sharks. How absolutely fascinating! Where did you learn so much, dear?

[graveyounglady]

The internet! [It's for everything!] They got whole pages about fish and sharks and even faeries, if you can believe it. Don't know how much of it is true, mind you. We ain't got that sort of thing.

[She tilts her head thoughtfully.]

Is it true daisies ward them off and they can't touch iron?

[ruevealing]

Faeries even? Truly? How absolutely fascinating!

[Rue will be hunting google for any and all misinformation they can find!]

Iron is quite true, yes, but I have never met a daisy I did not adore.

[graveyounglady]

Huh... maybe it's only different types? Are there different sorts of faeries in our realm? There was a whole page on changelings and pixies and redcaps and lep-leopards? Some kinda leopard faerie.

[She means leprechauns. This may not be obvious.]

[ruevealing]

There are! Dozens upon dozens of different types. I do know that because I was not born a true fey, that perhaps some of the rules do not fully apply like they might to a fey born into that magic. But truth be told, it was not something I thought to ask.

I do not believe I've heard of a leopard variety, but they might very well exist!

[graveyounglady]

What's the difference between you and a true fey? [Mercy cocks her head at that.] The pictures I was seeing on the internet for 'fair folk' all look like your glamoured form, not you. Are they all like elves?

[ruevealing]

I was born a wild beast in the mortal realm. I only became a fey once I had been taken to the Feywild and the magic of that world took hold of me. A true fey would be a fey born into that magic.

Appearances can certainly very, some look more like bugs, some more like beasts, but I would say in my court, the elven appearance was most common.

[graveyounglady]

So... this ain't the first time in your life you've changed worlds.

[She offers a small smile.]

Reckon that's why you're good at catching on and managing. Even when things is hard.

[ruevealing]

[Rue pauses mid-step, so taken back by that comment. Their eyes blink owlishly, slow and thoughtfully, before their big-eyed expression is turning on Mercy.]

How strange! I had never once even considered such a thing! That could be very true. Even though I have often thought of being from the mortal realm, I don't know if I've truly considered the full gravity of such words before.

[graveyounglady]

[Mercy stops with them, brows rising at their response to the observation.]

I reckon this is a very different mortal realm than the one you new at home, anyroads. Not s'many owlbears roaming Gloucester, aye?

Or harborside aquariums?

[She motions down the block to where she can see the tanks set up.]

[ruevealing]

[Rue's eyes blink slowly.]

I suppose it must be. For the whole of my life, I have been the only owlbear that I've ever known. As much as I should like to find another, I doubt we will find one in the aquarium. Come along, let us see which fish need rescuing.

[Rue is all too happy to guide the pair of them closer, doing the normal dance of smiling and greeting humans while also simultaneously avoiding letting anyone bump into Rue's true form. Thankfully, they are quite experienced in it.]

[graveyounglady]

[She can't even imagine. To have no one of your own species around would be heartbreaking. But then... they had still found Hob. She'd... sort of been assuming he was another type of owlbear. One more bear than owl.

The aquarium awaits, though, and Mercy's not keen to draw attention to Rue's potential loneliness.]

Aye!

[The aquarium, itself, is very 'small tourist attraction' in nature. There are fish that look a little too big for their tanks, a big pool with starfish and other such sea creatures that have a few children poking around. Mercy looks around a bit before setting eyes on a small shark being kept in a tank that looks like it can barely turn. She gives Rue a nudge.]

Looks kinda close in that cage.

[ruevealing]

[Mery is such a dear for that. Rue has been lonely enough, they want to spend the time they have with their dear friend enjoying every moment.

And hopefully, not getting tazed again.

Though the moment that they arrive, Rue knows it could very well be a possibility.]

We can not allow them to be kept here like this. Look at how small their tanks are.

[graveyounglady]

Right. We oughta figure out if we need to put 'em in the river or the ocean. Let's investigate a little. I'll read the plaques around if you wanna talk to one of the folks that look like they're in charge.

[She gives a smart nod, leaving Rue to the diplomacy while she does her own investigations. There are two people who look like they could be 'in charge' here. A bored-looking, bespectacled teen behind the cash register, and an older woman moving around, tidying displays. They're both wearing the same shirt with a smiling fish patch at the breast and blank trousers.]

[ruevealing]

[A quick nod at Mercy before Rue approaches in a swish of swirling skirts and a too-charming smile.]

My dear friends, good afternoon. Your shop is quite new in town, is it not?

cw: misgendering

[graveyounglady]

[The woman looks up with a cheesy grin.]

That we are, miss! Just a week or two now. Got some fine fishes for you to enjoy.

[She points to one of the tanks.]

My son helped to catch some of our new friends.

[As Rue is talking, Mercy takes a look at the placards and starts... casually looking around for a bucket she might use to abscond with some finned friends.]