"We're here," Theo breathed reverently, releasing the stringray and vaulting through the water like a sea beast himself. He took only a moment to bow thankfully to his trusty water steed before heading straight for the gates. Now the target was in sight. Treasure focus activated. It was almost as if the wealth he sought danced in his eyes. Hopefully Lester and Rin knew just what official guild business they had, because all he could remember or think coherently about were the treasure rooms that needed exploring. It was super wasteful to leave anything of value down on the ocean floor where no one would appreciate it properly. Hopefully they would be the first to get here, and everything worth pilfering would still remain for his grubby little hands to find.
At first he didn't notice the crusty-lipped creature nearby. His beeline to the gate was unalterable, leaving him oblivious to his surroundings. After spending a good couple minutes uselessly trying to pry the gate open of his own volition, he floated back and pouted at it. Only then, whilst looking for a lock or mechanism, did he notice the fishy person nearby. It looked mostly human in shape, but the leathery skin was a greenish blue and dotted with scales on the torso, while the extremities were entirely covered in tough scales. It had long white hair, and its lips were more human than fish, but it lacked a nose and its eyes were round and glassy just like any typical amphibian. It dwarfed Theo by at least four head lengths, and was almost three Theo's wide...and it looked pissed. The blinked, scrunching his nose a little in dread. He looked back to Rin and Lester, about to ask them to deal with it until he realized again that this was a team. They were here to help each other. They were here to pull the weight. Rin had used a lot of magic to bubble them across an acid pit. Lester had used his charm and general warmth to get them the help of a stingray pack so they could get through the whirlpool. What had Theo done? He had been distracted by the shiny fish and saved by Rin. That...wasn't great.
Squaring his shoulders as if looking brave and sure of himself would somehow help, he swam up to the guard, equipping his best smile. "Greetings!" he started, almost cringing at his own stiff choice of words. "We've been sent here by Crystal Swan to...do stuff. Can you let us in? Please?" Theo asked charmingly. There was no response from the guard for a long moment, and the shiny enthusiast was starting to think there was a hearing or language problem until the creature slowly drew its eyes down on him. "The Aquatic Death Dealer says no," it blubbed crossly, returning back to ignoring the small human.
"Aquatic death dealer?" Theo repeated, looking around for such a thing. It sounded horrifying and dangerous, and he certainly didn't want to meet it. He didn't understand that the creature was simply speaking in third person. Sighing, Theo came to terms that he'd have to risk his life to get to his riches, but that was the usual price to pay. "Well, where is he? Maybe I can change his mind?"
This got a rise out of the humanoid covered in scales. "ME AQUATIC DEATH DEALER!" it roared, bubbles expelling from pulsating gills at the neck. It pulled a trident that would certainly give him tetanus and aimed at his face, but didn't follow through with an attack. Oh good. Just a threat. He wasn't going to die! "AND....ME IS A SHE!!!" Ok, now he was going to die.
"OH! Oh, of course! I know that. H-How could anyone mistake a mind-blowing beauty such as you to be a man? P-Preposterous!" he waved his hands, a strained grin on his face. Make it convincing. Make it convincing. If he ever needed his lineage to come in handy, it was right now. Time to get lucky! Wait- no! EW, NOT LIKE THAT! Calling on his ancient Egyptian blood, he poured on the sincerity. "I can't imagine why anyone would hide you away down here all alone. Such a waste! Someone very jealous must have given you this job to keep you all to himself," he treaded carefully, and finally she lowered the rusty weapon and studied him. "You deserve better than this. We'll take care of this place for you, so you can find someone that treats you well and be free. If I could breathe water without this apparatus, I'd be the one. But...sadly....I'm just a air-needed land-dweller. If only our souls had been put into different cages, my dear..."
She seemed wary though she was slowly disarming. Theo tilted his head, examining her cracked lips with pity. "But you can't go like that, Ms. Aquatic Death Dealer," he added, pulling his backpack forward and rustling within it for a few seconds. When his hand reappeared, it was holding a small jar with some sort of salve in it. Theo held it out to her, smiling sweetly. She hesitated. "It's for your lips. It'll heal them right up." Ms. ADD took the jar, opening it to check the contents. A bubble was released, but the water resistant material inside would not dissolve. Dabbing some on her finger, she smeared it on her lips and sighed in relief. "See? All I ask before you go is that you operate the gate for us."
Ms. ADD smiled. Did you know that fish people produce air for tears? With bubbles leaking from her eyes, she said "Me thanks..." and opened the first gate. Motioning for his friends to follow, he waved to her and swam inside. Once they were all in, she'd pull the next lever to drain the water and unlock the second door, then swim off to find her happiness. Thankfully, the dripping water from his hair would hide Theo's own tears for the poor fishwoman guard. She must have been so lonely...
[1012 words- wc exceeded]