“A late-night booty call? Not what I expected from you, Dan, but nice.” “No. What are you even doing here Travis?” “I live here too ya know. Besides, Prof let us out early, don’t remember why though. Hey, that chick you got in there, she’s hot but definitely not your girl, player” Ina recognized one voice to be Daniel but the other was unfamiliar. He was talking about her. How did I know wake up when he entered? How does a ‘booty’ communicate? She slid out of Daniel’s bed, having removed most of the covers earlier due to the heat she was silent. Ina cautiously looked out of the open bedroom door to see Daniel locking the front door and a shorter man in the kitchen in the kitchen. Neither noticed her. Aware of Daniel’s previous reactions, she grabbed the bag off his chair and moved into the bathroom, out of sight of the two boys. Once dressed, she quietly walked into the living room. “I still can’t believe – Sheesh lady didn’t know you were awake.” Travis grabbed the food he was making and took it to his room, shutting the door with his foot. “Your roommate, Travis?” Ina proposed. Daniel looked embarrassed and disappointed, “Yeah, I wish he hadn’t shown up. How are you feeling?” “Well rested, but based on what I heard of the conversation, I have more to learn about the appropriate interactions. Why did Travis sound so smug when talking about me? I would have thought that a stranger’s presence would be cause for alarm.” “Um… well… he assumed correctly that I brought you here but then took a wild leap that we had sex, which I don’t plan on doing, with you, because I, like he mentioned, have a girl, Marie, and I don’t think you want that either because you would have a say in it but again, no from me so—” Ina stopped him. “I think you’re rambling again. I understand your point.” Daniel made a few glances to Travis’s door then motioned for Ina to follow him into his own room. “We have to figure out what is safe for you on land.” “Well, I’d assume I am as safe as any female on land, since you have made me blend in.” “I mean more along the lines of what might cause you to go back into mermaid form.” He whispered the last two words even though they were closed in his room. “I think we should test you in water. I don’t want you to get caught in the rain and be transformed. Let’s start with some water on your hands.” They moved into his bathroom and he turned on the faucet. Ina let the water run through her fingers. “The water obeys you.” “The magic of plumbing.” Daniel threw in some halfhearted jazz hands then realized Ina might want a more technical explanation. “We’ve created pumps that move the water through pipes and valves control when it comes out, you can get hot and cold.” “I’ve heard of such technologies but I have spent my whole life listening to the ocean. It would determine how I reacted to a situation. And now, the water is so small and controlled.” Bitterness crept into her voice. “Are you sure you want to stay? You must be missing home.” “I need to stay. As much as I’ve learned about land dwelling, it is strange and bizarre… and wonderful to see it for myself.” “I bet I’d feel the same way if I ended up in a fantasy land. Anyway, do you feel any changes? You don’t look any different.” “No, I think I’m safe with this kind of contact.” Daniel turned to his shower and started to fill up the tub. “Next we’ll try full submersion. It’s best if the clothes come off so once you’re in just pull the curtain and I can come back in.” He moved towards the door and Ina turned off the sink. “Isn’t it annoying to have to put on and take off all of these layers?” “I’ve never known anything different.” Daniel leaned his head against the door as Ina stripped down and slid into the tub. He heard the shower curtain swish and turned around. Ina had propped herself up on the edge of the tub in the narrow window left between the curtain and the wall. “This can’t be at all comfortable for you, I barely fit.” Daniel sat on the counter and leaned back against the mirror. “I don’t think many adults use baths and if they do they’re far nicer than that one. Sorry but a good tub was not on my radar when looking for an apartment.” “It’s not your fault suppose. However, it seems strange to have something like this that is nonfunctional.” “Well tubs of any kind are good for bathing children, not that there are any here or that I’m planning on having any while living in this place. It’s also a shower. Water comes down from the thing on the wall, if you look up.” “Like rain?” Daniel nodded his head. Ina sighed and submerged her head, forcing her knees to bend. Daniel took note of the time she was under, concerned that he heard no bubbles. After some time, his nerves got the best of him. “Ina? Hey, are you alive down there?” She rose with a squelch and a sigh. “Oh, good you’re fine. I’d be the one to drown a mermaid. Tail?” “Just a sad comparison to the ocean. I think it is safe to say that I am in no danger of an unwanted transformation.” She stood up and stepped out of the tub. Daniel hopped off the counter, “Luckily, I have a clean towel.” With his eyes closed, he presented it to her. “I do not mind if you see me like this.” “But I do.” Ina dried off and dressed then fell onto the bed in a familiar way. “How are you holding up? I can tell you’re homesick.” “Yes, but that is the sacrifice I must make to enhance our knowledge.” “Oh, speaking of…” He looked at his bookcase and pulled out a beat-up textbook. “World history! This bad boy should give you some idea of what’s happened and it will probably give you a better understanding of what motivates people and what their capable of.” He grimaced and set the book down next to Ina. She propped herself up to look at it. She picked it up and thumbed through the pages. “I’ve never actually held a pristine book before. The pages are full of words and images, so life like.” Daniel smiled at her amusement. “Daniel, I can’t actually read.”

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