And so it begun.

Julianne: So, what do you want to know about?

Rose: Well....

She shyly crossed her legs and twiddled her thumbs.

Rose: ... I was wondering... how do you deal with fitting in with other humans?

Julianne: Hmm?

Yet another simple question.

Rose: It's just... sometimes I say something... or do something... and... well.... y'know?

Julianne: I see...

She put her finger on her lip. After being on Earth for year after year, she knew full well that what she was talking about was a big problem for most aliens.

And so she debated, "Should she give her proper advice, or should she simply play a bit with her?" If she was being honest, the first answer was obvious. But if she had any ulterior motives...

But, just to be sure...

Julianne: You know, on my first day here...

Rose's eyes rose up with a shining light, like she was hungry to hear what she was about to say.

Julianne: I was so freaked out by everything I'd seen, I was terrified of walking anywhere without my husband and without Max.

And she surprised herself by talking more and more to Rose.

Julianne: But those two...

She found herself giggling.

Julianne: ... they were so eager to see the world and experience it, even in spite of me. And eventually... they got me doing it, too.

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Roses eyes shone brightly as she watched her, and, almost as if in response, Julianne continued...

Julianne: If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have managed to get a job as an actress, we wouldn't have gotten any money, and we would've starved... probably.

Rose kept staring at her.

Julianne: Oh, sorry. I got ahead of myself.

She really did. She'd never anticipated herself talking to her like this. After all, why would she open up to this stranger.

Julianne: I suppose what I'm trying to say is... that you shouldn't be so scared of showing who you truly are.

Roses eyes shone more brightly.

Julianne: Of course, you should probably stray from using your powers around them. However...

Her eyes strayed to a picture of her husband, son, and herself, smiling, and Rose looked at it as well.

Julianne: ... being a "foreigner" shouldn't be an excuse for you to not be yourself.

Roses eyes shone even more brightly, and she lightly whimpered.

At that point, Julianne had begun to believe it. Maybe Rose was really just like that.

Julianne: After all, you'd be surprised, but some humans are a lot more accepting of strange people than you could imagine. I should know. And though you might have some trouble finding them, staying away from people won't make friends appear any faster. I should know that. And, of course, most people don't pay that much attention to other people.

Rose: Really!

Julianne: (slightly shocked) Yes, really. So don't be so bothered if you slip up every once in a while. It's not that big of a deal, really. Just... give a generic excuse if things get hairy. Trust me, eventually, you'll be used to it.

Rose: Mrs Hunter...

A few tears dropped from her eyes.

Rose: Th... thank you... I.... I really needed to hear that.

Julianne: Hmm?

Rose: Sometimes... I.... I wonder about... whether or not people start to think something's wrong with me... but... yeah... I really needed to hear that.

Julianne: Glad I could help.

She watched the girl in front of her. She was being completely honest. There was no mistaking it. Rose was just like that. Innocent as a dove.

Julianne Hunter couldn't help but marvel at her. She knew for a fact that sirenites were not like this. But her... there was something about her that was fundamentally different.

In any case, she could finally let her guard down.

Julianne: So, any other questions.

Rose: (excitedly) Uhh... ye.. yeah... How do you hide your powers from people? And... and... how do you deal with all the weird human machines and... and...

It at that moment occurred to Julianne Hunter that Rose had probably been struggling all this time.

Rose: Sorry... I... I got ahead of myself...

She calmed herself down.

Julianne: It's alright, Rose. I get it.

She never intended on being so friendly to her, but here she was, comforting her.