He asked her if she was good, and it was with such a genuine concern that Willow’s heart ached with affection. “Yes, I’m okay. I’m not alone, there are other people that help keep my Quackert’s safe,” she assured, reaching out to give Oz’s shoulder a reassuring pat. It was true that sometimes Willow felt like the other workers at the library didn’t care quite as much about the safety of the books as she did, but one worked with what they had. She prayed vehemently that Quackert remained equally safe because she didn’t doubt for a second that the male would be devastated, that his heart would be hurt.
OH. OHHHH. She vaguely remembered Percy telling her about an extra weird customer interaction. Willow’s eyes widened and she gave a delighted laugh. “Oh I know Percy, she’s my friend. She likes fish alright but much more when they’re cooked and they don’t still have eyes.” She realized he probably wouldn’t understand her sentence as it was, that they were going round and round in an unproductive circle. A merman…that’s what she was looking at. Her grandpa had sworn they existed, but she’d never thought she’d see one. “No, no I don’t speak Mermish on my own,” she admitted, friendly smile and her body language light as she headed for her desk. “But I have a special tool that might help.”
Magic was imbibed in a lot of technology and tools within town. Willow gestured for Oz to take a seat in the computer chair at her desk, letting her own frame claim the desk as her perch. She began rooting through a drawer, letting out a triumphant sound as she straightened, an old school tape recorder in hand. Willow wasn’t sure what that meant…old school…but the item had been heavily magicked to understand and adapt to languages and provide translations. “So if this works right…it’s going to take my english words, and then play them back to you in Mermish. And then it’ll play anything you say back to me in English.”
Pointer finger settled on the red record button, pushed hard, microphone pressed to her lips. “I don’t think Mermish has been spoken in this town in a long town, if ever, so I’m not sure if the device will catch onto it. But if this works, if you understand me, you’ll take this into your hands, push down on the red button while you’re talking, and then let go of the button when you’re done.” Anticipation and curiosity mingled in her gaze as she stopped recording and then hit the play button, eagerly watching Oz’s face for signs that the words were being translated for him.
Oz furrowed his brows with concern and motioned around them quizzically. “More.. hoomans.. help?” He asked and found himself trying to peek around for any other souls helping keep her Quackerts safe. The merman’s mouth opened and his jaw slacked as if he hesitated trying to figure out the appropriate words. “I help? Quackerts?” The man’s eyes travel from them to Quackert and then to the books. He just had to make sure no one took them from their chains? He could do that. He did guard a prison at one point, even though.. he didn’t do a very good job at that. Still the question was practically glowing across his forehead. ‘WHO?;’
The man stared at her blankly, blinking rapidly at her comment. She knew Percy! This was perfect! “Ahh Percee yes..” He tried to soak in what Willow had told him, but the only thing evident was the growing wrinkle between both of his brows. “She like fish? I ah.. make mad…how..sorry Perceee?” He asked and tilted his head curious how to right his wrong. Since he hadn’t seen Percy in such a long time, but then again he didn’t really go to the coffee place anymore. The few times he did venture he hadn’t caught the familiar sight of the woman. The full lips drop down into a pout when she seemed to say she didn’t speak Mermish.
He followed her unsure of what he would find. The items behind the desk were mainly foreign to him. One finger extended to poke at the computer screen, and then softly knock on it. Quackert let out a challenging squeak so Oz leaned over and set him down atop of the desk with Oz. The little terror had become occupied pecking and chasing a pen across the desk. Closely he watched when the tape recorder was set on the desk. He moved his hand and pointed down to it riddled with fascination. “Mermish?”
After she hit play though. It registered on his face. Some of the words were gibberish, but not all of them. Oz stared wide eyed from the contraption to Willow. Then he carefully hit the red button and repeated back in Mermish, “It works a little bit. What is this?” He let go and grinned excitedly hoping it translated back correctly.
