literature

Underwater Story ~ Misty's Air Bar

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Literature Text

Misty's Air Bar - an underwater pub with jazz music, alcoholic seafood, and...actually pretty decent fish people.

The titular bartender, Misty, could usually be found conversing with her customers while on her shift. Today, she was talking with one of her more frequent customers, a buff, tough-looking fish man, about her day yesterday.

"An' this happened AFTER you got off work?" The tough-looking fish asked.

Misty was refilling one of her oxygen tanks under the bar. "Yeah...pretty crazy, right? I mean, all I wanted was to take a load off after a rough day, and instead I find myself tendin' bar again to a blue ca--"

Misty's conversation was interrupted by the bell chime and the front door opening.

"Heeeeeey, Misty~!"

And in that instant, all eyes shifted onto another of Misty's frequent customers, Korrina.

The pub was dead silent for a moment.

"...I'll get back to ya, Clyde." The buff fish man nodded at this, and went back to his meal while Misty turned her attention to Korrina.

"Well, THAT sure was a helluvan entrance there, Kori." Misty put her hands on her hips. "To what do I owe the pleasure today?"

"Well, I don't mean to alarm, but a new friend of mine needs help with something." Korrina and her new friend - Isabel - walked inside.

All eyes were now on Isabel, who practically looked like a monster to them. Regardless, she maintained a big smile (as big as she could make with puffed-up cheeks) and waved hello nicely as she made her way with Korrina to the bar.

"Whoa, that's a...pretty interestin' friend ya got there, Kori." Misty was taken slightly aback. "Bit of a face she's makin' there...I'm guessin' she's an air breather?"

"Yes, actually," came Korrina's reply as the two sat down. "I made her something to help her survive here, but it kinda ran out of air overnight." Korrina showed Misty the breathing device she gave Isabel. "Here."

"Lemme take a look-see here..." Misty took the device and gave it a firm once-over. She chuckled slightly. "Well, no wonder your friend ran outta air overnight - this right here's flimsy compared to the real deal!"

Korrina groaned. "I know, but the real deal's so expensive - way past what I can get by with!" She sighed. "Better to just make my own with what I can salvage from the garage." All the while, Isabel was just looking back and forth between the two with a look of pure confusion.

After a quick refill, Misty handed the device back. "No need to bootleg it, Kori - if ya want my advice, start lookin' for a job somewhere nearby. Who knows - ya just might come back to me for help."

Korrina giggled nervously. "Thanks...I'll pass, though." With that, she turned to Isabel. "Here you go, Isabel." As soon as Korrina handed her the device, she took it and put it on without thinking.

Isabel smiled under the device. Ahhh...sweet relief! she thought. I was starting to get an upset stomach from all the kissing...

Misty turned to Isabel, curious. "So, your name's Isabel? Well, 'tis a pleasure! The name's Misty, and I'm the bartender and owner o' this place!" She held out a hand for Isabel to shake, which she did. "Ya don't look like you're from around here, Miss Izzy," Misty continued. "In fact, I don't think I've ever seen your kind around at all!"

Isabel took off her breathing device to talk. "Thblanksbl...wblellbl, actbluallybl, I'mbl frblombl anbl entblirelybl dbliffblerblentbl wblorldbl frblombl hblerebl, abl plblanbletbl cblalledbl Eblarthbl. Anbld Ibl wblasbl brbloughtbl hblerebl bybl abl mblagblicbl hblatbl - abl hblatbl Ibl ownbl, fblunnblilybl enbloughbl - anbld nblowbl Kblorrblinabl anbld Ibl arble trblyingbl tobl fblindbl itbl. Dblidbl ybloubl hblappblenbl tobl sbleebl itbl flbloatblingbl arbloundbl anblywhblerebl inbl thble skbly?"

Misty just looked at her for a moment, confused. "Er...yeah, sure."

This made Isabel perk up with joy. "Thblatbl's awblesblomebl! Anbly idbleabl whblerebl itbl wblasbl hbleadbledbl?"

"Well, umm..." Misty shifted uncomfortably for a few seconds, making Isabel tilt her head. "...y'know what, let me just get back to you, sweetie." Isabel nodded, a little puzzled herself.

Misty shifted gears over to Korrina. "Kori, you're gonna hafta translate for me, 'cuz I can't understand a word this girl's sayin'."

Immediately, Isabel's mood shifted from excited to utterly stupefied. "Whbla--?!"

Korrina looked over to Isabel, and then back to Misty. "Well, why didn't you come to me first? You knew she was an air breather."

"You know how easily I get lost in conversations," came Misty's reply.

"Oh yes, of course." Korrina smirked and chuckled. "Little Golden Misty."

Misty just stared, her eyelids lowered. "Says the Bubblian blondie. Just tell me what this here air breather's sayin', okay?"

"Alright, alright, you don't have to have a cowfish about it." With that, Korrina moved up a seat next to Isabel, who just stared at them both, mouth agape.

Isabel turned to Korrina. "Whblatbl gblivesbl?! Ybloubl nblevblerbl tbloldbl mebl shble wblouldn'tbl bebl ablble tobl undblerstblandbl whblatbl Ibl wblasbl sblayblingbl!"

Korrina laughed nervously. "Yeaaaaaaah, forgot to mention that. Sorry, but we were in kind of a hurry, and I didn't want to worry you any more..."

Isabel said nothing more and just gave her friend a sad look. She then turned her gaze over to Misty. "Sorry, sweetheart," the bartender said, shrugging. "Can't keep track o' ya what with those chubby cheeks o' yours." She then gave Isabel a playful poke on the cheek. "Ya look darlin', though, I'll give ya that much. Now what was it you were goin' on about?"

Isabel gave Misty a small, almost resigned smile. She took a breath from her device and started from the top. "I'mbl lblookblingbl fblorbl abl mblagblicbl hblatbl."

Korrina repeated for her. "She's looking for a magic hat."

Isabel continued. "It'sbl whblatbl brbloughtbl mebl hblerebl frblombl mybl plblanbletbl, anbld webl - Kblorrblinabl anbld Ibl - arble trblyingbl tobl fblindbl itbl."

Korrina repeated again. "The hat's what brought her here from her planet, and we're trying to find it."

Isabel finished. "Dblidbl ybloubl hblappblenbl tobl sbleebl abl blblackbl hblatbl flbloatbl bybl thble blbarbl atbl allbl?"

Korrina repeated once more. "Did you happen to see a black hat float by the bar at all?"

Misty just stared. She looked completely lost.

Isabel's small smile drooped. "Thblanksbl anblywblaybl." She got up from her seat and headed towards the door, with Korrina following...

"I saw one."

The girls turned around. Clyde, the buff fish man, held his hand up for them. "Yeh. Looked a lot like mine, it did, 'cept yours prob'ly doesn't have a gapin' hole at the top."

The two smiled and came back to the bar. Isabel took a seat next to the hulking brute. "Anbly idbleabl whblerebl itbl wblentbl?"

"Hmm..." Clyde took a moment to think. Worried, Isabel gestured to Korrina to take a seat next to her.

Korrina was about to sit down when Clyde stopped her. "Now hold on there, missy, I heard ye." He continued. "Come ta think of it, I did see it passin' over that huge-arse ship in the distance."

Misty gasped in horror. "The Abyssal J?"

Clyde continued. "Yeh, that's the one. I'd be mindful, though, Izzy...if I was in your place, I'd be wary of the primal shark what's guardin' it. Anythin' that bloke sees what finds its way over there, it's his for the keepin'. That shark catches ye trying to swipe that hat, ye'd better make a break fer it."

Isabel took this all in for a moment, then nodded, a determined look on her face.

Clyde smirked. "Ye got guts fer a small fry. It were me, I'd just make meself comfy here. But there's no changin' your mind, now is there?"

Isabel thought about saying something, but just ended up giving the big lug a hug.

Clyde returned the favor by patting her on the back. "Hehehe...best o' luck, then." With that, Isabel got up from her stool and headed out with Korrina. "And tell ol' Krusty I said 'ey, a'right?"

As soon as the two girls left, Misty swam over to Clyde, flustered. "Clyde...you just sent them both out there to die! Krusty's a monster; he'll take poor Izzy's little head off!"

Clyde only chuckled. "Believe you me, Misty, I know bravery or stupidity when I see it. That's kid's brave...she knows what she wants. I 'ave a feelin' she'll scrape by...'ell, I did." Clyde then put his massive mechanical right arm onto the bar.

Misty could only stare in shock. "...Is that recent?"
Been wanting to get this out of the way for a little while, hehe. :phew:

I was thinking about saving this as a birthday present for TheKitsuneAlchemist, but being the worrywart I am, having just come off of BH17, and having a rush of ideas for this story all at once, I just decided to knock it out while I could. ;P

Hope you enjoy it! :D This was fun to write~ :giggle:
~Void

Underwater Story was created by me, stars SchrodingersKit/TheKitsuneAlchemist, and belongs to us both.
© 2017 - 2024 Son-Void
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TheKitsuneAlchemist's avatar
Awww, this came out great~ :aww: Clyde got my usual nickname right off the bat too X'D