The Mimic Becomes a Merchant King

The two walked together along the rolling grassy hills and groves of trees that dotted the surface of Colony's mass, talking as they went. Coin would give credit where it was due, the illusion was shockingly convincing.

Each blade of grass, each leaf on the branches, they all moved and rustled in the wind as they would in any normal woodland. Even the scent in the air was convincing.

Part of him wondered how many clueless sailors had been drawn to Colony's shores, believing it to be some uncharted island. Only to then be devoured by the very soil. Then, ultimately, he decided he didn't want to know.

He was willing to bet that Colony had been somewhat careful with what it ate. And whenever it dined on a human crew, it was surely thorough to get every last one. Just in case anyone lived to spread tales of its existence.

"Well, it was a close call," Coin said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I had only just recovered from a very strong poison, so the demon we fought was pretty tough. Tricking it like that was my best bet if we were all going to survive."

"Strange," said Colony, looking dead ahead. Or, at least, the treasure chest did. Coin had no doubt that the elder mimic had eyes on him from all angles. "That you go so far to protect those othr creatures."

Coin shrugged. "Mimics are kind of selfish by their very nature. We don't even really like our own kind, do we?" Certainly, in Coin's experience, two mimics only tolerated the presence of each other if they were going to mate. Otherwise they were just competition over resources, and no feral mimic could abide that. "But, since I got smarter, I've learned to care about others."

"What does it mean, then, when you lose these creatures you care for?"

Coin frowned. He had mentioned Elijah's death, after all, so he couldn't fault Colony for thinking about it. He sighed, coming to a stop at a cresting hillock. "It hurts," he admitted, simply. "More than once, when I wake in the morning, I wonder what Elijah and I will do for the day. Then I remember he's gone, and the sadness hits me like a brick." He doubted he'd ever fully grasp the fact that Elijah was gone, if he was being totally honest with himself.

That shock would always hit him time and again. That was apparently the norm. Essine had told him that she had lost many people over the years, and would still occasionally wonder what they were up to before the remembrance struck her.

The chest beside him was silent, sitting on its haunches. "Why subject yourself to that? Making ties to those with fleeting lives, when the pain of the loss will hit you all the same?"

Coin considered this, pursing his lips for a moment, Eventually he shrugged, giving Colony a sideways glance. "It's part of being alive, I guess. Or, well, that's what people tell me. Life has meaning because it's fleeting. The memories you make with people, they stay with you long after those people you made them with are gone. And it's those memories that give texture to your own life, give you something to cling onto."

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Colony was silent for some time, facing the waves as they lapped and crested the far shore. "I would like to experience for myself," it eventually said.

"Huh?"

"The type of life you have lived and enjoyed. Perhaps I have been missing out, all these years in isolation. I would like to come back with you."

Coin froze. He hadn't been sure how his meeting with Colony would go, but he hadn't quite anticipated this. And, in truth, he didn't know how to respond. "I don't know if that's quite a good idea, Colony. I mean... you could probably condense a lot of this body of yours, but... nowhere near all of it."

"I can be away from my main body. For some distance, at least. I've had a lot of practice in doing so, scouting for food beyond the shores. If I sink myself under the waves off the coast of Sentinel, I can roam this... city you are so fascinated by."

Coin grimaced. "Well... that might be dangerous. For one thing you'd need to disguise yourself as a huma-"

Colony's mass shifted, the walking treasure chest turning into a twisting mass of grey sludge that rapidly reformed into a human outline. The figure that took shape and texture was rather androgynous, slender and naked save for the auburn hair on their head which spread down like a blanket to cover any nudity.

"Easily done," Colony said flatly, adopting a more human voice. "You chose to look... male, yes? Why?"

"It just... felt natural to me."

Colony nodded. "I see." Something shifted, imperceptible beneath the hair. But the softness of Colony's face was decidedly feminine. "Then consider me female. For now, at least," she said.

"Humans... tend to wear clothing, Colony."

"I see." The mass shifted, sections of soil being sucked up by the soles of Colony's feet. An in instant a white tunic with a red trim appeared to offer her some modesty, her hair receding into something less wild and unkempt. She looked close to those ancient humans Coin had witnessed in Colony's memories. He supposed the clothing was functional, but he'd need to take her to Rosenstern and Guildencrantz's shop at some point.

He sighed. This was going to happen, he knew. He was in no position to deny Colony, for fear of earning her ire. And, in truth, he was already reluctant to part from her. After all, there was nobody else like the two of them in all the world. It would be a shame to be without that kinship.

Still... Colony was dangerous. Not malicious, at least from what he had seen, but her lack of understanding of humans and society could easily cause trouble. If the wrong person crossed her, or if something made her angry...

"If you want to come to the mainland with me, then you need to do what I say and follow my instructions. I won't let you hurt innocent people."

"Innocent?" Colony asked, testing the word on her thin lips.

"Just... people who haven't done anything wrong. You can't go around eating people in public, especially if they haven't done anything against you."

Colony's face remained impassive, unblinking. They'd need to work on that if she was to blend in. "How do you fight the temptation? Not eating when surrounded by humans?"

They stared silently at each other for several long moments. "Okay, we gotta have a long chat about how you should conduct yourself among humans."

And so, that was what they spent the day doing. Walking and talking along the tranquil landscape, as if they were the only people left in the whole world, outlining the rules for how a smart mimic was expected to act in society.

Colony listened all the while, occasionally asking questions. But she was a good listener, clearly entranced at the idea of seeing the world as Coin had. And Coin, inwardly debated with himself on how he'd explain to his friends that they were now going to live with two intelligent mimics.