"I think the difference between the human and Mer population is perspective. You see life from the tops of your high buildings, and it all seems to small, save for what you have built. You are always looking higher. The Mer are at the bottom, and we can't touch the sky like you can. We build small things near the bottom, and therefore, we look at one another. Face to face," Kiache turned to Jack, looking steadily at him, "Neither is right or wrong. It is all perspective."

Jack couldn't understand how Kiache could be so utterly smart. He felt like a big blob next to her. With her wise words that he couldn't ever understand. Maybe after living here for awhile he might, but right now he just couldn't understand it.

Kiache grinned, breaking the wise and solemn stare, "Ha! Wise! I suppose being alone with only your thoughts does that. I never wanted to be mad at all humans - surely there were good ones - so I simply sat and thought about what made us different. I've concluded that we are all the same deep down - people. And people can be mean and cruel and awful, but because a part of the population is like that, doesn't mean we all are. There are plenty of awful people here too."

Jack smiled softly at Kiache, a feat that he still had no idea how Kiache had accomplished. He hadn't smiled in years.

Kiache patted Jacks shoulder and pulled her hand back, staring at it, "Well," she said ruefully, "I suppose I haven't been here long either. I spent almost half my life with humans. I am not quite Mer." Mer never used hands to express their feelings. It was always tails. Yet she patted Jack and hugged Ripley with her hands and fumbled with her fingers when thinking... no... she certainly wasn't all Mer.

Jack gently used his hand to lift Kiache's chin, so he could look at her in her eyes. "Kiache, you are you. You are exactly what you're supposed to be. Unique and different maybe, but different isn't a bad thing. It's taken me a long time to realize that. You are amazing, kind and nice, but fierce and loyal too. You're an all around good person, and I hope you can see that." Jack smiled, at Kiache, his hand had lingered on her chin but he pulled it back quickly.

Kiache's face reddened, and she looked away for only a moment before turning back, "Thank you, Jack. Your words have a large weight, and they mean a lot. Truely." The idea that Jack was comforting her gave Kiache a boost in moral - one that was needed.

Jack smiled at Kiache with his pale eyes. Maybe this was okay. He could live like this. As long as he could see Kiache's smile he was okay with just staying friends. "I am happy that they do. You look so much more alive down here you know? You've always looked pretty but you look so happy here." Jack winced, he'd just called Kiache pretty. He was so stupid.

Kiache giggles, and bumped her hip against Jacks, "Why thank you. I think you are handsome, too." Her cheeks were red, and she couldn't stop smiling, "And yes - I am here with friends, at my home. I am very happy."

Although Jack almost never blushed, as it was most unlike him. For the cold-hearted son of the mayor, who had no friends and isolated himself from the world. Him blushing should be impossible.