Barracudas Bar & Grill and Empire Tattoo presents: Trial of the Tides

—static crackles… a low hum… then a voice cuts through, rough and controlled—

“…You’re listening to Backwaters Radio.” Wood creaks and water shifts beneath it.

“Barracuda’s Bar & Grill alongside Empire Tattoo are putting out a call for Trial of the Tides.” A pause. Something heavy drops into water somewhere in the distance.

“You step up. You perform. You earn the crowd Or you don’t.” The males tone hardening, the edges sharpening. “And if you don’t—”

—a soft click—like someone leaning into the mic uninvited—

“Mmm… now don’a go scaring them all off,” a woman’s lilted voice enters the sound waves, warm, smooth, dangerously amused. “Where’s tha fun in tha’?”

A faint breath of laughter, close… sultry. “Dearheart, if you’ve got something worth showing… I want ta see it. Sing for me, tell me a story, make me laugh, wow me with magic, whatever you do, make me and the crowd feel something.”

Beat.

“And if you don’a do tha one simple thing?” A soft creak of wood… closer now. “…well.” Her tone dips, playful… but there’s something sharp underneath. “I suppose we’ll all enjoy watching ta see if ya swim faster than tha gators.”

The male exhales a quiet, almost amused sound, like he expected this, “Sign-ups are open, slots are limited.”

The female, softer now, like a whisper meant for one person: “Come find me at Barra’s or text at secondlife:///app/agent/ccde1b82-d4f9-4b38-8402-648c3e543206/about, I’ll make sure you’re… properly placed for the event on May 7th.” A long pause as the water laps gently.

Together then, his voice low, hers threaded through it:

“The swamp keeps what it takes.”

—static rolls back in… then silence—