Desperation

A humanoid with grimy green scales over her entire body walked up to Cynthia, avoiding eye contact. Her face had the shape of a french bulldog's, but it wasn't a snout.

She didn't have a nose. Instead, she had two small slits in her scaly skin, reminiscent of water creatures. Lastly, her mouth looked human, albeit wider.

Her face made no biological sense to Cynthia, but she wasn't bothered by it.

"Name." Cynthia ordered.

The woman opened her mouth the slightest amount while looking at the ground.

"...m..ar..y…" Mary eked out in a raspy voice.

Cynthia narrowed her eyes.

"Is that the normal way you talk?" The elf scoffed.

"Because I have questions, and I need to hear clear answers.

So if you're doing this because you're self-conscious, you'll end up a meteorite like the other people wasting our time."

The woman's eyes trembled, and she tucked her chin into her neck. Now her already downward-facing head was nearly vertical.