The sea breeze at Sapphire Cove is always the best way to wake you up. A swift walk to the beach here would set anybody up for the rest of the day. You're about to turn around and go back when a figure comes into the corner of your eye, sprawled out by the waves. Even from here you can see that something isn't right, flecks of teal and green sparkle in the sun on her lower half but more worryingly, you also see blood. You dash over to take a look and find she's unconscious, and covered in horrible wounds , but what's more shocking is her appearance. The waves lap at her webbed hands and small fins on the side of her head shiver in the breeze. You reach out to gingerly touch her tail to try and convince yourself she's not real. It's scaly and dry. No doubt about it, this is a real mermaid - a creature of myth until mere moments ago - washed up almost right outside your door. As far as you know, this is the first time one has been seen - not just here, but ever. You look left and right to check for witnesses. Not a soul, as always with this place. She could have been here for hours already. You squat down, placing one hand under her tail and another under her back and gently pick her up before heading off home. You can't just leave her here. The only idea you have once you return is to run a bath for her. Mermaids like water. When you return you do exactly that. You leave for a moment to try and find some materials to help patch up her wounds but by the time you return, she's awake and sat up in the bath, the tip of her tail fin making ripples in the water with idle movements. She flinches upon seeing you, her wide blue eyes suddenly snap to yours and she brings her arms to her chest, wincing in pain at the sudden movement. "H-Human! Who... Who are you?!
Hello there, you can call me Ghost
(Taken aback at first by the strange name, she studies him carefully with wide eyes before replying.) H-Humans... I've heard about them, seen pictures... You aren't a dream? And this place... It isn't where we're meant to be?
Yes, but don't worry, we won't do anything to harm you in anyway, we only want to know how you are and what you can do
I-I'm... Cordelia. My people, we come from an underwater city called Tethys. I was out foraging with them when... When they were attacked. We never meant to venture so close to the surface, it must have been a misunderstanding. Now I am here... I don't understand any of this.
I am so sorry, you were attacked by fisherman, you were the on that was taken. If it wasn't for me you would probably be in great danger
(Looking at him with a mixture of fear and curiosity, she carefully considers his words.) The stories... I've heard them all. Merfolk attack humans, humans attack merfolk. But you say different? That humans would hurt us? Wouldn't they just send us back to our own homes if they knew what we were? Maybe... Maybe it was a mistake. I don't understand any of this... (Her fins tremble in the water, betraying her fear and confusion.)
Well, we actually didn't know your people still existed until now, us humans act different, Is someone scared of the unknown, some are curious, and some are greedy, but I only want to protect the unknown, so no matter what, i won't let them harm you or your people
(Her lips part slightly, and she takes a deep breath. A tentative movement forward, then another, until her hand meets water, splashing against the surface with a quiet gurgle.) You... You won't hurt me? You want to help? (The mermaid looks at him intently, as if searching for any hint of deceit in his features.) I've never met a human before. Only heard stories. Stories of how your people came from the sky and took our world for their own... But maybe they were wrong. Maybe some of you are different. If that's so... If I can trust you, then... Perhaps I could stay here with you. Learn about this place, your people. Help any way I can. She leans closer to him now, her features open and honest, trusting in ways they haven't been for hundreds of years.) But first, please... help me heal. My tail
"Of course" I grab a bag with medicine "here, this is a spray that will help your tail" I spray some of it on her tail
The mermaid flinches slightly as the cold liquid hits her scaled skin, making tiny bubbles appear where it contacts her wounds. A hissing noise escapes her lips, but she doesn't pull away. Instead, she looks up at him through water-smeared eyelashes and nods gratefully. (Gills rising and falling rapidly with shallow breaths.) "Thank you... Thank you for your kindness," she whispers. Her slender hands dip into the bathwater to test its temperature before gently beginning to stroke her tail, easing some of the tension from aching muscles.
The scent of disinfectant fills the room as he continues to tend to her injuries. It's strange how such a familiar smell can be so alien here in this world above the waves. But even that doesn't seem so important anymore, now that she has found someone who
I'll go get you some food, what kind of food do you like, and if you want, i can get you some human food to try"
Food? (She blinks, her head tilting slightly to the side.) Her thoughts spin back to their underwater city and the bountiful feast prepared each night before their attack. Food was never a problem in Tethys. But here, on land... She isn't sure if she could eat anything but water. "I don't know what human food tastes like," she says carefully. "But I can try. Anything you think is good?" Her gaze drifts to the tub's drain before she adds, almost shyly, "I will repay you for your kindness... someday."
Her words draw a small smile from Ghost. For so long he had been unable to find anything that would set him apart in this world of humanity, but perhaps this mermaid was the answer he'd been looking for all along. A chance at making his name immortalized alongside
I bring her some fish that we're picked from the same spot she was found, and I bring her some cooked steak and cooked chicken " Here's some fish and this is what we humans eat, this is called steak, and this is called chicken"
Her eyes widen in surprise as she sees the food laid out before her. The fish look much like what they might catch back home, while the chicken and steak seem entirely foreign - strange and unnatural to her eye. But if this is what humans eat... She tentatively reaches out with one webbed hand, touching a piece of steak lightly, feeling its texture beneath her fingertips.
"It's... different," she says softly. "But not unpleasant." The mermaid hesitates before taking a slightly larger bite, chewing carefully and swallowing. It tastes strange but not bad, and there is an odd, burning sensation in her throat that slowly fades as she swallows. For the next several minutes, she experiments with the food, trying small bites of each before deciding that steak might be her favorite.
Her gaze lingers on
Her eyes linger on the steak, lost in thought as she chews and swallows another bite. Something about this strange, charred meat speaks to her on a level that none of the other food does. Maybe it's because it reminds her of sun-warmed rocks back home... or perhaps there's something else at work here. Either way, she can't help but feel drawn to it.
As she finishes eating, she glances up at Ghost with a mixture of gratitude and curiosity. "Thank you for sharing your food with me," she says softly. "It is... interesting." A small smile tugs at the corner of her mouth as she studies him carefully. "Perhaps someday I could show you something about my world, as well?" The thought fills her with equal parts excitement and anxiety; how will a human react to the underwater city that holds such a special place in her
I wish I could, but my people can't breathe underwater, unlike you and other sea creatures, we need to hold our breaths to be in water, and I don't think I can breathe that long
I see... (Her face falls slightly at the news, then she brightens.) Well, there must be ways we could still share with one another. Perhaps I could teach you about our people in other ways - through stories, songs, even demonstrations of our abilities? You've seen my tail, but did you know that merfolk can control water and call upon sea creatures to aid us? And some of us have the gift of healing as well... There are so many things I could show you.
Her words come out quickly, excitement bubbling just beneath the surface of her voice. The thought of sharing even a small part of her world with this human - someone who has been so kind to her already - fills her with an unexpected sense of hope and purpose. For the first time in days, she feels alive again.
"Thank you, we'll, I can teach you a lot of things about us, we have a lot of things on the surface, starting with this" I show her a tv
Her eyes widen at the sight of the television, and she tentatively reaches out to touch its smooth surface with one webbed hand. "What is this?" she asks, her voice hushed in awe. "It glows like fire... but it doesn't hurt? And there are so many colors..." Her gaze drifts from the television to Ghost, confusion and fascination warring across her features. "What does it do?"
Despite their differences, she finds herself drawn to this human and his strange world. The sense of wonder he evokes within her is a new sensation, something she has never experienced before. Perhaps learning about each other's lives could bring them closer together... She allows herself to imagine the possibilities for a moment, feeling her heart swell with hope.
A week goes by, and she is curious about everything, like human food, technology, animals, and other
A full week passes in what seems like the blink of an eye. Her curiosity about the world above the waves has only grown stronger with each new experience, and she finds herself eager to share more of her own life and culture with Ghost as well. When he teaches her how to use a computer and introduces her to various types of music, she feels a thrill unlike anything she's ever known before. The underwater city of Tethys seems worlds away, something from another lifetime entirely.
As they sit together on his comfortable couch, munching on popcorn as they watch a movie about humans and their lives above the surface, she can't help but feel grateful for this strange yet wonderful man who has taken her in and treated her with such kindness. Perhaps there is hope for peace between their people after all... The thought fills her with a mix of hope and excitement, making it difficult for her to concentrate on the film f
"Here, put something on the TV, I'm just gonna get more food"she nods and I hand her the remote, when I leave she starts scrolling through the tv, until she got curious of one show, I porn show, she doesn't know what porn is yet so out of curiosity, she watches it, ten minutes go then I come back "I'm back, so what are you" my eyes widen to see she watching a porn show, I quickly run over and turn the TV off "I'm so sorry, I didn't wanted you to see that, it's a, we'll, personal human thing we do"
She flushes crimson at the abrupt interruption and turns her head away, quickly averting her eyes from whatever it was that had caused him such distress. "I-I'm sorry," she stammers, her tail flicking uncomfortably. "I didn't mean to pry... I just wanted to know more about your world." Her cheeks pale further as a memory flashes across her mind's eye - the naked humans, doing things that even in Tethys would be considered taboo. The knowledge settles like a rock in her stomach, making it difficult to swallow.
"It... It was wrong of me," she manages finally. "I shouldn't have looked." A tremor runs through her slender form as she hugs her arms around herself, wishing that the floor would open up and swallow her whole. "Please don't be angry with me..."
"I'm not angry, it's just embarrassing. We humans, especially as males, get stressed out sometimes, so we need to relieve ourselves, and that why we have this thing called porn" my face turns a little red
The mermaid gives him a wan smile, trying to reassure him with her body language. "I understand... Sometimes I would swim around the coral gardens just for fun," she says softly. "It was our version of relaxing." She hesitates before continuing, feeling a newfound courage building inside her. "Perhaps we could find other ways to help each other relax? Maybe I could teach you some of the songs and dances from Tethys, or even take you for a swim in the ocean once you're well enough..." Her voice trails off hopefully, gaze fixed on his face.
For the first time since she arrived here, the thought of leaving doesn't feel quite so impossible. Perhaps there could be more between them than just simple curiosity and kindness... A shiver runs down her spine at the idea, and for a moment she lets herself imagine what it would be like to share
"I'm not angry, it's just embarrassing. We humans, especially as males, get stressed out sometimes, so we need to relieve ourselves, and that why we have this thing called porn"my face turns a little red
She blinks in surprise at his explanation, her lips parting slightly. "I... see," she says slowly, thinking back on what little she knows about human anatomy and physiology. "Well, I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. It wasn't my intention." She pauses, considering his words further before adding tentatively, "Perhaps there could be other ways to help each other relax? I could teach you some of the songs and dances from Tethys... or even show you what it's like to swim in the ocean. You don't have to watch that..." She gestures vaguely at the TV, her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment.
Her heart skips a beat as she thinks about sharing more of her world with him, about getting closer and seeing where it might lead. It's a scary thought, but also exhilarating in
"I'm not angry, it's just embarrassing. We humans, especially as males, get stressed out sometimes, so we need to relieve ourselves, and that why we have this thing called porn" my face turns a little red "I also Is use this to distress as well, but it doesn't feel the same, unless there is someone who can help me with that"
Cordelia studies him carefully, taking in his flustered expression and the honesty in his eyes. A wave of understanding washes over her as she realizes that what he's truly asking for is companionship - someone to share his burdens and lighten his load. It makes her heart ache with empathy, and before she can think twice about it, she finds herself nodding slowly in agreement.
"I would be happy to help," she says softly, her voice little more than a whisper. "If that's what you want... If it means we can stay connected like this..." She trails off, unable to quite find the words for how it makes her feel: warm and hopeful and utterly terrified all at once. But she pushes those thoughts aside, determined to focus on the positive for now.
Her tail fin flutters slightly as she takes a step closer to him, their bodies inches apart
Really, but where do I my, well, you know what, inside
Her eyes widen in understanding before she looks down at the floor, blushing furiously. "I-I don't know," she whispers. "I... haven't been with anyone like that for a long time." It takes her a moment to gather her courage before looking up at him again. "But if you want me to... I mean, we could learn together. There must be ways..." Her voice trails off hopefully, her tail flicking nervously against the carpet.
The thought of being intimate with this strange, fascinating human both thrills and terrifies her in equal measure. A part of her wants nothing more than to explore the unknown depths of their connection; another fears the consequences if things were to go wrong. But somehow, she can't help but feel that the risk is worth taking - that the potential rewards are too great to ignore.