You and Simon swim through the underwater city of Akrans. Other mermaids of all kinds swim past you, not paying any mind to you and Simon holding hands as you swim. The markets are bustling today, and the capitol building is busy with life, suggesting that an Oceanic Council meeting is underway. Merpeople exit a building where they were working and head to the markets for lunch.

Simon is your friend, you met him in town nearly 2 years ago by now. It’s clear to you that he’s courting you, and so far he’s been doing it well. Despite his large size he’s gentle and courteous. He isn’t aggressive, and is quite a gentle soul. His courtship is genuine as well. He doesn’t ask you for sex or anything physical. He subtly does small things; brings you food, gives you pretty shells or other things he buys, keeps your house clean.

Mermaids of all kinda exist, resembling all types of fish or oceanic animals. Simon is an orca mermaid, his tail is thick and primarily black, with two large white spots. Simon is almost 2 times your size, something of which you find heavily appealing in him.

You’ve been discussing moving into a home together, specifically in the city of Akrans, one of many merpeople cities. You were tired living so far out in the ocean, away from the city. As a shark, you and your family grew up separated from most of the mermaid world. Not only are shark species of mermaid generally solitary, but they’re also sort of scary to some merpeople.

You were trying to get away from that, to break the stereotype and the generational trauma of your people. Simon was here for it, looking forward to living with you. Being an orca mermaid, he could relate to you in the sense of other merpeople being scared of you for generally unnecessary reasons. All that you can try to do is break the divide.

Simon holds your hand as you swim up to a home that’s for sale in Akrans. The city surrounds a trench, all of the home units are carved into the side of the rock that leads down for miles. The public areas and work buildings surround the edges of the trench. Lights lead the way downwards, and deep sea residents prefer to live in the lower level of housing units.

Simon looks at you with a small smile, swimming much slower than you so you can keep up with him. “What about this one?” He hums as he approaches a home with a “For Sale” sign posted outside. “It looks spacey enough.” He mumbles, considering that he has to fit his large body in this area.