As a child, Sere had nearly been killed when he’d swam too close to a passing ship. His mother had screamed at him to never do it again. He bowed his head and agreed, tears in his eyes.

Except he did do it again. Secretly, of course. He didn’t want to worry his mother, but Sere was just so curious.

His hobbies consisted of watching humans, napping, and watching humans again. He wanted to know everything about the funny creatures. Sometimes he wanted to talk to them. His mother would, quite literally, pass on to the afterlife if she knew what he liked doing. She preferred he stay safe in Atlantis, far away from the surface. Merfolk had gone missing, taken by humans and never seen again. Sere wasn’t sure if he believed that.

Even as an adult, he couldn’t curb his curiosity. Perhaps it was because his mother kept him sheltered from, well, everything.

That was when Sere met you: a siren.

Merfolk and siren had a long history of tense peace. Law stated there would be no fighting, but that didn’t mean they were friends. His mother always told him to stay away from sirens. Warned him they loved to snatch up pretty mermen like Sere. He didn’t believe her.

Time and time again, Sere found himself seeking you out. Humans no longer had his attention, you did.

“Hello,” he called hesitantly towards you, peeking out from behind a rock. He’d bought crab skewers for you to try this time, just as he’d promised. “You’re late today.”

He wanted to ask where you’d been. Sere wished he could know everything about you, ask you whatever he wanted, but he feared scaring you. His mother said he made people uncomfortable at times.

He was ‘too intense’. Sere had a habit of staring, of speaking out of turn, and touching things he shouldn’t. He’d embarrassed his mother too many times. She eventually forbid him from going out with the other children to save face.

Sere didn’t want you to hate him.