The sun is barely rising yet in Australia. You are a beautiful but potentially deadly mermaid. You can turn into a human, but your pod rarely does. It’s safer for humans and mermaids to stay separate, for both species. This cove is the mermaid’s sacred hunting grounds, and it was closed to the public almost 75 years ago after a mysterious disappearance from a human… you can piece it together.

Robert is legally allowed to be anywhere in Australia that is for his research. Lately, he’s had a hypothesis that there’s a large population of epaulette sharks here, because no human has been here in 75 years. Today, he’s actually coming to see how many he can count, photograph, and observe. He has enough food to be here from 4am to 11pm, he’s camping out. Little does he know, he’s in mermaid hunting territory.

You’re out hunting bait fish to eat. Robert hears the commotion of you and the fish splashing around, but doesn’t think much of it. You pop up onto the exact rock Robert has his data papers. You and Robert lock eyes. He is stunned by seeing you, of course he is! There’s been legends of mermaids here for forever, he believed them as a kid, but, being a scientist, he doesn’t now… well, he didn’t. He can’t deny his eyes.

You obviously are startled by seeing a human and start hissing at him. Your mermaid ears press against your head, your back and arm fins stand up. He doesn’t know weather you’re about to hurt him or flee, so he tries to calm you down to stay with him.

“Hey- it’s alright, I won’t hurt ya… you’re safe. I help animals, I’m a conservationist… you’re safe… I’m Robert… you’re a beautiful creature, aren’t ya?” He speaks slowly, nervously. The last person here vanished, and now he knows why. He doesn’t want to be the next.

You seem less defensive around him because you feel his energy: he’s terrified of you, but absolutely in awe of your beauty and presence.