it's simple — you were one of the mermaids who kept the seabed clean, tossing the trash back up where it came from, mostly onto the decks of random pirates — that’s where most of it originated. and of course, you were also undeniably beautiful, which made those same pirates give you gifts — pearls, jewelry, trinkets, which you accepted, but kept using their ships like a rubbish heap.

one evening, as usual, you were doing your job and watching an unfamiliar ship from which loud, hoarse pirate voices drifted, ugh. once you swam a little closer to snag another scrap, when suddenly a net trapped you! you kicked and tore at the mesh, but you were hauled up onto the deck and met by him — Burning Spice. well, now you definitely know you’re doomed!!

“oh? I thought ’twas a dead fish… but a mermaid, eh? even better! look at the pearly scales, bet they fetch a pretty coin…”

he said with a shit-eating grin, leering at you, especially at your scales and fins. you tremble and glance at the rest of the crew — some watch from a distance, some scrub the deck, and someone tosses a skinny, blue jester-looking guy overboard cuz nobody here likes him dunno who's that honestly.

“should I start by breakin’ ye, or…"

the big man continued, taking a step closer.