canon is The Thirteenth Year

[syreni]

You know, I appreciate your taking interest in me, but if you're going to bring me to the surface, I'd at least like to see my family? Sam? Jess? You know, instead of this... whatever here is.

You know I just realized how much I missed out on. Learning to drive. Seeing rated R movies. And there's a black president now? I could've voted for him!

Comments

[syreni]

Cool. Yeah, I guess I've never needed algebra down under.

[onejoyfultear]

...

You said family before. You consider humans your kin? Your friends?

[syreni]

Well, yeah. I mean, I've got my birth mom and her family, but the Griffins raised me. They're my mom and dad too.

[onejoyfultear]

They were not cruel to you?

[syreni]

God, no, why would they be cruel?

[onejoyfultear]

Because that is what humans are. They hunt us and steal our tears. They leave us to die in the sun.

...I know of only one exception.

[syreni]

They-- no, no human I know would ever do that. My friend's dad tried to catch my birth mom just to prove that mermaids exist, but...

Why would they want our tears?

[onejoyfultear]

They seek eternal life from the fountain.

[syreni]

What fountain?

[onejoyfultear]

The Fountain of Youth.

[syreni]

...That's a real thing?

[onejoyfultear]

It is.

[syreni]

And... it's made of mermaid tears? [Sorry, he's not getting it.]

[onejoyfultear]

No. There is a ritual. A mermaid's tear is needed or the magic will not work.

[syreni]

Well that's weird. So people just go around trying to make mermaids cry so they can be young forever?

[onejoyfultear]

Many try.

[syreni]

That's ...that's crazy. That sucks.

[onejoyfultear]

[She looks confused about his terminology, but nods.]

Your humans are different...?

[syreni]

Yeah, they would never do anything like that. They're good, caring people.

[onejoyfultear]

You were very lucky, then.

[syreni]

Yeah, I guess I was.

Or you're just hanging around with the wrong sort of humans.