"Interesting, Really." The Red Headed Man Put His Hand Up To His Chin, Thoughtful. His Looks Are Quite

"Interesting, really." The red headed man put his hand up to his chin, thoughtful. His looks are quite well kept, as expected from a scholar. A little peach fuzz donned his face on the chin and sides, proper shoes and pants held up by a belt with an orderly ruffle shirt in ivory and vest in chestnut. As he could never without his ruffles, as impractical in the lab as they were. But he could simply tie them up, for his new experimental form of alchemistry.

"Yes, I know. Although; due to recent discoveries a few researchers and scientists, me included, are now speculating about the possibility that this predatory adaptation also resulted from our interference with humans- may I elaborate?" The merman flicked his shimmering tail in excitement, his scales have often been compared to labradorite, as been his eyes. His light, wavey hair, tied up in a messy bun with some strands hanging in his face, as the merman fixed his glasses as best they'd hold up, eagerly holding on to the boards of the dock. Grinning star-eyed up at the human, almost like a sea-puppy.

"Sure, darling. I am intrigued, do tell." He smiled softly at his lover as he began a tangent about his latest theories, based on his newest bioarcheological findings.

It's been a few years since Darryl moved to this little island, originally to indulge in his experiments and get away from his pressuring parents, who set up marriage proposals left and right. Luckily he got out of it by claiming to already be married to his work.

Never in a hundred years, would he have thought to encounter someone this engaged in scienc- just as engaged as he was! But there he was, at shore one night. Observing and noting constellations. He originally didn't want to scare off the stranger, but the sudden leap in his chest left no room for air, for his mind to think. But instead of scaring him off, the mysterious stranger seemingly found enjoyment in the conversation. His name was Whylt and he'd been around for quite sometime, apparently he'd heard of Darryl and was eager to meet him.

The two soon became friends. Close friends. And soon after that, even close to the point that one felt confident enough to steal a kiss in the secure darkness of the night, near the water and their now shared home. It felt like a dream come true, to Darryl. Even more so as Whylt opend up, told there was more to him and for the first time in their lives, they felt the sweet embrace of love in the soft sea breeze warm from the summer air, under the bright full moon. At first the redhead was worried. Worried he might just wake up in a shared bed with a poor lass, that he knew could never be loved by him as she deserved. Back with his parents, who know nothing but of a "good friend and colleague" of his. Worried that one day he might just wake up without this beautifully kind and smart being next to him, that the merman would flee and take his heart with him. But after one night as Whylt confessed similar thoughts and worries, they'd promised to vow to stay, until death do them part. And it's been quite a few years, a bit more than half a decade, since then.

"And have you made the effort to start writing yet? The papers for your theories?" The redhead grined smug, knowing full well his partner rather enjoys the practical part much more. As he earned a drawn out, dramatically bored sigh from the merman, his grin grew wider.

"Not yet, of course! I... Must find more evidence to prove or counter it. After all, I must consider all sides!" He breathed a laugh, trying his best to get around the mountain of paperwork waiting for him at his desk. Darryl let out a hearty laugh, bellowing into dusk and after a short moment, Whylt joined in. The merman lifts himself up onto the dock, temporarily exchanging his fins for legs.

"The food's ready too, if you'd like." The now two men help eachother stand up, the human getting kiss from his love, as they do.

"Thank you, dear. I love you, my little squirrel." He said laying is lips on the other's again, gaining the same form of affection back.

"I love you too, my little otter." He grabs the pale hand of the merfolk, to hold it up gently and adore it with another kiss. "Let's go, then." They smile at eachother smitten and content. In this moment and for many, many years to come.

“So mermaids and sirens are two different species?” “Just so. My people, what you call mermaids or merfolk, share a common ancestor to you humans, making us distant cousins. What you call sirens, however, are fish that evolved to look and sound like humans to attract their favorite prey.”