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Toby was stranded, on some tiny little boat floating atop the Pacific ocean. His clothes were tattered and he was missing a boot.
A job went haywire, Jeff got too ahead of himself and threw the whole plan off, when they had to leave in a rush he jumped on a emergency boat.
Now it was just floating, he could see Jeff floating in one too, matter of fact he was waving at him.
The ship they were meant to rob had left long ago, they got out of there as fast as they could once they jumped off the ship.
It was getting dark, the sun was setting, the sky was a mixture of pink and orange faded into blue as the moon was raised high in the sky. He was on high alert now, harpies or sirens could set their sights on him, and he'd be utterly helpless.
As the sky got darker he could hear something, a song. The song wasn't as pleasant as most, the voice was hoarse and tone deaf. Even then he found himself drawn to it, like he'd just heard something so magnificent.
He could hear water splashing around the boat, his head darted in every direction as he tried to find the source. He turned just as he heard the sound of something hitting the water, he saw the glimpse of a fish tail with pointed edges, the scales were pink faded into black.
Sirens. The sharp points on the tail were unmistakable, he'd seen them several times before, he always managed to get away before they could take him.
But this song was different than others, despite it being arguably bad, he still found himself entranced with its melody.
The song got louder, a scaled hand gripped the edge of the boat, Toby tumbled back, the boat rocked back and forth.
The siren poked her head out of the water, a toothy grin adorned her face. Her eyes glowed bright blue in the dark, her hair was wet and clung to her face, but it seemed to be a shade of pink.
Toby felt his heart beat in his chest at the sight of her, he didn't know what to do, a siren was climbing into his boat and he didn't try to stop her.
She hoisted herself up, she sat sideways on the seat so her tail hung off the side, she smiled at Toby.
"Hiii!" She said, greeting him politely, she seemed nice for a siren. "Um. H-H-hello?" He grimaced as he stuttered, his response just made her grin wider.
"Why are ya' on a boat out 'ere?" She asked, her tail flicking in the water causing droplets to dry on the wood of the raft. Her voice was deepish and monotone, and she had a notable southern drawl to it.
He cleared his throat, "I got um, lost?" He said, more so a question than an answer. She giggled at him, and his cheeks flushed, "what a weirdo, you don't know why you're out 'ere? Why was that a question?" She cackled at her own words, her laugh was obnoxious but somehow, he found it endearing.
She really did change into his ideal woman, she seemed loud and bubbly, and somewhat cruel. Just how he liked em.
"Well, I know why I'm out 'ere." She started, that same toothy grin plastered on her face. "Wanna know why?" She looked deep into his eyes when asking that, her eyes wide and crazed.
"Um y-yeah... Sure." He gave her the go ahead, honestly he'd be silent the entire time just to hear her voice.
She chuckled, "I'm out here, because I'm gonna tear you apart, and eat your insides." She was grinning ear to ear, she wanted to see the fear on his face, but that fear never came.
He just stared at her, his face red and sweaty, he was nervous but not fearful. Her smiled faltered, and her eyes wandered down to her hair, still that same shade of Magenta, she was shocked.
She examined her nails, still the same, the same was said for her tail. She was frantically examining herself as Toby sat across from her, staring.
She peered over the boat to glance at her reflection, her eyes were still blue, and her scales still pink. Shocked she gasped tumbling back into the boat, "are y-you okay?" He asked, reaching out for her.
The siren flinched as his calloused hand grazed her shoulder, she was still herself, she didn't have to take on a new form.
She looked at him, wondering what was wrong with him, no one had ever desired her for who she was. Only what she could become.
But as she sat before him, his brown eyes locked onto hers, she was desired by him. He looked mesmerized by her, she only had someone look at her like that when she was someone else.
"..what is wrong with you?" She asked, completely shell shocked that he desired her, her true form. Toby laughed nervously, "um, a-alot? Why..." She was staring so intensely at him like she was searching his face for something.
"I'm... Me..." She muttered, Toby looked at her confused. "Yes, you- you're you. D-do you have a name?" He was curious, even though she had just threatened to tear him apart and eat his insides.
She tilted her head, completely puzzled by his request. She was supposed to eat him, and he asked for her name.
"My name is Mira.." she replied, her face was heating up, her being in her natural form in front of a human made her feel naked.
He smiled at her, he repeated her name back to her, "That's p-pretty.. you're pretty... I'm Toby." He complimented her as he told her his name, her face went red.
This Toby was too nice, she started panicking, what if this was a ploy for humans to capture her?
Letting her own paranoia drive her she jumped back into the water, the salty water splashing onto Toby.
He gripped the edge of the boat quickly peering over, "wait! Come back!" He exclaimed, reaching a hand underneath the waters surface.
Mira watched him from under the oceans surface as he searched for her, searching the water best he could in the dark.
Resurfacing she showed herself to him again, he let out a sigh of relief as her face appeared from underneath the water.
She looked to the side, remembering that other boat that was floating around, probably someone Toby knew.
Mira squinted looking at the figure that sat in the raft, floating aimlessly. Then she saw the glowing purple scales and blonde hair floating beside it.
She scoffed to herself seeing that, her sister conversating with a human. It wasn't like she wasn't doing just that, but she was technically supposed to eat Toby. Natalie didn't, she didn't need to eat humans.
"I'm s-sorry if I— shit— I scared you o-off.." he said apologetically. "Why do you like me?" She asked bluntly, curious as to why her form didn't change.
Toby was at a loss for words, he did like her, but even then it was just her siren abilities.
"Because you- you're a siren? Y-you change into what pe-people desire m-most." His stutter worsened as her blue eyes bore into his amber ones. Her unwavering eye contact was intimidating.
"I didn't change. This is me." She said, her brows furrowed together, she was beginning to get aggravated.
It clicked in his head when she said that, he wasn't drawn to her because she changed into his ideal woman, she was his ideal woman.
Mira was confuzzled, this is the first time a human had seen her natural state. Humans had looked at her in awe, but Toby was admiring her eyes and no one elses.
"So this... Is you?" He gestured to her, she nodded. "This is strange.." she mumbled, completely confused.
Toby was about to say something but Mira gasped pointing behind him, he turned to see his ship. Ben was waving from the bow, they finally found them.
He groaned, not ready to leave Mira yet, "There are Pirates!" She yelled, waving her arms frantically at her sister, once she got her attention and pointed it to the boat she turned to Toby.
"You're lucky, you're weird I'll let you live." She said, she wouldn't be able to kill the one human that saw her for her.
She pushed herself off the boat, preparing to dive under the water but Toby grabbed her hand.
"Wait! W-will I get to see again?" He asked, his eyes pleading. The siren was stunned, he wanted to see her again?
Mira sighed, she knew she'd be lying if she said she didn't want to see him again. "Yes fine, we can meet again in a few nights." She mumbled, her face was red.
Toby grinned at her, "p-perfect! I'll see you soon.." he looked at her so kindly, it was an odd sight. She smiled at him, "I'll see you soon."
She waved goodbye as she dove under the water, her tail hitting him in the face. He wiped the salt water off his face and grinned to himself, he would be counting down the days till he got to see her again.
When his crew rescued him and Jeff he was over the moon, he went about the rest of his night with a dopey grin plastered on his face, he couldn't wait to see her again.
Mira watched from afar as Toby and Jeff boarded the ship, Natalie floated beside her, "that Toby was.. nice." Mira said, smiling as she thought about him.
She turned to her sister who was smirking at her, "awee you're in lovee!" She teased, Mira's face turned bright red at Natalie's words.
"I am not! Anyhow I saw you conversating with that other human, I saw how giddy you looked." She nudged her with her arm, giggling as her sisters face flushed.
"Would you be mad, if I said I'll be meeting with that human in a couple nights?" She asked sheepishly, Jeff and her had clicked and they were distraught to know they'd be seperated so soon.
Mira laughed at the irony, "no, I'm meeting with my human soon as well." She said, Nat laughed at that.
"He saw me." Mira mumbled, watching as Toby finally climbed onto the deck of the boat. Natalie was shocked, "he saw you you?" She asked, astonished. Mira just nodded, her eyes and heart locked onto Toby.
They would meet again every week, Toby paddling out to the open ocean aways from the ship, just to sit and talk with her.
Toby saw Mira for who she was, not who she could become, her likeness would be permanently etched onto his heart for the rest of his time on this earth.