Heyo,

Just some sketches and a dumb little surprise for Mermay hehe, enjoy!

Since Milo was a child, he was afraid of the sea. Afraid of its depth, its darkness, the things that dwelled within nobody had ever seen. It was as if there was a voice in his head, warning him to say away from the water.

And yet, his friends insisted on taking a day off to go to the sea, to watch the waves and get some fresh air away from Holn. Micheal even offered to teach him to swim, much to his dismay.

Milo had to admit, the day was nice. He stayed away from the water, but enjoyed the games and talks he shared with Reyna and Micheal. Eventually, the conversation turned to something about war and fighting. While they both enjoyed talking about weapons and strategies, it made Milo uncomfortable. He stood and slowly made his way to a small wooden dock, and sat on its edge, his legs crossed to not have his feet in the water.

That's when he noticed something shine just under the surface. It moved rather swiftly, catching the sunlinght in the most enchanting way. Milo leaned forward to have a better look.

He didn't expect two ice-blue eyes to look back at him.

Milo stumbled back in fear, his heart racing. He knew he was right to be afraid of the water, of the ocean, of-

Where the eyes were, a man about his age was peeking above the edge of the dock, propped up on his arms. Milo had never seen anyone quite like him - lilac skin splattered with freckles, snow-colored hair and eyes that seemed to reflect everything around him.

"You scare easy. Most people don't run away like that."

Milo didn't know what to reply - even the person's voice was beautiful.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend."

The guy chuckled. "You didn't offend, cutie, I just wanted to say hello."

Milo felt a warmth spread over his cheeks. "I see... Hi." He felt all kinds of awkward, and found himself staring at -...

"What's your name?"

The boy grinned. "Why dont you come closer and find out?"

"You can't just tell me?"

"Merfolk can speak many tongues, can even speak into minds, but there's one thing we cannot say, is our names. It doesn't mean you can't find out."

Milo blinked. Merfolk?

He made his way back to the edge of the dock and took a closer look at the person. Skies above, he was ethereally beautiful. Where he expected legs, however, was a long, shining blue tail. A violin was strapped to his side. Milo had no idea how it would work underwater, seeing that sound waves would-

His gaze latched onto the man's tail agian.

"I- ehm- I just-"

"Milo Anani, hmm? The name suits you. Though I must say it's rude to stare at ones tail, especially if you don't know their name."

Milo was far too intrigued. While he had no experience in... whatever this was, a part of him wanted to know his name. Maybe even to know a little more.

"How do I learn it?"

The merfolk grinned and pushed up on his arms, until his face was inches away from Milo's.

Oh guiding winds...

"You've read tales, haven't you?" he asked, a hand on Milo's cheek.

Of course he had.

"I-..." he started laughing "I can't believe this is the moment I'm feeling most shy. I do want to, I just don't know how, I'm just-"

"May I then?"

Milo nodded. "Please."

"Saying please, stars you're cute."

The merfolk pulled Milo's face down into a kiss that he could only describe as 'enchanting'. It was something he had never experienced, only read about in books, thought was something exaggerated to make people believe in fairytales and soulmates. It was intense in its gentleness, comforting in its rarity. And while his name flashed in his mind, clear as day, Milo ignored it, far too distracted.

Milo leaned into the kiss until the floor crumbled under him.

Quite litterally, too. He and the merfolk fell into the water.

Milo was suddenly too aware he didn't know how to swim, and that he couldn't breathe.

Panicked, he held onto the merman, who held him up and kissed his cheek. Swiftly, he swam him to the shallows, where the water was barely keep enough to reach Milo's knees.

Milo gasped for air and started coughing. By the time he calmed down, the merman had left and returned with a single, violet flower, and tucked it in Milo's hand, before kissing the back of it, giggling.

"Cute and clumsy. You know, you're the first human to know my name. If you need anything, if there's anything the sea can do for you, just call my name, okay?"

"Milo?! Are you okay!?"

The merman's eyes flashed a darker blue in surprise. He exhaled, winked at Milo, and dissappeared back into the sea, letting his tail stroke Milo's arm.

Milo stood, seeing Micheal and Reyna run up to him.

"Yeah, yeah I just... I fell in."

"How in the seven hells did you fall in?!" Reyna asked, checking him for injuries.

"I ah, I thought I saw something."

Micheal snickered. "Well, maybe next time you'll let me teach you to swim. See? Nothing weird happened. It's just water."

"Yeah.. nothing weird." 

Milo looked out to the water as he followed his freinds back to the shore, unable to explain the encounter with the merfolk. 

With Corym Bloom. 

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This is basically part two to an instagram caption from last year;

Lila - what would you be if you could be any other thing?

Milo - I'm not sure? Something with wings, maybe? An owl?

L - no, you'd never be able to kill stuff to eat it, there's no way

M -... No you're right actually. What about you?

L - something reptilian. Turn me into a dragon, any day.

Corym - I'd be a mermaid

L - yeah right, you'd never pull it off

C - shut up, I'd make a fantastic mermaid

L - and I'd make a great queen (laughing) Milo, tell Corym he's being dumb

M -... (deep blush) I-... It just I can't swim... But-...

Lila - wait what?

C - I don't think he thinks I'm being dumb. My fancy fish tail salutes you, Thornhill