Google Doc with better Formatting

[sound] = Optional Artificial Sound Effects

(sound) = Optional Verbal Sound Effects

{adjective} =Special Line Delivery. Applies to the next italicized section.

*sentence* = Silent context. Usually a scripted pause

~word~ = Special emphasis

|Sentence| = Optional words voiced by a secondary character.

Siren’s Serenade

Halt siren! Leave this place immediately!

*listener questions*

You heard me! This reef is royally protected! It is to be preserved for our culture! You can’t hunt here, or sing, or any other siren tricks, so move on!

*listener claims*

You say you aren’t doing any of that? Just like a siren to lie when they’re caught! I know you have unjust goals here!

*listener speaks*

{aghast}

“You’re going to trade with humans”?!

*small pause*

That is forbidden! We keep our distance from the land-dwellers as do they for us! We are not to interact. Ever!

*listener elaborates*

The fact that you do this monthly is just further hurting your case. You are not meant to even be seen by the non-gilled!

*listener combats*

Yes, that is a rule! It’s the law! And I would know!

*listener questions*

“Why would I know?” You don’t even realize who you’re in the presence of, do your siren? I would know because it is my father who decreed it as so! I am of Neptune’s blood! I am next in line for the throne! And I will not have some ~shallow-water~ siren disrespect me like this!

*listener comments*

Hey, where are you going?! You can just swim away from me!

*listener speaks*

Yes, I did say you had to leave, but that was before I knew you were going to canoodle a human!

*small pause*

Don’t you dare surface! I royally proclaim that if you surface right now, you will-!

[background waves]

You flippant little trout! Get off that rock this instant! It’s bad enough that you practically forced me up here, but I will not stand by and watch you seduce a human!

*listener clarifies*

Oh really? You really want me to believe that you’re just going to trade goods?

*small pause*

Nice try! I know a vagrant euphemism when I hear one!

*listener reveals*

What are those?

*listener states*

Yes, I know they’re pearls! Why did you gather them?

*listener speaks*

“The human you trade with likes pearls”? That’s stupid. What, do they just like them because they’re shiny?

*listener expresses*

“The humans think they’re valuable”? See, this is why you can’t interact with humans! They’re all imbeciles and you’re taking advantage of them!

*small pause*

What do the humans even give you?

*listener states*

Just baubles and nick-nacks? Why do you even go through the trouble of trading then?

*listener answers*

You know a mermaid who pays for human trinkets? That’s odd. Why would she care about anything the humans have to offer?

*listener speaks*

I am certain that whatever fool you’ve conned into trading will have nothing of value. And I’ll prove it! Summon the human, trade your goods, and I will oversee. Consider this a royal sanction. And when everything I know about humans, and sirens, and greed turns out to be true, you will be detained for your crimes, without resistance.

*listener agrees*

Good, when does the human come?

*listener answers*

You’re going to sing to call them here? Normally, I wouldn’t stand by as a siren entranced its victim, but I suppose I have made a deal. Go about your bewitchment.

*listener vocalizes*

{trailing off}

Wow, that’s… that’s… pretty. Such pretty… sounds… you… I… pretty.

(shakes awake)

That was certainly quite the display siren. I’ll concede that you sounded better than I thought you would.

*listener questions*

Well no, I didn’t think you’d sound bad, I just… well… I never met a siren before. Not one that wasn’t detained. I heard the stories of an entrancing voice but I’d never felt it first-hand. It was…

{cutting themself off}

Oh look, you’re human is rowing over. We better go meet them!

*pause*

Okay, the human took the pearls. Are you just giving them all away or what?

*listener speaks*

The human looks at the pearls and then decided what they’re willing to give you? That seems convoluted, why aren’t you just negotiating a deal?

*listener comments*

I’m sure it can understand a little Aquat-ish. It’s a universal language after all.

*listener denies*

How different could they really be? I’m sure that with a little effort we’ll be conversing fine.

{slowly}

Hello, human. What may we take for these pearls?

|Af hverju tókstu þetta með þér, Silas? Er það til sölu?|

*small pause*

Wow, that was complete gibberish. Are you sure this thing actually understands what’s happening?

*listener confirms*

That’s just its language? Okay, fine. So when do we get to pick what we get from it?

*listener questions*

Yes, I said we. I’m going to observe and I reserve the right to influence if I see fit. So do ~we~ get to pick yet?

[metal baubles tumble]

Ah, this must be our selection. How many can we take?

*listener states*

Depends on what?

*listener speaks gibberish*

Oh great whirlpool, you can speak the human tongue?! Who taught you?

*listener answers*

You taught yourself?

*small pause*

Maybe I wasn’t giving you enough credit. What did the human say?

*listener specifies*

Oh, you can’t converse fluently? I should have known there’d be a catch to your abilities. What ~did~ you gleam from your friend here?

*listener answers*

Whichever three we wish? Alright. Tell it we want the gold one and the two on the left.

*listener disagrees*

I don’t care what your little mermaid wants. I have decided that I will be buying these trinkets off you for double, so I will be picking which ones you take.

*listener folds*

That’s better. Now, do we have to say something before we leave, or is this done?

*listener speaks gibberish*

|Kveðja|

What did you say to them?

*listener speaks*

You ~think~ it means goodbye? As in, you don’t know for sure?! What if you’ve insulted the human’s culture and they come back with a vengeance?!

*listener comforts*

And how do you know that won’t happen?

*listener points out*

Yes, I suppose the human does look happy.

*small pause*

{heartfelt}

Amazing that with so many differences, they can still smile.

*small pause*

Let’s get back underwater. Using my lungs feels way worse than using my gills.

*merfolk dive*

[if wave sfx had been playing, wave sfx stops]

Alright, what did we get?

*listener speaks*

Which one are you talking about? The gold circle?

*listener confirms*

You’re telling me, that this device with the red arrow inside the circle, points to ice? That seems pretty useless, but whatever. Do you know what the other two do?

*listener comments*

A pyramid that glows when you shake it? That’s kind of cool. How bright is it?

*listener shakes*

Oh, so it’s not that bright then. I think I’d just use a jellyfish lamp but whatever sinks your ship.

*small pause*

Any ideas for the third one?

*listener denies*

Alright, with that information and in light of your crimes, I am going to be confiscating this unknown cube free of charge. Be thankful that I’m not turning you in.

*small pause*

However, I will still give you a carp’s worth of doubloons for your troubles. Call it an incentive to continue your little business above this reef.

*listener questions*

I do not need to explain why I wish for this practice to continue! Just ensure that you are back here whenever that human is to trade again. And I will be here to maintain a level of order. So sayeth I!

*listener understands*

Don’t look at me like that! You will steal no thoughts from my head, siren! I swear it upon the seventh current!

*small pause*

I will be going now. Do not follow me! Just begin gathering pearls for next time!

*pause*

(sigh)

Before I go I wish to say that I am sorry for calling you a “shallow-water siren”. It was uncalled for and unregal. You are actually… tolerable.

*listener speaks*

No, I will not say anymore! Goodbye until next trade, siren!

​

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All use; monetized, paywalled, or otherwise is good. Any edits of any aspects are completely acceptable. Credit SplashiestPig. And I'd love to see any finished works.