[Since he's looking away, Firo doesn't realize she's coming for him until he feels her get closer, at which point he panics when he processes that there is a lady's hand near him--near his face!--and here is where on dry land he'd jump out of the danger zone. But he's underwater, and you can't really "jump" here, so instead he makes some undignified flailing motions and manages to propel himself about a foot away.]
I--no! [He shakes his head frantically, trying to get his thoughts in order.] I-I mean--y-yeah, we are, b-but--
[The mermaid observes him a moment with a confused tilt of her head, then seems to realize that she's probably not going to get any useful information out of that one. Are all men so skittish? She turns to the one who seems more capable of speech--Hank--and glides closer to him with a slight twitch of her tail.]
So... That means you are men? Both of you? [Brightly:] I won't hurt you!
no subject
I--no! [He shakes his head frantically, trying to get his thoughts in order.] I-I mean--y-yeah, we are, b-but--
[The mermaid observes him a moment with a confused tilt of her head, then seems to realize that she's probably not going to get any useful information out of that one. Are all men so skittish? She turns to the one who seems more capable of speech--Hank--and glides closer to him with a slight twitch of her tail.]
So... That means you are men? Both of you? [Brightly:] I won't hurt you!