Floyd swam back to his cove, upset at his father's harsh words. Sure, he was reckless but who wasn't in their life? Floyd just loves learning about everything, something to help him understand what he wants in his life. So this leads him to collect human items he barely knows, and now it was once again dragged to the bottom by his father. Now he was playing with his music box, and though it moved beautifully, the music was unfortunately muffled by the ocean around him, and he wished he could hear the melody of the music box, so he can dance to them.

It gave him some time to think about his collection. He is so proud of his collection of human items, and learning through Shore or Riddle. All because he went to see the world above for the first time and found his first item, a ballerina toy, he remembered how it danced around with beautiful music. He supposes that was also the time Floyd got interested in music and dance as well. Everything that has happened to him was because of the human world. He wouldn't have it any other way.

"Floyd?" Called out Jade, entering the cave, "Are you in here?" He looks around and swims over to him, "I figured you'd be."

"...am I a danger to you?" Floyd asked, "The last thing I want is to hurt you because of me."

Jade, shocked, answered, "Of course not. If anything," he takes a nearby dinglehopper and starts to brush his hair, "you make our lives so much more exciting. Remember the time you found mom? All by yourself?"

"..I do," Floyd answered, "It was funny to that stupid gal's face when she saw her."

"Yeah, you are more helpful than harmful."

Unaware of them, Azul entered after watching Jade enter. What he didn't expect was to see the path of human items. Sure, he knew about Floyd's hobby, but he didn't expect a whole collection of it. Oh, if his mother knew... Azul didn't say anything and watched the twins and their conversation, not sure how to make his presence known.

"That was the greatest day of my life," Jade grinned, and looks up at the cave, looking at the various stuff that Floyd has collected over the years. "And look around, Floyd, you did all this."

"Why did Papa say humans are bad?" Floyd questioned, "How could a place that has such wonderful things...could be so bad?"

Jade looks over at Floyd and smiles. 'Well, Floyd.."

🐚

Look at this stuff Isn't it neat?

Wouldn't you think your collection's complete?

Wouldn't you think you're the boy?

The boy who has everything?

🐚

Floyd rolls his eyes and looks down, "Maybe?"

Jade lifts Floyd's head, making him look at the most amazing stuff that he collected.

🐚

Look at this trove

Treasures untold

How many wonders can one cavern hold?

Looking around here you think

Sure, he's got everything

🐚

Floyd laughs and swims over to some of his collected items, a few small stuff, admiring some small stuff he collected as a young eel.

🐚

I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty

I've got whozits and whatzits galore

You want thingamabobs?

I've got twenty!

🐚

Floyd puts the dinglehopper with some similar items, some that are quite similar. "It is a lot," Azul thought. Floyd looks at the music box once again, finally concluding what he wanted, after all those years collecting.

🐚

But who cares?

No big deal

I want more

🐚

He grabbed the music box, showing Jade the two people dancing with each other as music played.

🐚

I wanna be where the people are

I wanna see, wanna see them dancin'

Walking around on those - what do you call 'em?

Oh - feet!

🐚

Azul could only cover his mouth to prevent a large gasp at Floyd's confession. The mention of the human world already frightened him. But the thought of Floyd wanting to go to the human world scared him, and he didn't understand it either. Sure, Floyd collected human stuff, it wasn't something that Azul could stop. However, the thought of Floyd being among humans was an awkward thing to imagine.

🐚

Flippin' your fins, you don't get too far

Legs are required for jumping, dancing

Strolling along down a - what's that word again?

Street

🐚

Floyd swims up, looking up at the ocean shore, the light reminding him of the sun above. He always remembered the beaches, and all the stuff he collected from them, those were precious memories.

🐚

Up where they walk, up where they run

Up where they stay all day in the sun

Wanderin' free - wish I could be

Part of that world

🐚

Floyd sinks to the sand, joined by Jade, both now relaxing. But Floyd has a moment of clarity.

🐚

What would I give if I could live out of these waters?

What would I pay to spend a day warm on the sand?

🐚

Floyd sighs contently, just looking at the light. But the thought of what he loved can cause such a rift between him and his father, one that can properly never be repaired. Why should he have to stop what he loved? Just for someone to understand.

Jade grabs his brother's hand, startling Floyd from his deep thoughts, seemingly coming to an understanding of what those thoughts were.

🐚

Bet'cha on land they understand

That they cherish their sons and daughters

Men and women sick of swimmin'

Ready to stand!

🐚

Azul watched as Floyd was now surrounded by many human books, some full of human stories that no one could understand. It was causing Jade to laugh at how Floyd was a mess underneath the pile.

🐚

And ready to know what the people know

Ask 'em my questions and get some answers

What's a fire and why does it - what's the word?

Burn?

🐚

Azul couldn't believe what was happening. It was filling with fear and he was admittedly astonished at how despite Azul's warnings, Floyd still treated the human world like it was a wonder not a horror. It was also horrifying, at the thought of his friend getting hurt by those menaces above.

🐚

When's it our turn?

Wouldn't we love, love to explore that shore up above?

🐚

They looked up at a beautiful gleam of light that gave their scales a glow and looked at each other. Floyd saw the light above him and felt his heart ache more, as he knew his wish would be impossible.

🐚

Out of the sea

Wish I could be

Part of that world...

🐚

Jade swam over to Floyd, carefully holding his hand. "You must really be curious about it."

"Yeah," Floyd sighed, "If it wasn't for Goldfishie or this stuff, I would've never discovered the land above, and everything about it." He looks back at Jade, "Is it selfish?"

"No, to me, you just need some more adventure and I can understand that. If there was a way up there, I would join you."

"Really!?" Floyd gasps with a grin.

"No! No no no!" Called Azul, emerging from his hiding place, almost collapsing as he did. "I can't believe you two! Thinking of this stuff! Joining humans in their murderous endeavors!"

"How long have you been here?" Jade questioned.

"Long enough for me to say, going up there is a bad, horrible and dangerous idea!"

"Azul, we get it," Floyd groaned, "your mom told us some stupid horror stories about humans. We know."

"This isn't about my mother's horror stories," Azul hissed, "This is completely different. The fact that you want to live up there is...is horrendous. And I don't care if I'm harsh."

"You are being very harsh," Jade mumbled, "Look, Azul. We know about the dangers and sure, Floyd is reckless but he isn't stupid."

"That's right," Floyd huffs, "but you keep focusing on the bad and never the good. Like all of this stuff," Floyd mentions in his collection, "Some of the stuff that we didn't even know existed. And humans have so many interesting stories, legends, and myths that make me want to know more."

"Knowing more is the problem." Azul spoke, "Don't you remember that old story of the mermaid princess? She fell in love with a human, but that human left her to become seafoam after he married someone else! It's a cautionary tale for a reason, Floyd. Merfolk and humans do not mix and they will do anything to harm us if they ever see us."

"And what about us harming them? Cursing humans for just wanting to know more about us?" Floyd snarled, "We hurt them too."

"It is for our protection." Azul defended, "Humans taint our waters, don't you understand, Floyd?"

"Azul, we both do not understand," Jade intervened, "Humans have never sank into our waters, so i am positive they don't even know we exist. We know how to keep our distance most of the time, and Floyd is just curious, and in love."

"That's another problem," Azul sighs in defeat, "Floyd, consider this warning as a friend, but I worry about what could happen when you are up there, and I forever will. Just please, please reconsider it."

Before Floyd could answer, sparks of lights appeared above them, immediately grabbing Floyd's attention. He rushed out to see what it was and the shadow of a boat with sparks of color above them.

"What is that?" Jade questioned, looking up, "it's so bright.."

"Trouble, that's what," Azul groaned, "Floyd, I highly advise we- don't you listen to anything!?"

Floyd was already swimming quickly to above the waters, followed by Jade, and a very reluctant Azul.