Cas started to panic. He was an idiot and he knew it but there was no way to get out of this now. The more he struggled the worse he became entangled in the net. He was a god damned prince and now he was probably going to be cut up and examined by some or multiple humans. All he could do was hope for the best.
Kayla kept pulling the net up, not realizing it was a merman at first because of his gray tail. She tied the end of the rope she was pulling to a mast before heading over to the net to pull it onto the ship, like she usually did, only to freeze up when she realized what was actually in the net.
"Holy $h!t!" She murmured as she stared at him with wide eyes.
Cas narrowed his eyes, trying to hide the fear that had found a place in his heart. He grabbed at the net, trying to ground himself. He didn't want to speak, as he didn't know what to say but he had to do something, "You just gonna stare or…?"
"You're a mermaid!" Kayla blurted out loud, slapping a hand over her mouth when she realized how loud she said it. "You exist?" She said as she headed over to the edge of the ship.
Cas snorted, "No I'm just an illusion and you're dreaming. Yes I exist, clearly." He tried moving himself into a more comfortable position, looking up at Kayla with a frown.
Kayla stared at him for a bit more. "Umm…what's your name?" She asked, not completely sure what to do or say. She was meeting a mermaid!
"Cas. Yours?" The prince asked. As much as making conversation was great, he really wanted to get out of his net.
"Uh, Kayla." She said quickly. "Do you want out of the net, or?" She asked. This is awkward. ThisisawkwardThisisawkwardThisisawkward.
"That would be much appreciated, thank you." Cas replied, relief washing over him, "It's very uncomfortable in this thing."
Kayla grabbed the net, pulling it onto the ship and set it down on the deck. She opened the net from the top, helping Cas out of the net. "Better?"
Cas sighed in relief, shuffling away from the net, "Yes, very much so, thank you," He looked towards Kayla, "Anyway.. are you.. gonna kill me or..?"
Kayla threw the net off to the side, away from Cas. "No offence, but I'm not into murder." She joked as she crouched down to his level.
Cas tilted his head to the side, looking over the sailor, "Most humans would have tried at least three times by now."
"Well I'm not most humans." She chuckled as she stuck out her hand. "I'm Kayla. You are?"
"Cas," He took her hand, a slight smirk tugging on his lips, "A pleasure to meet you, Kayla."
"It's nice to meet you too." She said with a smile. "What were you doing up near the surface? You're glad I was out here and not someone else."
Cas shrugged, leaning back on his hands and his relaxed more, "I came to watch the sunset. I felt like I was being watched so I moved away and then got caught in the net and here we are."
Kayla chuckled. "That's why I'm out here too. It's beautiful tonight." She said with a smile. "So do you want back in the water or..?"
"I mean it's harder to have a conversation if I'm down in the water," Cas smiled, "I mean I'll have to go back in eventually."
Kayla nodded. "Alright." She said, letting out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "Sorry if I'm being a little weird. It just, I've never seem a mermaid before. Didn't even think they existed so I'm a out of water here."
Cas waved his hand in dismissal, "No big deal, just… try and think of me as a human… with a tail? Yeah right it's slightly weird. I shouldn't even be talking to you."
"Why not? Is it against the law for your people or something?" She asked as she sat herself down on the deck to be on the same level as Cas.
"Technically yes, it is," He leaned forwards a little, "Previous encounters with humans other mer-folk have had haven't exactly been civil, which is why we stay away."
Kayla nodded. "Makes sense. Do you need to go in the water then?" She asked. "I don't want you to get in trouble because I caught you in my net."
"There's not a merman or mermaid round here for miles, I won't be in trouble unless one of your crew mates comes out here and isn't happy I'm on board." Cas replied.
"That's not going to happen either." She said visibly relaxing. "Their in there getting drunk off their asses." She said pointing to the indoor portion of the ship.
Cas looked over to where she pointed, "Sounds like they're having fun. I wouldn't mind joining them."
"Pretty sure even in their drunken state they would still recognize you're a mermaid." Kayla pointed. "Like I said, I'm not like other people. I'm not sure how my crew mates would react to you."
He nodded a little, "I guess that's true. But still, I feel like they'd be too drunk to wield a sword or a bow so I think I'm safe."
Kayla chuckled. "You're right, but I'd still rather not go through that experience." She said, looking out at the sun.