"Not... really, but I think explaining that involves concepts like 'consent' that you're bad at. Anyway, he's very very far away now and I don't know when I'll get back."

He nods.

“Dorothy and Kyou keep you for him.”

Pause.

”And I too.”

"Yes. You can keep me for him."

Sky is distinctly pleased.

“You give his things and make me happy.”

"That's not exactly how it works."

“Give Lev to me!”

(He probably shouldn’t laugh about this.)

"I don't think they want to give humans to mermaids."

He makes a face at them.

“He’s not wrong. We don’t.”

“...anyway if I take you far, you stop breathing and die.”

"Probably I should live here and you can come visit and talk to me whenever you want."

"I think that is okay."

With that settled, Lev goes back to petting his hair.

Sky enjoys this!

After a minute he flops aside to lay his head in Lev’s lap, minding the spines on his back.

Lev glances up at Dorothy for approval.

Dorothy nods.

(Is that almost a smile, or is he imagining things?)

Then Lev will continue to pet Sky's hair, and begin hesitantly to touch his neck.

He makes blissful noises. The fins on his upper shoulder flick against Lev’s body.

“Good at soft touching.”

"Thank you."

He just hums and enjoys himself for a while.

After a while he sits up.

"I go now," he declares. "Come back at night."

He reaches out and ruffles Lev's hair.

Lev hisses. "See you tonight."

He turns around and then slips back into the pool, tail flicking behind him.

He's gorgeous, spiraling through the water, and then he's gone.

"...we're bringing you on as a research assistant, then."