Shrieky frowns, and makes an expressive little gesture, "That's exactly what I'm talking about! At home... no human would ever have asked me if I was all right. Even when I was in great need of help, I can't imagine a human ever wanting to help me."

He folds his arms across his chest and leans against the wall, deep in thought, "People act so different towards me here. So I don't know if you're offering to help me because you're a kind person... or if it's because now I have legs, and you only just figured out that I really am a mermaid."