INT. TAVERN - NIGHT

The tavern is bustling with patrons, the air thick with the smell of ale and the low hum of conversations. ELIAS, a rugged man in his thirties, sits across from his friend JACK, who is older, unkempt, and clearly well into his cups. ELIAS downs the last of his fifth ale, then blurts out his question.

ELIAS
(slurring slightly)
Do you think sirens are real?

JACK, distracted by his drink, looks up confused. He tries not to burp, fails loudly, then rubs his face with the back of his sleeve.

JACK
(raspy)
Uh… what?

ELIAS tries to appear casual, but the wheels in his mind are turning, too fast to slow down. His gaze flickers across the room to the tavern keeper, and he waves him over with a nod.

ELIAS
Somethin’ stronger.

The barkeep notices and begins to walk over with a new bottle. JACK perks up at the mention of liquid encouragement.

JACK
(excitedly)
Fuckin' finally.

ELIAS nods absentmindedly, still clearly preoccupied with his own thoughts.

ELIAS
(shrugging casually, unable to keep the tone even)
You know, about— about sirens. Sing songs, half women, half fish. (Beat.) Eat men.

JACK rubs his chin, still trying to process what he just heard. The barkeep arrives, placing two glasses of gin on the table. He watches disapprovingly as ELIAS takes a long drink.

JACK
(squinting)
Sirens? What the hell’re you yappin’ about?

ELIAS
(embarrassed, shuffling in his seat)
Yeah, y’know— creatures that lure sailors to their doom. Half fish, half women. Please don't make me say it a third time.

JACK considers this for a moment, his hand pausing in mid-air before he slams both hands on the table.

JACK
(eyes wide)
Wait! Wait a second—remember that crusty lil’ guy with a lisp and half a nose in our crew? That feller who told that wild tale about—about sleepin' with a siren? Am I rememberin' this shit right?

ELIAS snorts, laughing as he takes another swig of his drink.

ELIAS
Yeah, turned out it was just a nickname for his wife. Made me believe in love, the fact that a feller mean as him had someone waitin’ on him.

JACK bursts out laughing, coughing a little as he tries to regain composure. ELIAS smirks, then leans back in his chair, tapping the table with his fingers, his mind far away.

ELIAS
(thoughtfully)
I’ve heard stories—warnings—about all sorts of things. The Kraken, Leviathan, serpents, creatures so big an’ nasty you can't even fit on a map.

He shrugs, the question lingering in the air.

ELIAS
(musing to himself, more than to JACK)
But would a siren make sense?

JACK continues nodding along, rubbing his chin as he reflects. The noise of the tavern swirls around them, but they are deep in their conversation.

JACK
(scrunching his nose, slightly uneasy)
Don’t like the sea, not one bit. It’s the biggest thing out there, you know?

His voice cracks, a touch of vulnerability showing. ELIAS notices but doesn’t comment on it, his focus still on the weight of his own thoughts.

JACK
(hesitant but firm)
I’d believe just about anythin’ about the sea – bad or good. It’s… it’s so wonderful. Awful, yes, but also deeply wonderful.

ELIAS gives a soft nod, letting his words hang in the air.

ELIAS
(smiling faintly)
Ain’t that right?
(pauses, then with a thoughtful sigh)
I’d like to believe the good, for once.

The two sit in silence for a beat, each lost in their thoughts, the flickering candlelight casting shadows across their faces. The clink of mugs and laughter around them fades into the background as the weight of the sea lingers between them.

ELIAS knows more than he lets on, but JACK is happy enough with the company and the seemingly casual chatter.