a-merman-not-a-guppy

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

"Do-Don't worry, they've tried so-so-some fruit so far. And they're used to things with s-s-seaweed," Finn reassured Nemo quickly. He was introducing his parents to the different things he liked to eat too. And they had fishy dishes often enough. He was pretty sure they would like whatever Finn or Nemo could offer them now.

Finn stepped toward the fridge to glance inside. "I mi-might have some-something in here too. B-But they like fruits and veggies." He reached into the fridge to pull out what looked like some of the gimbap. "I can b-b-bring these out."

Finn set the gimbap out on the counter and peered out of the kitchen to the living room space where his parents were sat cuddling. They seemed pretty content there for the moment which was good. "Or I c-c-can carry the drinks and you c-c-can the food or... some-something."

@justkeepdancing-nemo

The Best of Me | BFFs

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

Finn had thought maybe his parents could use someone else to talk to. Someone who had had to navigate outside of a world that they weren’t familiar with. So Finn had reached out to Nemo’s dad Marlin. While he was never really sure what Marlin thought of him, and sort of figured the fairy wouldn’t want to deal with much of anything Finn had to do with since the break in at the aquarium. But thankfully Mr. Bae was willing to aid, and so they found themselves at Finn’s aunt's house, as that was the place that his parents had been living.

Finn’s aunt Nari had set out some tea and snacks for everyone, and Finn sat between both of his parents on the couch across from Marlin. Finn worried at his lip, glancing between his two parents who were just settling in and trying to figure out where to begin to discuss their concerns. “Um.. they know Korean and Mermish mo-mo-mostly to sp-speak,” Finn informed the fairy. He was pretty sure he’d explained before this meeting too, but it didn’t hurt to make sure. 

Finn’s eomma smiled politely at Marlin. “We appreciate you taking the time out of your day. There is…there are many things here that are… different from home. Or…or the tank,” she said and she grimaced at the thought of where they had been imprisoned.

@baenxietydad

Social Norms | Bae Flounders

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

Social Norms | Bae Flounders

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

It was good to know Finn wasn't disrupting Jeremy with anything. And sure it was summer time now, but that didn't mean that Jeremy would have nothing to do. Finn didn't really know everything that Jeremy was up to, but he seemed like he kept decently busy.

"I... I w-w-was thinking I mi-might b-b-be ready to um... to g-g-get a new dog," Finn said after a moment. And he knew different kinds of dogs would be great. The most important thing was that he needed to pick one out that would be compatible with him and could hopefully ease some of the anxiety that Finn often had.

"I w-was wondering if... if you'd w-w-want to come along and help me p-p-pick one?"

@jere-me--oh-my

Decisions Decisions | Finnjere

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

"I would be glad to try this elderflower milk," Finn's mom said quickly. His father added a soft, "I would be curious as well." And this was good, Finn thought. This was better than getting stuck in the entryway thanking each other and bowing for who knew how long.

"I'd like so-so-some too Nemo if that's o-o-okay," Finn added softly. "I c-can help you carry some too in a minute." Once he made sure his parents were comfortable. Finn gently led them both toward the living room where they could sit down and settle in a bit more.

Once they had sat, and once Finn had reassured them that he'd be right back (they all still needed a little reassurance when they went anywhere individually) he found his way back to the kitchen. "Oh d-d-do you think a snack would b-b-be good? Or... I do-don't know. I've b-b-been worrying and they already re-really like you any-anyway."

@justkeepdancing-nemo

The Best of Me | BFFs

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

NAME: Finn Flounder ASSIGNED SIDNEYLAND: Besydus, Texas JOB TITLE & ASSIGNMENT: Face Character - King of the Rodeo FAVORITE RIDE/ATTRACTION: Big Bad Bill’s Backwards Railroad YEARS EMPLOYED AT SIDNEYLAND: 1

BIOGRAPHY: Finn had always been a little in awe and in love with Sidneyland. His parents took him for the first time when he was four years old, and he was sure at that moment that he wanted to be there forever. Of course over time he had different visions of what he wanted to do. He wanted to be an artist, a pirate, a pilot, and so on. He wanted adventure. Finn had never gone anywhere outside of Orlando really, and he wanted to do something incredible. 

As he got into high school, he discovered that he really liked acting. It gave him a confidence boost and made him feel SEEN. So then he thought, maybe he should do something with this joy. This brought him back to Sidney. He started researching what it would take to become a face character in the park. He wanted to be a part of the magic that he’d been so drawn toward growing up. Finn was able to apply to the Sidney College program. 

He got in and immediately tried to shoot his shot for one of his favorite characters: a Captain of one of the Pirate ships. Unfortunately, they didn’t think he was suited for the role. But they DID think he was good for the role of King of the Rodeo. They thought he had enough swagger and confidence to pull it off. So now he’s been a face character in Besydus for about a year. It still isn’t the place he wants, but at least he gets to practice his acting and make other people feel like the world is living and real and magical. If not this year, he’ll get it next year. Right?

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

Finn was glad that it was going well. Seemingly well. He had been nervous about this, mostly because he wasn't sure at first how good his parents' Korean was and there was no way Nemo would know mermish. But thankfully his mom and dad were comfortable speaking in Korean. And thankfully Nemo knew some of it as well. Finn translating would have been...probably a pain for everyone since his stutter only got worse when he got nervous.

"He told us...a little bit about that," Finn's dad said after a moment, Finn leaning against him and letting himself enjoy the comfort that he was slowly getting more used to having. The father he'd grown up with, or uncle he supposed, had never been all that affectionate with him. But this was nice. And Finn took a breath and let it out again to try to steady himself more. This was a really good thing, this moment.

Finn's dad hesitated and then added, "though I usually don't like if non-merfolk know about any of us, I think we can say without you knowing and helping we might not have gotten to meet our son. So if there is anything my wife and I can ever do for you..." he shrugged his shoulders. He didn't have much of an idea of what a merman who hadn't been in society for many years could do, but the offer was there. "I don't know what, but we are indebted to you." He bowed to Nemo. Finn glanced over at his mother who smiled and bowed as well.

"Um...this um... sh-sh-should w-w-we all go s-s-sit and talk?" Finn suggested. Maybe then they could all be a bit more comfortable and no one would need to bow more or go on formalities as much.

@justkeepdancing-nemo

The Best of Me | BFFs

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

It had been seven months or so since Finn lost Pannie. And with everything going on in his life, Finn felt he needed a new furry companion. Pannie had been such a great pet and had helped his anxiety majorly. He wanted to find another. It would never take the place of Pannie in his heart. But it would be something that would help him get through the next few months of figuring out his dream of a business and his parents and what came next now that he’d graduated. 

He had started doing research on different dogs, looking on the Ruff to Fluff website but also in NTO. Finn…hadn’t narrowed it down at all. He sat at the table worrying at his lip and debating the pros and cons of this type of dog or that one when he heard footsteps coming into the room. He lifted his head and a small smile spread across his face. 

“Hi J-Jeremy. Are you b-b-busy right now?” Maybe Jeremy could help Finn go pick out a dog. Or at least, help him narrow down some of the choices that he did have. They could hang out a while at least. Finn didn’t get to hang out with Jeremy as much as he liked anyway.

@jere-me--oh-my

Decisions Decisions | Finnjere

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

Decisions Decisions | Finnjere

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

"Oh w-w-well that's a-a relief," Finn admitted with a tentative smile. Finn really respected Gil so much. He never wanted to get him in trouble either. He was such a strong, confident merman but also... not intimidating. A comfortable presence. Finn really looked up to him.

He managed a sheepish smile, running a hand through his hair. "If I'd known I-I-I would've reached out t-t-to you," he admitted. Finn just hadn't realized he knew anyone with that sort of experience that would be ready to go just like that. And it had felt extremely urgent.

Finn did understand secrets too. As a merman, keeping them was essential. Their whole lives would remain secret. Sometimes he wondered what it would be like if they could ever just be open magicks... but he dismissed that possibility. It would never happen. But what Gil did was secret and important! He nodded quickly. "I p-p-promise I w-won't tell any-anyone. B-But I'm glad that the organization has you. I feel... safer knowing you're involved Gil." Gil was one of the steadiest people he knew.

All Drains Lead to the Ocean || Ginn

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

Finn lit up when Nemo came out of the kitchen, waving clumsily at him and then glancing toward his parents who had their eyes on Nemo now too. His father hesitated and bowed after a minute too, his mother sort of following. "Nemo... you protected my son," His mom said in korean with a grateful smile, stepping forward and reaching out to cradle his face in her hands. "Thank you," she added softly.

Finn's dad stepped forward then and put a hand on his wife's shoulder. "Jagiya let go of him so we can speak to him well," he said, and she finally let go and took a step back, leaning into her husband. "They um... they only really know Korean and Mermish but they are v-v-very excited and this is...y-yeah. I'm glad we could d-d-do this," Finn added, which he supposed was sort of clear with the way his mom wanted to thank him.

His father smiled at Nemo too and said, "We're very happy to meet you of course. Officially. I'm Myungsoo. And this is Kyungja. Thank you for being such a good presence in our Kyungjoon's life." He reached out to draw Finn into a half hug.

@justkeepdancing-nemo

The Best of Me | BFFs

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

Finn had been anticipating this for a while. Nemo and his parents officially meeting. He had talked so much about him to them both. How could he not? They wanted to know everything about how he grew up. And so many stories once he hit secondary was all about Nemo and how he was able to really find himself with his friend's help. So, now that they were more settled, and the alarm from Interpride had gone down just a little...or at least they weren't trying to tell Finn they all NEEDED to return to the ocean right away like they had after it happened, he felt he could make this happen.

Since his parents were still staying with his aunt and hadn't really seen where Finn had been living, he figured he would bring them by the house and meet Nemo there. He hoped their curiosity on the housing and Nemo would make it easier for them. But maybe Finn was projecting his nerves a little too much. When he suggested they go over and spend time with Nemo that day his dad immediately agreed to it.

So he texted Nemo once they were all dressed and ready and had eaten something, 'hey I'm bringing my parents over! they're really excited to meet you.' It was still a funny thing to be going anywhere with the two of them. They still liked to stick close to Finn, and without fail they both held onto one of his hands. And each time, for a moment he let himself picture what that might have been like when he was little and still so afraid of the world. But he had them now, and he squeezed their hands and led them over to the house he shared with Finn and Jeremy.

He had to let go of his dad's hand to open the door, after which he guided them both into their living space. "We're here!" he called out, twisting to see his dad shut the door behind them, his mom already halfway in the room to inspect some of the art that Finn had put up on the walls and the rest of the space closest to them.

@justkeepdancing-nemo

[outfit] [visual of his dad] [and of his mom]

The Best of Me | BFFs

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

The Best of Me | BFFs

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

Just when Finn didn't think Gil could get any cooler in his mind...he added something else to make him even more impressive and awe inspiring in Finn's mind. And Gil was already one of the most amazing people Finn knew!

"That...That's in-in-incredible," Finn said after a moment. That Gil would have dedicated himself to helping Magicks like that... it was something Finn wished he were brave enough to do. But he just supported the people close to him as best he could.

Finn didn't fully understand the logistics of it all, but he knew that this meant Gil had been much more prepared for the chaos that Finn had inadvertently dragged him into than expected. "So um...I d-d-didn't get you in trouble with the organization or-or anything right?" He didn't exactly know how these things worked.

"I'll tell them it was all m-m-me if I have to!" Because Finn would protect those he cared about from his own mistakes as much as he possibly could. He was the one who couldn't let it go.

@agentgrumpy-gils

All Drains Lead to the Ocean || Ginn

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

A small smile spread across Finn's face and he reached out to put a hand on Nemo's. "They d-definitely w-w-want to meet you," Finn told him gently. Probably because most of the stories Finn wanted to tell them had Nemo in them too. He couldn't help it. Nemo was his person, and he had done so much to help Finn become a better, stronger person.

"I told them so-so-so many great stories about you. They've b-b-been asking. It's just b-b-been so busy. But they w-want to meet you properly. I was thinking w-w-we could all hang out soon."

@justkeepdancing-nemo

Keep Staying Here | BFFs

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

It felt a bit like a weight had lifted somewhat off of Finn's chest when Gil spoke. He still felt guilty, but a little less than when Gil had reached out for them to meet up. It felt a bit better.

"Oh...o-o-okay," Finn replied softly, sitting down in his usual chair, worrying at his lip. At least he wasn't being scolded too much. But Finn had always felt that Gil understood him. Understood him and made him feel seen. He really admired that about him.

He didn't exactly understand what Gil meant about his role. Other than him absolutely saving all of their butts. "So it's um... it's some-something real secret r-right?" Since they were meeting like this, it was enough to come to that conclusion at least.

@agentgrumpy-gils

All Drains Lead to the Ocean || Ginn

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

Finn did feel a bit better going over it with Nemo.

Everything wasn't so urgent or drastic as he thought. There was still time to get to know them, to learn from them. To figure out what they wanted and what he wanted. There was time.

He just couldn't help but feel like he needed to try to discover as much as he could as soon as he could and connect with them immediately. Finn was pretty sure they must feel similarly. "Yeah that's true. I ho-hope they w-w-want to stay a little w-w-while longer at least. That'd be ni-nice. I w-want them to know the town and how I grew and....and you honestly."

Keep Staying Here | BFFs