#Aquarium!AU

[lnbeep-art]

What time is it? ✨Mermay Time with the Boys✨

Briefly discussed an Aquarium!AU with the BF, kind of like those Post-Apocalypse settings where people try to preserve or make artificial pockets of environment under a “dome” to pretend life is better than it actually is on the outside. So since the ozone is dying and a lot of big bodies of water are drying/depressing, some of the aquatic lifeforms are dying off or homeless as a result. Aquariums were built for the same reason we have aquariums now, but here they’re acting as consensual housing for the merfolk. The merfolk got their own places to rest away from public eyes so it’s not wholly intrusive 24/7.

They have companion divers, who are the workers in the aquarium and they help acclimate the merfolk to dealing with people on a daily basis. Ari is one such companion diver, and ofc Cam and him hit it off well. :^)

Ari belongs to my BF!

[hinamie]

siren!megumi concept sheet i whipped up in a single-minded fever state fr @uriekukistan

[saphicsol]

a VERY self indulgent au

—

if you want a tv/blonde percy version of the doodle it’s on my insta

[theresascove]

depth of desire ୧ ‧₊˚⋅

🪼 aquarium worker!ellie williams x f!reader

sneaking into the aquarium after hours to meet her for her personal tour, you catch her laughing with a coworker, igniting a heated argument. you confront her about whether there's something more between them, but she insists it was harmless. tensions flare, and the air thickens, leading to a fiery encounter

tw: SENSUAL SMUT, not proofread, loser!ellie, modern!au, established relationship, hurt/comfort, fluff, argument, jealous!reader, makeout, grinding, oral/fingering (r receiving), oral (e receiving)

wc ✎ 2.7k • MASTERLIST • previous part • next part

There was a shift since the moment your lips connected. Going from complete strangers chatting with an air of awkwardness to obtaining her number to the finality of getting to know her more—it happened over time, but it felt so quick. You brought your nephew over still, smiling at the excitement he shows whenever Ellie came into view. He’s become to love her too, enjoying the positive connection he gets whenever she’s around. Usually if she’s around, he knows fish are following just behind as it’s usually a visit to her at her job. He loved listening to her talk, situated between her legs as she talks to him about the random shit she knew about the ocean.

You’ve asked her before while hanging out just between the two of you how she had such knowledge. First it started as a question if she was studying it in college or uni, but nevertheless it turned out to just be a passion of hers. That much was obvious.

You couldn’t lie about how beautiful it was to be in the building, remembering how it was a week ago. She had the cast from the water shining on her face, reflecting off her green eyes. She had been so close, brought even closer when you both leaned in to brush your lips against each other’s. You couldn’t stop looking at them since, eyes flickering to glance at them whenever she was rambling on.

Here you were again, standing while the two of them crouch in front of an exhibit you’ve maybe seen five times now—you’re sure Ellie’s seen it more—but it’s as if her and your nephew are seeing it for the first time. You hear her words but they go through one ear and out the other. She has a smile on her face, one that’s been plastered there for a while since she’s gotten to see you and her favorite little friend.

She has her arms wrapped around him, glancing between him and the exhibit as he babbles on about nonsense. Momentarily she looks to you feeling her heart race at the look—it looked eerily similar to how it did just some time ago before you both shared your moment.

She coughs, looking away, “he’s gonna be a marine biologist before you know it, man knows his shit.”

“Know shit.”

You smack Ellie on her shoulder and she stumbles from the impact, “hey!”

“Don’t say that, we’ve been doing so good. You know he has his focus on those few words.”

She rolled her eyes before flinching back with a laugh when she noticed you moving to smack her again. When he started to squirm and run from Ellie’s grip, you knew it was time to move on.

“This is where I say goodbye again,” you tug your nephew close so you could scoop him up, “say goodbye to Ellie, buds.”

She says her goodbyes to him before she turns to do the same with you, “I’ll see you later?”

You hum, leaning in to kiss her on the jaw, “I’ll see you later.”

Your nephew waves goodbye to her as you walk him towards his favorite exhibit, not before looking back to enjoy her taken aback expression. You can’t stifle the feeling that continues to flow within you after, a smile and good mood permanently restored within you.

After driving him back home, handing him off to your sister while he’s deep in sleep—you head back to your apartment momentarily. Five more hours and the aquarium would be closing, the time when she texted and told you to come visit.

You’ve visited her within after hours, but not in this way. Last time had been an accident, hanging out with her as the crowds disappeared and it left the two of you. She had been caught up ranting as usual, and neither of you wanted to leave. Time had flown by, your moment eventually cut short when one of her employees had walked in.

The drive back to the similar building was darker, barely a sliver of light over the horizon as you parked your car and climbed out. There the parking lot only had three cars, one of them you recognize to be hers. She mentioned there being an officer on duty, but the other car—? You brush it off as being one of her managers and shut your car door, locking it.

The door was locked, but opened after you imputed Ellie’s clock in number. Again here came the smell of fish, succeeding and surrounding even the back door that leads to the offices. It was a hallway, one empty and echoed as you walked through. She gave you a little written instructions in one of her texts, highlighting where to go.

One of the rooms ahead, a door with many stickers on it laced with you assume to be inside jokes—its light was turned on. Laughter came from the room and so did hushed and aggressive whispers. It wasn’t the room Ellie mentioned in her text to you, but she stood in there—with another.

They seemed to be about your age, and also very friendly with Ellie. You snap out of it once you’ve realized all you can remember is watching the two of them interact. With a sigh and a heavier heart you knock before letting yourself into the room. Ellie’s expression upon realizing it was you helped made you feel a bit better, but one glance to the girl beside her had you spiraling almost all over again.

It was so incredibly stupid you felt like a school girl especially at your grown age. You brush it off again and introduce yourself.

“Yeah, I’m Be.”

“She’s been working with me since I’ve started here, we actually had the same interview day.”

“Oh, how nice.”

She didn’t say much and that stung, further making you feel as if you’re interrupting their relationship instead of yours and Ellie’s. You brush it off again.

“What brought you to work here?”

She crosses her arms, “I’m studying biology at my college. Are you in college?”

Your answer rewarded you with a hum, one that felt judgmental. She turned towards Ellie again, “could you help me finish this really quick?”

She brings her back towards where they were when you had walked in, pointing Ellie’s attention back to the paperwork. While they did that, you walked around the room. There was a picture on the wall showing an official photo of the staff when the aquarium had first opened. Ellie was standing near the front, shorter and younger than how she is now. Beside her, was the other woman in the room.

Your heart skipped but you swallowed the nerves and moved around, looking at everything else the overstimulating room had to offer. Every wall and desk was covered with something. The minutes passing by and the glances towards them filled you with lead.

“Hey,” Ellie calls, “ready? I got this tour set and don’t worry it’s been approved by my boss he’s chill.”

She walks you out the office door and you feel the woman’s piercing stare on your back as she does. You wrap your arms around yourself walking beside her, feeling smaller.

“Cold?”

Before you could respond she’s shrugging the sweatshirt she had on over her work clothes off, passing it to you. You didn’t have much else to do but put it on.

“There’s a specific area where our medics work, it’s really cool.”

“Can’t wait to see,” you say, but the enthusiasm falls flat.

She brings you just further down towards the back room, opening it with a set of keys hooked to her pants. The lights flicker on, reveling in light a room of organized chaos. There were containers set on the counters, different creatures inside.

“The guys that need the most attention are brought here,” she explains, guiding you towards a tank with fish inside, “like these guys are sick.”

You hum, pushing your hands into the pockets of her sweatshirt. For someone that works in such a fish-smelling environment, her sweatshirt smelled like anything else—it smelt like her.

Nothing was able to ease the pressure building in your chest. Not time and not convincing yourself. You sit beside her now on a stool, listening but you can’t bring yourself to anymore.

“Ellie,” you start, cutting her off, “what was that earlier?”

“Uh, with Be? I was helping her with her project, why?”

You continue to stare at the fish moving in the small tank, relating to how trapped they feel. It’s not been that long into your relationship, hell you had your first kiss last week. The silence that passes by brings a frown to Ellie’s face.

“It was nothing. What? Do you think we’re like fucking or something?”

“What?”

“Don’t know—you tell me, your question sounds as if you’re asking if we’re together.”

You feel at a loss for words, an ugly string of jealous thoughts filling your mind—making you unable to form a mature and meaningful question, so instead you stay silent.

“Seriously,” she sighs, standing from her chair.

“Ellie,” you call, “I didn’t—“

“Didn’t? Didn’t what? I don’t appreciate being labeled a cheater.”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s me,” you tap your finger on the counter, “you seem so close to her, known her for longer, I mean she’s a lot smarter than me it seems—knows a lot about what you’re passionate for.”

You trail off, annoyed at how tight your chest feels. She stands across from you, back leaned against the counter. Of course she notices the slightest change. Having only seeing you happy, it was strange seeing this side, but everything she was noticing in you—she felt it herself.

“I’m sorry I don’t know what I’m worked up about. It’s not you. It’s me, I just want to be able to be your ideal type—and with her around I feel like a second option.”

Ellie blinks, hurting all the more when she sees your shaky breaths. She crosses back to you, frustration already left her by the time her body is pressed beside yours.

“Don’t apologize,” she brushes her hand on you, pulling you to her. You let her, falling into her hold wholeheartedly—and you especially fall into the way she brings her lips onto yours. Her cold hand on your cheek, angling your face. You pull her tighter, fingers weaving in her hair.

The sound of the AC blowing and slight waves from the tanks were the noise behind your kissing, reminding you of where you were located. You were at a public aquarium, not back at either of yours apartments. And yet, neither of you pulled back just yet. Her other hand slipped under her sweatshirt that laid on you, causing you to shiver from the cold.

“Ellie,” you whisper, and it brings her out of her focus.

She swallows, moving back only slightly so your foreheads touched but your lips were apart.

“I—we can’t. This is my job.”

“Yeah,” you breathe, moving back, “yeah, right—what were you saying earlier about this room?”

She continues with her speech, but this time she’s always having some part of her touch you. Whether it be her thigh, her fingers, her hip—she had something brushing, holding, weaving around you. Her voice was quieter, tone softer and sweeter sounding.

She showed you through the areas you know, and even the areas you didn’t before. Before—quite unconsciously—the aquarium was her focus, but now she was locked on you, getting distracted often.

It was the large room, the one with the glass almost as wide as a football field where you both fell apart again. You stood beside her, or her beside you seeing as she couldn’t hear her hands off you. She just fell apart then, cursing under her breath as she tugged you so close your bodies melted to one as she seared you with a kiss.

You agree to it eagerly, arms crossed around her shoulders with her hands on your waist. The second her kisses trailed down your jaw, your neck—your mind shut off and you knew she was going to fall with you. Each move, her eyes locked go yours—she had an air of caution, checking in often to make sure you were safe and comfortable moving forward.

You had landed with your back against the floor, Ellie straddling you—shrugging her work shirt over her head. You felt your heart beat elevate, core heating at the sight. The shirt landed beside you as she leaned over you—fingers sliding up your core. Each time she reached for an article of clothing, she was checking in with you.

The last was removed, leaving you bare beneath her while she still had ber pants and sports bra on her. You collided with her, hooking a leg around her to spin the two of you. With a smile into her neck, you grind your hips onto her thigh. She breathed deep in response, exhaling while her hands rushed to grip onto your hips.

You bit back a moan when she did the same to you, hiking her thigh up to meet you halfway. She flipped you again, kissed trailing lower until she was face to face with you. Your bodies shivered, a hand shooting to grip her hair tight as she moved close.

One kiss and you were singsonging into the still air. She slid her lips up, moving to lick over your clit—feeling proud at how she had you feeling.

“ElsEls—!”

She pressed her tongue there, rubbing it so she could get you ready. Her finger slipped through then, pushing in and finding the spot that caused you to cry out.

“Shit please, yes!”

Ellie shushes you, sliding another in after, “inside voices, I got you.”

You were a mess, a hand strewn over your mouth to muffle your sounds as she worked you to the edge. Three of her fingers pushing into you, tongue stimulating your clit. You were writhing, huffing hot air and digging your nails into her scalp.

“Oh fuck—“ you tilt your head back, eyes closing at the feeling that over came you. Your orgasm crashing over you. Ellie huffs, moving atop of you and kissing you breathlessly as you come down from your high. With a tingling igniting throughout your body, thrumming loudly and excitedly, you sat up to push her back.

“Please can I-?”

You ask, tugging at her waistband to hint at what you’re asking for. She nods, “yeah—shit, yes. Go for it.”

You tug them down, grinning at her as you preform similar actions to what she had just did to you. She moaned, head pushed back against the carpet—stomach contracting. Her tattoo’s arm was holding onto your hair, holding you there.

“Shit just like that, don’t stop.”

You wouldn’t dream of doing so. From now until forever you were sure you’d have this image plastered in your mind forever. How she looked, how she sounded, how she tasted. You wanted more, even after she came crashing down from her own high. She used her hand on your hair to jerk you into a kiss, one that transformed into another make out session. Warm bodies on each other, sliding—her thigh between your legs as you circle them.

“Shit,” Ellie curses, “it’s 11:47, we have to leave in 13.”

You laugh, pecking her lips, “is that enough time to finish your tour?”

“Yeah, if we get dressed now,” she flings your clothes at you with a playful expression, “so get dressed.”

You do, shimming your pants back on and watching her do the same. You help her off her floor, “are we insane for what we just did?”

“Yeah probably,” she says, kissing your swollen lips one more time, “but it’s what I love most about us.”

[kayarona]

finn's aquarium au made by Kofi201

[captainmaxatx]

Late Mermay idea!

Orca mer Ghost in an aquarium but he is almost always hiding and quite depressed so the aquarium decide to give him a little more enrichment.

With humans lack of mer knowledge they come to the conclusion that because orcas eat seals then surely an orca mer would eat a seal mer. They decide that during closing hours (to avoid guests seeing the blood bath that will surely follow) they will drop a live seal mer into ghosts tank so he has the natural experience of hunting instead of just being fed slabs of meet.

But mer’s don’t eat other mers, regardless of secondary species.

So when seal mer soap is dropped into his tank, ghost just thinks he’s being given a very energetic handsome roommate.

And the humans are confused as to why ghost hasn’t eaten the seal mer yet

[picopubbydawg]

average rivulet outing

[flyingdidii]

The aquarium’s care taker and the Octopus or The escape from the aquarium.

[ahn1zos]

Aquarium dates

[lnbeep-art]

Goes from boy time to gal time, instantaneously. More of Aquarium!AU because Mermay has really taken off in my brain this year, apparently, smh. How long will it be before I write some small story to go along with things? Only time will tell.

All the pearls in the world don’t shine as pretty as Ougi and Mii feel the other looks to them.

I’m thinking Mii’s home in the Aquarium is tied to the indoor beaches that the dome offers, because she would enjoy being up on the surface with people. She’s just peeking out of the water and watching the others because she’s still shy to approach even in her own home. But Ougi makes her come out of her shell, both literally and figuratively.

Meanwhile, Ougi may or may not have gotten a job at the Aquarium in order to meet Mii properly after noticing her on the indoor beach level. 😂

I’ll ramble about the Aquarium™️ dome as I’m thinking about it—there’s different tiers to the Aquarium! Mii would frequent the top floor because that’s where the beaches would be, whereas the lower floors are less interactive and more just a window in the deep waters where all the mysteries of the undersea world live, with occasional drive-bys from the huge or scarier-looking merfolk (i.e Whale/Kraken-sized, angler-esque). The aquarium has a lot of floors; not sure how many just yet, which is true to the unknown of the ocean floor’s depths tbh LMAO. Certain floors are off-limits from any visitors because they would be floors that contain “rooms” for the merfolk, caves where they’d have their living chambers and their own “Atlantis” community of sorts.

It’s post-apocalyptic, but scientific technology is advanced and more futuristic to a degree. Since there’s no longer safe water outside of this dome, people who want to swim and visit beaches would have to go to this facility. It still functions like a usual aquarium in other areas/floors, so they can still see feral fish and what not, and the merfolk in particular choose whether they want to socialize or protect their solitary peace. When the merfolk are on any interactive or viewing level of the Aquarium, they’re considered on-duty employees during work hours! It’s like a mix of a cultural center, recreational center, and learning/research place. Definitely need to think about giving them a mini uniform too, or some accessory piece to display that. 🤔 Money doesn’t matter to them, their currency is in the form of building materials (dilapidated houses from the outside, wrecked ships) or precious stones.

Another brief synopsis of this particular AU here: https://www.tumblr.com/lnbeep-art/717240700925853696/what-time-is-it-mermay-time-with-the. Ougi is also bf’s character!

[megumiluvv]

After the kiss on the cheek, Choso has been sort of awkward and shy around you, while you babysit Yuji like nothing, and Sukuna watches with a smirk.

“You’re really awkward around that babysitter, nephew.” Sukuna says one day when you and Yuji are out.

“What? No, I’m not.”

“You are. Almost like you’re embarrassed by your feelings. If I were you, I’d already have that babysitter wrapped around my finger, if you know what I mean.”

“Uncle, please don’t ever put that image in my head.” Choso’s cheeks flush as he tries to focus on folding his laundry.

Sukuna laughs a loud, hearty laugh at his nephew’s words and reaction to what he said.

“You’re scared they don’t feel the same.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is. You can’t keep your eyes off of them but also see how that Gojo makes them react. You’re scared that Gojo boy is going to steal them away.”

“Uncle, that isn’t true at all.”

“Then what are you waiting for?”

“I’m not ‘waiting for’ anything, because nothing is going to happen between us. They’re focused on watching Yuji and I’m focused on giving Yuji a good childhood.” Choso sighs and sounds like he’s trying to convince himself more than anything.

A few minutes later, you come home with Yuji asleep in your arms.

“He partied hard.” You smile, coming home from one of Yuji’s friend’s birthday party.

Choso’s heart flutters at the sight of you taking care of Yuji, his little brother’s hand clinging to your shirt. He moves the stack of clothes to let you sit on the couch with Yuji and Sukuna plops down beside you.

“Who all was there?” Choso asks curiously. He was unable to make it due to work.

“Megumi, Todo, obviously the birthday girl Nobara, a few of her friends, but those are the most notable ones.” You smile to Choso.

“So Gojo was there?”

“Yup, and so was Shoko, Yuki, one of Gojo’s friends, I think his name was Geto? I didn’t know him that well but he has these twin girls that are adorable.”

“Is that so? Did Gojo say anything?”

“He asked where ‘my other half’ was.” You roll your eyes, cheeks flushing a little.

Your other half. Choso’s cheeks flush a little too and he ignores Sukuna’s smile that appears.

“So Gojo thinks you two are together?”

“Oh, well, I dunno about all that…” You blush.

“And why not?”

“Uncle, quit pestering my babysitter.”

“Whatever, I’m going to call Uraume. Can’t believe they don’t ever come with me anymore. Damn brat would like their cooking…” he starts complaining to himself and leaves the room.

You look up at Choso, who looks down at you, both of your cheeks a rosy pink. Choso is the first to break the silence after he sits down.

“So, I um, have an invitation for you.”

“Hm?”

“Aquarium and dinner? No Yuji, I’ll have my uncle watch him.”

“…Sure. When?”

“Tuesday?”

“…Yeah.” You smile and gently set Yuji on him, patting Choso’s shoulder. “It’s a date.”

“Y-yeah, a date…”

He watches you leave the room and he has a big smile on his face now. A date. It’s a date. With you. He is ecstatic.

You head into your apartment practically squealing in excitement. Did you really just say that? Did he really just ask you out? Does he really like you the same? You can hardly sleep that night from the excitement.

Masterlist

[paintedpatroclus]

aquarium meet-cute + bonus

[sea-lanterns]

Something tell me the slasher/doppelgangef ladies also hear "Fuck the cutie thing here".

It was just their thoughts.

Reader is just standing there, looking all big-eyed and innocent while these slasher/doppelganger ladies are literally towering over her with thoughts no holy human will ever have 🫢

Reader, looking up at them so innocently: Hello! :D

Slasher/Doppelganger ladies, mentally: 🔞🔞🔞🍆🍆🍑🍑🍑💦💦 💦💧💧H̴͖͓̤̗̥̬̠̗̭̏̓̈́̇͜e̸̙̠͎̘͑͑̌̔̕ḽ̷͈̙̩̖͚͇̟̬̑͐̈́͠ͅl̵͕̪̻̗̇̔͆̅̎͜ͅo̷͈͙̘̹͍͗͆̌̀̇̊̀͆̍͝

[skelowho201]

What Finn's Aquarium Main characters would looked like in 3D/Game?

Heres the edit I made for render sprites (just for fun)

(Finn is not going to be playable in this AU btw💔)

[oobbbear]

I FINISHED MY LITTLE MOON SHARK🦈✨

Because I don’t have the tiny round spinning thing this is how I’m going to rotate him

[aka-indulgence]

Hello @llamagoddessofficial :> Wrote another fanfic fanfic for you! I really love the good zoo siren au as someone who does some marine biologies, and I had a burst of inspiration so I wrote the first day working at the aquarium :D I loved writing the parallels hehee

—————

You were a janitor in the Ebott aquarium!!

Which, when you say out loud, does sound underwhelming. But you didn’t mind it. You had come to them in the hopes of becoming an intern, a volunteer, or a staff if things went your way. The lady at the information desk (who was very helpful), had looked quite apologetic when you asked her.

“I’m sorry… but we’re not looking for anymore creature carers at the moment.”

It was quite disappointing, but you weren’t expecting to get accepted straight away, anyway. And you’d already bought a ticket anyway, so you still had an aquarium day all to yourself, not like you were wasting your day. And you had a great day! If you weren’t caring for the animals directly, you were reassured by the fact that your payment is going to contribute to their care.

The day became even better when the lady recognized you on the way out and stopped you.

“We don’t have positions for carers right now, but… how would you like to be a cleaner? I’ll keep you up to date if there are any spots open.”

Naturally, you took it. It wasn’t like you had anything pressing for your schedule right now. As soon as a position opens- whatever it is- you were going to take it by the throat.

It was your first day. You were blasted with warmth as soon as you went in, having to quickly shed your winter clothes for the janitor uniform. It had little fish on the sleeves, which was a cute touch. It wasn’t the most glamorous job, of course. You spent more of your hours in the toilet than you did in the exhibit rooms. But any agitation you got from coming into a stall, only to see tissues strewn about on the floor like someone just blew up a roll after you had just cleaned; was quickly washed away when you went out, to the cool blues, the dancing lights cast in the darkened rooms. Even when you had to excuse yourself in front of the guests to wipe a drink spill in front of the giant ‘Pacific Bay’ aquarium, the music calmed your soul.

It wasn’t very quiet in the afternoon, what with the families and their 300 toddlers running about and crying babies. But when the day waned and the water glimmers dimmed, the one’s left were adults, couples. Then of course, the aquarium closed.

You worked up a sweat that clung to your uniform uncomfortably, after you scrubbed a mysterious stain on the floor leading to the gift shop that seemed to seep into the shiny tile, somehow.

“Hey, Julia?” You called; the lovely information lady that allowed you to have this opportunity in the first place; wandering about the empty entrance to check out. It felt like a bit of a ghost town all of a sudden, as you roamed the aquariums for any management-type people you could ask for help.

“I’m done, right? What should I…”

You stop when you walk by a doorway, into a room that was always darker than the rest, even when the sun was still up in the sky.

… You could walk back into the dinky staff room in the back of the building where they just gave up on aesthetics, a ‘modern’ and unsightly concrete structure. But… you could also just… say that you didn’t find anyone… right? And just… ‘got lost’... in the Deep Seas room…

Looking around, holding a cloth to your heart as if someone was going to chastise you if you hadn’t, you snuck into the room. It was hard to pass up on an opportunity like this.

Ebott aquarium was special, after all. They were one of the few aquariums in the world that had sirens. Three, to be in fact. One orca siren, one shark siren, and a deep sea cecaelia. A spectacular cast, to be sure- it wasn’t a surprise how they won so many awards over the years.

This room in particular was the cecaelia’s, the most reclusive of all the sirens.

You walked past the languid isopods, the floating nautilus, the sparkling comb jellies, to a giant opening in the room where the ceiling extended so you could see the entire tank in all its glory.

It usually looked empty, of course, but the few chances you get to see the cecaelia, it would be a shame to be unable to see him.

Though, as it was now, the tank looked uninhabited, as it usually was. This siren in particular was ‘shy’, though shy wasn’t the right word. It was more that he didn’t like being looked at, as to be expected with deep sea specieses.

Which is why this was the perfect opportunity for you. Julia told you about him- that he was more likely to emerge during after hours. They had cameras in the viewing room, for the purpose of recording his activity whenever he does something interesting to show visitors that he is in fact real, and they aren’t just displaying an empty tank for fun.

The TV display is off now, but you remember the video they posted online, where the most exciting thing that happened was him shooting out of the cave to grab the food they lowered into his tank, before quickly retreating back into the cave. There were screams of children and adults alike going wild.

You read the information board next to the TV.

Skull, Deep Sea Cecaelia

Sirenus cecaelia aequor

Ebott’s most recently acquired siren, Skull was found floating near the surface, a sign of disease or weakness in deep sea sirens. It is our belief that Skull recently acquired the crack in his skull. This may have caused him to grow uncontrollably, though our researchers argue that it might as well be due to deep sea gigantism.

Not much is known of deep sea cecaelias as of now, as they are the rarest encountered sirens in human history, and extensive observation we do have is in captivity, like Skull. 

They are as enigmatic as they are beautiful, deep sea cecaelias are believed to live a mostly solitary life……

Your eyes scan through the text- having read most of it from the other day visit. Your sight is caught on the plaque  next to the board, under the TV. You hadn’t noticed it before, with how full the room was. Boarded with wood and written on a golden plate, it reads:

In memory of Henry Freeman.

1975-20XX

Your squint when the gold plating starts shimmering a pinkish hue. And, did it get darker?

You follow the direction of the light to see…

“Whoa-lly shit!” You staggered.

Right there, against the glass, was Skull. He was big, you knew that, his size was listed right there on the board with a human outline next to his to show scale, and you’ve seen the videos of course- but that didn’t prepare you to see him in person.

Just his skeletal upper body dwarfed yours, bones thick and marred with scars of unknown battles deep below, where sunlight couldn’t reach. His pitch black tentacles waved around him like deep shadows in the darkness of the tank, suckers sticking and popping off the glass in tandem. At its base, a single tentacle was thicker than you were.

You held a hand up to your chest. Your heart had jumped at the giant shadow, that glowing red eye of his, the size of your fist, zeroing on you, and a great big smile full of characteristically sharp deep-sea teeth. It must’ve been instinctual fear, having a great predator looking at you, so close, only separated by a couple inches of glass.

The tips of his front tentacles were poking and tapping on the glass.

The initial adrenaline of fear quickly turned to curiosity and awe. You’ve never seen him with your own two eyes before, let alone so close- why was he out? Did he notice the empty room, and the lone ‘prey’ turned away from him and just lunged..?

“Hahahah, am I lucky to be on this side of the glass,” you joked, approaching the glass.

His eye stayed trained on you as you approached, his smile widening. He even lowered his head a little, like he was trying to get on eye level with you.

“Can’t tell if you’re curious about me or if you just really really want to eat me,” you giggle, at the way he was focused on you.

You pressed your hand to the glass, and practically squished your nose to it as you took him in. You could imagine the sounds those great big tentacles were as they moved like midnight waves.

You pull your head back in time to see his eye on your open palm against the glass. A great finger pointed to it, scratching the glass. Then… he presses his hand to the glass, right in front of yours.

Your mouth opens. Your hand just barely fits into his palm. You looked back to the cecaelia. This close, you could see all the little shift in his eyelight, flitting here and there, like he was paying close attention to the details in your face.

His eyelight cast a soft red on your face, your cheeks. A small glimmer in your eyes.

“This is…”

“Eeeeeee!”

You startle at the squeal, sounding like if a squeaky toy could get excited. When you turned around, you see a woman standing at the end of a hallway, in a white coat and white turtleneck,  looking very ready to walk in the cold.

“U-uh,”

“How did you,” she strode over to you, long blond hair bouncing as she did, “how did you get him to do that?”

“I’m- sorry?” you sputter. Looking behind you, Skull had retreated a few paces to the back of the glass. “I was just… just…” you shrug, making a face when you remember you’re still holding the cleaning cloth, hiding it behind your back.

“Magnificent!” she stood next to you, one hand on the glass. “We’ve never seen him so interested in a human before. You had him against the glass!”

Skull was swimming around, darting from one corner to the other, keeping his eye on the both of you.

“He’s never done that?”

“Never!” she turns to you, conviction in her voice. “Skull doesn’t like being looked at, he usually hides in his cave when someone walks into the room, not… approach and give them a greeting. The only reason he isn’t rushing back is because he recognizes my face as ‘someone who gives the food’. And like you see now, he doesn’t give me any special greetings. Just having him out and about while someone is in view is stunning, let alone…”

“Oh, so do you feed him?” you ask. Hopefully you weren’t going to get chewed out for dawdling in the aquarium when you’re supposed to be clocked out 30 minutes ago.

“I do help with the feedings.” She says, then extends a hand to you. “Call me Mildred. I’m the head of the aquarium.”

“The… the head?!” Your eyes widen as you shook her hand. “I’m… I’m (Y/n), it’s an honor! To meet you!”

“Oh, please, I’m much more interested in you!” She smiles, the lines around her lips wrinkled with age, evidence of a lively woman. “Say… are you the new cleaning service Julia picked up?”

“Y-yeah! I mean. Yes,” You corrected yourself. You were talking to the big boss here, and you were a little bashful to find that she knows about you.

“You said you wanted experience in animal and magical creature care, right?”

“Absolutely,”

She presses a finger to her lips, as if thinking for a moment. She casts her eyes to the exhibit, where Skull was still circling above. Then she looks at you with a playful smile.

“... How would you like to come into the siren care team?”

Your heart rate spikes, and you sputter.

“I… wh… hhhhhreally?!”