#a few creepy mermaids for mermay!

[stingrayextraordinaire]

Neverland Moodboards // Mermaids

The most haunting time at which to see them is at the turn of the moon, when they utter strange wailing cries; but the lagoon is dangerous for mortals then.

[meowmeowmeowmeow4x]

I’m angry because tumblr didnt let me add more than 30 tags :(

How am i supposed to gush about this?! >.<

a deep sea danny for mermay~

i got inspired by @meowmeowmeowmeow4x's lovely fic, Dark Blue Moon and the Suffering Sun! I don't think my depiction of danny is completely accurate to the story, but i looooved the description of his transparent skin with visible bones and organs and wanted to give it a shot!

[hetalianskywalker]

Day 1: The Courtyard

Pairing: Merman Rex x Harpy Reader

Summary: A merman and a harpy plan an escape

Authors Notes: Mermaid AU. This is my first Mermay fic and longest fic ever. So sorry if it’s a bit rough. Partly inspired by a scene in the The Last Unicorn.

Warnings: So with them being a Harpy and a Merman, I go with old school myths so drowning and eating people is vaguely discussed. There is also some blood and it gets consumed. Minor Violence. Death, but not anyone we care about. The villain is manipulative and says some controlling creepy stuff.

Word Count: 2791

Prompt: The kingdom by the sea is cruel. A captured mermaid being carried through the castle gates briefly caught the eye of a harpy in a cage above, a glance full of rage and compassion.

Prompt 3243 by deepwaterwritingpromts

The rage in the brown eyes of the merman below you is just as much a comfort as the compassion is. Even when the brief moment ends, the complicated way they make you feel doesn’t vanish. You cast the blonde one last glance as the stormtroopers carry his coffin-like tank into the witch’s workshop.

A part of you worries as the doors shut, leaving you with no access to the only other inhuman in the castle. Perhaps they have brought him for fresh ingredients for the witch’s potions, but you have a feeling he would already be missing pieces of his blue and white fishtail if that were the case. Your talons dig into your perch branch waiting to hear sounds from the workshop as your mind plays through what might happen next. The silence only makes you more queasy.

It is late into the night when a tank, big enough for him to swim around a few feet, is carried out with magic. He looks exhausted, but that’s what having the magic drained out of you so you can’t fight or escape does to a mythical creature. At least he isn’t dead; it has been a long time since you had decent company other than the birds.

“They won’t be able to find you.” The witch simply states. “Especially now that you can’t summon a storm.” Tired brown eyes glare, but he doesn’t come to the surface to speak to her. She raises her hand and you can all feel the spark of magic in the air. You let out an ear piercing screech and the stormtroopers all around cover their ears. Your tormentor’s attention turns to you with a sharp glare, but the spell dies in her hand.

“Do you have something to add, harpy?” She walks till she is right under your cage. “You have been stuck here for years unable to escape. And I plan to keep it that way till the day I die. Perhaps you can explain it to the Mer.”

All rational thought leaves you for a moment. You had been asleep when her and her private soldiers, back before her island had been part of the empire, had stumbled upon you. If you had been awake and not put into an even deeper slumber by the old power hungry witch, this situation would be far different.

Your massive wings stretch as far as they can go within the cage as the wind begins to pick up. You screech as you summon forth all the magic you can at the moment, trying to shatter the iron bars. They bend before your might and for a moment a part of you hopes they will shatter this time. You can see the Mer look up at you in awe and surprise as the stormtroopers shake in fear.

But this is as far as you always come. The sleep spell once again starts to sap your energy no matter how hard you try to fight it.

“Why can’t you get rid of that damn harpy!?” One stormtrooper hisses. “It will be the death of us all.”

The stormtrooper is tossed against a wall in retaliation with a quick flick of the witch’s wrist. The others quickly fall back in line as the witch catches her breath still staring at you. You have now wrapped your wings around yourself on your perch, barely able to keep your eyes open.

“I… caught the last wild harpy. All on my own. No massive hunting party. No army. Just me. And I have held her. I may be mortal…” She moves her eyes to the Mer for a moment before turning back to you. “But my efforts and power shall never been forgotten by creatures held under it. When I am long gone, my memory will live on.”

As sleep finally takes you, you wish she was wrong. You want to say you’ll forget her after finally tearing her to pieces, but you know you will carry these years of captivity like a badge of shame. You wonder what the Mer thinks of you now.

The next few weeks are a struggle. The witch is being careful to drain as much magic as possible from the both of you while still alive. This has made getting to know the Mer, who you found out is named Rex, a bit difficult with one or both of you fighting falling asleep before the night shift guards come out. During the night patrols, there are windows of time where you can speak to each other without being overheard.

However, you both manage to remain awake tonight. News reached the castle that Lord Vader himself is coming. And he has been asking around about Rex. He had bared his sharp teeth at the witch with a growl making bubbles in the water and his claws slowly scratching down the magically fortified glass when your captor informed you both.

“I won’t ask for details.” You speak softly, laying on your stomach at the bottom of your cage. Your chin rests on your forearms as you look down at your Mer friend. He mirrors your position with his arms on the edge of his tank, looking up at you. “But we need an escape plan now. Your brothers won’t track you here in time.”

“I don’t have any details to give you anyway.” Rex bitterly grumbles. “Other than the fact he took over my battalion after the General died, I don’t know why he’s so interested in getting here to me.” This whole situation bothers both of you like there is something more going on. But whatever it is, it is safer to leave than to seek answers.

“I’m still not powerful enough to take human form and whatever storm magic I can perform right now isn’t going to be strong enough to free you or get my brothers’ attention.” He continues, glaring bitterly down at his clawed hands. You watch the powerful blue and white fin swish back and forth in the water and his sharp teeth clench together. Under normal circumstances, being a storm summoner is one of the most powerful subgroups of Mer there are; both of you would be more than a match for the people around you. You understand the frustration.

“I have an… idea.” He looks up at you again after you say that, curious and wary.

“I don’t like how you said that, senaar.” The blunt reply makes you softly smile just as much as the nickname does.

“Have you consumed?” Rex’s brown eyes squint at you before widening in shock. He quickly shakes his head with a look of disgust. You’re surprised to say the least. “You haven’t.”

“We were soldiers for the Jedi Order and the Republic for 3 years and before that I never had the need to.” He answers just above a whisper. Was eating a species weaker than your own so dispised now? It was strange hearing it from a species you had once heard stories of dragging harpies, who hunted too close to the sea, down below the depths. Perhaps Mer traits and instincts were far more affected by the kaminoan alchemists and the Jedi Knights than you initially thought.

“Do you know why your kind once drowned and ate humans?” You move the topic in a slightly different direction.

“It was a deterrent and…”

“And?”

“It strengthens our magic.” He stops to think and then suddenly looks like he would be sick. “And that happens even more so with other magical beings. You’re not suggesting…”

“It’s exactly what I’m suggesting.” You give him a guilty look. “If I could trade spots and have you give your blood instead, I would.”

He looks oddly relieved and it’s your turn to be confused as you begin to make a cut on your arm. You let the blood begin to trickle down toward his tank.

“What did you think I was gonna cut off my hand and throw it to you for a second?” You grumble sarcastically as he takes the first swallow of your blood.

“You did have me worried.” Rex smiles up at you as you both feel the air sizzle with magic. There was once a time where a Mer’s smile would make your blood run cold, but now the sharp teeth just fills you with hope and excitement for what is to come.

The raging storm has the guards and witch scurrying to hold everything down. Your cage swings to the point it’s dizzying, but you don’t care. You don’t need magic to feel that the Mer are coming.

Rex is exhausted after mustering that strong of a storm. The rain slams into both you and there is thunder and lightning everywhere. All there is left to do is wait, basking in the might of a storm summoner.

“Captain!” You jump, startled at a voice being the same as Rex’s. Suddenly there are dozens of Mer scattered throughout the courtyard and on top of the castle gate. They scatter almost as fast as you see them, but a good handful go for Rex. A mix of the Mer language, Mando’a, and basic immediately fills the air as his brothers pull him from the tank.

Magic is exchanged through a simple touch and Rex quickly changes to human form. While he still doesn’t have the energy to walk, it makes him a lot easier for his brothers to carry. Two of them hold him up while a third checks him over. Three more stand guard around them as fighting can be heard in the distance even with the hallowing wind.

“I’m alright, Kix.” You can’t help but grin along with the rest of the men at the tired remark. The medic, that you have already heard one or two stories about, rolls his eyes.

“Yeah, I’ll be the judge of that when we get home, but you’re good enough to be moved.” Kix sighs goodnaturedly. They begin to head for the exit and fear begins to bubble inside you.

“Yeah, Commanders Wolffe and Bly are tearing up the ocean looking for you.” You identify him as Jesse from the massive republic symbol on his helmet, helping carry Rex’s left side. He says it like it’s a joke, but it also has an undercurrent of worry to it.

“Wait. Free the harpy.” Rex orders; his men all stop before staring at Rex and then at you. You watch a couple of them gulp.

“You can’t be serious,” the arc mer with an intricate helmet design, who you are pretty sure is Fives, hisses.

“I wouldn’t have made it this far without her.” Rex stares up at you as he says it. You smile back and nod before pointing at the enchanted lock on your cage.

“Please let me out.” You beg, looking to the rest of the men. They all shuffle uncomfortably, caught between feeling obligated to let you out and the fear of the damage you could cause.

“What if she goes berserk!?” You glare at the one with the massive arrow pattern on his helmet, definitely Dogma.

“I can hear you.” You hiss at him causing all of them but Rex to flinch.

“The storm is lifting.” Tup says with a hint of worry as the winds begin to die down; you can see the painted teardrop on his helmet as he tilts up to look at the sky. Even with the fighting still going on in another part of the castle, it was best to leave now.

“I’m not leaving without her.” Rex pulls himself out of Jesse and Five’s grasp only to have Kix stop him from falling flat on his face.

“I’ll do it!” The final clone of the group announces, a little too excited, having already began pulling the lever to bring your cage to the ground. It comes down a little too fast, but you catch yourself on the bars.

“Sorry!”

“Hardcase!” He gives a slightly embarrassed laugh in response, scratching the back of his head.

A part of you wants to be mad; the majority of the Mer around stiffen with the expectancy you will be. However, the quick laugh that leaves your mouth serves to only make Hardcase nervously smile and Rex looks at you understandingly. Your freedom is so close.

Hardcase slices through the enchanted lock and you spring out into the sky, bearly giving him the chance to jump out of the way. You cackle at the feeling of the wind before circling back around to them.

You smile at them. Upon seeing your weren’t going to fall into the legendary harpy rage, they all seem to finally relax. They use their claws to scale back over the wall and the rest of the Mer retreat, having gotten what they came for.

“You never would have gotten out on your own, Harpy!” You freeze at the top of the courtyard wall. Rex turns to look back at you from his place on the ground with the rest of his group. He shakes his head; your mind registers the plea, but you can feel the fury of years of torment take over.

“You are always going to be mine! There is no way for you to ever be completely rid of me!” The witch’s words take hold and you turn around in a blind rage. There she stands, wounded and possibly already dying. It does not stop you from swooping down and ripping her apart. You proceed to do the same for every living person in the castle that night.

You don’t come out of it till dawn breaks. Covered in blood, you rise high above your old prison. You know the Mer and Rex are long gone, but you look around anyway. It was safer this way after all you remind yourself; if any of them had tried to stop you while you were like that, you probably would have killed them. There is a reason, after all, harpies are mostly solitary creatures.

You look toward the ocean and consider flying to the islands of Mandalore. Rex had made the home of the Mer sound like a paradise and you would be welcome to visit when you were both free. You smile sorrowfully before flying in the opposite direction.

It would take you months to gather the courage. You found yourself traveling from island to island, finding the world much changed by imperial rule especially with the Jedi Order gone. It was now your safest option to go live on one of the many outer rim islands.

You found yourself flying toward the home of the Mer without even completely comprehending it. Being a harpy they could always turn you away or even kill you for entering their territory, but you had to see Rex. The last look he gave you still ties your stomach in knots. And you miss him. You deeply miss him.

You meet no resistance as you make it to the massive island. They eye you warily, but none make a move to make you leave. You begin to grow frustrated as the hours pass; there are so many of the Sea Alor’s clones on this island intermixed with the original Mer population and even more spread throughout the island chain, not to mention under the water. How were you ever going to find him?

“Senaar!?” You stop and look down. Rex stands on the beach; his armor gleaming in the sun. It looks like he had just returned.

On pure instinct, you swoop down and crash into him. You wrap him in the tightest hug you can and his own arms squeeze you in turn as he falls backward into the water. You quickly let out apology after apology for everything, but he just smiles as you both sit up.

It is then you finally notice that there are way too many eyes on you. The renegade 501st members and some other rouge mer clones seem to swarm around the two of you and you become too embarrassed to talk.

“I missed you too.” The gentleness of his voice brings you comfort just like it did back in the courtyard. He gently leans his forehead to yours and his hands cup your face.

In that moment, you finally found what you had been searching for since you had been apart. You didn’t care about the witch's curse of haunting you, what the empire wanted, the old wounds between your species, or even your own kind’s long held belief in solitude. You understood one another and the sense of belonging made you feel at peace. You should have come sooner, but you're happy to be here with him now.

[crimsonglow-art]

Day 7 of Mermay

Today's Discord Server suggestion was Angler Fish. I've seen a lot of Anglerfish mermaids before, but very few have the body horror aspect that truly shows the creepiness.

Join my Patreon for how to join my discord

[aftergloom]

Masterlist: Fic & Sundry

If you're even remotely puritanical in your shipping predilections I regret to inform you that you've arrived at precisely the wrong place for your personal well-being. Please take care of yourself.

MDNI/ROAR: This blog is 18+ and so am I. Absent an age in your profile will likely earn you a block. I'm not interested in welcoming the company or engagement of anyone who makes fandom inhospitable for someone else.

For legal and consenting adults: tags and content warnings to curate your experience.

@thenightmarketofdathomir (Opress Bros Smut Blog) @maulfvckers (Darth Maul Curated Content) @fuckyeahroguegambit (X-Men)

Latest Works

Water of Life Opress Brothers x f!Reader

Summary: A spiritual pilgrimage for Dathomir’s third moon festival requires little of its attendees: respect for the culture and respect for its rituals are paramount, and you must always do as the Nightbrothers say — but you know for certain, what is lost in the process never outweighs what��s gained…

Least of all when Lord Maul throws a party in honour of the old Gods.

Read it on Ao3 >

Drown Me in You (Mermay 2023) (Mermaid) Darth Maul x Reader (AFAB Cis) Nothing is wasted on Dathomir, and those that return to the planet often emerge from the waters... different. Read it >

The Ritual Darth Maul x Reader (AFAB Cis)

The new Lord of Dathomir is set on reviving and bastardizing ancient traditions, and you, a Priestess, are intent on doing your job — no matter how off-putting he is.

There is only one rule you need to remember: the Gods must be appeased. Read it here >

This Fic is Cursed Darth Maul x Reader, Savage Opress x Reader, Feral x Reader

A cursed bedroom, a creepy doll collection, and three Opress brothers seeking some private time with their respective partners. Unfortunately, no one told them the bedroom on the fourth floor doesn't unlock from the inside. Nothing bad can happen, right? Read it here >

Three Princes: Part I - The Oldest Profession Feral Opress x Reader, Savage Opress x Reader, Maul x Reader

Three brothers. Three readers. Three chapters. One new world to explore. Welcome to New Dathomir. Read it here >

Fanfiction

Live works live on my Ao3. I'm including a few selected outtakes from @thenightmarketofdathomir here as well: a couple of favourite headcanons and ficlets.

Since I regularly post Six Sentence Sundays, work in [brackets] refers to the tag for that particular project. Feel free to take a peek at what's coming.

On Ao3, older work is shuffled under pseuds from different eras, including luciademedici, and octobertown. nxctuary's for new work.

The "retired" section has some oldies that aren't available for public consumption anymore, and some of them I don't mind sending off as PDF. Leave a comment if you're downloading something. I'd love to hear it.

Works in Progress/Unreleased

Archangel - Darth Maul x Reader, Shibari AU [tag] Crown of Horns - Feral x OC [Kai Dara Koth] Hell is Empty - Opress Bros x Reader, Demon AU The Mixtape - Maul x Reader, NA Contemplative AU, 88:88verse Nihilism - Maul, Genfic (Character Study for The Mixtape) The Longing - Savage & Feral Opress, Genfic [tag] Second Line - Rogue x Gambit, Anteverse Adjacent AU Knights of Old Iridonia: Part 2.75 - Maul x Reader Knights of Old Iridonia: Part 3 - Opress Bros x Reader (poly) The Wild Hunt - Savage Opress x Reader, Unseelie AU [tag] Untitled Bookshop AU - Feral Opress x Reader [tag]

Works in Progress/Live

A Salted Field - Rey/Kylo Ren (24/30) The Ante - Rogue/Gambit (25/35) Knights of Old Iridonia Series (3/4 Parts) The Night Market of Dathomir (180) Three Princes - Opress Bros x Readers (1/3)

Headcanons

Fave Soft-to-Spice Feral Headcanons (Feral Opress x Reader) Honour: A Darth Maul Headcanon Honour: A Savage Opress Headcanon Summer Love Feral Opress - Part I Summer Love Feral Opress - Part II Nightbrother Claws and Folklore Nightbrother Tattoos and Reclaiming Traditions of Old Iridonia Nightbrothers and Life on Dathomir Nightbrothers, Death, the Afterlife, and Commemoration Darth Maul Punk Rock AU for The Mixtape New Dathomir: Balance among the Nightspeople Zabrak Horns Treatment and Growth Q&A

COH COMMISSIONED ARTWORK

Feral Opress on Malachor by @butts-art Feral Opress on the Insurgent by @maulieber Kai Dara Koth on Kohlma by @butts-art Savage Opress on Moraband by @butts-art Kai & Feral on Empress Teta by @butts-art Darth Maul on Dathomir's Throne by @butts-art Kai & Feral Portraits by @moonlitalien

COMMISSIONED ART FOR OTHER WORKS

Feral at the Pleasure House from Three Princes by @butts-art

Completed Works

OPRESS BROS X READER (POLY) Somebody's gonna have a bad time (3/3) Tell that Zabrak he just made my list of things to do today (4/4) Nobody asks the pertinent question until the end. (1/1) The Night Market of Dathomir (Ongoing)

DARTH MAUL X READER Brula Shampoo (AFAB: gn) The Collector (Bookshop AU, 1/1) The Perfect Pet - Part I (Drabble) The Perfect Pet - Part II (Drabble) The Ritual This Fic is Cursed (Trio x Readers) Three Princes (Upcoming) This is not the Sundari throne (AFAB Cis) You think you're worthy? You're not. (AFAB) Post-Battle Canoodles (AFAB)

FERAL OPRESS X READER Article 342: One locking door (1/1) First blush of dawn (Drabble) Little Hours Away (1/1) Mazes (Drabble) Socks (Drabble) The Dominant Kind (1/1) Three Princes: Part I - The Oldest Profession (1/3) This Fic is Cursed (1/1) You're cute for a fuck toy. (Drabble) We're Feralfuckers in this house (Drabble)

SAVAGE OPRESS X READER But what's the lucky number? (Drabble) Dathomir's Champion (Ficlet)Long Days, Pleasant Nights (Drabble) The Fanged God Walks (Drabble) This Fic is Cursed (Trio x Readers) The Throne (Drabble) Make you smile (Drabble) No Losers Here (Drabble) Paging Doctor Savage (Drabble) Three Princes (Upcoming)

REY X KYLO REN For Darkness, Stars (Canonverse AU, 37/37) Ghost Story (PDF, 1/1)

ROGUE X PYRO (X-MEN) Burnt Offerings (Explicit, 3/3) Carcosa (Explicit, 4/4)

ROGUE X GAMBIT (X-MEN) Deuces Wild (1/1) Can't Touch This (PDF, 1/1) Death's Head Hawk Moth (PDF, 1/1) Fifty-Two Yards of White Satin (PDF, 1/1) Hollows (PDF, 1/1) Negev (PDF, 1/1) Sandcastles (PDF, 1/1) This Twilight (PDF, 1/1)

Retired

After Life (Reylo TROS Fix-It) Southern Gothic (Romy NOLA Historical AU, XMW AU) Bats in the Belfry (Romy Vampire AU, XME AU) The Patron Saint of Liars and Fakes (Romy, Movieverse) Family Portraits (Romy, XME) The Discard Pile (Romy, XME)

[the-angel-of-filth]

So for the first time ever I made something for MerMay!! This is the Lurelei, the Fishing Lure Mermaid inspired by creepy kids show puppets and ventriloquist dummies.

The Lurelei is something of an urban legend among communities of mermaids, usually told by young mermaids to other young mermaids to scare each other, each with their own version of her.

Some say she was once a beautiful mermaid who was cursed by a witch to be a marionette, forced to be her servant and to kill those who tried to get in the witch’s way. Others say she’s murderer or cannibal who was executed by authorities and came back from the dead as a vengeful entity. A few claim that she’s the creation of either aliens or humans that’s used to abduct mermaids.

Whatever the case was, most stories agreed on one thing: the Lurelei was a large, unsettling puppet-like mermaid who often preyed on other mermaids at night, attempting to lure them away from friends and family where they are never seen or heard from again. Those who have claimed to have seen it and live to tell the tale say that she seems to be suspended by fishing lines and is apparently controlled by them.

According to the legend, the best way to avoid her latching on to you and being violently dragged up to the surface is to not get too close to her, to decline her offer of friendship or love, and to swim away to a populated area. Fast.

[zebrabaker]

The Mermaid, A MLB Oneshot

THIS IS A ONESHOT, DO NOT ASK FOR MORE!

Adrien was bored. He was in yet another lesson, and his father was expecting him to spend time with Princess Chloe later. Better her than Princess Lila, at least. Finally, Madame Mendelieve closed her book, and headed for the door. Adrien sat still until she was gone, before jumping up out of his seat. He stretched his back and ran for the door that lead to the servant’s passages. He ran along the narrow, winding paths, before reaching the small courtyard where his best friend, Nino, was practicing his guitar.

“Hey man! How were lessons?” Nino adjusted his hat and looked up at him, smiling. This was why Adrien liked Nino. He didn’t treat him like a prince, but like a friend. It was refreshing.

“Boring as ever.” Adrien huffed, and joined his friend in the bench.

“Well I have some good news! Captain Theo has brought back something awesome from his latest trip! You’ll never guess what it is.”  Nino smirked and plucked a string.

“What? Another treasure chest?” Adrien scoffed.

“Nope. An actual mermaid!” Adrien froze. A mermaid? No way.

“Be realistic, Nino. Mermaids are just myths.”

“No! I saw this one myself! We can go see it tomorrow morning, I’ll set it up. It’s gonna be so cool!” Nino bounced, excited.

“Alright, alright. For now, let’s head in; it’s almost time for lunch.” Adrien gave Nino a hand up, and the two reentered the palace

X0X0X

Marinette swam back, assessing the glass that held her. She flicked her tail as she thought, before nodding. She angled her shoulders, braced her arms, and slashed her tail down. Her body jetted through the water, and she rammed against the glass and bounced off. With a growl, she watched the glass. Nothing. She had rammed the glass dozens of times and nothing had happened! A weak chuckle came from the outside of her tank, and she glared at the human leaning against the wall across from her enclosure.

“That won’t work, little fish. The glass is bulletproof. No matter how many times you ram into it, it won’t even crack. You may as well rest. The prince will be here to see you in the morning.” He smirked at her before strolling away. She had to get home. She couldn’t stay here! Without her, the sea would die! She swam back, assessed the glass, and readied herself again.

X0X0X

Adrien followed Nino deep into the basement of the palace. They weren’t near the old dungeons, but he still felt uneasy.

“How much further?” He hissed to Nino.

“Just through here. C’mon!” Nino grabbed his wrist and pulled him through the doorway into a dark room. Nino flipped the lights on, and Adrien glanced around. One wall was glass, and looked like an aquarium. The bottom of the tank was coated in sand, with pearls of various sizes and colors scattered about. There were a few strands of seaweed swaying in the water, and the largest clam shell he had ever seen was sitting open in the center. It looked like it could host a mermaid, but that was just it. There was no mermaid. Adrien turned to Nino and sighed.

“I told you, Nino, mermai- “Adrien was cut off when he heard a large thunk from the other side of the glass. He wheeled about, and felt his jaw drop.

Floating on the other side of the glass was an honest to god mermaid. Her hair was black, and her tail a vivid pink, almost red. Her eyes, which glared hatefully at him, were a shimmering blue. Her skin was paler than a pearl, and she had a splattering of freckles. She pounded a fist against the glass, and he realized she had been making odd sounds at them.

“Whoa. She’s…” Adrien trailed off, unsure of what to say. Lovely did not fit, nor did beautiful. She was flawless.

“Creepy? Yeah. I mean, it’s pretty and all that, but something about it just sets me on edge.” Nino shuddered. Adrien glanced at his friend, confused. She was not creepy! She was the most perfect thing he had ever seen. He glanced back at her and sighed. She was swimming away now, tail slashing through the water.

“Where is she going?” He asked Nino.

“It keeps trying to break the glass. It won’t work, though. The glass is bullet proof.” Nino knocked against the glass, smirking. “Just think, the kingdom of Agreste has it’s own personal mermaid. I hear that their singing can convince men to throw themselves overboard. Wanna see if it’ll sing for us?” Nino pulled his guitar from his back, and strummed a cord. Suddenly, the mermaid was there, face and hands pressed up against the glass. She was staring at Nino with her pupils blown wide. He continued to play, a small shanty he had learned from the sailors down by the docks, and the mermaid began to hum.

X0X0X

Marinette would never admit, but she loved human music. They could not sing, not like her people, so they had made things to do it for them. The darker human was using one right now, pulling at strings and watching her. She began to hum, wanting him to play more. When he did not stop, when she began to sing in her mother tongue.

“Oh, the waves roll low

And the waves roll high,

And so, it goes,

Under a bright blue endless sky.

Waves try to measure,

The days that we treasure,

Wave hello and wave goodbye.”

It was an ancient lullaby, one that every merfolk heard from their parents at some point as a baby. The humans were staring at her, wide eyed. The pale one hit the darker one on the arm, and said something she could not hear. The darker one gulped and began to play again. Marinette beamed and quickly thought of another lullaby, one Queen Anarka had taught her the last time she and her children had come to visit.

“Hush now, mo stoirin,

Close your eyes and sleep.

Waltzing the waves,

Diving the deep.

Stars are shining bright,

The wind is on the rise.

Whispering words, of long-lost lullabies.

Oh, won’t you come with me?

Where the moon is made of gold.

And in the morning sun,

We’ll be sailing.

Oh, won’t you come with me?

Where the ocean meets the sky.

And as the clouds roll by,

We’ll sing the song of the sea.”

Marinette held the last note, and sighed when it was done. She loved that song. It sounded better when her friends acted as her chorus, but it was okay on her own. The door opened behind the two humans, and let in the one who had caught her. He was tall and had dark hair, wearing a great deal of dark fabric. The two smaller humans spoke with him, before leaving with him. Marinette sighed. She hated being alone. Merfolk were social creatures, almost always together. Worst of all was that the small space she was kept in was dark, with no lava pockets or glow fish to give her heat and light. She shivered, and swam into the seaweed patch. Her family would get her out of here soon.

X0X0X

They returned the next day, the pale one and the dark one. This, time, neither carried an instrument. Instead, the sat and stared at her. The pale one began to sing, and the dark one reluctantly joined him. Marinette recognized the song. It was a love song! How dare this puny human try to woo her! She glared and sat down inside the large clam shell, turning her back. She was engaged, as any merfolk with eyes could tell. Of course, human’s might not be able to, but she still would not sing with them. She sat with her back turned until they left. She would be out of here soon enough.

X0X0X

Adrien burst into Nino’s room, beaming.

“Whoa, Adrien! Is everything okay, dude?” Nino stood from his bed, setting aside his headphones.

“I just had the best idea, Nino! A festival! We call for the most talented musicians in the land, and we have them perform with her! We can move her cage into the square! It’ll be great!” Adrien was bouncing in place.

“That’s a great idea, dude! We’ll have to ask Captain Theo, since he’s the one who caught it though.” Nino grabbed his headphones and headed for the door. “Let’s go ask!”

X0X0X

He had said yes, and preparations began at once. Adrien commissioned a large tank, big enough that she could swim around. Nino began sending invites to the best musicians in all of Agreste. Soon, the big day came. The tank was placed in the square, and the mermaid had been moved while she slept. She had woken up dazed and confused, swimming about and looking out at the square. She had caught sight of the water on the other end of the square, and had been staring at it ever since.

X0X0X

She knew humans were foolish, but this was extreme. She was within just a few yards of the ocean; she could hear it calling out for her! She hummed, low in the back of her throat, and waited. After just a few minutes, she heard the reply.

“We cannot reach you, princess! You are too far! Try to move closer!” It was Sir Pierre, head of the guard. She looked around, frantic. She was so close! She just had to move this tank! She rammed her shoulder against the side, and growled when nothing happened. She tried, again and again, to move closer, but all she did was slosh water over the edge of her tank.

“I can’t! The cage I am in is too heavy! I will distract the humans while you look for a way to get me out!” Marinette swept around the cage, looking at all the humans staring at her. She saw several in a line, each holding an instrument. The pale one who visited her was standing on a platform, facing the crowd. He began to speak, and one of the humans in line stepped forward. Two others came over and quickly assembled a device next to her tank. Once the machine was all together, he smirked at the crowd before pushing several buttons. The machine began to emit horrible sounds, but the humans seemed to enjoy it. She slammed her hands over her ears, and shook her head, trying to block out the noise. It sounded like the machine was trying to make music, but was failing. Horribly. It was dull and lifeless, lacking soul. After a few seconds of this torture, the pale one spoke again. The one controlling the machine yelled at him, before stomping off. The two humans form before disassembled the machine, and another human stepped forward. This one had vivid hair and dramatic clothes. It strummed at it’s guitar, and began to sing.

“Record scratch; Steve Miller Band, Tattooed necks and tattooed hands. Oh, how don’t you drown in a rain storm? Fresh regrets, vodka sweats, the sun is down and we’re bound to get exhausted and so far from the shore.” Marinette trilled when the human began the song. She knew this one from a few fishing boats playing it while they were working! She gladly joined in, shimmying her tail to the beat.

“You’re never gonna get it, I’m a hazard to myself, I’ll break it to you easy This is hell, this is hell! You’re looking and whispering; you think I’m someone else. This is hell, yes. Literal hell!” She struggled to form the words, as she did not speak the human tongue. “We don’t have to talk, we don’t have to dance, we don’t have to smile, we don’t have to make friends. It’s so nice to meet you, let’s never meet again! We don’t have to talk; we don’t have to dance; we don’t have to dance!” By the end of the song, Marinette was panting, and had almost been distracted from why she was doing this. A few other artists tried to get her to sing, but only one succeeded, a small girl with a violin. After her refusal of another artist, she saw a flash of teal out of the corner of her eye. She twirled in her tank, pretending to be jubilant, but really trying to make sure she hadn’t just imagined what she saw. There he was, hiding in a corner! He winked at her and she couldn’t help but trill.

The pale one was smiling at her, like she was a sea-lion who had just done some cute trick. How ridiculous. Another human came up to him, with long hair the same color as the pale ones. She wore a dress that trailed behind her, and sneered at Marinette. The pale one smiled at her, and the female said something to him. He nodded, and she approached the tank. She snapped her fingers, and a red-haired human approached, carrying a stool. The blonde sat, and began to sing. Marinette slammed her hands over her ear frills and whined. The girl couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket! The blonde snarled, and slammed a hand against the tank, causing ripples in the water that disoriented Marinette. She shook her head, trying to think clearly. The blonde stormed off, and the pale one addressed the crowd before chasing after her.

X0X0X

This was not going how he had planned! The mermaid was supposed to sing with all of the best musicians Agreste had to offer. Instead, she had sung with Jagged Stone and no-one else. He had finally decided to let the commoners try, but only a small girl with a violin managed to get the mermaid to perform. He had panicked, and turned it into a contest. Chloe had then decreed that she could easily make the creature perform, and had begun singing a song from her homeland. The mermaid acted as if she was in physical pain, and Chloe had thrown a fit before storming off. He had told the audience they were going to give the mermaid a break, and chased after her. It had taken half an hour to calm her down and drag her back. By the time he had gotten back onstage, most of the crowd had left, with only a few bored teens still gathered around the tank.

“Your Highness, may I try?” A tall boy with hair that faded to teal at the tips was standing by the stage, gazing up at Adrien hopefully.

“You can try, but there’s no guarantee she’ll respond.” Adrien shrugged. This boy didn’t even have an instrument that he could tell, but it couldn’t hurt. The boy nodded, and headed for the tank, where the mermaid was watching him approach. The boy sat on the stool Chloe had abandoned and smiled at the mermaid.

“Lavender’s blue, dilly, dilly, lavender’s green. When I am King dilly, dilly, you shall be queen.” The mermaid beamed and twisted about as if twirling.

“Who told you so, dilly, dilly, who told you so?” The mermaid sung back, not in the stilted words of before, but flowing and smooth. There was a challenging look in her eye, one that was matched by that in the boys.

“T’was my own heart, dilly, dilly, that told me so.” He shot back, smiling. The two began to sing in unison, and it entrapped Adrien, making him unable to look away.

“Call up your men, dilly, dilly, set them to work. Some to the plow, dilly, dilly, some to the fork. Some to make hay, dilly, dilly, some to cut corn, while you and I, dilly, dilly, keep our selves warm. Lavender’s green, dilly, dilly, lavender’s blue, if you love me, dilly, dilly, I will love you.”

“Let the birds sing, dilly, dilly, and the lambs play. We shall be safe, dilly, dilly, out of harm’s way.” The mermaid took over, placing one of her hands flat against the glass, while the other was fisted over her heart. “I like to dance, dilly, dilly, I like to sing. When I am queen, dilly, dilly, you’ll be my king. Who told me so, dilly, dilly, who told me so? I told myself so, dilly, dilly, I told me so.” She pulled out the last note, and Adrien was shocked to see the usually hateful mermaid, smile tenderly at the blue-haired boy. Then, there was a crash from behind him. Adrien wheeled around, trying to find the source, only to see a broken vase laying in the road.

By the time he turned back around, the blue-haired boy had thrown something into the tank. The mermaid grabbed it, and leapt out of the tank, flinging it about her shoulders. She landed not as a girl with the tail of a fish, but a seal. The boy scooped the seal into his arms, and ran for the water. He tossed the animal in, before turning to face Adrien.

“Take her again and we will sink your nation like we did Atlantis!” He bellowed, before diving into the water. Adrien ran to the edge of the dock, and waited, frantic. The boy was human, he would need to breathe eventually. He stood, frantically searching the water, before he saw them. The two were holding each other tight, wrapped in each-others arms. She was back to being a mermaid, her tail flicking just below the surface. When the young prince finally dragged his gaze to the boy, he was shocked. He now had a tail, longer than hers, that shimmered green and teal. The two were speaking in a language he did not understand, but from the way his hands cupped her cheeks it was a private moment. The mermaid flashed him a furious glare, before diving into the ocean.

“What just happened?” He asked.

“Dude.” Nino muttered. “I think your pet just ran away.

[unrestedjade]

Mermay Kuwameshi nonsense

Damn, the month’s half over already! I’m rereading Pet Shop of Horrors, rewatching Yu Yu Hakusho, and coincidentally obsessed with Kuwabara/Urameshi. So! Half-assed crossover time. Maybe Count D has a second location in Japan?

 Kazuma wasn't sure how long the pet shop had been there on the edge of Chinatown. It looked like it had been in that storefront for years, but he couldn't remember seeing it until a few months ago. Maybe he'd just missed it, but he didn't think so. He liked animals. If the place had been there the whole time, he'd have gone inside at least once, just to check it out.

He also wasn't sure why he hadn't checked it out. He tended to pick up his pace when he passed by, trying to put space between himself and the shop for no reason his rational mind could come up with. It was just a pet shop. Yet for some reason it hit him the wrong way, sending a cold shiver up his spine whenever he neared it.

Today he was feeling it again, the unpleasant tickle crawling through his nervous system urging him to go, walk faster, get away. It was getting irritating, to tell the truth. Was it haunted, or something? A haunted pet shop? That could be a thing, right?

Regardless, Kazuma wasn't about to have his rep endangered by a place that sold goldfish and bunnies. Today he was gonna go in there. He'd settle these creepy-crawlies once and for all, and get his walk home from school back to normal.

Yep. He was gonna walk inside in just a minute. Just a few seconds. Gonna walk right in!

Boy, it was darker in there than a pet shop really should be, wasn't it?

Growling at himself in annoyance, Kazuma forced himself to step forward. It was just a pet shop, for god's sake.

It was dark inside, for sure. Heavy curtains draped over the windows and walls cut not just the light from outside, but the noise, too. Kazuma could hear the sounds of traffic and activity outside, but it seemed so far away, like the inside of the shop was in its own little world. Weak lamplight played across the deep red drapery, the corners of the room vanishing into shadow.

The shop had all the expected stuff. Bird cages with canaries and parakeets. Cages for the rabbits and puppies and...ferrets? Did pet shops have ferrets? This one did, apparently. What was weird was the rest of the furnishings. Aside from the animal cages, there was a kind of seating area-- a sofa, a couple chairs, a fancy coffee table. The place looked more like a fortune teller's place, or a brothel out of one of his sister's romance novels that he definitely didn't sneak to read and then skip over half the pages because he got too embarrassed. Covering the smell of animals was the heavy scent of incense.

There was no sign of the shopkeeper that Kazuma could see. Was this place actually open?

A hallway led farther back. Way farther back, with fancy, painted doors leading off to the left and right every few meters. The place was a lot bigger than it looked from the front. Kazuma called out a tentative hello, in case someone mistook him for a thief, or something. God, he hoped this place wasn't actually a front for a brothel, or he'd be so mortified he might die on the spot.

Someone answered him. "Hello?"

Kazuma jumped at the sound of a male voice, and felt immediately foolish. Of course someone else was in here! The door was open, wasn't it? Following the voice, Kazuma found himself in a side room filled with fish tanks on heavy iron racks. Though he'd sworn he heard someone speak, there didn't appear to be anyone in here. Just the tanks.

There was no lighting in the room other than the lamps on the fish tank hoods. They cast greenish, shifting light across the floor, the ceiling, and Kazuma himself. The light flickered, making the whole room look as though it were submerged underwater. Most of the tanks were occupied. A few contained what looked like koi, others held angelfish, guppies, or fighting fish. A few others held fish Kazuma couldn't identify other than they were ugly and off-putting, with mouths crammed too full of teeth and oily black scales. Some fish seemed to change somehow when he looked away from them, shifting and melting at the corner of his eye.

There was one enormous tank running the length of one wall. The glass was overgrown with algae, shading the water emerald green. Something moved inside. Something big, pacing the length of the tank back and forth. Was it a shark? It seemed large enough-- a little longer than Kazuma was tall.

"Who are you?"

There was the voice again! Kazuma looked for the speaker, and nearly leaped out of his skin when a guy popped his head over the side of the enormous tank.

"Wh-what are you doing in there?" It was a stupid question, maybe. But what else were you supposed to say to a guy who suddenly yelled at you from a fish tank?

The guy pushed a mess of dark, wet hair from his eyes. He looked about Kazuma's age. A part-timer? "What are you doing in here, stupid?"

Kazuma's temper flared, but the question was a fair one. He was the one who'd decided to poke around. "No one was out front, so I thought I'd look around." Maybe this was a back room only employees were supposed to be in, but it wasn't Kazuma's fault that this shop was run so sloppy. There wasn't even a sign posted. If the place was open, then the shopkeeper should be where customers could see them!

"Heh." The guy leaned his bare arms on the rim of the tank. Scum from the tank stuck to his forearm. It looked like it was a real mess in there. "Not much to see, is there? This place sucks."

"It kinda does," Kazuma agreed. He ventured a little closer, looking for the shape of the huge fish through the murky glass and not finding it. Wasn't this guy worried about it biting him? "What are you doing in there, cleaning? It looks like shit."

The guy laughed. "Tell me about it! Nah," he said, grinning. His teeth looked weird, like they were sharper than they ought to be. Or probably they were just crooked. "If the owner wants it clean, he can do it himself. Not like I'm getting paid to be a maid."

Okay, now Kazuma was really confused. Did the guy work here or not? If not, what the hell was he doing splashing around in a fish tank?

"You here to buy something?" The guy's smile wilted, like it wasn't an expression he was real used to making and he couldn't keep it up long.

Kazuma shook his head. "Just curious," he said. He didn't mention the creepy feeling he got every time he walked by this place. Or the fact that the tickle up his spine hadn't gone away yet. If anything, it was getting stronger, harder to brush aside.

The guy seemed to perk up a little at that, which was weird if he was an employee after all. Shouldn't he want Kazuma to buy something?

"What's the weather like today?"

Kazuma blinked. That was a weird question. "Uh...sunny? Why don't you go outside and look?"

"Can't," the guy said simply, leaning his chin on his arms.

"Your boss that much of a slave driver?" Kazuma asked, frowning. "Won't let you walk outside for a minute? There aren't even any customers in here right now."

The guy smiled again, briefly, and his teeth definitely weren't normal. Kazuma stared without meaning to. Had he filed them down? Why were they...pointy?

"Hey," the guy said. "What's your name?"

"Kazuma Kuwabara," Kazuma said. "Do you go to school here? I haven't seen you around before."

"Nope," the guy said, shaking his head. His wet hair sloshed along the surface of the water. It was really long, for a guy. Or a girl, for that matter. "Name's Yusuke. You got somewhere to be, Kazuma Kuwabara, or can you stick around for a few? I'm bored as shit in here."

Kazuma had homework to do, in fact, but it wasn't like that had ever been a pressing concern. It wasn't every day he met someone new, much less someone who seemed kinda cool. Sarayashiki wasn't a school people wanted to transfer their kids into. "I guess," he said, still looking out for any sign of that big fish. Had it hidden somewhere in the tank?

"You scared of water, or something? You don't gotta stand all the way over there," Yusuke said, chuckling. There was a swishing sound, like he was kicking his legs under the water.

Kazuma wasn't scared of water. He just had a weird feeling about the fish in that tank, that was all. Still, it wasn't like it was gonna launch itself over the side at him, right? This wasn't a Jaws movie. If Yusuke was safe where he was, Kazuma could get closer. So he did, moving to lean on the glass. The tank came up to his chest, and the glass was seriously thick, almost the width of his palm. It must have weighed a ton. He peered into the water, but it was just more murky green. He could make out what he thought might be sea grass or something, and a few chunks of driftwood for decoration, but no fish.

"What are you looking for?"

"There's a big fish in here, so..." Kazuma trailed off, finally taking a look at Yusuke up close. His teeth really were sharp, it wasn't a trick of the light. Serrated, like steak knives. The dim, shifting light from the tank lamps glinted too well off slimy skin, and with his arms raised Kazuma could see three long gashes following the curve of his ribs. They weren't bleeding, just flexing in time with his breaths. His long hair fanned out behind him in the water. Beneath the surface, where Yusuke's body was shrouded in murky green, a massive tail swayed lazily back and forth.

Yusuke watched Kazuma's eyes widen, smirking. "Find that fish yet?" A tail fin as wide as Yusuke's shoulders gently broke the surface of the water, gray and sleek. Softly, it slapped back down, splashing some water on Kazuma's uniform jacket.

Kazuma could give a shit about the jacket right now. "Um," he said, blinking while his brain tried frantically to catch up with his eyes. "Are you...a mermaid?" It felt stupid to say it out loud.

He felt even stupider when Yusuke burst into loud laughter. "What? I'm not a mermaid, you idiot!"

Kazuma could feel his face redden. Great. He'd met this guy all of five minutes ago and he was never gonna live this down. He knew he'd never let it go if someone said something off-the-wall crazy like that to him. Mermaid? If he was lucky, Yusuke would just assume he was drunk and not terminally stupid.

After a minute, Yusuke got a hold of himself, reaching up to dab tears from the corners of his eyes. "I'm a merman. Genius."

"Whatever, I was just joking anyw- wait, what?"

Yusuke pushed back a little from the glass, pointing one clawed finger at his own chest. "You see any boobs? I'm a guy."

Kazuma sputtered. "I know you're a guy, stupid!" Alright, he was gonna wake up in the middle of math class any second now. This shit had officially gotten too weird to be real. 

"Seemed pretty confused to me," Yusuke said, with a smirk and a shrug.

"Are you really half fish under there?" Kazuma didn't have space in his brain to get too mad about accusations of being dumb right now. He was too transfixed by the dark shape of Yusuke's tail moving under the water. Was it a trick? A...a costume, or something? They had to do that for mermaids in movies, right? There was no way it was real. Even if Kazuma's Bizarre Crap Warning Tickle was now a full-body shiver.

"I'm all me, not half fish. But whatever." Yusuke shifted his grip on the rim of the tank, pulling himself closer to Kazuma. "You want a better look?"

Kazuma nodded brainlessly, and had a half second of utter confusion as Yusuke gripped his shoulders. Then he was pulled forward, down into the water, a cold shock slapping him in the face and a moment of vertigo as his feet left the floor.

It didn't occur to him to hold his breath. In unconscious panic, he tried to take a breath, choking on cold water instead. Yusuke floated just below him, his laugh ringing through the tank, surrounding Kazuma in mocking sound. Sure enough, tan skin gave way to two-tone gray just below his waist, a large tail bumping against Kazuma's thrashing legs. It looked pretty damn real from here.

Yusuke's grip on Kazuma kept him from reaching the surface, only a few inches overhead but still too far. Panicked from lack of air, Kazuma lashed out, landing an awkward punch square on Yusuke's nose. The merman's head snapped back, his hair tracing the arc of his movement, but he didn't let go.

"Aw, quit freaking out, will ya?" Yusuke's voice filled the tank as he shook his head to clear it. A trickle of blood drifted from his nostril to dissipate in the water. "Thought you said you weren't scared?" He pulled Kazuma closer, like he was gonna take a chomp out of him. Kazuma froze, bracing for teeth, but Yusuke only pressed their lips together.

Kazuma knew he wasn't getting any air, but at once the water stopped burning in his lungs. He could breathe, somehow. Which was a lot to process on top of his first kiss and also maybe drowning, and also this guy was a goddamn mermaid. Too close to focus on properly, Yusuke's eyes glittered with mischief.

A hand grabbed the back of Kazuma's collar. He was hauled from the water, coughing and sputtering. He dragged air back into his lungs, though it almost felt too harsh. Too dry. The man who'd saved him helped him clamber over the rim of the tank to collapse to his hands and knees on the floor.

"I'm sorry," the man said, voice smooth and lilting as Kazuma heaved up more tank water. "You'll need to stay well back from the displays. Some of the animals are dangerous."

Water streaming from his hair and every stitch of his clothing, Kazuma blinked up at his rescuer. The shop owner was a tall Chinese guy, dressed in fancy silk robes and wearing...was that red lipstick?

"Did you have an appointment?" the owner said, polite and distant, like he hadn't just saved Kazuma from drowning or getting eaten or whatever had been going on. Casually, he flicked water from the sleeve of his robe and pushed a lock of his straight, black hair behind one ear with manicured nails. "I'm afraid you'll have to come back another time if not. I'm quite busy at the moment."

"It's your own fault for leaving me stuck in here with nothing to do," Yusuke chimed in, looking at Kazuma over the edge of the tank once more. He smiled like he'd just gotten away with something, or like he'd just told a real groaner of a joke. Kazuma stared back at him, unsure how to feel. 

The owner shot Yusuke an exasperated look that seemed to say 'I'll deal with you later.' His eyes were different colors, one dark and one light. Kazuma had been too surprised by the lipstick to notice at first. The guy was like a creepy, pet-shop-owning David Bowie. His presence filled the room. With slight surprise (because most of his sense of surprise had already been taken up by Yusuke) Kazuma realized he was kinda scared of this guy.

"How come," Kazuma rasped, throat aching. "How come you got a mermaid in a damn pet shop?"

The owner turned his attention back to Kazuma, frowning down at him. "That's a very rare and very aggressive species of shark from the Japan Sea. You shouldn't have approached the tank so carelessly."

Knees shaking, Kazuma pushed himself to his feet. "Bullshit," he said, wringing out his jacket. "I may not be the smartest guy around, but I know that's not a fish. Fish ain't people. That's a damn mermaid."

"It's merman," Yusuke grumbled. "Dumbass. Get it right." He was still staring at Kazuma as if he were the only thing worth worrying about in the whole room. It was a little intense, but Kazuma found himself staring right back. Now that he wasn't under the water, he wasn't scared anymore. Not that he'd been that scared! It was surprising, that was all! Anyone would have been just as put off as he was!

The owner took a small step back, putting distance between the spreading puddle of dirty water and what looked like very expensive shoes. "I see." He studied Yusuke for a moment, thoughtful. "Have you ever kept saltwater species before, young man?" he said, addressing Kazuma. "The initial setup can be somewhat onerous, but it's quite rewarding. Many people find that watching fish swim helps alleviate stress."

True enough, Kazuma hadn't been stressed about school or anything else when he'd been pulled into the tank, except for getting eaten or drowned. Real soothing. More importantly... "You're trying to sell him?"

"This is a pet shop," the man said, as though Kazuma were five years old and also incredibly slow. "The shark seems to have taken a liking to you, or there wouldn't have been much left of you for me to pull from the water. What do you say?" He stroked his chin, completely at ease with this insane situation. "We can discuss a fair price, along with a care guide and contract you'll need to abide by, of course."

For some reason, the idea of someone buying Yusuke outright was even more unbelievable than the whole being-a-mermaid thing. "You can't just sell him! He's a person!"

Yusuke leaned out over the edge of the tank, a curtain of black hair dripping onto the floor. "Aw, c'mon! Don't be a cheapskate! Just get me outta here before I go outta my mind. It's boring!" He was leaning so far out, one hand clutching the edge of the tank while the other reached to tug on Kazuma's sleeve. His gills were already starting to wheeze awkwardly in the dry air.

"And what am I supposed to do?" Kazuma shot back. "Carry you home and hide you in the bathtub? You're huge, man!" It was stupid anyway. Even if Kazuma had a whole swimming pool at home, it wasn't right to keep Yusuke locked up like that. If mermaids were real-- which apparently they were, and Kazuma wasn't going to be over that for a long time-- then they should be in the ocean, right? Of course Yusuke was miserable in this stupid little tank in a room with no windows, and no one to talk to! He wasn't some goldfish, or something!

The man smiled, small but genuine. He turned to Yusuke, gently shoving him back to the water when it looked like he was about to overbalance and fall from the tank. "It seems your mind is set on this one?"

"Yeah, this guy's an idiot, but he's alright." Sulking, Yusuke lowered himself in the water, wetting his gills. "Anybody else you shove at me is getting eaten, got that?"

"And just like that," the man said, with a helpless gesture, "the decision is made for me. As you can see, this particular specimen is something of a liability, so I'm willing to offer you a favorable deal to take it off my hands."

Kazuma had just about enough money in his wallet for a sandwich from the convenience store. He knew he wasn't gonna be able to cough up the cash to get Yusuke out of here. Still, he couldn't walk away. Yusuke's eyes were burning a hole through him.

"It's gonna have to be a hell of a deal, mister," Kazuma said, finally dragging his eyes from Yusuke to look at the shop owner. "I don't even have a job, and I'm pretty broke."

The shop owner only smiled. "I'm sure we can reach an agreement."

[ibilezombie]

Won’t be able to do one a day but it doesn't mean I won't give you a few merfolk before the end of May! Also it's another good excuse to practice drawing on Procreate now that I have an iPad of my own (yes, I am a weak person). #mermay #merfolk #mermaid #drawing #monster #blackandwhite #monsterdesign #horror #depths #horrorart #monsterart #creepy #creepyart #procreate https://www.instagram.com/ibi_le_zombie/p/BxE8OnrABPe/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=15k78ty0xrqvi

[puropoly]

🍦🍃(also i hunted long and hard for the knife emoji to ask you if you have any ghost stories but djdjdj i cant find it so ghost stories? :D )

why does everyone want to spook me / be spooked :[[[

🍦- what scented candle is your favorite?

I’ve never incorporated scented candles in my life (I’ve always used diffusers) but the smell of vanilla and or baked goods is my favourite......i love food

🍃- would you rather live in a sea with mermaids or a forest with fairies?

see the thing here is, I have an inexplicable dislike for mermaids/sirens or any kind of monster/human sort of design (like centaurs), I think they are HORRENDOUS and monstruous and whenever mermay comes to tumblr and everyone starts posting mermaid characters I try to scroll faster bc they make me..uncomfortable (it’s cool if it’s your thing, I just have an irrational dislike for these kinda characters that I don’t know where it comes from)

The second thing is that I do like fairies but after reading stories of irish people that live near the forest claiming that fairies are demonic creatures that will kill you if you come near a tree I think I’d rather none of these options

AS FOR MORE CREEPY STORIES uhm

this one has a happy ending obviously because I’m still alive but I once went with a friend to a mutual friend’s house in the middle of the night so she would’t go alone. The thing here is that her house was in a extremely dangerous, dark and unsafe neighborhood far from the center and it was 3am when this happened, which basically means you’re asking to get mugged / killed (it’s not like my irresponsible teenage ass was aware of it). We survived, but I honestly think it’s because my friend was a dude, if he was a girl or if I had gone alone ..I don’t know 

A few weeks later another friend got mugged and hit v badly in that place so it’s not an entirely happy ending :[

[eastofthemoon]

The Mermaid Song

With it being MerMay month, I thought I would repost this creepy mermaid short story I wrote a couple of years ago.  

Hope you all enjoy this!

The Mermaid Song

Something was wrong with Brian.  Lucy didn’t know what, but something was deadly wrong with him.  It started to happen after their parents left for their second honeymoon and Brian was put in charge.

He told Lucy to turn down her music, only for her to tell him there wasn’t any music playing.  Brian insisted there was, but when he realized Lucy couldn’t hear it, he apologized and said he must be hearing things.

Things got stranger.

Lucy tried talking to Brian, only to find he wasn’t listening.  Most of those times he was staring out the window and directly at the ocean.  It wouldn’t have frightened Lucy, except he muttered it was calling him.

Lucy had looked out the window the first few times and saw nothing.  However, the fourth time she saw something move along the waves.  She wanted to write it off as her imagination but she couldn’t fight the paranoia as Brian decided to walk along the shoreline.

Lucy insisted on tagging along.  She held onto his arm as he kept the same creepy emotionless expression as though he had become a zombie.  Lucy especially gripped his arm as she saw dark shapes dive in and out the waves.

Brian then started to become obsessed with water, saying he was too dry and hot.  He would pour buckets of water on himself or even turn on the sink to soak his head.  He even seriously debated opening up the covered well they had in the basement and ducking his head into it.  Lucy wouldn’t have thought anything of it, except it was late October and it had hardly had been above freezing.

During this same week, Brian’s eyes changed.  Before they were a bright mossy green, they slowly became dimmer and more dark like the bottom of a swampy pond.  Lucy tried to persuade him to go to the doctor but he refused to listen.  Then came the day they walked into town for groceries.  They had gotten a few curious look from the neighbours but none seemed to pay much attention to Brian’s odd behaviour of staring at the ocean and complain of being hot.

Except for Mrs. Jones.  As soon as they walked into her shop, the old woman never took her eyes off of Brian.  She sat silently behind her counter as Lucy tried to get Brian’s attention on the grocery list.

Finally, Brian snapped.  “I can’t take this anymore!  It’s too hot!”  he stomped out of the store.  “I’ll see you at home, Lucy!  I need to cool down.”

Lucy was left in the middle of the store stunned, gripping the basket with the bread and milk tightly.  “What’s wrong with him?” she whispered to herself.

“Their song has enchanted your brother, girly.”

Lucy spun around.  Mrs. Jones looked at her over the counter with a stern look.  As usual, her peppered grey hair was tied back in an old fashion bun.  She was a short woman, and she had mostly kept to herself, but when she was little Lucy had been certain Mrs. Jones was a witch.

The wrinkles on her face reminded Lucy of seeing cracks in rocks as waves tried to break them down.  However, one sharp look from her eyes could make a rabid dog coward in fear, Mrs. Jones has never come across as a weak old woman.  

“The distant look, the sudden dim light cast over his eyes, constant need for water.”  Mrs. Jones continued as she gave a grim nod.  “All clear signs they want to snag him.”

Lucy swallowed as she placed the groceries on the counter.  “Who?”

“The mermaids,” Mrs. Jones said as she pointed out the window.  “Every thirty years those monsters come to this village and select a young man to take back to their watery home.”  She gave a bitter laugh.  “No clue why though, I suppose they think it’s funny.”

“Mermaids?” Lucy stared wide eye.  “But there’s no such thing-”

Mrs. Jones’s frown cut off her sentence as sharp as a knife.  “If you think like that you won’t be able to save him.”  She pointed to herself.  “And I’ve seen them twice in my life.”

Lucy debated walking out, but then the image of Brian’s vacant look came back into her mind and forced herself to stay.  “When?”

“First time, was barely older than you,” Mrs. Jones sighed.  “I saw them take the mayor’s son, but I had no clue what was happening and could only dumbly watch.”  She shook her head.  “The whole town searched for him for months, I tried to tell them it was the mermaids, but they never believed me.”

Lucy tensed.  “What about the second time?”

Mrs. Jones arched her back out.  “They had the nerve to try to claim my son, but I refused to let them.”  She gave a grin.  “And I saved him and I know you can free your brother.”

“How?”

“They’ll come for him tonight cause of the full moon,” Mrs. Jones turned and placed a jar of beeswax on the counter.  “The spell will make him sleepy and go to bed early, when he does put this into his ears to block the mermaid’s song.”

Lucy held up the jar and peered through the glass.  “And that’s it?”

Mrs. Jones shook her head.  “No, it will only block it while the mermaids sing softly. Once they don’t see him coming they’ll sing even louder so he can hear them through the wax.”   She tapped the counter.  “Which is why you need to lock all the doors and windows in your house.”

“For how long?” Lucy asked.

“Until the sun rises, but it won’t be easy.  Your brother will be begging and screaming in pain to be let out.”  Mrs. Jones leaned over the counter.  “Don’t be fooled, the mermaid’s songs are only playing tricks on his mind.”

“Fantastic,” Lucy said grimly.  “What happens if he somehow manages to get out?”

“Pin him to the ground, hit him with a rock if you have to,” Mrs. Jones said.  “But whatever you do, don’t let him go into the water.  The mermaids will be able to catch him then and there’s no saving him once they got their slimy hands on him.”

“All by myself?”  Lucy swallowed and looked to Mrs. Jones.  “Can’t we just take him out of town away from the ocean?”  She slammed the counter.  “Why don’t we call the police or take him to a hospital.”

“Taking him out of town won’t do any good,” Mrs. Jones explained.  “You can’t let him into the water with that spell cast on him.  However, if he goes too far from the ocean he will go insane and it shall be permanent, even after the mermaids give up on him.”

Lucy paled.  “Insane?”

Mrs. Jones nodded.  “And that is a fate far worse than death.  So we have no choice, but to keep him here because the police and doctors won’t listen.  I tried when I realize they came for my son.  The mermaid’s song affects every man who can hear it so they don’t interfere.  They become lethargic and uninterested in the cause.”  

She sadly shook her head.  “Perhaps if this was a more modern village and we had more female police officers and doctors we would have a chance, but sadly that’s not the case.”  

Mrs. Jones pointed at Lucy.  “But you won’t be entirely alone.  I may not be in the house, but you’ll need me to be on the shoreline to throw stones in the water.”

“Stones?” Lucy asked confused.

“To keep those beasts from sending a tidal wave when he doesn’t come to them.”  She nodded at Lucy’s shocked look.  “I haven’t seen it myself, but it’s what I was told when I sought advice to help my son and now I’m telling you.”  The old woman reached out and gently squeezed Lucy’s arm.  “You need to be brave girl or you can say goodbye to your brother.”

Lucy swallowed, but gave a determined nod.

Mrs. Jones came over after closing the shop early.  She told Lucy that they couldn’t let Brian suspect what they were up to, but it didn’t seem to be a problem.  Brian was too occupied pouring water on himself and staring out the window to take notice of what she and Mrs. Jones were doing.

They didn’t have much time.  First task was to find weapons Lucy could arm herself with.  “Mermaids are unpredictable and no telling what their song will make your brother do, you need to defend yourself.”  Best they could find was a baseball bat and a pair of scissors in her mother’s sewing box.

Lucy stored the scissors in her pocket as they moved into the stage of boarding up the house.  Mrs. Jones hammered wood over each window, so Brian couldn’t jump out of the window.  Lucy had never been so thankful their house had only the one floor.  They then locked the back door and carried barrels to block it.

“You go into the house and I’ll lock and block the door for the outside,” Mrs. Jones said as Lucy gave her the key.  “Don’t come out of the house until I come to tell you the danger has passed.”  Lucy shook as she stared at the setting sun, but Mrs. Jones pat on the arm seemed to calm.  “You can do this girl.  Just keep your wits about you.”

Lucy stood straight and tried to ignore the fear that fluttered in the middle of her belly as she heard Mrs. Jones lock the door and block it.

As Mrs. Jones predicted, not long after dinner, Brian complained of being too tired to stay away and crawled into bed.  Lucy peered inside his room and once she was certain her brother was asleep, she grabbed the wax and tip toed inside the room

It was eerie, Lucy had never seen Brian’s body so still or breathing so quietly.  He normally snored.  He also normally slept on his side, but he was sleeping on his back like he was in a coffin.

Lucy ignored how the image was making her hair stand on end and dipped her hand into the jar.  It was easier to place the wax into Brian’s ears than Lucy had thought.  When she was done, Lucy sat in the corner of Brian’s room, holding the bat in her lap, patted the pair of scissors in the pocket and waited.

Lucy sat there for hours.  She might have become bored if it wasn’t for the loud thumping of her heart in her chest.  

Around 1 am, she heard the singing.

The song was high and melancholy and somehow Lucy felt it made her very bones quiver from hearing it.  She swallowed as she gripped the bat and looked out of her brother’s window.  The mermaids were closer to the beach now.  Lucy grabbed Brian’s telescope off his desk and now had a clear view of them  

The mermaids were so alien.  Nothing like those long haired blonde beauties Lucy has seen in movies.  Seaweed hung from their dark hair like untied ribbons.  They all had green speckled scales along their bodies and a shark fin sticking out of their backs.  Lucy was certain she was seeing gills flapping at the base of their necks and their eyes were as dark as wave pools.

Lucy nearly forgot about Brian, until he woke up screaming.  He gripped his head in pain as he panted.  “Hot!  Hot!  Too hot!”  

Lucy chased after him as Brian ducked into the bathroom and turned on the shower.  “Brian,” she called as she gripped her bat.  “You okay-”

“Not enough!” Brian suddenly snapped as he ran out and leaned against the walls like he was in pain.  “Ocean!  I need to go to the ocean!”

“No!  You need to stay in here!”  Lucy said as she blocked Brian and held the bat in front of her.  “Go back to your room!”

Brain stared wide eyed and then growled like a wolf.  “Lucy, get out of the way.”

She shook her head.  “Don’t bother, the doors and windows are locked.”

“This isn’t funny!”

“I’m not joking,” Lucy said as she held the bat.  “It’s the mermaid song, it’s playing tricks on you.”

Brian didn’t hear her as he charged forward and shoved Lucy aside.  Brian twisted the doorknob but gave an agonizing scream when he found it locked.  “Open!  Open!” he cried pounding at the door but found it wouldn’t open him..

Lucy stayed where she was, afraid just touching him might make Brian think of attacking her.  Suddenly, the singing grew louder and Brian collapsed to the floor.  He held his hand over his heart like he was having a heart attack.  “It burns!  It burns!”  He looked to Lucy pleading.  “Please!  Let me out!”

“I can’t,” Lucy whispered.  It hurt so much to see Brian in so much pain, but she knew she couldn’t be tricked.  It was a miserable hour.

Brian screamed and screamed in pain like someone was burning every limb of his body off.  Lucy tried to block the noise but she didn’t dare drop the bat and could only cover one ear at the time.

Then the singing intensified.  Brian stopped his screaming and panted as he sat up.  “The well.”

Lucy froze.  “What?”

“I need to go to the well!  There’s water there!”

Lucy cursed and Brian bolted and headed to the back room.  How could she have forgotten the old inside well?  “I’m an idiot!” she said aloud.  “It’s connected to the ocean.”  Lucy had no time to ponder whether a mermaid would be small enough to slip through a well as she reached Brian in time to see him removing the cover.

The water bubbled as Brian gazed inside.

“Brian!” Lucy screamed as she dropped the bat and and wrapped her arms tightly around her brother’s waist.  At the same horrible moment, a green scaled covered hand leaped out of the water and clung to to Brian’s neck.

Lucy held even tighter and entered a game of tug of war with the mermaid, each refusing to let go over Brian.  During this, Brian stared blankly into the face of the mermaid as if his whole mind has been shut off.

Lucy tried to regain her footing, but she felt herself being tugged forward inch by inch and knew the mermaid was stronger.  If she didn’t let go now, Lucy would be dragged into the well along with Brian.

Using all her strength, Lucy held on as she reached into her pocket and clasped her fingers around the scissors.  “Hands off my brother!”  Lucy plunged the scissors into the mermaid’s arm.

The mermaid gave a terrible screech as it dove back into the water.  Lucy and Brian fell backwards, but Lucy wasted no time.  Her brother still seemed to be dazed as she dragged him out of the room and into the old storage room.  Being it was where their family had stored their old books and holiday decorations, there wasn’t much here for weapons for Lucy to use.  However, that meant there wasn’t anything for Brian to use either.

He just seemed to be coming to as Lucy flipped him to his stomach and sat on him.

“Let go!  Let go!” Brian begged as he tried to throw Lucy off.  “I’m dying!  My body’s on fire!”

Lucy cursed as she pinned his arms to his back.  “You SO owe me for this, Bro!  For life!”

Lucy had no clue how long they stayed there with Brian attempting to kick her off, but it felt like an eternity.  The mermaid’s singing was unbearable.  She could feel the mermaid’s anger towards her in the song and it shook her to the core.

Then the song grew softer, like a lullaby.  It would be so good to sleep, the song whispered in her ear.  Lucy had won, she could curl up and go to sleep.  Lucy felt her eyelids begin to shut.

“Sleep girl,” the sang song.  “No need to worry about your brother-”

Lucy’s eyes sprang opened and she bit her own hand.  Lucy cried out in pain, and cringed at the cooper taste of blood in her mouth but she remained steady.  “Forget it!” she yelled.  “You’re not putting me to sleep!”

The song screeched for a long while then, but Lucy refused to budged even with her hand bleeding and kept Brian pinned.  Finally, Brian’s body decided to pass out due to exhaustion from the screaming and flailing as he lay still beneath her.  Still, Lucy didn’t move, afraid this was another trick.  There were no windows or clock where she was, so she had no clue if the sun had come up.  Besides, she wasn’t moving an inch until Mrs. Jones came.

The mermaid’s singing continued, until it stopped dead.  Lucy froze.  She had gotten so use to the singing, she had almost forgotten what silence was like.  Brian then stirred.

Since there was no more singing, Lucy decided it was safe and climbed off him.

“Lucy?” Brian asked as he moaned and sat up.  “What was I doing?  I kept hearing this song in my ears.  I felt like my brain was going to explode.”

Lucy tackled him and wrapped her arms around his neck.  Brian was confused, but held his sister tightly and the siblings stayed there until Mrs. Jones came to fetch them.

“I didn’t know they could do a sleep song,” Mrs. Jones said as the kettle finished boiling and she fetched the cups.  “You should be proud of yourself, girl, that was smart thinking.”

Lucy winced as she looked over her bandaged hand.  “It may have been smart, but it sure hurt.”  Mrs. Jones offered a smiled as she poured the tea and gave a cup to her.  “Will Brian be okay?”  

“He may have a headache for a day or two, but he’ll recover,” she replied.  “Which is why I sent him back to bed.  Sleep’s the best cure for it.”

Lucy nodded silently and traced the brim of her cup with her fingers.  “They’ll come back won’t they?  The mermaids?”

Mrs. Jones sipped her tea and wrapped her bony fingers around her teacup.  “Not for thirty years, but yes, like clockwork, but they won’t go after your brother again.  They know that’s a waste of their time now.”  She lifted her head and stared directly at Lucy.  “But I won’t be here to help the next poor victim the mermaids try to catch.”  She tilted her head at Lucy.  “I’m hardly immortal.”

Lucy thumbed the handle of her teacup, but she raised she stuck out her chin and straightened her posture.  “I’ll be here.  I won’t let those mermaids take anyone without a fight.”

Mrs. Jones gave a nod and raise her cup to her.  “Those devils won’t know what hit them.”

Lucy smiled and clicked her cup with Mrs. Jones to the toast.

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[majetteduncan]

It's been a long couple of days. Especially yesterday. Have a few mermaid doodles for Mermay days 8 and 9. #mermay #mermaid #fish #babymermaid #childmermaid #freckles #creepy

[umbrafox]

Angler Wip 1 A bit older piece I did for Tom Bancroft's Mermay challenge. Technically this is number 2. I tried a few doodles of mermaids based on squid, whales, even a sea cucumber Lol But they really weren't worth posting. Patreon: patreon.com/mattmanard Facebook Art Page:https://www.facebook.com/VoxOculaArt Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/artist/arthurlemming Tumblr: https://mattmanard.tumblr.com/ Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/voxocula… DeviantArt: http://umbrafox.deviantart.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Umbrafox #mattmanard #tombancroft #challenge #mermay #mermay2017 #mermaid #fish #weird #creepy #strange #glow #fantasy #mattmanard #character #painting #art #sketch #workinprogress #wip #sketch_daily #sketch_syndicate #digitalartist #digitalpainting #photoshop #characterdesign #photoshoppainting #illustration #illustrationart #illustrationartwork #mattmanardart #creature #concept #conceptart #conceptartwork #fantasy #fantasyart

[umbrafox]

Angler Wip 1 A bit older, the sketch for Tom Bancroft's Mermay challenge. Technically this is number 2. I tried a few doodles of mermaids based on squid, whales, even a sea cucumber Lol But they really weren't worth posting. Patreon: patreon.com/mattmanard Facebook Art Page:https://www.facebook.com/VoxOculaArt Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/artist/arthurlemming Tumblr: https://mattmanard.tumblr.com/ Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/voxocula… DeviantArt: http://umbrafox.deviantart.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Umbrafox #mattmanard #tombancroft #challenge #mermay #mermaid #fish #weird #creepy #strange #glow #sketch #digitalartist #digitalpainting #workinprogress #wip #illustration #illustrationart #illustrationartwork #photoshop #photoshoppainting #painting #art #woman #mattmanardart #fantasy #fantasyart #water #underwater #dark #purple #myth #mythical #warrior #trident