#applying logic to merpeople

[sunny-daze-ahead]

my brain requires me to make roommates for all the twst characters so i'll be back in a bit

[messier-47]

Hii !

So im deeply involved in your new merman story (i think i fried some braincell on the last chapter 🫣)

But i was wondering: how much research do you do for your writing ?

Because the moment on "how ink is gonna show under water" is very interesting. Or the concept of the merpeople skin sounds very "plausible". So yeah curious 👀

Im also completely in love with the description of Tobirama's drawing book 🫣♥️

Have a great day/night ☺️

Hello! I'm so glad you've been enjoying my mermay story! :D

"How much research do you do for your writing?" AHAHAHAHA can the answer be both "so much" and "not enough"? Take for instance the thought process of what mershark skin would be like and how ink would transfere into their skin/how ink would be perceived; it was a mixture of experience, basic skimming research, BS, and my favorite "logic" notions.

First, I did research on how sharkskin was actually like. I needed the reference words and an understanding of how it could be felt, seen, and described to better portray in a story. However true sharkskin is "rough" and if I wanted Tobirama to be all up on Mer!Mada without fear then I needed to change sharkskin with the use of "this is fantasy, i do what i want". Simple fix: what if the "teeth" were still present but smaller? Smaller but no less compact, biologically it should be possible that mersharks would evolution in such a way if "smooth skin" was seen as the more desireable trait to pass on.

Then I had to figure out how tattoo ink would work and luckily, I could rely on irl experiences. Not a tattoo artist, but I am..."pretty heavily" tattoo'd. Basic research from...five years ago? is used today and experience answers more questions. "How did you know about the white ink?" because I've had white ink applied to both my color and linework tattoos. "How did you figure about the color perception change underwater?" Omg I almost fucked that up. Except there came a point in writing where "Wait it's more logical for tobirama to first test pigments in the environment they would be most scene in."

Also! Did you know that color ink can be on an individual basis of what human skin can accept? Apparently, my skin hates pink cause it spat out $100 worth of pink ink! Thank goodness my artist was able to FILL IN ALL THE BLANKS with purple on the second appointment. luckily I am god so therefore mershark skin accepts a greater range of color.

But on the greater whole; research depending on the story GREATLY defers. "Of Fungi and Voyria" had me reading up to three books of mushrooms and mycelium. "F.U.B.A.R." is by chapter basis; i don't overlook an arc and then do the research for every single little thing, instead do the research on the DAY OF writing the exact scene (E.G. The Uchiha Women's rebellion or when I had to research C-Section operation in medieval setting).

On an even broader scale...everything I've ever done is based on the effort of extensive research. How do you write good smut? How do you write threesome? What makes invigorating storytelling? How should scenes, characters, situations be portrayed to be better understood? I'm not shy to say that I look at other people's writing -the good and the bad- and study all to see what works and what doesn't.

What are the latest trends in fandom? What does a fandom lack compared to others? What is enjoyable about the best authors in a fandom and how could their skill inspire my own writing?

There's a surprising amount of information to be found if brave enough to both ask the question, do the research, and notice patterns. :)))

(don't ask me what the current madatobi kink trends are because I got ANSWERS but no proof until I make a pie chart)

[jaydicksummerexchange]

JAYDICK EXCHANGE: SEPTEMBER 3

[ ❤ Works posted so far! ❤ ]

SECOND TO LAST DAY OF THE JAYDICK EXCHANGE!

Why the second to last instead of the last? That’s because we’ve reached 114 Exchange works for 2020! The more treats get added, the more we time we add to our juicy cabooses and keep the exchange train rolling. Until Saturday that is. Tomorrow is the final posting date, and we’ll reveal the wonderful participants on September 5 no matter what. 

Here are today’s releases!

Claws by anonymous for solomonara [ART, Not Rated, No Archive Warnings Apply, Dick Grayson/ Jason Todd] 

Additional Tags: FanartHurt/Comfort, Injured Jason, Secret Identity, dick's teams don't know the red hood's identity, dick's harem of morally ambiguous older men, dick: he's not older, dick: wait i mean he's not my villain boyfriend, dick: damn it

Summary: Dick takes the Red Hood to a Titan safehouse after an injury. Explanations are expected.

Learning To Love The Fall by anonymous for 3isme [ART, Teen, No Warnings Apply, JayDick] 

Additional Tags: Fanart, Alternate Universe - 1920s, Mechanic Jason Todd, Plane Pilot Dick Grayson

Summary:  It's the early 1900s and the country of Gotham is recovering from a long war.

Trying to get a better life, Jason Todd has been moonlighting as an underground plane mechanic for illegal aeroplane racers, getting a cut of whatever the pilot wins. After one particular competition, he's accused of sabotage and, despite his protests, forced into deeper debt. At the end of his rope, he runs into Dick Grayson, ex-ace of the Gotham Air Force and supposed dead man. The war hero was supposed to have been shot down near the end of the war. Regardless, this pilot is the best chance Jason has to grab hold of that better life, and he's not going to let it go.

The Still and Quiet Surface by anonymous for TheWayneManner [FIC, General Audiences, No Warnings Apply, Dick Grayson & Jason Todd] 

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Merpeople, Gift Fic, Ficlet

Summary: Dick leaves the sea behind and never looks back.

Scents & Sensibility by anonymous for Nitrojen [FIC, Explicit, No Warnings, JayDick] 

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Regency, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alternate Universe - Fae, References to Jane Austen, although the writer has a pretty dark secret concerning our dear friend jane, Getting to Know Each Other, Other Additional Tags to Be Added

Summary: Prompt - Something along the lines of the Princess and the Pea. It can be A/B/O, modern, fantasy, or even something that takes place in canon where there's some kind of curse. Have fun with it! 

Give It A Shot (of espresso) by anonymous for morimaiter [FIC, Teen, No Warnings, Dick Grayson/ Jason Todd] 

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Coffee Shops & Caf��s, Alternate Universe - College/University, Hurt/Comfort, Barista Jason Todd, Flirting, Awkward Flirting, Sexual Tension, JayDick Summer Exchange, very minor injury, art included

Summary: Dick was one of their regulars. And yes, that was his real name. The first time he’d asked Jason to write it on his cup Jason had given him a death glare until the man had whipped out a driver’s license to prove it. ‘Richard John Grayson’, printed right there. It hadn’t been an innuendo after all, just an unfortunate choice of nickname. He came into Gotham Grinders (and hell if Jason hadn’t heard enough innuendos about that name to make up for any lack of innuendo in Dick’s own) every Tuesday and Friday, which happened to always be Jason’s shifts. Every time he asks for some new over-the-top order, and every time without fail he also asks for Jason’s digits. Jason replies every time with:

“I’m sorry sir, we can’t give out personal information to customers. Will that complete your order?” 

(Fic + Art)

Lazy Days by anonymous for BehindTheRobinsMask [ART, Teen, No Warnings, Dick Grayson & Jason Todd] 

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Married Life, Married Couple, Established Dick Grayson/Jason Todd, Literal Sleeping Together, Lazy Mornings, Domestic Fluff, Fanart

Summary:  It's the weekend! Jason and Dick sleep in after a long night on the streets.

Taken in the Butt by the Gay Vigilante Acro-Bird by anonymous for solomonara [ART, Teen, No Warnings,  JayDick] 

Additional Tags: Romance Novel, Cover Art, Jason Todd is an Author, Partial Nudity, Birds, Vintage Gay Pulp Novels, Chuck Tingle-Adjacent, Please Forgive me, FanartDigital Art, JayDick Summer Exchange

Summary: The Red Hood has a secret: he's a part-time romance novelist.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea by anonymous for stribird (timidGoddess) [FIC, Mature, No Warnings Apply, Dick Grayson/ Jason Todd]

Additional Tags: Heavy Angst, Self-Doubt, Lazarus Pit, Panic Attacks, Established Relationship, Bad Decisions, Romantic Fluff, Amnesia, Broken Promises, Road Trips, On the Run

Summary: Jason couldn’t do that. He could never forget what Dick meant to him. Which is why he had to bring his Bluebird back. Which is why he had to remind Dick of everything that he had lost.

Even if that meant forcing him into the Lazarus Pit. Even if it meant cursing him in the process.

tell your boyfriend, if he says he's got beef, that i'm a vegetarian (and i ain't fucking scared of him) by anonymous for prompt_fills [Mature, No Warnings Apply, Dick Grayson/ Jason Todd]

Additional Tags: Fluff and Humor, Crack Treated Seriously, Damian Wayne is a Little Shit, Protective Damian Wayne, POV Damian Wayne, Batman: Reborn, Jason Todd has a Heart, Damian Wayne Has a Heart, Dick Grayson is Damian Wayne’s Parent, Dick Grayson is Batman, Mutual Pining, enemies to idiots to lovers, Misunderstandings, Damian Wayne Plays Therapist, Jason Todd is Bad at Feelings, Dick Grayson is Bad at Feelings, My Continued Mocking of Tim Drake (it's loving i swear), Donna Troy is a goddess and no one deserves her, My love for Donna Troy is so strong that I projected it onto Damian and I am not sorry, Unbetaed we die like Jason Todd refuses to, Past Dick Grayson/Slade Wilson, Jealous Jason Todd, Pining Dick Grayson, BAMF Donna Troy AND MORE

Summary: It had taken a few weeks for Damian’s ill-fated hopes for the more platonic explanation of Grayson’s unseemly conduct regarding Todd to expire because Damian (unlike Drake) is not an idiot (and Brown had prattled on about every instance of very clearly not platonically fueled tension, slowly crushing Damian’s remaining hopes for Richard’s taste in romantic partners). Denial, heavenly as he has now known it to be, can only take one so far. And as a pragmatist and the grandson of the great Ra’s al Ghul and son of the great Bruce Wayne, he assesses the situation from a logical perspective, free of any emotions clouding his impeccable judgment, and comes up with a solution that benefits both himself and Grayson.

Jason Todd must die.

Or the story of how Damian Wayne became the number one shipper of JayDick and is not at all happy about it.

Si solo fueras tú by anonymous for fallogory [ART, Gen, Creator Chose No Warnings, Dick Grayson/Jason Todd]

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Royalty, Fanart, Kid Dick Grayson, Adult Dick Grayson, Kid Jason Todd, Adult Jason Todd, King Bruce Wayne, Prince Damian Wayne, Prince Dick Grayson, Poor Jason Todd, Hurt Dick Grayson, Jealous Damian Wayne, Dick Grayson Needs a Hug

Summary: Blue came first

Then Green arrives

Then Blue meet Red

And Green hate that

Or where Dick was Bruce's bastard child who was forced to lived like a prince until Damian's born and meet someone who make his world be upside down.

the smell of cold stone by anonymous for abcission [FIC, Mature, No Warnings Apply, Dick Grayson/ Jason Todd]

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - College/University, Bisexual Dick Grayson, Autumn, American Football, College Football, Blow Jobs, First Time Blow Jobs, Getting to Know Each Other, Getting Together, referenced Jason/Kyle, Past Dick Grayson/Koriand'r, Past Dick Grayson/Roy Harper, past dick grayson/wally west - Freeform, implied Roy/Kory, implied Roy/Wally, implied Donna/Kyle, future besties Jason and Roy, Roy's eternal crush on Donna, frat boy Dick, Fluff

Summary: Their eyes meet on the quad one day; he’ll probably never see the frat boy again, but he’ll be nice fodder for Jason’s dreams at least.

[butterfly-winx]

Zenith

- Do you know about Zenith? No? I mean you own a computer so you must. I hear the whole planet is covered in one large city.

- Zenith lives up to its name, as it is regarded to be the home to the height technological development in the Magic Universe. It houses the more universities, research institutes and engineering testing fields on its tiny surface than Magics and Earth combined.

- Though it is true that the planetoid is covered with a seemingly uniform cityscape, there are patches of untended ground peeking through, mainly the polar seas.  Antitheva and Bitheva may only classify as large lakes elsewhere, but they are perfectly fit for a small planet of Zenith’s size. They even help populations of merfolk at some point in time.

- The overwhelming amount of construction covering the planet’s surface has long become its vice. With no reflective surfaces left and with machinery forced to operate day and night to fuel the latest technological advancements, the whole planet has become a singular heat trap. The seas were boiling and the air was unbreathably hot. What got research going however was the failing performance of their heavy duty machinery, screws sweating and bending out of shape, lasers blinking tired and unfocused. They devised a plan to cool down the surface of the planet by releasing agents to shield them from the thermal effects of solar rays, and achieved the impossible. Zenith’s climate has since then settled on a comfortable average of 250 K.

- The seas froze over and the merpeople disappeared - or maybe they did already during the boiling phase, out of their luck living off already dead fish. Urban development was given final approval and the last patches of earth disappeared from sight, buried under the striving for more.

- Despite its  aforementioned properties, Zenith is no monolith and it would be amiss to describe it as such. Zeniths countries and cultures are diverse, only connected by their burning need for advancement and their fight against the cold. They have a spectrum of governance forms in the different countries ranging from democracy, constitutional monarchy to representative republic and in some cases even direct democracy of people.

- As cities cover all of the planet, it is difficult to determine where individual settlements in a country begin and end. Country borders are the only demarcations, each government shielding itself with force fields, trenches or physical walls from imagined spies and malevolence.

- Techna’s home of Haikar is in a country that still tries to honour the memory of the separate settlements that have melded together. So Haikar is not a separate town as much as it is just a borough with its own town governance, and is considered to be the capital of Transjordan.

- Other Zenith country names with capitals where applicable: Tribilisi (Kandu), Gorgan, Nuzul (Xihat), Tbaku, Navyol, Urzghar

- Most of these countries don’t get along with each other too well. As is understandable, seeing as they are very culturally diverse. Each wants to be the best though and their most bitterly fought battles are usually over patent rights and the tenure of well-respected scientists. As banal as these reasons seem, as brutal are their methods of mutual sabotage to keep the leading edge.

- Transjordan unfortunately is quite small and has many neighbours, so their paranoia and battle readiness is markedly large even on planet. Growing up, Techna went through disaster and terror awareness training regularly, to the point where they could probably recite what to do in case you found a car bomb better than they could explain a simple recipe.

- Oh and are recipes important! As clean edged people think the inhabitants of Transjordan are, there is nothing minimalist about their food choices. They love combining spices and textures and always serve feasts with generosity rivalling Eraklyon’s. Deserts usually have some sort of fruits, nuts AND some preserve in them, the combinations endless.

- While it is true that for the most part, cultures on Zenith value a simple approach to things. If it can be done in a few words, why waste a sentence on it? Bureaucracy is usually a two-click-formula affair, their whole lives are condensed on a sigle digital display ID, shopping comes to you at home. Hell even marriages are just an affair of simple form signing.

- But food is where they really go full ham. It is not seen as frivolous to waste 10 eggs on a cake, because what you are doing creating nutrition and enjoyment. It is simply reasonable and efficient to go to the max when you do that and create an absolute delicacy you can gorge yourself on in one slice or less.

- So if they are so into feasting and enjoying things with purpose, what gives Zenithians such a bad name? Well, it is just that. People of Transjordan for example, like to enjoy things with purpose. They don’t really care much for music or theatre, they are just activities to air your brain out. They will import off-world made products, but there isn’t a lot of room for cultural arts on Zenith because they channel their passion elsewhere.

- Yes you heard right, Zenithinas have passion galore. They just, in the Universe's most efficient move, channel that passion into the work they already do. The majority of scientific discoveries have been made because somebody cared enough to look deep into a topic and push further, because previous answers were unsatisfactory. Children are coached to find something that inspires this level of devotion in them and have extensive education and support networks to get them there.

- On the topic of children: most of them aren’t the genetic descendants of their parents, rather a random selection from the common gene pool. The public gene pool is a hotly debated topic, but a long established structure of procreation that only the very wealthy have the option to contest. (There is a way to gain approval to sire an own baby from just the genes of two people, but it is extremely costly.)

 In some research some time ago it was determined that for the optimal survival of people on the planet, genetic relation to the parents raising the child was not only suboptimal, but actively detrimental to overall population survival. In this “more civilised” approach, parents apply for a baby who is conceived and birthed in bioreactors. This way no people who can conceive are put through undue stress and the public gene pool babies also carry less hereditary health conditions. It is supposedly a win-win situation, yet it leaves a sour taste in most people’s mouth. No wonder less and less Zenithians plan families if that is the process they have to do it by.

- As straightforward as they are, Zenithians often struggle when communicating with people from other planets and not only because of arising cultural differences. Sure any Zenithian would blush and pale when forced into a situation dealing with overly expressive Solarians, but in any other regular case, the Universal Translation Spell is not on their side either. Jordan is a very logical and to the point language and the floralitiy of other languages is impossible to be transferred to it. The UTS instead produces blocky, difficult to parse translations that often leave Techna confused to the intentions of others.

- It is of course evident that the main industry of the planet is electronics production and R&D. Companies on Zenith produce all manners of gadgets, but they are best in creating refrigeration technology (ironic, right?), astronomic instruments, self-propulsion transportation (vehicles) and medical diagnostic tools and applications. The associated application programming industry is also booming with server houses the size of smaller cities. It is no surprise that Zenith’s electricity consumption is through the roof with such a vital sector to support.

- Before their trade for electricity with Solaria, Zenithian people used static electricity discharges to harvest energy. Their planet being covered with one gigantic city didn’t leave much space for utilising the natural resources of their planet. All the mineral ore having been exhausted, no major flowing waters left and stranded with miserable and cold weather the options for energy sources were limited. What they had however was tall buildings and thunderstorms, so they used lightning harvesters for ages.

- With the storm and snow clouds obscuring the sky most days, Zenith is quite dark. The cities illuminate themselves, kind of like year round festive ornamentation.

- Spirituality is an interesting topic on planet that everyone you ask will have a different answer for. Major parts of Tribilisi and Urzghar for example believe in machine assisted immortality. They see machines as superior to biological matter and work towards the unfallability and omniscience of artificial intelligence in which part of their conscience will be able to rest after death. The predominant belief in Transjordan that Techna grew up with is that after death, there is nothing. Based on the theory of energy conservation, what one doesn’t use and convert into heat will be redistributed into the rest of the world. It is selfish to think one could hold on to any energy after death.

- Most people also don’t care for magic. Sure some magic users crop up among them here and there, but they most likely remain untrained. This is why Techna chose a school off planet to pursue their passion and why they weren’t claimed as a Guardian fairy of Zenith after they graduated. (Since this position doesn’t exist.)

- Almost all things on the planet are solved non-magically accordingly. Their transport systems are unparalleled with some regions using small-distance whole structure replication, aka honest to god matter teleportation. The frozen over seas are also fully utilised with air cushion containerships cruising the flat expanse. Along a certain longitude Zenith also sports a unique feature: the longitudinal crust train. A four meter wide segment of the planet, as if cut out of the surrounding cityscape, moves on straight rails around the whole circumference of the planet. It is the fastest mode of civilian transport available.

- They need all the good transportation and radio transmission they can get - by the way, the Universe Wide Web is also a Zenithian invention, who would have thought - as with their living space limited, Zenithian countries have spilled over onto nearby moons, essentially colonising and terraforming those.

- So, you see, Zenith and either of its countries aren’t by far as boring as one might think on the first glance and most of them certainly don’t shy back from showing emotion.

[andy-the-8th]

Day Of and Day After - Night (Part 3)

Part 3 of Creatures That Defy Logic

Read on AO3

It's hard to fall asleep with so much to feel, so much to realize...

Jess's thoughts the night after the end of the movie.

Weird that for someone with a fear of the water, Jess didn't really have a problem with boats as long as they stayed safely docked.

He had decided to sleep out on the old houseboat that night. John had salvaged it after it was abandoned in the marina, and had fitted it into a sort of floating mobile workshop on the outside. Inside though there was still a small galley and cabin with two berths tucked away on each far end of the space. With everything that had happened that day and both still pent up with emotions, Jess really wasn't in the mood to stay trapped in their small apartment over the shop at the boat yard with his father. Sensing that his son was still angry and wanting to give him his space, John had agreed without question - Jess had always been pretty independent anyway when it came to getting around the yard and marina, fear of the water notwithstanding.

Jess had always been pretty independent in general - John Wheatley was not a very involved parent in most regards.

But getting out of the apartment hadn't made it any easier to sleep so far. Even with the gentle rocking of the waves, the subtle creaking of the old wood, tracing the etches and grain of the wooden eaves above his berth with his eyes, Jess couldn't manage to turn his brain off. He kept turning over everything from the day, what had happened, what everyone had said, and what all of it meant for the future and for the past.

One part that Jess kept getting stuck on was what he said when he woke up after Cody zapped him. He meant it as a joke - that Sam kissed him, that that would be something that could have happened in one of his dreams. It seemed to let the tension out of the moment, to assuage the worries of everyone looking over him, even if it turned out extremely awkward.

No one said scientists had good comedic timing.

He'd never been a stranger to making blank meta-conversational comments - he'd stopped Cody and Sean's fight by saying it was his job description to get beaten up, of all things - it was a mix of his sarcastic sense of humor and simple practicality to be understood unambiguously. Still, Jess was kind of surprised by himself thinking of something like what he said about Sam on the spot, almost reflexively.

Almost as if to cover up what he had really been thinking at the moment.

Still, he felt bad about putting Sam in that situation - what the hell kind of response would she have had? But he also felt like it was almost some sort of disingenuous, how that comment might have misrepresented his feelings, especially to one person in particular.

The seconds before that, the images of what Jess woke to as he choked back to consciousness, seawater out, gasping for breath, opening his eyes -

He may have only had 13 years' experience to go off of, but Jess was pretty sure those seconds were going to stay with him for the rest of his life. The kind of images and feelings that stay with you forever.

Cody, looking down at him, worry in his beautiful hazel eyes, fear melting away to relief as Jess coughed back to life. Maybe mermen were naturally more expressive, maybe it was just Jess's half-conscious imagination - but the power of his emotions had felt like they rippled and pulsed off him like the wind or waves on the sea - tension, then release.

There hadn't been anyone Jess would have wanted to see more in that moment - and the thought that it had been Cody that saved him, and felt so deeply for him, literally brought him back to life - it was a weird feeling. Like a kind of secret light, a warmth in his chest he couldn't really explain.

Cody was never difficult to read - his emotions showed on his face almost immediately. It was something Jess had really come to love like about him - being less-than-practiced in social cues, it helped for his first actual friend to really be like an open book, so Jess always knew where he stood with him.

Even if that hadn't always shown him something he wanted to see.

Jess couldn't help but remember weeks ago, when he'd fallen in the pool with his sousaphone (a small voice in his head always reminded him not snap at other kids and teachers that it was NOT a tuba) - how no one had seemed to care if he was drowning right in front of them, only that he was an inconvenience in the pool after everyone celebrating the success at the big meet.

Then again, Jess wasn't exactly a stranger to other kids (or even adults) not really caring what happened to him. Guess that came with the territory of his designated social job description.

And how when Cody saved him then, it was an obligation - one he was almost embarrassed to carry out in front of his friends and teammates. Even before Jess had ever really noticed Cody as any more than one of the popular guys in school, it still stung to see that adolescent contempt in his expression when he pulled him out of the pool.

Only a few short weeks later, as he stood on the side of the pool thinking of nothing but sinking to the bottom, Jess remembered the warmth in Cody's voice when he assured him that if he were to start to drown, Cody would save him. He'd of course only taken it as a simple hypothetical statement, something just to calm him down during the lesson. And Cody had huffed off when Jess was still scared then as well, going off to talk to Sean.

Jess tried not to let it bother him but he could always see how Cody's real other friends looked at them if they were together in public. Confusion mingled with contempt. Jess understood the utility of their friendship as something scientific and fantastic - something he cherished just for what it was. The other kids definitely saw that it was utilitarian - it was no secret that Cody needed the help to pass biology, to stay on the swim team - even without talking to them Jess knew that was the only reason Cody bothered with him.

So when Cody got frustrated with Jess's continued fear of the water and walked over to Sean, he'd tried to ignore the nagging worry that Cody might ultimately side with his other friends. Jess hadn't overheard most of it, but he knew from the looks he got from the other swim team guys - they all couldn't see why Cody was wasting his time with him. More than once Jess had wondered the same thing. He'd liked to imagine Cody might have stood up to Sean for him, but also told himself it didn't really matter - actions were always louder than words, and Cody's actions today couldn't have been more impactful.

The irony was almost funny when you put it side-by-side: the first time Cody had saved Jess, he'd brushed it off like it was nothing. Jess asking if he'd make it, adrenaline hyped up from falling in - in the moment it had really felt like fearing for his life. Phobias were just like that, like it or not.

The last time Cody saved him, Jess was actually dead by all accounts, or close to it. The completely opposite reaction - waking up to Cody's face, concern and care written all over it, wordlessly looking at Jess like he was everything in the world at that second, like saving him was the most important thing that had ever happened - that was one of the other main points Jess kept turning over in his head tonight.

But wasn't that still part of their agreement? Cody to teach him to swim, to keep him safe during that? Jess to help him with marine biology, both academic and sometimes scarily literal?

Maybe. But feelings still counted for something - Jess knew that right now more than anything that there was something more to their friendship than that simple transactional agreement.

He wouldn't have that light inside him now if that weren't true.

And he probably wouldn't miss him so badly, even with Cody gone only a few hours. He wouldn't feel that ache in his whole body and mind, wishing he'd get to see him one more time.

Scientific theories often relied on extrapolating data, taking what was known and applying it to other established trends, the better to understand them. That was basic scientific data analysis.

And better than anything else, Jess understood science. And what he knew right now was that that light inside him, that felt like it was almost burning in his chest, was the key piece of data he'd needed.

He applied that data to his other thoughts, his other memories, of this short chapter in his life that now seemed to be over. He found himself looking at all the time he spent together with him - reflecting on Cody, with his emotions so on display, as he'd listened to Jess go on and on about his ideas, his passions, as they talked about everything from the scientific and cultural implications of merpeople to the day-to-day things from school that day. Jess knew his sudden bursts of information usually turned people off of him - again, expected territory with being the class nerd. But Cody hadn't ever gotten scared off by it, or annoyed by it.

Doing homework together. Eating lunch. Cody's (honestly awful, if well-intentioned) attempts to teach Jess how to swim. Cody watching Jess study, Jess watching Cody practice his swim exercises. Even just walking down the shorelines together, silent but comfortable with it.

In the dark, feelings all worked up, Jess let himself realize that maybe it hadn't all been a popular guy seeking tutoring from a nerd, a subject seeking explanations from an expert, a patient looking at a hopefully-someday-some-kind-of-doctor, a merman looking at a scientist - it was Cody, looking at Jess.

Jess was surprised to feel tears well up at that realization. It was only a few hours since Cody left. It was only supposed to be for a few short months. But right then it really kicked in how much he was going to miss him.

Jess breathed heavily and gulped down the tightness in his throat. He realized how much he felt like he hadn't properly said goodbye - just the one quick wave before Cody had gone under and disappeared.

The same way he'd felt too trapped with his feelings in the apartment, the small cab of the boat now felt far too tight again. He needed some air. His feelings were going to swallow him otherwise.

"Can't believe I'm doing this" he breathed to himself. He smiled a bit thinking of the last time he'd said that today. Guess sometimes immediate exposure therapy could cure a phobia, but Jess was still a bit surprised with himself as he got up, carefully picked his way over the creaky floor of the boat, up the small ladder out of the cabin, sliding open the door as quietly as possible.

Regardless of how many times Jess had stayed on the docked boat, he'd never gone out on the deck - he amazed himself with his new courage, how the black waters below no longer held hardly any of the menace they had before. The sudden cool, salty breeze made him notice the wet streaks on his cheeks. The boat was of course still docked at the harbor, aft to the pier, so he carefully climbed up around toward the bow, leaning on the rail and looking at the rows of docked boats, the moonlight shimmering off the waves, the far-off curve of the horizon blending sky and sea in the darkness. He breathed heavily again, centering himself in the sensation, the scents of the salty air, the gasoline from the marina, the vaguely fishy smell that always hung around the boat yard.

He had definitely needed the air.

Jess looked down over the bow of the boat into the water. Some small, irrational part of him hoped Cody might pop up, that he might get one more chance to see him, now that he felt like his emotions had for once caught up to his mind.

Of course, that didn't happen. Jess already knew it wasn't going to, but still. Can't hurt that much to hope. Cody was probably far off by now - who knew where he was, who he was meeting, what he was seeing. For a second, Jess realized he almost wished he could have gone with him somehow. It felt weird to think that they had sort of started this journey together, but now Jess was left behind.

More space to think out in the night air. More memories to turn over in his head.

"That's right - why am I helping you?"

Walking down the rocks at the cove together, Cody venting how no one seemed to understand or want to stick by him. The closest they'd come to defining their relationship in any certain terms. Jess had always liked certain terms when possible.

"Uh, 'cause you're a good guy?"

Not a good scientist. Not a good lab partner. Just Cody, liking Jess for being Jess.

Jess only half remembered what he responded to that, fumbling when Cody playfully tackled him (a vicious merman attack) - he definitely remembered saying "shucks," of all the embarrassingly-nerdy things to say in a serious moment.

Maybe he'd said he loved him. Maybe he'd only said it to himself.

Thinking of that now, it felt weird. Jess hadn't had a lot of experience voicing emotions like that, at least out loud, but he definitely knew how to overthink them.

He was pretty sure he knew he didn't mean love the same way Cody and Sam had for each other - he was pretty sure that wasn't even possible.

He just knew he loved his friend. Maybe Cody hadn't said so, but for the first time as he sat looking out at the dark sea, Jess at least felt like, as a friend, Cody had loved him too.

Huh. Guess that was what that strange light in his chest was all about.

The ship's bell of the buoy out in the harbor, over across from the cove under the Griffins' house, dinged in the distance, its echo of mystery and longing, the light on top flashing as it slowly rotated. Cody had told him about the dreams, where he'd be swimming out to that buoy, where he'd finally met his mom in the ocean that night.

"But it won't be forever - she promises to have you back before school starts."

That one sentence Mrs. Griffin had said, as if she'd talked to Cody's mermaid mom telepathically (a concept which Jess still hadn't scientifically adjusted to), lingered in his mind. Swelled up his scientific curiosity, getting to hear all about whatever Cody had seen. Started to ease the ache of missing him so badly, knowing he'd see him again.

"I'll be back before you know it."

Jess looked up again at the summer night's moon, the silver and white shimmering flecks and flashes on the crests of the waves, the quiet rush of the water lapping and breaking at the cliffs and sands off on the shore.

Back before school starts.

Jess had always looked forward to the start of the school year, a return to classes and learning, back in his element, even if it meant dealing with other members of his class. But now more than ever, the summer couldn't end quickly enough. He'd get to see Cody again. So just for the summer, he could wait.

END NOTES

So you can probably guess where Jess's emotions explored in this entry are eventually going to lead.

Here though, it's very specifically about platonic friendship - that kind of love is just as important, and can exist alongside other kinds of love without ruining each other. Friendship is all Jess is realizing here - for now.

[bubblegumdicc]

trying to find things that i thought i posted but apparently i didnt and it seems the majority of things i make havnt been posted and idk why so heres some sal and kala stuff, i dont remember if i talked about it or just posted the one pic, but kala(the baby) had a twin, as twins run in sals family, and bcuz of sharky instinct dna, they attempted to eat their twin. they had the teeth for it and it seemed like a normal labor/water breaking, and when they went to the hospital the ultrasound didnt really show what was happening, it just looked like the twins were u know, in a confined space. once blood started leaking out heavily with the amniotic fluid, they realized something must be wrong, and sped up the labor.  kala was premie and their body couldnt digest the meat since they were a hybrid, they threw up a lot and had to stay in the nicu for a while.  sal has a hard time��‘forgiving’ kala, even though they know that its not their fault from the start, hormones up their fear and they get freaked out by kala having black eyes(sal wasnt aware this was a trait from their moms side) and sure, they knew some shark species did the eating siblings thing, but they didnt think it would apply to them since they arent fully that species, and its practically unheard of since merpeople dont share info or contact land ppl in general.  sal is also a little on the superstitious side, so theyre battling in their head between logic and ‘my baby is a demon’. at some point friseal mentions the black eyes was something from iras side of the family, sal still struggles with making a connection to kala, but the first time they see kala smile, it makes them cry and repeat what theyve been repeating in their head for weeks’its not your fault’. it takes time but they start forming a real connection and let go of the paranoia and fear of ‘demon baby’.  and then theirs kala with their great grandma, and i couldnt resist making a joke out of it with her saying ‘i hear youre a good eater’ so lmao

[leafenclaw]

Hey @theteadetective =)

You reblogged a prompt post about sirens earlier and these were your tags:

#not sure who person a or b would be#siren!jamie would probably have disdain for humans#but she would probably be the more likely one to drown a person

I didn’t want to hijack the original post hence why I’m writing a new one, but if you don't mind angst, I can solve that problem re: which one is the siren. It’s actually pretty simple, you just need to forget about the college settings.

This prompt implies that the way to become a siren (actually if the sea is involved they would be merpeople so that’s what I’m going to call them from now on) is to be drowned by their loved one. So let’s build on that, yeah?

Sherlock and Jamie meet the same way.

After seven months, Jamie decides that using Moran’s MO is a bad idea since he’s currently in jail and the whole thing would be more hassle because the point is to eventually come back in his life, so instead she pretends to drown while they’re either taking a boat trip or going on a beach vacation somehow. (Your choice.) Her logic here is that she will be able to lead him through a series of breadcrumbs until he finds her again, and then pretend she has amnesia after having been rescued from the sea, hence solving the problem of not needing to become Irene again.

She expected Sherlock to immediately jump in and try to “save” her, but she didn’t expect him to remain in the water looking for her so long that he drowned himself. Since technically what happened is her fault, magic applies and Sherlock is given a choice: either move on and die, or be reborn a merman (which implies the opportunity/task to “get revenge” for the “betrayal” of their loved one). Sherlock, upon learning that Jamie is still alive, immediately takes the second choice. I’ll let you decide whether or not he also learns what happened, or if he still believes “Irene” to be innocent.

Since in this world merpeople are basically vengeful spirits, one of the powers he gains is to be able to track the person who was responsible for his death/transformation no matter where they are on the planet. Another is to be able to lure this person to them through magic music as long as they are close enough.

Jamie, following what happened, reacts as if everything is fine, no of course she isn’t affected by Sherlock’s death, why would she be? Except for one thing: from that moment on, she’s reluctant to go near the ocean (since she’s running away from her own grief).

So for a few years Sherlock spends most of his time tracking Jamie around the world (which really ends up being a fascinating opportunity because he certainly isn’t going to let a pesky little thing like being a merman stop him from learning everything he wants to learn), but never manages to reach her because he cannot leave the sea and she isn’t in range of his luring powers. Meanwhile Jamie conducts all her business from the mainland and sends her people if she ever needs to have stuff done near a large body of water.

Except, of course, at some point stuff gets messed up in one of those coastal cities and the business needs her direct intervention. She goes reluctantly, Sherlock of course notices immediately and follows, and the moment she steps into range of his powers he calls to her.

Now Jamie has a lot of willpower, so maybe it takes her a while to answer the call? Maybe just until she manages to fix the mess-up with her business. Or maybe she isn’t strong enough to resist at all. In any case, she eventually ends up on the beach, where Sherlock is waiting for her.

I’ll let you decide how the story goes from this point on. Feel free to build up on it if you’re inspired! (Or to ignore it if you don’t want this plot bunny jumping at you like it did me. xD)

[imapuffskein]

Harry Potter Question

I am rereading Order of the Phoenix and I just read the scene where they are all in the Hog's Head meeting about the DA for the first time. There's a part when they're all discussing the great and heroic things Harry's done when Cho says, "...all the tasks he had to get through in the Triwizard Tournament last year - getting past dragons and merpeople and acromantulas and things..."

We know of course that the whole school watched the first task with the dragons. The second task we can assume Cedric told her all about it (seeing as she was under an enchantment during it). But for the acromantulas? Who told her about those? Cedric and Harry fought one together but of course Cedric died so he didn't tell anyone anything about that task. Fleur was stunned right at the beginning of the maze, so it's perhaps unlikely she encountered one. And Krum was bewitched so the same logic applies there.

Therefore the only living person to tell about the acromantulas was Harry, and as is mentioned throughout OotP, Harry has talked to no one about "the night Cedric died" let alone what happened in the third task.

So how could Cho have known? In light of Cedric's death, I don't believe the Prophet would have done an interview with Harry as the winner where he could have talked about what he faced. Perhaps Cedric was warned ahead of time what was in the maze, and he told Cho acromantulas were a potential obstacle?

Maybe we could entertain the idea that instead of having hundreds of kids stare at a blank hedge for several hours during the task, there was a way for the spectators to see some of the action going on inside?

Or MAYBE I've read this series too many times and am noticing inconsequential things that don't matter like the fact that Harry mentions the horseless carriages at the end of GoF after seeing Cedric die but he can't see the thestrals yet until 2 months later. Lmk.

[host-of-chthon]

How does a merman reproduce?

Thank you for this question, because it gives me the splendid opportunity to elaborate on merman reproduction.

Ths short answer is: it depends on the species of ocean life form they are.

As you probably have already read in my previous headcanons, there is a merman species for every sea life creature, and they peacefully coexist within a society

Actually not THAT peaceful, seeing that merpeople can actually eat other merpeople if they are too weak, too defenseless or a tasty species

But back to the question

Most species lay eggs.

In warmer climates, the female lays the eggs and both parents protect them (so that they aren’t devoured by another merman or another sea creature) until they hatch; then the merbabies stay close to their parents until they are capable of living on their own.

In colder climates, the female lays the eggs and then adheres them onto her husband’s stomach, so they are warmed by his body heat and for protection. If there are many eggs, they carry them half and half.

Species of merpeople who are like sea mammals reproduce like sea mammals; hence the female gives birth to fully developed merbabies, which she breastfeeds, until they are old enough to learn how to catch pray by themselves. 

Usually that kind of merpeople are considered “higher class” in mer societies because their babies are much less vulnerable than helpless eggs which can be prayed upon more easily.

Finally, there are some species of perpeople who don’t even need to have sex to reproduce. At a specific time period, they all gather at a specific place, they release their sperm and eggs into the water and the eggs are thus fertilized and carried away with the tides. If they are lucky, some of those millions of fertilized eggs will survive predators and become adult merpeople.

Using the same logic, that is the lower class of merpeople. 

Now, when it comes to sex, the same principle applies: they reproduce like their fish species counterparts.

It is possible for two different species to have children together, granted that they have the same way of reproduction. There can be no offsprings if a egg laying merperson mates with a child bearing one, for example. If the two merpeople have the same way of reproduction, their babies won’t be a “mixed species”. Some will be of the one parent’s species and some of the other’s.

Speaking of sex and reproduction in mer societies, homosexuality is a huge taboo at best and a criminal act at worst. 

Things get even more complicated when it comes to intersex/hermaphrodite merpeople. Although some species might have both male and female reproductive systems, they are rare and mostly deep sea creatures since finding a mate is way more difficult and there is a greater need for reproduction if two deep sea merpeople cross paths. However, they are typically not acknowledged in mer societies due to their rarity and their disabilities when it comes to live closer to sea level, and since homosexuality is frowned upon, it can be exceedingly hard for them to have a healthy relationship and a family. 

Bonus: here is a drawing I made a while ago about my character (a deep sea intersex merman) and my friend’s @mermans-song character sleeping peacefully with their still unhatched babies:

[avoidcrowdraws]

Okay so I've seen a lot of sexy merpeople that are drawn roughly like this

Now I’m not saying you can’t do this, I am not the art police

But I do want to point out a little issue I have with this anatomy - specifically this part

So look carefully at where the anus is on fish, or a marine mammal like a dolphin. That's about where the butt cheeks would be

The problem is that the anus is on the underside or ‘front’ of creatures shaped like this, but the butt cheeks are on the 'back' of upright humans

What happens if you put butt cheeks on a sea creature’s back? Does your digestive tract move to the back so that it goes through/past your spine bones?

But okay what if we just ignore all that for a second and and apply this logic to a real animal

Oh no

OH NO

[ernmark]

Here's your half an excuse to talk about mermaid stories.

briwhosaysni replied to your post “Uhm what do you think about,, merman au? or just any kind of sea…”

*raises hand* I would like to hear about your opinions regarding mermaids. :)

Alright, folks, grab your life vests, because this is gonna be a doozie. 

I’ve spent a lot of time editing other people’s novels, both as a beta and as a paid editor. Enough that the combined experience was enough to get me a job copyediting at a newspaper. And for some goddamn reason, a disproportionate number of the books I was given to edit were about mermaids.

My problem isn’t with mermaids, per se– the aesthetic is lovely, especially considering the vast diversity of undersea creatures and the current trend of making mermaids that are more varied in the humanoid half of their appearance.

Don’t get me wrong, mermaid stories can be and have been done really well. But because the setting is so fundamentally different than what we experience, it takes obscene amounts of research and worldbuilding to actually pull it off. The people who put that level of intense labor into their craft should be vigorously applauded. 

Because if you don’t put in those obscene amounts of research in this particular scenario, it shows. And it shows because it tends to read like an episode of Spongebob Squarepants.

Basic laws of physics apply differently when you’re dealing with a medium that’s so much thicker than air.

Understand that humans only really think of the world in terms of forward/back/sideways, because we’re tied to the floor we stand on by gravity. That’s not the case for merpeople, and every single aspect of their lives and thought processes is going to reflect that.

I’ve seen mermaid characters afraid of ravines and such– not because the ravines are dark and there are big scary monsters down there, but because they’re scared of heights. 

You goddamned pea-brained fish, you can swim right over that thing in ten seconds flat you utter doofus.

Meanwhile things like underwater streams, fast-moving currents, and intense change in pressure that comes with changing depths? Those all get ignored. Because why take advantage of underutilized plot devices that come pre-packaged with your setting?

For some reason people like giving mermaids weapons and tools that would be completely non-functional underwater. Not from a technological standpoint, just because underwater physics is such that the weapon would be too fucking slow to do more than bruise.

Strength tends to be represented by giant-ass biceps and pecs, rather than, you know, tails. Sure, bear-hugging and crushing would be effective (it works wonders for octopi), but that’s never how the trope is applied. 

Strong mermen (because in these stories, mermaids are always delicate and petite) have a bad habit of picking up and throwing their enemies, despite the fact that they’re not standing on or pushing against anything that would give them the leverage to do that. 

Also people keep giving merfolk fighters armor. Like, heavy armor. Steel shit that you couldn’t swim in if you were Jason Momoa, even if it didn’t rust right off your body because you spend your whole life in fucking salt water. 

Sentient talking fishes are oddly friendly with merpeople, considering they’re often explicitly stated to be the merpeople’s primary source of food. Don’t hold your breath, because this’ll never be addressed in the text. 

Logic tells us that basic fashion should look completely different than it would on the surface, because it’s always going to be moving. The kind of jewelry merpeople could believably wear is completely different than what humans would wear. 

For example, big heavy pendants are more likely than not going to drag behind you as you swim and fucking strangle you. 

Because writers value literacy, merfolk inevitably are written to be super literate and are frequently seen writing. With ink. On paper. Underwater. 

In fact, little to no thought is ever given to what materials clothes/jewelry/tools/architecture is actually made out of, beyond pearls and coral. As if coral reefs didn’t take hundreds of years to form and were easily replenished. Guys, it’s not a sustainable resource for a single person to base their lifestyles on, let alone an entire civilization.

Yes, civilization. Because for some reason, the mermaid stories I keep getting bonked in the head with tend to populate their underwater cities about as densely as Chicago.

Despite this, very few merpeople seem to have jobs, aside from “leader” and “warrior”? Sometimes, when they’re being fancy, I’ll see a “scientist” or “witch”. 

In fact, there’s rarely any thought put into basic infrastructure or mechanics of these VAST CIVILIZATIONS whatsoever, beyond “my protagonist lives here”

Buildings seem to be consistently cut-and-pasted human dwellings thrown undersea with some aquatic details thrown in for flavor.

Bathrooms. I have actually– with my own eyes– read about mermaids living in houses with bathrooms. With the full implication that there are toilets. And showers. Underwater.

Doors that slam. Underwater.

AND GODDAMN FUCKING STAIRS

WHY THE FUCK WOULD MERMAIDS NEED STAIRS

WHO LOOKS AT MODERN LIFE AND SAYS “you know what I really think needs to be brought over to the undersea world? Stairs.”

THEY DON’T EVEN HAVE FUCKING FEET

Oh, speaking of feet? There’s an exchange I want you to see. It’s an abridged exchange, because it happened over the course of a whole lot of emails back and forth, but here’s the brunt of it:

Writer: So then the mermaid splits her fins apart into a pair of legs and starts running–Me: Wait, they can do that?Writer: Yes.Me: So this is like an Atlantean thing, I take it? They used to be land-dwelling, but had to move underwater for some reason?Writer: No, the surface is completely uninhabitable. Always was, always will be.Me: But they have fins that can also be legs.Writer: Yes.  Anyway, so she splits her fins into legs and starts running–Me: Underwater.Writer: Yes.Me: Because there’s no habitable land and the rest of the scene is underwater.Writer: Yes.Me: Why does she start running?Writer: Because it’s faster than swimming.Me: Do me a favor, honey. I want you to go to a swimming pool. You can stay in the shallow part if you want. And then I want you to run. As fast as you can. Tell me how that works out for you.

In case you missed it, most of these are problems that could be easily fixed if the writer took a few hours to A) consult their high school science teacher, B) talk to somebody like a scuba diver (or a professional mermaid, because those exist) who’s spent a substantial amount of time underwater, or C) go to a local swimming pool and just splash around for a while.

There are settings where you can get away without doing substantial amounts of research and worldbuilding, but for god’s sake, this isn’t one of them. 

[ao3feed-scumvillain]

if all you told was turned to gold

by ricken

Listen, Shen Yuan was a normal merperson like all of the others. So what if he never met any others with his specific characteristics, or if he had a strange ever-present curiosity about the world of humans? He was normal, totally normal, even if the sea doesn't feel like home, and his heart yearns for a past he doesn't remember.

Just who is Luo Binghe anyway?

Words: 7118, Chapters: 1/2, Language: English

Fandoms: 人渣反派自救系统 - 墨香铜臭 | The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Luò Bīnghé, Liǔ Qīnggē, Shàng Qīnghuá, Shěn Yuán | Shěn Qīngqiū

Relationships: Luò Bīnghé/Shěn Yuán | Shěn Qīngqiū, Shàng Qīnghuá & Shěn Yuán | Shěn Qīngqiū

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Merpeople, MerMay 2020, Little Mermaid Elements, Fluff and Humor, Comfort No Hurt, Happy Ending, cucumberplane as BFF for ever, Amnesia, super elementary mermaid logic, Merman Shěn Yuán, Self-Indulgence thy name is ME, Not Beta Read

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/24069487

[butterfly-winx]

Zenith

- Do you know about Zenith? No? I mean you own a computer so you must. I hear the whole planet is covered in one large city.

- Zenith lives up to its name, as it is regarded to be the home to the height technological development in the Magic Universe. It houses the more universities, research institutes and engineering testing fields on its tiny surface than Magics and Earth combined.

- Though it is true that the planetoid is covered with a seemingly uniform cityscape, there are patches of untended ground peeking through, mainly the polar seas.  Antitheva and Bitheva may only classify as large lakes elsewhere, but they are perfectly fit for a small planet of Zenith’s size. They even help populations of merfolk at some point in time.

- The overwhelming amount of construction covering the planet’s surface has long become its vice. With no reflective surfaces left and with machinery forced to operate day and night to fuel the latest technological advancements, the whole planet has become a singular heat trap. The seas were boiling and the air was unbreathably hot. What got research going however was the failing performance of their heavy duty machinery, screws sweating and bending out of shape, lasers blinking tired and unfocused. They devised a plan to cool down the surface of the planet by releasing agents to shield them from the thermal effects of solar rays, and achieved the impossible. Zenith’s climate has since then settled on a comfortable average of 250 K.

- The seas froze over and the merpeople disappeared - or maybe they did already during the boiling phase, out of their luck living off already dead fish. Urban development was given final approval and the last patches of earth disappeared from sight, buried under the striving for more.

- Despite its  aforementioned properties, Zenith is no monolith and it would be amiss to describe it as such. Zeniths countries and cultures are diverse, only connected by their burning need for advancement and their fight against the cold. They have a spectrum of governance forms in the different countries ranging from democracy, constitutional monarchy to representative republic and in some cases even direct democracy of people. 

- As cities cover all of the planet, it is difficult to determine where individual settlements in a country begin and end. Country borders are the only demarcations, each government shielding itself with force fields, trenches or physical walls from imagined spies and malevolence.

- Techna’s home of Haikar is in a country that still tries to honour the memory of the separate settlements that have melded together. So Haikar is not a separate town as much as it is just a borough with its own town governance, and is considered to be the capital of Transjordan.

- Other Zenith country names with capitals where applicable: Tribilisi (Kandu), Gorgan, Nuzul (Xihat), Tbaku, Navyol, Urzghar

- Most of these countries don’t get along with each other too well. As is understandable, seeing as they are very culturally diverse. Each wants to be the best though and their most bitterly fought battles are usually over patent rights and the tenure of well-respected scientists. As banal as these reasons seem, as brutal are their methods of mutual sabotage to keep the leading edge. 

- Transjordan unfortunately is quite small and has many neighbours, so their paranoia and battle readiness is markedly large even on planet. Growing up, Techna went through disaster and terror awareness training regularly, to the point where they could probably recite what to do in case you found a car bomb better than they could explain a simple recipe.

- Oh and are recipes important! As clean edged people think the inhabitants of Transjordan are, there is nothing minimalist about their food choices. They love combining spices and textures and always serve feasts with generosity rivalling Eraklyon’s. Deserts usually have some sort of fruits, nuts AND some preserve in them, the combinations endless.

- While it is true that for the most part, cultures on Zenith value a simple approach to things. If it can be done in a few words, why waste a sentence on it? Bureaucracy is usually a two-click-formula affair, their whole lives are condensed on a sigle digital display ID, shopping comes to you at home. Hell even marriages are just an affair of simple form signing. 

- But food is where they really go full ham. It is not seen as frivolous to waste 10 eggs on a cake, because what you are doing creating nutrition and enjoyment. It is simply reasonable and efficient to go to the max when you do that and create an absolute delicacy you can gorge yourself on in one slice or less.

- So if they are so into feasting and enjoying things with purpose, what gives Zenithians such a bad name? Well, it is just that. People of Transjordan for example, like to enjoy things with purpose. They don’t really care much for music or theatre, they are just activities to air your brain out. They will import off-world made products, but there isn’t a lot of room for cultural arts on Zenith because they channel their passion elsewhere.

- Yes you heard right, Zenithinas have passion galore. They just, in the Universe's most efficient move, channel that passion into the work they already do. The majority of scientific discoveries have been made because somebody cared enough to look deep into a topic and push further, because previous answers were unsatisfactory. Children are coached to find something that inspires this level of devotion in them and have extensive education and support networks to get them there.

- On the topic of children: most of them aren’t the genetic descendants of their parents, rather a random selection from the common gene pool. The public gene pool is a hotly debated topic, but a long established structure of procreation that only the very wealthy have the option to contest. (There is a way to gain approval to sire an own baby from just the genes of two people, but it is extremely costly.) 

  In some research some time ago it was determined that for the optimal survival of people on the planet, genetic relation to the parents raising the child was not only suboptimal, but actively detrimental to overall population survival. In this “more civilised” approach, parents apply for a baby who is conceived and birthed in bioreactors. This way no people who can conceive are put through undue stress and the public gene pool babies also carry less hereditary health conditions. It is supposedly a win-win situation, yet it leaves a sour taste in most people’s mouth. No wonder less and less Zenithians plan families if that is the process they have to do it by.

- As straightforward as they are, Zenithians often struggle when communicating with people from other planets and not only because of arising cultural differences. Sure any Zenithian would blush and pale when forced into a situation dealing with overly expressive Solarians, but in any other regular case, the Universal Translation Spell is not on their side either. Jordan is a very logical and to the point language and the floralitiy of other languages is impossible to be transferred to it. The UTS instead produces blocky, difficult to parse translations that often leave Techna confused to the intentions of others.

- It is of course evident that the main industry of the planet is electronics production and R&D. Companies on Zenith produce all manners of gadgets, but they are best in creating refrigeration technology (ironic, right?), astronomic instruments, self-propulsion transportation (vehicles) and medical diagnostic tools and applications. The associated application programming industry is also booming with server houses the size of smaller cities. It is no surprise that Zenith’s electricity consumption is through the roof with such a vital sector to support.

- Before their trade for electricity with Solaria, Zenithian people used static electricity discharges to harvest energy. Their planet being covered with one gigantic city didn’t leave much space for utilising the natural resources of their planet. All the mineral ore having been exhausted, no major flowing waters left and stranded with miserable and cold weather the options for energy sources were limited. What they had however was tall buildings and thunderstorms, so they used lightning harvesters for ages. 

- With the storm and snow clouds obscuring the sky most days, Zenith is quite dark. The cities illuminate themselves, kind of like year round festive ornamentation. 

- Spirituality is an interesting topic on planet that everyone you ask will have a different answer for. Major parts of Tribilisi and Urzghar for example believe in machine assisted immortality. They see machines as superior to biological matter and work towards the unfallability and omniscience of artificial intelligence in which part of their conscience will be able to rest after death. The predominant belief in Transjordan that Techna grew up with is that after death, there is nothing. Based on the theory of energy conservation, what one doesn’t use and convert into heat will be redistributed into the rest of the world. It is selfish to think one could hold on to any energy after death.

- Most people also don’t care for magic. Sure some magic users crop up among them here and there, but they most likely remain untrained. This is why Techna chose a school off planet to pursue their passion and why they weren’t claimed as a Guardian fairy of Zenith after they graduated. (Since this position doesn’t exist.)

- Almost all things on the planet are solved non-magically accordingly. Their transport systems are unparalleled with some regions using small-distance whole structure replication, aka honest to god matter teleportation. The frozen over seas are also fully utilised with air cushion containerships cruising the flat expanse. Along a certain longitude Zenith also sports a unique feature: the longitudinal crust train. A four meter wide segment of the planet, as if cut out of the surrounding cityscape, moves on straight rails around the whole circumference of the planet. It is the fastest mode of civilian transport available.

- They need all the good transportation and radio transmission they can get - by the way, the Universe Wide Web is also a Zenithian invention, who would have thought - as with their living space limited, Zenithian countries have spilled over onto nearby moons, essentially colonising and terraforming those.

- So, you see, Zenith and either of its countries aren’t by far as boring as one might think on the first glance and most of them certainly don’t shy back from showing emotion.

[ao3feed-acotar]

a thief stolen goods'

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3c9YYLG

by WickedBee

To become a mermaid, Nesta has to die. She was stolen and robbed of her humanity, and stole something back.

To get her legs, Nesta has to steal her limbs from under her skin.

Words: 2660, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Acotar mermaid AU

Fandoms: A Court of Thorns and Roses Series - Sarah J. Maas

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Gen

Characters: Nesta Archeron, Original Female Character(s), Elain Archeron

Relationships: Nesta Archeron & Original Character(s)

Additional Tags: MerMay, Alternate Universe - Merpeople, Acotar but they are merpeople, Self-Harm, Self-Hatred, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Self-Mutilation, Fairy Tale Elements, Fairy Tale Logic, References to Depression, Character Study, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Post-A Court of Frost and Starlight, Eventual Happy Ending, Implied/Referenced Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism

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[ao3feed-mythology]

Struct Set!

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by Darkrealmist

Promoting the latest version of the KC Duel Disk, Kaiba Seto and his brother Mokuba stumble upon a deceivingly ordinary yokel who holds an astounding hidden ability.

Words: 1008, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG Structures, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (Anime & Manga), Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters Saikyo Card Battle, Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, Yu-Gi-Oh! - All Media Types, Ancient Egyptian Religion, Magic: The Gathering, Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon | Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (Anime & Manga), Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon | Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Hindu Religions & Lore

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Gen

Characters: Shoma (Yu-Gi-Oh), Kaiba Seto, Kaiba Mokuba, Mutou Yuugi, Atem (Yu-Gi-Oh), Jounouchi Katsuya | Joey Wheeler, Kisara (Yu-Gi-Oh), Strong Jukyu, Pegasus J. Crawford | Maximillion Pegasus, Dartz (Yu-Gi-Oh), Zaizen Aoi, Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Sailor Iron Mouse

Additional Tags: Action, Action/Adventure, Adventure, Advice, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Egyptian Literature & Mythology, Ancient History, Anime, Anime/Manga Fusion, Anime/Video Game Fusion, Apologies, Asian Character(s), Awkwardness, Battle, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Birds, Bonding, Boredom, Brother Feels, Brotherhood, Brotherly Affection, Brotherly Love, Brothers, Brother-Sister Relationships, Business, Businessmen, Canon - Anime Dub, Canon Backstory, Canon Character of Color, Canon Crossover, Canonical Character Death, Canon - Manga, Canon - Video Game, Card Games, Celebrities, CEO, Character Death, Character(s) of Color, Charity Auctions, Chibi, Class Differences, Class Issues, Commentary, Compare and Contrast, Competition, Complete, Computer Programming, Confusion, Courage, Crossover, Cross-cultural, Cross-Posted on FanFiction.Net, Cultural References, Culture Shock, Cute, Cute Kids, Death, Denial, Destiny, Devotion, Dimension Travel, Double Entendre, Dragons, Duel Monsters, Duelling, During Canon, Emotional, Emotional Baggage, Emotions, Endearments, Enemies, Evil Corporations, Fame, Family, Family Bonding, Family Feels, Fanfiction, Fans, Fanservice, Fantasy, Fate, Fate & Destiny, Fear, Female Character of Color, Female Protagonist, Fights, Financial Issues, First In The Fandom, First Meetings, Flashbacks, Friendship, Fun, Fundraisers, Funny, Geniuses, Hair, Haunting, Height Differences, Hero Worship, Hinduism, Historical Fantasy, Holography, Humor, Identity, Identity Issues, Illusions, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Innocence, Insecurity, Intimidation, Intrigue, Inspired by Music, Insults, Interviews, Irony, Japanese Character(s), Joyful, Light-Hearted, Little Brothers, Logic, Machines, Magical Artifacts, Male Antagonist, Male Bonding, Male Character of Color, Master/Servant, Mathematics, Merpeople, Meta, Metaphors, Minor Canonical Character(s), Minor Character(s), Money, Monsters, Moving, Multiple Crossovers, My First Work in This Fandom, Nervousness, Oblivious, Obsessive Behavior, Occult, One Shot, Originally Posted Elsewhere, Originally Posted on FanFiction.Net, Origins, Out of Body Experiences, Parallel Universes, Past Character Death, Past Lives, Portals, Pride, Priests, Publicity, Puns & Word Play, Rare Characters, Rare Fandoms, References to Canon, Reincarnation, Reminiscing, Rivalry, Sailor Moon References, Sailor Moon Sailor Stars, Science, Science Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Secrets, Shock, Showing Off, Sibling Bonding, Sibling Love, Siblings, Sisters, Social Anxiety, Song Lyrics, Speeches, Spirits, Spiritual, Stars, Strangers, Strategy & Tactics, Summoning, Superpowers, Surprises, Tablets, Talking Animals, Teaching, Teambuilding, Technology, Theft, Tournaments, Training, Urban Fantasy, Video & Computer Games, Video Game Mechanics, Villains, Visions, Watching, Wealth, Wordcount: Over 1.000, Wordcount: 1.000-3.000, Wordcount: 1.000-5.000, Wordcount: Under 10.000, Worry

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[ao3feed-cherik]

Aberdeen

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by Lanae, Nalou

Erik ne s'attendait pas, en rentrant dans ce bar, à faire la rencontre la plus improbable qui soit.

Charles ne s'attendait pas, en rentrant dans ce bar, à faire la rencontre la plus instructive qui soit

Words: 9341, Chapters: 2/2, Language: Français

Fandoms: X-Men - All Media Types, X-Men (Movieverse), X-Men (Alternate Timeline Movies)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Erik Lehnsherr, Charles Xavier

Relationships: Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Still Have Powers, Alternate Universe - Merpeople, Porn With Plot, Charles Xavier has a Ph.D in Adorable, Top Charles, Bottom Erik Lehnsherr, Tentacle Sex, Erik Logic Is The Best Logic, Smitten Erik, Blow Jobs

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2M2Tit2