#but mermaid

[cebwrites]

Merm AU (family lines)

oc x canon/they them law word count: 1.2k

Kirin's grandparents were overprotective and "conservative" to a fault - not so much in the political sense, rather that they were just old and didn't take very well to change - so he ended butting heads with them often, but they did care for him a lot

The reason they held on so tightly was because the didn't want Kirin to end up like his mom; leaving for the city and becoming every parent's nightmare "wild child', having a baby during college she couldn't support so Kirin was left in the care of his grandparents, barely being around for her baby because she was so busy with coursework - Kirin's mother sent money back when she could but honestly, it was meagre and just about all she could afford, but every month there would be an envelope with 100$ in their mailbox anyway

Kirin's father tried to be in his life but his grandparents never liked him - on the account of being irresponsible and having a baby when neither were ready - Kirin spent his childhood back and forth between his grandparents' cabin and with his dad's family in the city, never really got along with either but at least with his maternal grandparents he had the woods and the lake and Law to look forward to; every summer he could just swim and forget about the toils of being in a dysfunctional family

His paternal grandmother raised Kirin's dad and uncles by herself, she was a strict, cold, woman that was very much the Asian tiger mom stereotype; his grandmother and father got into a huge blowout argument when Kirin was a baby over whether his father should have kept him or not, though she'd eventually come to care for him in her own distanced way - in the end she said told him that Kirin didn't need to bring her grandchildren, only to be happy when he visited her grave every few years

Kirin was all cried out by the time her funeral took place a couple years ago but he was the one handling most of the arrangements and organization and was bereft for weeks, everyone on his father's side of the family had issues with one another but they were able to set things aside for a month or two to spend time grieving together at least

He had a strained relationship with his parents before, but when his mom didn't show up that day, Kirin decided that whatever went on in her life was no longer his business - though Kirin still keeps in vague touch with his dad (calls once a few times a year) and has a younger brother he has little interest in because they never got along (this may change but ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ)

As far as he knew, they were still receiving cheques from his maternal grandparents up until their deaths just like Kirin did - seeing them at this funeral and not his "mama's 妈妈" made his blood run that much hotter, and spurred the argument he had with his mom in the parking lot while his dad tried unsuccessfully to calm things down

Both sides of his family were very religious, from his maternal grandparents' Irish Catholicism to his paternal uncle's Evangelicalism, and his late grandmother still clinging onto Buddhist beliefs from her childhood - Kirin grew up surrounded by it, and though his belief shriveled up and died around age 14 where most edgelords thrived, he still keeps a talisman somewhere in his house and keeps the beaded bracelet his grandmother gave him like a family heirloom, mainly because it's too old and frayed to wear anymore and with his grandmother gone, Kirin has no one to fix it

Rarely, very very rarely, Kirin will put on the silver cross from his maternal grandmother to complete an outfit if his usual punk accessories don't fit his vibe

Law was separated from their family very young during a storm, young enough not to remember what their parents looked like or what their sister's name was, but old enough to be haunted by the memories of blurry faces calling out their name and the vague idea of a young mermaid dragging her "big brother" by the arm for playtime

Law was found by Corazon, a fisherman in the area who sympathized with merfolk and kept them secret for safety, and was nursed back to health by him - Rosi would often lament about how they were such a young guppy but already have scars (physically and emotionally)

They spent their time visiting Corazon and playing in the areas where his boat would drop anchor, often helping him coral fish into his net too, for a few years; or at the very least until Rosinante's brother caught wind of these interactions and trouble began to brew - Law would eventually get sent away when Rosinante and Doflamingo had a huge argument over them, Doffy wanting to sell this kid off to the highest bidder and make millions while Cora knew how inhumane it was and wanted to leave the merfolk well enough alone

Law swam as fast away as they could when things got ugly and guns were pulled out, unable to meet with Cora's partner he promised would take care of them and even well into their teens didn't know whether their father figure-- no, their dad, was still alive or not; they'd get their confirmation and subsequent reunion with him when Rena tumbled into their life on the cusp Law's early 20s just a couple years after Kirin left town and, before Law even realized it, Rena had squarely took the role of their baby sister

They consider Penguin, Shachi, Bepo, Cora, and his family as part of their own now—though the latter Law only sees sparingly—so even though it still hurts at times, Law doesn't let old visions from the past bother them all that much anymore, especially with Kirin back in their life, his friends supporting their joined ventures as a couple, and someone new on the way that they can't wait to meet

That said, Law still retains a few key things from their early childhood, like making medicine and salves from the plants and animals around them; their parents weren't exactly brain surgeons or doctors like the people they were on Flevance, but Law remembers how their mom and dad cared for their community and through all adversity, took that to heart

Though they live vastly separate lives and maybe don't even swim in the same waters anymore, the comforts of a lake connected to a river up the mountain and tunnels below opposed to the vast openness of the sea, Lami still holds out hope that she'll get to see her brother's smile again at least once despite her parents' pragmatism since - all things considered, it has been 24 years

And for what it's worth, Kirin has people not related by blood he considers closer than his relatives as well, an older man with a toothpick always in his mouth who ran the bar Kirin constantly frequented in his 20s in particular, along with his gruff partner (who, by the way, also absolutely flipped over video call when Kirin told them about the "news" ie a grandbaby on the way)

[karlovycross]

My flesh, my home 🦪 🫧

[emberwritesinsight]

The discussion around Ariel TheLittleMermaid baffles me bc if my dad literally destroyed a bunch of stuff I collected in front of me in a terrifyingly violent display of anger and I had a witch offer me an out if I could score the boy I thought was hot, my name would be on that dotted line before you can say "poor unfortunate soul". What do you mean she's stupid, her dad ravaged her Special Interest Cave like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum, I would also run the fuck away

[vimbry-moved]

some of my favourite spongebob moments are when they accentuate the gag w/ a live-action punchline

[desolatus]

Victor Nizovtsev

[astrolavas]

a bit late for mermay but. obligatory mermaid au

[demitree]

A dream I had... he didn't know the counterplay

[vanalex]

[bacchuschucklefuck]

couldnt draw my thang for mid-autumn so treated myself to a calne redesign instead

[yuumei-art]

Terrarium tail mermaid~

[kororobus]

"Whale" I didn't have enough time for her, but the light here is nice~

[lazycranberrydoodles]

you’ll never guess who i got into (redraw of screenshot from the casual mv) (psst my comms are open)

[mimimar]

a glimpse of the sea fairy

(prints)

[389]

'Capricorn’ rogue taxidermy by Sabrina Brewer, 2004

[andatsea]

The gallery.

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