#mer!circus

[themeeplord]

Oh...My god...For the longest time I was wondering "How would Meep draw the other animatronics as creatures/demons/mermaids" BUT NOW I DON'T NEED TO! Circus Baby looks fantastically horrifying, great job I adore the nightmare mouth, I wonder how Eclipse would react to that? Also how fast can Baby go from flat-faced to TEEFS?

aaaAAA- ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Thank you!!! I'm glad you like her design so much!! :'3

I think mer Eclipse would react like anyone else would: question reality and want to get tf out of there fpfkfjjdjfhf

And to answer your question of how fast she can go from baby face to monster jaws: the answer is REALLY FAST

Mer Circus Baby is from @naffeclipse's fic Song Fish Amid the Stars

[angeart]

AU Masterpost [tags]

I think it's time. So I can keep track, and you guys know what's out there and how to search for it <3 I'll try to order AUs based on how much there is to them. Some AUs will only have a single thought/art underneath their tag, but there might be more added to them in the future, and if you're curious about anything, you can always ask. (I'm very easily convinced to drop rambles, as has been proven in the past—)

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Help Me To Breathe [hmtb]

my main multi-chapter story, set in s8 boatem. deaths abruptly hurt on hermitcraft, and each respawn makes it worse. scar dies a lot by grian's hands, before grian even learns (the hard way) that things hurt now. welcome to a scarian angst hellhole where 3rd life flashbacks hit like bricks and guilt is mercilessly spilled everywhere <3

this fic is the epitome of it gets worse before it gets better. trust me.

cws: violence, ptsd, anxiety attacks, delusions, unhealthy coping mechanisms, suicidal ideation, suicide, temporary character death... please check tags on AO3 which i try very hard to keep updated

tags: #hmtb - an all-encompassing tag for fic updates, rambles, and art. (sometimes #hmtb art is also used in tandem, where relevant.)

fic: Help Me To Breathe on AO3

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Hunted hybrids [hhau]

hermitcraft s8 got code-attacked and all the hermits got scattered into different worlds, lost and stuck in unfamiliar places, not knowing if their home still exists. the au follows scar and grian who ended up in the same world (although originally unaware)—a world dangerous and hostile to hybrids. grian is an avian, scar is a vex, and they're hunted relentlessly. also, it's permadeath <3

this au is self-indulgently used in RP and co-owned by linkito

cws: violence, blood, dehumanisation of hybrids, self harm (feather plucking), mentions of suicidal ideation... [updated cws in the hhau masterpost]

tags: #hhau

this one got out of hand so >> hhau masterpost <<

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Boatem circus

scar, a sea-lion hybrid, builds a circus as a safe haven for all the hybrids and misfits that have nowhere to belong and need a place to heal. they all carry their own traumas and wounds, and scar gives them what they never had: gentleness and options and freedom to roam or leave. but it's not easy, navigating a growing community of varying triggers and buried pasts.

au put together with stiffyck

cws: ptsd, panic attacks, fear of fire, loss and grief, mentions of captivity/torture/abuse

tags: #boatem circus au

fics: don't be afraid, little bird (there are no cages around you now); elegy

[AO3 series link]

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Sleep demon Grian

grian is a sleep demon, existing in the dreamscape, able to manipulate dreams and thriving on giving people nightmares. he meets scar in a dream, immediately intrigued and amused by his reactions, and he keeps coming back to him. scar, despite all the nightmares being thrown at him, catches a glimpse of his perpetrator, and grows curious in turn. they start talking, everything eventually culminating into a ritual and a summonning circle. grian, in the waking world, needs to learn how to exist somewhere where he can get actually hurt, and come to terms with the fact that he has locked away memories and trauma.

cws: injuries, fear, panic, nightmares(?), trauma, violence, memory repression

tags: #sleep demon grian au

au rambles: here

fics: the nightmare snippet; even if it hurts (and even if it isn't a dream) you can have a home here

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Cursed forest

found family boatem, where each of them carry their own heavy past and an attached curse. they thought they'd never find a place to settle that'd accept them and let them heal. but they found each other, deep in a hidden away forest, littered by bones and flowers, death and hope. (honestly, just see the au rambles.)

au put together with stiffyck

cws: animal death, necromancy, grief and guilt, body horror

tags: #cursed forest au

rambles: here

fics: even with death haunting your footsteps, your flowers will bloom again

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Ari au

grian (he/she) is ariana giande (ari), a famous singer beloved by the crowds. except things start getting a bit too out of hand. there are stalkers and people who think they have the right to ari's personal life, the right to see and dictate everything. the press gets out of hand. maybe the crowds get too rowdy. maybe—

more scared and overwhelmed by the second, grian gets a bodyguard. that bodyguard is scar. things continue to escalate though, and by the time ari calls a break in her career, everything's irreparably breaking down around her.

(If it wasn't clear yet, this is one very dark, very heavy, very human story. There's love and so, so, so much despair. Things go wrong and then worse.)

au with Ben

cws: papparazzi hounding, stalkers, lack of privacy, blurring of self, drugging and [attempted] SA, physical assaults, self harm, overdose, medical trauma, restraints, seizures, ptsd, depression, suicidal stuff (including several attempts)

tags: #ari au

au rambles: [part I] - [part II] - [part III] - [part IV] - [part V] - [TBC]

au art:

downfall in three stages - here lake scene art - here

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Assassin au [work title]

grian is an assassin, scar is elven nobility. one day, grian is sent to kill scar, but upon meeting, they find out that they know each other. i promise i'll add a better description at some point.

cws: blood and violence, mind control, being generally oblivious about life, survival scenario, murder, possible animal death

tags: #assassin au (subject to change)

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Misguided Heroes

scar is secretly hotguy, a hero meant to protect the people. grian is a shopkeeper at barge, but with self-proclaimed king ren wreaking havoc on economy and making life of ordinary citizens so much harder, he decides to secretly play vigilante, cuteguy, and stage a one-man rebellion.

also, scar and grian are roommates.

au for rp with sima <3

cws: injuries, illusions messing with perception/reality, [to be determined]

tags: #misguided heroes au

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Ghost Scar

grian is a paranormal investigator. scar is a ghost. they meet, they talk, and grian resolves to do his best to make scar feel less lonely.

cws: dead character??? he's a ghost dw he's fine-

tags: #ghost scar au

fics: you exist in silence (i'll help you make a sound)

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Silly vampire Scar

scar is a vampire living in a mansion too big and too lonely for him. grian and mumbo are survivors in a world riddled with monsters, which they learn to hunt and kill. one night, they seek shelter in what seems to be an abandoned mansion—

cws: general vampire stuff, [to be determined]

tags: #vampire scar au

fics: [one day]

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Cuteguy au

things do be angsty in this one. scar is hotguy, grian is his sidekick cutecuy. one day, things go wrong and a building explodes with scar still inside. the body is never found. hotguy is presumed dead. that is, until cuteguy comes face to face with a new villain that is oddly familiar—

idea loosely bounced off of stiffy's TOGH au

cws: blood, violence, delusions, brainwashing, grief, loss of identity, presumed major character's death (twice. wild. huh.)

tags: #cuteguy au

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Papers please au

what it says on the tin. scar lives with his cat jellie in a cold, small, state-provided apartment and gets assigned a job as an immigration officer at a border checkpoint. he... isn't great at the job, but doesn't have a choice, and needs the money to keep them fed and healthy. grian is the head of resistance, because of course he is <3

cws: dystopian world, cold, hunger, sickness, potential pet death, injuries

tags: #papers please au

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Spirit au

grian is an avian living freely in a patch of forest. that is, until he gets caught by people who think hybrids are on-par with working animals, and is shackled and hurt and trained, to serve. there is a looming war, and flight-capable carriers are very valued (but not much cared for). scar is a vex hybrid, coming from a settlement that's kinder to hybrids, who also gets captured. they meet in captivity, and things happen.

cws: hybrid slavery, hybrid dehumanisation, loss of freedom, abuse, warzone stuff

tags: #spirit au

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DL rp au

grian and scar in double life, soulbound and with vague memories of previous life games. their soul connection transfers not only all the pain and injuries, but also emotions. and they both feel. a little too much. (they're a mess, but also in love, as they should be)

au for rp with sima <3

cws: they very sad; self destructive tendencies (sorry there's no self in this one, they are linked and there's always collateral-)

tags: #dl rp

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Half sea town au

a town half-submerged into the sea. the upper half is reserved for humans, who are seen as better, richer, the posh and the nobility. the lower half, the submerged part, is slum-like, reserved for seafolk, seen as lesser. many seafolk learn to live on land, to improve their standing (not necessarily living situation; they do need water). mumbo lives amongst the nobility. scar lived his whole life in the sea. grian, even though he belongs to the seafolk, lives on land. mumbo's best friend, forever trying to be something he isn't.

a crackers collective au

cws: er.. class divide?, self worth issues, needs denial in a way?

tags: #half sea town au

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The underwater au that somehow fails to have a name the first thing i ever posted on tumblr woo.

an underwater au set somewhere in the wide, deep sea. merfolks. mumbo is a prince, grian, jimmy, and joel are his guards. scar is a deep-sea fish, and tales say those are scary and horrendous and dangerous. (he's just a silly guy, pls)

stiffy/crackers collective au

cws: injuries, idk

tags: #mer au

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smaller aus/ideas:

last life scar: #post-ll scar's issues with touch

fixing double life scarian: #fixing dl au

puppeteer scar: #puppeteer scar au

cannibal scar/forest (the game) au: #forest au

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others' aus that i have yoinked and might have content for:

#grumbo apocalypse monster au - ben's au that i slinkered my way into <3 - ben's au masterpost here - grian is very much a (horror) creature :3

#space grian au - also belongs to ben. also burrowed my way in to this one. hehe. (ben none of your aus are now safe from me.)

#snifflins au - crackers group au, based on that one time jimmy and scar were piglinmynose, and joel and grian were sniffermyfeet - twisted into snifflers and piglin hybrids (snifflins!) in the aftermath, trying to get used to their new bodies and instincts and needs.

#desert alien scar au - belongs to stiffy

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+ a whole bunch of aus (some collective ones) that i haven't talked about on tumblr yet <3

(for example, the zombie whisperer scar/dancing zombies au - postapo, (mum)scarian, with one redscape-focused fic (written for stiffy): the blooms in a dead world)

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(if i missed any cws for any of the aus, please let me know!)

reinstating that if you're curious about anything, i don't bite! come ask!

[my AO3]

[evermorethecrow]

I MADE IT

i know this is hardly any of them but i only have these guys drawn so cope <3

[samathekittycat]

SAMA!! HAPPY 7777TH DAY OF LIFE :D !!

CACKLES MERRILY!! MERCI, MERCI!! :DD

[tinydefector]

5am, and I'm out here tempted to make a Merformers series similar to Human Effects. Where it's a rescue and rehabilitation centre for Mers and other sea creatures. And there's a massive issue between the two factions of mer. MC works there due to their grandmother running the site or something, so they tend to making just feed the mers, watch them, and take notes.

- Megatron is a frequently brought in for treatments due to getting tangled in lines and fights with sharks. He's one of the most hostile of all the Mers.

- Jazz is one of the rather social mers who keeps breaking into the lagoons and enjoys toying with the staff. He's also one of the only Mers who is able to communicate somewhat decently with humans.

- Sideswipe is also another somewhat social one despite his twins distaste for humans. He enjoys watching and learning from Jazz. He's eager to follow the staff around to see what they are doing and loves swimming with the turtles. (He's in For Scale rot and a clipped fin.)

- Starscream is the worse to try and do any work with after Megatron to the point he needs to be sedated to do any sort of blood test because he will attack and drag people into the water if he can get his claws on them, and his 'wings' make it so he's able to jump and clear walls if he so chooses. ( he's a rescue from a private owner collection who couldn't look after him anymore)

Some Mers are ocean mers in for injuries, some have been taken in from aquariums, circus', Black market dealers and all sorts.

I've got alot more ideas to it, along with he fact I want to try and incorporate some of my country into it as well because I think it would be a cool idea. But thinking of Merformers rehabilitation facility where the mers eventually start using routes to pass by it in their migrations, or staying near the facility during Breeding season because they start to realise its safe. So many ideas I need to flesh out but it's another Fic series idea I'm excited about writing.

[vodika-vibes]

Can I request the MerSoul AU romance for Echo? Someone needs to get him out of that aquarium ASAP

When The Sun Loves The Moon

Summary: Almost a year ago, a group of local fishermen brought a Merman to the aquarium where you work. You specialize in working with manatees, but the tank where you work is next to the tank where the merman is, and you can’t help but notice that he’s not doing well. And it doesn’t sit right with you.

Pairing: TBB Echo x F!Reader

Word Count: 2390

Prompt: MerSoul AU

Warnings: None

Tagging: @trixie2023 @n0vqni @imabeautifulbutterfly @kimiheartblade @mire-draws-things

A/N: So, here it is. Mer Echo in the aquarium. I hope you like it! And sorry that it took so long!

You yawn widely as you sit on the ledge of the tank your manatee calls home, and you stretch your arms over your head. It’s been a long day. Someone brought in a severely injured manatee, and though the veterinarians weren’t able to save her, they were able to save her pup.

Which means you spent a large majority of the day cradling a baby manatee.

Not a bad way to spend the day, but it is exhausting.

You yawn again. You really should go home. It’s so late that it’s already rolled back around to being early.

Although, driving in this condition is a bad idea. You suppose you can just use the employee showers and crash on the couch in the break room. It wouldn’t be the first time.

You pull your legs from the water and get to your feet, and you don’t think twice as you unzip your wetsuit and pull it down to your waist.

Wonderful inventions, wetsuits. Keep the cold out. But they’re absolutely miserable to wear when you’re not in the water.

You climb down the stairs next to the tank and stretch your arms in front of you one more time, trying to work out the kinks in your shoulders, as you walk around the tank closest to the manatee tank. 

You peer into the tank, easily finding the merman sprawled on his “bed”, though you’re sure it’s not at all what he’s used to. He looks…bad. When he first arrived, his tail was vibrant blue and white, but the colors have since faded away to a sickly-looking grey. 

Even his skin tone has changed. The rich color of his skin paling more and more until he’s almost grey. 

You’re worried about him.

The locals who brought him to the aquarium thought that they were dropping off a marvel as if this place was a circus rather than a rehabilitation center for injured sea creatures.

In truth, it was a good thing they brought him here. The circumstances that led to his capture left him with a missing arm and a severely injured tail. If you remember correctly, those first few months he wasn’t even able to swim. The doctors had been forced to put him in a shallow pool to keep him from drying out while they tried to figure out a prosthetic that wouldn’t rust in salt water, and also would allow him to move the way that he was used to.

And, for a time, he was recovering!

He was able to swim well and he was looking healthier and healthier with every passing day.

And then, one day, a couple of months ago…he just stopped. He barely swims, he barely eats, he just lays there.

The doctors removed him to a recovery tank in the back, in the hopes that he’ll go back to his recovery if he has some privacy, but it’s not working.

In fact, he looks even worse.

You bite your lower lip anxiously for a moment, and then you pull your wetsuit back on and you grab the rest of your gear, including the special headgear that will allow you to speak to him.

You hurry up the stairs to the top of the tank and spend a couple of minutes making sure everything is in working order, and then you slide into the water.

It takes a moment for you to get your bearings, but as soon as you do, you swim to the bottom of the tank to where the merman is lying. He’s not asleep. He doesn’t sleep anymore. 

His dark eyes lock onto you as you swim over to him, but he doesn’t move as you carefully check the connection points of his arm and his tail.

“Red and inflamed,” You murmur, more to yourself than him, your touch gentle as you lightly turn his arm to get a better look at the connection site. “Possibly an infection.”

You release him and move to his tail to check the connection there as well, “An infection doesn’t make sense, you were on a huge amount of antibiotics…an allergic reaction to the metal?”

“I’m not sick,” He says, his voice hoarse.

“You’re not eating, you’re not sleeping, you’re not swimming,” You list, holding up a finger for everything you say, “And your skin is red and inflamed—”

He shakes his head, “I’m not sick.”

You sigh, “Alright, then what’s the problem?”

His gaze is dull and he turns away from you, “Nothing.”

You swim so that he’s facing you, “Look, I’m not going to just sit here and let you die. Let me help you.”

“So you can put me back in the tank to put on a show for the unwashed masses.”

You pause, “That had nothing to do with me.”

“I see you in the other tank.”

“All of my manatees are too old, too young, or too injured to be returned to the wild. Well, except for Wilbur. He’s here because he’s a criminal.” You counter hotly.

“...how is a manatee a criminal.”

“He has a soft spot for endangered plants, but that’s not the point! My point is that I got this job to help, so let me help.” You lightly touch his shoulder, “Please.”

He’s quiet for a long moment, “What do you know about merpeople?”

“Uh…I must have skipped that lecture.”

His smile is more of a grimace, “Merpeople have soul mates and the day I got sick my bond with my soul mate severed.” He pauses, “And by that, I mean my soul mate broke the bond.”

You’re quiet for a moment, “That’s…” You trail off, and then you steel yourself and you fling your arms around him, “That’s so sad! Is that why you’re sick? Because you’re depressed?”

“I think I’m handling it quite well.” He says as he, hesitantly, wraps his arms around you, “I haven’t gone insane.”

“You just need a new soulmate, that’s all.”

“That’s not how it works. One soulmate per merperson.”

You sigh and pull away, “Look, my mom swears up and down that my dad was her soulmate. But, after Dad died, Mom eventually was willing to put herself out there to find someone else. And I’ll be the first person to admit that my stepdad is probably better for her than my dad ever was.”

“It’s not how it works with merpeople.” His arms are still around you, and you wonder if it’s offering him some comfort, “It used to be, in the past, but here and now, it isn’t.”

“Well, that just means we have to brainstorm.” You pause when your watch beeps, warning you that you are running out of time, “Listen, I’ll be back tomorrow after work. Will you eat? Please? For me?”

He sighs, “I can try.”

You beam at him and carefully extract yourself from his grip and start swimming up, “Oh! What’s your name?”

“...Echo. My name is Echo.”

“Echo.” Your smile brightens, and he averts his gaze, “I’ll see you later today, Echo. I promise.”

“...yeah, alright.”

It’s been four months since you and Echo developed a friendship. Well, you’d call it a friendship, you’re not sure if Echo agrees that it’s a friendship or not. 

But he looks healthier now than he did when you first introduced yourself to him.

He’s still too pale, and his tail is still too grey, but he’s swimming and eating and sleeping. It’s a small victory, maybe, but a victory all the same.

This evening, you’re sitting with your feet in his tank, it was another long day, you lost one of your manatees to old age, and somehow it always feels like losing a member of your family.

So you’re not even wearing your swimsuit, you’re wearing shorts and a tank top. Even lost in your sorrow, you still favor Echo with a small smile when he surfaces to talk to you.

“You look good today,” You note as you scan his face, “You have some more color in your face.”

He shrugs, “I asked for a specific type of meal the other day and they’re listening to me for a change.” Echo scans your face, “You don’t look so hot, are you okay?”

“We lost one of the manatees today, he was nearly 50 years old.” You shrug, “It kind of feels like I lost a member of my family.”

“I’m sorry.”

You shake your head, “It happens. Circle of life, right? I’ll be better tomorrow.”

Echo moves and props himself up on your legs, “I heard a rumor,” He starts, “That you’ve been pushing for them to release me.”

“Well…yeah. I have.” You smile at him, “I’ll miss you, but you don’t belong here.”

“Are they actually going to let me go?” Echo asks, doubtfully.

“They are. Tomorrow night.” You smile at him brightly, “And I’ll be there too when they release you, just to make sure it happens.”

Echo stares at you, “I’ll miss you.”

“Well, you won’t miss me that much. You’ll have your family, your friends. You’ll forget all about little ole me.”

“I doubt that.”

“I’m sure you will. I’ll just be a footnote in your story. The human who made you take care of yourself.” You grin at him, “And I’m okay with that.”

Echo blinks at you, and then he surges up and catches your lips with his own.

His lips are cold and a little salty, but his kiss is deep and more passionate than you feel like you deserve. But you can’t seem to keep yourself from leaning into his kiss and cupping his cheek with your hand.

Echo breaks the kiss and presses his forehead against yours, a smile on his handsome face, “What happened to ‘destined to be alone’?” You ask, slightly breathlessly.

“I decided that it sounded boring.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.” Echo’s nose bumps against yours, “Besides, you’re like the sun, how could I not want you with me?”

You scrunch your nose, “Like the sun?”

“Warm, bright,” He leans in so his lips are ghosting against yours, “Being in your presence makes me burn brighter.”

“So…that would make you the moon then?” You joke.

“Well, it does explain why I want to be in your orbit.” He kisses you, soft and sweet, “Will you visit me? After I’m released?”

“As often as I can. You know how much I work.” You brush your thumb across his cheekbone with a fond smile, “You’ll probably get tired of me.”

“Never.” He pulls you in for another kiss, and you melt into him. Well, this just isn’t fair. Now you’re really going to miss him.

The following night, you’re sitting on the dock of the ship peering into the ocean, while Echo sits next to you in a shallow pool that’s usually used for baby manatees.

“Are you comfortable?” You ask, tearing your attention away from the white-capped waves to look at Echo.

He makes a face, “As comfortable as I can be.” He flicks the water, “This pool is humiliating.”

“Be grateful that I didn’t put any of the pool toys in there with you.” Echo huffs and flicks water at you, making you laugh. “Will your brothers be meeting you?”

Echo shakes his head, “I’ll make it home on my own. And then I’ll spend some time with Kix getting fitted for prosthetics that work in the deep sea.”

You frown slightly, “Ours aren’t any good then?”

He reaches out and smoothes the lines off your brow with his thumb, “They work just fine, but something a little more is needed at the depths I live at. Don’t fret, sunshine. It doesn’t suit you.”

“I’m just worried about you, that’s all.”

He grins at you and then settles back in the pool, “I’m a grown man, there’s no need to worry.”

You stick your tongue out at him and then lean over the edge of the boat to watch the water some more. You’re vaguely aware that Echo is humming behind you.

It’s a nice tune, soft and soothing, like water running over river stones. 

You lean back to look at him, “I’ve never heard that tune before,” You say, “Is it from your home.”

Echo blinks at you, startled, “You can hear it?”

“Well, yeah. Humming makes noise, Echo.” You tease.

He stares at you for a moment, and then a small smile lifts his lips. The smile is different from the usual way that he smiles at you, there’s something quietly adoring in the way he’s looking at you, and it makes you shift uncomfortably.

“What?”

“The only person who would hear that song is my soulmate.” His smile grows, “You.”

You stare at him, “I’m your—?”

“Yes.”

“Huh.” You absently trail your fingers in the shallow water of the pool he’s sitting in, and then you smile, “Well then, I guess I’ll definitely be visiting you, won’t I?”

He laughs softly, “And I suppose now it’s not horribly inappropriate for me to say that I love you.”

Your face heats and you splash him with some water, “No, I guess it isn’t.” You don’t look at him, “I don’t know if I love you, but I do know that I like you and I'd like to see how this goes.”

“Good enough for me!” He says as he takes your hand in his prosthetic and brings it to his lips to ghost a kiss across your knuckles, “I have so much to teach you.”

“You have to heal first, teach me later.” The boat slows to a stop, and you lightly tap his cheek with your fingers, before you stand, “Ready to go home, Echo.”

His gaze locks with yours, “More than ready.”

You move over to the panel that controls the pool, and you press a series of button, opening the bottom of the boat, “I’ll see you later, Echo.”

“The beach in two weeks. I’ll see you then.” And then Echo is gone. You don’t close the bottom of the boat until you can no longer see him beneath the water, and then, with a sigh, you seal the boat back up and wave up to the man at the wheel.

“Take us home!” You call.

“Aye aye, ma’am!”

You already miss Echo…but you’ll see him again soon. You know it.

[geraskierfanficprompts]

Prompt 42

Call Jaskier a fool, but he's fallen in love with a witcher. As a merman. But despite what all his peers tell him, he wholeheartedly believes the witcher would never hurt a merman, let alone one as harmless as Jaskier! They'll make great friends! And even better lovers! Hopefully! So when Jaskier learns the witcher is camping not far from a river, Jaskier literally jumps at the chance to get close to finally meet the man he's admired from afar for so long. Only problem is that the river is muddy in some parts, and in other parts thinner and more shallow than he thought, and though he loathes to admit it, he does get stuck. He's beached. He hasn't even met his witcher and he's BEACHED! BEACHED! AND HE'S NOT EVEN ON A BEACH! He's tied between being horrified he's dying alone, and being thankful nobody is seeing the embarrassing way he's leaving this world. He's not getting nearly enough water into his gills, and the sun is merciless. It's been nearly two days since he first got stuck. His eyesight is blurring and all he can hear is his own breathing. But then he's suddenly hefted up into arms and being carried away, and he can't even worry about who has found him, because he's finally drifted off into a (sadly very dry) slumber. He wakes up to find himself in a small pond, just barely big enough for him to swim a lap, and that was pretty much it. Clearly for healing and not long-term stay. But it was big enough to live. The gills on his sides near his ribs are fully submerged in the water, and he belatedly notices that water is being repeatedly poured on the gills on his neck. He turns to look at what is dripping on him, and finds it to be a waterskin. His witcher found him! His witcher found him, and is filling up his waterskin with the pond's water and pouring it on Jaskier's fills repeatedly. He's caring for him! Oh, how Jaskier's heart is singing! Jaskier tries to talk to him only to cough and let out a weak chirp noise. The witcher shushes him and warns Jaskier that he was in a very bad way and that it'd be best for him to rest for now. Jaskier decides not to take his advice, and instead stays up to stare at his witcher and chirp at him. One time when Geralt pours the water over the mer's gills, he reaches his head up to bump at Geralt's hand until Geralt allows the Mer to limply nuzzle his wrist. It's a tad annoying that this mer Geralt saved is so relentlessly determined to shower him with affection, but after a few days of the attention, Geralt submits to the routine. It only gets more intimate when the Mer regains speech and now keep asking Geralt things about himself and showering him with compliments. Geralt learns about the merman, and grows attached, he admits, but he can't keep care of a mer. He has to continue on The Path and the Mer cannot follow. So one day, he picks up Jaskier, brings him back to the ocean, and sets him free. Four times. It takes four times before Jaskier stops trying to beach himself to follow. Geralt is miserable without his little merman companion, but he knows it's for the best. That is, until a few months lather, when he hears word of a merman being captured nearby and he knows deep down it's his merman. I don't know if Jaskier is captured by poachers intent on killing or harming him or if he's been captured by some sort of circus/freakshow but I DO know that Jaskier got captured because he started recklessly talking to any and all humans asking for anyone who knows how to turn him human (so he can be with his witcher)

[robinette-green]

Robin's Mer DCA Romance Fics

These are fics I’ve started that involve Mermaids and aquatic life!

Unbreakable Chains:

You’re a mermaid captured by pirates. Scared and injured, two strange metal men care for you while you’re trapped in this scary place and slowly an unbreakable bond is formed between the three of you. ________________ Wind and rain pelted down on the ship as the men scrambled to lift their catch from the water. The waves rolled, tossing the ship back and forth, slamming water down onto the decks as ropes were pulled and the net was lifted from the water. A screech rang out over the waves as something much larger than your average fish was raised from the black depths. Lighting forked across the sky, illuminating sharp teeth and claws as the beast fought to free itself. The shout of pain, as claws met flesh, was drowned out by the rumble of thunder, but the sharp crack from the pistol rang clear across the water, followed by a scream. Another shot and cry of pain, and the men were finally able to lower the beast into the belly of the ship. 

Caught in a Fish's Net: (tag)

what if I wrote a story where a human is kidnapped by mermaids. And they were forced to marry two mer princes because of a prophecy that said if the princes married a human they would be able to end the plague killing their people. But the marriage seems to do nothing and now the human is trapped deep in the ocean with these mer because mer bond for life and now magic ties them together so if they’re apart for too long they’ll grow sick and die. OH! And there’s a sea witch who creates chaos. The sky had been cloudless when we'd set out this morning. The sun shone in the sky, causing sparkles to ripple across the waves as my father and I set out to sea in our small fishing boat. We cast out the nets and had a good laugh as we waited to pull them back in, Father at the rudder and me by the tethers we'd connected the nets to. Neither of us noticed how still the water had gotten. Neither of us saw the shadows below the surface. 

Bubbly:

A little waterlily mer guppy is trapped, home destroyed, and taken to a pet store to be sold. After spending some time living in a fish bowl, our little guppy is saved and moved to a tank that has been dubbed the daycare by the human tending to it. The daycare tank is set up to rehabilitate fish before they are released back into their natural habitats. There our guppy meets Sun and Moon, two fish that live full time in this tank taking care their healing guests. Sun and Moon and our guppy fall in love and then shit goes down.

Fish Fry: (tag)

Pulled from the sea 5 years ago, I was tied up, beaten, and sold to owner after owner, each deciding I was too dangerous to keep. Back then, I was strong, able to break bones and tear flesh with ease, singing to lure humans to their demise. It's what my kind was made to do, kill humans. But no more. Kept in increasingly small tanks, barely fed, and unable to swim, I started to weaken. Eventually, I was dumped here. It was some kind of oddities collection. My owner had other humans pay to look at his strange assortment of items he had gathered from around the world. Then one day I encountered two strange humanoid creatures that resembled the Sun and the Moon and my life started to change for the better.

Monster in the Sea:

Sun and Moon are human and go by Solaris and Lucien. The MC is a water dragon. Water dragon reader finds Sun and Moon lost at sea during a storm

Dark Waters:

When your parents died all their debt fell on your shoulders. You did everything you could but in the end, you were penniless and without a home. Reaching out to what relatives you had left, your uncle offered you a place, living and working at his little circus in the middle of the desert. It wasn't long after you moved into this little community that you found a strange abandoned tent hidden at the back of the grounds, a large tank inside. Posted just outside was a sign that read 'DANGER! KEEP OUT!' If you had headed the warning maybe you wouldn't be in this predicament but you also wouldn't have met the two most amazing creatures you have ever laid your eyes on.

Fishy Business: (tag)

Attacked and almost killed, I manage to escape my attackers and hide in a cave only to be found by something... not quite human. Too weak to get away and with the beasts that wanted to eat me waiting outside, this non-human kidnaps me, taking me to his ship. This is where I find that there are not one but two of these metal creatures. A story where the main character is a mermaid and is rescued/kidnapped by Sun and Moon

Some of these won't be finished and some are OLD writing of mine. you have been warned. Please don't let that stop you from reading these and enjoying them <3

[themeeplord]

@naffeclipse's Mer Circus Baby from Song Fish, but my mind took one look at her and then proceeded to do its thing.

The rest of the design is under the cut. Warning for mouth centric body horror.

You know her face plates that move? She needs those in her mer form too.

I have an idea for the scooper too, but I felt that this post would be disturbing enough so I kept it out.

This is not 100% accurate, but honestly I just wanted to go ham. (I know she has a tongue in the fic, it can still be hiding in there somewhere, I just didn't find a place for it in any of these drawings)

[blood-grove]

MASTERLIST

Call of Duty

Kyle Gaz Garrick

unnatural bleeding — a mer!gn!reader x human!gaz | ongoing fic

werewolf bites — gaz trying to help you recover from a dog attack | ongoing fic

magical accidents — who were you to say no to your mage boyfriend innocent request for you to try a potion?

scar trails — you and your older brother try to survive the apocalypse and try and make a few friends..or enemies!

John Soap Mactavish

shapeshifter! child! reader & soap — a alt version of another random thing i wrote about a shapeshifter reader :3 tws in fic

the hunt — a medieval fantasy soap x male reader! | ongoing fic

solar and lunar marks — werecat reader and werewolf soap shenanigans w 141

Simon Ghost Riley

dog au! ghost & child reader — this one is so old!! + old dog au intro!

the devil comes in pairs — :3 fic i wrote based on a prompt! , cowboy au

animals grind there teeth at bars — fic idea :3 monster circus au?

mistaken sacrifice — turns out your loyal worshippers are batshit crazy but ghost seems alright maybe in need of saving.

John Price

dog au price & child reader — another oldie </3 + old dog intro

labs and speedsters — taking in a new stray cheetah shifter (you) riddled with anxiety and price sees to help you.

old man — random anxiety hole you've dug yourself into has you now overly worrying about growing. (me projecting)

Multi + Parings

adoption au dad! simon & soap + adopted reader (school fights)

shapeshifter reader + 141

avian/harpy ghost & soap + child naga reader - tws in fic

jungle book au - upcoming

Other

dog au art ! — ghost and soap , graves , price 1 , price 2 , graves 2 ,

König — dog au intro! (old)

i may give him this own section but for now im not rlly focused on him kinda...

a/n; will be making separate master list for when i write for my fandoms :3 this is my first masterlist so please excuse my inexperience...ALSO IM MY ASK R OPEN AND ANON ON PLS

[squad-724]

Hellooooooooo just a casual mer fan here, was wondering if by chance you had any Wrecker and/or Tech art? Your designs for them are perfect!!!

99 gave Wrecker a skateboard so the whale shark mer could pull himself around his house by the beach

Tech was found by 99 in a bar, where two fishermen were talking about selling him to a circus. 99 sold his new boat so he could take Tech with him. Because the octopus mer was hatched in captivity he was scared of the sea, thus he spent a few days in a kids pool in 99’s house

[angelynmoon]

So, mer au steddie

Where Steve was born in captivity and sold very young to someone or a carnival/circus/ intertainment, he is not treated properly, the food is wrong and makes him sick but he was sold too young to know any better.

And Eddie, a Deep Sea Mer, more shark than fish who was caught on his adulthood journey and sold to the same place Steve was.

Eddie watching his natural prey being treated like shit and deciding to help him, Eddie learning that he knows more about Steve's species than Steve does and making sure he eats right, Eddie deciding that he wants to keep Steve, I imagine that they are in two seperate tanks next to one another and Eddie throws food into Steve's tank, and sometimes trinkets he carves with his claws, because he thinks Steve will like them, Steve does and treasures each one.

And then Steve is resold because people are more interested in the Deep Sea Mer than Steve because Eddie is also bioluminesent and people come to see his glow.

Steve who is sold to a worse place, a resturant where Mer is a delicacy, but they don't kill him, just cut off strips off his tail over time.

Eventually the resturant is closed because Mers are a protected species and Steve is found by the police/fbi doing the arresting and closure, they think he's dead until he tries to get away from the hands that go to release his binds.

They then transfer him to a sanctuary/rescue that rehabiltates captured Mer for release back into the ocean.

Steve who is bullies by his fellow fish/Reef Mer because he doesn't know his culture and they are unwilling to teach him. Maybe this is where he meets the kids, Deep Sea Mer like Eddie who were captured on their first venture to the surface in a fisherman's net and not noticed until they were ashore, they were lucky the fisherman was married to a Mer-Specialist and called their spouse immediatly, though El and Will are Reef/fish Mer who were caught and rescued from situation similar to Steve's.

And Steve takes care of the kids, tells them the stories Eddie told him and the Specialists don't understand why Steve and El and Will prefer the Deep Sea Mer to their own kind.

And then Eddie is rescued and Steve is so happy that he's okay and they are happy as Eddie regains strength from being held in a too small tank with not enough food to eat.

But soon Eddie and the children are marked for release but Steve is not.

The Specialists soon realize that Steve would not survive in the ocean, his tail never healing from being stripped for cuts of meat, not to mention the way he would not socialize with his own kind.

The Specialists decide that he's best off staying in the facility.

Only Eddie and the kids refuse to leave without him.

Eventually the Specialists fix Steve and Eddie with a tracker, they are curious if the obvious relationship between the two different Mers will last once they are released then they release the group.

And then over the years they see the two Mers have stayed together, sometimes they are alone, other times they are with a pod, or a group of children, it's unclear if any belong to the two, Eddie never lets them close enough, which they don't blame him but they let them get pictures from a distance.

But it's obvious that Eddie and Steve are intending on staying together.

And despite their concerns they are glad for it Steve at least deserves to be happy, even though it's clear his tail never recovered fully because he's often seen clinging to Eddie as the other Mer moves swiftly through the water.

And then Steve and Eddie live happy ever after or close enough, unknowingly bring a peace between their people because the kids are friends that refused to stop being friends, El and Will being the children of the Reef/fish Mer King and Queen and Eddie being the Heir of the Deep Sea Mer royalty and having Adopted the Party and El and Will as his Heirs because why not, they were Steve's Guppies and that made them his too.

-

Anyway, this was just a little thought I had, if you want to flesh it out have fun and let me know, I may want to read it, but it feels like it should be a long story and I don't have the attention span for that right now.

[the-trinket-witch]

PlayfulLand Theories before the event starts!

Everybody's excited for the New Twst Halloween Event coming to the JP servers, right? I am too. These bones been rattlin' since I found out. And my brain has been rotting with theories and predictions. Are they baseless? Likely. I would like to say I've seen enough of a pattern in this game to see a familiar plot coming down the pipe. Call it grasping at straws or pareidolia, but I'm having fun turning this all in my brain. Everybody in the Brainrot Buggie, we're making wild guesses and throwing shit at the wall to see what is right. 

(SPOILERS FOR TWST PLAYFULLAND EVENT, TWST CH. 6, BLACK BUTLER: BOOK OF CIRCUS. CW for Child Abuse, manipulation/loss of physical faculties, and general body horror)

Biggest takeaway from this theory dump: Fellow and Gidel aren't the main antagonists of this event. 

"But Trinket, they're the face of the event! How are they not the Big Bads?" I hear you wonder. It's because they weren't the Main Antagonists in their own source material. These two were:

Stromboli and The Coachman.

Assuming anyone reading has already watched the 1940 film, will note these two are connected to Honest John and Gideon/The Fox and Cat by their financial dealings. The Coachman in specific pays the Two for them to round up boys to bring to Pleasure Island to meet their fates. In most iterations of Pinnochio, Mangiafuoco/Stromboli and The Coachman are two separate entities. One adaptation, though, combines them. And while I will not delude myself to think it was an inspiration for the potential 'Actual Big Bad', an idea came to mind when thinking of the character from the 1996 The Adventures of Pinnochio, Lorenzini. A couple ideas, actually…

But before I get to that, where else in Toboso-sensei's work have we seen Charismatic Gingers in Circus Settings who are the bait-and-switch 'face' of a story arc?

That's right:

Joker. 

I guess not really 'bait and switch', but a lot of emphasis was put on him as a character when Book of Circus first came out. But then he and the rest of the Circus troupe began mentioning a man they called Father. Baron Kelvin. 

Before his obsession sparked for Ciel, he was a philanthropist who could have been considered a good man. But in the state we meet him in for the first time in BoC, he's a completely changed man obsessed with becoming physically appealing to Phantomhive, to the detriment of the children who had and would come under his 'care'. Their bones became the ceramic used to give prostheses to the rest of the circus. 

What if we're gearing up to have a similar figure 'pulling the strings' in this coming event? An amalgamation of Stromboli/The Coachman/Baron Kelvin…and Monstro the Whale? 

"Why Monstro? We already have a reference with Azul's cafe!"

Remember Lorenzini that I mentioned earlier?

He's also a combination of The Puppetmaster, Coachman, and Whale.  What if this Combination character… was a Whale merman? A merman looking for a different way to stay human, in a sense 'Become a Real Boy'? What if his transition to humanity has him stuck in one location out of the way? What if this is all a trap to sap the life/magic out of these boys so he can shirk his mer form for permanent legs? While it could be a stretch to say this is the case, lemme see if I can coherently explain…

@thecosmicjackalope posed the notion that the extraneous went characters might in some way be foils/parallels to the Overblot Gang. So far we have Idia getting a parallel with Rollo (two siblings dealing with the grief over the death of their brother), what if this is an event paralleling Azul and his dynamic with The Tweels? 

Shady fish men with (possible) varying degrees of disgust with their mer forms

Equally fishy business practices

Employ more physically capable individuals to do his 'legwork'

Plan(ned) on having the student body of NRC under their thumb of servitude

Employ magical tactics to entice and bind those they want into their grasp.

On top of all of this, what if his magic extends to both Fellow and Gidel? What if those two are just a regular fox and cat given sentience to do a whale's dirty work? Would they turn back after being defeated? That would explain the motivation, outside of just 'I'm getting paid handsomely to bring these boys in and not ask questions'. Even if this part is all thrown out the window, the idea that a shady Ringmaster lording over Playfulland just won't leave me. So then, what else can I guess about this event? (NOTE: THESE ARE ALL QUESTIONS AND THEORIES, not posed by much/any evidence)

The costumes/masks might specifically be used to control the boys. In a way similar to The Beast and the trees of Over the Garden Wall, thanks to @squidwen for the notion, maybe the masks progressively creep up on the NRC boys both subduing them, and eventually sapping them of life/magic? What if the incentive for the boys to act 'like jackasses' is how the mask takes root/grows? What if the end result (the host losing their life/stores of magic) their bones turn to wood?  What if the park is literally built of the Bones of Fairgoers Past?

Something I already began to theorize about when the announced SSRs came out was: why those three were picked.

Ortho we know shares A LOT of parallels/references to Pinocchio already. It's basically a given that he'd be a part of this. He is naive and fresh, so he could very well follow wanderlust wherever (by whoever) inspires it.  But why Kalim and Ace? Ideas for each:

Kalim:

He's a trusting person (played as 'To his own detriment')

A bit of a party animal

One to go with the flow, isn't quick to realize he's in deep shit til it's too late

Ace:

Brutally honest

Brother worked at a theme park. (Possible enticement to bring him in, on the promise of finding him somehow?)

One of the biggest liars of the cast-couple that with his immaturity and quick willingness to shirk responsibility, he's a prime candidate to pick off to someplace that promises leisure and fun away from school.

All three of the SSR boys are technically prime folk to lure off to the equivalent of Pleasure Island. Kalim with his weak will and shortsightedness, Ortho with his lack of experience both as a bot and now as a legit person, and Ace again because he has the most maturing to make for this arc. If anybody becomes a literal donkey in all of this: I can see it most likely being Ace. 

Assuming the rest of the Event Cast are only there on the premise of having drawn the short straw and not able to go to the Glorious Masquerade, I don't have any other theories for them. (Though I gotta say I'm digging the much more blatant Mad Hatter Ref in Trey's design.) A gameplay theory I had is that maybe we have to fight them to 'cut them loose', with eventually Ortho, Kalim and Ace being the 'final' bosses of the event, who defend the Puppetmaster in one final stand. 

For a TL:DR:

It's Book of Circus 2: Electric Boogaloo if it was written by Neal Shusterman (of Full Tilt fame). A Fishman wants to be a Real Boy, masks are terrifying, and Ace is an immature clown who's gonna get a lotta folks put in danger.

[hiemaldesirae]

Tis Alice! I'm so happy you like the Mer!Vox au! I've been wanting to do one for a while but couldn't quite nail down a premise I liked and then your art ran away with my brain lol

So I admit this was orignally going to be more dead dovey. That was the plan. And then my brain said "but what if Vox was one of those mermaids that eats people and Alastor was totally down for it?" and this happened. Oops. I just can't help but make them soft dammit! One day I'll write something properly dead dovey, I swear!

And oh yes Vox feels the same way about Alastor. There's something odd about this human...

im honoured to have my art be the spark that lit the flame for ur work because it is just . so so good GOD i love victorian aus sm theyre so fun !!!

when you first mentioned it i was picturing the work of a twitter user i follow (i cannot for the life of me find their artwork rn but im searching for it because i wanna model my art off it too LOL) who draws these gorgeous mermaids and there was one picture i had in mind which was a mermaid that was like cut in half with her tail being bisected into different dishes like sushi and grilled fish etc and that was sort of the kind of thing i was thinking of? that or like a mermaid on display in a circus sorta like your unicorn and red king au lol. but honestly this is just as much a welcome spin and i absolutely adore the way you characterized mermaid vox here hes simply the best ever

(and if i asked very politely would you perhaps tell me ...)

[cyrusthemagician]

🫧waterpark au concept/general idea! (wip)🌊

working name(?): The Amazing Digital Mer-Park

overview/concept: The circus is replaced with a massive waterpark, each character getting their own section of it that's themed off their personality as well as what their section of the park is dedicated to! while it hasnt been decided who does what yet some examples are:

swimming classes

food, drinks, and treats

water shows

I've also mixed in some mermaid stuff and theming since each character has their own sea creature/animal (based on their personality or what i think suits them best) that they turn into, like a mermaid ofc. I actually have the offical list for this since its like teh only thing ive decided fully on lol (under the cut aswell as more info)

THE CAST AND THEIR MERMAID SPECIES

CAINE- mantis shrimp (confirmed)

GANGLE- eel(confirmed)

ZOOBLE- vampire squid (confirmed)

KINGER- king mackerel (confirmed)

RAGATHA- jelly fish (confirmed)

JAX- sea bunny (confirmed)

POMNI- court jester goby (confirmed)

BUBBLE- pearl (in a clam?) (confirmed)

MY OCS SPECIES (the characters are non cannon to the actual au itself)

CYRUS- beta fish (confirmed)

SUNBIE- lemon shark (confirmed)

SKYBLUE- shark (not sure, maybe orca)

BUBBLIE- jelly fish (confirmed)

POPPI- seal (confirmed)

BUGMI- sea bunny (confirmed)

I am considering whether they should be AI that have human souls in them or just be humans on their own as it is normally in TADC.

game overview: The concept for as a "game" is that its a free roam pick your own team sorta adventure. At the start of the game the player would originally get to choose which section of the waterpark they want to go to. This is where they would choose to be a "visitor" (temporary so you can go to other sections of the water park and check them all out or just enjoy the mini games) or they can choose to be an "employee" in which you would help the AIS/Characters with whatever their section is based on or does! its a major wip and im planning on messing around with it but that's kinda the basics as of now

[themonstrousmenagerie]

✧.*✧.*✧.*✧The Sea Show part 1✧.*✧.*✧.*✧

The last months were turning into a blur. Kaiyo spent most of them rounding his tank, trying not to hit the walls when his muscles begged for a bigger usage, for bursts of speed in the cold waters of the sea. But there was no ocean. No cold water. Only the Monster and the small, small tank and the collar to make sure he wouldn’t jump out.

He couldn’t see anything beyond the glass, a thick material draped over his prison to hide him from the eyes of humans waiting for entertainment. 

A few months ago it would have bothered him, he would scream, bite, try to escape. But there was no point anymore. Monster wanted him to jump, he would do it to finally fill his belly. He wouldn’t get hurt if he let the humans pet him. He would survive if he listened to them. And that was the last thing he had left.

Everyone in the circus knows those steps. The clicking of the heels on the wooden floor sent shivers down his spine, and couldn’t stop the flinch when the Monster unceremoniously ripped the tank’s cover off, the stage’s lights blinding him for a second.

“Hey big boy,” Their smile is too sharp even for a deep sea monster, while their golden eye stays cold “Looks like the Patrons would like to see you first.”

“Ready to begin the show?”

✧.*✧.*✧.*✧.*

The cacophony of sounds around the arena made Kaiyo want to hide, from the smells, the shouts, from all of the shows, the training, from the Monster. All he could do now was to listen to them and get back to mindless rounds in his tank. All slowly exists as the Circus ate away his soul and hopes once his body expires, it would find its way back home.

All the months of training made him seize in place when the Monster rings their bell. One short sound, ‘swim up’. Kaiyo looked up, the trainer was standing just over the tank, looking down at him with this hungry, sadistic eye and a broad smile plastered on their face. Remembering the chain that used to haul him up, the mer eagerly listens to the command, touching the Monster’s outstretched hand with his nose. He can hear a quiet click and despises how it makes him feel happiness and relief. It means ‘good job’, he won’t be hurt now. 

“My dear Kaiyo comes from the far east sea, where he would come dangerously close to the shore and take the fishermen’s catch. While the residents wanted him killed, I have decided to save him, and in gratitude, he works here.” The mer can do nothing but grinds his teeth and let the Monster tell the fake story. His family was in the waters first. And then the humans invaded their territory, scaring away the shoals, forcing him to get closer and closer to the shore for food. And they caught him. He couldn’t even say a proper goodbye, the net hauling him from the sea and onto the ship’s deck in a few seconds. And the months on the road, when the Monster beat him into obedience, making him seek a fucking clicking sound and fear a head pat. He hated it, hated them, HATED THE WHOLE CIR-

Two short bells, ‘roll over’. His body thoughtlessly moved, showing his unprotected belly. He did not wince when the heels of their boots stabbed into his skin when the trainer walked on him, talking to the crowd about what he would do. If he focused, he could imagine his home, the sea full of life, cold water, his family grooming his scales, and the sun warming his body on the rocks. He wasn’t in the claustrophobic tank, the Monster using their power over him to reduce him to a simple show animal, and the fact that he let them do it. There was no going back, and all he could do was to reduce his pain before he died. He would not admit that each day spent there the thought was getting more and more appealing. A quiet whimper left his lips when the show master finally stepped off from him and he could once again immerse his whole body in the water. 

“Now, I ask you, Gentlemen, Ladies, and other Dear Guests, should our boy show what his powerful tail can do, or are you more interested in his hunting skills? I’m sure he would love to show you both of the activities”.

taglist:

Tag list: @whumpsday @firapolemos05 @sodascribbles @why-not-ask-me-a-better-question @dismemberment-on-a-tuesday-night @@dismemberment-on-a-tuesday-night