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anatay004 · 29 days ago

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"DON'T MOVE."

Katniss's voice was dangerously low as it slid into your thoughts. Instinctively, you looked up to meet her gaze, but your muscles froze when you caught sight of the mass of warm bodies poised above the four of you. For a few seconds, there was silence as Finnick retrieved his trident and Katniss armed her bow.

Dumbfounded, you stared up at the monkeys, watching as they weighed down the limbs of the jungle trees. You were still leaning against Finnick's chest when you snapped your eyes to the side, trying to locate the trident that had slipped from your fingers a few moments ago. When you failed to spot the weapon, you made to move forward, but Finnick's hand on your waist stopped you from even attempting it.

One wrong move could trigger the animals.

"Peeta," Katniss called, as calmly as possible. Peeta was a few feet away, leaning against a tree—trying to catch his breath. He wasn't aware of his surroundings, but the tone in Katniss's voice alerted him to some irregularity, and his muscles visibly tensed. "Move towards us quietly."

Peeta did as he was told. He moved through the jungle carefully, and your eyes followed his movements—almost anxiously. That's when you caught sight of the trident lying on the ground across from him. For a moment, you stared at it, debating whether you should make a run for it or not. But before you could decide, your eyes momentarily locked with Peeta's—and it seemed as if he suddenly understood.

That you were defenseless.

"Peeta..." Katniss warned, but it was too late; he'd already reached for the weapon, and the monkeys exploded into a shrieking mass of fur—as if he'd suddenly triggered a bomb. You didn't have time to react as Finnick pushed you behind him and began to spear the monkeys that launched at you.

You'd never seen animals move so fast before, sliding down the vines as if they were weightless. Animals in nature don't act like this, you thought to yourself, before realization dawned on you.

"Mutts!" you spat, as Peeta threw the trident back at you.

Instinctively, you caught it, but as soon as your fingers wrapped around the weapon, the weight of one of the monkeys pulled you into the water. You felt claws on your arms as you pushed the trident across the monkey's chest, forcing it away from your face. For a few seconds, you remained underwater, holding your breath as the beast rendered you immobile. Until someone pulled you back to the surface.

"You okay?" Finnick asked worriedly as the air rushed back into your lungs. You nodded, holding onto his arm, trying to catch your breath as he angled himself in front of you again. The monkey was dead. "Don't leave my side, okay?" His voice was commanding.

"Okay," you breathed out, wrapping your fingers tightly around your trident again.

Within a few seconds, the four of you positioned yourselves in a circle, a few yards apart, your backs to one another. Katniss targeted eyes and hearts, Finnick and you speared beasts like fish, and Peeta slashed away with his knife. But Katniss's arrows eventually came down to one, and it wasn't long before she was yelling at Peeta for her other sheath.

"Peeta!" she yelled. "The arrows!"

Peeta turned, saw her predicament, and quickly slid the sheath off—but one of the beasts suddenly lunged from a tree toward his chest. You tried to aim at it, but your weapon was already occupied with another mark, forcing you back to your position. Adrenaline kissed down your spine as you watched Katniss run toward him—weaponless. And, for the first time, you didn't know what to do.

This is it, you thought to yourself. This is where I complete my part of the deal. With Peeta gone, Katniss's chances of surviving the Games were close to nothing. But why did it feel so wrong? This was what you were here for, was it not? To kill the Mockingjay, to win the Games—to save Finnick.

So why were your feet aching to move?

"Peeta!" you found yourself yelling. And before you knew it, you were running too. Somewhere in the back of your mind, you heard Finnick's voice calling out to you, but you didn't stop. You knew you wouldn't make it in time, wouldn't be able to knock Peeta to the ground and protect him—and neither would Katniss.

But you ran anyway—until one of the victors from District 6 forced you to an abrupt stop. From your perspective, it almost seemed as if she had materialized from thin air, waiting for this exact moment to happen. Because when it did, she readily launched herself at the monkey, welcoming its fangs into her chest. Sacrificing herself for him.

"Oh, God..." The words slipped past your lips. There was blood everywhere, staining everything in sight. For a moment, you froze, watching the scene unfold before you. The victor was trapped between the mutt's teeth, agonizing under the pressure of being punctured. Eventually, Peeta stabbed the monkey's back, forcing it it to release its jaw and let her go.

But at that point, it was too late.

"Let's go!" Finnick's voice broke into your reverie. And before you knew it, he was pulling you away. It took you a moment, amidst the chaos, to realize the monkeys had suddenly vanished. They'd retreated and disappeared back into the jungle—as if someone had called them.

You swallowed hard at that.

Remember why you're here, Snow's words rushed back into your mind.

"Get her! We'll cover for you." You heard Katniss's voice behind you, motioning for Peeta to lift the morphling and carry her through the last few yards to the beach. Finnick and Katniss kept their weapons at the ready—you were trying to keep yourself together. Belatedly, you realized you had failed every test that had been thrown at you so far. You were failing to dissipate their advantages.

You were failing to let them die.

Because you didn't want them to.

You felt sick to your stomach as you watched Katniss cut away the material over the victor's chest, revealing the deep and bloody wounds beneath. You were almost certain a lung had been punctured—perhaps even the heart. This could've easily been you, you suddenly thought. This could've easily been Finnick.

"We'll watch the trees..." Finnick's voice was soft, much like his hands on your skin. He beckoned you away from the scene, but you found it hard to look away. The victor was dying. She didn't have much time left—but she was staring up at Peeta, hanging onto his words as if they were gospel. He was whispering about paintings and colors, things that didn't make much sense to you, but she seemed mesmerized by them.

And with the sun on his face, Peeta almost looked like summers and grace. Like a paradise to those who had never heard of heaven before.

But he wasn't.

And the cannon eventually fired.

"What are you thinking about, my love?"

Finnick's voice was soft that night. Instinctively, you looked up to meet his gaze—green irises staring back at you, though they seemed a shade darker than usual under the moonlight. Up close, you could see the spots where the fog droplets had touched his skin earlier, now visibly scabbing over. You sighed, brushing the pad of your thumb over his maimed skin.

"Don't scratch that."

Finnick almost grinned. Your tendency to turn the conversation elsewhere didn't go unnoticed by him.

"I won't lose my beauty, sweetheart."

You rolled your eyes at his vanity. "I'm more worried about you getting an infection," you corrected, matter-of-factly, before reaching down for the ointment (that Haymitch had been kind enough to provide) next to you. At least you were getting sponsors.

Peeta and Katniss were somewhere off on the beach, playing their role as a couple and whatnot. The beach was quiet—the only sounds that filled the air were the crashing waves in the distance. It was pacifying, a distant reminder of home and the nostalgia behind it. The calm before the storm, you thought.

Your thoughts were almost readable across your face as you rubbed the medicine over Finnick's skin without a word. He could read you so easily—the frown between your brows, the slight pout on your lips.

"Baby—"

"—We need to separate." The words were quiet but vehement in their delivery. You met his gaze again, determined to get through to him. "This... plan isn't working for us," you limited yourself to say, but he knew exactly what you meant. This plan isn't working because we're not doing our part of the deal.

And how could you? When Peeta was willing to sacrifice himself to reach for your trident? When Katniss was watching our for Finnick?

Your husband's muscles visibly tensed, and he almost looked ridiculous with the rise of his chest and green ointment smeared across his face.

"We can't leave right now. You need to trust me," he said—the same argument he'd given the first time you brought this up. It irked you.

There was something behind his words. Something that wasn't sitting right with you. You paused for a second, carefully examining his features.

He was hiding something from you.

Your eyebrows rose in silent realization.

He shifted slightly under your knowing gaze. Oh, he was definitely keeping something. But what could it possibly be? And why did it stop him from leaving the lovers of District 12 behind? You opened your mouth, the question threatening to slip past your lips—when you heard the sudden screaming.

Across from you, a wedge of the jungle vibrated suddenly and an enormous wave crested high on the hill, topping the trees and roaring down the slope. It forced the surf to bubble up around your knees.

Then the cannon fired.

Almost instinctively, Finnick reached for you. His muscles tensed as his other hand reached for the trident. From the corner of your eye, you spotted Katniss drawing one of her arrows back. Three figures were approaching in the distance, all emerging from the jungle—drenched in what looked like blood.

You squinted, the figures vaguely familiar. Finnick was the first to recognize them.

"Johanna!" he called, and before you knew it, you were both running toward them.

"We thought it was fucking rain!" Johanna began, after stepping back from your embrace. "There was lightning, and we were all so thirsty, you know? But it turned out to be fucking blood! Thick, hot blood. We couldn't see shit. That's when Bling hit the force field..."

Bling—her counterpart from District 7.

"I'm sorry," you offered, sincerity behind your words. Finnick echoed your expression.

"Yeah, he wasn't much... but he was from home." Johanna sighed, then turned toward her companions—Beetee and Wiress. "And he left me alone with these two." She nudged Beetee, who was barely conscious, with her foot. "He got a knife in the back at the Cornucopia. And her—"

You all looked over at Wiress, who was circling around, drenched in crimson, murmuring, "Tick, tock."

Johanna rolled her eyes.

You tilted your head to the side.

"Yeah, we know. Tick-fucking-tock. She's in shock." Johanna's words drew Wiress's attention, and almost instinctively, she careened into her. But Johanna shoved her harshly down to the sand without blinking twice. "Just stay down, will you?"

"Johanna—" you started, disapprovingly, but Katniss was quick to cut you off.

"Lay off her," she snapped.

Johanna narrowed her eyes at Katniss, the tension suddenly palpable and suffocating. "Lay off her?" she repeated, the words dangerous on her tongue.

You'd be lying if you said you didn't see what came next coming—the slap across Katniss's face. "Who the fuck do you think got them out of that bleeding jungle for you? You ungrateful bitch—"

You blinked.

Damn, you thought.

Finnick tossed Johanna over his shoulder before she could go any further, dunking her in the water as she continued to throw insults at Katniss.

"What did she mean? She got them for me?" Katniss turned to look at you for answers, one cheek flushed, but she didn't seem to mind. She, however, was surprised when your expression mirrored her confusion.You opened your mouth to respond—Peeta's shoulder suddenly brushing yours.

"I don't—" you started, turning to look at the blond beside you. He was looking down at you with curious, soft brown eyes. It was the first time you'd met his gaze in hours. You hated how he looked at you.

As if you could do no wrong in his eyes.

As if you were worth going for a trident.

"I don't know," you answered, tearing your eyes away from Peeta and focusing back on Katniss. You weren't lying—you didn't know what the fuck Johanna was talking about. But as you looked over your shoulder, back at your husband...you suddenly realized who did.

And it made your blood boil.

"Tell me, Finnick." Your words were heated. Finnick knew he was fucked the moment you cornered him beneath the palm trees—away from the others.

"Sweetheart, I genuinely don't know what you're talking about..." he tried again, pinching the bridge of his nose. Your cheeks were burning, your skin tinged with red hues that streaked across your face in visible anger.

He was gaslighting you.

With his pretty mouth and deceptive green eyes.

"Bullshit!" you spat, not buying his feigned confusion. You knew there was something going on—something Johanna clearly knew about, and you didn't. "Stop lying to me, Finnick."

Finnick groaned, as if this were suddenly an inconvenience to him. Your mouth fell slightly agape at the sight. It was unbelievable, how much of a deal he was making it out to be. What could he possibly be hiding that he couldn't bring himself to share with you?

Did he not trust you?

"Finnick—" you tried again, a little softer.

"—Come on, they're waiting for us," Finnick cut you off, redirecting the conversation as he made his way back to the group, not waiting for your reply. The dismissal settled under your skin like an itch.

If anyone noticed you were pissed when you rejoined the group, they didn't say it out loud. Instead, they exchanged discreet glances between you and Finnick, then moved on to the current plan. According to Wiress, the arena was a clock, with a new threat every hour, and Katniss wanted to test the theory—by going back to the Cornucopia.

You didn't object. Instead, you walked along the nearest strip of sand, approaching the Cornucopia with care, in case the Careers were lurking nearby. Thankfully, that wasn't the case. Finnick was ahead of you, walking alongside Johanna, throwing watchful glances over his shoulder at you every few minutes—but never saying a word.

You made sure to look away each time.

"You okay?" Peeta's voice broke your thoughts. You looked up to meet his eyes—honey-brown, sandy, a shade lighter under the casting sunlight. You couldn't help but stare at them for a few seconds.

"I'm fine," you answered simply, allowing his arm to brush against yours as you continued to walk. You noticed it was a strange habit of his.

Then, there was a comfortable silence in the air. One that settled under your skin like an itch. He shouldn't feel this comfortable around you—you weren't to be trusted. Not with Snow watching you.

And he should know that.

"You didn't have to reach for the trident," you said, unsure how to broach the subject. Behind your closed eyelids, the scene replayed over and over: the monkeys poised above you, you standing defenseless, and Peeta risking his life to get you the trident. "Don't do that again, Peeta."

Peeta frowned at your words, almost as if you'd said something silly. He didn't reply immediately. Instead, he mulled over his response.

"I'll stop reaching for your trident," he finally said—but the tone in his voice betrayed the finality of his words. "Once you stop running to me."

Now it was your turn to frown. And suddenly, it dawned on you that he was right. Every time he'd been in danger, you'd always run to his aid. You opened your mouth to respond, but there was nothing you could say to defend yourself.

And he knew that.

So, he smiled in triumph and kept walking.

Once you'd reached the Cornucopia, you began sorting through the weapons on display while the rest of the group scattered nearby. Peeta was at your side, drawing a map of the arena. You noticed that the Cornucopia was at the center, with twelve strips branching from it. He began marking the threats by the hour: monkeys, fog, blood...

And then you heard it.

Boom!

Your body twisted in time to watch Wiress collapse to the ground, her throat slit open. Gloss stood behind her—dripping wet and aiming the bloody knife at you. The tip of Katniss's arrow disappeared into his temple before he could advance, and you reached for your trident to bury it in Cashmere's chest.

Boom! Boom!

"(Y/N)!" Finnick called out, knocking away a spear Brutus had thrown at you.

You made to reach for him, but the ground jerked beneath your feet and you were flung onto your side in the sand. The circle of land holding the Cornucopia began spinning—fast, violently—forcing your vision to blur within seconds.

"It fucking moves?" Johanna shouted over the waves, to no one in particular.

You felt the force dragging you toward the water. You dug your hands and feet into the sand, trying to gain traction on the unstable ground. There was nothing you could do but hold on—until you began to slip. Instinctively, Katniss reached for your hand—she was closest—but the force was too strong, and her fingers twitched out of reach.

And you fell into the water.

You weren't exactly sure when the ground slammed to a stop—there was no warning. You were still underwater then, trying not to swallow the waves crashing over you. Thankfully, you knew how to swim. You would've drowned if you hadn't kicked your legs and gasped out for air. Your lungs were burning when you broke the surface—barely conscious. You heard someone calling for you in the distance.

Was it Peeta?

Or was it Finnick?

Whoever it was, it didn't matter.

You passed out before you could figure it out.

#finnick odair #fanfic #peeta mellark x reader #finnick odair imagine #finnick odair x reader #hunger games finnick #finnick x reader x peeta #the hunger games peeta #finnick x y/n

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lazyjellyfish300 · 6 days ago

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𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒊 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌 𝒅𝒂𝒚 6 ~𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒔

🐚scarred prince!nanami kento x fem mermaid princess!reader

🐚 synopsis: part 2- based on The Little Mermaid, you're a mermaid princess from the kingdom of Kuantica, adopted daughter of King Yaga, ruler of the sea, in love with Danish Prince Kento Nanami, hoping for the day you can be part of his world when the sea witch, Mei Mei, grants you your wish. 💕

🐚part 1 | part 2 (ending) |

🐚words 8.3k

🐚cw: NO SMUT just FLUFF, crack, humor, cursing, angst, action violence, injuries, scarred Nanami Kento, tonsss of pining, yearning, jealousy, villain death (This is an AU so some characters might be OOC especially Hiromi I'm so sorry)and a happy fairytale ending. 💕

🐚a/n: My day 6 entry for Nanami week for the SFW prompt: Scars with Scarred! Prince Nanami Kento who is adjusting to them while you also still long to be human. 💕 Part 1 to this story was posted for Day 4: Beach Day Prompt

THIS IS NOT MY IDEA AND BASED ON THE LITTLE MERMAID SO ALL CREDIT TO THE OWNERS. this is just me being self indulgent and free. enjoy 💕 sparkle dividers by @/anitalenia and bubbles dividers by @/saradika-graphics.

🐚my nanami week masterlist

King Yaga can't figure out for the life of him what's gotten into you lately. Here you were, humming up a storm around the palace walls, sticking flowers in your hair, a dreamy look in your eye.

He's determined to find the merman responsible.

One day, he summons Hiromi to the throne room.

Hiromi is already doing the math in his head for what second mortgage he might need to take out on his seashell apartment in case today's the day he loses his job.

"Hiromi." Yaga commands. "Come here."

Hiromi gulps, scuttling along the ocean floor and climbing up the throne until he's eye level with the king. "You summoned me?"

"Something's going on with her. As her guardian, have you noticed anything?"

"Noticed anything?" Hiromi plays dumb.

"About my daughter? Being in love?"

Hiromi can't stand it anymore, he grabs at Yaga's white beard for mercy. "I tried to tell her, sire!!! She wouldn't listen to me! That human-"

"Human??"

Shit.

Yaga seethes in absolute fury. "WHAT ABOUT HUMANS?"

".....Humans?" Hiromi tries to plead the fifth, before Yaga grabs him and swims off to find you.

-----

Back in your secret lair, you're daydreaming and talking to your portrait of Kento like usual, unable to get your mind off him even more now that you finally learned his name and became his mystery angel rescuer.

"Oh, Kento, my darling...of course I'll marry you." You chuckle dreamily as you lean against his chest. "Three babies, you say? How about I give you four?"

You giggle and laugh until your soul completely leaves your body when your father, King Yaga is standing right there, silently fuming as he takes in the extent of all the forbidden human treasures in the cave.

"Dad...Daddy, I..."

"I am usually a patient merman but this ends right here. Right now. He's a human, you're a mermaid, when will you get that through your head?!"

"Dad, you don't even know him!!"

"Know him?? You think I need to get to know a member of the species that hunts our kind? Bloodthirsty fish-eating savages!!"

"But Daddy, I love him!"

The air goes silent. Both Yuji and Hiromi cower in fear as they sense Yaga's anger rise to deadly levels.

"So help me, I am going to get through to you and if is this the only way to make you understand...so be it."

Yaga wields his magical trident, aiming directly at all your beloved keepsakes. In just a matter of seconds, the years of your collection explodes into a million pieces, one after another.

"Dad, please, NOOO!!"

The portrait of your beloved Kento is shredded to tatters, laying in mangled pieces as they float to the sea bottom.

You sob, completely broken around the ruin of your dreams, the one physical connection you had to a world you longed to belong to.

Yaga backs away slowly, regret forming at his eyes he doesn't wish to express just yet, feeling in his heart that what he did was for your own good before he leaves you with your thoughts.

The grotto is silent, and Yuji and Hiromi look on, broken-hearted.

"Your majesty..."

"Just go, Hiromi." You whimper.

Hiromi's little heart twists in half. He realizes now that this went way too far, and he immediately regrets ever telling Yaga about your collection that was ultimately harmless after seeing how deeply it meant to you.

---

Just outside, the two slippery sinister imposters who've been spying on you decide to make their move, descending on you like vultures.

"Poor, sweet child..." Jogo hums as the great eel slithers at your side, clicking his jagged teeth.

"She just wants to be with the one she loves." The other large eel, Mahito adds, stirring the pot as his dark tail smacks Hiromi in the face, much to his annoyance.

"Who the hell are you clowns??" Hiromi demands, immediately suspicious of the two eels.

"We have a solution for you, pet." Jogo continues, completely ignoring Hiromi. "We know someone who can help."

"What do you mean?" You ask, shuddering between your tears.

"Your two legged beloved, child. Just imagine: being together, forever. No fins, no scales holding you back." Mahito purrs, leaning his chin on Jogo's head like he's plotting. "Mei Mei has unbelievable powers."

Wait, how did they know? You can't place what it is that's so unsettling about these two creepy eels.

Mei Mei...that name sounds hauntingly familiar.

Something in your gut tells you that you shouldn't trust them, but they're speaking to your heart's most deepest desires.

Your father will never understand. You love and adore Kento Nanami more than anything. The ocean holds no future for you.

"Take me to her."

Jogo and Mahito grin like Cheshire cats and graciously lead the way.

"The sea witch??" Panic courses through Hiromi's crab legs. "Princess!! Think about what you're doing!"

"What are you going to do, tell my father?" You scowl. "Wouldn't be the first time." You breeze past him, following Jogo and Mahito to Mei Mei's lair.

Hiromi curses, feeling the stab of guilt at your words but it doesn't last long as his concern for your safety and his obligation to his duty overrides it all.

"Damnit. C'mon!!" He gestures to Yuji who follows quickly after him.

-------

The swim to Mei Mei's dwelling is extremely long and arduous. You pant as you do your best to stay on Jogo and Mahito's tails who seem to be completely unphased by the unsettling way that zero light reaches this place.

It's deeper than the shipwreck graveyard, and far, far past the outskirts of the kingdom. Kuantica's jurisdiction couldn't protect you here.

But, Kento's scarred, beautiful face replays in your mind and you press on.

The undersea grotto's entrance is teeming with a garden of cursed creatures, almost like damned spirits that crawl on the ground, writhing in agony. You feel horror knot in your throat but you can't make any sound as they try and grab at you.

"Welcome, welcome, darling!" A mellifluous voice sounds through the air like a knife cutting through butter, belonging to none other than Mei Mei herself behind a seaweed curtain.

She turns around from what looks to be a large undersea cauldron fashioned from a geothermal hotpot, purplish smoke rising above the surface that matched her lilac eyes.

She's shockingly beautiful, intimidating, unsettling, and charming all at once. Her hair flows, long and whiter than a ghost shark in a thick braid in front of her face that drifts away as she moves to reveal sparing glances of her beauty.

But, what captures your attention the most is her pale, curvaceous body, whose upper half is clad in what almost resembles a skin tight strapless black dress and extends downwards into eight large, black tentacles.

"It's rude to linger in doorways, y'know." She purrs, strutting to the other side of the room.

"Now. A little birdie tells me you're having man issues. And not just any man, a human prince, yes? Not that I blame you, sweetness. He's veryyyy handsome."

You shrink back, a little defensively at her eerie perception, but feel your heartbeat speed up at the mention of Kento. The eels weren't lying, after all.

"How...how did you know?"

"Darling, this is my job. This is what I live for, to help pitiful creatures, like yourself." She chuckles. "Let's just say this ocean is far smaller than we give it credit for."

Her explanation definitely doesn't add up but you can't pay attention to that for long as she digs through her cabinets, applying some lipstick before she pulls out a jade green sparkly potion in a bottle.

"I have just what you need." She swirls it around before removing the cork with her teeth, pouring the murky substance into the purple haze of the cauldron before it turns pink, a large heart shaped in smoke rising above.

"To win your man, you need to become human yourself. This baby right here can turn you into a human for three days. And you, my love, just need to get your sweet hunk to fall in love with you within that time." She pauses, pleased at your look of awe, knowing her sales pitch is sinking its claws into you just as intended.

"That is....he's got to kiss you, darling."

You turn warm and fuzzy. "A kiss?"

"Mhmm...that's right, kitten. A kiss. But not just any old kiss. The kiss of true love. Then, you'll be free to be human... permanently."

A fancy golden contract emerges from the smoke, slowly unfurling itself, brandishing an ink pen for you to sign that you're already reaching towards before Mei Mei snatches it out of reach.

"So eager, aren't we?" She flashes a smile at you, batting her lashes. "Your daddy never taught you to ask about the terms and conditions first, didn't he? Oh! And we never discussed payment! I pride myself on my generosity, but I don't just give away my services for free, kitten." She winks.

You nod, a little sheepish at your eagerness, stomach doing backflips at what something of this magnitude could cost you. "W-what's your price?"

Mei Mei smiles at you, using one of her tentacles as a chair while she leans her chin on another with feigned innocence. "It's nothing too steep for you, my dear. What I need is: your voice."

"My voice?" Your heart sinks with confusion and hopelesness.

Hiromi and Yuji have been spying this whole time. Hiromi doesn't need to be a lawyer or well versed in oceanic legalese to know that this deal is a completely horrible one.

"It's a goddamn trap, your majesty!!!! ERGH!!"

Jogo and Mahito immediately gag both Hiromi and Yuji with their long tails, smiling evilly.

"Do we have a deal, sweet pea?" Mei Mei drawls, unphased.

"Without my voice, how can I possibly...?" You stutter.

"You've got your looks, honey. Your pretty face! And a beautiful body, if you don't mind my saying so. I'd definitely put it to good use if I were you." Mei Mei chuckles, wrapping a tentacle around your shoulders.

"Let me tell you something about the men up there, sweetness. They really don't like a lot of blabber. They don't want a woman who gossips but they'll go crazy for one that's sweet and quiet, just like you." She grins, teasing a lock of your hair.

"It shouldn't be any problem for you to get your prince to kiss you before sunset by the third day."

"And...if I do. I'll never see my friends or family again."

Mei Mei rolls her eyes. "Oh sweetheart, you're worried about the wrong things! Look at the bigger picture. You'll have your man. Just make a new family with him."

She turns you around to face the cauldron as the soft, beautiful image of Kento appears. His tender gaze, his scars unable to hide his expression of pleading, waiting for you to come back to him.

Mei Mei smiles wickedly and gently eases the ink pen into your hand as you stare into Kento's eye, gently nudging the contract towards you.

"Go on, sweetness..."

You hold your breath and turn, signing the contract before you can even think.

Suddenly the room goes dark, Kento's face disappears, and the cauldron emits large clouds of pink and black smoke as Mei Mei rises above it, laughing in victory as Jogo and Mahito headbutt you in the middle.

You cry out in pain and your voice drains out of you in a plume of golden smoke, where it's imprisoned into a white seashell hanging from Mei Mei's neck.

You feel pain sizzle your lower half like electricity and your eyes widen in horror as your tail splits in two and transforms into legs before your very eyes.

You're choking on water, unable to breathe. Hiromi and Yuji finally break free from the eels and zip underneath you, speed swimming for the surface as Mei Mei's cackles fade into the distance.

------

Dawn is barely breaking on the Danish horizon when you emerge from the sea, naked from the waist down as Hiromi and Yuji help you towards shore.

Panda uses his sixth sense and flies towards the beach to find Hiromi and Yuji keeping an eye on you as you slowly woke up and got your bearings.

"Morning, Miss!!" Panda flies and lands on one of your new knees as you wiggle your toes in wonder.

"Had a feeling you'd be out here!" He leans on his feathers, quirking his neck to the side. "There's something new about ya, I can't put my talons on it..."

"She's got legs you dunce!!" Hiromi groans, massaging his temples with his claws. "She sold her voice to the sea witch in exchange for legs and now she's got 3 days to get the prince to fall in love with her. Jesus Christ, man."

Hiromi realizes this situation sounds even more fucked up when he says it out loud. His blood pressure rises and he begins to scuttle towards the water.

"What would your father say? Huh, I'll tell you what he'd say!! He'd make me goddamn crab cakes that's what your father would say!! Let's see, we still got time. I'll go back there, yes! March right back in there and tell him everything and get the witch to give you back your voice and you'd go home and you'd just be..."

His voice breaks off when he sees your sorrowful expression. "You'd just be..."

Hiromi sighs and leans his chin on his claw.

"You'd be miserable your whole life." He sighs again, knowing this might be a suicide mission but because it's you, he'll do anything to make sure the sea witch doesn't get her way.

"I'll help you find your man, princess."

You beam, giving Hiromi a squeeze and a kiss on the cheek before setting him down on a rock next to Yuji.

"So we're man hunting, are we?" Panda rubs his feathers together, hopping towards some discarded sails that washed up from a shipwreck, fashioning them into a skirt.

"I watched fashion shows all the time in Paris! Just follow my lead."

-----

Kento walks along the beach, humming into his flute that carries faintly over the sounds of the ocean and the seagulls while Rug chases after his favorite stick, seeking solace in the waves of the sea that he loves, hoping that it would be merciful enough to take him away from here, or deliver him that angel who saved his life that day so he could thank her one more time before he resumed living in the meaningless void he currently occupied.

Donning his new eye patch and scars, it has been an emotionally difficult several weeks for Kento.

He was opposed to marriage in the first place, but these physical changes made him retreat into solitude even deeper than before, believing himself unworthy and undesirable for anyone to commit themselves to.

Ijichi didn't push the issue too much, but his heart broke not only for Kento, but for the loyal subjects of the kingdom who were simply concerned about the welfare of the elusive prince who insisted on hiding away.

Luckily, fate, that insistent force that it was, wasn't quite done with Kento, and the sea appears to be ready to answer his prayer much sooner than he could have ever anticipated just around the corner.

Rug takes off, jetting towards some hidden rocks.

"Rug?" Kento calls and furrows his brow when Rug doesn't listen. "Rug!! C'mere boy! Oh!"

He halts at the sight of you, wrapped in the weather beaten sails of a ship wreck. Sea hibiscus in your hair with the sun glow painting the sides of your face, it reignites that image of you from the day you saved his life immediately.

"Do I know you, miss?"

You nod eagerly. Yes, yes, it's me, Kento. It's me...

The way you look at him like you already love him, that warmth in your eyes leaves him so breathless that his scars don't even compute for him.

"It is you! I have been meaning to thank you..."

He sits back in awe, swallowing in his throat as he shakes his head, unable to grasp the reality in front of his face. "Will you tell me your name, please?"

You go to speak but no sound escapes.

"Oh?" Kento looks over you in concern. "You cannot speak?"

You shake your head, a sphere of your heart cracking a little as you gesture to your throat. All of the things you want to tell him, ask him, find out about his world, his life, the deepest machinations of the man that you're convinced your soul has yearned for in multiple lives besides just this one, completely dashed by the cruel condition of the sea witch's power.

"Oh. I apologize. You couldn't be the one I was looking for, then."

Kento, you don't even know...

You both sit there in mutual frustration and confusion, unsure of what to do next.

"Well, if I may, can I help get you to where you're going? You must be tired, and hungry."

You nod quickly at the last word.

"Yes? You're hungry?" Kento smiles at you. "Of course. Here, hold onto me. My home is just up that way."

You beam and look back as your cheer squad of Hiromi, Yuji, and Panda give you encouraging smiles as Kento helps you towards the palace.

------

The servants in the castle are every bit as kind and gracious that you could ever expect, buzzing eagerly with excitement as they had not had the privilege of hosting a female guest in quite some time since the queen's passing.

They bathe you in the finest soaps and oils that are tailored just for your skin that leave you smooth and moisturized with a spritz of perfume to your breasts, styling your hair and powdering your face in soft makeup that highlights the beauty you already possess.

Ijichi in particular is very smitten with you, perhaps slightly more than Kento as you waltz into the grand dining room for dinner, dressed in a flowing lavender dress that opens at the back, almost like you were emerging from the sea a second time.

"Marvelous!! Simply marvelous. You outdid yourself this time, Shoko." Ijichi compliments the head of the household and she shoots him back a humble grin.

"Makes it easier when you've got such a lovely canvas to work with."

Kento simply doesn't have words. His lips part as soon as he turns his head towards the sound of your heels on the marble floors, oxygen failing him as well as he takes in how you seemed to leave everything better after you touched it, including this exquisite flowing silk dress that ran down your back and clung to your thighs.

"Please, allow me." Kento takes you by the hand and helps you sit. Dinner is delicious and quiet, a little awkward as you can't exactly understand what Ijichi and Kento are discussing as they talk about business matters for the palace and kingdom.

You watch Kento carefully out of the corner of your eye, making sure you're using the utensils correctly, shocked to find out the fork is not actually an instrument to groom your hair with.

"What do we have for the main course, Shoko?"

"Roast with Krabbe Salat." She answers as she sets down the dishes.

While Kento and Ijichi chat again, your eyes widen in alarm when Ijichi lifts his cloche just slightly to reveal a terrified Hiromi, pretending to play dead in his salad dish, having narrowly escaped being barbecued by the cooks in the kitchen.

While they're not looking , you quickly open your dish and allow Hiromi to skedaddle until you slide him on your plate in safety and close it.

Ijichi finally stops droning and you realize Kento's asked you a question.

"Would you like to go on a tour of the kingdom tomorrow with me, miss?"

You nod enthusiastically, yes!

"Good!" Ijichi hums, more than pleased that he got Kento to finally agree to get out and about among his people after staying hidden in the palace for so long.

Turns out, a beautiful woman like you was all the persuasion he needed.

-----

The next day

The carriage ride is bumpy but fun. You never knew humans could travel this quickly, especially not from what you're used to with flipping your fins to get places.

The countryside zips past you and you're not sure which is more beautiful, the Danish coast or Kento's windswept hair as he carefully and skillfully directed the horses, not minding the speed one bit and occasionally bestowing a soft smile in your direction.

You notice Kento's cheeks turn pink when he realizes Shoko intentionally dressed you in similar shades of blue to his outfit, making you look like a couple that already belonged together.

"Has he kissed her yet?" Yuji asks Hiromi, exhausted as he tries to chase after the carriage through the waterways in the coastal town.

"Not yet." Hiromi shakes his head.

"Ughhh."

How hard can kissing a prince be?

The coastal town is charming and lovely. The townspeople light up when they see their beloved prince. Nobody comments on Kento's scarring, they're simply ecstatic to see him out in public and wearing a rare smile, a glow of happiness in his countenance they hadn't seen in some time, and you, the beautiful mystery woman on his arm, is the apparent cause.

Nobody seems to mind that you don't talk, either. They just assume you're very shy as they slip you an extra kanelsnegle at the bakery, free daisies that Kento helps weave into your hair, and a beautiful amber ring that Kento slides on your index finger, both your cheeks burning at the simple gesture that actually carries a lot of deeper implications that might come later if this new connection keeps developing as flawless as it is.

------

The sun has almost set on your second day as a human. Your anxiety is rising a little bit on everything that rests on tonight and tomorrow. But this is the most hopeful you've felt all night as Kento rows you out in a rowboat to a lush lagoon.

Fireflies begin to linger near the lily pads whose blossoms open as soon as the moonlight leaks from behind the clouds.

The catfish gently glide out of the way to accommodate you two, reeds flutter in the breeze and the gentle croaking of frogs begins the night time lullaby of the lagoon.

You can't deny the air has gotten much, much thicker, and the distance between you and Kento much, much thinner.

"I had a great day." Kento says softly. "Thank you for allowing me to show you around my kingdom."

You smile back, scooting a little closer to him until your knees touch, the abrupt motion you'd expect him to shrink away from, but he stays right where he is, gaze unwavering from yours except to turn his head and steer the boat.

Panda, Hiromi, and Yuji are keeping a close eye on the situation when Panda gets the bright idea to help you out a little bit.

A yowling sound like a dying wildebeest interrupts your boat ride.

"My..." Kento chuckles as he winces at the sound. "Some hunter must have done a poor job and left his prey begging to put out of its misery."

The howling only continues and that's when you see Panda looking pleased with himself, giving you a wink and a thumbs up from his post where he's serenading you and Kento.

Hiromi's eardrums are practically bleeding and he hires two storks to shut Panda up before he takes over.

"I'll show him some real music." Hiromi mutters to himself as he stands in front of his makeshift orchestra of the lagoon.

"Percussion." He directs and the ducks begin drumming on the bellies of turtles in a smooth, catchy beat.

"Wind!" The evening time breeze rattles through the cattails, creating a melody.

"Strings!" The crickets rub their wings.

You and Kento look around you as the lagoon comes to life and plays the gentle music with Hiromi's help.

The fireflies glow shades of purple, pink, blue and green in the water. The fish circle around you, creating a fountain as the rowboat drifts inside a weeping willow.

Kento looks over at you, watching how beautiful the moonlight makes you in the mystical air of the lagoon.

Suddenly, all the doubts he had make no sense. He might never find that mystery angel rescuer of his, but he's slowly realizing with the fireflies fluttering by your eyes and the stars bringing out the blue in your dress that makes you look so perfect next to him, that he doesn't want to.

"I still don't know your name." Kento murmurs to you, taking your hands in his, warm, a little calloused, but so gentle.

He smiles at you and starts listing off some common names. "Let's see... Elizabeth?"

No? "Kate?" Negative. Hmm.... "Sarah?" Hell no.

Kento chuckles at the face you pull at that.

"Oh for the love of Pete." Hiromi crawls up one of the plants and leans by Kento's ear,

"Her name is _____, fool."

Kento pauses and then whispers your name. You nod excitedly, taking his hands in yours again. Kento warms up equally at your reaction and says it again like he needs to make sure you're real. And God, the way he says it...

"That's a beautiful name. It suits you." Kento whispers, leaning even closer.

The dancing fairy lights of the lagoon and how they bend around you both, moon high in the sky, how you look at him without even seeing his scars.

He could recognize you from a dream, one that he never wants to wake up from. Kento's lips part a little bit as he leans in, his fingers dance softly underneath your chin, pulling you closer and closer and then-

SPLASH

Jogo and Mahito flip the boat with their tails, sending you and Kento directly into the lagoon.

"Are you alright?" Kento coughs as you both gain your bearings and he helps you out of the water. "I'm so sorry. No harm done. Just hold onto me. Let's get you back to the palace."

------

Mei Mei watches the scene from her evil lair hundreds of miles away under the sea.

"That was close, way too close!! Jesus, this slut is doing much better than I thought!! This fool prince is actually falling for her!!"

Mei Mei realizes she needs to take matters into her own hands, otherwise Kento will be kissing you by tomorrow, foiling her greater plans of revenge against your father who exiled her all those years ago.

She smiles evilly as she drinks a new position, her sea tentacles disappearing into two legs and laughing maniacally until your voice is the only sound that comes out of her throat.

------

Kento plays his flute solemnly in the middle of the night, looking out at the beach in front of him just outside his castle.

He's replaying the lagoon scene with you tonight over and over in his head.

There were too many instances happening as of late that he can only trace to fate trying so hard to tell him something. But his mind still doesn't want to let go of that mystery angel with the gorgeous voice.

He remembers Ijichi's words to him, "Sometimes if you spend so long looking for something, you miss what you truly need right in front of you."

Kento catches the light from your bedroom in the castle, illuminated just above his head. He sees you fixing your hair, daydreams in your beautiful eyes as you get ready for bed like you've always belonged in his world and he feels his heart tug again with that same gravity that pulled him closer to you in the lagoon tonight.

He looks down at his flute, then casts it back into the sea, turning to go back inside, hoping that he can catch you before you drift off to tell you something he's wanted to since the day the sea gave you to him.

Then he hears it.

It's soft and eventually rings so clearly over the waves. It's your voice, melodious and sweet as it reaches his eardrums.

Kento runs towards it, looking down at the approaching figure on the beach its coming from.

A mysterious young woman with long, platinum blonde hair and aqua eyes walks the beach, her siren song echoing into the night, haunting and beautiful as she turns towards him, shooting him a playful smile.

A plume of golden light pours out of the seashell around her neck, until Kento feels warm and fuzzy.

His legs seem to move on their own accord as he slowly moves towards her, the song pulling him in like a fly into the spider's web until it's too late.

-----

The exciting news breaks across the kingdom bright and early before you've even woken up the next day.

Panda crash lands into your open window, body slamming you and Hiromi who's sleeping peacefully on your pillow.

"Wake up, Miss!" Panda cries, jumping up and down, jostling you and Hiromi awake.

"The prince is gettin hitched!! Tonight!!"

You blink, and then the words register: Kento is getting married!

So it was true, after all! The night you spent in the lagoon, this connection you were slowly rebuilding after he recognized you from a dream, that night you saved him on the beach and saw him unlike everyone else who only paid attention to the obligations his crown bestowed on him.

He loves me...

You fix your hair without changing your outfit and run down the halls and pause at the stairs, only for it to come crashing down in a matter of seconds.

A very beautiful mystery woman with platinum blonde hair, dressed in a blue dress much like the one you had on last night, is tucked on Kento's right arm with the late queen's ring on her ring finger as he stares straight ahead.

"This is very unexpected, very unprecedented indeed." Ijichi looks at the couple in amazement that seemed to fall together overnight.

Ijichi should be overjoyed but he's a bit overwhelmed. A little unsettled given Kento's growing attachment to you that was obvious to everyone in the palace less than 24 hours ago.

"We wish to be married, tonight." Kento speaks, robotic and unmoving. "Before sunset."

You can't really concentrate on that over the intense shattering of your own heart resounding in your eardrums.

You can't even say anything, robbed of your own voice that, unknown to you, was being used against you in this very moment to architect your downfall.

You run down the hall, tears flowing out of your eyes while Mei Mei smiles and cozies up to her new beau, looking pleased as punch as she fiddles with the white seashell around her neck.

-----

The wedding barge is grander and more elaborate than any you've ever seen, beautiful, romantic, adorned in white roses, lillies of the valley, and myrtle, fit for a celebration as long awaited and royal as this one, and everything you would have wanted at yours.

You watch your dreams pull away from the harbor as you slip into despair on the dock, just like the dwindling sunset that catches every last one of your tears that fall into the sea.

Hiromi and Yuji sit with you in mutual sorrow as they help you cry.

Both of them want nothing more than to turn back time and make this right, but with time running out, they were powerless to stop Kento marrying that other woman and you giving up your freedom to a sea witch forever, the love you yearned so badly for ripped away from you just as it was beginning to reach back.

Panda is flying to clear his head, (and also spy on the wedding because he couldn't help himself).

If he's lucky, they'll have a ton of leftovers at the banquet he can scrounge through for tonight's dinner.

He hears your singing voice pouring through one of the windows.

Impossible, you were back on the dock...so why can he hear you plain as day on the boat?

Panda swoops in for a closer look, stunned to see it's coming from the bridal suite, but your voice doesn't belong to you.

Mei Mei is twirling in her wedding dress, cackling to herself.

"Mei Mei, you outdid yourself. That naive little slut made it too easy. I'll own her soul before the night is over, and Yaga won't have a choice but to turn the ocean over to me. Even got a second kingdom out of the deal."

She smirks in her reflection as she flaunts Kento's mother's ring on her finger, cackling as her real form is revealed with her eight tentacles, signature braid, and eyes that shifted from blue to their true purple in her bedroom mirror.

Panda almost hits his head on a flagpole as he high speeds out of there, flying faster than his wings can carry him back to shore.

-----

Panda crashes on the dock and you pause your tears once more.

"Panda?"

"I just.... pants.... saw something really fucked up." Panda can hardly speak, this is the most exercise he's gotten in a while.

"So there I was, flying. Well I mean, of course I was flying, I'm a seagull. And...and I got hungry so I was gonna go to the wedding. IwasonlythereforthefoodIswear!!!"

"Spit it out, man!" Hiromi taps his feet impatiently.

"And, and the watch was witching in the mirror! Singing with a pair of pipes that wasn't hers!"

Say what??? All three of you look at each other in confusion.

"Don't you get it??" Panda shakes Hiromi by his suit collar.

"He's. marrying. the sea witch. in. disguise!" Panda slams Hiromi against the dock with each word.

Hiromi has had enough. "Get the fuck off!" He squirms out of Panda's grasp and straightens himself. "Even if she was the sea witch, what can we do??"

You digest this news in pure disbelief before it settles into rage, then determination.

Kento...your Kento.

Even if he doesn't end up with you, you can't sit back and allow Mei Mei to take advantage of him like this.

You jump into the water without a second thought. Hiromi thinks quickly and uses his claws to snap a rope holding a bunch of storage barrels for the nearby ships.

"Quick, grab on! Yuji, get her to the wedding barge as fast as you can!"

Yuji grabs onto the robe securing the barrel you're holding onto, wrapping it as a harness around his neck. "I'm on it!"

"I need to tell the sea king! There's no other choice!" Hiromi scrambles and plops back into the sea, beginning to swim away.

"What about me?!" Panda asks.

"Find a way to stall that wedding, Panda!!"

"But...but how??"

"I don't give a damn how, just do it!!!!" Hiromi shouts before he disappears into the water.

Panda can't believe Hiromi's leaving him to his own devices like this. So much power...

"I got it!" Panda gets an idea and soars into the air.

"CAWW! CAWW! CAWW!!"

He sounds off the red alert and soon all of the nearby birds, fish, and sea mammals come to his aid, headed straight for the wedding cruise ship that was beginning to get smaller in the distance.

-----

The wedding procession is in full swing. Soft piano music plays as Mei Mei walks down the aisle where Kento waits at the altar.

The townspeople look on in support, still a bit confused at the arrival of this mystery woman, though they can't deny Kento's abrupt choice of bride is a stunning one.

Rug growls quietly as she passes by, not liking this suspicious stranger one bit. Mei Mei scowls and kicks him in the face before painting on her soft fake bridal smile again as Kento takes her by the hand.

"Dearly beloved..." The arch deacon begins to read the marital script and Mei Mei's grin grows even wider as she notices the sun sink even lower in the sky.

----

Yuji is beginning to lose his steam trying to pull you towards the boat.

"Almost there, princess.... almost....pants.... we're...we're gonna make it...pants..... don't worry..."

You begin to feel that knot of dread tighten in your stomach as hopelessness casts a dark shadow over you again.

----

"Do you, Prince Kento Nanami the second, take Princess Mei Mei to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do." Kento says blankly, no soul behind his amber eye.

"And do you, Princess Mei Mei..."

Mei Mei hears commotion behind her, raising her head curiously only to witness a dozen seagulls making a divebomb straight for her.

"AHHHH!!!" Feathers explode everywhere as they come down with a crash, talons tearing and ripping into her veil and dress.

Sea lions wreck havoc on the dance floor, smashing the buffet tables and terrorizing all the terrified guests.

The whole scene immediately dissolves into utter chaos.

Hiromi arrives with the fish army and the dolphins take turns spraying Mei Mei with the jet settings as she screams and tries to claw her way out, kicking and wringing anyone who gets too close.

"AGGGHHHHH!!"

The sea lions shove her into the 15 tier wedding cake, spraying the guests and Ijichi in buttercream frosting.

Ijichi has his head in his hands as he shakily tries to clean the goop from his glasses frames, watching all this money and organization go flushing down the drain while Kento still stands frozen and responseless, still completely enraptured by the sea witch's magic.

Yuji finally arrives with you in tow, climbing up the side of the ship, in shock at the disaster wedding scene.

Hiromi makes a jump for Mei Mei's necklace. As they tussle, Panda flies in and grabs at Mei Mei's hair extensions. Rug takes his chance and bites her in the ass as hard as he can.

"AHHHHHHH!!!"

The necklace finally shatters, freeing your voice, the sweet melody rings out over the chaos and settles back into your lungs.

At that very moment, the curse holding Kento hostage leaves his body. He's astonished at the first thing he sees which is is you, his mystery angel who saved his life, singing in that beautiful voice like the record in his ears that he had never stopped playing since.

"It is you." He murmurs, emotion building in his eye.

"Oh, Kento I wanted to tell you so badly!!"

"You have the rest of your life to tell me." He whispers, pulling you closer.

Suddenly, that blinding pain from your transformation is back and you cry out in pain as the sun completely disappears on the horizon, taking any hope you had left with it.

"Sweetheart?" Kento looks at you, horrified as you crumple in his arms, legs turning back into your mermaid tail. "What's happening??"

"I'm so so sorry, Kento..."

"You're too late!!!" Mei Mei's evil laughter booms overhead and horrified onlookers watch in terror as her wedding dress explodes into her eight tentacles, eyes shooting a vivid purple as she grabs you from Kento's arms.

"Sorry to ditch so early with your runaway bride. Who just so happens to be my consolation prize!"

Mei Mei jumps overboard, taking you with her. Hiromi and Yuji swim after you. Kento throws off his suit jacket, loosening his tie as he jumps off the barge in one of the rowboats.

"Your highness!!"

"I am not losing her again!" Kento shouts back as he rows as quickly as he can in your direction where Mei Mei dragged you under.

Just before Mei Mei can steal you back to her lair, she's met with the pointy end of King Yaga's trident.

"Mei Mei, stop!"

"Dad, please I'm so sorry!!" You sob.

"Sorry, Daddy. But your headstrong little girl signed a contract. She belongs to me, see?" She flaunts the golden paper in front of King Masamichi's face with a sassy tentacle.

"Didn't do a very good job of teaching her the terms and conditions, now did you?"

Yaga scowls and smites the contract with all his power, to which Mei Mei cowers back at first, then chuckles wildly as it remains completely intact.

"Oh, did I forget to mention it's a binding vow?" She bats her eyelashes. "Although, I'm definitely a gal that's not above negotiation."

Yaga lowers his trident, jaw tensing as he looks down, understanding immediately what needs to be done.

Your heart breaks as you realize what he's about to do.

"Dad! Noooo!!!!"

Yaga points the trident at the contract, signing his name over yours, and in a flash, the binding vow reduces Yaga to one of the cursed spirit creatures in Mei Mei's lair.

"Yes. At last!!!!!"

The entire sea rumbles and shakes as the trident lands in Mei Mei's hands and the crown on her head.

"At long last...the power of the ocean...is MINE! MINE to command!!"

A shadow immediately washes over the entire seafloor as all of the strength of the sea is wielded in Mei Mei's dark powers. She grins evilly as she aims the trident right at you, Hiromi, and Yuji.

You three hold onto each other, bracing for a death ray that never happens. Mei Mei cries out in pain as she's slashed with a harpoon, narrowly missing a harpoon from Kento, who's come to your rescue.

"After him!" She shrieks to Jogo and Mahito who slither after him.

"KENTO, NO!!" You cry out.

"Heh, heh, heh. The silly human can't hold his breath forever." Mei Mei cackles as she aims the trident at Kento, who's being dragged back down by Jogo and Mahito.

"NO!!!" You snatch Mei Mei's hair and the death ray goes off, hitting Jogo and Mahito instead who explode like two piñatas.

"MY BABIES!!!!" Mei Mei wails.

She snarls evilly, stewing in absolute rage as she gathers power for her most deadly attack, her form growing bigger, and bigger as she watches you swim Kento to safety.

"Kento! You gotta get out of here!!" You plea with him as you bring him to the surface, trying to convince him to get back in his boat, but he clings to you instead, holding you against his chest as he lets you use him like a life raft despite him being the one who needed oxygen.

"I'm not leaving you! I refuse to lose you again!"

Suddenly, Mei Mei emerges from the depths, almost as big as the clouds, towering over you as you and Kento hold each other and cower in the water.

"All of the power of the sea...MINE at last!" She revels, throwing her hair back. Lighting strikes directly in front of her, creating a maelstrom.

"Look out!" Kento grabs your hand as you both jump out of the way and dodge Mei Mei's large tentacles that smash and create a pool of mini tsunamis while the maelstrom deepens, raising dozens of shipwrecks and other debris from the ocean floor.

"How are we going to defeat her?" You sob, holding onto Kento as you two cower behind some rocks.

Kento holds you against his chest, thinking quickly on his feet, noticing the pointy sharp end of a mast sticking out of a bow of a shipwreck that could be used as a weapon.

"I have an idea." He cradles your face in his hands. "But I need your help, darling." He peers over the rocks at Mei Mei, who's beginning to play target practice with some of the animals who stayed behind to fight after crashing the wedding.

You nod, looking over the rocks as well. "I'll distract her. I'll swim in the maelstrom while you steer the ship."

Kento's eye widens and he shakes his head. "Darling, no! That's out of the question."

"I'll be okay, Kento." You promise tearfully, holding him close. "I swear I will. I can outswim her. The maelstrom is powerful enough that she'll have a hard time hitting me. Hiromi and the others are already distracting her too."

Kento exhales, bringing your forehead against his, his scarred thumb tracing under your eyes, memorizing the way it felt to hold you one more time, even though he'd sooner die than let it be the last.

"As long as you promise."

"I promise, Kento."

He kisses you hard before he watches you go.

-----

Mei Mei chortles with evil laughter when she sees you come back.

"Well well well, if it isn't the brave little mermaid here to save the day?" She pauses from shooting at Hiromi and the other fish and turns her attention to you.

You quickly descend to the bottom of the maelstrom, falling onto the exposed seafloor at the bottom of the pit.

Mei Mei brandishes the trident and takes aim, shooting death rays at you as you dodge and jump.

Across the way, Kento uses one of the stray ropes to climb aboard the wrecked ship, a strike of lightning illuminating the treacherous path as he steers and aims the sharp mast directly at Mei Mei's stomach.

Just before she can turn you into sea grits, she cries out with a loud roar as the ship spears her like a kebab.

"AGHHHHH!!!!"

The trident slips from her hand and the crown falls off her head as she comes crashing down, taking the ship with her to the depths.

The deafening sound rumbles the entire earth, shaking the sea like a snow globe.

The blast propels Kento backwards until he washes up and passes out on the beach.

Then, the sea slowly returns to silence. The purple and black smoke from the carnage dissipate as the clouds break into a cleansing shower of rain, until a rainbow spells hope on the horizon.

Yaga and all of the cursed spirits who fell victim to Mei Mei's treachery are restored to their original selves, crying tears of joy as they swim to freedom.

The trident and the crown drift back to its rightful owner, and the entire sea breathes a sigh of relief as King Masamichi Yaga takes the throne once again.

-----

Yaga and Hiromi observe you as you watch over your beloved Kento on the beach.

Your brows furrowed, eyes stained with longing as sea and land separated your worlds once again.

The love is absolutely unmistakable, even in Kento as he lies unconscious. Yaga can sense it with how Kento reaches for you even in his dreams. How his heart remains promised to yours regardless of the separate stars you were born into. He would never yearn for anything but the sea, because the sea held you.

"I guess that's it, then." Yaga sighs tiredly, his heart clenching because today was a day he knew had been here for a while, he was just too stubborn to acknowledge it.

"There's just one more problem."

"What's that, your majesty?" Hiromi asks, his curiosity piqued as he looks up at the mighty king.

"How much I am going to miss her."

He turns his trident towards you, and with one more wish, your fins are traded for legs once more.

When you realize what's happening, you turn to your father in tears, only to find tears of his own as his ultimate blessing for you to find happiness was fulfilled.

When Kento awakens, he sees you. Not as rescuer, this time, but always his angel.

His angel gifted to him by the sea instead of the clouds, fulfilling what was long promised in stars, sealing it permanently with a kiss that leaves every one of them behind.

That same kiss is repeated several months later on that very same beach in water up to your ankles, only this time you're wearing a white dress as you married Kento Nanami by sunset.

"I have one more surprise." Kento murmurs against your lips, stroking your chin with his thumb, that tender look of wrinkled crows feet by his eyepatch and the brown of his eye that would never lose its flame so long as you held the match.

You gasp, as right before your very eyes, both your feet and his transform into pairs of fins.

"Look at me, it's alright." He holds you as the sea reclaims you both. The joyous crowd of witnesses cheer you on as the kingdoms of both land and sea became one that day, solidified by your sheer will to never be separated from each other.

"Kento, what is this..?" You can barely speak over your tears, that dissolve into the water around you.

"I spoke to your father, and...I choose this." He smiles.

"You choose the sea?"

"If it means being with you? Absolutely." Kento murmurs.

"But, your kingdom, Kento..."

"....will be just fine." He hums, smiling at you. "We can return whenever we like."

You shake your head in disbelief, half smiling, half crying. "I can't believe it."

"Well you should, darling. This life is ours. You'd give up yours just to be part of mine..."

He kisses you in a way that the sea will remember and stand the eternal test of time.

"So I'm simply doing the same for you."

He smiles as he takes your hands in his scarred ones, both adorned with the matching physical manifestations of your love.

"Where to first, darling? We've got the entire sea to choose from."

Kento winks at you with his good eye, but before you tell him, you answer him with one more kiss as your fingers tangle up together once more, clad in infinity bands that twinkle with the substance of a thousand stars as boundless as the sea you returned to, together.

And you lived, happily ever after.

The End.

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robin-evry · 9 months ago

Note

Maybe some demigod yuu who is child of Poseidon as well?

Sure thing, ask and you shall receive

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐔𝐔 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐈 𝐆𝐎𝐃 ( 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐈𝐃𝐎𝐍 ) 🐚🌊

A demigod is a part-human and part-divine offspring of a deity and a human, or a human or non-human creature that is accorded divine status after death, or someone who has attained the "divine spark".

Demi god Yuu exudes an aura of serenity, much like the ocean on a calm day. However, there's an undeniable sense of authority about them, and when they speak, people instinctively listen. They rarely raise their voice but don’t need to; their calm composure commands attention.

They are calm and observant as well laid back and possess a strong ideal of Justice. They are described to be elegant but yet can be intimidating when faced with their wrath. Known for their adaptability, during tough situations they will always find a way out or a way to solve it.

They possessed a connection towards the ocean, they often spend their free time near water. Whether it's a lake, river, or even a fountain on the school grounds, water seems to calm them. They sometimes unconsciously manipulate water around them, causing ripples or small waves.

In their free time, you can find them fascinated by aquatic creatures, before going to NRC, they originally planned on being a marine biologist. You can find them in the library reading an encyclopedia about aquatic creatures.

Has the ability to command and control every sea creature, as well as hearing and understanding them. During their first meeting with azul and the twins, they immediately know they are fish men. Many fish men students feel having some connection towards demigod-yuu, every time demigod!yuu ask them to do something, they immediately do it as it was a command or part of their instinct

Inside the mostro lounge, every time they visit the cafe, the fish inside the cafe seems to follow them every foot step, and you can find Demi-God!yuu seem to be talking to them as well every time they release a bubble of air like having a full blown conversation.

Demi-God Yuu has an inherent need for freedom, just like the sea. They despise feeling confined or restricted, both physically and emotionally. Rules and boundaries frustrate them, and they prefer to live life at their own pace. This can sometimes put them at odds with more rigid personalities, like Riddle’s or Vil’s, but they’re skilled at finding ways to bend rules without outright breaking them.

Demi-God Yuu has a quiet rivalry with Riddle due to their vastly different temperaments and leadership styles. Riddle’s strict adherence to rules contrasts with demigod-yuu belief in flowing with the current and adapting to situations. While they respect each other’s power, Riddle finds them calm, almost detached demeanor infuriating at times. In turn, they believe Riddle could benefit from relaxing and letting go of control more often.

Demi-God Yuu shares a close bond with Grim, often encouraging him to embrace his magical potential. They create small water games or challenges for Grim, helping him learn how to control his abilities while having fun together as well if he ever there to catch something on fire they will be there to extinguish it.

Being the child of Poseidon, they have limitless potential to manipulate water or liquefied substances ( this includes ice, gas or any substance that involves water )

They can summon water from thin air, even in environments where no natural water sources are present. The summoned water is often drawn from moisture in the atmosphere or created from their divine energy. They use this ability for offensive and defensive purposes, creating water whips, barriers, or projectiles as well to manipulate with precision that they can shape it into any forms, such as weapons (tridents, swords, spears), shields, or even delicate artistic designs. They use this ability to create functional tools during battle, like water-based chains to bind opponents, a temporary water shield to block attacks or create an army of water knights to fight off. As well to breathe in water having the ability to stay on water for long periods of time.

With the power of Poseidon flowing through them, Yuu can summon aquatic creatures—both mythical and real—from the ocean to assist them. This includes sea serpents, krakens, and large schools of fish or dolphins.

Due to their deep connection towards water, their emotions are tied to the weather, whenever they feel displeased or any negative emotion scaling on which one, rain will appear the stronger the negative emotions are the stronger the rain.

They can change their form using water, by using large bodies of water they can be the same size of a titan or as well use this ability to dodge attacks by making their body water making it impossible to damage.

Demi-God Yuu also has a natural ability to heal or enhance others using water. Whether it’s minor cuts or something fatal, they can use water to heal people spiritually as well physically.

They wear a trident-shaped accessory, symbolizing their connection to their godly parent in their uniform, that can be turned into a Trident in any dire situation where they need a weapon.

Demi-God Yuu has a small, magically summoned sea turtle named “Aqua,” who follows them around in the dorm. Aqua often rests on Yuu’s shoulder and is known for its playful personality. The turtle can also transform into a larger size when Yuu needs help in the water or to work as a form of transportation.

Demi-God Yuu has a unique fashion sense inspired by ocean themes as well sea creatures. They often wear flowing fabrics that mimic waves or colors resembling the ocean at different times of the day—deep blues, shimmering silvers, and vibrant corals. They sometimes incorporate shells, pearls, or other oceanic accessories into their outfits.

They will always be seen visiting Octavinelle dorm to visit mostro lounge to talk with the animals, sitting at a booth near the aquarium with their drink order is always to find a way to comfort them, they are also considered to be a regular at the cafe.

They collects unique seashells from different locations and has a special shelf in their dorm dedicated to displaying them. Each shell has a story or memory associated with it using magic each seashell will be entrapped with a special memory of them like a video on recording, this is also a way demigod!yuu give gifts. Giving them a special sea shell with a preserve memory they have with the person they're giving it.

Talented at singing, their singing is similar to a siren, alluring as well as relaxing this talent Can be used to hypnotize as well to let their enemies guard down.

Demi-God Yuu has transformed Ramshackle into a mini-ocean oasis, featuring decorations like seashells, coral, and water-themed artwork. They hang shimmering blue curtains that mimic ocean waves and use soft, flowing fabrics to give the room a beachy vibe.

They also have built a pool behind the dorm, where they will host pool parties during weekends as a way for their friends to relax after a long week of school. Originally the first years were the only ones that would attend but soon everyone started to attend to relax.

Absolutely hates scarabia dorms for being in the desert, no offense to kalim and Jamil it's just that the dessert is one place they rather avoid due to the lack of water inside the environment.

Inside their room holds a music box singing the songs of every fish or aquatic creature in the ocean that was given to them by their father whenever they miss being in the ocean, during times when life become too hard for them to deal with, they will play the music box to remind them of their father.

Part of the equestrian club if you think of it, aquatic creatures aren't the only thing they are connected to surprisingly, horses. They have a deep connection to their horse name kelpie. One of the best of them all.

Octavinelle trio originally is planning on trapping them but they are ALWAYS two steps ahead knowing their plan before hand, due to them being a fisherman, demigod!yuu understand everything they said and thought.

As well a master at the arts, Demi-God Yuu is an incredible artist as well a talent to sculpting, able to build large palace sandcastles in a few minutes. If anyone ever asks how they do it, they will get a simple answer no.

One of their favorite hobbies is to collect corals and seashells, their room is decorated with sea shells around the wall as well as a jelly fish lamp around the dorm.

#not canon #twisted wonderland #twst headcanons #twst scenario #disney twst #twisted wonderland yuu au #twst mc #twst wonderland #twst x reader #twst yuu au #demi god!yuu #poseidon

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the-mortuary-witch · 2 months ago

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AMPHITRITE

WHO IS SHE?

Amphitrite is the goddess of the sea and Queen of the sea in Greek mythology, and one of the 50 (or 100) daughters (the Nereids) of Nereus and Doris (the daughter of Oceanus). She is also the wife of the god of the sea, Poseidon. Amphitrite is a powerful and revered goddess associated with the sea and ocean, and is often depicted as a beautiful woman with long hair and a dress made of seashells or sea plants. She is known for her gentle and nurturing nature, and is believed to have the ability to calm the seas and bring peace and tranquility to those who seek her help.

BASIC INFO:

Appearance: Amphitrite was depicted in Greek vase painting as a young woman, often raising her hand in a pinching gesture. Sometimes she was shown holding a trident or fish. In mosaic art the goddess usually rides beside her husband in a chariot drawn by fish-tailed horses or hippokampoi. Sometimes her hair is enclosed with a net and her brow adorned with a pair of crab-claw "horns".

Personality: it is difficult to know for certain what Amphitrite's personality was like with her devotees, as she is not as well-known as some of the other Greek gods and goddesses. However, based on the myths and legends, she is often described as a calm, regal, and dignified figure, who is both beautiful and powerful. She is also known for her loyalty and devotion to her husband, Poseidon, and is said to be protective of the sea and its creatures. It is possible that Amphitrite was also seen as a nurturing and caring deity, who would watch over and protect her devotees.

Symbols: trident, dolphin, the sea, crabs, fish, and seal

Goddess of: the sea and Queen of the sea

Culture: Greek

Plants: seaweed, kelp, sea grass, algae, and sargassum

Crystals: aquamarine, pearl, quartz, ocean jasper, amber, opal, larimar, petoskey stone, cuprite, frosterly marble, and coral

Animals: dolphin, seal, fish, crab, shark, turtle, shellfish, and any other sea or water related animals

Incense: frankincense, myrrh, and ocean scented incense

Practices: water divination, healing, ocean themed spells, cleansing, protection, fertility, and abundance

Colours: gold, white, blue, cyan, green, and purple

Numbers: N/A

Zodiac: Aquarius

Tarot: The Empress

Planet: N/A

Day: N/A

Parents: Nereus and Doris

Siblings: Nerites, the Nereids (or the river gods), and the Oceanids

Partner: Poseidon (married)

Children: Triton, Rhode, Kymopoleia, Benthesikyme (also seals, dolphins, fish, and shellfish)

MISC:

Dolphins: they are often associated with Amphitrite because she is the goddess of the sea, and she is said to be the mother of many seas creatures, especially dolphins. Dolphins were seen as playful and intelligent sea creatures, and they are associated with fertility and were seen as companions to fishermen and sailors, guiding them to safe harbours and warding off storm and sea monsters.

The sea: Amphitrite is associated with the sea because she is the goddess of the sea in Greek mythology. She is the wife of Poseidon and the daughter of Nereus and Doris, who were both sea nymphs or sea deities. According to myth, Amphitrite was the Queen of the sea and the ruler of the sea nymphs. She was also known as the wife of Poseidon, the god of the sea, and the mother of several sea creatures, including the nymphs of saltwater and fresh water.

Trident: in Greek mythology, the trident is associated with Amphitrite because it is the weapon of her and Poseidon’s choice. The trident is a three-pronged weapon that is said to have been given to Poseidon by the sea god Nereus, and it is said to have been used by Poseidon to control the sea and command the sea creatures. The trident is also associated with power, royalty, and oceanic authority.

Fish: they are associated with Amphitrite because she was the goddess of the sea and all marine life, including fish. She was known for her control and power over the sea, and was also believed to be the mother of many sea creatures, including fish. They are also seen as a symbol of fertility and abundance, as the sea was considered to be the source of life and creation.

FACTS ABOUT AMPHITRITE:

When Poseidon first sought Amphitrite's hand in marriage, she fled his advances, and hid herself away near Atlas in the Ocean stream at the far ends of the earth. The dolphin-god Delphin eventually tracked her down and persuaded her to return to wed the sea-king.

She was said to be the mother of seals, dolphins, fish, and shellfish.

The story of Amphitrite marrying Poseidon is also the story of the constellation Delphinus. As thanks, Poseidon placed the dolphin up in the sky as the constellation.

Her name is probably derived from the Greek words amphis and tris, "the surrounding third." Her son, Triton, was similarly named "of the third." Clearly "the third" is the sea, although the reason for the term is obscure. Amphitrite was essentially the same as the primordial sea-goddess Thalassa. Her Roman equivalent was Salacia whose name means "the salty one."

It is said that her voice alone can calm Poseidon in his most vicious fits of rage.

Amphitrite may be a calming and kind deity, but don't test her patients and please don't oppose as a threat to her. Disrespecting this goddess can end up with your life being flipped upside down as she holds quite a lot of power.

It’s stated in myths that Amphitrite’s voice is the only thing that can calm her husband’s mightiest rages and lull him to a deep slumber so the ocean could be back at peace.

Asteroid 29 Amphitrite was named after her.

HOW TO INVOKE AMPHITRITE:

To invoke Amphitrite, you can set up an altar or sacred space dedicated to her, using symbols and items associated with the sea and the ocean. You can light a gold, blue, or green candle and use seashells, sea glass, or other items collected from the beach as offerings to her. You can use sea salt in your ritual space and incorporate the sound of waves or ocean sounds into your invocation. Some people also find it helpful to focus on the image of Amphitrite as they enter into a trance or meditative state to connect with her energy.

PRAYER FOR AMPHITRITE:

Amphitrite, great and sovereign goddess, bride of Poseidon, mighty sea-queen,

Daughter of Nereus, long of beard, and Doris whose gift of the ocean’s bounty provides for the children of the humankind.

Amphitrite, eldest of the Nereids, fairest of those fabled maids,

Amphitrite who sits enthroned on the ocean floor, mother of all sea-creatures, of all who dwell in your briny realm,

Friend of the sailor and the fisher-folk, yours is the power to grant a smooth sail, or to pull a ship down beneath storm-driven waves.

Amphitrite, unrivalled, unyielding,

I pray to you.

SIGNS THAT AMPHITRITE IS CALLING YOU:

A strong desire or connection to the sea or the ocean.

Increased sense of calm and peace when you are near the sea.

A feeling of being drawn to the ocean or the sea, or finding yourself drawn to the sound of waves or the smell of salt water.

Experiencing a sense of creativity or inspiration related to the sea and its symbolism.

A desire to learn more about the sea and its mysteries.

Seeing/finding pictures or figures of dolphins and seals unexpectedly.

Here are some additional signs that Amphitrite may be calling on you:

Dreams and/or visions of the sea or the ocean, particularly if they feature Amphitrite or other sea creatures.

A sense of being protected or nurtured by a benevolent and calming presence when you are near the sea or the ocean.

Finding seashells or other ocean-related items unexpectedly.

OFFERINGS:

Recycled materials.

Shark or megalodon teeth.

Food and drinks: seafood (please ask her first), water, dried seaweed, salted caramel, dark chocolate, red wine, olive oil, fruit, honey, milk, salt water, cucumber, pineapple, mango, blueberries, lime, and coconuts.

Gold, white, blue, cyan, green, and purple candles.

Seashells.

Ocean scented candles or incense.

Fish scales.

Opal jewelry.

Anything with sea salt.

Sea, moon, storm, or rain water.

Crystals: aquamarine, pearl, quartz, ocean jasper, amber, opal, larimar, petoskey stone, cuprite, frosterly marble, and coral.

Images of things she is associated with.

Photos of the sea.

Any gems or stones associated with the water element, such as sea glass.

Sand.

Art or statues relating to the sea and its creatures.

DEVOTIONAL ACTS:

Picking up litter along waterways of rivers, oceans, lakes, streams, etc.

Staying hydrated.

Caring for your fish, turtle, axolotl, etc.

Using metal straws.

Start a compost bin.

Honouring Her, her husband, Poseidon, and her children.

Wearing anything with the colours gold, white, blue, cyan, green, and purple.

Beach combing.

Visit aquariums.

Donating to climate change/ocean clean up and protection organizations.

Collecting sea water.

Read or write her poetry.

Meditating near the beach or a body of water encircled with calming sounds to connect with Amphirite on a deeper level.

Recycling.

Swim in Her honour, or teach someone else how to swim.

Wearing flowy clothing.

Visit your local river, beach, streams, lakes, etc if you're not close to the ocean.

Dedicate a swimsuit to her.

Incorporate Amphitrite into your crafts (ask first).

Ocean related bath rituals.

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gavamont · 3 months ago

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Merman wizard, wizard of the ocean

Always quite wet, never needs lotion

His staff is a trident, yes it still counts

It can control fish in large amounts

He commands the fishes and cephalopods

And other watery animalia, no matter how odd

And yes, he even controls the coral

But they can’t move much, so the point is null

But the merman is gentle, never cause a commotion

For he is the wizard merman, wizard of the ocean

#wizard #wizardposting #wizardblogging #wizard shit #dnd #make up a guy #character idea #rhymes #merman #mermaid

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melpomenelamusa · 2 months ago

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Mer whump with Neela and Inlan (I couldn’t come up with a pretty title).

~Original story~

A/N: Neela and Inlan are two mer OCs I created when I was younger. Inlan is the prince of the Sea Kingdom, and Neela is the royal guard in charge of protecting him. They’re the same age and grew up together in the palace. Right now, they’re traveling through the ocean in search of a way to save their kingdom from the human threat, since humans are hunting merfolk. I never worked more on this story, so all I have is the concept idea and excitement, but to make the most of Mermay, I decided to write a fic using these characters because I simply love them very much.

CW: Mer whump, mer whumpee, kidnapping, held for ransom, royal whump, bound and gagged, whumpee x caretaker.

Neela had been so stupid.

She had let her guard down too much, and now Inlan was in danger.

She and Prince Inlan had decided to camp near a giant kelp forest. The royal guard trusted the lush environment would let them go unnoticed by possible predators, so she chose a small cave nearby where they could rest.

“I trust your judgment,” the prince had told her with a smile.

Neela was confident in her decision: they would have food and fresh water currents. She had also seen what looked like a house close to the area, possibly belonging to kelp farmers, so if the place was inhabited, it meant it had to be safe.

“I’ll go hunt something to eat. Your Highness, please stay here,” Neela announced, gripping her trident.

The prince smiled at her. His white scales shimmered like a pearl in the water.

“I’ve told you to just call me Inlan,” he said kindly. “We’re friends. You don’t have to call me by my title.”

Neela looked down, hoping the red scales on her face would hide her blush.

“I’ll be back in a bit,” she repeated, before leaving the small cave.

Finding food wasn’t difficult—forests were always abundant with fish, algae, and mollusks. The mermaid was catching fish easily when suddenly, a leopard shark came out of nowhere and attacked her, aiming directly at her tail with its sharp teeth. That was odd; leopard sharks were usually peaceful creatures, and there was enough food around to avoid any kind of predator conflict.

Neela swam upward to dodge the bite, but the shark lunged again with its mouth wide open. Neela swam through the tall kelp, trying to lose the creature, but it stayed close, as if it were hunting her. Unable to shake it off, she realized she had no choice but to fight. She gripped her trident firmly, and when the shark charged at her again, she slashed its tail. She didn’t want to kill it, but if it kept coming and posed a threat to her or the prince, she’d have to defeat it.

A few more strikes from her trident left the shark unwilling to keep fighting. It turned around and swam off, disappearing into the kelp forest, leaving behind a faint trail of blood from its wounds. Neela finished hunting and, once she had enough fish for a sustainable dinner, swam back to the cave.

That’s when her heart stopped.

The cave was empty.

There was no trace of the prince anywhere.

“Your Highness?” she called, thinking maybe the prince had gotten bored and gone off to explore the nearby area. But there was no reply.

Neela kept calling out, swimming around the cave, the panic growing stronger in her chest.

“Your Highness! Your Highness, where are you?! Your Highnessss! INLAN!”

Nothing.

Neela found it harder and harder to filter oxygen through her gills.

Something must have happened. Something had happened to the prince.

She remembered the leopard shark and its strange behavior. Leopard sharks were calm, wild creatures that wouldn’t bother you unless provoked. Then she remembered something her father once told her—that some mers trained small and medium-sized sharks to guard their gardens or farms, and they could even be trained to attack on command. Neela also recalled the stone house she had seen not far from the kelp forest, and a chilling thought took shape in her mind.

What if someone used the leopard shark to distract her and kidnap the prince?

Inlan’s bag, which held his personal belongings and jewelry, was also missing from the cave. If he had gone out to explore, there would’ve been no reason to take his jewelry with him. That only fueled Neela’s suspicion, and she clenched her trident tighter.

It was her duty as royal guard to protect the prince. If anything happened to him…

Without hesitating, Neela began swimming toward the stone house she’d seen earlier. She tried to stay hidden the entire time, blending into the kelp. Her bright red and blue scales weren’t exactly subtle, but she did her best to be as cautious as possible. She couldn’t risk being seen by someone who might have been watching them.

After a while, she reached the house. It was carved into a rocky cliff wall. Light was shining through the window holes. In front of the house was an adult merman bandaging the leopard shark’s wounds—clearly the same one Neela had fought earlier. The merman threw the shark a piece of meat before going back inside. Once the door closed, Neela began to plan her way in.

If Inlan was in there, she had to save him.

Dealing with the leopard shark would be easy—she had the strength and skill to kill it if needed (though she honestly hoped it wouldn’t come to that)—but she didn’t know how many mers were inside the house. If it were just the one she’d seen outside, she could handle it; her training had prepared her for one-on-one combat. The problem was if there were too many. Not because she feared getting hurt herself, but because one of them might threaten or harm Inlan to control her.

Neela decided it was best to wait for nightfall.

When the waters grew darker and the light inside the house became brighter, Neela got ready.

The leopard shark, as was its custom, swam off toward the kelp forest to act as a guard. Neela swam quietly after it, making as little disturbance as possible. While she had waited, she had braided several ropes using strands of kelp. Once she was close enough to the shark, she threw one of the ropes, looping it around the creature’s head and binding it. Neela wrestled with the animal until she managed to tie its fins with the rope as well.

Unable to move, the shark slowly sank to the sandy seafloor. Neela couldn’t help but feel bad for the poor creature, who was only following its master’s commands, so she decided she’d come back to free it once Inlan was safe.

The mermaid swam back toward the house, staying out of sight of the windows. As she got closer, she began to hear multiple voices—specifically unfamiliar male voices talking.

“Did you find anything out, Eel?” said the first voice, probably talking to one of the others.

“Pardy already headed to the forest,” the merman named Eel replied. “If that mermaid tries to come near this area, our pet will make sure to keep her busy while we find a new hiding spot.”

“We have to move quickly,” added a third voice. “If we’re going to ask the crown for ransom, we need to do it before someone finds us.”

“MMMMH!”

“Seems His Highness isn’t too excited,” said the first voice. A thud followed, then a soft whimper of pain. “What’s a prince doing so far from home in dangerous times like these? It’s like he was begging to be captured.”

“With what we get from the ransom, we can finally say goodbye to this boring farming life,” said the third voice with enthusiasm.

“Patience, Kaup. We’ll continue with the plan tomorrow. I’m sure there are plenty of mers—or even humans—who’d be interested in paying a fortune to possess the prince of the sea.”

“Mmmmh! Nnh!”

“Should I knock him out again, Rostratu?” asked Kaup.

“Mmn! Mmmmmh!”

“I think the prince is willing to behave tonight—unless he wants us to lock him in a basket,” said Rostratu. There was a moment of silence before he added, “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

“In that case, I’ll take first watch,” Eel offered. “You guys get some sleep.”

A few minutes later, the lights inside the house dimmed. The slim merman Neela had seen feeding the leopard shark came out the door.

During all that time, the mermaid stayed hidden behind some coral next to the house. The more she listened, the more she felt her heart tighten, the harder she gripped the handle of her weapon, the more difficult it became to control the violent impulse to storm the place and take down everyone who had dared to lay a finger on Inlan.

Her opponent carried no weapons and didn’t seem very strong. If she was fast enough, she could attack and incapacitate him in the blink of an eye, before he could alert his companions. Taking a deep breath to flood herself with courage, Neela swam upward and attacked from above, striking the back of her opponent’s head with the handle of her trident.

It wasn’t the most honorable technique, but it was effective, as her opponent instantly collapsed onto the sandy floor without making a sound. Neela tied him up and dragged him behind the coral cluster where she had been hiding.

The mermaid peeked through the window of the house, revealing an empty room. She pushed open the shell door and went inside. Ahead was a hallway that led to more rooms. Neela swam as silently as possible, listening intently for the slightest sound. She managed to hear soft sobbing coming from the room to the left, so she hurried in that direction.

It looked like a small storage room with various tools for kelp harvesting, such as long knives, pitchforks, rakes, and large collection baskets. However, what truly caught her attention was the body with shining pearlescent scales at the far end of the room.

Inlan.

The prince lay on the floor, on his stomach. His arms and wrists were bound behind his back with kelp ropes. An extra piece of rope was tied to the fin of his tail, pulling it back and connecting it to his wrists, leaving him in an uncomfortable position that made it completely impossible for him to swim or even move. Thick pieces of sticky seaweed covered his lips, wrapping around his head and sealing his mouth completely, muffling his sobs.

Neela felt her heart break at the sight of him and couldn’t hold back when she cried out:

“Inlan!”

The prince turned his head. A bruise was starting to form on one of his cheeks. When he saw her, his light blue eyes reflected only pure relief.

Neela swam to him, ready to free him—when suddenly…

“Mmh! Mm-mmh!”

Inlan shouted through the gag, squirming in his restraints, his terrified expression fixed on something behind the mermaid. Suddenly, the two unknown mermen, Rostratu and Kaup, appeared in the storage room.

“How did you get in? What did you do to Eel?” one of them—Kaup—shouted.

Neela didn’t waste time explaining. She pointed her trident at them, baring her sharp teeth in a hostile snarl.

Kaup didn’t hesitate either. He grabbed one of the long knives from the storage and lunged at the young mermaid with a thrust. She blocked the attack with her own weapon, and they quickly engaged in combat; but Neela’s skill allowed her to disarm and knock out her opponent in little time. These mermen might have been bigger and more aggressive than she was, but they lacked the technique of a trained guard.

Unfortunately, that made her opponents prone to fighting dirty.

“Mmnh!”

“Drop the weapon or I’ll kill him!”

Rostratu had moved next to Inlan. With one hand he gripped the prince’s light blue hair tightly, lifting his head, and with the other he pointed the knife’s blade at his neck.

Neela had to restrain the sudden urge to act violently and risk Inlan getting hurt. She doubted these criminals truly wanted to kill the prince—he was more useful alive—but poor Inlan had just been kidnapped and mistreated, his face showed nothing but pure terror, and Neela wasn’t going to subject him to more pain. She had already failed enough as a royal guard for one day.

She dropped her trident to the floor.

Inlan writhed uselessly in his captor’s grip, shaking his head and looking at Neela with concern. The mermaid tried her best to keep her hands from trembling as she raised them in surrender.

She just had to be patient.

The moment her enemy moved away from Inlan, lowering the knife and reaching for one of the ropes to tie her up, Neela struck, throwing herself at him and biting his arm hard enough to draw blood. The merman screamed in pain, pulling at Neela’s pale hair to get her off.

The mermaid let go and, taking advantage of his dazed state, swam to retrieve her trident and struck him with all her strength on the head. He collapsed to the floor.

Silence fell, broken only by Neela’s ragged breathing.

Once calm again, she quickly tied up the criminals, making sure they couldn’t follow or bother them again, before heading to free Inlan.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” she said, her voice full of anguish and guilt as she quickly cut through the ropes that bound the prince. “I’m so sorry, Inlan, you shouldn’t have had to go through all this, I was careless…!”

Neela suddenly felt all her emotions crash over her like a wave pounding her against the rocks, and tears welled in her eyes.

She was so lost in her own guilt that she was surprised when a pair of arms gently wrapped around her.

“You came to save me,” said Inlan, his voice the sweetest sound in the whole ocean. “That’s what matters most. The only thing I could ask for. My savior.”

The prince pulled back and smiled at her. How could he look so happy after everything that had just happened? There was a bruise on his face and marks around his wrists—how could he smile so beautifully? Neela wiped her tears.

“Let’s go before these guys wake up. We need to find a new safe place to spend the night.”

The two young mers left the house, not without first retrieving Inlan’s backpack, and returned to the small cave in the kelp forest. Neela also released the leopard shark, which darted away in terror without attempting to attack them.

As they swam through the ocean, Inlan never left Neela’s side. The prince’s encouraging words slowly helped Neela regain some confidence.

“Come on, Inlan, we still have a long way to go.”

Inlan let out a soft chuckle.

“You’ve said my name a lot today.”

Neela felt her cheeks grow warm again.

“Well, it’s just… we’re friends, right?”

Inlan’s eyes widened slightly, then his expression softened back into his kind smile.

“Yes, we’re friends.”

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digitalbug999 · 7 months ago

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seawatt in pvp civ but hes a fishing rod. “the lost art of fishing rod pvp” but also he refuses to engage with their bloodsports. he fished up a rod with mending last year and never looked back. hes just in the wilderness. he has a trident from some guy he killed on accident, theres no way he managed to kill someone on purpose.

i hope we never see him in season 2 specifically so i can maintain this headcanon. hes the same guy as parkciv too, just got given a second chance here. god evbo and emf visit with the command blocks, they just cant intervene with what pvp evbo has going on bc according to god evbo even he cant mess with the “plot” and “pacing” and the others just ignore him when he says stuff like that bc it doesnt make any sense

im in love with seawatt and i need him to be here and in a place where hes perfectly safe, so the middle of the woods it is

he gets low on durability and is like “dang, time to go mining i guess”. he still parkours occasionally (trying to learn to do a 360 but only when evbo isnt there). hes straight up just the same guy who tried to destroy parkour civilization

#parkour civilization #parkciv #technically but also only in that i think hes the same guy #seawatt #seawatt parkour civilization #pvp civilization #seawatt pvp civilization #i miss him #stickbug speaks

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somepsychopomp · 7 months ago

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Do the gods treat odysseus differently in the omegaverse au than in canon in any significant way?(Circe,Zeus,Poseidon,etc)

I think it depends on the god. We know Athena wouldn't treat him all that differently

As for Poseidon, I have to imagine he'd be so ready to slaughter the so-called infamous King of Ithaca for blinding his son, so he sets out to find the king's fleet. And because he's a little bit of a dickhead I have to imagine he'd glance at Odysseus, glance at Eurylochus, and just assume that the large, imposing alpha with the big sword is the king.

He'd do his "Odysseus of Ithaca! Do you know who I am?" thing and intimidate them a little but when it's clear he's got the wrong guy, Eurylochus & Odysseus share a confused look. A part of Eurylochus is willing to take the fall and accept whatever Poseidon has in mind for "Odysseus" because 1) he loves his brother and 2) he does feel guilty for opening the wind bag.

But Odysseus, because he can't keep his mouth shut, is like "Um actually... I'm the king."

And Poseidon has to do a double-take because he didn't expect the omega of middling height to be the commander of the 600-person fleet.

Gonna be honest though, I think it'd only make him even more mad because he'd feel like Odysseus "tricked" or misled him. So yeah, sadly Ody will still lose most of his men.

I had someone else (@/3r0de) make the great suggestion that Circe might present herself as an omega at first, and I really like that since most strangers would be more willing to trust her that way. But when she faces off against Odysseus and notices that he's an omega as well, she changes tactics and transforms into an alpha to either overpower or seduce him.

Again, like canon, it wouldn't work because Odysseus is loyal like that, but still. It's a dirty trick, trying to take advantage of his omega sensibilities and his longing for his alpha wife.

And Zeus...

Zeus would take one look at Odysseus and be very tempted to offer him a different choice. (ie have sex with me or die) Odysseus is older and more chiseled than the pretty virgin maidens and cute young men that Zeus favors, but hey. An omega is an omega and a hole is goal.

Sadly, he's got to exact punishment and whatnot as the god of law and order or whatever. But u know what? After he smites all of Odysseus' remaining brothers-in-arms, if he ever wanted to sacrifice a bull to Zeus to get his attention... he's more than welcome ;)

Also Poseidon will be forever salty that a mortal omega managed to gut him like a fish with his own trident.

As for some of the other gods like Hermes and Aeolus, I don't think much would change. These two just give me the vibe that they'd be willing to mess around with Ody no matter his secondary gender

#omegaverse au #omega odysseus #epic the musical #odysseus epic #the gods being gods #epic circe #zeus epic #poseidon epic the musical

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greetingfromthedead · 8 months ago

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11. Jaws

Series: Mermaid!AU Depth of Despair

Pairing: Vash x GN!Reader

Word count: 2.2k

Author's Note: I am happy to announce that Depth of Despair is back to weekly uploads for chapters 11 - 15! I apologize for the long break, but with life being busy and my mental health being what it is, I am incapable of juggling two ongoing series (Apple Blossoms being the other) at the same time and since I really don't want to drop either of them, I have settled on writing 5 chapters of one of them and then switching to the other + break weeks between as necessary. It's not ideal, but I hope yall will put up with me ❤ If there are questions, I am more than happy to answer! ❤

← Previous Chapter | Next Chapter →

The voices of the merpeople tangle themselves into the minds of the seamen while they chant commands in a cacophony of haunting melodies. Guns drop to the slippery wooden deck as the sailors become entranced by the mesmerizing sounds. One can barely hear the scratching of nails against wood as the predators claw their way on board. That is until everything falls silent as a grave.

Out of nowhere, a massive black shadow appears under the water's surface. It circles the fishing boat, occasionally coming up enough to breach the still surface with its spines that protrude out from its back. The sirens grin a sharp toothed smile as they watch their meal shiver in fear. The men on the boat are unsure of what to do, their own voices quieting down now that there is nothing to drown out. Vash hears his heartbeat in his ears, blood rushing through his veins as he waits for the attack.

A giant black serpent's tail suddenly slams over the side of the boat, crushing a railing that splinters into pieces. The wet scales glisten, reminding Vash of a dark moonless night. The fishing boat rocks from the impact, a few sirens falling back into the water. The boat starts to keel the other way, a few of Vash's men losing their footing as they all turn just in time to see a black haired man pull themselves over the edge, his body transforming from being covered by massive scales to a human form. He slithers up to the front of the deck, keeping himself upright with the help of a massive trident. He looks imposing where he stands, but his face isn't filled with malice or anger. Vash thinks he might even see something resembling a smile.

"Blondie, it's you again," the serpent speaks, almost playfully.

"Nicholas, wasn't it?" Vash replies, remembering the day you snatched him from his own pier to save him from the man who now seems to toy with the lives of all his men.

"Indeed. And you aren't even drawn to me," he smiles more obviously. "Unlike your crew."

Vash hears more clanks and thuds as his men drop their weapons, their eyes solely focused on the frightening merman in front of them.

"Let them go," Vash commands.

"Why would I let a meal go just like that? Haven't you slipped from my grasp enough times by now?" The merman's voice is cold and menacing, but Vash hears something more in it—a playful note that doesn't seem to belong there. "Why don't we make a bet?"

"You want me to play with the lives of my men?" Vash is in shock, but none of the people around him seem to understand what the conversation is about; they look enamored, captured by the voice of the creature from the deep.

"Didn't you come here for a reason?" Nicholas asks, his gaze sharp as a blade.

Vash's eyes widen in surprise. He shouldn't be shocked that the man before him knows all about your situation, but for some reason he is anyway. It fills his chest with anger and fear. Without even intending to, he takes a long step forward, his hand reaching for the sword on his hip.

"Now now, hear me out first," Nicholas scolds him. "How about we play a game? Do what you came here to do; succeed, and I will allow you, your crew, and… your loot to get out of here alive. Fail, and you will all become fish food."

To emphasize his point, Nicholas flexes the muscles along his long tail that has coiled around the boat, making the planks complain via small cracks and squeaks.

"Why do you do this?" Vash asks, mistrustful of the siren.

"It gets so boring living in hiding all the time. I don't often get the opportunity to play with my food." Nicholas licks his lips. "But don't get me wrong. You are food. You will not succeed. Without your little guardian angel, you will not escape my jaws a third time."

"What are the rules of your game?" Vash asks, forcing himself to be calm in the face of death.

"I grant you your crew, as much as their scrambled brains will allow, and you will get to show me what you're capable of. To give you just a touch of a fighting chance and to make things more entertaining for myself, I will stand down, and so will everyone else who is here. But if you come across any others, they are free to rip your flesh from your bones. Sounds good?"

Vash walks closer, up the stairs to the landing where the siren perches. He stretches out his gloved hand to accept the only line of hope he has to save everyone.

"Alright, I will take those odds," Vash says with as much confidence he can muster up. Failure is not an option.

Nicholas takes Vash's hand, sealing the bet with a firm handshake and a crooked smile on his lips. "I'll be rooting for you, Blondie."

Vash's head swims with everything he just heard. The remarks and comments alluding to facts he did not know. His heart still pounds loudly in his chest as he turns away from the impressive siren to look over his ship and men. He doesn't have time to dwell on anything he just heard. All he is focused on now is to save you, whatever it takes.

The ship rocks as Nicholas slides back into the calm waters. One by one, the other merpeople follow his lead, diving back into their environment. Vash sees numerous shadows lurking beneath the surface, waiting for him to fail. He doesn't quite understand why he was presented with an opportunity to save everybody, but he has nothing to lose. If Nicholas lied, everyone will die. If he fails, everyone will die. So he has one goal and one goal only as he watches his men snap back to reality, getting hold of their own minds and bodies again. Their hands shake in fear, and their eyes are wide with terror as they look around, realizing that they did not dream this.

Vash takes a deep breath, steadying himself before starting to dish out commands and instructions to his disheveled men.

The sun shines through the tree branches, caressing the back of your neck and your cheek as you sit on the edge of the pier. The water laps gently at the wooden planks below you, the sound a soothing rhythm against the backdrop of birdsong. A playful gust of wind ruffles through the linen material of the puffy sleeves of your shirt while you close your eyes and take in the peaceful moment. Your heart leaps with joy as you feel at home.

The rustling of grass alerts you to Vash's presence as he struts down the bank of the river until his footsteps echo hollowly on the wooden dock. You don't turn to look at him, choosing to keep your eyes closed until you feel his warm embrace envelop you. Lazily, you lean your head back to nestle between his shoulder and his neck, causing the flower crown he placed on your head earlier to nearly slip off, catching it just in time before it falls.

"Careful," Vash says with an amused tone, pulling away from you just enough to place a kiss on your cheek before sitting down from his squatted position without letting go of you.

"I am! I would never want to lose it!" You speak with a smile, turning your head to see the soft expression on his handsome face. He leans in, touching the side of his head against your temple, making you face forward again as his hug tightens around you.

His long legs spread out to either side of you, framing you in a protective embrace. You look at your own legs, the pants rolled up to your knees to avoid getting them wet. You lift your feet out from the river, water droplets on your skin catching the sun. Vash settles in, resting his chin on your shoulder as he keeps his head against yours, his contempt sigh tickling your skin. You flex your feet and toes, feeling a cool breeze against your ankles.

"I watered the roses. Just a few more days until they burst into bloom," he murmurs against your skin as he presses his nose more into the suppleness of your cheek.

He keeps his left arm around you, the right one untangling itself from your body to gently run along the length of your arm, his fingers tracing along your elbow and down to your fingertips until he cups your hand in his before lacing his fingers with yours.

"What a beautiful day," you sigh with happiness as you both bask in the warmth of the sun and the joy of each other's company.

The smile lingers on your lips even as the brilliant sunshine gets duller, a veil of clouds obscuring its rays. Even as the crisp air gets murky and dull like mist, it doesn't dampen the joy in your heart. Even as wisps of blood appear, bright red, in front of you before disappearing, Vash's upturned lips and brilliant blue eyes are all that you see.

The growling of the changelings doesn't even register in your mind as they fight each other for a place around you. Their sharp teeth leave marks on your skin as they ravage your body, drinking deep from your veins, but you are too mesmerized by the scene in your head to feel any pain. You are lost in the world of your imagination, completely detached from reality. A reality that is cruel, dark, and hopeless. You feel a sense of peace and freedom in your mind, a place where you can escape from the harshness of the world around you. The only place where you have not been tied down to become a buffet to these creatures who want nothing else but the magic in your veins. Your reality is a merciless nightmare that will never end. Draining you dry will not kill you; ripping the flesh from your bones won't do that either. You are doomed to remain in eternal suffering, but it is a fate you would choose again and again if it meant that Vash is safe.

You are glad that the last moments you spent with him, you got to see him up close. You got the chance to memorize every detail of his face, from the curve of his lips to the angles of the tiny wrinkles around his eyes that show up more when he smiles. You never want to forget a single thing about him; he is always on your mind. Even now your mind conjures him up, swimming closer with a knife between his teeth. The image is so lifelike, so true, it's like you could reach out and touch him if your muscles had a single ounce of strength in them.

Hissing and screeching erupts all around you as the changelings scramble away from a blade that slashes through the water with unnatural speed. A large shadow blocks out the dim light of the distant surface, a silhouette with a sword in their left hand. The blade glints for a moment as it slashes again, making the little changelings scatter in fear. It all feels so real, yet it cannot be true. As Vash's worried face comes to view, you want to close your eyes. It is too good to be true—an impossible scenario that you would rather not have in your head. You don't want to feed into unreasonable hope. He should never come here.

Despite your wishes, you can't look away. Vash's free hand cups your cheek to pull himself closer so he can press his lips to yours. It is hurried and brief, over before your brain can catch up. Bubbles escape his mouth as he breathes in the salty ocean water, and he looks relieved. You keep telling your fuzzy mind that none of this is real. It cannot be. But his touch feels so vivid, so tangible, that you can't help but wonder if it actually is. Hope, that is so dangerous, blooms in your chest. Your mind keeps fleeing from you no matter how hard you try to focus. Moments of almost clarity are quickly replaced by darkness as your thoughts slip away.

Through the fog of your mind and feeling like your body doesn't belong to you, somehow you still feel the binds being cut. No longer do the ropes dig into your flesh as they anchor you to the mass of rocks. Relief wants to wash over you, to knock you out cold, but still you try to convince yourself that whatever is happening, it is not as it seems. Vash couldn't have come to save you. He shouldn't have.

Your body gets dragged into a new restraint; something else locks around your waist as you get pulled away. Through the haze of your eyes, you see the faces of children as they come out from their hiding spots. Their dark eyes narrowing with anger as they hiss in frustration. It feels so real.

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#trigun #fanfic #fanfiction #vash the stampede #humanoid typhoon #plant boi #x reader #vash x reader #depth of despair

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the-darkness-does-not-bargain · 10 months ago

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The Tower of the Hand was unbearably hot. Summer in Westeros was boiling into its third year, turning each of the sun’s rays into an act of violence. King’s Landing was choking on its own stench. The reek of refuse, waste, and unwashed bodies carried on every humid breeze, reaching as far as the high windows of her father’s study. Even after years of living here, Alicent never got used to it. Somehow, she never got used to the coldness in her father’s voice either, after hearing it her entire life.

“You must try harder, Alicent.” The condescending command dragged her back into the lecture she was receiving.

“I am trying, Father,” she responded, practically growling the words. “I go to him when he calls and visit him most nights aside, and it has not worked.”

“Go to him every night, if you must! This task is too important to miss any opportunity,” Otto Hightower snapped, slamming his quill down on the desk.

“If I do that, he will reject me,” she told him coldly. “He already doesn’t tend to my heats, no matter how much I beg. You know that. And if he sends me away, I cannot disobey him.”

“Then what of the Grand Maester? What does he advise?”

She rolled her eyes at this, too aggravated to care if he called it unladylike. “The Grand Maester advises everything from fornicating in the mornings to eating nothing but fish from the Trident. None of his ‘suggestions’ have proven true.”

His jaw tightened as he considered this. “There must be something,” he insisted, resembling a sulky child more than a man grown. It was a rare day when Otto Hightower was confronted by powerlessness. The last time it happened would have been her lady mother’s passing.

Even in his helplessness, Alicent doubted there was anything he wouldn’t do to get her pregnant by the King. He’d probably stand over them and push Viserys’s hips if he thought it would work. It had been five years since he made her marry the man, an entire winter and most of a summer, and they had nothing to show for it. Despite the Maesters’ confident assurances of her fertility, not even the suspicion of a babe had graced her womb in all that time.

“There must be something,” he repeated, roughly rubbing his beard while she glared out the distant window. She had no answer for him, and that wouldn’t change.

Or rather, she had one, but he would not hear it. She tried anyway. “Father, there may be nothing we can do.” She bit her lip and dug her fingernails into her palms. “The King… His Grace may be…”

“Do not say it,” he growled instantly. “Do not. It’s a nonsensical idea. Viserys may not be an alpha, but he has produced seven pregnancies in his life and is still in his prime.”

“The Grand Maester says it can happen,” she persisted. “To beta men, especially. He told me it can be quite sudd—”

“Enough!” He cut her off. “I will not hear it. Moreover, I forbid you from speaking of it again, even to the Maesters. We cannot have rumors like that spreading about the King. Keep trying, Alicent. If it means eating only fish or whatever else, just do it. We are running out of time.”

And now they finally reached the impetus of this argument, the reason he called her here to be harassed in the first place. Will you never cease your bullheaded wrecking of my life, Rhaenyra? Even when you aren’t here, you find ways to trample on me.

“The princess's wedding is in three months' time,” he said, frustrated and exhausted. “The King plans to announce it to the court overmorrow, and the moment it happens and she gets a whelp on that Velaryon girl, everything we've worked for will be that much harder to achieve.”

“I am aware.” Alicent barely restrained the urge to scream at him. As if she needed another reminder that while she was forced to labor fruitlessly in the King’s bed, Rhaenyra was allowed to wed beautiful, perfect Laena Velaryon, who smelled like clean sea air and smiled like the sun. Laena Velaryon who rode a dragon and whose name came attached to the greatest naval fleet in Westeros. Laena Velaryon who would give her everything Alicent couldn’t: attention, sex, heirs, uncomplicated love.

No, she considered herself quite cognizant of that fact, thank you very much.

“If you are, then I need not tell you to go to the King’s chambers again tonight,” he said darkly. “Right, my dear?”

Her palms ached from how tightly her nails cut into them. “Yes, Father.”

#house of the dragon #hotd #rhaenicent #my writing #alicent hightower #this fic may only manifest on this site in snippets like this #the final piece will go to ao3

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the-whatcherof-89 · 9 months ago

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LDShadowlady aka Lizzie “Elizabeth” D.Titania Queen of Animalia.

CR 18 NG Medium Humanoid (Native Outsider Shapechanger)

XP 153,600 (if used as npc for encounter)

Undine Animal lord(Cat) Druid(Pack Lord)16

Neutral Good Medium humanoid (Native Outsider Shapechanger)

Init +8; Senses Perception +37

AC 28, touch 19, flat-footed 22 (+1Natural, +6Dex, +8Armor, +3Deflect) hp 187 (16d8+187)

Fort +18, Ref +15, Will +20

Speed Land 30ft, Climb 20ft, Swim 30ft. Melee Bite+18 1D6+6, Claws+18 1D4+6, Trident+19 1D8+7, Spells. RangedCrossbow+23 1D10+3, Spells.

Racial Amphibious, Deepsight, Hydrated vitality, Water sense, Scent, Low-light vision, Climb speed, Pounce, Rake, Natural attacks(Bite 1D6, Claws 1d4), Leap(+16 Acrobatics), Dominion(speak with animals Charm animals CL16th), DR10/silver.

Traits Natural-born leader, Lovesick.

Class features Pack-bound, Wild emphaty, Nature sense, Woodland stride, Trackless steps, Resist nature’s lure, Wildshape 6/day, Venom immunity, Thousand faces, Timeless body.

Animal companions Sea cat(lv8th) Leopard(lv8th)

Spellcasting CL16 DC18 Domains Daily spellcasting 4/6/6/6/6/5/4/4/3

0-Detect magic, Purify food and water, Create water, Read magic, Mending.

I- Goodberry, Entangle, Barkskin, Mud ball, Negate aroma, Cure light wounds.

II-Animal aspect, Barkskin, Warp wood, Lay of the land, Restoration lesser, Tree shape.

III-Air geyser, Cure moderate wounds, Cloak of winds, Resist energy (communal), Magic fang greater, Call lighting.

IV-Aggressive thundercloud (greater), Cure serious wounds, Dispel magic, Freedom of movement, Reincarnate, Thorn body.

V-Call lighting storm, Cure critical wounds, Hungry earth, Animal growth, Stoneskin.

VI-Dispel magic greater, Sirocco, Wall of stone, Move earth.

VII-Animate plants, Heal, Sunbeam, True seeing.

VIII-Earthquake, Whirlwind, Mass cure serious wounds.

Str 20, Dex 26, Con 22, Int 16, Wis 26, Cha 20

Base Atk +12/7/2; CMB +15; CMD +23

Feats Cosmopolitan(Knowledge Nobility, Diplomacy, Giant, Alko), Steam caster, Leadership, Divine interference, Natural spell, Powerful shape, Craft wondrous magic items, Weapon finesse(Natural attacks).

Skills Acrobatics+31, Climb+16, Craft(Stone&Wood)+20, Diplomacy+18, Fly+12, Handle animal+12, Heal+12, Knowledge (Geography+7, Nature+20, Nobility+7), Perception+27, Perform(Dance)+16, Profession(Engineer)+27, Ride+12, Spellcraft+20, Stealth+15(+4 while in undergrowth), Survival+20, Swim+28.

Leadership score (22) Cohort lv14th Followers I-110 II-11 III-6 IV-3 V-2 VI-1

Languages Common, Aquan, Druidic, Sylvan, Draconic, Giant Alko, Feline emphaty.

Combat gear Trident of fish command, Animalia’s regalia: Striker(Frost Huntsman Heavy underwater Crossbow+2), 50+1 Corrosive bolts, Living steel sickle, Animalia regalia: Commander(Darkleaf Wild breastplate of command), Ring of protection+3, Headband of mental prowess+4(Int, Wis, Perception), Cloak of resistance+2, Boots of the cat, Amulet of mighty fists+1, Ring of the sea strider, Ring of energy resistance major(Electric), Rod of splendor, Sleeves of many garments, Undine chain belts, Tome of understanding+2(used), Potions: Displacement(2), Magic fang greater (2), 4 Potions sponges, Jewelry worth 300GP, Druid’s kit, 4705GP.

Background Elizabeth was a powerful queen whom ruled from her ocean palace over the kingdom of Animalia which respected animals above all else. There was just one SMALL problem: She fell in love with Joel ruler of the land kingdom of Mezlana. For a long time, both of them met in secret while sending each other letters using their secret names: LDShadowlady and Smallishbeans. Things changed when Joel ascended to “godhood” after he drank from a magical fountain. Drunk with power, she almost abandoned him for the new god was different from the gentle and friendly man that was once. When he lost his powers, and his kingdoms, Lizzie abdicated her throne to return to his side for she saw what truly that man was deep down. Along with their fellow Hermits Grian, Mumbo, Rendog and Impulse they left and got married and started a new life. Between the founding of the Pixel Pact(and his disbandment), her love for all fluffy creatures and dancing (sometimes awkwardly) with Joel she was having a good life building various nature-oriented builds. “A wish limited only by your imagination.” She was planting flowers near a vast riverbed when she heard the voice. “What would you wish for?” She thought it was a prank from his husband. “Well… since you insist my dear genie of the lamp… i wouldn’t mind returning to my old kingdom for a romantic date.” The sound if finger snapping was heard. “It is done.” She was instantly transformed and sent into another world never seen before, she was in an underwater palace, in a royal bedroom, very similar to her original one, but slightly different. “Let the game begin. If you want my wish you must find me. Your husband is also invited.” She jolted. “What did you just say?!” The door knocked. “Your majesty are you alright?” She turned around toward the door to then back to look for the mysterious voice, it was gone. She turned toward the mirror looking at herself in her royal outfit: “Well now, i am in DEEP SEA trouble am i now?"

THE IMAGE DOES NOT BELONG TO ME

LINK FOR THE IMAGE:

#minecraft #roleplay game #pathfinder #hermitcraft #ldshadowlady

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memoirsofphangoriaofficial · 10 months ago

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{NAVY COURT INFO DUMP}

Lord: Aecoreza, The Knowledgeable Deep

Capital: Uisce

Soul Servant: Daughter of the Deep, Abbrael

Current Court Master: Norille Aesphina

Current Court Mage: Olle Aesphina

Magich Theme: Water

Symbols: Trident, anchors, ships, armillary spheres, sextants, paper, ribbons, any sea or nautical motifs

Colours allowed to be worn: (Blues Must be worn) black, greys, white, creams, green (sometimes), brown, gold, any kind of blue

Rank: Standard Court

Attire: Dark Navy Blue (most common, MUST wear this colour) Gold and Black, white, beige, brown, any blues really, big coats, over accessorised, gold chains, tricorn hats, oversized sleeve cuffs, high class navy aesthetic, low class pirate aesthetic, Random braids in hair. Navyman feel, Sea captains and militarized uniforms, tends to have gold armillary star map prints on materials.

Physical appearance: blond, light brown and white hair (most common) Tan or medium skin, must have blue eyes (can be different shades) , Fairly Average physiques (have bigger hips on occasion)

Most Common Jobs: Members of the Navy fleet, Fishermen, museum curators, historical scholars, Pirates (low class), marine biologists, map makers, historical scholars, Explorers

The Navy Court, is a standard court, ruled by The Navy Lord, a quiet, intelligent yet entitled goddess of the waters and sea. She prides herself for her unending knowledge of all things, understanding and archiving all she discovers. She is quiet and reserved, to a point that she is arrogant and prideful, thinking she is better than others for being reserved and mannered. As much as she has knowledge, she is childish and foolish, like a spoiled child. The high class of her people have the same mindset and are almost just as self absorbed as the Pale and Violet court, manners and reserved nature makes them better than other courts, thinking those who are passionate with a loud and vibrant demeanour are but savages, causing the strong rivalry between them and the scarlet court. But the low classes do not respect their Lord. Feeling like they are being ruled by a bratty child, they live their lives as pirates and thieves, not for greed but to use the wealth they steal to fund their own, better lives with honour. They have guilds that treasure bold expression and bonds with others, to spite their militant, self absorbed Lord. Because of her quietness, many suspect she has something to hide… her enclave of hushed scholars working away archiving and perfecting their collections. Nobody has seen the full extent of her archives and information except for her.

Their naval fleet and Militial ties makes them a force to be reckoned with upon the waves. It is hard to do what you please on the seas as they are HER seas. They have a close tie to the grey court, being the two infantry heavy courts, their laws and ideals mending together to form a sort of coalition; they are the enforcers of phangoria, navy being on the waters. Their fleets are intimidating, their boats large and imposing, with teams of skilled commanders and spellcasters that can bend the sea to their will, putting them at a battle advantage against seabergians and other rogue vessels. Being those who rule the seas, they have a big cargo industry, many routes owned by the navy nobles bringing resources around the landmass itself to each court harbour. Fish, historical pieces and tools.

Just as their naval fleet is used for taking the seas, they have a big industry and collective for exploration and research. The Seaberg (the phangorian ocean) is still wildly unexplored. Despite the Navy lord creating it with her own hand, it used to be a much smaller body of water. The invivarum began to grow on its own and the waters themselves followed suit, gaining a sort of conceptual consciousness. So their scholarly fleet expanded. Many are still documenting the growth of the seaberg and studying how it behaves, finding relics that are rather unexplainable to how they got there. They theorize that the seaberg is an new entity subconsciously created by the lord herself through some irresponsible birth process and the seaberg is beginning to let in foreign entities. It is still in theory. But these scholars and explorative folk are a staple in navy court. Adding to the ever-growing knowledge and endless archive of the Navy lord. The Scarlet Court isn’t the only biologically inclined court, lots of sectors in the navy court are also for marine biology, testing genes and understanding how the creatures evolved and formed during the ages.

One of the most important and impactful historical events in phangorian history is the Navy Civil War. Between that of the now titled Navy Nobles and Seabergians. With tensions high in 1723, there was two opposing ideologies. Those who despised the navy lord with her conceits, and those who desired to conserve and devote to her forevermore. The war was a messy one that completely shifted navy courtian infrastructure, systematically splitting the court in half. Many courts still frown upon them in hushed whispers, shamefully looking down upon how they could not keep their court together, especially their allies in the Grey court, but keep quiet as not to cause any conflict. Ideals range, those who are proudly nobles, those who are simply called nobles but have no true stance, and those who fervently oppose, being the seabergians. Their culture as well veered away from the strict naval fleets of the nobles and formed into something wholly new. They consider their envoy/lord to not be the navy lord, but the Seaberg itself.

Region: Merfrau (mur- fra-ou) is quite a unique place. Unlike the other courts, most of Merfrau is water. One would think they would then be mobile sea faring people, but they have stationary homes just like the others. Lovely houses and even mansions that float on the surface of the waters. Boats instead of carriages, with canals as their streets. It’s a fairly temperate place, not too hot yet not too cold, not as it would affect anything else than water temperature. Surface vegetation would be next to none, but underneath the waves, there is an abundance of natural structures and plants that aid in their lifestyle. Heat vents down below have been attached to pistons that naturally heat and power their ‘tech’. They even use the tides to their advantage, the movement being used for power as well. Even the sea will naturally light up the night as bioluminescent creatures will surface, a soft blue glow lighting the canals. The sea does have its cons, when a storm hits, most have to stay in their homes, their homes being somewhat secured to the seabed by chains. Their interiors may get a bit messy as their homes will be pushed around due to waves, sometimes one might even lose a boat to the storms.

#memoirs of phangoria #booklr #dnd #oc #oc lore #lore #worldbuilding #books #history

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brinefathomcaves · 1 year ago

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June 11: The Invisible Maze

This fully-submerged chamber appears to be empty except for a trident floating on its side 4’ off the ground. In fact, the chamber is home to numerous walls of force; and the “floating” trident (a trident of fish command) is laying on an invisible table.

When a creature touches a wall, that 10’ section of wall briefly lights up, becoming momentarily visible and dealing lightning damage to all adjacent creatures. The places where the walls connect to the floor and ceiling are lightly singed, so the position of the walls can be detected with a difficult Perception check. The maze is home to two gelatinous cubes, which start in the areas marked by asterisks and move 10’ toward the nearest non-ooze creature each round. The cubes’ blindsight allows them to avoid the walls.

#brinefathom caves #brinefathom caves level 3 #megadungeon #dungeon23 #dungeon24 #dungeons and dragons #aw heck i forgot to draw water again

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the-mortuary-witch · 12 days ago

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POSEIDON

WHO IS HE?

Poseidon is the Greek god of the sea, floods, storms, droughts, water, horses, and earthquakes. He is one of the twelve Olympians, the children of Cronus and Rhea, and the brother of Hades, Demeter, Hestia, Zeus, and Hera.

BASIC INFO:

Appearance: Poseidon is typically depicted as a bearded man with a stern, regal bearing. He wears a crown on his head, often adorned with shells or sea creatures, and holds a trident in his hand. Sometimes he is shown riding a chariot pulled by horses, or riding a seahorse. Poseidon may also appear as a tall, muscular man with a flowing beard and long, thick hair.

Personality: he is a complex deity who can be both benevolent and vengeful. He is known for his temper and his fierce protectiveness of the sea and its creatures. Despite his fearsome reputation, with his devotees, Poseidon is said to be kind, understanding, and supportive, guiding them safely through the treacherous waters of life. He is also said to be a powerful protector, willing to defend those who worship him against harm.

Symbols: trident, billowing cloak, seaweed, fish, the sea, horses, bull, dolphin, and seashells

God of: the sea, floods, storms, droughts, water, horses, and earthquakes

Culture: Greek

Plants: pine tree and wild celery

Crystals: pearl, coral, aquamarine, colemanite, sapphire, turquoise, paraiba tourmaline, pinfire opal, boleite, starlite, hyalite, siberite, cat’s eye aquamarine, albite, petoskey stone, Medusa quartz, abalone shell, offertite, gem silica, pumpellyite, frosterly marble, plancheite, lazurite, enhydro agate, austinite, larimar, blue agate, dioptase, sodalite, dumoriterite, and halite

Animals: hippocampus, bull, horse, fish, dolphin, and any other sea or water related creatures

Incense: pine, myrrh, and frankincense

Practices: water magick, healing, water divination, ocean themed spells, fertility or abundance magick, scrying, and cleansing

Colours: blue, teal, white, green, and silver

Numbers: 7 and 11

Zodiac: Pisces

Tarot: King of Cups and Suit of Cups

Planet: Neptune

Days: Isthamian Games and Panionia

Parents: Cronus and Rhea

Siblings: Hades, Demeter, Hestia, Zeus, and Hera

Partner: Amphitrite (married)

Children: Orion, Antaeus, Triton, Polyphemus, Pegasos, Arcion, Theseus, Atlas, Neleus, Bellerophontes, and Chrysaor

MISC:

Horse: in Greek mythology, horses are often associated with Poseidon because they are said to have been created from the foam of his waves. Additionally, horses are a powerful and majestic creature, closely tied to nature and the gods, which fits in well with Poseidon's domain over the sea. Poseidon himself is often depicted riding in a golden chariot pulled by horses, and he has been known to command sea horses and other sea creatures, making the connection to horses even stronger.

Coral: it is associated with Poseidon due to his connection to the sea. Coral is a type of marine animal that forms colonies of limestone skeletons, often found in shallow, tropical waters. Poseidon, being the god of the sea, naturally has a close relationship with these creatures, which live in his dominion. Coral is often seen as a symbol of the god’s power and generosity, and it is believed to hold sacred and protective properties. In some myths, Poseidon is said to have given coral to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, as a gift for her beauty.

Wild celery: it was associated with Poseidon because it was used to crown victors at the Isthmian Games, which were held in Poseidon's honour. These games, which were held near Corinth, were a major sporting event in ancient Greece, featuring races and other athletic competitions

Pine: in Greek mythology, pine trees were associated with Poseidon primarily due to their wood being highly valued for shipbuilding and their resin (pine pitch) being used for waterproofing, sealing, and fire resistance on ships. Additionally, winners of the Isthmian Games, dedicated to Poseidon, were crowned with pine wreaths, and Poseidon's sacred groves were often composed of pine trees, particularly coastal varieties.

FACTS ABOUT POSEIDON:

According to the Greek poet Hesiod, Poseidon’s trident, like Zeus’s thunderbolt and Hades’ helmet, was fashioned by the three Cyclopes.

He was also worshipped as a fertility god.

Poseidon helped build the walls of the city of Troy, but when King Laomedon refused the payment he had promised, Poseidon sent a sea monster to ravage the land.

As the god of earthquakes, Poseidon was also connected to dry land, and many of his oldest places of worship in Greece were inland, though these were sometimes centred on pools and streams or otherwise associated with water. In this aspect, he was known as enosichthon and ennosigaios(“earth-shaker”) and was worshipped as asphalios (“stabilizer”).

Poseidon and Athena competed to become the patron deity of Athens. Poseidon struck the Acropolis with his trident, creating a saltwater spring, while Athena offered an olive tree. The Athenians chose Athena’s gift, but Poseidon was honoured in the Erechtheion.

He was instrumental in the Trojan War, supporting the Greeks. He was involved in the construction of Troy’s walls but, feeling cheated by King Laomedon, he sent a sea monster to attack Troy. However, Zeus commanded him to withdraw from the battlefield, and he reluctantly obeyed.

As the god of horses, Poseidon is thought likely to have been introduced to Greece by the earliest Hellenes, who also introduced the first horses to the country about the 2nd century BCE. Poseidon himself fathered many horses, best known of which was the winged horse, Pegasus.

When Poseidon first sought Amphitrite's hand in marriage, she fled his advances, and hid away in the ocean stream at the far ends of the earth. The dolphin-god, Delphin, eventually tracked her down and persuaded her to return to wed the sea-king.

Medusa was seduced in the shape of a bird by Poseidon. They had two children—the giant Chrysaor and the winged horse Pegasos—both of which sprang from her severed neck when she was slain by Perseus.

Demeter fled the advances of Poseidon and hid among the herds of Onkios in the shape of a horse. Poseidon assumed the form of a stallion and coupled with her. From this union were born the goddess Despoine and the immortal horse Arcion.

HOW TO INVOKE POSEIDON:

Find a quiet and comfortable space where you can meditate and focus on your invocation. You can then light a blue candle and place it in a sea-themed altar or an altar dedicated to him. Chant or sing prayers or Orphic hymen’s dedicated to Poseidon as you visualize the ocean and the power of Poseidon moving through the water. As you call upon Poseidon, ask him to bring his energy, wisdom, and guidance into your life, then offer a gesture of gratitude or respect to Poseidon.

PRAYER FOR POSEIDON:

Poseidon of the white-capped waves, dark-haired god of the the cold salt sea, of raging rivers and sweetwater springs,

Ancient one, in Knossos and in Thebes your name was known, carved with care on tablets of clay, spoken softly, prayerfully, in old Mycenae.

World-shaker, god who holds in hand the bones of the deep earth,

In Corinth were you well honored with games of skill and prowess;

Throughout the land your temples stood, shining and tall.

The sea depths are yours, Poseidon; your palace lies on the ocean floor, far removed from Olympos' heights and yet a glorious dwelling in your wondrous realm.

Bearer of the trident, stirrer of storms, master of horses, granter to mankind of many gifts,

Poseidon, mighty son of Kronos, I praise you.

SIGNS THAT POSEIDON IS CALLING YOU:

Encounters with his symbols like the trident, fish, dolphins, or horses.

Dreams or visions involving the sea, ocean, or aquatic creatures.

Experience sudden, unexplained feelings or events related to water, earthquakes, or even storms.

Seeing his name suddenly pop up in books, tv shows, movies, etc.

Pay attention to any subtle gut feelings or intuitions you have that seem to be leading you towards the sea or to Poseidon.

Sudden desire to learn more about him.

A strong desire to learn about or explore the ocean and its mysteries.

Feeling connection or affinity with sea creatures or elements.

Sudden sense of comfort or peace when near the sea or when surrounded by water.

A powerful urge to create art or music that is inspired by the sea.

Finding yourself drawn to Greek mythology or stories about him.

OFFERINGS:

Different types of shells.

Pine branches/needles.

Sea water.

Food and drinks: dried seaweed, honey, olive oil, white wine poured into water, wild celery, homemade seafood, mint,

Blue, teal, green, or silver candles.

Crystals: pearl, coral, aquamarine, colemanite, paraiba tourmaline, pinfire opal, boleite, starlite, hyalite, siberite, cat’s eye aquamarine, albite, petoskey stone, Medusa quartz, abalone shell, offertite, gem silica, pumpellyite, frosterly marble, plancheite, lazurite, enhydro agate, austinite, larimar, blue agate, dioptase, sodalite, dumoriterite, and halite.

Shark or megalodon teeth.

Ocean scented candles or incense.

Fish scales.

Anything with sea salt.

Images of things he is associated with.

Photos you took of the sea.

Any gems or stones associated with the water element, such as sea glass.

Sand.

Toy horses.

Art or statues relating to the sea and its creatures.

DEVOTIONAL ACTS:

Picking up litter along waterways of rivers, oceans, lakes, streams, etc.

Staying hydrated.

Caring for your fish, turtle, axolotl, etc.

Using metal straws.

Start a compost bin.

Honour Him, his wife, Amphitrite, and his children.

Wearing anything with the colours blue, teal, green, and silver.

Beach combing.

Visit aquariums.

Donating to climate change/ocean clean up and protection organizations.

Collecting sea water.

Ocean related bath rituals.

Meditating near the beach or a body of water encircled with calming sounds to connect with Poseidon on a deeper level.

Recycling.

Take horse riding lessons.

Swim in His honour, or teach someone else how to swim.

Learn about marine biology.

Visit your local river, beach, streams, lakes, etc if you're not close to the ocean.

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