badliifechoiice2 | I'll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue

I'll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue

Mermaid AU Meme

Rules:
- Put down your character name and series in the subject header. Put down any preferences (romantic or if you're a mermaid/human) in the comment.
- Reply to other people! RNG a choice from the prompts below, or just come up with whatever on your own.
- This is not a strictly romance meme. Feel free to have whatever shenanigans you like.

Merfolk and Merfolk

1.
Little Mermaid it
♢ One of you is a merperson with something you want. (Power? Help figuring out what this weird human doodad is? Becoming human?) The other is a powerful sea mage of some sort... And for the first of you, you better hope they're the good sort as you venture forth to their lair...

2.
Exploration
♢ C'mon. What's the worst that could happen when checking out this enormous sunken ship at the bottom of the ocean? You're merpeople! What's the worst that could happen? (Besides sharks. Or giant squid. Or maybe worse.)

3.
New tides
♢ Hey... That person isn't from around these parts, are they...? Maybe one of you is from deep seas, or a swamp-mer way out of your territory, or just from simply a different ocean. Hopefully neither of you are particularly territorial...

4.
Hey there, Ariel
♢ So. Looks like one of you actually took up on some sea witch's deal and is living in some human settlement. The other? Is trying to help you deal with that. Whether it means puzzling out human culture and items with you, pleading with you to come back home, or even offering you a dagger just in case you need to stab your crush (what? it's a legitimate strategy), you two need to cope.

5.
Wildcard.

Merfolk and Humans

1.
For Science!
♢ You're a scientist, here to study a fascinating new creature. Although the 'creature' in question might take offense to you saying that... So are you searching them out for the first time in the open ocean? Keeping them in some sort of containment? It's up to you.

2.
Stranded
♢ There was a shipwreck, and you're the sole survivor... Although you very nearly weren't. Whether you've just woken up or have been trying to puzzle things out on this deserted island, well... It seems you're not alone, although they're not exactly on the island with you.

3.
Siren Song
♢ Merpeople aren't always good signs... Sometimes they lure sailors out onto rocks, or extinguish their stamina and drown them in the ocean's tumultuous waters. Is this another encounter that will end in tragedy?

4.
Chance Encounter
♢ You're nothing extraordinary, just a regular person in a beach town, and one way or another... You find something that's very much not regular. Maybe you just walked into the cove at the right time, or found something- someone- trapped or injured that needed your help. So now what?

5.
Wildcard

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Rin is surprised to find his face growing strangely hot at that stare. He quickly jerks it to the side, slapping his tail in attempt to settle himself again. This is annoying. Why's he reacting like this? The mermaid just admitted to needing others to take care of him (needing Rin). He should be taunting him right now, not feeling like he's just swam over an underwater volcano. His neck gills flare in frustration.]

Yeah, well, unfortunately for you, I'm the only guy like me out there. And you can't expect me to save your tail all the time.

[As soon as the words leave his mouth, he pauses. Wait. Is Haruka actually asking him to go with him? A mermaid wanting to travel with a shark? That's crazy!

About as crazy as a shark wanting to spend time with a mermaid...]

I won't need that much saving.

[Yeah, Haruka already knows that Rin isn't about to take off and leave everything behind just for some wayward mermaid. But from the shark's reactions so far, it's just fun to press the idea.

Haruka can't help but roll in the sand and turn over again, as if trying to find a comfortable position to sleep. Just... as strange as it is to admit, it feels like something's missing from the life he leads.]

Says you. The way you talk makes you sound kind of reckless, you know. And what sort of mermaid likes to meet in the shallows?

[He splashes Haruka with his hand for emphasis.]

No, I'd definitely have my hands full with you.

[Of course, Haruka can only splash back, with a slight hint of a grin. He doesn't revel in trouble-making or going out of his way too much, but... it all sounds like a way to pass some time.]

Bet I could make it on my own, though. I can figure stuff out fast enough.

[Whether he actually learns from mistakes is another matter entirely.]

[It's too much of a challenge for Rin to resist. He splashes back with more vigor and shifts in the water so he's looming over Haruka, his tail fin flicking with excitement and his neck gills flaring wildly.]

Oh yeah? Prove it.

[Such a tough display, Haruka can't help but feel inwardly amused. With that hint of a grin still on his face, he kicks his tail against the sand and pushes himself off into the deeper water, taking off at a speed faster than most of merkind.

Even if this wasn't all just a game to play with his new friend, Haruka feels pretty sure that Rin will come speeding after him. Almost certain, in fact.

If just because Haruka would do the same if it was the other way around.]

[Rin blinks at the incredible speed of the mermaid (faster than any shark he's ever seen, that's for damn sure. but still not as fast as him. probably) and then grins. He mimics Haruka's movement of kicking the sand for a decent push-off and then surges after him, his dorsal fin cutting through the water like a blade. Not satisfied with the initial thrust, Rin starts rotating his arms as well, a rare technique among his kind. He'd only ever shown it to Sousuke before. The other shark was almost as good at it as him. But it should give him enough momentum to catch up with the cheating mermaid.]

[How strange... Haruka's never seen anyone swim like that before. And it seems to help him move forward faster, even if it also looks like it's harder to keep track of what's directly in front of him.

Just because he's curious, he tentatively puts out his arms and attempts swimming in the same way. Will it feel any different? He's not as sure about doing it as Rin is, but give him some time...]

[Rin lets out a loud laugh when he notices that Haurka is mimicking his stroke and speeds up even more, so that he's almost to Haruka's side. He never thought he'd see the day when a mermaid was taking pointers from a shark. But Haruka has already proven himself to be a most unusual mermaid.]

Where do you think you're going, Haru?

[Somewhat miffed that Rin caught up, but more curious than anything, Haruka slows his attempt at the weird arm movements to look at the shark. It feels weird, but he feels the water in a different kind of way...]

What are you doing?

[Rin keeps on swimming, unperturbed, finally fully catching up Haruka and grinning wickedly. He quickly swims ahead, paying no heed to the fact that he has no idea where they're supposed to be going. A race is a race, as far as he's concerned, and Rin can swim just about anywhere so the destination doesn't really matter.

Besides, he's sure Haruka won't let him hold the lead for very long.]

What do you mean? I'm obviously kicking you ass at swimming right now.

[It's a burning in his arms that he hasn't felt before, as he puts all of himself into moving forward... as fast as he can. He has to catch up. It feels even more urgent than even the life and death situation, as skewed as Haruka's priorities can be.

But he can't exchanges words, panting hard and fighting his limits in order to keep up. He's never felt this way before with anyone else.

Though at the same time, he always can't really focus on what else is in front of him. Something hits his face with a hard whack-- apparently a poor fish just minding its own business was in their way.

Ow.]

[Even from this far ahead of him, Rin's ears are still attuned to his surroundings so the sound of something smacking into Haruka doesn't go unnoticed. He whirls his head to the side, wondering what the hell that was, as he keeps speeding on ahead. After all, he has a race to win.]

You okay, Haru?

[The poor fish swims away, dazed but alive. Haruka, however, has a bleeding cut on the side of his face. Though it stings, he only lets it delay him for a second before he kicks against the water, intent on catching up to Rin.

His perseverance can be the answer to that question.]

[Unfortunately for Haruka, the fresh blood in the water has stolen Rin's attention, as that predatory gleam flashes over his eyes. His tail swishes in anticipation. When Haruka closer to him this time, he lashes out a clawed hand to seize his arm.]

[Haruka only glances back in confusion, wondering why Rin stopped the race, not recognizing that look in Rin's eyes. Where he lives with all of the other merpeople, they've never encountered anything higher up on the food chain.

When the hand closes around his arm, Haruka looks at it, then back up at Rin.]

What are you...?

[As he leans back, his tail reflexively comes up to kick him backwards in the water... as well as to lash against the shark in front of him.]

[Rin just continues to stare fast at the cut on Haruka's face, his tongue darting out trace his lips. It's too bad mershaks can't really differentiate between different types of blood. Blood is blood. And blood is food. He doesn't even look like he's registering Haruka's question.

Though he does register that tail slap against his flank.]

Ow!

[He yelps and releases Haruka in surprise, jerking his head down to see what hit him.]

[Haruka moves back just a bit more before crossing his arms, giving Rin an equally cross glance.]

Why did you stop the race?

[Somehow, that's what confuses him the most right now. Just because Haruka had a little setback doesn't mean he can't keep going!]

[Rin roughly shakes his head, as he tries to come down from the bloodlust that's still swimming around in his head. Thankfully, it's hard to focus on wanting to eat someone when they're glaring at him with as much nerve as Haruka is. It replaces all that mad hunger with sheer consternation. What's this guy's problem? And why are Haruka's eyes even more compelling when he's pissed?]

You're bleeding.

[He points out, as if it's the most obvious thing ever. Also, as if he didn't just consider mauling the shit out of Haruka because of said blood.

Rin traces a claw down his own face to mirror the cut on Haruka's.]

Right here. It's making a mess of the water.

[Read: Very distracting for a shark.]

Yeah?

[Haruka shoots back, still looking irritated. How should that have any effect on anything?]

It'll heal.

[Perhaps he should have learned a thing or two about how sharks work. But in the place he lives, no one would care to elaborate about the way sharks were-- though many likely don't even know themselves.]

It's just... distracting.

[Rin grits through his teeth, hating to admit a weakness to Haruka. Does wanting to maul your companion count as a weakness?]

Come on. Let's surface and give it a chance to scab over or whatever.

[Without waiting for Haruka's response, Rin makes the choice for them, kicking his tail toward the surface as fast as he can. If he's lucky, maybe Haruka will see that as another challenge and follow along.]

[Haruka also has to wonder what's even going through this guy's mind, as he follows him...

And attempting to make another race of it, as he speeds to the surface as fast as he can. Really, a small cut isn't a big deal, so why is it so distracting? Rin couldn't even see it. But Haruka's just going to believe that Rin feared he'd lose the race. (Even if Rin was ahead.)]

[Rin shakes some droplets off his hair once he surfaces, watching Haruka out of the corner of his eye and greatly relieved that Haruka stayed on script this time. It's always hard to tell when Haruka will act like he has in the past and when he'll do something completely unpredictable. But that's also what makes spending time with the merman such a worthwhile adventure.]

You really don't know much about mersharks, do you? Or sharks in general, for that matter. Any other shark would have torn your face off.

[Haruka swings his head from side to side, shaking the water from his own hair and flicking into place. And looking relatively untroubled by this all. He regards Rin with a calm air, getting a good look at him in the sunlight.]

Good thing you aren't any other shark.

[Rin falters a bit under the stare. It's him feeling like a piece of meat for once. He's never seen anyone look at him like that. Even in his most boastful moments, he can't really see any reason for someone to.]

... well, no. Obviously I'm a shark unlike any you'll ever see.

[As if Haruka is likely to see any other sharks anytime soon.

But still, how can the merman have such confidence in him?]

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