MERMAY MEME

[pcrtiallystcrs]

It's May and you know what that means: it's gonna be mers.
From the traditional to the octopi and jellyfish to selkies to turtles, come one and come all- even you folks who just want to smooch a fish. ...... Or keep one.

Comment below and roll for scenarios and please tag appropriately!

If one is human...

1. Abandon Ship: Maybe you were exploring the sea, but suddenly debris started floating down. It looks like something is happening on the surface- and perhaps someone needs saving... but from the waters, or from you?

2. Up Above: What's that casting such a huge shadow on the ocean floor? It's not a whale, and it's moving so fast- clearly it's time to investigate. Now, will you see something grand? Or will you get caught in a net? 

3. The Saltwater Room: There's always been a strange window in the cliffside, and you never once knew what it was for. Every now and then you'll give it a look, but you never really find anything. Except this time. This time, the room has someone inside of it. And they just saw you, too.

4. O Captain: Maybe you aren't the mermaid. Maybe you're a sailor or a pirate on a journey, seeking something only a merfolk has the answer to... but will they help you? Or will you try to take your guide by force?

5. Captivity: Maybe you were captured recently. Maybe it was a long time ago. Maybe you've been in this tank all your life. A human keeps you on display, sometimes bringing guests in to see you and oh, they gasp in awe.... but maybe one doesn't. Or maybe your eyes are on your keeper instead. 

6. The House on the Sand: You grew up by the beach, and side by side with a human who lived in a house on the beach. You were their closest kept secret, their closest confidant- and they, yours. Until one day they vanished and the house was empty. Years passed... but now, the light is on in the window again. And you'd know the person at the shoreline anywhere, even after all this time.

7. The Little Mermaid: You fell in love with a human, and you'd do anything to join your love on the surface... or maybe, they could join you. 

8. Wildcard: Your city now.

If both are merfolk...

1. New Seas: All your life you've lived in the reef- and you know the ocean is huge, of course, but your little piece of sandy waters is all you've ever known. You know everyone in the school... until one day, you see a new face in the water. 

2. Shipwreck: Now here's something special- a long-since-downed ship, just full of all sorts of neat human treasures. Maybe you're curious, maybe human artifacts sell well back in the market at the reef- just be careful. You aren't alone.

3. The Sea Witch: Everyone knows about the banished witch in the depths- how the king of the seas cast them out. Everyone knows you shouldn't make deals with them, the cost is much too great. But you have a wish no one else can help you with.

4. Story Time: Sometimes you don't want an adventure. Sometimes, you just want to get snacks with the gang and tell outrageous stories about those weird leggy fuckers that can't swim very well. The more off-the-mark, the better- someone's always going to believe every word.

5. Undersea Temple: Maybe you shouldn't be here. But the long since empty halls are calling- perhaps literally. You and your friend are exploring holy grounds, be it once human or merfolk's. Maybe it's just eerie. Maybe you aren't alone.

6. Lord of the Sea: It happens rarely but sometimes the Ocean Deity leaves their territory and checks on the various undersea cities and reefs. Perhaps you are part of the procession, or perhaps you get to meet a god for the first time. Don't hide behind your tailfin too much.

7. Pearl of the Sea: Uh oh. You, a lowly commoner, fell in love with the Mermaid King's child. Whatever will you do? ... Other than give up. That's not on the table at all.

8. Wildcard: There's plenty of ideas in the sea!

Comments

[floatsaway]

[It's so bizarre, watching what Ochako would have initially thought to be a human child just taking to the water as easily as her fishy bits. She lingers close by the tub, making sure the water's not too cold or too warm, and goes to grab some (undeniably old and kind of ratty) towels from the closet by the sink. Obviously, Ochako's bathroom is a Japanese style one, with a large area for cleansing with the removable showerhead, and a tub for soaking. The sink and toilet are past where the divider is.

As she putter around, Ochako is talking to herself a little bit, getting things prepped and pulled over with a stool. A first aid kit is popped open a second later, and Ochako looks at the young merchild with concern.]

I can fix up people no problem, but...I've never tried to fix up a mermaid... Didn't even think they really existed out of fairytales. Ne, how come you washed up on the shore, huh? Such a young thing, too... Did you get lost? [She's not realy expecting a response, just filling the silence, and her hand reaches out to tenderly pat the girl's head through the water.] You're be okay, you can stay here a while until you're better - I'll just use the showerhead to wash off.

[candyapplechild]

[ Considering the parts of the oceans where Mermaids reside, the temperature of the water is hardly an issue... but still, the attention that Ochako does pay to it makes it that much more soothing. Soothing enough compared to before that, as Ochako starts to so pet her head under the water... her eyes start to open. It feels gentle, her hand on her head...

Still, when her eyes start to adjust and register the sight of Ochako outside of the water... as comforting as she's been, she's still the first human she's ever seen... in fact, the first face she's seen in a few days.

There's a bit of hesitation as she processes, but she immediately tenses, suddenly splashing about in the water as she flounders around in an attempt to figure out where she is... plus the sudden realization of how small the area of water she's currently occupying is compared to, well, the ocean. Her eyes show a mixture of confusion and fear, now that she's fully conscious again.

The almost curls in on herself, timidly holding her arms to herself as she presses herself up against the corner of the tub, only able to let out little squeaks as her voice fails her. ]

[floatsaway]

[Oh no, she's gotten spooked. It's only natural, this must be so new and so scary for the poor thing, and Ochako retracts her hand quickly but keeps her voice low and as soothing as she can make it. She hushes the girl, hands up in what she hopes will come off as a placating gesture - honestly, the brunette has no fucking idea what the customs are when it comes to mermaids and merfolk in general. She really did think they were all just fairytales and folklore myths.]

Shh...shh...it's okay! You're going to be okay, don't worry!! Please, don't be scared...you were unconscious on the beach, and I found you and brought you to my, um...m-my home. [Shack. It's pretty much a shack, but it's as homely as Ochako can make it with what precious little she has.] I had to find a place to put you that can hold water so, um...I-I thought the tub would be the best place. I promise I won't hurt you, and I won't tell anyone else about you, either.

[Since Ochako really isn't sure anyone else would react as nicely as she did.]

[candyapplechild]

[ Ochako's voice is, frankly, much more genuinely soothing than most voices she's heard in her life... it helps, it calms her a little... if only a little. This place she's in now... it's nothing like anything else she's ever seen, after all.

That being said... she's not sure what to say, now. Of course, she's grateful. She's thin, pale, hungry, and being out in the wild certainly wasn't going to do her any favors... ]

Th... thank you...

[ That's what you say now, right? ]

[floatsaway]

[She is thin, and Ochako notices right away, her concern immediately growing for the poor thing, especially after the tiny thanks she gets. She smiles, warmly, and shakes her head. Honestly, she would hope anyone else would do the same, but...unfortunately, not everyone is as generous as herself. They'd either be scared and leave the girl, toss her back into the ocean like a literal dead fish, or do the dumbest thing imaginable and call the police. Ochako trusts the authorities, but even she knows that more people knowing about the girl is...bad news for her and her kind.]

Ehehe...it's nothing, really. I'll, um...I-I'll go see if I can find you something to eat, ne? You must be really, really hungry if you've come a long way.

[She'll certainly try to find food, anyway. Ochako might have a bag of dried sardines left over, and a bag of bonito flakes. Normally she uses that to make dashi, but it's something. Maybe some cucumber? I mean, she's not a kappa, but still. Doesn't hurt to try...]

[candyapplechild]

[ Eri stays silent, but the mention of food does get her drooling a little... though she quickly wipes it away in an attempt to hide it. Fortunately for Ochako, all of those things are fine for her to eat... even if it's not much, but still, something is better than nothing right now.

Still, she nods to affirm her... she is hungry. ]

[floatsaway]

[Oh dear, she sees that look in the girl's eye... It's a familiar look - one Ochako gets any time she fantasizes about actually being able to afford real crab, not the imitation version that comes cheap sometimes. Actually...she might have some of that!! Might not be as fresh, but it's not gone bad yet! She could spare some, and maybe some frozen cod roe? There might be a little left in the freezer.]

Ehehe, I'll get you something, hold on.

[And after a few minutes, when Ochako exits the bathroom, she returns with a bowl of assorted foodstuffs! Some shredded imitation crab, a tiiiny bit of frozen cod roe, some sliced cucumbers, and mainly a bag of dried sardines. She sets the bowl on the edge of the tub and leans over it, taking out a cucumber to eat for herself.]

It's not much, but...I-I hope you like it. I was going to go clam digging today, but...y'know. M-Maybe I'll get lucky tomorrow!! I'm still learning to weave fish traps from palm fronds, but when I do, maybe we can get some fresh fish from time to time!! Or crawfish! Oh!! And if I find a big enough pearl inside any oysters or stuff...I could get paid a lot! Then we can have a really good meal!!

[Is she using 'we' as just...herself? Maybe. But Ochako will definitely feed the kid, too. Probably more than herself, honestly, but...finding a pearl, or any lost jewelry on the beaches and pawning them off...it helps. Hell, finding money alone in the sand has been a blessing. Even coins and small bills - Ochako has a big mason jar filled with loose change. It adds up!]

[candyapplechild]

[ Behold, two girls with similar faces when food is on the mind. She waits patiently, sitting in the tub... though it still is strange to be in such a small body of water. Not terrible, no, but weird.

She perks up again when Ochako comes back, and she peers into the bowl curiously. It's not like anything she's ever eaten before, but she can at least tell that it's edible... especially when Ochako eats one of the weird green things in front of her.

She hesitantly reaches for one of the sardines, moving carefully as to not do anything wrong without realizing... and when she takes one of the sardines without anything bad happening, she immediately tosses it into her mouth, and then another, and another...

Hunger slowly takes more precedent over caution and she starts to messily dig into the provided foodstuffs while Ochako talks. To be honest, she doesn't understand a lot of what she's saying. Well, she does literally understand her, but she just doesn't understand all of the mentioning of pearls and oysters and getting paid.

She ends up polishing off all of the stuff in the bowl pretty quickly. Being starved does that to you, after all, but once she's finished... ]

Th... thank you...