today's short thought is: merman wwx is being held in a lab for study and rehabilitation (he was injured by an illegal fishing net). he's a wild animal, yet still very intelligent, and the moment he lays eyes on marine biologist lwj, he decides that lwj is his favorite.
it is very easy to mistake wwx for human. he is incredibly intelligent and picks up quickly on patterns and words. then he does something like nearly bite off the hand of a careless employee (su she) and everyone is quickly reminded that he is still very much wild.
nonetheless, he is a good boy. trainable, but still dangerous. the biologists and rehabilitators enjoy working with him because he's so smart and cooperative (most of the time).
then lwj shows up one day and suddenly wwx is the least cooperative merman on the planet.
then lwj shows up one day and suddenly wwx is the least cooperative merman on the planet.
he's suddenly difficult to manage. he refuses to exit his tank for his weighing and physical exams, and he tosses his food back when it's feeding time.
the biologists are at a loss. they have no idea what can be happening.
then one day, wwx's feeding time falls on lwj's shift.
the biologists are at a loss. they have no idea what can be happening.
then one day, wwx's feeding time falls on lwj's shift.
unlike the other times, wwx is already floating near the surface of his pool, waiting, when lwj hauls the bucket of fish over. he happily accepts each fish and horks them down gracefully.
when he's done, he nibbles on lwj's fingers. but when lwj tries to pull away, he bites.
when he's done, he nibbles on lwj's fingers. but when lwj tries to pull away, he bites.
lwj, texting: xiongzhang, could you please come to the lab
lxc: is everything alright?? has there been an accident??
lwj: everything is fine. wei ying has eaten, but i am stuck
lxc: how are you stuck
lwj: he's nibbling on my arm
lxc:
lxc: what
lxc: is everything alright?? has there been an accident??
lwj: everything is fine. wei ying has eaten, but i am stuck
lxc: how are you stuck
lwj: he's nibbling on my arm
lxc:
lxc: what
the team quickly catches on that wwx will only eat if it's lwj feeding him. some of the biologists whom wwx previously took food from are a little salty about it, but hey, at least wwx is eating.
lxc teases that wwx must like lwj very much to show such preferential treatment.
lxc teases that wwx must like lwj very much to show such preferential treatment.
lwj does end up taking a short break from the lab because wwx started flaring his fins whenever lwj approached the tank and the team was worried that it was a territorial display.
wwx, who was doing a courtship display, finds this VERY frustrating.
wwx, who was doing a courtship display, finds this VERY frustrating.
when lwj returns to the lab, wwx no longer flares his fins at him. instead, wwx watches him very intently, as if expecting something.
(wwx has concluded that if lwj doesn't want to see a courtship display, then lwj should do the courtship display. it is only fair!)
(wwx has concluded that if lwj doesn't want to see a courtship display, then lwj should do the courtship display. it is only fair!)
unfortunately, lab protocols insist on a standard uniform for all employees when on shift. lwj wears his usual all-white labcoat.
it is very boring.
wwx huffs and retreats to the back of his tank, unamused and unimpressed.
it is very boring.
wwx huffs and retreats to the back of his tank, unamused and unimpressed.
he sulks until lwj comes over with his food.
as he swims close, he spots a flash of color; the fabric that lwj wears on his forehead has a bit of blue on it.
it's not much, but it is still pretty. wwx accepts the display.
reaching out, he snatches the fabric off of lwj's head.
as he swims close, he spots a flash of color; the fabric that lwj wears on his forehead has a bit of blue on it.
it's not much, but it is still pretty. wwx accepts the display.
reaching out, he snatches the fabric off of lwj's head.
lwj gasps and reaches for it, but wwx is very quick and he swims away with his forehead ribbon.
"Wangji!" lxc runs over. "Oh, no, Wangji—your forehead ribbon—"
"It is fine," lwj says hoarsely. "It is fine. He does not understand. I'll—I'll get it back during tank cleaning."
"Wangji!" lxc runs over. "Oh, no, Wangji—your forehead ribbon—"
"It is fine," lwj says hoarsely. "It is fine. He does not understand. I'll—I'll get it back during tank cleaning."
lwj: i can get my forehead ribbon back during tank cleaning. it is not an emergency
wwx: *inspects forehead ribbon*
wwx:
lwj:
wwx: *starts eating the forehead ribbon like a long noodle*
wwx: *inspects forehead ribbon*
wwx:
lwj:
wwx: *starts eating the forehead ribbon like a long noodle*
lwj doesn't think; he dives into the tank.
the water is both cold and salty, meant to mimic seawater as closely as possible. lwj splashes about at the surface, gasping, trying to regain his breath.
wwx, on the other hand, darts to hide among the coral.
the water is both cold and salty, meant to mimic seawater as closely as possible. lwj splashes about at the surface, gasping, trying to regain his breath.
wwx, on the other hand, darts to hide among the coral.
wwx is spooked. courtship is always carefully held in neutral waters or at the borders of territories. merfolk would cross into another's territory only to fight for said territory or to commence mating.
and, well, wwx is not ready! this is VERY forward of lwj!
and, well, wwx is not ready! this is VERY forward of lwj!
wwx swims out of reach, making nervous clicks and whistles. lwj may have been dense at first, but this is a bit much! wwx hasn't swam with him yet, nor have they preened each other or exchanged gifts. while wwx appreciates the sudden interest, he's simply not ready for babies!!
lwj does have to stop to take breaths, which is an advantage, but the tank is an enclosed space. no matter where wwx swims, lwj follows him, and whatever space wwx can fit through, so too can lwj.
wwx's nervousness grows into agitation. why is lwj still pursuing him? wwx has already made it explicitly clear that he does! not! want! babies! yet! will lwj only be satiated when he has forced his children on wwx?
or—or perhaps he wishes to fight wwx for territory?
or—or perhaps he wishes to fight wwx for territory?
finally, wwx has had enough. lwj has ignored every sign wwx gave him. wwx is nerve-wracked, stressed, and no longer pleased to have lwj so close.
turning around to directly face lwj, wwx bares his fangs and hisses, his fins and frills expanding, in a full-on territorial display.
turning around to directly face lwj, wwx bares his fangs and hisses, his fins and frills expanding, in a full-on territorial display.
the biologists outside of the tank go from nervous to all-out panicked. some of them rush up the stairs to the top of the tank to yell at lwj to leave the water immediately. another person grabs a shepherd's crook to pull lwj up.
lxc runs over with a long taser pole in hand.
lxc runs over with a long taser pole in hand.
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