Have this other one too bc I was watching Subnautica walkthroughs and Underwater!! Stancest mermaid brainrot (and also me shoving my whale/shark obsessions at you)
I’m not even gonna lie idk anything about fishes but i am a whale and shark enthusiast so i’m sorry if i’m making any of you suffer with my species decision. Some marine researchers found an injured merman in the Norwegian sea. It took them almost an entire month to catch him (without them being mauled) and bring him to the Institute (which took half of their tranquilizers to make him docile/easier to work).
From the quick yet efficient studies and patching up his harpoon gash, they found out that despite his age he’s incredibly strong and fast! A mix between an orca and a mako shark, the scars in his upper body and tail left mystery for interesting stories, a scar in his neck made by what appeared to be dulled teeth (a doctor prodded it once, and only once. His eyes immediately snapped open, slamming his tail on the medic's face, it was a miracle they even survived the attack). And surprisingly, a rare case of polydactyly in his hands and pectoral fins! He took to the name Sixer, finned ears flipping excitedly whenever he heard it - but he always seemed disappointed once he realised it was his caretakers calling him.
He even expressed curiosity to their conversations and medical documents, crowned-feet eyes taking everything in his surroundings and even stealing jellybeans packets behind his caretaker’s backs - however, he still kept distance in his quarantine area, figure tense and hunched if provoked.
But after some weeks, they couldn’t help but notice he looked more… tense. Overstimulated, even. Constantly swimming in circles, faintly clawing his glass case, distressed noises leaving him on rare occasions. He would pluck some of the corals and shells that decorated his pool, taking them to an opening in the rock walls, constantly changing their places and pushing the seaweeds to the deep corner. They tried everything they could to make him comfortable until they could release him to the sea: changed him to an even bigger pool, encouraged him hunting, tried to make him interact with other mermaids (it went well, but it was clear he wasn’t that interested in joining their pod), ran more tests to check his health and check the scars, upgraded his security after an almost successful escape attempt; nothing worked.
It wasn’t until some weeks of his stay that they finally found out what was wrong with him. The day went on as normal, caretakers still worried about his condition, Sixer clawing at the walls and probably planning another escape attempt. Shit only hit the fan when night arrived, the sound of metal slamming on the wall and the water splashing from his room had all the scientist’s attention.
Looking at the cameras, they noticed another merman in his pool - this one younger (an adolescent they would say), wearing a red seaweed shawl with pearls and jewelry wrapped on it, his long tail reminding them of a beluga. The teen turned his head around, aimlessly and slowly swimming while calling out to something. What had the researchers horror and them scrambling to get the teen out of the cage was Sixer, blurred form barreling towards the teenage merman.
They expected him to maul him, to rip him to pieces, for a territorial brawl. However, once Sixer was near him, he swimmed around him in circles, softly pulling the teen in his arms, hugging him protectively. They watched baffled as the teen merely laughed, nuzzling their necks and pressing their foreheads together. Their bodies lazily floating through the water, high and whistling chirps as they held each other, making up for their time separated. They watched Sixer’s arms possessively wrap around the boy, the teen making himself comfortable on top of the older man.
Sixer was stressed because he missed his mate.
Holy shit that made so much sense now.
That put them in a spot. On one hand, Sixer was finally calm and reunited with his mate - whom they named Oyster. On the other hand, Oyster couldn’t exactly stay there for legal and resources reasons. (they tried separating them once, heavy on “try”, Sixer immediately snarled at them, his mate didn't even bat an eye to it as he nuzzled his face on the man's hair). Plus, it’s the most cooperative they’ve ever had him! They’ve never seen him smile that much! From the looks of it, it appears that their small pod operated in a matriarchal system with how Sixer proudly showed off their temporary nest and stole things to make more accessories to his beloved.
They decided to let them stay, with how content they were with each other. Plus, Sixer only had a few more days until he returned to the sea, so what was the harm????
The problem was the people that mysteriously - as they suspected Oyster, who looked far too pleased with himself - appeared in their cage. First, two calves who were playfully chasing each other, they fondly named them Star and Dipper from their birthmarks. And then, a frizzled Eurasian otter with a scar on his temple - they named him Glasses from the round spots around his eyes.
Then, a Grey Seal who… looked remarkably like a gopher appeared, swiftly cleaning their pool and caring for their temporary nest. And last, a red haired Thresher Shark, found nestled with the others of her group, sleeping while both adults of the pod stayed awake.
The Institute still wondered, even after they returned the group to their home, how they accidentally acquired seven fishes instead of one.