Catch-all

[darlingpoopsies]

Possible ideas to run with, if you don't want to think of your own prompt:
Mermaids | Petshop of Horrors | Deal With the Devil
Holy Grail War | Switching Sides | What if they had lived?

Comments

[sullenstallion]

[Mermaids and Deal with the Devil? Dylas is a fisherman, so...tbh, I'm up for anything. What're you feeling?]

[darlingpoopsies]

[Sounds good! Could make them actually demonic shits or just magically talented enough in their own right without Ursula. What would Dylas wish for? (And how would he pay?)]

[sullenstallion]

[Demonic sounds fun? I mean, either way, they're now magical. As for what he'd wish for, it's either going to be lame (for more time to catch fish, to be tougher, or something stupid like for them to stop bothering him) or it can be something serious like how to cure a dying friend.]

[darlingpoopsies]

[Demon fishies it is~ I'm down for stupid or serious, whichever you want. You want to start, or should I?]

[sullenstallion]

[Ahhhh...so many decisions. Maybe serious? If he can even take them seriously. I might be playing this by ear, lmao. I think maaaybe it might be easier if you write the starter, because I don't know what they'd be like as mermen? But I'm not the kind of person who shies away from starter writing, so if you're not feeling it I certainly can.

uh random icon please don't]

[darlingpoopsies]

[Even for career fishermen, fishing isn't often a brooding affair. Talking and laughing with friends, drinking, reading a book, enjoying the weather, paying just enough attention to your line to make sure you'll be able to reel in a catch whenever a fish finally does bite..... As long as the weather doesn't turn foul, it's usually a pleasant enough, peaceful affair.

So why do they sense this unusual atmosphere, and in their waters? Dylas might be able to see a pair of dark shapes swirling through the water, if he's paying attention, slowly growing larger as they approach the surface. If he's really straining his eyes, eventually he might even be able to see a face peering up towards him, dim and distorted through the water.]

[sullenstallion]

[To Dylas, fishing isn’t a social activity. It’s a personal battle between one’s self and the mighty fish that have conquered the ocean, a battle of concentration and strength against the waves and the might of whims of nature. He often says as much aloud, so is it really any wonder there’s no one fishing with him? It matters not to him—as intense as fishing makes him feel, it’s still a relaxing activity for him.

That’s why he immediately notices the shadows in the water from the boat he’s rented for the week (how would he catch the toughest fish from a dock? he might be hoping to land an actual shark). His bait, carefully selected ‘prey’ fish that still wriggle on occasion, moves through the water as he adjusts his pole, trying to catch the attention of these shadows...until...

Huh. He leans over the side of the boat, squinting, crouching. Has he been standing out so long in the sun that his mind is playing tricks on him? He could’ve sworn that he saw a face for a second or two.]

The hell...? [He mutters to himself.]

[darlingpoopsies]

I think he's trying to communicate with us.

Couldn't he have just used a summoning circle?

Not everyone knows how. Shall we answer?

It's not much of an offering..... but why not?

At least he'll probably be happy if we take the fish and the hook.....

[Dylas' line moves in the water, just a little, as Jetsam carefully takes the hook in hand. It's not the sharp, frantic jerking of a trapped fish--just small, fluid motions as he carries it back towards the surface with him. Meanwhile, Flotsam swims ahead, showing a mouthful of sharp teeth in a grin even as he breaks the surface of the water.]

You called~?

[sullenstallion]

[He's less concerned about the face he thinks he saw than he is excited about the movement on his hook. He mistakes them for the curious nibbles of a large fish (those shadows!) making a decision about whether or not to take the bite. 'Come to daddy,' he actually thinks to himself, his hands and arms tense as he waits for the heavy weight to hit his rod.

Instead, a face pops out of the water (for real, this time), and Dylas almost drops his fishing pole instead. He yelps an undignified 'Wha?!?!' before reacting in a way any sane person would: he picks up a flask and throws it right at Flotsam's face, the words not even registering with him. Hopefully he's startled enough that his aim is off.]

Where did you come from?! W-wait, are you drowning?!

[He probably should have asked that before throwing a metal object at Flotsam's face, but you know. Details?]

[darlingpoopsies]

[Anyone neck deep in the ocean must be drowning, right? But if he's drowning, then why is he ducking back underwater as the flask sails straight towards him? Surely getting a heavy metal object straight to the face is better than risking that.

Luckily for Dylas, though, his flask (and his pole, for that matter) isn't lost to him forever, even as it starts sinking. There's a sudden quick movement in his line as Jetsam surfaces right behind Flotsam, flask in one hand and still-baited hook in the other. He circles around to approach, offering both up to the man.]

Here you are.

[sullenstallion]

[The eels are a little unfortunate in running across Dylas—he's well aware of the existence of humanoid monsters, and he's just cautious enough to believe that running into faces in the water could be something like that. Maybe they're drowning, sure, but they might also be faerie or something worse.

Those worries are alleviated when they return his shit. He looks a little surprised to see both offered to him, and Dylas takes them, mouth hanging open. So, maybe he was a little wrong in thinking they might be dangerous.]

Thanks...uh...what are you doing out here? Are you...lost?

[His ears are flicking. He's not panicking, but now he's just really, really confused.]

[darlingpoopsies]

We live here. What are you doing out here?

These waters seemed troubled.

[It's Jetsam that offers even a partial explanation beyond the obvious, even if it's liable to just make Dylas even more confused. They could be humanoid monsters, fae, or worse--but they're here, on the surface, because they were concerned about him?

Even so, they're certainly not human. The hands that offer his things back are distinctly webbed, with dangerously sharp claws, and the shadowy shapes in the water--those are much too long and sinuous to be normal human torsos and legs. Had he hooked one of them, Dylas probably would have been dragging a fair bit more than his own body weight into the boat.]

this took a direction I didn't think it would oops

[sullenstallion]

[He figured as much. To someone who admires fish as much as Dylas does, there's a part of him that thinks meeting 'fish-human monsters' is kind of cool. Their tails must be so powerful. And to live in the ocean at that size, they must be impressive predators.

Luckily, he keeps that to himself.]

The waters seemed fine to me until you showed up. I'm just trying to catch some fish to bring back to shore for dinner tonight.

[His ears twitch a little as he stares back at them, moving his gaze from one to the other. This conversation is a little too mundane, right? He should...do something.]

I've got food, if you want it. You brought me my stuff back...even though you're why I dropped it. But I should pay you back anyways.

[darlingpoopsies]

Of course.

[Forgive him if he sounds a little amused, both at Dylas' assessment of the area, and how graciously he's forgiving them for making him "drop" his things. How else would these waters seem, to a land-dweller? Dylas may be closer to the sea than most, but you can't truly read the currents without being immersed in them. Floating in a boat can only offer you so much.

The pair stare back curiously with mismatched eyes, meeting Dylas' gaze without hesitation, glistening in the sunlight. Jetsam smiles at the suggestion; what kind of predator would ever turn down a free meal, after all?]

That sounds lovely. Will you have enough to eat, yourself?

[sullenstallion]

I have plenty to spare. And if I run out, I can always catch more.

[He tells them to wait, and he returns with his icebox. He has recently caught fish and shellfish both, and he also has vegetables and bread from the surface. He'll offer them whichever they choose, but he'll only hand it down to them. He wants to see their hands again, with the webbing and the claws...he wishes he could ask to see their tails, too, but he doesn't want to be too rude.]

So, what do you two want from me? Two predators like yourself could've pulled me under if you combined your weight on my pole. Do you always show yourself like this?

[god help everyone, when he describes them as predators and mentions their strength, he actually sounds like he's paying them a compliment. Because why wouldn't that be a compliment? They're impressive-looking.]

[darlingpoopsies]

What's that?

[Flotsam reaches up and curls his hands around the edge of the boat, pulling himself a few inches higher to peer curiously at the cooler. It's enough to afford Dylas more of a view than just their heads, at least; there's a sleek fin emerging from the nape of his neck to run down an otherwise human-looking back. This close to the surface, he can probably even dimly make out where his skin starts shading into his tail, color deepening low on his hips.

They're curious enough (and adept enough at hunting on their own) to choose the strange surface foods, in fact, even if they're quite clearly predators. That's readily apparent just from watching them eat. Their faces and mouths may look human enough, but their teeth are clearly meant for ripping and tearing, not crushing. They eat with vicious head shakes to help tear pieces off, only making minimal efforts to chew; if he's watching intently, Dylas might even catch flashes of movement as their internal jaws seize the pieces of food to carry away.]

Humans are so interesting.

It's more fun to play with you than it would be to eat you.

We always do our best to make our guests feel welcome, of course. You come so rarely, after all.

[sullenstallion]

It's an icebox. It keeps whatever I catch cold so I can eat it later.

[...This is amazing. There's every opportunity for Flotsam to reach up and attack Dylas if he wants to, given he makes no effort to hide how he leans out over the water and checks him out. Why does he have to be so horse-like again? Some mermen just have all the luck. They're sleek, dangerous, and powerfully built—even their jaws are cool.

Oh. They wanted to eat him, huh? His ears flick a little. Nah. He's probably safe.]

I'm not really the playful type, but thanks for not eating me. I think. [He rests his arms on the railing of his small boat, still leaning over and looking down so he has a good look at both of them.] What do you usually play? I'll try. I'm Dylas, by the way. Do you have...names?

[darlingpoopsies]

[There's absolutely nothing stopping him from lunging at Dylas as he leans over to get a better look, exposed and vulnerable. Just one snap would be enough; those fangs are designed to stay buried fast until they're literally torn free. Instead, if anything, he's preening under the attention.]

Our pleasure.

You only think?

[Flotsam's smile only widens, sharp and mischievous; perhaps they're playing right now? Dylas doesn't want to be eaten, does he?]

Jetsam.

Flotsam.

flotsam and jetsam be like 'oh this guy has a vore kink'

[sullenstallion]

[One might think that someone would be more cautious in a situation like this, especially someone who understands ocean predators as much as Dylas does. But no, he's pretty careless. He's more interested in these two than he's ever been interested in a human on a first meeting.]

Yeah. I think. I can't tell if you're being serious or not.

[Normally terse, he's eager to answer Flotsam's question. He wants to keep talking to them. They can't see it, but his tail is swishing a little; he's completely unaware he could end up being the game they're playing.]

I'm Dylas. Can I ask...what's it like down there?