Thinking....thinking abt a mer sanctuary that has a "touch pool" open to the public for mers that need alot of social interaction....
It's your first time going to the aquarium, but you just moved and you needed something fun to do. Plus it helps fund the mer sanctuary that the aquarium is run by, so of course you have to go!
There's so many cool fish, and a lot of interesting information! You take your time walking through the exhibits, reading all the signage, and staring at tanks for hours. Eventually, you meander over to the touch tanks just as the next group is being let in, and decide to join.
First, an employee gives a small safety speech about how to touch the animals safely. Not to pick them up or squeeze, that sort of stuff. They also explain the mer part of the tank. How theres a big open space that all the mers can access, and if they want they can come say hi! Of course, there's no guarantee a mer will be out, but they cover the safety just in case.
Then everyone is led to the sinks and you diligently wash your hands. You giggle a bit at the thought that you're like a surgeon, walking to the tank with your hands raised so you don't accidentally touch anything.
And how fun it is! Gently running your fingertips over bumpy starfish, watching how they move. You're so entranced you hardly notice the presence in front of you until it makes a small churr. You jolt, then look up to see a mer looking at you curiously. He looks like a blue shark mer, if you recall correctly from the signs on the walls. His wristband says 'kyle'
"Oh, hello Kyle!" You smile, and he chirps happily before reaching out an arm for you. Tentatively, you run your fingers along the skin and gasp when it feels smooth in both directions.
Look, you can't help yourself, you've never been known to waste an opportunity. So when Kyle doesn't pull away, you eagerly maneuver his hand to feel at the mesh between fingers. Gently pressing at the skin to feel the muscles, fat, and bone beneath. Kyle lets you move him however you want, purring away as you gently tug him closer to feel at the fins on his arms.
Eventually, another mer is chirping at you. Or rather, at Kyle judging by the way they both begin making complicated sounds you can't begin to understand. He looks like a blue shark too, and his wristband has two names. 'Soap' and 'Johnny.'
Pretty soon, he's eagerly holding an arm out for you too, and purrs happily when you begin messaging and exploring like you did with Kyle. They're both so nice, looking up at you with big puppy dog eyes anytime you pull away to check you aren't overwhelming them like the employees warned.
They even let you touch their heads! Soap leads by grabbing your hand and placing it in his hair. It feels kind of how you imagine a seal to feel. Then Kyle lets you feel at his earfins, though you have to lean a bit when he goes boneless and rests his head on the little shelf of the touch tank.
Eventually, you have to leave. Smiling apologetically when you stand up. The mers warble at you and try to grab your hand, but stop before they actually touch. Big wet puppy eyes begging for more time with you. You don't realize it, but you're the only one who they've let touch longer than a minute or two. Obsessed with just how gentle yet diligent you were, working out aches they didn't even know they had.
You may not have realized it, but the staff did. On your way out, an employee hunts you down with a business card. "Would you be interested in volunteering? I've never seen soap and Kyle play nice for so long!" Then, as if the promise of petting mers weren't enough, she adds. "You'd get a free lunch."
...you take the business card.