My main blog is Kezibun! This side blog is for posting and reblobbing my fanfics! So everyone (myself included) can find my stories easily. The ask box on my other blog is open so please go there if you have any questions or would like to make a request.
Little Moon can't sleep so goes to find his older brother Eclipse in the middle of the night.
A Short story from the past of 'What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Bitter' (DCA Mob au) universe.
Quick warning: Abuse mention, death mention.
This kinda happens before the fic at some point but this scene ever so slightly mirrors something in the Roleplay I'm doing with @ketho484 (but it also contains a little lore) so I felt inspired to write it. It's only about 700 words but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless ^-^
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Moon stared at the ceiling… he was bored of finding shapes in the swirly pattern.
Sun snored softly in his own little bed across the room.
Moon didn't like sleeping in his new bed or in their new house for that matter. Moon liked sleeping under the stars cuddled up to both his brothers for warmth. He even preferred the leaky cardboard houses they made when it rained over this.
He doesn't know why but he feels nervous sleeping in a house like he expects something to happen? Something to wake him up. Something other then the nightmares he keeps getting. Nightmares of broken glass, shouting or the worst one about fire.
Moon is tired of being tired, he's bored of not sleeping. Maybe his big brother Eclipse can help him. Eclipse surely wouldn't mind if he snuck into his bed and curled up to him on the old mattress that bearly fits in the tiny room Eclipse claims as his own. A room that was most likely supposed to be a cupboard or small office rather then a bedroom. But when you're supporting a family of three on the earnings of a 13 year-old you make due.
He crawls to the end of his little bed. His feet dangle for a second as he slides of the edge softly landing on his butt.
He tots over to the door of his and his twins bedroom. It was left a jar so the hallway light could spill in so Sun wouldn't be scared in the dark.
He pulled it open with a quiet creeeeek.
To Moons surprise Eclipse wasn't in bed? Despite it being way past bedtime. Instead he was sat at the table in the kitchen, frowning at an open book.
"Clips?" Moon whispered.
"Hey Moon." Eclipse sat up. "You have another nightmare?" He wondered, jumping into big brother mode.
Moon shook his head. "I justs can't sleep." He rubbed at his eyes.
"I'm sorry buddy." Eclipse sighed.
"Whats are you doin' d'ough?" Moon climbed up on a seat next to his brother. "Tis Bedtime?"
"I know, I'm just trying to read." He sighed again.
Moon picked up one of the books on the table. "H-how… to… raisss-e a ro-bot?" He read aloud.
"That was really good Moon." Eclipse chimed encouragingly.
Moon smiled proudly. "We do lots o reading at school."
"Yeah I bet." Eclipse hums as he stares at the page once again trying.
"Do you miss school?" Moon wondered out loud.
"Not really." Eclipse replied, scowling at the page.
"My teacher saids you shou'j be at school like all the o'der kids."
Eclipse looked up from his page. "Well other kids don't have to go to work so we have somewhere to live and food to eat."
Moon picked at the peeling table. "D'e teacher saids we shou'j have parents to do dat…"
Eclipse's fingers dug into his book. "We're better off without stupid parents." He growled.
"But why?" Moon asked curiously.
Eclipse slammed the book closed.
"Because Moon. Our parents were nasty, mean, abusive bastards who had what was coming to them." He snapped.
"Oh…" Moon looked down at his lap. "How… how dids they die again?…"
Eclipse sighed trying to calm down. "There was a fire… remember?"
"Whats d'ough was the bang noises before dat?"
"The… the explosion? the fire started in the kitchen and the idots kept their guns in the oven, so they exploded." He explained.
"But dere was free banged noises? Two more quiet and one big?" Moon looked up to his brother.
Eclipse's eyes grew wide, "How? You… uh… you must have imagined it…"
"Well... I hear dem in my dreams." He picks at the table again. "It went Bang! Bang! Den dere was a while before de big Kaboom. Its was scary."
"You know something like that won't happen again right? I promise." Eclipse held his brothers hand.
Moon noded, "I know but even if it dids you'd come save us again like a super hero." He smiled completely confident in his brothers ability.
Eclipse smiled back. "I'll always do my best to protect you."
"You're de best brod'er." Moon yawned.
"Thank you." Eclipse also yawned too. "How about we get you to bed?"
"Can I sleeps wi've you tonight?" He looked up at his brother with big pleading eyes.
Eclipse sighed. "Alright Moon just for tonight."
Moon hopped of his seat and headed for Eclipse's cupboard of a bedroom.
Eclipse followed abandoning his reading materials on the table and crawled into bed. Moon curled up next to him.
Sun is doing someone elses laundry now? How does that make you feel? A little silly if you're being honest, for having any feelings about it. Yet you can't help that feeling… as if your Cat has cuddled up to someone else…
Eclipse froze. His metaphorical heart sank. He knew it was all too good to be true and deep inside he knew something like this would happen and yet he did it anyway. He's just not allowed anything good is he.
"Hands up." It nudged the gun to the back of his head.
A fear of the outdoors, an appointment to make and a need for maintenance.
Sorry this chapters short (and late) this is life now unfortunately please bear with. Hope you're still following and hope you enjoy this chapter, I really do love this story ^-^
Sorry for yet another sad story, but I couldn't not write this, it's been in my head (and my drafts) for far to long.
A Deities Loss.
Deity Sun and Moon au
Angst, death, hurt.
Flames engulf everything. Gold melts off the walls. Timbers fall. Glass shatters. The screams of the innocent fills the air. The air that’s polluted with smoke that bellows out of the temple, blocking the sun and moon as they grow closer in the sky on this dreadful day.
“Just stop… please.” Sun cries, flinching away from the calamity.
Moon pulls against his chains in vain. “Stop! You can’t do this.”
Oh But he could. The magic at play here much stronger than them: mere elemental deities barely a step up from an angel; And a step below the Archangel before them. Their attendant, each deity had one to keep them in line and this is what happens when you step too far out of that line.
The glowing gold chains grate against Moon’s wrists each time he pulls against them, hot tears burn his face, rage in his eyes.
“It’s not their fault!” Moon snaps. “Don’t hurt them. They're not a part of this.”
The Archangel laughs. “My hands are tied here,” he shows them his very not tied wrists to illustrate his metaphorical situation. “I’m not the one who broke the rules. Brother.” he turns away from them.
“Clips… please.” Sun sniffles, “We made a mistake.”
“Don’t. Call. Me. that.” he looks over his shoulder. “We’re not friends anymore, you’re a disgrace. You both are! And someone has to clean up your mess.”
“THIS IS JUST CRUEL!” Moon Yells.
“Maybe you should have thought about that before you tossed the rules out the window.”
“We… we couldn’t lose them…” tears streamed down Sun’s face, unable to wipe them away, they dripped onto the cold hard floor.
“Well get used to losing them, that's what the decree is.” Eclipse turned back, crossing his arms.
As the darkness enveloped the earth, the Archangel left them to watch everything they loved burn to the ground. Their temple, their village, their people. It all created an amber glow amidst the dark shadow crafted by the eclipse. The usually worshipped joyous event that everyone had gathered for, now tainted in blood forever.
All of this for one… just one human, that they lost in the end anyway.
Moon continued to shout and curse the gods as Sun sunk in defeat and sobbed.
The screams grew quiet, and the temple collapsed.
“It’s all our fault…” Sun whimpered. “No it’s all your fault Moon…”
Those words sunk deeper than anything had ever before, it stung just like a bitter poison seeping into his soul.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry starlight…” he finally fell in defeat. His knees hit the ground, his head hung low solemnly, he stopped fighting as the prayers of their worshippers fell silent. He has failed them.
They couldn’t help a single one of their followers. All they wanted was to save one. Wasn’t that a god's job? To look after the ones who pray to them? Those who ask for their deliverance? And yet the punishment they were dealt for doing just that was to lose them all, to lose those who trusted them. Then to have their status of deity ripped away and to be thrown into a cycle of life and death, a curse to love them and lose them over and over again. For eternity.
They were left there in what was once a holy cave on their holy mountain. Their view, A pile of soot and ash they once called their domain, their village, their temple, their people, lost in the wind. Not a soul would remember them now, not as the great deity’s of this land at least.
Decades went by as their no longer immortal bodies began to die. The land reclaimed itself, nature took over, the evidence a civilization ever belonged to it long gone. The first part of their sentence fell to a close as the century anniversary of the great calamity passed.
Not a single person has come across the once sacred land in all that time. They knew the end of this life was approaching, had they learnt their lesson in all this time? No but they knew they would do anything they could to treasure their time with their soulmate in the next life, their first life as humans.
“Whatever happens…” Sun hummed in a hushed voice. “I’ll always be by your side brother.”
“Same here.” Moon sighed. “No matter what, we are brothers until the end.”
They lay there in that cave, heads resting on each other's shoulders, the chains that held them there for so long disappeared but they were too weak to move.
I hope you don't mind @croissantlover24 I wrote a very little story of my version of an after story for your amazing fic Notions of a Madman. I needed jus a little more closure but I didn't change the outcome (unfortunately TwT) alt title notions of a sad man XD
Go read their story first SPOILERS AHEAD you have been warned! no actually this will probably ruin everything.
You didn’t forgive him…
How could you forgive him? He can’t even forgive himself. You just... just like that... no.. you can’t be gone… you can’t. Can you? Humans are just so fragile… he’d almost forgotten you were one of them, was that it? His mistake?
You… there was so much he wanted to show you, so many projects to work on with you, so many more times to make you jump… he loved teasing you like that... maybe he could have made you laugh one day? a real heartfelt laugh, or smile, if his machine worked you could have been happy as his assistant, forever.
He stares into the distances blankly as the ring of the monitor fills his robotic ears.
Doctors and nurses rush in to do the last checks making sure there really was nothing they could do to reverse his fatal mistake and then they finally and officially pronounce your death.
Their looks of disgust usually unfazed him but... He didn't mean to… it really was an accident… no one will ever belive him, nor do they care... he didn't want to hurt you, he wasn't proud of this; And for once he wasn't fasinated by death or the blood and brains that had littered his Laboratory.
How on earth could he expect you to forgive him?
Why couldn’t these useless doctors do their damn job right?! If he had more time, you could learn to forgive him, he could do more tests and fix his machine… everything could be ok? better then ok, it could be perfect.
If only he had done more tests to begin with. If only he had done more calculations. more work, something anything. If only you weren’t scared. If only you didn’t want to leave. If only... she hadn’t…
He scowls at the woman… her arms crossed like she both has no worries at all and the whole world weighing her shoulders down all at once.
“This is your fault!” he screamed. “If YOU hadn’t scared them this would have never happened. They would still be here! They would still be mine."
“Keep telling yourself that.” she just turned and started walking. “It’s never an accident with you.” she mumbled as she left.
“IT WAS! FOR ONCE...for once it... It actually... it really was…” he sobbed.
If it wasn’t for the handcuffs holding him back he would have followed her and ripped her head off himself, it would be about time; he thought to himself. He should have tested that darn machine on her.
If only things went differently.
The room was now empty, they had wheeled you out as he sat there cuffed to a chair that was bolted to the ground. As soon as your monitor went blank Vanessa and her officers had secured him down. He probably could just escape if he had the energy... the want.
You were his only friend. He would give everything to go back to the day you met, on that… was it a fall day? the sanguineous colored leaves falling from the trees… his stupid sign that actually worked… if he could do things just a little difrently... Wait! Next he could make a time machine and go back and fix it all!
No… Who is he kidding, where would he get the parts for that without his gullible little lamb?
It took a moment but he’d actually given up. There was nothing else to do. No way to fix this.
Vanessa had all the evidence she needed... and had him transported to a high security prison where he could rot until the end of time. He would never forgive himself as long as you would never forgive him, and you were dead so how could he ever change your mind now? Unless? No you really were gone. He forgets that sometimes, a wish maybe or simply delusion, he sometimes belives he's still in his lab asking you to pass him this or fetch him that, maybe he really is a madman? or maybe he always was...
The school isn't doing so well, it's old and low on staff, as a teacher here your running yourself ragged keeping it going.
The headmaster (whom you dislike) decides a old animatronic from fazbear something or other, would make the perfect replacement for the nursery teacher who quit, oh and it's your responsibility now! it's so old it's probably haunted… it's… sorry he is surprising advanced for being such an old model. He's also full of many more surprises.
This is Part 2 Of Days and Nights! my fic series! (technically part 3 if you count the one shot collection which doesn't count rn XDD)
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
If you haven't read Fic 1 Of Sunny Days and Moonlit Nights (my blogs names sake) please go check that out! I highly recommend reading them in order but they can also be read as stand alone fics if you so wish. Or out of order idk that might be fun XD
This takes place long long after my fic Of Sunny Days and Moonlit Nights so like spoiler alert!
Trigger Warning: Angst and major character death.
Sun paces through the daycare, left, then right, then left, then right.
“Moony I don't know what to do.” He whines.
There is nothing we can do. We've been through this before we can do this again.
“I know I know!” he pulls at his sunbeams. “It just… it feels different this time.”
Calm down… Maybe try those breathing practices? Exercises. Whatever they are.
“I can't, I can't right now.”
A loud chime rings through the daycare.
Sun jumps on the faz phone. Answering it frantically.
The phone answers a video chat, their friends… your friends. They are on the other side of the screen… and yet there's no comfort in seeing them.
“Luca? Gregory? H-How are they?”
Even over the video call their faces said it all.
“That bad?” He croaked.
“They want to talk to you buddy.” Luca sends him a sad smile before handing the phone over.
“Hey Sunny.” Your voice is weak and you know he can tell.
“Sunshine.” He holds back tears.
The hospital light has never been very flattering, even so you know how bad you look. Even so it really was a shame he couldn't come visit you…
“I'm sorry.” You sigh.
“I know.” He whimpers. “But... Hey… Did… did you get my card?”
“I did, it's the best. Really cheered me up.” you send him the best smile you can muster. “You've both been the best friends, the best partners."
"Please don't talk like that..."
"Sun... I just... I Love you both.” You wipe away your tears.
“We love you to Starshine.”
“I'll see you again like you promised right?”
He nods, “For sure, We'll see you again real soon.”
“Sunny... I love you, please keep going so I can see that sweet face again.”
“I… I'm… I'm gonna miss you so much.”
“I'll miss you too. But... You can do this. I believe in you.” You wish you could hug them so bad. “Would you mind if... do you think maybe... I can I see Moon one last time too?”
“Sure.” He sniffles.
“See you soon Sunny.”
“See you Sunshine.” The light flickers off.
There was just enough light in the daycare to see Moon through the screen. They had perfected the lighting by this point.
“Hey Starlight.”
“Hi Moonmoon.” You hum. “Look after Sun, would you?”
He nods, “I guess… I can do that. Just for you.” he sends you a wink.
“Thanks.” You muster a weak chuckle. “I love you Moon.” You sniffle. You can feel your strength fading fast.
“I love you too Starlight.”
“See you soon.”
“Nighty night Starlight. See you on the flip side.”
“I love you both so…so-”
A tone rings in the background.
“SUNSHINE!?”
The phone falls onto the bed.
“No… Starlight?”
“MY SUNSHINE!”
The phone is picked up.
“I'm so sorry…” Bolt wipes tears from their eyes. “We'll see you guys soon…Ok?”
The phone goes black.
Silence falls over the daycare.
It stings. Moon grasps at his chest. He falls to the floor and punches the plush daycare floor.
“Starlight.” Why now? Why did they have to go? Why did he have to lose you?
He curls into a ball on the floor and he sobs, they both do.
“Sunshine…”
Why did they have to take you away…
The daycare has never felt so empty then it did right now, even emptier than when it was closed. A hole boars itself into their soul.
"S-starshine...."
All through the night they took turns mourning. The pain was just too much. They felt it all.
"How could this happen?"
"Why couldn't we stop it?!"
"Why couldn't it have been us?"
"I can't believe they're gone...."
The following days were just... empty, simply going through the motions, caring for kids, cleaning up, all the usual just without you and without feeling.
Their friends arranged a funeral after hours, everyone was there, the other animatronics, their handlers, your friends, their friends, everyone important to you, to Sun and to Moon. You'd lived a good long life… made many friends in the Pizzaplex. And that made it hurt so much more.
It was sweet for everyone to do this for you and for Sun and Moon but afterwards nothing hurt anymore, nothing felt anymore, everything was numb, just blank and robotic…
Soon enough rumours of Fazbear entertainment closing down were quickly no longer rumours, the place was torn down and emptied out around them. It really was about time history caught up to them.
But It didn't matter, not to Sun, not to Moon. This was how it had to go, how it always went. This was probably their favourite life so far even with the hiccup in the middle, they really had enjoyed it which made it so much harder.
When it was time to be shut down, well there was no point in protesting, nothing… no one to fight for.
Maybe they would finally pass on to the next life? All they wish is that they'll see you again. It was their destiny? Right? All they could do was hope… as the world finally went dark, had peace finally found them? Was this the end? Or a new beginning?
. . .
. . .
. . .
Start up commencing…
Connecting to Faz network…
...
No Faz network detected…Connecting to the local network…
The wintry wind bellowed outside, hitting your windows with great force. The rain battered against the roof. Who knows what claters around the world outside; bins? watering cans? buckets? trampolines? You have mo clue but what you do know is it's too darn loud. How on earth are you supposed to sleep like this?
A crash sounds from outside, you hope that wasn't a window. Maybe plant pot? Or a glass table…
The rain almost sounds like waves as each gust blows it full force at your windows. Your bedroom is just too exposed to the elements.
With a heavy sigh you slip out of bed, still bundled in your blankets, your bed essentials tucked under your arm. While the rest of everywhere is snowed in, your area just has to get a horrendous storm. You'll even be stuck inside tomorrow and there won't even be any fun snow to play in after.
You plop down on the living room sofa, sitting there with an exhausted frown. At least it's quieter here. You can still tell a storm rages on outside but it finally sounds like it's outside not in the room.
Two red lights peer over from his puzzle book, softening to blue as they settle on you.
“Trouble sleeping starlight?”
You let out a disgruntled “Um hmmm.”
He jots down the last word in his crossword and sets the book down.
He sits beside you and you lean on his shoulder.
“Can I help the little burrito sleep?” He boops your nose.
You nod.
“Come on then.” He shuffles things around, laying on the sofa and pulling you onto his chest. He carefully unwraps your blankets, instead spreading them over you. He then tucks you under his chin, his arms over the blankets and around you.
With his warm hugs mode activated and his arms pulling the blanket tight you feel even more like a burrito than ever. As snug as a bug in a rug some might say.
You snuggle in as he hums a soft song.
“Thank you Moon.” You hum back.
“Anything for you starlight.”
He feels like a hot water bottle. His arms around you are like a weighted blanket, everything feels perfect, not a worry in the world could disturb you.
The song lulls you to sleep, the warmth beckons you to slumber.
It finally feels peaceful. You're sure to have sweet dreams tonight.
“hugging their lover tight to keep them in bed” seems like a very Moon prompt X3
Some would say you spend way too many unpaid hours at work, your boyfriends would disagree, they say you get paid in cuddles. And oh how wonderful those cuddles are.
You snuggle up into the warmth, Moon's warm hugs upgrade was such an amazing addition to their repertoire of skills.
You bask in the warmth as you awake, soft music playing from Moon’s music box. Pillows surround you and stars dance over the blanket above you, blocking the whole world out, it’s just you and him.
You reach over Moon carefully to your skillfully placed phone. You'd figured out by now exactly where to place your phone in the pillow fort so you could reach it in the morning. You grab it just in time to shut the alarm off before it breaks the peace, before placing it back. You sigh as you drape your arms back around the robot who's wrapped around you.
You wait just a moment, taking in the peace and quiet. Waking up like this was always better than waking up at home. Waking up to Moon's cuddles was always the best. But they were unfortunately cut short far too soon every morning.
“We should get up soon.” You whisper.
“Nooooo,” He mumbles into your neck as he snuggles in.
“The kids will be here soon.”
“So?” He pulls you closer.
“Five more minutes?”
He only hums in reply.
You let out a sigh as you relax into his hug. You could stay like this forever.
You hold his face in your hand looking up at him.
He looks down at you with sleepy eyes.
“You’re beautiful,” He hums.
“Well you’re amazing,” You whisper back.
He places a soft kiss on your forehead before he tucks your head under his chin. He’s so safe and warm and soft, you could drift right back to sleep, and for a moment you might have.
“It’s been five minutes, maybe more.”
Moon grumbles in protest.
Had you actually drifted to sleep? You can’t reach your phone anymore to check.
You try to get up but are pulled in tighter. His gentle yet unrelenting embrace captures you in place.
“Moooon, come on we have a job to do.”
He smiles as he closes his eyes.
“Moon the kids will be here any minute.”
“You embarrassed?”
“Do I want to get caught by all the little kids and their parents like this no…”
He only chuckles.
“I don’t want this to end either.” you sigh. “But we need to get ready for work…”
He sighs. He knows you’re right.
BANG BANG
A knock echoes through the daycare.
You both jump right up.
You crawl out of the pillow fort just as the big daycare doors creak open.
“Hello?”
“Hi sorry…” you neaten your hair as Moon crawls out of the fort behind you. “We were just… setting up a pillow fort!” you exclaim as you approach the lady.
“In… your pyjamas?”
“Yes it’s pyjama day.” you let out a nervous giggle.
“You should have emailed me or something. I wouldn't have bothered dressing her.” She huffs. “I was worried you were closed because the lights were off.”
“Nope, we’re very much open.”
“Good, I have work to get to.” She looks at the little girl holding her hand. “Have fun sweety.” She hands her a bag and shoos her into the daycare before leaving.
She was a little earlier than usual but that happened sometimes that’s why you usually try to be up and ready.
Moon crouches down to the little girl's level. “Hello little star, you’re the first one here, do you want to play with Mr Moon or Mr Sun first.”
“Mr Moon please.” she chimes before looking you up and down. “Do you sleep here like teachers do at school?”
Open body posture, with relaxed arms and shoulders.
Leaning forward slightly towards the person or object of interest.
Making eye contact with a warm and engaged expression.
Anger:
Tightened jaw and clenched fists.
Furrowed brows and narrowed eyes.
Standing or sitting with a rigid and tense posture.
Pointing fingers or aggressive gestures.
Raised voice or speaking through gritted teeth.
Sadness:
Downcast eyes and a drooping posture.
Slumped shoulders and shallow breathing.
Avoiding eye contact and withdrawing from social interaction.
Sighing or a subdued tone of voice.
Tearfulness, with watery or red eyes.
Fear:
Widened eyes with dilated pupils.
Raised eyebrows and a tense facial expression.
Frozen or rigid body posture.
Backing away or seeking physical distance from the perceived threat.
Trembling or shaking, especially in the hands or legs.
Surprise:
Raised eyebrows and widened eyes.
Mouth slightly agape or forming an "O" shape.
Leaning forward or recoiling backward in response to the surprise.
Quick inhalation or gasp of breath.
Rapid blinking or blinking more than usual.
Disgust:
Curling the upper lip or wrinkling the nose.
Narrowing the eyes and raising the upper eyelids.
Turning the head away or physically distancing oneself from the source of disgust.
Covering the mouth or nose with the hand or a tissue.
Expressing verbal disgust through phrases like "ew" or "yuck."
These are just some examples, and individuals may display variations in their body language based on their personality, cultural background, and the specific context of the situation.
Into (mer-creatures explained)
Chapter 1
Chapter 2 <- You are Here.
Chapter 2: Lights out ~
You Dwell on the assignment at hand as you lean on the desk.
If this shark doesn't survive the night all your hopes will be dashed. And you're still worried about the fact he's all alone. He must have been separated from his Daycare during the storm. That must have been so scary.
You sigh.
He's still asleep so you can't even check his stress levels or anything. You'd decided a while ago that you were definitely taking this next night shift to look after Ray but you still had to do the rest of your shiftly duties so as he sleeps you decide it's time to check up and feed the rest of the Celestials.
You're thankful for the fact each team only has one species each to look after. That meant you could focus on the Celestials while other Mer-creatures would be looked after by other people. But Mer-creatures aren't the only sea life at Cove Aquariums. Imagine looking after all the hundreds of fish by yourself.
Thankfully the night shifts were quiet, with no guests and only one or two from each team staying and all keeping to their sections. It was refreshing, especially from the hustle and bustle of today.
Before checking on the mini-mers you head to the break room to grab a quick coffee. Most others on night shift would probably be getting their cup of Joe later they've probably only just arrived. It's not usual for someone to take a day and night shift at the same time. But this was a special case.
The break room was empty. As you grabbed a coffee you remembered you should probably eat… you grab a handful of snacks as you head off to the mini tanks.
It wasn't quite time for the lights to shut off for the night cycle so the Solars are still active just in time for their last meal of the day. As you look over the tank you see no one has scraped the algae from the edge of the glass, it's usually a day shift job but with how busy you all were with the rescue mission it makes sense it was forgotten. It'll add to their meal anyway. You quickly scrape the algae away with the mini squeegee. You notice Sunny, your Solar clownfish quickly snatching up flakes of algae to munch on, while Clips your eclipse mer barely notices the free meal.
You then head to the cupboard, unlocking it and grabbing a feeding tray. There are two betta and three clowns to feed. You open up the mini freezer in said cupboard and take out a few portions of frozen brine shrimp and a pinch of pellets. Not forgetting a net for the feeder fish and a cup and pipette for the brine shrimp.
You place your equipment by the tanks and start prep. You defrost the brine shrimp in some tank water and pipette them into the clownfish tank, just a little. Clips is immediately swimming around catching them all.
Variety is key to a mer clown's diet so next you drop in a few pellets. These are Sunny's favourite for sure and he grabs one to start chewing on.
Sun your betta isn't so fussed on brine shrimp so you drop a frozen portion into the betta tank, it'll defrost in time for Moon to enjoy overnight, you instead opt for feeding Sun some pellets. As a final step, you open up the cupboard underneath your tanks to reveal a little tank full of feeder fish, a common practice among merkeepers. You scoop a few minnows up, dropping a couple in each tank, the Lunas and Clips will enjoy hunting those later.
You can't forget to rinse your cup of brine shrimp in the feeder fish tank, allowing the dregs of the premium meal to be eaten by them before sprinkling some flakes in, healthy feeder fish make healthy meals. It was a routine you were all too familiar with. You watch the merfish swim around for a moment, Clips is busy chasing his food around the tank. As both Solars tuck into some pellets. You also spot a little hand emerge from one of the caves just in time to snag a fish. It's good to know Moonmoon got his breakfast. You smile at their fishy antics. “And people call you guys sea monsters.” You whisper to well no one, the fish? They can’t really hear or understand anyway.
Ray should be waking up soon so you finish cleaning up and say good night to the Solars. Normally you'd stay long enough to say good morning to the Lunas but you have more pressing matters to attend to.
As you re-enter the Aqua clinic you notice a twitch from Ray's fins. You have at least an hour before lights out so hopefully he wakes in time to check his health. Thankfully the clinic tank had a little hidey space so he can hide away and sleep at night.
You would try to keep the lights on but that's just as dangerous. You wonder if some company would help. You first head to yet another freezer, yes where there is a fish that needs feeding there will be a fridge and or freezer nearby for your convenience. You open the fridge and take out a few defrosted mackerel, placing them in a bucket, it's not ideal a crab or catfish would be better but this is what you have at hand, you weren't expecting to be feeding a lemon shark when you put this week's order in. You then suit up in your wetsuit, your black one since the blue one is still wet from this morning. And not forgetting the fish aid kit.
You climb the steps up to the top of the large tank and set everything down not too close to the edge of course. You watch as his fins twitch some more… Now you could wait until he wakes up all by himself or you could use a little trick you've learnt over the years. This job is definitely not for the squeamish. You take a pair of scissors and stab one of the mackerel before you waft its blood into the tank.
You can see his shark instincts stirring him awake. His face scrunches and his little nose twitches as he sniffs the water. He finally opens his eyes, follows the scent and pokes his head out of the water in search of where the fish might have gone. He tilts his head as he looks at you.
“Here for you.” You chuck the fish in his direction. It's so odd to be speaking to him, that's usually not allowed.
He catches the fish and starts to munch it happily.
You've never actually gotten the privilege to work with a Solar in a tank before, it's usually just tagging them and releasing them back to the wild, and even then you don't get to join those trips often. Seeing him so close is fascinating, this will be this aquarium's first bigger variety of Solar, no of a Celestial.
You quit marvelling at him and set up the equipment. This part is usually a lot harder but you think he's gonna be pretty cooperative.
He finishes his fish and you stretch your hand out to him hoping he'll understand. He inches closer curiously.
“Can I have your hand?” You ask.
He comes as close as he can and sniffs at your hand. You're glad now you didn't extend the one you'd held the fish with. He then slowly places his hand in yours. You can't help but smile. And he mimics smiling back at you, his glowy eyes sparkle.
You then strap a health monitor around his arm. It then starts sending data to the monitor tablet. You give it a check to see how he is. Everything seems normal and at pretty good levels. You let go of his hand to scroll through his results and immediately his stress level peaks, not too dangerously but enough to be noticeable. You take his hand again and it evens out, you let go and it peaks again. Interesting. You note that down.
“Here, have some more for being so good.” You throw him another fish.
You start to wonder… Could you start your research with some tricks? How about come here? That could be handy.
You wait until he's finished his fish and then stretch your hand out before opening and closing it. “Come, come here, Ray.”
He looks at you puzzled for a second and then slowly approaches again.
“Well done.” You throw a fish in the middle of the tank.
You continue a few times and he gets faster at recognising your call. You run out of fish so you stop. That was so cool. You note down a couple things about the whole experience.
“Ah, that was fun.” You sigh, sitting down at the edge of the pool dipping your feet into the water. A small chime echoes through the whole Aquarium, which means lights out. You quickly check the monitor tablet, this might freak him out.
All tank lights slowly shut off, and all the other lights dim to keep the tanks from having too much light pollution. You see his stress levels spike to dangerous levels. He swims over to you almost leaping out of the water as he wraps his arms around you.
“Woah there.” You pat his head. Checking the monitor it shows his stress lowering into the safe range, still high but safe.
You sigh… “I'm going to have to be your Luna for tonight, aren't I. You sigh again, slipping into the water. The fish meds are going to irritate your skin beyond belief but at least they weren't toxic… right?
Thankfully you had thought to bring a pair of goggles in case you had to get in the water because you'd dropped something. You don't, though, have a rebreather or a snorkel. You hang onto the edge of the tank. He slowly lets you go and the stress alert hasn't gone off. Good.
You need to make him feel safe. What would a Luna do… you think back to watching the little fish. They always do a perimeter check. You sigh and adjust your goggles before taking a deep breath. You dip under the water and make a show of swimming around before coming back up for air.
“Feeling safer yet.”
He tilts his head looking at you.
“You need to go to sleep or you'll never get better.”
He just stares.
You sigh… you then take his hand and with a deep breath you take him down into the water and show him the little hidey space with the kelp and a little cave. You grab another gulp of air at the surface before swimming around in his tank hopefully communicating to him that you'll protect him. You resurface before looking down under the water. He looks up at you before back to the hiding spot. Back at you. You have to take another breath before you lower your face into the water to watch him again. A few bubbles leave his mouth reminding you of a sigh. He then swims over to the kelp and curls up in it. Still staring up at you. You get some more air checking on him again. He lays his head down and closes his eyes. You resurface. Taking a moment to breathe. You’re going to have to wait a while, to make sure he’s asleep. This is an odd scenario you’ve gotten yourself into but if it keeps his stress levels down and keeps him safe and alive you’re going to do it.
You can’t help but yawn. It’s been a long day. If the lights have just gone off it’s probably about 12am, day shift will come about 6… you sigh. That's a lot of hours to stay awake for. You had to make sure Ray would last the night, He might not have lasted even this long without you.
You lie on your back floating on the water.
“This is gonna be awesome,” you reassure yourself. You close your eyes. “Just don’t fall asleep…” You feel yourself drift.
Your head gently bumps into the glass of the tank. “I’m awake.” you gasp. You have no idea what time it is but the lights are still off so it can’t be too late. If someone found you like that, you don’t know what would have happened, they’d probably think you’d died or something.
You need to get out and check the time. You first check on Ray… he’s still sleeping, so you should be able to sneak out. You swim over to the ledge and hoist yourself up that weightless feeling leaving you.
You just lay there for a moment before you gain the strength to move. You dry your hands on your towel and check the tablet you abandoned earlier for the time. You sigh in relief it’s only 1:30. You then groan it’s only 1:30. Maybe the night shift wasn’t a good idea after a rescue mission.
You drag yourself back to the changing rooms. You rinse off and get back into your uniform. Before grabbing a coffee and fetching some work from your desk, bringing it to the clinic so you can keep an eye on him.
You have a handful of paperwork to get done and a few reports to write up. You’ll get some of that done. You get a couple hours of work done, take an impromptu nap, check on all the fish, and they’re all fine. Then get to work again. You can’t help but notice how itchy your skin is.
As the hours tick by you decide to do some more research you were pretty well versed in Celestials of course but looking at the latest studies never hurt. Oh… an MRI of a Lunas brain has shown they have very similar brains to humans, you knew they had similar IQs but the resemblances are striking. Another article about their ‘secret language’, it’s no secret it’s just sonar. Ok, this study has more evidence to support the theory that Solars do most of the Star rearing in their daycares interesting. Aw… do they always have to go into the terminology? If you’re reading an article like this you’re no noob and probably know that daycares are the celestial version of schools, stars are the baby celestials who haven’t yet developed into a solar, a luna or an eclipse yet, and we all know a village is where a big daycare lives. We know all this, they’re the first things you learn. You sigh, scrolling through more articles.
Nice, a new Celestial village has been discovered in the Great Barrier Reef. Oh goodie… another theory on how they reproduce, until someone finds some actual hard evidence you’re not going to believe them, what do they have this time? Oh… interesting they believe there might be another type of Mer-creature, a female one, not the most outlandish theory.
Your mind then wanders back to the first article with the MRI. If it’s that similar maybe you could look into how humans learn communication. You do a little googling… it says… ‘There is no innate system for humans creating knowledge and language.’ Oh fun, you keep reading, ‘Instead, we learn from the “inputs” that we're given;’ ok… ‘in other words, we are able to mimic the language spoken around us and slowly build our grammar and vocabulary.’ well Celestials are pretty good at mimicking, usually fish but it could work… You keep searching, maybe looking at how people teach children languages can help. ‘You can support language development by talking with your child and responding when your child communicates. Reading books and sharing stories is good for language development.’ you note that down, talking, responding and stories.
Reading a story to a fish sounds kinda funny, sure they’re not just fish but still. You might try it. You know the only other study to teach mer-creatures to speak used training methods similar to teaching parrots. You’re not sure you’ll go in that direction. You keep looking into different articles but in time you start getting bored of the repetitive answers. You lean on your elbow sinking lower your head almost reaching the table.
The alarm chimes as all the lights slowly brighten.
“Morning already?” you sigh. The next shift will feed the miniatures but Ray is your sole responsibility. You know everyone is scared of him now that he’s imprinted? No befriended you! You decide that's better. You’ll coin that term. You chuckle, your all-nighter is getting to you. You grab some fish, you’ll feed him before you leave. Not bothering to change since both your wetsuits are probably still wet anyway, you make your way to the top of the tank. You wait this time sitting there yawning. It doesn’t take long, the light system in this area of the Aquarium is set to the average Celestials internal clock after all. He pokes his head up out of the water. And smiles at you.
You smile back. “I brought breakfast.” you throw a fish his way.
He catches and enjoys it. “I bet that's good huh? Want more.”
You feed him about two small mackerel and head back to clean up.
Once you're done you sigh and clock out. You make sure to reassure Ray you’ll be back soon.
The next shift is arriving as you head out, you say a quick good luck and head home. Once home you grab a snack and get to bed, as soon as your head hits the pillow you’re out like a light.
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