Hi so damn that was a fast answer zlxnsoxn
Honestly, I'd already drawn it but didn't know if I could post :''D
My apologies on the super messiness of it, I tend to draw cats. I might doodle some more, but this was my ref.
(More writing under the cut)
Anyways, my version of Y/N! I read with my name, but I'm going to call her Nautilus because it's easier.
OKAYBOKAY SO originally I had her with, like, brown "hair". Because me. But then I was like, "that doesn't make sense because she's underwater" so I made her have purplish hair.
I think I remember reading that she had some bioluminescence??? In, like, the first chapters or something, but maybe it was her talking about how she knows other Mers who have that, but not to the extent od Sun/Moon.
ANYWAYS so she has bioluminescent freckles scattered about her body, but primarily on her face. Her fins, which are a dark dark blue, can somewhat splay out and have bio markings on them.
I imagine they're incredibly bright, and form swirling patterns, and maybe eyes on her ear fins? To scare off predators and such. I just really like glowing things, lmaoo.
Her eyes, if you squint, went through a few different colors;
First was a darker blue (similar to mine irl). I scrapped this immediately because it's not exactly realistic on a fish.
Then I went with a bright yellow-amber. Then scrapped THAT because it didn't fit right (imo)
Then there was bright green, but I still didn't like it.
So then I FINALLY looked up deep sea eye colors, and the unanimous answer was a pale, milky blue. So that's the color I settled on.
Back to colors: I chose a dark blue/purple palette because (A) I like those colors and (B) I think they're more realistic for underwater. Because camouflage, y'know?
I know that it was mentioned several times (?) that her scales dulled while in the aquarium, so I made a diluted version, too I just made a layer of grayish over it lmao
Okay uh so headcanon time I guess??
-- Nautilus used to flash her bio marks to show off in her pod. She had some of the brightest, and she took pride in that.
-- She often would keep her hair up. Be it buns, ponytails, or braids. Her sisters, grandmother, and great-grandmother would often play with it.
-- Eldest of five (all sisters), Naut was often in charge of babysitting. She became quite good at it, and would often babysit the pups in her pod.
-- In doing so, she amassed a GIANT collection of shells. She treasured all of them.
-- Her initial hesitance towards Vanessa was slightly thawed because the blonde reminded her of her oldest-younger sister, Anemone, a pale mer with yellowish "hair".
-- She had a pet Leaf Sheep when she was a pup. Screw reality, I'm going to say they live longer than a year. When it died, she was heartbroken.
-- After Petal (she was not original with names back then) died, she adopted an Oarfish. His name is Titan. He is very much alive. She misses him desperately.
-- Absolutely will talk Sun and Moon's ear off about him. They originally thought he was a suitor or something.
-- If they ever make it to her old home or pod, Titan will be there. Sun and Moon will be scared shitless. Titan will come up, check 'em out, then immediately go curl around Nautilus. He's a giant sweetheart.
-- If they DON'T ever get home, Titan will eventually find them, and the above will occur
-- Look I just want my mer to have a pet sue me
-- Anyways, speaking of Vanessa: I like to imagine she'd have a more gold sheen to her (eventual) scales. Which causes Naut to be even MORE attached.
