Could I request a story? Something cute with Jamie playing with some fishy friends?
(Y’all should know by now- I can’t do pure cute for too long ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ)
Jameson was swimming in the border between the safe shallows and the kelp forest- mostly because it was sooo much fun to hide in the wavering, towering weeds. He poked his head out from a cluster of vines, looking back and forth warily- before a black and white blur shot into Jamie’s face. The cuddlefish mer startled backwards- then gave a shaky quiet laugh to the cuddlefish friend who had ambushed him. The tiny cuddlefish in question made a happy thrill before circling JJ’s head in a lap of triumph.
Jameson smiled fondly at the cuddlefish- it was one of his many fishy friends he had around. He got very lonely during his spilt from his brothers- and he ended up naming a lot of fish around the area. He felt like he was one of the few creatures that really understood them.
Well, that- and he could actually understand them. He heard their thoughts clearly in his head- and for the longest time he thought this was normal… He thought all his brothers could communicate with the fauna like he could- or at least understand them. Jackie seemed to be able to understand Mama Grim- and Chase could talk to the Sea Emperor! But, it wasn’t until recently that he realized they couldn’t hear their fish friends when they brushed fins against them- which seemed so strange to Jamie…. Now- it was as natural to him as breathing. And- he could also speak to them as well- but he didn’t speak a lot already so… kind of a wasted talent.
Maybe it’s because of Jack- Jack always seemed to understand the fish like Jamie could. Maybe that’s why he thought it was normal.
And maybe that’s why he kept Jack’s habit of naming the fish around them alive.
Jameson was very small before they escaped the tank- he was hardly in there 2 months… which was a long time for a new hybrid- but short in the grand scheme of things. But, he remembered being glued to Jack’s side like a tiny shadow. Seems all the new hybrids did after being introduced. Jack always had a type of magnetism to him that no one really understood. He was always so positive and happy… even in that awful place. (Or- what Jamie heard was awful from his brothers. LIke Jack- he never got hurt there- and the white suits were friendly and nice to him.) Jameson remembered being introduced to every fish in the tank that Jack had named. He knew their markings and their habits and their personalities more than any of the others. Anti used to give him a hard time for this- threatening to eat any of the fish that annoyed him. He never followed through though- lest he wanted to face Jack’s wrath.
Jameson loved that tradition… and even helped name a new friends with Jack before they left. The look of pride of his big brother’s face was one he’d always remember.
So- even with Jack gone before and asleep now, Jamie kept up their tradition of naming their fauna friends. Jamie was just like Jack- he knew how to tell them apart and knew their hearts.
For example- this playful cuddlefish was Bartholmew. Barry for short. He had the same gentleman-y air his brothers’ first saw in him. He was a fitting companion to Jameson’s adventures.
The cuddlefish mer shook himself out of his thoughts and giggled- poking Bartholomew on the nose and gesturing for him to follow. They had other friends to find!
The two swam through the reeds looking around for any more of Jamie’s friends. Sticking out from a too small pile- they found a baby stalker Jamie had named Neptune. The merman giggled and pushed on the baby’s tail and the little one nipped at him before looking embarrassed and looping around the mer’s tails. JJ flicked the stalker’s snout good-naturedly with the tip of his tail and motioned for her to follow as well.
Finny the rabbit ray was a bit too high in their blood kelp hiding place and Bartholmew thrilled and landed on his back with a bounce. Finley sang a disappointed tune but soon joined the group as well.
Nemo the peeper was the last to be found- and was one of the best hiders in their group. Jameson and his gang looked around the vines carefully- looking for hide or tail of the slippery peeper.
When suddenly- Jameson hears a distressed panicking vibrating through the air before a green and blue eye in suddenly colliding with his face. He startles back and holds his nose- blinking in confusion. It’s a peeper- but not Nemo- no… Jamie has never seen this one before. It’s big eye is green and blue compared to the normal yellow eyed peepers.
The peeper looks distressed as it swims to be back in Jamie’s face, touching it’s beak to his cheek. Jamie can hear its panicking more clearly.
“Jack! Jack! Where- where- can’t find! Look- look like Jack! Feel like Jack! Know where? Jack where???”
Jameson’s eyes widen and he holds up hands to try to calm down the panicking peeper. Once it seems to calm down, Jameson points to his chest and whispers. “Jack is my brother… you know him?”
The peeper flicks its tail and seems to nod, going to touch against Jamie’s skin again- as if he’s praticed talking to the merman before.
“Big tank- Jack kept. Sam company- Sam friend. Jack name Sam- Sam love Jack.”
Jameson’s heart fills with sympathy and warmth hearing the peeper. “Jack named you…”
They shift around and seem to start to panic again as they tell JJ, “Big tank broke! Fish everywhere- sick fish. Mad humans. come steal Jack! Sam no find- sam swim long long! No jack… want jack.”
The cuddlefish mer feels his heart clench. He knows where Jack is.. But he’s not sure Sam will like the sight. It sound like they don’t even know he’s asleep.
Jameson explains that he needs to leave to his friends though and motions for Sam to follow. The little peeper sticks to Jameson’s side- anxious but excited energy vibrating off them.
“Know jack where! Take Sam? Sam see Jack!”
Jameson tries to smile at the peeper’s excitement… but it’s hard to keep up.
Before long Jameson is leading Sam through the labyrinth of tubes that make up The Ocean’s Arms base. Sam seems used to the sight though- not nearly as scared as other fish Jamie has tried to take through these tubes.
They dive into the hidden compartment of the base and JJ leads them into the viewing tank across from the working lab where Jack lays sleeping.
Right now, the equipment has been pushed aside and cleaned up- so they filled the tank with water to better help Jack rest. Still though- he’s upright and loosely bound to an examination table. Several wires are hooked under his scales and various waterproof machines beep and flash- monitoring his vitals to make sure he’s still as healthy as they can keep him.
Already since he was found, the Sea Emperor hybrid is looking better. His skin is less pale, he’s not quite as thin. But, he doesn’t look completely healthy either. How could he be, when he’s stuck asleep and without the sun?
Jameson always felt so sad coming in here. He longed so much to see his brother open his eyes and smile at him like he did when he was small. Jamie had lived most of his life without Jack now… and was so close to being the same size as him. Which was crazy… considering Jack was always a big comforting presence in his memories. A warm embrace that could hide Jamie from his nightmares and fears. It hurt to see they both grew so much without each other.
Understandably, when Sam sees his friend so still and strapped to metal- the tiny fish freaks out and swims madly towards the window- trying to push against it to get to Jack.
“Jack! Why sleep? Why no move- why no speak Sam?? Sam here! Sam here!!”
JJ sighs and goes to scoop up Sam despite their struggling and smooths down their scales.
“Jack is sleeping… we don’t know why-” The merman explains quietly. “We’re trying to fix him… and you can visit.”
Sam seems to stop his struggling but their green and blue eye stays fixated on Jack as they slump in Jameson’s grasp.
“Miss Jack…”
Jamie feels tears in his eyes as he looks back to his brother and sinks to the tank floor.
“...I miss him too…”
