依水

[underdashsea]

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[underdashsea]

cicatrise​:

“Good,” Ryu says, firm and clear as a hand falls atop Isui’s chest and stays there. “Your word is your bond, Isui.”

And that means there’s no turning back from it.

The water around them sloshes gently, rising against their skin in waves, and though Ryu’s fingers curl in slightly over Isui’s skin, a few more beats and his touch falls away.

With the important matters settled, Ryu takes in the change in Isui’s expression. Sobriety’s a poor look on him, he thinks. “…does the secret upset you?”

Isui brings his gaze up to meet Ryu’s once more before he nods once and looks back down at the way the water ripples in front of him.

“I just... I don’t understand it. We know about them, even get to interact with them in some ways, and they have no clue about us. I can’t even get too close to the shore because someone might see me. I know humans are a little... complicated, but could things really end up so poorly if they find out?”

There’s a hopeful, almost desperate twinkle in the mermaid’s eyes as he gazes up at his king once more.

“You’ve been with them for a while. What if you make a friend or fall in love? Why can’t you tell them who you are? Why can’t any of them know?”

[underdashsea]

cicatrise​:

Ryu doesn’t move even as Isui comes closer and closer, perfectly comfortable in the water and listening to someone else talk (even someone as animated as this fool of a mermaid). Once Isui’s finally quiet, though, he turns to face him, bumping their noses together.

(Personal space is, in the end, a human thing.)

“If you’re good, I’ll take you with me.” His hand lifts, fingers catching Isui’s chin to pull him back some and meet his gaze. “That means listening. And it means not telling anyone of our home in the ocean.

“If you can do that, I’ll arrange passage for you, too.”

Isui stills slightly as he notices the seriousness in Ryu’s tone. As much as he’d love to go around and tell his future human friends about his home, he’s been told plenty of times that no land dweller should know. Isui’s never really understood why, but for everyone to have made that agreement, the reason must be serious.

He gives a curt nod, eyes downcast ever so slightly.

“I won’t tell anyone, but...” he trails off, knowing that they why doesn’t matter. With a soft sigh, he nods once more and moves his gaze to meet his king’s once more. “No one will know because of me. I promise.”

[turnpage]

send me a ✐ for a random sentence starter from my muse (1-1500) — tw: profanity, mild nsfw, long list

generator here quotes compiled from here inspired by

feel free to change to fit your preferences as need.

Keep reading

[underdashsea]

cicatrise​:

And Ryu listens, more than content inasmuch as he’s able to be leaning against this rock and sitting in the water. As Isui talks about the things he wants to do on land, innocent and happy and so damn pure, Ryu almost envies his ability to be. If only eating food and visiting places were enough to make him happy, but he can’t remember the last time he was– even before his father cursed him to be the fleshy thing that he is.

A single instruction leaves him: “Make sure it happens when I’m rotated onto the island.

“We’ll start here and work our way out. And so we’re clear, I will use you for chores– I don’t give surface tours to just anyone.”

There’s an undeniable giddiness to Isui as Ryu continues to guide in their plan for if-no, when the day comes where the mermaid has feet. 

“I can do that. When do you finish your rotation? I’ll do my best to make sure it’s done before you leave! Would I be able to travel with you? I’d love to see all of the places you go to! Oh! And maybe I can help you out! Like your assistant or something!”

With each realization, Isui’s unintentionally leans in closer and closer to Ryu until he’s all but cuddled into his side with his face was inches away from the other’s. In all of his excitement, it doesn’t even register just how overly zealous he’s being.

[underdashsea]

cicatrise​:

No is on Ryu’s tongue, tasting bitter like everything else about his current position. But he licks his lips, considers it, and finally settles on: “I’ve never thought about it.

“I will next time I’m on grass,” he says, using his foot to nudge lightly at the side of Isui’s impressive tail. “Just for you.

“Then the next time you decide to visit, I’ll have an answer.”

The widest of smiles beams across Isui’s face. “I’d like that very much. 

“And who knows, maybe by then I’ll have had a chance to talk to the princess and she’ll help me walk with you. And you can introduce me to your favorite places to go and I can try the different foods you like to eat! Maybe there’s something you haven’t done and we can do it together!”

Isui doesn’t mean to, but as usual, when he gets excited, he begins to ramble off.

[underdashsea]

cicatrise​:

“Grass?” The incredulous tone is almost playful. Teasing too, definitely.

“Who’s been telling you about grass?”

His daughter, maybe. Or Isui’s heard the stories that she’s spread about the surface from someone else. Grass can certainly be seen from the water even on the little island that Ryu lives on for half a 56 day cycle, but the sensation of feeling it under one’s feet is so clichedly human he’s surprised Isui brought it up.

“What do you think grass would feel like under feet?”

The fact their home underwater doesn’t have any grass and Isui’s never had feet notwithstanding.

“I was wondering what that green stuff on the ground was! I noticed some people will have meals on a blanket on it and kick off their shoes, and then others would hate the feeling of it, and I wanted to see if I could find out why!”

Isui’s clearly excited by the wonders of land as he talks as his eyes light up and he bobs his head back and forth with each thought.

“Well, I’d need to know what it’s like having feet, first,” the mermaid answers innocently as he looks down at his tail and gives it a little wiggle. “But I imagine it’ll feel like a bunch of little blades of seaweed. Smooth and soft against the skin like how it is when I brush my hand over it.”

He gazes up with curious look at Ryu once more.

“Do you like the way grass feels?”

[sphinxmemesmusings]

Put “Knock Knock” in my inbox

I’ll use a random number generator and respond to… (or you can choose a number).

1. Your character walking in on mine naked. 2. Your character walking in on mine on the toilet. 3. Your character walking in on mine having a tea party with stuffed animals. 4. Your character walking in on mine in the shower. 5. Your character walking in on mine waking from a nightmare. 6. Your character walking in on mine kissing a stranger. 7. Your character walking in on mine making a shady transaction. 8. Your character walking in on mine in a revealing costume. 9. Your character walking in on mine in bed with someone. 10. Your character walking in on mine being attacked by a masked assailant. 11. Your character walking in on mine waiting in bed for them. 12. Your character walking in on mine singing at the top of their lungs. 13. Your character walking in on mine watching pornography. 14. Your character walking in on mine in the middle of a mental breakdown. 15. Your character walking in on mine piss drunk. 16. Your character walking in on mine having a heart attack. 17. Your character walking in on mine having an embarrassing fall. 18. Your character walking in on mine throwing up. 19. Your character walking in on mine masturbating. 20. Your character walking in on mine trying on different clothes 21. Your character walking in on mine wearing your muses’ clothes 22. Your character walking in on mine crying 23. Your character walking in on mine shouting down the phone 24. Your character walking in on mine… [mun’s choice] Or feel free to send in “knock knock” and a number for an option you’ve chosen.

[underdashsea]

cicatrise​:

The look Isui gives him at the worry he’s offended him is so priceless that Ryu’s attempt at looking straightfaced breaks into a laugh only a few seconds after.

“Don’t,” he says, and with both hands lifting him up from the rock, Ryu slips into the water by Isui’s side. “I’m not bothered, Isui. I promise.”

Words and sentiments are simple and inconsequential. What really hurts, Ryu finds, is being here in the water and knowing he can’t go deeper. His arms and legs keep him floating, but a human has to keep threading to keep their head above the line– if he submerged, he couldn’t stay submerged. And much as death is inconsequential to an ocean god, he’d really rather not wait for the next chance of rain to come back to life when it’s so much easier not to drown himself.

“You’re not the first I’ve heard to want it,” he murmurs, “but you’re better off asking Toyotama for help on how to do it.” Through the centuries, his daughter’s gone on and off land plenty of times– and mothered quite a bit of half-human children while she’s at it. Just thinking about it makes Ryu sigh, but only because her troublemaking spirit can make it hard not to worry.

Turning to face Isui, Ryu grins. “I’ll say no legs could look as beautiful as your tail, though.”

The concern washes away almost instantaneously as Ryu insists that he’s not hurt by Isui’s thoughtless words.

Just as quickly, a silly smirk rises to the mermaid’s lips as he leans in closely to his king, giggling mischievously as he asks, “Is this your way of saying you’d like me on land to keep you company?”

Truthfully, regardless of whether or not Ryu has any remotely “selfish” motives to suggest it, Isui loves the idea of it. In fact, the thought of Ryu actively wanting him to spend time with him, even in his situation, makes waves of excitement bubble up in his gut. If his king asked him for anything, he knows he’d give it in a heartbeat, and if it’s his presence that’s desired, well, he gets back just as much as he can give.

And if the suggestion is strictly out of selflessness, Isui is just as excited by the opportunity. As young as he is, he knows that the chance to walk on land is a relatively rare opportunity, and he’d regret not taking it up.

“Hmm... I suppose so, but being able to run and have feet to feel the grass under might be worth the temporary trade off!”

[underdashsea]

Isui’s tail is that of a Feathertail (also known as rose tail) Betta. It was important to me that he has a pretty tail since he’s a pretty boy and that you all see how pretty he is with it and ya know all of that important, need to know to get through life kind of thing. 

[underdashsea]

cicatrise​:

When he was younger, he thought the same way Isui did. Humans were complex and confusing and strange, so full of conflict in comparison to the sort of being that Ryu himself was. He was created to love them and care for them, and so he had– even in his growing apathy, those initial flames hadn’t disappeared. Truthfully, walking around them has reminded him of what they’re capable of, but he’s far too old to have the same wide-eyed enthusiasm that Isui wears.

He’s not too old to smile at Isui’s sentiments, though.

“It’s different seeing them than it is hearing the stories,” he concludes. “I understand.

“Would you want a chance to walk on land? If you could.”

Isui perks up almost like a dog hearing food being poured into their bowl at the thought of being able to roam the land.

“I never thought I could, but... yes! If the opportunity presented itself, I really think I would. Well, as long as I was able to go back home at some point. As much as I’d like to be out there once in a while, I’d never want to leave home permanently.”

As he thinks about the words that just left his mouth, he gazes up apologetically at his king, realizing just how close the situation he laid out was to Ryu’s. Sure, he knows that there’s the chance of him returning, but even still, he feels guilty.

[underdashsea]

cicatrise​:

Ryu chuckles again, lightly flicking Isui on the forehead. “You’re easy to please, though.

“Then again, I suppose it’s one of your charm points.”

He almost entertains the thought of doing nothing but stroke Isui’s hair all day, soft as it is. It’s rare that he’s the right size to do it, after all, and he imagines it’d give the same sense of relaxation he’s seen on humans who pet their cats.

Deeming it immature, however, he resists the urge, opting instead to keep himself steady with his palm on the rock.

“What’re you doing so close to shore, hm?”

Pouting cutely, Isui rubbed where he’d just been flicked, more out of reaction than out of any actual pain.

Shifting so up to his chest is submerged in water, he leans leisurely back against the rocks near the king. While he wishes he could climb onto the rock to be next to Ryu without worry, he knows it’d be foolish to try for a multitude of reasons.

“I always do,” he responds simply as he stretches his neck to look up at him more easily. “I know I can never walk around with them, but it’s fun watching humans. They’re so... complicated. 

“One couple can come here together and leave separately in tears, another couple can come together and get engaged. One person can come and dump their trash here like the waters don’t matter and someone else will immediately come along and grab it so it doesn’t hurt anyone or anything. I suppose it shouldn’t be so surprising that humans are all so different from one another, but...”

He trails off and shrugs happily.

[underdashsea]

cicatrise​:

His hand is smaller than it would’ve been had he been in his true form, but Ryu finds now that at least it makes it easy to pat the mop on Isui’s head. He’s a young one, and with an already sweet disposition, Ryu’s already kind disposition with his subjects becomes even gentler.

“Is Toyotama not doing a good job with me gone?” he asks, but he already knows the answer. His daughter comes on shore often enough, speaking tales of Ryu’s underwater kingdom and the goings on while he’s away. It’s safe to say he has a good general picture of things, but the details– like what Isui’s experiencing in particular– are beyond him.

“I didn’t think things would be that different.”

Isui can’t help but all but nuzzle into the hand affectionately, but as he hears the king speak once more, he gives pause. With his lips pursing in thought, his head tilts to the side slightly in contemplation.

“Well, I mean, it’s not that she’s bad, it’s just... different. Like, some aren’t taking her as seriously because your return’s expected. They’re not really seeing her as the ruler that she is. A lot of the things that aren’t going as well as they could aren’t her fault.”

Another beat passes before he excitedly adds, “Honestly, I think she’s done a great job from the start!“

[cicatrise]

@underdashsea sent: ‘You had me worried for a moment there.’ ► from this meme.

With Isui, it’s hard not to smile.

“You know I’m tougher than that,” Ryu provides. “Even on legs.”

The waves crash against the rock he sits on, and while Ryu had had no trouble swimming out here– had felt stronger, even, in water than he’d ever be on land– he knows this is about as far as he goes. There’s no staying under water any longer than a human could, now.

“But I appreciate it.” Elbow on his thigh and hand propping his cheek up, Ryu chuckles. “Even if this might be a ploy to kiss your king’s ass.”

[underdashsea]

As he hears the mention of kissing up to Ryu, his brows furrow tightly and his head tilts slightly to the side as he tries to figure out why the king would think that’s all this was. Then, almost as quickly, it dawns on him that he’s just teasing and just as easily a goofy grin springs onto his lips and he giggles.

Lifting his body from the waters just enough to settle Ryu’s knee, he lets out a soft sigh.

“It’s different down there without you, you know. It’s not bad, but... I wish you’d come back sooner rather than later.”

[leneemusing]

softer prompts

“  i’m not going anywhere.  ” “  you make me feel safe.  ”   “  i think i might be in love with you.  ” “  i just like seeing you happy.  ” “  just let me take care of you.  ” “  you’re my family.  ” “  i can stay, if you want.  ” “  you make me feel alive.  ” “  you’re captivating.  ” “  i want you to know i’ll always be here for you. whatever you need.  ” “  you don’t have to tell me anything, we can just sit here.  ” “  i trust you. more than anyone else.  ” “  you have a beautiful soul.  ” “  i feel like i could watch you all day. everything you do has a touch of magic to it.  ” “  i hope i see you in my dreams.  ” “  do you trust me?  ” “  you don’t ever have to pretend. not with me. not ever.  ” “  i love you, every part of you. even the parts you don’t like.  ” “  you make everything a little easier.  ” “  will you just…hold me? please.  ” “  just tell me everything’s gonna be okay.  ” “  you’re enough. you’re more than enough.  ” “  you have my heart in your hands. be gentle with it.  ” “  i wanna be the one you go to. the first one you tell when there’s something good. the shoulder to cry on when it’s bad. and every mundane thing in between. i want to share it all with you.  ” “  i have faith in you.  ” “  i’ve never met anyone quite like you.  ” “  knowing you is like…coming home. like i’ve finally found something that’s been missing all this time.  ” “  every hard thing in my life feels worth it. it all led me to you.  ” “  i feel like i could endure anything as long as i have you to come home to.  ” “  i can tell something’s bothering you.  ” “  what can i do to help?  ” “  come on. let’s get out of here.  ” “  i’m taking you somewhere special.  ” “  where are you taking me?  ” “  i don’t need grand gestures or declarations of love. i just need you. all of you.  ” “  you make me feel like i’m worthy.  ” “  you deserve good things.  ” “  i want to be your home.  ” “  loving you is like something holy.  ” “  i made you something.  ” “  come back to bed.  ” “  stay the night with me.  ” “  are you sure you’re okay?  ” “   you wanna talk about it?  ” “  did you wanna tell me something?  ”  “  you’ll always have me.  ” “  i’m proud of you.  ”   “  i need you.  ” “  thank you. for always being there for me.  ” “  don’t ever let anyone make you doubt your worth.  ” “  i’m not leaving you. not ever.  ”   “  you have kind eyes.  ”   “  sleep, my love. i’ll keep the nightmares away.  ”   “  there’s so much light in you.  ” “  i want you here.  ”  

ACTIONS: 

❀ for a forehead kiss ✦ for our muses to hold hands ❉ for one muse to nap against the other ✱ for one muse to surprise the other ✸ for our muses to cuddle  ❄ for our muses to enjoy the first snow of winter  ♛ for my muse to teach yours something new ☂ for our muses to stargaze  ♡ for one muse to wake the other with breakfast in bed ♤ for a kiss on the palm ☁ for our muses to get caught in the rain without an umbrella ☀ for one muse to surprise the other with a home-cooked meal  ☾ for one muse to hug the other without explanation  ♞ for one muse to give the other a massage  ✞ for one muse to give the other flowers ✔ for one muse to caress the other’s face ✚ for our muses to shower/bathe together  ＄for one muse to catch the other staring lovingly 

[underdashsea]

moldcursed​:

ethan  is  careful  as  he  steps  into  the  room.  he  doesn’t  want  to  alert  anyone,  doesn’t  want  to  risk  being  spotted  if  there  are  others  inside.  blue  eyes  take  a  quick  sweep  of  his  surroundings,  and  once  he’s  sure  that  there’s  no  one  else  inside,  he  dares  to  step  in  further.  attention  turns  to  the  tank  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  the  thing  that  incited  him  to  enter  in  the  first  place.  

head  tilts  as  he  stares  at  the  person  inside  the  water.  another  experiment,  another  test  subject.  ethan  knows  that  merely  from  LOOKING  at  him.  it’s  horrible  to  think  about  ;  this  place  is  so  fucked,  so  twisted.

he  doesn’t  mean  to  startle  the  stranger,  but  he  can  tell  when  he’s  been  spotted  :  the  other’s  eyes  widen,  and  ethan  is  immediately  stepping  forward  with  hands  held  up  and  expression  apologetic.  he  doesn’t  even  know  if  he  can  hear  him,  given  the  glass,  but  it  doesn’t  stop  him  from  saying,    “  i’m  not  here  to  hurt  you.  promise.  ”    he  shakes  his  head  rapidly.    “  i’m  not  …  i’m  not  one  of  them.  the  connections,  i  mean.  ”

ethan  understands  why  the  sudden  appearance  would  startle  him  ;  if  he  was  kept  to  himself  like  this,  having  someone  new,  a  STRANGER,  show  up  would  likely  unnerve  him,  too.  

“  my  name’s  ethan,  by  the  way.  ”  

Isui remains silent and skeptical of the newcomer, Ethan, even after he attempts to reassure him that he’s not a threat. After all, even those not experimenting on him are clearly threats in one form or another. Even other experiments. While they might have been nice at some point, these tests have a way of breaking someone.

Maybe Ethan hasn’t gotten to that point yet, but one of them was bound to break soon enough, and it was best not to get attached.

Even still, he swallows slightly and moves towards the glass so he was at least somewhat near the other and began to examine him. It becomes apparent that he’s likely on the newer side, if the lack of any noticeable mutations is anything to go by.

He pulls back into his tank, gaze moving downwards as he retreats as best he can.

Still, there’s a gentle, “Isui. I’m Isui,” that comes from him.

Finally, his gaze meets Ethan’s, more curious than anything else. 

How did he manage to escape his own confines? 

Why was he chosen by The Connections? 

Why was he trying to be nice? What did he want?

So many questions running through his head, and yet, none of them came out.

[moldcursed]

@underdashsea

it’s  been  one  trauma  after  another.  the  baker  house  and  all  of  its  nightmarish  horrors,  eveline  and  her  playthings.  mia  and  her  LIES.  all  of  it  has  led  ethan  here  —  to  being  a  lab  rat,  observed  and  monitored  and  experimented  on  by  mia’s  fucking  organization  :  THE  CONNECTIONS.  they  had  lost  eveline,  but  they  had  gained  another  in  the  form  of  ethan.  their  new  little  plaything,  their  new  BIOWEAPON.  he’s  not  sure  which  is  worse  :  learning  that  he  had  been  replaced  by  mold  and  made  into  one  of  those  THINGS  or  learning  that  mia  had  been  lying  to  him  even  AFTER  louisiana.  turning  him  over  to  the  organization  that  she  and  lucas  baker  had  both  worked  for.  did  she  ever  have  any  intentions  of  being  his  WIFE  again?  or  was  her  entire  plan  to  just  hand  him  over  after  she  was  SURE  of  ethan’s  newfound  replacement?  ethan  knows  the  answer,  but,  damn  it,  it  still  hurts  to  think  about.

he  should  be  tucked  away  in  his  room    (  a  jail  cell,  more  like  it  ),  shouldn’t  be  wandering  around  the  facility,  but  when  his  handler  had  wandered  off  to  go  assist  someone  with  SOMETHING,  ethan  hadn’t  wasted  the  opportunity  to  slide  out.  the  door  hadn’t  been  locked.  a  red  flag,  admittedly,  but  who  is  he  to  question  it?  

ethan  is  careful  as  he  wanders  through  the  hallways  ;  he’s  not  trying  to  leave.  he  knows  he  won’t  be  that  lucky.  but  maybe  …  he  can  find  an  exit.  plan  ahead  for  the  next  time    (  as  if  there  will  be  a  next  time,  once  they  catch  him  outside  of  his  room  ).  doors  opened  just  a  crack,  and  nothing  grabs  his  attention.  it’s  just  more  laboratories  filled  with  computers  and  vials  and  the  like.  more  places  to  EXPERIMENT  on  people  like  him.

he’s  almost  gave  up  on  finding  anything  interesting,  but  then  he  opens  one  last  door  and  he  sees  it  :  a  tank,  full  of  water,  complete  with  a  person  inside  of  it.  now,  THAT  does  grab  his  attention.  glancing  around  to  make  sure  he  isn’t  being  followed  just  yet,  ethan  pushes  the  door  open  further  and  slips  into  the  room.  he’s  CURIOUS.  curious  about  who  or  what  the  connections  are  keeping  in  here.

[underdashsea]

If Isui had a life prior to The Connections, he has no memory of it. There have been flashes of a life outside of this place, but they seem as though they’re false. As though his mind is coming up with a life that was never his to cope with the agony he’s endured within these walls.

Isui remains submerged, floating in the middle of the tank. It’s easier this way. It just looks as those his face is contorted in pain rather than anyone noticing the tears that would be streaking his cheeks that accompanies it. Though, it’s not as though he has many options. His tank is barely larger than he is. He couldn’t even swim around if he had decided he was in the mood to.

His arm remains cradled closely to his chest, both throbbing in pain as well as random jolts of it shooting along his muscles and skin. 

It’s silly, he knows, to think that whenever they return his skin to flesh it’ll remain that way. This is the time it’ll stick, he’ll tell himself over and over as the scales are shed from his upper body. And every time, without fail, he’s wrong.

Why they need a creature who can walk land as though they’re human and swim in the ocean as well as a fish is beyond him. The only thing Isui wants from it is for them to figure it out already. 

A long sigh escapes his lungs and he opens his eyes, almost too caught up in his own little world to notice the figure that had slipped through the door.