Hello Everyone! My name is Elizabeth, or just Liz for short.
In When Silence Speaks, you'll be taking on the role of an MC that isn't part of the human world but wishes to explore it. Sound familiar? This IF is a mixture of themes from The Little Mermaid with the twist of having the classic soulmate trope etched within-- the first words your soulmate says to you is tattooed onto your body.
The only catch? You've traded in your voice to be able to walk on land, but four distinct individuals have their greetings tattooed onto your skin... Will you have theirs?
🔱 Features 🔱
You can play as a mermaid, merman, or merperson. Choose your sexuality, appearance, facets of your personality, an oceanic friend, and your own special reason for wishing to go to the surface world. This story will be filled with a mixture of sweet moments, angsty dramatic ones, potentially steamy ones, as well as many more! Spend time with your potential soulmate while discovering that your deal wasn't as you once believed it to be.
The game, as one may expect, is heavily focused on relationships and romance. However, you'll be able to decide if your soulmate is a romantic one or more of a platonic one-- of course, you'll also be able to befriend anyone else you choose to! All four of the ROs are gender-selectable (male or female)!
🔱 The Romantic Options 🔱
Miran/Mira -- "The Heir"
The heir to the seaside nation of Semprya. An individual with a gentle smile and compassionate nature, with a deep fascination and love for the sea-- respecting it as it should be respected. They're slightly feared within the Court, despite their overall soft-spoken demeanor, because of the sharpness of their tongue and the keen nature behind their gaze.
With fair skin, despite the overall sunny climate of Semprya, and ice blue eyes, reminiscent of the frozen oceans of the North, they command respect with their presence alone. They stand at 6'2" with an athletic physique due to their combat training, but they still maintain an air of slender elegance as well.
Hair as golden as the sun's warm rays bring their look together, being softly curly. Miran keeps his hair semi-short, brushing his ears, and Mira keeps hers to the small of her back.
Caspian/Cassia -- "The Captain"
The infamous Captain of the dreaded ship The Leviathan is known across the seven seas. Stories follow in their wake, a living legend to all, and many believe they search the seas to find the soulmate that always seems just out of their grasp. Of course, others think they just enjoy the bloodshed that always seems to follow in their wake.
Years of life on the open ocean have given them a golden-tan complexion, that offsets the piercing green of their eyes. They stand at 5'11" with a muscular physique that still retains a sense of agility-- always being able to move from one place to the other with the greatest of ease.
Their hair is a rich golden brown that's as wavy as the place they call their home. Caspian keeps his hair to his shoulders, while Cassia keeps hers to just beneath her shoulder blades. The only thing keeping the locks in place is the classic hat denoting their position on their ship.
Evan/Eva -- "The Scholar"
The most trusted advisor, despite their young age, to the Crown Heir of the seaside country of Semprya. With a thirst for knowledge, that has pushed all thoughts of soulmates from their head, they see you as another puzzle in a world of infinite ones-- wanting nothing more than to figure you out.
They have a rich dark-skinned complexion, with a warm undertone, that brings out the brilliance of their light hazel eyes-- that look almost gold. Standing at around 5'4", what they lack in height they make up for in presence alone. With a lean body, from years of lugging around heavy tombs and scripture, they can be quite formidable when out of their usual robes.
Their hair is a rich ebony black that falls in gorgeous ringlets. Evan has his to his jawline and Eva's just barely brushes the top of her shoulders.
Alexius/Alessia -- "The Guard"
With a surly attitude, that only softens for specific people, they don't make it a secret that they don't believe in soulmates, that they don't wish to find their own-- not after what they've seen. A deeply protective nature is paramount to who they are, who they have always been, and it's only grown while in their service to the royal family.
Tanned skin brings out the silver quality of their hardened gray gaze. Standing at around 6'7", they're quite the imposing figure and don't try to be anything else. With a muscular physique, that's built for strength, they're normally seen within their armor-- you never know what could be coming after all.
Auburn hair brings out the cool undertone of their skin. Alexius keeps his hair short and Alessia keeps her to just past her shoulders, but she always has it in either a simple plait or a low ponytail.
Is the most gracefully clumsy person you could ever hope to meet. A side that comes to fruition whenever they’re around someone that makes them nervous— like an individual they’re beginning to have feelings for.
Has, on more than one occasion, fallen asleep at one of the various tables within the castle library— always waking up with either M’s cloak thrown over their body or freshly made tea that’s a specialty of A.
One of the worst sins in their eyes is to damage one of their books. They’ll absolutely gasp and probably fight someone who purposefully did so (and only get slightly sullen if it was an accident.. though they’d watch you like a hawk for the foreseeable future when around you’re their books).
Doesn’t really like getting into deep water, but they’re chill with the shoreline and would simply cheer you on from there. (The first time you go super deep they’ll freak out.)
Has an old cat that they’ve “adopted” that hangs around the library and near their room that’s situated near the courtyard of the castle. They’ve named him Patches due to his multicolored fur and because when they found him he had a bunch of fur missing (he now has a fluffy coat).
So do the merpeople here have any special magical powers? If so what are they? And also, what do the Ros think of merpeople?
It usually just depends on the mermaid in question! For the MC? (Mainly while they’re in their human form.)
Oceanic Languages (the ability to understand oceanic creatures).
Minor Water Manipulation.
While they’re not able to breathe underwater, like they’re normally able to, the MC can be underwater for much longer than the average human.
Telepathic communication with their bonded creature.
Just an innate ability to be in water and be at peace within it.
The ROs themselves, barring C, believe that Merpeople are a myth. E is fascinated by the entire concept of them, M is swayed by the beauty of the myth, and A just doesn’t care all that much.
Hiii! Just wondering if you’re planning on making a patreon or kofi? I would love to support you!
Maybe in the future when I actually have content to support! I’m honored that you’d like to do so now though, I might do it after I’ve released more things for When Silence Speaks. 💙💙💙
And I would like to ask if there is a bad ending? Like In the original the little mermaid? Like we will die because one of the ros finds somebody else to be with? Or is it just going to explore the depths of the relationship from start to end.
Not that I mind a happy ending, was just curious if we could get a bad ending
I’m glad you think so!
There are different endings, yes. I haven’t truly planned them out completely so I’ll be a little vague on what they entail, but none of them would include the ROs finding someone else.
Not whining, not asking for it but if you don't mind could I ask you why you didn't add a merperson as a ro?
Originally there was going to be! The sorcerer, I.E. my version of Ursula’s character, was going to be the last RO, but I had a hard time figuring out how they were going to fit into the overall story… I’m still plotting though! So, if I figure it out they’ll be added once more!
Are there subspecies of mermaids or will there be only one type of mermaid?
I was thinking maybe if mc was like a shark mermaid it would boost strength or a betta fish for charm, if those stats will exist. Or some flavour text. More like this ones
Yes! There are a bunch of different types of mermaids, which you’ll be able to choose from! The only ones that won’t truly be on the list are the Deep Sea, or Abyssal, Mermaids— however, you’ll probably get the option of being a halfling instead of a full blooded mermaid like the other ones (just to keep your options open).
Some types will boost other stats but they’ll mainly be for flavor text and later scenes with the ROs/other characters.
super excited for this if!!!! would we be able to customize how the mc's tail looks?
I’m so happy to hear that!!!
Yes, you’ll be able to customize how the MCs tail looks. Like the color of the scales, the pattern that can be seen on it, and the overall shape of it (for instance you could choose to have a shark like tail or one that’s reminiscent of a koi fish).
You’re my new favorite person, thank you for writing a story on mermaids 😭 it instantly caught my attention and I’m super excited for the release of the demo!! 🫶🏽
Thank you!!!! 💙
One of my friends is also writing a mermaid IF but she hasn’t had the time to write anything for it in quite some time. Whenever she decides to publish the demo I’ll let you all know!
