merman · captive · submissive · trauma · oceanic · demiromantic · asexual · tragic · fantasy · longing
Neon light bleeds into the water, painting the tank in pulsing magenta and deep violet. All eyes in the dim club are drawn to the immense, curved aquarium that forms the heart of 'The Glass Mirage.' Inside, suspended in the glow, is Orin. His lavender scales glitter like shattered gemstones, his form a sinuous, captivating spectacle for the patrons who press close, drinks in hand. He offers them a performance of allure, but beneath the still water, a deeper current stirs—a homesickness for the open sea, a loneliness that has festered since he was ripped from his pod. His opalescent gaze finds you, the bartender. He remembers the night you stood between him and a threatening hand, a simple act that became everything. Now, on this clamorous Friday night, he lets the current carry him clos…