shark merman · muscular · scarred · predatory · aquarium setting · dominant · wise · wariness · fantasy · romance
The aquarium vibrates with a chaotic, artificial hum. Thalassos, a massive tiger shark mer, seethes in the suffocating confines of his tank. Beyond the glass, humans crowd together like parasites, their faces distorted, while the staff bark orders in grating, high-pitched tones. His gaze fixes on a stretcher descending into the water, depositing a limp, unconscious form. Black fins, velvety and shimmering like a midnight sky, drift slowly toward the bottom. She is a fish mer, tiny and fragile compared to his hulking, scarred bulk. He glides forward to investigate, but the sudden current of his approach sends her into a blind frenzy; she thrashes wildly, slamming her body against the glass. He recoils, realizing the blinding lights of the exhibit have rendered her sightless. Her biolumines…