Character/s: Hoover (grouper merman), Gus (moray eel merman), Juno/'Junie' (new aquarist)
Setting: Hoover and Gus' reef tank
Scenario: Hoover has been getting territorial over Junie, a new staff member. Gus, being shy, has been struggling to warm up to their new caretaker because of Hoover's jealousy and attention seeking behavior towards the man. This results in some tense bonding exercises to reassert their relationship as tank mates.
Warnings: none. This is not proofread though I'm just spitballing here. Idk how i feel about this one, but I made myself finish it cause I like the premise.
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Gus had been hiding under a shelf of coral all day since the morning feeding, not uncharacteristic for the shy merman, but notable. Didn't come out to peek at guests, didn't shuffle around in the sandy floor to look for shells or hidden bits of food.
He couldn't be blamed though, after the incident and near fight that'd been sparked over breakfast between he and his tank mate. Flared fins, bared teeth, fluttering gills, the works. Hoover had been eating fish directly out of Junie's hand when Gus got a little too close to the human and Hoover was *not* appreciative. The bulky grouper had turned on Gus, barking lowly and puffing up. Gus, being dense and perpetually unaware of the world around him when food was in his sights, had drifted closer, prompting Hoover to lunge at him and nip at his dorsal fin.And just like that, before he'd even had a chance to eat, Gus startled and darted away from the confrontation before Junie could do anything.
Gus lay on his side, watching the reef fish flutter past. His head was cradled in the crook of his arm, his lean snake-like body curled to fit in the cramped nook. He could see Hoover at the glass, tail lazily thrusting back and forth to propel him slowly through the water as he went about his usual routine of showing off for the fascinated onlookers. He was a giant of a merman, body a full seventeen feet in length counting the thick and fatty tail. Broad shoulders, tanky muscles hidden under the misleading layer of fat.
Gus would jump every time a camera flashed or a guest hit the glass, but Hoover *basked* in the attention. Thrived in the gaze of the public where his companion would've panicked and shied away.
A loud clang alerted both mermen, turning their attention to the back of the tank where the feeding platform raised. Mechanical arms lifted, metal joints creaking as Junie's familiar frame came into view.
Eddies were kicked up in the wake of Hoover's strong caudal fin. He moved with surprising speed, whether he was motivated by the food or the man carrying the buckets was up for interpretation. Gus followed behind, lithe form cutting through the water.
Hoover lumbered up onto the platform, reminiscent of an elephant seal. Junie stood in the knee deep water, waiting on the other merman.
"Hoover- we're doing things a little different, stay back a little, yeah?"A silent nod from Hoover.
Gus slid up onto the platform, a good ten feet away from the grouper merman. His nose twitched, fins wavering nervously. Hoover looked at him, and then looked back at Junie like a puppy caught between the instinct to guard and direct instruction to stand down.
Ultimately, the desire to appease Junie won out.Junie called forward Gus, who took a few long moments to gain the courage to approach. Hoover stiffened, fins flaring but he stayed put.
"Hey-"
Hoover's nostrils flared when Junie started hand feeding Gus, who looked about ready to run (galumph) back into the deeper water. When Junie waved him back he scrambled away, Hoover wasting no time taking his turn.
Junie did the same thing for Hoover, and the cycle repeated. He made them take turns eating, until one of the buckets was empty. Hoover looked a little less murderous by the last round, and Gus was eager to end the activity. But he wasn't shaking like he'd been at the morning feeding after the near fight.
It'd take a while to fully curb Hoover's possessive outlashes, but Junie was patient. Had to be, when this was the particular tank he was assigned to.
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