your merman boyfriend

You've been dating your merman boyfriend for quite some time, now. In fact, it's been a year since he came to live with you. Today is that anniversary. [[❤->hair]]

You think about your merman boyfriend as you idly stir a spoon through that morning's coffee. How he looks, how he acts, how it feels to have such a man all to yourself. His hair is the first thing that anyone might notice about him, given that he's usually submerged in enough water to make it float around him in a heavy cloud. Its color, however, is what stands out most, as a beautiful... [[Golden blond]] [[Shining silver]] [[Pitch black]]

...a shining silver, as luminescent as the moon hanging atop the night sky. It was the first thing you noticed about him when you met, you must admit. Not that you don't love the rest of him, too, but his hair is just really amazing. It's thin, long, and pin-straight, but that just makes it hang down in foggy sheets when wet, which you happen to find very charming. You like to braid, but to do anything other than watch would be such a disservice to that glowing reef of hair, so it just hangs long and free as it floats through the water - a shooting star breaking through the dusk. [[❤->eyes]] (set: $trophy to it + 1) (set: $silver to true)

...golden blond, as long, luxurious, and wavy as the sun reflecting off ocean waves. You comb it out carefully for him each night, a series of a thousand and one gentle strokes. It's very thick yet mercifully easy to handle, so styling it has become a bit of a hobby for you. Updos, braids, ponytails, or sometimes even a combination of all three. Holding that gorgeous mane in your hands almost makes you wish you'd gone to beauty school. But you have to admit that as much as you love putting it up, there's really nothing like the sight of his hair unfettered and free, surrounding his face like a shining halo in the sun. [[❤->eyes]] (set: $baby to it + 1) (set: $blond to true)

...pitch black, like the comfort of a dark, starless night. Though it's hair for sure (you've touched it enough to know), it doesn't exactly have the properties that you'd expect. It's thick, much thicker than human hair, and reflects very little light. You've heard that scientists have discovered the darkest black pigment in the world, but you wonder if they'd find an even darker one if they knew your merman boyfriend. Thanks to all that, it doesn't take very well to being styled at all. Whenever he dries it off, it's always something close to a rat's nest. Cutting it is like taking scissors to rope. But you've always loved a challenge, even if that challenge involves spending five hours on a single braid. [[❤->eyes]] (set: $predator to it + 1) (set: $black to true)

Human eyes could never shine through the water like his do. You're fairly certain that if you were ever lost at sea, you could navigate back to shore just from their glow, streaming on and on for miles. He's your very own personal lighthouse, if its beam was...well, what color are his eyes, again? [[An icy light blue]] [[A vivid, sparkling teal]] [[A dark, intense red]]

It's fascinating just how different his lower body is from yours. You've traced the curve of his hips over and over again in your mind, and each time you feel the dull surprise of expecting one extra step on a staircase before you remember that they do not flow into a pair of legs. But his tail offers so much more than legs ever could, a display of scales curling into gracious waves and a fin like colored glass. And though this might be a little TMI, it's sensitive to touch in many of the same places as a human body, so that's nice too. All in all, the best way to describe the pisces half of your merman boyfriend would probably be... [[Very flexible, with shifting colors]] [[A beautiful, high-maintenance cerulean]] [[Shimmery silver, wispy and long]]

...an icy light blue, just ever so slightly too blue to pass for a natural human color. His perpetually dilated pupils, characteristic of most merfolk, also act as a dead giveaway to anyone who has somehow managed to overlook the entire lower half of his body. It rarely if ever snows where you live, but the first winter that the two of you spent under the same roof must have been something magic because that year it came down in sheets. And at some point in between turning up the heat, buying a heavier coat, and drinking hot chocolate, you must have looked at him at exactly the right angle, because the sight of snow reflected in his eyes has not left you ever since. [[❤->body]] (set: $trophy to it +1) (set: $blue to true)

...a vivid sparkling teal, much more distinct than any color you might see on a human. Merfolk have very unique eyes, closer to that of fish in many ways. Your merman boyfriend can even see UV light, which, quite frankly, is a concept that completely baffles you. You've asked him many times how it could even be possible to //see// light, but he's never been able to describe it. All you know is that his eyes were as wide as dinner plates the first time he ever saw a blacklight. His irises to you are a portal straight to the ocean, an idyllic one where clear water reflects the sky above as it laps at the shore of some island. It's an unrealistic image straight from a travel brochure, you know, but when you look at him you're sure it must exist somewhere. [[❤->body]] (set: $baby to it + 1)(set: $teal to true)

...a dark, intense red. You love gazing into them, trying to comprehend how they can naturally hold that kind of pigment. Merfolk have a truly unique array of eye colors, much more varied than that of humans. His tend to stand out even more due to how large and wide-set they are, which you've come to find attractive in its own right. All the better to see you with, right? But no one ever believes it when you mention how your merman boyfriend has red eyes. They always laugh, ask if you're dating a monster. What a rude question. Even if you //were// dating a monster, it would be none of their business. [[❤->body]] (set: $predator to it + 1) (set: $red to true)

...very flexible, with shifting colors. The exact hue of his tail seems to change depending on either his mood or his environment, you're not quite sure which. You've asked if that's something he does consciously, but he's never given you a straight answer. Half the time you think that the change in color must just be a trick of the light. Admittedly, it //does// make for a great surprise each time you see him. In function, the tail is not unlike a large third arm. It's unusual for merfolk to have such a level of movement like that, but he's always been able to reach what he wants easily. The fin doesn't allow him much dexterity, of course, but he can grab a book off a shelf or wrap it around his food. And, most importantly, he can use it to pull you closer. [[❤->upper body]] (set: $predator to it + 1)

...a beautiful, high-maintenance cerulean. That maintenance tends to be your responsibility, seeing as he's not quite flexible enough to reach every part of his own tail, but you really don't mind doing it. His scale oil smells very good, it's this brand produced only in certain districts of the ocean from the fortifying minerals of regional sea plants. When properly taken care of, as they always are, the sun itself is contained in each scale on his body. It's almost like a hall of mirrors - you look down and see a thousand copies of your own face smiling back at you, so happy to be here next to the one you love. [[❤->upper body]] (set: $baby to it + 1)

...shimmery silver, wispy and long. He's your very own ghost in the dark of the night, curling in on himself endlessly even while idly treading water. It's quite a sight to see; he can kiss the very tip of his own fins if he tries. But it gets even better once it hits the light and a rainbow erupts from every one of his scales, painting a living work of art upon the wall as all they refract in sync. It's enough to make you fall in love with him all over again - or at least post a thousand pictures on social media each time it happens. [[❤->upper body]] (set: $trophy to it + 1)

While merfolk are visually recognizable as being humanoid anywhere above the hips, the feel of their skin immediately sets them apart. It's rubbery and smooth to the touch, like running two fingers over a stingray's spine. Combined with their broad swimmer's shoulders, muscled chests and lack of body hair, the bodies of merfolk are much more unique than most people know. But even so, the upper half of your merman boyfriend's body skews even further from the norm, due to his... [[Scars]] [[Sharp teeth]] [[Wide hips]]

...his scars. They're not really noticeable unless someone has spent as much time with your merman boyfriend as you have, but they're certainly all over his torso: tiny wires hung between subdermal telephone poles. You've heard the stories behind some, but certainly not all. They seem to originate from sources both synthetic and organic. A few he's told you about with a smile on his face, and others while looking far off into space. You know that they don't hurt anymore, but the thought of him in pain always causes you a great amount of anxiety anyway. Luckily, he's been very accomodating in letting you kiss them all better. [[❤->species]] (set: $trophy to it +1)

...his sharp teeth, much larger and pointier than yours or even the average merperson's. You're very glad that he takes good care of them, because you're fairly sure that no land dentists have the tools to deal with a set like his. Surprisingly enough, he never bites his tongue while eating or talking. You know that his ancestors hunted down and ate other marine life for generations, which explains their size. Function determines form, right? Though he's obviously not the type to go out and hunt for prey now, especially not while living up here, it's still a formidable sight to watch him tear into his food. It's also very cute when his teeth poke out of his mouth. [[❤->species]] (set: $predator to it + 1)

...his wide hips. Most merfolk have relatively narrow ones, but luckily your merman boyfriend's body is a bit more interesting than that. You enjoy comparing him to an hourglass, even though he's a little too flat-chested for the term. Common knowledge dictates that he's a pear, but it would be a shame to call that .75 waist to hip ratio nothing but a fruit. He doesn't even do anything to maintain his figure, which makes you kind of jealous. No matter how much he eats or how many hours he lays around per day, he still manages to have all the right curves in all the right places. You'd ask him his secret, but you're pretty sure it's just innate bone structure. [[❤->species]] (set: $baby to it + 1)

It's a common misconception that merfolk forgo clothes entirely, a poorly-aged stereotype left over from days long past. While it's true that thick clothing will slow a swimmer, even long before they made contact with humans accessories were entirely commonplace under the sea. You've come to learn that there is a beautiful history behind this tradition that has never been properly documented by the human world. Your merman boyfriend is no exception to his cultural heritage, but as someone whose primary residence is on land he's of course affected by the trends up here more than he is by tradition. And it's not exactly easy to buy traditional marine jewelery up here. So when time and money allow, you like to dress him up in... [[Decorative chains]] [[Diamonds]] [[Intricate tattoos]]

...decorative chains that float in slender curves through the water. On a human, this arrangement might just fall flat upon the body - they connect between a choker at the neck and a bracelet at each wrist - but when on a man with gills they're just thin enough to drag behind him beautifully. It wasn't exactly easy finding chains with just the right amount of aesthetic bouyancy, either. The negative side effect is, of course, that his movement is restricted by the weight of the chains, but it's such a beautiful sight that the two of you find it to be worth the trouble. And it's not like he ever has to go anywhere, anyway. [[❤->tub]] (set: $trophy to it + 1) (set: $chains to true)

...diamonds: necklaces, rings, bracelets, hair sticks, just about anything as long as it sparkles. Other precious stones would be fine as well, but there's just something about diamonds, unbreakable as they are, that seem to suit your merman boyfriend. You've read that unbalanced water can tarnish, so you take great pains to keep his environment salt and chlorine-free. Even so, you like to swap jewelery out on a regular basis to give them each a break. The elephant in the room here is obviously the price of all these luxury items, but that doesn't matter to you at all as long as you continue to be able to afford them. Nothing makes you happier than buying beautiful things for him to wear for you. You'd cover his entire body in diamonds if you could - now //that// would be a sight to see. [[❤->tub]] (set: $baby to it + 1)(set: $diamonds to true)

...intricate tattoos of a dark red, branded upon his back as if they've been there from birth. You yourself paint them on (with waterproof ink), but often you don't even recognize whatever it is you've just created once you exit the strange, meditative state that comprises these sessions. The strange designs that supposedly come from your own hand fold infinitely in on themselves, glyphs of the unknown that you're sure must mean something to someone somewhere. Certainly to him. Any onlooker might think that your merman boyfriend was bleeding profusely, considering the color, but what wounds would ever naturally run into such a pattern? Blood washes off too quickly under water to stay in any case. [[❤->tub]] (set: $predator to it + 1) (set: $tattoo to true)

Merfolk can obviously breathe air in addition to water. Spend time with one on land for more than about five minutes, however, and you'll see just how easily they can run out of breath. Their lungs are much weaker than the average human's thanks to centuries of very little use. Thanks to that factor and an obvious lack of non-fluid mobility, your merman boyfriend vastly prefers that the lower half of his body, if not the entire thing, be submerged in water at all times. So naturally you had to make a few changes to your apartment when he first moved in, including a modified... [[Shower stall]] [[Hot tub]] [[Aquarium tank]]

...a modified shower stall installed in your living room that runs floor to ceiling with reinforced sliding doors and a mechanism to quickly drain water from the outside. It's a very wide stall that can easily fit two people, with even a ledge to sit. Perhaps not the most maneuverable space, but it's well set-up and convenient for your living space. One day, when you can afford to move away with him into the countryside, you'd like to buy a house with a huge indoor pool for him to live in. You've been slowly saving up for this dream, but the expense of paying for your merman boyfriend cuts into your bank account far too often for anything significant to accumulate. Maybe one day you'll turn to crowdfunding. [[❤->phone bg]] (set: $predator to it + 1) (set: $shower to true)

...a modified hot tub. This sounds perhaps very opulent, and it is, but you are absolutely in the business of keeping your merman boyfriend very comfortable at all times. You wanted something in which he could easily recline but still have room to swim around (it's very, very big) so a hot tub in the living room seemed like the best solution. There's even a convertible glass top and water jets placed strategically so as to avoid his gills - there is such a thing as being overhydrated. Everything he might ever need is easily within arm or tail's length. Which is very convenient, since there's no easy way to climb out for someone with no legs. [[❤->phone bg]] (set: $baby to it + 1)(set: $tub to true)

...a modified aquarium tank, one of those floor to ceiling tubes that usually house jellyfish. It's very convenient to have in your living room so that you two can easily occupy the same space throughout the day. Other parts of it, however, are not as convenient. The top extends into a pipe through which one might enter and exit in the bathroom, but you keep it closed off most of the time since things have a bad habit of falling in there. And the pipe is hazardous in its own way, since it's scarcely big enough to fit a grown man. Just talking to him is a special appointment in itself. But you really do love watching him bend over backward to make those perfect figure eights from the comfort of your couch. [[❤->phone bg]] (set: $trophy to it + 1)(set: $tank to true)

There are thousands of underwater districts across the globe in which merfolk all live. Though words like "country" or "state" usually aren't used, it's more or less the same concept. Strict imaginary lines separate each district, each with their own sets of policies, laws, and people. Not a lot of detailed information is available to humans about all these districts thanks to the language barrier - there's practically a different dialect of MSL (marine sign language) spoken in each one - but you try to pick up bits and pieces whenever you can. Being from any given district of course means many different things, a mix of expectations, cultural norms, and stereotypes just as it does up here. You don't know much about your merman boyfriend's home district beyond the few stories he's told you, but you do know that it's located... [[Up north]] [[Deep in the ocean]] [[Near a coast town]]

...up north, and by "north" he means that he didn't see the surface of the ocean until late childhood because it was almost always frozen. Very cold, very far away, and very deep down. When you first learned this about him, you thought he must have been joking. He's the type to get cold in a frozen foods aisle, how could he ever have lived somewhere like that? But it turns out that sometimes even when you're raised among arctic temperatures, you'll still get out of the water as fast as you can and move to the southmost part of a continent where it's hot and dry and the sun always shines - just because you hate the cold that much. [[❤->clothes]] (set: $trophy to it + 1)

...near a coast town a little ways away. Though he grew up underwater, your merman boyfriend has always had regular contact with humans in one way or another from regular excursions onto the shore. His English has always been accentless for as long as you've known him, and once you learned about this part of his past it all made perfect sense. His first love was apparently a human in this town, although the relationship was quickly cut off by a near-drowning incident. You're not the type to get jealous of a boyfriend's exes, but even so, it makes you wonder sometimes: was that why he agreed so quickly to come live with you on land? Or was he really just that eager to make the change? The marks of youth never truly leave any of us, after all. [[❤->clothes]] (set: $baby to it + 1)

...deep in the ocean, and when you say 'deep' you're talking //deep//. Deeper than anything a human could possibly comprehend, deeper than where one would consider the cutoff of life on Earth to be. That is where your merman boyfriend is from, and it's why he has plenty of meat on his very durable bones. Naturally, there aren't many other merfolk around who look like him. It used to stress you out, thinking about his home district. Imagining how anyone could survive under such water pressure gave you a headache. But once you'd heard stories about the vibrant life down there in his home district, and all that they do to thrive in such an environment...it almost made you want to take a trip yourself. Of course it would probably kill you, but the idea is nice in theory. [[❤->clothes]] (set: $predator to it + 1)

{ (if: $dinner is true)[Your merman boyfriend has been bothered for an entire year by the apartment upstairs and how they always stomp around after hours. So tonight you've brought those three roommates down for dinner. He can usually only consume one entire human adult per meal, so you'll have to store all the leftovers somehow, but it was worth it to see the satisfaction on his face. This time, you even let him slip a few bloody pieces past your lips before you start to feel sick. ](else-if: $photo is true)[Your photography session is as it often is: a documentation of your merman boyfriend's latest meal. He's usually the focus of the photos, but you always end up accidentally catching shots of his victim's dark, blank eyes, gazing deep into the last thing they'll ever see. You worry about how much it must hurt, but he's assured you that they feel no pain. And you think you believe him. ](else-if: $shop is true)[Shopping online with your merman boyfriend can be tough at times because he's always so concerned about when you're going to order dinner for the night. And it always cuts so much into your time together to have to get the deliveryperson inside, wait for him to finish eating, and then clean up the remains. You pick up where you left off in the store once it's all over, but you can't help but worry about how that restaurant is going to manage with one less employee after tonight. ] } You know that you love him. Or at least you think you do. You're about 75% sure. If you didn't, you wouldn't do everything that he asked. You wouldn't go to such lengths to feed him. But still, some hazy part of you wonders at the very back of your mind: //do// you love your merman boyfriend? You choose his meals, you bring them to your apartment and tell them that there's someone inside that they just HAVE to meet. And there must be something about those piercing (if: $blue is true)[blue] (else-if: $red is true)[red] (else-if: $teal is true)[teal] eyes of his that betray his intentions to them, because once they catch sight of them, they always try to run. But if and when they make any contact at all with his skin, the venom takes effect. After that, they're all quite willing to go limp and be eaten. You've asked him why that's never happened to you, since you've touched him countless times, but he just strokes your hair and tells you that he's never needed it to. You usually find that explanation to be believable. Even so, visions of missing people posters swirl through your mind at night, names and faces that you cannot forget. Each time you pass one in your neighborhood you discreetly check the portrait, but it's never anyone you recognize. In fact, the only time anyone has ever come close to asking any questions was a call from your concerned landlord about the amount of blood mixed in with your trash. But after putting your merman boyfriend on the phone, it was like there was no problem at all. He has that kind of way with people. You remember the first time you fed him, right after he'd moved in, when you were a mess of blood and tears. He rubbed your back and poured syrup into your ear, filling up your head with sweet, undeniable facts - he loves you, he needs you, it's no different than feeding a mouse to a snake, isn't it? No one else could do what you do, no one else is so devoted. And you love him, don't you? But the axe in your sweaty hand is telling you that no, you don't. [[❤->credits]]

{ (if: $dinner is true)[You see the smile stretch wide across his face as the silk blindfold falls from his eyes to see the table set with a treat he never thought he'd eat again: a breed of shellfish unique to his district. It was NOT cheap to import even two of them, but absolutely worth it in this moment as he sits on your lap to swallow all of that money down. If he asks with a cute enough look on his face, you might even be convinced to take a bite yourself. ](else-if: $shop is true)[Your merman boyfriend bathes in the attention of a thousand "add to cart"s. He points and he points, picking out everything he wants as if creating a constellation only he can see out of stray stars. And if only they sold stars in stores, you swear you'd haul them down from the sky for him too. ](else-if: $photo is true)[The photo session is everything you've ever dreamed of. He's the most attractive person you know, after all, and in your opinion it's only because there aren't any merfolk modeling agencies that he's not already working at one. He's told you that he used to jump at every chance he got to take selfies with human tourists, which doesn't surprise you in the slightest. Beauty ought to be shared, after all.] } You would give that man anything, even your life. Honestly, you already have. Just look at him, laying around all day with a face like that? It would be a crime not to. He deserves the entire world, both above and below sea level. He speaks exclusively in four figure subtotals, rubbing receipts into your back: mineral conditioners and oils upon oils to maintain his (if: $blond is true)[blond] (else-if: $silver is true)[silver] (else-if: $black is true)[black] hair. That mink stole that you knew would be ruined once it hit the water, but he'd begged so well that you just had to buy it. A bottle of wine from the year your grandfather was born that he'd poured all over his chest without ever letting it touch his lips. There's something very special about a man who knows exactly how to be spoiled. You've always wanted someone to dote on, someone who knows just how much love you have to give and appreciates your way of showing it too. The touch of a lover may be a wonderful thing, but it's infuriatingly ephemeral in essence. Once a kiss is over, it exists only in memory. And they say that each time you recall something, it just becomes a blurrier abstraction of itself. But you and your merman boyfriend know that things, oh, //things//, they last forever. And so does the video footage of him thanking you very sweetly for your latest gift, so that's nice too. [[❤->credits]]

{ (if: $shop is true)[You open tab after tab on your virtual shopping trip, but what you hate to admit is true: he's just not interested. Your merman boyfriend used to love being spoiled, used to be even more excited than you were to look at spring collections and limited releases, but now he won't even look up at the screen. He's trying to pay attention, you can tell, but his mind is just //elsewhere//. Most of the time he's just gazing out the window, thinking about who knows what. ](else-if: $photo is true)[Photographing beautiful things is your passion, and, despite everything, there is still no one more beautiful in the world than your merman boyfriend. But this hobby has certainly gotten much harder for you over the past year. Though he tends to put in very minimal effort nowadays, you remember fondly the times when he was more than willing to pose for you. He may be a photogenic enough subject to make even apathy attractive, but even so, looking at his face afterwards always makes you want to cry. ](else-if: $dinner is true)[One delicacy from your merman boyfriend's home district is this sort of ground up seaweed paste. It's not easy to prepare, since it has to be done underwater over the course of several days and is very smelly, but you've done it because you love him and want to make him happy. And yet...he merely picks at the dish he's raved about a thousand times. He does that with just about everything lately.] } You really don't know what to do anymore. It had been your goal to finally get a smile out of him tonight, the first one in what seems like months, but nothing is working. He doesn't seem interested in anything you suggest, not even things he used to love. Talking to him is a litany of short responses cut even shorter by him looking out the window, idly tracing his fingers over (if: $diamonds is true)[the diamond ring on his left hand] (else-if: $chains is true)[the bracelet on his right wrist] (else-if: $tattoo is true)[the edge of a tattoo crawling up his arm]. It never used to be like this, not when you first met and certainly not when you first moved in together. On that day he was so excited to finally share a space with you, to explore everything that this new world had to offer. He introduced himself to the neighbors, grew flowers in a box at the window, and ran out to get fresh bread on Saturday mornings just for you. That doesn't happen anymore, activities ticked off one by one as a world full of air and wheelchair inaccessible buildings backed him slowly into a corner of looking through the window all day. You know he wants to be here, he's told you that over and over again whenever you mention moving closer to the coast. He loves this apartment, he doesn't want you to have to switch jobs, he wouldn't know anyone else there...the list goes on. But really, you're starting to think the truth is that he doesn't want to be anywhere. He knows he can do whatever he wants while you're at work, he can write to his family if he misses them, he can watch TV if he's bored, and he can take up gardening again if he needs a hobby. But there must be something missing between even all of that, as the only thing that seems to give him any peace at all is just the act of wordlessly sitting together with you. Sometimes you'll cuddle, or sometimes he rests his head on your shoulder as you read a book. And sometimes, on very rare occasions when the right kind of music is playing, he'll doze off on the couch and smile in his sleep. It's not quite the same as a window full of pink tulips, but it's a start. [[❤->credits]]

As previously mentioned, today is the one year anniversary of the day that you and your merman boyfriend moved in together. Neither of you have enough of a head to pin down the exact date that your relationship officially began, but you both know what day it was that he first brought a suitcase here - it's written in the sublet agreement. But aside from that, it also marks a very real committment between the two of you. It wasn't a change taken at all lightly. He had to leave behind the world he'd grown up in for one filled with boundless air and dry land. Meanwhile, you had to spend the time and money required to make your apartment merman accessible. And it's not like he could get a job up here that wasn't right next to a body of water, so you had to start supporting him financially as well. But it just made much more sense for him to join you up here rather than you figure out how to get down there. [[❤->flowers]]

Giving flowers to a loved one is a tradition below sea level as well. You'd never given it much thought, but apparently there's a great amount of beautiful plant life down there. Practices do vary from district to district, however. You've heard that some areas of the ocean have a practice of giving each other bouquets of fish fins. The mental image isn't exactly pretty, but if your merman boyfriend ever pulled one out on your anniversary...well, you'd think about it. In any case, you are an above-ground couple, so you've arranged to pick up a very nice bouquet of regular flowers on your way home from work. You're particularly proud of your own creativity in choosing one consisting of... [[Various white flowers]] [[Red roses]] [[Just a pitcher plant]]

You've heard it said that having one's partner set as their phone's background is the modern equivalent of keeping their photo in a locket, which to you has always sounded very charming. Yours obviously features your merman boyfriend in high definition glory. It's been a distraction more than once from whatever non-boyfriend activity you were just unlocking your phone to perform. You personally consider yourself the world's biggest fan of the photo that graces your background. It's quite possibly the best picture you've ever taken, and to think he didn't even see the camera at the time! Completely unposed, yet he still looks like a model! A lot of your love has to do with what he's doing in the photo, since it's not every day you can capture such a perfect moment of him... [[Reclining rather saucily]] [[Staring out the window]] [[Mid-bite]]

As you leave work and draw closer to your apartment, each step strikes his name into your mind, seconds ticking by as you savor each letter over and over again. And though you see him every day, you suddenly feel as if this anniversary carries an immense weight to it. {(if: $predator > $baby and $predator > $trophy)[Because something in the back of your mind tells you that two of you are about to have [[a night->predatorend]] that you might not ever forget, no matter how hard you try for years to come.] (if: $baby > $predator and $baby > $trophy)[After all, the two of you are about to have such [[a passionate night->babyend]] that you already know your back will be aching come Monday morning.] (if: $trophy > $predator and $trophy > $baby)[Because tonight, the two of you are going to spend some quality [[time->trophyend]] together...and maybe he'll finally smile again.] (if: $trophy is 5 and $predator is 5)[(either: "Because tonight, the two of you are going to spend some quality [[time->trophyend]] together...and maybe he'll finally smile again.", "Because something in the back of your mind tells you that two of you are about to have [[a night->predatorend]] that you might not ever forget, no matter how hard you try for years to come.")] (if: $baby is 5 and $predator is 5)[(either:"After all, the two of you are about to have such [[a passionate night->babyend]] that you already know your back will be aching come Monday morning.", "Because something in the back of your mind tells you that two of you are about to have [[a night->predatorend]] that you might not ever forget, no matter how hard you try for years to come.")] (if: $baby is 5 and $trophy is 5)[(either: "After all, the two of you are about to have such [[a passionate night->babyend]] that you already know your back will be aching come Monday morning.", "Because tonight, the two of you are going to spend some quality [[time->trophyend]] together...and maybe he'll finally smile again.")] (if: $trophy is 4 and $predator is 4)[(either: "Because tonight, the two of you are going to spend some quality [[time->trophyend]] together...and maybe he'll finally smile again.", "Because something in the back of your mind tells you that two of you are about to have [[a night->predatorend]] that you might not ever forget, no matter how hard you try for years to come.")] (if: $baby is 4 and $predator is 4)[(either:"After all, the two of you are about to have such [[a passionate night->babyend]] that you already know your back will be aching come Monday morning.", "Because something in the back of your mind tells you that two of you are about to have [[a night->predatorend]] that you might not ever forget, no matter how hard you try for years to come.")] (if: $baby is 4 and $trophy is 4)[(either: "After all, the two of you are about to have such [[a passionate night->babyend]] that you already know your back will be aching come Monday morning.", "Because tonight, the two of you are going to spend some quality [[time->trophyend]] together...and maybe he'll finally smile again.")] }

...a perfect moment of him staring out the window, his expression infinitely inscrutable. You've since asked him what was going through his head at the time, but the truth of your own personal Mona Lisa has been very much lost to the ages, since he claims to not remember. You've come up with a few theories about what he might have been thinking of, and they shift from day to day, but none of them really make any sense. There was nothing in particular to be seen through the window on that day, and you can easily tell from the photo that it was very overcast and dull outside. And even if it hadn't been, you don't think he finds much of interest out there anymore. He doesn't often leave the apartment these days. But still, the intensity of his gaze really makes you wonder if there's something amazing outside that human eyes cannot see. [[❤->anniversary]] (set: $trophy to it + 1)

...a perfect moment of him reclining rather saucily. It's nothing as racy as the description might potentially conjure, but the sight still brings butterflies to your stomach. In the photo, he's laying back about as much as one possibly can within such a small, fluid-filled space. His arms rest behind his head almost as if someone else were holding them there, fingers trailing loosely through the water. Both his chest and his tail are very generously visible, requiring a twist of the spine that might break yours if you ever tried it. But what's best about the image is, without a doubt, his face. It's so difficult to believe that he didn't know the photo was being taken, because everything about his expression serves up a thick, unspoken statement: "I am yours". [[❤->anniversary]] (set: $baby to it + 1)

...a perfect moment of him mid-bite, working on eating some meal that you don't remember much about. It might be a strange moment to preserve digitally for all forseeable eternity, but no one but you and nosy people on public transit are ever going to see it anyway. You're not much of a chef, but as the one who provides him food the energy with which he eats it is very flattering. You've never been in charge of feeding anyone but yourself before, and even now you're still getting used to it. But //someone's// got to put the proverbial bread on the table, and who knows what might happen if it was your merman boyfriend? And it really is a reward in itself, seeing him so pleased with whatever you've just brought home. Plus, yeah, the picture's just kind of funny to look at. [[❤->anniversary]] (set: $predator to it + 1)

...shopping at an expensive store. Well, 'at' might not be the right preposition to use here, being that bringing your merman boyfriend to the mall is somewhat of an impossibility. Since he can't walk in the way that most building architecture expects of him and your city's public transit system isn't very wheelchair-friendly, you've barely been able to bring him anywhere for almost a year. Thus, the solution: communal online shopping. It's silly, but still a ritual that you've grown rather fond of. You take your laptop and hook it up to the projector, load up several online storefronts, and then go to town. You'll usually go ahead and order delivery from a fancy restaurant, too. Sometimes youeven like to line up the projector with his body so he can 'try on' some of the clothing. In some ways it's almost better than if you'd gone in real life, since he can't exactly wear a pair of pants. Though you admit that at this point you're probably the one who has more fun with these evenings spent clicking around for wonderful things, it's an undeniable fact that he loves it too. You've arranged a very fine lineup of sites for tonight and you just can't wait to see his face when you load up the address bar. [[❤->what's his name?]] (set: $baby to it + 1)(set: $shop to true)

...engaging in a little couple's photography. Although you'll be the only one taking pictures, since you don't want to risk him getting your camera wet. The standard definition of couple's photography tends to imply some rather explicit shots, which is why you haven't mentioned your plans to your coworkers, but you honestly have nothing particularly shocking in mind. After all, he's naked (by human standards) most of the time anyway. But just because it's not scandalous doesn't mean it won't be sensual, and you fully intend to make this session as sensual as possible. Your merman boyfriend is an extremely beautiful man, and so no matter what he's doing or how he's feeling, the result will always be a work of art. Over the past few weeks, you've even collected a myriad of props, accessories, and backdrops to photograph him with. You're glad that you live in an age where photographs no longer have to be sent in to be developed from film, though. It might raise a few questions if you did. [[❤->what's his name?]] (set: $trophy to it + 1)(set: $photo to true)

...having dinner together. It sounds like a very mundane evening activity for an anniversary, and it kind of is, but food has always been a large part of your relationship. Staying in and spending some quality time together sounds much more pleasant than going out somewhere that would require countless calls ahead to even verify that the building was wheelchair-accessible. You've put yourself in charge of preparing everything, leaving the exact contents of the meal a surprise for your merman boyfriend to discover later tonight. Keeping the secret has involved a lot of discreet shopping, research, and deliberately misleading statements throughout the entire week about what you have planned. Lying to him is difficult, and you're sure at this point he must have his suspicions, but you hope that the end result will be worth it. It's a dinner of his favorite food, of course, and although it's not something you'd ever want to eat, this is a special occasion, so...maybe you'll finally bite the bullet and give it a try. The things we do for love, right? [[❤->what's his name?]] (set: $predator to it + 1)(set: $dinner to true)

...various white flowers. You took the time to do a little research on flower meanings and reached the obvious conclusion that the white ones are supposed to signify purity, like some kind of fallen angel. Your merman boyfriend is angelic in many unique senses of the word, so you understood right away that white was the most appropriate choice. Making great use of your entire 10 minutes of flower language study, you've worked closely with the florist to come up with a beautiful arrangement of orchids, hyacinths, and calla lilies - and a single pink tulip just to remind him of a couple things. [[❤->activity]] (set: $trophy to it + 1)

...red roses. Okay, you KNOW it's a cliche, but you still love the idea anyway. Disregarding the fact that you're an unmarried, interspecies couple living together, the two of you keep a fairly traditional relationship. You're the main breadwinner while he stays home and (theoretically) keeps house. It's like an idyllic fantasy; you coming home with a big bushel of roses, him in a cute frilly apron greeting you with a kiss as he cooks dinner. In reality your merman boyfriend can barely even reach a stovetop, but it's still nice to think about. And honestly, what's so bad about red roses? They're beautiful, easy to come by, and direct. You won't need to whisper sweet nothings into his ear when the flowers are right there to tell him how you feel. Though you might still engage in a bit of heavy whispering regardless. [[❤->activity]] (set: $baby to it + 1)

...just a pitcher plant, actually, which maybe isn't actually a bouquet. It wasn't easy getting a hold of one, either. You had to call florist after florist both in and out of state, but you finally managed to pull it off. Your work is far from over, however, as feeding it insects regularly and building a tiny greenhouse to emulate extreme humidity will serve as even further challenges. The reason you went to such lengths to acquire this plant is very simple: the //Nepenthes// attracts prey through its seductive exterior and sweet, irresistable juices. Before its poor victims even know what's happened, they've already drowned. It reminds you a bit of how the two of you met. [[❤->activity]] (set: $predator to it + 1)

Writing, concept, and cover art by Wally Ntagonistic. May you and your merman boyfriend be as happy as time allows. [[Start a new relationship?->your merman bf]] (set: $predator to 0)(set: $baby to 0) (set: $trophy to 0) (set: $blue to false)(set: $teal to false) (set: $red to false) (set: $blond to false)(set: $silver to false)(set: $black to false) (set: $diamonds to false)(set: $tattoo to false)(set: $chains to false) (set: $dinner to false)(set: $shop to false)(set: $photo to false)

The entire day has been a long, slow process of awaiting your evening plans. It's been quite a while since you were able to actually do something together as a couple, and you're really looking forward to finally getting the chance. Work has kept you late recently, leaving you with little energy for anything beyond feeding him and going to bed. Your relationship has started to lack just a bit of passion, if you do say so yourself. But not tonight. Because tonight, the two of you are... [[Having dinner together]] [[Shopping at an expensive store]] [[Engaging in a little couple's photography]]

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