Thread by @hallow_fiend

Scrimshaw
Sukuita🔱au cw death
Yuuji always tried to make the best of things, but as his little rowboat grinds against the stony shore he finds himself struggling. This is his first season on the island and fever has shaved the three-person team down to two. He knows Megumi

will join them eventually, but it’s going to be a rough start to his three-month term without him. They're around the same age and Megumi only has a single season under his belt. Todou, on the other hand, was grizzled and odd after years spent tending the light, and just from

the short jaunt from the ship here told him learning the ropes from him would be unpleasant.
The scarred man plops a ten-liter jug of kerosene into Yuuji's already heavily ladden arms. "Start taking the rations up, brother, I'll take care of the dingy."
"Aye..." If he can't

get him to start using his name soon Yuuji's sure he'll crack before Megumi's fever breaks

Yuuji shuffles up the little worn path to the cabin at the base of the lighthouse. The last few lengths are dramatically steeper and as he nears the crest of the hill he can see the reason

He stares down over the side of a sheer granite cliff into the churning gray sea below, the salty winds whip pink strands across his forehead and almost unseat his linen cap.

He'll be making his home on the edge of this abyss, and it explains why the starting pay Gojo offered

seemed so generous.

Well, he can't regret it. He's here now and he'll make the best of it. Yuuji clutches the crate of flour and tea a little tighter to his chest and ducks into the cabin.

It's not so bad after he gets the lanterns lit and the fire going. By the time he

returns with Todo and the rest of the supplies its warmed up and almost feels homey. By evening though, the reality of their role here becomes stark. Night falls thickly on the sea, and lives are riding on their ability as keepers. Well, Todo's ability for now.
Yuuji stares down

at each wrought iron step as they circle their way up the tower. When they finally summit there's a slap on his back and a cheery smile bending down to his level.

"Brother, I'll show you how to tend the light for your shift tomorrow." Todo folds his arms over his broad chest

and his face takes on a sterner air. "But only this once so pay close attention

"Aye, sir,"
---
It wasn't as difficult as he believed- trimming the wick, keeping the kerosene level, and making sure the clockwork never jammed made up the bulk of the work. He was to be the light's

guardian-not its conductor. It was a comforting thought as he climbed up into the gallery. Todo ensured his first night up here would be a clear one. More stars than he can remember ever seeing were suspended in the cold clear air, a crescent moon stood watch with him on the

horizon.
When Yuuji finished his check for that hour and gave the lense a quick polish, he let himself sprawl out on the lower balcony his feet dangling through the bars. It was thrilling having the churning tide a hundred feet below, and for the first time, he found himself

enjoying his new occupation.
He felt like the master of his own little world up here, whistling a small tune while he gazed out over the boundless sea. But then just as the 3am bell was about to sound something caught his ear. A small melody, low and deep that seems to make the

iron and stone tremble ever so slightly. There's no wind to blame it on, the sea has gone flatcalm. So the song burrows deeper into Yuuji, and he does his best to whistle along. Maybe that way he can convince himself it's some maritime echo with a strange delay. He whistles til

his lips go dry and has to resort to humming when the melody persists. The song finally stops at dawn when he extinguishs the lantern. Yuuji sighs, relieved that with the knowledge that it's some weird side effect of the kerosene and clockwork. But then a piercing shriek causes

him to stumble into the lens case. So much louder and higher than anything before, and so undeniably organic. It sounds inhuman...and triumphant.
....
He tries to explain the night's events when he returns to the cabin. Todo has breakfast heating in a skillet and lets Yuuji run

through the whole story. When he finishes and the elder keeper has gotten a cup of coffee into the boy's trembling hands he patiently explains the many tricks the lights can play. There are forces at sea that are beyond understanding, but more likely than not it's just the rhythm

of the lens rotating in its housing. When Yuuji presses further on the scream he heard at dawn.
"whales, probably." Todo smiles and shrugs "Those big fellas can be annoying for sure, but they're nothing to worry about. Certainly, nothing to be afraid of."
---
Todo gives Yuuji a

extra day dealing with the day tasks to settle his nerves, but as soon as he returns to the gallery it's the same story. No matter how much he greases the gears or stokes the flame the song continues. It appears the same time each night and ceases when he extinguishes the light

He just counts the days until the ship can bring in Megumi and he'll have someone else to confirm he's not going mad up here

But when that night finally comes full moon hangs ominously on the eastern edge of the sky-glowering and golden while towering purple thunderheads advance

All too quickly the promised storm arrive. It's the first Yuuji's faced this season, and he's facing it alone. Todo has rushed down to the shore to offer assistance should Megumi's ship flounder, and Yuuji's trying to keep his grip on the railing while his yellow slicker flaps in

the wind. Lightning cracks all around him illuminating the cresting waves in stark alien light. Amongst the white caps Yuuji catches a darker shape moving much larger. At first he thinks its a ship but its moving to quickly-one second its off the eastern side of the island the

next its just off the west shore. He can't reason what he's seeing till a tail arcs over the waves-tapered and sharp like those sharks' he'd seen hoisted over docks as trophies. This one though...it's impossible a single fin was probably the size of the largest shark he's seen

Yuuji's breath catches in his throat when several hundred yards from where tail he picks out two pairs of red eyes in the surf. Yuuji tries to call out to Todo, but it's useless in the storm. He needs to warn him of the monster off shore, so he abandons his post. Tearing down

the staircase and stumbling down the mud-slicked trail to the beach.

Todo's not there.

All that remains are five massive slashes raking through the sand into the sea.

Yuuji knees give out his feet tangle over eachother as he collapses. It has to be a trick, some cruel joke.

But his weak calls to Todo go unanswered by the storm.

Lightning cracks overhead, and a looming silhouette draws his attention. Slowly Yuuji's eyes rise to meet the figure towering over the water.
Four gleaming red eyes stare down at him. They all sit within a single-chillingly

human face. But the sharp nose and slicked hair were the only thing that could be mistaken for mortal. He's gargantuan. Four scaled arms span the whole length of the beach, trapping Yuuji in his hold. Behind him a jagged tail flicks leisurely in the tide The keeper has not doubt

he's about to join his senior in the beast's stomach, but then the creature's lips part, and a familiar low sound creeps between needle-sharp teeth. But this time the melody shifts into words.

"Finally I get to see the one who sang and shined so prettily for me."

He sounds fond as he appraises the human cowering on the beach. "You will certainly make a fine queen for me...with the proper adjustments of course."

"W-what?"

"You'll understand soon, pup." A webbed claw soothes at Yuuji's wet cheek. There's a tickle and Yuuji feels his eyes

droop despite himself.

"For now, let's get you somewhere where you can rest and feed. You'll need your strength for what's too come, but I know you'll be beautiful before the moon finishes waxing."

Sukuna words don't have time to reach the mortal-the spell has worked quickly on

the frenzied human.
It takes a moment for the provisional gills to finish forming. Theyre nothing spectacular but they'll do for the journey to his lair.
Everything is prepared, and by the next full moon his mate will have settled into his new form-and his new role by his side

//end

a little bit of a spooky start to mermay but i thought some megalodon sukuita would be a cool kickoff. Sorry if this ran on a little too long I got caught up in the atmosphere and wanted to keep it going so the payoff would feel earned.
I think Yuuji would take a little

while to get used to being a terror of the sea with Sukuna, but I think the role comes with some killer instincts. Maybe a sequel if you like this with Megumi running into his formerly human friend as he and his hubby attack his ship 🤷
Thanks for reading either way

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