Thread by @cicerfics

#mermay #pregjiseason

Now, stay with me on this.

I'm thinking that WWX is a marine biologist who meets Merji while studying some type of warm-water zooplankton.

Obviously they fall in love, because they are weird and the cross-species thing is not an issue for them!

After some careful investigation of Merji's body (😏) WWX determines that his new boyfriend qualifies as a mammal!

This is all very interesting as a scientist, and he takes lots of notes. Now, he won't ever publish anything about mer-creatures, obviously!

Because then Lan Zhan might end up in an aquarium tank somewhere!!

But WWX is a scientist at heart, so he's very interested in many things: what kind of fish Lan Zhan eats, whether he hunts near the shallows or in deeper water, how often he comes to the surface to breathe, etc.

And when Merji gets preggie, WWX is Very Interested In That.

Both as a scientist ("Hybrid pregnancies are possible between humans and mer-creatures?! FASCINATING! 🧐") and as an expectant father ("AHHHHHHHHHH 😱")

But he take his responsibilities seriously! He researches intensely!

He learns all about whale pregnancies and dolphin pregnancies and seal pregnancies. He fishes (no pun intended) for information about his Jie's pregnancies. He reads 'What to Expect When You're Expecting'.

He measures Merji's belly every few days and tries to make sure everyone is healthy.

And when it's time, Merji descends into deeper waters to give birth. WWX straps on a wetsuit and scuba gear and goes with him.

And, uh.

Anyway, have you ever seen a seahorse give birth?

Okay, so there aren't 2,000 babies and they aren't THAT tiny.

But still!

WWX is expecting hours of contractions and pushing and some blood. He's got a boat anchored overhead with extra air tanks, med kits, food, etc. He's ready! He's here for the long haul!

He'll make sure the baby comes out safely!

Except there isn't 'a' baby.

And also, labor doesn't take twelve hours.

Merji's swollen belly contracts one (1) time and a dozen tiny merbabies SHOOT out of him.

Merbabies, floating through the water around LWJ's body: WHEEEEE 🥳

Merji: 😌

WWX: 👁️👄👁️

Anyway. WWX goes back up to the surface after a few minutes because he's going to hyperventilate, and he doesn't want to do that underwater, while strapped to a scuba tank.

Merji placidly tucks the babies into a little pouch of skin (???) on his belly.

He carries them along while he follows WWX up to the surface.

Merji: Aren't our children beautiful? 🥺

WWX, wheezing into an empty paper grocery bag he left in the boat: SO...MANY...??? SO MANY BABIES?!?!

Merji, peering into the pouch: There are not so many. Only twelve.

WWX: Only...twelve... *wheezes*

Merji: I am sorry if you're disappointed. But we will likely have more next time. I will be fertile again next month, so it will not be a long wait. 😌

WWX: *WHEEZING INTENSIFIES*

Merji: ???

WWX: I thought...you would have...one baby?!?

Merji: ...Only one? Why?

WWX: HUMANS USUALLY HAVE ONLY ONE!!

Merji: So few? It would hardly be worthwhile to endure the breeding process for a single young. 🤔

WWX: *WHEEZE WHEEZE WHEEZE*

Merji: ...

WWX:

WWX:

WWX, lowering the paper bag: ...Okay, I'm over the shock, let me see my babies. 🥺

I'm imagining each individual baby is smaller than WWX's hand, and he is IN TEARS and terrified the babies will get eaten, until he learns that Merji will carry them around in that skin-pouch thingy until they're big enough to look after themselves.

And, I don't know. Something something, because they're half-human they can transform and go on land once they're grown up! WWX engineers a way for Merji to transform too so the whole family can hang out together on land, and he has to build a BIG house for his twelve children.

I don't know. I was just overtaken with the mental image of Merji giving birth like a seahorse, babies shooting in every direction, and I needed to share that concept. Thank you. 🙏