Chapter Text
Excerpt from Basic Understandings of Homo-Aquatic Beings: Dynamics
The Mer species have one of the most unique social structures in the aquatic kingdom. They are often both loners and very sociable: gathering in large pods for migration, pairing up in a close-knit family, or traveling the waterways completely alone. Their social interactions are unique as well with various dynamics determining their rank among their kind. Yet their dynamics are fluid, often flipping from one dynamic to the next depending on the situation.
From a basic biological standpoint Mers have two genders but four different dynamics. A classic female and a hermaphroditic male. Male Mers are often very flashy and colorful, ranging across the color spectrum with elaborate patterns. Females are generally subtler and subdued in coloration and pattern. Both male and female Mers have human-like upper bodies that merge into tails more eel-like in their flexibility than found in other sea mammals. Both sexes have large flamboyant fins with the males possessing flexible venomous spines that follow the dorsal fin that the females shed. Both sexes have retractable venomous claws.
The following is a breakdown of the dynamics.
Beta males: A beta male is any male that is a juvenile or unmated. All Mers start out as beta males. Only losing their status when they’ve formed a mated pair or if they’re turned female. All mated males return to Beta status once they've separate.
Alpha males: Alphas and omegas are created by a mated pair. The alpha is the dominant impregnating male. They are considered the dominant male as they are the one to pursue, court, and grapple their chosen mate. Their sole purpose is to protect and provide for their omega or female mate while they are pregnant. This in no way means they have control over their mate as their partner will often cannibalize them when they are no longer necessary. This holds truer for omegas than females.
Omega males: omega males are the submissive impregnated partner. Although this article refers to omegas as submissive, outside of the initial mating, which can be violent, they are most definitely not. Omega males are still considered male as though they are pregnant, they still retain their male genitalia and carry the possibility to become an alpha in the future. Omegas typically leave or cannibalize their alphas after the young have matured enough to leave the nest.
Female Mers: Females are what would have been omegas however during mating the alpha tears the male genitalia off. This forces the Mer to biologically shift from a hermaphrodite to fully female. It is theorized that the purpose for this mutilation is twofold. First, a female is 68% more likely to stay with her alpha over an omega and second, the alpha maintains his dynamic within the pair without fighting his omega for the spot. This change doesn’t seem to affect the Mer’s overall personality, however. An unworthy alpha is just as likely to be eaten or abandoned by a female as by a male.
Article by Dr. Alana Bloom, expert in Mer societal structures
…
Hannibal swam forward vigilantly through the cluster of shipwrecks, curbing his excitement as much as he could. He’d been searching diligently for a scent trail for months and three days ago he caught one. He’s spent those three days following the scent to its source, and now he finally caught his first glimpse of the delectable creature that was emitting it. A young unbonded beta Mer just entering the beginning of his season was swimming off the coast of the island humans called Bermuda.
It was well worth the wait.
The beta was one of the most stunning Mers he’d ever seen. His scales echoed the dramatic markings of a Lionfish in cream and deep brown stripes streaked with metallic gold that ran down his tail and up into his fins. His venomous dorsal spines stood out in deep bloody red, a signal to all how deadly he was. He was beautiful.
He would contrast beautifully with Hannibal’s own mirror-silver tail and copper-red fins. Fins that were trembling with the urge to rush forward and claim his prize. A foolish and possibly fatal move to make. If he wanted to make this beta his mate, he would have to be cautious or else he might end up as his meal instead.
The beta was only slightly shorter than Hannibal’s own length though far thinner indicating to Hannibal that the beta was much younger than he was though fully adult and given the collection of scars and confidence the beta had, Hannibal conjectured he wasn’t a poor hunter. Betas were incredibly lethal, his own status of scars was more than enough proof of that, and a brooding omega would be ten times as dangerous.
Hannibal followed his beautiful lionfish from a safe distance as the beta picked at crustaceans, choosing only the best crabs to feast on. He could be patient now that he had eyes on his intended mate. It was almost a week away from the first full moon of the warm season…the prime breeding moon. He’d found his lionfish, next he needed to know where his nest was. It was the only place he could realistically court his lionfish and hope to survive. He already had an idea for a courting gift, he just needed the place and for it to be the right time. Until then, he was content to watch his intended from afar.
…
It was time! The evening of the breeding moon had arrived, and Hannibal had his courting gift ready to be delivered at the entrance of his intended’s nest. Hannibal could scarcely contain himself as he watched the last light of day sink beyond his sight. As soon as it disappeared completely Hannibal dove with his gift in tow.
His intended truly had a magnificent nest. He had claimed one of the many sunken ships that littered the sea floor. The ship was well over half buried under the sand and rocks of the sea floor, what remained above that was coated almost completely in living coral, an excellent defense against any unwanted visitors. Hannibal had searched around it and as far as he could determine, the only way in or out was the hole his lionfish used. The entire nest was well hidden and well protected with more than enough room for their brood to move around in. His intended had done an incredible job in picking a home for them, now Hannibal had to prove himself worthy of him.
Hannibal slowly maneuvered through the kelp forest that surrounded the nest being careful with his courting gift. It would not due for his gift to be damaged before he could present it. There wouldn’t be time to get another one.
Humans were tricky to come by this far out from the island even during the warm season and this one was particularly choice. Almost as large as a Mer and full of fat the way only mammals could be. It took a lot of work singing to entice it close to his intended’s nest and pulling it out of its boat and into the water without accidentally killing it.
Humans couldn’t hold their breath like sea mammals could so Hannibal was forced to breathe for it. His mouth attached to the human’s. Tasting the most divine flesh a Mer could have just beyond his teeth was one of the most maddening experiences of his life, but Hannibal resisted its temptation easily as he neared the ship. A human was the best possible meal a Mer could catch and nothing but the best would be good enough.
As he cautiously approached the nest’s entrance, he could smell the beta’s enticing scent not far inside. It was as if his intended was waiting for him to arrive. To judge wither or not his gift was worthy. Hannibal quickly released his courting gift with a shallow slice to its abdomen with his venomous claw. He swiftly swam off to hide in the kelp and just in time too as his beautiful lionfish emerged out of the hole scenting the blood in the water.
The human struggled weakly in panic trying to swim away as his intended slowly advanced towards it with his fins flared dramatically. Whether it was from the sudden lack of air or the deadly beauty before it, it didn’t matter, the result would be the same. Hannibal watched anxiously as his gift was thoroughly inspected. His lionfish swimming tightly around it to study it from all sides. If his gift was rejected then the beta would simply ignore it and slither back into his den, but if it was deemed acceptable then his intended would devour it. All Hannibal could do now was wait and see if it was enough for his lionfish.
Suddenly the beta lunged forward and sank his jaws deep into his courting gift, ripping the flesh out right where Hannibal scratched it. The human quickly faded away as blood filled the water while the beta hunted out the liver and other choice bits first.
Elation filled Hannibal as he watched his intended accept his gift. Hannibal now had a chance with this stunning creature. The trace amount of venom he infected the human with in his scratch should quickly begin working through the beta’s bloodstream, not enough to harm his intended, just enough to slow him down so he won’t turn around and kill him.
Pride filled Hannibal as he watched his intended gorge himself on his gift. It took everything he had to keep himself from developing the full display of his fins. Such an action would ruin any chance he had with his intended. Instead, he stalked closer, careful to keep any ripples from reaching and disturbing the feeding Mer. His phallus already pushed out of his urogenital slit, erect and ready, releasing his slick through pores along the shaft. The tantalizing scent of his soon-to-be mate arousing him further than he’d ever been before.
He watched his intended closely as he slowly neared, keeping always in his blindside. His muscles tense and trembling with excitement as the other Mer continued to feed. Hannibal waited as patiently as he could for the other’s body to tell him when he’s ready. He would only have one chance to mount his intended and it had to be perfect.
Finally, he saw his intended’s own urogenital slit soften and flush with blood of arousal. The normally guarded lips plumping out in welcome while his soon-to-be mate’s member uncurls and hardens, exposing the precious vaginal opening all Mers carried. Slippery mucus oozing out with his intended’s enticing scent letting Hannibal know his lionfish was ready.
Hannibal paused only long enough for the perfect angle to form then torpedoed onto the other’s back, pinning the deadly dorsal spines flat between them as he wrapped his tail around his mate’s, his penis entering him instantly. His mate froze in shock, still gripping the small remains of his gift as Hannibal pushed and wiggled in as far as he could. The tightness of his mate’s channel offering only a little resistance. He had just enough time to pin his mate’s arms to his chest before the other came out of his shock.
His mate started to immediately writhe and try to buck him off, but Hannibal’s grip was strong, and all his mate’s actions served only to push and bury him further towards his womb. Hannibal crooned and nipped repeatedly into his mate’s neck and shoulder as pleasure wrapped around him in the tight hot sleeve that was his mate’s vaginal cannel. His mate biting back at his face with fierce hisses as they moved together developing their rhythm.
He could instinctively tell his mate had never been breached before in or out of season and the knowledge forced Hannibal to redouble his efforts, undulating in perfect counterpoint to his lionfish’s writhing, pushing his penis deeper and deeper as he struggled to find that perfect spot. Tightening his tail more trying to reach. His mate’s rigid cock trapped between their tails as they wreathed together.
At last, he felt the entrance of the womb bump against his head. His mate hissed and keened as he too felt it. Hannibal rubbed the head of his cock against it several times to relax the muscle with a special secretion, the sensation indescribable as his mate continued to fight him, making him prove his worth. He tightened his grip on his struggling mate as his penis worked to relax that most important muscle.
Hannibal bit hard onto his neck as he felt the tip of his head opening. The circle of hooked barbs on the end of his penis latching on to the edges of the relaxed entrance to the womb, forcing it to flower open to him as they tied them together. Allowing his sperm-sacks to flow through them unchallenged.
His beautifully fierce mate froze instantly and keened sharply at the sensation. His trapped cock releasing his own sperm-sacks uselessly into the water around them. The barbs triggering his mate into full ovulation while stimulating the massive cluster of pleasure nerves that lined the area causing orgasm after orgasm in the omega. Hannibal roared in answer as his orgasm tore through him, intense rapture racing down every nerve as he pumped his sperm-sacks deep and directly into his mate’s womb and onto the waiting eggs.
His mate shuddered fiercely in his grip as he felt his own orgasms rake through his body. The internal wall milking Hannibal for all he could give him. Hannibal licked soothingly at the bloody bitemarks as his mate trembled in his hold, all fight leaving him as he accepted Hannibal’s dominance. Hissing every few moments as new orgasms ripped through him, lost in the sensations. Hannibal’s own pleasure muted after that first release so he could watch for predators.
Hannibal carefully released one of his hands from holding his mate’s arms pinned down, fortunately the other was so lost in his pleasure he wasn’t aware of the change. He reached down and grasped his mate’s now soft member. He was faced with a choice; the popular choice would be to rip his mate’s cock off at this point forcing him to shift into a female form. Most alphas didn’t like the possibility of their omega mates turning around and impregnating them, flipping their dynamic around. However, the more he thought about it the more Hannibal desired the possibility of carrying his mate’s young…should he prove worthy.
Hannibal released his grip and moved his hand to caress his mate’s bloated body. The meal and his own contributions have expanded the previously taught stomach. He couldn’t wait until his mate was swollen with their young. Too gravid to leave the safety of the nest, needing Hannibal to take care of everything.
His mate now completely docile in his hold, scarcely moving as he drained Hannibal dry. The violent struggle and minute amount of venom he ingested making him relax completely against Hannibal. Barely shifting anymore as Hannibal continued to fill him. He crooned in pride as his mate took everything he had to give him, nothing would go to waste. His mate in turn purred in satisfaction delighting Hannibal further.
As the last sperm-sack left him and into his mate’s womb, Hannibal felt the barbs retract from their hold. As he slowly withdrew his cock from his mate, his phallus released a dense mucus that, as it mixed with his mate’s own slick, formed a thick mating plug. Locking his seed deep in his mate and protecting it from any intruders. His mate hissed softly at the feeling but otherwise remained passive. The plug settling comfortably in him. His cock folding back up into his protective urogenital slit as soon as Hannibal left it. Hannibal briefly swam down to scent it, crooning in delight at their mixed smells.
Hannibal gathered up his drifting mate and carefully moved him back into their nest. He easily followed his mate’s scent trail to where their bedding was located, which was fortunate as his mate offered no help through the maze.
Hannibal settled his mate into the bed of kelp and seagrass and curled up over him protectively. He was an alpha now with a pregnant omega to take care of. The gift he gave him would hold him for a day, maybe two, but pregnant Mers had a voracious appetite and Hannibal would soon be hunting again.
“What’s your name?”
The whispered question startled Hannibal a little. He looked down into the beautiful blue-grey eyes of his lionfish blinking up at him. Hannibal settled more securely over his mate and softly caressed his face. His lionfish rubbed into it while never taking his eyes off him. He was grateful to see no malice in them, only curiosity.
“Hannibal.”
His mate stretched and shifted lazily under him, moving Hannibal where he wanted him. Hannibal accepted the changes easily as his mate made himself comfortable. Finally, his mate settled down again blinking drowsily as Hannibal started grooming the nest of fine hair-like fins on his head. His mate started purring immediately at the attention.
“Hello Hannibal, my name’s Will.” He whispered as he drifted off to sleep.
As he continued guarding over his mate…his Will, plans began forming in Hannibal’s head. While not unheard of, Mers don’t typically mate for life. Usually, it would last only until the young left on their own then the pair would split off. Sometimes if the pair were compatible, they would last for a few seasons before another more desirable Mer appears. But as Hannibal lay there, he came to the decision that he would never let his lionfish go. Will would be his and only his for the rest of his life, and so help anything that tried to separate them.