Username: StormSerpent
Cat Name: Momo
Gender: amab enby
Rank: college student
Clan: Universes EclipsePrompt:It wasn’t Momo’s first time at an aquarium, I mean they’d never been to THIS one- but they were very confident that they could find their way around, confident in that way 12 year olds so often were.
I mean, they’d been to so many of these things, it was all the same. They’d seen it all before. (Well, keep in mind that this is the worldview of a literal child.) But everyone else seemed to be making a fuss over something.
There was a big swarm of people! Or in fish terms, maybe we could call it a school? But this was no field trip, there were adults and children, even a few elders as well! All crowded around some point of interest.
Well, Momo doubted it could be THAT interesting, but all the same- they didn’t like being left out! And so they pushed and shoved and fought their way to the front! With not a clue as to what they were trying to achieve!
And in the center of the crowd… was a mermaid.
Well, it was a teenager in a cheap mermaid costume.
They were greeting teenagers and adults alike, taking photos, shaking paws. It was like a little meet and greet. Momo thought this was a stupid waste of time, pouting and fuming as they waited in line all the same, a stubborn child.
When it was FINALLY their turn (5 minutes later) the knockoff mermaid held out a paw to shake.
“Aww, Hi!! How are you today sweetie? ^-^”
They returned this with a deadpan stare.
“Aweee, rough day? Don’t worry, the Sparkly Mermaid Aquarius knows a secret mermaid spell to cheer you right up!” She sticks a paw in one of the pockets on her fish tail, but is interrupted before she can pull anything out.
“You’re not a real mermaid.”
The other kid’s parents give them a death glare, muttering amongst themselves about who left this brat unattended.
“Aww, I’m not?! What make you say that silly?” They ask, tilting their head curiously.
“Because mermaids aren’t real, and you’re a weirdo in a costume.”
“You think so? But mermaids are awesome! And they make people happy! I’m awesome! And I make people happy!” She finally pulls her paw out of her pocket, holding up a lollipop shaped like a fish. “And if this isn’t mermaid magic, I don’t know what is! Do you want it?”
“You can’t just, say you’re a mermaid, that’s stupid.”
“Why not? I think that anyone can be whatever they want to be! Whether or not other people think it’s cool!”
Momo doesn’t have an answer for this. It’s like this simple question of ‘why not’ has short circuited their little brain.
Why can’t people just, do the things that they enjoy? Why must we all bow to societal constructs of what’s considered normal? These are the thoughts racing through this 12 year old’s mind as they stare at the mermaid in shock and awe.
“Um? So did you want the candy or not, I’m so sorry, I just do have to get through the rest of the line ;^-^ I’m here 5 days a week though, if you ever want to come back!!”
Momo doesn’t say anything else, they just snatch the candy and run off, without even a thank you!
It wouldn’t be until almost a decade later that Momo would find this mermaid actor again and thank them properly for entirely changing their worldview.
The mermaid; as they found out went by simply “Fish” had continued their career, greeting and helping children, dressing up as a mermaid on stage doing shows, representing the aquarium and raising funding for children’s charities! Everything they ever dreamed of.
Momo on the other hand’s whole life has changed drastically since that moment. Since then, they’ve come out as nonbinary, and decided to pursue marine biology in college! It’s no secret that they believe in mermaids!
If you don’t believe that Fish counts as “a real fish”
think again!
