Work Text:
Here we go
Killer was definitely the one to figure this out bc he would definitely go and stick his fingers in other peoples spines. He probably discovered it by accident, like he was play fighting/ messing with Dust, and once Killer got his grubby hands on Dusts spine, messing with the magic running through the vertebrae and then Dust just goes limp. Naturally Killer notices when Dust just stops moving, and so Killer goes into a panic thinking that he somehow killed Dust or something. Killer goes straight to Nightmare still holding onto Dust and once the two get to Nightmare, Killer is on the verge of a panic attack while Dust slowly regains his sense of being and Nightmare has to explain to Killer that yes, Dust will be fine and that no, Dust isn’t about to die. Night explains how certain mana lines getting blocked can affect mers, and how it’s not actually dangerous. And so naturally bc it’s not harmful that means that Killer can now go sticking his hands in the others spines and messing with the other shivermates.
Now getting more specific with where everything is and why:
So bc Dust has so much magic (especially for a mer) I feel like really any of his mana lines getting block would mess with him. But bc of Dusts hoodie there’s like no access to his spine, but near the hood? The hood would most definitely be floating around, never actually resting on Dusts head. That would make it a lot easier to access, so I feel like the go to spot would be his neck.
Cross also has unusually high amounts of magic, but he regularly uses it in the form of his big knife. Meaning that unlike Dust, Cross’s mana lines would be less crazy. But bc of the big knife, Cross would be pretty strong, and we also know that all Crosses (no matter the AU) are almost constantly stressed and tense. By this logic near the neck but more importantly his shoulder blades would be where the important mana lines are.
With Killer I like the idea that his is hidden in the middle of his spine. It’s harder to remember bc his is hidden in the middle of his vertebrae near the ribs. It also makes it so that if someone gets the wrong spot Killer will know. But also it’s at the bottom of his shoulder blades so ig it makes sense. Basically he’s a little shit who’s annoying.
Horror isn’t really affected by his mana lines getting blocked bc low magic. Witch means that he’s mostly safe from Killer wrath. I think that it would definitely help him calm down. Like the shiver have had a hard time finding food and Horrors stressed and to calm him down Dust is just running his hands down Horrors lay lines and Horror slowly starts to calm down.
All Leviathans have it in the same spot bc I’m lazy but also bc they’re all connected. So when looking at Sku’s art there’s this extra rib around where the tail starts and looking at the spine the 22nd and 23rd vertebrae are pointing at each other, meaning that it could possibly hold an extra rib. (idk pretend it makes sense) So that’s where I picture it would be for the Leviathans. Also this would only work in the small forms.
(Just pretend that everything above made sense, I’m trying to rationalize me picking the spots at random)
Dust would also be the most affected by this. Like block the mana lines and he’s out. Like just straight up asleep and not gonna wake up for the next hour. He definitely has accidentally given Cross some scares.
I think that Cross would also be really affected by this like Dust, but instead of passing out Cross just gets really calm. Like just sleepy laying there like a big pile of puddy. Cross just being all cuddly and cute, something that he never is normally. Killer and Dream definitely eat it up.
Killer isn’t really affected just out of pure spite. I always forget what the deal with his soul and emotions are in Leviathantale but I feel like they would definitely calm. His normal obnoxiousness gone and he’s just being cuddly and grabby.
The others are probably at least a little bit jealous of Horror and how ge isn’t affected.
Nightmare is always so embarrassed and stressed and on edge when he’s in his small form and so when his mana lines get blocked he gets all cuddly and protective but he’s also out of it. Like Nightmares tentacles grabbing whatever they can and not letting go. Killer thinks it’s the cutest thing ever and Nightmare is always so embarrassed by it.
I feel like Dream gets very “head empty no thoughts” while also getting calm and feeling pleasure. Dreams scales would also do the cool glowy thing where he gets really warm. Like Night, I also think that he’d get grabby but less extreme.
Dust wouldn’t do it. He doesn’t like it and thinks that the whole thing is weird. He’d probably get upset if others did it, and hates that Killer WONT STOP. Dust hates how vulnerable it makes him and he hates that he gets so powerless.
Crops probably wouldn’t do it unless it was necessary. Cross has mixed opinions. He definitely gets really embarrassed after and isn’t the biggest fan. The part he hates the most is that he isn’t aware of what’s happening after his mana lines are blocked. Bc of Gaster and his time in the lab he worries too much when he’s not in control of himself. He likes it best when Dream does it.
Killer does 90% of the mana line blocking. He thinks it’s funny and also bc he’s the one who found out about it he feel obligated to mess with the shiver. Killer doesn’t really care.
Horror does it more than most would think. Unlike Killer he has no malicious intent, and most of the times he’s done it, it’s been part of an attempt to calm a shivermate down. He’s also done it during grooming sessions and cuddling. If Horror were to block someone’s mana lines he always has a reason. And also because he’s not really affected by it he doesn’t really mind when it happens to him.
Nightmare would do it for similar reason as Horror. When checking over the sharks for injury’s or piracies if one of the mers is being difficult he’ll (very gently) interrupt their mana flow just to get it done. Or if one of them is in a panicked state or in a frenzy he’ll do it. When in the big form, Nightmare is very gentle with them. And when it comes Nightmares own mana lines getting block, he hates it. Nightmare hates that he, a leviathan, a being of power, now suddenly being helpless.
Dream would probably do it to help out. Like if one of the shivermates isn’t doing great or whatever. Dream is just really nice. However, Nightmare, Dream would definitely mess with Night because “Nightmare worries to much”, and “he needs to just relax”. He and Killer would definitely hang up on Night. As for Dreams actual opinions on it he doesn’t really mind. He’d like to just have the whole shiver all cuddled up in a nest.