Chapter Text
Any questions yall have can be asked and answered here if they aren’t related to the chapter you read and if you just want more information on the AU itself.
Q: How old is everyone?
A: At the current point in the series -
Seonghwa - Born in 1878 | 146
Hongjoong - Born in 1998 | 25
Yunho - Born in 1999 | 24
Yeosang - Born in 1999 | 24
San - Born in 1999 | 24
Mingi - Born in 1999 | 24
Wooyoung - Born in 1999 | 24
Jongho - Born in 2000 | 23
Q: How many subspecies are there?
A: There are Reef Mer, Ocean Mer, and Deep Mer.
Reef Mer -
- Description: Smallest of the subspecies, typically with bright and exaggerated colouration. Based on reef dwelling species.
- Temperament: Reef Mer, because of the abundance in food, shelter and population, have a more relaxed and laid back temperament, which other Mer see as lazy or ignorant.
- Feeding: Coral fish, eels, small sharks, kelp, seagrass. Reef Mer live in coral reefs, where food should be in great abundance, so they tend to be “grazing” all day, eating smaller meals more often and generally not going hungry.
Ocean Mer -
- Description: Mid-sized of the subspecies, duller coloration with strong countershading. Based on cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and sharks.
- Temperament: Ocean Mer live in the open ocean and therefore have to find food, follow migrations, and are constantly looking behind their backs because they don’t have a stable territory to protect (unless they establish a territory, which is typically done by Matriarch Pods, not Bachelor or Orphan pods). They are more high strung and intense and are typically antsy and aggressive.
- Feeding: Schooling fish, porpoises, dolphin calves and small sharks. Ocean Mer are more likely to go a little hungry between meals, but gorge themselves when they find food and oftentimes don’t need a meal for a couple days.
Deep Mer -
- Description: Largest and most mysterious of the subspecies. Colours can be anything but primarily are dark red or black.
- Temperament: Unbothered and apathetic. Loners who tend to stay away from literally everyone else.
- Feeding: Shrimp, deep sea fish, Crabs, Squid. Deep Sea Mer can go weeks without feeling the effects of hunger.
All Merfolk subspecies can live upwards of 300 years, but tend to die off before hitting their first 100 years due to environmental pressure and the destruction of their habitats. They also tend to get caught up in hunting equipment like nets, crab traps and be targeted by whaling boats who don’t know better.
All Merfolk subspecies have a “gray” period: This gray period lasts for about 15 years in human years. For Mer, they feel about this period like we feel newborns to 5 years: the babies are small and soft and must be protected. When their adult coloration comes in, the pod views them as more capable and less prone to danger, so they are not so much as ignored as given their freedom.
All Merfolk are highly intelligent but also highly instinctual.
Other questions to be added when asked.