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Veritas watches Aventurine’s fins as they flow through the water beautifully, sunlight catching on them and reflecting off into the water. The top of the tank is open for the morning and afternoon to allow him the nutrients he needs from the sun, as well as fresh oxygen that he doesn’t get from the regulated water of the tank.
Aquarium goers young and old alike come and go as they please, pointing at the merman with awe and mysticism. Veritas eyes them as they walk past the tank from his own perch on the second level, behind a one-way window that looks down to the aquarium’s main floor. The other side is dark tinted, blending it into the colouring of the wall’s paint. It was made this way so security, and the scientists, can keep an eye on things.
Aventurine drinks in the attention, as always. He swims through the water elegantly, fins gliding alongside him. His fish DNA comes from the Callionymidae family, specifically dragonets—his scales are bright and colourful with oranges, blues, and teals that the children of aquarium visitors absolutely adore.
The doctor watches as Aventurine approaches the glass of the tank, floating right in front of a small group of young teens and a few children. Aventurine smiles at them before he twirls in place, making a show of how his fins flutter and twirl as well. The little children squeal. Some of the teens are unimpressed, but the others are in just as much aw as the kids are.
Laughing, Aventurine pushes himself away from the glass and spins towards the middle of the tank. His tail works quickly as the merman propels himself up towards the top of the tank, likely to visit with the visitors that are watching from the third level.
Veritas still cannot fathom why Aventurine enjoys this so much. Being a spectacle, something exotic for regular folks to gawk at. He may be a merman, but Aventurine is highly intelligent—which is how he’d ended up making contact with Veritas in the first place.
Through the class, Veritas meets Aventurine’s gaze. The merman looks right at him from his spot in the tank, his tail gently swaying in place. Aventurine waves, before pressing two fingers to his lips and blowing him a kiss.
Veritas just barely resists the urge to roll his eyes, lips twitching into a small smile.