Serving: An Accidental Courtship (Yawning S/O)

🍄 Jade Leech

Jade is a creature of subtlety, observation, and patience. He is, above all, an analyst. When he interacts with you, he is always watching, always cataloging your "human" behaviors.

The Scene: You are in the Lounge, late. The shift is over, and the last of the patrons have left. You are helping him wipe down the counters, and you are exhausted. He is telling a long, serene story about a new type of moss he found. "...and the most fascinating part," he's saying, his voice a low, smooth monotone, "is that it only spores under a full..."

It happens. You are so tired, and his voice is so lulling, that you can't stop it. You turn to him, your mouth stretching wide in a massive, jaw-popping, full-faced yawn.

His Reaction: Jade Leech freezes. He does not stop smiling. But the smile... locks. His hand, which was wiping a glass, stops mid-motion. His brain, which is half-mer, half-analyst, has just blue-screened. His mer-instincts scream: COURTSHIP. SIGNAL. INVITATION. His analyst-brain counters: Human. Tired. Not an eel. This is a... 'coincidence.'

The Realization: He will just... stare... at your mouth for a second too long. His eyes will be wide, his heterochromatic one seeming to glow with a sudden, intense curiosity. "...My," he will finally say, his voice a fraction tighter than usual. "How... fascinating. Are you... quite alright, [....]?" He is not flustered. He is... intrigued. He will file this away. "Human custom: Yawning... a sign of 'fatigue.' Mer custom: Gaping... a sign of 'interest.' ...How delightfully confusing."

The Aftermath: He will not be able to get this out of his head. He will now become obsessed with your yawns. He will find new, subtle ways to make you tired in his presence. He will offer you warm milk. He will "happen" to bring you on a very long, very serene "mountain walk." He will intentionally speak in his most "calming" monotone. He is testing it. He wants to see you "yawn" at him again. It's an experiment. And when you do... his smile will become genuine. He finds this "accidental," intimate, animalistic gesture... absolutely delightful. He will never tell you what it means. But he will, one day, when you yawn at him... slowly... yawn back. Just to watch your adorable, human confusion.

🐟 Floyd Leech

Floyd is a creature of instinct, impulse, and whim. He does not analyze. He reacts. He lives entirely in his "mer-brain," and he sees the world as a series of things to squeeze, play with, or ignore.

The Scene: You are in the cafeteria. It is loud. You're sitting across from Floyd, who is rapid-fire telling you a story about a basketball game, his hands flying everywhere. "...and then Ace was all, 'No way, Floyd!' and I was like, 'YES WAY!' and I just... swooped it, right? And I..."

He is so loud. You are so sleepy from your lunch. You don't even try to hide it. You lean back, stretch, and let out a massive, unabashed... yawn.

His Reaction: Floyd slams his hands on the table. He stops talking. Mid-word. His playful, manic grin vanishes. He just... stares. His pupils... dilate. He leans way over the table, his face now inches from yours. "...Oh?" he'll say, and his voice is not playful. It's a low, interested... rumble.

The Realization: His brain has zero conflict. His brain went: YAWN = GAPING = FLIRTING = GAME ON. He does not care about "human customs." He does not think it's a "coincidence." He 100% believes you have just, in the clearest possible terms, propositioned him. ...And he is so into it.

The Aftermath: He will immediately "yawn" back. But a Floyd "yawn" is terrifying. He will lean in, open his mouth impossibly wide, and bare all of his sharp, pointy teeth. He'll just... stare at you... his mouth wide open, for a solid five seconds. You will, understandably, be... confused. "...Floyd? Are... are you okay? Did you... dislocate your jaw?" This will only encourage him. "Ah! Shrimpy! You did the thing again!" He will now find your yawning the most fun game ever. He will constantly try to make you do it. He'll poke you, or get real close and just... stare at you... waiting. He will boast about it to Jade. "Hey, Jade~ Shrimpy yawned at me again today. They really like me~." Jade will just smile and say, "My, my, Floyd. How... lucky... for you."

A "dish" prepared with accidental and fascinating "flavors"!

The kitchen is so delighted to have served your very first "order," patron. We do hope this Golden Calamari Rings dish was to your satisfaction, and we eagerly await your next visit to our Lounge!