Jimin is an upcoming solo singer with a passion for the sea. When his Grandfather goes missing when a storm hits the island where he was staying. In his will he leaves to Jimin his summer home, it's on a remote island, his grandfather often took him...
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"Normal" - Jimin's language "Mer" - Mermen's language "Sign language" - both understand
~*~
Author POV
There were several steps to a Mer courtship. Jimin had learnt this from his grandfather when he came to visit, Jimin's mates had been unable to come to his call as they had duties to attend to, their jobs played crucial roles in the mer community, they had been slacking since they had met Jimin. So they had been reprimanded and had to remain at their work stations, Jimin had understood and sent them off with a smile.
Plus it had been nice to be able to catch up with his grandfather, being wrapped up in all the events had been overwhelming and he hadn't really been given time to truly let it sink in that his last relative wasn't dead but instead had been turned into a merman.
They had spent the whole day talking, just generally catching up. Sharing memories of Jimin growing up that had them both laughing. Jimin actively cried when Hyun admitted that his wife had not passed away but was a mermaid along side him beneath the sea. Jimin had clutched the necklace he had taken to wearing in her honour and held it tight when he had been told the news.
Eventually their conversation strayed to the big change in both their lives, the fact about the mer species situation. Hyun had come clean and told Jimin how the situation had come around, how he had indeed planned to come across as dead, he had left for the sea a few days before the storm had hit that had confirmed he so called 'death'.
Jimin had gotten all of his emotions off his chest there and then, had cried to Hyun, saying how he had missed him, mourned him. It felt good, it released a pressure in his chest he didn't realise had been there till that moment.
Hyun had sat quietly on the sand, his golden tail submerged in the shallow water. He listened as Jimin let it all out, the now elderly mer had pulled Jimin into his chest to cradle him as he had done for his grandson when he had been young. Jimin had fallen against his grandfather's chest, allowing himself to hear the heartbeat, confirming his grandfather was indeed alive and not a product of the human's imagination.
~*~
"So those mates of your have been treating you well?" Hyun asked when they had pulled away from each other. Jimin now comfortably sat on the sand, his feet stretched out letting the water roll over them each time the tide came in.
"Yeah they are good to me" Jimin smiled fondly when he thought of his mermen, they were like golden retrievers in a way.
"How far along the courtship process are they?" Hyun asked out of curiosity.
"I'm not sure, I remember them mentioning it once. But I don't actually know what the process is really" Jimin answered honestly.
So Hyun explained it to him, much to Jimin's relief. Since his communication with the mermen was limited to using sign language only sometimes meanings could be twisted in translation. So they couldn't always understand what each other were trying to convey.
But from what Jimin got is that there were 4 courtship steps.
1 - Offering food, either made or caught when hunting.
This first step was the starter of the courtship process, Jimin had begun that process when he had first shared his lunch with them many months ago, he remembered how they had devoured the kimchi every time he brought it to them.
The mermen had reciprocated that with Jimin when they had brought him an array of seafood they had caught him, they had done it only days after Jimin had begun to bring them meals regularly.
The second courtship step was:
2 - Providing something for the home, to show your appreciation and respect for the home of your courted.
Jimin remembers how the mermen had asked the mermen for shells to decorate the outside of his house, his face heated up a bit when he realised how far in the courtship process he had gotten. It only heated up more when he heard the next stage.
3 - Ask permission to become the mate of courted from family. Involving family in the courtship showed their willingness to be honest and respectful of the building relationship.
Hyun admitted that the mer had approached him when they realised who Hyun was to Jimin, and Jimin's face maintained its rosy red when he heard his grandfather had accepted their proposal. Leaving him at the final stage of the courting process.
4 - Provide a piece of jewellery as an act of commitment to ones partner.
Apparently according to Hyun, jewellery was a big part of the mer culture. They expressed themselves through the jewellery they used to decorate their torsos and tails. Jimin thought to the many pieces of jewellery his mates already wore and could see what Hyun meant about its importance.
Jimin also asked after what the face nuzzle meant, the mermen had done it with him from the very beginning. Jimin had never known what it meant, but he had gone along with it as it had made the mermen happy each time he did.
That was when Hyun admitted it was like a very intimate hug, it should only be done with ones mate. Jimin's face had practically gone a vibrant pink when he heard that news. But secretly it made him smile.
~*~
So later in the week when the mermen had appeared to Jimin with pieces of handmade jewellery Jimin had presented his own back, only to watch the mermen's faces to light up with joy.
Jimin accepted the mermen's final courtship. Reaching out he had nuzzled his face against each of their cheeks, secretly happy now that he knew the meaning behind the action.
When he returned to his home that night, he looked fondly upon the shells that decorated the door, and when he slept it was with his hands curled around the precious jewellery.
