Something the Catfish Dragged In
 

Lilac stretched a bit as she headed down to go get fish to feed to the animals in her section. She usually worked with the seals and sea lions, which was fine with her. They were funny and it was right near where the annual summertime "mermaid show" took place, so it all worked out as far as she was concerned.

At least, it did until an actual real life merman was caught and brought back to the aquarium. Two of them, really. Which was enough to make Lilac panic a bit.

Primrose was panicking, too. She worked more with the whales and dolphins, so she was used to the really big tanks needing her attention, and she was there when the two mermen were bought in. The entire aquarium was excited, of course, and everyone was rushing around, but she was scared enough to be paranoid.

Lilac managed to get a break after she got everyone fed to go take a look at the big tank, where they were putting the two mermen. People were talking about what to put in there, and how to display them, and other people were cordoning off the area to keep the public out.

"Lilac! There you are!" Their manager bustled over. "I need you and Primrose to help with this, you both work with big animals."

Lilac nodded after a moment. "Of course," she said. "There's Primrose." She flagged down her friend.

Primrose saw Lilac and went over.

"What's up?" she asked. She glanced over at the hustle and bustle by the big tank, and then looked back at her friend and the manager.

"We need you two to help make sure the tank is properly equipped," the manager said. "Since you two work the most with our big animals."

Lilac could tell that was the only reason but it was still somewhat terrifying and paranoia-inducing.

Primrose nodded, a bit cautiously, and tugged Lilac over towards the tank before either of them could descend into a panic attack.

"The universe doesn't like us," she murmured to her friend. "Why else would we have to do this?"

"I don't know, but if it's anyone we know we're screwed," Lilac muttered, going over to the tank.

It was remarkably quieter by the tank, only a few people milling around. The public had been kept back, so Lilac had a good view of the tank, which was a plain, boring 30-foot saltwater tank. She cringed at the thought of living in there.

"So, what, are we going to have the decorate the thing?" Primrose asked. "There's no way to make that any more than bearable."

"I know," Lilac muttered. "But at least if we get something in there it'll be better than plain white and blue walls." She watched as the holding containers were brought over, and in a few moments the two mermen were released into the tank. Lilac very nearly had a panic attack then; they both had big, gorgeous fins and tails. So they were high ranked. Very high ranked.

Primrose watched as they were released into the tank, and she nearly had a heart attack as well.

"The universe hates us," she said vehemently in Lilac's ear. "Why? Why do we have to furnish a tank for royalty?"

Lilac almost whimpered. This was just not fair, not fair at all.

"Well," she said, her voice a bit strangled, "the upside is they have no idea who we are." Which was definitely an upside. Especially since the two would probably be the ones picking the furnishings and putting everything in the tank.

"And if the universe is feeling merciful, they won't find out," Primrose said. She watched as the two drifted around the tank, exploring. She gawked for a few more moments before nudging Lilac. "I'll go up to the next level so I'm at the surface, I'll see if I can ask about what to put in the tank. Keep an eye on things down here?"

"Yeah, sure." Lilac was still watching the two drift around, starting to make a list of things to be added to the tank to make it more comfortable. This was not going to be a fun project.

With that, Primrose climbed up to the observation deck that was level with the top of the tank. Time to see if either of their unwilling guests wanted to chat. When she got there, she had to resist the urge to trill to get their attention; they would be used to the sound, and it would be familiar, and that was exactly what she wanted to avoid.

One of them noticed. He motioned for the king to stay down below and he swam to the surface, silver scales glinting in the light. Just his head broke the surface, and he looked thunderous.

"I demand we be replaced where we were found," he said, his hands curling into fists. "You have no right to keep us here."

Prim blinked at the demands. She hadn't expected to be spoken too so soon.

"My name is Primrose, nice to meet you too," she said. "I don't have control over that, unfortunately. My friend and I are just here to get what needs to go in the tank. I was sent to ask if either of you had any preferences." Prim tried not to think too much about what she was saying and who she was saying it to; otherwise, she really would have had a panic attack.

The king stayed down near the floor of the tank, although he watched the human female on the other side of the glass. She didn't seem dangerous, but neither did a cone snail. He glanced up at his cousin again.

"Preferences?" For a moment, Allyn looked flabbergasted. "You think you can make this even compare to our home?" He made a vague sweeping gesture at the tank, his tail fin flicking in agitation.

Lilac kept an eye on the king, thinking about different types of kelp and fake plants versus real plants.

"Not really," Primrose replied honestly. "But something is better than nothing."

Bryn cautiously went closer to the glass to get a better look at the girl. She just seemed to be standing there, rather than the other humans who were darting back and forth quickly like a started shoal of fish.

Allyn was quiet for a moment, studying her. She didn't act like the other humans.

"Very well. We are used to kelp forests." And it would be better than nothing.

Lilac noticed his attention, mentally flailed, and looked away quickly. She pulled out a notepad she had on her and started jotting down notes so she wouldn't have to look at the king.

Primrose nodded and pulled out a small notepad to jot that down. She'd already suspected as much.

"White sand, or something with a bit more color?" she asked. "Any particular rocks or corals?"

"Color," Allyn said after a moment. "Coral is good. Preferably in peach, amber, green, red. Anemones would be appreciated. Perhaps some small reef fish."

Primrose nodded and made notes for those.

"I'll make sure these get top priority," she said. "Fan corals, brain corals, branch corals, or just a variety?"

"Variety," Allyn said. That would be best after all. "The sooner you can have things here, the better."

Primrose nodded and tucked the notepad back into her pocket. Then she made her way back down to floor level. "Lilac! We have things to get done!" She held out the notepad to her friend.

"Good, looks pretty much like my notes," Lilac said quietly. "Alright, let's see what we have here so we can start setting things up."