Safety in the Seafoam (DNF + Karlnap)

Chapter 24: Bigger Tank

Twenty bucks if you can guess what happens in this chapter
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Sapnap POV.

“This will be big enough, right?” The Captain asked, glancing over at Dream as the tank was pushed into the room. It was large, unexplainably large. There was definitely enough room for the two mermaids, in fact there was probably enough room for ten mermaids, so they should definitely be happier.

“That will be about enough.” Dream smiled, and I saw him looking down the row of smaller tanks to where George, the blue tailed mermaid, was. Both of the mermaids were watching curiously, yet both of them seemed to know what this was for. That this was for them, for the chance of them being together in the same cage again.

“Thank you so much Schlatt… they’ll love it.” I smiled, speaking on behalf of the mermaids, although I wasn’t sure how thankful they would be. Neither of them said anything to contradict me at the very least. The Captain glanced at me and I stammered. "Well... I think they'd love it..."

“No problem.” He smiled. “Since you two are beginning to develop yourselves into quite the mermaid experts I would be ignorant to take your advice.” I nodded at him as he continued directing the tank to be moved to the end of the room. I was also helping them to push the tank back, watching to see two people beginning to set up some filters and wires.

I didn’t understand any of it, continuing to just watch with a small smidgen of happiness for the pair of sea creatures. This would make them more comfortable. “Perhaps some sand would be good for them too.” I added on. “And some coral. That would make it more comfortable for both of them, or so I think.”

“How much of that do you think we have access to? How easy do you think it is to get coral on a boat in the middle of the ocean?” A man asked, he had been muscling the tank further down the row and he didn’t seem too happy about that. From his expression it seemed that he didn’t think the pair of mers deserved a bigger tank.

“Lots… we’re on a boat in the middle of the ocean.” I responded, my brows furrowing since I figured that would be an obvious answer for him to understand.
“Josh is right, Sapnap.” The Captain gave me a look. “We don’t want to make too many adjustments to their environment that they’d get attached to before getting back to the States.”

“Oh… that makes sense…” I nodded, although still feeling slightly uneasy. The two of them, the Captain and this Josh guy alongside the other people moving the tank, all seemed as though they were fine with the two mermaids living in this miserable bland tank.

I mean it was bigger at the very least, so the two of them would have more room to swim around, but that still didn’t seem good enough. “Maybe some sand would be good.” Dream pointed out. “Ge… I mean, just look at my mermaid. He has bruises all over his arm from hitting the floor. Would it be appreciated if we delivered mermaids covered in bruises.”

Schlatt sighed. The Captain seemed to be swaying on the verge of feeling annoyance towards us, yet he resisted saying anything that would annoy any of us further. Instead he gave a smile and muttered about how that might be good, and that seemed to be that for the conversation for the very moment.

In some form of retaliation for this suggestion though, Dream and I had to do almost everything, including pushing the tank the rest of the way and then pouring multiple sacks of sand into the bottom of the glass floor. Both of the mermaids were watching curiously as best they could, and then we watched as cold salt water began to pour into the tank.

While we waited, both of us returned to our mermaids. “What’s going on?” Karl whispered to me, straining to see from his position. “What are you doing with the…” He searched for the word for a few moments. “Box thing?” He seemed to register that it was similar to the tank he was in at the moment but that was about it.

I glanced over at him, smiling as I saw the thoughtful expression on his face. His fingers were curled around the grate in order to hold himself up and look as best he could. Honestly it was somewhat cute, and he somehow managed to stay up as he released one hand and ran a finger through his hair. “It’s for you and George.” I told him, smiling.

“For both of us? I can… …him again?” He asked, eyes glimmering. It was even more cute, and I found myself forced to look away. The brunette continued talking, but it was difficult to hear a lot of the words because of the loud sound of water pouring like a waterfall into the tank at a deafening rate.

The movements of his tail had even sped up, as though it had the ability of wagging like a dog’s did. The movements were quick and eager, sending ripples of water on the surface which danced around the upper-half of his body.

Being able to study him in this moment was interesting, and I smiled at the sight of a happiness that I hadn’t seen in him before now at the prospect of being reunited with his friend. Eventually though, the deafening sound of falling water got to him and he retreated under the water to wait it out. I just continued to watch as the water level in the new tank got higher and higher.

A few minutes passed and it went silent, prompting the brunette to slowly raise his head out of the water. “Welp!” Captain Schlatt turned around. “Tank is filled, water is up and running, filter is filtering, you just need to get your two mermaids in here.” He turned to us. “I’ll send for some sedatives so you can move them easily.”

He then walked past us and out of the room, followed by the other people who had all set up the tank, and I thanked them as they passed. Then Karl tilted his head towards me, having pulled himself fully out of the water. “What is a see-date-if?” He questioned.
“It makes people go to sleep.” I explained.

Karl nodded, feeling slightly worried about that. “I don’t want a see-date-if.” He said sadly, fingers curling around the grate. “I don’t want to be asleep.”
“Well I-” I hesitated, since perhaps this wasn’t the best suggestion. “I could just carry you to the tank if you promise not to bite me.”

Karl nodded, seemingly wanting that idea more than wanting to be put to sleep and carried about twenty steps. I was still feeling worried, and so I lifted the grate for the tank and motioned him closer to me. Then the two of us wrapped our arms around each other and I managed to lift him out of the tank.

His arms were around my neck and mine had been around his waist but slipped down to hold his tail and carried him basically bridal style. The merman gasped and clung desperately to me at the feeling of being carried, his gaze darting back and forth along the floor. Dream watched as I walked the mermaid to the end of the room and lifted him up to the tank.

I had to cautiously reach to the top of the tank with Karl’s hands moving to the top of the glass to pull himself over. The blond moved to help me and we pushed the purple tailed mermaid into the tank.
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1313 words