#whalemack

[emry-stars-art]

sorry to bother you, but….

if statled jelly!niel stings, does sleeping jelly!niel sting? Because it seems to be a conscious effort for niel to not sting? Or did I misunderstand this?

what are the scientific implications of sleepy jelly cuddles?

Great question! Thank you for letting me put on my more beach-appropriate baseball cap and do more mer research hehe

So I asked the shark and he told me to mind my business I think.

Unfortunately for him, the manta ray will spill just about anything in exchange for pretty human stuff and I am great at taking notes.

Basically? It seems to me like it’s expected touch vs unexpected, combined with the jelly’s maturing self-awareness. When it’s younger, a jelly mer will start getting control of its sting by ‘turning it off’ consciously. As they get older, it can become closer to “will not sting unless actively startled or for good reason” as the jelly chooses! Think of the sting response like a knee-jerk, throwing-elbows response. Anything less startling isn't worth the effort. Or in jellyneil's case, maybe more of a nervous person's flinch response.

So at this age when jellyneil is awake, it generally won’t sting unless really startled - unfortunately for most mers, the poor thing is a little jumpy and most unexpected touches are startling 🥲

When jellyneil is asleep, there’s more of a “base state” idea happening - however it goes to sleep is how it’ll peacefully stay. So if it falls sleep with someone else touching it, no stings! If it falls sleep in traditional jelly fashion (wedged between rocks or otherwise anchored down) the tentacles and stingers are instinctively in defense mode and I cannot advise getting too close.

If it gets startled awake though? I can only assume it would sting then as well but I can't tell you for sure because the whale and the one shark twin are usually very good about not letting that happen.

There’s some point to be made here about the fact that the stinging is only ‘turned off’ while cuddling/sleeping on other mers - clearly, brushing up against rocks doesn’t desensitize the stingers to other outside stimuli. In open water, the sleeping jelly knows to fend for itself. The presence of another mer seems to be instinctively calming.

But I am not here to wax poetic about it, that’s your job, I just provide the research 🤲

Find the mer au masterpost here 💕

#lmao am I just like out on a lil research boat in the middle of the ocean #or am I at some research facility where Wymack brings all his kids for check ups #why am i suddenly making this au modern?? #I can NOT get existential about this 😂😭 #ANYWAY #‘scientific implications of sleepy jelly cuddles’ #anon did you specifically design that string of words to get all of my interests and joys at once #because it sure feels like you did #fan art #my art #aftg #all for the game #mer au #oops all mers au #mer research notes #lol imma make that a tag now #sharkdrew #jellyneil #jellyfish #whalemack #sharkaaron #….? did we give him a mer name #asks

[emry-stars-art]

Keep an eye? 🌊🌊

Maybe something soft of Whalemack and Andrew ? or whalemack and Neil 🥺🥺

Hi Odd 🥰 of COURSE, I don’t have anything specific for the boys in this scene but also just Whalemack being his usual dadmack is something I hold near and dear to my heart. JellyNeil and Whalemack tho! I might eventually be back with another ask for that hehe

20 sep 2023 [wip Wednesday game]

Andrew’s look turned incredulous.

“Are you sure you’re not seeing things, old man?”

“Oh, I saw something,” Wymack said. “It let me come right up to it. A little cut up and nervous, but it wasn’t scared at least. I don’t think it can talk. When you take off today, do me a favor and keep an eye out for it.”

Andrew made a small noise of mock disappointment. “I know you like to use me as your errand boy, but I regret to inform you I’m not as good of a sniffer shark.”

“If the thing’s bleeding, then you’d better find it before some other shark.”

Andrew rolled his eyes. He’d go look, of course.

Wymack spoke both their thoughts. “You know how rare they are. I want to figure out where it came from. How many folk do you think can say they’ve talked with a jellyfish?”

“None,” said Andrew. “Jellyfish can’t actually talk.”

#Andrew ‘i don’t believe in fairytales’ Minyard you’re about the have the adventure of a lifetime #jellyneil really is a pipedream huh #not art sorry guys #emry wip wednesday #mer au #oops all mers au #whalemack #sharkdrew #jellyneil

[emry-stars-art]

Keep an eye if thats okay the little portion you posted was very intriguing

Of course it’s okay dear nonnie 💕 these two make me happy lol

20 sep 2023 [wip Wednesday game]

“You kids think you know everything,” Wymack grumbled. “I’ve wondered when the last time anyone’s seen a full-grown jelly was.”

“How could I possibly know.”

Wymack gave Andrew a look, sweeping up and down. “Well, it’s about your size. Could have more growing to do, who knows.”

“Are you implying the only reason jellies can’t talk is because we’re only seeing juveniles?”

“In recent years? That’s exactly what I’m implying.”

Andrew repeated, a little exaggerated as if Wymack hadn’t caught the words perfectly the first time, “Jellyfish don’t have brains, teach.”

“You do, and yet you manage to be more bone-headed than the sharks you swim with,” said Wymack.

“That’s cold,” said Andrew.

#jelly mers started getting less common well before Andrew was born #not most mers don’t expect them as a people to last much longer #and there’s theories as to why of course but no one knows for sure #sad to see it happen honestly #pretty crazy to see one just. hanging out #so naturally Wymack’s on the case 🫡 #how’d this one get so big and then just appear I wonder 🤔 #not art sorry guys #emry wip wednesday #mer au #oops all mers au #whalemack #sharkdrew #jellyNeil

[emry-stars-art]

Oh noo i tripped and fell and hit the button for keep an eye out. @jtl-fics

Oh what a shameeee 👀👀

20 sep 2023 [wip Wednesday game]

I’m not going out of my way to find it, Andrew remembered as he swam, a little frustrated with himself. He didn’t have any personal stake in this, but he was definitely going out of his way.

It was his own curiosity, of course. He just wasn’t about to give Wymack the satisfaction of admitting it aloud.

So the path he took was winding, lazy, and constantly searching. It was a stretch to find anyone in this ocean, but at least this wasn’t some little tiny thing. Andrew could sweep his gaze over the water and know more or less that it wasn’t in the area. Wymack had told Andrew where he'd last seen it. That didn't tell Andrew where it would be now, but it gave him a place to start looking.

It hadn't gotten near as far as Andrew had expected.

#let’s go meet a jellyfish!! #not art sorry guys #emry wip wednesday #mer au #oops all mers au #whalemack #sharkdrew #jellyneil

[emry-stars-art]

Keep an eye!!! (@stabbyfoxandrew)

Here you go aerie!! 💕

20 sep 2023 [wip Wednesday game]

Wymack continued as if he hadn’t heard. “You can hold onto your conjecture and guesswork. I’m going to keep an eye on this thing and see what happens. If you don’t want to help, I won’t make you.”

Andrew glared a little. Wymack knew Andrew’s interest had been piqued as well as Andrew himself did. He just liked calling Andrew out. It was a habit Andrew had yet to manage breaking the whale of.

“I’m not going out of my way to find it,” Andrew said dismissively. “But if I do, what do you expect me to do about it?”

“I’d hate to put you out,” Wymack replied, heavy with sarcasm. “Just make sure it’s still around and at least looks healthy.”

#we’re going on an adventure!! #not art sorry guys #emry wip wednesday #mer au #oops all mers au #whalemack #sharkdrew #jellyNeil

[emry-stars-art]

You know when babies are so tired that they’re fussing too much to sleep until you put their head down on your shoulder or something and they pass out immediately

Baby shark has been swimming for a long time with no way to take a break. Hello Whalemack 🐋

(More on Whalemack here)

#whalemack was just swimming #wait what’s that floating up there #it’s coming closer falling through the water #oh there’s fins #and a body and arms and that’s a mer #so Wymack goes to check and it’s a baby shark that is MUCH too still #and he’s been around for a while he knows things #he knows baby shark mers aren’t supposed to be still #so he catches the baby in his arms and holds him so he can sleep #without waking up every minute needing to breathe #TT #and he continues taking care of Andrew whenever he finds the shark/Andrew lets him help #unrelated. realistically I know mammal mers would have short hair or their hair tied back #so it’s not IMMENSELY HEAVY #but I wanted to give Wymack gorgeous flowing locks #just once #as a treat #anyway #next post will be royal au or something else I promise #fan art #my art #aftg #all for the game #andrew minyard #david wymack #mer au #sharkdrew au #oops all mers au #sharkdrew #whalemack

[emry-stars-art]

Whalemack!

He’s a gray/grey whale, very nice and VERY big (though about half the size of a blue whale). He’s been mostly solitary for a while, sometimes joining other whales on their migrations, but then he starts collecting little mer children that make travel hard. I’ll probably add some scars from boats/etc to this design. And we need to figure out if mers have tattoos 🧐

#hello half dolphin/half whale Kevin #ahem #yeah the little unmarked thing at the top of the size comparison chart is me figuring out exactly how small a basking shark pup should be #there is a certain little lost basking shark baby that Wymack finds floating dangerously in the middle of the ocean #so he takes him and carries him while he sleeps #and after that the shark kind of swims in and out of his care #little thing’s got a habit of slipping away from him #(until he can’t) #but this is for another post that I’m publishing in like three seconds #or like three minutes #ANYWAY #whalemack can carry all his kids at once #big strong dad #fan art #my art #aftg #all for the game #david wymack #mer au #oops all mers au #whalemack #mer research notes

[emry-stars-art]

We may branch off into separate masterposts as we keep going, but for now, here’s this ✨ there may be some overlap or ambiguity with various posts, but I’ll do my best to organize!

mermay 2023 pdf/zine (free download)

oops all mers au 🦈🪼🐋

brainstorming pg1 mermay 2023 piece head pats for jellyneil whalemack

mer cuddles

squid jean take 1

hybrid mer Kevin

jellyneil’s gender

Neil tries to catch food for Andrew

How Neil sleeps sometimes (and harbor seals being cute)

Tiny baby squean?

When sharkdrew surprises jellyneil

Jellyneil and its stingers

sharkdrew au 🦈🏴‍☠️

brainstorming pg2 sleepy baby sharks/some lore sharkdrew and whalemack

Neil meets the shark (evernote scene)

sharkdrew finds a washed up pirate

Mer Kevin and human Jean&Jeremy

Maybe another first meeting

jellyneil au 🪼🎣

first mini comic pt1 / pt2 jelly life cycle/baby jelly neil little Andrew finds a baby jelly

harpoon fisher Andrew

baby jelly sounds

bubble rings snippet

#masterpost #not art sorry guys #aftg #aftg au #mer au #jellyNeil au #sharkdrew au #oh i was kind of surprised that sharkdrew and pirate neil won the interest vote lol #just because i have the least figured out about that timeline i guess i was like 'these other ones are too fun' #but now we're getting into all of them and im exploring shark/pirate au more.... #i see you #they're still all fun lol but like. im excited to work this out like the royal au if you are willing

[emry-stars-art]

JELLY NEIL AND SHARK DREW PRETTY PLEASE（╹◡╹）♡

I AM NOT JOKING I WOULD READ >100k WORDS ABOUT THEM FUCK IT LETS SAY INFINITE CUZ THAT NUMBER IS CLOSER TO WHAT I HAD IN MIND, I WOULD LOVE TO READ ABOUT THEIR DAY TO DAY LIVES BECAUSE YOU’RE AN AMAZING WRITER AND AN INCREDIBLE ARTIST AND I KNOW FOR SURE YOU WOULD MAKE THAT INTERESTING. YOU ARE SO CREATIVE AND IT SHOWS- I MEAN LOOK AT YOUR AUS THEY ARE SO COMPLEX AND SO INTERESTING AND SO WELL WRITTEN AND THE ART OH THE ART AHHHHHHHHHHHH WHEN I LOOK AT YOUR ART OF THEM ALL IM THINKING ABOUT IS “THATS WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE THATS HOW I IMAGINE THEM”

(Also I agree with previous anon i also love the royal au (°▽°)) AND I C A N N O T STOP REREADING THE POSTS YOU MAKE ABOUT THEM)

YOU MAKE YOUR AUS SO SO INTERESTING IM ALWAYS SO DRAWN TO THEM

I LOVE YOUR ANDREIL AND AUS SO MUCHHhhhhh

Sry for rumbling but I really liked that wip you posted and I just HAD to let you know I love how jellyNeils and Shardrews relationship is progressing and how they’re beginning to communicate it’s so cute (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵) ALSO LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE WHALEMACK? HAH

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING (((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))♡

(Anon when I tell you I am on the verge of TEARS. SOBBING EVEN. How dare u come into my inbox and be so nice and then APOLOGIZE for it. LIVE LAUGH LOVE WHALEMACK. CRYING

Thank YOU, you beautiful nice people and messages like these are the entire reason I have the drive to put so much work into this stuff so give yourselves a little credit too!! Man how do I even continue from this. Genuinely thank you so much 🥹 you deserve so many mer cuddles) ⤵️

8 nov 2023 ww game

Find the mer au masterpost here 💕

"You still can't carry me," Andrew said. Neil chirped.

"Carry," it said. Andrew heaved a breath.

"You know what? Fine. But if you sting me too much I'm not doing it."

Neil seemed pleased as Andrew let himself drift down, hesitating before he touched Neil's skin. This was foreign. He'd never slept on anyone's chest before, but he wouldn't be able to hang onto Neil in his sleep. Not like he could Aaron. So Neil would have to hang onto him.

Its skin was only a little textured, mostly slippery soft under Andrew's. The bell especially was pillowy and giving, doing almost nothing to support Andrew's tail but it was something. Neil's body held up Andrew's with only a little sinking. Its arms wrapped around Andrew's shoulders as Andrew linked his own around Neil's middle. Neil's claws pressed lightly against his back. Carefully, Andrew rested his head high on Neil's chest and felt its heartbeat under his cheek.

It must not have been a long sleep, but Andrew never once was jolted from it. He didn't feel vaguely panicky like he did when he slept on his own. He slept soundly through the time Neil gave him, and when Neil chirped to wake him, Andrew felt a little better.

#I cant even tag #still emotional over this ask #anon i hope you have a wonderful perfect week #my writing #aftg #all for the game #asks #mer au #oops all mers au #jellyneil #sharkdrew #emry wip Wednesday