Day 17 Halfmoon Butterfly Betta Fish
The squeaking sounds of the cart sounded out between the sounds of squeaky rubber boots and the rattling of objects inside the cart as the janitor pushed the cart of cleaning supplies down the halls towards their destination. Every so often a person in a lab coat or security uniform would pass the person in the full rubber hazmat suit and mask and ignore them or wave or give a friendly nod. If they were nice and greeted them then they'd greet them back.
"Mornin'," a security guard on patrol greeted briefly as they passed by each other.
"What's up?," their muffled voice greeted back with a nod as they passed without another word.
The rattling cart still made their way down the facility to a specific hallway that was in need of cleaning, or more specifically the rooms connected to that specific hallway. The one that was currently being evacuated except for only a select few staff. You being one of those staff members as you pushed your cart on over to the entrance way to the hall and paused by the familiar white haired man having his arms crossed and a stern expression on his face.
"Hi, Sanemi," you greeted muffled by the mask you wore. "How'd the extraction go?"
Said head of security rolled his eyes with a grunt. "Typical. It took like ten tranquilizers to put that dam thing out before we could get it out."
That's right. You heard that they were removing the mermaid they called 'Rainbow' because of his eyes. He's been here for a few months and the director wanted him released to make way for newer mermaids to study. That's why you were here. You were going to clean up his old tank before the new mermaid was placed inside it.
"Well at least he'll be happy to finally be going home. I'm just gonna go in and clean up his tank."
"Sure. Knock yourself out."
You wheeled on by him and into the familiar hall. Very few people were there, only three. You and two other people in Lab coats. Scientist or researchers you weren't sure but you recognized one immediately by the firey red hair. His head turned seeming to already recognize the squeak of your cart and immediately beamed.
"Y/N!! Good morning!!", Kyojuro shouted loudly making you jump in response as he turned to you arms out in greeting. "You're cleaning here??"
Slowing down to a stop, you beamed behind your mask at the doctor you were going on a few dates on. "Well I did tell you that I'd be here to clean up a tank."
He hummed. "I must've forgotten. Silly me. Of course if you need anything else just shout."
"Will do."
Smiling you pushed your kart away as he turned back on the merman they seemed to be studying. One that looked like a young child except he was all white and seemed to be playing with some toys left inside. You paid them no more mind as you continued to push your kart to the very, very back of the hall and stopped by the tank with the open doorway. This was the one you had to clean up. Wasting no time, you stopped you cart and reached out to pick the mop out of your cart and go right inside. The cell was like the others, big but at least this one wasn't too dirty.
Whelp you knew the drill.
Mop. Clean the giant window on both sides. Pick up any broken things around the tank.
Exactly what you did. Sweeping everything up before getting out the mop and bucket of water and cleaning up the space. That was fairly fast. It wasn't until you were cleaning up the giant window that you noticed something was a little off. As you sprayed and then wiped the cloth over the thick glass. As you wiped the window you had the unexplainable need to look through the window to the other side and paused.
There was a mermaid in plain sight of you.
Bright purple eyes stared at you from the other tank's window and in a similar fashion to the last mermaid you saw watched you. But her eyes weren't filled with curiosity but amusement because she smiled amused by your wide eyed reaction to her and almost seemed to chuckle as she held a hand to her mouth. You furrowed your brows at her. Oh boy. You knew her. The researchers called her 'Butterfly' for some reason. She was brought in with Pink Bands after being discovered washed up on the beach and brought here to be looked over before releasing them.
She was also known to play nasty tricks.
Professor Uzui was soaking wet when he tried to get close enough to watch her sleeping form only she wasn't sleeping and surprised him with a large wave. Another time she threw a fish back to the feeder and caused him to fall in the tank with her. And another time she yanked Professor Giyuu in with her and wouldn't let him go until he offered her his expensive pocket watch he was wearing. ... Apparently she liked getting people wet. Thankfully she was on the other side of the glass and couldn't soak you. After finishing cleaning up the tank you moved to just wipe the outside of the looking window. All the while she curiously watched you.
You wouldn't deny that she was pretty. Her purple eyes were like violets and her tail was gorgeous. A dark violet color with some magenta snuck in certain places with ruffles fins like fabric. She was very pretty and you could now see why many stories of sailors being rumored to be lured in by their beauty would've been created. However you didn't pay her much mind as you finished up cleaning and turning around to gather up your cart. Giving her one last glance and wave before you turned back around to push the squeaky cart away.