Author's note. I actaully wrote this for the AO3 MerMay challenge and meant to post here but kept forgetting, lol.
Enjoy and please review.
"More High Grade!"
Among the merry babble of voices and chinking of drinking vessels, the ever present demand for more High Grade could be clearly heard. The Inn was bustling with merry bots, servers pouring more drinks, musicians playing, everyone in a good mood as they celebrated the return of fish shoals to their shore. It was the beginning to the harvest season and a busy time was ahead of the denizens of Port Rustica.
Among them was a group of Bots from Iacon, newly graduated and wanting to work while they explored the world. Arriving earlier that cycle and settled into their accommodation, they now joined the locals in celebrating. Tomorrow, they would finds jobs for the season, earning enough to carry on to another town.
They all knew each other to a degree but one particular pair were best friends. Elita One and Optimus Prime had chosen to come here, rather than follow another friend into another city. He had no desire to stray too far from the well trodden path most graduates took. He wanted to kick start his career, they wanted adventure so they all followed their dreams.
So far, it was going well, the journey to get here had been fun with no major incidents. It felt like a good omen preceding their arrival in the Port, right beside the Sea of Rust. Being near such a large body of water was a new experience but an exhilarating one. Would it even be possible to go in it?
Optimus and Elita had been discussing it before realising their drinks were finished, so Optimus quickly went to replenish them.
Heading back from the bar with some new drinks, the young red and blue Mech accidentally bumped into someone.
"Oh, excuse me," Optimus apologised, relieved he hadn't spilled anything.
"No problem lad," the Mech replied before taking a closer look at Optimus. "Hey, you're new here, aren't you?"
"Yep, me and my friends are staying here for the season," Optimus confirmed with a smile. "We're from Iacon."
"Ah, I thought so," the other nodded before raising his voice. "Hey Kup, we've got some newbies here!"
"Newbies huh," an old, weathered green Mech with a cygar hanging out of his mouth. "Suppose this is your first time by the sea?"
"Yes sir," Optimus nodded as the Mech named Kup moved over, taking up a position against a pillar so he could squint at the newcomers to the town. Nodding at a barmaid, he waited until she banged a metal hook on the counter, drawing everyone's attention.
The locals instantly seemed to know what was about to happen, as the graduates looked a bit bemused.
"So, I hear you're new to Port Rustica," Kup began, lighting up a cygar.
A tiny bit apprehensive, given his serious attitude, they nodded confirmation.
"Well…..there's a few things you need to know," the old Mech said, taking a long drag. "Mostly about Mer."
"What a Mer?" was the instant and obvious question.
"Half Mech, half sea creature," was the astonishing explanation. "Roams the oceans, looking for any opportunity to snatch a virginal bot."
The locals were exceedingly amused when several newcomers practically spat out their drinks at this.
"You-you can't be serious," a young Mech called Smokescreen coughed heavily.
"Dead serious lad," Kup said, no trace of amusement in his tone. "Anybot round here will tell you the same. They might make light of it but it's true, ain't it?"
The older bots all murmured in agreement in a solemn moment.
"We here have all grown up with it, been taught by our elders the dangers and passed that knowledge on ourselves. As you're new here, you'll need to learn too. Unless you want to be taken by one."
"Taken?" Optimus spoke up, like the others, he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Aye lad, taken," Kup said, putting his cygar aside for a moment to take a drink. "Mostly to become Mer brides though sometimes it's for a worse fate…."
Despite this ominous statement, Optimus couldn't help but ask.
"How does that work? How do you become a Mer bride?"
"Ah, that's the question," Kup said sagely. "Mer have all sorts of tricks for ensnaring a bride, sometimes it's a simple snatch and grab. So you better not going swimming in the open sea or even linger too near the shore. They've been known to leap out of the water and knock a bot right into the water. From there, they can drag you off."
Looking right at his captive audience.
"As to what they do next? They turn you into one of them….."
Pointing his cygar at a beautiful stained glass, which contained a stylised image of a Mech that appeared to be floating. The onlookers realised the Mech was in the ocean as various sea life was also depicted. But what initially appeared to be a dolphin, they realised had strange features. It seemed to be encircling the floating Mech in a swirl of light.
As they looked, they realised they were more murals. Another one showed the same Mech but he appeared to have transformed into a manta ray while the Mer dolphin continued to circle. A third panel revealed the new Mer being led away from a shore into deeper ocean and presumably, away from their past life.
".…by way of their magic," Kup continued. "Once that happens, there's no going back, you are now a Mer."
"And that's not all," one of the patrons piped up. "Those fraggers will literally frag you into one of them."
"Yeah, that's all they think about," a femme added as her friend laughed. "I know a few like that."
"Alright, pipe down," Kup scolded, there'd be plenty of time for joke later. "It ain't no laughing matter. Mer do specifically go for maidens as that's what their magic works on, they get their claws on a maiden, they can enchant and easily transform one."
He gave them all a steely look. "And they have a way of knowing who and who isn't a maiden. And once they've got you, there's no resistance, you lose all will to fight if they get a chance to work their own will on you."
"So wait," Elita said, tone indicating mock outrage. "Does that mean non virgins cannot become Mer."
"Oh they can lass," Kup nodded sagely, taking long drag on his cygar. "But it's much harder to transform a bot that's known another. A Mer can charm you all he wants but in the end, you must make the choice willingly. You cannot simply be snatched away and enchanted like a maiden is."
"Huh," Elita mused. "Seems a lot fairer."
"Mer don't care about fair," someone shouted from the back and there were murmurs of agreement. "They just take."
"Eh, true," Kup admitted. "But non maidens ain't always safe either. A Mer might not be able to transform you but they can still have their way with you. Seems less common but it happens."
"That's…," Optimus mumbled, he didn't even know what to say to that. His fellows felt similar, a race of Mech that just lurked under the waves, waiting to ravish any who got too close?
"Yeah..," Elita whispered her agreement, it seemed unbelievable.
"So they're out there all the time?" one of their fellows asked, looking a touch queasy. "Just waiting to grab us?"
"No, the Mer are nomadic, they never haunt one shore for too long," he explained, pausing to take another swig. "Mecha become too wise to their tricks, so they patiently wait before they return. It's vital to be vigilant when anywhere near the shore."
"Has there been any recent….sightings?" a Mech called Hot Shot questioned.
"Not recently," the old Mech acknowledged. "Afraid it's unpredictable when they can return, they can go years without approaching these waters. It's a vast ocean, they have lives outside of kidnapping Mecha. We know they hunt, they definitely follow certain shoals of fish but as I said, they don't rigidly follow annual harvests. Makes it hard to determine when we must be most vigilant."
Spotting their pensive expressions, he chuckled.
"Don't worry young'uns. I know it'll be intimidating but you'll quickly learn. Most of the time, this is a safe place to be. There's a limit to a Mer's power, they can't go too far from the sea, it calls them too strongly. You're safe in your homes, they can't enter them to steal you away."
Looking into his empty glass, he got up and said. "I'll fill you in on everything you need to know. Just take it easy."
"Okay," Elita said, taking a quick gulp of her drink. "That was…..something."
"No kidding," Optimus agreed, feeling distinctly shell shocked. This was not what he'd been expecting when he'd picked Port Rustica to spend a working holiday. All the others were discussing the startling revelations of Mer.
"You alright?" a Mech who looked like a seafarer judging by the woollen jumper he wore inquired. Like most there, he had a full foamy mug of High Grade.
"Uh…yeah," Optimus said instantly. "Just…a little overwhelmed."
"Don't worry lad, like Kup says, you'll soon get used to it," the sailor said encouragingly. "Stick close to the locals, follow the advice and you'll be fine."
"Thanks," Optimus said gratefully, everyone did seem relaxed about the situation. "Kup uh…took us by surprise."
A slight understatement.
"Don't worry," the Mech chuckled. "Won't be long until he's telling us about the three Mer that tried to take his virginity."
"I thought it was four," his friend disagreed with a smirk as someone else yelled. "Nah, it was definitely five!"
They all roared with laughter.
"Was it all at once or different occasions?" a Femme spoke up with a giggle, causing uproarious laughter.
"Probably multiple Mer, multiple occasions," the second Mech suggested in-between laughing, that definitely sounded like how Kup would tell it.
"Broke all their sparks," his friend added. "They still sing songs about it."
"A toast, to Kup the Mer Spark breaker!"
A cheer rose up as everyone raised a tankard to the old sailor who grumbled. "Young punks."
….…
"Are you going to be okay?" Elita asked as they walked back to their shared accommodation much later in the evening. "You'll be alone most of the time at that lighthouse."
"I'll be fine," he said reassuringly although he did add. "It is a little freaky, having to be on the lookout for beings that want to kidnap you but it doesn't sound like any of them could get me as long as I stay at the lighthouse. I just need to stay away from the water."
With a smile, he added. "Unless I can meet someone."
"Heh, yeah," she chuckled. "Same for me I guess. At least you've found something."
"Mm," he hummed, during the evening, he'd gotten talking to a Mech named Hardtop, who manned the nearby lighthouse and other warning beacons. He'd stated he was looking for someone to take over for the season, so he could have a proper break. And if Optimus was willing, he'd train him up so he could confidently leave the responsibility in his hands. After the job was thoroughly explained to him, including the benefits and drawbacks, Optimus had decided to go for it.
It was a lonelier job than most around here but it still appealed to Optimus. He'd be able to explore the local area and there were regular peaceful spells where he could enjoy the scenery. The skills and experience he'd gain would be invaluable when he finally moved on.
He was a little disappointed he wouldn't be working with Elita but they could still meet up when there was time. And tell each other all about their experiences.
They continued walking for a bit more before Optimus murmured. "I do want it to be special though."
As she glanced at him, he said. "I don't want to do it just as protection against Mer."
Her optics were filled with understanding. "I know what you mean. It doesn't have to be with a future mate but it should because we want it. Not because we have to."
Optimus nodded and squeezed her hand. It was a sombre thought.
"Hey," she suddenly said. "This is going to be great, for both of us. You saw the locals, they're not that worried. Even old Kup seemed confident we'd be fine, we just have to remember everything we told us."
"Oh I will," Optimus promised earnestly. There was still a lingering unease but it was true the residents were unconcerned by the threat. "And you're right, we're going to have the time of our lives."
She grinned. "Wait until Sentinel hears about all our adventures, think he'll be jealous?"
"Depends on the adventure," he chuckled and feeling lighter in spark, continued on with his friends.
Tomorrow was only the start of their adventure and no Mer was going to spoil it.
Author's note. How does Optimus get on at the Lighthouse? Find out next time, until then.