Two children, raised in the sea, what would confuse them about us?

Discussion in 'Plot Development' started by Lorddread, Mar 31, 2011.

  1. Lorddread

    Lorddread Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Australia, Northern Territory
    So any affectionate nicknames their peers could have given them regarding their legs?
     
  2. Buggy

    Buggy New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2011
    Messages:
    57
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    the jungle
    Cooked food would be weird.

    And they would walk funny for sure. Like an extreme gangsta lean, what with this new thing called gravity.

    Obviously, they would be really stoked on everyone else having two legs, but they would be disappointed to find that they don't fit in on land any better than they fit in with the tailed folk, see as how they were raised underwater and have funny toe gunk.

    Telepathy would help them learn quickly how to act according to normal human standards. I'm guessing that telepathy is how they communicate with mermaids? in that case, their tongues might be really weak and under developed. Imagine the way deaf people learn to speak. It might sound like that at first.
     
  3. Lorddread

    Lorddread Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Australia, Northern Territory
    Anything about humans that might seem silly to them?
     
  4. Buggy

    Buggy New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2011
    Messages:
    57
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    the jungle
    Affectionate nicknames: fishfeet, tunarella, hmm its hard to do nicknames without given names.. or did you tell us their names? I haven't read every reply.

    Beds might seem silly to them. Would they be used to sleeping in place. I don't know how they breathe under water, but if they have gills, they might think its funny to see a human get winded and start panting. Pets might seem strange to them, unless they kept pet fish. Things like finding out that humans call a seahorse a seahorse, and then seeing a real horse would be amusing for them.
     
  5. Lorddread

    Lorddread Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Australia, Northern Territory
    So how might they view the concepts of deities, (merfolk have a religon but nothing you'd call a god) money, clothing and marriage? And stuff about te land that could seem crazy awesome?
     
  6. Buggy

    Buggy New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2011
    Messages:
    57
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    the jungle
    I was just watching Arthur, one of my favorite movies, and he said "fish all bathe together." So they might also think private bathing/any inhibitions to do with nudity to be absurd.
     
  7. Lorddread

    Lorddread Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Australia, Northern Territory
    Anything about humans they might be jelous of? And how might they react to the fact that there isn't much magical talent among humans?
     
  8. Lorddread

    Lorddread Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Australia, Northern Territory
    Question regarding side story. Would anything be affected if the twins, instead of having a human mother and a merman father, were instead the child of a human man and a mermaid. They're father would have found them as newborns left on a beach frequented by him maybe with something belonging to his mer lover, so there's no doubt there his.
     
  9. Ellipse

    Ellipse Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2010
    Messages:
    713
    Likes Received:
    35
    This would be an interesting twist. The children probably wouldn't know they were part merfolk until their merfolk features start coming in (unless their features were apparent from birth). It would then force the father to reveal a bit of their history and why their mom isn't around.
     
  10. Lorddread

    Lorddread Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Australia, Northern Territory
    The dad went nuts and was placed in an institution, the twins have been raised by aunts and uncles since they were two, does that affect thongs?
     
  11. coolie96

    coolie96 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2011
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    here.
    So then they would have even less knowledge of what they really are, therefore thinking they are human, until they discover their history at some point and find everything of the merpeople to be fascinating, depending on their character traits. If the aunts and uncles knew who they were, there could be a feud in figuring out why it was kept a secret, or when things come up, it may result in a conflict of secrets kept and a constant string of lies leading up to the time the relatives thought was right for them to find out, if they ever think they should.

    And also in reference to the initial question, currency would be different, the use of paper, trees, fire, furry animals, birds, anything we try to keep away from water, electricity, different forms of power... the list goes on...
     
  12. Lorddread

    Lorddread Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Australia, Northern Territory
    The uncles and aunts don't know, they thought the dad was insane.
     
  13. Live9

    Live9 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2011
    Messages:
    10
    Likes Received:
    1
    Hi Lorddread.
    Because you have decided to add an element of fantasy, it really doesn't matter how the children would react because they are not human. I suggest, if you really want to explore this idea, remove the 'merpeople' aspect of it and maybe your characters should just be human?

    So how would humans react to such a change?
    Assume a they have been raised on a ship their whole lives and occasionally stopping at a port to gather some supplies etc. One thing I notice is that they could be eager to experience dry land. I think many of the interesting differences will be in the type of people they have met on the ship and the people they will meet on land.
     
  14. Lorddread

    Lorddread Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Australia, Northern Territory
    Hmm it's an interesting idea but I dont think so. Thanks though.
     
  15. Lorddread

    Lorddread Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Australia, Northern Territory
    So likely questions they'd have about money?
     
  16. coolie96

    coolie96 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2011
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    here.
    so then they would have given the children a perspective of their dad that he was insane. They would have the same impression when - if - they ever meet him, meaning they would be skeptical of anything he said.

    as far as money, the merpeople would have their economy based on something different, the currency itself would be strange (especially bills,) and depending on the importance of money to the merpeople, it could be strange to them to see how much it is relied on for humans.
     
  17. Lorddread

    Lorddread Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Australia, Northern Territory
    So how might the kid's react to the concept of marriage?
     
  18. coolie96

    coolie96 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2011
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    here.
    and then religion in general to go along with that
     
  19. Lorddread

    Lorddread Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Australia, Northern Territory
    So what adaptions could the hybrids have for swimming? And could the fact that being half mermaid makes them look really pretty effect anything?
     
  20. Elgaisma

    Elgaisma Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2010
    Messages:
    5,319
    Likes Received:
    97
    I still think if you are going to change them physically enough by magic that they can breathe and survive underwater and on land that keeping legs makes no sense. If they are going to be amphibous sort of they may as well change almost completely when they change between land and sea.
     
  21. Lorddread

    Lorddread Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Australia, Northern Territory
    So would it make sense for them to retain aspects of their mer appearence even in their legged form?
     
  22. Elgaisma

    Elgaisma Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2010
    Messages:
    5,319
    Likes Received:
    97
    not with your story no - you want them to believe they are fully human and their father insane they have to be human in form.
     
  23. Lorddread

    Lorddread Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Australia, Northern Territory
    What if their legged forms change after they first grow tails?
     
  24. Elgaisma

    Elgaisma Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2010
    Messages:
    5,319
    Likes Received:
    97
    What purpose would that serve how would affect your story ? All the worldbuilding you do should have a purpose in your story, progress it. What is the goal of your story where is going ? Why is this useful to you ?

    If it serves your story well make it happen - if doesn't don't do it.
     
  25. Lorddread

    Lorddread Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Australia, Northern Territory
    How might they react to television?
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice