“This looks to be the place mum” this messy neck-length Japanese-Asian looking girl but with very light-brown haired 14-year-old girl, wearing a green sleeveless hoodie above white long-short and light green trainers with a red backpack, remarked as she entered the shop. “Online would be cheaper you know Haru” this Caucasian woman in her late 30s with hair colour matching the girl despite being shoulder-length and neat, wearing a blue jumper with black trousers and grey slip-on shoes and white handbag, insisted as she followed. “Oh come on mum. This way we have no waiting plus fully assurance we get the correct size” Haru insisted before looking about the nearby shelves.
“Can I help you?” this store employee asked as she approached the woman. “Maybe. See my daughter Haru is taking up Mermaiding and we’re in the market for a tail for her” the woman answered. “Japanese Husband I gather?” the employee guessed while looking between the two. “Was… he passed 4 years ago” Haru’s mother confessed. “My apologises” the employee apologised before returning to the subject “But as you rightfully guessed we have what you need”. “See mum. They have tails in stock” Haru happily responded. “This way” the employee instructed.
As it turned out Haru and her mother were guided to this corner of the shop where various kinds of tails were hung about plus a workstation manned by this other employee was setup “two different customers in a single bound huh Morcan” the workstation employee guessed while running checks on what looked like sowing equipment. “Mother and daughter actually Venilia” the first employee corrected. “Jessica Ichiban and my daughter Haru” Haru’s mother introduced. “Apologises” Venilia responded before asking “So I take it your both here for tails?”. “Just me” Haru assured. “Pity. We have specialized discounts for family purchases” Venilia responded. “Discounts?” Jessica pondered. “I think like them Season Passes DLC or Special Editions many gaming companies setup with games that have DLC these days” Haru suggested. “Rather crude description but very accurate” Morcan accepted.
“Vast number of types though? And why Eel tails as they can’t really work?” Haru then inquired over the selection. “You’d be surprised. Actually we cater to all kinds of merfolk, even Lionfish or Dragonet” Venilia assured “Why my job here is specialized custom orders if my pre-made tails aren’t to a customer’s standards. Discounts still applied”. “I see” Jessica accepted.
“So then dose different tails void this discount?” Haru then guessed. “Haru” Jessica protested. “Actually I myself admit we’d prefer whole families get tails if shopping here for them” Morcan insisted “Might sound rather forceful a practice but ownership’s a family affair with a long mermaid history that’s blead into the business”. “Basically having mermaiding be a family thing” Haru responded. “…pretty much” Morcan accepted. “fine… let’s get looking and trying then” Jessica accepted. “We promise you won’t regret this” Venilia assured.
Neither mother nor daughter actually realizing the fate that was to befall them: