The lobster means well. He always has. Try Harder, Darling collects every Mermaid Dayz design where somebody shows up with a gift, a speech or a proposal and she grades it on the spot, from the rock, without putting down her glass. He is not losing. He is simply not there yet, and she is happy to tell him so.
One flower is not a bouquet
Bigger Bouquets Only says it with a finger: she points at an enormous arrangement on the dock while the lobster in the water holds up one small flower. Cheers To Effort is the same single flower, received under the words You Did A Thing, and That's A Choice watches a lobster arrive with a bouquet and a bottle and get exactly that verdict. Eight Arms, High Standards is a palm raised at an octopus offering flowers and shells all at once, which is a lot of arms to say no to. On the jewelry side, Claws & Carats holds a pearl out for inspection, This Feels Underfunded holds a single small pearl the lobster just handed over, and Think Bigger Darling points him toward a whole basket of clams as if to say start there.
The speech, graded live
Is There A Part Two? is a mermaid slumped on a rock, chin in hand, while the lobster finishes what he thought was a strong opening. The Short Version asks the obvious follow-up with a flute in hand, That's Nice, Next lets him keep going with a face that has already moved on, and Keep Entertaining Me holds a flute under the words Keep Going, This Is Adorable. Certified Hype Siren flips it, cheering a lobster on a dock post with I Believe In Your Potential, which is either kindness or a very long game. Clamming My DMs snaps a clam shell shut in the lobster's face, and Throw Him Back is two friends on a dock reviewing a phone together and reaching the same conclusion.
Champagne while he thinks it over
Bubbly High Standards answers a crab's Be Grateful sign with I Am, For Champagne. High Standards Only reads That's Why I Have Nice Things above a crab holding You're Too Picky, and High Tide Standards keeps a martini steady beside the words High Tide, Higher Standards. Champagne Over Claws lifts the bottle just out of a lobster's reach, a lobster is offered the wine bottle under We Can Do Better, and I Have Standards reclines with a flute and says exactly that.
For the one who knows where the bar is
You have a friend who has never once lowered it. She hears the speech all the way through, she is polite about the flower, and she still says think bigger. This collection is for her, and for the friend who is finally done reviewing applicants and would like that in writing. Somewhere a lobster is drafting part two. He should take his time. She has champagne.
Written by Mari Bennett. Thanks for reading.