mers oh my

[shikosuki]

Merchoro PSL

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[karappo]

[...damn you, Totty.]

Ah...have they been? It is...possible, yes.

[But he's not going to be too specific, unprepared to be potentially caught in his half-truths.]

[shikosuki]

[ Well best prepare dad because uh... ]

Stuff like... me saving a human from drowning, even?

[ "Choromatsu-niisan you hypocrite, you can't tell us not to peep on human girls when you saved one yourself~" - Todomatsu probably. ]

[karappo]

[...]

Think...about what that implies, my son. Do you really believe everything your brothers tell you?

[His mouth is alarmingly dry for being underwater, and the words feel bitter rolling off his tongue. But he has no choice but to lie. To keep Choromatsu in the dark, and safe.]

[shikosuki]

[ his faces suddenly shows annoyance. ]

...Not really, no. They're liars.

So it's just another thing they made up then?

[ goddamnit those jerks why does he ever believe them. >( ]

[karappo]

[He kicks his tail again. Choromatsu is unintentionally putting him in a very uncomfortable spot, here. Because if he tells him his brothers are lying...that pretty much just compounds on what is already a lie, or at least the absence of the truth.]

They are likely just teasing you, Choromatsu. You know them.

[He won't tell him it's a lie, not outright. He's...not sure he can.]

[shikosuki]

[ He sighs. ]

Yeah, I do. Jerks.

[ Seemingly content with that he goes back to his materials ]

[karappo]

[Ha...ha.......]

...anyway.

Whenever you are finished, I will take your accessory and fit a gemstone onto it. I can set it with more than one if you would like...whatever strikes your fancy.

[shikosuki]

O-Okay...!

[ a pause ]

Are they all blue?

[ he hasn't seen all of his father's stuff before... he didn't even know about those gauntlets after all. ]

[karappo]

[This is a good topic...let's stay on this topic.]

Most of them, yes...though I do have a few that are a bit more indigo, some that stray closer to purple than anything else.

[shikosuki]

Hmmm...

[ Purple and indigo might look nice... ]

Probably no red though, right? Or green?

[ he's picked out all this stuff for a blue necklace but it couldn't hurt to ask ]

[karappo]

[He seems to ponder that for a moment, brows knitting together.]

Stones of blue hues are generally what I have on hand...they are not just for decoration, you know. Many of them have special properties and they influence me directly. They might aid me in harnessing the power I use to guide the sea waters, or protect me from sight from immediate predators so as to avoid needless conflict. I of course would choose something according for your friend.

However...

[...he feels so, so rotten about the situation in which Choromatsu can't really remember the problem to begin with. That's why, after a moment, he continues.]

I would be willing to create new stones for you in different colors, if you would like. It would take me a few days.

[shikosuki]

[ He's actually listening intently because he didn't know this and it actually fascinates him? There's so much they don't know about their dad and what he actually does, just purely because they took for granted having a god for a parent and never thought to ask about this sort of this thing once they got of their "why" phase. Which he's realizing now is a bit of a shame.

He's surprised with his dad's offer though ]

A-A-Are you sure?! You don't have to do something like that...! B-Blue works fine...!

[ He looks back at this materials ]

I just... suddenly thought about it... because I think she really likes red. But she also has these beautiful green eyes, and I'M green so...

[ And there's that red face again ]

[karappo]

Then I will make you red and green stones. You may choose from those and the ones I have once they are made and I will affix them for you.

[It's really the least he can do.]

They will be imbued with a minor protection spell. I of course cannot give too much, or else I would need to do the same for all of my citizens...but whenever she is in trouble, the stones will provide a warning. A chance to get oneself to a safer place.

[He doesn't know who it is for. He doesn't know just how ironic the gift truly is.]

[shikosuki]

[ And there it is again, that pang of guilt he felt earlier and is now starting to become familiar with.

He gets up the seafloor now but only long enough to move closer to Poseidon, getting as close as he can against an arm or hand ]

Thank you, dad.

[ It will all be fine, he tells himself. One day he'll introduce them all to one another and it'll be fine. He's not being a bad son. ]

[karappo]

[Ah...

Poseidon feels his chest tighten, his heart beating painfully hard against it. And when Choromatsu comes close, he suddenly extends a hand.]

May I tell you something, son?

[shikosuki]

...Huh? Sure-- what?

[ SHIT IS HE CAUGHT...... NAH NO WAY...

He swims into the hand ]

[karappo]

[No, nothing like that...Dad just needs to be dumb and sentimental for a moment because he still kindof feels like shit about this.]

I notice you frequently ask if what I am doing for you is okay, and if I am sure...and I want you to understand that your friendships...your relationships are very important to me. I want to see you and your brothers grow up happy as well as healthy. And though I would much rather see you stay by my side forever...I try not to stifle you, either.

[He reaches out, gently nudging the edge of his finger against Choromatsu's cheek.]

I would move entire oceans for you. I would call down the very stars from the heavens to create something beautiful for your friend if it meant that you were happy. I want you to understand that, no matter what, you will always come first.

[Perhaps even before his love of the world and its continued existence.]

1/2

[shikosuki]

[ Choromatsu is left completely speechless after all that. Is there even anything he could saying but thank you? Would that even be enough? He doesn't know.

So he doesn't speak. Rather his face twitches and his lip wibbles until his face finally just contorts and he lets out a sobbing sound. ]

[shikosuki]

[ Even with his tears mixing with the saltwater it's clear he's crying, especially with the way he quickly tries to cover his face with his sleeves and his shoulders shake.

But it's with relief. ]

[karappo]

Eh? ....EH!?

[Oh fuck.]

C-c-....C-choromatsu! D...do not cry! P-please don't cry!

[He immediately lifts his son up closer to his face, pressing him against his cheek whether he wants to be there or not.]

Shh...shh......I didn't mean to upset you-!

[shikosuki]

[ He's gone to full out wailing now even as his father draws him close ]

I-I'm n-n-not upset...! I-I'm just-- [ sniff ] so relieved!!

I-I k-kept worrying... a-about what if you don't l-l-like them and...!

[ aaaaaaaaand right back to incomprehensible wailing

It'll be fine. Everything will work out. If Poseidon meant what he said then... it'll be fine. ]

[karappo]

[Poseidon just...holds Choromatsu for a long, quiet moment, listening to him cry. He so desperately wishes, some days, that he could hold his children like proper parents might; to embrace and comfort them the way all merfolk do with their offspring. Instead, he curls forward and holds him gingerly in his palms, making soft hushing noises all the while.]

Oh Choromatsu...my sweet child. Did I not tell you before...? A friend of my son's is a friend of mine.

[But he doesn't know...he doesn't know his friends are human.

What might he say, then, if he knew the truth?]

Hush...hush now. You have nothing to fear. I promise.

[shikosuki]

[ He clings to him, letting himself ride his shaky sobs out, until he's reduced to only sniffles and a blossoming headache. ]

Th-Thank you... I love them a l-lot so I...

[ ... ]

D-D-Dad... I... h-have to tell you...

[ He should. He has to. The sooner he opens up the better it'll be... ]

[karappo]

Tell me? ...tell me what?

[He whispers, pulling Choromatsu away from his face slightly so he can look down at him properly.]

[shikosuki]

[ ......

He can't. Not yet.

But. ]

...I love you a lot too, okay?

[ He's not sure he even remembers the last time he told him that. ]