[And just like that, they're already coming up on the reef. The other brothers aren't here, so Poseidon doesn't stop in the main clearing. He just turns straight down towards where his own grotto of sorts resides.]
I will explain. You see, you are not the only one who keeps your valuables in a special place. As you saw, I keep many things in my resting place of choice. Many wonderful, powerful things...but some of those things...some of them exist purely for sentimental value. As a reminder.
[He opens his mouth to reply, then lets it close again.]
Not exactly...
[By the time he says that, they're there. And on the surface...it doesn't seem like there's really anything here, but that's how he intends it to be. He is not above thinking that their home could possibly be pillaged one day while he's too far to stop it, so he has to make sure things are kept hidden...this place is one of them, and where his sons sleep is the other.
Poseidon leans back to his full height before lifting his trident and slamming it down into the sand, staff first. A second later, the sand beneath them seems to rumble, but it's only really an illusion as the sand seems to slowly melt away, revealing absolute swaths of things. From gold armor to weapons and everything in-between, artifacts collected from having existed for hundreds of thousands of years. And from here, it's easy to tell the cavern goes farther back, possibly hiding even more from view.
But his object of interest does not lay here, but instead farther inside...and he moves slowly in while he continues to speak.]
You, Karamatsu, and Osomatsu are my eldest sons. Have you ever thought about what that might mean, Choromatsu?
[ Even though he was here before, the things in the room, the way the illusion just melts away... all of it makes his eyes widen and he can't help swimming off Poseidon's shoulder to have a better look at some of it. Still carrying the bag of jewels close to his chest and careful not to touch anything.
When he realizes Poseidon is going deeper he follows along after him, having a much easier time keeping up now. ]
Uh. It means Osomatsu-niisan thinks he can use seniority over us as much as he'd like?
[ Despite the sassy answer though... no he hasn't really thought about it before. At least not in a way that would set them apart from the younger trio. ]
[That gets a soft chuckle from Poseidon as he continues forward, occasionally reaching out to gently brush away sand from this or that, though he never stops to point anything out necessarily.]
There is that, yes...but you three also have a responsibility to ensure that you are merfolk worth looking up to. Not just by your brothers, but by your people as well.
[He slows to a stop as the cavern gets darker, stopping just in front of a passageway that's actually too narrow for Poseidon himself to enter. It's not meant for him to go inside anyway, and it really only serves as a natural shelf of sorts.
Once Choromatsu swims around Poseidon's side, he'll finally see what he seemed to be wanting to show him all along. Though small by his standards, it will seem large to Choromatsu...large enough for him to hold with both arms if it were intact. It's an egg, an egg that has had the top chipped away, pieces of which still remain scattered all around it. The egg itself sits in very soft bedding that doesn't seem to have been touched for years.]
You may not be my sons by blood...but you are, by your lineage, princes. And when you are old enough, you too will watch over the sea by my side. I am telling you this because, well...you have been taking great strides to further yourself and mature. And though I hate seeing you grow up so quickly...it impresses me all the same. And when the time comes, I think you three will become shining examples of the way I want the ocean to be.
I want you to know how proud of you I am, Choromatsu.
[ Choromatsu doesn't know what to make of the egg at first, not sure why his father would keep a broken egg shell with so many treasures... until it suddenly hits him. Hits him that it's their egg, and he's even more at a loss.
And then Poseidon goes on about... being princes... ruling with him? He can't remember hearing this from him before, did he just forget? Just gloss over it whenever it was brought up to him because it just never occurred to him that he'd be anything more than a son that just happened to have a god for a father? That his father would ever need someone to watch over the sea with him?
That he'd actually have responsibility? HAS responsibility now even?
He'd always thought so much about being independent, moving on from his family, leading his own life... but now that all seems frivolous. The path was already there for him.
...He's not really sure how he feels about that. It's like thinking you had many doors open to you to try and realizing they're all locked except for one. It leaves him speechless.
But... dad says he's proud of him. His father acknowledges how hard he's trying when literally no one else does.
Did he want a open future with independence? Or was this what he really wanted all along? Responsibility and acknowledgement all this time? Just when he starts to think it might be, his mind floats to thoughts of the surface... the world above... the way he loves the warmth of the sun and the ingenuity of humans...
A heavy knot forms in his stomach. He swallows. Hard. ]
He was expecting some hesitance...but he also thought Choromatsu, of all of them, would have been proud to be given such responsibility. Power too, honestly.
He looks back over at his son, studying his expression to see if he can try and figure out how he's feeling.]
I am not saying this will happen right away. If anything, I myself will always carry the brunt of power and responsibility in the ocean. But I want to give you three more influence in this kingdom, too. And later still, your younger siblings will find themselves with more responsibilities to uphold as well...but regardless of how things work out, I believe that all of you will do just fine.
[Of course, he knows good and well just how...lazy and carefree they can be sometimes, but they are still just children in his eyes.]
[ Choromatsu looks down and fidgets with the bag of jewels nervously, twisting and wringing the woven material in his hands. Influence. That's a thing he could have.
It's exciting but he can't help panicking. This just... was never a thing he ever thought would happen. ]
I... dad this is...
[ Come on, don't panic, don't panic ]
It's just so much...
[ Too much for him to just learn out of the blue ]
[Up he goes until Poseidon is holding him gingerly at eye level.]
My son...you know that I am not going to force you to do anything you do not feel ready for, right? My intention is to teach you, and give you more opportunities. Not to overwhelm and stress you out.
I just...thought that this was something you have been wanting.
[He hushes him gently, sinking back a little against the sandy floor of the cavern. He'd expected some anxiousness over the expectations, for sure, but...out of Choromatsu, not so much of this. He expected this from Osomatsu, the one who wanted responsibility the least out of all of them.]
Perhaps I may have spoken to you about this a bit too soon.
[But he was going to have to at some point. After all, Osomatsu and Karamatsu have been hearing similar things, both with...varying levels of acceptance. As much as they've grown, it's clear they still have much growing to do.]
[ And that Choromatsu rigorously shakes his head and looks back up. ]
No... no, the problem is I'm only hearing about this now, dad!
I... something like this... I could have spent my whole life preparing for something like this! But I... didn't even consider it an option. You're a god, you wouldn't need anyone to replace you or help you... that was what I've always thought. So I just daydreamed about other things instead.
[ daydreams where he has legs and can walk beside his friends and dance and always sing in he sunlight, daydreams where he leaves the reef and his family behind to start his own...
he sinks back down again, lowering his head once more ]
[As Choromatsu's explanation sinks in, it settles in the pit of the god's stomach like a brick. And for a long few moments...he really doesn't know what to say. His expression says more for him than he can at the moment, one of mingled confusion and fear, fear that he's done something so reckless as to ruin his son's future, unintentional or not.]
I...of course I was not going to tell you something like...like this at a very young age. Choromatsu, your childhood is meant to be for experiencing life without having to concern yourself with this kind of responsibility. You say that as if your whole life has already passed you by.
[And what other things is he talking about...? He never mentioned anything like that to him.]
I could have still enjoyed my childhood while knowing what my future would entail though! [ Takumi and Dia apparently did, even knowing their duties as royalty or successors of important families. ] At least I would have known! Wouldn't have had to think or worry about what I'd do with my life instead... could have taken pride in it.
[ like the way Dia takes pride in being a successor and Takumi has no problems with being a second in line prince to his big brother... the way they both seem so educated and capable and not the sheltered fool he sometimes feels he is in comparison to them.
he slumps, he's not... trying to be upset. but it's all a lot to take in ]
I'm honoured dad, truly. I want you to have faith in me and be proud of me! It's just a shock.
I am sorry, Choromatsu. I...did not realize you felt that way.
[Where is this coming from, he wonders? Has Choromatsu seriously worried about his future to this extent? Even if his sons never did much, he would not just toss them out to sea to fend for themselves. He would gladly let them stay home in his reef forever, if they wanted.
Or...as long as ever lasted, for all seven of them.
His smile fades a touch.]
I know it is not an excuse, not in the slightest, but...I have lived for so long that ten years passing by feels like only a few moments. But for you...much more has happened in your life than even scratches the surface of mine. I should have brought it up to all of you sooner. I...apologize.
[ Worried, maybe not. Even he knew his father would always let them stay here. But thought about it? Dreamed about it? Absolutely.
He sighs. ]
I... I know.
[ So now he has to think... does he want this? Or does he want to try and ask his father to relent, to let him chose for himself whether he wants to have this kind of life.
... ]
...When do I start my preparations then?
[ He doesn't have to give up his dreams of the surface. These two things are not mutually exclusive. He already has a friendship with a land royal, there's work he can do with this opportunity for both sea and land. ]
[Poseidon blinks slowly, unsure how to accept Choromatsu's response at this point. He knows that he always wanted this, but yet...something, something seems to be holding him back. He's reacting in a way that's not wholly unexpected, but still somewhat so.
But...why?]
Whenever you are ready. But...please understand that I am still figuring out what to do with your older brothers. Karamatsu is eager to begin but I am not sure how ready he is...and Osomatsu is the exact opposite of you both. I fear he wants nothing to do with it.
[They are, it's true. But at that, he very cautiously reaches out and touches Choromatsu's cheek with the side of a finger.]
Much. But all of that will come with time...I do not expect you to learn everything in a single day. If it suits you, I will set aside one day a week for instruction. Your brothers may join us, but...we will have to see.
[He wonders if he's doing the right thing, here...he's already made some mistakes, but there's nothing he can do now but continue forward.]
[It might not be soon...because now he has his own bit of thinking to do about all of this. He might even go visit the god that helped bring his children into being in the first place...maybe he would have some advice on how to be a better parent about all of this.
He sighs through his nose, holding his hand up and out so Choromatsu can pick up his bag and swim out of his palm if he wishes.]
Again, I am sorry if I have overwhelmed you. I mean it when I say that none of this will happen in a day, or even a few years. There is much time yet, and much to do.
Otherwise...you may stay here if you would like, but if you have other things to do today...
[ Choromatsu does pick the bag up and swims a little aways... but he lingers.
He did want to see if Takumi or Dia were around today but... he feels bad about the way he reacted earlier. He doesn't really want to just leave his dad after all that. ]
...I can stay here a while longer. It's not every day I get to come in here, after all!
Are you sure? There really is not much more to see...
[He says even though there are literal centuries worth of things all over the place in here. Choromatsu could probably spend all day turning the place over and not even get through a small quarter of it.
Poseidon turns a little, reaching out to pick up his trident just to have something to hold onto.]
To tell you the truth, I do not have any big feats of work on my agenda today. Those spells I cast took quite a bit out of me...so I am staying close to the reef and watching over things at home. I will admit that it is nice not to be alone, for once.
[After all, during the day his children are always gone...either in their room or off playing with one another. When they were babies, Poseidon spent every waking moment with them when he wasn't surveying the water. Things have changed for him in less than a blink of an eye.]
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[And just like that, they're already coming up on the reef. The other brothers aren't here, so Poseidon doesn't stop in the main clearing. He just turns straight down towards where his own grotto of sorts resides.]
I will explain. You see, you are not the only one who keeps your valuables in a special place. As you saw, I keep many things in my resting place of choice. Many wonderful, powerful things...but some of those things...some of them exist purely for sentimental value. As a reminder.
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[ He tilts his head ]
You mean like... gifts and stuff?
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Not exactly...
[By the time he says that, they're there. And on the surface...it doesn't seem like there's really anything here, but that's how he intends it to be. He is not above thinking that their home could possibly be pillaged one day while he's too far to stop it, so he has to make sure things are kept hidden...this place is one of them, and where his sons sleep is the other.
Poseidon leans back to his full height before lifting his trident and slamming it down into the sand, staff first. A second later, the sand beneath them seems to rumble, but it's only really an illusion as the sand seems to slowly melt away, revealing absolute swaths of things. From gold armor to weapons and everything in-between, artifacts collected from having existed for hundreds of thousands of years. And from here, it's easy to tell the cavern goes farther back, possibly hiding even more from view.
But his object of interest does not lay here, but instead farther inside...and he moves slowly in while he continues to speak.]
You, Karamatsu, and Osomatsu are my eldest sons. Have you ever thought about what that might mean, Choromatsu?
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When he realizes Poseidon is going deeper he follows along after him, having a much easier time keeping up now. ]
Uh. It means Osomatsu-niisan thinks he can use seniority over us as much as he'd like?
[ Despite the sassy answer though... no he hasn't really thought about it before. At least not in a way that would set them apart from the younger trio. ]
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There is that, yes...but you three also have a responsibility to ensure that you are merfolk worth looking up to. Not just by your brothers, but by your people as well.
[He slows to a stop as the cavern gets darker, stopping just in front of a passageway that's actually too narrow for Poseidon himself to enter. It's not meant for him to go inside anyway, and it really only serves as a natural shelf of sorts.
Once Choromatsu swims around Poseidon's side, he'll finally see what he seemed to be wanting to show him all along. Though small by his standards, it will seem large to Choromatsu...large enough for him to hold with both arms if it were intact. It's an egg, an egg that has had the top chipped away, pieces of which still remain scattered all around it. The egg itself sits in very soft bedding that doesn't seem to have been touched for years.]
You may not be my sons by blood...but you are, by your lineage, princes. And when you are old enough, you too will watch over the sea by my side. I am telling you this because, well...you have been taking great strides to further yourself and mature. And though I hate seeing you grow up so quickly...it impresses me all the same. And when the time comes, I think you three will become shining examples of the way I want the ocean to be.
I want you to know how proud of you I am, Choromatsu.
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And then Poseidon goes on about... being princes... ruling with him? He can't remember hearing this from him before, did he just forget? Just gloss over it whenever it was brought up to him because it just never occurred to him that he'd be anything more than a son that just happened to have a god for a father? That his father would ever need someone to watch over the sea with him?
That he'd actually have responsibility? HAS responsibility now even?
He'd always thought so much about being independent, moving on from his family, leading his own life... but now that all seems frivolous. The path was already there for him.
...He's not really sure how he feels about that. It's like thinking you had many doors open to you to try and realizing they're all locked except for one. It leaves him speechless.
But... dad says he's proud of him. His father acknowledges how hard he's trying when literally no one else does.
Did he want a open future with independence? Or was this what he really wanted all along? Responsibility and acknowledgement all this time? Just when he starts to think it might be, his mind floats to thoughts of the surface... the world above... the way he loves the warmth of the sun and the ingenuity of humans...
A heavy knot forms in his stomach. He swallows. Hard. ]
D-Dad, I... I don't know...
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He was expecting some hesitance...but he also thought Choromatsu, of all of them, would have been proud to be given such responsibility. Power too, honestly.
He looks back over at his son, studying his expression to see if he can try and figure out how he's feeling.]
I am not saying this will happen right away. If anything, I myself will always carry the brunt of power and responsibility in the ocean. But I want to give you three more influence in this kingdom, too. And later still, your younger siblings will find themselves with more responsibilities to uphold as well...but regardless of how things work out, I believe that all of you will do just fine.
[Of course, he knows good and well just how...lazy and carefree they can be sometimes, but they are still just children in his eyes.]
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It's exciting but he can't help panicking. This just... was never a thing he ever thought would happen. ]
I... dad this is...
[ Come on, don't panic, don't panic ]
It's just so much...
[ Too much for him to just learn out of the blue ]
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He sighs, then holds out both hands toward him.]
Choromatsu, come here.
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My son...you know that I am not going to force you to do anything you do not feel ready for, right? My intention is to teach you, and give you more opportunities. Not to overwhelm and stress you out.
I just...thought that this was something you have been wanting.
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I... I think I thought I wanted it too? Maybe? I...
[ He drops the bag and lowers his head enough that he can hold onto it with both hands ]
I... I don't know what I think...
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[He hushes him gently, sinking back a little against the sandy floor of the cavern. He'd expected some anxiousness over the expectations, for sure, but...out of Choromatsu, not so much of this. He expected this from Osomatsu, the one who wanted responsibility the least out of all of them.]
Perhaps I may have spoken to you about this a bit too soon.
[But he was going to have to at some point. After all, Osomatsu and Karamatsu have been hearing similar things, both with...varying levels of acceptance. As much as they've grown, it's clear they still have much growing to do.]
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No... no, the problem is I'm only hearing about this now, dad!
I... something like this... I could have spent my whole life preparing for something like this! But I... didn't even consider it an option. You're a god, you wouldn't need anyone to replace you or help you... that was what I've always thought. So I just daydreamed about other things instead.
[ daydreams where he has legs and can walk beside his friends and dance and always sing in he sunlight, daydreams where he leaves the reef and his family behind to start his own...
he sinks back down again, lowering his head once more ]
It... changes everything.
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I...of course I was not going to tell you something like...like this at a very young age. Choromatsu, your childhood is meant to be for experiencing life without having to concern yourself with this kind of responsibility. You say that as if your whole life has already passed you by.
[And what other things is he talking about...? He never mentioned anything like that to him.]
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[ like the way Dia takes pride in being a successor and Takumi has no problems with being a second in line prince to his big brother... the way they both seem so educated and capable and not the sheltered fool he sometimes feels he is in comparison to them.
he slumps, he's not... trying to be upset. but it's all a lot to take in ]
I'm honoured dad, truly. I want you to have faith in me and be proud of me! It's just a shock.
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I am sorry, Choromatsu. I...did not realize you felt that way.
[Where is this coming from, he wonders? Has Choromatsu seriously worried about his future to this extent? Even if his sons never did much, he would not just toss them out to sea to fend for themselves. He would gladly let them stay home in his reef forever, if they wanted.
Or...as long as ever lasted, for all seven of them.
His smile fades a touch.]
I know it is not an excuse, not in the slightest, but...I have lived for so long that ten years passing by feels like only a few moments. But for you...much more has happened in your life than even scratches the surface of mine. I should have brought it up to all of you sooner. I...apologize.
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He sighs. ]
I... I know.
[ So now he has to think... does he want this? Or does he want to try and ask his father to relent, to let him chose for himself whether he wants to have this kind of life.
... ]
...When do I start my preparations then?
[ He doesn't have to give up his dreams of the surface. These two things are not mutually exclusive. He already has a friendship with a land royal, there's work he can do with this opportunity for both sea and land. ]
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But...why?]
Whenever you are ready. But...please understand that I am still figuring out what to do with your older brothers. Karamatsu is eager to begin but I am not sure how ready he is...and Osomatsu is the exact opposite of you both. I fear he wants nothing to do with it.
I just thought it prudent to...let you know.
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I understand.
...I think it would be best though to start learning from you sooner rather later, even if it's just the basics and we take it slowly.
I imagine that there... is a lot to cover.
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Much. But all of that will come with time...I do not expect you to learn everything in a single day. If it suits you, I will set aside one day a week for instruction. Your brothers may join us, but...we will have to see.
[He wonders if he's doing the right thing, here...he's already made some mistakes, but there's nothing he can do now but continue forward.]
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...When you decide what day, let me I know. I should... give my friends warning that I won't be around those days.
[ And also ask them for advice because yikes ]
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[It might not be soon...because now he has his own bit of thinking to do about all of this. He might even go visit the god that helped bring his children into being in the first place...maybe he would have some advice on how to be a better parent about all of this.
He sighs through his nose, holding his hand up and out so Choromatsu can pick up his bag and swim out of his palm if he wishes.]
Again, I am sorry if I have overwhelmed you. I mean it when I say that none of this will happen in a day, or even a few years. There is much time yet, and much to do.
Otherwise...you may stay here if you would like, but if you have other things to do today...
[He won't make you stay.]
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He did want to see if Takumi or Dia were around today but... he feels bad about the way he reacted earlier. He doesn't really want to just leave his dad after all that. ]
...I can stay here a while longer. It's not every day I get to come in here, after all!
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[He says even though there are literal centuries worth of things all over the place in here. Choromatsu could probably spend all day turning the place over and not even get through a small quarter of it.
Poseidon turns a little, reaching out to pick up his trident just to have something to hold onto.]
To tell you the truth, I do not have any big feats of work on my agenda today. Those spells I cast took quite a bit out of me...so I am staying close to the reef and watching over things at home. I will admit that it is nice not to be alone, for once.
[After all, during the day his children are always gone...either in their room or off playing with one another. When they were babies, Poseidon spent every waking moment with them when he wasn't surveying the water. Things have changed for him in less than a blink of an eye.]
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WHAT THE HECK I DIDN'T SEE THIS ALL EVENING GOMEN
ITS OKAY I FIGURED
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