mers oh my

[shikosuki]

Merchoro PSL

Comments

[shikosuki]

[ He nods. ] All right.

...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 ]

[karappo]

I will.

[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.]

[shikosuki]

[ 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!

[karappo]

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.]

[shikosuki]

Are you kidding? There's so much in here! Things that I don't even know what they are!

[ Dad would like company though, huh? Hmmm... ]

...Hey dad, do you remember what I asked you before?

[karappo]

Ah?

[Does he remember...oh.]

I do...you mean singing together?

[shikosuki]

Yeah!

Since you're just staying at home today, now would be a good time wouldn't it?

[ but then he falters a bit, frowning as he remembers what he was just told about all the energy Poseidon used ]

Or would you be too tired...?

[karappo]

Mmm...tired physically, yes. But I would never be too tired for this.

[And even if he was he'd still sing with him anyway.

He pushes his Trident back down into the sand, focusing his attention on his son once more.]

Did you have something already in mind?

[shikosuki]

[ He swims closer ]

Uh... I hadn't actually thought that far ahead...

...Most of the songs I know now are ones my friends taught me... like that one I was singing the other day.

[karappo]

Well...do you think you could teach them to me, too?

[shikosuki]

Y-Yeah, I could do that!

[ He's gonna swim around to Poseidon's shoulder and perch himself there, as he tries to remember what all the lyrics were.

He frowns for a moment. The song from Takumi would be easiest (he frequently forgets how Dia's go because she has so many, so he just sings along with her) but... ]

...I'm not sure how much you'll like the lyrics I was singing before though.

[ Once he hears the whole thing. It's kinda sad now that he thinks about it! Also the whole... shore part but Poseidon heard that part already. ]

[karappo]

Oh, do not worry about that! Songs are composed of all sorts of stories, from the rich and vibrant, to sad and dark. That's what makes them all the more unique to one another.

[...]

So long as it is not inappropriate.

[shikosuki]

[ Okay that gets him to laugh ]

It's not, it's not! But okay... I'll teach you the one I was singing before then!

[ But even though he says that he stays silent for quite some time. It takes him a while before he speaks again. ]

U-Um, every verse starts the same, s-so those lines are easiest to r-remember...

[ And then back to silence. If Poseidon looks at him he'll see that the green mer's face is growing redder and redder...

Until finally he just puts his face in hands.

...Yeah, he's more embarrassed to start than he realized he'd be. Why you gotta have stage fright around your dad, child ]

[karappo]

[That gets him to chuckle, fondly.]

Take your time, son.

[You'd think he wouldn't have the capacity to be embarrassed, given who his dad is.]

[shikosuki]

[ YOU'D THINK...

Maybe it's just harder to get over his self-consciousness with this than he thought...

Eventually he lowers his hands and finally starts singing, starting quietly and stuttering over his words but slowly getting louder and having an easier time ]

Y-You are the ocean's gray w-waves...
D-Destined to seek... life b-beyond the shore, j-just out of reach...
Yet the waters e-ever change... flowing like time
The path is... yours to climb...

[ ... ]

U-Um... s-s-so like that...

[karappo]

[Life beyond the shore...hm...though the lyrics are not lost on him, he doesn't see any reason to be particularly bothered like Choromatsu was worried about. If anything, it sounds more symbolic than literal. Very poetic.

He takes a breath and swims up the mouth of the cavern with his son on his shoulder, straight up toward the ceiling where the rocks start to split back open to the rest of the ocean. As he goes, he repeats the words back with the tune initially shaky since he couldn't quite hear with it strengthening as he goes on.]

"You are the ocean's gray waves,
Destined to seek life beyond the shore, just out of reach-
Yet the waters ever change, flowing like time,
The path is yours to climb!~"

Like that, Choromatsu?

[shikosuki]

[ Choromatsu does his best to make sure he doesn't fall off as Poseidon swims, but his face lights up hearing him sing ]

Yeah! Just like that, dad!

[ Azura somewhere feels a chill as these weird merpeople sing her dragon soothing song ]

You picked it up quick!

[karappo]

Ah, good!

[He knows the melody isn't exactly right, but that's what singing with Choromatsu is for, right?]

Let's sing it together, now!

[shikosuki]

O-Okay!

[ he takes a deep breath and tries not to be nervous as he tries to take the lead singing ]

You are the ocean's gray waves...

[ And he keeps singing through the whole bit, setting the pace and melody ]

[karappo]

[Poseidon sings along with him carefully, his voice loud and deep enough to cover any nervous jumps in Choromatsu's voice that he might have. It isn't often at all that he gets to do these sorts of things with his sons anymore...so it means a lot to him to know that Choromatsu wanted to, and even suggested it all on his own.]

[shikosuki]

[ Now that they're actually doing it together, it's easier for him to lose the nervousness and sing loud and clearly. It's a short verse (chorus? he is not even sure) so it doesn't last very long but he's beaming when they finish ]

H-How was that?

[karappo]

Beautiful, just beautiful Choromatsu!

[His tail flicks through the water as he comes to a stop, turning to look down at the little mer on his shoulder.]

Did I get the lyrics correct?

[shikosuki]

[ He can't help blushing. His dad is always complimenting anything he and the others do, but this time it really means something to him for some reason ]

Yeah, you got them perfect!

Sh-Should I teach you more? I think I can only remember a few more parts in full.

[ He's heard more but he keeps forgetting some lines ]

[karappo]

If you will teach me, I would love to learn.

[He can't promise he'd remember the lyrics after the first time or two, but he's willing to try. It's a very nice melody, so it wouldn't be hard for him to pick up over time.]

[shikosuki]

Okay!

[ He takes another deep breath and this time when he sings there is no quietness or stuttering. It's full of confidence and comes from a place of comfort. ]

In the white light, a hand reaches through
A double edged blade cuts your heart in two
Waking dreams fade away,
Embrace the brand new day...

[ but this time he goes just a little while longer ]

Sing with me a song
Of birthrights and love
The light scatters to the sky above
Dawn breaks through the gloom
White as a bone
Lost in thoughts all alone...

[ he stops singing and pauses ]

Mmm... it gets a little sad, doesn't it?

[ And a little hopeful he guesses? But that "all alone" bit always gets to him ]