...When this island was still inhabited, still visited by the outside world, I came across my fair share of wishes where the request was to become something else.
Men and women whose bodies did not match their souls, children who wanted to become cats or birds, creatures who wanted nothing more than to be human themselves... one time even a harpy came here, wanting to be human so she could be with the man she had fallen in love with.
[ He pauses for a moment, letting the implications sink in, before looking up at Poseidon once more ]
Poseidon... do any other gods reside in your ocean? Ones with powers like mine.
[He listens quietly, his tail curling in the shallows of the island. At his question, though...Poseidon's expression darkens considerably, rather suddenly too.]
...there is only one. But my sons, they...they know better than to consort with her.
You also said they knew better than to interact with humans.
[ another pause ]
...Is she a good person?
[ he's guessing no by that reaction, and it wouldn't surprise him. He knows not all gods and spirits and other magical beings are as benevolent as he is, that some would abuse their powers to trap others. ]
On the surface you would believe she was. She claims to use her power to help other merfolk...but she is conniving and manipulative. She takes particular joy in providing what is asked for...but at a price.
[It's just as he says this that he goes very still, staring off into the ocean just below him.]
[ Conniving and manipulative, huh... figures. He can't judge against the idea of a "price" to pay per se, as it would certainly make things easier for him if HE asked for something in exchange... but with everything else Poseidon's saying he can already tell she's not fair about it. ]
Anyone, but especially a child, can be easily preyed upon in moments of high emotion... even more so when love is involved.
[ and then his voice gets a lot more stern ]
Regardless of your intent, Sea King, you've placed our son in a vulnerable state. I'm not saying it's for sure what happened but... if he's as upset as you said he was... I am sure he would have been easy to coerce.
[For a long moment, Poseidon is silent, mulling over the implications. It's either believe that Choromatsu did go to her...or accept the fact that his son is dead. Neither are good options, but one at least involves his son still being alive.
He can feel his heart tighten in his chest, and he lowers his hand from his face to grip the stone set against his sternum.]
...I have to go speak to her.
[He's already shifting, like he's ready to get up and go now-]
[Oh, right. He settles back down into the sand once he remembers he's there, looking back down at the goddess proper. He does have a point...no doubt he'd be lied to even if Choromatsu met with the witch...]
But...I thought you said you could not grant any more wishes?
That is true. At least not large ones. But I am not entirely useless yet.
[ Yet. ]
The only visitors to this island now are birds. Seagulls. I cannot leave the island but I can communicate with them and ask for their help. If they know what to look for and where to go... they may be able to confirm if Choromatsu is really with the humans.
[Even before Megami finishes that statement fully, Poseidon can feel tears welling in his eyes. His hands shake a little as he smooths the one across the scales of his tail.]
I could...not possibly repay you, if you could do this for me.
[It's...almost hard for him to fathom. That Megami would be so willing to help him, all for nothing...he breathes out a shaky sigh, brushing a lock of his loose hair behind one ear-fin.]
Tell your seagull friends to go to Hoshido. That is the only area Choromatsu mentioned to me when I asked where he had been...and...
[He falters, looking over at Megami again with his sad expression softening.]
Tell them that he looks almost identical to...you.
It is funny...I do not know how the nature of your wishes work when they are being fulfilled, but...they all seemed identical when they hatched. But as they grew, they started to come into some more individuality...Karamatsu seems to have taken most after me overall, and Choromatsu...
[Well. Yeah.]
All of them take after me...but they take after you as well.
[ Unlike the boys, who have lived with Poseidon's size their entire lives and have become used to all the little gestures and motions, Megami does not know what to make of the hand offered out to him. The sons would swim onto his palm without a second thought, but the goddess doesn't even think of that.
After a moment he places his own hand on the tip of one of Poseidon's fingers, like you would place a hand on top of someone else's to comfort them. He looks up with a sad smile. ]
It... It is all right. I am the kind of god who is not allowed to be selfish. Selflessness is my role, my job, and always has been. And being able to fulfill my job again after 100 years was worth it enough.
[ And then he's looking down again ]
Besides, I believe they were probably happier in the sea anyway. Free to do as they pleased and explore as they liked with a loving father to care for them. But this island... can be like a prison sometimes. And you cannot repopulate with only men.
[ Seriously he didn't even think all boys was possible here what the fuck WHAT WERE THE ODDS.... ]
You seemed incredibly lonely, so I am just happy I could help.
[That's fine- Megami is welcome to do whatever he pleases, but the invitation to climb into his hand is there nonetheless. At the same time though...Poseidon never realized what the goddess had been going through all this time. It was like he told Choromatsu: they didn't really know each other that well, and Poseidon had come to his island specifically seeking his help. Once he received it, he retreated back to the sea for the next twenty years to raise his new children. ...in hindsight, it was actually pretty nearsighted and selfish of him to never even once think to return.
It also meant that, all this time, Megami had been alone. No one to talk to but the birds that visited his island...Poseidon could have at least given him the luxury of company, even if it was occasional.
His expression tightens as he exhales a deep sigh.]
They are very happy...they have always been lively, and wonderful to raise. Perfect, dare I say. If only they could all be satisfied in the sea...
[He closes his eyes for a long moment.]
No matter what comes of all of this...I want you to meet them. I will bring them to this island, to you.
Yes. Of anyone...you deserve to meet them the most.
[He almost says "you have the right to meet them", but something about that sounds...off, he's not sure why. He doesn't feel like even he truly ever had a right to these children...they belonged to Megami from the start, and that's not something he will forget.]
And...I am sorry that it took me this long to realize this.
[And that is precisely why he will be doing this for him, no matter what happens. He can't feel Megami's grip through his gauntlet, but there's no way he misses the way he smiles at his offering...and it causes Poseidon, for just a moment, to feel a little at a loss for what to say next. Like his words are failing him...and if he tried to speak, they wouldn't come out right anyway.
He dips his head forward slightly to the goddess in something of a bow.]
Choromatsu...said he wanted to meet you someday. Please...help me find him, so he can.
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[ He looks down, his hands in his lap ]
...When this island was still inhabited, still visited by the outside world, I came across my fair share of wishes where the request was to become something else.
Men and women whose bodies did not match their souls, children who wanted to become cats or birds, creatures who wanted nothing more than to be human themselves... one time even a harpy came here, wanting to be human so she could be with the man she had fallen in love with.
[ He pauses for a moment, letting the implications sink in, before looking up at Poseidon once more ]
Poseidon... do any other gods reside in your ocean? Ones with powers like mine.
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...there is only one. But my sons, they...they know better than to consort with her.
[At least, so he thought.]
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[ another pause ]
...Is she a good person?
[ he's guessing no by that reaction, and it wouldn't surprise him. He knows not all gods and spirits and other magical beings are as benevolent as he is, that some would abuse their powers to trap others. ]
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[It's just as he says this that he goes very still, staring off into the ocean just below him.]
Choromatsu, he....he wouldn't...
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Anyone, but especially a child, can be easily preyed upon in moments of high emotion... even more so when love is involved.
[ and then his voice gets a lot more stern ]
Regardless of your intent, Sea King, you've placed our son in a vulnerable state. I'm not saying it's for sure what happened but... if he's as upset as you said he was... I am sure he would have been easy to coerce.
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He can feel his heart tighten in his chest, and he lowers his hand from his face to grip the stone set against his sternum.]
...I have to go speak to her.
[He's already shifting, like he's ready to get up and go now-]
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W-Wait...! You don't know for sure! She may not even be honest with you! You said she was manipulative, right?
[ He could not live with himself if Poseidon did something dumb and got HIMSELF in trouble because of his suggestion. ]
--Would you like my assistance first?
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But...I thought you said you could not grant any more wishes?
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That is true. At least not large ones. But I am not entirely useless yet.
[ Yet. ]
The only visitors to this island now are birds. Seagulls. I cannot leave the island but I can communicate with them and ask for their help. If they know what to look for and where to go... they may be able to confirm if Choromatsu is really with the humans.
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I could...not possibly repay you, if you could do this for me.
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You wouldn't have to. If anything, I should be repaying you. For taking such good care of my--
[ He stops himself. No he's... had to spend 20 years detaching himself. He created that egg but they... ]
Those children.
[ Are not his kids. ]
It's the least I can do.
poseidon this is gay
[It's...almost hard for him to fathom. That Megami would be so willing to help him, all for nothing...he breathes out a shaky sigh, brushing a lock of his loose hair behind one ear-fin.]
Tell your seagull friends to go to Hoshido. That is the only area Choromatsu mentioned to me when I asked where he had been...and...
[He falters, looking over at Megami again with his sad expression softening.]
Tell them that he looks almost identical to...you.
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He... does?
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It is funny...I do not know how the nature of your wishes work when they are being fulfilled, but...they all seemed identical when they hatched. But as they grew, they started to come into some more individuality...Karamatsu seems to have taken most after me overall, and Choromatsu...
[Well. Yeah.]
All of them take after me...but they take after you as well.
[...]
Was...this intentional?
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Th-That... well, not entirely but...
The e-egg was designed... to take after those who c-cared for it. I-It was a method I often used for barren couples who wished for children...
[ that's how he knew they would not hatch as humans (or... naga things...) under water THANKFULLY... ]
B-But that egg... was made before you came here. I-It was originally not for you, so...
[ he wipes his eyes when he realizes the tears are coming down ]
I suppose... th-the time I cared for it still had an effect, a-after all...
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Does...he wish he could have raised them? If they were not originally for him, then...]
Megami...
[The sea king hesitates before reaching out, holding out a hand toward the goddess.]
I had no idea...you gave me-
[His. egg.
......that's a whole lot for him to think about, suddenly.]
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After a moment he places his own hand on the tip of one of Poseidon's fingers, like you would place a hand on top of someone else's to comfort them. He looks up with a sad smile. ]
It... It is all right. I am the kind of god who is not allowed to be selfish. Selflessness is my role, my job, and always has been. And being able to fulfill my job again after 100 years was worth it enough.
[ And then he's looking down again ]
Besides, I believe they were probably happier in the sea anyway. Free to do as they pleased and explore as they liked with a loving father to care for them. But this island... can be like a prison sometimes. And you cannot repopulate with only men.
[ Seriously he didn't even think all boys was possible here what the fuck WHAT WERE THE ODDS.... ]
You seemed incredibly lonely, so I am just happy I could help.
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It also meant that, all this time, Megami had been alone. No one to talk to but the birds that visited his island...Poseidon could have at least given him the luxury of company, even if it was occasional.
His expression tightens as he exhales a deep sigh.]
They are very happy...they have always been lively, and wonderful to raise. Perfect, dare I say. If only they could all be satisfied in the sea...
[He closes his eyes for a long moment.]
No matter what comes of all of this...I want you to meet them. I will bring them to this island, to you.
[Even if...he comes with only five.]
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But then Poseidon says he wants them to meet and he can't believe his ears ]
...Eh?
R...Really?
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[He almost says "you have the right to meet them", but something about that sounds...off, he's not sure why. He doesn't feel like even he truly ever had a right to these children...they belonged to Megami from the start, and that's not something he will forget.]
And...I am sorry that it took me this long to realize this.
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No, no, it's all right! Really! You don't... ah... you don't have to feel bad about that.
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You... You don't have to do something like that for me either, but...
[ another smile ]
I... That would make me... very happy...
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He dips his head forward slightly to the goddess in something of a bow.]
Choromatsu...said he wanted to meet you someday. Please...help me find him, so he can.
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I will. I will do everything in my power to bring him home.
[ he pauses, thinking ]
So Hoshido and looks like me... do you recall anything else? The name of the humans he was meeting perhaps? Anything could help.
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[He deflates a bit, his expression becoming somber again.]
They both own items of mine. A pair of old gauntlets...and a necklace created with spell-imbued stones. I...had no idea they were human, at the time.
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Sorry I had to do this before bed rq
👀
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