[ 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.
[ He knows a bit about Hoshido since it isn't too far from here and plenty of birds come and go from that direction a lot, so he's heard plenty of gossip even though he's never been there... news of assassination, peace treaties, villages that burned, and... other... stuff...
The names and details of godly gifts are all useful, but the name Takumi definitely gives him pause. His voice is dry when he speaks ]
...Did Choromatsu say anything else about this... Takumi?
[ ....yeah because that change in attitude isn't worrisome at all ]
[Yeah, that...unfortunately, doesn't really make Poseidon feel much better. Honestly, on top of being really fucking worried, he's starting to feel a bit ill...Choromatsu has gotten himself into a lot more than he initially realized.]
It...it does not matter now. So long as you can find him. I need to know that he is alright.
...I will have to go back home to the others. Tell them...something about what is going on, so they are not worried. Perhaps I will be able to buy time, somehow.
[And that's even assuming Choromatsu did make some sort of deal with the sea witch...but it's Poseidon's only hope.]
...I'm going to be honest with you. This could take a while. At least a day just on travel alone. I cannot give you an accurate assessment of how long in total.
...But I know this is hard for you. So you... you may come when you want as often as you want.
It's not as if I will be busy.
[ this is his awkward way of saying he's here for you ]
[It really means more to the god than he can properly express. So much so that he can't even speak for a moment, just sit there and let the emotions of everything- as well as fatigue- wash over him.]
I cannot thank you enough, Megami.
[It's pure reflex, but...for just a fraction of a second, he reaches out with his free hand, as if intending to touch his head with his finger like he might with one of his sons...but he realizes how improper that would be, and stops himself at the last moment.]
I will return. Every single day until my son is found.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
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.
no subject
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.]
no subject
But then Poseidon says he wants them to meet and he can't believe his ears ]
...Eh?
R...Really?
no subject
[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.
1/2
No, no, it's all right! Really! You don't... ah... you don't have to feel bad about that.
no subject
You... You don't have to do something like that for me either, but...
[ another smile ]
I... That would make me... very happy...
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
[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.
no subject
The names and details of godly gifts are all useful, but the name Takumi definitely gives him pause. His voice is dry when he speaks ]
...Did Choromatsu say anything else about this... Takumi?
[ ....yeah because that change in attitude isn't worrisome at all ]
no subject
He...well...he talked about him quite a bit...
...why...?
no subject
Because the Hoshido royal family has a prince named Takumi.
The female gulls have been... quite fond... of him.
[ He has to listen to so much "hot or not royals" gossip on this stupid island from these stupid birds you have no idea ]
no subject
Something of a revelation, that's for sure.]
I...I always assumed he was just a merfriend of his...so I had no idea...
[He does not want to be connected to human royalty what the actual halibut Choro???]
no subject
W-Well at the very least, that would make searching easier...
[ and also getting the cooperation of the birds :|;;
...and THEN he realizes this is causing Poseidon some alarm so he tries... to rectify ]
I-It could be a coincidence though...! I was... under the impression the royal family has stayed away from water for centuries.
[ That bit he knew not from birds at least but from when his own people would go there to trade ]
no subject
It...it does not matter now. So long as you can find him. I need to know that he is alright.
no subject
I will do everything I can.
[ a pause ]
...What will you do now then?
no subject
...I will have to go back home to the others. Tell them...something about what is going on, so they are not worried. Perhaps I will be able to buy time, somehow.
[And that's even assuming Choromatsu did make some sort of deal with the sea witch...but it's Poseidon's only hope.]
When should I return? Or...how often?
no subject
...But I know this is hard for you. So you... you may come when you want as often as you want.
It's not as if I will be busy.
[ this is his awkward way of saying he's here for you ]
no subject
I cannot thank you enough, Megami.
[It's pure reflex, but...for just a fraction of a second, he reaches out with his free hand, as if intending to touch his head with his finger like he might with one of his sons...but he realizes how improper that would be, and stops himself at the last moment.]
I will return. Every single day until my son is found.
no subject
...this is a high five right is that what we're doing
you giant gods are so weird ]
All right. I will be here... hopefully with good news for you shortly.
no subject
But before he leaves...]
...may I ask you to do one more thing for me?
no subject
no subject
He turns his hand over, palm up, and holds it out flat again.]
Climb into my hand. I will be careful, I promise.
no subject
[ what
But okay... he's doing it. Cautiously but he's doing it ]
Should... should I stay standing or...???
Sorry I had to do this before bed rq
[He waits patiently until the goddess is safely in his hand before slowly bringing him up to eye level with him.
Then, he brings him closer and holds him against his cheek. It's the closest approximation of a hug that someone his size could possibly give.]
Thank you. Truly, for everything.
👀
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)