mers oh my

[shikosuki]

Merchoro PSL

Comments

[matteimasu]

[ ...... ]

I don't think you were wrong in wanting to protect your son.

However... while I can understand your intentions, I'm not sure I can agree with your decisions at the time.

I... have not met Choromatsu. But from what you've said, he sounds to me like a smart boy. I'm sure he knew you would be unhappy with him and that this has caused him some anxiety for quite some time. He could have kept them a complete secret from you, not tell you a single thing, but the fact that he told you so much at all tells me he likely did want your approval eventually. That he did not want to always keep it a secret.

So... I am not saying you were wrong but I do not believe you were right. Love is a very powerful thing, stronger than magic and even more unpredictable. You should know this as you know firsthand just how powerful for love for your children is. But we also do not get to choose who we fall in love with, and while not all loves are a good idea and many are misplaced, it is hard to say without meeting them if Choromatsu has given his love away to people who would abuse it.

I think what your son needed most from you in that moment was your understanding. For your continued support. Its not that you were wrong to try and protect him, it's that you were wrong to deny him this.

You were wrong not to try.

[karappo]

[...he understands what Megami is trying to say, he thinks. That, essentially, he ought to have given Choromatsu the freedom to make his own choices...and his own mistakes, if need be. He'd warned them about humans, sure, but he did not exactly have the right to keep them away from the shore, not as adults anyway.

He just can't say he understands. He's not sure he ever would.]

I fear...that the damage I have done to his trust in me may be irreparable. I certainly made it clear to him how I felt...and let my anger rule my actions.

[Poseidon doesn't meet Megami's gaze, blinking as the rainwater collects on his eyelashes.]

I just...cannot trust them, Megami. I am so afraid he will be hurt again.

[matteimasu]

[ He tries to smile and pats Poseidon's arm again. ] I know. ...May I ask something? Aside from the incident with the net when he was a child... why do you so strongly distrust humans?

[karappo]

[Ah. That's...not something he's been asked, at least not something he's been asked by anyone but his children. And for a long time, he doesn't respond.]

Contact between merfolk and humans has never been something I have desired. It is not that I hate them, far from it...I care for the ocean as much for their sake as I do ours. But we as a people do not need to make our presence known among them. There are so many out there who would seek to exploit us...perhaps even hunt us.

That is not a life I wish for my people, and certainly not my sons. We should live free from beneath the scrutinizing gaze of man. And likewise, there are many of us who feel particular animosity towards humans...it is not as if it would be guaranteed that all mers would be interested in being friendly with them.

[He pulls his tail closer to his side.]

It is safer for us both that we be apart.

[matteimasu]

I see... [ Well at least it's not RACIST... ] And exceptions truly cannot be made you believe?

[karappo]

...I do not know. I have never made one before now.

[He hates to think this way, but he feels like if he made an exception for his sons, it wouldn't be fair to the rest of...well, everyone else to disallow human contact. Even IF he wasn't already too protective to allow that in the first place.]

[matteimasu]

[ Megami thinks on it for a while... and eventually decides to drop it for now, bringing the conversation back to Choromatsu instead. ] For what it's worth... I do not think the relationship between you and Choromatsu is beyond repair. All children eventually fight with their parents. But effort will have to be put in, especially if he cannot... [ He looks back down ] Especially if his loss of voice is truly permanent. ...But I think... I think you might inevitably have to meet these humans for yourself.

[karappo]

[He was afraid you might say that.]

Hmph. What a shameful meeting that would be...

[Choromatsu's partners meeting his father, the One Who Caused Everything To Go To Shit. It leaves a bitter taste in the sea king's mouth.]

What is saying that I will even have the chance? If Choromatsu has truly become human...there is no way he would come near the sea now.

[matteimasu]

[ Megami is quiet again for a moment, thinking. ] ...Poseidon, would you say your relationship with your son was a close one prior to all this?

[karappo]

...very close.

[He brings his hands together in front of him, threading his fingers slowly.]

Obviously my sons have begun to do their own things as they have grown up, but...none of them have ever strayed very far.

[Not as far as Choromatsu has, anyway.]

[matteimasu]

[ He smiles ] When this island was still inhabited, there was a time a child came to me with the intent of running away from home. This was not the first time, sometimes children of unfit, horrible parents would come to me with the same intent, but I was always careful with granting those wishes. In this case I had seen the child with his mother before and they had always looked very close. And yet still, even with me bringing that up to him, he refused to go home. I did not fulfill his wish but I did not want him to hurt himself by charging into a dangerous situation either, so I allowed him to stay with me in my lake. Do you know what ended up happening, sea king?

[karappo]

[He thinks he can guess, but...]

What happened?

[matteimasu]

Well at first he was enthralled to be staying with me and enjoyed himself immensely. I took the best possible care of him. But a few days later, he told me that he wanted to go home. No prodding or different treatment on my part, he just came to that decision on his own. And so I let him. He ran home crying to his mother, begging for forgiveness. He never meant it when he said he didn't want to see her again; he just needed time to cool down. I am sure Choromatsu is the same. He has made a hasty decision, because he went to someone who took advantage of him instead of someone like me. But in time he will likely try to find his own way back.

[karappo]

I do hope you are right...I still fear that some of the damage may be permanent, but...I just want to apologize.

[He exhales a deep sigh as the rain finally starts to peter off.]

I just want him to understand that I never meant to hurt him, the way I ended up doing. I love him too much for that.

[matteimasu]

[ oh thank god the rain is starting to stop ] I hope he will. I think he probably understands that himself too.

[karappo]

...in the meantime, I do think I will be having something of a talk with that sea witch. There are boundaries that she knows well enough not to cross with me, and she is not going to like the consequences.

[He's still Very Upset about all of this, and Totoko is definitely going to feel the largest brunt of it.]

[matteimasu]

As you should, honestly. [ He is in the mind of "fuck that bitch" ] Please be careful though... if she is as you say I fear there may be more to her scheme. I... I worry for Choromatsu. I worry for you.

[karappo]

Ah...

[Does he really worry about him? That's...huh.]

Do not worry much about me. There is a reason she has kept to her caves all of these years. But I will keep a watchful eye. I have no idea what she seeks to gain from toying with my son this way, but if it is my attention she wanted, she has it now.

[matteimasu]

[ listen when all you can do for a century is literally stare at the ocean maybe you get a few dokis for the ocean especially when you give it your children don't judge him ] I can't help it. I'd worry no matter what. But I do hope that it will be naught. And that she will regret what she's done.

[karappo]

[I MEAN............yeah.

Also Totoko, regret anything ever? Maybe when Poseidon learns to fly.]

It may be possible for me to have her undo what she has done to my son. I do not know the exact details of the sort of agreement they made...perhaps it is not too late.

...Megami. I need you to do something for me, okay?

[matteimasu]

[ Oh... he's a little surprised to hear that. He thought since the birds found Choromatsu that Poseidon might not need him anymore. ] What is it?

[karappo]

I want you to keep listening out for what your birds have to say. If they see anything strange, or hear anything...let me know. I have no connection to the land, and I do not know what is going on beyond the sea.

I need to at least...be able to tell his brothers that he is doing alright.

[matteimasu]

...All right, I can keep doing that. I... want to know how he is doing as well.

[karappo]

Thank you.

[...]

If...you do not mind, I...a-also may stay here...for a while.

[He doesn't have to search the ocean for Choromatsu anymore...and he doesn't want to face his remaining children yet.]

[matteimasu]

Oh! Y-Yes of course! You... [ ...he's starting to get desperate. Or at least, he's self conscious that he might seem desperate. ] ...You can stay as long as you'd like.