mers oh my

[shikosuki]

Merchoro PSL

Comments

[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.

[karappo]

[...that's a relief. For some reason he had a feeling he'd have overstayed his welcome eventually, coming only to demand news about his son...

At least the rain has completely stopped now, though, leaving a thoroughly wet island and a pair of gods perched on the beach of it.]

This...really is a rather nice island, you have. Much nicer than the shore. Very clean...

[matteimasu]

Oh... [ the goddess looks back towards the undergrowth, feeling a little awkward ] Well, I do my best to take care of it... since I'm the only one here now.

...It used to be nicer.

[karappo]

Really? I...do apologize, when I came here before it was for such a short time...I must not be able to recognize any difference.

[matteimasu]

Well... there wouldn't have been much difference between now and 20 years ago anyway. Had you come over 100 years ago, it would have looked very different! Much more lively... [ he pauses ] Though... anything less than 100 years and it... [ ... ] I've... done what I can. To restore what was destroyed...

[karappo]

[....oh.]

Destroyed?

...what happened here?

[matteimasu]

[ The goddess is quiet for a long moment, before deciding that he should be sitting for this and taking a seat on the wet sand, knees drawn up close to his chest. ] There was... a higher god, one like you, that wished to court me. For a while he came here often, trying to win my affection with jewels and gold. I had no interest in such things though, and explained to him again and again each time I turned him down that I was not in a position to leave my island. I am bound to this place and unable to leave, and most of all the people here needed me. Even if I were somehow to leave, that would mean the island's death. [ And then Megami goes quiet, hanging his head. The memory is painful. ] ...One day he finally had enough, and grew angry. [ He raises an arm without raising his head, and points in the direction of the island's lone mountain. ] That mountain is a volcano that laid dormant for centuries. He made it erupt. It destroyed more than half the island including the entire village.

[karappo]

[That...is sadly not an uncommon occurrence. He knows how greedy and self righteous gods can be, especially those who believe they have a right to everything simply because they command it. The thought of Megami and his people having to suffer because of that makes Poseidon's blood boil on his behalf, his tail twisting through the shallows.

He looks up to the mountain, not having a hard time imagining what it must have been like with the lava flowing down, rocks and ashes falling over the citizens who had nowhere to escape...]

I am so sorry, Megami. I had no idea.

[He wants to ask who this god was, but that would be insensitive. Needless to say, he'd like to have a chat with them someday, if he ever knew them.]

You should have the freedom to live in your domain in peace...same as the rest of us.

[matteimasu]

Thank you... it means a lot to hear that for a change.

[ Because boy do most other gods have very little sympathy for him, either because they don't care for humans or because a god born without a name isn't worth the time of day to them unless they can have sex wit it. ]

Others have... told me it's what I deserve. For being so close to humans in the first place and giving so much of myself to them. Being alone and trapped here as the island dies... I wonder if they're right sometimes.

[karappo]

Wh...of course you do not deserve this!

[He responds, sounding absolutely appalled by the notion. And a little lowkey disgusted in his fellow gods, honestly. Maybe he's just too soft, but he doesn't care. Megami might be a lesser god, but that doesn't make him worthless.]

Though I cannot say I would have ever gotten as close to humans as you have...what you have done for them in the past is admirable, not shameful.

[matteimasu]

[ That... takes the goddess aback ] You... You really think so?

[karappo]

Of course I do.

[That's said without a lick of sarcasm.]

You are my friend, as well as colleague. You deserve the same respect and reverence that the other gods do.