leires | mers oh my

[ what is that supposed to mean indeed

Megami feels his turning red again, and some of the tears trickle down his warm cheeks despite his best efforts. When the hand is brought down though he's confused as he had been the other day ]

Yes...? [ he's not sure what Poseidon is asking to do but he'll allow whatever it is regardless ]

[HE'S...STILL NOT USED TO THIS forgive him, his sons always take that as a sign to clamber right into his palm. Since he realizes then that Megami doesn't understand, he settles with curling that same hand around behind him, so he can lean or sit or do whatever else he'd like. His other hand, meanwhile, he uses to take the tip of his finger and ever so gently hold it up against Megami's cheek to wipe away his tears.]

I have no plans to leave this island for some time, today. ...in truth, I need a respite from everything that has been going on, and Totoko will not be going anywhere.

If you will have me, of course.

[ Oh... OH. Okay now he feels a little silly. He's starting to understand though...!

He doesn't do anything for the moment, instead letting Poseidon wipe his tears and listening to him closely.

When he's done though, Megami looks back at the cupped hand behind him... and crawls onto it to sit, like his sons would. ]

Of course. I said earlier, did I not? You may stay as long as you'd like.

I know...just making sure I do not overstay my welcome.

[He smiles as he says that, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes. He's happy to be here, if nothing else. He's not sure what he would do if Megami and his island weren't here...he'd have no idea what happened to Choromatsu. He'd be lost.

Once he's sure Megami is seated properly, Poseidon lifts him and rests the back of his hand on where his tail curls outward as he sits, giving the goddess a higher vantage point as the waves start to shift back out into the sea.

Poseidon is quiet for a while as he watches the shore far off in the distance. It's close enough to somewhat make out buildings as the lights pop on one by one with the sun beginning to set on the horizon.]

...I hope Choromatsu is doing alright out there.

[ ...He's not sure he's ever going to get used to being lifted like this because whoa it is STRANGE. Kinda nice but STRANGE.

He watches Poseidon's face, before turning his head in the direction Poseidon is looking. ]

...For what it's worth... when the gulls spoke to me they told me he was happy.

Stumbling and falling over his own two feet but... very, very happy.

That is all I could hope for, at this point.

[He purses his lips, as if struggling over his words.]

That is going to be his life now, from now on. I hope it is truly what he wanted.

Mm... I hope so too...

[ He really... hates that Choromatsu was taken advantage of like this and pushed into doing something so hasty...

... ]

At least, I feel, he is in good hands for now. I've heard nothing but good things about Hoshido and its royal family. They are good people.

[ it could have been so much worse. he could have gone to Nohr ]

[That's the worst part of all of this, honestly. Choromatsu can only think of what might have been, now...he had no real chance to ponder the consequences of his new life.]

...Do you think they will watch over him always? I know...Choromatsu insisted that he loved these humans, and I believe him...but I have had many I loved in the past that did not work out. There is still a possibility of that happening, and if it did...he would have nothing. No one.

He would be trapped in an unfamiliar world with not a single person knowing what he truly was.

...I cannot say for sure. But I do not believe they would just leave him alone to fend for himself.

You have the sea to tend to, and the matters of the world above here are of little consequence to you, so I doubt you are aware of this story. But I have heard that... many years ago, when the former king of Hoshido was assassinated by an enemy kingdom, one of his daughters was kidnapped in the process. She is back with her family now, many years later, but to try and get her back before, the Hoshidans kidnapped a princess from that kingdom themselves to try and bargain an exchange.

But the other kingdom... cruelly turned them down. They left one of their own children for dead.

The late Queen, though she agonized over the loss of her own daughter and had no reason to care about this other princess, could not believe that someone would do that to their own child. So instead of killing or abandoning her, she adopted her as her own. I have heard that even years later, she and her adopted siblings are close, and they always refer to her as their sister.

If they would not abandon or mistreat an enemy's daughter, I see no reason why they would abandon Choromatsu, even if things do not work out for him. Queen Mikoto preached kindness until her death, and I have no reason to believe her eldest is not following in her footsteps. I think... he will be taken care of until he chooses to leave. If not, then it sounds like the girl's family owes him a debt for saving their daughter's life anyway, so he has them to turn to as well.

[ ...this story may not do anything for Poseidon's nerves given all the... kidnap talk, but he's hoping it might a bit. ]

[Well...he's right, it doesn't really do anything for his nerves, but it's encouraging at least to have a frame of reference to tell him that this family isn't historically a heartless one, or something. He knows people cannot always be trusted...but he trusts Megami's word if not humans themselves.

Poseidon holds Megami a little closer to his front.]

I will have to trust in what you say. It is the only thing keeping me sane.

[ ...he's trying to think of things that might be easier to talk about. or at least not as hard on the poor god ]

...What kind of boy is Choromatsu like? You have... told me about his intrigue in the humans and that he looks like me but I... would like to learn more. If it doesn't hurt you to tell me at least.

[ the fondness may make his heart ache but spekaing happier things may be better for a while ]

Oh...oh no, I do not mind talking about my sons. They all ended up with very individual personalities, surprising me given how they were when they first hatched.

[He turns his attention from the town in the distance for a moment, instead looking over Megami's island itself.]

He used to be a very mischievous boy. He and the eldest, Osomatsu, would get into trouble constantly...always trying to sneak off without me knowing. As he grew older, however, he became a lot more serious...but no less devoted to the things he is most passionate about. He is not at all a pushover...

[Which is why knowing that Totoko got her claws in him so easily hurts so much.]

He loved...to talk, and to sing. More and more lately he had been asking to sing with me, so long as I keep it from the rest of his siblings.

[ Okay that... explains a LOT about Poseidon's reaction earlier. ]

I wonder if she knew his voice was that important to him when she took it... Giving up what you love most is a common exchange for these sorts of wishes.

[ again, not a thing he ever did, but he'd heard about it before. ]

...Why did he want it kept from his brothers though?

They would tease him for it, as siblings tend to...but I believe he took it pretty seriously, unfortunately.

Oh, I see... that's rather unfortunate. I suppose he's a little bit of a self conscious child then...

Yes...he seems to care quite a bit about what others think, despite how opinionated he is.

[He sighs, his eyes falling closed.]

I keep trying to explain to him how special and important he really is.

It can be... a little hard for people to see that about themselves. Not just children.

[ he pauses ]

His singing... is it good?

[ he has a feeling that he knows how Poseidon will answer but still ]

Eh? Of course it is! Like a little angel...

[ Heh... just as he expected ]

I wish I could hear it sometime... I wonder which of us that came from~?

[ He's gonna tell himself it's from him <(- v -)> ]

[He chuckles softly, curling his fingers in a little bit.]

It is hard to say...I am not sure I have ever heard you sing.

[ suddenly his face gets red again and he looks away ]

O-Oh well, I-I haven't in a l-long time...

E-Everyone used to... c-compliment me though...

...do not tell me. You are going to tell me something like that...and then be too sheepish to actually let me hear it for myself?

[ MISTAKES HAVE BEEN MADE AGAIN ]

I... w-would not k-know... wh-what to...

...I-It's been t-too long...

I...I could teach you the lullaby I used to sing to my sons?

[Don't let him.]

A lullaby...?

[ oh no ]

EYES EMOJI...

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