[ he peaks out from his coils enough to see that shade of red and it somehow makes him feel even more embarrassed, rather than the satisfied he'd been earlier ]
[He swallows, trying to think of how to put what he wants to say.
...and since that won't come, he decides taking a different route to get there.]
I am...similar to them in that regard, you know. I have courted many gods, goddesses...seeking some sort of...respite from the loneliness I felt for so long. It was only your egg, with what were meant to be your children, that saved me from it.
...in that sense, it was you who saved me from my loneliness.
He leaves his coils and turns back to Poseidon fully now, though his eyes stay downwards ]
I... I am glad...
...I said you were almost just like I had imagined before. Wh-What I had meant was... it was that moment back then, when I realized that you were not completely invincible like I had thought... that even the sea is capable of loneliness like mine. I couldn't bare the thought of leaving you that way...
S-So... it makes me beyond happy to know I saved you.
[Poseidon furrows his brow, his expression tensing a little as he holds Megami a touch closer to his face. Not too close, just close enough so he can see him and gauge his reactions properly.]
Well Poseidon is getting a lot of reactions right now. Megami's eyes grow wide and face turns even redder as his jaw hangs open just a touch. Then he starts looking anywhere but at Poseidon. He fidgets, opens and closes his mouth again and again struggling even more than usual to find words...
Finally he settles, eye cast downwards, both hands in his chest, still blushing furiously. ]
W... Would...
Would you like to learn... the a-actual tradition... for marrying a being like me? ...I-It's not touching a tail, I s-swear...
[He was honestly a little worried such a bold question would spook and scare him off, but...this is a lot more than he was expecting. So he takes a breath, holds it for a second, and then nods after exhaling.]
[ Okay... deeeeeeeeep breath... he still keeps his eyes down, because he knows if he looks at Poseidon now he will be too overcome with emotion to speak ]
Traditionally when one like me is being courted, th-they are... to give a quest of their own design to their suitors. T-To prove the suitor is serious and worthy. Only the suitor who fulfills the quest may wed... me...
[ His face feels hotter still and his heart's pounding but he keeps going ]
The quest can be anything... bringing a specific gift, going to slay a beast, composing a ballad... they can be simple or impossible. It's not... a necessary practice, you can wed without doing it, but it is... proper.
I... have never given a quest, because there was no reason for me to ever consider marriage, though the others that courted me tried to make me give them one...
...I-If you, sea king, are truly serious I... will give you one.
[He listens very carefully to what the goddess tells him, finding his interest immediately piqued. He has not forgotten about his lost son, of course...but there is still not much he can actually do about that, at present. Maybe he needed something like this to prevent him from going down into the sea and tearing his only source of reaching his son again apart.
It may even buy the former mer some time to figure himself out on land. But that is of later concern. For now...
Poseidon looks down at Megami seriously, his entire body framed by the light of the now-moon in the sky shining down on them both, the sun having gone down to give way to nighttime a long time ago. If Megami refused to give quests to the other gods before...then that means that he's just as serious about this as Poseidon is.]
I will accept your quest. Whatever it may be...I will seek to fulfill it to the furthest reaches of my ability.
I have... a few stipulations... I must meet our sons first. And they... must like me and be aware of your intentions, as well as give their own approval. I... do not wish to make them uncomfortable with any of this. It would... be a huge change for them and they should always come first for us both.
And I'd like... to give Choromatsu a few more days. In case something changes. I will likely lose my ability to help you or him if you are successful, and I worry for him too much right now...
Only if you are fine with these stipulations... and only if you are certain you want to do this and don't change your mind over the span of time this takes... then... my quest...
[ and finally he looks up, looking Poseidon in the eye ]
I want you to find a way to free me from my island.
I-If you can do this... [ and he averts his gaze once more before resolving himself to look back ] I will be yours, without hesitation... for all eternity.
[The stipulations are fair and to be expected. Of course he would want his sons to meet him first and foremost...but he has no doubt that they would like him. They would honestly probably be more frustrated with their father for not telling him about him until now...
And then Choromatsu...he still doesn't know about him, but it's a reasonable thing to suggest either way. And he wouldn't know what to do without Megami's continued help, so that isn't something he's willing to risk.
But...the actual request. A way of some sort to sever him from the island he calls his home...it's a tall order, one that Poseidon honestly isn't sure where to even start with fulfilling. Most other gods would brute force a solution, or demand he not give them the impossible.
But Megami said it was not impossible.]
I accept your quest, as well as your stipulations. I will find a way to free you from this island. I promise.
[ He sighs again, this time with relief. He was really scared for a moment there... scared he'd say no. ]
Thank you...
I... I know it's not an easy task... I apologize for that. Truthfully I probably could think of an easier one but...
[ Once more he sighs, and looks down ]
...The only kind of life I could imagine being more miserable than the one I am living now... is one where I am wed but cannot live with my husband or family.
[ Being together only when they visit would destroy him ]
Do not apologize. I could not think of a more fitting quest for something so important.
[Poseidon allows his expression to soften into a smile. It takes some mental convincing on his part, but he eventually gets himself to reach back down with his bare finger, just barely letting his fingertip brush the side of Megami's head.]
I fear that...after all of this time, and over so much time, I have become rather fond. I am not willing to give up too easily.
[ Both the gesture and the words send the goddess' heart fluttering again. After a moment of hesitation he lifts his arm on the same side as that finger and gently sets his own hand on it, before nuzzling his own cheek against it. It's the first time he's felt a part of Poseidon without the gauntlet... (excluding his tail) ]
Then I will wait... for as long as it takes you.
...Shall I tell you what I do know about my binding here? If it will help...
>has 20 tags >hovers cursor over this tag and sweats
[Megami is going to kill him. He's an immortal god, and he's going to die because of this. But somehow he manages to keep himself together, clearing his throat as he watches Megami nuzzle his finger.]
[ Well at least you get a reprieve from the cute affection because he lets go and stops then... though he wishes he could have just stayed like that for longer ]
The truth is... though I say it is the island I am bound to that is not... entirely correct. The reality is, I am bound to my lake.
[ He points towards the undergrowth of the island, the direction of his lake. Truthfully it isn't very far from shore. ]
In much the same way the ocean responds to you, the lake responds to me. It is... my heart, so to speak. [ not literally but figuratively. ] But unlike the ocean it is confined to land, which is the real reason I cannot leave.
The implications ring loud and clear, and they make a shiver go up the sea king's spine. This is going to be a lot harder than just inviting Megami to live with him in the sea, instead of his lake...especially when the lake itself is magical. It would not do well to simply try and merge something of that nature with the sea itself.]
I can see why you have remained here for such a long time, then. I would be hesitant to try to leave myself...but there must be something that can be done. You have the ability to grant wishes, surely, but that does not mean your purpose was to live on this island for all eternity.
[ You're his near-invincible sea king, HE BELIEVES IN YOU POSEIDON
Though the mention of "everything else" makes him... feel a little guilty. Here they are being like this and getting kinda-sorta-almost-possibly engaged while Choromatsu is mute and far from home... but Poseidon had needed a distraction so...
The tip of his tail curls and uncurls as he thinks for a moment ]
Can... I ask for one more thing before you take your leave tonight?
It's... getting late so I presume you will not be staying here for much longer...
[Well...Poseidon doesn't at all regret coming here, that's for sure. If he stayed in the ocean he'd have probably done things he regretted, only making matters worse for Choromatsu and everyone else involved.
The question does perk him up, however.]
Ah, yes...my sons will probably wonder where I have gone...it would not do to upset them any further.
[ He suddenly finds himself embarrassed again but... well he just gave permission to court him and a marriage quest, there shouldn't be anything wrong with it. He just regathers his courage again ]
Can... Could... C-Could you... h-h-hold me... for a while...?
...N-Not like this but... y-you know... c-closer... and with your b-bare hand...
[ he wants to feel warm and safe... just for a little while... ]
His expression softens a bit, and he holds out his bare hand before gently tipping the one with Megami in it forward, giving him space to scoot from one palm to the other.]
Of course. I will stay here with you as long as you would like. My sons know I have to stay out late some nights.
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Y... Yes...
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...and since that won't come, he decides taking a different route to get there.]
I am...similar to them in that regard, you know. I have courted many gods, goddesses...seeking some sort of...respite from the loneliness I felt for so long. It was only your egg, with what were meant to be your children, that saved me from it.
...in that sense, it was you who saved me from my loneliness.
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He leaves his coils and turns back to Poseidon fully now, though his eyes stay downwards ]
I... I am glad...
...I said you were almost just like I had imagined before. Wh-What I had meant was... it was that moment back then, when I realized that you were not completely invincible like I had thought... that even the sea is capable of loneliness like mine. I couldn't bare the thought of leaving you that way...
S-So... it makes me beyond happy to know I saved you.
[ ... ]
But... why are you...?
[ bringing that up now? ]
time to go full gay
...would...you allow me to court you, Megami?
https://m.popkey.co/fe8997/9wGMD.gif
OH
Well Poseidon is getting a lot of reactions right now. Megami's eyes grow wide and face turns even redder as his jaw hangs open just a touch. Then he starts looking anywhere but at Poseidon. He fidgets, opens and closes his mouth again and again struggling even more than usual to find words...
Finally he settles, eye cast downwards, both hands in his chest, still blushing furiously. ]
W... Would...
Would you like to learn... the a-actual tradition... for marrying a being like me? ...I-It's not touching a tail, I s-swear...
[ In other words: "Yes" ]
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I would. Please.
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Traditionally when one like me is being courted, th-they are... to give a quest of their own design to their suitors. T-To prove the suitor is serious and worthy. Only the suitor who fulfills the quest may wed... me...
[ His face feels hotter still and his heart's pounding but he keeps going ]
The quest can be anything... bringing a specific gift, going to slay a beast, composing a ballad... they can be simple or impossible. It's not... a necessary practice, you can wed without doing it, but it is... proper.
I... have never given a quest, because there was no reason for me to ever consider marriage, though the others that courted me tried to make me give them one...
...I-If you, sea king, are truly serious I... will give you one.
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[He listens very carefully to what the goddess tells him, finding his interest immediately piqued. He has not forgotten about his lost son, of course...but there is still not much he can actually do about that, at present. Maybe he needed something like this to prevent him from going down into the sea and tearing his only source of reaching his son again apart.
It may even buy the former mer some time to figure himself out on land. But that is of later concern. For now...
Poseidon looks down at Megami seriously, his entire body framed by the light of the now-moon in the sky shining down on them both, the sun having gone down to give way to nighttime a long time ago. If Megami refused to give quests to the other gods before...then that means that he's just as serious about this as Poseidon is.]
I will accept your quest. Whatever it may be...I will seek to fulfill it to the furthest reaches of my ability.
1/2
I have... a few stipulations... I must meet our sons first. And they... must like me and be aware of your intentions, as well as give their own approval. I... do not wish to make them uncomfortable with any of this. It would... be a huge change for them and they should always come first for us both.
And I'd like... to give Choromatsu a few more days. In case something changes. I will likely lose my ability to help you or him if you are successful, and I worry for him too much right now...
Only if you are fine with these stipulations... and only if you are certain you want to do this and don't change your mind over the span of time this takes... then... my quest...
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I want you to find a way to free me from my island.
I-If you can do this... [ and he averts his gaze once more before resolving himself to look back ] I will be yours, without hesitation... for all eternity.
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[The stipulations are fair and to be expected. Of course he would want his sons to meet him first and foremost...but he has no doubt that they would like him. They would honestly probably be more frustrated with their father for not telling him about him until now...
And then Choromatsu...he still doesn't know about him, but it's a reasonable thing to suggest either way. And he wouldn't know what to do without Megami's continued help, so that isn't something he's willing to risk.
But...the actual request. A way of some sort to sever him from the island he calls his home...it's a tall order, one that Poseidon honestly isn't sure where to even start with fulfilling. Most other gods would brute force a solution, or demand he not give them the impossible.
But Megami said it was not impossible.]
I accept your quest, as well as your stipulations. I will find a way to free you from this island. I promise.
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Thank you...
I... I know it's not an easy task... I apologize for that. Truthfully I probably could think of an easier one but...
[ Once more he sighs, and looks down ]
...The only kind of life I could imagine being more miserable than the one I am living now... is one where I am wed but cannot live with my husband or family.
[ Being together only when they visit would destroy him ]
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[Poseidon allows his expression to soften into a smile. It takes some mental convincing on his part, but he eventually gets himself to reach back down with his bare finger, just barely letting his fingertip brush the side of Megami's head.]
I fear that...after all of this time, and over so much time, I have become rather fond. I am not willing to give up too easily.
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Then I will wait... for as long as it takes you.
...Shall I tell you what I do know about my binding here? If it will help...
>has 20 tags >hovers cursor over this tag and sweats
Oh, yes...that would be quite helpful, actually.
totty emote
The truth is... though I say it is the island I am bound to that is not... entirely correct. The reality is, I am bound to my lake.
[ He points towards the undergrowth of the island, the direction of his lake. Truthfully it isn't very far from shore. ]
In much the same way the ocean responds to you, the lake responds to me. It is... my heart, so to speak. [ not literally but figuratively. ] But unlike the ocean it is confined to land, which is the real reason I cannot leave.
...That is about all I can tell you though.
[ he hopes it helps even just a little ]
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[That seems...really damn dangerous, actually. If anyone else knew this they could easily cause him a lot of damage.]
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[ hence why no one else knew ]
I-It's also the source of my wish granting powers so I... as I said before, I will likely lose them if you succeed...
I may... I may also... go unconscious for some time... I don't know.
[ or. you know. die. ]
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The implications ring loud and clear, and they make a shiver go up the sea king's spine. This is going to be a lot harder than just inviting Megami to live with him in the sea, instead of his lake...especially when the lake itself is magical. It would not do well to simply try and merge something of that nature with the sea itself.]
I can see why you have remained here for such a long time, then. I would be hesitant to try to leave myself...but there must be something that can be done. You have the ability to grant wishes, surely, but that does not mean your purpose was to live on this island for all eternity.
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When you say that... it makes me really want to believe you're right..
That's why I feel... no, I know... if anyone can do this, you can.
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[THAT'S A LOT OF FAITH TO BE PUTTING IN HIM...but it makes Poseidon flush regardless, his tail flicking from one side to the other.]
I am going to do everything I can. Compared to everything else I have been dealing with lately...it should not be hard at all.
[Ha...ha...]
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Though the mention of "everything else" makes him... feel a little guilty. Here they are being like this and getting kinda-sorta-almost-possibly engaged while Choromatsu is mute and far from home... but Poseidon had needed a distraction so...
The tip of his tail curls and uncurls as he thinks for a moment ]
Can... I ask for one more thing before you take your leave tonight?
It's... getting late so I presume you will not be staying here for much longer...
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The question does perk him up, however.]
Ah, yes...my sons will probably wonder where I have gone...it would not do to upset them any further.
What is it?
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Can... Could... C-Could you... h-h-hold me... for a while...?
...N-Not like this but... y-you know... c-closer... and with your b-bare hand...
[ he wants to feel warm and safe... just for a little while... ]
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His expression softens a bit, and he holds out his bare hand before gently tipping the one with Megami in it forward, giving him space to scoot from one palm to the other.]
Of course. I will stay here with you as long as you would like. My sons know I have to stay out late some nights.
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