[ He's silently grateful Poseidon isn't asking what the actual reason was. Because the answer to that is they make good snacks. And that's embarrassing. ]
They do. And the humans appreciated them too. Each part of them is edible, you know! They used to gather up the pods after they were shed and left me all sorts of meals as offerings...
[ Okay he needs to stop thinking about that before he gets too sad. Or before Poseidon realizes his true intent. ]
[ The viewpoint shifts and dives into the water and now there's a full view below the surface...
The most surprising thing is probably that... the center is suddenly not that deep at all. The lake is still quite deep but nothing in comparison to where the merfolk live obviously and the going ons above are still visible. It's definitely not as deep as that dark blue center might have suggested. ]
Ah-- I apologize if it's a little surprising. There is a spell cast on the surface to make it look much more intimidating so as to dissuade humans from trying to get down here. It's also to give me some privacy.
[ He heads to the center. Unlike Poseidon's reef where their children have a bed places to sit, to eat, things to play with... Megami has nothing. Not even a bed carved out of stone. There is a pile of trinkets, gold coins, children's toys, little statues, etc... and that's... it. ]
[Poseidon is admittedly very excited to see what's beneath the surface, having expected it to be huge and deep...when in reality, it's actually quite claustrophobic for someone his size and what space he's used to living in. It's very sad to him, seeing how sparse it all is...there are a lot of trinkets and things here, but nothing about it really screams home. But that's probably narrow sighted to think, considering the fact that Poseidon's home is the entire ocean. It's not like Megami could fit much down here, especially not now that he has so little power.
But for what it's worth...it's still very peaceful and serene. There is something to be said about that, he thinks. So he tries to keep his response positive, not wanting to make Megami feel self conscious about it.]
Non non, it is fine. If anything, that makes it all the more unique...
[ The attention turns solely to the pile of things now and Megami stays quiet for a while ]
...Perhaps one day, if he wishes, he may have all these.
They are ah... tokens of gratitude from the people I helped. And things people dropped into the lake to summon me. It may do me good to pass them on to someone else.
I-I am not saying you have to...but they tend to be very, how shall I put this...particular about this sort of thing. If one gets something, it is only fair that they all get it.
I have had to break up quite a few squabbles over trivialities like this.
[ and then the image changes again, without Megami even realizing it, as he thinks back to the only memory he still has from before he came to his lake.
It's hazy. A large man appears to be holding memory-Megami in a massive hand, and either Megami was much smaller than a normal baby or the man is much larger than even Poseidon, because at least 50 other children surround Megami in that same hand. Boys, girls... some of them have mer tails like the sextuplets do, others snake tails like Megami, some even have human legs... and then a good few have bull heads??? Weird. There's a similarly large woman beside the man and even more babies... in their hands, on their laps...
Babies everywhere.
The scene is bathed in light, but it's hard to tell if it originally was or if that's just the way Megami's mind fills in what he can't remember, and beyond fond smiles the faces of the parents are obscured in the haze. ]
3000 sisters, [ the few shifts to a pretty baby girl with a mer tail on one side of Megami ] and 2999 brothers. [ and then to his other side, with one of the snake tailed ones. ]
[...never in his life has he seen this many babies at once. It's kindof overwhelming...and he thought just raising six was difficult. The variety of children is interesting too, to say the least.]
Wow...have...have you seen any of them since you grew, if you do not mind me asking?
[ The image shifts again, and that same large figure is lowering his hand. The Megami in this one is alone but surrounded with a handful of water. Him and the water are deposited in a clearing and it becomes clear that this is the creation of his lake (and that the hand's owner IS bigger than Poseidon, as the entire lake fits in his palm). ]
We are Oceanids and Potamoi... we make up the lakes and rivers of the world... so we weren't with our parents for long.
[ And then the large figure is just. Gone. And Megami is alone. ]
The others may have met each other but... I never have. Because I've always been here.
[Much like himself, Megami has been around since nearly the creation of this world. It's hard to fathom that so many siblings exist, but...thinking about how many bodies of water there must be all over the earth, it makes sense.]
Does that mean...you are permanently duty bound to live with your lake? Regardless of the fact that it makes up your very heart...it sounds like your sole purpose was to be here. On this island.
tmw you accidentally show your future husband your baby photos
[ The image shifts again to outside the lake and it's clear some time has passed, as the lake has started to grow some life. The lotus flowers Megami was so proud to grow are there but not as plentiful, so this was probably not long after he began growing them. ]
I... I don't know.
[ And then suddenly, Poseidon will see reflected in the lake the face of what appears to be one of his children when they were small.
...Except it's not one of the sextuplets. It's a small Megami, looking exactly like their children. A little guppy.
He can't be no older than five. His cheeks are rosy, his toga small but loose, and instead of a leaf laurel he seems to have decorated his hair with several lotus blossoms.
Megami in the present still doesn't seem to be aware that he's showing Poseidon this though, and continues to speak ]
It'd make sense if I were, wouldn't it? But I wonder... I may not have met them but I know a few of my siblings have done things beyond their lakes and rivers...
[...sorry Megami, were you saying something? Because at some point, whatever you were saying there got clouded by the image you presented to Poseidon. Namely, of yourself when you were a child. He's struck by what he sees, particularly because he looks so much like their children that it's almost uncanny.
[ The reflection of the child Megami pulls his tail up from beneath him. It's nowhere near as long as it is now, as he can barely get it to his chest but regardless he's soon looking at his reflection holding the tip close. He looks curious. ]
Oceanids... are my sisters. They're the ones who are supposed to be lakes and springs and such, though I believe some cross into rivers as well. My brothers however... as far as I know, all of them have rivers... except me.
[ Child Megami peers at the tail again. The long serpentine shape sure is more akin to a river ]
I wondered why I was different...
[ ...I mean your "name" literally comes from the fact everyone mistook you for a woman, Megami, your dad probably did too... ]
[Oceanids? Poseidon thinks to himself, his heart aching as he looks on at the little Megami in the reflection. Now that doesn't seem right to him, somehow...why would every single one of his sisters be ocean spirits, and his brothers river spirits...while he's been sequestered to a lake? He knows from personal experience that gods can be cruel, but to single out one child out of so many...something about that doesn't add up.
It's something he'll be thinking about for a while.]
That is rather peculiar...and I suppose without your parents around, you cannot ask them why.
[ Poseidon and his siblings are also children of Titans so Megami is sure he knows what he means.
Suddenly however the images stop and Poseidon will find it's no different than when he first closed his eyes. When he reopens his eyes he'll see Megami has let go of him and... looks pretty red in the face ]
He's surprised when the images suddenly fade away, and it prompts him to open his eyes once more. He looks down to Megami quizzically, noticing how flushed he is suddenly.]
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They do. And the humans appreciated them too. Each part of them is edible, you know! They used to gather up the pods after they were shed and left me all sorts of meals as offerings...
[ Okay he needs to stop thinking about that before he gets too sad. Or before Poseidon realizes his true intent. ]
...Would you like to see below the surface?
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[Funnily enough, he might not have even found that weird. He and his sons munch on seaweed and similar things all the time.
But yes, let's not get Sad here, this is supposed to be enjoyable.]
Oh, yes I would!
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[ The viewpoint shifts and dives into the water and now there's a full view below the surface...
The most surprising thing is probably that... the center is suddenly not that deep at all. The lake is still quite deep but nothing in comparison to where the merfolk live obviously and the going ons above are still visible. It's definitely not as deep as that dark blue center might have suggested. ]
Ah-- I apologize if it's a little surprising. There is a spell cast on the surface to make it look much more intimidating so as to dissuade humans from trying to get down here. It's also to give me some privacy.
[ He heads to the center. Unlike Poseidon's reef where their children have a bed places to sit, to eat, things to play with... Megami has nothing. Not even a bed carved out of stone. There is a pile of trinkets, gold coins, children's toys, little statues, etc... and that's... it. ]
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But for what it's worth...it's still very peaceful and serene. There is something to be said about that, he thinks. So he tries to keep his response positive, not wanting to make Megami feel self conscious about it.]
Non non, it is fine. If anything, that makes it all the more unique...
[...]
It reminds me of Choromatsu's grotto...actually.
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Choromatsu's...? Oh!
...You mean the one that was...
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[He gives a soft noise of agreement, unsure if Megami could see him nodding.]
It was a bit larger still than your lake, but...it was full of objects...mainly human things.
He would have liked to have seen this.
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...Perhaps one day, if he wishes, he may have all these.
They are ah... tokens of gratitude from the people I helped. And things people dropped into the lake to summon me. It may do me good to pass them on to someone else.
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I would be careful doing that...the others would probably complain that they did not receive a gift too.
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Sh-Should I find gifts for them as well then?!
[ he doesn't wanna show favoritism O_O ]
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I have had to break up quite a few squabbles over trivialities like this.
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[ he's dealt with some of the village children but those are not his children and he never dared step in for their parents ]
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You...have siblings?
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5999 of them!
[ .......what ]
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[...]
Eeeehh!?
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[ and then the image changes again, without Megami even realizing it, as he thinks back to the only memory he still has from before he came to his lake.
It's hazy. A large man appears to be holding memory-Megami in a massive hand, and either Megami was much smaller than a normal baby or the man is much larger than even Poseidon, because at least 50 other children surround Megami in that same hand. Boys, girls... some of them have mer tails like the sextuplets do, others snake tails like Megami, some even have human legs... and then a good few have bull heads??? Weird. There's a similarly large woman beside the man and even more babies... in their hands, on their laps...
Babies everywhere.
The scene is bathed in light, but it's hard to tell if it originally was or if that's just the way Megami's mind fills in what he can't remember, and beyond fond smiles the faces of the parents are obscured in the haze. ]
3000 sisters, [ the few shifts to a pretty baby girl with a mer tail on one side of Megami ] and 2999 brothers. [ and then to his other side, with one of the snake tailed ones. ]
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Wow...have...have you seen any of them since you grew, if you do not mind me asking?
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[ The image shifts again, and that same large figure is lowering his hand. The Megami in this one is alone but surrounded with a handful of water. Him and the water are deposited in a clearing and it becomes clear that this is the creation of his lake (and that the hand's owner IS bigger than Poseidon, as the entire lake fits in his palm). ]
We are Oceanids and Potamoi... we make up the lakes and rivers of the world... so we weren't with our parents for long.
[ And then the large figure is just. Gone. And Megami is alone. ]
The others may have met each other but... I never have. Because I've always been here.
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[Much like himself, Megami has been around since nearly the creation of this world. It's hard to fathom that so many siblings exist, but...thinking about how many bodies of water there must be all over the earth, it makes sense.]
Does that mean...you are permanently duty bound to live with your lake? Regardless of the fact that it makes up your very heart...it sounds like your sole purpose was to be here. On this island.
tmw you accidentally show your future husband your baby photos
I... I don't know.
[ And then suddenly, Poseidon will see reflected in the lake the face of what appears to be one of his children when they were small.
...Except it's not one of the sextuplets. It's a small Megami, looking exactly like their children. A little guppy.
He can't be no older than five. His cheeks are rosy, his toga small but loose, and instead of a leaf laurel he seems to have decorated his hair with several lotus blossoms.
Megami in the present still doesn't seem to be aware that he's showing Poseidon this though, and continues to speak ]
It'd make sense if I were, wouldn't it? But I wonder... I may not have met them but I know a few of my siblings have done things beyond their lakes and rivers...
And... there's something else I've always wondered...
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Plus he's fucking adorable.]
Ah...uhh...what is that...
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[ The reflection of the child Megami pulls his tail up from beneath him. It's nowhere near as long as it is now, as he can barely get it to his chest but regardless he's soon looking at his reflection holding the tip close. He looks curious. ]
Oceanids... are my sisters. They're the ones who are supposed to be lakes and springs and such, though I believe some cross into rivers as well. My brothers however... as far as I know, all of them have rivers... except me.
[ Child Megami peers at the tail again. The long serpentine shape sure is more akin to a river ]
I wondered why I was different...
[ ...I mean your "name" literally comes from the fact everyone mistook you for a woman, Megami, your dad probably did too... ]
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It's something he'll be thinking about for a while.]
That is rather peculiar...and I suppose without your parents around, you cannot ask them why.
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[ Poseidon and his siblings are also children of Titans so Megami is sure he knows what he means.
Suddenly however the images stop and Poseidon will find it's no different than when he first closed his eyes. When he reopens his eyes he'll see Megami has let go of him and... looks pretty red in the face ]
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He's surprised when the images suddenly fade away, and it prompts him to open his eyes once more. He looks down to Megami quizzically, noticing how flushed he is suddenly.]
Megami?
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[ ah... so he realized ]
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