Poseidon looks on at the very small trident in Choromatsu's hands, reaching out slowly with one of his own so he can drop it into his palm.
For a long time he just stares at it, like he's either unsure what to do or just too exhausted to do much of anything...but then, without much warning, the trident in his hands starts to vibrate at an alarming rate, letting off a low hum that hurts the ears of anyone close enough to it. Then, it very rapidly expands outward to fill Poseidon's larger hands, and with it his armor suddenly begins to materialize into shape once again in bright flashes of light. From his fingertips back, his gauntlets form, then his chestplate, and then his earrings and crown until the light fades and the trident ceases its glowing and trembling.
He sinks back down into the sand, unable as of yet to keep himself fully upright in the water. Whatever Osomatsu had done- who has been watching from a respectable distance this whole time- it truly did undo everything Totoko had done.
The reinstated sea king takes in a shaky breath, closing his eyes as his fingers tighten around his trident's staff.]
I...I do not know how, but...you have undone her curse.
[Then, he looks up at Choromatsu, his expression strained and sad.]
[ He almost backs away when Poseidon outstretches his hand but doesn't and drops the trident into his palm. He looks up long enough to see everything return to the way it was, but then looks back down again once his father speaks again.
"You have come back." ]
D-Dad, I...
[ Just do it... just say what you want to say... ]
I... I'm so sorry. I've done nothing but cause you t-trouble, so much trouble, and--
[ Except saying what you want to say is hard and he feels himself on the verge of breaking down crying already, his shoulders shaking ]
[Well...it probably wouldn't have mattered if Choromatsu said what he meant to, anyway. Because at some point, mid-sentence, Poseidon releases the grip he has on his trident...with both hands, letting it fall to the sea floor as he instead reaches them out to cup them around Choromatsu in front of him.
He uses his hands to bring Choromatsu towards his face, staring at him in silence for a long moment. Until finally, he whispers the same thing he already had said:]
You came back.
[Totoko told him...that he hadn't wanted to come back. That he would never come back.
Nor did he want anything to do with his father, ever again.]
[ He squeaks and almost swims away when Poseidon cups his hands around him, still remembering vividly what all happened the last time he'd seen his father before leaving the sea. But he stays, forced to endure the momentary silence and finally look at his father.
He swallows a hard lump in his throat. ]
Are... Are you angry that I did...?
[ Because who'd want a son who just nearly fucked up the entire ocean and possibly the whole world right ]
[Poseidon, taken aback by Choromatsu suddenly swimming at his face, feels his expression go slack when Choromatsu wraps his arms partway around his neck, crying bitterly into it.
...he had been a fool, he realizes, to let Totoko's words poison his perception of all of this. Of course Choromatsu didn't truly hate him for what had happened...and it seems like he missed his father just as much as the god missed his young son.
He hangs his head, hesitating just slightly before lifting his fingers to rest them against Choromatsu's back, effectively returning the gesture the only way he can. He hushes him gently under his breath, curling around him protectively as they both cry in silence.
Meanwhile...Osomatsu peers at them from behind the broken edge of a rock that Totoko had blasted apart, unable to stop himself from looking up at the surface overhead with anxiety gnawing at his stomach. He hopes Mom is okay.]
[There is only one thing Poseidon can say to that.]
Only if you can ever forgive me.
[He says this quietly, his voice hoarse from his attempt to keep from getting emotional again. The fact that he never really thought Choromatsu would be able to come back to the sea like this had started hammering home that he'd just have to accept that...so it's a lot to try to take in.]
I...I missed you too. But I am not totally blameless in this. I did not even attempt to understand...and I drove you away.
[ God, he feels like he's going to start crying again after that... dad wasn't mad at him and had admitted he'd been wrong? That's... all Choromatsu had wanted.
He nods against his father's skin. He forgives him. He couldn't not forgive him. ]
Thank you...
[ He practically wheezes it out, his voice raspy as he tries not to cry.
He's silent for a while longer, stealing up his nerves to say the other thing he has to say. ]
I... if you really insist I won't go to the surface anymore. I promise... but... dad...
[ Oh nope he can't stop the tears after all, here they come again. ]
I... I want you to meet my... my friends. [ Not partners, though he longs still to call them that, but sending them away was basically a break up and he knows it. ] Please dad...
I've always wanted you to meet them... Always... I was j-just scared.... i-if you say no I understand but I...
[Poseidon is quiet, having managed to hush his own crying and subdue it into relative silence, just emotions clear on his face as Choromatsu speaks. He understands now, how Choromatsu feels. He probably could have before, had he allowed himself.
He reaches out, resting his knuckle against the side of Choromatsu's face.]
My son...to be in love...is a powerful thing. I did not truly understand before, but now I do. And if you truly love them as much as you say...then I would be honored to meet them both.
[ Choromatsu was ready to hear the "no". Ready to never see his beloveds ever again. So when he hears his dad agree he thinks at first that he imagined it. But no that was what... he actually said.
He pushes himself away from his father just enough to look at his face. ]
[Poseidon sighs, closing his eyes and tilting his head towards Choromatsu, wishing so much that he could return his hugs properly.]
I just do hope you will not plan to leave again so soon. I would miss you far too much if you did-
[...he trails off, lifting his head and looking past Choromatsu when he finally spots Osomatsu hiding behind the lip of the rock face. He looks severely upset.]
[Osomatsu swims over hesitantly, looking like he's seen a ghost after having passed the wished-for knife off to his brother to vanquish the sea witch. He opens his mouth to speak, but seems to clam up for the moment and looks off to the side.]
...Now that I think about it...Osomatsu, Choromatsu says you gave him something with which to stop Totoko. Where did you get it from?
[The eldest mer continues to keep his mouth shut, mostly because he knows he'll choke up if he speaks and he refuses to in front of Choromatsu. But too much time passes, and he eventually chokes out-]
The...the goddess...u-up on the island. I wished for it...
[...and then Poseidon freezes.]
Megami-?
[And then is interrupted again by Osomatsu before he can say anything else, who is shouting at this point so he doesn't just. Cry about it.]
[Well...unfortunately, Choromatsu won't get much of an explanation. At least, not right away.]
W...what do you mean, he isn't okay? Osomatsu what are you talking about!? Is he still on the island?
[Osomatsu's eyes dart from Choromatsu to Poseidon and back as Poseidion bombards him with questions, and the best he can do is repeat himself.]
You gotta just go, right now! Just go!
[Poseidon feels his heart turn to ice when Osomatsu refuses to take the time to explain, prompting him to gently scoop up Choromatsu in his hand and deposit him near his brother, who is starting to get a touch panicked, which is probably something Choromatsu hasn't seen in a long time.]
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Poseidon looks on at the very small trident in Choromatsu's hands, reaching out slowly with one of his own so he can drop it into his palm.
For a long time he just stares at it, like he's either unsure what to do or just too exhausted to do much of anything...but then, without much warning, the trident in his hands starts to vibrate at an alarming rate, letting off a low hum that hurts the ears of anyone close enough to it. Then, it very rapidly expands outward to fill Poseidon's larger hands, and with it his armor suddenly begins to materialize into shape once again in bright flashes of light. From his fingertips back, his gauntlets form, then his chestplate, and then his earrings and crown until the light fades and the trident ceases its glowing and trembling.
He sinks back down into the sand, unable as of yet to keep himself fully upright in the water. Whatever Osomatsu had done- who has been watching from a respectable distance this whole time- it truly did undo everything Totoko had done.
The reinstated sea king takes in a shaky breath, closing his eyes as his fingers tighten around his trident's staff.]
I...I do not know how, but...you have undone her curse.
[Then, he looks up at Choromatsu, his expression strained and sad.]
And you...y-you have come back.
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"You have come back." ]
D-Dad, I...
[ Just do it... just say what you want to say... ]
I... I'm so sorry. I've done nothing but cause you t-trouble, so much trouble, and--
[ Except saying what you want to say is hard and he feels himself on the verge of breaking down crying already, his shoulders shaking ]
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[Well...it probably wouldn't have mattered if Choromatsu said what he meant to, anyway. Because at some point, mid-sentence, Poseidon releases the grip he has on his trident...with both hands, letting it fall to the sea floor as he instead reaches them out to cup them around Choromatsu in front of him.
He uses his hands to bring Choromatsu towards his face, staring at him in silence for a long moment. Until finally, he whispers the same thing he already had said:]
You came back.
[Totoko told him...that he hadn't wanted to come back. That he would never come back.
Nor did he want anything to do with his father, ever again.]
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He swallows a hard lump in his throat. ]
Are... Are you angry that I did...?
[ Because who'd want a son who just nearly fucked up the entire ocean and possibly the whole world right ]
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[Poseidon stares back at his son for what probably feels like a very long time before shaking his head slowly.]
No. ...I.
[He lifts his head a little, tears already welling up in his eyes.]
I was afraid you never would.
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D-Dad...
[ His voice is shaky. He can't keep himself restrained anymore.
Suddenly he rushes forward out of his father's hands. ]
Dad!!
[ He goes straight to his father's neck, and wraps his little arms around the one side as best he can, beginning to full out bawl and wail ]
Dad, I'm so sorry! I didn't want any of this happen, I--!
[ The rest of his words get swallowed up by his sobs, only the frequent "dad" and "I'm sorry" coming out intelligible. ]
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...he had been a fool, he realizes, to let Totoko's words poison his perception of all of this. Of course Choromatsu didn't truly hate him for what had happened...and it seems like he missed his father just as much as the god missed his young son.
He hangs his head, hesitating just slightly before lifting his fingers to rest them against Choromatsu's back, effectively returning the gesture the only way he can. He hushes him gently under his breath, curling around him protectively as they both cry in silence.
Meanwhile...Osomatsu peers at them from behind the broken edge of a rock that Totoko had blasted apart, unable to stop himself from looking up at the surface overhead with anxiety gnawing at his stomach. He hopes Mom is okay.]
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Eventually he settles down a little and starts talking again. ]
I missed you so much dad... I'm so sorry for everything [ again with the apologies ] I just... I didn't know what t-to do and I... I...
[ He hugs tighter ]
C-Can you ever forgive me for what I've done...?
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Only if you can ever forgive me.
[He says this quietly, his voice hoarse from his attempt to keep from getting emotional again. The fact that he never really thought Choromatsu would be able to come back to the sea like this had started hammering home that he'd just have to accept that...so it's a lot to try to take in.]
I...I missed you too. But I am not totally blameless in this. I did not even attempt to understand...and I drove you away.
And I am very, very sorry.
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He nods against his father's skin. He forgives him. He couldn't not forgive him. ]
Thank you...
[ He practically wheezes it out, his voice raspy as he tries not to cry.
He's silent for a while longer, stealing up his nerves to say the other thing he has to say. ]
I... if you really insist I won't go to the surface anymore. I promise... but... dad...
[ Oh nope he can't stop the tears after all, here they come again. ]
I... I want you to meet my... my friends. [ Not partners, though he longs still to call them that, but sending them away was basically a break up and he knows it. ] Please dad...
I've always wanted you to meet them... Always... I was j-just scared.... i-if you say no I understand but I...
I... love all of you... so much...
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He reaches out, resting his knuckle against the side of Choromatsu's face.]
My son...to be in love...is a powerful thing. I did not truly understand before, but now I do. And if you truly love them as much as you say...then I would be honored to meet them both.
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He pushes himself away from his father just enough to look at his face. ]
R-Really?! Y-You mean it...?
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Yes.
[Poseidon lowers his head a little.]
I cannot say I trust humans...far from it. And it is going to take a lot to change my mind...but perhaps you can show me what I cannot see.
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He smiles
He finally smiles
Then returns to huggin his father's neck once more. When he speaks his voice is heavy with happy relief ]
Thank you dad... thank you so much...
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[Poseidon sighs, closing his eyes and tilting his head towards Choromatsu, wishing so much that he could return his hugs properly.]
I just do hope you will not plan to leave again so soon. I would miss you far too much if you did-
[...he trails off, lifting his head and looking past Choromatsu when he finally spots Osomatsu hiding behind the lip of the rock face. He looks severely upset.]
...Osomatsu? Come here, what is wrong?
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Eh? Osomatsu-niisan...?
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...Now that I think about it...Osomatsu, Choromatsu says you gave him something with which to stop Totoko. Where did you get it from?
[The eldest mer continues to keep his mouth shut, mostly because he knows he'll choke up if he speaks and he refuses to in front of Choromatsu. But too much time passes, and he eventually chokes out-]
The...the goddess...u-up on the island. I wished for it...
[...and then Poseidon freezes.]
Megami-?
[And then is interrupted again by Osomatsu before he can say anything else, who is shouting at this point so he doesn't just. Cry about it.]
You gotta go up there, Dad! He's not okay!
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[ he's been away for so long he has no idea what Osomatsu means... He knows a goddess gave dad the egg but... ]
What... goddess...? Wait, does he mean...?
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W...what do you mean, he isn't okay? Osomatsu what are you talking about!? Is he still on the island?
[Osomatsu's eyes dart from Choromatsu to Poseidon and back as Poseidion bombards him with questions, and the best he can do is repeat himself.]
You gotta just go, right now! Just go!
[Poseidon feels his heart turn to ice when Osomatsu refuses to take the time to explain, prompting him to gently scoop up Choromatsu in his hand and deposit him near his brother, who is starting to get a touch panicked, which is probably something Choromatsu hasn't seen in a long time.]
Choromatsu, go with Osomatsu back home.
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[ Well now you've got HIM worried but he's not gonna ask anymore questions ]