[ Nothing is down there but Megami's pile of trinkets (now full of new treasures from their sons). Not even the turtles want to be in the water right now.
A frog hops on Poseidon's shoulder and ribbits loudly, before hopping back down and heading in a direction away from the lake. Other frogs start doing this exact same thing as well, as if trying to get Poseidon's attention. ]
[The ribbiting in his ear nearly scares Poseidon into screaming until he realizes it was just one of the frogs, prompting him to turn and investigate. That's when he notices them all starting to hop off...someplace else, and though he's still alarmed by the state of Megami's lake, he follows them with a growing sense of dread.]
[ They lead Poseidon away from the lake and back towards the shore, occasionally stopping and looking behind them to make sure he's still following. Finally they come to an area on the far end of the shore with numerous jagged rocks. An opening to a small cave appears to be there as well.
The frogs don't need to go on the sand. From the direction of the cave soft crying sounds can be plainly heard. ]
[Poseidon will have to think of some way to thank the frogs for this later. They may be animals, but they are intelligent enough to do something like this...they must really care about Megami, and he must take very good care of them.
He spots the cave opening seconds before he hears the crying, and he's quick to leave the frogs behind in favor of darting across the sand in the direction of it.]
[ And just inside the cave, barely that far in at all, is Megami at last.
He's curled up against the stone wall, in his human form after all with his legs pressed as tightly against his chest as he can get them to. He's clutching something close to his chest and his head is lowered as he sobs.
But that's not the concerning thing.
For starters the shell crown that Megami loved so much is missing. In its place is nothing not even his old laurel. But that's nothing compared to the burn marks that crisscross over his body. His arms, his legs, his wrists, his neck... just all these red line marks that seem too well placed to be accidental. Even his toga seems dirty and torn up in places connecting with the lines. There's also some kind of dark bruise where his neck meets his shoulder, purple and red. Though Poseidon might not get that much of a good luck at it, because as soon as Megami hears him and realizes he's here, one of his hands shoots up to cover it as he looks up at his beloved with wide, fearful eyes that are still puffy from so much crying.
Even after realizing who it is his thin frame doesn't stop shaking. If anything it gets worse. ]
[Of all of the things Poseidon could have imagined he'd see, even terrible things, this...was so far from any of that that he's left completely frozen at the mouth of the cave where Megami cowers from some unseen danger that has clearly already swept through here and gone. It's upsettingly obvious to one who might hazard a guess as to who was responsible, but Poseidon can't think. All he can do is let his eyes dart from one mark on Megami's skin to the next, down to his torn toga, and then back to his injuries.
But worst of all, the way he's crying. And the way he's all curled up like that...it makes it impossible for him to tell just how badly he's been hurt.
Finally, he snaps out of it when Megami calls to him, and the inside of the cavern briefly lights up as a crackle of energy sparks its way from Poseidon's hands all the way to the tines of his trident. Then, he quickly makes his way to Megami- realizing a second too late that he might be moving up on him too fast, and slows down right before he gets to him.]
[ Megami recoils at the light and Poseidon coming so suddenly to his side, even though he slows in time. He continues to tremble, clutching the spot between his neck and shoulder even tighter ]
I-I... I-It's n-nothing... I-I just...
[ Come on, think of something ]
I... I f-fell... really b-b-badly...
[ He uncurls himself just enough to reveal what he was clutching so closely; it's the missing shell crown. But it's been badly broken, the shells smashed. ]
S-S-See...? I-It broke... a-and I was s-s-so h-heartbroken...
[ Except it's not broken in a way that a simple fall would do. It looks like it's been stomped on, intentionally shattered to pieces. ]
[That clearly wasn't a fall...he doesn't even have to look close to tell. But regardless, he very gently reaches out, holding his hand briefly beneath where Megami is clutching the crown, watching as small bits of the shell fall between his fingers and into his palm.
He can feel his whole face growing hot with anger as his eyes flicker up to look at Megami directly. He's lying to him. And he wouldn't be lying to him if something didn't happen that he really doesn't want him to know about.]
Megami.
[He grips his fist tightly around the bits of shell and pulls his hand back, his other holding his now softly glowing trident, casting blue light over both of them so he can see Megami's wounds better.]
And because of that it is so utterly clear how much his heart is not in these words as he struggles to say them through tears ]
Y-Y-You heard m-me...
F-Forget the quest I g-gave you... a-and never c-come back here. And d-don't... e-especially don't let our... y-your children come b-back here again e-either...
[ He feels like he's choking. Choking on tears and these horrible words he has to force out.
[Poseidon had been kneeling in front of Megami- and still is- but now it feels like he's sinking into the floor. It's hard to pinpoint what part of this is worse: what Megami is actually saying to him, or the fact that he can't even look him in the eye when he says it.
It...just doesn't add up. Megami has obviously had his island invaded in some way, and whatever happened to him has both hurt and traumatized him, but in no way could Poseidon imagine a scenario that would be so horrendous as to cause him to reject both his partner and children.
That is something that Poseidon simply refuses to believe. He even laughs, shakily, his head jerking as he shakes it a time or two. The light of his trident flickers before coming back to life.]
...No, you...y-you cannot be serious.
[He can't be...right? His sons love him...they'd be devastated to be rejected this way, though nowhere near as heartbroken as Poseidon himself would be, seeing how he's refusing to take what Megami is telling him at face value.
He drops the shell pieces so he can reach his hand out toward Megami, slowly.]
[Hearing this is utterly heartbreaking, but the worst part?
When Megami mentions using him as a means of getting off the island, for just a wild fraction of a second, Poseidon starts to think that that is something he could believe.
And for just that brief moment, he's not prepared for that level of devastation. He very nearly pushes away from Megami then and there without thinking, but fortunately he doesn't end up actually doing that...instead waiting to see what all he has to say.
It's very, very fortunate that he does wait, because not even a minute later Megami breaks down entirely and falls against the sea king, causing him to drop his trident and reflexively reach out to hold him as he cries.]
Mm...Megami...
[He can feel tears in his eyes at this point, both due to Megami's hurt and upset, but also the sheer relief he's feeling at what he desperately hopes really isn't something Megami meant.
But, if that were the case...
He exhales a shaky breath, bringing a hand up to hold against the back of Megami's head.]
Why...would you say those things? What do you mean...you "can't do it"?
[He might be obtuse at times, but he is no fool. And the nature of Megami's injuries almost give it away.]
[ Megami's sobbing so much now, but through his tears he tries frantically to explain. ]
It's Adranus. Adranus was here last night, Poseidon...!!
[ And just thinking about what happened is causing him to tremble violently all over again as he clings to Poseidon like he could be pulled away from him at any moment ]
He knows! Somehow he knows about the quest I gave you!! He demanded I give it to him too and w-when I didn't h-he... he...
Adranus. The god of the volcano. The very same god that destroyed Megami's island home...his people...all because he could not claim him for his own.
Poseidon feels ice covering his very core as it's confirmed who exactly confronted Megami- hurt him- like this, but he focuses on Megami first. He holds the goddess tighter to his front, starting to hush him quietly under his breath while stroking the back of his hair, rocking slightly in place to try and get him to slow down.]
Shh....shh....breathe, just breathe. Just...
[Take a moment to breathe, and not have to talk or think about what happened. Because he knows the more Megami explains, the harder it's going to be for Poseidon to stay here.]
Do not speak for a moment. Nothing can hurt you while I am here.
[ He tries to slow down, to stop speaking, to breathe... but it's hard.
It's not himself he's worried about.
Still after a moment he manages to calm a little bit and then he's right back to trying to explain some more ]
He restrained me... bound me. [ The burn marks ] I couldn't transform or fight back or anything...! I was so scared, Poseidon, I've never been more scared in my entire existence...!
[ Save for when Osomatsu came to him that fateful night and told him Poseidon was in trouble but at least then he'd been able to do something about it. Not even being able to use his basic abilities to defend himself was terrifying. ]
He told me to say all those things, to cancel my quest and send you away...! If I did not, he... a-at first he threatened to seal me in my lake for a-another h-hundred years but when th-that didn't scare me he... he...
[ And then he's crying again, but considering he says next how could anyone blame him? ]
He threatened to kill them! He threatened to kill our children...!
["He threatened to kill them! He threatened to kill our children!"
So that's it, then. When Adranus couldn't get what he wanted, be it Megami himself or Megami to fear him enough to agree to his demands, he resorted to targeting something that would make him comply...knowing full and well that threatening to do harm to Poseidon- another god of equal power- would have been something of a death wish for a god of fire.
All Poseidon can think about are his sons...no, their sons. Their six little twin mers sleeping sounding on a clamshell together, even at their age. He thinks about how they'd been visiting the island on their own to come see Megami, and it forces him to think about Adranus killing them the moment they came to shore, watching the water for them.
It makes him feel incredibly ill. In fact, it nearly drains all of the fight right out of him, thinking about anything happening to them.
Nearly. But it's not enough to dampen the growing amount of rage building in the god, a rage so powerful that even inside this little cave the waves can be heard roaring as they crash up against the sides of Megami's island. Even creatures beneath the surface will be feeling it, probably wondering why the sea is so treacherous this morning.]
No. ...No. I will not let that happen. He will not touch one single hair on their heads.
He will have to go through me first.
[He blinks, tears finally escaping and rolling down his cheeks as he grinds that out through gritted teeth.]
[ He wishes that would be enough to keep the boys safe. But he knows they'll come here without their father regardless of any threat and he... he can't...
He can't let that be...
But most of all he can't keep living like this. In fear and away from his family.
He breathes, trying to calm himself again, sniffling as he wracks his brain for a solution ]
[Megami will feel Poseidon's grip around him tighten. It's a subtle change, but noticeable all the same.
It is, admittedly, a solution he thought of when trying to think of some way to save Megami from his island prison. It would make sense, right? If he let the island sink back down into the sea...then the sea would be Megami's home, then.
The downside would mean that the island itself would be completely destroyed. Anything living on the island would die along with it.]
...you know that I cannot do that.
[His grip tightens further, and he leans forward to rest the side of his forehead against Megami's.]
There is no way to know what would happen to you...the island would surely die.
[ He buries his face against Poseidon's chest some more. ]
I don't care what happens to me or the island, I can't keep living here like this! Living in fear, with no way to escape, away from my family and unable to protect them if he comes back...!
[ All it would take would be binding and silencing him again and he wouldn't be able to do a thing... hell, he could even be used as bait that way, he knows their sons wouldn't be able to stand seeing their mother like that and try to help. And now that he knows Adranus would stoop so low to try and break him, he knows he'd be forced to watch them die, blamed for it... He can't accept that. ]
I can't do it another day! I can't do this anymore! Even if I die, it'd be better than this!
Please, my love...! Please! Please just let me be selfish this once...!
[Megami's begging cries claw relentlessly at Poseidon's heart the longer he listens. It isn't fair to Megami, having to live this way. It isn't like he can help what he was born to be, a spirit of the lake as opposed to the river or the sea...
He doesn't deserve the danger of possibly losing his life over this. But Poseidon fears the worst would occur if something isn't done. Not only is Megami in danger now, but their sons specifically as well. Adranus would not hesitate to murder their children in the name of petty spite. Poseidon has lived long enough to know this. He has lived through many a tragedy, some occurring to his own flesh and blood.
He draws away slightly from Megami, lifting a hand to use his thumb to brush away his tears.]
You must understand...if I do this, your island will never be recovered. It will be devestation for everything that lives on it.
[ He sniffles again, thinking about his poor beloved frogs and realizes he doesn't want them or anything else to die... ]
Then... I don't know what else to do...
[ He slumps against Poseidon, pressing his cheek to his chest. He looks like a marionette with its strings cut with how lifeless and utterly defeated his body looks.
His voice is soft and resigned as he only cries silently now ]
I wish I was a river god... like the rest of my brothers...
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A frog hops on Poseidon's shoulder and ribbits loudly, before hopping back down and heading in a direction away from the lake. Other frogs start doing this exact same thing as well, as if trying to get Poseidon's attention. ]
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The frogs don't need to go on the sand. From the direction of the cave soft crying sounds can be plainly heard. ]
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He spots the cave opening seconds before he hears the crying, and he's quick to leave the frogs behind in favor of darting across the sand in the direction of it.]
Megami! Megami!!
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He's curled up against the stone wall, in his human form after all with his legs pressed as tightly against his chest as he can get them to. He's clutching something close to his chest and his head is lowered as he sobs.
But that's not the concerning thing.
For starters the shell crown that Megami loved so much is missing. In its place is nothing not even his old laurel. But that's nothing compared to the burn marks that crisscross over his body. His arms, his legs, his wrists, his neck... just all these red line marks that seem too well placed to be accidental. Even his toga seems dirty and torn up in places connecting with the lines. There's also some kind of dark bruise where his neck meets his shoulder, purple and red. Though Poseidon might not get that much of a good luck at it, because as soon as Megami hears him and realizes he's here, one of his hands shoots up to cover it as he looks up at his beloved with wide, fearful eyes that are still puffy from so much crying.
Even after realizing who it is his thin frame doesn't stop shaking. If anything it gets worse. ]
P-Poseidon...!
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[Of all of the things Poseidon could have imagined he'd see, even terrible things, this...was so far from any of that that he's left completely frozen at the mouth of the cave where Megami cowers from some unseen danger that has clearly already swept through here and gone. It's upsettingly obvious to one who might hazard a guess as to who was responsible, but Poseidon can't think. All he can do is let his eyes dart from one mark on Megami's skin to the next, down to his torn toga, and then back to his injuries.
But worst of all, the way he's crying. And the way he's all curled up like that...it makes it impossible for him to tell just how badly he's been hurt.
Finally, he snaps out of it when Megami calls to him, and the inside of the cavern briefly lights up as a crackle of energy sparks its way from Poseidon's hands all the way to the tines of his trident. Then, he quickly makes his way to Megami- realizing a second too late that he might be moving up on him too fast, and slows down right before he gets to him.]
What happened.
gotta use these new icons somewhere
I-I... I-It's n-nothing... I-I just...
[ Come on, think of something ]
I... I f-fell... really b-b-badly...
[ He uncurls himself just enough to reveal what he was clutching so closely; it's the missing shell crown. But it's been badly broken, the shells smashed. ]
S-S-See...? I-It broke... a-and I was s-s-so h-heartbroken...
[ Except it's not broken in a way that a simple fall would do. It looks like it's been stomped on, intentionally shattered to pieces. ]
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He can feel his whole face growing hot with anger as his eyes flicker up to look at Megami directly. He's lying to him. And he wouldn't be lying to him if something didn't happen that he really doesn't want him to know about.]
Megami.
[He grips his fist tightly around the bits of shell and pulls his hand back, his other holding his now softly glowing trident, casting blue light over both of them so he can see Megami's wounds better.]
Who...who did this. Tell me who did this.
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D... Does it matter?
[ And then quickly before Poseidon can reply: ]
Y-You... You sh-should... l-leave.
[ He swallows, hard ]
I-I... n-never want to s-see you. E-Ever again.
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In that moment, Poseidon feels his entire world- his everything- shatter.]
...w...what?
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single handedly
the worst thing Megami has ever had to do
And because of that it is so utterly clear how much his heart is not in these words as he struggles to say them through tears ]
Y-Y-You heard m-me...
F-Forget the quest I g-gave you... a-and never c-come back here. And d-don't... e-especially don't let our... y-your children come b-back here again e-either...
[ He feels like he's choking. Choking on tears and these horrible words he has to force out.
He won't look at Poseidon at all. ]
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[Poseidon had been kneeling in front of Megami- and still is- but now it feels like he's sinking into the floor. It's hard to pinpoint what part of this is worse: what Megami is actually saying to him, or the fact that he can't even look him in the eye when he says it.
It...just doesn't add up. Megami has obviously had his island invaded in some way, and whatever happened to him has both hurt and traumatized him, but in no way could Poseidon imagine a scenario that would be so horrendous as to cause him to reject both his partner and children.
That is something that Poseidon simply refuses to believe. He even laughs, shakily, his head jerking as he shakes it a time or two. The light of his trident flickers before coming back to life.]
...No, you...y-you cannot be serious.
[He can't be...right? His sons love him...they'd be devastated to be rejected this way, though nowhere near as heartbroken as Poseidon himself would be, seeing how he's refusing to take what Megami is telling him at face value.
He drops the shell pieces so he can reach his hand out toward Megami, slowly.]
What is this really about, love...?
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Th... There you go... c-calling me love again...
[ And making this oh so much harder.
"Call off the quest you gave him in that case then."
"...You are a fool if you think he would give up on me..."
"Oh? Then just do what you're good at."
"What...?"
"Reject him, like you do all the others. Tell him you don't love him. That'll be easy enough for you, won't it?" ]
This isn't about a-anything... It's better you all j-just... forget about me...
[ He tries to look at Poseidon ]
I... I w-was just using y-you to try and g-get off the island... I d-don't care.... I don't... I don't l-love y--
[ "That'll be easy enough for you, won't it?"
But it isn't, it isn't at all. ]
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No! I can't do this...! I can't do this!!
[ And quickly he falls into hysterics, throwing himself at Poseidon and clinging to his chest as he sobs anew ]
I didn't mean any of it, my love!! I d-didn't...!
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[Hearing this is utterly heartbreaking, but the worst part?
When Megami mentions using him as a means of getting off the island, for just a wild fraction of a second, Poseidon starts to think that that is something he could believe.
And for just that brief moment, he's not prepared for that level of devastation. He very nearly pushes away from Megami then and there without thinking, but fortunately he doesn't end up actually doing that...instead waiting to see what all he has to say.
It's very, very fortunate that he does wait, because not even a minute later Megami breaks down entirely and falls against the sea king, causing him to drop his trident and reflexively reach out to hold him as he cries.]
Mm...Megami...
[He can feel tears in his eyes at this point, both due to Megami's hurt and upset, but also the sheer relief he's feeling at what he desperately hopes really isn't something Megami meant.
But, if that were the case...
He exhales a shaky breath, bringing a hand up to hold against the back of Megami's head.]
Why...would you say those things? What do you mean...you "can't do it"?
[He might be obtuse at times, but he is no fool. And the nature of Megami's injuries almost give it away.]
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It's Adranus. Adranus was here last night, Poseidon...!!
[ And just thinking about what happened is causing him to tremble violently all over again as he clings to Poseidon like he could be pulled away from him at any moment ]
He knows! Somehow he knows about the quest I gave you!! He demanded I give it to him too and w-when I didn't h-he... he...
[ His words get consumed by another choked sob ]
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Adranus. The god of the volcano. The very same god that destroyed Megami's island home...his people...all because he could not claim him for his own.
Poseidon feels ice covering his very core as it's confirmed who exactly confronted Megami- hurt him- like this, but he focuses on Megami first. He holds the goddess tighter to his front, starting to hush him quietly under his breath while stroking the back of his hair, rocking slightly in place to try and get him to slow down.]
Shh....shh....breathe, just breathe. Just...
[Take a moment to breathe, and not have to talk or think about what happened. Because he knows the more Megami explains, the harder it's going to be for Poseidon to stay here.]
Do not speak for a moment. Nothing can hurt you while I am here.
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It's not himself he's worried about.
Still after a moment he manages to calm a little bit and then he's right back to trying to explain some more ]
He restrained me... bound me. [ The burn marks ] I couldn't transform or fight back or anything...! I was so scared, Poseidon, I've never been more scared in my entire existence...!
[ Save for when Osomatsu came to him that fateful night and told him Poseidon was in trouble but at least then he'd been able to do something about it. Not even being able to use his basic abilities to defend himself was terrifying. ]
He told me to say all those things, to cancel my quest and send you away...! If I did not, he... a-at first he threatened to seal me in my lake for a-another h-hundred years but when th-that didn't scare me he... he...
[ And then he's crying again, but considering he says next how could anyone blame him? ]
He threatened to kill them! He threatened to kill our children...!
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["He threatened to kill them! He threatened to kill our children!"
So that's it, then. When Adranus couldn't get what he wanted, be it Megami himself or Megami to fear him enough to agree to his demands, he resorted to targeting something that would make him comply...knowing full and well that threatening to do harm to Poseidon- another god of equal power- would have been something of a death wish for a god of fire.
All Poseidon can think about are his sons...no, their sons. Their six little twin mers sleeping sounding on a clamshell together, even at their age. He thinks about how they'd been visiting the island on their own to come see Megami, and it forces him to think about Adranus killing them the moment they came to shore, watching the water for them.
It makes him feel incredibly ill. In fact, it nearly drains all of the fight right out of him, thinking about anything happening to them.
Nearly. But it's not enough to dampen the growing amount of rage building in the god, a rage so powerful that even inside this little cave the waves can be heard roaring as they crash up against the sides of Megami's island. Even creatures beneath the surface will be feeling it, probably wondering why the sea is so treacherous this morning.]
No. ...No. I will not let that happen. He will not touch one single hair on their heads.
He will have to go through me first.
[He blinks, tears finally escaping and rolling down his cheeks as he grinds that out through gritted teeth.]
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He can't let that be...
But most of all he can't keep living like this. In fear and away from his family.
He breathes, trying to calm himself again, sniffling as he wracks his brain for a solution ]
Poseidon... my love...
You... you must sink my island.
Please.
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[Megami will feel Poseidon's grip around him tighten. It's a subtle change, but noticeable all the same.
It is, admittedly, a solution he thought of when trying to think of some way to save Megami from his island prison. It would make sense, right? If he let the island sink back down into the sea...then the sea would be Megami's home, then.
The downside would mean that the island itself would be completely destroyed. Anything living on the island would die along with it.]
...you know that I cannot do that.
[His grip tightens further, and he leans forward to rest the side of his forehead against Megami's.]
There is no way to know what would happen to you...the island would surely die.
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[ He buries his face against Poseidon's chest some more. ]
I don't care what happens to me or the island, I can't keep living here like this! Living in fear, with no way to escape, away from my family and unable to protect them if he comes back...!
[ All it would take would be binding and silencing him again and he wouldn't be able to do a thing... hell, he could even be used as bait that way, he knows their sons wouldn't be able to stand seeing their mother like that and try to help. And now that he knows Adranus would stoop so low to try and break him, he knows he'd be forced to watch them die, blamed for it... He can't accept that. ]
I can't do it another day! I can't do this anymore! Even if I die, it'd be better than this!
Please, my love...! Please! Please just let me be selfish this once...!
[ He doesn't know what else to do anymore. ]
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He doesn't deserve the danger of possibly losing his life over this. But Poseidon fears the worst would occur if something isn't done. Not only is Megami in danger now, but their sons specifically as well. Adranus would not hesitate to murder their children in the name of petty spite. Poseidon has lived long enough to know this. He has lived through many a tragedy, some occurring to his own flesh and blood.
He draws away slightly from Megami, lifting a hand to use his thumb to brush away his tears.]
You must understand...if I do this, your island will never be recovered. It will be devestation for everything that lives on it.
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Then... I don't know what else to do...
[ He slumps against Poseidon, pressing his cheek to his chest. He looks like a marionette with its strings cut with how lifeless and utterly defeated his body looks.
His voice is soft and resigned as he only cries silently now ]
I wish I was a river god... like the rest of my brothers...
[ 3000 sons... why was he the one in a lake... ]
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Then...he stops.]
...they are all river gods?
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