mers oh my

[shikosuki]

Merchoro PSL

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[shikosuki]

[ The shadow makes him stop ("Shit!!") but he can't move to hide fast enough. Dad's found him.

Fuck. ]

D-Dad...! Good grief, don't just show up like that...!

[ Maybe if he makes it sound like his father's side spooked him (even though he's... grown up with it and used to it) he can avoid most of this conversation. Or seem less like he's hiding something. Maybe. Probably not. ]

I lost track of time collecting stuff, that's all.

[karappo]

[He could argue that it's impossible for him to "just show up", given his size, but he's too relieved that Choromatsu is back to worry about that now. He disappears again very briefly as he swims through one of the holes in the reef so he can approach his son proper, swimming down from above and extending his hand toward him in greeting, a warm smile on his face.]

Well, you should really be more careful...the ocean is a dangerous place at night, and it is well beyond dark now.

[He can't see the cuts from the distance, but he's trying to coax Choromatsu into his hand. If he draws him close to his face, he definitely will.]

[shikosuki]

[ Man, he'd really like to just swim off to bed and let that be that but now that he's caught he doesn't want to act suspicious or worry Poseidon more than he already has. So reluctantly he swims into the extended hand, trying to strategically use his his sleeves to keep the cuts on his tail out of sight (keyword: tries). ] I know, I know-- I'm not a guppy anymore, sheesh.

[karappo]

Nonsense! You are my little guppy, and you always will be~

[Poseidon croons, gently scooping Choromatsu up and lifting him so he can speak to him at something closer to eye level. The sleeves, though somewhat effective, aren't going to be so forever. Already he seems to note Choromatsu's discomfort, and he comments on it as he starts to carry him back to the reef.]

Mmm, though you do seem rather...stiff, this evening. Are you feeling alright?

[shikosuki]

Ugh, gross.

[ He relaxes for a moment, thinking he might be in the clear but then Poseidon just has to notice that something's up. He goes tense. ]

O-Of course I am! Y-You're just imagining things, dad...!

[karappo]

Mmmmm?

[Choromatsu, you acting like that is just going to make him wonder more...even if this is how you act a lot of the time normally.

His finned ears twitch downward a touch as he swims forward a few more yards before slowing and holding the mer up in front of his face a bit more fully, tilting his head to try and look him over.]

Are you sure?

[shikosuki]

[ GOOD THING FISH DON'T SWEAT...

He shoves his hands into his lap, doing his best to keep hiding the cuts discreetly now that Poseidon is looking him over. ]

I-I'm sure...! Stop worrying so much--

[ ...except the current has moved his sleeves enough out of the way that a bright red cut around one of his waist fins is now clearly visible if you're looking. ]

[karappo]

[Ah. And you were doing so well. Too bad that Poseidon is very much looking, and when he spots that angry looking gouge in his son's scales, his expression drops.]

Choromatsu, what- what happened, you are hurt!

[Don't mind him as he just brings you even closer to his face.]

[shikosuki]

[ Oh. Damnit. Without thinking he lifts his arms up so he can see the spot that got exposed, and ends up revealing all the other cuts on his tail in the process. None of them are deep, but they're quite red. ]

...Shit.

[ YOUNG MAN THAT ISN'T AN ANSWER.......... ]

[karappo]

[...Boy]

Choromatsu.

[Choromatsu and his brothers know the steely stare of Poseidon bearing down on them from above. They know when he's just being dumb ol dad, and they know when he's being serious. Severe in his intentions and firm.

This is one of those latter times.]

[shikosuki]

[ It's a good thing fish don't sweat otherwise that's what Choromatsu would be doing a lot of right now as he tries to come up with an excuse. He REALLY doesn't want to tell his dad what actually happened, that he got caught up in human garbage of the not fun, collectible variety... both for his own sake and Takumi's. Takumi was nice enough to set him free and make sure nothing bad happened to him while he was recovering, he doesn't want to betray that by risking the ire of the sea god on humans.

Unfortunately, what with that stare, it's a bit hard to come up with something on the spot. ]

I-It's nothing, okay...! They're just some scrapes, not a big deal!!

[ They're very much not scrapes ]

[karappo]

Just scrapes?

[He echoes, the look on his face both unchanging and clearly skeptical.]

So you should be able to explain what happened, right? I would ask if you were playing in abandoned ship wrecks with Osomatsu again, but he has been here this whole time.

[shikosuki]

What does it even matter? I'm here and okay, right?!

[ but he knows dad in't going to let it go unless he says something... so thankfully an idea finally comes to mind ]

But fine! I got caught in a sudden current and it slammed me into some jagged rocks! That's why I'm late-- my tail was stuck!

Are you happy now that I've told you and embarrassed myself?!

[ it's not a complete lie, a current was involved and he DID get stuck but... well those cuts are pretty clean for "jagged rocks" ]

[karappo]

[Choromatsu's tone, though shouting is his usual default, causes Poseidon to lean back somewhat, looking him over once more. Those cuts are nothing to joke about...and if what he says is true, that must have been some mighty strong current to shove him into the rocks that hard. But he is a lot smaller, after all...it's something he has to remind himself of a lot.

Poseidon's expression turns sympathetic as he reaches a hand down and rubs the top of Choromatsu's head with a finger.]

There is no need to be hostile, I am simply concerned...especially since you tried to hide it from me.

[shikosuki]

[ ...shit. Now he's feeling bad for being snappy. As embarrassing and "painful" as Poseidon can be as a parent he knows he's just... worrying like all dads do.

He reaches up and places his own much tinier hands on that finger, and pulls it down to his shoulders so he can loosely wrap his arms around. A tiny little son hug. ]

I know.

[ He's looking away. ]

But I don't want you to worry.

[karappo]

[Okay, that's a little better. He settles his body back against the reef for a moment, using it as a sort of natural recliner so he doesn't have to keep himself aloft in the water by kicking his tail fin.]

You know I am going to worry regardless of whether you are home or not. It is just my job, non?

[He chuckles, his earrings jingling softly as he tilts his head to one side.]

Were you very far out into sea? The currents should not have been very strong close to the reef...only relatively far out, or closer to the shore.

[shikosuki]

[ He lets go and just settles himself in his father's hand, now that he isn't trying to hide things and has resigned himself to the fact he's probably not going to bed for a bit yet. ]

...Like I said, I was collecting things. Shells. So I went to shallow waters to find some good ones.

[ It was not shells he was collecting but dad doesn't need to know about the Human Junk Collection. ]

[karappo]

[Yeah no, definitely not. At least not until he gets those cuts taken care of.]

I see...perhaps next time you should have one of your brothers come along with you? If the current is that strong, it would be safer to not be alone.

[shikosuki]

...Dad, I don't know if you've noticed but your other sons are all jerks.

To me. Or to Karamatsu. But also to me.

[ Even HE'S a jerk to Karamatsu. ]

If they knew I got stuck in some rocks they'd sooner laugh at me than help me. Besides I leave the reef so I can get away from them and have some privacy for a while! Bringing one of them along ruins the point of that. I'd probably have to babysit them the whole time. Or deal with being constantly made fun of and not listened to.

The current's fine usually anyway, it just caught me by surprise this time! Honest.

[karappo]

[Son....]

So you say...but I am the ruler of the seas. The currents do not move unless I tell them to. Normally they should not have been so rough near the shore, but perhaps I overlooked something...

[He nudges him with his index finger, again.]

And are siblings not siblings if they are not jerks to one another? You all would do well to do more things together! It is how you bond!

[shikosuki]

[ Man, he should probably be grateful that didn't just expose his lie. Good thing Poseidon is not always the sharpest of fathers.

He swats at the index finger. Not hard (not that it would matter with his size) but enough to be like "cut that out". ]

We've spent our entire lives "doing things together". If anything we more space away from each other... more than we're getting in this reef anyway.

[karappo]

[No, when it comes to power and keeping the world running...he's pretty good at that.

But...sometimes when it comes to social interactions...that's where things go pear shaped. Especially with his own children.]

...I thought you liked living in the reef?

[He asks, his fins lowering a touch.]

[shikosuki]

[ He flops down onto his side, partly because he's tired of sitting up and also because he's just tired in general. Again, he's not looking at Poseidon, but off into the distance. ]

I... it's nice but...

[ Does he like it? His brothers definitely do. They love having nothing to worry about and just being able to play all day, care-free. And there's something about that he likes too. And yet... he can't shake himself of the feeling of longing for something else. Something different. Something beyond this little, comfortable and safe life.

Something more. ]

...I think I might have outgrown it.

[karappo]

[.................

Poseidon gasps, suddenly.]

Well! That is simply fixed! We could just move to a larger reef, with more space!

1/2

[shikosuki]

That's not what I meant at all!!

[ ah yes this sure is the Shout Child ]