mers oh my

[shikosuki]

Merchoro PSL

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[shikosuki]

[ He's quiet for a moment and then just repeats back the things he's been told his entire life. ]

Catch us? Imprison us? Eat us?

That's what you want me to say right?

[karappo]

[He doesn't respond right away, breathing a sigh as he makes his way into the part of the reef that Choromatsu calls home. He gently sets his hand down on the floor of one of the large reefs of coral so he can swim off and rest there instead of in his palm.]

My son...you are a good boy. I know you want to think the best of humans...and most of us generally do. There are many humans out there who are kind, and thoughtful, and considerate even of the things that they do not understand. But unfortunately, as the way the world tends to be, those who would not do those things are far outnumbered by those who would.

We are not human, Choromatsu. We are different in a special, wonderful way. In ways humans cannot comprehend, and never will be able to. And showing ourselves to even just one...

[He shakes his head, reaching out to brush the top of his head, fondly.]

It invites the rest of the world to look upon us as things different from them...things to take power from, things to be afraid of...things to keep locked away.

Do you understand what I am telling you?

[shikosuki]

[ He swims out of his palm when it's set down, knowing the gesture well by now, and is silent as Poseidon lectures him, keeping his head down. ]

...Yes. Father.

[karappo]

Good.

[He sighs again, pulling away and moving to one side of the reef so he can start plucking some fronds of seaweed to wrap his wounds with.]

Of course...the comings and goings of humans do not exactly have anything to do with what we were discussing before. You saying something about wanting to be more independent, non?

[shikosuki]

Yeah.

Like settling down with a nice mermaid. Or man I guess.

[ or both

or a nice human even :V ]

[karappo]

[Poseidon drops the chunk of seaweed he'd just been holding, then, only to scramble to pick it back up.]

E-eh?

[shikosuki]

[ ???

???????????? ]

...What?

[karappo]

Y-you mentioned independence, not...not anything like that.

[He clears his throat and gathers up the seaweed, tying a few bits together to make them stronger.]

[shikosuki]

Well, I-I mean... that's part of it right?

Falling in love and leaving home and...

[ he trails off there, thinking about it. does he have a starry look in his eyes? yes, he absolutely does. blushing too. ]

[karappo]

Well yes, but...you are still my little one! My little guppy! You could not possibly be ready to move on so quickly...

[He says this as he makes his way back over with some lengths of tied together seaweed, gesturing for Choromatsu to shift so he can take care of those cuts on his tail.

For Poseidon, time moves a lot differently. Sometimes slow, sometimes fast in a lot of ways. But when it comes to his children, they might as well be small for eons.]

[shikosuki]

Ughhhh, for the last time, I'm not a guppy!! I'm definitely old enough! If anything, I'm too old to still be at home!

[ He shifts as Poseidon wants him to, lifting his tail up and leaning back, but he's pouty and grumpy about it. ]

You only think otherwise because you're a god!

[karappo]

[.....he is silent, for a time. He doesn't say anything else until he's gotten one of the deepest gashes completely covered, tying it tight enough so it won't come off.]

......do you...know someone?

[Like, okay he understands wanting something like that in the far far off future, but...why else would he bring it up...]

[shikosuki]

[ URK.

Choromatsu goes tense, freezing in place.

UHHHH...

His voice is higher pitched and his face is red ]

Wh-Wh-Why do y-you ask...?

[karappo]

[Rule number one for not seeming suspicious: don't do what you just did.]

...You know someone.

[shikosuki]

[ OH GOD ] N-N-N-No, I don't...!!

[karappo]

[Poseidon puts down the seaweed for the moment and hooks his fingertips on the edge of the reef Choromatsu's perched on, getting as close as he can even though at this proximit only one eye can really look at him at a time.]

You do, you do! That wistful expression...the stammer in your voice...who are they? Where did you meet them?!

[ARE YOU USING PROTECTION]

[shikosuki]

[ INTERNAL SCREAMING ]

I-IT'S NOTHING, IT'S N-N-NO ONE!!

[ and then he just

quickly darts into the coral to hide ]

[karappo]

[Oh. Bye...

Poseidon stiffens when his son suddenly disappears, but unfortunately for him he's much too large to pursue. All he can do is peer through the coral and try to see where he went.]

Choromatsu? Choromatsu, come back!

[shikosuki]

[ He's not far and he's in view, but he's curled up and covering his head. He is clearly embarrassed and not responding. ]

[karappo]

[Okay...as concerned as he is, now he feels a little bad. Did he push him too much? Oh god, he's a bad parent.

His fins lower a little as he watches the space Choromatsu fit himself into, tapping his tail against the sandy ocean floor as he tries to think of what to do, or say.]

L-Look, I was just going to say...if you do have someone you know, and...perhaps have taken a shine to, then I am happy for you! Really! But if you intend to....leave home...and maybe...stay with them...

[You're TOO YOUNG]

[shikosuki]

[ He lowers his arms and stares at Poseidon, still embarrassed and pouting. ] I-It's nothing serious anyway. ...Th-They probably don't even think of me like that. [ ah,,, ]

[karappo]

[...]

Come out and talk with me, son.

[shikosuki]

[ ......

He uncurls himself and swims back out of his hideaway, without saying a word ]

[karappo]

[Poseidon wants to reach for him again, but he doesn't. Instead he just watches his son carefully, concerned.]

What is the matter, Choromatsu?

[shikosuki]

[ he perches himself on the coral just outside where he'd been hiding and keeps looking down ]

...A boy helped me when I got stuck.

[ and well hey with the rest of how this story's gone there's no reason to suspect he doesn't mean a merboy right? ]