Sea Dragon's Son

Ondine had so much questions for him, she wanted to know everything about him, about his life before Mount Phoenix and what had happened to him since his arrival. It would probably take time but she didn't mind.

He'd answer all of the older's questions as bet he could too. He might have a few of his own to be entirely honest.

Was it what intimacy was supposed to be ? It was nice and he could easily get used to it.

There was being 'good enough' and there was 'being an asshole' and, unfortunately for Keonhee, Nephi belonged to the second category. Even if they now got along, there was such a common past behind them that they needed to address and heal before they could totally be happy together. As happy as possible anyway, after everything that had happened between them, even before Mount Phoenix.

"I don't like it more than you" Nephi answered, playing with the other's fingers. "But we need to. We jumped into this... relationship without thinking and we should have. I really didn't imagine it'd go that far." He nodded as Keonhee talked, looking up at him.

And yes... Nephi was... a lot. Before and after they'd met again here but at the very least the shorter was set on getting better. On them being healthier. It got him bonus points at the very least.

"Yeah..." Keonhee sighed a little, staring down at where the other was playing with his fingers. That's another comfort, knowing Nephi wasn't keen on the either but still taking the responsibility. He could understand it more with that too. "We're stupid, honestly, but at least we're going to try to fix it with this then. I can agree that we need to."

Closed starter for a coordinator of events @keonheemp

If Morpheus was to be the faculty chair of the university's Liberal Arts department, then it made all the more sense for him to tour the facilities on the island. Naturally, music and drama fell within that category and knowing that Apollo headed the Divine Twins Performing Arts Center brought a smile to his face. Morpheus wandered through the building in silence, the loose locks from his messy bun along with the hems of his clothing floating about him as though he drifted in water.

In the main concert hall, however, it seemed as though the stage was being prepared for solo performances. Ohhhh, this must be those spring symphony auditions Apollo had mentioned. How delightful. Morpheus was certain several students were interested in performing and planned to audition themselves; however, he knew that not all students in the Arts department were musically-inclined and was curious about other opportunities available to show off their talents. Thus, the god of dreams took to seeking out the coordinator of events! And when he located his individual, Morpheus offered the demigod a warm smile as he approached.

He always tried his best to sound as professional as possible while working after all.

The Egyptian felt the confusion, the panic in the other's heart so he squeezed his hand tightly, wanting to reassure him. It wasn't a goodbye, at least not yet. Things were bad, really bad, but there was still a possibility they could go better. With time and patience, things that Nephi knew he had to learn. He almost died, that had put things into perspective for him.

"Please calm down" he said, pulling the other closer. "But I don't think I'm good enough for you. I hurt you so much already and I don't want anything else to happen to you." He reached up and gave a quick caress to the Japanese demigod's cheek.

Nephi was right and at certain small points he did agree slightly (their relationship as it was, wasn't a great one with too many uncertainties and not great contexts) but at the same time he couldn't help but want to deny other points (being 'good enough' for someone wasn't a concept he could agree with, no ones perfect and the idea of someone not being good enough for another person was a whole other level of things beyond everything else). But all that aside, he mostly could understand where the shorter was coming from.

"I don't really... like it, everything's all... mixed up. But I know there's a lot of stuff we need to actually deal with in many ways. Like... feelings... and what we are... and stuff like that. It all got really complicated, really fast." He murmured back, half hesitant before just pushing it all out, the whole situation has been extremely muddled for a while now.

when the demigod spoke, clearly a little distressed by the fact that the handkerchief was now dirtied, yanluo couldn't help but chuckle a little and shook his head. "it's ok, keep it. wash it in cold water and it should be fine." he instructed before he finally got up. the god brushed at his trousers, pushing the pant legs down to appropriate height again before reaching out a hand to the demigod who was still sitting on the pavement.

"I- really? Are you sure?" He asked in return, looking between the handkerchief and other male a few more times. He wasn't so sure himself but after another moment or two he sighed a little and gave up fretting over it for now. A moment more and he accepted the offered hand, standing with the other's assistance and half dusting himself off as well too shortly after.

He had been called 'god' by his mother and their cult. But maybe they had just mocked him to control him better. 

He crunched his nose at Keonhee's exclamation. Now that everything was done, everything sounded quite ridiculous. "I... I tried to kill someone and he stopped me. I have no idea how he found me." He tried to shrug, wincing at the pain from his wounds. He had been too stupid to know when to stop.

Nephi took a few minutes to find his words, playing with Keonhee's fingers in the meantime. He truly didn't want to push him away but maybe it would be the best. For the Japanese demigod, even for himself maybe.

He did freeze, however, when the other's whisper dropped. He'd nearly panicked, not sure what to say or how to react given the sudden and rather upsetting remark (things aside, he wasn't built to deal with sudden confusing surprises like that) until the other added 'at least for now'. He calmed down a little with that, glancing down at their hands and Nephi's fingers messing with his own.

There's... a lot of things they needed to work out properly and to work through too, it's true. Tsukiko's comments still stuck with him now, weeks later. But... He just... He didn't know why or how, or what even happened to make Nephi suggest this. Maybe the other had gone through some realizations but...

It took her a minute to calm down, the excitment making place for pure joy and she stood, reaching for his hands to help him. "Nice to mee you, Keonhee. My name's Ondine."

She nodded. She could feel the connection between them, the way her powers seemed to resonate with his, like an ongoing dialogue. There truly wasn't any doubt about their familial bond. She smiled, squeezing his hands that she was still holding.

"Yeah. I got my ass kicked pretty badly, if you hadn't noticed the young Egyptian admitted. I attacked the wrong person, a god." And a powerful one at that. Someone who even knew about his father. 

Nephi noted the hesitation in Keonhe's voice. As tired as he was, he knew that it was time for a serious discussion between the two, a heart-to-heart one. Something that should have happened when they started whatever was between them. 

The Yao Guai Apartments ? So the god was Chinese. He had heard of two recent arrivals in that pantheon, two very important figures but Nephi being Nephi, he hadn't looked much into it. Which now was revealing to be a mistake. 

"Mm..." He did indeed notice, but hearing the next bit did make the demigod stare for a moment. "You... attacked a God?!" He exclaimed, quickly muffling himself to keep from shouting that last part before speaking up again. "Why... how?" He asked, just... shocked that he tried and very very thankful that the other still lived after something like that. With the state he was in... well... it did kind of explain the severity of his injuries. That's for sure.

Remeeting again and sharing good news! With @keonheemp

🌊

   Too much time had passed. Far too much in Heather’s opinion between the last time he encountered Keonhee- another child of the sea. Though they were not related in the quite literal sense of the word, Heather felt the seas affinities in the other deeply and for that, he considered him much like he considered all that came from the water- a type of family.

   Their brief encounter at the gala had made him hopeful to have kin, even if it was just in compassion for their similar blood line. Blood and water, always intertwined around each other. Heather, determined to see the other before he returned to water for a bit, sets out today to make time for learning about the other again.

    A short trip to the Divine Twins Center is where Heather finds Keonhee once again. Asking after him, the siren waits to hear if the other has time or if he will come to the front to meet him. A pamphlet is in his hands about the center and Heather smiles at it. He wonders if this pride that swells in his chest is what it might feel like to have a sibling and be justly proud of the work they take part in.

Today, however, it looked like he'd get to know Heather more perhaps.

Being unfair to Keonhee was one of his specialities apparently.

"I'm tired, mostly" the young Egyptian finally answered once he was settled more comfortably. The pillows were soft and the blankets warm enough. "Sore and ashamed" he added, looking at his hands. Moving his arms was painful and he was glad that the hospital gown was hiding the bandages he could feel around his upper body. 

"I see. I guess I'll have to thank her." Nephi had heard of the Chinese goddess of the moon and her healing abilities. He was relieved that she had been there when he had needed her. Getting help from others was still an unknown concept for him. He nodded, curious about meeting the goddess.

He'd glanced up when the other spoke up next though, a little surprised he'd given him a full response. Or at least close to one, anyways.

"Ashamed...?" He'd picked up on that the most given it wasn't often heard from the other's lips. "But I see, mm..." He really did wonder what happened, the other had been in a worrying state even with Chang'e's healing.

"Yeah... I'm glad she was able to help you. I don't think..." He stopped and shook his head a little, pulling back from expressing all his worries he had while he'd waited on the other to wake up.

"Nevermind." He didn't want to open up that torrent, not sure he could keep certain things back if he spoke fully on it.

"She only found you, I think I heard about there being some kind of noise or commotion that happened at the Yao Guai Apartments earlier or later on after she brought you here though? Maybe? I don't know fully. It wasn't anything too big I think, just something little? A mild disturbance? I don't really know exactly." He shrugged a little, gaze shifting to the other's face before he sighed softly as the other's gaze avoided his own.

He considered pressing him for an answer about what happened but he chose to wait for the moment, shifting to send a message to the newest contact in his phone.

finally, the demigod spoke, apologising to yanluo which made the god raise his eyebrows in mild surprise. it wasn't the lisp that had surprised him but the fact that this guy felt it necessary to apologise to him. ah yes, common courtesy perhaps but really, there was no need for that. waiting patiently for the other to catch on a bit more, yanluo remained in his position on his haunches.

after the demigod had well and thoroughly evaluated the predicament he was in, finishing his train of thought with an uncertain greeting, yanluo just had to chuckle and shook his head. he poked the guy's cheek again for good measure before he shuffled a bit closer again and wrapped his fingers around the guy's chin. perhaps a bit too forthright but yanluo had only one task in mind right now and that was to assess the damage this clumsy demigod had done to himself.

"hmm you're lucky.. your nose isn't broken." yanluo hummed as he gazed intently at the demigod's nose while lightly but still forcefully moving the guy's head a bit backwards so the god could have a closer look. "alright." he then said decidedly and just like that, the bleeding stopped.

He'd wrinkled his nose a bit at the cheek poking again, instantly regretting the movement because it only made his nose hurt more.

He made a surprised noise when the man gripped his chin though, tensing slightly only to relax when he realized the other was simply observing the damage his earlier fall had caused. He moved with the light but forceful shifts of his head, tilting it back with the movement.

"Uh, yeah. I mean it's not the first time it's happened today but..." He remarked, startling again slightly at how quickly the bleeding stopped with the simple word from the other. "Wha??" He stared at the man, puzzled and confused before he simply shrugged and moved on.

She had spent her first morning ordering new furnitures and decorations for her apartment before carefully examining the mailboxes of her neighbors, always looking for the boy from her dreams. She recognized a few names, gods that she hoped she could meet one day, but none of the demigods’ identities were familiar. She would ask around, maybe the next time she would see someone in the lobby.

For now, she was exploring the city, stopping to look at windows, checking the very divers restaurants’ menus. Everything looked beautiful and delicious and she spent a long time in the park, enjoying the ice decorations and watching the people skating around the fountain. She would have to join them once, she was pretty good at it.

Her last visit of the day was for the beach. Ondine couldn’t wait to dive and swim again and discovering all the marines creatures dwelling there. There was a sudden surge of powers around her, something familiar and as she turned to look for its source, she collided full force against someone, falling on the pavement with the stranger.

"Don’t worry, it’s ok !" she exclaimed, turning to check if the other was fine. « I really need to look where I’m going. What about you ? Are you… » the words died on her lips as she discovered the man’s face, her eyes widening in surprise and happiness. He had grown, of course, and his hair wasn’t black anymore but she recognized him anyway. And if it wasn’t proof enough, she could feel their powers connecting and she just knew.

Keonhee blinked, just a bit surprised before he gave her a small smile of his own. He hadn't expected to find something like this but it made sense with the sudden connection and familiar feeling. He startled a little bit when she teared up though, waving his hands a little in panic. "I- don't cry! or maybe it's fine-? Happy tears? Uhh... Hi. I'm Keonhee?" He stammered out, still half waving his hands as he spoke.

He thought maybe introducing himself might be less awkward but he's not sure if it worked.

"Uhhh.... nice to meet you! Um... yeah I think so too! You... connection?" He added, trying to calm down the urge to flail a bit over everything. He ran a hand through his hair, looking the other over a bit more and just getting used to the fact he had a sister here! He did think it was possible, a number of demigods already had gone through similar experiences though he's only really heard of one fully.

"Peachy" he answered, turning towards Keonhee again. He still ignored what the sea prince knew about his situation, about the way a god had kicked his ass. Even the pain hadn’t taken the shame away. He touched the bandage around his neck again, wondering what was hiding under it. He knew the doctors and nurses used magic but would it have been enough to heal him ?

Breathing was starting to be difficult so he turned on his back again, struggling to arrange his pillows under his head and reaching for the bed’s command to lift the backrest. It took time but he finally was able to find a comfortable position with the help of his visitor.

He shifted to help once the other tried to adjust again, hands out and ready to assist where Nephi would allow him to until the shorter was situated in the way he wanted to be.

for the one Nephi doesn't deserve @keonheemp

this takes place after that fateful night

Nephi blinked, slowly opening his eyes. It took him a moment to realize it wasn’t his bedroom’s walls and ceiling, his weren’t so white. He tried to move but his body felt like a rag doll, weak and boneless. His memories were confused but he clearly could remember piercing red eyes and the pain. So much pain !

Now that everything was coming back to him, the young Egyptian realized he was in an hospital room, the constant blipping of machines around him reminding him that he was still alive. Fortunately or not, he wasn’t truly sure yet. He reached to touch his neck, feeling the thick bandages under his fingers. He grimaced, still smelling the barbecued skin through his nasal cannula.

He truly fucked up this time and received a lesson he hadn’t been ready for.

The door opened and Keonhee peeked inside, Nephi’s heart jumping in his chest at the sight of the young man. He was the only but also the last person the son of Anubis wanted to see. He turned in the bed, trying not to pull all the different perfusions he was hooked on, his gaze fixed on the clear sky he could see through the window.

It's... a lot.

He made his way inside, even as the other seemed to be focusing on anything but him. Turned away and closed off... he wasn't deterred though. He simply just pulled up the chair and moved it around the bed instead. "I'm not going to though." He stated softly, looking the other over as he spoke.

Or was it ?

But the clumsiness was part of Keonhee’s charms too. It was amusing, of course, but kind of… endearing too. The son of Ryūjin wouldn’t be who he was without that, he wouldn’t be the only person who had caught Nephi’s interest for more than stealing and hiding his heart in a canopy jar, even the most beautiful one.

Nephi chuckled at the remark, pressing his hand against Keonhee’s cheek, almost lovingly. He smiled as the dance finished, gently squeezing the other’s hand with his free one. "Go have some fresh air" he agreed. He wasn’t as obsessive as following the Sea Dragon’s son everywhere. "I’ll be at the bar, I need another of those delicious cocktails."

Keonhee was still a little lost within the whys and the whats of their whole little... situation. But with the little near affectionate gestures he was pulled back into their dance as it finished. He nodded, squeezing Nephi's hand back before they slowly drew apart. "Yeah, I'll be back soon and then we can start heading back." He agreed, waving a little as he started towards the balcony. It'll help clear his head a bit, he's sure of it.

Time passed, the son of ryujin taking longer outside than he intended. But, in that time he gained a little comfort and a small path to better clarity after a good conversation with a new friend.

Upon his return to the ball, Keonhee made his way to the bar where Nephi had told him to find him. He'd smiled a little as he saw him, despite the things shifting and swirling through his mind. He'd told him he was ready to leave, tired and needing to just unwind in a more private environment.

Soon, they were on their way back... on the way to Keonhee's apartment and more alone time together too.

Friendship. The word was still stranger to Tsukiko, after being deprived of so much things. But Keonhee seemed like a lovely person, a neighbor that he hoped could become more than an acquaintance.

"Mm… It’s such a special time" Tsukiko added. « I hope we’ll have a white Christmas, I’m used to those by now and I would miss not having snow. » More blossoms flew around them, a few getting caught into the other demigod’s hair. He chuckled, it was a lovely vision. It wasn’t the most useful powers ever but the nurse loved them and the connection to nature they offered him. Maybe when spring would come, he would be able to grow beautiful cherry trees in the park and wherever people could want some.

He listened when Keonhee spoke again, nodding at his words. He could feel a lot of affection for his… fuckbuddy but there was confusion too. "I see… I guess it’s a bit scary but you have to let your heart guide you. As long as he treats you well, of course. Never accept less than respect from him, ok ?" He still was going to keep an eye on the young man as much as he could. He didn’t want him to fall into the same trap that caught him a couple years ago. "You don’t have to if it’s too much" he added, noticing the gesture.

He hummed a bit as the other spoke hopes of a white christmas. "Mmm... I know there's snow sometimes in most areas. I'm not sure how it is here, but we do have gods and goddesses here. So maybe one of them will bring the weather you hope for? You never know!" He watched the blossoms as Tsukiko produced them, smiling gently and feeling better with just the conversation and the pretty sights. It's something he needed after a confusing night.

He'd nodded at the other japanese demigod's words, sighing once more as he thought them over. "Yeah, hopefully it... works itself out." He murmured, nodding again at the next few words after. "I know, I think I might have trouble with that... later on if not now. It feels like I'm appreciated, but I do feel a bit like I might be... not on the same page... with that. I need to think about it more."

He smiled again as the other stated he didn't have to share. "I think I could one day but it's got a lot of... layers. Some of which I'm not sure I could fully share because I think you'd think I'm a little crazy, amidst other reasons." He chuckled a bit again, shaking his head slightly.

"Thank you, I'll be sure to. Talking with you was nice and I think it helped me start thinking a bit more too." Keonhee gave a smile back before looking back towards the ball for a moment.

Nephi hummed between the kisses and the touches, hot skin under his mouths and fingers. Keonhee was soft and pliant and so, so beautiful in the dimmed lights. It didn’t take long until their clothes slid off their bodies, falling into messy piles on the floor. The son of Anubis looked up at the other, all starry eyes and lips so red they seemed covered in blood. No words were needed for the both of them to understand the message hanging between them.

Keonhee’s bed slightly dipped under them as they lay down in a mingling of limbs, the sheets fresh and smooth against their burning skin. Nephi’s head was spinning, everything was so different than anything he had known until them, intense and so much more. And for the next moments, he forgot. He forgot that he should have left before it was too late, he forgot that he shouldn’t feel what he was feeling.

Nephi blinked as he opened his eyes, brows furrowing before the strange room he was in. He could feel the heat of a body against his and that’s when the memories flooded his mind again. He turned around and his gaze lingered on Keonhee’s sleeping form, the way his chest raised and fell with each breath he took. It was peaceful and inviting but the son of Anubis knew he couldn’t stay.

He'll probably be thinking of that later on too, it couldn't really be helped. Just like he couldn't help thinking about how much he enjoyed it too.

He didn't think he'd mind if it happens again though...

But for the moment, it was late and he was still very tired. He can shower in the morning. And with that thought, he rolled back over and fell back asleep.