Prompt: Kosuke talks with Risa or Satoshi or Hiwapapa?? Please~ 🙇
The man had been waiting at one of the island's sea caves from way before dusk, although the time of the rendezvous was yet after sunset. They did need the cover of darkness to keep away from prying eyes, after all.
He was here upon Emiko's instructions, in a mission to take from a certain comrade some potions, supposedly to help in her extended stay on land.
"Good evening," a mellow, amicable voice greeted from behind him.
"Ah, hel--oh jumping jellyfish!" The man was startled when he turned and saw a merman with flowing black hair and a sleek black-and-white tail. He was surrounded by two sets of spines that looked like fans of swords, and his tail had a transparent, almost iridescent shine to it. He had black markings that had a turquoise, otherworldly glow that reminded him of bioluminescent plankton. This must be him, the sorcerer Kei; prince consort and Emiko's cousin-in-law.
"Jumping jellyfish, hm? I'm pretty sure they don't do that," there was a laid-back amusement in the merman's response.
"Oh no, that's just an expression; their tentacles aren't usually strong enough--Ah! Except some species of trachymedusae, which have very strong--wait, no! What am I saying?"
The man quickly switched off his built-in ocean index as soon as he caught himself in trivia mode. "Sorry, you probably knew that already, being uhm... a local, and all that! Haha..." he said, awkwardly gesturing at the merman's tail and-- well, entirety.
"Ah, and that's where you're wrong, Mister Scientist~" the merman smiled, his silky voice still carrying that relaxed cadence from earlier. "You did lose me there a little, but the nugget of knowledge was welcome. Which jellyfish were you talking about again?"
Kosuke blinked at the follow-up question. Not a lot of people indulge his ocean fanboy side. "Oh... uh, right, sorry. Uhm, we call them the crossota species..?" Kosuke glanced at the merman who was not one bit enlightened by the additional jargon. "Uhm, they're these... red jellies with thin, wispy tentacles. And they swim very fast."
"Ohh, the red propellers. I see. They are swift, yes," the man nodded, looking genuinely interested in what the marine biologist just shared. "Well, I wouldn't be surprised if those could really jump out above the surface!"
"There haven't been documented cases... but a-anyway, that's enough boring jellyfish talk!"
"Not at all~ It was amusing," the merman smiled. "Anyway, you looked quite... shaken when you saw me. Is everything all right?"
"Oh that! Oh, I really didn't mean to--it's just that... your patterns..."
"Hm?"
"Well, they are--they're breathtaking! I've always been fascinated by lionfish!"
"Mm, is that so? Well, I'm flattered. And here I was for a moment fearing that I got the wrong human and that I would have to uh..."
"To what?" Kosuke's eyes popped out of their sockets, but the merman stayed unfazed.
"Don't mind me, that doesn't matter!" Kosuke didn't know if it was the creeping shadows of the falling dusk, but there was a moment of sinister look in the eyes of his new acquaintance despite his unwavering smile. "From what she's told me and Rio, I have no doubts; you're Princess Emi's human."
Emiko's human? Kosuke thought. Well that's one way to put it. Not that he's opposed.
"And speaking of the Princess, I have the potions she requested. As well as some written instructions. And gifts from Princess Rio."
"Oh, thank you! Thank you so much!" Kosuke smiled as he received the bundle in his arms.
"A pleasure to be of service to her highness!"
"Her highness..?" Kosuke was surprised that, as prince consort and future king, he would address Emiko with such reverence.
"Ah. Habits," the merman smiled. "I am marrying waaay above my station, after all."
"Oh... sorry if that was a delicate subject."
"Not at all!" The merman beamed at him; sincerely, Kosuke dared think. "So Princess Emiko didn't tell you, hm? I am the court sorcerer, interpreter of calamities and maladies... and sometimes prophecies. I just happened to be gifted with magic, but I am not noble by birth."
"So you rose to your current position by your talents? That's amazing!"
"Err, well. Talent can only do you so much~" The merman shrugged and raised himself to one of the cave's big rocks. His scales had a faint bluish-green glow in the moonlight. "Most say it's thanks to you I'm to be king."
"Oh..." Kosuke bit his lips and cast down his eyes.
"Ah, that did not sound right. Apologies," Kei cleared his throat. "I didn't say that to blame you. And besides, blame has no place where offense lies not."
"Hm?"
"I may be being presumptuous here, but you have nothing to take blame for. The former crown princess regrets nothing."
"Did she tell you that?"
"Not exactly~ but frankly, with the way she talks about you and her life here until my and Rio's ears fall off, that's not hard to guess."
"She talks about me??"
"Hmm, let's just say 'talk' does not quite cover it~" the merman chuckled. "Very well! I have to return."
"Ah, right. Thanks again!"
"My pleasure," the merman bowed, which Kosuke frantically returned. "I shall see you again soon. And quite often, I'm sure."
"Huh? What does that mean?"
The merman offered one last smile and no further explanation before diving out of sight. Kosuke saw one last glimpse of his magnificent lionfish tail shimmering in the moonlight before it disappeared in the waves.
And in the moment he was left alone, there was a sense of peace that he had at least one friend beneath the uncertain waters.
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