The male had let out a loud noise, almost a squak, as Cain had hugged him unexpectedly. Once the question was posed, however, Ryu looked from the younger male to Vigil, unsure of how to answer. He shrugged, deciding to be honest. "I...I don't love him, yet. But, I might someday." The last sentance was added quickly, not wanting to anger either brother. Cain may seen happy, but Ryu had no doubt he could turn as fierce as Vigil. He glanced at Vigil once more, recalling the words he'd told Ryu. "And I don't understand that. You have to own somethings. A house or...cave? Food? If no one owned anything, people would fight over what they wanted...And people always want something." He shook his head once more. "And, you told me earlier that if I did run from you, you would find me and kill me. So, if I'm not permitted to leave, or have anything except you, how am I not a slave?" Ryu was clearly puzzled, the human values he'd grown up with couldn't be expected to dissappear right away.

"Aww...why doesn't anyone ever love him? He's such a good guy! He protects me and loves me and he's so sweet!" Cain was pushed aside.

"Dear brother, can you go see if you can find something good for his first meal? Try those special crabs you like so much. I need to explain some things to him." Vigil smiled, seeming completely honest; and he was. He was always nice to his brother.

"Okay!" Cain swam off towards the bottom of the sea.

"You're talking about people, Ryu. Seafolk...are very different from people. We lack jealousy; our minds are set to protection for our families and selves, and that is as far as it goes for us. We do not fight, we work together. If one needs something, we try to help them get it. If the crabs that Cain gets are someone else's dinner, there will be no harm befalling either of them; they will simply tell him that they were planning on eating them and he'd leave them be." A long sigh, then he grabbed Ryu's chin and made sure he saw him. "Jealousy is a mixture of profound feelings, but is also a show of weakness and fear. In the ocean, we do not feel inadequate, which means our weaknesses are own and we own them, not the other way around. Nothing in the water wishes to harm us; we do not feel fear except from your very own race. They poach us for the simple fact that they can. That...strikes fear into us. But not so much a jealous fear; it's a fear I fight every day. Each time I kill humans...I battle that fear for my own people." He sighed, looking away. "I saved you from that fate. Can't you see? I loved you enough to take you away from being killed by myself. I betrayed my whole kingdom...everything for you, for my feelings for you, and yet you claim I created you to be my slave. You're lucky I don't kill you for these offensive words."

The newly made merman had smiled as Cain swum off. The younger male seemed so different from Vigil, much more innocent.

He was brought away from these thoughts, listening to Vigil carefully. His gaze was lowered, until Vigil lifted his chin, forcing him to look at the male. When Ryu finally spoke, he chose his words carefully, afraid to anger the other male any more. When he finally opened his mouth to speak, the caution was heard in his voice, "Vigil..." He paused, shaking his head. "You keep saying you love me. But you took me away from everything I loved. I...I can't ever speak to my family now. I don't understand. How can you love someone, but take them away from that? And I don't understand...you said there were a few like me. How is that betrayal?" He sped up a bit,vying for his life, "N-not that I don't want to! I want to understand. It's like what you said earlier-about not knowing what it feels like to fly..."

Cain was much more innocent; he didn't have leadership and the constant stress it caused resting on his shoulders.

Vigil sighed, looking away, "Because I was meant to kill and maim everyone on your ship, Ryu. That included you, but I had been watching you since you were born...I just knew you'd be different." He sighed, his eyes looking distant but shining with some kind of hope foreign to them. "I saved your life. But...if it would please you more, I can mask your gift. I can take away the brunt of it, and make it to where you simply shouldn't go in the water around others. Only wet your gills in salt water, and do so at least once a week." He sighed, "It is betrayal...because you were not one of us originally. You could just as easily betray us. Sure, there were others; they all treated us as if they were superior. You humans treat everyone the same..." He looked away, off into the still water, "As if people who do not share your own looks, beliefs, and feelings are animals compared to yourselves." He sighed, "Neither of us may ever know what it feels like to fly." And, once again, he swam off, downward, cutting his thoughts away and driving himself down into a hidden crevice to be alone for a while.

A few minutes after Vigil had gone, Cain swam back up. "Brother, I--" He paused, "Hey...um..Ryu...? Where'd Vigi go?" He looked honestly worried.

A small choking sound had interupted Vigil. "S-since I was born? You've been watching me twenty three years?" He had paused as the male finished, and Ryu watched Vigil swim off sadly. When Cain returned, Ryu shook his head sadly, pointing to the area his bigger brother had gone to. "I-I think I upset him, although, I...didn't mean to." He shook his head once more. "There's so much I don't understand about this world, a-and..." Ryu was at a loss for words, staring at the younger male somewhat sadly, "I don't know what Vigil expects of me. I really don't know how I'm supposed to act. He says..."

Ryu straightened, trying to pull his thoughts together so he could get some confusion out of his mind, "He says I'm no slave, but then he didn't give me much of a choice up there. A-and he keeps threatening me. Then there's my family. I'm not saying I want to leave Vigil. I really lo-like him, but I don't like feeling this inadequate..."

Cain returned a bright smile, "Oh, he's probably just being a grumpy-pants again. He does that when he gets frustrated...he threatens people without really realizing he does it. And...you really aren't a slave. What I know of Slaves where you come from...is you're basically a lackey. He doesn't treat any of his mates that way...and if you're lucky and you learn to love him a lot, he'll let you ride him when he's in his other form! He's so pretty, I love it!" The smaller male blushed a little, giggling to himself. A pause, and then he hugged the other.

"Don't worry, things will settle in time...I know he's very...straight-forward, but he isn't a bad guy. He did what he thought he had to do..." A pause, "And that scar means you probably struggled." He ran his fingers over the teeth marks. "He hasn't done this to a human before...you should feel special." He moved some hair out of the way and showed he had an identical mark on his neck. "He only marks those that he loves."

A shiver ran down Ryu's spine as he viewed the other's mark. His finger's lifted, gently tracing it. He wasn't completely convinced he was to be treated well. But, as the male glanced towards the area Vigil had gone, he'd never know if he didn't try. And the male had left the other ship intact, just as he'd agreed...

With a jolt, something occured to Ryu. His eyes widened, and he stared at Cain. "Wait-so you can do the mind talky thing with Vigil too? And, what exactly does his other form look like? Will I get to see it?"

Cain shivered a little; his mark was sensitive, and his eyes fluttered shut, a soft sigh off his lips. He didn't seem to notice until the other spoke, cracking open those golden eyes and smiling a little goofier than he had been a few minutes ago.

"Of course! If he claims you, you can hear him in your head." He paused, "He's so big and pretty...he's so big, I can sleep in the little duct-y part of his eye." He pointed to his own tear-duct as an example, "And still fit two sharks, three other mermen, and a dolphin in it." A grin, "And he's a really pretty dragon-thing. You might get to see it if you last long enough. He...likes to test you first, to make sure that you really do love him. He...doesn't want someone being fake. He's actually very sensiti--" Cain suddenly cried out and leapt into Ryu's arms, eyes scrunched tight. "He doesn't want me to give it away..." He whimpered after a moment, shaking slightly. "It doesn't really hurt...so much as it surprises me, when he does that."

The newly made mermans thoughts wandered as Cain spoke of big. He was snapped back to attention, briefly wondering how Cain knew all that could fit.

As the male lept into his arms, Ryu cried out in suprise, staring down at Cain. He was a bit un-nerved now. "I doubt he's sensitive with other people..." He frowned, tilting his head slightly. "When he does what? He...hurts you? Can he do what he did to you to me? And what kinda test?"

Cain laughed softly, "I just said it doesn't hurt. His voice will get really loud all of a sudden, like he's screaming in your ear. It just startles me." He nuzzled against him softly. "Of course he can yell at you, too. And...I'm not allowed to talk about it. I'll get yelled at again." A long pause, and then,

"Do you want to stay with us?"

The male smiled, and nodded, understanding Cain couldn't talk about it. Has to be upsides to be king, ne? After the male nuzzled him, Ryu gently released him, uncomfotable. He barely knew this boy, but he had no doubt Cain could be dangerous, if he wanted to. The question the littler brother asked suprised him, and Ryu shifted awkwardly.

"Well...I haven't been here to long..." He paused, rememebering how Vigil would know what he thought. He decided on honesty. "Well, I don't know. I think you are the cutest thing I've ever seen, and I am attracted to Vigil, but like I said. I can't love him. I just met him, and he killed a shipful of people just to get to me. I think it may happen, someday. But I can't yet." He paused once again, his eyes focusing on a faraway speck in the water. "I... don't want to leave. Not yet. But, I do wish I had my family, or some friends." He smiled at Cain, "I haven't been home for almost a year now, you know. I just started working on that ship to earn some money for us. I like it here, and you two, but I'm nervous and afraid. Ya know?"

Cain nodded a little, waiting patiently until Ryu was done talking. He finally chewed his lip a second, before nodding once more.

"I'm sorry he just took you away from them. He's likely to offer turning them, as well, but....I wouldn't advise it. He gets very unsure around large groups of people-turned-mermen. He tried it once, killed them all in the first hour of their creation." He sighed, "But I really hope that you're potent enough...because then you'll really have two choices." He smiled, "Leave Vigil and the baby, or stay and be a good daddy." Cain didn't realize he wasn't supposed to say anything until after the sharp voice in his head told him he was bad.

"Daddy?" Ryu stared at Cain, his mind racing. That's right. Vigil had mentioned mermen could get pregnant. But he couldn't be already, right? And if he was, he couldn't know, right? Simple solution. He'd stay until Vigil knew, and that would give him time to get to know him and Cain. Time to explore the underwater world. But why were those his two choices.

Ryu shook his head, before speaking to Cain rather like a child, "Well, he couldn't know anything, and we've only done that once. So it's not something we need to worry about now. Of course I could never leave my child. But, I hopefully don't have to worry about that for a while." ~Vigil...Are you ready to come back? So strange, Ryu felt so empty without the male next to him, he wanted to reach out and touch his new mate. Mate? I'm thinking like them now. Don't know if that's good or bad...

"Yeah, daddy!" He smiled, before tilting his head a little, "It usually only takes one time, you know. Maybe not the first, but...it definitely can happen the first time." He had been pregnant once, but the humans had taken care of that. It was part of the reason why Vigil didn't trust them. "But I will warn you now; if he gets pregnant, then you're going to have to stay alive. You both will..." He knew from experience, "If one parent is lost before the child is born, then the child will die as well." He shivered and almost looked like he would cry.

"Shh, Cain, it's okay..." Two thin arms wrapped around the smaller male, Vigil appearing out of seemingly nowhere. He sighed a bit and smiled sadly, "I have returned...I assume you two had a nice talk?" Cain nodded weakly, sighing and burying his face in his elder brother's chest. He sobbed a bit, Vigil rubbing over his back and cooing in his ear until he stopped. "There, there we go..."

Have you come to a conclusion, then, Ryu?

The shocked merman had frozen when Cain started to cry, his hand lifting to pat his awkwardly on the shoulder while his brother comforted him. His brain was in turmoil. Why hadn't Vigil told him? Even if he choose to leave, he couldn't. His own father had left them, shortly after Alyssa had been born. Ryu couldn't do that to his child.

When he heard the other male voice in his head, he threw Vigil an accusing glare. ~Not much of a choice, now, hm?~ He sighed aloud. ~I..I'm sorry. It's just confusing. Haha, made into this and possibly becoming a father in the same day? It's a big thing. I'm still confused about everything. I...I will stay until we know, at least. How long does that take for you people?~

Cain seemed to become his usual self once he was gone from his brother's arms, doing a backflip in the water excitably and wriggling like he was excited. "I found some really good crabs, but I need help picking them up." He offered, smiling.

I didn't want to tell you in case you freaked out. I told Cain he shouldn't have said anything, but...he never listens unless you yell. A slight laugh echoed in Ryu's head, It doesn't take too long...a week, maybe ten days. We're very sensitive to other life, so I will be able to tell soon. But like Cain said, you have to be careful if we do have one...it will die if one of us dies. And it's obvious it will die with me, but..even if you died. That's... He cut himself off. Come, we should go get those crabs. They're delicious and large enough to feed us all.

The male listened quietly, wrapping his arms around himself. As Vigil tried to change the subject, he moved next to him, grabbing his wrist. "No, you need to tell me Vigil! I don't want anything else happening that draws me down deeper! I want to know what I am getting into. S-some crabs can wait, okay?" The last sentance was directed to both of the brothers. Ryu felt as if he was going to cry. All he'd wanted was to send some money home, how did his world become so topsy turvy?

Cain doesn't like to talk about it. His mate was killed by a whaling ship, and his child died, that is exactly what I was about to tell you. There was a sigh to his voice.

"You're getting into me, and our child, if we have one. I'm not about to let you run off on your own...but if you absolutely feel the need to get away from me, then I'll definitely just let you go. I'd never want to keep you trapped with me if you really detest me that much." He yanked his arm free and sighed, turning away again. "I don't know how to explain everything to you so that you'll understand."

The hand that had gripped Vigil was snapped back, as if Vigil had struck the hand. Ryu flinched himselfm hurt by the other male's actions. He'd been thrown in here suddenly, why did Vigil seem to want Ryu to throw himself down and yell 'Take me, I'm your for enternity!'?
"I...don't detest you Vigil. I just don't know yet." Ryu turned to Cain, forcing a tiny pained smile on his face, "Well? Where are those crabs? I'm starving...A-and thank you, for finding them."

"You're not only confusing yourself, you know. I'm fairly confused, myself." Vigil sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know what you want from me. You act like you want me around you, but then you tell me you don't. You act like you need me, and then you say or act like you'd rather I was gone." He closed his eyes, then turned again, looking at the two. "I apologize for taking you without you really wanting to come with me, but you could have prevented it." And been dead. He looked away again, closing his eyes.

Cain smiled, "Come on, I'll take you!" He took both males hands and began to swim downward, Vigil allowing himself to be tugged down. They simply had to help swim.

Ryu followed Cain, though he was yelling at Vigil in his mind. ~And you say you love me, but you will kill me if I don't obey you! Love isn't taking away someone's free will! I...I want you, very much. But I just don't love you yet. I don't know you, and all I want right now is to have some time, to get to know you. Although...~ Ryu faltered for a moment, before continuing. ~Vigil...why didn't you tell me that it usually only takes once? I would have refrained from...~ The old human's cheeks flushed red. ~Doing that, until I knew if we were truly compatable. And tell me, why does everyone seem to think of dying so much? Surely you live so long, you can't die very often. It seems a waste to think of it so much.~

I...don't know how else to keep you at my side. Threats work well with people, I have noticed. I...want to keep you. I've watched you for so long... A long pause and he licked his lips. A sigh, then, I...wanted a way to keep you to myself, but...I was afraid that if I told you...you'd never want to touch me again. It sounded honest; and it was, he was honestly worried about these things. Just because we live long, doesn't mean everyone does. Cain has come close to death more than one time, and...I've always worried about him. It may be a waste to you, but it's always on our minds. We live long because we keep it up there, knowing it can happen.

The male's green orbs flickered to stare at Vigil in suprise, though Ryu continued following Cain. He spoke aloud, without realizing it, though he was whispering. "Vigil...you could have just told me...that...That's not the way to keep someone by your side." Ryu offered him a wry smile, something that wasn't quite a laugh torn from his throat. "It would just push them away. It probably wouldn't matter if I asked you to stay honest with me in the future, hm? We are kind of lopsided, anyway. I can't survive without you, or hear what you're thinking...And I can't get pregnant either, right? Only those who are born like you can, right?" This was Ryu's way of changing the subject, as well as finding out if he could have something growning in him now. He glanced at his stomach, frowning slightly. What a strange thought.

"I'm sorry." Vigil sighed, moving over to kiss his cheek as they swam. "I can try to stay honest...but there are sometimes that I can't always be honest...if it's for your safety, you have to trust me." He replied softly, nodding a little. "You can't get pregnant, no, don't worry about that...only those born like I was can. And...our son will not be able to carry on his line until you are fully transformed." Chewing his lip, he looked down and shook his head. "I won't threaten you anymore, okay?"

Vigil's reply was a smile, and a kiss on the lips quickly, though this interfered with Ryu's swimming. The male spoke after he'd corrected himself, swimming straight now. "I'll try not to pester you if you can't tell m-Our son?" Ryu frowned, tilting his head. "How do you know it would be a boy?" His eyes were on Cain, a flush returning to Ryu's cheeks. How much had the younger male heard?