"I have told you already that we have lost the need for females..." Vigil smiled, kissing him gently. "Mermen like us are left as men, not women, and if we have a female, it is likely that she will die early..." He sighed, looking away, "So we hope for a male." He smiled a bit, looking to his brother, who blushed a little.

"What?" Cain questioned, head tilting a little as he chewed his own lip, then licked them.

"Why do the females die earlier than the males? And what does Cain have to do with that?" Ryu tilted his head, than shook it. "Nevermind. I'll be here for a while to learn all this, ne? Show me the snails!" He'd never understand these strange things. They were things he hadn't even imagined. Ryu reached, warily wrapping his fingers through Vigil's, glancing at him shyly.

Vigil smiled a little at him, leaning in and pecking his cheek gently before nuzzling up under his chin a moment, while they took a break from the crab-hunt.

"Teehee, silly, they're crabs, not snails!" Cain giggled, swimming in circles ahead of them and giggling like a madfish. "But they're like, absolutely huge! A whole one can feed me an' Vigil and have leftovers." Unless Vigil was in his dragon form, and then he could eat a boatload of the things and still crave flesh.

"Mm...they are really large crabs." Vigil purred, nuzzling against his new lover, almost affectionate as a cat.

The male was returning Vigil's affections, nuzzling the top of his head while his free hand alternating running through the beautiful teal hair, and running down the male's back. "You didn't answer my questions." Ryu pointed out, though he didn't seem to mind.

After a moment, he pulled away from Vigil, offering him a smile and he began swimming towards Cain once more. "I wouldn't know the difference in taste." He chuckled. "We may have lived by the ocean, but we farmed. The seafood we caught went to the Lord of our area."

Vigil certainly didn't mind, either, purring softly in his throat at the feelings of his affection returned. "Mm...you said 'nevermind', didn't you? I can explain later, if you remember." He smiled a bit, before following him to Cain.

"Oh...that's too bad. We'll show you the difference! Snails are much slimier, and we don't eat them very often." Cain smiled, wriggling happily and taking Ryu's hand, bolting down with Vigil following along behind for the ride. He didn't always enjoy rushing into things, like his baby brother did.

Ryu found a smile on his face, as he followed Cain. He reminded him of Hana. She found happiness in the smallest things, and was constantly rushing from one item of intrest to another. "I see, " He commented, "And how much farther are they?"

As he waited for the answer, he thought aloud, "Ya know, I'm kinda nervous about meeting others...Will they like me? Or be mad because I'm the king's mate or something?" He glanced shyly at Vigil, unsure of the underwater customs, and because he'd called the other male his mate aloud.

Cain smiled happily, "They're at the bottom!" He laughed, wriggling in excitement. "Come onnn~! You two are too SLOOOOOOOW! You need to hurry upppp~!"

Vigil sighed, shaking his head. "They shouldn't be angry. And if they are, I can make them agree with it." He smiled at that, "Oh, but we shouldn't have that problem." But then he realized something, and Cain seemed to at the same time.

"You just called him(me) your mate!?" Both brothers seemed overcome with excitement. Vigil suddenly tugged him close and kissed his lips, very excited that Ryu had said that.

The human had let out a loud squeak, as Vigil had kissed him. He blushed furiously, closing his eyes and willing his body to behave. How strange to want Vigil like this-all the time. After a moment, he gave a tiny shrug opening his eyes again. "It's not that big a deal, right? It's just your word for lovers, right?" He did oblige Cain, speeding up, tugging Vigil along.

"I told you, I like you, but I don't understand you." Ryu shook his head, adding, "I don't understand why you killed those people still." A thought popped into Ryu's head, though he tried to squash it. I'm drawn to you, even though I'm repulsed because of it... He glanced back at the male, a guilty look on his face. "See...I really don't like this mind thing...I just mean, killing isn't good, and I can't believe you did it, but, I still like you."

"Humans don't seem to understand much from here...to be completely honest, I don't know if you'll get it any time soon..." He sighed a little, "I killed them because I wanted you, and to be accepted onto your ship...I had to find a way." He rolled his eyes. "Humans don't notice me unless there's a wreck." A pause, "And I like you, too. Just ignore the killing...I might stop for you." Maybe.

The human flinched inwardly. That's not something you can ignore...When a killer might have your child. Dammit! Ryu threw an irritated glance at Vigil, though he wasn't truly upset with the male, just that his thoughts weren't his own. Frusturated with himself, Ryu put on a burst of speed, circling Cain a few times. "C'mon!" He teased, "I'm getting the hang of this, wanna race?"

Technically, your race is a killer of mine...and yet you feel no guilt about it. And yet, I still have your child. The ocean-dweller tried to put it in perspective, more than just what Ryu was seeing.

Cain smiled excitedly, "Yeah!" He took off quickly, down towards the bottom.

The newly made merman had frozen, staring at Vigil. As the younger male hurried off, Ryu followed, though clearly not trying to win anything. Ryu's thoughts held a bit of anger now. ~No! People don't kill for no reason, Vigil! Your people must have done something! I know the stories!~ Visions flashed through his mind, merpeople with fangs, devouring flesh. Sirens, luring humans unto sharp rocks out of spite. Sea serpeants, hungrily devoring shipfuls of people. ~Aren't those true, Vigil?~

They are true to an extent. We don't do it all on purpose, and I'm the only sea monster in the sea. It's how you know I'm king. An inward sigh, And Cain is a siren. He will sing and then stop; he fears people. We don't always do something to die, Ryu, as much as you hate us. Vigil was getting impatient again, and he sighed and shut off his thoughts once more.

~I didn't say I hated you, Vigil! I'm just mad at myself. What normal person does those things with...~ He looked pointedly at Vigil's tail. ~Plus, you are another male.~ The next part was spoken rather sadly. ~A lot of people say you go to hell for that.~ He hadn't stopped swimming the whole while, shivering a bit. The deeper they went, the more it seemed warmth was sucked out of the water. I didn't bother Ryu, but it was strange to feel the tiny changes in the water.

Not down here....there is no Hell. Vigil replied, closing his eyes. Do you want me to turn you loose, Ryu? You say you want me, but you also say you dislike me, as a...person, for lack of a better word. Vigil replied, chewing his lips before moving over. Do you want to stay with me, or do you want to go be normal up on land? He was sick of the contradictory.

Ryu had frozen, frowning back towards Vigil. "I...I want to get to know you. I'm sorry. People are very cryptic, always looking for the bad, and I guess that's something I need to unlearn." He swum back to Vigil, his fingers dancing over the male's stomach. "Besides, I can't leave now." He pressed his lips to Vigil, "I'm a bundle of emotions, and they haven't been sorted out just yet. Please, just be patient while I get to know you, okay?"

Vigil smiled a little as he paused and let the other touch and kiss him, returning it gently. "Alright...I will be patient." He offered with a smile, nuzzling him softly. "I expect you to learn, though...maybe not automatically, but I expect it." Because him not trying would just end up a bad situation.

Ryu gave him a shocked look. "How many questions have I asked since I've been here?" He smiled, laughing, "I obviously want to learn...C'mon, let's catch up to your brother and find those crabs..." He tugged the male downwards, attempting to find Cain in the murky depths.

After a moment, Cain came back up carrying a crab that spanned his whole body. "You guys are so slow!" He laughed, shaking his head.

"That's just a baby." Vigil whispered to Ryu, smiling and pointing to that crab. It didn't even seem to move; it just resigned itself to being eaten, it seemed.

"Together, we could all probably eat an adult and still have leftovers." Cain laughed, shaking his head.

Ryu poked the thingy curiously. How could something so ugly looking taste good. And how did you eat it? They didn't eat it alive, did they? The mermans green tipped fins flickered a bit, and Ryu looked at Vigil questioningly. He didn't feel the need to speak, since the other male could read his thoughts anyway.

"Cain, you're a siren? Can I hear you sing?" He asked the other male, while waiting for Vigil's answer.

No, we don't eat it alive. We smack it's head in, and once it's dead, we crack it open and eat everything that is edible. Then, we leave it on the floor. He smiled, nuzzling against him and licking his cheek.

Cain blushed slightly, nodding a little. His mouth opened and a voice, angelic and beautiful, left his lips. He swam lazily side to side for a moment, the notes pouring easily from his throat.

Ryu had returned Vigil's affections, though a suprisingly tiny part of him was screaming Smack it's head in?! As Cain began singing, and Vigil's tounge swiped across his cheek, the male resisted the urge to kiss him. Tiny shivers ran down his body, as Ryu tugged the other male closer to him. His cheeks flushed red, appalled at the way his body acted still. He glanced down, then at Vigil, then at Cain, giving the teenest of whimpers.

In the ocean, it was the most humane way to kill things. And the crabs seemed to respawn, anyway, so it was fine. Vigil rose a brow a little, feeling the affects of the song as well; that song could turn anyone into a ravenous, needy pile of flesh. "Are you alright, love?" He questioned softly in the other's ear.