The Sky's Eternal Sunset

Part of That World

What would I give if I could live out of these waters?
What would I pay to spend a day warm on the sand?
Bet'cha on land they understand
Bet they don't reprimand their daughters
Bright young women, sick of swimmin'
Ready to stand

When's it my turn?
Wouldn't I love, love to explore that shore up above?
Out of the sea
Wish I could be
Part of that world

Part of Your World -Jodi Benson

⊂⁠(⁠◉⁠‿⁠◉⁠)⁠つ⊂⁠(⁠◉⁠‿⁠◉⁠)⁠つ⊂⁠(⁠◉⁠‿⁠◉⁠)⁠つ⊂⁠(⁠◉⁠‿⁠◉⁠)⁠つ

Aerith Gainsborough and Namine visit the laboratory every single day, bringing buckets of fresh fish from the market each time. She sits with her son and his merman mate, watching with curiosity as they eat and encouraging them to eat more in the way that only a latin mother can. Namine distracts them from their meals with frequent questions to log into a composition notebook.

Where will this pod go after the summer is over?

How long will it take for them to reach their destination?

When will they leave again to return to Jamaica?

Sora knows that her questions are a way to nail down a timeline to a relatively accurate schedule so they can time vacations for visitations. Sora's only problem with planning for visits is the worry of the waters becoming so dangerous lately. The governments don't make the safety of the mer outside the designated sanctuaries a high priority in this part of the world. With the recent poachers caught, the waters around Falmouth are safer but that doesn't mean there isn't any danger of new poachers filling their space. It might be years before anything is actually done to clean up the rogue elements in these waters.

And in the meantime, this ordeal could happen again to Roxas, himself, or any other mer in the pods.

Not ideal. Which is why Sora thinks to propose a question to Roxas one day after his family has left.

⛎Roxas?⛎ he hums, swirling his fingers through Roxas's hair as he lays in Sora's lap. He hums in acknowledgement, so Sora continues. ⛎How would you feel about...moving?⛎

♌Moving?♌ Roxas repeats. ♌Uncomfortable?♌he inquires and sits up.

⛎No, no,⛎ Sora laughs a little. ⛎Sorry. I didn't mean--I meant the pod.⛎

Roxas blinks at him quizzically and waits for elaboration.

⛎I'm worried it won't be safe for us in these waters. The poaching is getting worse and there aren't designated safe zones for travel yet, ⛎Sora tells him, hands gesturing signs for the words he knows both of. ⛎I think...maybe...the pods could be relocated to a safer country for a while.⛎

♌Oh, okay ♌Roxas nods in understanding, but then he shakes his head. ♌The pods won't go. The older ones, I mean. Too stubborn. Too traditional. Even if it would be safer, it's too unknown.♌

Sora deflates with disappointment but then perks up again. ⛎What about the younger pods?⛎

Roxas shrugs and let's out a, ♌maybe.♌

Sora smiles and leans against Roxas, tilting his head so that they're touching.

⛎I think...I can get the scientific community to relocate us to South Africa,⛎ Sora explains. ⛎Do you remember that pod I mentioned? Run by a Marakihau named Ephemer?⛎

Roxas frowns, looks up at the ceiling in thought, then shrugs again. ♌Sort of...♌

⛎Their pod houses the largest multi-species group in the world. Hybrids galore, including a Leviathan-Altean Hybrid just this year,⛎ Sora tells him and Roxas blinks in surprise.