Taking over the Abyss

75- The Clam Before The Storm

As promised, you set off to put together a proper birth certificate for Durin. Durin watched over your shoulder as you worked, writing slowly to make sure every letter looked neat and proper. The ink you used had a touch of pearlescent shimmer to it thanks to the ink from Watatsumi Island's, and by extension Enkanomiya's, unique species of squid.

Having been born in a laboratory underground, Durin struggled to give much information about himself. He lacked a proper birthday, and his only reference frame on height and weight as a child was estimating by choosing from a selection of different baskets. You decided to go with his current measurements instead, and now your doorframe had a small line from where you took his height.

The second you handed it off to Durin, he grinned. Holding the paper carefully in his hands, he ran off to go show it to the nearest person other than you. Which happened to be Osial. Grunting when Durin collided with him, Osial took half a step back to stop himself from stumbling.

"Mister Osial, look!" Durin held up his birth certificate to show him. "Mom made this for me!"

"Alrighty, let's see..." Taking the birth certificate, Osial leaned back. One of his smaller hair serpents slithered across his face, mimicking a pair of reading glasses. Osial read over the contents, then gave a firm nod. "These coral patterns are to my liking. It would be even more glorious if it were inscribed unto one of my fangs! Perhaps I should scour the bottom of the ocean for one, hmm?"

Having wanting more compliments then that, Durin pouted and weakly bonked Osial with his horns. Osial chuckled and pat his head. "I'm joking. My shed teeth are much too large to be carried around so easily. It looks very good, young Durin."

Durin smiled and took his paper back. He ran off to go show the next person he recognized, while you lingered by Osial. "The two of you are getting along well."

"My knowledge of the ocean's bounty is simply irresistible." Osial pulled the hair tendril off of his face, letting it bite his finger. A more pensive look crossed his face. "We were both defeated by neighboring Archons, so he might see me as a kindred spirit. Or the more simpler option: he likes learning about fish."

Watching as Durin dragged Leiptr by the sleeve over to you, you gently bumped your shoulder as Osial's. He hissed at you in response, immediately earning the ire of your butler. In spite of their unique bond over crabs, Leiptr directed a scathing glare at Osial. "I hope you are not bothering Her Majesty this early in the morning."

"Bothering the queenie is part of my job description," Osial shrugged, unbothered by Leiptr's intimidation efforts. Ignoring the bickering, Durin let go of Leiptr's sleeve in favor of returning to you.

"Mister Leiptr drew some roses at the border for me!" He showed you his birth certificate, letting you get a good look at Leiptr's artwork. You smiled at the carefully drawn violet roses.

"It's lovely," you cast a brief glance up to Leiptr, who's stern expression melted into a warm smile. You brushed Durin's bangs out of his eyes. "Are you ready to go?"

Durin shook his bangs back into place, then nodded. "Yeah. Is there anything else I should bring?"

"No, it should be fine. If today is Neuvillette's day off, it shouldn't take more than a few minutes," you reasoned. The mention of Neuvillette's name caused Leiptr's expression to sour, while Osial hastily covered the lower half of his face to stop himself from smirking. "We can go from there. Nahida is fine with me visiting anytime, so..."

While you trailed off, Durin noticed Leiptr's mildly irritated scowl. He tilted his head innocently. "Mister Leiptr? What happened?"

"Ah," in an instant, Leiptr was all perfectly polite smiles. "Think nothing of it, Your Highness."