tushanshu | 004 ♒ Audio & Text [Atlantean], Encrypted

[Encrypted Audio to anyone who might have known Mera or anyone on fairly good terms with Arthur, 60%]
[Arthur just sounds... tired. Resigned. He doesn't mince words trying to break the news gently, because he's the one who cares the most anyway.] Mera, my wife, has disappeared from Keeliai.

[Encrypted Audio to Kal-El/Superman, 80%]
I need to talk to you.

[Encrypted Text to Kaldur'ahm, Written Atlantean, Hackable]
[Feel free to have your character hack his text, but if they do, all they'll come up with is a bunch of odd symbols and glyphs arranged into what are possibly words. Atlantean is a fairly difficult language to parse through.]

Mera is... gone. There was no trace of her this morning, and I can't find her mental signature. Please come by when you get a chance, Kaldur, we need to talk about something important.

[ooc: He's being an antisocial douchebag, but anybody who knows him is absolutely welcome to just come by his place in the Water Sector. The first audio post I'm leaving pretty open-ended on purpose, feel free to just assume your character was included if they know him or Mera, or know OF them. Also feel free to hack it, it's all good.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[His eyes widen and their is a slackness in his hands on his knees, as if his fingers have forgotten how to clench. He had expected something like this from Arthur's previous words, but still, having it discussed and being reminded of how easily this could all come to an end.]

My K--Arthur, while I am humbled by your declaration, I do not believe I have the status to stand as your heir in any capacity. The Trident of Neptune is...a royal treasure, I could not--[He cuts himself off.] What you ask of me is the greatest honor but I could never be worthy of it. [He pauses only briefly because he doesn't want Arthur to get the wrong impression.] I will gladly look after anything you leave behind, but I am no heir.

[Arthur's expression softens a little, and he reaches out to lay a hand lightly on his shoulder.] You think too little of yourself, and of me if you think that I would ever agree that you aren't worthy. Family is not about worth, or blood. It's about standing together.

You're not my son, and I know you aren't even technically my protege, you have your own King and Queen, but I'm... I'm proud, to have had the chance to know you and fight with you. [Maybe he seems a little stiff as he says it, but... It's still hard to admit when he's outright fond of someone. He never told Garth enough how much he loved him.] Mera was very fond of you as well. You're more like her, I think she enjoyed that after Garth and Lorena being so much like me. She would want this too.

The Trident will respond to you as it does me. If you aren't comfortable using it in my theoretical absence, I understand, but don't say that you aren't worthy.

[Kaldur is a naturally reserved person himself. Give him disappointment, recrimination, a list of his failures and he will internalize it and strive to do better, to not make those mistakes again. Praise is something he has more trouble with. He is aware of his own strengths, but others pointing them out has always been awkward for him.

This is Arthur telling him that he values him. That he sees him as a partner. As family.

He doesn't know how to respond without insulting him more than he likely already has, but the hand on his shoulder doesn't feel like the weight it could be. He gives a small jerk of a nod, sitting up straighter at the trust and confidence Arthur is placing in him.]

I will remember for the future. [He hopes his words get the gratitude he feels across.]

[He doesn't need words in return. Kaldur's assent and the change in his posture tell him everything he needs to know, and he sits back, a little more relaxed, his smile slight but true. He just hopes that Kaldur sees that he's proud of him, that he appreciates having gotten to stand with him here. Maybe he's a little too familiar with him, but it's just the way he is, and his partners have always been family.]

Hopefully we won't need to have had this conversation, I have no intention of leaving if I can help it, not until it's all over, but there are some things that should not be left unsaid. [He knows he shouldn't just leave it unsaid that he values Kaldur as much as he values the others.]

[Kaldur cannot express how much the words of trust and affection mean to him. It's not that he sees Arthur as a replacement for King Orin, but after the months that he has been here, it has been comforting to have someone he could turn to, a stable anchor in which he could settle himself when he was unsure or needed to strengthen his own resolve. Arthur is not Orin, but he wishes to please him--to make him proud--nonetheless.]

We cannot decide when we come in go in an unknown world such as this and you are right that we should not let our hopes outweigh the reality of the situation. I will do my best to follow your wishes should you return home at anytime before I do.

[Then he pauses.] There is very little I leave behind myself should I depart unexpectedly, but Robin and Zatanna are both...young. Skilled, capable, but young. If possible, please look in on them if you could.

[Arthur would never want to try to replace Kaldur's actual king, just as he knows Mera never wanted to replace his actual queen, and he'd never want Kaldur to feel like he had to replace Jackson (or Lorena, whom Arthur is closer to). But he thinks they've really become partners here, the two of them, a mismatched Aquaman and Aqualad maybe, but still a pair. That's good enough for Arthur, and he's really gotten to know Kaldur in the past months.

He'll miss him, when he has to leave this place.] Thank you, Kaldur. [Because while he could leave the Chronicles and the Trident to Nita, or to Percy, or even to Superman for safe keeping, he wants his protege to have them.

The request seems to take him by surprise, a little, but... he's touched, to hear it, and he nods solemnly.] Of course I will.

004 ♒ Audio & Text [Atlantean], Encrypted

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