Chapter 235 - New steps forward (2/2)

”Oh no, father, that's not why we're laughing.” Chary nodded to Scylla. ”We were just thinking how lucky you must feel that your wife wasn't nearly as vengeful!”

Poseidon narrowed his eyes at his daughter. ”Hahaha... You get paid to tell such jokes?” He asked sarcastically. When she stuck her tongue out at him and turned back toward the screen, he tossed a piece of popcorn at the back of her bright red head. ”That's what I thought.” He handed the bowl back to Ry right before Chary turned in irritation. ”What? I'm not the one with it. It was him. Go ahead beat the crap out of him. I'll wait.” When she only narrowed her eyes at her father before turning back around, he shrugged. ”Oh well, can't say I didn't try.” He said patting Shelly's head. Turning his attention back to Ry and Russ, he asked. ”Are the two of you ready aside from finishing your cartoons?” Ry nodded, but Russ continued staring at the screen in perplexity. ”Kid, you don't stop trying to think over there, your heads going to explode. What has you so confused anyways?”

Russ pointed to the screen. ”That's your son, Peg, right? Or at least supposed to be?”

Poseidon rolled his eyes. ”That's your big question?” He shook his head letting out a long breath. ”It was a poor depiction to be sure, and I'm sure he'd be pissed to see it... or amused... he did go through several interesting phases, but airhead wasn't one of them. He did work with some better-known individuals though. The story they are trying to mix with this one is that of Bellerophon.” He shrugged, ”As I said there's very little of this that's actually accurate.”

Ry stood and patted Russ teasingly on the head. ”Trust me, this is the least stupid thing he's asked today.” Setting the bowl down beside Shelly, he gave her an affectionate pat as he moved past her. Nodding toward bags by the door, he said to Russ. ”Say your goodbyes and grab your bags, it's time we get going.”

Poseidon nodded toward Chary and Scylla. ”She'll be alright here with you guys until Arei and Jos can make it down?”

Chary nodded, sending a warm smile toward Shelly. ”Completely, dad. Don't worry about us, though I can't promise we'll keep it on cartoons once you boys leave.” She gave Shelly a playful wink.

Poseidon shook his head as he chuckled. ”Alright. Well, if you need me or something comes up call my cellphone. I'm going by Don while I'm with these two, for the record.”

”Alright, but I'm sure everything will be fine.” Chary said as she waved him away and grabbed the remote and began scrolling through different movie options. Finding the movie section she was looking for, she turned her attention back up to the men in the room. ”Now, unless you guys want to watch some romcoms with a good portion of p&v, I suggest making your exits.”

Ry and Poseidon shook their heads at the same time. ”I would say not to corrupt Shelly too much but considering she was raised by that crazy a.s.s fairy, I'd say there isn't much room for it...” Ry through in as he lifted his bags over one shoulder. ”Ready?” He asked as Russ straightened with his bags in hand.

Russ shrugged. ”I guess... I assume there's no way I can say goodbye to Jos-”

”Nope, not even a chance.” Ry replied before her name was even all the way past his lips.

”Well in that case...” Russ stepped onto the other side of Poseidon in anticipation of the teleportation powers of the god. In less time than it takes to blink, the luxurious home theater was gone replaced by the dank, dark cavernous entrance to his own kingdom. Russ blew out an exasperated breath. ”Ah, home sweet home...” He said sarcastically. Turning his focus away from the narrow stairway leading up the side of the steep cliffs, he huffed out. ”You could have at least popped us in at the top of the stairs.”

Poseidon laughed as he walked past Russ, patting his shoulder as he went. ”Boy, walking some stairs will be the least strenuous thing we do while on this island... Hell, probably the least of the night.”

A devious smile spread over Ry's lips as he headed eagerly toward the stairs. ”Yeah, I'd say Ol' Ferny boy isn't going to be too pleased with our unannounced drop-in, or the fact that our party has increased in number.”

Poseidon smiled devilishly back at his son. ”Here's to hoping. It's been quite some time since I've had a good shuffle with someone who didn't recognize who I was straight away.”

Ry studied his father thoughtfully. ”Speaking of which, what look are you going to take on? What's Don's back story?”

Poseidon stroked his chin thoughtfully as he took the stairs with ease. ”I figured to keep from having to work as hard on keeping up a constant disguise, I'd stick somewhat close to what I normally look like. We've agreed to keep my claim here secret for the time being, so I figured saying I was a possible investor or something of those grounds will work. I want Fern to sell me whatever it is that's bringing revenue to this island. It will also give me personal access to his books and other facets of the palace and surrounding properties, in case he tries limiting the kid's access.”

Ry gave an impressed nod. ”You've really thought things through.” Sending Russ an irritated look, he added. ”It's a nice change to this kid's lack of a single thought...” He slapped Russ upside the head. ”Come on kid, you haven't said shit all evening. It's out of character and quite frankly kind of scary. You plotting world domination or something over there?”

Russ glared at the massive man coming up the narrow staircase behind him. ”I'm not thinking about anything. I just don't have anything to say to your dumb a.s.s. Talk about my lack of thoughts, who nearly got our asses ate on f.u.c.k.i.n.g Jos's mom's island? That was a half-assed, retarded idea if I've ever seen one!”

Poseidon chuckled. ”Kid's got a point.” He shrugged. ”I guess now that the trials and sentencing are over, you can give up that notion anyway.”

Ry shook his head. ”I'm not giving up on trying to break Jos's curse... I'm just postponing it for the time being...”

Poseidon frowned. ”I don't understand why you're so dead set on this all of a sudden. It's most likely useless anyways. She's not going to do something for nothing, and you have nothing she'd want.”

Ry kept his expression as blank as possible. ”It's the least I can do for her after all the pain I've inadvertently caused her... and there is one thing I have that Calypso would want...”