under the sea

Princess Ariel Mermont. Just seventeen years old. Atlantica royalty. ♔ I wanna be where the people are. . .

[maddoxborealis-blog]

“You were worried about me? I was almost out of my mind with worry about you.” 

“I’m pretty sure I’d notice if I was missing a fin—or scales for that matter—so I would say yes, I’m okay. Are you okay? It all got really crazy for a bit.”

[pprincessariel-blog1]

"Yes, yes, I'm perfectly fine! I couldn't find you anywhere though! And I just...I thought...I was so scared..."

"Crazy is the understatement of the year! Our first ever time on land, Maddox, and a woman turns into a dragon! This can't possibly be a regular occurrence, can it? I - either way, I'm just so glad that I found you!"

[princederic-blog]

“I’m glad we happened upon one another again. Sincerely, I am.”

“And…I’m beyond pleased that your father is allowing you to attend the costume ball; I was hoping I’d stumble across you again. The festival’s conclusion was quite unfortunate, but…not everything that happened there was terrible. Not in the slightest. I am going, yes. Do you–that is, do you have an escort yet? Or a costume, for that matter?”

[pprincessariel-blog1]

"Oh, so am I! It was so lovely meeting you at the festival last week - I've been thinking about it ever since!"

"I - no, no, I don't have an escort to the Halloween ball just yet. Do, um...do you? I'm also not quite sure what to wear as a costume! Something that doesn't bother with a great deal of clothing would be nice...I don't like feeling so covered up all the time! Do you have any ideas, Prince Eric? This'll be my first time celebrating Halloween ever!"

[princederic-blog]

“…So you’ll be attending, then? The costume ball in Maldonia?”

[pprincessariel-blog1]

"Prince - Prince Eric! Hi! I was wondering when I’d see you again!”

"Surprisingly, yes! I wasn't sure if my father was going to allow me to attend given the events that took place at the last ball, but...he seems to think it very important that we continue to grow our alliance with the human kingdoms, so thankfully he agreed that it would be okay for me to accept the invitation! I'm so excited - I've never been to a Halloween party before! You're - you're going as well, I take it? I...I'll be able to see you again?"

[jacqueslefou-blog]

“I doubt that, unless the prince is a real ass and wants to give everyone a good scare by involving another dragon.”

[pprincessariel-blog1]

"Oh, I - that would be rather terrible, wouldn't it? Hopefully that isn't the case. But - hello! I don't think we've met before, little guppy. What is your name? I'm Ariel!"

[floundermurphy-blog]

“Of course not, Ariel. It was a one-time thing, I’m sure that took a lot of energy out of her. I mean, she did turn into a giant scaly beast so I can imagine it would take lots of energy at least.”

[pprincessariel-blog1]

"Well I would most certainly hope that isn't something she's capable of doing on a regular basis, oh my goodness! Honestly, I'm surprised my father is even allowing me and my sisters to attend the latest ball given the excitement at the last one - are you going as well, Flounder? To the Halloween party? I've only just learned what Halloween is, but apparently there are costumes involved!"

[maddoxborealis-blog]

“I certainly hope not, that last one was bad enough. I’ve had my fill of dragons for the rest of my life.”

[pprincessariel-blog1]

"Maddox! There you are, I was so worried about you! Come here!"

"Are you okay? None of you got eaten, right? You're not missing a fin or even a single one of your scales?"

[pprincessariel-blog1]

"...There won't be any dragons at this next ball, will there? I mean - costume dragons, maybe, but no real ones!"

[princederic-blog]

At First Sight || Eric & Ariel

[princederic-blog]

Being a prince required Eric to dress in his absolute best; freshly-pressed trousers, newly polished shoes, a crisp dress shirt, vest, and tailcoat were all worn by the Prince of Aldora. He had the latest and greatest of Verden fashions to go off of, but at the end of the day, the clothes Eric wore mattered very little to him. They were just another thing that indicated his status as a member of the royal family and nothing more. That and, you know, the clothes were bloody scorching in the mild October weather that Corona was emitting. The most joy Eric got out of the outfit was the realization that he wasn’t the only gentleman prancing around the ballroom who was required to wear them; all around him, he found a sea of variously-styled and lengthened frock coats, tailcoats, and sack coats. Some men had even chosen to don top hats and monocles for the occasion, and Eric found himself momentarily thanking God above that his mother hadn’t thought of those ridiculous accessories to add to his formal wear. 

Despite his reluctance and distaste for the many layers of clothing that society deemed it acceptable and proper for him to wear, Eric had to admit that he enjoyed eyeing the young women who flitted from room to room, showing off their pretty hair-dos and flowing gowns (most likely picked and tailored specifically for the occasion, of course). The ballroom was a sea of coats and fluttering skirts, and Eric found himself swelling with excitement and anticipation as he continued to scan the crowd for a familiar face or potential mate. Thus far into the afternoon, he hadn’t run into too many nobles from the Aldorian court to spend his time with, and Eric feared he’d have to resign himself to having Corona’s noble chancellor introduce him to the eligible young women now gracing the dance floor when he spotted her. Truthfully, Eric didn’t know what first drew him to the young woman; was it her brilliant hair, her shimmering dress, or something else entirely? There, just by the entrance to the ballroom, stood a woman so dazzling that Eric found himself clenching tightly to his glass of honeyed wine. She had hair the color of rubies; a long, rich, flowing mane that extended down the length of her back. Coupled with the soft blue dress she donned–one that showed off her exquisite shoulders in a tantalizing and forbidden way and shimmered like the ocean when she moved–she was a vision in smears of red and blue. He subconsciously cocked his head as he observed her across the room, trying to figure out if he could place a name to the stranger. He couldn’t recall ever seeing her in any of his trips to other kingdoms, and he knew she couldn’t have been a noblewoman or high-ranking heiress from his own court, so…who was she? Where did she come from?

It was high time for Eric to find out…and to claim her before anyone else did.

Downing the rest of his drink and setting the empty goblet aside, Eric was quick to weave his way through the crowd. One of his father’s advisers approached him from the side, opening his mouth to speak–most likely to inquire about the whereabouts of the King–but without pausing to look back at the elderly gentleman, Eric called out,  “Forgive me, there’s something I need to tend to.” 

He refused to let anyone stop him from reaching his destination–if he paused or redirected his attention for even a moment, then the young woman might disappear into the dense crowd of the ballroom. With his heart hammering in his chest and his eyes focused on the beautiful girl across the room, Eric craftily maneuvered around the men and women chattering and dancing alike, and by the time he’d reached the redhead, Eric could already feel his lips curling back into a pleased grin.

“Mademoiselle,” he began, his voice soft and gentle. He dipped his head a bit in formal greeting, and by the time he’d lifted his gaze to hers once more, the grin was already widening across his face. “Would you…give me the honor of the next dance?”

[pprincessariel-blog1]

Ariel had meant every word when she had breathlessly confessed to herself that she had absolutely no clue just where it was that she was supposed to begin - Corona, in all of its warm and sunny glory, had been overwhelming enough as it was, but the castle ballroom was something else entirely. Everywhere that she looked, finely-dressed ladies and gentleman went back and forth between conversing and dancing with one another, light and sure of foot as they fluttered to and fro, and beneath the flushed and overheated skin that led down to the slight cleavage left exposed by her pretty dress, the young princess could feel her heart racing as rapidly as a school of fish attempting to escape a ravenous shark. Already, this was everything that she had ever dreamed of, a brand new world completely unlike the one that she had spent the first seventeen years of her life growing up in, and while there was no doubting the fact that she adored Atlantica and her home beneath the sea, she couldn't help but feel as if a part of her belonged up on land as well. Truthfully, she was torn, and she wished fervently that she could somehow split her time between both the ocean and the shore above it, if only because now that she had finally been given a taste of the human world and everything that it had to offer, she wasn't certain that she could ever be truly content with a life spent solely under the sea anymore. Not when there was just so much more to be seen, so much more to explore...the three measly days she had been given to spend at the festival weren't nearly enough, but even still, Ariel was determined to make the most of them.

Scanning the ballroom with bright and curious eyes, Ariel's gaze fluttered excitedly around the dance floor, and with the intention of hopefully joining in with the rest of the humans, she took a tentative step forward on feet that were still brand new and unfamiliar to her, just barely remembering to reach down to daintily lift the hem of her dress so that she didn't trip over the length of it and fall flat on her face. That was the absolute last thing that she wanted, after all - each and every one of the humans mingling with one another seemed graceful and poised, clearly noble in heritage and more than capable of navigating a busy ballroom, and while Ariel might have been clumsy and naive in comparison, her eagerness to immerse herself nevertheless hopefully more than made up for any and all of her inexperience. It was just when she was about to politely ask one of the nearest gentlemen if he would mind explaining to her the different sorts of dances there were to choose from on land that Ariel realized that someone was already approaching her. Long, dark, and voluminous lashes fluttered delicately as her eyes opened wide to fall upon the stranger coming towards her, and the moment she finally caught sight of them - caught sight of him - Atlantica's youngest princess felt her breath catch in her throat in the form of a breathy and startled little gasp, because...oh, Neptune. With all the determination of a lion stalking towards a gazelle, the most handsome man that Ariel had ever seen was encroaching upon her; he was tall and broadly-built, with the sort of frame that could have only been achieved through years upon years of hard work, and his features were classically chiseled, almost as if he had been sculpted out of the finest ivory, and there was something so...something so familiar about his regal appearance that Ariel couldn't quite bring to mind - as it was, she was too distracted by the fact that he was approaching her to begin with.

He was halfway to her, but Ariel couldn't help but hasten to meet him in the middle, her dainty hands trembling as she clutched at the hem of her dress and did her best to weave through the crowded ballroom in search of the gentleman clearly seeking her out. Her heart was racing even faster than before now, almost as if it was attempting to guide her towards the dark-haired nobleman, as if there were some sort of powerful and binding force urging them to come together as one right there in the middle of the ballroom. Whatever it was, Ariel was helpless to do anything but submit to it, and eventually, she and the stranger were face to face, and she was unable to stop herself from noticing that...up close, he was somehow even more handsome than he had been from across the room. He had a strong jaw and a beard that lined it, and there was a glint of something in his bright-blue eyes that reminded her of the ocean, an unpredictable force of nature that, if she was being completely honest, she was more than willing to allow it to consume her whole. Flushed and out of breath, there was no way for Ariel to manage so much as a single sentence, but thankfully, the stranger spoke first - in a voice that was soft and gentle and just barely able to be heard in the ballroom that had been filled to the brim with Corona natives and tourists alike, he greeted her, and he asked if she would accept his offer of sharing the next dance, dipping his head in what was clearly a noble gesture. Ariel stumbled over her newborn feet in her attempt to return it, crossing her ankles and bending at her knees in a clumsy curtsy that she had seen one of the women in the village perform earlier on in the day. She didn't know who this man was, or why he seemed so startlingly familiar to her, but she did know that she was drawn to him, and that dancing with him would undoubtedly be the highlight of her entire evening.

"Only so long as you don't mind the fact that I've never actually danced before in my entire life," Ariel finally managed to respond with a breathy laugh and a sunny smile, tucking a glimmering wave of vibrant-red hair behind her ear as if that would do anything to fix its natural chaotic state.  She felt warm and even a little lightheaded, as if she had consumed far too much of Corona's famous honeyed wine, because she was taking to a human, a human man at that, and he was, without a doubt, captivating and enticing in ways that she couldn't even begin to describe. "You'll have to teach me, monsieur - or, at the very least, give me a few pointers." She offered him a shy smile then, ducking her head just a little bit and looking up at him with her pouty bottom lip tucked between her teeth. She was nervous, of course, but excited as well, and there didn't seem to be any way for her to hide it. "But so long as you aren't opposed to any of that...I'd be honored, sir." 

[pprincessariel-blog1]

Maddox & Ariel | Fish Out of Water

[maddoxborealis-blog]

He’d heard the legends of course, a princess taken without a trace and then rescued years later. Atlantica, along with all the other kingdoms in Verden, had celebrated heavily at the news with a party that lasted most of the night. Maddox didn’t enjoy it, failing to see exactly what was so special about a princess from a different kingdom being returned but as with most things he was with Ariel who was practically ecstatic, claiming it was something out of a fairytale. Maddox had never really liked fairytales, they’d always seemed to phony to interest him but the young princess he called his best friend did so he entertained her wild ideas about what could have actually happened while the princess was gone and now that she may actually get to find out she was practically over the moon.

It wasn’t Maddox’s first time using his legs, that honor belonged to a night many years ago which was coincidentally also the night he lost his virginity to a female dock worker that he couldn’t remember the name of—not that he’s broadcast that to Ariel— but it was the first time he’d ever stayed out of the water long enough to bother with putting on clothes and it was the first time for a certain princess. He wasn’t too proud to admit he got a small amount of enjoyment from watching her learn how to use her human form although it turned out he wasn’t much better at walking than she was, something he was certain would come up in a horrifically embarrassing way eventually. She had a knack for that.

Knowing how excited Ariel was Maddox had already resigned himself to a day spent faking excitement for her sake. He would never intentionally upset her and knowing that if didn’t seem like he was having a good would ruin this for her he’d put on his best happy face, which admittedly didn’t actually look that happy, and gone along with whatever she’s wanted. Which is why they were currently walking down a busy street in one of the many villages in Corona. Surrounded by humans, Maddox didn’t think he’d ever felt less relaxed than he did now and the looks they were getting didn’t help. He personally was used to lingering stares at his tattoos, even under the sea people weren’t fond of the image they and his perpetually displeased look presented but Ariel was not and he had to restrain himself from getting furious with everyone that shot her a confused look as she exaimed items that were , to them at least, commonplace. He couldn’t describe the comfort it gave him when she tucked her small hand into the crook of his arm, both because it was assure she was there and assure she was there with him.  She flitted between tables, more often than not dragging him with her, looking at everything she possible could and keeping up a running commentary that somehow soothed the frayed ends of his nerves even if he was barely paying attention. It wasn’t until they were standing at a table covered with small, colorful baubles that he caught the word “weapon” that he turned his head to look. She was holding a small, lacy fan and looking at it with an expression of all out bewilderment. 

“I don’t think that’s a weapon, Ariel. I’m pretty sure it’s just for decoration.” He glanced at the elderly merchant who just nodded his head. “Why don’t we go get some cupcakes? I’m not entirely sure what they are but I’ve heard plenty of people talk about them.”

He pulled her away from the table without waiting for a response, not sure of where he was going but unwilling to ask anyone for directions. Figuring there were people coming from this direction so there must be something that way he set off with Ariel beside him.

[pprincessariel-blog1]

If there was one thing that Ariel was as excited about as she was exploring the world above the ocean for the very first time, it was the fact that she was being given the opportunity to do so with Maddox. He was her best friend in all the seven seas, and while she knew how difficult it was for him to be around humans, to surround himself with the very same species that had taken his family away from him, she was still so overwhelmingly grateful that he had been so selfless in his decision to ensure her safety on land by accompanying her to Corona. It was such a brave and valiant thing for him to do, and her heart ached with the knowledge that it had been done entirely for her benefit - any other guard could have been assigned to watch over King Triton's youngest daughter, no harm no foul, and yet Maddox had insisted that he be the only merman for the job. Despite how much Ariel might have protested the fact that she even needed to be kept under twenty four seven protection in the first place, she still valued Maddox's presence in her life more than she could even begin to express out loud, and she hoped that, even with the painful memories that surely came with visiting the human world, she would be able to assist him in creating a batch of new ones with her.

With one last longing look at the pretty little trinket she had been eyeing, Ariel allowed Maddox to lead her away from the stand with little more than a wistful sigh, tucking her dainty hand securely within the curve of his muscular arm once more and falling into step alongside him. It didn't matter that he towered over her so effortlessly - just as they had managed to learn how to swim in sync beneath the sea, walking side by side with one another was beginning to feel as natural as breathing, aside from the occasional stumble on both their parts as they got used to the sensation of having legs to begin with. "Cupcakes?" she asked curiously, bright blue eyes flitting upwards to meet his gaze; somehow, he seemed to know exactly where to lead them, but Ariel wondered if that was more out of his reluctance to stop and ask for directions than anything else. "I wonder what those are - cake in a cup, maybe? Ooh, do you think they'll have the ones shaped like sand dollars like we do? The ones we always have wrapped in bits of seaweed around Christmas?" Even as she spoke, completely oblivious as to how strange and unfamiliar words must have seemed to the humans surrounding them, Ariel chattered on happily nonetheless, even when they received several odd and quizzical stares from numerous festival attendees. Maddox, however, garnered several appreciative glances all on his own...the majority of which coming from women who didn't quite seem to know whether or not they were allowed to be attracted to someone as brooding and heavily-tattooed as her Maddox was. Ariel clung tighter to his arm as a result, resisting the urge to glare at each and every one of the females that looked him up and down with wide eyes - didn't they realize that he was taken?!

Or...well...sort of, anyway. She liked to think of him as hers, at the very least.

They continued on in their search of cupcakes, Ariel eagerly drinking in the sights of everything that Corona had to offer, and Maddox remaining stiff and guarded at her side. He was naturally quiet by nature, but she didn't like how on-edge he seemed, even if it was part of his job to always be alert and prepared. Gingerly, she drew them a little way's away from the crowd they had been following, and she gave his arm a gentle squeeze before leaning up on the tips of her toes to speak in a soft voice meant just for him. "You're...you're doing alright, honey?" she asked quietly, looking up at him with worry and concern shining fervently in her azure-blue eyes. "It isn't too much? I mean - we can always take a break if you need to! Maybe head down to the lake to dip our tails in the water? I mean - feet?" 

[princederic-blog]

At First Sight || Eric & Ariel

Eric Andersen, Prince of Aldora and well-known for being particularly laid back and carefree, absolutely loved the prospect of a decent party. Not the kinds noblemen and kings threw for the royal court; stuffy occasions where people had to stand stiff and straight as poles and comment on political matters and foreign affairs that they truly didn’t care about. No, no…the parties Eric Andersen loved where the ones held in secret or in large town squares and peasant villages; parties that allowed for the freedom of dancing and drinking and dining on fine cuisine catered by the best chefs in all the land. He loved parties where people got a bit too tipsy; where they slurred with giddy excitement and pressed up against one another intimacy as the heat of the room and the excitement of the event got their hormones worked up and their hearts racing. In short, Corona’s Festival of Joy was the sort of social function Eric had been craving all year.

With ballroom dancing, a grand banquet located within the castle, and all sorts of activities to keep visitors and citizens of Corona alike entertained, Eric had no idea which booth or area of the country to dedicate his attention to first. It was excellent on behalf of the King and Queen to invite all allied members of Verden to join in on the fun, and Eric appreciated the thought and effort that had gone into making this festival everything it could be. He’d walked the streets of the surrounding peasant villages all morning in order to make his way to the castle and had been distracted by all of the marvelous entertainment he’d come across. Some of the commoners were tossing bets and engaging in drinking contests with one another over by an ale stand; men and women alike were lining up to participate in the archery contest that would take place in the early hours of the afternoon, and there had been a long line of children just aching to have their faces painted  by a young woman from his own country who had volunteered her talents to the booth. Corona was thriving and buzzing with life, and the possibilities that the day held were tantalizing.

To start his afternoon off with (after spending the morning gazing at the various booths as he weaved through the towns), Eric decided to head inside the castle to check things out. After pouring himself a glass of the delicious (and widely known!) honeyed wine that Corona had to offer, the prince headed to the grand, spacious ballroom to survey the crowd. There were some people he was familiar with–both residents of Aldora and expanding throughout the various subkingdoms of Verden–but there were also several faces Eric had never come across before in his travels. He was eager to find a dancing partner, and so he gazed over the top of the crowd, looking for a familiar face or acquaintance to spend the duration of the dancing hour with.

[pprincessariel-blog1]

Corona was absolutely everything that Ariel had hoped it would be: a fantastically magical introduction to the human world that she was only just now visiting for the first time in her entire life. The Celebration of Joy being held in honor of Princess Sonnenblume’s safe return home was proving to be even more spectacular than the invitations had promised it would be; there was no shortage of fun or festivities, and everywhere that young Ariel turned, there was something new and exciting for her to explore. Having legs, of course, a pair of long and slender and shapely ones, took a great deal of getting used to – crawling out of the ocean had been a feat in itself, but navigating the busy streets of Corona had been something else entirely. Despite her initial struggles, however, and with quite a bit of assistance from her bodyguard, Ariel had managed to get the hang of it eventually – and now, she was all but dancing wherever she went. She felt light on her feet and as free as a bird, and though she knew that she would have to return home to Atlantica before the sun rose upon the ocean blue, she was determined to make the most of every single moment she had left on land. She had spent the entirety of the day with Maddox, and now, she was on her way to the castle for another highly-anticipated aspect of the festival: ballroom dancing.

First, she changed into the dress that her father had given her to wear upon visiting the castle; it was a fluttering, weightless sort of gown composed of robin’s egg blue silk and chiffon, and it floated daintily up around her knees and hung lower in the back, the off the shoulder sleeves leaving her upper arms and décolleté entirely exposed. It was still far too much fabric, as far as Ariel was concerned, but at least it was feather-light, and it almost seemed to shimmer when she moved, just like the ocean she had been born and raised in. She left her hair long and loose, allowing it to spill luxuriously down the length of her dainty back in rich, fiery waves, and after nearly forgetting to slip into the pair of bothersome kitten heels she had been forced to don as well, Ariel deemed herself ready. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she felt as if she hardly recognized herself – she was someone else entirely, a human, and she found herself wishing that it wasn’t merely an illusion that would cease to exist by the time she swam back home to Atlantica.

Now, she was wandering through the grand halls of the Sonnenblume castle, looking around with wide and curious eyes as she allowed herself to absorb every inch, every detail, of the tapestries lining the corridors and the fire-lit torches that hung above them. She still couldn’t believe just how fantastical everything was – she still couldn’t believe that she was here to begin with. It took her longer than it should have to find her way to the ballroom, but only because she took her time engrossing herself in the castle itself, but finally, she was there, and a royal-looking butler held one of the French-style doors open for her before allowing her to enter. Immediately, Ariel was in awe, and it shone brightly on her flushed and glowing face, in the way her eyes opened so wide it was almost comical – the ballroom was exquisite, stunning in its intricacies and all of the details it had to offer, but what was more were the people inside of it. Everywhere she looked, men and women in elaborate formal wear were dancing and exchanging pleasantries with one another, and Ariel hardly knew where to look as she drank in their elaborate outfits and the way that they flounced and fluttered across the ballroom floor.

“Oh wow,” she whispered breathlessly to herself, taking a few brave steps towards the crowded dance-floor, using her tiny hands to hold up the hem of her dress so that it wouldn’t drag behind her. Her heart was racing hummingbird-fast, and her cheeks were flushed with rosy heat that spread all the way down to the tops of her breasts and her bare shoulders…she was so excited that she could hardly bear it. “I – I don’t even know where I’m supposed to begin.”

[pprincessariel-blog1]

Maddox & Ariel | Fish Out of Water

It was finally the day that Ariel had been looking forward to all month long: Corona's much-anticipated Festival of Joy. Ever since the news of Princess Rapunzel's safe return home had spread throughout Verden like wildfire, each and every one of the kingdoms had been beside themselves with happiness - it was something right out of a fairytale, after all...a princess believed to be dead by the majority of the world reunited with her parents after sixteen long years and claiming her rightful place on the throne was hardly something that happened on a regular basis. Even Atlantica, as deep beneath the sea as they might have been, celebrated the young princess' homecoming, and so when they had been invited to attend the festival being held in Rapunzel's honor, King Triton had hardly hesitated at all before responding with his hearty agreement, much to the delight of his daughters as well as his court, and now, for the first time in young Ariel Mermont's seventeen years, she was being granted the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: to venture up onto land and explore it to her heart's content. It was something that she had dreamed of ever since she was a little girl, and then even more so when she was a teenager sneaking out after curfew just to catch a glimpse of the humans frolicking on the shore - for as long as she could remember, Ariel had longed to explore the world that was so different from her own, and...now, she was finally able to do just that. Her father worried, of course - she was his youngest, the only one of his daughters below the age of eighteen, and the fact that Ariel's rebellious streak was well-known didn't exactly help matters in the slightest. However, knowing that she would be with Maddox at all times soothed his anxious mind - for who else was better than to watch over his precocious baby girl than the knight he had personally enlisted into the royal guard himself?

With the matter of Ariel's protection having been sorted out, she was finally given the go-ahead to swim up from the ocean blue and take on her human form for the very first time. It had been extraordinarily strange, of course, but as disarming as it might have been for her, she knew that it had easily been a thousand times worse for Maddox. Though she wanted so desperately to enjoy the festival with her closest friend, she knew that this wasn't something that he was looking forward to - celebrating with human royalty, the very same league of people that had led to the death of his parents? She didn't blame him for being as reluctant as he was, and truth be told, she was startled that he had still agreed to accompany her to begin with. Then again...Ariel couldn't recall a time in her life in which her trusty bodyguard hadn't been there for her, and she supposed that now was no different. Still, she couldn't help but worry and fret over him - Maddox had been through hell and back, and the absolute last thing that she wanted was to cause him any sort of pain and suffering. He had already endured far more than a man of twenty-four should have, and so Ariel was determined to make the most of their time together on land - hopefully, it wouldn't be nearly as bad as he feared. Hopefully, he wouldn't regret having accepted the task of guarding her in the first place. She loved spending time with Maddox, and she couldn't stomach the thought of him ever thinking that the time he spent watching over her was little more than a barely-tolerated chore. 

Having given themselves a day to grow somewhat-accustomed to walking and finding their land legs, Maddox and Ariel were now strolling down one of Corona's very busy streets - well, Maddox might have been strolling, but Ariel was more or less dancing, skipping to and fro and tripping over her inexperienced feet once or twice whenever she thought that she could move quiver than she could. She was ridiculously, overwhelmingly excited, and her wide eyes and breathless gasps garnered them more than a few quizzical stares - combined with Maddox's numerous tattoos and the ever-present brooding look on his face, they were quite the pair indeed. "Maddox, look! What do you suppose that this is?" Gingerly, Ariel used the dainty hand that was tucked within the crook of Maddox's strong and muscular arm to guide them over to a nearby stall where a kind-faced merchant was selling their wares. Spread out upon the table were several colorful knickknacks, none of which Ariel had ever seen beneath the sea. Gently, carefully, with all the reverent awe that came from being a mermaid exploring the human world for the first time, Ariel picked up what appeared to be a handcrafted fan, delicate and made entirely out of lace. Her brows furrowed together in confusion, and she looked up at Maddox to see if he had any clue as to what the strange object might have been, all the while resisting the urge to pluck at the strap of her sundress that was already beginning to slip down the swell of her small shoulder once more. The one thing that she didn't like about being human was the clothes...even beneath the sea, she didn't like to wear much, and up on land, she felt as if she were drowning in fabric, despite the fact that she was wearing hardly more than a little slip of a dress and a pair of sandals. "Is it some sort of...toy? A - a weapon, maybe? Whatever it is, it - oh gosh, it's beautiful, isn't it?"

[maddoxborealis-blog]

“Then as your best friend I feel obligated to let you know that you’re about as scary as a goldfish and anyone you have “words” with will more than likely laugh at you but I honestly appreciate the sentiment.”

“Not worrying about you is about as likely as enjoying my time up there but since there’s no way you’re going to stay here the more you get to do on land the less likely you are to want to go back. If I’m your favourite then promise me you want go to far without me? I’d feel much better about this whole ordeal if I had a good idea of where you were at all times.”

[pprincessariel-blog1]

"I - hey! I'm not a goldfish! I'm...I'm...I'm a shark! A really big, fierce, and strong one! I wasn't supposed to tell you this, you know, but in all actuality, I was put in charge of protecting you...we just didn't want to hurt your feelings."

"Of course I won't go too far without you! We'll have lots of fun on land together - I promise. You're going to come with me to the festival tomorrow, right? The one in Corona? There's supposed to be dancing! And - oh, oh, then we need to go and try out all the games, too! Gosh, there's just...there's so much to do, Maddox! I don't even know if my legs will be able to carry me for all of it! I still can't believe that I'm going to have legs to begin with!"

[maddoxborealis-blog]

“You’re way too kind to me, you know that? I know he hasn’t been wrong yet but there’s a first for everything and I don’t trust them, Ariel. I don’t trust them in the slightest and you aren’t exactly going to sit around surrounded by guards the entire time, I know you too well to expect that.”

[pprincessariel-blog1]

"I'm kind to you because I love you, silly. You're my best friend! And I hate knowing that you're upset...I hate knowing that you're in pain, Maddox. You don't have to trust the humans - not yet, okay? You - you can get to know them, and hopefully they won't be so bad. And if they are, you can just come and find me, and I'll have words with them. I promise."

"I - well -  okay, yes, I don't plan on just sitting around while we're up there, but - you don't have to worry about me! I just want to do some exploring, is all, and then I'll be back under the sea before you can say octopus! Besides - out of all the guards that are going to be assigned to me, you know that you're my favorite, right?"

[maddoxborealis-blog]

“If I hear one more person comment on how excited they are for this alliance I may combust.”

[pprincessariel-blog1]

"I...I know that this can't be easy for you, Maddox, but I really do think that it'll be for the best. My father thinks so, too, and when has he ever been wrong?"

"I - I'm sorry, though. For how it hurts you. And I'm here if you need anything, okay? Always."

[jameseverett-blog]

“Flop, flip, swim, whatever; it’s all the same thing when you take a fish out of water and try to have them walk on land. The ocean is beautiful on its own; you shouldn’t take for granted the fact that you’re able to swim the vast waters and escape your troubles whenever you want. The land can be very…overwhelming, with its wars and pollution and social and political dilemmas. Then again, the ocean has red tide, so…”

“You could call me a sailor, I suppose. That’s one formal title for what I do. Perhaps your father’s right; maybe it’s best to avoid all of this mess up here. And you can call me James, Ariel. James Everett.”

[pprincessariel-blog1]

"...Oh! Oh, wait! I - I've heard of you before, I think. From my papa. James...James Everett...oh, oh, oh!"

"I know you! I mean - I know of who you are, at the very least. I've been told several times not to approach you, actually, which - erm - obviously I've already done, and you don't seem nearly as scary as everyone's made you out to be. Is it true that you're a pirate? And - and that you have a pet crocodile? And tattoos? Mother of pearl...I can't believe I've come face to face with James Everett! You aren't going to try and steal my tail, are you?"

[jameseverett-blog]

“You’re probably the only of your kind that hasn’t scoffed at humans and our ability to walk rather than flop everywhere we go. You’re very strange for a mermaid, you know.”

“Your kingdom? Are you one of the royals, then? Word has it the king down below has at least a dozen heirs to his throne.”

[pprincessariel-blog1]

"I - we merpeople don't flop everywhere that we go, thank you very much. We swim! And I like swimming, I do, and I love the ocean; it's just that I - knowing that there's so much more out there that I've yet to see...I want so badly to explore the world above water, and to meet as many people who inhabit it as I possibly can. You're actually the first human I've ever spoken to, sir! I've never seen one so close to shore before...are you a sailor? My daddy, as well as my sisters, have told me that I'm strange several times in the past, but it's just...they don't understand. They're perfectly content with remaining under the sea for the rest of their lives, and I'm just...not."

"And - oh! Yes, I am! A part of the royal family, I mean. I'm Ariel - the youngest princess. And what's your name, human?"

[jameseverett-blog]

“I’m sure it’s probably similar to having fins…except, you know, it makes sense. Finally venturing on land, though, are you? Plan on becoming chummy wth all us lowly humans?”

[pprincessariel-blog1]

"What? Having fins is nothing like having feet, silly - I can say that without having ever had the former before! Fins help you swim, and glide through the water, and feet...with feet, you can stand, and walk, and - and dance! There's so much more that you can do...humans are so lucky."

"Lowly? Why, I don't think there's anything lowly about humans in the slightest, sir. That's why my kingdom is planning to ally themselves with them, after all - because we like humans."