Return to the Shore - Where it all Began!
The dinner had been filled with anxiety right from the start, and while Arlen’s mother had grown more affectionate towards their unusual guest, Arlen’s father grew to realize how strong the attachment his son had for her and how it was in return, making it more strained for the father and son to meet eye to eye on the matter. The young Prince had flourished in his home while Arisa was by his side, he had been more involved the last few days then he had ever been before and for the first time he had been laughing with a companion instead playing by himself or with a caretaker. It was the joy that Arisa brought Arlen which had really lightened Shiar’s heart in regards of her son’s affection. His majesty King Creelen was on the other hand harder to please, however from blunt disapproval it did grow into barely held tolerance. For the King, that was a very big step.
It had been comments during the dinner that had really hurt Arlen though, while all had sat gathered for their meal, Creelen had started speaking of the obligations Arlen had to the suitors waiting to hear word from the Sachiel family in regards to choosing a partner. It was as if the King was only showing Arisa the stress put onto the young Prince concerning these matters, almost as if Arlen’s father had heard the secrets shared between the two close friends in Arlen’s chambers. Surprisingly enough however, Arlen let it faze him little, watching instead the plate that sat untouched by Arisa before her. Arlen was used to raw meals but even by his standards this dish was a little disturbing to consider eating, it was a foreign dish, Hippocampus eyes wrapped lightly in a special breed of seaweed.
Their ride had been memorable and this was like a slap in the face of their good time, at least that’s what it felt like to Arlen who hadn’t ever been served something like this before. Other cultures had other foods of course, but Arlen was just fine with his supply of fish and the tastier breeds of sea grass. Arlen had poked one of the green balls a little out of curiosity with what it was stuffed with, he had been understandably surprised when an eyeball stared back at him and had lost all interest in eating. Instead Arlen just asked for a drink of their harvested sea fruits that produced a fantastic blend which Arlen had missed while topside on the land.
The thing that had snapped Arlen however had been the last few comments uttered by his father. Arisa was human, an unusual one but one nonetheless, and Creelen knew that humans had a very short lifespan. So while Arlen was offering Arisa a try of his own drink to see if she wanted one of her own, the King irritably announced how important it was for Arlen to put thought into something that was actually important for the people he was one day going to be responsible for. When Arisa dies there was nothing left for Arlen to make excuses about and he ought to return home and get settled into learning how to run the Kingdom. Basically the king announced how much of a disturbance Arisa was for the entire community, how she was hindering the chance of Arlen learning how to rule, how Arlen would only inherit when he was born to rule once Arisa was out of his life.
Shiar had done amazingly well to keep the calm, Arlen’s temper only slowly rising as he felt insulted by the questions of mating partners and which other Kingdom would be most beneficial for there to be a pairing with. All in front of Arisa, all said in such a casual way as if her being there was of little concern to the King, and then, of all things to bring up, the King plans a life for Arlen after Arisa dies. Shiar gave a stern look to her mate and uttered his name in disapproval, but Arlen was already shoving his untouched meal away from him, some food scattering over the smooth marble table as he lifted from his soft cushion like seat. The distraught Prince began yelling hatefully, slipping into their native tongue, which Arisa would have heard often as most commoners tended to speak a poorer version of English, if any at all. The outburst had not been taken well at all by the King who was both astounded by the disrespect and shocked by the sheer anger Arlen was showing. The King replied in his loud and thunderous voice which he had used one two other occasions when he disapproved of something, demanding sternly that Arlen respect him and his wishes. Arlen just blurted out ‘only when you start to respect me and my wishes’, turning quickly and giving the sense of fleeing strongly enough for Arisa to know what was about to come.
There was never any chances to get his own way, the Prince knew that, it was unfeasible that he’d even get middle ground on a subject, so what was the point in battling it out? They were going back to the school, they would do as they wish and as they please and Arlen hardly cared if he was ever welcomed back here or not. At least on the land he had his friends, all he had here were obligations and forced responsibilities that weren’t even being sorted out by him, all the Prince was at this point was a marionette for others who knew what they were doing and were too headstrong to bother spending the effort in teaching the Prince what they feel he doesn’t yet need to know. Well if he was too young to learn what he ought to learn, then he was too young to decide things like mates and future responsibilities. They were just pushing him because of the wars Arlen had been telling Arisa about, they just wanted a stronger ally in one of the other larger nations… and they were saying Arlen was obliged to be their puppet.
It amazed Arlen, how he hadn’t truly seen it before, the need his people had to use him for the better, to sacrifice his own dreams just for the security of knowing they had something better, something they found more important then his own desires, his own hopes, his dreams and wishes. No one cared, not when it came to him, only when it concerned what he could do for them. And now there was a fierceness inside of Arlen, iron will burning where the emptiness had once resided, The tempered Prince made a sprint for the Hippocampus stables the two had hanged around on a few occasions.
"Adrika, Devark!" The names meant Celestial and Divine, as Arlen had explained when first showing Arisa the stables, the female and male Hippocampus needed little more of a command from Arlen before they sped from the stables quite happily. The powerful tails propelled the beasts towards the youngsters, Devark darting with perfect precision as he twisted around and allowed Arlen to grab the handles on the front of the saddle where the reins were wrapped carefully. The strange half horse half fish creature held all the grace it had on their previous ride save for the faster speeds. Adrika had been more careful with Arisa knowing the girl wasn’t as much an expect with the riding of her, but the front hooves curled ready for a sprint as Arisa had taken hold to follow Arlen. The two Hippocampus were Arlen’s, Devark named after the last name of his best friend, Vohan Devark, who lives at the school now as well, and Adrika was named after the little sister he was going to have, only she had died shortly after being born. Shiar had four children, and only one still breathed, it was understandable that she worried so much over Arlen, and the King knew that Arlen was most likely the only heir they’ll ever have for the Kingdom.
With the Hippocampus speed the few mermen who had been ordered to bring them back by the King half gave up on any real attempt of chase. Arlen had always slipped away even without the Hippocampus, now he was angry and had motivation, a destination, and speed, they knew he was gone the instant he stood up from the table. Passing the Market was interesting, Hippocampus were agile but when in hi speeds it wasn’t as easy to earn left and right and so they run through the collection of stalls which where mounted on three rather tall peaks of stone rising from the floor. Startled Mer-folk moved out of the way and panicked merchants grabbed at some items that were caught in the passing current of water the Hippocampus made. Long minutes passed by before the aquatic steeds slowed their pace, the mystically silvery-white female slowed more gracefully then her silvery-gray companion who was more abrupt. Arlen semi-propelled himself off of the creature to allow a faster retreat, not once looking back though making sure that Arisa wasn’t left too far behind in his haste. Bright blue eyes and deep chocolate ones of the male both peered around as their riders soon dismounted, the two steeds soon obediently swam back to the stables moments later.
Their speed had been intense, the creatures constantly bursting with energy, and Arlen had controlled the waters enough to increase their escape, rendering him extremely tired though he it hadn’t been so obvious he had been doing anything. The first swim to his Kingdom had been a while, but with the steeds it had been so quick, Arlen wasn’t at the point where he could actually ponder those things however, guiding his dearly loved companion closer towards the shore and water surface. Arlen was a little light headed from the change in density from the previous water depths which only added to his physical strains. The golden scales had lost their silver patches, a few were a more duller shade of gold, still struggling to regain their previous brilliance, but it was definitely a tell-tale sign of Arlen’s recaptured mentality. Yet it still seemed as if he was troubled by so many things, frightened of so many others, and longing for much of what seems forbidden to him yet allowed to everyone else. He understood that a lot depended on him but why must it be so painful, why can’t he just live a little before surrendering himself into the political game of needs and ‘what’s best for the people’.
The Prince too tired to bother swimming the extra short distance to the nearby sandy shores, instead he stuck with the spot he knew best, the first rocky shore he had ever seen, the first place Arisa had ever held him, and the first time anyone ever saw the lonely child in him instead of the obliged Prince destined to live an empty eternity solely for others. Growing seemed out of the question, experiencing the world around them was forbidden, exploring both oneself and ones own lands was said to be pointless, living life as if it was the most precious thing was like a fairytale untold to Arlen, a popular bedtime story he wasn’t allowed to listen to.
The slender body of the young male seemed to torpedo the last few meters with pinpoint accuracy as he broke the surface and basically flew from the waters to land somewhat harshly on the rough edges of the shore. It was still active enough in the late evening for there to be beach goers however, romantic strolls and playful teens all gathered for a late night on the sandy grounds by the lapping waves in the not too far distance. With a sharp thud the mer-prince hit the hard surface, his hands barely softening the blow, a cluttering of items still stashed in the back which he had been wearing during most of their stay in the palace since when they went out he collected whatever he found particularly pretty – be it from a store or just something they randomly found in the sea itself.
Pained gasps rushed from the lips of the remarkable creature, still formed gills failing to work in the new environment. Physical effort went into adapting to this now familiar environment, struggling to evolve to the situation as Arlen’s royal bloodline empowered him to do so. Chest burns and prickly pains riddled within the toned yet slender chest, muscles tightened fiercely in the anguish while still momentarily suffocating where he lay. The instant a semi-breath could be taken, air was gulped down with everything short whimpering breath he partly choked on. His tail wasn’t even attempting to shift at the moment, all that mattered was saving energy for the lungs, focusing his body solely on that task to help improve the chances of survival.
Half curled and soaking wet, cold wind sending chilled shivers through him as much as the pain itself. Silvery tears brimmed the diamond gaze though he tried hard to hold them back. It had hurt, what his father said, possibly more then he hurt right now, those words about Arisa’s expected death was deeper then any wound anything could have ripped into him. She wasn’t allowed to die, he stopped it once, he could stop it again, he’ll save her, he’ll save her even from themselves. She wasn’t allowed to die, to leave him, to be lost in another realm of death where he might never see, an eternity beyond eternity that forever separated them.
Despite the anxiety that had surrounded the table from when they first sat down, from when the blue furred mutant was introduced, nodding her head gently and smiling politely at each of his parents, shaking his mother’s hand quietly when she extended it, and doing her best not to look crestfallen when the king did not extend his; Arisa had been doing her very best to be polite. She used every manner she had ever learned. She spoke softly and kindly in her best attempt to make her voice pleasant to the ears. She said thank you each time any sort of food or drink was placed before her, even if she would have rather died than eaten it. She listened more than attentively to anything the king or queen had to say, even if it wasn’t in her favor.
She sat in calm, patient, and passive silence as she felt herself being examined, her tail moving as slowly and smoothly as possible. She could still feel their eyes on it, her arrow-ended, devil-like tail, and the way her short, velvety pelt rippled with any motion in the water around her. Her green gaze followed their eyes shift around to watch her tuck stray locks of hair behind her pointed ears, decorated with an array of silver earings, then their gaze catching on her oddly, almost alarmingly, long canines. But she was used to that, those were the things that were often stared at. But what she wasn’t used to was the way the royal family, as well as the servers, couldn’t help but watch her legs.
Despite the unwanted visual attention, she remained little other than slightly nervous, masked by a collectedly calm expression. But as Creelen’s barely held tolerance for Arisa became more and more apparent, she felt a mixture of anger and frustration well up inside of her. She didn’t want to be disliked by Arlen’s family…she didn’t want him to have to be ashamed of her. She didn’t want his father to speak as if she wasn’t there, as if she didn’t matter..
As she sat at the prison of a table she wanted nothing more at the moment than for them to like her, or to grant her the right to smack the arrogant king right across his royal face, whichever came first. But still the mutant sat in silence, with her head held up with a subtle, but determined dignity, and let his words beat down on her one at a time without a single change in her expression. He rubbed her stature in her face with talk of more important, real suitors. Decisive suitors. Suitors that could help Arlen’s kingdom. Suitors that could love him without tearing him apart in the process.
If his royal highness had known she had been out on the streets only weeks ago and had been kicked out of two different homes..she probably would have been told to get her sorry ass up from the royal table and go back to the alleys where she belonged.
But she looked right back at the king when he spoke, stared straight back when his eyes feel disapprovingly over her. She would not shy away, and he would not get anger, sadness, or fear to cross her features…only placid calm. It was the act she had used all her life, and she used it now.
Arlen was not as practiced in the art of acting the silent part, and she new it was coming when he finally snapped. Arisa was announced as a disturbance, and annoyance, and a hindrance to the entire community. That nothing could go on as it should until the glorious day she finally had her carcass kicked out of Arlen’s way.
Had she been left on her own to rebound the king’s words, she might have made a subtle comment referring to the fact that she was sorry to say she didn’t seem to die very well, and it could, unfortunately, be a while. Shiar only gave a stern look to her husband, making Arisa faintly if he always told his guests they should hurry up to their grave before they slowed progress any further. Arlen, however, began yelling to her defense, sending his more than appalling meal of eyeballs rolling across the table where probably all parties present were hoping they might bounce up and hit the king in the face. Unfortunately the eyeballs missed, and left the king free to shout back in a booming voice that made Arisa long to plug her ears, or better yet, decommission the source of the noise.
Contrary to her inclinations, she jumped to her feet at Arlen’s lead, and as he darted away the feral paused only to mutter a brief goodbye to Shiar, dipping her head lightly in her direction, before turning a much harder gaze to glance one more time at the king’s flushing, furious face, as she darted off after the prince.
She could hardly move as fast as Arlen, since he swam with his tail, and Arisa had shifted her legs back in an genuinely honest gesture to appear before his family as close to how she truly looked as possible, but she still managed to trail relatively close behind.
The Hippocampus’s names rung out, and they sped forward when they were called. Adrika and Devark, both who Arisa had taken an almost feverish liking to during the trip. Both turned their smooth forms to allow their hurried riders to grab on. The shifter hadn’t had much practice in the few days she had been there, but she was a fast learner, and it was amazingly close to horseback riding. After greeting the beautiful animal with a friendly stroke of the nose, she pulled herself up onto Adrika’s saddle, ignoring the oddity of riding a Hippocampus with her legs instead of the tail she had grown accustom to.
They sped off, Arisa giving Adrika more than enough reign to let her sprint along with the more experienced rider, while purely out of habit Arisa made the same clucking sounds that were used to encourage a horse to go faster. Any pursuers they had had fell from the chase quickly, and as they passed the market the two young riders both tightened their grips on the saddle handles to brace themselves for the stall-dodging game they were briefly dragged into playing.
When they both finally reached their destination they simultaneously dismounted, Arisa again giving the silvery female a gentle pat and stroking her muzzle briefly before the two steeds took off again, back to the stables.
As the female metamorph turned back to Arlen, allowing him to guide her towards the shore, she placed a gentle, reassuring hand on his arm. She could tell how tired he was, she was panting as well, but she hadn’t been moving the currents, nor had she used up all her breath yelling at the thick-skulled king.
A dull ache from the depth change began to gnaw at Arisa’s head as they darted towards the surface of the rocky shore, watching the prince leave her side as he shot out of the water, leaving her to move more slowly up the shoreline till she crouched in hardly three feet of water, bracing herself, hurried by concern for the merman.
In the few minutes she huddled in the shallow water, she put all her effort into the painful task of morphing her lungs back, the gill like slits she had formed attaching themselves back together in her neck, and her airway shifting back to her mouth. Sharp waves of pain raced through her as she changed her anatomy around at will, muscles all over her body tightening and twitching in anguish, her internal structure changing painfully slow. The only thing on her side was that she was shifting back to her normal form, which was a million times easier than shifting into something else. To shift into a foreign shape she needed charts, references, focus. She needed to guide the muscles and joints and organs as they changed position, shape, and function. To change back she needed only to let the previous shift leave her, and to bare the pain as she allowed her body to morph naturally back to her original form. When her body had finally finished enough to allow her to stumble breathlessly the last few feet out of the water onto the unforgiving surface of the rocky shore, she was choking almost violently on the water that still filled her lungs.
Her unsteady form collapsed, sprawling down on the earth, coughing and hacking out the water from inside her lungs. She spent desperate minutes choking on the air that she was trying to desperately to inhale, before finally her breathing began to slow, and ease itself back into a steady rhythm.
Still she laid still, without the energy to move. Her chest rose and fell heavily, water from her shorter hair and soaked clothing pooling on the rocks bellow her. Mentally she remained in a state of shock, not having yet fully realized the magnitude of what had happened.
Once the sound of Arlen’s forced breath caught her ears, she struggled to stand, her legs hindered by the long skirt that had been provided for her to wear. The pattern on the fabric of the skirt and the shirt she wore native to Arlen’s people, it’s green color chosen carefully to set off her eyes in hopes of drawing attention away from her other oddities. She stumbled repeatedly in her attempt to move next to Arlen, both weak and slightly disorientated from shifting, as well as unused to the increased feeling of gravity on land. Finally she let herself drop beside him, sitting with her side against the merman’s form. Short locks of dark hair lay strewn over her face as she attempted to wipe some of the sand from away so she could see, pushing the now sandy strands of hair out of her eyes as well as she panted. Her arms fell quickly to curl partially around him in an attempt to comfort him, urgency rippling through her at the sight of tears in his diamond gaze.
”It’s ok…it’ll be alright..”
She whispered the words quietly, having slight difficultly forcing the words out of newly formed lungs. One of her hands moved to intertwine itself with his, while the other stroked his back affectionately. It would be ok …it had to be.
Re: Return to the Shore - Where it all Began!
... O_O... um... ok... what's wrong with that picture: Angie (who has super-restricted net access) and Nat (who is Nat) post massive posts in the same thread on the same day... SOMETHING's fishy about that! XD
There comes an age when people have to take over responsibility. It remains the question whether there is also a time when they can get rid of it again.
Re: Return to the Shore - Where it all Began!
I had to bribe her...while we were alone, and the screams of the boiler room drowned out our own
On a side not Natalie, my post was deleted when my comp shut down on m at home, so this is a short one written at the nt cafe in frustration, death to nasty random things!
Words lulled the Prince as Arisa tried to offer her support, her physical comfort however earning more then any words could have brought him. It had been a mistake, Arlen could see that know, the cage of ice which he allowed to form around his heart had been his only protection now, if he had not let it thaw then surely what his father had done would not have hurt so badly.
Salt water seeped from the gills in his neck, a struggle to breath seen in gargled breaths that grew weaker, his own lungs extruding the water to allow the transforming organs to function once again in the air. Part of the young merman felt stronger by the linking of their fingers, while another part couldn’t help but feel the weight of his own exhaustion waning his struggles. Softly his tension faded, breathing eased, his own fingers relaxing in Arisa’s hold, their grip gently firming for moments before easing again, as if reminding himself that he still held her, or perhaps more truthfully that she still was holding him.
The moment seemed to ease, things becoming calmer, her stroking caress soothing in a sense which words often couldn’t bring forth. But it wasn’t the end, a slightly tighter grip took Arisa’s hand though took weak was he to bring any harm to it. A flinch in his body and a sharp though silent breath inhaled and held, eyes firmly shut and body curled as one last morph began its process to adapt to the land.. his tail shifting to legs. It was slower then usual, more taxing then ever before… A fog of unconsciousness threatened to sweep the Prince’s mind as exhaustion and pain burned strong. A strained whimper and immense tense showed the anguish as Arlen curled more desperately against Arisa.
"He is blind," A breathless, tired and solemnly quiet voice whispered from the Prince’s lips as his body once again tried to relax. "So focused on what he wants he sees not what is there." Slowly, his movements effected by the strain his body had exerted and the exhaustion settling in its wake. Before sitting in the dinning hall Arlen had expressed being famished, but the sight of the meal they had been offered had seemed unappealing even for him. The previous night the meal hadn’t been any better, Arlen wasn’t even sure what they had been served, but it definitely didn’t look right, nor smell any better then it looked. Though Arlen had discovered even the strange creature called Goolar refused to eat bits offered to him under the table, the creature usually gobbled away at treats offered to it, looking like a small squid looking jelly fish. But the smell had even given Shiar a stunned expression as she eyed the meal. After that Arlen had taken Arisa out to the market though, where they actually managed to eat something nice for a change.
"I left home because of him, he seems not to understand. I always had to get away, to swim to the edges of the Kingdom just not to be found." The Prince sat up a little more on his own for a moment, though his body slumped softly against Arisa’s own, his check resting against her shoulder as his eyes closed and he tried to catch his breath. "They would find me eventually, or it would grow too late to stay away and hunger or sleep had drove me back." A shiver ran through his form as the cold air brushed against his bare skin, the golden scales reaching down to his knees. The newly formed legs laid limp half curled where his tail had previously been.
"Here I care little for any place of comfort, though I have it, and a cure for my hunger lies within the sanctury of school, it matters little compared to the companionship you offer. You remind me that I am flesh and blood, more then a tool, you show me who I am, who dwells beneath the crown of a Prince. He speaks of hinderance, of lies and treachery, whereas in truth you are all that holds me together. Like your arms do now your heart forever holds me and where I am weak you make me strong and when I am lost you help find me again." It's as if the words had to be spoken, spilling out with only short breaths sustaining him between his sentences. He had to tell her, he had to say what surely she must already know. How could his father be so blind as not to see? So deaf as not to hear? Was his own son so hollow a creature to him that Arlen's own needs, wants and dreams were so meaningless to the King?
Re: Return to the Shore - Where it all Began!Quickly written or not, I liked your post!
..bribery? So that’s what that was for…>>…
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In silence the female’s slender form, drenched and subtly shaking, continued to lean closely against Arlen, murmuring quiet, nearly inaudible words of reassurance. Her wet, velvety fur brushed softly against his skin as she rubbed his back gently, her other fingers fidgeting slightly with the larger fingers they held.
She could feel his struggling form fight for breath, her steady touch encouraging her closest friend to bare the pain so similar to that she had faced only minutes ago. A mixture of disorientation and soreness from her own transformation mixed with sympathy pains for the prince, causing her shaking to increase. The world around her seemed to swirl slightly with faint dizzy spells that fell over her, her faintly twitching hands gripping the larger shifter’s figure tighter as she closed her eyes to block out the spinning world.
She felt his grip doing the same, grasping her more firmly, before loosening his hold as the pain moved through him. Slowly she opened her eyes once more, turning a heavily concerned gaze down on her companion, her hand again stroking affectionately up and down his back. It was hard to keep her eyes in focus, light shivers of cold and exhaustion rippling along her spine. She felt flighty consciousness attempting to leave her, but she couldn’t sleep. Not now, Arlen needed her…
A slight calm fell over his flinching figure, the feral leaning her face down momentarily to nudge his shoulder gently, uttering a few more out of breath, hopeful words, before the rest of his shift began.
She could feel the next phase of the transformation coming, as his body tensed and his muscles stressed. His form curled more desperately against her, a whimper leaving his lips.
”He is blind,”
As his exhausted, solemn voice whispered up from his form, the blue feral gazed with mounting concern at his pained figure. She didn’t want him to hurt like this…didn’t want to watch his body twitch and tremble like hers..
"So focused on what he wants he sees not what is there. I left home because of him, he seems not to understand. I always had to get away, to swim to the edges of the Kingdom just not to be found."
Arlen lifted himself into a sitting position momentarily, before slumping against Arisa’s form. She felt her body sway slightly as his weight was placed more on her, but she balanced out quickly and moved her arms to wrap around him, holding him safely against her while he spoke.
"They would find me eventually, or it would grow too late to stay away and hunger or sleep had drove me back."
A shiver rippled through him, moving Arisa to begin rubbing his back gently in an attempt to sooth his form as he spoke.
"Here I care little for any place of comfort, though I have it, and a cure for my hunger lies within the sanctuary of school, it matters little compared to the companionship you offer. You remind me that I am flesh and blood, more then a tool, you show me who I am, who dwells beneath the crown of a Prince. He speaks of hindrance, of lies and treachery, whereas in truth you are all that holds me together. Like your arms do now your heart forever holds me and where I am weak you make me strong and when I am lost you help find me again."
A faint smile curved her lips, though her green eyes had watered from a mixture of physical pain, and the knowledge of what had just happened back in the dining hall. They were in for it now, and they both new it…but for the time being she wanted nothing more than to make him comfortable; take him home, give him a place to rest and food. She would carry him there if she had to..he had faith in her, even after all she had done to him, all they had done to each-other. Their friendship was rebuilding, and she would not let it fall apart.
Re: Return to the Shore - Where it all Began!
There was such a soothing, serene sense of affection from everything Arisa said or every gesture she made. A comfort that was undeniable and a bond unbreakable. Beneath everything, Arlen’s at times childish nature, his fear of what he didn’t understand within relationships, terrified of things that other people may expect of him once he did find someone he cared for, there was still the knowledge that he did love Arisa. Perhaps he didn’t understand the emotion, perhaps what he felt wasn’t even love for all he knew, maybe he was just overwhelmed by her kindness… or overjoyed by her company… he was so young he figured couldn’t be sure. However somewhere deep inside of him, despite all his thoughts and beliefs and all the things he’s recently convinced himself regarding the redefined friendship with Arisa, he really did know he was in love with her. It had to be kept to himself though, kept to the back of his mind, furthest from his thoughts, where it wouldn’t interfere with the reestablished connection they formed, the understanding they found – the balance they created between themselves.
"Never had I imagined that I shall miss your human food." Humored the merman has he gently pulled away from Arisa, a painful loss for sure but one Arlen could now cope with a little easier. Usually the kitchen had fish or other sea-food items cooked but there had been times when they didn’t and Arlen had to try other things, some which looked bizarre to the sea Prince and yet a few he found enjoyable in any case. The diamond eyes peered down at their joined hand, his other hand moved to rest over them, lifting the clasped hands a little so that his forehead may rest against them, his eyes now closed. The breathless exhaustion more evident as air rushed between his lips and struck their hands, his chest rising and falling rhythmically with every gentle gasp. "I dwell so close to the realm of dreams… so weary my mind slips away into a darkness I fear is too strong to fight." Although Arlen’s English was still effected by the months of struggling to sound more like the others around him, in recent days his words began to return to the grace they once possessed. Everything about the elegant creature of the deep was warming up and returning to the way he had been when first meeting Arisa, her company and their talks helping him understand better the things he had feared – which mainly was the thought of losing her in some way. Arlen hadn’t understood why she left the school and thought it his fault she wished not to live there any more, he didn’t understand things they had done to each other when their actions had not been by their own choosing… However now he understood better about a few things, or at least was assured of things enough to know that it would be harder to lose her then he could imagine, that he just had to be there for her as a friend as he has been doing and not to be anything other them himself as he had started trying to be. He was not human, but she didn’t care about that, she didn’t care if he spoke differently or acted strangely compared to them, she understood he was from another world entirely and a completely different way of living – of course he would be different to others around here. But he know knew one thing above all else; Arisa didn’t care that he was different, however she did care about him.
"Sleep comes for you as well," Still with his eyes closed, Arlen offered a soft chuckle as he realized he was not the only tired one, it would prove troublesome for them to stumble through the filthy human town and make their way around. Was she going to take him back to the school? Arlen didn’t know the way back there, he never really walked there before and the only trip from there to the beach Connor had driven them in a car and that guaranteed Arlen to be almost passed out… not that he minded at the time, he was after all cradled on Arisa’s lap.
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