ARIEL: *is asleep*

ERIK: *wakes up and swims over go her sleeping form*

ARIEL: *is snoring cutely*

ERIK: *a ghost of a smile touches his lips*

ARIEL: *is curled up on the floor*

ERIK: *swims under her and stares at her intently*

ARIEL: *starts to wake up*

ERIK: *turns away*

ARIEL: *awakens and yawns, stretching her tail*

ERIK: *turns to look at her*

ARIEL: Good morning

ERIK: morning. *says coldly*

ARIEL: *frowns*

ERIK: *calls for the snakes*

*they arrive*

NADIR: Yesss?

ARIEL: *sees them and watches intently*

ERIK: bring breakfast for two. *snaps and then sends them away*

ARIEL: You're feeding me..?

ERIK: you sang. I must keep my end of the bargain.

ARIEL: *nods* Erik?

ERIK: *scowls at her use of his name* yes?

ARIEL: C-Can I have something to keep me entertained..?

ERIK: what do you want?

ARIEL: I-I don't know... Something fun

ERIK: what would you call fun?

ARIEL: Maybe a swing or something... I don't know

ERIK: if you want a swing you may have it. *snaps his fingers and it appears in her cage*

ARIEL: *looks at him* You're nice this morning... *swims to it and swings*

ERIK: I must keep my songbird singing

ARIEL: You don't want me to stop?

ERIK: I want you ready to sing whenever I tell you.

ARIEL: Oh...

NADIR: *brings their food and sets both trays on his bedside table*

ERIK: *looks at her then at the tray* I'm going to let you out but if you run I'll never let you out again.

ARIEL: *nods* I-I understand

ERIK: *lets her out*

ARIEL: *swims out of the cage*

ERIK: *watches her warily*

ARIEL: *sits on the floor*

ERIK: *sits on the bed*

ARIEL: *takes a tray and eats slowly*

ERIK: *watches her while he eats*

ARIEL: *takes small bites*

ERIK: *finishes his meal*

ARIEL: *takes her time*

ERIK: *watches her*

ARIEL: *looks up at him*

ERIK: *locks eyes with her*

ARIEL: *blushes and continues eating*

ERIK: *keeps staring at her*

ARIEL: *finishes*

ERIK: *calls for the snakes to take away the dishes*

*the snakes take them away*

ERIK: *watches her carefully*

ARIEL: *swims off of the ground and looks at him* Now what?

ERIK: now, you sing for me again. If you can so close after a meal.

ARIEL: Can I have some time to digest?

ERIK: I suppose.

ARIEL: Thank you. *begins to swim out of the room*

ERIK: *grabs her* You're not leaving my sight.

ARIEL: *gulps* O-Oh... Okay

ERIK: *releases her slowly*

ARIEL: *goes to the bed and sits down* *starts to sing a song for him*

ERIK: *leans against a wall and closes eyes while listening*

ARIEL: *looks at him and swims to him slowly*

ERIK: *eyes snap open*

ARIEL: *holds out her hand while she continues to sing for him*

ERIK: *looks at her suspiciously*

ARIEL: *gives him a reassuring smile as she sings*

ERIK: *takes it uneasily*

ARIEL: *slowly begins to dance with him while she sings her melody, going steady for him*

ERIK: *dances with her but keeps her at arm's length*

ARIEL: *smiles at him, her beauty practically glowing in her joyful song mood*

ERIK: *is blown away by her beauty*

ARIEL: *eyes sparkle and she grins as her song comes to a close*

ERIK: *looks at her with a scowl* you're not mermaid. You're a siren.

ARIEL: I-I'm not a siren. I'm a mermaid, I swear.

ERIK: You bewitch like one.

ARIEL: I'm not magical, Erik... I-I mean... Y-Your majesty...

ERIK: You don't have to be magical to have the qualities of a siren. *turns away from her*

ARIEL: I apologize for bewitching you... *sighs and looks down* I'll just... Get back in the cage

ERIK: You may stay out as long as you stay in this room. *ignores her statement about bewitching*

ARIEL: *sits back on the floor*

ERIK: *takes a seat on the bed*

ARIEL: *lies down on it, closing her eyes*

ERIK: *swims above her, looking down at her*

ARIEL: *curls up her tail as she usually does when she rests*

ERIK: *moves closer to her*

ARIEL: *doesn't notice him because her eyes are closed*

ERIK: *reaches forward to touch her cheek but stops himself and swims towards a window*

ARIEL: *looks up at him* How's the current?

ERIK: very nice. *says coldly*

ARIEL: That's nice. *lies back down* Mind if I have a blanket from your bed to sleep with?

ERIK: *frowns but gives her one*

ARIEL: Thank you. *wraps herself in it and closes her eyes and takes a nap*

ERIK: *watches her*

ARIEL: *snores once again*

ERIK: *lays down beside her and stares at her lovely face*

ARIEL: *smiles peacefully in her slumber*

ERIK: *closes his eyes for a moment and dozes*

ARIEL: *wakes up and sees him but doesn't wake him, strokes his cheek lovingly and puts her hand in his gingerly*

ERIK: *keeps dozing though begins to toss and turn a little*

ARIEL: *whispers* I love you *kisses his cheek then falls back asleep, closer to him*

ERIK: *shifts again in his sleep and accidentally puts one arm around her waist.

ARIEL: *cuddles with him*

ERIK: *subconsciously pulls her closer*

ARIEL: *her hair brushes softly against his chest*

ERIK: *falls into a deeper sleep*

ARIEL: *smiles and nuzzles her head by his neck*

ERIK: *pulls her even closer*

ARIEL: *snoozes until he stirs*

ERIK: *wakes up and quickly pulls away*

ARIEL: *keeps sleeping*

ERIK: What is wrong with me...? I don't trust anyone that close. *swims a little ways away from her*

ARIEL: *wakes up, yawning*

ERIK: *has his back to her, scowling*

ARIEL: *swims up and to the window*

ERIK: *ignores her*

ARIEL: *swims out the window*

ERIK: *goes after her*

ARIEL: *goes to the garden and hides from him*

ERIK: *searches for her* Ariel.... *growls angrily*

ARIEL: *doesn't answer*

ERIK: If you don't come out right now, you're going back into the cage to stay. Permanently.

ARIEL: *still doesn't stir*

ERIK: *finds her* Ariel...*eyes burn angrily*

ARIEL: *whimpers*

ERIK: *grabs her back her upper arms and yanks her closer to him* You are going back into that cage this moment...

ARIEL: *tears stream* I-I'm not

ERIK: I told you I'd let you as long as you stayed in that room. You didn't. *begins to drag her back to his room*

ARIEL: B-But!

ERIK: no 'buts', young lady. *throws her into her cage*

ARIEL: *winces as her fragile body hits the bars*

ERIK: *slams the cage door and locks it*

ARIEL: *cries and puts a hand to her shoulder*

ERIK: May that remind you not to disobey me next time.

ARIEL: Erik...

ERIK: It's 'your majesty' to you.

ARIEL: *sobs and curls up* I want my Erik back...

ERIK: Well, you never will so get over it.

ARIEL: Come here please

ERIK: Why? *swims closer*

ARIEL: please...

ERIK: *swims closer*

ARIEL: *pulls his face to the bars and kisses him passionately*