ARIEL: *snores cutely in her sleep*

ERIK: *makes himself comfortable and listens to her* you are such a treasure.

ARIEL: *her tail curls up as she smiles in her sleep*

ERIK: *swims over to examine her tail* healing nicely...

ARIEL: *eyebrows suddenly furrow in her sleep and she starts to squirm*

ERIK: *moves away from her*

ARIEL: *starts to groan and starts to have a nightmare*

ERIK: *moves instantly to her side and shakes her gently to wake her*

ARIEL: *eyes shoot open and she is shaking uncontrollably*

ERIK: hush! It's alright! *soothes her as well as he can*

ARIEL: *holds onto him, terrified and in need of someone*

ERIK: *is shocked she is holding onto him but soothes her and hums softly to calm her*

ARIEL: *starts to calm down at hearing him hum to her* I-It was awful

ERIK: do you want to tell me about it? *speaks calmly and softy*

ARIEL: I-I don't know if it would help

ERIK: it usually does.

ARIEL: *tells him that it was a dream about her being beached on the shore and shriveling dry until she died*

ERIK: *strokes her hair and sings softly to her to keep her calm* that will never happen to you. I won't let it. You're safe.

ARIEL: Promise?

ERIK: promise.

ARIEL: *is in bliss* Thank you, Erik...

ERIK: you're welcome. *is shocked she isn't scared but it perfectly happy to keep holding her*

ARIEL: Wait... Erik! *immediately tries to get out of his hold*

ERIK: *lets her go* something wrong?

ARIEL: I-I... Nothing... *calms*

ERIK: something must be wrong. One moment you're perfectly happy then you're completely flustered and nervous and retreating.

ARIEL: You just startled me... That's all

ERIK: how did I startle you? *looks slightly confused*

ARIEL: Just forget it

ERIK: alright. *swims towards her*

ARIEL: *is still as she looks up at him looming over her*

ERIK: *smiles kindly at her* other than the nightmare, did you sleep well?

ARIEL: I slept pretty well...

ERIK: good. *glances at her hair* your hair is quite a mess. Do you want me to brush it for you? *offers politely*

ARIEL: *thinks and then sighs* Sure.

ERIK: *fetches the brush and guides her to a seat* *begins brushing her hair as gently as possible*

ARIEL: *sits on the seat* My father Used to brush my hair like this when I was little

ERIK: *nods* did you enjoy it?

ARIEL: Very much... He used to sing me songs of the sea while he brushed

ERIK: would you like me to sing for you?

ARIEL: You can sing? *is a bit shocked*

ERIK: yes. *answers simply* why are you surprised?

ARIEL: Never heard of a villain that can sing

ERIK: glad to be the first. Have anything in particular you wish to hear?

ARIEL: *shakes her head* No... Sing whatever you like

ERIK: *begins to sing softly*

ARIEL: *smirks and imitates him* Sing louder

ERIK: *smirks a little and lets his voice carry*

ARIEL: *listens intently and interested*

ERIK: *finishes singing and brushing her hair*

ARIEL: That was amazing...

ERIK: I'm glad you liked it.

ARIEL: You must be a professional...

ERIK: what do you mean by professional?

ARIEL: Like you've had lots of training

ERIK: if I did, it was my own training.

ARIEL: Wow... That's absolutely astounding

ERIK: thank you. I am talented. But, I can't count the times its gotten me in trouble.

ARIEL: Trouble? *puzzled*

ERIK: yes, trouble.

ARIEL: How so?

ERIK: it had to do with my banishment from the kingdom.

ARIEL: Tell me more....

ERIK: I used my magical talent and tried to take over the kingdom and kill your father some years back...I'm a bit glad I failed. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here...

ARIEL: *looks down*

ERIK: you see what I meant?

ARIEL: Meant by what?

ERIK: by my talents getting my in trouble.

ARIEL: I understand

ERIK: I'm glad to hear it.

ARIEL: But you ended up killing him in the end

ERIK: he's not technically dead...just out of the way permanently.

ARIEL: I wish I could see him...

ERIK: we could go back to the cave but I doubt that's what you want to see...

ARIEL: I want him back to normal

ERIK: that isn't going to be happening any time soon. I have my throne and I'd like to sit on it for a while.

ARIEL: But you have no subjects!

ERIK: what do you mean I have no subjects?

ARIEL: They fled!

ERIK: true...well, they will either come back or stay put there. I have you and the snakes. I'm content with two subjects and my future queen.

ARIEL: Queen... *sulks*

ERIK: yes, queen. Quite a title isn't it?

ARIEL: I guess...

ERIK: in case you're worried, I'm not going to ask an heir from you. *swims around her* not yet... *mumbles to self*

ARIEL: *swims away from him* I heard that...

ERIK: so?

ARIEL: I'm never giving you an heir... You can make that a guarantee

ERIK: we'll see...

ARIEL: *scowls at him* Guess what.

ERIK: what? *smiles at her*

ARIEL: I'm unable to bear a child...

ERIK: how do you know that?

ARIEL: *he's caught her lie* I just do!

ERIK: you're lying...Ariel. It doesn't suit you.

ARIEL: I just don't want you to force me to have a child with you!! It isn't right and forcing someone into marriage isn't right EITHER!! *yells at him*

ERIK: I wouldn't force you to have my children. *speaks calmly* I may be many things but I'm not a rapist. *says manner-a-factly*

ARIEL: Sure. Just go away! *keeps yelling*

ERIK: *waits calmly for her to cool off*

ARIEL: You don't own me... And you won't have me as a queen

ERIK: if you keep fighting like this I'll skip the wedding I was planning and marry you on the spot!

ARIEL: *shuts up*

ERIK: good.

ARIEL: *starts to cry*

ERIK: *pulls her into his arms and begins to hum a haunting tune to calm her*

ARIEL: *cries into his chest* N-No...

ERIK: *calms her gently*

ARIEL: *sniffles* I hate my life

ERIK: name something you would like to do and I'll let you do it. Within reason of course.

ARIEL: See your wedding preparations

ERIK: well, they're mostly thoughts right now. I wasn't sure what you wanted for your wedding.

ARIEL: A human theme sounds wonderful

ERIK: it does? *looks surprised* then, a human theme it'll be.

ARIEL: *sighs and breaks out of his hold* I'm going for a walk

ERIK: alright. Don't wander too far. I know you used the shark ruse to get my mask off *eyes narrow* they are very real and I don't want you eaten.

ARIEL: I'll be careful... *swims out of her room*

ERIK: good. *swims off to find the snakes*

REZA: *is swirling around his throne and settling down for a nap in it*

ERIK: Reza, where is Nadir?

REZA: The gardenssss

ERIK: *swims away to the gardens*

NADIR: *is napping in a bed of seaweed+

ERIK: *wakes him up* follow Ariel but don't let her see you.

NADIR: *does as he says*

ARIEL: *swims down below into town*

ARIEL: *swims past shops, liking the feeling of being by herself... Or was she..?*

NADIR: *follows behind her watching for danger*

ARIEL: *keeps swimming*

ARIEL: *stops, feeling as though she's being watched*

NADIR: *notices she looks nervous*

ARIEL: *looks around* Hello?

NADIR: *stays hidden*

ARIEL: *hears rustling but just keeps swimming*

NADIR: *follows*

ARIEL: *sits down near a bed of seaweed* Oh how I wish I wouldn't have made that deal...

NADIR: *listens*

ARIEL: I wish there was another way out of this.

NADIR: *watches and listens*

ARIEL: *sighs* Maybe I should run away...

NADIR: *eyes widen and swims closer*

ARIEL: But... But I can't... I'll be trapped, forever. *starts to cry*

NADIR: *swims closer and wants to comfort her a little but can't*

ARIEL: I'm a slave... That's all I am...

NADIR: *sighs" I'll have to tell Erik. *says to self*

ARIEL: *sees a tail in the distance and sits up, alert*

NADIR: *looks where she is looking*

ARIEL: Who's there?

DEVON: *swims closer to Ariel*

ARIEL: *doesn't notice him*

DEVON: *smirks and swims up to her*

ARIEL: *looks up at him and smiles* Hello

DEVON: good day. *eyes turn harsh* you're coming with me.