Post by Aquisha on Aug 22, 2008 2:10:48 GMT -5
So, a combination of me getting some free time as summer winds down and a sadness over the lack of Ariel/Eric story in the new movie has moved me to write a little more. Gah, I know people love Ariel as a mermaid (she is The Little Mermaid, I understand that) but still, I just think it is so sad that they never chose to explore a deeper story with her and Eric. *sigh* Thus I write I guess. Anyway, here's more of the story and soon to come: EEL-ECTRIC CITY!
By the time the boys got back from the tournament it was nearly dinner time. They’d come in second which elated the team and even satisfied Captain Finn (though he was already thinking up revisions to some of his less successful plays).
During the swim back home, the boys had relived some of their favorite moments from the games that afternoon: Waverly’s fin-shot from halfway across the field or River’s steal from a swimming back the size of a beluga. The best had been Eric’s failed attempt to shoot a winning goal that left him upside down with the opposing team doubled over in laughter, which ended up being the perfect distraction for Finn to rush in and score a goal.
It really had been a great afternoon and by the time they swam into the palace, you wouldn’t have ever known that the guys had just met Eric that morning. In the Grand Foyer, Aquata was sending the last few messenger sea horses off with some final instructions for the night.
“Hey guys,” she said with a deep exhale. Seeing them was like breaking the surface through murky water.
“Long day I’m guessing,” Finn said, wrapping his arms around her.
“Just every dignitary in the oceans and their families. Nothing we can’t handle. How’d you do today?”
“Second place!” Sheldon exclaimed, raising a beautifully sculpted coral cup above his head.
“Guys that’s great! Congratulations! You guys didn’t even place last year.”
“That’s because last year we didn’t have this one on our team!” Rip said, playfully punching Eric on the arm. The rest of the boys descended on him with agreement and more hitting.
“Really? The human turned out to be a spongeball star?” Aquata asked with raised eyebrows.
“No,” Eric replied embarrassed and running his fingers through his hair. “I think they mean that I was more of a mascot.”
“He did very well,” Finn said, over the laughing coming from the guys behind him.
“Even if he was upside down,” Rip added in false discretion.
The guys erupted into laughter again, leaving Aquata a little confused until she recalled Eric's panache for inverting himself. She covered her giggles with her hand, amused that his little talent had helped to accelerate their bonding. “Well,” she started with a smile, “I know the next thing you want is to find the girls, huh?”
The boys all looked at each other with nervous smiles.
“Attina’s in the library. Arista and Adella are probably in the courtyard. Alana’s in the Great Ballroom, Andrina’s in the stables, and I’m right here,” she said grabbing Finn’s hands. “Dinner is upstairs in our common room since Daddy’s using the dining hall for the guests. And remember: be on your best behavior guys, we have really important guests tonight!” she added.
With each name there was a nearly inaudible ‘thanks’ and a streak of color left the foyer. Eric watched as each merman left and waited to hear the one name that didn’t begin and end with an ‘A’.
“Eric,” Aquata said swimming up to him. “Ariel had a long day. She’s in her room.”
Eric took about a millisecond to register what ‘a long day’ meant, then he gave Aquata a nod and went off towards Ariel’s room.
Eric knocked on the huge shell door a little tentatively. The ‘come in’ that he got was a little more jovial than he expected but he obeyed and opened the door.
“You’re home!” exclaimed the little ball of red and green on the bed.
“Yeah,” he replied, barely able to prepare himself as Ariel nearly knocked him backwards with a hug.
“How was the game?” Ariel asked, grabbing his hand and pulling him to the bed.
“It was fine, we came in second,” he answered, eyeing her as she sat down on the bed.
“Second! That’s awesome! I’m sure Finn was happy about that. He’s been planning for that tournament for weeks. How were the guys?”
“They were great, actually,” Eric replied with obvious relief. “We probably laughed the entire time. They’re all so different, I mean Caspian’s such a thinker, and then River is so laid back, Waverly’s a big softy, and then Rip.... Well, Rip is…”
“Arista’s boyfriend,” Ariel finished with a knowing smile. “I know; they’re in their own little world together.”
“We’re not that bad, are we?”
“I don’t think so. At least I hope not.”
“Seriously.”
“I hope you’re ready for tonight,” Ariel said hopping off the bed and starting for the door. “I think we’re leaving after everyone eats dinner. Did Aquata tell you we’re eating up here? Daddy’s busy with the guests and so...”
“Whoa,” Eric said getting up and taking her hand. “What’s the rush? We probably have few minutes before dinner's ready.”
“I just wanted to get down there before all the food disappears. You haven’t seen a dinner with six hungry merboys as guests.”
Ariel started to leave again but Eric put his hands on her arms and turned her towards him. “Are you ok? I mean, was everything alright with the guests?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. It was fine,” she answered quickly.
Too quickly. With that answer Eric knew that something was wrong; Ariel’s emotions were always an open book, he was the evasive one. He wanted to know what had happened but there was something so fragile in her answer that he could tell that it wasn’t the time to ask. So, despite his curiosity and a hatred of Ariel being upset, he just looked at her and smiled.
“Ok then,” he said.
Ariel sighed in relief as Eric took her hand, squeezed it, and led her out of the room. That was all he’d needed to do for her right now and it was perfect. Ariel let Eric lead her down the hallway, awed by the comfort he’d given from that one simple gesture. After a few moments she swam up beside him.
“Later, I promise.”
“Ok,” he answered evenly.
Then, she was able to smile back.
“So, Eel-ectric City tonight,” Eric started effortlessly. “You excited?”
“Me? Oh, you’re the one who should be excited! Think you’re ready for it?”
“Ready for it? I was born ready! Bring it on!”
And Ariel laughed as they swam through the hallway hand in hand.
***************************************************************
By the time the boys got back from the tournament it was nearly dinner time. They’d come in second which elated the team and even satisfied Captain Finn (though he was already thinking up revisions to some of his less successful plays).
During the swim back home, the boys had relived some of their favorite moments from the games that afternoon: Waverly’s fin-shot from halfway across the field or River’s steal from a swimming back the size of a beluga. The best had been Eric’s failed attempt to shoot a winning goal that left him upside down with the opposing team doubled over in laughter, which ended up being the perfect distraction for Finn to rush in and score a goal.
It really had been a great afternoon and by the time they swam into the palace, you wouldn’t have ever known that the guys had just met Eric that morning. In the Grand Foyer, Aquata was sending the last few messenger sea horses off with some final instructions for the night.
“Hey guys,” she said with a deep exhale. Seeing them was like breaking the surface through murky water.
“Long day I’m guessing,” Finn said, wrapping his arms around her.
“Just every dignitary in the oceans and their families. Nothing we can’t handle. How’d you do today?”
“Second place!” Sheldon exclaimed, raising a beautifully sculpted coral cup above his head.
“Guys that’s great! Congratulations! You guys didn’t even place last year.”
“That’s because last year we didn’t have this one on our team!” Rip said, playfully punching Eric on the arm. The rest of the boys descended on him with agreement and more hitting.
“Really? The human turned out to be a spongeball star?” Aquata asked with raised eyebrows.
“No,” Eric replied embarrassed and running his fingers through his hair. “I think they mean that I was more of a mascot.”
“He did very well,” Finn said, over the laughing coming from the guys behind him.
“Even if he was upside down,” Rip added in false discretion.
The guys erupted into laughter again, leaving Aquata a little confused until she recalled Eric's panache for inverting himself. She covered her giggles with her hand, amused that his little talent had helped to accelerate their bonding. “Well,” she started with a smile, “I know the next thing you want is to find the girls, huh?”
The boys all looked at each other with nervous smiles.
“Attina’s in the library. Arista and Adella are probably in the courtyard. Alana’s in the Great Ballroom, Andrina’s in the stables, and I’m right here,” she said grabbing Finn’s hands. “Dinner is upstairs in our common room since Daddy’s using the dining hall for the guests. And remember: be on your best behavior guys, we have really important guests tonight!” she added.
With each name there was a nearly inaudible ‘thanks’ and a streak of color left the foyer. Eric watched as each merman left and waited to hear the one name that didn’t begin and end with an ‘A’.
“Eric,” Aquata said swimming up to him. “Ariel had a long day. She’s in her room.”
Eric took about a millisecond to register what ‘a long day’ meant, then he gave Aquata a nod and went off towards Ariel’s room.
Eric knocked on the huge shell door a little tentatively. The ‘come in’ that he got was a little more jovial than he expected but he obeyed and opened the door.
“You’re home!” exclaimed the little ball of red and green on the bed.
“Yeah,” he replied, barely able to prepare himself as Ariel nearly knocked him backwards with a hug.
“How was the game?” Ariel asked, grabbing his hand and pulling him to the bed.
“It was fine, we came in second,” he answered, eyeing her as she sat down on the bed.
“Second! That’s awesome! I’m sure Finn was happy about that. He’s been planning for that tournament for weeks. How were the guys?”
“They were great, actually,” Eric replied with obvious relief. “We probably laughed the entire time. They’re all so different, I mean Caspian’s such a thinker, and then River is so laid back, Waverly’s a big softy, and then Rip.... Well, Rip is…”
“Arista’s boyfriend,” Ariel finished with a knowing smile. “I know; they’re in their own little world together.”
“We’re not that bad, are we?”
“I don’t think so. At least I hope not.”
“Seriously.”
“I hope you’re ready for tonight,” Ariel said hopping off the bed and starting for the door. “I think we’re leaving after everyone eats dinner. Did Aquata tell you we’re eating up here? Daddy’s busy with the guests and so...”
“Whoa,” Eric said getting up and taking her hand. “What’s the rush? We probably have few minutes before dinner's ready.”
“I just wanted to get down there before all the food disappears. You haven’t seen a dinner with six hungry merboys as guests.”
Ariel started to leave again but Eric put his hands on her arms and turned her towards him. “Are you ok? I mean, was everything alright with the guests?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. It was fine,” she answered quickly.
Too quickly. With that answer Eric knew that something was wrong; Ariel’s emotions were always an open book, he was the evasive one. He wanted to know what had happened but there was something so fragile in her answer that he could tell that it wasn’t the time to ask. So, despite his curiosity and a hatred of Ariel being upset, he just looked at her and smiled.
“Ok then,” he said.
Ariel sighed in relief as Eric took her hand, squeezed it, and led her out of the room. That was all he’d needed to do for her right now and it was perfect. Ariel let Eric lead her down the hallway, awed by the comfort he’d given from that one simple gesture. After a few moments she swam up beside him.
“Later, I promise.”
“Ok,” he answered evenly.
Then, she was able to smile back.
“So, Eel-ectric City tonight,” Eric started effortlessly. “You excited?”
“Me? Oh, you’re the one who should be excited! Think you’re ready for it?”
“Ready for it? I was born ready! Bring it on!”
And Ariel laughed as they swam through the hallway hand in hand.