Siren Song
"You're supposed to do these things properly," she had said to the human woman with the keplie eyes and the hair of pearl. had said with a firm voice and teras and seawater still clinging to her eyelashes. had said while taking a small box filled with what she had been told contained her friend's remains.
Properly. What does she know of proper? Only what she's seen from funerals, only what she's heard from friends. If only she could ask someone, her father, her sisters, Sebastian. That's not possible, however. Atlantian funerals are for merpeople; you're no supposed to do them for land dwellers. So Ariel is alone as she silently navigates dark waters and rocky paths.
the place is dangerous for land and sea dwellers alike. Dangerous predators lurk in the cracks and around the corners. Towering rocks lurk just beneath the surface and catch ships unaware. Many a ship has been dragged down to the bottom. In many ways, this place is a graveyard.
Glowing eyes from little caves don't frighten her; she's always been unafraid of things, boldly going where other fish wince thinking about. Ariel only continues onwards, averting her eyes at the sight of half a skeleton splayed in the sand. Finally, she's out of the maze-like series of rocks and into a large open area. Before her, an enormous ship is half buried in the sand. It's different than most ships Ariel has seen on the surface. While still large, it is longer and the thing on its front is not some beautiful woman or land beast. Instead, it is some reptillian head, brightly colored even after years of being worn down by the current.
Ariel begins to move towards it before she feels the water twist behind her. Quickly, she spins about, clutching ht ebox to her chest. Before her is an enormous great white shark. His jaws are spread in an enormous grin, revealing rows of knife sharp teeth. Silence, then-
"Hi, Bruce," Ariel says with a weak smile.
"Ariel!" The shark never has seemed to perfect being quiet; her name is bellowed out as Bruce wiggles in delight. "'Ey, it's Ariel, you lot!" In seconds, two other sharks are swimming into view. They seem just as happy to see her.
"Why, we haven't seen you in ages!" Anchor the hammerhead remarks. "What brings you here?"
The smile falls from her face. "...A funeral." Tears must be gathering at her eyes again, blending into the water effortlessly, because she's suddenly crushed between three huge bodies. Condolences are being blurted out, all jumbled together from the three sharks. Offering a small laugh, she somehow wiggles out from the great big mess without getting caught on the wrong end of their skin. Even the pouch she had slung around her hips manages to avoid damage. "Thanks, you guys. Just... I need to have some time alone, okay?" She pats Chum on the nose.
"You take your time!" Bruce calls after her as she swims towards the ship. "We 'ave all the time in the world!"
The somberness of the situation settles over her once she disappears into the depths of the ship. It's not very detailed and complicated like other ships she's explored, but that's alright. That makes it easier to find the gigantic trove of strange metals and weapons which are stored inside of it. Very gently, she places the box in the midst of it, where it seems plain compared to the gems which shine dimly about it. Two last things, now...
From her pouch, she takes out a deck of cards, enchanted so that the water doesn't damage them. They had been a gift to her after she'd finally begun to prove adept at the games he had seemed to fond of. Now, she returns a portion of the deck, positioning it like one would use a gravestone up on the surface: King of Diamonds. She likes to think it's fitting, wonders if he would approve.
Digging the heels of her hands into her eyes and taking deep breaths, Ariel prepares herself. One last thing... She doesn't want to mess this up. She's never been serious with singing, but this... This is more important than anything. At least for her. At last, when she's certain her voice won't crack, she closes her eyes and opens her mouth, voice weaving throughout the sea in painful sadness.
"Once I knew a game
Could have swore I knew it well
No more complicated than a shell
And, my teacher, you had given me the aim
Yet now things are twisting
The rules have all changed
Leaving me floundered
For you're no longer playing
A friendly face gone from the table
For you were more than a teacher
More than some 'wicked' creature
And I knew there was more than some label
Because there was eloquence
And a humor beneath the surface
A person who went for his wishes
Instead of waiting in suspense!
A friend who needed a partner
A teacher with no one to teach
And desires in bed-side reach
So you were a gambler who wanted a challenger
Questions bubble within me
Like you know they always do
Things I wish I had thought to ask you
But passed because I was silly
Was I worthy? Did I make the cut?
Please tell me there were no regrets
If I could play another set
That would make up my bet
But I passed a winning hand
I lost a one-time shot
For now you are lost
And buried beneath foreign sand
We won't even get to meet again
For you lay sleeping in your far off home
When my time comes, I'll be nothing but sea foam
We'll never even meet beyond then
I can only hope Neptune is kind
That I'll gain feet
Or that you'll grow fins that are fleet
And we'll meet again, no longer so blind
Because possibilities can't be missed
Although I cannot say the same for you
So when we meet again, as I hope we do
I will make sure our friendship isn't wasted."
