Aquarium

[Natalia Kimlasca-Lanvaldear]

[walks around with Ion...they encounter many more colorful fishes and sea anemones]

[Ion]

i wonder who took the time to fill this?

[Natalia Kimlasca-Lanvaldear]

[walks around a corner]

Wahhh! [grabs a hold of Ion's robes]

[catches breath] I-I'm sorry. I tripped over something...[looks at the piece of marble she tripped over]

[Ion]

Ahhh!

[caught by surprise]

are you okay Natalia?

[Natalia Kimlasca-Lanvaldear]

...Y-yes, thank you, Ion. Are you okay?

[picks up the marble and looks at it. Who dropped this?!]

[pats the dust off her clothes]

[Ion]

i'm fine

hmm

[picks up the marble]

[Natalia Kimlasca-Lanvaldear]

Anyways...have you heard the story of the golden mermaid? [grins]

I read it in a collection of fish folktales.

[Ion]

i remember seeing that in the Library in Daath

i would like to know the tale though

[Natalia Kimlasca-Lanvaldear]

Well it goes like this: Once there was a greedy sailor who was the best in all the land. He sailed far and wide, collected trinkets and other treasures to trade for more profits. One day, while he was out casting his nets, he caught something large and heavy. Something worth a trillion gald. What he caught was a mermaid with a golden tail. At the sight of this, the sailors eyes glowed with even more greed and ignored the mermaid's pleas to be released, for they were worth more dead than alive. He pulled the nets and mermaid up, ordering his men to prepare a large container for the mermaid. Her scales glittered and shone so brightly in the sun and when she fell upon the wooden deck, it clinked and clattered against it like gold coins. Among the crew there was a young cabin boy and upon seeing the helpless mermaid flailing about, he immediately fell in love at first sight.

That night when the greedy sailor slept, the cabin boy set out to free the mermaid, however he was caught and whipped by the first mate. Then the alarms were rung and the greedy sailor woke up and slapped the disobedient cabin boy and threatened him with his pistol. A storm raged as the mermaid wept and tried to break free from their grasps and bindings.

The greedy sailor turned and said to the cabin boy, "See, think of your poor mother suffering from her illness. Do you want her to die in that rotten, diseased town of yours? If we let this mermaid go, you will never see your family ever again."

"But...sir, I love her! How can you ---!"
"Enough! Or you die with her!" And to make his point the greedy sailor shot his pistol at the mermaid. Flecks of gold flew into the air and landed on the floor, glittering and shining. At this, the other crew members grew wild and collected the gold flecks.

"Tie the traitor up!" He kicked the cabin boy then went back to his chambers to sleep.

Again, that very same night, when everyone had gone back to bed after beating the poor cabin boy, he broke free of his bonds and set out to release the mermaid again, also in hopes that she will have him for a mate, if they survived.....

However, the greedy sailor was also cunning and knew that this would happen so when the cabin boy reached the mermaid, he was caught in a trap and flung overboard into the ocean. When the alarm rang that the trap had gone off, the greedy sailor awoke to check on the mermaid. He looked down at the cabin boy trying to stay afloat against the currents. He laughed.

"Looks like you'll never get to see your mother again!" Then he took the mermaid and slaughtered her right in front of the cabin boy. He screamed and wept, cursing at the horrible man. The sailor only spat back into his face.

"I hope you enjoy your time in deep waters, traitor!"

Then he steered his ship away and sold the mermaid tail, after he picked off all the precious, golden scales.

However, the ghost of the cabin boy remained behind to sink any ships that floated by where the greedy sailor had thrown him overboard. In order to appease the ghost, sailors and merchants must pay a golden toll or else suffer his horrible curse. And that is why, today, some people throw gald into the ocean when traveling in order to ensure a safe journey from treacherous ghosts, curses, and other such stuff.

[Ion]

thats a really good story.. i wonder if the Greedy sailor got what was coming to him

[Jade Curtiss]

[had entered and listened to her story]

[without being seen, he comes up behind her and wraps his arms around her]

Very nice, Natalia.

[Natalia Kimlasca-Lanvaldear]

I don't know because the rest of the pages are missing....
Do you know any good fish stories?

[looks at whose arms are around her. Tries to calm down and stop the fluttering in her stomach. His touch always sets her on fire]

[leans into him then pulls back, looking away...at Ion]

[doesn't want to do anything with Jade in front of Ion]

Oh hello, Jade. Did you listen to the entire story?

[Jade Curtiss]

[slightly amused at her response, he doesn't remove his arms...he's not ashamed...]

[to Natalia]

Yes, I did.

[to Ion]

Hello, Ion.

How are you doing today?

[Ion]

umm hi Jade

it looks like you guys are doing something personal so i'll leave you guys alone, byee

[leaves]

[Natalia Kimlasca-Lanvaldear]

[is surprised he isn't being modest and turns red...unsure whether to pull away or not. Decides to lightly touch his sides. His uniform feels clean and smooth beneath her touch...however, at that moment, Ion decides to leave...]

[astonished]: Wha---he...left...

[takes this moment to relax and leans into Jade]

[says in a loving tone of voice]: Although you could have waited until after he left, dear.