Chapter Text
Despite his efforts to stay as long as possible, the inevitable had happened still.
Despite the efforts Carroll made sure for his parents to be unharmed by taking the most damage. Taking the scorned glares of the once friendly neighbors, the playful jeers of other children, and the shame it felt to be labeled as someone "bad".
His parents were unharmed and yet, they still left.
With a simple reason he had misjudged, the intensity of a parent's affection to their child.
He, their precious son, was getting hurt. Not physically—but how long would they have to wait before others resort to that level of bad?
Although Carroll feels that they wouldn't resort on that new level of low. To harm a child physically, in the first place, the neighbors would not consider an easy option like that.
But then again, their admiration towards him had certainly changed at a snap so could Carroll, outside of his subjective experience, truly say they wouldn't use the easy option if it would remove the "bad" child in the neighborhood?
His parents love him, his father and mother who sat by each of his side. It was as clear as day in the way they held his hands delicately, like it was a comfort to feel him, fingers rubbing against soft skin, taking the edge where the window reflected the sunlight pouring inside the interior. The fluffy cushion under them, the way his feet dangled far down the carpet floor as the magical carriage they rode jolted faintly. Clearly, he was loved, spoiled even.
Not hearing any noise from the outside, he turn to watch the light shift as if it had a mind on its own. From his lap, a finger twitched. The desire to touch the light was repressed.
The carriage's subtle trembling from traveling on ground soon smoothened into a rocking cradle, a swing from the playground, the roll of a ball: gentle and soothing. He focused on the window, curious of the cause—and soon found why.
Waves of moving water appeared from the bottom of the window, swaying the carriage in its rhythm, he followed the gradual rise in its takeover to amplify the light pouring in the carriage with a focused point. A pretty sight he thinks, seeing the glimmers of particles dancing around the light like glitters. His finger twitched.
The point of light hit his face, Luis promptly placed a hand before his eyes, casting a shadow as he smiled at the expression of his face.
"Careful, Carroll," Luis reminded, "bright lights may be pretty but they are blinding. Don't let yourself be blinded in its luminosity."
In response, his mother, Lucy, instinctively wrapped herself around him, soft pinkish hues taking him in. She kissed his nose, "shall we close the blinds, my rose?"
".. it's alright," Carroll murmured, eyes following the gaps of light between his father's fingers, "I like the light, mother, father. Please don't worry too much."
Humming, Lucy brushed a part of his hair away from his face, observing his state as Carroll steadily met her gaze, offering a small smile. Lucy's eyebrows furrowed.
"Mother.. I'm fine. Really."
She shook her head, shushing him, "you look pale, my rose, do you feel nauseous?"
No, he answered in his head, closing his eyes and leaning his head back the cushion, he took a breath. The warmth of the light touched his face. His father must have taken his hand away.
Rather than sadness, as one would feel when taken away from the things they had grown used to, to leaving a dear lonely friend behind—he was simply disappointed of how everything turned out to be.
Beside him, Luis hummed, similarly pinkish eyes bordering to a slightly intense shade of red narrowed in thought, "I have some potions with me, how about taking one? Do you want to drink one, Carroll?"
Letting go of his hand, Lucy brushed apart the bangs of his face to feel for his forehead, pressing her own and closing her eyes, "you don't feel hot but I'm afraid the shock of a cooler environment might send you into one—my love, has the protective barrier of our home been secured?"
"Of course, my dear, and as for the cooler environment," Luis glanced to the side of his window, "it'll be inevitable and a necessary transition. Nothing is permanent, after all, only change ever stay constant."
".. us leaving our home was inevitable?"
In the two hour ride, Luis and Lucy looked at the tiny voice, surprised that he initiated a conversation. The unreadable gleam of something sharp and cold melted into anxiety and worry, the two folded over Carroll's small body. Their hands stroking everywhere they can impart at least a portion of their comfort.
"Of course," Lucy answered, "time waits for no one—except for those fortunate ones who could make it so, similarly, cruelty without a means to an end is not an action we condone, my rose."
Carroll frowned, eyes focusing to the covered floor in a nice shade of white fur. "Was their cruelty senseless, mother?"
"Do you think you were deserving of such a thing then?"
"If they feel so, then it must be. The people of the Queendom, as bound by laws, are reasonable. Why would they make a wrong judgment in such a time?"
He didn't see it, the way his parent's ever bright eyes had gone dark, the light extinguished to make space for that same cruelty inflicted on him—except where the others had made it without a clear goal in mind, Lucy and Luis had more than a clue of what to do with their own cruelty.
However, he did see the once transparent, reflective water grow with color. Of its blues, of greens, and shadows. The intensity of the light pouring in the carriage had dramatically decreased, muffled to a point where the light from above can no longer reach their point of descent. The sky above had vanished, blurring into the sea's mimicry of the sky.
The color of blue sent a small twinge in his chest, a strange sensation when there was once a time that he had been surrounded with red everywhere around.
Lucy hooked her finger under Carroll's chin, meeting his eyes firmly, "my rose, it seems your mother had poor memory, do remind me again: what had you done bad?"
He didn't know.
What he does know very well, is one fact: he had abandoned Riddle, the only friend Riddle could have at this time, the one friend who insisted to stay around—because his parents taught him that every child is deserving to experience happiness, of fun.
Riddle is important. Although, as for his mother.. Carroll can admit, he had taken the time, whenever they cross paths, to fight against her command, to stand as a pillar for Riddle. To keep him as his friend, to not reduce Riddle into whatever his own mother in mind.
Is that it? Because he talked back to an adult? Because he lost his manners whenever it was Riddle's mother he was exchanging words with? Because he was unpleasant to her?
Or was it because he questioned her own way of loving her son?
And because she took it as an insult towards herself, perhaps she was the primary suspect who had sowed the seeds of doubt to the rest as well, to shifting the bright light of spotlight into one concentrated tiny ball of light shone against a criminal.
Carroll don't doubt it. He had seen his parent's love, he should be able to tell that was the same case for Riddle's mother for Riddle, too.
But to admit it out loud is to confess his awareness of Riddle's mother action into light, to condemn her for loving Riddle in a way she seemed to only know how to herself. To identify the exact point of root cause, is to fracture more of the already unstable bridge between he and Riddle.
"You taught me manners, I seem to lost it whenever I speak to Riddle's mother," Carroll answered thoughtfully, "could that be? Is that why she did all those mean things?"
"That's exactly it, my rose," unknowingly redirecting his eyes to see Lucy smiling, she nodded, stroking his cheek, "his mother is quite the most cruel one, isn't she? To be mean towards a child.. is simply unspeakable. For other adults to act just as thoughtless reflect their true color—a being lacking the developed awareness to think for themselves. It's no wonder they follow rules so well, they are conditioned to walk behind the strongest people taking charge. A shame for their underutilized heads."
"Time could only be slowed down for so long, to waste a second of it to those type of people. Well." A low mocking laugh, Luis continued, "I assume that would not be a life you prefer, do you, Carroll?"
His parents would be devastated to know that Carroll would have endured such a life.
Carroll shook his head, closing his eyes as his frown deepened.
His mother adjusted her hold onto him, the smooth texture of her silk gloves stroking his hair while the other wrapped around his chest, pulling Carroll to her embrace without another word.
"Sometimes, adults can make bad decisions. And sometimes, those who see the right thing to do happens to be children. Do you wonder why, my rose?"
Carroll slithered his hands around his mother's waist, burying his face to the scent of her lavender perfume, purple and gentle—and so very unlike of the intense and overwhelming scent of red roses, he squeezed the edge of her dress.
Lucy continued, "because children are the most innocent beings before the world can teach them to be human, a being of many flaws and yet, at the same time, great kindness at times. You were doing nothing more than defending your precious friend, did you not?"
"Riddle is.. he's a child like me—like Trey and Che'nya, he does not yet need to be as smart as an adult, mother. I simply just.."
A hum quieten his words, Lucy finished his sentence, "to have fun."
Carroll pursed his lips, "we left because we don't want to fix what appears cannot be fixed but what about Riddle?"
"Riddle.. indeed, what of him, Carroll?"
If they truly can't turn the carriage around to mend the hurt that had spread this far wide into making his parents act, then Carroll could only imagine his parents wouldn't be inclined to return to a place that harmed him anytime soon.
But he can try. ".. he'll be all alone again. I was the only friend he had left—"
"And at the same time, because he loves his mother—allow me to ask you, my rose, the Riddle in your story is far smarter than any of your age, which option would he find the most sound? His mother or his friends?"
His friends, Carroll would have answered, as through the darkness of his vision, he vividly saw the tear-stained little Riddle sitting in Trey's shop, the loudness of how mighty he cried out his apologies when he had hurt their feelings, and the promise to choose them against his mother because they, his friends, were the ones who taught Riddle the most important thing: love can't be reasoned, it was felt and it was given warmly, willingly.
Neither which his own mother provided aside from the mountain of thick syllabus Riddle spent most of his time in reading and understanding. Too much that it remains a secret between the three of them if Trey's eyeglasses should appear in Riddle instead.
But the truth is unspeakable. Riddle is a smart child, he wouldn't object his mother as much as he says—or promises, he will. Rather, he would stay compliant until he had found a way to escape her control, her grasp.
This fun is not as easy as it appears when one is much aware of how time is fleeting and with it, the pull of fate into action. Perhaps the reason why his parents hope for him to find fun is to live in the present, to appreciate life in spite of how it could be wiped away in a next second—because fate is unchanging.
A concept as different as time being constant. The reason why the two are closely related. Why those with the power of time could feel burdened with mere life itself—with a mere second of time all it takes to entirely change the direction of fate.
And to find fun above all else.. Carroll sighed, shaking his head, "having fun is harder than it appears. How silly."
Lucy's chuckle was shared with Luis, they agreed at the musing of a child, amused, "perhaps it had been all along, my rose. If joy or in your words, fun, had been so easy to attain then many would not turn to be twisted in order to be happy, yes?"
Carroll only pointedly grumbled an unhappy response.
—
"Whoa.."
How adorable, Lucy knelt to kiss her precious son's cheek, endlessly endeared as the little one looked around the new environment with clear delight, an envy many would desire for themselves. She glanced at Luis, they shared a look, smiling as they watched Carroll slowly walk around the dry ground of their path.
Approaching the edge, Carroll didn't look over his shoulder to see them. Instead, they saw his shoulders rise and fall, and with a quivering hand of excitement, the pad of his finger touched the barrier—a protective shield keeping them from the outside elements, say, like water submerging them entirely.
It was basically a dome of air bubble, one anyone can enter and exit as they please.
As for the occasional intruders, Lucy glanced at the faint ripples of the barrier, the shadowy figures of merman swimming from above and the life in this new city, they should pose no problem. She pressed a hand on her chin, "he seems to adore this place."
"Children are simple creatures, my dear, at their core, they fundamentally want one thing," Carroll ran his palm along the barrier, stroking and then being at awe when he saw his palm was wet, he laughed, "and that is to have fun. We chose a good place."
Lucy hummed, "I suppose."
As long as Carroll was happy and laughing like he is in the present, she would hold no restraint in providing resources for such a fickle thing. She smiled, standing and brushing her hands down her dress.
The descendants of the White Rabbit—the Tickingtons, one native only to the Queendom of Roses, a distinct lineage on par with the Queen of Hearts, had an unspoken duty given to them in the form of a small, circular pocket watch, always moving and making the familiar ticking sound.
That was where everything started, from the tick-tick-ticking of time, the consistent distance Lucy maintained from her friends from before—tick, running away when disputes happen between her friends and forced to choose a side—tick, and to be dignified—tick. To maintain neutrality as to be a White Rabbit, is to not interfere with time, and fundamentally, fate itself.
For nothing is stronger, and unshakable than a human's sense of sentimentality, Lucy knew for certain that if they were to love a human as dear as the balance of fate, it would make one cheat against fate.
To prevent an accident. A death. Or even as little as the experience of hurt to the one they love.
This is why she was willing to go above and beyond for her loveliest son. She loved him truly.
Luis offered his arm for her to hold, she placed her hand with her head leaning on his shoulder. They watch Carroll for a moment, gazes soft and loving, they smiled.
Then as Carroll turned, wearing the biggest smile he could have place in his face, he sprinted towards them. They both met him at the same time, both kneeling and each opening a hand to hold him. Carroll jumped to their arms, laughing.
"Are we staying here forever?"
"If you desire it so, then we could make it be a foreseeable future." Luis answered, leaning to pinch Carroll's cheek, laughing together with him. "Would you like it to be, Carroll?"
Carroll opened his mouth but as quick as his response, a flicker of hesitation showed. Lucy could guess what was holding him back, her eyes remained kind as she pondered at the idea of Riddle—Riddle Rosehearts.
A second is all she need to know that the mere thought of Riddle could make her son stagger. She placed a hand on his cheek, "Riddle is a strong child, my rose, if he truly wants to see you once more, amends must be taken. In his mother's stead, he must right her wrongs."
Carroll's smile dimmed and yet, despite being shaken, his eyes sharpened in defense, "it's not his fault, mother."
"Do we forgive Riddle then?"
"Yes." was Carroll's firm answer, she smiled.
"Then if he were to meet us once more, he must take the first steps by himself to be freed from his mother, yes? Otherwise, if he were to remain within her, she would interfere yet again."
Carroll hummed, nuzzling against her glove as he smiled a little, "I'll wait for that day, as long as it takes. It would not be a waste of my time."
"Riddle is a fortunate child," Luis commented, chuckling, "to be adored for a delicate, tentative future, how admirable."
Carroll pursed his lips, leveling them with a look, a scrutinizing glare that vividly reminds Lucy of the past, of the suffocating and too much constraint in what could and what could not. Of eyes constantly primed to point out the tiniest mistakes, it made her smile a little coldly to see the same blood of their ancestors running through their son.
When she and Luis had tried all they can to sever their ties to the linage as soon as they were able to, at the moment their Carroll had been born and recognized in the family register.
In the end, their duty to keep all at balance is not meant to be taught in the first place. It was innate, instinctive. Those of what was taught to them was mere reinforcement for them to never forget its importance.
"I know Riddle the most. He wouldn't accept outside help in solving his problems, this is why I wait. He wouldn't accept pity nor a short-cut. For all he is a copy of his mother, Riddle is his own. This is why I stay here."
"Oh?" Lucy whispered, a tilt of her head, a question if she had done something wrong to be looked upon sharply, "my rose, we are not underestimating Riddle's ability. We are not your enemy."
"But you are mocking him. Just like the adults who sees him being too smart as them but reducing him for a know it all child. Riddle is Riddle, I will not stand for words that discredits all his efforts to be different from his parent, mother, father."
.. mocking him.
Indeed, that may be how their words are often received. Clumsy, cruel, and logical. Lucy, in her attempt to reassure Carroll that he and Riddle will meet in the future once more, is taken negatively.
Because she mocks him.
A silence that could be cut with a knife, a tension as Carroll had already pulled himself away from their touch. His eyes taking after her own the most, reflected the courage to stand up for his friend, to be so fierce.. to look at them with disapproval, to be displeased because of them—it had been long since she felt this emotion of attempting to make up for her mistake.
"My rose.."
"I am disappointed, mother."
It was a damage far worst than any whip, slap, and insult. Her smile flinched, she looked at the ground for a moment to compose herself as Luis placed a hand on her back, grounding her to reality.
Perhaps, they were harsh on a child. They had crossed a line.
They had not known the right response to offer, they lack the ability to comfort their dearest son with words of reassurance—something she saw that other parents could naturally do, even Riddle's mother. In her own way of comforting that son of hers.
Even if said child had a mind of an adult, Riddle is young in body. What his mind could conjure, his body had to compensate for what it clearly lacks in providing satisfactory results for an ability he could see in his mind's eye vividly.
Just as she was before, a child sharpened with the unbending reality of rules.
She released a breath, closing her eyes from the memory she eased down, "I am sorry, my rose, we had been far too harsh on Riddle. It was our honest mistake to perceive him in such light."
For a moment, Carroll was quiet, he turned to Luis, eyes narrowing.
"I must apologize for myself as well, I hadn't intended my words to be.. misleading. We understand, we thank you for your understanding, Carroll, would you overlook this mistake of your clumsy parents this once?"
"I understand your care for me, oftentimes it leave me at awe in the lengths you could go for me," a shadow cast in front of her, she didn't raise her eyes. She didn't like the disapproval in her son's eyes, to know she failed him in some way made her chest prick with anger for herself, "the only thing I ask of you, mother, father, is that you treat the people I hold dear with the same consideration you possess towards me."
"Us leaving is the kindest we could do for Riddle, Carroll," Luis said, "if we had not, Riddle would continue to depend on you—to further impose himself to you without knowing your hurt. At his age and his need for his mother, he wouldn't be able to fully amend the hurt you suffer while in his presence."
"I understand, father. This is why I ask you to take extra steps in being kinder to Riddle. Our departure is necessary, yes, but it drops Riddle back on his own. The height he fell from is no laughing matter, he must be thinking his world ending at his last friend leaving because of him." Carroll paused, voice holding firm just as his eyes that conveyed more than the depth of his fondness for Riddle, "this I only ask of you, speak of his name softer, forgive him more. His mother's fault is not his weight to also carry as well."
Luis paused, blinking and laughing at the widened eyes of Lucy taking in her son as if he was a different person. "We understand, and again, we apologize. We did not intend to inflict hurt on either party."
".. I see Riddle had imparted a part of himself to you." Lucy whispered, "you had changed, my rose, before—before, your highest priority was simply finding happiness, of fun. Now, you.."
Carroll's expression softened, he walked back to their frozen, stiff arms, kissing his mother's cheek and then his father.
"This would be because of Riddle." Carroll whispered warmly, smiling, "he is more trouble than he is worth in comparison to Che'nya. Taking care of him, playing, and learning as well from him, I became what I am today."
And for her to notice this late, Lucy roamed her eyes at Carroll with dissatisfaction for herself, how many more must pass her by? How many more should unknowingly go unseen by them?
For her beloved son to be so grown, to be so painfully warm to the point of showing true humanity—when before, needless and yet harmless fun was all he sought, climbing over people's fences, teasing, and laughing without putting anymore of a second thought to his actions and yet..
Now, he would find fun with an awareness he hadn't intended in the past, to be concerned of consequences and the welfare of other people aside from his own—despite the undeniable knowledge that he could easily prevent it.
Now, he would be far more lovable than he was before.
Before, he imitates the warmth of the sun, the harmless fun, pranks, and a brazen-kind of will to know everything would turn out alright. And now, he remains the same, but with a kindness and awareness that was taught by being around Riddle.
Carroll is now the sun, however, it was not the blinding sun that shine high to the sky. But rather, the color of their eyes, the sun that coats everything in breathtaking pink, of a natural phenomenon being admired by all, a beautiful sunset.
Their dearest son had become what they must continuously improve within themselves, his desire for connection and deviating from the neutrality—the master of his fate and those he loved.
A critical thing when someone of their lineage would interfere with time as often as they liked which would inevitably link them to the other's fate, to causing waves of change upon anyone's fate and given a much heavier responsibility over them: a duty of a watchful deity instead of a passive observer.
Lucy surged forward in wrapping her arms around her beloved son, her heart weeping in delight but also, a deep despair of seeing it so late, she held the small, delicate body of her son to her. Carroll hugged her with the same intensity, laughing as Luis hugged them both, taking them to his arms.
At the burst of her affection, and profound sadness for the path she sees her son is willingly walking towards into, Lucy slicked Carroll's bangs and with an unusually louder laugh, kissed his forehead enough to leave an imprint of her lipstick. She laughed as Carroll did, as Luis did when she turned to do the same towards her husband.
She simply wish for one thing that she hadn't done enough for herself.
In his troubling journey, she earnestly wished for Carroll to find fun and happiness to it.
—
He had been given a few reminders before he stepped out of the bubble, dropped to the sea's depth. The cold being an unpleasant jolt of biting cold he took a moment in being familiar with. Carroll may have considered this coldness as fresh had he earnestly wanted water to cool him off or his feet dipped in water.
At this current moment, the beauty of the sea served as enough compensation for him to find joy in its most natural state, keeping the three most important rules in mind all the while:
-
Remain vigilant of his surroundings.
-
The potion enabling him to breathe underwater lasts for precisely 24 hours and any further extension is not possible.
-
Do not inform anyone of his UM and/or make friends that might be greedy for using him and his UM.
Along with the dark full-body wetsuit he wore, his signature silver pocketwatch kept close to his chest and secured by a thin, elegant chain wrapped around his upper body like a body-bag.
The other necessity his parents wanted him to wear were: goggles and a flipper for his feet. Carroll didn't accept any, the wetsuit was enough for him. He wanted to be as comfortable as possible and with those additional accessories alienating him from the surroundings, his father reluctantly settled with letting him drink a potion for safely keeping his eyes open and see through the water and another for his ears in adjusting to the sea's pressure.
Carroll smiled to himself, blowing bubbles and watching it rise to the surface, laughing and creating more bubbles rapidly following the previous above. Laughing, the sound muffled, he raised a hand to intercept the air bubbles and watching it disperse. He closed and opened his palm in wonder, looking around his surroundings.
It was a given that Coral Sea, a city entirely submerged in water, should vastly different from the Queen of Roses. He had heard of Coral Sea, much like the others were and different cities than the Queendom, each and everyone had been amazing to learn about. To imagine himself in.
The Coral Sea feels so.. freeing to be in.
Carroll sort of find that pleasing. The sense of so much space, the unpredictability, and the people—oh, he was curious to see an actual merman first-hand! He had heard tales about merman bearing a beauty only unique to them. Would the tales hold truth? Or would his expectations be far demanding than he expected?
The sea is far vast than he had imagined it to be, from above to below, there was always something moving whether it be the gentle currents, plants, fish or other merman, passing time was never going to be a boring affair in here.
The merman appear to be aware of his presence, giving him passing glances but never moving close. And before Carroll could really appreciate the confirmed uniqueness of their beauty, those merman would have fled in a blink of an eye, at the snap of their equally gorgeous tail.
He found that cute, they were skittish. He hopes it's because he was new to the environment and not because he scared them. Somehow.
Carroll heavily doubt that a merman could be scared at a human child.
So he focused on other matters of beauty, swimming to the nearest reef he could see, touching the sandy ground as he knelt on both knees and despite his intention to remain on ground, floated above instead. It made him laugh, doing the upside spins that Che'nya would do and finding it fun—no wonder he always does that!
But after a few spins, feeling a little dizzy as his vision spun as well, he focused on the movement from a coral, unknowingly drifting apart as he swam towards it and anchored himself by gripping to some stone on the ground. Carroll tilt his head, watching its many tendrils sway and dance. He followed the movement with wide eyes as invested as a cat to a glass cup on the edge of the table.
The coral leaped up, scurrying away from whatever it deemed as dangerous as Carroll copied its motions, having felt nothing around him, he followed after the wiggling coral with curiosity.
The notion that he may be the reason the coral had moved made him stop in his tracks, blinking and smiling as the coral gave him a wide berth before stopping, bright pink tendrils settling as it dropped down the ground yet again, finally at peace.
Carroll covered his mouth, the air bubbles betraying him as he giggled, swimming closer to ground and hiding behind some stones that resembled corals, he watched the pink coral sway at the waves while slowly, carefully creeping up to it.
Once he was close to count how many tiny tendrils it have, air bubbles went in front and his arms went as well, a pressure wrapped around his ankle that pulled him back—alarmed, he whipped his body upright and pulled his feet back, eyes narrowed, hands prepared to defend himself, he blinked at the sight before him.
Two merman, identical twins. But unlike any merman he saw so far, eyes dropping to their overall greenish hue figure resembling a grass, he trailed at their long tails with no fins. It was simply a long tail—like a snake but with frills, they were different.
Carroll hadn't seen any merman close to the twins' appearance. What he saw were the ones confirmed from the tales of old, the upper body of a human with its skin tone and a colored tail which was usually a variety of colors, depending to species.
Except a snake doesn't have frills or gills. So these two were certainly some sort of fish. What kind?
"Hi!" One twin with the yellow right eye greeted, smiling as he moved closer to Carroll in a snap, coming up to his face, "you're new here, I haven't seen a fish like you, what fish are you?"
Carroll backed away, regarding the merman with caution, eyeing his sharp claws and similarly sharp teeth. If only for his down-turned eyes, Carroll would have mistaken the loud twin as kind. "A human."
He laughed, "that's a weird name! Hey, what exactly does this—" poking at Carroll's wetsuit, he asked, tugging at the fabric on his stomach, "—do? That's not your skin at all?"
Carroll frowned, eyeing the quiet twin with the yellow eye on his left eye. When the quiet twin noticed his stare, he smiled politely, swimming right beside the louder twin. Carroll frowned further.
"I'm not a fish, I'm a human." He repeated, pointing at his neck, "look, no gills. No fins. No frills."
"Ooooo," following and comparing himself to Carroll, the louder twin's mouth formed an "o", eyes brightening, he swam in lazy circles around Carroll, "so, you're a human!"
Carroll squint one eye, keeping the two at his sight as he smiled dryly, "would that be a problem?"
"Not at all."
A wave of water moving, Carroll pushed himself back when the quiet twin made an attempt to get behind, hand outstretched as if to take something. The quiet twin's hand was left in the air, wrapping around nothing as he chuckled, face turning to Carroll. "The color of your hair is peculiar. Eye-catching, you could be seen from a distance."
"Unfortunately, I can't say the same for yours," Carroll remarked, smiling, "you rather blend well with the seaweeds."
The quiet twin paused, slowly blinking, "I suppose that is an interesting perspective to consider. We do look rather bland, don't we?"
"Not at all. I personally consider it as a benefit if one had great camouflage—like, say," trailing off, Carroll tested a guess with a narrow of his eyes, "as ambush predators?"
The quiet twin smiled, yellow eye glowing as he chuckled, a hand coming to delicately cover his mouth.
A giggle, Carroll quickly moved back as the louder twin mimicked what the other twin did, swimming behind Carroll in an attempt to touch his hair. Carroll glared at the two, keeping himself upright.
"Your hair looks so soft! Like clouds, I wanna touch it!" The loud twin whined, trying to get behind Carroll as he continued to back away, frown deepening as the twins followed after him. The impromptu play went on for a few seconds, each with neither side showing any progress of getting away or getting near for that matter.
Eventually, after the few seconds of stalemate, the louder twin's expression grew impatient, heterochromia eyes narrowing and lips dragging to a snarl, he growled, leaping forward with his hand outstretched, claws gleaming.
That was when everything stopped.
The frozen expression of the louder twin and behind him, the gently smiling quiet twin. The fishes swimming and the sway of plant-life, all of it froze. Except for the water that continued to sway regardless of its frozen lifeforms.
The first merman to approach him and they were not a good representation for any human introduced to the natives of Coral Sea.
Rude. Wilful. Disruptive.
Eyes narrowing, Carroll hovered right in front of the loud twin's face, frowning, he raised a hand and poked it lightly on the other's forehead, "so rude to pull another's ankle. We don't do that here," and smoothly moving to the quiet twin, Carroll childishly stuck his tongue out and with fleeting curiosity, focused on the mildly longer strand of darker hair to twirl it between his finger. "..? How are your hair so soft..?"
Contrary to common belief of staying in sea water where salt hardens the hair, the quiet twin's hair is surprisingly soft, not stiff at all as it swirled easily between his finger. Carroll moved to the loud twin, doing the same and seeing the same result. He was amazed.
Maybe that was what the two intended to do with his own hair, to see if it was stiff or as smooth as theirs.
Unfortunate that they had been a little annoying.
Carroll swam away from them, sparing a brief reconsidering look over his shoulder as he returned to his home and entered the barrier, hand passing through the liquid soft bubble, he popped himself on the dry ground, unfreezing time with a sigh and pulling the rest of him out of the water.
However, he had to give them points. The twins were at least friendly, if not overly familiar. Their appearance filled with childlike curiosity with a mixture of something sharper, the kind where they had dealt a far rougher life than a kid on land.
He stared at his blurry reflection on the barrier, pinkish eyes staring in return. He remembered the twin yellow eyes and sharp teeth, and raised a hand to slick his drying and stiffening hair back.
Ultimately, they were more than clumsy in their approach. Perhaps that is why the rest of the merman kept their distance, they were prone to act overly familiar and had no recognition of personal boundaries. And imposing themselves on a human who may take their actions in offense, Carroll could understand the reluctance.
So, he smiled at his reflection, amused. The twins had been cute in their efforts, at least they tried, right?
Unbeknownst that the moment time unfroze, the loud twin's growl was harshly cut off when he pounced on nothing, righting himself as he blinked at the empty space before him.
".. huh?" He breathed out, blinking rapidly, "huuuuuh?"
Similarly, far composed than the other one, the quiet twin blinked, sharing a look of pure confusion with his own as they stared back at the space where the said human had been just seconds ago. Where did he go?
The loud twin swam in circles around the same spot, agitated, face turning to here and there as he tried to locate where the trail of scent had vanished—which meant it had been more than a second that the human had escaped them, for his scent to be gone already, the loud twin clicked his tongue, annoyed.
"Floyd," a touch to his shoulder, Floyd grumbled, unhappily turning to his twin.
"What, Jade?"
Jade smiled with his teeth, a hand holding his longer strand of darker hair, chuckling, "the human had touched my hair."
"He did? I wanted to touch his hair! No fair!"
Jade hummed, swimming around Floyd as he gently grasped the edge of Floyd's longer strand of darker hair, smelling the faint whiff of foreign scent. Floyd's eyes widened, mouth falling open, "no way.. I didn't notice him touching my hair?"
They met gazes, Jade's smile grew to show more teeth.
"It appears the human had out-swim us, the fastest ones there is, Floyd."
—
His parents raised an eyebrow at the sight of him, both showing uncertainty at his choice of clothes.
"Are you truly set on not changing, my rose?" Lucy asked, a hint of exasperation as she crossed her arms, her elegantly styled hair moving when she tilted her head, "we are formally invited by this esteemed restaurant owner, I do not see how a wetsuit would be quite appropriate for the event."
Carroll smiled brightly, wetsuit magically dried by his exasperated father who sighed at his antics, "I'll guide us to the restaurant. I have seen the map, I want to stay outside of the bubble, mother."
Glancing at Luis, Lucy frowned—not in distaste, but troubled of her son's insistence. As they dressed in the finest clothes they had on hand, a suit for Luis and a deep red dress for her, what remains as the outlier is Carroll.
Lucy adjusted her pocketwatch adorned around her waist, accentuated with a thin metal elegantly crafted chain as Luis did the same, a hand touching his own pinned against the side of his suit. Their pocketwatch showed the same ticking time, down to the seconds—just like Carroll's pocketwatch to them.
Noticing her quiet, Carroll tugged at his wetsuit and compared the dark color to his parents, it was a match. A compliment to the eyes, not lacking or excessive. His parents watched at the hint he was giving to them, sighing together.
Luis placed a hand on Lucy's shoulder, "you had enjoyed your exploration, yes?"
"Yes! I was able to spin like Che'nya and everything is so alive, always moving and in motion, it's fun to watch." Lucy's gloved hand offering itself to Carroll, he took it with a victory smile, walking beside them, he continued, "I also met merman that appears around my age, they are twins. Both are mischievous in their own ways."
"Oh? What sort of merman are they?"
Approaching the edge of the barrier, Carroll released his hold with Lucy and with a spin of his heel, he turned to them, one finger playfully pressed to his lips. He winked, "it's a secret!"
With his back first against the barrier, he allowed himself to fall, passing through it and to the cool water welcoming him, catching his fall, he laughed. Righting himself and through the surprisingly clear barrier between them, waving a hand at his momentary stunned parents staring at him, Carroll glanced beside him, a hand blindly feeling the water and touching something solid. The air bubble rippled under his touch.
At his touch, seemingly activated by it, colors appeared under his palm, a luxurious shade of purple as it engulfed the rest to take form of an unconventional carriage: a circular one resembling a bubble, with its interior perfectly mimicking their carriage used on land.
His hand appearing to the other dry side of the barrier, a weight settled to it, he guided his mother inside and helped her sit down the carriage, doing the same with his father as he smiled, swimming beside with one hand gripping at the edge of the carriage' entrance. They traveled with both his parents taking turns in checking up to see Carroll still hanging on the moving carriage solely pulled by magic.
It was amusing, he took the challenge of guessing when they would peek out the next time to strike a pose, usually something that can be done with one hand so a peace sign, a wink, a finger gun, a wave, and surprisingly a lot can be done with one hand. Who knew?
Throughout, he had ignored the two burning holes aimed at his head.
Those twins are something else, they must have nothing better to do. Carroll knew it was them because the louder twin had just showed himself out of impatience but was narrowly pulled back into the shadows by the quiet twin. They seemed to fight about that since the next time he saw the loud one, he was with a scratch mark on his face.
Still, his grin when Carroll noticed him was outright blinding.
Carroll, despite his annoyance at the twins overly familiarity in himself, was worried. From a distance that the twins carefully maintained to barely be in sight but far to truly be seen—the loud twin's scratch mark on his face appeared to be serious. For Carroll to see it from here, to see it bled a trail of red and how the loud twin wasn't bothered in a tiniest bit, Carroll's focus must have lingered far longer than he thought.
Because the loud twin responded with excitement, one eye glowing brightly through their rapidly growing dark surroundings as the temperature visibly dropped, he swam towards them—or rather, to him.
"Little human—!" The loud twin's distance shout was rudely cut off at the blur of figure appearing beside him, the quiet slapping his hand against the loud twin's mouth, sufficiently cutting his words and dragging the both of them into the shadows once more. To simply watch him.
The twins may have been fast, but the blood drawn by the loud twin is not so easily vanishing as them. He worries that the loud twin may become quieter due to loss of blood which may lead for him to faint.
That made him frown, hand clutching the edge of the carriage as he didn't turned his head away from where he had seen the twins last, and to surveying his surroundings to see where they had hidden now.
"My rose, are you alright? Would you like to come in for now?" Lucy's question made him furrow his eyebrows.
Where had the twins gone? Did they go away to treat the loud twin's injury? He answered, distracted, eyes still searching the darkest points of shadows where a glow of yellow is most likely to be seen, "I'm fine, mother, don't worry. I'm simply curious about the unique sights of the Deep—this is what they call to this sector of the Coral Sea, yes?"
"Indeed, my rose. Which heightens my worry, this sector where light is scarcely seen might be a dangerous place to be one's last place to visit."
"How interesting. I question how dangerous this would be when danger had yet to approach this carriage, mother."
Lucy hummed, poking her head out as she narrowed her eyes, glancing at the softly glowing magic of purplish hues surrounding their carriage, she smiled, "well. This might be due to the fact that we are personally received by the highest authority of power in the Deep, I imagine that this place, like the Queendom, would be well-versed in its distinction of the weak and the strong, wouldn't you say so as well?"
"I'd say, they have deep respect for the hierarchy." Carroll considered, "however, not all creatures in the Sea would have an awareness like us, mother. Which makes the most primitive creatures the sole indicators of how one is truly powerful when its own instincts indicates as such."
"Are you saying for none of those primitive creature to approach this carriage, that our host's power is acknowledged by even the instinct-driven?"
Carroll smiled, turning to his mother with a tilt of his head, "why, wouldn't you say so as well, mother?"
And soon enough, the carriage stop at somewhere closer to the Deep, where it was understandably darker and colder, the cooler water from before turning into a biting coldness as his parents, protected by a thin layer of barrier encasing their bodies, went out of the carriage and swam with him.
His mother reached out to his hand—flinching away at the snap of coldness that greeted her, her expression growing alarmed, "my rose, you look cold, how about drinking one of our potion?"
"Y-yes, please."
"My dear, if you could please."
Always prepared, Luis felt for his suit, at one of its hidden pocket by the chest to take out a small bottle of potion, holding it out for Carroll who shakily took it, uncapping, and then quickly drinking it down.
The rush of warmth made him sigh in relief, eyes closing as he savored the feeling of his body temperature adjusting to its normal. He thanked his father, taking each of their hands and laying his eyes on the restaurant.
.. it was pretty and familiar, the glowing signage made in elegant writing for its name: The Lounge, and beside it, the depiction of tentacles seemingly wrapping around the signage should be terrifying but for Carroll, he find it adorable, awfully reminded by Riddle who would wrap around things he didn't want to let go or share. In a way, the tentacles was like protecting the name and accordingly, the restaurant. He smiled, tugging at his parent's hands, "shall we head inside?"
—
His grandmother invited new people over to the restaurant, proudly boasting they were incredibly powerful family posing as normal people who wanted their only son to be happy and grow without experiencing their hardship, as informed by her long-time partner, Georgina Leech.
Thus it would take his grandmother some convincing for the other party to accept being in alliance with his grandmother, the Sea witch, Ursula. If they didn't flaunt their power despite of their capabilities, he imagined that it must be because they have enough power to manage themselves. The other party is reassured in themselves.
Ursula had reassured him, saying it wasn't for him to worry about adult affairs—but if it affects the restaurant because his grandmother is going to be essentially riding on their coattails?
He was valid to worry about the state of their beloved restaurant, the one his grandmother had worked to construct from nothing while rebuilding a reformed image of herself.
.. but if there's anything in this little world he can't trust, his grandmother would be the farthest from it.
Azul trusted in her words, if she says so then it must be true, after all, his grandmother is never one to lie—perhaps twisting words may be her specialty, but never to wield against her dearest grandson.
Ursula is an unbelievably charming woman. She carries herself with grace and at the same time, power. Azul is always at awe to witness his grandmother totally dominate every place with her brilliance.
Maybe if he had been as confident as her.. as smart, as seductive, and unafraid to take up some space even when their bodies are exactly the same type, to not be ashamed of his body when Ursula is the way he is.. Azul casted his eyes down the ground.
His grandmother had always doted on him, gifting him the same luxuries she received to herself. She shared what it was liked to be loved and in the distant past, perhaps made Azul felt what it was like to be confident as her, to adore his appearance in the mirror with a smile.
But that was now in the past.
Now, as he hid under tentacles and blend into her, his eyes turned to the gentle force of water hitting him, a patron had entered!
"—much gratitude to your feedback, oho, we do try our best to serve only the most satisfying meals here in the Lounge!" Ursula boasted, slicking her hair back with a bright smile, winking playfully.
Azul tapped her tentacle firmly, Ursula paused to look down between her tentacle as Azul quietly yet frantically gestured to the entrance of the restaurant. Ursula followed his gestures, her eyes brightening, she laughed.
Leaning down to take a napkin and swiftly wipe the edge of a patron's lip, she straightened herself, looking over her shoulder and giving a sultry look towards them, "I'll leave you to your meals, dearest patrons, do enjoy yourselves and order as much as you liked, yes? My restaurant only aims to satisfy all of your cravings, after all~"
"Grandmother.." Azul whispered, reminding her as she laughed.
"Yes, yes, dearest, we're now going!"
Ursula, with Azul closely tagging along under her, approached the entrance where three figures stood waiting. A woman with white hair dressed in an elegantly fitting red dress with a designed piece around her waist and beside her, a man with white hair dressed in the same manner as his wife, elegant and proper.
His eyes, initially observing, landed to the small figure between the husband and wife—Azul's eyes turned rigid, breath hitching and eyes widening. He involuntarily hid deeper, hands gripping on Ursula's tentacle for comfort.
But, he considered that there may be someone who could shed light against her glamor, and it started with seeing white hair against the elegantly dark interior of the restaurant lit by magical candles, casting an eerie yet considerate notion due to the nature of their patrons being sensitive to light—like him.
To see someone with a color as bright as the surface, stunned Azul. A hair like his, there were rarely other merman who could have their color of their hair and carry it as well as his grandmother.
And above all, striking pinkish eyes that steadily met his own, a face as if crafted with hands meant for sculptures—the little delicate, intricate cups he hoarded as "teacups", Azul felt his breath hitch as he hid into Ursula's tentacles, holding onto it gently while his own curled under him, shy, his face felt hot.
He was.. pretty.
Azul knew not to question Ursula but just this once, he wanted to ask: is this family really human? Not merman at all? How come their son possess the looks to rival Prince Rielle?
"—ust you are all well?"
Peeking between the tentacles, Azul quietly and masterfully stayed out of sight by blending himself as best as he could within Ursula's tentacles shielding him from view, to freely be given a space to admire the humans with two legs, no gills or fins in sight—maybe humans are merely used to being this beautiful on land?
The woman with a dress as deep as blood and silk gloves, stepped forward, a small hand holding onto her own as she smiled, "indeed, we had received your kindness. The travel here is simply splendid, I must commend your generosity, madame, not many would extend such warmth as yours without possessing ulterior motives. We are humbled."
Azul flinched at the veiled warning: we know your ulterior motives, we are playing along but make your ambitions entirely obvious, we will not be as kind in return.
"Oh, shush, ulterior motives, you say?" Ursula waved it off, a hand sweeping across to show the restaurant as it is, "nonsense! I had long made peace with my past terribly, wretched actions, better yet, I no longer associate myself with it. You can be rest assured to be as comfortable in my restaurant! My dear guests, as your beloved host for this evening, we only desire for simple companionship."
The human woman narrowed her eyes subtly, gloved hand coming to rest on her chin as she hummed, "you are quite aware of your past deeds, madame, has whispers of your actions been resolved?"
Azul shivered, the way she speaks.. like the King of the Coral Sea, King Triton. He was not yet born to see the tale as it was spoken but he had heard the whispers.
Ursula had dearly repented to be good, to resolve any and all grievances enacted by her. It was a past she never developed pleasant memories in spite of the good it had brought to reignite her reputation as a mere shadow of her Sea Witch.
To remind his grandmother of that dark past, Azul glared at the human woman, holding onto Ursula and wrapping some of his tentacles around her own in comfort.
On the other hand, Ursula showed indifference, a hand to her chest as she sighed with all she had, "of course, my dear. Otherwise, survival in this dangerous waters are close to zero if we're to do it alone and scorned above all else.. I can't fathom the mere idea! Oh my, such horrors!"
The human woman didn't brought Ursula's act to change the topic, her smile dropping and offering a polite laugh, her mouth pose to open—yet stopped. She looked below her, briefly meeting gazes with her son.
Azul frowned at the interference, wondering why the mother would stop for the sake of her son. Perhaps her son had grown impatient for the verbal exchange of pleasantries he couldn't hope to understand?
The woman smiled warmly, her eyes reflecting none of its warmth, agreeing slowly, understanding the other's words very well, "indeed, madame, how correct you are. With that said, I must apologize, it appears I had forgotten my manners, my name is Lucy Grace Tickington and my husband, Luis Tickington, and.."
Lucy's hand guided her son to walk to the front, her son releasing her hand to bow at them, smiling so sweetly, "my name is Carroll Tickington, madame, we are pleased to be your acquaintances."
Ursula laughed, one tentacle moving to deftly tuck a stray hair behind his ear, cooing, "what an utter delight, how did this little thing grew so well? So well-mannered and handsome! Oh my, we are certainly delighted to feel the same! I am Ursula, the humble owner of The Lounge, little ones often called me as grandmother—how about you try it, sweet thing?"
Carroll smiled, laughing at what must be a ticklish sensation from their tentacles. It pushed Ursula to coo, leaning over to grasp Carroll's chin and have a closer appreciation for his face, she was satisfied at what she saw, placing a big kiss on his cheek that left a purple lipstick imprint. Carroll only laughed, apparently used to blatant show of affections.
"In here, we are not only companions but a family!" Ursula declared, turning to walk behind Carroll's parent as Azul kept up with her movement, clumsily and narrowly left behind as Carroll finally noticed his form scurrying to hide under Ursula's tentacles when she placed her hands on each of the parent's shoulder, "we go beyond and above to ensure our patrons always leave with a full stomach and a happy heart, we cherish every one of our patrons. Today, you embark on a journey to becoming a family with us, a mutual benefit of what is mine is yours and likewise, and I say, dear guests, this is an invaluable offer I don't give often."
Lucy hummed in thought, eyes lingering on the purple lipstick imprint on his cheek as they were lead to a table far from the usual bustle of the restaurant, with less traffic and given privacy as much as possible, Ursula ushered them to their seats.
With both the parents on one side and the other is the lone Carroll whose feet couldn't touch the ground so he was lightly swinging his legs back and forth, Lucy turned to Carroll, priming her gentle smile, "my rose, what do you think? Do you want to be family with the madame?"
Rose.. Azul blinked, curious, what was a rose? Is that a classic endearment for humans?
"I could be your grandmother, sweet thing, and let me simply add, any of my grandchild is spoiled rotten by me—sometimes, I fear my grandchildren love me far too much!" Ursula teased, acting as if distressed by the knowledge of it and pulling a snicker from Carroll.
"Madame is far too charming, I see why your grandchildren would adore you highly," Carroll answered, earning another coo and a pinch to his cheek, "as a matter of fact, I can already see evidence of your indulgence, madame. And in return, your grandchild seems to love you just as much."
Azul clashed eyes with Carroll. He froze, his tentacles stiffening while Ursula laughed, already parting her tentacles to show him and even in dim lightning, Azul wanted to hide himself away as their eyes landed on him. He folded on himself, eyes shamefully focused on the ground.
"A clear eye you have, dear! This one here is my beloved grandson, let me introduce to you: Azul Ashengrotto, isn't he the loveliest?"
However, Azul had long tune out his grandmother's words of praises and affection. He was simply feeling unusually colder than before, heart beating fast at being so seen easily in the open, he shut his eyes and prepared for the worst: they either lie to his grandmother and agree to her or they don't.
In most cases, they usually do, and whenever his grandmother discovers the act of pretense—she took it as deliberate deceit, an act ultimately destroying her trust and a temptation to revert in her old ways of cursing those who wronged her beloved grandson.
"The loveliest there is, madame."
Azul snapped his head to see the lie for himself, only to be slapped hard by Carroll's soft eyes and gentle smile, if he was lying then Azul would never ask the truth from him. If this was him truly lying and making him waver so badly—Azul only thinks that he would crumble into sea foam if this was the truth.
"And I'm certain that he is as well-spoken and intelligent as you?" Carroll continued, smiling, "there is a saying: a quiet mouth often possess the loudest mind. Likewise, a loud voice possess the volume to silence an entire room, I wonder, which one are you, Azul?"
The blood rushed to his face, Carroll was essentially saying: are you smart or are you powerful? Both traits he found are highly valued in the sea and in such unfiltered sincerity, Carroll is giving high praises despite the fact that he didn't knew Azul well enough to pass judgment.
"I.. I'm not sure.." he answered, hands holding onto Ursula's tentacle for assurance. Her hand stroked his hair in comfort.
As if that was all he needed to hear, Carroll offered his hand to take and occupy the vacant seat beside him, smiling playfully, "would you give me the honor in knowing so?"
He could crumble into sea foam, he decided, eyes instinctively looking up for his grandmother, Ursula smiled fondly and with a gentle guide from her tentacles, she had given the answer he was afraid to accept.
Out of his hiding, Carroll waited patiently, hand open and palm showing, Azul swallowed thickly. He raised his hand, chubby and much more larger than the other, he placed it on the other's small hand with the barest pressure, unconsciously afraid to already act as a burden for Carroll with his weight alone.
Carroll's hand curled around his, accepting, he guided him to the seat with a quiet laugh, "thank you, Azul, I am humbled by your generosity. Madame had taught you well."
"Um, thank you.. I am honored as well, to be your—" friend? Too soon, not yet. "..—companion, Carroll."
Carroll merely smiled, terribly fond and sweet that made Azul want to stare at it forever, thoughts of imprinting such degree of warmth to somewhere he can keep for eternity fleetingly crossed his mind, "how lovely to hear that from you, Azul, I'm happy we're on the same page. Now, since we're family, madame, may I trouble you in asking to dine with us, to commemorate our flourishing relationship?"
"O-ho, it does delight me to see a like-minded soul in this sea—I thought you'd never ask! Then as a celebration, allow me to generously treat you all to a buffet!" Ursula's hand snapped to the air, joined by some tentacles wiggling in utter delight to secure an alliance this easily—and with a help from someone Azul had severely underestimated, she called out, "over here, waiter, all of our menus please!"
She turned to them, eyes glimmering with a matching grin as big as the bill would soon be. She dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper, "for only you, dear guests of the Ashengrotto, I'll give you an exclusive tasting to one of our coveted dishes. Ones many had reserved and waited for many, many months, take it as an extension of my gratitude for your kindness, understand~?"
Lucy smiled, one with deceptively sharp edges, "whatever you deem is appropriate, madame, any dishes that is to come from a connoisseur of exquisite tastes such as you would certainly be an experience of a lifetime."
Azul could hear the ka-ching of profit in his grandmother's head as she was finally handed the menus and engaged in a passionate conversation with Lucy of their famed dishes to try.
—
And all too fast, the dream came to an end.
Formerly sitting beside him, having Carroll give what he noticed that Azul liked to his plate and Azul, ultimately left to stew in embarrassment to be paid attention to, made a clumsy attempt to do the same with Carroll, quietly placing foods he think a human would find appetizing, whispering it's name as Carroll gave it a taste, humming in delight.
".. that is kale salad."
"Curious, this is a land commodity, yes?"
"Mm, grandmother.." Azul smiled softly, he may not be as favored to green as Carroll but he still tasted some, hiding a wince, "mutual imports from land in exchange of sardines and rare ingredients,"
Carroll eat the salad deliciously, savoring and appreciating what must be a familiar flavor as he closed his eyes, a hand cradling his cheek. Ursula noticed the gesture and laughed, taking a tissue to dab it lightly on the other's lips.
"Is it delicious, my sweet?" She cooed.
"Simply impeccable, madame. Your expertise clearly knows no bounds, to hit the exact points of what makes a food very familiar," Carroll accepted the offered tissue to wipe the rest of his lips as he turned to Ursula, nodded, "it is no wonder your business is in abundance of patrons."
Azul smiled with pride, "yes, my grandmother is very resourceful."
Ursula accepted both the compliments, waving her hand as she laughed, "sweet talkers! Smooth ones you are growing to be, you must have kept the lessons with your parents in mind on how to be an ultimate charmer, don't you?"
"Nonsense, our rose had been charming as soon as he was.."
Their conversation devolved into a memory lane walk of recalling their tiny selves, the marks of where their maximum cuteness had been at its peak and more which Azul is embarrassed to hear, turning his face down his plate, cheeks burning.
"And what other rare ingredients did she exchanged? And I wonder if caviar is one of those ingredients?"
This, Azul is well-versed in, he puffed a breath, answering under his breath, "indeed, caviar is one of the well demanded ingredients to import. In fact, it's our most primary focus before the sardines and then.."
Throughout, deep in his rambling of finally showing off an evidence of his abilities to be intelligent, Azul didn't notice the amused tilt of Carroll's head, listening to him while quietly finishing the kale vegetable that Azul instinctively to refill the other's plate generously.
He, however, remembered Carroll's smile as he accidentally gave Azul a vegetable, and watching his face crunch in distaste.
"Don't like?" Carroll whispered, smiling.
Azul forced a wobbly smile, shaking his head and with difficulty, picked the vegetable with his fork. Ursula, who typically encourages him to eat his greens, watch with a smirk as Lucy observed their interaction while Luis sneakily placed the mushrooms on his plate to Lucy.
Azul popped it to his mouth, the immediate tangy and bitter flavor making him cringe, eyes closing. A muffled laugh, he opened one eye to see Carroll covering his mouth, pinkish eyes forming crescent moons.
Upon seeing the expression, Azul frowned, shoulders sagging as he bowed his head, whispering, "you're making fun of me.."
"That was cruel, hm?"
He pursed his lips, upset, "rather needlessly, indeed."
Staring at his nearly empty plate, the grip on his spoon and fork tightening. His tentacles curled around himself, wiggling and avoiding getting in contact with the human beside him.
A clack of knife cutting through the plate, Azul narrowed his eyes at the piece of meat placed on his plate, he pout at it, glancing at Carroll.
Carroll innocently looked at him, eyes gesturing to his plate as he smiled at his expression, "I apologize, Azul, you're simply far too lovely, allow me to make up for you."
"Why make fun of me?" He asked, trying to push away the offering which Carroll only piled with more of what Azul likes.
Carroll turned his eyes to his own plate before sheepishly looking back at him, a little guilty, "had anyone noticed how endearing you are?"
"..?"
"It seems not—how unfortunate for them," Carroll noted, seeing the rising blush in Azul's face as his wide eyes stared at Carroll, "I apologize, I was greedy to see more of your adorable reactions, I had upset you."
Endearing? Adorable?
Him?
Which part in his ugly, chubby self were any of those things?
".. adorable."
Azul refocused his eyes to Carroll, expression becoming as pink or as intense as his gaze to Azul. His face positively burned—aside from his grandmother and parents, no one had entertained the fact that he could be any of those things, let alone, consider it.
Having enough of their game, Carroll picked the meat with his fork and raised it to Azul's mouth, expression becoming playful once more—but this time, Azul finally noticed one critical detail he had missed prior, there was no malice hidden in Carroll.
Carroll was.. playing with him. Teasing him, not of him. With him.
"Azul, aaaa~" Carroll opened his mouth, likely encouraging Azul to do the same in which he, stunned by someone of his age to willingly want to be with him for no other purposes but a simple friendly connection, stupidly opened his mouth.
At a far table somewhere behind them, there was a voice that said something like: "little human!"? And a snippets of words where Azul connected was a question to the little human: why is he opening his mouth for someone.. ugly.
Ugly, was that him?
And little human, Azul looked at Carroll who smiled as he watched the other chew the meat in his mouth. Azul discreetly tried to glimpse the table where the hissed whispers had came from, eyes squinting when he saw yellow eyes glaring at him.
A table with a feast for an entire family of six and yet, only one is actively cleaning the plates empty. A stack of plates to the edge of the table while the merperson with yellow eye continued to glare at him, taking a meat by stabbing his fork through it and opening his mouth filled with the gleam of sharp teeth—Azul's eyes narrowed.
What were the twins doing here and what was their relation with the little human that is Carroll?
The burst of savory flavors from the meat distracted Azul, it was the most delicious to taste after the bitter vegetable. The satisfied smile of Carroll was clearly evident of his doing, Azul made Carroll happy. The presence of the twins are thrown aside for another to take its place.
Azul could make someone happy.
The realization made his chest, and in it, his three hearts, pulsed with activity. He turned his eyes away, feeling it burn with unshed tears he didn't want fo fall at this very moment, overcome with the complexity of his emotions, he swallowed the meat as if it was a rock.
Another meat was held out for him, Azul closed his eyes and accepted the offering, hearing the quiet laughter of Carroll.
Which is why the Tickington family's departure had been delayed by an upset Azul throwing a tantrum.
With his tentacles wrapping around anything it can hold onto Carroll, his eyes misty with tears as he tried to pull the amused Carroll with him when Ursula tried to also gently disentangle Azul's tentacles on his companion. Azul didn't want to part ways so soon, he wanted Carroll to stay around longer, keep him company and make him feel as warm as how human flesh feels under his tentacles.
Drifting close to him, Azul finally moved his hands to hug Carroll close to him, burying his face against the smooth texture of his human clothes, "don't go, Carroll," he pleaded, "don't go, don't leave."
No one liked Azul as much as he did. It was no wonder why any merman's inflated ego was so big when they were so loved, the feeling was addicting and dizzying. The illusion it gives of being able to do everything and being successful because there was someone supporting him from behind—Azul now understands that was why those arrogant merman could leap at doing stupidly dangerous stunts, they knew they were going to be alright because someone cared for them.
And he wants to keep that feeling close to him, tears falling down as he sniffled and pressed harder against Carroll, "Carroll, don't go.. please? Stay here. Don't leave me."
"Oh, dear, it appears our rose had made quite an impact to Azul, madame." Lucy commented, a hand on her cheek with a small frown.
Ursula chuckled, hands mindfully coercing Azul's tentacles away from Carroll—it was futile, the tentacles merely finding itself to cling harder, "I must say, the little thing is a magnetic one, isn't he? My dear Azul isn't usually quick to attach himself to anyone—Azul, dear, would you be willing to let go of the little thing?"
"N-no!" Azul cried out, almost hysterical, "not letting go!"
Carroll's laugh reverberated, his chest making vibrations that made Azul sniffle harder, pressing his ear against the steady beating of his heart—not a dream, Carroll is alive, he's real. A hand stroked his hair, Azul didn't show signs of letting go anytime soon.
"Why? Is seeing you tomorrow and the next not possible, Azul?" Carroll asked, stroking his soft hair, "will you be so busy to see me for a second of your time?"
That was not it, "I have school tomorrow—I can't see you-hnnng.."
"Oh, that is an issue." Carroll turned his parents, Lucy held his stare and eventually, losing against the other's beautiful eyes, sighed, turning to Ursula.
"Madame, is it possible for my rose to possibly come with Azul to school tomorrow? If it's not too much to ask of you?"
Ursula, in the middle of a tug of war with one of Azul's tentacles pushing her away, looked up in a snap, eyes wide with relief, standing and dusting herself off, "yes, yes! Of course, it would be no trouble at all! Oh dearie me, how could I have forgotten? Carroll could be Azul's buddy in school!"
But for Azul who was deep in his cries of woe, of listening to the singular heartbeat of Carroll, he didn't hear the conversation of the adult, preoccupied with his affair of keeping Carroll as long as possible with him.
So when Carroll's hand had stopped stroking his hair and was holding both of his cheeks, guiding him to look at him, Azul sniffled and slowly blinked his tear-stained eyes at Carroll.
"Did you hear that, Azul?"
"Hear what..?"
"I'm going to school with you! Isn't that exciting?"
Instantly, his world came crashing down.
The color in his face drained, no, no, no, no! Azul furiously shook his head, countless scenarios running down his head, all with high chances of coming true with the question: which would happen first? Carroll being bullied with him? Carroll being taken away by other kids? Or Carroll knowing how pathetic and weak Azul actually is when he sees the other merman?
Newfound tears slid down his cheeks, paralyzed with the crippling terror, tentacles clamping and simultaneously trembling, the loss of sensation in his limbs made Carroll tentatively pull back, alarmed by his reaction.
Carroll plant his hands on the other's cheeks, the warmth from his palms made Azul want to cry—how many would crave the same feeling as him? To be touched this softly? Lovingly? Azul would stand no chance fighting against his bullies.
Or worse, those twins. The exact and prime example of a merman with an ego as high as the sky itself—if the twins had wanted Carroll as much as Azul, what fight would he do when he was weak, slow, ugly, and fat?
How could he possibly keep Carroll, someone out of his league, with him?
Carroll assumed Azul as either a smart or powerful merman, but in reality, there was only ever one option that Azul could rely on, his smarts.
But how would that work if his body can't keep up with his intelligence? When he stiffens at even the mere sight of his bullies?
He was pulled into a hug, a hand stroking his hair, Carroll softly shush him, "we're family, Azul, and family stay together. Whatever you fear for tomorrow, shall we face it together?"
Azul closed his eyes and sobbed, "no, you'll leave me, you'll leave me—.. I know you'll leave me," no one had stayed beside him before which means Azul had not felt the experience of someone leaving him—but because of that, he also don't want to experience such a thing, an idea further made scary to the fact he feels like he wouldn't be able to withstand the damage. He buried his face against the soft cloth, croaking weakly, "won't you?"
"Leave you?" Carroll breathed out a laugh, "earlier you were just clinging and begging for me to stay and now.. had you grown tire of me, Azul?"
"No—!"
"Then shall we go to school together?"
Azul went quiet, shoulders drooping as his tentacles lost all its earlier incredible strength. Carroll pulled away to observe him, thoughtful for a moment.
"Shall we do a pinky promise?"
Azul turned to him, confused at the sight of Carroll offering his tiny finger, he squint his eyes, "pinky promise.. what's that?"
"It's an oath, whenever someone makes a pinky promise, they must follow what they promised until to the very end." Carroll explained, wiggling his little finger in response. Azul's eyebrows furrowed, making no motions of taking to the action.
"And I promise I will stay by your side, Azul. Pinky promise."
Cautiously eyeing the foreign action with less of a conviction, the concept of pinky promise being unheard as he wiped his tears away, biting his lip. He stared at Carroll's face, Carroll raised an eyebrow in amusement.
If he promises, and the rule is one must follow it to the end then it must be absolute. It can't be broken easily, an assurance to sooth his fears. Azul slowly raised his hand and cluelessly dangled it to the air as Carroll laughed and easily hooked his pinky around his, "that is a pinky promise!"