Chapter Text
Smallishbeans: meet me at the frog
Lizzie stared down at the message on her comm, then at Joel who was sat precariously atop said frog statue below. Hm, she wasn’t expecting him, but she loves the man!
Sighing, she flew down, landing next to him.
“Hello Lizzie.” He greeted with a smile. She gives him a hi in response. “you’re looking very pretty today.”
That surprised her a bit, and she stammered out a weak, “Uh- Thank you! Just- Just how I am, everyday…!”
The queen noticed that her lover was wearing rather different clothes. His scraggly green robe was gone, and in its place was a more regal, accented magenta one. A sash and golden jewelry decorated his body.
How odd! What was the occasion?
“Would you like to go on a little boat ride with me?” Joel asked, gesturing to said boat.
“Oh! Sure, I like boats!”
Lizzie hopped in after Joel, she was in the back. She bunched up her dress. It’s kinda cramped in here.
“You could say… it’s a date.”
She gave him a confused look. “No, this is a boat.”
“Oh. Well! Either way,” He began rowing. “I’ve uh, I’ve been thinking about us, Lizzie.”
“Uh huh.” She looked down at the ocean under them. Sea pickles faintly glowed and fish was abound. It’d be faster to swim wherever he’s taking her…
The Mezalean King continued, “I think we’ve been getting on pretty well…”
“Yeah, our two empires are right next to each other. Things are bound to happen.” The queen shrugged.
“I’ve been courting you for a while now…” Lizzie idly plays with her pearl necklace. “And since then, we’ve developed a bond like no other. What we have is known by many names. In Japan, they call it koi-”
“Isn’t that a type of fish?”
He pays no mind to being interrupted, “M- Mmhm. Italians say amore-”
“That’s a type of eel!”
“Y- Yes. I suppose what I wanted to say is… you make me very happy, Lizzie. Incredibly so. And I thought, y’know, we could make our empires stronger…”
His rowing stopped. There, in front of them, was a tall pillar of scaffolding. What the?
“Don’t look up.” Joel had a flustered expression on his face, looking away from her. “I’ve got little a proposal for you. Would you be so kind to get off the boat and stand riiiiiight on this spot here?” He points to it.
The queen wobbled out, placing her webbed feet upon a floating sea lantern. “What’s this for?”
He kicks down the scaffold at the bottom, sending the rest above raining down. She almost assumed that’s it until… colored sand forms a ring around her. “Ah, uhm-! Wh- What’s- WHAT’S HAPPENING?”
Her dear Joel climbed onto the sand, kneeling down, and passionately yelled, “Elizabeth will you make me the happiest Mezalean King in the world and be my betrothed!?”
Lizzie gasps. Oh! He wants to marry her! Psh, duh, of course she knew that!
“I will!!”
His clay face lit up, and he makes a squeal of joy. “BRILLIANT! BRILLIANT, YES, OH THANK THE MOTHER TREE- Now we can have a quick hug!”
Both of them outstretched their arms for an embrace. Joel attempts to jump towards her, only to trip and fall into the water, sinking because he is terracotta. “Oh. Oh no.”
The newly engaged queen takes off her elytra, then dives in with him. She scoops him up into her arms, swimming back up and plopping him onto the nearby land. “Careful! Wouldn’t want my fiancé melted!”
He spat out some sea water, earning a giggle. She kissed him.
“Can I have the scaffolding?”
“Sure,” He rasped out. “It can be your engagement gift…”
They actually embrace this time.
Wait…
Pulling away, Lizzie stares at him and says, “I guess you could say you found… reel love.”
Joel gives her the most deadpan look he’s ever given, followed by another kiss. ”Oh, you…”