Sand and Sea

[FluffyBirdie]

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main thread ∷ sand kalon ≈ sea kalon
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[FluffyBirdie]

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∷ word count, 999 ≈
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Acheron looked out passed his homeland from where he stood. ‘Something is pulling me to go out there’ he thought to himself and quickly glanced at the clock. It was late, and everyone seemed to be asleep besides the guards who where on watch. He had decided he will sneak out pats the sea kingdom and see what lies beyond. Quickly he grabbed his cloak and climbed down his tower. There where vines on the side that where easy to grip. As he skimmered down his tower he made sure not to be seen, avoiding the windows when he could. Dashing between old food car-tens they had out, he took one of the horses from the stable and toad off into the night. He felt free for once. Going towards whatever was pulling him. His horse ran gracefully as he seemed to draw farther and farther away from the kingdom that always kept him locked. He had no idea it would be this easy to escape, or maybe there was a plot being planned. Shaking off his thoughts he came to what it seemed to have been another kingdom. He found it strange, he had thought he was the only one. Carefully he patted his horse and put the cloak over his head making sure to not be seen as he approached the kingdom that seemed to be very sandy.

Meiri shielded his eyes as the wind picked up, the sand cloud a barely visible blur under the moonlight. The murmur of the market died too, no one wishing to eat grainy dust. The moment passed, and the chatter instantly returned, along with people pushing past each other to reach their destinations. There was a respectful bubble around Meiri however, no one daring to intrude on the prince's space. Seeing the crowd part when he walked would always be a bizzare experience, one with mixed feelings. It was pleasant not being pushed every few seconds, though he wished to blend in more, and bargain with shopkeepers without them offering to give him anything he wanted.
A pair of staring eyes caught Meiri's attention, and he turned to find the owner crouched in the shadowy area between buildings. They held gazes for a moment, before they looked down and retreated further into darkness. Something drew him towards the stranger, and he approached, even while aware it may be dangerous.
"Who's there?" Silence followed his question, so Meiri tried a different route. "My name is Meiri. May I know yours?" More silence, and he was considering giving up when the cloaked figure finally spoke.
"Acheron." The man seemed to straighten after saying his name, and Meiri smiled, uncertain why he felt so pleased just to hear a name.
"Well Acheron, mind walking into the firelight so I may see you better? And what brings you here to this remote town?"

Acheron pulled his cloak over his face just more. He eyed the mysterious man named Meiri. “I wanted out,” he has said with a couple and calm reply. The man wanted to see him. He gave a long pause before jumping off his horse and walking into the light. The cloaca has still covered his face, he generally took both ends and took it off. Revealing is long blue hair that reflected the moonlight on a ocean night in the water. Gasps happened all around and panic set into Acherons eyes. “You’re from the kingdom of the sea” Meiri has said to him almost as if giving him a very harsh stare and took him by his hand and ran. “Let go,” he had said trying to bat it away, but he wasn’t strong enough. Quickly he was yanked and pulled to the ground. “Why are you here!” Meiri has shouted and a stern tone. Acheron didn’t answer instead he felt pain in his chest, almost as if his heart had shattered. He let one tear slip out from his eye as he looked at Meiri’s face and turned his head. Maybe it was a bad idea to have left his kingdom. But how come he knew about them?

Meiri's head was a confusing mess of thoughts and emotions, all swirling around this man he met just a minute ago. He had been strangely eager to hear and see the cloaked figures' name and face. But something snapped when he saw the hair, something that influenced his tone to turn from encouraging to harsh. He knew he could be erratic at times, but these were extreme swings in emotion, swings that caused him to not even look at the sea prince's face as if disgusted, and to release his grip on the other man's hand. "An old curse." He said, forcing his tone to be neutral. "Where if any royal from the sand or sea kingdom met, one would fall in love and chase, and the other would hate and shun the chaser." Meiri wanted to add that the other couldn't be blamed as he clearly didn't know better, but the words couldn't leave his throat. A water droplet splashed onto the dusty ground, and he looked for the source, meeting the ocean royal's eyes as more tears built up. The other prince was clearly heartbroken and distraught, yet somehow Meiri was pleased about that, even while aware his loathing was from the curse. Aware he couldn't even bring himself to think of the prince's name.
A crowd was starting to build around the pair, and Meiri pondered just leaving, but the diminishing bit of kindness he had left called him to do something, anything, before his heart closed forever. "Give him a...place to stay and whatever he needs. I'll..." He had to spit out the last syllable through a protesting mouth. "...pay. Whatever garbage he wants, send the cost to me." Meiri added too naturally. Before he could ruin things any further, the sand prince spun on his heel and marched off, leaving the sea prince sitting on the dust.

Written collaboratively between SStrawberry and FluffyBirdie

[FluffyBirdie]

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name, Meiri ∷ gender, Male ≈ word count, 499
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News about the sea prince and the curse had spread all over the kingdom, to Meiri's dismay. Every conversation, every passing whisper, was about him. The accursed man who began this whole thing by abandoning reason and running out of his own kingdom. The whole way back to the capital was filled with rumors, discussions, glances his way. Meiri could almost read lips at this point, lips that said that name over and over and over. The curse had him hate the runaway prince, so why was he behaving like some lovesick fool, shying away at the sight of blue, anything blue, and mentions of the other's name?

The sand picked up around his feet, and with gritted teeth he calmed his mind. That was the other part he hated. When his family experienced strong emotions, the sand would raise, needing no wind, and swirl and swirl and swirl into a thick cloud that clogged up noses and eyes. Before the curse Meiri had considered himself a calm man. Friendly. Curious. The royal family's powers had never bothered him. But now his personality had been corrupted, and sand twisting around him was a constant feature now, sharp stinging specks that deterred everyone away. Perhaps that was the good part, that he could use the sands to keep others far from him. Far enough that he couldn't see their mouths move to say that terrible name. Meiri hoped the crybaby had the same power over nature, and with his heartache, he would sweep his own kingdom under vast waves. Maybe after the source of his headache is gone, he could return to normal. Back to when dust wasn't dancing around him with every thought. But he doubted the death of the timid royal would do anything. His name may was well be burned into Meiri's clothing, or engraved into the desert around him. People would see him, and remember stories of his brief encounter with the blue prince. There's no escape.

Well, there was, now that he was looking at the rolling hills of sand that stretched forever into the distance. He had assumed that with the royal powers came with the inability to leave his desert habitat, but if clueless ocean could leave, then he could too. He didn't care to leave his home, not yet, but maybe for a moment he would wander into the horizon, away from life. Meiri collapsed onto the sand, not particularly caring for how the grains entered his hair or gaps in clothing. There wasn't much he cared about after the curse. What a pity. He had so many plans and dreams and things to do. All blasted away because he was at the wrong place at the wrong time, and met just the wrong person. With a hand he scrubbed some sand across his palm, before pouring it out.

He was most definitely being dramatic, but he was truly the sand prince now. Dry. Lifeless. Coarse. A prince made of sand.

writing and art for this section by FluffyBirdie
Outfit design by CloudyCatte

[WiltedLovers]

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name, Acheron ∷ gender, Male ≈ word count, xx
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Acheron arrived back at his kingdom, the feeling of a broken piece ripping at his heart. Since his arrival back, he hasn’t felt the same like he had before. He would feel the longing of the company of Meiri. He knew that he was in love with him. He wept, he wept every night of wanting to be with him, but knowing he couldn’t. He looked out at the sea, it was very still at the moment. His emotions where connected with the sea, that’s how it was for those who had royal blood in his kingdom. But unlike his mother and father, his was more strong and could cause powerful tides and even storms. As a kid he was told not to cry, for it can ruin the kingdom. He had to always be strong, but since meeting him..he couldn’t. His heart lingered for him more than anything else did. Every tear that would fall from his face was one that filled the sea. ‘I want to go back’ he whispered as he looked out of the moonlight ocean. With a long sigh, he had got up in his bed and layer down covering his face. His long hair glimmering as specs of light from the moon hit it. He covered his face, trying to hold back more tears and put on a fake smile. He could ruin his kingdom if he let it all out. He must not. He turned over, wondering about the curse he was given and why it would have been put on him. But, no matter how much he feels broken on the inside he still doesn’t feel like it’s anyone’s fault. This was his path, it was set in stone and there was no way of changing it. But still, will he be strong enough to be able to deal with this constant pain and his kingdom as well?
He didn’t know, as a matter of fact, no one knew how this would turn out. ‘You just got to hope for the best’ he told himself over and over again. It was getting late, he would need to get to sleep soon. But how? How can he sleep when his mind is all over the place? It’s like a huge storm has been built up inside of him where he can’t let it out. How, how how.. how will he solve this on his own..

Extra - Broken hearts club - Gnash