So Long And Thanks For All the Fish (Ariel)

Ariel sat up in her bed and looked over at the empty bed across the house - her roommate had gone off, yet again, before she woke. It wasn't as though they had to keep tabs on each other or anything, but part of the reason Ariel opted for a roommate when she and the rest of the those who ended up in Wonderland were bickering about the living conditions was that she wanted to feel at least slightly protected, and slightly less alone. Ariel didn't mind being on her own, really, but she did like the company of others. She longed to feel important and loved and accepted, and even though she wasn't desperate, she just simply enjoyed having others around.

The sun streamed in through the window above the kitchen sink, tipping her off to the fact that it was morning. Ariel was glad about that, that's for sure. While Ariel did feel protected in the little house she managed to get for her and her roommate, the fact remained that she was in an unfamiliar place. She knew not of the dangers around them, and for all she knew, they could be attacked at any moment. It made for some sleepless nights, that was certain, but overall Ariel was adjusting. She wasn't in a hurry to remember what happened to her, because she felt like she could get used to being in Wonderland. She just wished the adjustment period would quickly fade. She didn't fear much, but being alone and in the dark were two things that did frighten her. She hoped her roommate hadn't left in the middle of the night and she was glad that if she did, she at least waited til Ariel was asleep and wouldn't know about it.

Dripping in a light blue dress and black flats, Ariel left the house with her satchel swinging back and forth at her side. She lived in the Village which made for a very easy walk. She wanted to simply explore the village, maybe stop at a few smaller shops that had recently opened up and she hadn't checked out yet. Ariel was happy that people were seeming to adjust and build for themselves and start up little businesses to at least try and maintain some normalcy in Wonderland. Ariel wished she did. She knew that exploring and finding new things was what she liked to do, at least it seemed like it, and so she was an unpaid gatherer. She bartered for items with things she found and in that regard she did get paid in some sort of way, but it wasn't like she got money for the amount of time put in. And, if you weren't aware, finding things to trade in a place you knew not where things were was a bit difficult.

Her eyes grew wide as she looked around, and then suddenly they closed for a moment. The scent of fish took over her and at once she felt somewhat..homely. It was a strange feeling. Unfortunately she'd kept walking with her eyes closed because she's clumsy and, of course, she'd run into someone. "Oh I'm so sorry, I-" Ariel started, but then stopped talking as she looked at a man. He was handsome, and somewhat familiar, but boy did she not know where he was from. There was no way she could know him because she'd never met him before, but something about her made her feel comfortable, and so embarrassed as she was, she let out a giggle and simply smiled at him, unsure of what to say to excuse her clumsiness, but feeling as though she didn't need to say anything at all.

It all happened so fast; Ariel didn't have time to reach out to grab the man in attempt to save him from falling. She felt awful about it, though. She covered her mouth with her hands, watching him grunt and look up at her from the ground. His expression changed and she noticed, prompting an even wider smile on her end. Ariel giggled as he stood, shaking her head. "Well, regardless, I'm sorry," she said, nodding in affirmation.

"Eric," she repeated. Ariel mused before finally letting out a squeal and giggle. "It's super nice to meet you! I'm Ariel," she said. She flipped her hair over her shoulder before kneeling and putting her hands out to greet the dog. "Oh he is adorable! What's his name?" Ariel asked, looking up at Eric with a wide grin.

Ariel blushed and crooked her head into her shoulder, twirling her hair round her pointer finger. "Oh I...no, I don't mind," she said, her cheeks warming by the second. Ariel normally wasn't so flustered, but Eric made her feel like she was on her toes.

Putting a kiss at the top of King's head, Ariel grinned and looked up at Eric once more. "Aw, you have a boat? That's amazing!" she cheered, grinning. Ariel always loved the sea and the water for as long as she could remember - or couldn't remember, for what it's worth. "And thank you! I guess it suits me," she giggled. "So, er, I hate to be forward, but em...you wouldn't be busy today would you? I mean, would you mind some company?"