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As Prince Aurora finished his second yawn, Ryland found himself walking a circle about the prince to take in his appearance. The other's words sounded terribly ignorant to him, but what could he expect from one that had been locked up for the better half of his youth? The only difference between their two curses was that he was the real deal while Aurora seemed to lie flat for any man. Ryland observed the situation with a jaded mind.

"So here you stand with your Knight in Shining Armor--" he waved a casual hand at Nicholas and paused in his trail to glance upon the other's countenance in a swarm of envy and disgust. He was... actually very good-looking, as much as Ryland would hate to think of him as such. Although he paused in his path of walking for a short moment, Ryland continued speaking, "Who obviously saved you, and you're complaining. I don't know in what manner you've awoken with these men, but you've made a valid point, Prince Aurora."

An nasty smile revealed itself as Ryland turned and faced Aurora's dark eyes. "Being cursed with true love's kiss is oh-so much better. At least I don't sell-out for anyone who knocks at my knickers. Sleeping or not. Why don't you just pick some suitor to just keep kissing you and leave the rest unblemished?"

Indi flew back over to Ryland after he'd thought for a few moments about the name he'd heard."Prince...Ryland?" he asked himself as he flew over before he settled his thoughts, almost certain now that he knew why this man felt familiar."I told you guys I thought I felt a magical presence nearby. Prince Ryland here was the one that I was feeling. It was Atlantian magic I felt coming from you." he started adressing Aurora and Nic at first but turned to Ryland on his last sentence."How come when I see you up close and I feel your magic from right here...you feel like you're tainted by something? If you're cursed then whoever did it couldn't have been very practiced in placing curses because properly placed curse leaves no traces of it's existence save for the effects that it has. Like Rora'a here. I couldn't find his curse at all in his magic because it was done right when the spell was cast that laid the curse...even if the target wasn't what was expected." he said all of it rather astounded. He'd never encountered something like this before.

Despite the other's possibly elevating temper, the sea prince took no notice. In fact at the other's question, he nodded with the answer, "Well, if that's all you have to base your relationship on I suppose... then yes. What? Would you deny that your knight was a good kisser?"

However, the prince was distracted from his blatant inquiry by Indi. Ryland shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny of the impish young man. He had come here to ask questions, not answer them. A hand ruffled his bangs out of his line of vision before he shrugged and looked back at the inquisitive one.
"I highly doubt there was anything inexperienced about the one who cursed me. If you can quote, unquote- "feel" the aura or whatever of my curse... it's probably because I'm a m--" He began to answer Indi's question before the oddity of the situation occurred to him. He was going to tell a STRANGER about the nature of his existence? He didn't think so. Abruptly he cut off and asked with a narrowed glare, "I beg pardon but, just who are you, anyway?"

Oh, now they were talking about his kissing ability? Nic felt as he were perhaps invisible with the way he was so easily mentioned before slipping into another topic. But he should be used to it. He had spent hours standing before the royal courts before with not even a glance.

But this wasn't exactly what one could call a 'royal court' so he couldn't help but once more interrupt- "In partial defense of my pride being on the line, I would like to think my kissing wouldn't be that bad." But again, he didn't want to have to face any annoyed faces so he decided to this time, turn away completely. Maybe it was best he just stay out of the conversation altogether. So, with that in mind, the dark-haired knight busied himself by pacing a few yards away.

A sudden shift in the wind had his eyes looking skyward, brows knitted slightly. Something didn't.. feel right..

[[I'm getting confused so could someone please clarify: How big is Indi with regard to the other fairies? Thanks.]]

"Mhmm..." Ryland murmured skeptically. When the chair simply grew... out of plants, however, the prince was a bit taken aback at the use of magic without an instrument. Perhaps... Atlantian magic was just different. He didn't know. While Ryland was very capable with manipulating water, he couldn't cast anything but a rather draining summoning spell without his triton. A simple wave of the hand didn't do anything. Although he did pack a hefty slap used on occasion.

Blue hues shifted to the retreating knight before again resting on the object of his dislike. A light smirk crossed his features at the blonde's blush despite his poor attitude toward Ryland's proposition. He would've much rather pointed out how it was that Nicholas hadn't run away based on Aurora's sex... and ask just why weddings were so horrendous. Personally, Ryland liked weddings. Booze all around.

However, he didn't get a chance to ask anything because the other seemed to fine-tune his ears on the most aggravating details.

Huffing slightly, but keeping his gaze locked on Aurora's, Ryland replied clearly, "I'm a merman."

For some reason or another, having overheard Ryland's confirmation if his true species, a slight grin came to Nic's lips. It could have been the mere fact that he turned out to be correct in his guessing or perhaps it was Aurora's sudden realization that had him amused. Either way, the knight turned his head to view the spectacle of the surprise prince, only to find that surprise turned back on himself.

"Aurora!" he exclaimed, in time to his impact on the ground. But he had time only to take about two steps before something had him stopped dead in his tracks.


From above, the very sky seemed to open up as the surrounding area darkened considerably. It was almost as if a storm had suddenly dropped from the heavens. A wave of thunder cracked loudly followed by increasing wind just as, for anyone looking skyward to see, the tail of what looked to be a violent black whirlwind descended. Trees groaned at the force pulling at their old trunks. The ground split several yards where the tip of the twister touched down.

Yet through the chaos, the sound of resonated laughter echoed above it all. But nearly as quickly as it all began, the whirlwind died down, and just as the dust was settling around their feet, a tall figure stepped from what was once the center of the commotion.

"My, my.. Look what we have here," Algernon cooed, striding forward eyes flicking to each individual. His walk alone made it seem as if he owned every inch of land he strode upon. "Quite the 'interesting' troupe, I could say." His eyes finally dropped onto that of the fallen prince.

"Oh dear," he said, not sounding in the least bit concerned. In fact, the wry smirk on his face told just that sentiment. "Having a bit of trouble, are we? Poor thing."

Ryland stood above the fallen prince quite flabbergasted. All he had answered was the inquiry... what had Aurora expected, honestly? If word had apparently spread about another cursed prince so much that Indi made note of it and he'd mentioned he was from Atlantis...

Hmph. It wasn't anything to get so worked up over. Kneeling beside the other, he attempted to pull Aurora up by his shoulders to a sitting position... but the deadweight prince's limp body was far too heavy. There'd have to be a kiss...

'I'm not doing it. So not. Ever. I don't care how...ugh, pretty he is.'

About to turn and call for Nic, Ryland was knocked back on his bum by the sudden wind. Sheilding his face with a forearm and peering cautiously at the sky, the prince wondered what a hurricane was doing this far out on land so suddenly. The laughter sent a shudder down his spine and he looked at the small form of Indi trying to protect Aurora. Dropping his arm he reached out for the impish boy in concern, but was utterly dumbfounded again when the wind had vanished. 'What the he--'

Ryland's arm dropped to his side and he jerked his head in the direction of the voice behind him. Dark clothes, dark hair... the feature the prince's eyes lingered on were those quite apparent pointed ears, though. A nonhuman. By his entrance, the redhead didn't mark him as too friendly. Raising himself to his feet to stand beside the fallen prince and Indi, the prince decided he'd had enough of feeling unarmed. Removing an etched blade from his pocket, he made a swift cut across his palm. Through gritted teeth, Ryland muttered the Atlantian word and where his blue blood had been smearing across his hand, the handle of a trident materialized. Gripping the spellcaster of sorts protectively, Ryland frowned at the newcomer.

"Who are you and what do you want?"

[[*trident image = here]]

Azure orbs blinked in shock at the insult to a weapon specific to his kind and Ryland opened his mouth to retort. However, this Algernon Estwin's intentions threw him off "It isn't a fork, you imb-- wait, what? What do you want with Aurora?" he replied, but failed to put the trident away.

"He's asleep again, obviously," Ryland shrugged, before rubbing the back of his head. Glancing down at the sleeping beauty and then back up to the pointy-eared man, a disgusted look fell over his features. "You've got to joking. You... you're ANOTHER suitor?!" Following the.. well, assumption, Ryland glowered at the newcomer as well as throwing Nicholas a dirty glance. "Don't you people have lives? There are other fish in the sea, you know. This is ridiculous!"

With that, the youth's trident vanished and he shook ruby bangs from his eyes. Stepping away from the body, Ryland shrugged, "Take him, you freak. Kiss him. Fight over him, for all I care. You suitors are pathetic. I'm out of here." Washing his hands of the situation, Ryland set himself on the path back to the village.