Welcome to Gaia! ::

Sal smiled a bit, but he noticed the look his lover had in his eyes. "Don't be angry. I know elves and vampires are natural enemies, but she is very kind. Arianna actually doesn't mind your presence here....Thank you. For letting me go down to the village and for not being angry I met an elf." He took Vlad's hand, slowly slipping his fingers between his. The other told him he planned on announcing their...union, which made the merman blush. "If you feel you must, I won't object."

Sal looked down. He just didn't see any reason for it. Why should it be announced when everyone knew already? "It's alright. I don't understand why it'd be necessary, but you are still a prince....This is an important moment, isn't it?"

Sal tilted his head a bit. That made sense. Still, did he have to be called queen? The merman hoped not. It would be embarrassing, not to mention he wasn't a woman. Even if he...did play the role of one for Vlad. And, looked more feminine than other males. Okay, so maybe queen was an appropriate title. It would still be embarrassing nonetheless. When Vlad asked about what sort of gem he'd like, the merman's face turned a soft hue of pink in awe. "I've always dreamed of having an Atlantian Pearl!" Sal held his hands together and squirmed a bit. "I've heard the Atlantian Pearl can only be produced by clams that reside in Atlantis. It's an extremely beautiful gem that glows a soothing Caribbean Sea blue day and night, but at those few moments where the sun sets behind the horizon, it sparkles a beautiful crimson. I've seen one before as a child, in the museum that resides in my city, but that's the only one that's known to exist now. When Atlantis was lost, it took all it's treasures with it. All except that one gem." He would do anything to have one of them to himself, but he would never dream of stealing from the museum. That one gem was all the merfolk had of the lost kingdom. Sal believed it belonged there for all the merfolk to see. "...But, I may never come to possess one. Only an ancient could open the door to Atlantis now, but no one's seen an ancient in centuries."

Sal blinked. Vlad had heard of the gem before? Sal always thought that they were impossible to find on land. Then again, merfolk and elves shared several of their treasures. It was possible a few elves still possessed one or two of the gems. And, being a very ancient being, Vlad was bound to have seen one during his lifetime. When the other mentioned leaving, Sal blinked. An errand? What sort of errand? "I could stay with Arianna if things got too lonely here at the castle, or if something happened. But, where are you going?"

Sal blushed softly. He was serious about the announcement, huh? That was good, though. It meant that he was serious about Sal, and that made the merman happy. "Okay....I'll stay with her, if I can. Be back soon? And....And, don't go falling in love with someone else...!" Sal looked down shyly, feeling a bit possessive of the vampire. He closed one eye as his forehead was kissed, and he smiled softly. Vlad really was the best.

Sal wasn't too happy to see Vlad go. He had missed him a lot in even five minutes. He doubted he'd be able to survive a few days with the other. However, Arianna managed to keep his mind off Vlad's absense. She introduced him to her young niece and nephew, both elves who had come to visit her. The three elves kept his longing for Vlad's presense at bay, keeping his mind distracted by games and other interesting things. He had learned how to play an elven ball game, and he quite enjoyed it even though he was slower on his feet than the others. Staying with Arianna was a good call on his part. Without her and the young ones, he probably would have gone insane. Why did he feel like part of him left with Vlad? It was like the other had abandoned him or died.

After a few days, Sal went with Arianna to see the kids off as their parents came to take them home. After that, he decided to go home himself. Just for a bit. He said bye Arianna and then walked up to the castle. It looked sort of...dead without anyone inside it. Walking into the kitchen, he grabbed an orange and peeled it. How was Vlad doing on nutrients? Was he feeding well, if at all? He hoped so. He didn't want the other neglecting his health, even if he was feeding from someone other than Sal. After finishing the orange, he went up to his and Vlad's room--he could call it theirs now, couldn't he? Going to the bed, the merman laid on it and buried his face in the pillows. They still smelled like the other, with his own scent mixed in there weakly. "He'll be home soon. Tomorrow at the lastest. Please, be safe." He couldn't stand the thought of Vlad being hurt or weak. Ah! Was he staying out of the sun?

As Sal lay on the bed, missing Vlad and trying to convince himself to go back to Arianna's, he was startled by the other's return. At first, he thoght it was an intruder, but realized quickly that it was Vlad. He turned his head and smiled. "Vlady!! You're home!!" He turned completely and hugged him, too happy to even kiss him. "Yes. I missed you a lot." He looked over at the box and blinked before he took it. Sitting up, he opened the box and his eyes widened a bit. "I....Is this...? V-Vlad...! It's...amazing!!" He hugged the other again, kissing him happily. He noticed then that he was weak and hungry; his fangs were grown. He frowned. "You didn't take care of yourself!"

Sal frowned. That wasn't fair. Vlad didn't do that because he wanted to. He needed blood to survive. When the other took his hand and slipped the ring on his finger, the merman smiled softly. He then blinked. Wait. Was Vlad proposing to him? His face turned red and he looked at the ring before he hugged the other and kissed his cheek as a silent yes, not wanting to verbalize it in case it wasn't. "...You have to feed. Here. I had plently of rest and food at Arianna's...."