(no subject)
title: a taste of so much more, or: five lessons ursula learns
fandom: the little mermaid
warnings: none
summary: lol first thing i have written in seven months! apparently i ought to talk to rawles about disney more often.
1.
Triton visits neighboring kingdoms. Triton is taught to use his namesake weapon. Triton is their father's pride and joy, the model of a merman. Ursula is taught to stay back, off to the side, and observe. Ursula learns that her shape is unseemly.
It isn't so much what Ursula does, her mother says, it's what's implied -
What she implies, Ursula isn't sure. It isn't the kind of thing that one asks.
2.
The first time Ursula makes herself human, she doesn't change much. She stumbles, walks, runs along the beach, mapping this unknown side of herself.
She sees kindred shapes and tall, flat buildings, further ahead and without thinking, goes toward them.
3.
She returns to the town three times before Triton notices. "Sister," he says. "What do the humans have that fascinates you so?"
"Oh, Brother," she laughs. "I thought the naiads would have taught you that much by now!"
Triton freezes, then flushes an ugly red. Ursula understands now why he refused to share his lessons: knowledge that is wholly one's own is so much the better for savoring.
4.
Ursula is thrown out of one of her father's meetings, then another. And another.
"You should learn to hold your tongue, Sister," Triton whispers, as she leaves.
He never shared when they were children, either.
5.
Their father dies: long live King Triton. He does what their father never dared and banishes her. Fine, she thinks, settling her own kingdom. Those in his court cowered in her presence; she'll ensure everyone does, now.
(King Triton's only heirs are daughters.)
fandom: the little mermaid
warnings: none
summary: lol first thing i have written in seven months! apparently i ought to talk to rawles about disney more often.
1.
Triton visits neighboring kingdoms. Triton is taught to use his namesake weapon. Triton is their father's pride and joy, the model of a merman. Ursula is taught to stay back, off to the side, and observe. Ursula learns that her shape is unseemly.
It isn't so much what Ursula does, her mother says, it's what's implied -
What she implies, Ursula isn't sure. It isn't the kind of thing that one asks.
2.
The first time Ursula makes herself human, she doesn't change much. She stumbles, walks, runs along the beach, mapping this unknown side of herself.
She sees kindred shapes and tall, flat buildings, further ahead and without thinking, goes toward them.
3.
She returns to the town three times before Triton notices. "Sister," he says. "What do the humans have that fascinates you so?"
"Oh, Brother," she laughs. "I thought the naiads would have taught you that much by now!"
Triton freezes, then flushes an ugly red. Ursula understands now why he refused to share his lessons: knowledge that is wholly one's own is so much the better for savoring.
4.
Ursula is thrown out of one of her father's meetings, then another. And another.
"You should learn to hold your tongue, Sister," Triton whispers, as she leaves.
He never shared when they were children, either.
5.
Their father dies: long live King Triton. He does what their father never dared and banishes her. Fine, she thinks, settling her own kingdom. Those in his court cowered in her presence; she'll ensure everyone does, now.
(King Triton's only heirs are daughters.)