Fins Are Forever (JaDine Fantasy AU)

Alana

"I..."

James trailed off and kept quiet for a long moment.

Nadine looked confused, while the king only waited.

"I'm a bit confused, Sir." James said. He didn't know quite how to address the king. "Can I ask a question?"

"I believed you already did. But you may ask again." The king said. He looked kindly at him, and that put James at ease.

"Sir, what exactly does the separation entails? What would it mean for me?" He asked.

The king looked at Nadine but Nadine was only looking at him, still confused. He could feel her confusion.

Of course, he already knew the answer from the sisters' conversation. He didn't really need any more confirmation. But he was stalling for time. He was torn. And he was confused why he should be torn.

Nadine is practically a stranger. I shouldn't have any attachment to her or this place.

But it doesn't feel like she is. It feels as if I've known her for a long time.

That could be the chemical-hormonal thing again, though. There's really no reason to not go through with the separation is there?

Is there?

James barely heard the king's reply. It was just the same as what Bianca said.

"Will I forget? And the separation is permanent?" He asked next.

The king looked at him as if measuring him.

"You seem undecided." He said.

James sighed. "I am, your highness." He admitted. He could still feel Nadine watching him.

The king look at them both for a moment.

And then as if deciding something, he said, "There are five days until the new moon. The bond would not be permanent until then. Make your decision before that, and come back to me."

James nodded and bowed respectfully. He felt somewhat relieved to not be asked to decide right that instant.

The king dismissed them.

They were both quiet as they swam back to Nadine's house. James was lost in his thoughts and he could tell that Nadine was lost in hers, too.

It was when they were in front of her house that she spoke, "James... what happened there?"

"I... I'm not quite sure, either." He said honestly. There were a lot of things he wasn't sure recently. Well, considering he thought mermaids are figments of imagination about two days ago, he shouldn't really be surprised.

"I don't understand." Nadine said. "Why are you unsure? You do not know me. Not really."

"I guess that's just it." He told her. "I don't know you yet. I don't know if I should say goodbye."

Nadine looked quite surprised. And James could feel she felt a little shy, too.

"Of course--sorry. It's not just up to me, is it? Only, the king asked me and I didn't think--I mean, do you want the separation? We can go back--"

But the thought of separation was being rejected by his mind even as he spoke.

"I..." Nadine started, not looking at him. And James knew she was blushing. "I think we can wait. I mean, the king did say to just return when you've decided. Everything must be overwhelming for you right now."

He frowned, wondering why she still wasn't considering herself.

He cleared his throat. "Uhm, would it be a bother if I stay here in the meantime? I didn't really think about that earlier."