#tretramonti open starter

[tretramonti]

"Oh, wow. You look--so wonderful."

[tretramonti]

"That's a what?"

[sultansdaughter]

tretramonti​:

starter for @sultansdaughter

Eric watched the sweat dampen the jet-black neck of the horse he rode through the streets of Agrabah, wondering if she too missed the scent of salt spray.

Time had run out for Eric to find a princess, and now the threat of a loveless marriage had turned to one of an impending massacre. Danger dictated the alliance be made quickly - a marriage between Prince Eric of Tirulia and Princess Jasmine of Agrabah, each a pawn to ensure encroaching armies could neither advance across the sea or the desert within.

But even the best Navy in the world couldn’t be displayed in Agrabah’s palace gates, so a cavalry would do in its place. His kingdom’s hilly countryside bore both spectacular horses and soldiers to ride them, but though his mare was a fine example, Eric was not.

And yet here he rode to the gates of the towering palace, leading a procession of officers and soldiers behind them, displaying colorful banners of his Kingdom’s seahorse crest.

Eric thought the gesture was both excessive and stressful on the horses, who didn’t ask to travel this far for a grand but human display. Plus, Eric never felt at home on a horse - they were temperamental, tended not to think highly of him, and no ship had ever told him off for misuse of his legs.

Agrabah’s guards opened the gates, towering even as he rode astride, and revealed the grand steps to the palace high above.

The steps he must ascend. Astride the horse. Eric swallowed, trying to dismiss both the ridiculousness of the grand gesture and the dread of ruining it for everyone, from his own horse to his people to the princess waiting in the antechamber.

“How’re you holding up down there, pretty girl?” Eric leaned down, whispering to the black mare beneath him, who swished her tail in swift motions as she ascended the stairs without him having to prompt her. “Better than me.”

Who was he to worry about the girl in the palace when he ascended the stairs with military officers and Grimsby, leaving his own soldiers behind at the foot of the stairs? The guilt bubbled in the pit of his stomach, knowing his imminent threat of marriage was far kinder a fate than what his soldiers might endure later on.

Trumpets blared on either side as the gates opened to the antechamber, and Eric’s cavalry officers took their places in strict formation as they announced his presence–of The Esteemed Prince Eric, even as the booming noise sent his mare’s ears back and sidestepping right into a mounted captain, causing Eric to wince and hastily apologize as he urged his horse to the head of the room, with all eyes on him.

The invited soldiers, both mounted and on foot, bowed to address the royals as the trumpeted announcement ended, all in synchronous motion. Eric tightened the reins on his horse as she endeavored to do the same, lowering her head down, down, down–

“No, no, wait–!”

–and sending him forward until he slipped from his saddle and crashed onto the hard floor with a groan. He scrambled up to stand and grabbed the side of a bridle more to steady himself than anything, hair tousled and sweaty from the heat and sand and horse’s stern rejection of his riding.

“Your Highness, Your Majesty,” Eric stammered, brushing back his hair with one hand until his mare snorted tersely and blew it out again. “Uh, good morning. Pleased–pleased to offer…the strength of my Kingdom to you.”

If the Princess wasn’t gonna kill him, Grimsby surely would.

Throughout the day in the antechamber, Jasmine and the Sultan were surrounded by scrolls, from other kingdoms, hoping to gain other allies with their kingdom. As the princess bored her way through the endless scrolls, the subtle movement of the scrolls on the floor had caught her eyes. What was going on? There weren’t any earthquakes in Agrabah. There never have been.

Oh Allah…

The loud booming chaos that was drawing closer instantly alerted the Sultan in his forgetful plans. How could he forget to inform his stubborn daughter that he had set her up in an arranged marriage to the Prince of Tirulia? That was obviously a rhetorical question.

By royal decree, Princess Jasmine had to find a suitor to marry by her next birthday and with all of the constant rejections on the pathetic suitors, her time to choose one was run out. Her birthday was just in a few days and her father had to take matters into his own hands. If she desired to become a Sultana, then she had to wed another prince.

The once quiet antechamber was now filled with dozens of military officers, horses, an older man, colorful banners, and the finale of it all. As the soldiers acknowledged themselves one by one, a brow was raised, curious to who would stepping in next. The announcement of his presence had Jasmine peer to the doors as the abject prince rode in, so high and proudly until his tumble. A soft laugh escaped her throat but quickly cleared her throat, maintaining her hard exterior. Clearly, this wasn’t a well thought out plan.

The man before her appeared to be in disarray. Was he truly a prince or was this all a facade?

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Prince Eric,” the Sultan stated. “Welcome to Agrabah. May I present to you, my daughter.” As he continued, he waved a hand, stepping to the side to the reveal the Princess of Agrabah.

Her posture strengthened, Jasmine’s eyes slowly scanned his form as she approached the Prince, along with her loyal tiger, Rajah, by her side.

“That was very... peculiar...” She spoke, emphasizing the last word.

Taking it upon himself, Rajah circled the prince, sniffing his garments, determining if this one was a keeper. Several growls found its way in between his sniffs. The princess allowed Rajah to do as he pleased, making no gesture to stop him. After all, she did trust him the most. 

The Sultan standing in the middle between the two, he took their hands in each of his and simultaneously gazed at each of them.

“I have failed to inform you, my azizi, in order to align our two kingdoms, you two will wed at the next desert moon.”

Completely taken off guard, Jasmine stumbled backwards, swiping her hand away. “Father! N-“ Before she could even protest, the Sultan who knew his daughter very well, had hurried out of the antechamber and up to his quarters. The soon to be Royal couple were now awkwardly left alone.

To avoid any prolonged silence, her gaze met with his eyes as her hands clasped together in front of her.

“I hate this stupid law... This isn’t fair...” It might not have been the wisest first impression, but it was what was on her mind.

“I don’t even know anything about you.”

[tretramonti]

“You sound like a friend of mine you know. Nothing’s gonna happen,” Ariel reassured, in equal parts sincere as she was ready for a great many somethings to happen.

But they’d be just fine.

[tretramonti]

“This piece underneath is called the boom because it’s underneath the sail that moves with the wind, and that’s the sound it’ll make against your head if you're too close.”

Eric let go of the wooden piece, letting a full gust of wind fill the sail and swing at full force. He ducked, the sail and the boom rocketing over his head and snapping the great ropes taut to keep it steady. Though the force of wind threw so much weight around, the boat danced forward.

“It’s really not that bad once you find your way around.”

[tretramonti]

Open Starter - Eric ( citrus, rope play )

“Are you comfortable?”

Eric grabbed a coil of thick rope, anchoring one end to the headboard with a fluid, practiced motion.

He sat on the bed, coil at the ready in one hand leaving the other open to touch, should his partner wish before he started. “You look gorgeous like this, even without anything yet. It’ll be more once we get started, though, don’t you think?”

[tretramonti]

Open Starter - Ariel

“You seem a little nervous.”

[tretramonti]

Open Starter - Ariel

[tretramonti]

Eric - Werewolf verse - Open Starter

Eric kept  his piercing, but soft blue eyes, though at wolfstime he walked in the body of a towering black wolf. His eyes were soft, yes, but the rest of him powerful and lithe, and with paws and teeth to match. 

He had little trace left of human inhibitions, only insatiable desire - to run, to hunt, which sometimes frightened humans, but this time he sat and stared.

He rolled over on the ground, uttering an almost pathetic whine, and implored the human before him for a belly rub.

Those soft eyes would do it. He could beg for anything.

[tretramonti]

Open Starter

“I respect your opinion...mostly. But cats? Over dogs? Have you met dogs?”

[tretramonti]

Open Starter

“Are you sure that’s how it works?”

[tretramonti]

Open Starter

Cream, dill, butter, lemon, and salt. Constant aromas in the seaside apartment when Eric was cooking. He tapped the wooden spoon against the saucepan, plating rice and checking the pot of boiling crabs.

"Humans are amazing at eating seafood into extinction. Normally that's terrible, but we're also good at introducing invasive species that destroy the ecosystem, so you really ought to eat more of those. Ever have shore crab? They're tiny, but great with dill sauce."

Eric poured that very dill sauce over a plate of rice, placing a little red and very dead crab on top. He turned off the knobs to the stove and handed the plate over.

"Human problems have human solutions. They're delicious."

[tretramonti]

OPEN STARTER

“You humans really love water despite the whole, y’know, drowning thing. How’re you feeling?”

[tretramonti]

OPEN STARTER: Random facts about humans #6

“On land, gravity hurts. Humans fall down a lot. I used to feel bad for them having to deal with all of that, but you know what these gravity-loving humans have that we don’t? Lap-sitting. It’s amazing.”

[tretramonti]

OPEN STARTER: Random facts about humans #5

“Humans are cute. Werewolves are a little cuter, but they’re mostly humans, so that’s just a bonus. People really can’t compete with puppies. It’s just not fair.”

[tretramonti]

OPEN STARTER: Random facts about humans #4

“No, really. I mean it about the boats thing. Eric, who is one of the best examples of humans, called his own ship a pretty girl yesterday. I don’t get it.”