It's Magical Mermaid Monday! I'm starting off by addressing a couple topics that have become FAQs.
For those asking about the sort of suffering I intend to put Gray and Juvia through, all I'll say is that I fully intend to test them and their resolve to be together. If they want to be fluffy-happy, they'll have to earn it. And if they can't figure it out (don't worry, they will; give them time), then they don't deserve each other. And I didn't pull my punches; I made them work for it. :) It gets worse before it gets better.
For those asking about Gray and Juvia's relationship, I'd say that what gives it potential here is that both of them are committed to making it work. My view of romantic love is that it's less about sweet words fluffy feelings and more about what he does to make her feel respected, protected and cherished. Less about how his gaze makes her knees weak and more about how she's resolved to support him through thick and thin. Attraction and chemistry are all well and good (and important in their own way), but they're worthless without commitment, loyalty, trust and devotion. Too often, I see people lose sight of this and instead pursue the adrenaline rush of the butterflies. Butterflies fade; relationships fall apart. (I once saw a couple get divorced after 20+ years of marriage...depressing!) What really makes the difference when it comes to a relationship standing the test of time? I don't have an answer. But I'll bet it's not the butterflies. :)
guest: As far as I'm concerned, this is Gruvia. Sort of in line with what I wrote above, it's the fact that he fights to be with her and that she wants to stand by him. It's the way that they work against obstacles that might keep them apart. It's the way they will (eventually) be willing to put aside their differences, forgive (they will need a lot of this), and move forward together. That's my idea of romantic. ;) Plus, if I'm not challenging their relationship, I'm not doing my job. At 30+ chapters, Silence is too long to be a straight fluff-fest, lol. Thanks for the review!
- K. Chandler
"So, who are we supposed to meet?" asked Natsu again.
"I don't know, just some girl," said Gray, his expression stormy. "Lyon said that I just had to do was meet with her and we can be done with this nonsense. This is such a waste of time…" he groused.
Gray and his cousin had never gotten along, but Natsu had a feeling that Gray's irritation had less to do with Prince Lyon and more to do with that chick he found on the beach last week.
Natsu followed Gray to Lyon's study. Gray knocked before they let themselves in.
"There you are, Gray. It's about time," the prince said, rising to his feet. He scowled when his eyes landed on Natsu. "What's he doing here?"
"Great to see you too, man," said Natsu, responding with a cheeky salute.
"It isn't that I'm not pleased to see you here, Gunnery Master Dragneel," amended the prince.
"Then what's the problem?" said Gray.
"It's just that, well… You do realize that this girl is interested in you, Gray? Romantically?"
"Yeah?" Gray quirked a disdainful eyebrow. "That's why we didn't bring Cana with us."
"Idiot. She wants to court you. Not both of you," clarified Prince Lyon.
"I never agreed to that!" snapped Gray.
The prince winced, his hand rising to his temples. "Must you be so loud?"
"You said I only had to meet with her," said Gray sullenly, lowering his voice. "I never agreed to court her."
"It's not—" Lyon broke off, squeezing his eyes shut with a wince. He took a shaky breath.
"Lyon?" Gray frowned, worried.
"Do whatever you want. I don't know that I care anymore," the prince sighed, collapsing back into his chair.
"Someone's responses are lackluster today. Everything okay?"
"What?" Prince Lyon blinked at Gray blearily. Then he shook his head, as if to clear it. "I'm just—I'm a little tired. That's all."
Gray frowned worriedly. "Would it help if we—"
"You want to be helpful?" interrupted Lyon harshly. "Then talk to Miss Heartfilia."
"All right," said Gray quietly. Natsu was surprised at how compliant he was being. "All right. I'll go."
"The Heartfilias are in the South Drawing Room," said the prince. "Do what you have to, but don't screw this one up."
Gray closed the door softly behind them before leading Natsu down the hall.
Natsu wasn't sure where they were going, but Gray seemed to. Natsu guessed that was because all the captains and their lieutenants would report in at the castle for new orders every time they arrived back in port.
"So that was weird," said Natsu. "Isn't he normally more like I'm-Better-Than-You and stuff?"
"Now that you mention it, he was kinda off when we talked a couple days ago, too," said Gray. "I wonder if he's coming down with something."
"You don't think he'd fake sick to get you to do stuff, do you?" asked Natsu.
Gray stopped mid-stride, his expression morphing into one of annoyance. "I wouldn't put it above him. That sneaky, manipulative—"
"Let's just get this over with, man," said Natsu. "Then you can go back to hanging with Juvia and you'll quit being such a sourpuss."
"I don't—" Gray let out a breath, turning away. "Natsu!"
Natsu grinned at how flustered he was becoming the mention of at Juvia's name.
"I am not a sourpuss," protested Gray. "I can't believe he played me like that."
"Are you sure you want me tagging along?" asked Natsu when they arrived outside of the drawing room. "I mean, the prince basically said—"
Gray shot him a dark look. "You are not leaving me to do this by myself," he said. Gray took a deep breath, throwing the door open.
In the drawing room, an unhappy-looking blonde girl was waiting with her father. Natsu had to do a double-take, but sure enough, it was her.
This was who Lyon was setting Gray up with?
"Miss Heartfilia, is it?" said Gray with cool politeness. "It's a pleasure to—"
"Hey, there, Loopy!" shouted Natsu gleefully.
"Natsu! And Gray, too," she gasped, her expression brightening.
Gray's eyes bugged out. "Lucy?"
"Hi." Lucy offered an apologetic wave. "Long time no see."
"You didn't tell me you two knew each other," said Heartfilia. "What a lovely surprise!" He grinned, but something about it didn't quite sit well with Natsu.
"I wouldn't say that we know each other," she said.
"Lucy found this guy washed up on the beach. She was nice enough to return him," said Natsu.
"How nice," said Heartfilia.
"We sure thought so," continued Natsu, pretending to be oblivious to Mr. Heartfilia's disdain.
"So what are you doing here?" Gray asked Lucy. "Not that we're not glad to see you."
"Well, my father seems to think that you're —"
"Rumor has it you've been looking for a bride, Captain Fullbuster," interrupted Heartfilia. He stepped forward to shake Gray's hand, pointedly ignoring both Lucy and Natsu.
Gray flashed a winning smile. "You shouldn't put stock in rumors. I can't stand idle gossip."
Lucy opened her mouth to speak. Then she shut it, looking over at her father as if he were a barracuda. Natsu winced in sympathy.
"At any rate, we've been quite impressed by your daring deeds," Heartfilia was saying. "Especially Lucy. And since I had business with Prince Lyon, it seemed a good opportunity to bring her along."
Lucy gave an exasperated huff, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Isn't that right, Lucy?" her father asked, looking at her over his shoulder.
"Sure."
"Lucy."
"Yes, father," sighed Lucy.
Natsu waited until Heartfilia's back was turned before moving next to Lucy. When he was confident the old nag wouldn't see him, Natsu gave Gray a pointed look. Gray needed to turn her down here and now before things got worse for the girl.
Gray nodded, showing that he understood.
"I'm afraid there's been a bit of a misunderstanding, Mr. Heartfilia," said Gray smoothly. "What I'm actually looking for is a new ship. That's probably what the mix-up was. Prince musta heard me use the word broadside. Not bride." He shrugged.
"That's okay," said Lucy. "It's actually better—"
Heartfilia frowned, cutting his daughter off. "Surely, you can't be saying that—"
"What I'm saying is that unless she's got twenty-four guns and a rudder, I ain't interested," said Gray, shrugging. "Sorry. It's nothing personal."
Heartfilia made a noise of protest, starting to argue his point.
Leaving Gray to deal with the father, Natsu turned his attention to the daughter.
Making sure Mr. Heartfilia wasn't looking their way, Natsu gestured wildly, trying to catch Lucy's eye. "You were better off without Captain Droopy Eyes anyways," Natsu mouthed, pointing at Gray.
Lucy giggled. "Natsu!" she whispered.
"Trust me. Total idiot."
Lucy shook her head in fond exasperation.
"Is your old man always like this?" whispered Natsu, tipping his head towards Heartfilia.
Lucy made a face. "Just about," she mouthed back. She nodded for emphasis, though she didn't have to. Natsu had always had the sharpest ears out of anyone he knew. Inhuman, some people called it.
"That sucks," he muttered under his breath. Natsu had grown up without a father, but he'd always imagined what it would be like to have one. He found it hard to envision how a father could be so cruel to his own daughter.
"Sometimes I wish…"
"What was that, Lucy?" Heartfilia looked back at his daughter, making Natsu sidle away quickly.
"Nothing, father."
"Hey, we really have to go," said Gray. "Don't we, Natsu? Duty calls."
"Huh? Oh, right!" agreed Natsu. "Duty calls!"
"No matter. Prince Lyon said something about a dinner party later this week. Will we see you there?" asked Lucy's father.
"I can't say that—"
"Don't worry, we'll be there!" said Natsu, surreptitiously pushing Gray towards the door. "Take care of yourself, Loopy! We'll see you there, okay?"
Gray turned to face him as soon as he had closed the door behind them. "Um, we aren't going to that," said Gray.
"We have to!" said Natsu.
"Were you even invited?"
"No, but I'll bet you were," said Natsu. "And we totally just promised Lucy we'd be there." Natsu could tell how badly the girl needed a friend. Her dad seemed to be pretty over the top. He wasn't about to leave her to deal with that on her own.
"You promised her," corrected Gray. "Nothing to do with me."
"Oh, come on, man!"
"No, Natsu."
"So that means we're going, right?"
GrayXJuvia. NatsuXLucy. Done. Right? XD Nope. Things can never be so easy... Anyone want to guess at what trouble lies ahead? And what's the deal with Lyon? Let me know your theories in a review! Next chapter starts the giant snowball of falling-apart-ness and I want to see how good you guys are at guessing. :)
Next time, in Silence, trouble comes calling when Gray takes Juvia to the prince's dinner party: "Be discrete," Gray said. "Something weird is going on here and I don't like it."
Stop back next Monday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.
