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Everything about him was beautiful; his dark hair and his vivid eyes that looked like they would swallow you whole in their depths, the way he moved when he was tense, and he often was, Ariel noted from her peering spot. The way his hooked hand glinted in the sun when he ran it angerily across the table, even that had some grace to it. There was simply something captivating about him. He was larger than life in his expressions, whether angry, or happy, or sad. He always held her attention and so she visitied him often, in secret of course. The last thing she would want would be him thinking her some sort of stalker.
Sometimes he would visit her, but it seemed it was always business. He'd anchor his ship near Mermaid Lagoon while she sat there with her sisters. He's ask them if any of them had seen Peter Pan. Some of the other mermaids were huge fans of Peter, and sailors and mermaids were natural enemies, so of course they wouldn't tell him anything. Ariel always wondered why he even tried. Still, she had to admire his tenacity. She longed for him to notice her, to truly see her, but his eyes would roam over the Mer crowd and he would address all of them as a group. His men would always look wary behind him but, he was brave. He'd look at them and address his questions politely, always the gentleman. He didn't fear the mermaids like his men did. Maybe he should've.
She knew he was the ship's captain, that much was obvious. He was clearly in good command of his men and a natural leader. Where he aquired the name Hook was obvious as well but one day she caught wind of his first name.
He had been writing some sort of letter, brandishing the quill with great flourish, a rare sight because he usually had the first mate write anything and everything down for him. It was probabley a lot quicker for him to dictate to someone else. The first mate was a short older man with white hair, Smee he was called. Ariel knew his name due to all the times the captain shouted it. But this time the captain was writing his own letter and when the time came to sign it he did it in broad strokes, saying his name aloud, Captain James Hook. Ariel sighed when she heard it. So, his name was James. What a strong sounding name. It suited him.
It occurred to Ariel that she'd have to eventually take action. She couldn't keep on this way. If only she could offer some information on the neferious Peter Pan. Then she could maybe arrange a one on one meeting with James. But, she didn't have anything. Also, what did it matter. He was human and she was not. It was bad enough that she was wasting so much of her time following his ship around. She couldn't imagine what she'd even say to the captain let alone what would happen if her father found out about her entertaining such thoughts. The fact that this particular human had an actual hook for a hand would have given her father a heart attack. However, she still got her chance one day, just by complete accident.
Everything the humans did was always so interesting. If Ariel wasn't staring at the captain she was busying herself collecting every manner of materials from the ship and its human inhabitants. With the pillaging and plundering of the pirates came a lot of drunken nights with buckets of treasure, art, fine textiles, all sorts of things. Ariel would comb any sunken ships the pirates had caused and also swipe anything she could from them too. Unbeknownest to her, it was usally something they'd never miss like simply made eating utensils, but still. It was fun and it made her feel closer to their world. It was on one of these such escapades near the ship that she was suddenly enraptured by a melody playing across the wind.
Ariel stopped what she was doing near the ship's hull and made her way to the captain's cabin which was above the rudder. The sound was coming from there. Climbing up she peered into the captain's quarters and what she saw made her hold her breath. James was making the tune by tapping some sort of desk with black and white rectangles.What was it? His usually perfectly coiffed self was a bit undone. His red brocade coat was thrown to the side. He had his sleeves rolled up and without his hat she could get a good view of just how inky black his hair really was.
The fact that he could tap the strange desk thing so skillfully despite his hook hand was amazing. But, as soon as she thought it he missed a note and she heard him mutter something under his breath in anger. He got up then, rather suddenly, his arms at his sides. It looked like he was ready to just bang on the thing in fury. Ariel let out a gasp. That was all it took. He whipped his head around. She had been caught.
There was a brief moment of surpise on his face and then she watched him compose himself as he ran his hook through his mustache. She watched that hook trace his strong jaw. She didn't know what to say.
He spoke first. “Why, my dear. Whatever are you doing out there?”
Ariel gave a small smile. He really was the perfect gentleman. “I'm sorry. It's just the music.” She spoke softly. “It sounded wonderful.”
His eyes lit up then. “Why, you flatter me.” He gave a small bow. “It's not often a human's music impresses a siren of the sea.”
Ariel giggled and he peered up at her under his thick eyebrows. Straightening up, he ran his hand along his shirt to ensure he looked a little more orderly. Then he made his way to the open window and helped Ariel in.
Soon she was in a saltwater bath in the middle of his quatertes. The bathtub was ornate and huge. It was clearly for his personal use but he had gotten the crew to fill it up with saltwater for his “guest.” The men, needless to say, where terrified but they followed his orders anyway and in no time at all Ariel found herself comfortably sitting while he played his music for her. He told her it was called a piano. He even explained how it was built and how it worked. Ariel had never been happier in her entirely life. The captain was just so wordly. He had travelled to so many places and was completely happy to have a captive audience intereted in his tales. He had no problem answering all of her questions.
She called him Captain, it just seemed the respectful thing to do, all his men did, and it was his title after all. But, he corrected her.
“Please, my dear, call me James.” He gave her a wink and a smile.
He had called her “my dear” or “miss” all night. Ariel didn't dare tell him she was King Triton's daughter. He was already formal enough as it was. She wanted the same intimacy he had afforded her. When the time came for her to return to the ocean she told him her name.
He had scooped her up in his arms and was ready to put her down in one of the ship's rowboats in order to lower her into the sea. The rest of the crew was already asleep. The moon shone on the water brightly and Ariel felt that she never wanted to leave. James assured her she could visit whenever she wanted.
“Please, my dear, don't be afraid to stop by again. It's not always I'm in such charming company.” He have her his usual grin, much softer this time.
“Ariel. My name is Ariel.” She said shyly. She was having a hard time looking at him directly now that she was in his arms. He felt so warm, so unlike what she was used to. Were all humans this way? She could feel his breath on her shoulder. The contrast of his skin and his hair looked even greater in the moonlight. He was simply too beautiful to be looked at in this way. It suddenly felt innapropiate; the tub in his bedroom, his disheveled appearance, the darkness of the night, the way he held her now.
The inappropriateness of his time spent with her seemed to suddenly struck him too. He was a gentleman, perhaps he wouldn't actually want her to visit him again. “Ariel. It's a lovely name.” He whispered the sentence as he stared down at her. “I really hope you come back.” Ariel beamed, her eyes finally met his again. He coughed and his eyes darted away from her as he lowered her into the rowboat.
As she sat in the rowboat while he made sure she was comfortable her arms suddenly felt empty. She craved his warmth already. Before he could straighten out again fully she grabbed at his shoulders, just fast enough to give him a soft kiss on his stubbly cheek. He held his hand to his cheek, his eyes done wide.
“I want to see you again.” Ariel said with a smile. “Play that piano of yours and I'll be there. I'll sing you a song next time.” She said the last line with conviction. She meant it.
James felt his mustache twitch as a broad smile overtook his face. He took the rope and lowered the rowboat down. Ariel's eyes never left his as she was brought down. Soon he heard a splash where the boat hit the water. He rushed to peer down in the dark at the rowboat. He heard a second splash and then saw a flash of iredescent green scales as a tail disappeared under the sea.
He stood at his full height then. He felt the spot where she had kissed him on the cheek with his hand again. The whole time she had spent time with him not a negative word had passed through his lips. Not his fears of the giant crocodile, not his annoyance with his crew and their incompetence, not his sadness over his hook hand. He hadn't mentioned Peter Pan once.
He hoped she came to see him again. He really could use the company. His eyes crinkled as he smiled and made his way back to his quarters. He'd have to think of some new songs to play for her next time she visited. She had promised him her voice. He'd have to pick a really good tune to acompany it.