Disorderly Study Habits (open)

[James Florian]

“Well no the bruises themselves may not be deadly, but let’s keep in my mind my mother probably would have confined me to my bed until they faded which could lead to bedsores and/or muscle atrophy if it took too long. Then of course if the physician was called he probably prescribe blood letting, leaches, lead mixed in with my drinks, and other cures that can cause more harm than good. Also there’s the risk of infections from those treatments which could lead to gangrene because we know nothing of germs yet.” James said as he started to ramble as he remembered all the so called cures he had been exposed to back home, by either being sick himself or seeing those around him ill. He preferred the dwarfs’ medicine better, it was more natural and it didn’t leave him feeling so lousy afterwards as well. Too bad his mother trusted the physician more with the health of her child. Shaking himself out of these thoughts and summed it all up by saying, “If I managed to live through all of that, there was still a chance of some Earl or Duke deciding that me being sick would be the most opportune time to bump me off, permanently so their own little shining jewels could take on my role as heir.” He said the last part with obvious disgust he didn’t even try to hide. After all it was so blatantly obvious James was not at all fond with the only royal cousins that were left on his mother’s side. Since the only reason they were still around and weren’t molding over in a grave somewhere like his true relatives was because they supported the regent queen during her stint on the throne. Not to mention they also criticized him harshly in public. They were so sure that their stupid titles and roles as advisors would protect them. Bah. At least there was the small comfort of knowing that the resurrected Jesuses were barred from attending the academy given their distant blood relations to the throne. He didn’t have to fear of being chastised or making enemies by making his contempt for them known here. Even they couldn’t place a bribed set of ears here.

James could just tell from the way she was giving him the cold shoulder that she still wasn’t taking the whole ‘sometimes we have to go to war’ thing seriously. Had she already forgotten that James came from a time where wars and fights were the only way to protect lands, and diplomacy was just something for show? Granted his family had been fortunate enough to not have to deal with any uprisings or invaders, but James was still all too aware of the fact how other kingdoms weren’t so lucky. Visitors to the castle often told tales of some throne being stolen here or there. Thank god his father was such a good king. Nobody wanted to get rid of him, everybody loved James’ father. Frustrated as to why Isla was being so blind to common sense James broke the awkward silence and asked bluntly, “Why are you so against wars? It’s not like we just fight to fight and given the fact I come from medieval times, that’s saying something! We only go to war if the people or the crown is threatened and in the end it saves more innocent lives than if we had just tried diplomacy. Plus in the end it only turns out to be only one battle, not the onslaught that 'this Great War' is. ” He said with an honestly confused expression, where he came from war was an honorable thing. Though he realized now that obvious that ideology must have changed within the eight centuries or so that had separated the prince from everyone else here.  

Though James was not confused at all with his next statement. “Well did you ever stop to consider that they are just as entwined in their parent’s fates as we are?” He said in reference to their parents status’ as royals. James’ father was a king, so one day he would become a king. Isla’s mother was a lower ranking princess, and so Isla would one day inherit her mother’s title. It was just the same for everyone, a business owner’s shop would eventually pass onto the child and so would the family home. So wouldn’t the same apply to villains? The child would pick up right where the parents left off and the same sick game would continue to play out, disregarding the fact that there was new players and no one could remember why this battle was being fought in the first place. Alliances as well as rivalries were passed this way, and regardless of what the child believed everyday, in simple little ways that they might not even pick up on, they were being groomed to take the parent’s place in the world. At the end of the day everyone became their parents. There was just simply no way around it, it’s hardwired in us all. “It’s not like they can just wake up one morning and just change what made them. They were born through greed and raised in hate. Do you realize just how overbearing a past like that can be on a child? Regardless of what they tell you, regardless of what you believe at the end of the day they. are. villains.” He said just as angrily as Isla tried to convince him that the for the last seventeen years his entire family had been wrong. For the last ten years he had been mistaken. He was hardwired to hate villains through both the warnings he received as a child and his own traumatizing history. He was appalled though at the lack of respect this girl seemed to have towards everything except these precious opinions of hers. “How dare I? How dare I?” He stupidly repeated with a look of disbelief on his face. However it hardened as dark thoughts about both the regent queen and Daae entered his mind. With a small sneer that didn't seem to be his own expression, but instead as if the ghosts of his pasts were controlling his actions, "Well I'm sorry that you haven't had to deal with the real world yet. If only all of us were as lucky as you."

Almost immediately after he closed his mouth he stumbled backwards slightly and pressed the palm of his hand to his forehead. Did he really just say that? As he looked back up at Isla, a shocked expression looked at her with an almost certain similar expression staring back at him. He the began to mutter to himself, "That wasn't me. It couldn't have been me. That was not me." Goddammit. He screwed up. He screwed up big time. This was worse than Cyrille. This was Isla, one of his friends. Though after that comment it was more likely former friends. "Isla, I'm sorry. I had no idea where that came from, but that wasn't me! I mean it was me, but they weren't my words." He apologized hastily with his expression clearly showing the regret and panic he felt for saying such a thing. "That's why I can't let you do this. This is what happens when you trust them." He said as he motioned to himself. "They make you trust them, then they use you, and when they're done they toss you aside, damaged and destroyed. The worst part is they follow you everywhere always whispering in your ear, haunting you even though they're dead. The could be nothing be dust, but they still chase you everywhere you go. You can never escape them. That's why I'm so against this idea, I've already had a villian to face and I lost. Yes I techinally won, but I still lost and I don't want to see anyone have to deal with this as well." He said too much, she was now going to ask questions. Questions James wasn't sure if he wanted to answer. He then started to shake his head as he said, " It's a bad idea Isla, it's a really bad idea."

[Isla Triton]

Isla thought that it was a bit over the top to keep someone confined to bed for a few bruises. He didn't know how James had done princely things with a mother that coddled as she seemed to. Of course Isla wasn't going to say these things out loud because James would take offense. His mother was his mother after all. "Your father wouldn't let her do that, would he?" Isla asked. Her own mom often interceded when her mother was being silly about things. Certainly James' father knew that a few bruises were just that and would heal on their own. Of course things were much different under the ocean. It was rather disturbing to hear how so many people would try and take advantage of an illness to gain power. It wasn't right at all.

"War is such a waste!" Isla cried passionately. She hated even the idea of war. "Men go to war and die. Their wives and children must try to get by without them and it is exceedingly difficult. Beasts of burden are killed. Innocent lives are taken." She wondered how anyone could not find disgust with war and all its atrocities. "And modern war is even worse because it destroys the earth and humans can't seem to understand how fragile the earth is! They can't seem to understand what destruction means to every other creature that occupies the world. So why shouldn't I hate war when all it does is destroy?" She asked sternly. Everything humans did affected everyone else and they were the only one who refused to see that.

"That doesn't mean they have to like it. That doesn't mean that they don't want to change," she retorted. Just because someone was born to one thing did not mean that they wanted that. She felt very passionately about that. After all, she was adopted. Her fate might have been very different if she had been adopted by seaweed farmers instead of a princess. She hadn't been born into her role. She didn't have to accept this role if she didn't want to. She alone had the power to change her fate. "They are not!" she insisted. "They don't have to be villain any more than I have to be a princess. Evil doesn't run in the blood."

She was quickly becoming more and more angry at the conversation, but the last remark stopped Isla cold. She froze on the spot, unable to do anything. She has been burning with the heat of anger only a moment ago and now she felt cold, the heat of anger suddenly replaced by something else entirely. She dragged in a breath slowly thawing enough to blink stupid at James as he tried to apologize. As he tried to explain and failed spectacularly at it. "You don't know the first thing about me," Isla said coldly when she had found her voice again. The real world was something that Isla had been acquainted with at a very young age. "Maybe you should get to know people before you judge them, Prince James. Use your station to better the lives of others and not to judge them. Prejudice won't help you when you're king. Caution I understand, but not prejudice."

[James Florian]

James laughed nervously when Isla asked whether or not King Florian would allow his son to be kept in bed for so long. The truth was he'd probably would. Both the Father and Son had learned long ago that there was no disagreeing with the Queen. If she said that James was staying in bed, then by god the kid wouldn't even be able to push the sheets off before someone swooped in to readjust them and reprimand him. Sometimes his mother, sometimes a servant. It all depended on what was going on around the palace. If his father was away, like medieval kings often were in the warmer months for hunting, tours, and those other lovely trips, then his mother would be busy filling in the king's role. If he was home, he'd be tucked away in his study leaving the Queen to fret over the boy. "By this point my father knows not to cross my mother's judgement when it comes to my well being." James said with a small shake of the head. There was a reason as to why James had been kept so close for the last seventeen years. Snow didn't want to lose the only surviving child she still had. Miscarriages and illnesses ravaged the time period James came from. Because of that the Queen could become quite a hellcat if anyone dared tell her differently on how to raise her child. "Besides my father would most likely be too busy to be hugely concerned anyway. He's the king after all." He added with a shrug. It was just a fact that everyone had become accustomed too. When his parents got married, their families kingdoms had united which meant that Florian had twice the amount of work to do. It was easier in the winter, they didn't have to travel and there were no real pressing matters other than making sure everyone had enough food. In summer and springtime though, it was rare that the father and son could find some time to spend together. A morning here, a hour or two there. That was probably why James didn't have all too close of a bond with the king, or at least compared to the one he shared with his mother. 

When Isla went on to rage about wars, James couldn't hold back what he had been thinking this entire time. "And would it better to just sit back and let numerous more innocents be harmed by whatever threat causes us to pick up our arms in the first place?! My people may be centuries behind whatever time period you come from, but that doesn't mean we're stupid enough to go and fight just because we want to! No! We only go whenever some fool tries to usurp the throne or annex our lands. Let me tell you our neighbors aren't fairing so well so the latter would lead to suffering and the idiots that try to claim they should take my father's place don't even know how to take care of a manor let alone a kingdom!" He took a deep breath and calmed down a moment before continuing. "Yes men will die. That unfortunately can not be avoided. However anyone from my home would agree with this; it is far better to lose one hundred men than to have one child perish at the hands of an enemy. We only fight when we have to. We are not barbarians Isla." Yes James may be jaded to the effects of wars, you could even say his statement was cruel if you wished, but it must be kept in mind that the Prince came from a time where people rarely lived long and prosperous lives. Children died before the could be taken out of the swaddling, men fell from horses only to never climb back on, and new mothers ascended to the realm above all mortals before they even had a chance to cradle their flesh and blood. James had grown up in a time where the only true king was the one thing everyone feared. James had been raised around death. He knew all too well everyone was mortal and if it was destiny to die on a battlefield then so be it. Death came for everyone at one time or another and it medieval society that time often came far too quickly. 

He shook his head slowly when she then moved on to modern wars. "I'm sorry that the earth is a causality in future wars, but you can not blame those conflicts on me. I'm trapped eight hundred years away from these guns and bombs remember? The only weapons we have are long bows, poleaxes, and broadswords. It's impossible to hurt a tree or the cobble with those." He said calmly hoping to defuse the situation. That was the one thing that James did know for certain, despite what Isla seemed to believe, the armies he would one day be in charge of simply didn't have the technology to harm the earth other than digging the brave soldiers who perished graves. However he didn't tell that to her. She'd probably blow up once more. 

"Can they though?!" James retorted when the conversation turned once more to the villains of Seacombe. "Imagine this Isla. What if all you have ever grown up with, all you ever known is the future everyone is pushing onto you? What if there was no second option? It was either become what everyone expects from you, what they all want you to be or lose everything you ever known? You may like to think that there's a choice here for them Isla, but there isn't! They were raised and cultivated by their families to become whatever they needed them to be.  What was needed was villains. tyrants, those who are only fueled by greed and will stop at nothing to get what they were raised to want." Even James now was beginning to get passionate about keeping Isla from going through with this awful idea. Villains were bad, they just wanted the power and once they got it no one was safe. James himself was raised to believe that he was supposed to be the protector of the people, the one who was destined to keep the evil away. Proof once again that Good will always triumph over Evil. The Prince could have easily been talking about the two of them. "Just think of it Isla, do you really think their parents just gave up when they were defeated. That they just accepted the fact that they lost and became good. Not after coming oh so close to that power. They may walk away, but under their breath they are cursing and vowing revenge. Their children are the chance to do just that. It's happened time and time again. It's no secret that the children pays for the sins of the parents."

He didn't know how to respond to the last statement she made. It was true he didn't know her, but she also didn't know him. Isla didn't know the tale of Daae or just how deeply the seeds of mistrust and hatred against villains was rooted in him. Everyone had told him that villains were bad, and it was going to be his job to protect those around him from their cold, uncaring clutches. However the only thing that was cold here were each other's words. He closed his eyes as his nails bit into the cover of the book in his hands, a desperate attempt to keep the monster in him from bubbling towards the surface when she called him prejudiced. "My family once trusted a wolf in sheep's clothing Isla. We thought we knew him. He seemed nice, he seemed to care. We were wrong." He said his eyes flickering up to her once more. "I still played with toy soldiers when he entered our lives, and because of him I met three different and equally terrifying monsters. One of which calls my body it's home. Can you really blame me for not wanting to see someone I call a friend have to suffer too? Are you really going to hold that against me?"

He took a deep breath before continuing, "So no, maybe I don't know that much about you Isla, but keep in mind you could the say the same about me. Yes I may be narrow minded when it comes to this issue, but I am not prejudiced. After all who were you going to share this with? Aristeides? Cyrille? Louis? They've all jumped into their roles with gusto, they want to be villains like their parents. It's clear by the way they walk, talk, and act on a daily basis." James pointed out referencing the way the royals had regarded the villains, completely unaware of the fact that Isla had seen a different side of Louis, but still this may have not been a real side. He then paused thinking for a moment trying to come up with a solution to resolve this mess, and when the only obvious idea came to his mind he sure as hell didn't like it. So with a defeated sigh he said as he focused his gaze on the shelves, his fingers began to mess with the book binding's again. "You say I'm prejudiced, I say I'm being cautious. Prove me wrong then, show me definite proof  that I've been incorrect all these years. Show me one villain who isn't like their mother or father. If you can do that," James then looked Isla in the eyes as he said the last part. "I'll go with you to show them this information."

[Isla Triton]

Isla thought that was ridiculous that someone wouldn't stand up to their spouse about the well being of their child. It was extremely odd to her that one parent would have more say than the other. Both her mothers had equal ownership over Isla's well being. Her mom was better in some avenues of parenting and her mother better in others, but they co-parented.

And it seemed that a king with only one heir should spend more time with his son. Her grandfather was a busy man too, but he always had time for his hoards of grandchildren. "So's my grandfather," she told James. "He has plenty of time for all of us. And he has a lot of grand kids."

Pods of mermaids were not typically violent. They lived together in groups because it was better for protection against their natural enemies. They had once been a nomadic people, moving with the currents to warmer climates with the change of seasons. But they were generally non-violent to their own kind. They had always shared resources with one another. Isla understood this usurping of power to some degree. She understood the reasons behind it, but she didn't understand the need to be so territorial. And war was something she couldn't fundamentally wrap her head around. "I understand territorial disputes, but war is so much worse than what you think. Innocent people die. Women and children as well as the warriors die all for something stupid and avoidable."

Isla wasn't going to back down on this. Not for one moment. The Earth was precious and needed to be protected. She crossed her arms. "You, Prince James, are naive if you think those are the only weapons in your arsenal. What about fire? I've read about small villages being burned to the ground, taking homes, people, animals and spreading. And what about flaming arrows? It only takes one poorly aimed arrow to light the forest on fire. Poisoning the water that leads to a well in the middle of a siege? That poisons the ground too. Don't tell me that your kind of war doesn't create ways to destroy just as much as modern warfare does."

Isla was so angry at James for thinking that. Seh wanted to shake him. She wanted to reach out and grab him by the shoulders and shake him until he changed his mind. "How can you say that?" she asked, her voice raised too highly for a library, though she was too mad to care at the moment. "I bet your parents have pushed you to be exactly what they needed too. You don't have any options other than to be what you are either, so how dare you judge someone else for being in the exact same position as you. And even if they are, that doesn't mean that they have to do what their parents want. Or maybe they don't have parents at all. Maybe they've had to make their own way in the world and had to do awful things to survive. It doesn't mean they have to continue making that choice."

"I can take care of myself," Isla snapped back defensively. They may teach chivalry here at this school, but Isla wasn't about to be some damsel in distress that needed saving. She could handle it. She did feel bad that someone had taken advantage of James and his family, but she was too angry to let it sway her. "I'm allowed to make my own mistakes."

Isla wasn't one to back down from the challenge either. She let out a slow breath, reigning in her anger. "Fine," she agreed, letting her arms unfold and hang down at her side. She straightened her posture, her head held high. "Fine. I'll get you proof and then we can tell them."

[James Florian]

All this talk about how King Florian really wasn't there for James was making him uncomfortable. What could he say other than his dad was always a king first and a father second? Plus it also it didn't hurt that the father and son only had a grand total of one thing in common between them, and that wasn't even instilled in James from the beginning. The raven haired lad had pushed himself to be a skilled horseman just so he could have something in common with his father and it only ended up getting him an extra hour or so each day. It was just that simple, his father was too busy and the pair had practically nothing in common. James was too much like his mother and nothing like his father. 

"Well that's your grandfather. My father is clearly not the same man." James said rather curtly. He just wanted to move on from this topic. It was a sore spot for James and also Florian, but of course the prince didn't know it. What the prince also didn't know was that in the future he would not be like his father either. Or at least he wouldn't when it came to parenting, because as fate would have it, when James got to cradle that precious little bundle, his child, for the first time, he would make an oath to always be there for them. He would swear upon his own life that would be a father first and a king second, and by god if as an adult he broke every other promise he made, that would be the one he always kept. No matter what the circumstances became, or what it took. James would always be there for his future child. 

Though back in the present, Isla's insistence on absolutely not listening to what James had to say was really getting on his nerves. Yes technically she was listening because she basing her counter arguments on what he had to say, but she wasn't truly paying attention to what he had to say. After all she had once again brought up her opinion that war was stupid and unavoidable, again. Even though James had been able to prove that there were times that it simply couldn't be avoided in order to protect the people. He put a hand up in a gesture for Isla to pause for just a moment before he said, "Isla, stop implying that I do not know what war is like. I do not know how military matters are handled in your kingdom, but in mine I would be what you consider a general. I've been trained in leading an army since the time I could sit up straight and you can rest assured any troops under my command will be completely aware of not only how sinful it would be to harm's innocents, but if they dared to raise their swords against any woman or child they will die a traitor's death. As I've said earlier, despite what you believe, soldiers are not barbarians. Instead we are the protectors of our way of life, only raising our weapons when an enemy raises theirs against us."  He finished with only a hint of annoyance ringing through the calm demeanor he was portraying. Despite this though, inside he was beyond frustrated with this sophomoric princess' views on the world. It was clear that she wholeheartedly believed that her perspective was the only right one and she couldn't even entertain the notion of war existing anywhere. Even though she was standing in front of a boy who came from an era that was defined by war and chivalry. 

He was taken aback by just how accusing she was in her next statement. "Excuse me?" The Prince said out of shock of the actions she accused the prince of taking. His expression and tone hardened though when he continued, "I may be naive, but how dare you accuse my country's army of being heathens! The devils who ravage lands like that live far to the north, too far to have any connection to my kingdom other than the fact we are on the same planet! We aren't stupid enough to use fire anywhere near a moor or forest, and most certainly we would never poison a water source because wouldn't our own forces drink from the springs as well!?" He yelled viciously, finally allowing the bubbling anger deep inside of him to let off some steam. Although Isla might not understand it herself, James' pride for his country was deeply intertwined with the honor and respect for the army. The soldiers currently under his father's command have been training their entire lives for this career, since the age of seven preciously, and to have this girl think that they just go into any old pub and give every man inside a sword? Oh it was too much, too much for this prince to bear. 

So he took a step forward and lowered his voice to barely above a whisper and stated with a blank, careless expression, "You, Isla are a foolish little girl to believe that your accusations will hold any ground with someone like me who has been raised to be a military leader. Your kingdom may do things differently, but do not tell me how to lead my own. Especially when you clearly know absolutely nothing about what life is like." James then shut the book he had been holding and he thrust it into her arms, it clearly had a nice little section on the first world war. Maybe if she actually read it and learned why these countries believed war was the only option would she learn that not all battles are bad. Though judging by the fact she was being a stubborn little toddler in this moment, he highly doubted that was going to happen.  

"Just because you believe it's wrong does not necessarily make it so." He concluded before turning around to walk away, having had enough of her foolish behavior. However her last argument made him pause for a moment. What if she was right? What if they were no different than James. For a second he thought he was going to turn around, but he didn't, he was too angry, she had gone too far. So instead he merely said, "I have options. There is always abdication." Not that he would ever take that path, but at least it would shut her up for a moment.

He quietly scoffed at the mention of Isla being capable of making her own mistakes, oh yes she definitely capable of making herself look like a fool and angering the people who dared to call her their friend. Even going as far as to make a mockery of their defined purpose in life. She was very able of making mistakes.

"Well until you can find a villain who is not like their parents in any way, I must bid you adieu. I have more important matters to attend to rather than a silly girl's opinion." He said with a curt bow, which was all he was required to give her based on her status according to his etiquette rules. He then turned on his heels and marched over to another row of history books, he no longer had any interest in what this section had to offer. 

{{So I say we sort of wrap this up? I  don't think these two stubborn donkeys will ever settle on an agreement when it comes to villains and war. xD}}

[Isla Triton]

The conversation about kings was clearly turning sour and Isla didn't really want to insult James' father. She knew that things were different between their kingdoms beside the obvious difference between human and merfolk. She didn't want to push James any farther than she already had on this topic at least. She honestly couldn't have an opinion on someone else's parents when she had never met them or seen their parenting in action. "I suppose not."

Her face was stony. Merpeople had never had a single reason to go to war, so of course Isla would believe very firmly that these things were avoidable. It was why they had initially avoided humans. Humans caused enough pain to other humans that merpeople wanted to avoid that. "My people don't have military matters because we don't go to war," she told him stubbornly. "We aren't greedy like humans. We don't posses the ocean the way you think you own the earth. We share what we have and take care of one another. Maybe that's because we're not the dominant species in the ocean. We have other enemies to worry about other than other groups of merfolk."

The more they talked the less it seemed that James had any real experience with battle and war. And why would he? He was the crown prince. They needed to protect him. He could lead a battle all he wanted, but there would be men beside him taking the blows meant for him. Their only prince couldn't be lost to battle before he could become a king and have his own heirs.

But what was unforgivable was being called a naive little girl. Isla knew more about life than any sheltered princess did. She didn't even live in the palace because Mom had suggested they live seperately to save Mother from feeling overshadowed in her own home. She had seen how the everyday merfolk lived as well as those in the palace. She'd had to deal with not only being the only adopted child in the family, but also having two mothers in a place that didn't generally appreciate anything outside of the norm. And to say that because Isla had never seen war first hand then she must know nothing of life infuriated her. She clenched her fists together and clenched her jaw hard. She was being written off as a silly little girl and that made Isla want to cry more than anything else. If she could only hold onto her anger a little longer then she wouldn't cry. She would not give anyone the satisfaction of knowing that they had made her cry.

James may have options, but how many of them would he utilize? How many of them would upset the little family that he had. "You won't," she said icily. James was too proud to ever do a thing like abdicating.

As soon as James started marching away Isla quickly stuffed her things into her shark skin bag and threw the books she had pulled off the shelves onto one of the carts for the books to be put away. Normally she would have put them away herself, but she was too angry. Then she swept angrily out of the history section and out of the library entirely, making her way back to her room where she could properly cry.