If you see this girl, can you tell her where I am?

[Deleted]

If there was one reason why heading off to Tintagel wasn’t an absolute nightmare after having found that Voice and having her slip literally from his fingers, it was because this place had a beach. This was where he had grown up, even if it wasn’t the precise beach that he had spent so much time in for the first eighteen years of his life. He could even see distinct differences in the landscape, but for now, that didn’t matter. What mattered was the salt breeze in his face, staining his skin, clothes and hair with that perfect scent, the feel of the sand beneath his bare feet…and of course, his trusty sheepdog, Max, following him around like it was his job to be his shadow…y’know, unless he found a gull to chase. That was always kind of amusing, such as right now, as he watched to make sure he didn’t get snatched up by an orca or something. He had read about that, and admittedly, it was terrifying. Not enough to stop him from coming here, but terrifying.

Anyway, it wasn’t quite orcas he was concentrating on at the moment. Even Max was just out of habit…his mind was almost entirely consumed by thoughts of her. He couldn’t find her anywhere back at home…although it wasn’t much help that try as he may, he couldn’t remember all that much about her, seeing as she was casted in shadow as she sang to him. It wasn’t much help that he had, you know, just woken up from being knocked out, so even if he had seen her properly, there was a good chance he wouldn’t hold onto the details, and it was all really frustrating. God, why did she run away before he could get up and get a good look at her, or even a hello? God, what he wouldn’t give to just say hello to her, to get to know her. Because that voice was the lightning strike he was waiting for.

Letting out a sigh, he pulled off the strap of his guitar case from his shoulder and found a place to sit before he pulled the actual guitar out gingerly. Grimsby used to say that he was going to wind up breaking or losing it, but after all these years, he supposed the man realized that Eric loved his guitar like it was his child, and was more than careful in bringing it out. It never even touched the sand, lest it be scratched. It wasn’t like Grimsby was going to stop him, closest confidante or not; he just did his best musical thinking on the beach somehow, probably because he felt like his heart belonged there. Now, he was trying to use it to find out where his heart could belong, if he could just find her, if she would let him. So he strummed the remember melody on his guitar, humming the words that he somehow remembered better than her face.

What would I give to live where you are?
What would I pay to stay here beside you?
What would I do to see you smiling at me?

It was her song, it was true, but Eric couldn’t help but put his own voice into it, his own longings just to know her, at the very least.

Where would we walk?
Where would we run?
If we could stay all day in the sun, just you and me
And I could be part of your world…

And his voice trailed off into a sigh, and a part of him knew he was being ridiculous…but he couldn’t help it anymore than he could help the instinct to scratch Max behind his ears when he ran over, or how much he loved just sitting on the beach. He had it bad, and the most he could do about it was find her…but where could she even be?

[buttercup]

Buttercup loved the beach, especially this time of year. You could tell summer was on it's way. Summer was her favorite time of year. If she lived near the beach in Florin, she probilly would have spent more time there then she should have and her hair would have been even blonder than it already was. What would Westley say about that? She had no clue. Oh, how she wished her fiance was here with her instead of on his pirate ship. But she understood the crew needed their captain so off he went. She just missed him so much. It was almost like her life stopped without him, even if Della said it couldn't. It just did. She waited to hear any word from him. Any at all telling her he was all right she wanted. But nothing ever came.

The Princess of Hammersmith was most definately the most beautiful girl to come from Florin in the last hundred or so years, quite a bit more than a triffel thinner and more than three oceans sadder. The breeze of the water played with her long blonde hair, blowing it back as she stood looking out over the water in her sundress that was a shade of buttercup yellow, oddly enough. Her pink sandals were in hand. She liked to walk along the beach, hoping to see a ship coming maybe that held her beloved. Of course, she knew that was impossible. He wouldn't have his ship sail right in like that. They, including her beloved Westley, were pirates after all. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts, she almost missed the sound of a guy's voice drifting from another part of the beach.

"What would I give to live where you are? What would I pay to stay here beside you? What would I do to see you smiling at me?..." Buttercup hear the sense of longing for someone in the guy's voice. She followed the voice as it continued. "...Where would we walk? Where would we run? If we could stay all day in the sun, just you and me And I could be part of your world…" She rounded the corner just as he was saying something about the sun. She stayed quiet while he finished. "You're very talented." she called out, smiling.

[Deleted]

The truth was, Eric had never really put much thought into how talented he was or not. Music was just what he loved, something that was a part of him, much to the occasional annoyance of Grimsby. Seeing as he was expected to rule over a kingdom, the idea of actually putting his talents to use for anything beyond hobby…well, it hadn’t really occurred to Eric. So when he heard an unfamiliar voice calling out to him, “You’re very talented”, well…he wouldn’t say it came as a shock, per se, but it was unexpected. He lifted his gaze towards the girl’s voice, which was definitely not the voice he was looking for, but it was soft, definitely with an accent that he didn’t quite recognize…she’d probably be a good singer too. And she definitely had the sort of looks that would appeal to record companies, come to think of it.

Smiling, he answered, “Well, thanks,” still pondering that. He was talented? Huh…he supposed it was a nice thing to know. He rose from where he was sitting, since it seemed a little strange to be looking up towards the blonde girl, and Max started running over to his side, and then off towards the blonde girl. Oh jeez, he really hoped she wasn’t afraid of dogs, because if not, she and Max would probably get along swimmingly. Still, he knew better than to assume, so he raced over, reluctantly setting his guitar down before doing so.

“She doesn’t bite, she’s actually the sweetest thing ever,” he reassured the blonde, scratching Max’s head while he held back on her collar, just to be on the safe side. Still smiling at the newcomer, he figured that he might as well keep the conversation going. “I’m Eric, and this crazy girl is Max,” he stated, unable to stop himself from laughing and having a playful growl in his tone while he introduced his best friend to the new girl.

[buttercup]

Buttercup realized she didn't even know if she could sing. She'd never really tried or even thought to, not even when she delivered milk for her parents as a milkmaid. She never remembered a time when she whistled or even hummed. She just always road Horse, her horse, and tormented the farm boy...who just so happened to be her fiance now. She would never forgive herself for how cruel she was to her beloved. She didn't know what she felt for him so she just tormented him, not knowing any other way to deflect her feelings, which she didn't understand. She didn't know if Westley was musically inclined either. They never talked about it, neither in person or by letter. She'd have to ask him next time. It'd give them something to distract them from her impending marriage to Prince Humperdinck...even if she was engaged and ready to be married to Westley.

“Well, thanks,” The Princess of Hammersmith grinned in responce as he spoke and smiled. "You're welcome." she called over to him, "I like the song. Did you write it?" She ran a hand through her long blonde hair, taking what the breeze of the water blew in her face away. Could Westley play guitar? She didn't even know. He was her own beloved and she had no idea. They would have to have a discussion about this when he finally returned from the Revenge, his ship. The Dread Pirate Roberts' crew needed their captain so he went. She knew it was nessary...but she missed him like crazy.

Buttercup was in her own thoughts but then she saw something and her focus came back to something bounding towards her. The guy's fluffy dog was running as fast as it could towards her. She wasn't afraid of animals but she sure hoped the dog was friendly. The guy ran after his dog and was soon holding her back by the collar. “She doesn’t bite, she’s actually the sweetest thing ever,” "Well, that's good to know." she said, smiling a bit. “I’m Eric, and this crazy girl is Max,” She laughed softly when he playfully growled. "It's very nice to meet you both." she told him, now grinning, "My name is Buttercup." Because of habit now, she added, "Princess Buttercup of Hammersmith." Max seemed like a very sweet, loveable dog. "Would it be all right if I pet Max?" she asked Eric with a smile.