Sketches
Written by: kohee
Fandom: Disney; Princess and the Frog
Summary: A series of drabbles, and some bits and pieces here and there – may be before the movie, during the movie or after the movie.
Genre: A mixture of mumbo jumbo with some gumbo.
Disclaimer: Wants to own but own nothing except pocket lint.
Author's note: Movie-verse; spoiler warning. And I have seen the movie but twice, so scenarios may be a bit off and characterisations are still being worked on.
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one: Wanting
(Naveen x Tiana; during the movie)
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He never really understood what wanting is, for he had never really wanted for anything, ever. As he told her, wanting was never part of his life, but wonderful fulfillment; that he was familiar with. It came as of being born into an extravagant life, with a king and a queen for parents, and polished marbled floors and a kingdom beneath his feet.
When his parents cut him off and cast him away, and he found himself deprived of music, dancing and female company, he thought he knew what wanting is. He wanted to be someone he only knew how to be, carefree, charming Prince Naveen of Maldonia - money, freedom and women at his disposal.
But when she pointed out her restaurant to him, her eyes sparkling when she told him her dream – her and her daddy's- and he saw the glittering palace instead of a derelict sugar mill in her eyes, and he heard the determination in her voice, and he realised that was all she ever wanted, all the while, all the time.
Tucking the walnut shell behind his back, he took her hand and promised her her dream, and when she smiled at him, so sweetly and so beautifully, it was all he could do to keep himself from grabbing her and kissing her senseless. She could slap him and throw him off the boat, and he would not care.
But he was not the old Naveen, who did what he liked and damned all the consequences.
His previous wanting was nothing, but shallow flights of fanciful oblivion, and he had not seen it. Leaving her behind as he clambered down the top of the paddle boat, he understood what wanting is – a passion, a fire and a desire.
Mama Odie talked about wanting and needing as two separate things, but he would have to disagree.
For once in his life, he desperately wanted someone, and needed her.
He wanted Tiana. He needed Tiana.
It was a great pity that the feeling was not mutual, for all she wanted and needed was her daddy's restaurant and their dream.
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He was going to become human again, and marry a lovely girl (even if she was a little too loud, too fluffy and too pink), probably be rich, but emptiness was all he felt. His only bit of joy was that she would get her restaurant, what she has always, always, wanted.
Then he heard her voice, heard her speak, and his heart soared.
I love you, Naveen.
Clambering towards her as fast as his spindly frog legs would allow him, he thought perhaps he was wrong about her not wanting him, and maybe she needed him as much as he needed her.
As the clock struck midnight and Miss La Bouff frantically planted kisses all over him without avail, innately there was deep disappointment in him, as with her, he supposed. For who would want to be frogs when they had lived as human beings?
But when he looked at her beside him; small, green (like him), and with eyes to rival the beauty of Evangeline, and felt her fingers entangled in his, he thought he would never want or need anything else in his life.
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534 words
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Note: will continue writing steadily for a bit, me thinks, too many plot bunnies. Also am completely in love with Naveen, frog and otherwise, because he is not Mr. Perfect (aka plastic vase) like some Disney princes. He is so unconventional, full of personality and can be kind of a jerk-face (like my other favourite hero Dmitri of the 1997 Fox cartoon Anastasia). So much love!
Note 2: Yes, frogs have fingers. I checked. :)
Reviews, comments, constructive criticism will be greatly appreciated!