Private Tales No Wading Around

[Rook]

Alliria was a mess following the eclipse. Somehow people survived. People from the Shallows that is. The upper city and its wealthy inhabitants always found a way to avoid danger. Gold was just too valuable for those without it to afford to say no.

But this turned into a strange boon for Rook. There was a need for rebuilding parts of the city and an excuse for the wealthy to celebrate not dying. Work was plentiful for someone good with tools. Opportunities were even more plentiful for those willing to risk a little as well. Two of the biggest things in demand by rich women and men right now was a special kind of colorful coral and rare oyster. Even the smallest, simplest bits of either could see Rook and his group fed for a month without needing any other kind of work on top of it.

Good thing he knew a good place to find both.

The issue he had was how dangerous it was to get to the small island far out in the strait they were at. Common coral reefs surrounded it and would slice up even a rowboat let alone a proper vessel needed to get there. Some tiny safe passages existed but he wasn't aware of anyone left alive who knew them. That was what was keep everyone away from the place despite how lucrative it could be getting there.

Rook had a way and so had asked a friend for some help: Lami. An invitation to meet him at the docks was sent out so he could ask her in person if she was up for helping him out. If she said no then that was that. He could find work fixing things. If she said yes though then they both could make some coins and not have to worry so much for awhile on just surviving.

Gods he hoped she was feeling up for spending some time out at sea with him. Trip would likely take a few days of just the two of them alone. She might not be up for it.

Lamirose

 

[Lamirose]

Rook was a damned fool. Weeks she had spent in Alliria with Rook and his found family, and he was still clueless. She was pretty sure even Miz knew what Lami wanted.

But Lamirose was nothing if not stubborn. She had pushed on, and thought Rook's invitation was a reward for her efforts. He had asked her to meet him at the docks, but he hadn't said for why, and the mystery of it excited her.

She arrived at the docks they were to meet at early, dressed in a new outfit she had borrowed (stolen, really, since she didn't plan on giving it back) from a clothesline. It was nowhere near as nice as what the rich women wore but it certainly was a good bit nicer than what she had worn when she had first met Rook.

She had yet to return to her underwater home since she had made a temporary home in Alliria with Rook and his friends. She was certain her mother and sisters were looking for her, but she did not care, not yet. She knew eventually she would have to return, but if she was smart about it, she could do both at the same time.

A humid breeze shifted her skirt about her ankles. Her feet were no longer bare- she had discovered rather quickly that not only did walking barefoot hurt the soles of her feet, but it also was very dirty. Landers really were filthy, at least that much her mother had gotten right.

Rook

 

[Rook]

The dock was as popular as ever, although more crowded right now than normal due to all the repairs going on. This meant it was a bit of a miracle that Rook had found a nice spot that was free of people if not of cargo in various kinds of containers for transport and storage.

When Lami finally arrived he immediately noticed how great she looked in that new dress. She filled it out as well as she always did. Truly such lovely hills on top of an hourglass.

For himself he was dressed in his usual working attire when going to be doing wet work on the beach or a boat with his quick to dry gloves on his hands. The opposite of how she was looking right now.

He found it a bit hard to look at her without staring. In fact it was impossible as he just couldn't get his eyes off of some inappropriate place. Eventually he gave up and looked at the sky with a blush on his cheeks.

"You look beautiful in that dress Lami."

Actually, she was beautiful in that dress. Why was she dressed so beautifully? Clearly she had something important going on if she took the time to dress up so much. Did she finally decide to start singing and had a big gig? Or could it be she had a date with a rich, talented guy? Was he in her way today and holding her up?

Rook looked back to Lamie with a slight frown. "Sorry Lami. Did you have important plans today? Like singing for rich folk or a date with one of them? Take off if you do. Don't hold yourself up on my account. Was just going to see if you wanted to go out to sea with me to an island for a few days and collect some rare oysters and coral."

Lamirose

 

[Lamirose]

Lami smiled at Rook's compliment. She hadn't thought it was that nice but evidently it was enough to impress him, and she was glad for it. She did not miss how his eyes wandered about her figure and she wished he wasn't so dense.

She shook her head at his question. "No plans, besides meeting you. I would like to go out to an island with you," she replied. While he was likely wondering why she wanted to go with him, she was wondering why he had asked her in the first place. What were the chances that they were both fools, drawn to each other but too dense to do anything about it?

"I don't sing for landers, remember?" she added with a little smile. Her self-imposed rule was one she lived by closely- she wanted anyone's opinion of her to be genuine, with no influence. Besides, her song was much weakened on land anyway, especially after her long stay on land. She would likely only be able to entrance her unfortunate listeners, but not convince them to drown themselves for her.

Rook

 

[Rook]

Not meeting anyone else and no plans on singing for landers? Looked like Lami was free to join him then after all. A sigh of relief came from Rook upon hearing this. A smile crept back onto his face.

"Good.... So anything you need to do to get ready to go? Going to be gone for a few days for the job. Packed my stuff and I think enough food for us both, but you might have other stuff you need. Seems like you women always have other stuff you need. Don't get why you need so much extra stuff all the time."

Rook was already finalizing the plan for them both going out instead of just himself. He would have gone by himself if she had other plans. Dangerous but he would have found those safe passages onto the island through the reefs and rocks.... Probably....

Lamirose

 

[Lamirose]

Lami shook her head at Rook's question. "I am not like lander women," she replied simply. She would be fine with what she had on her right then. There were two layers to the dress she wore. An outer layer and an under layer.

She didn't know (and truthfully didn't care) that wearing just the under layer of the dress was rather scandalous.

"Why have you asked me to come along, and not the others," she asked after a moment.

She hoped it didn't sound ungrateful- she still wanted to go along with him, but she was curious as to why exactly he was inviting her. She couldn't let herself get too hopeful that he was interested in her; he was two dense for that.

Rook

 

[Rook]

"You know the seas better than anyone I know and I like being around you. Perfect person to spend a few days with."

Rook answered without any hesitation. A smile was offered to her and then he turned around. The boat he had taken for the job needed to get readied to leave. Was one of the many now ownerless ones that just floated with the tides tied to the docks or left washed up on shore following everything that had happened during the eclipse. He didn't steal it. Not this time at least.

So the young man got busy making room for the both of them as he got the supplies fully secured. Once that was done he would wave Lami over and help her get seated. Then he would untie them and push off with one of the oars.

Then with his muscular arms he would begin the daunting task of rowing them out to sea in the direction of the island. The one not even within eye sight of the city.

Lamirose

 

[Lamirose]

He liked being around her. Lami could not help but smile at his comment. It was a start, certainly. Perhaps he wasn't as dense as she believed him to be. It also occurred to her that she shouldn't get her hopes up, not yet.

This would certainly be an interesting trip.

Lami got into the boat after Rook. She let him row for a minute or two, before she leaned to the side of the small boat they were in to dip her fingers in the water. She urged the boat faster, so that Roland would not have to row and wear himself out so soon into their journey.

"Just tell me where to direct the boat," she said. She could get them there in half the time it took to row.

Rook

 

[Rook]

The rowing went about like it always did till they got a ways away from the port. Then the boat got faster. Rook knew it wasn't because of him. Steady and paced for the long haul that was what he had been taught. That was what Rook was doing. So this swiftness must be because of Lami.

His eyes went over to her and saw Lami's fingers in the water. Her words on confirmed she was doing whatever it was kivren could do. He took a moment to figure out where they were then began to provide what he roughly knew was the direction of the island.

"It is surrounded in reefs dangerous for boats of all sizes. Not sure if that helps you figure out which one."

The young man offered her a smile and hoped that helped. He began to watch the waves and sky. Something about how both moved was so fascinating yet also familiar. It reminded him of how the wind swept across the land back in the steppes when he was a kid. A sea of grass traded for a sea of water.

"Any thing you want out of this trip? Forgot to ask earlier. Not sure if you want coin or something else. Deserve to get paid for your work too."

He offered her a smile. For him this was about the coin that they needed so badly. For her though it was hard to say. Her kind didn't exactly partake in the whims and regrets of the free market like he was forced to.

Lamirose

 

[Lamirose]

Lami blinked at him as he gave a brief description of where they were going. It was not as helpful as it could have been, and Lami doubted this trip for a moment. Before they even got to the reefs they could certainly get lost.

It really was a good thing Rook had brought Lami along, because even though she was mostly familiar with the Sea Of Kiva, she knew enough of the waters to get them both there safely and before nightfall.

Lami considered Rook's question. She tilted her head as she contemplated an answer that wouldn't make their situation awkward or frighten him. "I wanted to know more about lander ways, daily life. I'm always learning something new," she replied eventually.

Their little boat kept moving along at a pretty good clip, the wind stirring Lami's black hair around her face.

Rook

 

[Rook]

Lander ways. Daily life. Both things that Rook certainly didn't want Lami learning from the Shallows. That place was miserable and harsh. Going without the common thread amongst them all. Some were good people who did their best to share with others. Some were thugs and thieves out there looking to take whatever they pleased from those weaker than them. And some were the worst kinds of folk that pretended to be the first while actually being the second.

Too many were the third in the Shallows.

The young man just nodded and smiled at her as she spoke. "Well can't say daily life is ever the same outside of needing to find food and work for me. Go wherever I can find both. Like this island we are going to."

He took a moment to look around and orient himself. They were a little off course. He called out the corrections to Lami then went back to watching the wind and waves.

"So Lami, anything you want from me for the job? Splitting the profit but anything particular in thanks you need from me?"

So was working too hard not to get something she wanted from him. And he also just wanted an excuse to give a gift to a friend.

Lamirose

 

[Lamirose]

To Lami, it sounded like Rook was asking these questions to get a specific answer. Was he suspicious, and just trying to play it off? Get her to say something in particular?

She narrowed her eyes. Or was she giving him too much credit? Should she take this opportunity and run with it?

"I dunno," she replied eventually. "What are you willing to give me?"

Best play it safe. Rook was so hard to predict.

Rook

 

[Rook]

The reply and following question both seemed a bit odd to Rook. Lami usually seemed like a woman who knew what she wanted. Maybe not how to get it but knew what she wanted. Her telling him she didn't know was like Rook saying he didn't want to eat dinner. It could and did happen but was so rare it might as well be worth all the gold in Alliria.

He took a bit to ponder after the initial confusion. "Anything you want from me I guess. If I can give it or get it at least. No need to feel shy. Figure we know each other well enough now to speak our minds."

Rook looked back at Lami and gave her a smile. The man was still rowing even with her using her extremely convenient water powers to move the boat. Just didn't feel right for him to not put in work too.

Lamirose

 

[Lamirose]

How clueless could he really be? Lami just stared at Rook for a moment, blinking slowly. Eventually she decided not to say anything about what she really wanted, at least not yet. They'd have plenty of time on the island.

"I'll think of something later," she said finally, before focusing most of her attention on the upcoming reefs.

They had made good distance both with Rook rowing and Lami's magic, and now Lami could see a spot of land off in the distance. There was a good bit of rocks and reefs they had to maneuver their way through first, however.

"Put the oars up for now," she suggested as she directed the boat. She knelt by the front of the little wooden rowboat, both her hands in the water now.

Rook

 

[Rook]

The young man just gave her a nod when she told him she would think of something. Good. Rook wanted to give her something she actually wanted rather than try in vain to figure it out. Her being happy with things was as important as everything else after all.

He pulled the oars up as instructed and set them into the boat. His eyes went to trying to make out what was below them and the sight was a bit shocking. Coral and jagged rocks everywhere. He wasn't even sure if there was sand or not on the floor. He wasn't even sure how deep down things went. It was like looking down on a rich person's garden from their tallest window.

"Careful Lami. Looks like you could cut yourself on everything down there."

Rook was starting to understand now why people didn't come here. The skeletal remains of a sunk ship almost completely covered in the sharp and pointy ocean life further confirmation of how true the stories had been. How would he have done this without someone like Lami along to help? Likely he would have just died here torn to shreds once his boat sank.

Lamirose

 

[Lamirose]

Lami did not turn to look at Rook when he told her to be careful. She knew he meant it but he didn't have to tell her of all people to be careful. She had swam through corals and rocks as sharp as these before, when every inch of her was exposed and could have been torn to shreds. Now, they were in the protection of a boat, though it was harder to maneuver.

She kept her focus on the water and what lay beneath it, fingers and wrists bending in the water as the boat gently skimmed the water.

She was so focused she did not know how much time had passed before the coral faded away and the rocks smoothed out as the shore approached. The rising and falling of the tide had worn down the rocks until they were slick, and they gradually decreased in size until the sound of the boat beaching could be heard.

The beach was beautiful- the white sand touched by few and seen by less. The white sand faded into green grass further ashore, and trees reached up to touch the blue morning sky. A gentle breeze shifted their little boat as the sun rose higher in the sky.

Rook

 

[Rook]

Rook watched with awe how Lami navigated them through the extremely dangerous coral and rocks with so much ease. She was a child of the sea but it still remained impressive to him. Perhaps it was because he was a lander so deeply at heart. The thought of an endless sea of grass excited him more than the open ocean. Both dangerous in far too many ways.

Once the safe sand began to take over and shore arrived, Rook hopped out of the boat and drug it up further onto the beach so it couldn't just float off into the rocks when the tide rose. Once that was done, he went looking around for a safe spot for them to camp. The beach was too open so offered none with the sand turning into grass rather than trees. Those were further inland and likely meant the safe places to camp were also in that direction as well.

Rook smiled at Lami. "Grabbing our stuff then heading further in. Got to get camp set up before we do anything else. No point in gathering coral if we don't even know where we are laying our heads that night."

It was an old trick he had picked up from his mom' people in the steppe. Camp came first then hunting. Doing it the other way around just made everything worse or could even kill you if the circumstances lined up right.

Lamirose

 

[Lamirose]

Lami followed Rook out of the boat, watching as he pulled it up on to the sand and out of the water. She stayed close behind him as he scanned the island before grabbing their stuff from the boat and moving inland.

She nodded as he explained, and she added another piece of knowledge to her arsenal. It made sense, setting up camp first before hunting or foraging or whatever they called it.

She kept her own eyes open as the pair moved from the sand to the grass, and then into the shade of the trees. It was much cooler in the shade, something Lami appreciated; her pale skin was sensitive to the sun, she had discovered, and she had done so rather the hard way.

She was quiet and watched everything Rook did and would continue to watch him as he set up camp.

Rook

 

[Rook]

Rook had brought supplies for them to camp with, but there would be much to do to have it ready for a few days worth of work. Since he was feeling more energetic than he thought he would by this point thanks to Lami's help, he decided to do it all himself. So in preparation for what he already knew was going to happen he stripped off his shirt till he was bare chested.

Didn't want sweat to soak one of his few shirts with nothing to clean it handy.

His hard worked muscles were tan so had a bit of a golden glow when the sunlight came through the trees and touched up them. Not the dark leathery skin of a perpetually bare and outdoors type but the kind of someone who worked as often shirtless as he did clothed.

The tent was the first to go up. Big enough for two, barely, so that they could share with blankets instead of a bedroll. A few tiny holes in all of them with clear patchwork of being repaired. Once it was up, he moved onto getting them a firepit ready. He grabbed a branch and began to dig. His thick arms popping and stretching showing off every single fiber of muscle held below the skin. Arms that were the size of a skinny person's thigh. Rocks were carried and ringed around the pit he had made. Then logs drug over to act as both table and seat for later.

Rook found his hatchet and went after wood of various sizes. Wood that when he returned with would need to be chopped into the right sizes for the fire. Chopping that made his arms flex and muscles pop even more vigorously than the digging had done.

Lamirose

 

[Lamirose]

Lamirose was about to ask Rook if he needed any help setting up but then he stripped off his shirt and got to work and all thoughts fell out of her head. She stood uselessly off to the side as Rook set up the tent and fire pit, and then marched off into the trees for firewood.

Once he was mostly gone (it was a small island and she could see flickers of his gleaming tan skin through the trees and hear him grunting as he cut), she slowly lowered herself onto one of the logs he had pulled towards the pit as a bench. The sun was higher up in the sky and Lami felt particularly hot. She had also not been in her Kivren form in a while.

After a while, Rook returned with an armful of wood, which he began to chop into smaller pieces. Lami swallowed hard as she watched. Suddenly she stood up, clearing her throat.

"Well, um, if you don't need my help for anything, I'm a bit hot, so I'm going to go for a swim," she said, forcing her voice to be as even as possible.

Rook

 

[Rook]

The wood was nearly ready to go. Most of what he had gathered chopped and slit into the right sized chunks for the pit he had made. It wouldn't take that long to finish when Lami suddenly said she was hot and going for a swim. Her voice sounded odd as she did like she was trying to hold something back. Could she be feeling sick after getting them here?

Rook frowned at the thought of that. He stopped what he was doing immediately. It was nearly done and could be finished later after all. He took off his boots and pants leaving him in only his socks, gloves, and boxers as he said, "I'll join you. Sounds like fun."

The young man wanted to keep an eye on Lami just in case she was feeling sick. She might need help. What if she suddenly got tired and started to drown? He would need to be there to bring her back to shore and do some of those things he had been taught by sailors to save her.

Lamirose

 

[Lamirose]

Lami was just about to shed the outer layer of her dress when Rook straightened up and decided to strip down. She blinked at him. He looked rather like a fool with his socks and gloves still on, but that did not make it any easier for Lami to hide the flush that crept across her pale skin.

She meant to say "alright" but her voice didn't seem to be working so she just shut her mouth and nodded instead. She faced the ocean and shed the outer layer of her dress. She paused a moment before dropping the under layer as well, leaving her just in undergarments. She was glad she had let Miz'ri and Giibi plan her outfit. She still did not entirely understand why landers needed so many layers of clothes, but she was glad for it now.

She waded into the water up to her hips and then dove under headfirst. She swam deeper and deeper, the cool salt water like a balm for her nerves. She shifted to her Kivren form, pretending like the change wasn't painful. When her legs had molded into a tail a bit of relief washed over her and for a minute she floated just above the rocky bottom, her eyes shut, her dark hair fanned out around her, and she let the current bob her in place under the surface.

After a few moments she opened her eyes and propelled herself to the surface of the water. She could not go out very far- the coral began as it got deeper and she did not particularly care to tear up her tail today. She turned to look for Rook.

Rook

 

[Rook]

The young man followed her out to the water. While she went in without any hesitation, he took a moment to check the beach out. They were here to gather oysters and coral after all and he wondered if the beach might hold some easy pickings. Certainly there was plenty of shells and bits of coral, but also drift wood and debris from the sunken ships. Would be hard to figure out what was what for him given his limited experience handling the stuff.

After a bit of looking around though he realized that she hadn't come up for air in minutes. Far too long in fact. Panic set in and he started to rush out into the waves.

"Lami! Lami!"

His voice didn't hide his panic. He looked for any signs of her as he got chest deep into the water. What was he going to do if something happened to her? A thought that frightened him to his core. But just as he was ready to dive down to look for her, she surfaced. Her scales shining beautifully in the sun.

Right.... She was a kivren....

All the tension in him vanished instantly. He felt hollow, numb, and dumb. Extremely glad nothing had happened all the same, but oh so very dumb right now. His legs relaxed and gave out which left him floating now in the waves. He let it happen and just left himself to the mercy of the sea.

Maybe it would take him away from this embarassment....

Lamirose

 

[Lamirose]

Lami came up from the water with a raised eyebrow. She had heard Rook shouting her name, and from the look on his face, he looked enormously embarrassed that he had forgotten she was a Kivren and could breathe underwater and swim even better than him.

Her tail spun beneath her as she watched Rook try to pretend to be normal again. She swam closer to him.

"You were worried about me," she said softly, a smile on her face. It was not a gloating or amused smile, but rather a sort of bittersweet smile- maybe if Rook wasn't so dense he could see the longing in her smile.

Rook

 

[Rook]

The sky looked really pretty right now. All blue with a few big white clouds idly drifting about in the direction of the wind. Not a care or worry around.

Which was different from the young man floating on his back looking up. He was ready to die from forgetting something as fundamental as the fact Lami was a kivren so of course was perfectly fine underwater. He wouldn't be if he was under for very long and right now would gladly accept that fate. Only silver lining was at least no one other than Lami had witnessed it. Not that it made things that much better.

Rook didn't turn to look at Lami when she spoke to him. He would normally look at her when she did but not this time. He knew he would die looking like a ripe cherry if he did. So instead he focused on the clouds as they judged his savagely.

"I was. Thought you were drowning and was going to try to save you.... Sorry. Forgot you are a daughter of the sea. Just panicked cause I didn't want you to die."

Lamirose