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