Flashback [Orion Michaels] A Stranger Among Many

[Edreina]

When the water was set before her, Edreina began to stir it with a finger, wondering if her Gnosis would make this water safe to drink as it did to salt water. Not that she questioned its safety, not truly at least. It was just weird for her to consider drinking water that was not directly from the ocean. Just as she was about to try out the water, Orion startled her by moving in close - so close that she could feel the hints of cheek stubble upon her soft cheek; so close that his breath tickled her ear and caused her fiery hair to dance gleefully. "You'd like to meet me after work for a little fun. I can show you around Syliras, and you can fall for me. It'll be something right out of a child's story." A bright blush rose to Edreina's cheeks at his tone on the word 'fun' - if he could not feel the heat at such close proximity... - and brightened as he continued to speak. Just as she was about to blurt and agreement, a man with an affinity for food - by the looks of it - shouted for Orion to return to his duties. Before she could speak, once again Orion was scolding her in a gentle, teasing manner that seemed almost suggestive of... something else. He dashed off to meet the orders of his superior, flashing a cheeky look over his shoulder that did nothing to quell her rising blush. Fun... Edreina considered, stirring her drink now out of habit more than curiosity, Would be quite agreeable. Her decision was punctuated by a small sip of the water. Her nose wrinkled immediately for this water tasted as different as the food she had tasted earlier. Despite her Gnosis, sea-water always had a lively, salty flavor that reminded Edreina of home. This water tasted dead, almost like the earth itself. But it was water, and it would quench her thirst nonetheless. As she sat there, having unconsciously decided to wait for Orion, she sipped the water and settled into the barstool, watching people come and go. Overall, the bar seemed to be rather well kept and maintained; there was little rowdiness beyond that commonly caused by the consumption of any alcohol. As she sat there, something niggled in the back of her mind, tugging for her attention. "...you can fall for me." That was the one part of the suggestion that Edreina did not find to be all together appealing. The fun sounded fun and certainly intriguing, exciting the part of Edreina that constantly hungered for anything new and exciting; being shown about the great fortress-city of Syliras sounded exciting as well, Edreina had always wondered about what lay within the enormous stone walls; but the concept of falling for this land-strider was not something that Edreina could see any sort of attraction to. She had not come to this tavern to fall in love with some land-strider, only learn more about them. No matter what type of fun the two of them were to engage in, Edreina swore to herself that she would be back in her Casinor by morning. As the bar began to empty, Orion did not emerge from the kitchen again. As the crowd grew thinner and thinner, she worried that she had wasted her entire night after this man. Sure, other waiters had come to refill her water, shown a bit of interest... but they were neither as forthcoming nor as puzzling as Orion, they did not draw the red-headed Svefra's attention to greatly. She would figure out by the end of the night what it was about this dark-haired, crystal-eyed land-strider that struck her speechless and set her cheeks aflame.

[Orion Michaels]

His boss could be a slave driver sometimes. While most of the people didn't care what Orion did, this man, well, he couldn't be counted among them. No, he was the bane of Orion's love life. Constantly shutting him down, telling him not to flirt on the clock, making sure that if he was serving, it was to overweight middle aged men. Never women. Never attractive women. The young chef had some talent, he could admit. Never openly, of course. But what he would inform him off was the lack of focus he held. "Orion, if only you could look at food the way you look at women." That was a rich thought. I'd be a fatass like you if I did that. The blue eyed man spent the rest of the evening hard at work, and knowing that beautiful woman was out there, or at least that she was, only made the evening go slower. She was about to answer him when the fat man had ruined it all. No, he didn't actually want her to fall for him. That was too much headache. But maybe, just maybe, she was something more than the shyness. Maybe outside of a crowded tavern she would open up, and they could have some fun. And perhaps a little fun. But for now, he would have to work. For now he would have to dream, let his imagination do the job for him. Would she wait for him out there? Not likely. He wasn't that intriguing a fellow. Just a shameless flirt, nothing more. After what felt like a lifetime, his replacement came in, and Orion didn't have to be told twice it was time to go. "Have a good night, boss." "Whatever." He really knew how to endear himself to his subordinates. Orion tossed his apron off, letting it land where it may, and with renewed vigor, skipped out of the back, a smile on his lips. When he saw her, the smile turned into a full fledged grin. "Miss Whitewave," he shouted, giving her a wave while he walked over. "Couldn't chase me from your thoughts? Or was my offer of fun just too tantalizing?" He stopped by Edreina, beaming down at her. "Let's get out of here. There's gotta be a least a little around here us land lovers can do to impress a lovely lady of the sea like you." He offered her his arm to link with and nodded towards the door. "Or we can just go sit on the docks and you can speak to me of the mysteries of the ocean, if that sounds better. Anywhere but staying here will make me happy, Miss Whitewave."

[Edreina]

OOCWhiterun? Been playing too much Skyrim perhaps? -overlooks- Rising to her feet, Edreina quickly found herself quite close to Orion as approached, having to look down at her despite the only slight difference in height. Something about his presence being so close seemed to inject a whole new kind of bravery into the red-head, pulling a coy smirk up onto her lips as she looked up, meeting the blue eyes through her own thick lashes. Maybe it was the late hour taking effect, or perhaps the time alone, sitting and thinking, had solidified Edreina's decision to have fun tonight, letting this stranger lead her wherever he may. "Well... you land lovers have certainly done one thing to impress me tonight." She eyed him, maintaining the smirk but unable to keep her teeth from finding her lower lip as she considered her actions. At the look in his eyes, she decided that she must tease him about the 'special' once more. "And no, I'm not talking about your stew... soup... thing," her voice was surprisingly not her own as she drug out the last words, teasing him with a small smile, as if there was more to be said about what exactly had impressed her. Stepping closer, she raised a hand and thoughtfully plucked at a spot on his shirt, forcing herself to look away long enough to regather her thoughts. "Though it did seem to make an impression on your shirt..." The words were almost a whisper to herself as she finally managed to brush away the imperfection with a quiet laugh. "As for tonight's... activities... it would be quite lovely to be given a tour of Syliras by one so knowledgeable." Painstakingly, she stepped away and looked up at him once more, this time expectantly, arms crossed behind her back, resting upon her curves in a thoughtful manner. "How about, you show me around and then I regale you with the wonder's of Laviku's realm?" She laughed again, quietly, smiling softly. As odd as the entire series of actions had seemed, she was glad to be finally getting some manner of speech out while in his presence. In the near-silence of her mind, she hoped that she was coming off as more than a first-time-flirt, she hoped that her instincts were enough to get her along until she learned a few tricks of the trade. Did she mean to seduce this man? Perhaps... even she did not know entirely.

[Orion Michaels]

Well wasn't that rich? The lovely redhead was flirting with him. Take out a little bit of the public, put them in a one on one, and suddenly she was Miss Talkative. No complaints from him. He'd thought she was attractive from the moment he caught her walking in. Absolutely gorgeous. But by their interactions, he worried that she was plain. Boring, without personality. Thank the gods he was wrong. The redhead had some fire in her after all. She was transparent as they came though. He smiled as she spoke, mimicing her biting of her lip on his own, just to let her know he was fully aware of what she was doing, whether or not she was. Full pink lips would turn red, seductive, and desirable around where perfectly white teeth applied pressure. "But come now, you know that the meal endeared me to you. A handsome man who is funny, charming, charismatic, and he can cook? Tell me you aren't impressed." He chuckled as she pointed at a stain on his shirt. The life of a cook was hardly a clean one. This shirt had been used, reused, washed, and washed again, and those stains, they would never come out. "Look at you, you little flirt," he accused, taking a few steps around to circle her slowly while she spoke. He had all kinds of ideas of where they could go, and just what kind of activities they could enjoy. The way she emphasized her words would lead him to believe she might just have the same sort of thing in mind. "A flirt and a flatterer, Miss Whitewave? I didn't know you had it in you? I'm sure I can show you a place or two. I'm sure it has nothing on your Suvan Sea though. Someone as lovely as you came from there, where a rugged man like me comes from a walled city. I fear it may hold no splendor for you. I'll do my best, though," he said, fighting a grin the whole while. "Let's get out of here. It's a crazy thought, but i can't bare another moment in this place tonight. Ten bells working here will do that to a guy." Orion walked over to the door, glancing back at her several times to appreciate the view, exaggerating his looks of desire each time. Opening the door, he nodded and motioned out into the corridor. "Shall we?"

[Edreina]

As he circled her, Edreina placed on hand upon her hip, thumb resting upon the sliver of freckled skin that was covered by neither shirt nor pants. Being examined in such a way, Edreina felt a flush rise across her skin and a small, wry smile part her lips. She felt his eyes appreciating her lean curves, and for the first time she was not bothered by it. When usually she found a man's eyes on her body, Edreina would do her best to make it seem unappealing through posture and, when they approached, she would usually begin to speak Fratava to them until they went away. The memory of it brought a different kind of smile to Edreina's face, one of genuine mirth as she fought a laugh. As he made his way over to the door, Edreina followed, moving in a slow, languorous manner that heightened the natural movement of hips. Desire darkened the sapphire blue eyes so visibly that each time Orion looked back at her, Edreina nearly faltered under the heat of it, feeling her skin warm... everywhere. "Shall we?" Walking past him, Edreina could almost feel the tense energy that surrounded him, crackling as they were in close proximity. Stepping out into the corridor, Edreina stopped only feet away, hands on her hips as she appreciated the moment. In the belly of Syliras... accompanied by a handsome man... What could be better? Smiling to herself, chewing upon her lip, the young, red-maned Svefra was pulled between two thoughts: one that wondered what she would be shown by the blue eyed mystery, and one that wondered what Orion would show her. Blushing at her thoughts strayed, Edreina looked over her shoulder, eyes lightly lidded and inviting. "Where to?" The question was mean to be open ended, so that they would venture wherever Orion pleased. If he seemed more intent upon showing her the whole of Syliras, keeping her waiting for too long... there were always alleys and dark corners in this fortress-city. The thought made Edreina blush all the brighter. What's come over me? Though it was not entirely unpleasant, it was strange all the same.

[Orion Michaels]

Where to? That was the million gold question. For as much shyke as Orion talked, there really wasn't that much to show off in the city. Taverns, bars, a church, memorial sites, and a gambling hall. Pick wrong, give the girl a boring time, and he'd have a lonely night for sure. Pick right, and well, probably a lonely night, too. He didn't really know how wild the Svefra could be. "Do you fancy yourself an upscale girl? You happened to pick the common folks bar, but the White Swan? Now that place is fancy. Tables all about, expensive and exotic foods with absolutely absurd amounts of food. Of course, it has prices appropriate to such a locale." Orion walked along side Ederina, tossing occasional glances at her, chuckling as she returned flirt with flirt. If nothing else, they were both going to be entertained, even if it turned out to be nothing more than a game played together. Perhaps she would be so wowed by the wonders of the city that the actual plainness it held would be overlooked. He couldn't imagine that a life at sea would could compare to living in a castle city. The same could be said for the reverse. "How about Kova's Well? I've heard that if you toss in a coin, it might grant your wish. I think that's where we'll go, if I don't hear any complaints from you, pretty lady. But after this, it's your turn to show me something or tell me something, okay?" If she was amiable to the suggestion, Orion would lead her onward to their destination. It was a bit of a trek, moving from the first part of the city, just inside the main gates, all the way across the the Jordan District. There would be plenty of time for talking, teasing, and more importantly, flirting. Orion got a few steps ahead of Edriena and turned so he was walking backwards. "It will take some time for us to get there, so you'll have plenty of a chance to try and seduce me. Try and bat your eyelashes a little more when you speak, offer up a little more of your midriff, and walk with a tad more sway and I think I might melt in your hands." He raises his eyebrows in challenge, mouth partly open in a half grin. If she wanted to woo him, she could at least do it right. He wouldn't make it hard, that was for sure.

[Edreina]

"Do you fancy yourself an upscale girl? You happened to pick the common folks bar, but the White Swan? Now that place is fancy. Tables all about, expensive and exotic foods with absolutely absurd amounts of food. Of course, it has prices appropriate to such a locale." At this, Edreina had to fight the overwhelming urge to laugh. "Me? Upscale? Mr. Michaels... Do I look at all upscale to you?" Edreina spun on one foot between steps, arms out as if offering herself to be judged. When she stopped, she was facing her companion once again. "I mean really, if this," she motioned to her hodgepodge wardrobe, "is how the elite of Syliras dresses themselves, I would hate to see how the poor are clothed!" As they walked, Edreina often caught herself staring at the man in her company, admiring little details every once in awhile from his wonderfully precise bone structure to those piercing, blue eyes. Whenever she was caught looking, she would blush and feel a shy smile punctuate her features. But, luckily, Orion seemed to glow from within whenever he noticed her looks and would treat her with a look that warmed her skin. Each time, oddly enough, Edreina felt herself responding on instinct. "How about Kova's Well? I've heard that if you toss in a coin, it might grant your wish. I think that's where we'll go, if I don't hear any complaints from you, pretty lady." A wishing well? Edreina had heard of their magics in stories told about campfires. "That actually sounds rather wonderful!" Edreina could not hide her excitement, allowing it to manifest in her voice and a grand smile. Already, her mind was whirling about the possibilities for which she could wish, running through each possible scenario with growing glee. "But after this, it's your turn to show me something or tell me something, okay?" This, Edreina pondered. What could she offer to a man of the city? The Svefra knew only of Laviku's domain, the expansive sea. "Have you ever seen Syliras from a boat, beneath the light of Leth's gaze? It is... oddly poetic." She offered this with a shrug, suddenly self-conscious. When a man can have anything, what should you offer? "Or," she began, looking down at her feet as she walked, chewing on her lip as the thought formed languorously, "I could show you what the moon looks like, away from shore... reflected off of the calm, still water that lies only a short ways out?" Edreina blushed at this offering's simplicity but felt a certain rightness about it. Knowing only the sea, Edreina knew of its beauties and wonders. Perhaps that was the one thing she could offer this land-strider. "It will take some time for us to get there, so you'll have plenty of a chance to try and seduce me. Try and bat your eyelashes a little more when you speak, offer up a little more of your midriff, and walk with a tad more sway and I think I might melt in your hands." Orion's suggestions were so blunt that Edreina literally tripped over them, nearly becoming familiar with the sidewalk despite how closely she had been watching her own feet. Looking up, aghast, Edreina saw that Orion was not teasing her but actually offering advice on how to seduce him. Looking at her with his - rather adorable -challenging grin, Edreina was suddenly given the courage to consider such. Arching an eyebrow, Edreina first attended to her wardrobe, adjusting her wide-necked top so that it was a little bit lower in the back and, thereby, a little higher in front, showing all of her freckled navel. With that set, she took the hip-band of her pants between her fingers - looking up at Orion through her lashes, her lower lip locked gently between her teeth - and folded it over neatly so that the tops of her lean hip bones met the moonlight. Next she worked to improve her walk. On land, Edreina was naturally ungainly, all legs and arms as she fought the urge to walk as she did on a boat since there was no need to be light on her feet, the ground here was going nowhere. Letting go of the stiffness that being away from the water naturally forced into her limbs, Edreina settled into a more natural gait. Her steps became longer and slower; as she walked, she shifted down from the balls of her feet to pad along heel-toe, heel-toe. All of this brought out the natural sway in her hips, one rising as the other fell in a movement so fluid she seemed to be more representing of her realm with this walk. Tilting her head, Edriena tried to limit the motions of her upper body to a slight extent so that her hips were more exaggerated, roiling up into her lean midsection in a way that Edreina found to be pleasing to the eye. Smiling shyly, hoping to all of the gods that she did not look too ridiculous, Edreina looked up at Orion through her lashes once more. "Better?" she asked, blinking once, slowly. She felt that blinking constantly would only make her look foolish, so one was more than enough to her.

[Orion Michaels]

"Oh, I could see you being plenty fancy, Miss Whitewave. Sure, you're right about the clothes," he said, admiring her curves appreciatively as she pirouetted to make her point. "But I don't feel like it would take much to get you in a nice dress and have you fighting men off with a stick." Edriena seemed to be warming up to him more and more, and he couldn't deny doing the same to her. She took each of his quips and remark as they were meant to be taken. With a sense of humor. Her deep ocean blue eyes kept meeting his and he'd raise his eyebrows, stick out his tongue, or bit his lip, something ridiculous and over the top every time. It was sort of ridiculous, almost juvenile, but truth be told, she was likely several years his junior. Perhaps he would find out, if he could keep his eyes off of lips she couldn't seem to keep her teeth off of. "Kova's Well should carry quite a story, don't you think? What with the Valterrian and all? Do you know much about that whole story? It's pretty crazy to think that it hasn't been all that long since it." Orion wasn't much of a storyteller, but if she hadn't been told about it, he was ready to impress with a, well, less than impressive recount of the origin of the world they all knew. "If nothing else, people say they have visions or memories brought to them by tossing a coin in. Maybe we can give it a try?" As Reina began to speak, for once, Orion fell silent. Her speech, once empowered, became shy, reserved, dainty, like every word she shared regarding Laviku's realm was sacred and personal. It truly felt like she was sharing with him a private gift, giving him a glimpse of what it meant to be Svefra. She spoke of it so reverently, and it actually made Orion want to learn more. "I...," he began, turning away to hide the slight flush she'd managed to bring from his cheeks. Pull yourself together, Orion.. Swallowing, he gathered himself and continued. "I'd be honored to share that view with you, Miss Whitewave." Needless to say, her reaction to his next speech was unexpected. She took him literally and put on a show; one that he wasn't going to complain about. He audibly gulped as she exposed her abs, pointed hips, and navel, giving him a simply irresistible look. Wow...She really hides herself well.. He never would have guessed this was in her from the way that only a few bells ago she was tongue tied every time he spoke. His mouth dried as she went through her entire routine, concluding with a tempting look and a question. "You're something else, Edriena. It was perfect." He laughed and shook his head, before looking at her again with that same challenging expression. "...I'll race you, to Kova's well. Winner decides the prize!" He didn't give the young Svefra a chance to answer before he turned on his heel and took off down the corridor. It was an easy victory, he figured. She didn't know where she was going. Would she actually play along with his stupid game?

[Edreina]

"...I'll race you, to Kova's well. Winner decides the prize!" Wait... Race? Edreina's eyes widened as her companion shifted quickly from a walk to a sprint. Afraid of losing him and then becoming lost herself within this hulking, fortress city, Edreina had no choice but to do the one thing she feared more than any tempest: run on dry land. She was ungainly, uncoordinated, and likely to trip. But, that did not stop her. Laughing - partially due to nerves - Edreina settled into a long lope instead of a run, afraid that any quicker a clip would send her sprawling across the paving. As they ran, Edreina slowly catching up on Orion, she felt her smile growing. Despite all of his talk, he was taking it easy on her. After a bit, she managed to catch up, long, flying steps keeping her on pace with his jog. Looking at his pace and then her awkward one, she could not help but laugh, bumping into Orion lightly. "Sir, that was quite unfair!" She called above the rushing wind. "How should I be expected to do anything other than lose when I haven't the faintest idea of where we are going?" Her breathing was calm and even, proof of her swimmer's physique. "If I get lost... it will be your job to find me!" She quickened her pace ever so slightly, just enough for her to get ahead of him but not so far that she would not notice him turning off on a side path. All the while, Edreina was humming a random tune with the mental words, "Just don't trip!" repeated over and over to the beat of her steps. If she were to fall, she could only hope that it would be at least mildly graceful.

[Orion Michaels]

He was by no means a runner. Could he have been? Maybe. A tall, lean frame with long legs. Really, if there was one physical activity he was built to do, that would be it. He would never be exceptionally powerful. If he put his mind to it, though, he had a runner's frame. All of those ales and sampling the food in the kitchen didn't do much to help his case, however natural of a body type he had. Still, he had the advantage, so he didn't run at full speed. After all, it seemed that a Svefra trying to run on land could be the brunt of many a jokes. "Come on, Miss Whitewave. You don't want to deal with the horrible things I'll request should I win!" He shouted back at her, nearly stumbling and falling as she gave him a gentle shove. "How am I supposed to find you if I'm face down on the stone!" He laughed, slowing slightly to let her get in front. "Nice view," he remarked. That he could be so forward, absurdly so, and not chase her off meant something, that was sure enough. He just wasn't quite sure what yet. Regardless, his point stood. He'd never met a Svefra who didn't have an athletic and shapely body. Swimming in the sea would do that for one. Orion's heart was racing, his feet pounding against the ground. A slight perspiration was barely noticeable as he jogged. It wasn't something he did often at all. Gods I hope I don't pull a muscle.. With the beautiful Miss Whitewave as his guide, he would persevere. They were quite close to the well at this point, and she still stayed before him, occasionally peeking back to make sure that Orion hadn't ditched her. The two were rapidly approaching a fork in the corridor, and the blue eyed man shouted an instruction to his companion. "Turn right!" It was just down the right turn where it would open up into the clearing around Kova's well. Though it was quite possible she would think him lying...either way, he slowed his pace up just a bit. He wanted to see just what this girl would claim as her prize.