Flashback Almost is the Worst (Ina)

[Orion Michaels]

He wouldn't ask to be taught in any other manner. Skin against skin. Flesh against flesh. A cool sea breeze. Well, maybe that last bit wasn't totally nessecary. It did, however, come with the package, so no one would hear Orion Michaels complaining about anything. Orion forced himself to turn his attention to her words as she explained the basics of balancing on a boat. While normally he would disagree with her statement that it couldn't be taught, now didn't quite seem the time. He was, after all, resisting the urge to jump her here and now. Would it really do anything for the mood to get into discussions on learning? Each swell, each wave, each time the boat glided over a crest, it nearly spelled doom for the blue eyed man. And yet, as always, she made it seem so easy. Her grace hid itself quite well on the land, but out here, away from the ground he knew so well, that lack of grace blossomed into something amazing. He'd never have guessed what a world of difference it would be. "Oh, is that all? Just keep on the balls of your feet. No big deal." He followed her every guidance, though reality was far different than the words she had given him in instruction. Every time he went to move, the deck seemed to shift before him, causing him to move in awkward lurches and lunges across the Goldengrotto until they reached their destination. Smiling sheepishly at Edreina's compliment, he turned his gaze from his feet, where'd they'd been mostly fixated, up to the freckled face of his companion. "If that's good, I'd hate to see bad. Yes, onto the swimming! I can at least stay mostly afloat. I figure that's a good first step." Glancing over the edge, Orion looked down into the deep waters once again. Oooh boy. Here we go again..

[Edreina]

"Yes," Edreina said with a laugh, rolling her eyes, "Knowing how to float would be a wonderful idea." Smiling brightly, she turned and ran over to the edge of the boat, bringing her arms up and her ankles together so that her dive sent her far below the water's churning surface, into the salty, murky blue. It was times like this that Edreina wished she could breathe under water, that she could just enter the water one day and never return. Everything around her was in constant motion, changing and whirling and just living in ways that the land never could. Wind had nothing on the tides; every winged and hooved and pawed creature of the earth had nothing on the finned ones of the Suvan. Eventually, she surfaced with a gasp and began paddling back towards the boat. Once there, she pulled herself up onto the railing resting her chin on her crossed arms so that most of her body was out of the water. The position would get tiring if she held it for too long, but at that moment it suited the Svefra's purpose. With wet, flame-red hair cascading down past her rear, strands resting upon her lips and cheek, framing her silver-blue eyes, Edreina appeared to be one of the deep-sea-sirens that drunken sailors were always ranting about. Her blue eyes sparkled enticingly, speaking of endless mischief and adventure. "Gonna join me, or not?" When finally he did, Edreina would show off a bit, disappearing beneath the water to reappear a moment later behind him, hands dancing down his back before she flitted away again. This would go on for a bell or two until Edreina finally came up, gasping with laughter at Orion's reaction to her teasing. He should have seen it coming, really. After a night of being teased, Edreina would miss no opportunity now that he was in her element. Sadly - not really -her teasing had had an unexpected effect. Swimming was by far the furthest thing from Edreina's mind as she locked blue gazes, and her smile changed, becoming an entirely different being. It was small, soft, and enticing. "Sure you want to learn how to swim? You might be safer on deck after the fall you took last night..." Her voice was low, unmistakably playful, and absolutely oozing innuendo.

[Orion Michaels]

And just like that, she was off, leaving the cook alone and unstable on the deck. The accented splashed only reinforced his doom. She'd left him her to die. It was that simple. She had to test him and make sure that he wasn't messing with her. Now she could leave him out here while she laughed all the way to Syliras. He would die, she could claim his possessions. He'd been duped by a pretty Svefra and those endless blue eyes. How pathetic. How pathetic Orion was, that is. The redheaded woman resurfaced, making the cook feel a fool. Perhaps a bit of paranoia, Orion. Orion began to stagger over to the Svefra, not yet a master of the giving and taking of the sea's motions. Perhaps he was best suited for the land after all. Only those freckles and curves kept him on the boat, but she beckoned that he no longer remain, and he wasn't about to ignore that offer. Awkward step after awkward step he approached, finally reaching the railing, and by some miracle he didn't find himself face to face with the deck again. "I thought you'd never ask," he replied, resting against the the railing and looking down at the beautiful woman. How exactly he was going to join her was a whole 'nother issue. After quickly removing his clothing, a quizzical look grew upon his features. "How exactly do I..? Orion scowled at the wooded rail before trying to put a leg over it. This ended as expected, but at least Orion got in the water. "Shyyyyke" Splash! Orion found himself in the sea, face first, flailing wildly in the liquid as he pulled himself to the surface, legs kicking to propel himself back up. Once he was above the waters, Edreina began her game. Her ability to move so swiftly in the waters left him helpless as he tried to maneuver and catch her. Hopelessly he grabbed for the woman, her swift movements allowing her to elude his attempts. It didn't help that he could hardly stay afloat himself. All of that was forgotten when she locked eyes with him. A slight red tinge came to his cheeks as she spoke, causing Orion to lean forward to close the distance between them. "Because I'm excellent with that deck, huh." He reached a hand out to cup the back of her neck, pulling her in for another deep kiss, one that was only broken when he found himself sinking once again. Coughing and sputtering, he resurfaced, grinning sheeplishly at Edreina. "I might die if I don't get those lessons, Ina." He pulled her close again, partially to stop him from having to unwillingly taste sea water again, but partially to bring his lips that much closer. "And Ina," he whispered. "Don't be gentle."

[Edreina]

His words were automatically accepted with a nod, and Edreina took on a teaching air, as she had done countless time when taking her turn with the youngsters of her pod. "The first thing you outta do is stay away from others, maintain control and use of all of your limbs. And then, get as much out of each stroke as you can. When you're at sea, you need to always be at your best." Without taking her eyes off of the cook, the Svefra waded out a few feed, arms moving back and forth ever so slowly, legs doing the same. Despite how gentle and unhurried her motions were, she stayed afloat because each stroke was wide and efficient. "The only time you swim fast is when there is a shark and blood in the water or you're racing someone. Otherwise, you make each stroke slow, powerful. Even a tick of respite as one arm pulls and the other moved forward is enough to save large amounts of... energy." The speech came out slow, precise, a bit hesitant as she spoke long-forgotten Common words, but confident. For a moment, she chewed on her lip. It was odd that she would have to start from scratch here. At least on the Anchorage children were raised around water and knew the next point she decided to make. "I know it will be hard but try to keep your breathing even. The less control you have over your breath the more likely it is you'll end up inhaling water and panicking. Oh and if you go under water, keep air behind your nose, it will keep water from sneaking in." She smiled playfully at him, eyes a lighter blue than the water she was immersed in. The only way she could have appeared to be more at home would have been if she were graced with a fish's gills. Then she would likely dive into the sea and never return, making her home with the Otani far below. Her eyes nearly seemed mischievous as she made an errant motion with her hand and asked that he swim over. The command was made mainly to see how much he knew of swimming, that way she could correct him and aid him. But, the Svefra was a fickle creature and her rear - and her pride - still hurt from their botched race the night before. Now was the time for payback.

[Orion Michaels]

She made it all sound so simple. He was a man of Syliras, the walled city. To talk to him like it was so plain to just move about the water. It was just as easy for him to do that as it was for her to take a corner in the corridors of Syliras. But he'd asked for these lessons, so he'd have to make every efforts. So first step, wide, slow strokes. Wide slow strokes. That wasn't too hard, right? "Alright..." Orion moved his arms about slowly, kicking his legs as well to stay afloat as he prepared himself to close the distance between them. He leaned his body forward and brought his right arm over his head, slamming it forcefully into the water before him, repeating the same with this left. Water splashed high into the air as he ineffectively propelled himself forward towards the Svefra. His only added to the maelstrom by kicking his legs viciously through the salty liquid. A simple task, majestically performed. Slowly did Orion advance towards Edreina, creating wave after wave, wasting valuable energy as he fought through the relatively calm waters. He tried to keep his head above the water, refusing to put his face down, only adding to the horrible form he displayed. Just like his balance on the ship's deck, Orion was simply a paragon of gracefulness, as natural in the water as snow in the heat of a hot Summer's day. Orion tried to nod in reply to her next instruction, which of course only lead to him putting his face in the water, inhaling a rather large amount of seawater. His eyes bulged and his clawed his way desperately to the top of the waves. Coughing and sputtering, Orion did everything he could to keep himself above the deadly waters, trying not to disappear beneath the depths. Oh gods. This is where I die. I could have just taken her offer to petch and called it good. Instead, tempted by the thought of a soaked redhead in the waters with me...curse you, Orion. You've killed yourself. "Help. Help. Helphelphelp." He didn't care about his image right here, he didn't care about what she thought of him. He was going to go when a woman he pissed off stabbed him, that much was decided. The sea would just have to deal with it.

[Edreina]

oocNew template... Thought I would try it out.

It was inevitable, Edreina supposed. The moment Orion's head went in to the water and she heard that familiar sound of someone attempting to inhale the Suvan, she swam forward and slid her arms under his, squeezing lightly to make sure that he knew she was there so that she could lean back and paddle backwards with her legs. Despite the fact that it put her head underwater, the Svefra focused on her pupil, keeping him above the waves as she let energy roll from her body, starting at her hips and ending in her toes. When they reached the boat, she went upright once again, keeping one arm carefully wrapped around his chest as she reached up to grab the side of the ship.

Once her hand was clutching the familiar wood, she guided him over, waiting until his hands were on the railing before pulling herself lithely from the water. Once on deck, the Svefra extended a slim, calloused hand so that she could help Orion into the ship.

"Alright... Now lay down on your stomach. It'll help get the water out of your lungs. Otherwise, you'll have a nasty cough for a couple of bells." If Orion attempted to play tough guy, she would pull him ground, making full use of his lacking sea legs, and straddle him. Once sitting on his lower back, she would remain there until she was satisfied with the emptiness of his lungs.

If, however, he decided to do as she told, she would lay on her back beside him so that he had company. By the time he coughed up all the water that time, Edreina's honey-toned skin would be dry and utterly glowing beneath Syna's rays, her red hair spilled out around her like the bloodied roots of some unknown plant. Later that day she would decide to use her comb to get all of the tangles out. But, in that moment, she was at peace, bathed in the glory of Laviku and the radiance of Syna.

In either case, she would pat Orion on the shoulder and tease that that was quite enough swimming for him for one day. But, she wondered silently, what will the rest of the day hold?

[Orion Michaels]

Orion could have kissed her at that moment, if not for the whole drowning thing. The nerves went away when he felt her arms wrap around him, supporting him in the dangerous waters of Laviku's domain. When she adjusted in the liquid to be able to kick them through the waves, Orion tried to do the same, though he'd probably only make things worse. Long, slim legs pushed through the water as he did his part to get him back to the boat, coughing and sputtering the entire way. He couldn't get onto the deck quick enough, and with the Svefra woman's help, he wouldn't waste any time. His feet slipped against the side of the boat as he couldn't have made it aboard without her aid. He was so far out of his element, and he'd rarely been that fearful before. His entire persona would be shattered, he was sure, and that didn't quite sit well with him. He tried to get up and walk it off, get himself centered and under control. It didn't sit well with the redhead's command, however, and she wouldn't have any of it. It didn't take much pressure from her to send the dazed and weary cook falling to the deck again. He wanted to fight back, but when she took a seat on his lower back, he knew he was defeated. Having their skin so unbearably close didn't exactly make him want to move though. He lay on his stomach, coughing and spitting up the sea water for what felt like an eternity. His throat was raw and it felt like all the energy had been sapped from every bit of his body. He felt pathetic. After a certain point, it seemed to Orion that she'd realized he was no longer a threat, joining him on the deck. She was simply stunning in that moment, and a dried out mouth somehow go more so. It didn't help at all when the teasing started. "I'm not sure what you're talking about," he replied quietly, his voice quite sore from the salty watered he'd ingested. "I'm fairly certain that I put on a perfect display of swimming form. There's no need to be so intimidated." Orion rolled over on his side and then over on top of the woman beside him. A mischievous grin touched his lips despite his drained appearance. "Truthfully, I don't know how you've managed to resist me after I've show all these natural talents."

[Edreina]

OOCAaaaannnnd anothe box code! Sorry graders! A surprised, and thrilled, gasp escaped Edreina's lips as she found herself pinned beneath the still dripping Orion. Part of her screamed that he should be still and focused on his breathing, but that part was quickly told to shut the petch up. "It's been very difficult..." she breathed, smiling slightly. Her hands slid from where they had rested at her sides, to his chest. Soft, gentle fingertips trailed up his chest. One stopped to loop around his neck and slip into his hair, the other continued upwards, until a single digit's tip traced the curve of his lower lip. A huskier tone entered her voice as she reiterated, "So difficult..."

In an instant, a mischievous glint entered her eyes. While her finger continued its tracing, slow, monotonous motions sensitizing the man's lip ever so slightly, her own lower lip was caught between her teeth. "You've already worked so hard today... It would not be right for me to make you do all of the work..." Her hips rose and fell gently, speed and control betraying the condition of her hard-earned body. "Or any work at all..." Images flashed behind her eyes, adding to the seductive glint that fueled the dancing color of the blue orbs.

(c) Wanda Endust

[Orion Michaels]

Orion needed no further invitation from the Svefra woman. There was nothing left to say, no more teasing, no more sultry words. It was the culmination of what felt an eternity of waiting, though the reality of the matter was the passing of a single day. Still, the lust that burned between these two strangers couldn't be stopped. Not by an unstable misstep, not by a trip into the sea. Welcome shivers ran though his bones as Edreina traced her fingers along his spine. His breaths became more shallow as his face flushed with desire, blue eyes again meeting blue, two different worlds preparing to intertwine in tangled passion. The young man leaned forward, closing the distance between them, pressing his lips against hers to silence her teasing. It didn't matter who was in charge, who was doing the work. He had to have her. One hand supported his weight while the other traced up her side, smooth fingers searching out every inch, every curve of her body while their nude forms met one another. If only he had a dozen hands, he would explore every part of her as quickly as he could. Breaking off the kiss, Orion paused a moment in his adventure to stare deep into her eyes once more. The Svefra had a mesmerizing gaze, one he'd ne'er grow weary of. It was like he could see the very depths of the ocean itself, and the pressing of her hips against his coupled with the swaying of her hips only increased the immersion more. Almost desperate in his movements, one of his hands sought out the redhead's hair, pulling it back to expose her neck to his wants. Puffy pink lips brushed against the skin just beneath her jaw line, and the young man would occasionally accentuate his movements by gently nipping at her neck with nibbling bites. At the same time he positioned himself so he was straddling Edreina properly, leaving his other hand free to journey forth. Skilled fingers searched her body, sliding up her hip and side before finding her breast. His hand enveloped her flesh, squeezing and pinching as he continued to taste her skin with each kiss. Occasionally Orion would have to stop what he was doing so he could once more return to her face, but each visit was short lived as he physical needs dominated his visual ones. The thirst he held for her was unquenchable, but search to satisfied that need would be his only goal. ”Make me work,” he commanded in a forced whisper before sliding his body down hers and planting his lips against her chest. Why had he met so few Svefra in the past? Were they all like this one? Could they all drive him mad with a sideways glance? If they spent but a night together in a heap of twisted bodies, sweat, and salt water, it would all be worth it.

[Edreina]

As quickly as last night's antics had ended, this day's began. Lips starved by circumstance found one another and quickly the heat between them grew, amplified, and became all consuming. All she felt was the press of their bodies and the crush of their lips as they met and the dance of their tongues as they explored.

Until he decided to go and break the kiss.

Left wanting, the young woman let out a small sound of displeasure, lower lip jutting for an instant before it was captured by her teeth. The sight before laced her blood with the intoxication of endorphines, catching her breath and holding it in her chest for a tick. The way he stared into her eyes, she felt his desire lance down into her core and take root, exacerbating her own. Her hands shifted from where they had come to rest on the back of his neck to trace his jaw line ever so delicately.

And then they were lost again so quickly that, as her head was being pulled back, Edreina gasped so softly. His teeth on her throat caused a sharp breath to slide between her teeth and he felt her hips tense on instinct, pressing closer to his in a silent voice to her need. A tremble of anticipation raced along her frame as he adjusted himself over her, ending with the curling of her toes. "Ah!" Her head tilted back further as his hands found her chest, lips parting and hands dropping to the deck as her back arched.

”Make me work.”

The command sent a trill of excitement racing through her veins. Something long thought tamed woke in the Svefra and a new light entered her dancing blue eyes. Smirking wickedly, she rolled onto her sides and pulled her legs out from beneath him. In the same movement, she planted her feet on either side of him and then moved to kneel against him. The parting of her legs met the front of her hips as she supported herself on her knees, rising just a bit higher than him.

"Make your work... Hm?" Delicate fingers trailed down his chest stopping to rest tortuously upon his hips. Despite the fact that he cooked, and ate, for a living, there was a subtle strength corded beneath his skin that she found to be tantalizing. It was not so ubiquitous that she feared being snapped in half while in the throes of passion nor so well hidden that she doubted his ability to last for more than a minute, so she was intrigued. She found herself wanting to test his limits. The heat of their cores was so tantalizingly close, she felt the aching in her own redouble at the sensation. She was hovering over him now, hair like a shimmering curtain on either side of them so that her blue eyes danced in a playful half light. With a curve of her hips, he would feel her slick readiness, and then no more. She was testing his resolve, teasing him, and herself more so. A need and desire coursed through her veins, tainting her thought pattern. Had she a more level mind, she would try to seduce him. But, her mind was as or more clouded than his.

"And how do you expect I do that, Mister Michaels?" Her lip found itself caught between her teeth once again. It felt silly to use the title of "Mister" with any one but, that sort of added to the excitement of it. Having never called someone that before, using such a title in this sort of situation-

Their eyes met again and, with a quiet sound of wanting, her hands left his hips and moved to knot in his hair, urging them close so that she could kiss him again, lips warm and strong and determined against his. Her lust was quickly getting out of hand. Without leaving his hair, her lips left his and she fell upon his throat, teeth finding purchase far more often than her lips. Every time she found somewhere that caused him to react pleasurably, she made a mental note of it and reminded herself to return there later. How had making him work turned into her having to work to maintain control of herself?

(c) Wanda Endust