What Starts on Two Legs, Loses to Four [Jaye]

[Atoll Northwind]

6th of Summer, 514AV

Syna had just risen. Already she was bearing down hard on the people of Riverfall but the air wasn't heated just yet. It was pleasing to not have to see waves of heat distorting the ground or the waters. There was an abundance of people out as well, working to avoid the Syna’s rays as much as possible by finishing tasks early. That had been Atoll’s plan as well. He had gotten up in order to go fishing but the plan had changed. He'd left the docks in favor of the beach, taking the morning to enjoying the sand not burning his bare feet. His mind was on nothing in particular, drifting from thought to thought while he meandered up the shore.

He'd felt like he was forgetting something but for the life of him couldn't think of what. The Svefra vaguely remembered making plans but damned if he kept track of his plans. It was hard to make plans when he was never sure of when he'd be docked. Some days he was supposed to be inland but found himself gazing out at the open Middle Seas. It made getting supplies a pain in the ass but he never did like the idea of something anchoring him somewhere.

The thoughts were broken by a vaguely familiar shape and a sharp pain extending from his toe then up. It was like a slap to the face. Sudden, stinging and ending with him cursing. "Fish guts!" The Svefra shook his foot to get rid of the last of the throb and keep pressure off for a tick, what it did was swirl sand up into his eye. Blinking it out he found the attacker was nothing more than a sharp stone. Gently he toed it into the water so no other unfortunate would step on it. Atoll's gaze then traveled upwards and he recalled what he had forgotten. Got to buy another net. Laviku, how do I keep ruinin’ those damned things? A few feet away was non other than his original net ruiner, he smirked and chuckled to himself, Not all my fault, though.

"Oi! If it isn't my favorite swimmer!"

It was less of a greeting and more of a teasing. He still didn't understand much about Jaye or really what she was but it didn't bother him. She'd tell him in good time or he'd figure it for himself. As it was he dubbed it some kind of godly magic and left it at that. Atoll quickened his pace to head her off, kicking some water her way as he got closer. When he reached her he moved in for a brief hug, squeezing her arm when finished and falling in line with her pace.

"Out for the morning', lass? Didn't think ya'd be near water much after..." He trailed off with a little shrug, "But it's good to see ya. Visit was cut short before, aye?"

He was referring to the party of sorts at the beginning of the season where they had separated abruptly as their first meeting. A glance around her told him that Natalia wasn't anywhere near either. The two woman had seemed close but he guessed they wouldn't be together the whole time. Waiting for Jaye to reply he was content to walk in silent companionship for a few ticks while the day grew warmer.

[Jaye]

The days had passed by in a hazy blur of activity that left Jaye as she was now, wandering the beach lethargically the salty pre-Syna wind leaving small droplets to collect across her face. Most mornings now she had spent wondering the docks hoping to spot the Svefra who had saved her and whom she had seen only momentarily at the parade. It was ironic that the first morning all Summer she had not wondered "innocently" down to the docks was the morning she would meet the young sailor.

Synas rays were only just beginning to peek over the horizon and Leths opalescent eye still hung faintly above her. The sky was the colour of the berries and fruit that adorned the stalls of the market behind her house making Jayes mouth water as she imagined the luscious fruit giving way between her teeth.

Her eyes flitted over the smooth sea of water wondering at the apparent need and desire of the Svefra to roam its inky loneliness. The Sea of Grass was full of noise, colour and family. He doesn't know what he is missing.... She decided smirking to herself as she remembered home. As much as she loved it in Riverfall, it could never replace home.

"Oi! If it isn't my favorite swimmer!" His greeting rang out through the still smothering air. The sound of his voice touched her cheeks with a pink paintbrush. Halting, she watched him trod toward her, long legs eating the distance between them with steady strides. As the water from him foot danced over her clothes she giggled raising her arms in self defence. Kicking water playfully back at him Jaye dashed from the ocean and away from revenge.

Heading her off and forcing her to stop, pinning her against the ocean. Awkwardly Jaye hugged Atoll in return her heart hammering against her ribcage as his arms encircled her. She could feel the remnants of where his arms had touched hers just as she could feel the remnants of heat when sitting too close to a Drykas bonfire. Struggling not to stutter she muttered a quick hello watching his hand linger on her arm.

"Out for the morning', lass? Didn't think ya'd be near water much after... But it's good to see ya. Visit was cut short before, aye?"

"Y-yes...Oh yes. It's intriguing, at least watching it from the safety of the beach is. It's good to see you too, I didn't expect you to be at port for so long...How have you been since the parade? I mean, I haven't seen you on the docks much an-" Really Jaye? That's the best you got...How mundane and boring can you possibly be?! And telling him you haven't seen him on the docks...He's going to think you're a stalker! She criticized anxiously struggling not to blush within sight of his dazzling blue eyes. Dazzling? She queried questioning herself, she had never thought of someone as dazzling before.