She's a rebel, she's a saint. || 74.07.30 [Moo]

[Nicole]

Shouldn't we-
Nope.
But what if-
Nope.
If they see you lounging-
They won't.

Elora arched her back, pushing herself upward off of the rock she had been sprawled over. A snapping sound as her back cracked sent a small smile flickering across her face before it resumed its natural neutral expression.

"Why don't you nap or rest, dearest? I have oiled you, and it is sunny, and it is nice, and you have been flying all morning."

I have been. Contentedness colored Saphireth's tone, a happy shade of blue nearly the same color as her hide. I am more than ready to leave the Weyr, if only they would let me.

"Who's the impatient one now? But they can't fault me for not working when I have been all day. It's more than enough time for a break, don't you think? Besides, I've been working at night as well."

Not that they know that. When will you go to the Weyrwoman with your plans?

"When we can leave the Weyr by ourselves. This is my project; I don't want her to be able to hand it over to somebody else just because we're not ready. Besides, it gives me time to fine-tune it."

Elora reached up and let her hair out of its bun, flipping her hair over and shaking it out before flipping it back dramatically again. It fanned out behind her head, puffed out and going in every which direction. Between that, her taut frame and the bright light in her eyes, she looked a bit like a wild thing.

I will rest, then.

"As will I. It's been a while since we've gotten the chance, dear heart."

And both dragon and Rider again settled themselves and laid where they were, content to just sit in the sun until something disturbed their peace. Something always did.

[Moo]

They did not get many days off of work from Cliffside, but when they did, most of the time was spent catching up on sleep.

But today, N’kio had other plans.

And they involved walking.

Remind me again why we decided to do this?

“Because it’d be fun, remember?” replied N’kio, looking up at the Black dragon as he ran a hand over the back of his neck. “You decided to walk with me. You could’ve flown. Or stayed behind.”

Hardly. Who would keep you out of trouble if not for me?

N’kio winked. “Exactly. Besides, you seemed to enjoy your time with Saphireth. Seems you’ve made a friend of that little one.”

A soft rumble sounded in the air. She is nice. I like her.

"I'm glad to hear of it," he smiled.

As they moved closer to the figures in the distance, Metanath picked out the DarkBlue weyrling. Though it appears she is not so little now. By the looks of it, she should be flying soon, if she hasn’t started training for it already. Though his rider did not say anything in return, he knew exactly what he was thinking of – and it was precisely that reason, among a few others – that he based his decision on.

I do not think I’ll be joining you today, N’kio. I just want to rest up and relax. Just be careful, and be sure to tell me when you’re leaving for home. I may be asleep by the time you come back.

N’kio shrugged and replied through their connection, not wanting to cause too much noise and break the quiet of the scene. Yeah, sure, that’ll be no problem. I’ll see you ‘round.

With a grateful glance, Metanath examined the area and chose a spot with the most shade – a more difficult task than usual, considering the peculiar, warm weather the Weyr was experiencing. Eyes turning a peaceful blue, he selected a spot closer to Saphireth than Elora and settled down in the grass. He would let his rider break the silence – he was better at that sort of thing – and Metanath was not too keen on talking at the moment. He lay his head down on his forearms and tucked his tail around him.

Now, at last, he could relax.

N’kio turned his attentions from his dragon, to Saphireth, and then to Elora. With a casual stroll, as if he had only stepped out from the conversation for only a moment, he walked over to her side and took up a seat next to her on the rock. He leaned back on his hands and looked down at Elora, ever conscious of how close his body was positioned to hers – even if they were just sitting.

“Enjoying yourself, lass?”

[Nicole]

Elora had closed her eyes, not caring when the rumble of a dragon came near or footsteps began to approach her. If somebody wanted to talk to her, they would.

And they did.

She didn't need to open her eyes to see whose body that voice belonged to.

"Would enjoy myself more if you weren't blocking my sun." Her eyes flickered open anyway, a small smile dancing over her face to cancel out the implication that he needed to move; he could stay right where he was. She'd be just fine with that.

The view had infinitely improved with the addition of his face.

I presume you'll be running off, then?

Elora mentally swatted away Saphireth's comment. Wiggling a little, she propped herself up on her elbows, hair swaying behind her. "I would have assumed you had work, sailor boy. Do you even get days off?"

[Moo]

“They’re few an’ far between, but as luck would have it, our day off is today.” He smiled over at her. “So I’m off the hook for work. But what about you?”

He gestured to all of her. “I would have assumed you had work, dragon girl. Aren’t they keeping you busy enough here with your training? When I was a weyrling, I was working all the time.”

If you were just now pretending to be me, then yes, you were working all the time, Metanath honked in disagreement.

Ignoring their differing opinions, N’kio raised his eyes to Saphireth and looked over her wings with an expression of approval. “Mhm. You can tell she’s building more muscle definition. That’s a good sign.”

Metanath was watching the three of them from where he lay, his gaze flickering between the group as often as N’kio diverted his own attention. He would have shut him out entirely, were it not for the probable necessity of listening as to where his fool of a rider intended to go.

“So are you doing anything today?”

N’kio glanced back to Elora, his smile erring on the mischievous side.

“You should come to the beach with me.”

[Nicole]

Saphireth cracked her eyes open to look at Metanath before shutting them again, determined to get her rest. Not that talking to Metanath wasn't resting. It just wasn't what she wanted to do.

Besides, talking was exhausting sometimes. And it had been a few weeks since they had last seen each other. It seemed like far too much work to start a conversation now.

"Define working? I could technically be doing chores, I suppose, but we were - well, busy all morning, and Saphireth needed to be oiled and rest, so I thought I should do the same."

Elora followed N'kio's gaze to Saphireth, the small smile on her face growing larger at the comment. "That's all her. Flying every chance she gets'll do that, I s'pose." Her eyes traced the large blue wings lying flat on Saphireth's back, noting that the dragon had purposefully tuned her out upon the arrival of N'kio.

N'kio's invitation to the beach brought Elora's gaze back to him and Saphireth's presence shooting back into her mind. Eyes sparkling, she sat up, all thoughts of casually lounging around completely forgotten.

"I'd love to."

Shouldn't you-
Nope.
But what if-
Nope.
If they see you running off-
They won't.

[Moo]

“Oh, well that’s good! I was hoping to catch you at a fair time. It appears I have.”

With a small, slightly smug smile – as if he had planned on her accepting his request all along – he rose to his feet and easily found his bearings. Though the Weyr was no Cliffside, he had committed to memory where and in what direction their beach was. Priorities.

N’kio chuckled to himself. “Metanath’d never forgive me if I made him walk all this way only to find out you’d be busy. Is there a certain time you need to be back by?”

Certainly before midday, N’kio. She can’t be gone the entire time.

Any fool knows that. He turned his head to look at his dragon while they conversed.

Exactly why I said it again. If anyone sees her running off to the beach with you, you know exactly what will –

They won’t, and we’ll be careful. I’d take the blame if anything happened.

Metanath shifted where he lay, moving his tail to one side with a soft thump, his eyes whirring yellow-orange as he stared right back. It's more than that, you know. You’ll also be walking back alone if you get caught. I’m not about to get in the middle of this. If I tell you to come back, you come back. Understand?

Yes, dear.

N’kio rolled his eyes and turned back to Elora, but not before giving her a quick once-over. “You can swim, can’t you?” He had always assumed she could, especially with a body like that…

You haven’t even gotten in the water yet. There was a hint of incredulity in his voice as he settled back down and closed his eyes in an attempt to rest. Try and behave?

[Nicole]

Be safe.

Elora's lips twitched as she stood up, lifting her hands above her head and stretching luxuriously, not at all bothered by the peek of midriff skin her shirt revealed.

"There's no particular time that I need to be back by, but I shouldn't stay away for too long." Elora grinned wickedly, eyes sparkling. "And really?"

Her arms dropped back behind her head as she tilted her body to the side. "Of course I can swim. The question is, sailor-boy..."

She stepped in the direction of the Rainbow Mists beach.

"Can you keep up?"

I think I've given up any notion of you behaving...

[Moo]

“Of course!”

He had no idea what she was talking about.

Or rather, what she was specifically talking about.

But true to his nature, he wasn’t about to let that stop him. With a couple of large steps later, he caught up to Elora and began to match her pace with his own. Feeling Metanath begin to settle down in his mind, N’kio tuned out the Black and focused his attentions on the young woman beside him.

He honestly hadn’t expected her to accept his request that easily. He had hoped, but it wasn’t the same thing. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, considering various topics they could discuss, finding none of them suitable enough to break the silence. So for a few minutes, or so it seemed to him, there was nothing but quiet. And he had to admit, it was almost…well, almost unnerving. But in a good way, he thought.

It was one thing if he were visiting the Weyr on business and happened across her, or even if she came to visit the Hold – a time when he would surely be working – but now that their time together was their own, it felt different. Private, for the most part, and just a little bit dangerous. N’kio smiled to himself.

Though as the beach was drawing closer and closer, he could feel his heart beating just a little faster in his chest. He really hadn’t planned anything beyond convincing her to come with him.

He looked over to Elora once they crossed the threshold between grass and sand. “There a reason you like calling me sailor-boy, dragon-girl? Not that I mind much.” Selecting a suitable spot far enough away from the tide and the consequently wet sand, N’kio sat down and began to unlace his boots.

“For the record, it was nice sayin’ goodbye to you. You know, that one time at Cliffside,” he added with a grin, staring up at Elora. “You broke many a heart that day, lass. I think some are still recovering.”

[Nicole]

Elora trotted next to him with a gleaming smile on her face, content to remain silent as they headed over. A cluster of nerves was working its way into her stomach.

This was new. This feeling - the excitement, the anticipation, just the hint of danger - it was new and enthralling and glorious and just a little bit terrifying, and she was okay with that. There was something worth the terror about being with N'kio.

She took a deeper breath, careful to do it through her nose, hoping that he didn't notice the sudden shaky breath, the increasing pitter patter of her heartbeat.

She was Elora. She had made men swoon, give up everything, could do it again. She shouldn't be worried about what he thought. And yet...

His question made her smile as he dropped down to the ground, unlacing his boots. She pressed her toes against the back of her heel and wiggled her boots off that way. "Everybody has one trait that suits them more than any other trait. It's what we identify them with. You're a sailor. So I call you sailor-boy, because that's what you are."

She didn't think too hard about what that would make her. Dragon-girl, she supposed, was fairly accurate; given that she wanted to travel and teach about dragons and her love of knowledge about all the different dragons. Prostitute or hooker would have been accurate in the past, but not anymore.

She ignored the shiver of anticipation that went up her spine at the idea of him finding out. She should just tell him, but...

His follow up comment made her look up from her shoes where her gaze had drifted. "It was nice to have somebody to say goodbye to."

Her shoes were off, her toes squishing into the sand. She found herself grinning back at him, eyes glittering as she absentmindedly the top of her two shirts over her head. Two shirts was good. Kept you warm, kept you layered, good for flying.

"And I'm certain I'll break many more the next time I go there. I hope your heart is still in one peace."

Two shirts were inconvenient when you wanted to go swimming.

And Elora didn't believe in swimming suits.

[Moo]

He nodded as he listened, hands moving automatically as he slid one foot out and began working on the other. “In that case, you’re much more than just dragon-girl. But by the Star, you’re a difficult one to place.”

Removing his boots and socks and placing them off to the side, N’kio hesitated for a moment at the thought what state of undress he should be in when they got in the water. He knew what he preferred, but given the circumstances…

He shrugged and refocused on the task at hand. “I suppose I’ll just have to get to know you better.”

Pulling his shirt up and over his head, N’kio balled it up and placed it next to his boots. He looked down at his pants and decided, yes, those would stay on – even if it would make swimming slightly more cumbersome. They would have to stay on, and should they get caught together, it would be extremely difficult to explain why he was not wearing them.

Metanath would birth an egg if that happened.

“As far as my heart, well,” he started, reaching in his pocket, “it’s more or less in one piece.” He removed a small handful of shells, as well as a couple of various sized knives, and placed them inside one of his shoes for safekeeping. There was nothing more to do now but get in the water.

Standing up, N’kio brushed the sand off his pants, checked to make certain his belt was tight enough, and then turned to Elora. “Though I don’t think it’ll stay that way for long…” His head tilted a little to the right as she worked her shirts off.

Okay, that might’ve been a little bad.

With a wicked grin and a light laugh, N’kio turned again and walked toward the ocean, his hands absently tugging up the sides of his pants.

Sink or swim.

[Nicole]

N'kio had a very nice back.

And, apparently, a very strong heart, if she had yet to break it. Even if she didn't particularly want to break it.

These new feelings were weird.

But it didn't change a bit of who Elora was, so the moment N'kio turned his back and began to wade in, she shucked off the undershirt and shimmied off her pants, kicking them all into a small pile. She was quite comfortable in her own skin.

And without thinking too hard about what she was doing, she took a running start and dived into the water, certain that he had just gotten a great view of her butt as she did so.

Good.
You are going to get into so much trouble.
Oh, shush. Let me have some fun.

She held her breath, keeping her eyes open despite the saltwater sting before coming back up for breath. She turned toward N'kio, shoulders bobbing out of the water.

A contended feline smile was slowly crossing over her face as she tilted her head to the side.

"So if I'm not dragon-girl, then what am I?"

[Moo]

He was halfway in the water when he caught the tail end of the flash of movement to his side. His jaw dropped.

She did not!

Nearly tripping as he looked to confirm what he thought he saw, N’kio stared but tried not to stare, his eyes wide and his smile growing wider. Turning fast in the water, he looked back out at the beach behind them and, sure enough, there were her clothes.

On the sand.

Not on her.

Metanath would have that egg anyway.

He was suddenly incredibly glad and a little frustrated at his own clothing choices. When she resurfaced, N’kio balked at the sudden question she threw at him. “Well, I-I just…umm…” Giving himself something to do – anything to give him more time – he walked further in the water until it reached his chest. He had tried not to stare, but shard it all if she made that impossible to do. Was this a test?

He figured it was best to keep his answer as diplomatic as possible, not knowing who or what might be listening in.

“I think that you are, well…”

N’kio laughed nervously and forced himself to keep his eyes on hers. It was probably the most difficult task he had put himself to in a long time. “Well, to begin with, you’re not wearing any clothes. But secondly,” he said, and felt his eyes dip below the rippling waves for the fastest second ever, “You’re very…”

What was the word he was looking for?

“Nice.”

He could say a lot more, plenty more, but given the circumstances, it would do. Things had just gotten far more interesting than he had anticipated.

[Nicole]

Out of all the words he could come up with, the one he went with was nice?

His surprise and stuttering was endearing, though, more so than she had expected. It was like he didn't know how to act, especially given the way he had to force his eyes to stay up on her face.

She didn't mind if he looked. She took pride in her body; it was something to be admired and something that she herself treasured. She liked making it look nice and forming it and making it the best it could be.

And at times like this, oh, it most definitely paid off.

"I thought you'd be a little more eloquent than that."

Her eyes sparkled as she moved closer to him, sinking a little in the water so the ends of her hair began to splay out around her head.

To others, with her high cheekbones and bright eyes, she might have resembled a siren from mythology, somebody who lured the sailors to their death with their beautiful voices. In Elora's case, her siren features came not from her voice, but from the rest of her body.

She would have thought herself merely pretty, but not at all in mythological proportions.

But back in her own head, she was more focused on his momentarily silence made her grin grow larger. "What's the matter, N'kio? Aintcha never seen a girl before?"

[Moo]

“Aye, I have, indeed,” he replied, holding his ground when she swam closer. “But it’s not every day you get to swim with a beautiful girl. Believe me, I know.”

He laughed at himself, at the entire situation, and hoped to Faranth that no one was around to see them. Besides, he didn’t really want anyone else seeing this. He quickly ruled out the possibility that she would be shy, as it was very clearly the opposite.

It wasn’t a test, either. Well, maybe it was, but if she didn’t mind…

N’kio remained where he stood in the water, only this time, allowed himself to take in the sights. If he didn’t stare too long, that was okay. Right?

“Beautiful…Look at you!” he smiled. He let his eyes wander further down, over as much as he could see as the water churned around them. “You’re something else.”

It wasn’t just her body that was attractive. It was something more. She carried herself differently.

“I don’t know what possessed you to do this, but…you won’t hear any complaints from me.”

Confidence – that was it. She was also more comfortable with herself – around him, in particular – and that was always a good sign.

“I’m glad I decided to come here today, instead of bringing you to Cliffside." He smiled over at her. "You would put us out of work for the day, make no mistake of that.”

[Nicole]

"What possessed me to do this? You are the one who invited me swimming."

Elora smirked, tilting her head to the side as she watched his gaze linger on what was hidden beneath the slow laps of the water. His smile lit up his face.

She liked seeing him happy.

"Besides, distracting all of Cliffside could have been fun. Could still be fun, whenever I have time to myself. What was your friend's name? Erol? I'm sure he could help me find a good spot to swim."

Leaning back, she kicked away from him again, careful to keep her shoulders and below under the water in the event that somebody came by. The chances were slim to none, really, but... just in case.

A rivulet of water ran down her face from her hairline "I'm sure a better question would be this: what possessed you to come all the way out to the Weyr today? Today's your day off. You could have napped. Bought things. Done... whatever it is people do on their off days at Cliffside. Why come here?"