Join for a swim?

[Linden]

Late Night Run In

Age of Steel, 45th of Searing 120

The sun felt unusually cruel today with all the herbal picking with Cas who demanded a hearty bounty of apples for all this hard work. "What do you say, Cas? Do you think I can go in for a dip and you rest in the shade?" Asks Linden as he could smell water near by as they continued onward to secret swimming hole. Okay, maybe not so secret if you live in these parts, but hopefully there was no one there.

What rays did peak through the long green limbs were bright and the heat seemed almost instant which was an exaggeration for sure. He already removed his hooded cloak to drape over Cas's back and even removed the vest as well. Right now, the debate within Linden was just to remove just his boots or not. A snort from Cas brought him back as he pats the muscular neck and rubs in a circle. "Yeah? Well, if you are lucky, there may be some Meadowsweet growing and- Woah!" Cas quickened their trot as the hears twitched. "Hey! Just don't get greedy okay? I will need a some of it too you know, but stay away from purple loosestrife unless you want to go to an early grave."

Linden takes a deep breath of the warm air and gives a deep sigh as his shoulders slumped remembering the conversation with the twins before heading out. Well, it was kind of a conversation that was done in true sibling style. Crass and ignorant.

► Show Spoiler

Keishara commenting how he seems like an old man and to spar with her since he was trained by Arif herself. It went alright, but he wasn't into it so it was easy for the younger sibling to sweep the legs underneath him as he landed flat on his back.

Adorellon popped up above him and stared before commenting that Linden doesn't have to go easy on her just because she's family. Saying that someone needs to make her land flat on her ass before a body flew over Linden's face to tackle the other brother. Linden sitting up to see the twins wrestling before Keishara got Adorellon in a headlock.

"Submit!" She demanded.

"Get off me!"

"Not until you submit!"

"What for you lunatic barbarian!"

Linden breathes out and shakes his while before getting onto his feet. Walking over to them and looks Keishara over while Adorellon asked his older brother for help. "Kei, that's enough. He's starting to turn red."

"But he didn't say he was submitting!"

"If you two want to kill each other on another day when I am not here that is fine. Just remember you have mother and father to deal with," Linden answers before he reaches down and just begins to tickle her.

All sorts of language was coming out that was very much unlike a lady as she covered her sides while rolling in the dirt. Poor Adorellon coughed and said something in Kyriac which had Linden hit the top of his head with the flat part of his hand that caused them to cover their head in pain.

"Oh don't be dramatic! It wasn't even that hard!"

"Brother Linden," starts Keishara as she rises and dusts herself off. "There is something that I have been wanting to ask you."

"Oh? Well what is it?"

"Why haven't you formed a marriage contract yet?"

The question took him off guard as he just stands there in silence before giving a shrug. "I'm busy, Kei and why do you care anyways? You are too young for a marriage contract by the way so if you think-"

"No, but you and what's her name seemed happy before the Plague. Granted you seemed happy with a few others before too, but they all failed," scooting closer, she cups her hand to the side of her face while looking up to him as if her twin wouldn't here. "I've heard rumors that if a man can't perform that-"

"KEISHARA!" Linden let out a groan and covered his face with both hands. The topics or the things she hears makes him wonder where in the land she goes. Adore didn't speak like this at all. "Listen, things just don't work out. People enjoy each others company and then they drift away. The moments are fleeting, Kei. I thank you for trying to give me this... Awkward insight, but trust me it is not that."

"It's because Linden's face is always in a book is and he prefers-"

"Adore... I will smack the back of your head next if you finish your sentence."

"But it's true. Trust us, between Corbin and others the reason why you end up being single is because you are too invested in your work. You travel too much too according to Cook and no woman or man want to be with someone who is always on the go. Besides, we would love to have another sibling. Wait... That's not right..."

While the twins continued on, their voices began to fade as Linden began to frown. Knowing that people were talking was bothering him and the image of Corbin getting ran over by a wagon came to mind and stomped on by horses would be greatly appreciated.

The bright sunlight hit Linden's face that blinded him while bringing him back to reality. It was calm as Linden dismounted to stare at the empty swimming hole which he thanked the Old Ones for. Walking over to a shaded spot and begins to remove Cas's saddle and bags so they can be roam freely for a while.

"Go enjoy yourself, Cas and remember, don't eat all the Meadowsweet." Cas snorted and swished their tail as they walked passed Linden. Smacking them in the face before stopping and turning to look back as if it was an accident. "Really, Cas?"

Sitting down to remove his boots and socks. The debate about the trousers entered his head and decided that they can dry on the ride back. Unbuttoning and removing his shirt to hang off a low hanging branch as Linden begins to stretch. Feeling the grass and Earth beneath his feet was comforting as he walked to the water.

The cold water felt great as he started to walked in while making faces and hissing sounds. Deciding to just take the plunge and dipped below the water and rose back up shaking his head. Linden's skin getting goosebumps since they were in the shaded area and decided to go under the water once more to swim towards the light that rippled under water.

[Kotoru]

Join for a swim?

Searing 45th, Year 120, A.o.S

The viper had been within the forests of Atinaw, near a swimming hole he heard about from one of the locals at the inn he was staying at. Sojin was away for a bit, taking care of something he deemed important so Koto decided to keep himself occupied with training. He wanted to further his skills and keep them sharp for the next threat to come his way.

Kotoru was confident in the skill of his sword and had a good grasp of how to use it effectively in battle. He was good with it now, having used it in training and battle. So he didnt think he needed all that much training, and decided to train something else, his stalking and stealth skills.

It's not like he needed to, but if he wasn't proficient enough in the stealth arts he would not as effective as an assassin or even bounty hunter as he would like. This all swirled in his mind as he trained, practicing in how to move without making sounds. He was stalking a deer, knowing how sensitive to the sound they are.

Watching it graze, he crept ever close to it, making sure to keep his steps as light as possible. He followed it until he made it to the watering hole. Keeping low and avoiding making abrupt sounds he watched the deer as It drank its fill, then darted off as it was startled by something approaching.

Immediately he felt the presence, his predatorial senses kicking in, as something was coming. Turning he saw a figure in the distance, their features blurred by how far they were from him. Naturally, Koto was on the defensive, believing it was some predator animal nearby. To his surprise it was a lone rider, at least that's what he could make out anyhow.

Surprised glowing amber eyes looked upon the man on horseback approached the watering hole, taking in the peace of the scenery around him. Hearing his voice it came with a heavy sense of familiarity to it. He knew that voice, even if he wasn't sure where he knew it from.

Sticking to the treeline, he watched the man dismount and enter the water, moving closer to see his face. It was that man, the doctor from that bounty on the train. How long has it been since that encounter? He felt like it was an eternity since that moment. For a moment he reminisced on the encounter remembering his name, then focused on stalking him a little more.

Koto found sticking to the shadows of the forest was best to watch without being seen. He watched as Linden submerged himself int the water, taking the chance to move toward the edge of the pool of water. He too removed his shirt, sitting it on the ground next to him. He waited for Linden to resurface as the sun warmed his skin, the reflection of his azure scale glittering blue around him as the sun-kissed them too.

"Common Speech"
"Synskrit Speech"
"Sojin Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Linden]

Late Night Run In

Age of Steel, 45th of Searing 120

Linden came up gasping for air as the water ran down his body. Running his hand through the wet curls before running them down his face. The markings glinting off of Linden's back as it dipped into the water. Letting out a sigh and leaning back into the water to float.

The reflective water dazzling him for a moment as he moves his arms to go to a more shaded area when something catches his peripheral. A figure with a hint of blue that had Linden roll in the water with a bit of splashing. Standing up as his trousers clung tightly to him while wiping his eyes. "Um, hello?"

Realizing it was another man, someone who looked so familiar no less, but different too. They had something shiny on them that reminded Linden of scales and their eyes were different too and while he was body positive, it seemed like all the men lately had the nicer version of his. "Uh... The water is nice and it is mighty hot this day... I'm sorry, but you look really familiar," he says to the young man and begins to walk forward.

As Linden got closer and there was no water in his vision, he suddenly gave a broad smile. "No! Kotoru? Kotoru Hattori?!" Says Linden excitedly and ran/waded towards the other man. Slipping in the water as landing forward before popping back up like nothing happened.

[Kotoru]

Join for a swim?

Searing 45th, Year 120, A.o.S

Koto found himself staring, admiring Linden's form in the refraction of the light from the water. The more he looked the more he remembered their initial meeting on that train. When Linden was failing to recognize him a slight smile fixed itself on Koto's face. It couldn't be helped he supposed, it had been quite some time since they last met.

He had changed since then, he gained scales and his eyes were different now. It was no surprise that Linden didn't notice him outright. He allowed himself a moment to take in the moment, only smirking as he suggested that he come in and enjoy the water. He was right though, it was nice.

The sun was hot, and Koto was sweating since coming out to practice today. Standing he undid the fastening on his pants tossing them to the side and dawning his underwear as a bathing suit and stepped off the bank and into the water. The cool and crisp embrace of the water was welcoming, reacting to his elementalism rune, the water seems to come "alive" at his presence.

Azure blue glittered about the water and Koto's exposed skin, finally coming close enough to Linden for the man to recognize him truly this time. The excitement was surprising but Koto couldn't help but laugh as Linden waded through the water to him, only to stumble in the water. Koto came to his rescue, helping the man back onto his feet.

"It has been quite some time Linden" he whispered, his glowing amber and black eyes pouring into the eyes of Linden, wondering how he would react to him this close. He was gauging to see what Linden thought about his quirks, seeing them up close like this.

"Common Speech"
"Synskrit Speech"
"Sojin Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Linden]

Late Night Run In

Age of Steel, 45th of Searing 120

The cool feeling of Kotoru's hand on him. The look of their eyes. Their skin. It was surreal and something he actually hasn't really seen before. People who used magic wasn't something Linden ran into often since they usually lived grand and adventurous lives. His was mundane compared to Kotoru's. Except that one time with the bounty and almost dying at the hands of a murderer.

Curiosity got the better of Linden as his wet hand came from under the water and touched the other's face. The smooth coolness of the scales and the way their eyes were were... Wonderful. "You've changed and you look amazing," Linden chuckles as both hands now rest on Koto's shoulder with a firm pat. "Um... What's going on with the water around you? Do you have something that is making it act like this?"

A bunch of things were running inside of Linden's head as they all rushed him at once. Bombarding the poor, younger man with everything that seemed to come out of his mouth. His own weird personal quirk of his personality that people often knew about. "OH! Kotoru! I, well, it was a long time ago, but I know I wanted to come and visit and then stuff happened and more stuff kept happening... I know and I'm sorry...Wow... I sounded like a fool..."

Now Linden removed his hands from Koto's shoulders when he realized he still gripped them. Lifting his arms up before bringing them to mess with his hair and chuckle nervously. Motioning to the waters edge and slowly makes his heavy trek there as the pants seemed to have gotten heavier and were not attempting to slide off. Attempting to take his drawers with them as Linden gripped the waistline.

It was when he looked over to see Kotoru's pants were off that Linden thought that maybe that was probably the best way to go. "One moment," Linden says loudly and goes behind a tree to remove his pants. Wringing them and tossing them over a branch in the sun and goes back to the water.

"In hindsight, going in the water without pants was probably a better idea."

[Kotoru]

Join for a swim?

Searing 45th, Year 120, A.o.S

"It's not that big of a deal, as life can get in the way of what one has planned. I'm glad to see you are still here, and not off somewhere else. It would be a shame to come to visit and no be home." the viper reassured, patting the man on the shoulder, as he watched as Linden when to remove his pants.

He honestly didnt see the good doctor as an individual to do such things, but it was not going to be argued with. Koto leaned into the bank of the water as he awaited Linden's return, allowing the water to cool his skin, feeling as it ran over his scales. Basking in the glory of the warm sun, Koto simply watched as Linden waded through the waters in order to remove his trousers as well, before returning to the water.

Koto's golden eyes glanced over to him, then back at his own reflection in the water as he spoke. "I must apologize, I should have sent word that I was coming to Atinaw, but things got in the ay and unfortunately it slipped my mind. Hopefully, I can make it up to you one day soon, and maybe you can show me around sometime." he added, smiling as he leaned in a little closer to Linden.

A nice breeze filled the space between them, warm and inviting, which caused the viper to shiver just a bit from the cold sensation he got from the wind against his wet skin. Submerging himself just a bit beneath the water's surface, Koto resurfaced and shook off the cold and water with it.

"So what has the good ole doctor been up to since we last met? I hope you havent been patching up more killers." he teased, his tone sincere, but with a sarcasticness laced within it.

"Common Speech"
"Synskrit Speech"
"Sojin Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"