Fun in the Sand [Tag Muze - Closed]

[kevna]

Kekoa - Candidate

He was twiddling along the strings of his gitar, his fingers moving fast and producing a haunting romantic melody. His eyes scanned the horizon, the calming sound of waves reaching his ears, the sand beneath his toes grounding him. This was the life; beautiful women, a beach only a jaunt away. Sure the food could be better, and the living circumstances were most definitely not ideal. Still, he didn’t mind it. He liked living simply. He watched a brown dragon fly by, his rider just a narrow speck that no amount of narrowing of the eyes could clarify as to who it was.

He shrugged his shoulder humming, continuing along the beach. He had never imagined this life for himself, but he had never really looked too far into the future, and he supposed this was a good as any place to end up. Maybe he would work to become the Weyr Harper. He chuckled. It really just depended on how much work he would have to put in for that position. He couldn’t let it interfere with his free time. His hands paused their strumming when his eyes met with the sight of the beautiful, wild woman ahead of him. Curly blond hair bounced freely, there was a wide smile on her lips; his breath caught when he thought he heard her laugh, and he placed his hand on his heart, making a small sigh escape his lips. This was a woman who he needed to know. Then again, most women were. But this woman was especially special in the energy she had as she chased the receding water and jumped over waves.

He adjusted the strap on his shoulder as well as the capo along the neck of his gitar for a better melody. He allowed his hands free reign and they produced the magic all on their own. His mind caught up with them, and he started singing in his sweet tenor, his feet taking him ever closer to the young woman.

"She shines brighter than the midday sun,
Blinding, wild, and untamed
She flies free, soaring, diving, on the run
A shout, a cry, a call for change
It breaks, it shatters, goodbye mundane.
Take me lady, my love unfeigned."

The words stopped coming so he began the closing chords; the song wasn't his best he had to admit, but also not the worst for coming up with it on the fly. He flourished the end with some gentle strums, and then bowed, placing his hand on his chest. He smiled brightly, swinging back up to look at the lady he had approached. He stood on the edge, the waves lapping so close to his feet.

"Please, dear lady, a name, any name to ease my bleeding heart."

tovaana

[tovaana]

Ceela - Candidate

It was getting colder, which made Ceela sad – she mourned the hot months when they faded into drearier days. Mavros wasn’t terribly cold, but coming from Southern – it was certainly a transition from all the heat to… less heat, in general. Still, she braved the cool breeze on the beach, pretending that it bit her skin with heat that brought goosebumps to her arms. She pretended that the sun that peeked between the clouds brought more heat than she was actually feeling. It really wasn’t that cold, but she knew this was not sunbathing weather - not for a Southern born.

She came to a stop in front of the waves that nipped at her toes. It was cold. She pursed her lips thoughtfully, toes wiggling in the sopping sand as her feet started to slowly be encompassed by the sand. This was her life now, no one looming over her and telling her what she could be or identifying her as the child of a bronze rider. The salty breeze pulled at her mess of blonde hair as she smiled, breathing in the salty and cool breeze. Then, after intentionally forgetting the degree of cold that the ocean was, she ran toward it. The first roll made her squeak that turned into a giggle as the ocean rolled over her ankles. She kept going, decidedly ignoring the cold and the way her feet were tingly before numbing up. Ceela waded further in, jumping over the next wave, as if she could avoid the next layer of coldness – which was silly because as she came back down her legs plunged in and splashed higher up to her knees. She giggled at herself, speckled in salt water that had splashed from the waves as the next rolled into her knees.

There was this strange desire to keep on going, to see how far she could get when a lovely melody pulled her from the roaring ocean. The ocean pushed into her knees again, and she took a step back at the force and turned so her side was now facing the ocean – so she could twist her body and see where the sounds were coming from. His voice carried over the sound of the waves, lovely and romantic – was he… was he singing about her? Her brows furrowed momentarily with her surprise that gave way to pleasure. What better day than one frolicking in the ocean and being serenaded by a dark handsome young man.

She took a couple steps away from the ocean, but didn’t want feeling to come back into her feet that were thoroughly numb. A wider smiled pulled at the corner of her lips when he asked for her name and she pursed her lips and shook her head slightly in denial.

“Well, if it’s any name you need, then you mustn’t need mine.” She teased, her hands going behind her back, trying to look somewhat serious despite her grin and tilted eyebrow. “That song – was that about me?” Her hands fell back at her sides, swinging them lightly as she did so, and then both came up to her chest to emphasize ‘me’. Why, she was used to being flirted with, but this man sure did have a silver tongue and voice.

kevna

[kevna]

Kekoa - Candidate

“Tis not so, dear lady. What is a name but a set of words to which a person is known by? You could be of the sky, or sea, or wind, and only you could tell me which of all the names you refer yourself by at this very moment. That is the name I long for from you.” He played a string of notes to emphasize his meaning, looking to her with his best smoulder. She was too far out for him to join her with his gitar, he couldn’t risk it getting damaged by the saltwater… But oh it looked fun and so tempting to join her.

“Alas, an alluring woman needs an alluring song.” He said as he began his unmeaningful retreat, giving her his best crooked smile. He took a few slow steps back, the farther from the water the better. As if looking at prey, he kept his eyes on her as he slowly put his gitar down at what he expected a safe distance for the time being, and then slowly approached her again. He hoped not to spook her. She didn’t look like one easily spooked.

“I apologize dear lady, for it wasn’t my best song. It’s hard to capture something as elusive and spirited as you. I don't suppose you could forgive me, and and give me another chance?” He had his hands out, as if to look innocent and unassuming. His toes hit the water, and curled in reaction to the cold water, but it didn’t stop him from taking another step or two into the water. He didn’t want to get too close, but at the same time his arms longed to get a little closer, and his hands desired to splash her.. His feet continued, he moved a little closer.

tovaana

[tovaana]

Ceela;

Ceela opened her mouth and then closed it, looking at him with a certain amount of awe and disbelief. He was something! There was a part of her that didn’t believe him, but the romantic side of her that didn’t care. When he insisted on her name and strummed the gitar, her heart skipped a beat. She reveled in the thrill of the game – because to her it was all this was. Mostly, anyways. She bit her lip thoughtfully, considering of whether she should give him her name quite yet. Normally it was just a kiss or the touch of a hand that she teased with, this was a new level to the game that he had driven her to. It wasn’t like she’d ever teased not to give her name, but not to someone so… well, like him. It wasn’t often someone flirted so outrageously like he was doing.

“You’re too much, you know that? I don’t think my heart could handle it.” She lifted her hands, as if helpless. She watched him curiously as he went to put his gitar down. An eyebrow lifted and she eyed him suspiciously as he came toward her. She didn’t know much about instruments – perhaps he’d been afraid that it’d get wet? Though, if the tide was coming in, he wasn’t in much luck – she hadn’t been paying attention to whether it was coming in or out. Or… perhaps he had other plans? How many women fell so quickly for this young man? She glanced at his youthful and handsome face. She supposed a naïve young woman lacking in self confidence might fall quickly enough for the romantic words and suave ways. Ceela didn’t claim to be be with out naivety, but she knew enough to keep her safe from such antics.

“And how are you supposed to sing me a proper song without your gitar? I’m calling your bluff. Kind Sir.” She said in a teasing tone, taking a step backward toward the ocean and waves as he approached her. Despite whatever he interpreted the step backward to mean, she meant for him to come further into the cold water, another wave rolling into her calfs. 

kevna

[kevna]

Kekoa - Candidate

The young man relished her little dumbfounded look she gave his words. His heart beat a little faster at her words, his eyes intent on her hands as she lifted them. He wanted to get under her skin, but he didn’t want to scare her off. He also didn't know how to be subtle, so he decided not to be too concerned about her words. The blonde beauty didn’t look intimidated.  “Too much for one such as you? You look like you could take a simple minstrel such as myself." He winked playfully, his shoulders lifting in 'innocently'. Oh how he enjoyed the chase. He loved the thrill of it, the laughter, the gasps. His flesh raised with goosebumps, he blamed the cold water, not the turn of his thoughts, and he brought himself back to this specific chase. To her. 

Her teasing tone and retreat was interpreted as a challenge, one he gladly would take. "Bluff?" He stopped smiling, looking surprised. Then a slow predatory smile crept on his face. "I never bluff." Each word emphasized and genuine, as he took another step toward her with each word. She was within arms reach now. "It just means that I must beg another audience with my anonymous lady." He placed his hand above his heart, taking another step without thinking. "The anonymous lady who still hasn't revealed her name." He teased, tilting his head. "You are just enjoying playing with me. Must I beg?" Again, without thought, he fell to his knees in the icy cold water, a wave running over his thighs. He pretended like he couldn't feel it, and reached out to take her hand with both of his. "Please lady, a name." He looked up at her with his golden brown eyes, pleading, though a twitch of his eyebrow displayed just how much he was enjoying this. 
 

[tovaana]

Ceela;

She let out a delicate bark of laughter at him calling himself simple. “If you say so.” Ceela mused, a little baffled at the turn of events. She certainly hadn’t expected anyone to join her in the chilly oceanic water. Only someone as crazy as her, or maybe Yvinka, but perhaps there were others with like minds. It gave her hope that the world had more light and fun in it than it appeared.

“I never bluff.” He said and she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. She had stopped stepping backward – the last thing she needed was for a wave to push her into him. It seemed certain the way he’d take that action. So he got closer, and closer, and her heart started to race faster. Another audience? As in later? Was he this flamboyant in crowds? Or was it just with her individual audience? "You are just enjoying playing with me. Must I beg?" A playful guilty expression passed over her face momentarily, well, he got her there, she was enjoying it.

When he got down on one knee she broke into a fit of giggles with her unoccupied hand over her mouth until she could speak. “You act like my name is something vital to your very existence. I must say, isn’t it rather rude to request a name, when you haven’t given me your own?” She wasn’t going to give in so easily.

“But don’t think I don’t know your type, kind sir.” Her voice was still teasing, but calling him out as he had called her out. She didn’t pull her hand away though. With one hand trapped in his reminded of the thrill of dancing. Ceela suddenly felt a longing for another gather, even though one had just passed.

kevna

[kevna]

Kekoa - Candidate

Kekoa pouted at her words, taking one hand off hers to put to his chest, but holding tight stil with the other. “Dear lady, you wound me. Your name is vital to my happiness, if not my existence. And I have given you a name! I am minstrel, at your beck and call. If you wish for the name that other’s call me by, all you had to do was ask, and then I am Kekoa, son of Kehana, dragonrider candidate, ecstatic to meet you.” He gave her a wicked grin and moved his lips as if to brush them over her hand ever so gently.

He raised his eyebrows at her last words, and shook his head, coming to a stand. His hand that held on to her’s was loose, offering freedom, without actually letting go. The idea of letting go was distasteful to say the least. “And at that, I must be discourteous and disagree. I fit no type, I aim to stay away from typifying boxes that people place themselves into. I cannot handle the confines of expectations to react one way, because I very well may want to act another way.” He shrugged loosely, his smile no duller. He understood how people could look at him, and it didn’t bother him. Life was exciting the way he lived it, and that’s all that truly mattered.

“Oh much like this.” He raised the hand that held hers, and offered the momentum to have her twirl.

tovaana

ooc: let me know if I should change anything, like if she decides to take her hand away, maybe he can grab for it to twirl her.

[tovaana]

Ceela;

He sure did use a lot of fancy words. And now that he had given his name – and oh – a dragon candidate? Her suspicious smile turned into a gleeful one.

“You’re a dragon candidate too?” She asked as he kissed her hand. Butterflies tickled her insides as his lips lightly touched her hand. When his grip on her hand loosened, she didn’t move to escape. She liked the feeling of their hands touching. Her love language had always been touch, whether from her family, friends, or those who pursued her romantically. It was easy for her to forget that people had ‘bubbles’ of space that they didn’t like popped. She tried to be sensitive of these people, but often got lost in the moment. Even outgoing people often had their expectations of their own space, but Kekoa didn't seem to mind.

His next wordy disagreement was met with more surprise – she looked at him and his smile and nodded. “Exactly.” She murmured with a thoughtful smile. At least, she thought she understood what he was saying. She didn’t like to pretend to be someone that she wasn’t, and no one was going to tell her she was one way. Perhaps it had been folly for her to assume this was him, and so she let it go. It had been a while since she had been flirted with in this manner, she’d forgotten how to just let it go – until it crossed lines she was uncomfortable with… she liked teasing Kekoa, she definitely didn’t want to lose his attentions, perhaps that was why she had with held her name for so long.

Then he rose his hand with hers and she grinned, letting herself be spun awkwardly in the ocean wake. Her numb feet could hardly tell where the ground was and she was by no means graceful in the salty water that slowed her spin – she was pretty sure one of her feet was sinking in the soft sand. She then paused, farther from him than she had started. With a gentle tug of her hand, she created tension to signal that she wanted to be pulled toward him – she’d learned this in dancing. It was almost as if he had read her mind. As she did so a larger wave than the previous ones rolled in and she felt it knock against her. Instead of fighting it, she let it carry her to him, tripping as her foot that had sunk pulled her off balance. She fell into Kekoa, using the hand she was already holding to keep most of her balance and tripped right into his chest.

Ceela giggled and looked up, realizing suddenly and a fading of her giggles, just how close they were again, but didn’t move. Instead she took the hand that had fallen on his chest and moved it up to his shoulder. Now they were in a dancing position. “If you’d wanted to dance, you could have just asked. I can't refuse a good dance.” She smiled up at him. “I’m Ceela. Just Ceela.”

kevna

[kevna]

Kekoa - Candidate

His eyebrows shot up at her question, which he didn’t bother answering. It was mainly information rather than a question. So the enchantress was a fellow candidate? It excited him to know that that would mean she was stuck with him, he would get his next audience. He was good at pestering, and many found it just easier to cave. And more fun. He was even gladder that his disagreement didn’t offend her-he hadn’t aimed it to-but many took offense where none was offered. The wild haired blonde was not one of those.

Kekoa watched with appreciation as she took the opportunity to twirl, even if it was a bit difficult in the water. She was marvelous. Adventurous. The dark eyed man didn’t like the fact that she was farther from him at the end of the twirl, but felt her tension and smiled, completely willing to pull her back in. He had just begun to do so when the wave hit her, toppling her into him. He caught her easily with his free arm, wrapping it around her waist and securing her against him., “Whoa-” He let out and then chuckled, enjoying the sound of her girlish laughter.

“Well then thank goodness the ocean is on my side, or I would never have known your weakness, or your name, Ceela.” He tasted her name on his lips, and nodded. It fit her. It was unique. “So will you dance with me?” He asked formally, but didn’t remove his arm from her waist, another wicked smile forming as a an idea sparked in his mind. Without warning her, he crouched down, wrapping his arm even further around her delicate waist, and lifted her, twirling her. His hand interlocked with hers remained down and straight to add leverage for the simple vertical lift. He wobbled a bit when a wave hit him, and made a comical “Ooof.” Pretending like he was going to fall and take her with him, only to ‘catch’ himself and deliver her safely back into the ocean water, on her feet.

“Whoa, that was close, good thing I’m quick on my feet. It’s all the polkaing I do.” He winked at her, and released her waist, moving his hand up to her shoulder blade. He was fishing, trying to figure out what types of dances she loved. Maybe he could lure her to the beach if he promised a dance. Or promised to play for her while she danced for him. He wouldn’t mind seeing that.

OOC: Sorry he was handsy. xD Lemme know if I need to change anything.

[tovaana]

Ceela;

She liked the feeling of his arm around her, it was secure – even if it was a false sense of security, but she reveled in the moment anyways. There was a small part of her that fought the feeling of being contained so firmly, like caging a free bird. But looking up into his smiling worry-free face, she didn’t think he was that sort of guy. She looked thoughtfully up into his face. “I don’t think the ocean has sides.” She teased back, quite sure of it, but also not liking the idea of the ocean not being on her side. She wanted to say it was actually on hers, but she knew she couldn’t claim the ocean as her own, as much as she wanted to. Where the water met the land was her happy place, and no one could take that away from her.

When he asked her to dance she felt like she’d need to curtsy, but they were already in dancing position. She hoped that giving her name hadn’t messed up this game of theirs. As she had this thought, his smile grew and it was infectious and she felt hers widen – but felt a moment of confusion before his arm wrapped around her further and suddenly she was hoisted into the air. She felt her breath momentarily taken away, but laughed gleefully at the vertical lift. She took her hand off his shoulder for a brief moment and pretended like she was flying – but quickly retracted it when he began to wobble. She gasped a little at first and then giggled at his acting. She hadn’t done so much giggling – at least not with a man...boy? – for a long while.

Her numb feet had warmed up just enough that they tingled and pricked with pain, so that when he put her down her knees buckled. She drew in a sharp breath and used him to steady herself. She cleared her throat and looked up, brushing off the pain with the flip of her hair and focused on the young man; she wasn’t going to let a little pain get in the way of this spontaneous fun.

Her ever-smile spread wider at the mention of polkaing. “Oh,” she said with an outward breath of excitement, “A polka? Can we? Or a waltz… Or maybe both?” An eyebrow rose at the idea of doing both. Neither with any music, not the kind that he played – they’d be dancing to the sounds of crashing waves and the occasional seabird caw. “So, lemme guess. You got whisked away to Mavros, straight from the Harper Halls?”

kevna

[kevna]

Kekoa - Candidate

Kekoa considered her comment about the ocean, tilting his head slightly from side to side as if he considered her words fair enough. He liked the way she looked up at him, the sun bouncing on her face, accenting the freckles and her deep brown eyes. He caught a strand of lighter blonde hair that sought to make it’s own path, and placed it back with the masses of darker blonde hair, tucking it gently behind her ear. “That’s fair enough. And even if it did, it probably would choose a pretty woman over a man any day. I’ve heard said that the ocean is a formidable mistress. You ladies got to stick together.” His last sentence was directed at the water, as if he was speaking directly to it.

He enjoyed her overjoyed reaction to his spontaneity, avidly listening to her laughter, and translating it into chords of music in his head. She was a muse if he ever had one. Though he had had plenty of muses, to be honest. He gripped her a little tighter when her knees buckled, chuckling. “Whoa, steady there, my wild lady. No sea legs on you, huh?” He teased.

He watched her face light up when he mentioned the polka, and it inspired some useful information from her. “So, my lady likes to waltz? It just so happens I am a master of the dance. Shall we move to the sand, or should we risk the mistress?” He motioned to the ocean with his chin, slowly leading her in dance formation from the chilly water, in hopes she would agree to the sand idea. The water would be treacherous if they fell. Although, he didn’t think he would mind seeing her hair dripping with water, and turning gold from the sun shining on wet hair. In fact, now it seemed like the only viable option, so he stopped their retreat from the ocean, now awaiting her opinion.

[tovaana]

Ceela;

It was hard when he did such romantic gestures, to not feel her heart in her throat. The guard she had built up over the few months, due to lack of overly romantic men, was crumbling and she was just… letting it be. Enjoying the moment. She smiled up at him, glancing to his fingers as they tucked a hair back with her chaotic loose curls. It was futile, but it was a thoughtful and cute gesture. “We do stick together.” She said with the perfect amount of stubbornness and teasing tone – since he teased her about her legs.

“Well, you don’t know me, if you didn’t know how much I love to dance.” She said with a wistful happy sigh as she closed her eyes for a moment thinking back to the best gathers and celebrations. Her eyes opened wide at a sudden idea to his question. “Why not both?” She bit a lip with anticipation. It was a rare occasion to dance with no real music… she had done it when young men when they claimed to not know how. Teaching men to dance, she had realized, was a lot more difficult than teasing the woman’s part. She’d stopped offering to help men as often, but when shy women on occasion said they would not go to the gather, just because they didn’t know how to dance! It seemed so silly. All her friends needed to know how to dance.

She did notice her unanswered question hung in the air, perhaps he had gotten lost in thought over something. “Learn how to dance at the Harper Halls?” She queried lightly, offhandedly, more excited to be swept down the oceanic foam line.

[kevna]

Kekoa - Candidate

Kekoa liked how spicy she was, how quick she was to parry with him word-wise. He sighed when she mentioned him not knowing her-“Something I truly hope we can remedy, dear Ceela.” He gave her a suggestive grin, tighting his arm around her. He was even more delighted when she mentioned both. It would be both then. He straightened, and without warning was started their movements in a fast Polka, testing her ability to follow, his hand on her shoulder-blade holding her tightly to him to help steady her against the water’s pull. He caught her question as he moved them toward the sand, and once they were on more or less solid sand transitioned them to a waltz.

“Ah, yes and no. My mother taught me to waltz first, though being at the Harper Halls did indeed refine my abilities. Polka was something I picked up at gathers. I’m more or less a self-teacher when I can be!” He moves them back to the water, where small waves were coming in, and transitioned them back into the polka, splashing up water as he picked up his feet with fervor. Without warning he stopped and moved as if to twirl her in the water so to dip her.

“And you, my lady? Where did you learn to dance?”

[tovaana]

Ceela;

Her heart seemed to trill like a bird as a thrill went through her body as his arm tightened around her waist. She gave him a grin with furrowed eyebrows – wondering lightly what he meant about what being remedied. Getting to know each other? His smile seemed to mean more, but she brushed it aside, happy that she had a dance partner and nothing more. She could see a charm like his worming into the hearts of most women, and he was welcome in her heart – and nowhere else. Her thoughts were diverted as he swept her away and around the beach, in and out of the waves. His ability to lead was impeccable and made following rather easy. The transition into the waltz had her romantic side come out and she looked up into his handsome face – it was nice not having to look or worry about anything else… it was what made a good lead, all she had to do was respond to his queues.

When he finally answered her question, she listened, but somewhat distracted by the way her hair swayed and bounced with the rhythm of their dance. Then suddenly they were heading into the rolling waves and she ignored the chill and tingly sting they sent up her ankles. “Woo! Oh!” Her breath was momentarily taken away as he moved her suddenly into a dip. She looked up at him with a wide grin, impressed.

“I learned right here, with you.” She said, mischief in her eyes. “I’m not sure I know how to dance at all, but to follow the lead of a good dancer.” She amended, sure he would appreciate the compliment. “I look forward to you asking me to dance at the next celebration.” She added with her ever-wide grin, her head tilting back and letting her long messy hair reach toward the ocean –admiring the world from the momentary upside down position. “Wouldn’t it be fun, if we could dance in the clouds?” She murmured, just hanging, sure he would whisk her away in another dance.

[kevna]

Kekoa - Candidate

The tension in her arms, and her posture was good, and it made the transitions in line of dance smooth. He loved dancing, mainly because he could hold a pretty lady in his arms, but also because of the opportunity to move his body to music. Even now as he led her around the beach he heard music in his head, the chords in his head leading him to specific moves. The crescendo in his head was what initiated his dip, and she flawlessly followed his lead, her only giveaway at her surprise being the exclamation the passed through her lips.

Kekoa’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, and his smile widened as she modified her answer. He did like a woman that could follow and was immensely impressed. “Your gift has dazzled me, just as you have. I will have to make sure to seek you out.” He doubted he could not seek her out with her wild blonde hair and her vitality. The way she dangled made him hesitate a little longer to pull her back up, and her musing made him grin. “Well, someday, we just may. Isn’t that sort of what dragon’s do?” A wave came in and he wickedly dipped her a bit lower so her hair would get wet. Then instead of bringing her back up he made to pick her up and spun with her.

“I mean all those greens and blues constantly chasing eachother. Quite elegant in the sky. I wonder if they can dance to music.”