== Lude Begin! Continued from #Grandia. == * Feray idly hits the water with a rather ungainly bellyflop and proceeds flounder a bit in the water before stroking away from the boat. She turns to squint upwards, wondering idly if the sexy merman is going to chase her.. * Nathan hits the water with a great deal more finesse (as if on cue), and gives Feray a mischevious look as he closes in on her position ;) * Feray wideyes and squeaks, hurriedly backpaddling away! "A...ah...you wouldn't dunk me, would you? I don't have the secret super breathey thing!" Relax, you're in my world now, so as a gracious host, I'll have to make arrangements so that you can move about comfortably ^_^ * Nathan continues to advance * Feray furrows her brow, pausing at that to consider it. She idly gets a mouthful of water and sputters. ^^; "Guh. I hope those arrangements taste better." * Nathan swims up to Feray and hols her face close to his, "I can't promise you that, but I can make the water less of an issue for you." * Nathan kisses Feray, and gives her the gift once again to make things easier for her * Feray purrs happily and tugs playfully at one of Nate's bangs before breaking away with a splash towards him! She quickly dives under! "Thanks a lot, handsome! Or should I say...sucker?!" * Nathan zips after Feray, "Outswim me on my own turf? I think not!" ;) * Feray does idly manage to put up a good fight as she fights her way underwater but she lacks much of the ease Nate has and quickly turns to face him while floating there, sounding amusingly out of breath for someone who just recieved a breath of underwater breathing. "Now...by sucker...I meant...'lovely man'...of course...!" Of course ;) By the way, if you really want to show those uppty merfolk not to mess with you, I could give you some swimming pointers if you like Are you saying I'm not a sleek wonderful swimming machine? ;) Because, you know, I could get offended.....! .....if I were actually a sleek, wonderful swimming machine. Well, you certainly are sleek and wonderful ;) * Feray arches an eyebrow and pushes herself towards Nate, drifting to his side. "Careful there, crabmeat, one might get the impression that you're consorting with a surface dweller! And then I would have no choice but to respond!" * Nathan playfully swims around Feray, "Aw...you found out my little secret." ^_- And here I was hoping to surprise you ^_^ Well you, my dear sailor, are an open book... I hate to tell you. You obviously didn't learn much of the evil surface dweller ways back in that town we picked you up in.. ^_- I'm a slow learner, unless properly motivated of course ;) * Feray crosses her arms over her chest, watching Nate circle in amusement. "Are you about to devour me like a shark?" I've considered it from time to time ^_^ G....gah! * Feray blushes furiously and backs her ears. But I'd have to catch you first ;) Oh right, because I'm really hard to catch when I end up upside down underwater. ;) * Nathan chuckles, "Your idea, not mine." ;) * Feray sticks her tongue out. "So...I take it you don't know this area either? I guess that means I can't get a tour?" * Nathan loops around Feray, "Sadly, I'm in the dark about this area as much as you are. But that isn't to say that exploration is out of the question * Feray looks down at the slightly darkened depths and then at Nate, an expression of wariness in her eyes. "...what if we get eaten by a giant jellyfish? That would be a really, really bad way to bite it." Jellyfish can be avoided if you know what to look for But if you;d just prefer a relaxing swim, I won't mind the company ^_^ No, no...exploring would be cool! Just...uh...you can go first. I taste bad. Really. * Feray nods. * Nathan chuckles I'll go first then. But stay close OK? Oh sure. I'll protect you! ^_- I feel better already ^_- Watch it. I can be abusive and surly, you know, for a girlfr--...er...I mean, a friend. ;) * Nathan raises an eyebrow Riiiiiight ;) Actually...hang on * Nathan unties the wrap around his belt, ties one end to the belt, and hands the other to Feray Keep a grip on this, just in case. Tie it to yourself if you can * Feray blinks a little and looks down for a place to tie it...she shrugs and uses her top. She grimaces as she knots it in a rather amusing little bow. ... Just swim already! I don't want us getting separated in a place neither of us knows Yes ma'am ^_^ * Nathan heads downwards into the gloom at a decent pace, testing to make sure Feray can keep up * Feray looks about with a curiousity that is funny to watch. It's obvious she enjoys the swimming even though she's not used to it and doesn't quite know what to expect from being underwater... * Nathan heads deeper and deeper into the dark, until coming to a silt-covered expanse of nothingness that seems to go in all directions * Nathan looks around for a bit, smelling for danger, and pokes a finger into the silt floor * Feray watches Nate in amusement. "Jeez, and you didn't even ask for a name first." Its one of the best ways to see what's been around here ;) * Feray furrows her brow and gets closer to Nate, leaning down to lightly brush her fingers into the silt, creating a big smiley face. ...there. Much better. * Nathan laughs Judging by the smells, not much live here apparently. This area is pretty desolate. Some sea plants, burrowing fish and lichen, and little else ...burrowing fish? Fish burrow? Like....underground? * Feray blinkblinks. Not totally underground. Just into the silt to get at food Watch * Feray nods a bit and looks intensely routed on Nate's words and moves.. * Nathan takes a quick swim, and passes a hand over one spot. One cue, a tiny little fish darts out of the silt and into the gloom Ah....woah....fast little thing..... ... ....so...uh.....I guess that you ate a lot of fish like that in your time, huh? ^^; Not really. Bottom feeders like these usually taste wretched. But yes, we ate a lot of fish * Feray gets a grimace and sticks a tongue out before shaking her head, drifting closer to Nate... "Ergh...see, just give me a big slab of chicken or cattle or anything-that-walks-on-four-legs meat...and I'm a happy woman.." Each to their own I guess. We didn't have such options. I've heard that chickens and cattle fare poorly underwater ;) Jeez, you know, I think I could shave my legs with your wit. ^_- * Nathan chuckles, and looks around again, stopping to glance at something way in the dark distance * Nathan breaks into a big grin * Feray blinks a little and backs her ears. "...uh oh...what do you see? That grin makes me worried." If this is what I think it is, you;re in for a real treat ^_^ Come on :D * Nathan heads off with great enthusiasm Not like I have much choice.. I -am- tied to you---ack! * Feray gets pulled and hurriedly swims as well ^^; Oop! Sorry, got carried away ^^; * Feray utters a laugh and shakes her head, attempting to see what Nate has seen.. "Hrmph.." * Nathan follows the gloom and desolation, until it slopes downward, and he follows. He the two progress deeper, Feray can sense that the water, while darker, is starting to get warmer Woah...I'm assuming this normal? Actually, it is :) * Nathan stops, floating above what looks like boiling black clouds in the water, and waits for Feray to approach * Nathan takes a good sniff, "Oh yeah, this is what I think it is." :D Okay! * Feray follows, though a bit more cautiously than her merman. She stops and eyes the clouds before eyeing Nate warily. This is going to sound weird, but I'm going to ask you to trust me on this one Oh good. I feel more at ease already. ;) * Nathan swims over behind Feray, and grips her around the waist, "I'm going to ask you to close your eyes. I want this to be a surprise." :) * Feray raises both eyebrows and leans back a bit. "...alright..." * Feray looks at the clouds and then closes her eyes. * Nathan waits for Feray's eyes to close, then slowly takes her into the clouds Don't worry, I won't let anything bad happen to you If you value your cute behind, you better not..! * Nathan continues down and down, and the water temperature rises to that of a warm bath. Finally he stops and lets go of Feray slowly. OK, open your eyes :) * Feray blinks opens her eyes, looking around curiously... "Woah....really, really warm now..." (Before Feray appears to be a forest of small spires of rock, thrust up from the sea floor, venting hot water upwards. The scene is dark, save for brilliant sparks of rainbow lights that pop out of the pillars, rise to the cloud layer above, and burst like little fireworks, again and again) * Nathan floats down to sit on the seafloor and watch the display * Feray gapes before jerking forward a little, as if wanting to touch the prettiness. She then shakes her head and forces herself down to the floor, glancing at Nate and then at the sight.. "....wow." I haven't seen one of these since I was little :) There are more of these? Jeez....this is really pretty... I used to come to places like this whenever I could get away. I always thought the lights were so pretty * Feray inches closer to Nate until she's shoulder to shoulder with him. "Yeah? Figures you'd be attracted to the shiny things..." Things of light and color are rare in the dark ocean. Each one is a rare gift Huh....I never thought about that....wow, the surface must be amazingly bright to you.. ^^; I envy you surface dwellers sometimes for that. Your world is always so full of light and color I had almost forgotten that until we came to that desolate place back there * Feray raises an eyebrow. "Yeah but at least down here, there isn't such....well, lying. The colors are pretty and all, but the items are normally hollow and cheap." * Nathan looks back at Feray, "Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Sometimes beautiful things are very meaningful." * Feray blinks a little and a grin quirks her lips slightly. "Sometimes." Thanks for trusting me enough to bring you down here. It means a lot to me. Hmph. Well, I figure you're not about to let the girl you so foolhardly love become a crispy critter.. ;) Heh, no, no I would not ^_^ * Feray gazes at the sparklies, thoughtful... "Did you used to 'get away' often, then?" Not as much as I'd like. My days were full of a lot of duties Duties? Ooh...that sounds macho. ^_- Hrmph, not really. Being a temple guard isn't very glamorous ;) * Feray sighs wistfully and idly lifts Nate's arm up, putting it around her pointedly. She curls into his side and looks up at him in amusement. "Temple guard?" * Nathan hugs Feray to him, and continues, "Yup. My job was to protect the temple, polish the stones that made the dome, tend to the history stones, pull weeds, tend the garden, and patrol the seas around the temple for trouble." * Feray blinks and utters a low laugh. "You pulled weeds?" Now is that so hard to beleive? ;) Well yeah.. I pictured you polishing shields and weapons in a mighty manner, your muscles quivering and stuff....not hunched over tugging up those pesky weeds. ^^; * Nathan chuckles Sorry, but being a temple guard involves tedium and gruntwork ;) However, such physical labors did make me into the man I am today ;) Well yeah...pulling weeds is great for making you all hard and muscular...I mean, you know, they used to litter my crops every growing season... I'd pick the entire lot of 'em all by myself... and look at me! No fat on these bones, no siree. ^_- Ah, so you know all about those pesky bastards ;) Oh sure...fortunately, I had quite the horrid tedious job as well...defending my tomatoes from locusts, pulling up weeds, sifting soil....the only time I'd really get away was when I hunted. ^^; Gave you an appreciation for hard work though, I'll bet * Feray snorts softly and nuzzles her head into Nate's collarbone a little. "Oh sure...if by appreciation you mean 'bone grating tiredness'. I'm not sure how it was for you, but yeesh....when you do the same routine year after year...you lose 'fun' and become 'stodgy and boring'." * Nathan plants a kiss on the top of Feray's head, "True, but every year at the harvest you got to see your efforts pay off. That's a good feeling, despite the drudgery." I have to admit it...I do enjoy the production...don't you dare tell anyone that fierce Feray Lupris likes to plant turnips! Would I dare dishonor the woman I loved? * Feray utters a low laugh.. "So odd...we're from two different worlds....but we both suffered from weeds!" Weeds are universal ^_^ Blasted things. *grumble* * Nathan chuckles * Feray tilts her head a bit to gaze up at Nate again.. "I wish I could've seen what it was like.." What what was like? Bein' you. Growing up. Underwater....as a merman. Er, well, a merwoman in my case...but...you know what I mean. Yeah, I do Maybe in the next life eh? You only get to grow up once in my experience ;) * Feray blinks and shakes her head, poking Nate in the side. "What, you're not going to share any stories with me? Hrmph! And I was gonna tell you about the time I fell into the wine stomping bucket while naked." Hrmph! Well, if you want stories I can give you several. Let's see... Ever get lost in a school of sardines? I did once. Not a lot of fun There must have been a hundred-thousand of those things. Came out of nowhere and swarmed all over the place before I knew what was happening * Feray blinks and stifles a giggle, attempting to picture it in her head. The kicked up such a wake that I got dragged for miles before I got loose. Took me an hour to get back to where I was ...you were hijacked by sardines. * Feray lets loose with a laugh before hurriedly stifling it. ^^; Yep. Pretty pathetic huh? Oh no....oh no! Not pathetic...pretty cute, actually. ;) Oh no, it was pathetic. I was mortified for days. The rest of the temple workers had a good long laugh about that one ;) * Feray taps her lips and points a bit at her left foot. "Alright...I'm assuming that you've at least seen rabbit snares? The wire hoops? Okay...first time out setting snares, really... I got a little too enthusiastic....set a whole bunch too close together...and -forgot to mark them-....so I stupidly turned around, walked forth and not only snared that foot but while floundering about, a rabbit hopped right in front of me and looked at me." Insult to ijury. Owtch ;) One of the older hunters came by and found me when it got dark. ;) I've got the nickname 'Bunny' now. ;) Aww... ;) * Feray utters an indignant snort and wags a finger at Nate. "Tell anyone, especially Erel, and I will bop you one!" My lisp are sealed ^_^ Let's see, what other mischeif did I get into... One day, the initiates and I decided to play a gag on the Temple Master, and we put a squid's inksac in his ceremonial robes. It practically blew up when he sat down ^_- Agh! I can -see- you doing that! There was so much ink the the room we actually managed to get away. But BOY did we get it after that ;) * Feray giggles and rubs her face with a hand. ;) I don't think those inkstains ever came out. The Master had a tendancy to mark anyplace he sat down until he got a replacement ;) Oh man...that's -almost- as good as my naked wine story. ;) * Feray regards Nate with amused eyes, attempting to decide whether or not to tell him. ;) You keep alluding to it. It must be a facinating story ;) Okay, okay.. ;) We have these celebrations after a big harvest....big festivals...lots of wine and fun...of course, to make the wine, people crush the berries with their feet in this big barrel, right? Right... * Feray utters an amused snort. "One night, the other old farmers at my usual table in the Inn got me really, really drunk...and we were bragging...you know, about the wildest things we'd ever done.....and what we -would- do....so I stupid said that I'd do anything any of those old coots would tell me to do. They didn't believe me, so they dared me to strip naked and walk around the rim of the big berry tub while singing a bawdy song..." * Nathan snorts and represses a laugh So I did. I stripped down totally naked, crept out while they watched in the darkness....I was really, really drunk....began to circle around the rim...of course, my -mother- was on charge of guarding the big barrel that night. She catches me. 'Feray!!!'. And down I went. * Nathan bursts out laughing Oh I bet THAT went over well ;) * Feray smothers her grin in a hand. "I was in -so- much trouble. You wouldn't believe! Agh, and they had to get rid of that batch because I had taken a bellyflop into it....not to mention my hair stunk like berries for days..." Ah but it makes a great story ^_^ Oh sure....you just like the naked part. ;) * Nathan kisses Feray on the forehead, "Remind me to never get you drunk and dare you to do something." ;) * Feray utters a loud growl of amusement. "I dunno...could have fun consequences." Don't tempt me, we merfolk are a passionate bunch after all when we get riled up ;) Oh trust me, I know....Erellisae gave me hell when I woke up and wandered into the kitchen...they were standing right there, her and Mitsuo...guh! Oh dear... I don't suppose they bought off on that being a housecleaning attempt? * Feray blushes furiously. "Hrmph. I wish! I didn't even have time to put anything away, they were just right there! Ugh....and you were gone! You could've at least stayed to get teased too, you know." Who says I'm not? I'm sure Erel and Mits didn't think you were making out with yourself in there * Feray bursts out laughing and buries her face in her hand. "Oh /jeez/. That would've been worse." Probably ;) Probably? It would've been 'Oh, Feray, we need to set you up with Nathan! You're obviously so very lonely!' and then I would've had to have used my secret weapon on them to get away.... * Nathan slips his arms down from around Feray's shoulders to her waist, "What secret weapon is that?" * Feray blinks a little, eyebrow raising. She grins slyly, leaning closer to Nate, voice dropping a bit. "....the naked talk." Ah, the great conspiracy itself ;) Nothing scares tiny mage girls and butterfly boys like talk of naked bodies. ;) I'll have to remember that ^_^ * Feray gazes up at Nate fondly before blushing and looking away. "....mm. Should we be getting back...?" * Nathan looks a little dissapointed, "Yeah, I guess so. We don't want the boat getting too far away I suppose." Well, if you wanted, we could stay... I mean....it is pretty cozy... * Feray wiggles a bit against Nate and grins to herself, snuggling closer. True You're the tour guide here, not me. ^_- Wow, this seems suddenly familiar doesn't it? Back in the woods, by the campfire? * Feray blinks and utters a low chuckle. "A little different, I'd say....things've changed. And I can't help it if you're awfully comfy." I enjoy having you close to me. I'll becomes as comfy as you like if I can have you near me :) * Feray blinks again and looks up at Nate, eyebrow raising. "You know, for a merman, you certainly know how to sweet talk." It may be sweet talk, but its the truth Hrmph....can I ask you something? Sure Sho-raoo.....it's a far cry from Nathan. Nathan isn't your real name, is it? No, its just the name I used since its easier to pronounce My real name is Nea'eth * Feray furrows her brow. "Neeaeeth?" Ney-ya, eth Ney-ye.....ath...Ney..ya.....eth? That's it * Feray blinks a little and beams. "Ney Ney!" ...Ney Ney? Yeah! It's kinda cute.........don't you think? ^^; * Nathan gives Feray a comcial withering look ;) * Feray backs her ears and adopts the cutest look -ever-, her big silver eyes beaming, bottom lip protruding. ...that look is cuter than Ney Ney ;) * Feray breaks the look to scowl goodnaturedly. "Aw, come on....you can call me Bunny!" I thought you told me not to mention that ;) Well, not to anyone else. ;) * Nathan chuckles, and looks Feray over, trying to see if 'Bunny' suits her at all * Feray arches an eyebrow, attempting to look nonchalant and buff. ;) Sorry, but Bunny just doesn't work...how about something with more pizazz, like...be'ebulyi? ;) Be......eboolii? O_o * Nathan grins a very large grin >;D * Feray blinks at Nate in amusement. "I'm afraid to ask." It's in the mer language obviously ;) So no one need know what it really means ;) Jeez....wait....if you shorten that to 'cute' terms....it's Be Be and Ney Ney. Sounds all right to me ^_^ * Feray stares at Nate before bursting into laughing! ...alright...you've got yourself a deal. ;) * Nathan dies laughing! Seriously? Okay, but remember, you agreed to it ;) Hey, I don't back down ;) Neither do I ^_- * Feray shakes her head and reaches up to brush some freefloating hair from Nate's forehead in amusement.. "...Ney Ney." I guess I'll have to get used to that, Be Be. * Feray leans up to brush a light kiss against Nate's lips and quirks a grin. "You can bet your handsome buns on that." * Nathan wraps both arms around Feray, "I wonder what certain young mages would have to say right now?" You mean about the insanely cute petnames or the fact I'm near sitting on your lap and having my wicked way with you? Yes ^_- * Feray snorts in amusement and grins. "Probably 'Kiss her, you dope!'. And then they'd kill themselves laughing at the sheer cuteness that is Ney Ney." Hmm...good advice * Nathan proceeds to do so * Feray purrs and tangles her hands rather determinedly in Nate's hair without thinking, returning the favor of the kiss with an amusing drive. Meanwhile, in the background, the phallic imagery of the rock spires and the exploding fireworks continues on heedlessly. ;) ==Wow! Good time to stop, eh? Lude end!==