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 Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2024 4:16 pm
Quote: Characters - Alosa and Michael Prompt - Michael goes to the pool at night to teach himself to swim only to be discovered by Alosa who offers to help teach him. What new connections will come out this encounter?
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2024 10:23 pm
   It was a miracle that Michael had found the pool. There had been a point where he'd gotten hopelessly lost on his way there, having only passed the room once before. Somehow he had made it. Though he wasn't sure what comfort that small victory was. Not when he had to consider why he had even sought out the pool in the first place. The part of Alore he had grown up in was landlocked, and the region he'd been stationed in when he was in the war had been as well. He'd never really seen a body of water larger than a bathtub up close and in person. Not including any opulent water fountains or ponds that he'd seen from a distance in the garden.
This wasn't home, however, and it was becoming increasingly obvious that eventually he would probably need to know how to swim.
Nights were the obvious choice, hoping that the bustle and activities of the day would push the other students back into their rooms for an early tuck in instead of going for an evening swim. It would be a shame if he had come all the way here and other students were milling about. While he couldn't do much to cover the scar that started on his right cheek and ran down his neck, he hadn't been entirely oblivious to the questioning or cautious stares it had granted him. Michael didn't want to think about what the other students would whisper if they saw his mangled torso. Thankfully, the pool seemed to be entirely abandoned this evening.
Peeling his shirt over his head, he stripped down to his boxers. That had been the other part of his consideration. He didn't actually own any proper swimming attire, and it most certainly had not occurred to him to ask one of the staff if they would be able to provide any. The war might have taken a considerable amount from him, but it hadn't taken his sense of modesty. The tips of Michael's ears colored from the idea of being caught with his pants not only down, but completely off like this.
It was an unwelcome thought that he pushed away as quickly as it came.
Padding over to the edge of the pool, he ran his foot through the water. Surprisingly, it was warm. The school must have heated the pool or something through a power from Stilicidium or Funkazan. Which he wasn't entirely sure. Who knew how powers worked in other countries? The warm water was a surprising treat, and he sank down to sit with his legs in the pool. His nerves frayed, realizing a little too late that it might be a fools errand to attempt to learn how to swim on his own without anyone around to help if he started to drown. It didn't stop him from pushing himself off of the ledge and into the pool.
Maybe it was a little bit stupid to actually try swimming without figuring out how it worked first. Michael had an idea of how it should work in his head. But making his body move like that underwater was another story. He was supposed to be paddling with his arms and kicking, but it felt a lot more like he was failing wildly and not really going anywhere. Worst of all how was he supposed to breathe like this? Panic was starting to settle over him, alarms in his head that he had made a very stupid choice trying to do this on his own. He had barely moved when he finally touched his toes back down to the bottom of the pool. Flipping his head back to get his wet hair out of his face, he coughed before sucking in air.
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pool ☀︎ alone
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Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2024 12:28 pm
   
tab Alosa had needed to take a break after the day she had, so much was going on and she desperately needed to be reminded about how she felt a home when she had the time to relax and rest so she decided to be a little bit of a rule breaker. She knew there was a pool and she had previously asked about where it was located. She desperately wanted to get her feet in the water again after the morning when she met Ophelia. As she pushed the door open to the pool area she didn't notice the other person in there quite yet as she wasn't expecting anyone else. She pulled her shirt off and her skirt down, revealing her bathing suit that had the colors of her kingdoms flag on it. Her parent's insisted that this was what she wore when she swam and she just went with it because she wanted to just go to the school in the first place. Turning around she finally took notice of the other party in the pool, a smile breaking out on her face. Someone else wanted to go for a swim? How fun! " Oh hello! You must be-"
tab Now Alosa wasn't known for being the smartest out there, nor did she tell people she was good at noticing signs but she almost immediately noticed that Michael wasn't doing well. She walked over to the pool, and upon realizing he was struggling with staying above the water alarm bells went off in her head. ' He can't swim!' the sudden realization came to her as she moved around to the side, diving in and coming up right next to where he was. She grabbed his arm, and using her powers pulled him closer towards the shallow end where he would have been able to stand with his head outside of the water. She did so while under water, so when she popped up she had let go of him and pushed her hair back with one hand looking at him concerned. " Are you okay? Gods, do you not know how to swim? Why would you come alone if you didn't?" she rattled off her questions, not thinking about how he might not be totally oriented or ready for someone else to be there. She paused a moment later giving him a chance to breathe.
tab " I'm sorry...let me start over. Are you okay?" she asked, moving her feet in the water as she looked at him, she almost seemed to be perfectly still as if she wasn't needing to swim hard and she was actually using her power and connection to the water to be able to stay still. Alosa took this chance to look him over, she hadn't seen him before. He was clearly taller than her as he was able to stand where she had pulled him and she was not. He had dark hair and plenty of scars not only on his face but on his body. She smiled a little at him, her pink eyes soft as she awaited his response to her question if he was okay. She did also make note of one thing, something she chose not to make a big deal out of. He didn't appear to be wearing swim trunks. She knew people made choices but this seemed an odd one, perhaps she'd have to get some for him if he was going to make a repeat attempt with swimming alone.
Where they are: The Swimming Pool
XXX
Who they are with: Alone -- Michael
XXX
What they're feeling: Excitement, Panic
XXX
What they're wearing: Bathing Suit
XXX
OUT of CHARACTER: n/a
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Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2024 3:55 pm
A splash resounded around him. At first he thought it might be his own flailing, but then he felt a hand on his arms. Being pulled through the water was a new sensation. Not wholly unpleasant. Just... different. There wasn't a better way that he knew how to describe it. A small part of his mind registered that the hand felt too small to be able to move him around so easily, but the water had a weightless effect that seemed to make every part of his body feel like a feather. Maybe that was why she could move his bulk so easily.
His feet were now firmly planted on the cool tile that rested at the bottom of the pool, and he stood. Even at this depth his shoulders barely crested the water's surface. "Are you okay? Gods, do you not know how to swim? Why would you come alone if you didn't?" The words tumbled out of his companion before he had fully registered that he was touching the bottom of the swimming pool again. Sucking in a greedy breath, Michael sputtered for a moment before scrubbing a hand over his face to get his hair out of his eyes. What he didn't expect to see was a woman chastising him for his admittedly bad idea. A very still woman, who didn't look for a second like she was actually treading water despite her weakly kicking feet. Was this her power? Her element? His eyes flickered from a soft topaz into a vibrant green as he decided that wasn't important right now. Apparently, she agreed with him as she paused and restarted. "I'm sorry...let me start over. Are you okay?"
Giving a weak laugh, Michael could feel the heat that sent a blush across his cheeks, down his neck, and across his chest. "I'm fine, thank you." The lie came out easily. Though, he doubted she would believe him if he said what was causing him turmoil in this moment. Here he was, half drowning and dressing in nothing but his wet undergarments while in the presence of a woman who would be a princess while lit up like a nightlight because he couldn't truly stop his internal glow. Who could possibly find this situation anything but mortifying? Yet, if he voiced this beautiful stranger would worry, thinking he'd hurt himself on his foolish quest.
Finally processing her questions, both of his hands shot up to drag down his face before coming to rest on the back of his neck with his elbows pulled tight to his chest. He laughed again, a bit stronger now that he'd regained some of his composure. Sure, he still felt unbelievably exposed. It was hard not to let his mind wander, worried that she might assume he'd done terrible things. Many did when they were confronted with his scars. Others were simply disgusted with the sight, telling him to cover them up. But at least she had solved one of his problems for him this evening. "Yes, I'm sorry." Michael's laugh dying down into an amused, but sheepish grin. "I knew it was foolish. I just didn't want..."
Didn't want what?
The question hung in his mind for a moment. What had he really thought this would accomplish? If there was a pool there was logic behind the possibility he would need to know how to swim at some point in classes. They had seemed invested in making sure that the royalty was active, if the brutal self defense classes were anything to go by. "I suppose I wanted to be prepared. I know what to expect less and less with this school everyday and how long is it until we get thrown into a lake? Better to learn on my own before hand." He finally said, the logic sounding even less sane out loud. Shaking his head, he tried to rid himself of just how silly the whole thing made him feel. "Oh, I nearly forgot. I'm Michael. I do hope you can forgive the indecency and grant me the name of my savior."
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pool ☀︎ alone
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Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2024 6:15 pm
tab Alosa hadn't fully registered that he was glowing but she had locked eyes with him, and she fully noticed his eyes changing color. Her own eyes lit up with curiosity but she made herself wait to hear if he was okay. Once he answered and seemed to be getting his footing back and air in his lungs she smiled, relief clear on her face. " Good! I'm so glad I came by when I did." she said before her pink eyes finally adjusted to the fact that he was glowing. She gasped softly, a smile on her face before she took a breath and let him reply to her other questions finally. At first she was disappointed that he had gone swimming on his own especially when he was unable to swim. His hesitation for why he was doing it made her tilt her head slightly looking head up at him before she heard his answer and she finally laughed along with him. " I totally get it! Honestly, this place has been a wild ride, I'm so glad I convinced my parents to let me come!" she had placed her hands together before she nodded at him. " If you'd like I can teach you. I've practically lived in the water since I was little. That is-" she cut herself off and placed her hand over her mouth. " Oops. I almost gave away what kingdom I'm from." she brushed the back of her head as she continued to move her feet in the water.
tab Alosa smiled up at him after he introduced himself waving her hand softly. " No no! Please do not worry about it, we're in the swimming pool. It's natural to be wearing so little. My name is Alosa, it's a pleasure." she replied before she reached her hand out and gently pressed it against one of the scars on his upper chest. She knew better than reaching too low. Her eyes looked them over before looking back up at him, pointing at her own eyes. " Did I see your eyes change color? And...this might sound funny, but it seems like you're glowing. Is that normal for you?" she asked him, she smiled as she did and aside from her unprompted questions she was trying to be really good. Her eyes shifted from meeting his to the rest of his features. He was handsome, he was kind and despite all the scars she found him very approachable. She didn't like to judge by scars anyway, they did just come out of a war after all!
tab Alosa swam over to the side of the pool, the weightlessness around her disappearing. She placed both hands on the flat surface to pull herself up. She pulled up with her arms, getting a knee out of the water. " Let me go grab my hair tie, I'll be able to help you out easier without my hair in my face!" she stood up and made her way over to her bag before pulling her hair up into a ponytail and walking back over. She wasn't paying attention to where she was going though as she looked over at him. " So! I know we're not supposed to tell, nor ask really, but I'm going to make an educated guess and say you're from Alore...." she did make her way to the edge of the pool safely but as she crouched down, ready to put her feet back in her foot slipped and she ended up falling back into the pool, almost directly on top of Michael.
Where they are: The Swimming Pool
XXX
Who they are with: Michael
XXX
What they're feeling: Excitement, Panic
XXX
What they're wearing: Bathing Suit
XXX
OUT of CHARACTER: n/a
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Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2024 7:42 pm
Closing his eyes, Michael waited for chastising remarks to begin. He'd been foolish. So foolish it could have ended his life if he hadn't been so lucky to have the pink eyed woman show up when she did. It was a fact he was intimately aware of. Yet, biting remarks of scorn never came. Instead she excitedly proclaimed how happy she was to have come to this peace parade masquerading as a school. The soft gasp that followed her words was enough to tell him that she'd noticed he was glowing. Opening his eyes, he found her looking at him with a curious glint in her eyes. Part of him wanted to shrink back into himself. As if trying to suck all of his light back inside, he dimmed visibly.
Watching her hand fly to her mouth and her expression turn bashful when she realized she might be giving too much away was cute. How she managed to make such a small gesture seem dainty and feminine was beyond him. Yet, he enjoyed watching it as he let his hands sink back into the pool. "Oops. I almost gave away what kingdom I'm from." Smiling, he shook his head as if to say it was no problem. Even if he could easily piece together that she was from Stilicidium with what she said, the lady before him didn't need to know that. It's not like Michael had any way to hide his own kingdom of origin anyway. This just put them on an even playing field without stressing anyone out.
Sucking in a sharp breath as her fingers danced over the scar on his right pectoral, it took everything in him not to stare at her hand. They were too close. And he was intimately aware of when her fingers touched the overly sensitive skin around his scars. Or when the pressure disappeared beyond his dead nerves and she must be touching the scar tissue itself. Michael couldn't even think of Nadine touching him this way. This didn't feel proper, making his heart race. Really, it wasn't when he considered how he was dressed. Even if Alosa was willing to overlook it. Any effort he put into meeting her eyes quickly vanished as she asked about his eyes and glow.
Casting his gaze to the side, he could feel his face heat. "Oh, uh. Yes." His voice was sheepish as Michael scrubbed a hand down his face, letting it rub against the stubble on his chin for a moment. "Sorry if it's a bother. It just... Happens? I can't really turn it off." Admitting it was grating, but there was also no point in hiding that he was essentially some plastic glow star children put on their ceilings. He'd finally managed to bring his gaze back to her, only to find that Alosa had swum to the edge of the pool and was pulling herself out of the water. Despite his better judgement, he'd been unable to pull his eyes away from her figure as she ascended. Part of him felt bad, but ultimately it may have been for the better.
" So! I know we're not supposed to tell, nor ask really, but I'm going to make an educated guess and say you're from Alore...."
The slick tiles along the edge of the pool had been her undoing, causing Alosa to lose her footing and tumble forward. His arms shot out on instinct. Some of it might have been to protect himself. Most of it was certainly to protect the sweet girl who had refrained from scolding him and talking to him like a child despite his poor decision making this evening. Sure, she clearly knew her way around the water. But it wasn't like light couldn't hurt him just because he was from Alore. With a splash and a tangle of limbs, Michael caught Alosa. The positioning of his arms were awkward. Their faces were inches apart as he registered that he'd hooked her in nearly a princess carry, if it could be called that. One of his arms had hooked around her chest and pulled her in, pressing their torsos together. The other... The other was the problem. Somehow he'd managed to loop an arm between her legs to catch only one knee in the crook of his arm with the tips of his fingers grazing the swell where her a** met her thigh.
"Sorry." His voice was breathless, embarrassment twinging on the edge of it. Quickly he retrieved the arm that had landed between her legs, trying his best not to think to hard about how he'd caught her. Not daring to let her pull away just yet, he used his now free hand to brush her bangs out of her eyes before running it down the side of her cheek to gently move her head from left to right and look for any injuries. When he met her eyes his irises had changed to a light blue. "Are you okay? Does it hurt anywhere?" It was hard to search her for and scrapes or bruises in the water. Even more when he was finding it hard not to let her go so he could see more than her face or shoulders. Mother Sun, what if she slipped again when he wasn't here? Granted even if he was, how much help would he be?
Gently, he stepped back and uncurled her from his chest. His hand stayed on her elbow, using the weightlessness of the water to his advantage with helping her keep afloat. He hadn't figured out exactly what her power was outside of something water related, and Michael wasn't willing to risk letting her head sink below water when he knew she wouldn't be able to touch the bottom of the pool at this depth. Using his free hand to cover his eyes, he couldn't help but laugh at the situation he'd found himself in. Nearly drowning. Alosa possibly seriously hurting herself. How had they gotten here? "You got me. Not that it's a surprise, but yes. I'm from Alore." Uncovering his eyes, he shot an amused look at her. "Our little secret, okay?"
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pool ☀︎ alosa
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Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2024 8:13 pm
tab Alosa had no intention of chastising or making him feel bad. Everyone made mistakes, even if his scared her half to death she was okay and so was he! That's all that mattered, right? When the light coming from Michael dimmed but didn't go away she couldn't help but find herself that much more curious. She could tell he didn't enjoy attention drawn to it, but she couldn't help herself. At least it was just them. Alosa could tell she was making him a little uncomfortable with her hand on his skin but she genuinely didn't mean to do so, pulling her hand back she flashed him an apologetic smile before she heard his explanation about the glowing. She shook her head and smiled wide at him. " Oh, no! I think it's really cool! And your eyes too, that's really fun." she did notice him watching her when she pulled herself out of the pool, but in the interest of not embarrassing herself or him anymore she kept the thought to herself. That was her plan, anyway, until she lost her footing found herself falling.
tab She knew she'd probably hit the water so she closed her eyes but she found herself hitting something more firm? Her pink hued eyes slowly opened and realized that Michael had caught her. Immediately her face went a little pink as she realized how close they were. She hadn't fully processed how he caught her until he let go of her leg and she felt his fingertips brushing up against her skin, sending a shiver up her spine. She immediately registered how he caught her and her mind ran before she closed her eyes and tried to will the blush away. She was acutely aware of his arm still around her, her own hands having landed on his shoulders. She remained quiet but she opened her eyes as she felt his hand brushing her forehead, her pink eyes making contact with his just as they changed to a light blue color. She blinked, the feeling of his hand against her skin surprising her with how gentle he was being. He was covered in scars and yet, he was being this gentle with her.
tab Her brain finally registered that he had both apologized and asked a question. She shook her head and smiled a little, her expression a little shaken but she was appreciative that he'd caught her in the first place. " No don't apologize, thank you. That could have been much worse." she insisted, it wasn't like he had grabbed her intentionally to do that, or that she minded in the first place. " I'm okay, no injuries here!" her voice a bit more cheerful this time as her expression cleared up and she seemed to shake the embarrassment. She felt his hand on her elbow still even after he had unwrapped his arm from around her and she felt her heart racing a little, but she was grateful he still worried, lowering her arm and resting her hand on his forearm. She was able to kick her feet to stay in place, but she appreciated him all the same. She looked at him as he covered his eyes, her cheeks heating up slightly at he laughed. She felt her heart race a little more as she told herself to stop thinking like that.
tab He spoke and uncovered his eyes, her eyes meeting his this time and she smiled, an equally amused smile lingering on her lips. " Our little secret." she agreed, before she laughed under her breath a little. " To make it fair, as I'm sure you've figured out, I'm from Stilicidium." she spread her free arm out a little and smiled softly. " Water is my safe place, except that i'm an absolute klutz." she knew he knew that already, obviously, but he hadn't written her off entirely which made her happy. She then thought about something. ' If he can't swim....that makes sense for why he'd want to learn. There's more water here....' she placed her free hand on her chin as she looked up at him. " There's not a lot of water around Alore is there? That makes more sense as to why you don't know how to swim..." there was no judgement in her tone, just pure curiosity.
tab Alosa was still a little embarrassed, but she never let that stop her before. The only reminder that the princess was feeling that way was the ever-present light hue of red on her cheeks. She was used to embarrassing herself, but it was another thing to feel like she'd enjoyed the outcome of it. Rare in fact. She could use her powers to make herself more stable, so he didn't have to hold onto her arm, but she was enjoying the sensation. It wasn't often anyone was allowed to touch her, never mind in this kind of situation! " I'm more than happy to teach you if you'd like!" if it meant spending more time with this man she'd do it, not that she'd decline many people something that could help them.
Where they are: The Swimming Pool
XXX
Who they are with: Michael
XXX
What they're feeling: Embarrassment, Happiness
XXX
What they're wearing: Bathing Suit
XXX
OUT of CHARACTER: n/a
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2024 7:43 pm
Worry had settled into his bones. It had taken Alosa an alarmingly long time to recognize the issue with how he'd caught her. Despite being a near stranger. In fact, she had told him not to apologize. Thanked him. Then maintained the contact he'd kept on her arm to keep her head above water. It was like looking at a sitting duck. Michael had seen some of the other students. Watched them as they went about their days. How was it that she hadn't ended up being eaten up and chewed out by some of those students? Mother Sun help her.
As she spoke, going as far as calling herself a klutz, a new desire bloomed in his chest. Maybe it was just a phantom trying to replace whatever purpose he had once had and lost. Either way, he wanted to see this girl protected. There were too many risks at this school for someone so innocent and open. Even if it was misplaced, he found himself wanting to protect that. To protect her.
"No. At least, not in the part of Alore I grew up in." He scrubbed his chin, realizing it wasn't just the lush gardens of his manor or orchards of his Duchy that didn't have many lakes or rivers. He'd spent most of his time in the war occupying muddy trenches or clashing blades on dusty prairies. "Not where I served either, now that I think about it. It never really occurred to me until now how little water I've seen." It felt odd to admit it out loud, but now that he did it rang true. Before the carriage ride here he couldn't think of another time he had seen so many lakes, rivers, and even the ocean.
At her offer, a gentle smile tugged at his cheeks. It was cute. How she pressed on despite the pink staining her cheeks. "I would, actually." It was his turn to blush, looking away as his eyes shifted to a soft purple. "Though, I might need to invest in some proper swimwear in that case. I wasn't expecting anyone else to be sneaking into the pool this late, so I improvised." His eyes glanced down to his soaking wet boxers, the pool making his body look distorted as he did so. "This isn't exactly a great long term solution."
Slowly, he started to step backwards while pulling Alosa along with him. The water level around him dropped as he pulled her through the water, allowing her to stand on her own. Letting his grip on her elbow loosen, he hand traced down her arm to lightly grab her fingers as if he were about to lead her in a dance. He finally stopped when the water was at his waist, too ashamed to continue and risk exposing himself to her. Mother Sun would that be a horrible way to start his swimming lessons. "Well, Miss Alosa, if you don't mind teaching me, I'm ready to learn."
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pool ☀︎ alosa
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Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2024 8:12 pm
tab Alosa didn't know what the typical experience within the school was, but she certainly had a lot of different ones. Michael seemed the trustworthy type and she appreciated his response to her taking the time to realize how awkward it was being so close. She tilted her head slightly as he spoke about not being around a lot of water. She hummed to herself as she placed her free hand on her lips. That was a far cry from her own life so far, she practically lived on a floating island her whole life. She figured since they knew roughly where each other was from, it wouldn't hurt to be honest with him. She didn't know much about the kingdom of Alore, but she figured they'd have some water. Her family were all swimmers but that tended to be the case when your powers were specifically related to water, although she still somehow managed to get into messy situations, like earlier. " That's such a difference! The castle is almost on a floating island that we can shift as need be. We're rarely not around water."
tab It was not lost on Alosa that when he looked away she had not only seen his blush but his eyes color change again. Her expression lit up a little as she silently admired his powers in that regard. " Wonderful! I'm happy to help." she laughed softly as he mentioned needing to invest in proper swimming trunks. " I'm sure they have some here! If I had any brothers I'm sure they'd know better than I do." She had no doubt though that the staff here at the school had resources for them, after all they were called to this place. If they didn't have the ability to provide the students with that which they needed that might be a problem. She shook her head and smiled a little. " It works for the time being! That's the important part." the weight of his words seemed to finally hit her and her pink eyes glanced down where she had seen him do so earlier; and she felt her cheeks turning red as she realized exactly how he had improvised.
tab It took her a moment to tear her eyes away and she rubbed the back of her neck softly with her free hand that wasn't resting on his arm. " Yeah I can see how that isn't suitable for multiple people. I'm not complaining though, I think you look good with all but boxers on." she smiled widely, not processing how embarrassing the comment could make one feel and she moved along with him until her feet could touch and she placed her feet flat on the bottom of the pool. His hand gently sliding down her arm made the girl blush but it made her skin tingle a little and she smiled at him. With her feet on solid ground she realized that he wasn't too much taller than her, and she was grateful for that at least. It would be easier to both teach him to swim and much easier to reach his lips for if they kissed. 'I wonder what it would feel like...' She tilted her head slightly, her hand still in his as her mouth opened to finish her thought. "...if we kissed..." Pink eyes widened at the sudden thought she had and she had pulled her hand back from his as she covered her mouth. Her words left her mouth before she had a chance to stop them, and she shook her head at the thought that he might get a hint of what was in her mind.
tab In a quick effort to change the subject before it could be approached too far, she cleared her throat and smiled. " First thing to practice would be floating and just getting used to having your head underwater without panicking. So you can float on your back....and then when you've gotten the hang of that, standing while you dip your head under water and blowing air out to get the lung control." as she flowed into the steps, she was trying to remember how she was taught, although that was many many years ago. Hopefully her slip up from earlier wouldn't be too much of a heavy air over them, although she was still kicking herself for it. Her mind did wander to the fact that floating would involve him to be on his back, and that would mean his hips would be near the top of the water too. She shook her head and pushed down the thought. ' Keep it together! You're a princess, act like one.' she told herself.
Where they are: The Swimming Pool
XXX
Who they are with: Michael
XXX
What they're feeling: Embarrassed
XXX
What they're wearing: Bathing Suit
XXX
OUT of CHARACTER: n/a
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Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2024 5:54 pm
That worry had been well founded. Alosa was so defenseless. No. This was worse than defenseless. She was one degree away from actively asking for someone to take advantage of her. And he could easily see a lesser man doing so. In a way, he already felt like he was. His hand hadn't left her since she'd nearly tumbled on top of him, though the gentle grip he had kept on her dainty fingers wasn't anything that could be called inappropriate.
Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for her comments. Turning his head to the side, Mike pulled his free fist to his mouth and coughed to try to cover the surge of embarrassment that had flooded him. It didn't matter that it was a kind comment to placate him. Surely she had only said it to be kind, after all. He knew what he looked like. He could nearly hear Nadine's voice ringing in his ears that his body was one only she could learn to love. The sweet words from Alosa still managed to twist at his heart. Managed to make him wish they were true. Mother Sun, how nice it would be to be wanted by such a sweet woman.
No. They needed to get back on task. Swimming. The lessons would be grounding. Give them both something to focus on other than pretty words. "Miss Alosa, I re-" The comment died in his throat as she mentioned something about kissing. As in them kissing. This girl was imagining kissing him. Surely not? As if on queue, her hand slipped out of his light grasp. Covering her mouth, Alosa began to shake her head with wide eyes.
Ah. There it was.
Shame washed over him for having dared to entertain the thought. His natural light dimmed, shrinking as the tiny action cut into his confidence so easily. Clearly she'd had a slip of the tongue. Or he had heard wrong. Something was clearly being misunderstood. But that was a problem for another night. Michael would shake it off, push the thought away and get on with the night. Alosa seemed to agree as she cleared her throat and began listing off the steps to him.
She wanted him to float. On his back. With his hips out of the water. "Mother Sun." Scrubbing both of his hands down his face, he took a moment a to process what she was asking him to do. What this entire interaction had boiled down to. Did this woman know what she was asking him to do? Did she understand? His face was hot as he let his hands drop. Meeting Alosa's pink eyes, his eyes shifting to a deep red as if to match her.
"Miss Alosa," His voice was calm. Far calmer than the storm she was stirring up within him. Between the way that her fingers had traced the scar over his chest, the way she'd fallen onto him, and now all of this? "Surely you understand why I can't do that tonight." Stepping into her, he hooked a finger and pressed the knuckle into her chin to gently tilt her head to keep her eyes locked on his. Because maybe if he scared her she would rethink what she was doing right now.
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pool ☀︎ alosa
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Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2024 9:48 pm
tab This night had started well, but here was going from good to embarrassing, extremely quick at that. While she had no tact to realize how her comments early on came off, she did find herself thinking him being as red as he was, was rather cute. Her habit of blurting things out had gotten better over the years, and usually it was only when she was flustered. Well, she was flustered tonight, that much was true. She hadn't expected to run into someone in the pool, certainly not someone who was both kind and attractive to the princess. Being basically half-naked in bathing suits never really bothered her as they spent a lot of time in them in her kingdom, and she knew that most other countries didn't, especially if their people didn't know how to swim. Her social awareness wasn't up to par with a lot of things, but she usually felt like she was able to hold a decent conversation, even if she made mistakes sometimes.
tab She wasn't sure what this academy was doing to her, it was already making her so on edge this early on, but at least she was able to find some kind souls in the mix. Mike being one of them. After her own initial reaction to blurting out her words, she had tried to move on by going over the steps of her swimming lesson but she had apparently said something else wrong. The man in front of her bringing both of his hands to his face in an exasperated motion. She fidgeted, almost as if she was upset she wasn't putting her best self forward right now. " Michael...?" she didn't understand what she had said wrong. Floating, then breathing techniques were how she was taught. Was that not right? " That's how I was taught, if it's not correct I completely understand I-" as he said her name, she clammed up, her eyes looking up at his eyes turned into a deep shade of red. She still found that part of his power quite interesting and the different shades of color were all so pretty.
tab Focusing on his words she furrowed her brow a little, trying to think of why he couldn't do it tonight. As her brain thought it over, she felt him stepping closer and a warm touch on her chin that caused her eyes to widen, her eyes locked into his as she felt her breath catching in her chest. Both his proximity and him holding her eyes on his was only managing to keep her mind running. She breathed out softly, the realization of why he couldn't float on his back reaching her mind. ' Right....boxers. Need swim trunks. Got it.' she thought to herself, her face heating up a little as she immediately felt foolish for suggesting it despite the words they had shared not that long ago.
tab Alosa found herself thinking back to what she blurted out. He seemed to have reacted earlier by getting red, did he too want to kiss her? She didn't see what the harm in that would be, it's not like she was doing something she hadn't done before. And so long as it didn't go any further than that she didn't mind. Something about feeling his arms around her again but in a more intimate way made her face go bright red. She couldn't even make herself pull the conversation back to the fact that he could still practice holding his breath under water and still remain on track with the lesson, not with him holding her like this. She smiled shyly, her usual peppy attitude dimmed slightly, but not because of anything bad. " I understand, that's my mistake." she didn't pull back or even make an attempt, in fact the opposite happened, she relaxed a little to his touch on her chin.
tab What would it feel like to kiss someone other than Ivan? It had been so many years she didn't remember what that felt like in the first place. Her pink eyes searched Michael's and when she was unable to find the answer she was looking for; a confirmation or denial of what was running through her mind. She seemed to come to the realization that she never actually voiced these thoughts, and of course he couldn't read her mind. If he could he probably would have said something by now. She was blushing red at this point, but she smiled shyly up at him before she spoke. " You know...I'm not seeing anyone at the moment, so you don't have to worry about that..." her voice was soft and quiet as she shifted her hands in the water to behind her back. Hopefully he got the hint, that she didn't mind if he kissed her.
Where they are: The Swimming Pool
XXX
Who they are with: Michael
XXX
What they're feeling: Nervous, Excited
XXX
What they're wearing: Bathing Suit
XXX
OUT of CHARACTER: n/a
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Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2024 7:19 pm
First shock seemed to take her than he had been so bold. On instinct it made him want to back off, give Alosa the space and respect she deserved. It wasn't lost on him how unsightly he was. How the angry, mangled lines in his skin made him look far more vicious than was in his nature. Ghosts of the past whispered in his ear to remind him daily. But then that shock seemed to melt into realization and she murmured out a soft apology. Yet she didn't put space between them. Instead she seemed to melt into his touch in a way that was completely unfamiliar to him. For a moment they stood like that, her eyes searching his for something. What it was? That was beyond Michael. The way she was looking at him almost felt foreign as she seemed to collect her thoughts. Then she glanced demurely up at him and suggested that he should go further.
It was Michael's turn to look shocked. Concern bled into his features and his hand snapped back, off of her chin. It was like he couldn't put space between them quickly enough. This little plan to scare her into understanding the position they were in had gone horribly wrong. Pretty girls didn't like him, not like this. After all, that was why Nadine sought out others to satisfy her during their marriage. A fact that she had made perfectly clear to him as they spent time together. Which meant that Alosa must not be thinking right. Not tonight. "I'm so-"
In his haste to put distance between them, his foot slipped. Thankfully going down on water wasn't painful. He'd barely swallowed in air before his head submerged under the water. On the one hand, he was grateful. The water was cold against his face and grounded him. Like it was shocking him out of whatever strange illusion that he'd just been living in. On the other hand, it figured that he was showing off just how clumsy he was to a girl he'd just met. What a wonderful first impression. Nearly drowning in a swimming pool in his boxers and then tripping over himself. If only the embarrassment could eat him alive and he wouldn't have to figure out his way out of this situation.
Finally, after a moment or two, his head breached the water. His normally fluffy hair was plastered around his head and the longest strands were tickling his chin as he considered what he could say to make any of this seem less like an insult to Alosa. Because it wasn't her. She was innocent, possibly too innocent. Not realizing what she was saying or asking of him. Or, if she did realize what she was asking for, she didn't understand the gravity of asking for it. And from him no less. Mike was the problem. Reading deeper meaning that weren't there into her words. Thinking of her in a way he didn't deserve to. He could only pray that a lesser man wouldn't prey on that nativity.
"Sorry." Mike took a breath, willing his racing mind to just... stop. Only his head was above water, instead of coming back to his full height he had opted to stay crouched. As if the water would protect him from the woman before him. "It's too soon... Wait, not like that." The words that came out made him wince. That didn't sound right. Not without context. Closing his eyes, he brought his hands together and rested his forehead against them, almost as if he were praying. Then, letting out a long breath, he continued without opening his eyes. "It hasn't quite been a year since... Well, since my wife died. I..." Nothing ever prepared him for ripping that bandaid off. Every time he said it felt like a new reminder that he should have been the one to take that hit. "I can't."
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pool ☀︎ alosa
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Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2024 5:56 pm
tab Alosa wasn't sure exactly what to expect for a reaction, she had just met him tonight and she knew that it was really quick moving. That's why she was so surprised, but if it was meant to be it was going to happen, right? So when he backed away himself, his hand falling from her chin she widened her eyes, reaching a hand out to try and catch him before he slipped fully and missing. She closed her eyes as he went under, and slowly opened them as she looked over and held her hands close to her chest. She was glad he was okay, that they were in the pool. ' What did I do? Did I scare him?' she had a look of concern in her eyes as she looked at his hair and how long it actually was, she hadn't realized that he had some curl to it.
tab As he started to speak again, she listened quietly, not wanting to interrupt him especially when he seemed so worried. " No, please its fi-" she started to speak after his initial apology and saying it was too soon. She could see that, that it was too soon, but she had thought he had wanted to kiss her. So when he broke the news that he not only was married at one point, but she had passed not even a year ago, her eyes widened and she covered her mouth. She didn't have to be an empath to see how he was hurting, he certainly wasn't ready for something like physical contact with someone new. Never mind the fact that she had been touchy earlier, and she felt her face heat up before she shook her head and lowered her hands. " It's alright Michael! I get it, I...I didn't know." she felt her heart tighten as she looked at him, the feeling of loss something she was familiar with in a unfortunate close way.
tab She could recall losing her sister, and while it wasn't the same as losing a spouse, that was the only thing she could associate it to. She tightened her hands a little as she held them close. The long days where she just wanted the days to end, but then at night she struggled even more because she knew her sister was gone. She couldn't imagine losing someone you met and fell in love with, only for the world to rip them away from you. She looked down as her sister's face flashed in her mind and she shook her head before pushing the thought away. " I'm sorry, that you lost her. You must have loved her very much." she tried to smile reassuringly without it being too much. She didn't move closer, not yet. She tightened her hands and looked up at him even if he didn't have his eyes open. She felt guilty for thinking about it, but she couldn't help but wonder what kind of person she was, for him to be so torn up about it still. " While not...the same, I'm familiar with losing a loved one. It's never easy, but..." she paused, wondering if he'd even want to be friends with someone like her. She got int trouble, even if she didn't mean to. She was clumsy, talked too much and was too touchy. She closed her own eyes and took a breath, trying to get the courage to finish her sentence. " -but that's what friends are for, right?" she spoke softly, getting the words out before she opened her eyes and a brief flash of sympathy flashed in them before she let her hands sink into the water and she moved them a little.
tab She felt bad for bringing up such bad memories for him, and she knew certainly that that wasn't something that one probably wanted to discuss with a new person they just met. She was fully prepared to change the subject either way, but she had one last thing she wanted to say first. " It...might be awkward at first, but I'd like to be your friend at least. Would that be alright?" she knew it sounded childish; she was twenty-one for crying out loud! But she couldn't help but feel like he was vulnerable, and she didn't want to push any boundaries that she didn't know were there. She felt nervous still, hoping that they could still be friends even if needing to move forward on from this. " You at least did good holding your breath under water." she said, shifting the topic a little, hoping to lighten the mood slightly and getting him back to a more comfortable situation. She didn't even seem to mind his slip, she'd done worse earlier and he caught her in his arms, literally. So she was no person to judge the gracefulness of anyone.
Where they are: The Swimming Pool
XXX
Who they are with: Michael
XXX
What they're feeling: Worried
XXX
What they're wearing: Bathing Suit
XXX
OUT of CHARACTER: n/a
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Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2024 5:53 pm
Everything felt too still. Like the world was going in slow motion. As Alosa mentioned how much he must have loved his wife his stomach rolled. Guilt was eating at him. The guilt of knowing that he hadn't really loved Nadine. For how badly he'd wanted to in the four years they were together, Michael had never felt the kind of deep love he'd seen his nursemaid hold for the butler of the Sera estate. The kind of deep and comfortable love you felt for someone who seemed to hold a part of your soul that he longed for. Even worse, the longer she was gone the more and more sure he was that she had been a negative influence on both himself and Mirabella. Yet here he was, unable to move on. Stuck stagnant as the world moved around him. Using her as an excuse not to suffer the disappointment of not being wanted when Mother Sun's first rays danced over the horizon.
Taking in a deep breath, he stood back to his full height. As Alosa's hand drifted down from her mouth, Michael's shot out to catch it. A small squeeze was the only comfort he could offer her at the moment in response to the pain that she was clearly experiencing at the thought. "It's not a pain I would wish on anyone." A sad smile spread over his face. His thumb ran over her knuckles absently, trying to soothe the pain any way he could. There was a strange clarity in the moment. The war had stolen so much from everyone, even going as far as to hurt the ray of light before him. His orange eyes shifted to a soft yellow as he watched his thumb dance over her fingers. "For what it is worth, I'm sorry for your loss."
Friends was a far better offer than he felt he deserved at the moment. Who was he to deny her request? The sadness in his smile eased, shifting to wistful as he considered what had made her pause for so long. Had he really made it seem like he didn't want for her company? "I would be lucky to call you a friend, Miss Alosa. But," Letting his sentence trail off, he shifted his gaze to the window. The sun had long set and the moon was high above them. Just how long had they been at this awkward dance in the pool of trying to prevent her from seeing more than she bargained for? "It's getting late, I don't want to keep you out all night. But, before you go, would you mind meeting me here again?"
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The fact that she had said yes after their disastrous first meeting in the pool had been a surprise. One that Mike was grateful for. Maybe she could help him become less of a disaster in the water so that if they ever needed to swim for any of their classes he wouldn't make a complete fool of himself. Even better, in the interim he'd managed to ask and receive swim trunks from one of his attendants. Now he wouldn't have to spend the entire time trying to keep his waist below the water. They'd chosen another night to meet, hopeful that the pool would continue to be empty late into the evening.
It would seem that they had been right. There was no one else in the pool room as Mike arrived. Shedding the shirt and shoes he'd worn to the pool, he approached the edge of the water to wait for Alosa. He'd left his room too early, not wanting her to arrive first when he had been the one to ask for her to meet him. He'd already given her too much to worry about the first night. Being late on top of it was unacceptable. Dropping down, he sat on the edge of the pool with his feet in the water. There was something calming about watching the night sky as he waited.
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pool ☀︎ alosa
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Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2024 7:22 pm
tab Alosa didn't know what he'd been through but he was so kind and caring towards her that she didn't like to see him upset already, not that she enjoyed seeing anyone so upset, but she had a feeling in her stomach that there was more to the story than he was letting on. She knew better than to press, even in her naive mind she knew some things were better off told at their own speed. When he stood up again and she felt his hand taking hers. Her pink eyes widened a little before she smiled sadly up at him. The memory of her sister was dear to her, and her own traumatizing experience with the same man who had taken her life haunted her. She squeezed Mike's hand back and her smile shifted to a grateful expression. " I....thank you." she managed the words, pushing down the thought of her elder sister again, so she didn't get upset. " I believe she would be proud of the person I became today, despite her not being here for it." without giving away who it was, she felt the need to say that if not to make herself feel better.
tab Alosa felt the conflict leaving her expression and she brightened up as he agreed to be her friend. She had a feeling that she'd enjoy his company even if as just friends. In fact it was kind of nice, to have a friend who she could spend time with outside of classes and it certainly helped that he was attractive at that. She nodded her head, a softer smile on her face as she listened to him. As his gaze drifted off she glanced over and the moon shone through the window. That was a striking reminder of how late it actually was, and she didn't realize they'd spent so long there. Time went by fast when they were having fun! Even if it wasn't always a fun topic. Her pink eyes looked back to him and her lips curled into a wide smile as she raised her other hand back up out of the water and squeezed his hand with both of hers. " Yes, of course! I'd be happy to-"
tab Alosa had enjoyed his company so of course she agreed to meet up with him again. She had, after all, just promised him swimming lessons. She decided to wear one of her favorite swimsuits this time, he might as well get to know her personality right away, otherwise they might waste time getting to know each other. She adjusted the skirt as she made her way there. The cover over her shoulders moving as she pushed open the door to the pool and she saw him sitting looking out at the night sky. She smiled and gently closed the door behind her. " I hope I didn't keep you long!" she was a few minutes behind but that was because she panicked when she couldn't find the skirt to match. The important things.
tab She set her towel down, pulling her hair up into a soft messy bun before sliding off the skirt. She felt perfectly comfortable in the bathing suit, just walking through the halls felt odd without something on. She didn't want any prying eyes to get any ideas. She set the now-folded skirt on the bench with her towel and walked over to Mike, leaning down and smiling before she pressed her hand to the edge of the pool and stepped into the water. She stretched her arms above her head and a content sigh escaped her as she closed her eyes, even the water up to her waist relaxed her. Pink eyes flicked over to him for a moment before she dropped into the water so her head went under and she pushed a few strands of hair that stuck to her forehead back. She had emerged but kept herself more in the water as she smiled at him. " I'm glad I didn't scare you off with being so clumsy the other night."
Where they are: The Swimming Pool
XXX
Who they are with: Michael
XXX
What they're feeling: Excited
XXX
What they're wearing: Bathing Suit with matching skirt.
XXX
OUT of CHARACTER: n/a
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