What a day to be blue

[seamend]

Date & Time: 7th, morning tiemz
Location: small lake in the woods
Characters: Vanadi and Aileen
Summary: Oh look its that one flirty guy oh he looks sad :CC
Warnings: we shall see??

[Aileen had gone out to the woods again, this time not for the ocean but just to see the lakes nearby. The first one she finds is as bad as she expected; filthy and full of dead water. She's seen the mutant animals running about, this is probably part of that in the first place.

It doesn't take her long to slip out of her shoes and wade a bit in, a ring of clarity stretching out on the water's surface around her ankles. Leaning over to dip her fingers in as well gets the same effect, but she can't help but sigh.

She knows she can clean the lake, knows she can clean the lot of them with just her touch; but she also knows nature is nature and it's only a temporary fix. But still, she wants to try.]

Comments

[seamend]

[She goes back to just... walking around in the water, leaving a path behind her where the murky, almost greasy surface splits into clean and clear.

She gives his question some thought, even as she draws more floating up into her hands to clean there and drop back in.]

Yes, it'll still be poisoned if I leave even a little. But, I don't really think of it as a chore.

[implying]

Convenient, that.

[ The nose of the mask lifts slightly, from watching the ripples of the water at shore, to watching her. She's far more interesting, really. ]

Why, if you don't mind?

[seamend]

Well it's really just as simple as it looks. Not a lot of effort.

[She keeps her eyes on her handiwork, letting the hem of her dress hang down in the water. Normally she'd try to save it the damage but with someone else around she's not interested in putting her scarred legs on display.]

But... I'll probably have to come back here more often if I want it to make a difference. The water is- sick, I guess you could say.

[implying]

[ The trailing dress doesn't escape his notice (of course he notices the failure to display shapely legs, no matter the mood he's in), but it's difficult to attribute it to anything but the ability to pull water out of it later on. He watches steadily, unreadable behind the mask. ]

Plenty of things are, in a world like this.

[seamend]

[She seems to decide the half of the lake she's been working at is good enough, and wades over to another section, keeping a certain distance from the center. At least in freshwater there's no chance of her little secret being revealed, but she's just not up for soaking herself through today.]

That's very true, but it never means deep wounds can't be healed.

[implying]

[ He's silent for a while at that. He can't help but disagree, but doing so out loud would only make things awkward and unhappy. They aren't talking about more personal things, after all. Only a lake. ]

Of course. I'm sure whatever it is that drinks from here will thank you.

[seamend]

Mmn, unfortunately I can't say it's entirely selfless.

[She glances back at him for a moment, eyeing the mask a bit. The curiosity of him coming out here at all was really nagging at her now. She pulled more water into her waiting palms as she spoke.]

How have you been, Vanadi?

[implying]

Oh, perfectly well. Fair weather and good company, who could ask for more!

[ come on like he wouldn't lie, who ever answers that question honestly?? ]

And yourself as well, I hope?

[seamend]

[Yeahh, she gives him an odd look. Because that's the exact answer she expected out of him.]

I've certainly been better. The clinic's very busy with the recent attacks but it's nothing we can't handle.

...Though, somehow I think a walk out here all alone isn't really your style, Vanadi.

[implying]

[ Oh, right. Attacks and stuff. No one Vanadi likes or knows has died yet, so he's pretty okay ignoring them. And at her observation, he aims a small smile at the water in front of him. ]

You know me so well already, do you? [ It rings with a special irony in his own ears, but on the outside only sounds faintly bitter. ]

[seamend]

[She just... frowns at him, but tries to pull it back up in a reassuring smile. Ohhh Vanadi...]

No, dear, its not hard to spot a social butterfly, is all. [Here the smile actually manages to be cheerful.] But sometimes everyone needs a little time to clear their head, hm?

[implying]

[ Oh, now he feels a little bad, he made a pretty lady frown. :C So he takes a breath and sits up a little straighter, determined to act more cheerful. ]

No, no, there's no real use in denying you're right. But really, I'm only being obstinate to myself. The right response to loneliness is not to isolate one's self, last time I checked!

[seamend]

Lonely? Now I find that a bit hard to believe; you seemed to be doing swimmingly not too long ago.

[Eyebrow raaise at that, but her expression is still gentle. She's been kinda concerned for him since they first spoke and this is only adding to it.] Sweetheart, there's absolutely nothing wrong with taking some time to yourself now and again.

[implying]

[ NOPE TOO LATE HE'S DETERMINEDLY HAPPY. So he only smiles, head cocked. ]

Why, but it's people like you that make me quite sure I never want to be alone again! The risk of missing out on your company is simply far too great.

[seamend]

[Oh boy, what does she even DO with you, Vanadi?? But that still gets a small laugh.]

You really are a charmer through and through, aren't you?

[implying]

Without fail, my dear.

[ And here the smile softens a little— or lessens somewhat, at least. ]

Ah, but truly— I do appreciate the thoughtful words. You're very kind.

[seamend]

[Right back again with the concern for him, she stares out on the water.]

It's no trouble. I only say so because because its true.

[implying]

Mm. [ It's a thoughtful non-word, and he's quiet for a few seconds, as if thinking it over. But then eventually: ] Do you know how beautiful you look in the water?

[ nope apparently no thinking, just checkin' her out. ]

[seamend]

[Wha- oh jeez this again. She rolls her eyes but the smile stays in place.] Really? While half soaked in a dirty lake? You really must be lonely.

[She wades further still, raising her voice a bit as she gets farther. Hm, still. This would be much faster if she could just swim it, but with him watching...] Vanadi, can I ask you a favor?

[implying]

Certainly, my dear! Anything for such a pretty face. [ And sort of like it's an afterthought: ] What is it?

[seamend]

Its a bit much to ask, but I do have to get back to work before it gets too late in the day. [She drops the water she had floating it front of her only moments ago, and takes a deep breath.]

Could you keep this our little secret? [And with that, she dives, arms straight out ahead. Nothing about her appearance changes, but the water seems to move around her. Purifying at a much faster rate as she cuts through-- moving daresay like a fish.]

[implying]

[ He watches with interest, leaning forward for a better view. He's not too sure what's going on here, aside from some kind of magic. It's a neat trick, though. He waits until her head is above water to speak again. ]

Certainly, my lips are sealed! —Although, it hardly seems anything terribly top secret.

[seamend]

[She resurfaces close to his spot on the lake; after taking a few laps around the water's looking crystal clear. At his comment she laughs bashfully.] Ah, but if we were in my home it would be. Magic isn't so celebrated there.

[With that all done, she starts wading out towards him, pulling water from her hair and clothes as she does so.]

[implying]

[ He stands up as she nears, brushing dirt from the back of his mantle. ]

It ought to be! If I could do magic, you may be sure there would be no stopping me from showing off with it!

[seamend]

[It takes her a moment to get all the water off, and for a moment her skirt wavers as she pulls the moisture from it, flashing a calf if he's quick enough to catch it. The scarring is straight through the inside of her legs and she flinches, hand moving automatically to smooth the skirt down.]

If only I were so confident.