highfiving | (no subject)

(no subject)

[if there was one thing Elympions were really adept at, it was creating highly technological constructions and living the "high life" so to speak. after the schism dropped, this only increased due to the access to additional, if currently expensive, resources. and with Rieze Maxia also being rich with resources and willing to increase the economy, coordinating to create a fun place where both citizens could enjoy was easier than expected. had a few bumps along the way, of course, including whether the location would adversely affect the neighboring towns, but after several months of planning and clearing out the monsters, a large portion of the Kijara Seafalls had been converted to something like a water park resort. using the natural formations already existing, including the many waterfalls, the company in charge of this endeavor managed to recreate the setting to include natural made water slides and of course the many variety of natural and artificial pools—casual ones to just sit and relax, larger ones to just swim around, wave pools, and even a section for some heated ones.

technology wise, it's a combination of spirit artes, spyrix, and spyrites. the use of spyrix had been as minimal as possible, but their world isn't quite there with replacing it with spyrite. however, it has been designed so that the conversion would be seamless, and it helps that the park is indeed mostly naturally made.

so during the following summer of their last adventure, Alvin had received two tickets to its opening. a gift for being a Svent. although he isn't really "part of the family" anymore, he can't exactly say he didn't like the few perks that come his way. free gifts definitely were one of them. now the problem is...would he actually go? If so, who would he ask? or should he just give them both away? but even with those questions, he was already thinking, "Leia would probably kill to have these." and well, that made his decision for him.

and so invite her he did and here they are at the Kijara Seafalls Resort. the opening ceremony had been a "splashing" hit and the place is packed with a variety of people from esteemed invited guests to those who managed to purchase tickets to every day families who won the lottery prize. and a lot of kids. a lot of kids.

and like everyone else, he's dressed in casual swimming shorts, sandals, sunglasses, and a loose unbuttoned shirt.]

Well the lines are going to be insane, I can tell you that much. So what should we try out first?

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I'll be holding you to that, then!

[ and she mirrors his grin. in a way, it kind of feels nice to know that she's not going to have to worry about anything like that happening. ]

Lucky for you, I'm probably more fun to hang around than some stranger would be, anyway.

You certainly make things more entertaining, I can say that much.

[ somehow, that doesn't sound like it's necessarily a good thing, but... ]

I'm gonna take that as a compliment!

[ and look at that, they're starting to get closer to the pool. ]

[he's just going to chuckle because like he'd ever tell her whether it's a compliment or some joking insult. (mostly the former)

and man is the pool busy. not overcrowded, but still. it takes them a little while, but they find two vacant chairs to claim as their own, and that's where he sets their bag down.]

Want some sunscreen?

[ she plops herself down the minute they find the chairs, and reaches a hand out at the mention of sunscreen. ]

Yep! I don't wanna get burnt, you know.

[ even if she'd probably look hilarious if that happened. ]

[and digging it out before handing it over to her.]

Do you burn easily?

[she really would look hilarious.]

Well... I wouldn't say I burn easily, just that I seriously don't want it to happen.

[ so, she gets started on quickly and generously applying the sunscreen to everywhere she can reach, which goes well up to a point. that point being her back, of course. ]

I'm gonna need a hand with this last part, though.

I had a feeling you would.

[he moves to sit next to her and holds out his hand for the sunscreen.]

Just the back, right?

You got it.

[ and she hands it over. ]

Make sure not to skimp, all right?

[ if she ends up with a sunburn after this, he'll be getting an earful. ]

Right, right.

[said loftily as he takes the bottle and starts applying the sunscreen as naturally as if they did this kind of thing all the time. he starts with the shoulders—kind of an obvious starting point. but when he starts working his way down her right shoulder and down her back, he pauses.

it's not prominent as its healed a fair bit and it's not exactly large, but he can see the outline of a scar there. it puzzles him for a moment. when did that happen? but then it hits him like a bullet—the bullet he shot her with. instantly the cheerful din of the park fades as he stares at the mark, his fingers lightly brushing against it.

his actions are considerably different so Leia is likely to notice the change.]

[ a year ago, or maybe even just a few months ago, she probably would've been too conscious of the scar to actually ask him to do something like this. as they are now, though, the thought didn't even cross her mind— it's healed and it doesn't hurt anymore, so it's not something she makes a point of thinking about.

she does notice the change in how he's touching her, though, and it only takes her a moment to start to make the connection. of course, when she does, she feels kind of guilty. even if she's forgiven him, sometimes it seems like he has trouble forgiving himself. ]

Everything okay back there?

[ her voice is a little softer than usual, and she turns her head to look back at him. ]

Huh?

[her question and movement snaps him back out of his thoughts and he just looks at her blankly for a moment before there's one of his old grins—the kind he uses to try and get away from something bothering him.]

Oh, no. Just noticing how you probably should make sure all your knots are tightened. Wouldn't want your top falling off or some kid pulling on them..

[well that's the worst "cover-up" story he's come up with and he is inwardly cringing so bad. seriously, Alvin? that's what comes out of your mouth?? well hopefully it's enough to distract her so he just gives a half-empty laugh and continues with applying the sunscreen, his eyes only drifting back to the scar once before he focuses elsewhere.

[ she knows him well enough to know the signs of a cover-up by now, so even though she continues to sit still and let him finish applying the sunscreen, she's not going to let him worm out of this completely. ]

Alvin...

[ she says it in the way that she usually does when something is wrong and she's worrying about him. ]

Are you sure that's all it is?

[ it's only a small push, because she's not going to force this out of them when they came out here to have fun. ]

[them being here for fun is part of the reason why he doesn't really want to get into it. so once he finishes, he just sets the bottle down and places both hands on her shoulders, giving them a light squeeze.]

Yeah, it is. [a lie.] Now lets go out there and have some fun.

All right.

[ she might not be completely convinced, but she'll let it go for the time being. she pushes herself up and then turns to face him. ]

So, should we just jump in, or should we take it slow and get used to it first?

[good, they're moving on. maybe another time he might talk about it, but...not right now.]

I'm surprised you're even asking. I would have guessed you would just jump in with no question.

Come on, give me a little more credit than that!

[ and there they are, more or less back to normal. ]

I can be patient sometimes, you know.

Keyword being sometimes.

[and he's walking ahead to the pool.]

Like you're any better!

[ okay, no, he probably is. either way, she follows closely behind him. ]

Definitely better than you at least.

[just not even gonna hide it as he leads her toward the deeper end of the pool.]

Especially when I know that it's better to wait.

Yeah, but jumping in is way more exciting, isn't it?

[ and since he's leading her toward the deeper end, she figures that he clearly wants to jump in, anyway. ]

Yep.

[and then just. casually stepping back to be behind her.]

There's also this way, too.

[AND LIFT. princess carry style.]

Wh—

[ she squeals when he lifts her. her reaction gets a few people to turn their heads, but this is a pool and roughhousing is a thing that happens sometimes, so no one (aside from her, obviously) seems particularly surprised. ]

What are you doing?!

[ and she kicks her legs out a little. ]

Remember how I said sometimes it's better to have patience and wait? This is one of those times.

[just smiling down at her.]

Take a deep breath!

[and without any other warning, he just half throws and half drops her in the pool.]

[ and she does just that, taking a big gulp of air just as he lets her go. she hits the water with a splash and flails her arms and legs out a little, but it's probably a little too late for her to catch herself, good reflexes or not.

when she surfaces, she looks kind of mad, which... might be more intimidating were it not for the fact that she's also struggling with her now-wet hat. she ends up swimming forward a bit so she can set it on the edge of the pool and pout up at him. ]

What the heck did you do that for?