Only Natural for a Guy [Ember, Open]

[Shiny]

Stretching like a cat, the topless Jerash flopped back onto the sand, exhaling heavily with a content smile on his face.

To tell the truth, he'd never really been on a beach before, having grown up in a cothold that was surrounded by jungle.

It was amazing.

He flung his arms on either side of him, almost in the position to make a snow angel. He cracked open his eyes and squinted at the bright afternoon sky, the sun blinding him.

'I wish I had someone to enjoy this with. Maybe one day, if I Impress, I can bring my dragon here and we can just have fun.' His smile grew broader. It was a good thing that nobody (to his knowledge) was nearby, otherwise they would call him a fool. And he was, but who wanted to be embarrassed like that?

He propped himself up with his elbows, staring out into the water that almost licked at his feet. Farther out, a strong current flowed; he could see how the water practically cut around the rocks jutting from the surface there.

An idea suddenly sprung into his head. He quickly got up, bare feet burying in almost scalding sand. The slight breeze made his light brown hair dance.

The water was alluring. He grinned, having decided on testing his idea.

He sprinted forth, kicking up sand behind him, and headed straight for the river.

The cool water was refreshing to his overheated feet as it splashed up to wet the rims of the tan-coloured pants he had rolled up to mid-calf height. The sand now had pebbles in it, which were uncomfortable to step on, but he liked it nonetheless. He headed forth, the water quickly rising up to his knees, up to his thighs, up past his hips. Delighted at the new sensation, he kept going. And kept going until the water was just below his shoulders, at the start of his deltoids. The tag on his necklace was submerged.

Jerash turned his head, looking over his shoulder with wide, gleaming gray eyes.

'Did I really come out this far?' The shore wasn't as close as he thought it'd be. It then dawned on him that, yes, this was a stupid, stupid idea for someone who didn't know how to swim.

Then again, it was only natural for a guy like him and his maniacal testosterone to plot things that could be potentially dangerous and carry them out without a second thought.

The now large rocks below his feet were slippery with algae and moss. And... what was this force pushing against him? A current?

A shiver went up his spine as he realized how much danger he had just put himself into. He could lose his balance at any moment if the current pushed him any harder with this slimy crap under his feet.

'Oh, I am so, so fail...'

[archenstone]

Kalina allowed the current of water to pull her down river. She was stretched out...moving her hands in the water to steer her around sunken logs and floating vegetation. The chill of the water was a stark contrast to the warm sun on her head. This is something she loved...the fast pace of the river was almost dangerous in the middle and was strong enough to require swimming at an angle to get across.

The river narrowed a little bit and she felt the current push harder...uh oh. It was more dangerous on this stretch but she enjoyed the challege. Everything was going perfect till she saw a guy up ahead. What was he doing trying to stand near the middle? Surely he could tell the current was strong. As she angled towards him she noticed he didn't seem too happy. She twisted her body...making her feet touch bottom. Oh....large rocks covered this area. She dug in harder...finding it difficult to stop after allowing herself to get moved by the current.

"Watch out! I can't stop!" She called out....trying to swim out of the path of collusion. There was a submerged log by him. If she could just reach it and grab hold.....she pushed hard and reached. As her hands grabbed a limb from the log she felt her foot tap something. Did she hit him after all?

[Ember]

T'san was determined to enjoy his day. He'd escaped from the loving attentions of his salamandyr to come to the river and he wasn't going to let her anger bother him. She should use her time to go stalk her little blue friend, or whatever. He wanted to search for F'lix which meant she clearly wanted to go find F'lix's mandyr. Sighing, the man stretched out on the sand, head resting on his sleeping dragon's forepaw. T'san kind of envied dragons' ability to fall asleep in the sun without burning. If he tried that he'd end up a boiled crustaceon by the end of the day.

The sound of water splashing soothed him and he could almost feel himself drifting off. Hmm, he'd have to be careful about that. His eyes flickered open and he squinted agaisnt the light of the southern sun. As pleasant as the day was, he was beginning to get a bit bored. T'san let his hand drift over the sand idly as he wondered what to do. Suffer boredom or find someone to bother? Maybe he should go find F'lix and annoy him. The last time had been rather entertaining.

A sudden shout made the man sit up in surprise and he scowled. He knew that voice. Greenrider. He remembered that much...but what was her name? Karolina...Kalerina...ah, Kalina? Yes that sounded about right. He glanced at the river and was somewhat amused by the sight. Oh dear. Was it time to go be the cool dragonrider? He stood up and approached the water. To go running in or to call his dragon. Choices, choices.

The brownrider decided to let sleeping dragons lie. He waded into the water and sighed as the water swirled around him. Silly people interrupting his sunning. Oh well, maybe Kalina would reward his heroism with a kiss. T'san kicked off from the bottom and swam powerfully to where he could see the kid knocked over by the greenrider. He grabbed the boy's clothes and tsked. So much work. He swam backwards with the not-so-young boy, not stopping until he could safely let go. "Oi, beautiful. You should be more careful of when and where you decide to knock a guy off his feet!" He called flirtatiously to Kalina.

[Shiny]

A body came rushing down the river directly at him. She shouted at him to get out of the way, but it was too late. Despite her best efforts, she still kicked him accidentally.

"Whhoaaa-" Jerash flailed his arms in an effort to keep himself balanced, but the current and the added force of her foot was enough to get him slipping and sliding along the algae. Splashing ensued as he fell into the water, arms still working 'round like windmills, trying - and failing - to keep his head above the surface.

His hair was floating around him like seaweed; if it wasn't for panicking, he probably would have enjoyed it. Thrashing about, Jerash tried to kick off the rocks below. They were just too slippery; there'd be no way he could use them. The only way out of the situation was to either learn how to swim or drown.

Making circular motions with his arms, Jerash opened his eyes slowly. His crystalline gray eyes stared into the deep. It was rather dark where he was - which freaked him out, having a very active fear of the dark - but at least he could still see. There were a few fish here and there, and the aquatic plant life was pretty.

Large oblong bubbles escaped his mouth as he looked towards the surface. He squeezed his eyes shut; there was no way he could hold onto the air in his lungs anymore. A cloud of bubbles charged for the surface - water was just making its way into his airway -

Something grabbed his ass. The sun-kissed's eyes flew open once more as he was dragged up to the surface by his behind.

He inhaled air and spluttered water out almost at the same time. Heavy coughs raked his body in time with equally heavy panting. The man who had rescued him was practically flirting over his shoulder to the girl who had pushed him accidentally. Was he taking this... lightly?

A realization came to him as he continued to try and stabilize his breathing.

He may have just met his match.

[archenstone]

Kalina looked to where the boy was. Whoops. Apparently she kicked him off his perch. She waited for a moment expecting him to pop up again sputtering at her about clumsy women or some other comment. After several seconds though she began to worry. She was about to dive under herself when she saw T'san running in. Did he know the boy? Her eyes darted from T'san to where the boy had been and clicked. He couldn't swim? The idea was preposterous...every one could swim right? Worry plain on her features as T'san dove against the current and pulled him out. How stupid of her! Good thing Uminth was dozing somewhere.

She couldn't help but eye T'san appreciatively as he splashed out of the water with other guy. How was he always there at the right time? She shrugged and started swimming to shore to follow. She could at least apoligize for knocking him....off his feet? She got to shore and shot a grin at T'san. Always...flirting.

"And spoil the fun of surprise?" She said back to him. She walked over to the guy who she's knocked over. Once his breathing seem to get back to normal she said. "Sorry 'bout that. I didn't realize you couldn't swim. I'm Kalina." She held out her hand smiling at him. Her black hair dripped water and her swim suite clung a little too snug. She had been meaning to get a new one but what she had was her favorite. Much better than swimming naked with random guys around. Her amber eyes held a glint of mischievousness. "If you want I teach you swim sometime....without knocking you around." She offered.

[Ember]

T'san winked at the rider of Dsoleth's previous flight win. "Ah the element of surprise...That just totally makes up for knocking somone down," he joked, at ease around the woman. He was comfortable with any member of the opposite sex, really. Perhaps a bit belatedly, T'san realized he should actually inquire how the lad he'd rescued was holding up. He poked the still slightly out of breath kid with his foot. "You alright there kid?I didn't give you too bad of a wedgie did I?"

The man looked Kalina over and couldn't help but smirk slightly. That was a bit of a tight swimsuit, wasn't it? Ah, speaking of clothes his were all wet now. Few things were more unpleasant than wet underwear. At least it gave him an excuse to strip off his top though. It would dry faster off of him and baking in the sun. He was in the act of pulling his shirt up and over his head when he heard Kalina's offer. Oh? Sure offer that one help but no reward for the brave brownrider?

He pouted slightly as he held his wet shirt in one of his hands though his eyes were dancing with amusement. "What, no reward for me? No one appreciates a kind act anymore!" For the amusement of those present he also added, "And no, that's not an invitation for you to kiss me kid, much as I know you're probably dying to." T'san proceeded to wring out his shirt as he looked from candidate to greenrider.

[Shiny]

His breathing almost returned to normal, he blinked as the girl who had accidentally shoved him with her foot held out her hand. Although his mouth was still open in a bit of a flat "o" from shock, he shook her hand and nodded. He spoke in a slightly weakened voice after a moment of recuperation. "Nice to meet you. I'm Jerash." Lessons would be a good idea, especially if he ever wanted to attempt something like that again. "Lessons... would be greatly appreciated."

As the initial shock wore off, a new shock took over him momentarily; the woman had a tight, tight swimsuit on. Before he got a nosebleed, he turned his head quickly and concentrated on the other man.

Which was when he realized that the other man had taken off his shirt. And damn, he was nice.

Realizing that he would not win this war if he looked at either of the two, he quickly averted his stare to the shore off in the distance.

The others joked around a bit, before the other man seemed to remember that Jerash was there. When he mentioned wedgies, Jerash realized that he did, in fact, have one of his own. He took the rim of his pants and shifted it left and right to adjust his problem out of his butt crack, but the action was in vain. He pouted, clearly uncomfortable.

"Ah - Never mind the wedgie... But thanks for saving me. I really appreciate it." He listened to the type of reward the other man was suggesting and grinned. This guy had his kind of humor!

[archenstone]

Kalina glanced at T'san....who was clearly hoping he'd get something for being the hero. "Nice to meet you Jerash." She said. She turned toward T'san while Jerash fixed his wedgie. "Oh? When aren't you inviting any young woman to kiss you?" She chuckled, threading her fingers through her hair to keep the dripping mass out of her eyes. She took the couple steps needed to reach him and paused....taking the time to let her eyes travel from his stomach up to his face...being completely obvious about what she was doing. She then stepped into his personal space and wrapped her arms around him. "Besides....where's the fun when you're expecting it?" She whispered in his ear. She let him go after teasing his ear with her teeth. T'san was just fun to tease after all. She didn't give him the chance to grab or entrap her for more though. "Hey we're all wet anyways...lets get back in!" She said to both guys as she jumped into the river...opting for an area with little current so Jerash could at least stand in the water and not get swept away like last time.

[Ember]

T'san chuckled at the candidate's admission. Poor kid. Still, being alive with a wedgie was better than being dead. At least in his opinion. Jerash seemed to agree so all was well. "Mm, nice meeting you Jerash," he added on top of Kalina's greeting. "I'm T'san." He'd forgotten that he still needed to introduce himself. Oops. He smiled at the candidate, though he was a bit amused that the boy was glancing away from either of them. Weird kid.

T'san turned his smile on Kalina instead and actually responded to the question. "When I already have a young woman kissing me." He watched her approach with a mix of surprise and amusement. She wouldn't actually would she? Her breath by his ear and her whispered words made him grin and he let her release him. He was a flirt, but he wasn't an ass. "Getting brave, aren't you?" He commented appreciatively. The first time they had met she hadn't been so playful.

Her suggestion had merit and he glanced at Jerash before following after Kalina. T'san splashed into the water exaggeratedly before using his hands to splash water towards the greenrider. "Ha! Take that you fiend!" Splashing would probably have been more effective had they not already been wet but oh well. It was fun anyways, right?

[Shiny]

Jerash had to admit it: even if T'san was flirtatious, he had respect for those he victimized (could it even be called victimizing?). A lot of other guys would have taken advantage of Kalina's promiscuous behaviour, but T'san let it playfully roll off of his broad shoulders.

Hard pebbles bit into the soles of his feet once more as he raced into the water after the other two. Still dripping from his last stupidity act, it didn't matter if he got splashed or not. Although he would keep in mind not to go in so deep this time.

T'san was charging in ahead of him. They were soldiers in the same war. But were the on the same side? Hopefully they were, because T'san was a lot bigger than he was.

He snickered under his breath, repeating the last phrase in his head. He wouldn't know that for a fact, but maybe, just maybe, Kalina would.

Or perhaps she'd be willing to find out.

The suit-clad woman was being splashed by T'san. It seemed like good fun, and seeing T'san as a role model, Jerash also began to splash the poor girl. He cupped his hands, trying to splash as much water as he could up, but it was never enough!

It wasn't fair that only Kalina was getting splashed... T'san would have to bear with a little backstabbing. Jerash almost fell over, trying so hard to splash both of them equally. He only hoped that T'san wouldn't try to get him back for it, because he'd be toast.

[archenstone]

Kalina felt water douse her head as she stood in the water. Laughing she splashed back. Her smile was wide and open, she enjoyed romping around or anything that was fun really. She noticed Jerash as more water came her way. Taking a breath she went backwards, using her feet to splash them with kicks. Water went everywhere including on the two guys.

It felt like old times back at Blossom Hold....except there kids playing where sometimes met with dolphins who would splash and play too. The lake was always safe with a dolphin around. As the current began to pull her too far to make kicking worth while she turned and stood...making her way back towards them. She saw Jerash splashing T'san. What a good idea! As soon as she was close enough she pushed her hands through the water...adding to what Jerash had started.She liked T'san. Flirtatiousness and affairs aside, she thought he was good man. At least he had always treated her nice right? She enjoyed the easy way they could just goof off and enjoy a day.

[Ember]

T'san grinned as the candidate lad joined him in his splashing. Yes, double teaming the greenrider was a good idea! Get back at her for that little stunt earlier (not that it had annoyed T'san in the least). He suddenly found himself being splashed more vigorously. When he noticed why her splashing had become more scary he chuckled. Kicking water at them! How crafty.

Ack! Backstabber in their midsts! The older man playfully pretended to be angry at being splashed by his former partner in crime. Well at least Jerash was still being splashed by Kalina, so it wasn't like he was really being double teamed. T'san should have knocked on wood. He ought to have known Kalina would spare Jerash if he was the target of both of them.

If they kept double teaming him he'd be forced to even the odds. Instead of calling for Dsoleth though, the brownrider turned on Jerash and began to splash at him. "Traitor!" He yelled, though his voice was clearly amused. T'san took a couple steps Jerash's way to see what the kid would do. Would he back away, keep splashing, or turn on Kalina again?

[Shiny]

The brown-haired man not unlike himself turned on him, just as he'd predicted. Jerash grinned as T'san called him a traitor. Well, it was too late to turn back now. It was full-out traitor from now on!

The taller male towered over the shorter one. Jerash stared at him with big icy eyes for a moment before a different kind of grin - his signature 'oh that is dirty muahaha' look - crossed his face. He tilted his head to look at Kalina. "My, he really is bigger than me, isn't he?" He gave T'san a suggestive once-over and wiggled his brows at the poor girl. She was the target of flirting today, it seemed! (Don't get him wrong, he would love to flirt with T'san too - my, that man was drool-worthy - but it was always safer to flirt with the opposite sex in case the same-gendered person would get offended by that sort of thing. As Jerash learned over the years, unfulfilled desire is much more preferable than a black eye.)

"Although I do suggest you double check that, just for the record," and with that, Jerash took a few hasty steps backwards from the brownrider. He quickly bent and stuck a hand into the water, reaching down until his fingers were digging through the pebbles. His arm retracted and he righted himself, equipped with a fistful of sand-muck. He grinned evilly and launched the muddy projectile at T'san.

Too bad Jerash's aim was influenced by his hormones. It sailed over T'san's head and was homing in on Kalina!

[archenstone]

Kalina chuckled, unable to remember when she'd had so much fun. She winked back at Jerash, sending another wave of water towards T'san. "Pick on some one your own size T'san!" She called out playfully. She tood a few steps forward...aiming to get close enough te really dump water on the man when something came sailing over him. "What....? EEK!"

Kalina dunked underwater at site of the incoming missle. Not expecting the aerial attack though she could feel the thunk of it hitting the water and splooshing onto her neck. Eeeeewwwwww. She stuck her head up out of the water only to find muck in her hair. Oh well, time to under again. She sank beneath the water and shook her head and used her hands to rid her hair of mud. She knew the whole time she'd be at the mercy of the guys. Just wait....mud balls it is.

[Ember]

T'san paused in his assault of the candidate. He stood there for a moment with a slightly perplexed frown on his face. What was the boy talking about? The once over clued him in and he grinned. "And wouldn't you like to find out," he joked in reply, voice carrying a deliberately suggestive undertone. Or was that a mocking undertone? Probably a mix of both. How childish of the brownrider. It was the equivalent of a teasing 'you're cute but I don't go for candidates'.

He smirked as the mudball went clear over his head - which made little sense since he wasn't that hard to miss, oh well - and straight for Kalina. As she ducked under the water his smirk broadened a little. She'd literally asked for it... He gave Jerash a brief conspiratory wink before wandering over to the submerged greenrider. He wrapped one arm under her waist and the other went over her legs. Ready or not...T'san attempted to lift her. His success depended on whether or not she struggled.