heliodorianwings | And the sunlight hurts my eyes

[Sunlight brightens the coast, warming particles of sand, creating heat that burns bare feet. Jasper hauls his left foot off the ground and growls to himself; stomping sore skin into the ocean. He walks backwards in annoyance and finds solace in treading water. His nose wrinkles. By the look on surrounding faces it seems few notice - or dare to remark. He is not gentle enough to welcome concern. He watches his compatriots enjoy this stretch of beach, wishing to enjoy it all the same. Why compromise his pride?

Like his friend, he stands amongst others. Like his men, he is here to enjoy himself.

He feels the urge to move and rolls his shoulders. Eyes close in preparation. His feet cling to the ocean floor and within moments he pushes back, swimming close to their group with a series of backstrokes. He hears someone yell his name amongst splashes of water. How strange it feels, being surrounded by admiring peers who had once talked about him in harsher terms.

How strange indeed.]

[Time spent in Puerto Valor brings Hendrik back just a few years to the time when he lived in the port city on a daily basis. He encourages the other young knights to enjoy themselves but not to get too wild; they would still get picked up by the city guard if they made a ruckus within the city walls -- and that included the wide expanse of beautiful beach where others were relaxing or having fun in the water.

He stands with arms akimbo as he looks over at Jasper, snorting at his form.]

What are you doing, Jasper? Mimicking a jellyfish? You are moving so slowly.

And you are not moving at all.

[Feet paddle and flick water, scattering it across his nearby friend, drenching him in disdain while splitting the ocean in their wake. Hands rise and fall behind his head, creating motion as he pushes blind through the water - a challenge created with words and how he begins picking up pace.]

Though I dread to imagine you swimming at all. Might well sink to the bottom, I dare say!

I happen to be a strong swimmer!

[He snickers as Jasper splashes him, kicking water right back in his friend's direction, meaningless as it might be when he's already mostly submerged. For the moment, he isn't pursuing in swimming after him.]

Strong enough to drag you to the bottom.

[Jasper ceases swimming and lies content atop the water, concentrating his breathing and energy to float upon the surface. For a moment he stares at the sky. Bright, invigorating, wonderful. Like his friend in many respects.

Both of them so far away. He laughs at the boast and begins swimming again.]

All huff and bluster.

[Well, Hendrik certainly huffs at that comment, shaking his head as he watches Jasper again. As his friend moves through the relatively gentle waves, he catches sight of his long ponytail trailing. It brings a question to mind.]

Is this your first time swimming in the ocean, Jasper? It is much saltier than swimming in the streams back home.

[The unspoken suggestion makes him snort, turning his head as he inhales. His body floats on the waves and sways on the surf. Words drift in and out of mind, matching the gentle rhythm of the tide. He sounds exasperated only to a point.]

So I must bathe after this. Your point?

If you did not bathe, I would be surprised.

[He's used to Jasper's clipped responses though, and he walks closer to again kick water in his friend's direction.]

I was just thinking about how your hair is going to turn into a solid mass when it dries out.

[Ocean water drops across his shins, his thighs; splashes his stomach and dampens his neck. Fingers wipe the drizzle from his eyes. He sighs and sways in place.]

So I must rinse it immediately. Your point?

[He repeats.]

[Hendrik raises a brow at the continued succinctness, but doesn't follow past the surf any further.]

I did not think I needed one to "point" it out. But if you are going to be so blunt, I will take my "point" elsewhere.

[It certainly seemed like Jasper wanted to enjoy swimming alone, at least.]

[His mood cools to become more bracing than the ocean, but it remains lukewarm, with a promise of warming under the right situation. Perhaps he finds it difficult to concentrate this close to a crowd? He tries not to worry about his compatriots, engaged as they are in fooling around. He listens to them splash and thrash in the water, scattering it across meters.

Hmn. He copies their example and kicks out, sending a mass of water in Hendrik's direction.]

[Hendrik snickers when Jasper finally retaliates with that kick, but he remains a good distance away. Well, at least he's paying attention.]

Have a good swim, Jasper.

[And he's going to walk off to grab one of the young knights goofing off in the sand, hauling him out bodily into the waves while the other young men holler and laugh.]

[There are chuckles and howls of laughter. Jasper listens to the young knights snicker, regarding them enviously for a moment before fears of jealousy prompt him to swim across and stride onto the beach. He squeezes water from his hair and grimaces as damp shorts cling to his waist.]

Oh, you are far too eager to drop people in it.

[There is more yelling and laughing as other knights join in on basically piledriving each other into the waves, and Hendrik drags himself out with a chuckle before long. He stretches as he pads up the shore, hair in disarray and sticking to his neck and shoulders.]

Already finished?

Not yet.

[One hand grasps his hair; the other wrings out water that splashes his heels. He stands with his back turned, trusting his friend to do the right thing, expecting him to do the opposite.]

I intend to outlast you till the evening, friend.

Outlast?

[Hendrik laughs, his voice growing louder as he gets closer. The sounds of the other knights wearing themselves out make for an interesting background noise while accompanied by the gentle waves.]

This is hardly a competition, Jasper. You make it sound like we are at a bar.

[Jasper rolls his shoulders, his hair falling between. The closeness of his companion becomes less and less important as he steps closer and closer.]

If you look behind you, you might well see we are.

[There is a beachside hut close by, serving all manner of beverages, cocktails and seaside food.]

[Well, he's now close enough that he can reach out and put his hand on Jasper's head -- specifically the crown of his head, scrunching up hair close to the scalp with practice-weathered fingers.]

What? Have you just been waiting this entire time to not seem like you have been waiting for sweets?

[Unsurprisingly, he doesn't understand what's up with his friend.]

[Weight presses down. Fingers scratch his scale as they scrunch his hair, pulling at his roots. His right arm lifts to search - and rises more than before, highlighting how different they became over a handful of years. Divided by time and more than one foot in height.

It hardly surprises anyone that he scowls. So many changes to adjust to since returning from his studies...]

Do you not think the men will gossip if I just up and leave?

Hm?

[Jasper's scowls are hardly unfamiliar, but they really don't have any place during this break time. His hand doesn't move, as if anchored by Jasper's own hand.]

Why would they? Some of them might even stop to join you.

[Fingers lift and pull, finding no purchase against a hand clamping down. He releases it furiously, pulling his arm forward instead, before thrusting back with the hope his elbow finds a stomach. His movements are serene not stern - a gentle exchange between friends.

Does he connect? Hendrik is stupidly tall, with a ridiculously long reach. But he tries.]

Oh, that sounds wonderful.

[An elbow to the stomach is still an elbow to the stomach -- or somewhat lower, given the height difference. Hendrik grunts and releases Jasper's hand to instead protect his stomach; having to take a moment to find his voice.]

You should-- You should do what you want to do. The only recommendation is not being thrown into jail.

[And that was only a recommendation.]

Jail? What man do you make of me, Hendrik? I am hardly some blind drunk fool.

[The grunt is enough to keep him satisfied, satisfied that he is the centre of attention. Should Hendrik mention his fondness of drinking, well, he is still close enough to learn his lesson.]

I am just saying what has been said to everyone.

[Maybe it's because of the elbow to the stomach, but Hendrik's starting to sound just as exasperated as Jasper.]

Very much so.

[Jasper bites down on frustration, scrunching his toes as sand traps between them. Uncomfortable.]

Do you not think I will remember to behave myself after a drink or two?

[Or after several hours.]

By the Beach

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