An Evening Swim (Echo)

[Merik Dragmire]

Merik stood on the lake's shore just watching the still water occasionally broken by the movements of a fish or more rarely a Zora. The sun had set a few hours before and now the moon and stars provided the sole sources of light for the Gerudo. He looked up at the dark outline of the bridge above and wondered how the area had looked when the lake had reached it. After a little thought he stripped off his cloak and tunic and dove into the water.

The one good thing about this recent heatwave, the water is nice and warm...[/color] he thought as he swam deep down before bursting back to the surface.

All in all it seemed like it had the makings of a good night.

[Echo Faust]

Under the darkness of the bridge is a ghastly little creature with her back to the world, her mind caught up in too many things at once to realize there is another presence here in this area now. The splash, you see, it is what snapped her out of her own mind. Her upper body slowly straightens up at the cracking of the water, her head turning mechanically to look over her shoulder at whom or what it was that broke the silence of the night.

When the Gerudo broke through the surface of the water, her hollow eyes snap onto his form ans focus on all the little details no one would bother to notice. Filthy creatures they were, hideous inside and out! Oh, just being within the presence of one made her so mad! ...Why did she hate them again? Oh, well. Echo doesn't need a reason to hate anyone; she hates everyone and everything!

Silently, she floats with the cover of darkness over to the clothes that the other had left on the shore to inspect them. Once there, hovering over the items, she stares emptily down at them with a confused face as if she didn't understand the need for them or if she didn't know just what it was she is looking at. But no less than a moment later and her lips seem to almost turn into a cat-esque expression; throwing her arms up as if lifting something invisible, the items suddenly slid forward into the water. Oh, what a bad girl!

[Merik Dragmire]

One thing that Merik had learned to do was trust his instincts and as he was swimming he got the distinct feeling he was being watched by something other than the fish. Taking a quick lap he couldn't find anything out in the open that seemed suspicious until he turned back to where he had left his things. First thing he noticed was that his tunic and cloak were gone, the second thing was there was girl hovering over the spot he had left his belongings.

"Damn Oocca thinking she can steal my things..." he muttered under his breath as he obviously took her to be one of the Sky folk in human form. "I should probably warn you right now, I don't take kindly to thieves. If you would like to avoid any trouble I'd recommend that you put my belongings back where they were."

He slowly made his way back to the shore, not wanting to startle her into flying away until he could get a clear shot with a Frostbolt to keep her grounded.

[Echo Faust]

Her eyes watch the male swim towards her, his words passing right through the her so as if she they didn't mean anything. Oh, what a particular situation this seems to be turning out to be; Echo couldn't help but smile before slowly moving backwards to tease the male for every inch he came closer. She is sure he will eventually find his clothes floating at the edge of the water where he decided to get into. She could not help but think of the reaction he is going to give or the look on his face when he finds his gear all wet. Oh, Echo, how much of a troll you can be sometimes!

[Merik Dragmire]

As she started retreating the pirate started moving faster in case she decided to run...or at least that was his plan until he felt the wet clothing smack against him.

"Ah...sorry about that, I guess the tide caught it and dragged it out. Well at least it'll finally dry out fully." he said with a short laugh as he walked to shore and shook the excess from himself and his clothes. After a few seconds of silence he turned his gaze back to the girl. "You know you're the quietest lass I've ever been around and I've been around a lot of women in my time. Are you just planning to sit there and watch me all night? Or would you like to join me...not even necessarily join me, it's a big lake after all."

[Echo Faust]

Echo couldn't help but scoff at the other's words! The quietest lass the other's ever been around? How dare he talk down to her like some sort of chauvinistic pig! How arrogant and foolish, like she wanted anything to do with this creep! Still, standing not too far from the other where she was, she remains her ground as she listens to how the sound of water falling off of the other's form broke the silence of the night like a waterfall.

The idea of going for a swim sounds so nice, so grand of an idea; Echo really loves the water, it was something that brought her peace of mind when nothing else in her life could. Sadly, now that she is the way that she is, water simply does not grace her with such a welcoming embrace like it once did. It feels no different than air now, no different than solids feel to her now too; everything might as well be gaseous, for she simply cannot interact with it the way these corporeal individuals still can. Perhaps death isn't everything she thought it would crack up to be. "I don't know how to swim." she lies, shrugging her shoulders and looking off to the side. "I was simply just looking for a way to get up to that bridge over there." she continues to give her story some sort of credit, lazily pointing to the bridge above the two of them.

[Merik Dragmire]

Merik stared at the young woman as she stared right back at him, really unsure what to make of her.

"A shame you can't swim, it's quite a good evening for it. I'd offer to teach you but the only way I know is to toss someone in: if they make it back to the surface they're learning, if they don't they won't." the pirate said with a smirk in response to her first comment before turning his gaze to the area around the lake.

"I could have sworn there was a path that went up the valley wall, but damned if I could point it out in the dark. Although if you can hover, as I can clearly see, could you not simply fly up to the bridge...or have you not learned to fly yet?"

[Echo Faust]

For shame, he's seen right through her disguise! Ah well, she thought, it wasn't too hard for him to see she was simply a part of the famous living dead; it isn't like she did her best to hide it or anything. The other's dark sense of humor brought a smirk to her face, and she brought a hand to her face to move some of the hair that fell over her eyes out of the way. "Of course I could simply just hover up there, but that would be no fun at all!" she says in a pout.

Giving the other her side, she turns her head to look up at the bridge once more and the way it occluded half of the moon with it's massive structure. What an amazing piece of architecture, how wonderful it was in this scenic location; Echo couldn't help but feel something weird swell up inside of her at the sight of it, something warm and alien.

[Merik Dragmire]

"Of course I could simply just hover up there, but that would be no fun at all!"

The girl's words caught Merik off guard, as he had never met an Oocca that preferred to walk instead of fly...and now that he thought on it most Oocca, even in their more human form, had fairly distinguishable avian features. As he watched her though he quickly discerned the truth.

She is one of the restless dead...poor girl, she looks barely out of her teenage years...[/color] he thought as he watched the way she gazed up at the bridge and a thought struck him.

"Is there where you died? Did you come down here to the lake and lose the way back up...?" he asked kindly wondering if there might be a way to help her pass on to the Goddess.

[Echo Faust]

She had to give it to the other, he had quite the imagination! Oh, if only she had the luxury to die somewhere as beautiful as this. Perhaps she wouldn't have come back even more vengeful and spiteful than she was when she use to be alive! It is just a possibility of course, a very slim one, but still a possibility! "No." she speaks bluntly, her voice losing what little emotion it had before. "It's nothing like that, hero." she adds, trying to pick herself back up before the other notices her slipping into an emotional rut.

Turning her head then over to the male, looking over her shoulder at him, she waits a moment to try and figure out if she could read just what it was that he's thinking! Of course, he's a guy, and they really didn't think much to begin with; she decides it'd be just one big waste of time to worry about the thought process - however little it's possible existence may be inside of his head - and simply turns her head back to stare up above. "It's just...really pretty."

[Merik Dragmire]

Hero? I don't think I've ever been mistaken for a hero before...[/color] Merik thinks idly as he watches the girl alternating between watching the moon and him.

"Aye, the moonlight adds a touch of beauty to anything it shines upon." he responded as he followed her gaze upward once more.

"Have you ever been out on the ocean? There are very rare times when the wind is still and the water calm...on those nights the water becomes like a perfect mirror and you could almost believe that you could reach out and touch one of the stars...for sailor's it's almost like travelling across the sky." he said quietly as his eyes returned to the earth. "Or it is at first...eventually it just becomes another odd occurrence and the beauty of it is lost, for a time anyway."

[Echo Faust]

The things that this male is describing to Echo made her feel elated, the thought of something so pure and magical sent something unfamiliar coursing throughout her body once more. A small smile forms on her lips, her head turning to look at the pirate standing not too far from her as he finishes his monologue of a spectacle that seems far out of this world!

Echo loves the water, it made her feel at piece and wholesome; it made her feel all right when nothing else could, back when she could enjoy it's properties of course. Now, dead, she's granted the ability to fly and see no boundaries; but that troubles her, for her mind has too much to worry about without restrictions. "I have never been out on the ocean, but what you're describing sounds like it's really something." she speaks idly as her eyes turn to the vast pool of darkness that stretches out as far as her eye could see. How lonely it seems, how beautiful it must be when you're so far away from the world and all of the masses it holds. One with nature, one with the sky and the stars and the ocean, it must be what peace really is like. "Have you seen something like that? Have you experienced what it is you are talking to me about? It must be real nice."

[Merik Dragmire]

Merik nodded at her question, remembering the look and feel of that night.

"Only once a few years back. We were far out from Hyrule and the wind had died earlier in the day, luckily we had plenty of provisions and no real course so we weren't worried about our unexpected pause. The sky had been overcome with the clouds of a storm that never came and shortly before midnight the moonlight had pierced the shroud. By midnight the clouds were gone and the full moon shone down upon us, it seemed that my ship was resting upon it's face as we looked out upon the sea. All along the water we could see the thousands of stars that are usually hidden by the lights of land and for a brief time we were free in the sky..."

[Echo Faust]

Echo couldn't help but find herself there in the memory that Merik is weaving right in front of her. A grimace appears on her lips, her eyes falling to the dark body of water the two of them were next to. Sights and sounds like that are some of the only reasons to ever exist in the first place as far as Echo herself is concerned. "That sounds like a dream..." she whispers, not to break the silence or the feeling that the other's words have brought onto her in that moment. Why is it that she never got to experience anything like that in her life? How come her existence had to be so volatile and quick, so meaningless and a waste of time? It was painful to think about, not ever having done everything she wanted to. Reality can be painful...

Breaking her glance away from the water, a scoff escapes her throat. "Must be nice." she speaks suddenly, trying to regain her composure with a cocky attitude. She twirls on her heel to turn her back to the male once more to stare up into the skies above. "What are you doing these days then? Still traveling the seven seas? Sounds pretty relaxing to me; I thought men were suppose to do something dangerous and self-sacrificing and what have you!" she speaks with a hint of humor in her voice. Of course, she honestly did believe that to an extent; all she is trying to do is get a rise out of the little company she has.

[Merik Dragmire]

"What are you doing these days then? Still traveling the seven seas? Sounds pretty relaxing to me..."[/color] At those words Merik couldn't help but burst out laughing. The sound echoing across the water and off the canyon walls.

"Oh yes it's quite relaxing during the times when there isn't a mutiny, or crew going mad from cabin fever, or a rogue captain getting clever ideas about my ship...when I don't have to worry about those problems and everything's going as it's supposed to then yes it is relaxing. However it's very rare that there isn't some problem or another to worry about." he finally said when his laughter had stopped echoing back at them. "Danger is just something that you come to expect and just have to learn to live with from day to day."

[Echo Faust]

The other's spontaneous and loud laughter caught her off guard, hands flying in front of her face as if she were ready to get into a street brawl with the male. Once she realizes the loud noise resonating from him is laughing, and once she realizes he's laughing at what she said, her hands slowly drop to her sides and a sheepish look is on her face. She didn't know at that moment if he were laughing at her because it would turn out to be that her words were quite opposite, or if he were laughing at her simply because she sounded womanly naive; even though they're both in the same boat, she figures it would be the former just to save herself having to get all heated with anger!

Listening to the other, her hand bringing itself up to her face to move some of her hair out of her eyes and behind her ears, the other's words bringing up thoughts and emotions she hadn't thought of for quite awhile. Danger, it is just something you have to live with from day to day. What if you don't know how to deal with that danger? What if the only danger you can handle is the one you can twist for yourself so you believe that you have control over it? What if you just didn't know how to handle the unthinkable, the things that throw wrenches in your plan? Echo obviously didn't have much to worry about, now that she is part of the famous living dead; she thanks the stars above that she doesn't have to worry about anything anymore, sometimes. "Sounds like a pretty rough life to me, I don't think I could have it" she says with a sort of enthusiastic pitch at the end. "If I were you," she begins, tilting her head to the side with a ****-sure grin placed on her lisp, "I wouldn't have that shit on my vessel."

[Merik Dragmire]

Merik simply shrugged at her response before sitting down against a fair sized rock.

"It's inevitable that you won't be able to please everyone and so most times someone will take off after we make port. A rare few times there has been a mutiny and it has yet to end favorably for the mutineers. I've come to look at encounters, both physical and social, as being as quickly changing as the sea herself and have learned to adapt and think on my feet to keep alive." he said as he stretched and yawned. "You could do something absolutely right and still have things go horribly wrong."

[Echo Faust]

The words that the other spoke were true, Echo knew this to be the truth, yet she didn't know what was left for her to add in this conversation. Her dreams of sailing the seven seas and being a pirate would never be realized, she just couldn't deal with anyone else besides herself. "What are you doing out here anyways? I didn't think men liked to come out to some scenic location all by their lonesome just to take a swim," she speaks in a manner that would make it obvious to the male that she was poking fun at the other's masculinity in a playful manner.

The moon and the stars and the cloudless sky above brought a picture-esque feel to this moment in time. Echo could not recall the last time she had ever seen anything aa beautiful as this sight before. It is moments like this she wishes would never end, that she could remain in this space and time forever; granted, losing the company would be nice, but these days she will take what she can get.

[Merik Dragmire]

"I was raised in the desert and unfortunately there are very few places there as serene and full of life as Lake Hylia. Whenever I have time I try to make my way to some of the more unsullied regions to enjoy the things I was unable to partake of in my younger years." Merik replied simply as he watched the Poe turn her gaze back to the sky above.

"And as for why I came out alone, it's easier to pass unnoticed when you travel alone than with a group. What of you? Did you just decide to come watch the moon off the Lake and instead managed to find yourself getting pulled into the past visions of a strange man?"

[Echo Faust]

Oh, this one had a mouth on him indeed. "Something like that," she spoke with a crooked smirk that quickly fades as her eyes roam from the sky above to the bridge once more. This Gerudo is very peculiar indeed, and the way he goes about things actually has some intelligence behind it! Echo could relate to the other very much in the way he thought, the way he carried himself across this existence; the only difference of course is that he seems to be rather cool-headed, and Echo just didn't have the patience to remain calm.

Something inside of her is telling her that this male is going to pop up in her future again, that the two of them would meet once more. It isn't every day that she feels she runs into a person she feels is going to be of some importance in her future. Just what is it about this one that makes her feel that way? "You never told me your name," she spoke in a quiet voice; wondering not even a moment later if she had just made a fool out of herself for possibly seemingly friendly.