March Mingle

[kollomods]

There have been waterlilies throughout summer, clustered around the shorelines and butting up against the jetty. Sometimes they've bloomed, sometimes they haven't, but it's never been quite like this. They're everywhere now, even as we move into autumn. They crowd the beach, they give the ferry a hard time to land, they practically fill the lake end to end — and they're all blooming in golden yellow and bright white.

It's unnatural, in so many ways. Beckoning. Come closer. ]

EVENT INFO

Comments

Brook encounters.

[norrhamn_residents]

Re: Brook encounters.

[forever_jack]

The weather's starting to cool off a little and that means Jack is taking every opportunity he can to get in some swimming before it gets entirely too cold.

And so he's here at the lake in his little blue Speedos, peering down at all the waterlilies. He's noticed them increasing in number everywhere - here, at the dock, at the beach - and now there are so many that he can barely see the surface of the water, but that's not going to stop him diving in, gasping as the chill of the water hits him, and finding himself having to push thick green leaves apart with every stroke as he swims. That doesn't really bother him; after all, they're pretty and they smell heavenly, and he's not the sort of person who believes in myths and unexplained mysteries, so he's not prone to the sort of feelings the locals are displaying these days.

But he is, today, getting an odd sensation that he's not alone. He can't see anyone else in the lake or the surrounding woods, but he keeps thinking he hears giggling, or feels something brush against his leg in the water. He tells himself it's just the wind in the trees, or the stems of the waterlilies, but then there's a touch that feels way too deliberate to be mere plantlife, and he jerks, his own hand swinging down to his ass as if expecting to find a hand there, but there's nothing.

"Hey, who's there?" he calls out, twisting round to try and see beyond the lilies crowing the surface.

[norrhamn_residents]

He really should listen to his intuition more often. There's a movement under water, slimy tendrils just barely fluttering by his leg - seaweed, or maybe hair, it's hard to tell. Perfectly normal things to experience while swimming in a deep forest lake, don't you think? It's probably just a big fish. Nothing to worry about.

That is, until something that feels very much like a hand wraps itself suddenly and tightly around Jack's ankle, yanking him down under the water.

[forever_jack]

He's just... Even after all he's seen, and his exposure to magic of various kinds in MarinaNova, Jack is still very much a creature of the physical world. He may be able to accept intellectually that there's more out there than what he can see and touch, but he's really not given to giving any weight to those little shivers that run down his spine every now and then.

Even now, he's still very much holding out for a reasonable explanation. There are people from all kinds of universes here, after all. No reason why one of them shouldn't be able to swim underwater without surfacing for the few minutes he's been here. No reason why that should be anything more supernatural than a bit of weed brushing against him.

Until he's grabbed by the ankle and yanked downwards. He yelps and starts to yell "Hey!" again, only to shut his mouth again fast as he's dragged under the surface. He kicks out, eyes staring wildly through the water, dim and murky under all the lilies, trying to make out his attacker.

[norrhamn_residents]

Luckily, the attacker lets go almost as quickly as it grabbed, aiming to scare rather than actively drown — this time. Jack may see a shape swim past, fast and smooth like a fish but much larger. Surely there aren't any dolphins in Scandinavia? The shape moves past and away, disappears between the long roots of the waterlilies, only to reappear behind Jack. Hands grab his sides, giving him a swift and easy lift up to the surface.

[forever_jack]

He just about remembers not to gasp in relief when he feels the grip slip away from his ankle, and then turns quickly when he sees/feels something big swim past him. Or tries to turn quickly - it's not so easy to move fast in water, unless, apparently, you're whatever the hell that was. He's still trying to turn when it reappears behind him and there are hands on his sides and he's being propelled up to the surface.

He finally does gasp when he breaks the surface and immediately tries to slip free so he can twist round to see who - what - it is that attacked him and then, well, saved him. Not that he was exactly going to drown without that helpful lift up to the surface, a strong swimmer like him, but it was definitely a turnabout in intention, and means he's less scared than just curious as he pants a bit to get his breath back and then demands, as he twists round, "What was all that about?"

[norrhamn_residents]

This time the creature stays, partially hidden under the lily pads. Big, dark, wet eyes peer up at Jack with mishief, a soft but distinctly masculine giggle bubbling forth across the surface.

"I'm just having a little bit of fun. You could give me that much at least, seeing as you're in my lake."

[forever_jack]

He lifts an eyebrow, treading water. "Your lake, huh? Sorry, nobody told me it was taken!"

He grins. "And I'm hardly one to say no to a bit of fun - just prefer it not to include drowning!"

[norrhamn_residents]

"Oh, you were fine. I wasn't actually going to drown you!"

So silly, Jack Harkness. The creature bobs under water for just a moment, re-emerging a foot or so to the left. This time he - because it is a he - stands up at his full height, revealing a toned, sunkissed body and long greenish-brown hair that cascades over his shoulder in drenched tresses. His eyes are dark and shadowed, his skin has an unusual translucent sheen to it. This isn't just any man.

"You're my guest, after all. It wouldn't be proper."

[burntviolet]

[ With the chill beginning to fill the air, Hanako has walked to the lake in a bit heavier clothes, glad for the change of season so she can cover herself up without suffering the heat or dehydration. Somehow, her mind settled to carry her feet there for no particular reason. Just a short walk before she goes back to her daily routine.

The short part becomes longer once Hanako figures that she can stick around for a while more. And that's when the weird stuff starts occurring.

Faint music reaches her ears. Someone must be playing the violin from afar, but she can't get rid of the tension heaving on her shoulders, the anxiety sitting in her gut. A white speck suddenly comes to view, from the corner of her eye. She turns, and there's a white horse in the woods. Rapid blinking. Her fists clench, sweat gathering in the palms.

Someone is watching her. ]

Ah...?

[ Panic rising, she realizes her feet are planted to the ground and won't let her run.

Oh, no. ]

[norrhamn_residents]

[ The horse shakes its head, long, sea foam like mane cascading against its stark white neck. With a soft whinny it begins to approach, large hooves surprisingly steady through the undergrowth of the forest - and it is large, seems to grow the closer it gets. This is a work horse, all muscle and sinew, coat shining like silver in the speckled sunlight.

It whinnies again, beckoning her to come to it. ]

[burntviolet]

[ Such a sight she would expect only described in her books, but the sea foam has Hanako seriously doubt her own eyes, producing weird theories about someone putting stuff in her food and causing her to have hallucinations out of blue. Regardless, her attention on the horse increases over everything else and it overrides the initial panic.

Few slow steps carry her forward, but her hands are tightly secured against her chest. It would be greatly unfortunate if the horse wound up chewing a hand off or something. She's not yet trusting her vision, for largely obvious reasons. ]

[norrhamn_residents]

[ The horse waits patiently, occasionally shaking its head, making small water droplets fall from the long mane. As she comes closer, it stretches out its neck with a soft huff. Nothing dangerous here. No biting. ]

[burntviolet]

[ No biting... yet?

Well, if it's a petting the horse wants, an attempt will be made. With a clearly shaking hand, Hanako reaches out and strokes the mane, half curious about how soaked the horse actually is and why that even happened. Did it have a leisurely bath in the lake? ]

[norrhamn_residents]

[ No biting! It will playfully nudge its neck against her hand, urging her to keep up the petting. It's a pretty wet horse overall, with little bits of algae and seaweed stuck in its mane, making it shimmer in a slimy green.

It bobs its head again, happy for the attention. ]

[burntviolet]

[ While studying the admittedly beautiful beast, Hanako wonders if it belongs to someone who lives around here. What she can be absoltely sure of is that she'd never seen a white horse since she arrived in Norrhamn. ]

Do you really like swimming...?

[ Dumb question that she whispers without much thought behind. Horses can't really swim, can they? She idly removes a piece of seaweed from the mane. ]

[readystopwatch]

Despite the way it may seem Ianto does occasionally leave the cabin to enjoy the island, or at least pretend to. Between the distraction offered by Spike - and now Jack as well - not to mention being a city boy at heart it’s easy to make excuses and find reasons to avoid going outside much. But today he’s making an effort - maybe deliberately proving to himself or Spike that he can so go hiking, thank you very much.

Either way here he is, strolling around the lake and actually faintly enjoying himself. The lilies filling the water make it look like some sort of watery meadow and he has to admit it’s rather beautiful. He’s heard lilies mentioned more than once since he arrived here but this is the first time he’s seen them. They seem rather hypnotic, like he can’t look away from the soft colors and the way they sway gently in the water. He can’t reaist taking a step or two closer until the small waves of the lake are lapping gently at the toes of his shoes and the flowers are close enough to reach down and touch.

[norrhamn_residents]

It is beautiful out here. Magical, one might even say, with this patch of stillness and colour framed by the dark, vast forest. The waterlilies bob on the surface, gently disturbed by... a breeze, perhaps? A fish, under the water? Surely it's something completely natural.

That completely natural thing raises its head above the surface a moment later, water lily pads flopping on top of its head like a hat, eyes gleaming in the shadows they cast.

"Hello... what are you doing out here?"

[readystopwatch]

Ianto is good at strange and unnatural, and even if it’s been a few quiet weeks here in this place he’s hardly likely to lose his edge. Of course that could just be the hypnotic, relaxing sway of the waterlillies. Surely there couldn’t be anything dangerous here. He’s curious, but not afraid.

“Just enjoying the scenery. I hope I’m not interrupting.” Make that curious and polite.

[norrhamn_residents]

"Not at all."

The voice is soft, melodic, easily melting in with the natural sounds of the area. The man - because it is a man - rises from the water, revealing a toned, sunkissed body and long greenish-brown hair that cascades over his shoulder in drenched tresses. His eyes are dark and shadowed, his skin has an unusual translucent sheen to it. Otherworldly, you might say.

"I'm glad you're enjoying my lake. Now, and... before."

Oh yeah. He knows about that.

[readystopwatch]

Otherworldly he can deal with - he’s dating two people who can be perfectly described by it. And at the moment it feels oddly difficult to be worried. Everything feels so calm and relaxed now in the swaying of the lilies.

“Ah. Sorry about that.” He has the decency to blush. Oops. “We didn’t realize there was someone who, ah, lived here.”

[norrhamn_residents]

"No, no... that's alright. I so rarely get visitors."

There's something mournful in his gaze as he looks into the half-distance across the empty lake.

"But enough about that. What's your name, handsome?"

[readystopwatch]

“Ianto Jones. And you are?” Might as well try to investigate the myselterious person who apparently lives in the lake. It is sort of what he does, even now. Some old habits die hard.

[wishmadeinfire]

Cold. Ashura has been warned of it by locals, that winter is approaching. He is not sure how he will adjust or deal with it, when his own world had always been so warm. But, with this warning in mind, he decided to indulge in more of the outdoor activities while he still could - especially the water. Though he is fire by nature, the water pleasant calls to him.

He thinks himself alone when he goes to the water, carefully removing his robes and draping the brightly colored fabric over nearby rocks. He is not ashamed of his body, pinning his mass of hair up as best he can. Even so it, the strands flare around him like ink as he hits the water, gasping as the shock of cold ran through him. He considered using his magic to heat the water around him, but decided against - it would upset the balance. If there are things in the water, though, he has little fear - he has fought worse than mysterious creatures, and he was assured in his own strength to fend them off.

Humming quietly as he swam, a dark cloud behind him in his, but beneath his own music he heard something else. He could feel something brushing his lips and stomach, tickling almost, catching at his hair. Deliberate? Or a consequence of the environment? He paused in his strokes, drifting so he almost stood in the water once more. He took a breath, pushing command into his voice.

"Show yourself!"

[norrhamn_residents]

It's probably just a fish, or some slimy water plant brushing against careless swimmers. Something natural, just like the music floating through the air is just a trick of the wind, maybe some exotic Northern bird. Nothing to be concerned with, right?

The command does trigger something that perhaps feels less natural. A short distance ahead of Ashura sits a man perched on the wet rocks of a small waterfall that almost definitely wasn't there a minute ago. He's stark naked, long sea-foam blonde hair cascading over his shoulders, head thrown back and eyes closed as he plays a polka. Despite the rush of the water, the sound comes out clear and even more so, as if more than one instrument is played.