Maritime Intermission <Open Sea, The Sea>

[The Lion Turtle]

Other than the stuffy air and the increased tossing and turning, being bellow decks wasn't that bad, especially if one could find a private area to one's self. Xia found one for her and Bai; a cosy courner of the lounge with a table, a handful of chairs, and a lit lantern. The portholes were open, allowing light, but even with that and the lanterns, it was still fairly dark. The lounge was also fairly deserted: it seemed that most either stuck to their private quaters or stayed above deck, in the fresh sea air.

Xia took a seat in one of the chairs, still feeling a little unsteady. The rocking was worse underdeck, and she hadn't been this clumbsy on her feet since she was pregnant with Tarak. She certainly wasn't much lighter than then, either, although the gypsy lifestyle she had undertaken was beginning to slightly tone and tan her body, but she was still pale and flabby, much to her great dismay. All the more reason to enjoy the male attention Bai was giving her, or so she told herself. She was constantly going back and forth in her mind about how she felt about him. She was very much attracted to him -- his handsome, exotic looks, his care-free spirit, his flirting nature -- but she certainly knew his attention didn't focus on her alone, and his dear mother had given her plenty of stories of the boys' exploits. He was so different from Jing... Jing was placid, gentle, calm; Bai was exhuberant, rowdy and vivacious. Was that why she liked him so much?

[whitecrow]

The dark and gloomy quarters were dimly lit, by a stray lantern and also by cut pieces of glass set flush with the decks above, the soft buttercup colored prisms directing light down below the deck and casting a glow across the dimly lit lounge room in the bow of the iron-clad Merchant ship. A V-berth was set into the very tip of the ship on this level, providing a big enough area should a seafarer need a nap, and seating extended along the hull, storage cupboards built in under everything. Swiveling lounge chairs, like reasonable laz-e-boys, chairs that were decently luxurious and stuffed well, were bolted to the floor, yet had the ball bearing to turn and swivel. The ship had been chartered to take the Flame Dancers by the Yubi family for their performance. This was the first time in close to 15 years that they were venturing outside of the Earth Kingdom and for many of the Flame Dancers this was a journey.. that was conjuring up bad memories.

Bai-Wu was sprawled on one of the side benches, cushioned and wide enough for a body to lay on them, but he was slumped down, with his shoulders at the crease between seat and backing. His body was stretched out at an angle, but he had kicked his feet up, bare and actually quite clean, on the armrest of Miss Feng's chair and every now and then, he'd swivel her back and forth with his feet. His hands laid on his chest, fingers interlocked just under his chin, which rested on his collar bone, his dark hair spilling around his head, sticking to the cloth that bound the cushions. He inhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling as he nodded his head towards Xia. "It's quieter down here anyway.. and you can't see the horizon, better for sea-sickness." He said, reflecting with an amused smile on how his Brother always got so sick on ocean travel. The last time they had traveled, both twins were about 10 years old and Li-Wu had gotten sick at that point too. The ocean wasn't even that rough! Aside from the gentle rocking back and forth, they hadn't even had any storms for the past week.

[The Lion Turtle]

Bai was resting his bare feet on the arm of Xia's chair. She didn't mind; they were suprisingly fairly clean. He slowly swayed in his chair, and Xia absently watched him, thinking about nothing in particular.

"It's quieter down here anyway.. and you can't see the horizon, better for sea-sickness," Bai said to her, and Xia just smiled serenely at him.

"Mmm," Xia replied, leaning back in her own chair and letting her straight posture go. "I wish it helped Tarak, then. He's having such a difficult journey with his seasickness." She reached over a hand and tickled the underside of his foot. Not that she expected it to actually tickle; she did it as more of a gesture of bonding -- maybe of flirting. It was a poor gesture, but she enjoyed doing it to people she felt somewhat comfortable with.

"Anyways, I haven't felt sick at all, just unsteady on my feet. Not that I was particularly graceful to begin with," she admitted with a sigh. "Poor Li, though."

[whitecrow]

Bai -Wu smirked, he could care less about Li right now and it showed. The brothers were close yes, but it didn't matter when karma was in order. Li-Wu had won the Agni-Kai for the past two performances.. which were one of the only bender battles that the caravan did not plan out. They were real and the twins loved it. They loved throwing everything they had at each other in front of a crowd. They would have to do it again for the new performance for the this noble family.. and Bai would win this time. Li deserved the sea sickness.. showoff with his colored flames. They weren't even real! Very few firebenders in history could produce fire hot enough to move into a new color.. and it was most often blue.

"So..." He started, as he pushed her chair to swing back and forth and back and forth on it's pivot. He saw her go for his feet.. Oh No.. No no no no ... and TICKLE THEM! AUGH! Bai-Wu dove forward, bending practically in two as he scrambled for his feet and his hands encircled his ankles. "No!" He shouted in protest, balance just on the edge of the foam-covered bench, his head above his knees as he looked up at her.. fear actually in his eyes. Spirits how he hated to be ticked... HATED. For a moment.. his expression remained unchange, lower lip hanging but then.. he cracked a smile. Well more of a smirk as it spread across half of his face. He breathed outward and then winked.

[The Lion Turtle]

She laughed; it was not her timid, girlish giggle, but a full-blown, mirthful laugh. The expression on his face.... priceless! Just like a spoiled child. She hesitated for a moment, unsure about her next action, but she threw causion to the wind and dove in. Reaching for Bai Wu's ribs, she extended her fingers and softly tickled him. With her leaned over, it put her head just above his shoulder and her torso leaning into his.

This was a little of a bold of a move for her, and the slight tremble of her hands (if she weren't tickling him, that is) gave it away if either of them had looked closely. Her stomach was doing flips and knots and she could feel the heat coming off his body and the leanness under her hands. It had been a long, long time since she... had been so close to masculinity. Not since her late husband had last visited and brought her darling baby boy on her had she been so close to a male. It made her longing for a new husband reawaken in her heart.

[whitecrow]

He yelped. Literally, Trying to leap to his feet as she dove in him, her head pressing into his chest and shoulders as her hands started dancing across his ribs and sides. Oh Spirits, Oh Spirits, Oh Spirits! Bai fought the laughter, squirming and twisting and trying to force her off of him with his arms. But the moment she touched him, his strength vanished. His arms felt like jello, his legs like jelly.. everything! He could try and pull her off of him, but his arms just gave way! Already, he was starting to laugh in bursts, trying to hold his breath and the laughter as he rolled back and forth on the bench.

He kicked and shook his feet, finding himself far too weak to move Xia. His last form of defense as all he had left. Bai-Wu knew it would be his only chance of escape until she wore out and he wasn't sure he could hang on that long! Now, his laughter was loose, full out boisterous deep laughter accented with giant, long winded gasps and the occasional cough as she continued to pummel his resistances. Dark hair was all twisted behind his head, tangling with each move as he thrashed his head back and forth, gasping. For a moment, he felt his strenght return as he flopped around like a fish out of water. Now! His mind screamed at him and Bai-Wu took a diving roll to the edge of the bench, managing to twist himself under Xia and grab the edge. Pulling himself, his strength returned in a rush and the young man went over with another crying yelp.

Thud.

He crashed onto the wooden floor, on his shoulder, but sucessfully having escaped Xia for a moment. He breathed a sigh of relief as his laughter faded, replaced by a coughing fit that shook him before rolling onto his back. He closed his eyes, his lips spread into a smile as he held his stomach. Already, he was getting sore, his chest heaving in and out as he breathed, chuckling still but mostly at himself now.

[whitecrow]

[Consider this thread closed please.]