Just Relax [Tydus Tempest]

[Alevadra Druva]

Timestamp: TBD Early Morning A day off? How peculiar. Ale wasn’t expecting days off while on duty at the post. But, another knight had been stationed with her while he traveled. The other knight was only to be there for a few days before his adventure continued. The previous day the elder knight had told Ale to take the day off, see the sights or spend some time with Wynn—the horse she’d been paired with while out in Riverfall. Or do whatever Ale did in her free time—which wasn’t much, because Ale tried not to have free time. The knight didn’t have hobbies—mainly because she never allowed herself time for such things. Her time off had always been spent training with other knights in Syliras or helping some of the Squires with their training. However, in Riverfall, there were not squires running around in need of training or fellow knights looking for a bit of sparring practice. No… There were fishermen, and herbalists… The Akalaks were known for their prowess and fighting capabilities. And while Ale had training with a few Akalak knights before, she didn’t know quite who to ask about that—it seemed an odd request for a visiting knight to make. So, instead of training or sparring or doing her usual knightly things, Ale was trying to find a hobby something she could do in her free time when she had it. Her morning started with a walk—simple enough of a thing, she had no desire for wandering into Riverfall at the early bell, she would wait till it was closer to mid-day before venturing into the city looking for a bite to eat—Luckily, Orabelle had shown Ale quite the lovely little place to eat. So in the early morning rays of Syna, Ale walked in her thin-soled boots, leather pants and her riding tunic which was split and hung about her knees. Upon her chest was the Druva clan symbol—a silhouetted glassbeak on a field of blue. A thick leather belt was about her waist, cinching in the loose linen as well as holding her sword upon her waist. Her hair was braided and was pinned up about the back of her head to keep it off her neck, however, loose strands and even short ones curled and hung loose around her face and ears. There was a slight wind, it was warm however and it blew the sweet smell of salty sea brine to the knight who walked along the road. She was not far from Riverfall, perhaps a half a bell till she’d reach the city. The woman veered off of her course, however, no long along the road towards the city she cut towards the sweet smell of the sea. At least that bit was familiar to home, the smell of the sea was easily found along the port in Syliras. Her feet moved through the low brush and she followed the sound of gulls and waves. The walk was soothing, her mind clear as she walked to the beach, boots suddenly sinking as she stepped upon the sand. A few steps and Ale realized that wearing her boots was foolish, as they were beginning to fill with the tiny particles. The knight plopped down upon the sand, pulling off her boots and shaking out all the sand, letting her bare feet press into the sand, toes wiggling against the cool, damp grit. Once her boots were off and emptied out, Ale pulled up her knees, resting her forearms against her leather covered knees. Brown eyes looked out across the sea, golden and orange patches sparkled in the rising sun as Syna’s rays danced over the moving body. The sound of waves and the call of gulls were soothing and so very familiar. It wasn’t that Ale was homesick, per say, but any soul would find themselves drawn to things that remind them of a place of safety, comfort and security. The rays were warming as Ale laid back on the sand, looking up at the orange and pink sky, puffs of white slowly floating across the sky as gulls darted about, searching for their morning meal. Ale took a deep inhale and closed her eyes. Calloused hands pressed into the sand at her sides, fingers pressing down into the beach.

[Tydus Tempest]

Syna's light blazed its trail across the sky as Tydus Tempest prepared himself for his morning's swim. The Guilty Pleasure, his personal casinor and his home, floated upon the water's surface as Tydus sorted his affairs. The sails were in working order, the wheel secured to its place with the use of the catching latch. The doors to the cabin was closed, and the Tempest scion had coiled the ship's ropes and had them waiting for use. The barrels were closed, ale secured, and the wine safely stowed behind it. Tydus' flask was with his clothes and away from prying hands, and so, satisfied with the state of affairs aboard the ship, he prepared himself.

Adorned solely in a pair of undergarments, Tydus found himself more than ready for a swim, but his body needed to be as prepared as his mind. A deep breath was taken as Tydus brought his arms behind his back, tilting back his head to allow him to stretch the muscle groups of his upper body for several moments. He alternated to his core, twisting his body from side to side before propping each leg in turn against the ship's gunwale and locking his knee. The burn was felt within his hamstring, a faint, soothing sensation that awoke the Tempest to the brightness of day. A deep breath was taken, the ocean's salty air filling his lungs once before he took several steps back, readying himself for a running start.

Tydus took off not a moment later, three long strides taking him across the deck before the Tempest scion leaped into the air, tilting his body forward as he sailed past over the gunwale. A gleeful smile was set upon his features as he dove into the sea, hands set into a streamlined position as they entered the water first. A small splash was culmination of his efforts as his body flowed through the water, the Ocean's Sense triggering as a result. Tydus felt the ebb and flow of the currents, the luminous globes that were the lives of the many denizens of the sea flashing before his open eyes as his dive finished gaining momentum. Tydus was left under twelve feet of water, bubbles escaping from his lips as he allowed himself to revel in the living marvel that was the sea for just a moment longer.

Thirty ticks passed under the water before Tydus began to feel the need for air, carbon dioxide filled his lungs as spent oxygen traveled through his circulatory system, and so, he began his ascent. Three strong breaststroke kicks took the Tempest to the surface of the water before he began his swim. Arms pulled at the water in a fluid, alternating pattern, his legs kicking out behind him as he made his ascent, the Tempest unsure of where he was going, but he knew it was... away. The Guilty Pleasure, if Tydus was looking back at it, would be shrinking in the distance as Tydus pressed forward without a care in the world.

The Tempest reveled in the sea, staring into the dark abyss of ocean beneath him, pierced by the lights of life. He grinned down at it, though after fifteen chimes of swimming, the Tempest began to tire. His body ached with the continued struggle against the waves, the powerful attack of the ocean's salt and water ravaging him, but he pressed on. It was after another ten chimes that he decided to turn towards shore, his body stalling as he allowed the waves to push him forward. He ascended with each wave, a breaststroke kick pulling him forward as a single sweep of water lifted his upper body out so he could breathe. The cycle took him to shore and Tydus laid there, at the crossing between wet sand and saline water, his body turned upwards.

Tydus stared up at the sky with a smile as he allowed himself to forget, his mind dulling to the screams of anguish of the podmates that had perished at sea as he surrendered instead to the pull of the tides. It was a moment's reprieve, and nothing more, but for once, Tydus was allowed rest. Twenty chimes of blank darkness passed before the Tempest stirred to hear the sound of scuffling boots being removed, his head tilting back in the sand to spot the visage of a woman with the most strangely-coloured hair,

"Oi, there! Lassy! Good morning to ye!"

He flashed the woman a smile before lifting his knees, using the strength of his core to roll backwards, Tydus' head tucked into his chest as he made his way to his knees, rising to his feet and subsequently turning as he allowed a grin to grace his features,

"T'is not often ye see a woman bringing leathers to teh beach, lass. Jus' got off teh workhorse?"