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Post by ravigen on Dec 5, 2014 7:36:47 GMT
Sayoko takes a quick step back to avoid the splash of water and glowers at him briefly before chuckling, deciding it would be fun to learn and she could get some amusement out of this at his expense. He wanted to splash her, she'd get back at him for it.
"Anything to get me undressed I see?" she chuckled and removed her hakama before wading into the water, the moonlight's reflection giving a perfect view of her muscular form, covered by cloth bindings. |
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Post by missmilkmaid on Dec 5, 2014 7:42:36 GMT
"You can keep your clothes on if you like, but uh..." he forgot what he'd been saying for a moment as she threw her hakama aside, then hastily cleared his throat, "But this is much better."
Bron kicked off his own boots then took off his fine new tunic, carefully wrapping Sayoko's token dagger inside, before following her into the water. "So urm, people are naturally boyant, so swimming is pretty easy. It's just a matter of knowing how to maneuver in the water." A waver hit him from as it came it. "Of course dealing with the surf, makes things a little more complicated."
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Post by ravigen on Dec 5, 2014 7:53:14 GMT
Sayoko nodded and braced herself against the wave, smiling as it pushed against her and smiled, the water was cool and after the feast it was also relaxing and she let the water wash over her.
"I'll trust your judgment then." she attempted to lower herself and swim in his direction, kicking her arms and legs in her best idea of what was required, it was slow and a bit uncoordinated but she managed to swim over to him with no issues arising. |
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Post by missmilkmaid on Dec 5, 2014 18:58:52 GMT
He smiled. "You're a natural," he said. "Next time just keep you fingers together, like this," He took her hand and helped her form it into more of a paddle shape. "A little more practice and you will be swimming as well as an Elonese girl."
A large wave hit his back, pushing him forward in the sand slightly. Standing close to her now, he glanced up at her eyes, her strange, beautiful elven eyes. Dropping his gaze again, Bron reminded himself that she just wanted to be friends.
"Uh, this surf is a little difficult to work around. You have to drive into the waves." Turning he dove into the next wave and under the surface, gliding though the water and them swimming himself, showing her how to better coordinate her movements.
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Post by ravigen on Dec 5, 2014 19:25:01 GMT
Sayoko mimicked his moves, if a bit more awkward than Bron, swimming into the surf and kicking forward, surfacing a little ways away, wringing her now soaked hair out of her face and chuckling, the entire evening had been turning out well so far. Swimming was a bit awkward for her but she was getting there and she supposed it was good exercise which was always good to keep in shape.
"I can see your point, this is a lot of fun though." she looked at him, still shaking out her wet hair, subtly enjoying the view.
"A pity that there isn't much opportunity to swim back home, otherwise I'd do this more." |
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Post by missmilkmaid on Dec 7, 2014 4:38:08 GMT
"You'll just have to come south more often and visit the ocean," Bron said with a smile.
The two of the swam a while longer, but it began to get chill out and eventually the returned to the mannor, around the same time the feast a dying down the guests retiring back to their own quarters in the city.
They said good bye and wished each other luck once more in the upcoming events.
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Post by ravigen on Dec 7, 2014 4:45:16 GMT
The days passed and they both met up with each other intermittently in between events and the like Sayoko had beaten Bron in the single combat and had spend a worried few moments after their bout with him to check on his arm to make sure he was okay and that she hadn't seriously harmed him, then had come wrestling and they'd both lost to her father, she still carried the pendant, and had hardly removed it without necessity.
It would be sometime during the second week of the tournament that Sayoko would seek out Bron again and would ask him if he would show her around the town itself. |
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Post by missmilkmaid on Dec 7, 2014 5:09:22 GMT
Bron was happy to do so, though he himself was something of a stranger to the capitol, having lived most his life in the western frontier.
The streets and taverns were crowded with visitors and there were several common events going on, where thousands of peasants, craftsmen and yeomen of the lower classes were competeing in the same kinds of events as the grand nobles. There was also racing games, and other petty sorts of competitions going on. The whole city and much of the surrounding fields had become a kind of bizarre.
He showed her the festival square first, pointing out the Tree of Oleo and the new Monument the King had built before the tournament. Within the square there happened to be a competition of simple tug-o-war going on, with 40 to 50 people on each side of a heavy rope. Simple as the game was the competition was fierce with gamboling happening among the bystanders and curses and shouts coming in all directions as the leaders shouted "Heave Ho!" to their teams.
"Bron!" came a yell and a man in a rugged leather tunic ran over to them, "You need to get in here and help us! Jossey and Liam had to leave and we're out numbered.
The man then noticed Sayoko and his mouth dropped in startled surprise, "Your-!"
"Wren this is Ikegami Sayoko, hier to the Ikegami Clan, Sayoko this is Wren, he's a ranger from Dorn, or was Bartia?" Bron frowned at Wren, trying to remember. Among rangers where you were actually from seldom made of difference.
"No, you were right, Dorn was here I was born," Wren said managing to close his mouth he then gave Sayoko a hasty bow, "It's an honor to meet you, My Lady," he noticed the bare claw neckless and cocked his head, before looking Bron and giving him a look that was half quizzical and half disbelieving.
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Post by ravigen on Dec 7, 2014 5:17:12 GMT
Sayoko inclined her head in a polite bow and acknowledgment, it was a pleasure to meet a friend of Bron's and another ranger, the experience was fulfilling and she felt that the entire trip to Elon was more than worth it for this alone. The people here seemed happy and joyous and the events mirroring the tournament were a joy to watch, she smiled and waved to the young children she passed, boys and girls alike.
She'd decided to wear her Yukata for this event, it was a deep blue color with the Ikegami clan crest on the front and back, and her hair was back in its signature ponytail
"A pleasure to meet a friend of Bron's Wren, I must say the capitol is truly a wondrous place." then she glanced over to the huge tug of war and smirked, looking to Bron.
"Shall we go and offer our assistance Bron?" |
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Post by missmilkmaid on Dec 7, 2014 5:29:15 GMT
"As quickly as possible," Bron said he picked out a few more of his friends in the line of competitors and they were loosing ground quickly to the superior force of the other teams
"Right!" said Wren and blew a shrill note on a wooden whistle, "Bartemelli's team is replacing Jossey and Liam with Bron of Dorn and the Ikegami Princess, Sayoko!"
Several people in the lines looked.up startled and several turned to try to get a look at Sayoko. It disputed the tug enough to cause a couple men to get pulled down and a little slack appeared int he rope.
"Come on!" Bron said, taking hold of the rope.
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Post by ravigen on Dec 7, 2014 5:34:37 GMT
Sayoko smiled and stepped forward, rolling the sleeves of her Yukata up a little to reveal well developed and toned arms as she took a spot directly behind Bron, gripping the rope with both hands and setting her feet into her best stance, pulling on the rope, eager to enjoy the competition and support Bron with his friends.
"Heave! Bron." she said, getting into the spirit of the event. |
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Post by missmilkmaid on Dec 7, 2014 5:47:48 GMT
Seeing her set in on the rope those of the competitors who'd been distracted by her presence and title snapped out of it and focused on the game again accepting her quickly as one of them for the time being.
"Heave!" shouted the opposing team captain.
"Ho!" yelled Bartemelli the leader of their own team. The rope creaked and feet slid over the cobbles as everyone strained in unison.
Encouragement, boos and whistles came with enthusiasm from the sidelines and Bron laughed slightly as the rope moved in their favor.
The contest lasted a few more minutes, before their team finally managed to pull the team leader on the other side a cross the line drawn in the square and a cheer rose up all around.
By now half the line was laughing and when the other team managed to let go all at once half the winners ended up stumbling backwards in response to the sudden lack of tension, crashing into each other and tumbling to the ground.
Bron pushed one of the others away as he crashed into them, shielding Sayoko from most of the chaos.
"I defiantly prefer being on your team to fighting against you," he chuckled.
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Post by ravigen on Dec 7, 2014 5:52:22 GMT
Sayoko smiled and nodded, she'd enjoyed working with Bron, he was a talented man from what she'd seen and had quite a lot of potential. She scanned the competitors closely, smiling at their enthusiasm before shaking her head and refocusing on Bron.
"Agreed, we make quite a pair don't we Bron?" she said and grinned at the double-meaning, she still liked to tease him it seemed |
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Post by missmilkmaid on Dec 7, 2014 6:00:03 GMT
He blushed slightly as people began to get up and reorganize around them, exchanging money on the bets they'd made and making good natured complaints on how they'd been played or how someone on the other side had cheated.
A girl of about 13 years old came over from where she'd been pulling from further up on the rope
"Princess Sayoko?" she asked, smiled up with timid curiosity, "I saw you in the grand events. You're amazing. Are all elven wemon like you?"
Wren a couple other ranger looking men came up behind Bron slapping him on the shoulder in a good natured manner and looking over at Sayoko with curiosity.
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Post by ravigen on Dec 7, 2014 6:04:25 GMT
Sayoko smiled and knelt down to better be on the girl's level, giving her a reassuring glance and pat on the shoulder, she remembered Bron telling her that it was rare in Elon for a woman to fight in the melee, it was a strange thought to her but she acknowledged that not everyone had the Ikegami martial focus.
"Yes, in my home, nearly everyone men or woman has some form of combat training. Most don't go beyond the basic training required for levy service but plenty more choose to take up the path of the Samurai." She looked the girl up and down, young but she had potential.
"What's your name child?" |
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