Day: 14 Quarter: Dyo Year: 81380 Where: Ocean Shore xD Time: Just after sunrise Who: Orca and Radin <span style='color:pink'>- i n c h a r a c t e r o r c a l i n i -</span> The sun peeked lazily over the beautiful shoreline, illuminating it's sand in a golden glow. Soon, it had made its way totally above the horizon, and dappled its rays about the landscape, reflecting off the ice on a distant mountian and turning the ocean a brilliant rainbow hue that changes faster then one could blink. Orca walked slowly along the shore, planting each foot just out of reach of the chilly water the lapped up towards her, her waist-lengh ink hair billowing in the slight breeze that cooled her face. Her tail-flame flickered slightly and she swished her tail behind her sub-conciously, then kneeled down onto the soft sand to pick something up. It was a shell, pearly and translucent, with dark spirals. She lifted it to her eyes, and it shattered. Orca picked the bits of shell off of her form-fitting black tank top and short khaki shorts, then attempted to get a particularly large chunk from between the pads on her 'hands', sighing and swearing quietly when it drew blood. She then looked back to the sky - cloudless and blue, it stretched before here, as if showing off its vastness. Orca's currently small feathered wings futtered slightly and her tail flame lightened to storm-cloud gray. It was to be a beautiful day.
Radin idly adjusted his sunglasses on the bridge of his muzzle, and then looked downwards and to the left. The young arden was perched upon an outcropping just off the shore of the Kaushal Ocean, which sparkled under the newly risen sun as he glanced over it. The brightness and coloration of the salty waters was lost to him through the prescription darkness of his shades, but he still marveled at the view, especially liking the soft crashing of the waves as they met with the banks and rolled forth, crests white with muted fury. The sights and the scents of the ocean made him poignantly aware that the upcoming councilors’ cruise was drawing nearer, and a flicker of excitement rolled in his belly as he thought of how much fun he, Cayson, and Riot were going to have… For now, though, the voyage was still a few weeks away, and his two best friends were on an entirely different continent. Radin had come to Notios Sudesha in order to do some residential medical studying for a week, and he’d been focusing mainly on working in the Chafuo resort’s clinic. It was fun if tiring work, and Radin was glad that he would be returning to Janardan tomorrow. Except for the plane ride – on the way to Chafuo, they’d hit turbulence and he’d thrown up for an hour after landing – he was looking forward to going back. He missed his friends and was looking forward to the approaching vacation, as well as to Tria, which would bring relaxation as well as a twentieth hatchday. Standing abruptly, Radin began to pick his way down the rocks, until he finally made it to the sandy shores of the enormous water body. A quiet breeze whispered past him, tousling the mane of red hair that draped over his eyes and then ran in soft spikes over his head and down his back. It also slid its chilly fingers through the darker and smaller mane on his belly, which was bare due to the fact that the arden was sporting only a dark blue pair of board shorts this morning. He was wearing such a scanty outfit because he’d come here with the intention to swim. He’d been here at the resort for six days now, but had been so busy he’d barely been able to enjoy the location. Radin intended to use this last morning here to sunbathe and swim, if he could so help it. Even as he padded towards the lapping waters, the arden dug in his pocket. He tossed a carton of cigarettes, a lighter, and a few other odds and ends into a pile on the sand, and then began to run towards the water. He yearned to leap into it and swim for hours in the morning’s crisp light, with nothing on his mind and nobody around. Perhaps he’d even strip off his suit and swim naked, considering there was no one around to see… …except that there was. Just as he was about to finally feel the cold, vernal waters on his feet, Radin noticed a movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned, and saw an unfamiliar thill down the stretch of beach. Even as he slowed, and then stood still, he watched her. She kneeled in the sand for a brief moment, holding something up to her face. But then she stood up abruptly and began to brush herself off as if suddenly dirtied, and Radin quirked an eyebrow behind his sunglasses. He was curious to know who she was and what she was doing out here so early, and so he began to pad in her direction, his fingers looping into the strings on the front of his board shorts out of habit as he walked. “Hey," he said, his voice a deep, smooth purl as he eventually drew up alongside the strange female. She was pretty, though almost awkwardly short compared to his nearly six feet of height. The arden offered her his classical smile, but then this expression was spoiled when he smelled and saw that she had a little bit of blood on her hand. “What happened? Did you cut yourself? I have some gauze with my stuff, just down the beach. I’m a doctor in training, so I can wrap it up, if you’d like. Oh, and, I’m Radin Dragyn, by the way."
<span style='color:#00ccff'>- a n d o u t o f c h a r a c t e r l a n n a - I am so sorry! I had a bad case of influenza and my parents wouldn't let me come to the library!</span> <span style='color:pink'>- a n d i n c h a r a c t e r o r c a l i n i -</span> Orca looked up, suprised that she wasn't the only one. In her couple of days at Chafuo, she had noticed that most got up rather late, and she could usually squeeze in a few hours wandering alone before socializing with the rest of the vacationers. She noticed that she had to really tilt her head before she could catch the ardens eye, and gave a small sigh - it usually didn't bother her, but being the shortest by so much could really become a pain in certian situations. <span style='color:pink'>Ayoa! I'm Orcalini, but I'm usually called Orca. I - </span> But then she stopped. The 'wound' was still bleeding pretty good. <span style='color:pink'>Ok, Orca, lets thing this through. A good-looking doctor wants to wrap you up, and you're going to tell him not to? Seriously. Look, it's still bleeding! It would be reasonable to just say ok.</span> Orca thought about this for a couple of seconds, and then decided that, perhaps, it wasn't such a bad idea. <span style='color:pink'>Sure, that sounds great.</span> She said simply, instead. Although it probably would have been natural for most in prescence of a doctor, even one in training, to comment about their huge, unhealed, and in-expertly bandaged leg wounds, Orca didn't even think of it. She had run away shortly after receiving the injuries, and since then, hadn't had the kind of money most doctors wanted - so she had taken the burns in stride, and kept the bandages on. She knew that if she saw a doctor, they could eventually be healed with more treatment - the first doctor had said as much - but she didn't have the money and she didn't have the means, so she planned on having her injuries the rest of her life. A small price to pay, she figured. Most other 'dragons couldn't even tell she had a limp, because it was with both of her legs that she limped, so it looked only as if she had an akward gait that was almost overcome. And it was - her walking had greatly improved, and she could even run now. In about a year, she figured, she'd be able to use her legs normally and without any pain. She couldn't wait.
OoC – Technically, I’m on absence, but it’s late here and I’m feeling a little inspired, so I thought I’d slap up a reply. BiC – The thill’s cheery reply and introduction cajoled the grin back onto Radin’s face, and he nodded politely before regarding her more closely from behind his dark sunglasses. She was short, that was for sure, and she had a tail flame, which intrigued the arden. He scarcely noticed the bandages wrapped about her legs, and even if he had been curious, he would not have pried. Many pendragons wore similar gauze accessories to make themselves look “cool," and so Orca’s own set did not elicit a comment from Radin, whom was indifferent to the trend. Motioning with his hand for her to follow, Radin began to stride back up the beach, where his pile of belongings lay. As he thought of what odds and ends he’d brought with him – along with his lighter and whatnot, he always carried with him some gauze, a small vial of antiseptic, and a few other medical supplies expected of medical trainees – and if they would do Orcalini any good. Her cut didn’t look bad, so the arden figured he could wrap it pretty successfully. “Before I tend to your cut," Radin said as they arrived at his pile of things, “it might be a good idea to walk over to the water and rinse it off. It’ll sting a bit, but the salt will cleanse the wound so that the antiseptic ointment I have will be more helpful." With that said, he paused and bent over to collect the necessary supplies, before straightening out and waiting for the thill to do what he’d requested.
Orcalini looked in horror at the arden for a moment before recovering herself and nodded, looked now only a bit anxious. How was Radin to know she aquaphobic to the point of almost dehydrating herself, trying to live her life getting water out of her food so she didn't have to see it? It was a reasonable request, of course, but all Orca could think was, <span style='color:pink'>It's ok, Orca, It's ok, It's ok, you knew all along you couldn't live your whole life without touching water. Keep moving towards the nice little ocean, thats it, it's not going to hurt you...</span> By this time she had reached the edge between ocean and land. A bit of wave lapped up and hit her feet. She jumped back and let out a quiet yelp and a gasp, then breathed deeply, walked a step or two, bent down, and stuck her hand into the shallow water. She yanked it out almost instantly, and had to repeat this process a few more times before she could keep her hand in the water. Even then, she felt sure she was going to have to puke. She was so proud of herself for doing this, and so deeply frightened, that she didn't even notice the stinging. When she was finished, she closed her eyes for a moment, and then walked back, tail swinging back and forth, the flame a light gray in pride. She still hated water and feared it, but at least she had touched it. That was something, at least to her. <span style='color:pink'>Well, I rinsed it off.</span> She smiled brightly, and so happy that she had touched the water she was that even her wings lightened noticably, so now they were a light storm gray instead of their usual coal.
Radin noticed the thill’s brief look of horror, but before he had a chance to comment, she moved down the sands, towards the water. He stood stock still and watched her, cocking his head when Orca’s first reaction to the water was to leap backwards. Did she harbor some fear of the sea? Radin was about to tell her she didn’t have to rinse if she didn’t want to, but it seemed Orcalini was steeling herself and taking care of it after all. After a few repetitive hand dips into the salty breakers, she rejoined the arden further up on the dunes, all smiles. He noticed her wings were a bit lighter for it, though he did not pry after the reasoning. “Okay, good," Radin said in response to Orca’s words. Almost immediately, he took on his “caretaker’s" demeanor. His expression became a soft, solid smile, and his voice a reassuring purr. With his supplies in hand, he kneeled on the sand in front of the thill in order to be on a more even level. Once supported on his knees, he then softly took her injured hand, and smiling reassuringly, he used his free hand to dab at it with a spare bit of cotton. “It’s not too bad. What’d you do, anyway? Hm…" After rinsing away both the wet and dried blood, he pocketed the soiled cotton ball and then deftly applied a droplet of cooling, soothing ointment. It would cause the blood to clot and the wound to begin to heal. It would also ease any pain Orca may have been enduring, as well as cool down the sting of the salt water. Finally, he grabbed a spool of gauze and, using his teeth, tore off a short section. He wrapped it deftly but gingerly about Orcalini’s cut hand, making sure it was tight enough without binding up her hand. Once this was finished, he then smiled yet again, looked her straight in the eye, and then stood over her. He kept her small hand cupped in his larger, warmer one, knowing that it was contact that often made a “patient" feel more at ease while being tended. “Does that feel better?" Radin asked, his voice as cool as his gaze behind his dark eyeglasses. He had treated many small cuts like this before – and done many other medical things – but the rush of adrenaline, the pride, the feeling of accomplishment, was always poignant for him. Whether it was treating small athletic wounds, administrating shots, or even providing birth control pills for his best friends, Radin loved every aspect of medicine and healing – and it showed in his bright and considerate face.
Orca watched intently as he wrapped the wound, wishing she could manage bandages that well. It would take practice, she supposed. Everything did, even things that seemed easy to the untrained eye. She could manage her legs, yes, but she had to re-wrap them more often then she should, and then got loose quickly. Speaking of getting loose, she could practically feel them drooping, and a small breeze confirmed the fact that a bit of skin was exposed. She smiled back at Radin, noticing the careful way he wrapped her hand and how he looked into her eyes when he was done. He knew what he was doing, too - the she could feel only a slight discomfort, now, not unlike a slightly achey muscle. She flashed a bright smile in return. <span style='color:pink'>Thanks, it feels way better now. What did I do? Actually, I looked down and saw this seashell, and it was pretty, right? So I picked it up to take a closer look, and I must have squeezed it too hard or something, because it broke into a bunch of little pieces, and one got lodged into my hand. I was just getting it out when you came.</span> The story could have been nutshelled into one much shorter, but Orca enjoyed talking - she always had. She slowly slipped her hand out of his, as if reluctently, bent down and untied, then quickly retied, the bandage, so that now none of the 'skin' was showing - for it was skin, but it was so marred that this was hard to tell. She stood straight again, and looked up at Radin. <span style='color:pink'>Your glasses - do you wear them because you have to, or because you want to?</span> o u t o f c h a r a c t e r w i t h l a n n a I love your signature ^___^ By the way, I have no idea how often she had to rewrap her bandages, I don't know much about it. Eek.
“Ah," Radin said when Orca explained her injuries to him. He did not comment or react when she slipped her hand from his, but when he saw her reach down to tend to a disheveled strip of bandaging, an eyebrow involuntarily cocked. Now, he wondered what the gauze on her legs was for, but still he did not ask, but only smiled genially when the thill straightened and shot him with a question about his eyewear. “I was born with extremely sensitive eyes," the arden replied matter-of-factly, and he began to walk now that Orcalini had been tended. His progression into motion was somehow very natural, and he indicated with his head for the thill to walk beside him even as he began to saunter along the sand. “I would be blind, if my parents hadn’t had a specialist craft special glasses that filter out the sun’s harmful rays. Of course, this isn’t the same pair that I had back then…" He uttered a short laugh. “But, I’ve worn them since day one, pretty much. I only take them off when it’s dark, but even then, not often. They’re like an extension of me. Plus, you have to admit, they look cool." In fact, Radin suspected his dark eyeglasses had played a small but significant part in his popularity at Janardan Academy. Along with striking good looks, a slender and attractive physique, and a laidback, intelligent attitude, the sunglasses made him look aloof in a cool sort of way. They were suave, even if they were there for a medical reason. The thing the arden liked best about them, though, was the fact that he could stare at people without them knowing – or not stare at them but make them think he was. It was sometimes fun to make people twitch. As his mind wandered around, he idly wondered if Orca attended Janardan, too. He’d never seen her around, but that wasn’t unusual. The Academy was enormous, and Radin didn’t spend all that much time getting out anymore. Once, he’d been quite a party fiend along with Cayson, but the Tria before, when they’d moved in with Riot, they’d both begun to cool it. It hadn’t been because of the thill, specifically, because Riot wasn’t against partying herself, but… well, Radin didn’t know exactly. Perhaps they’d just begun to grow up. Then, of course, Case had become romantic with their cute roommate, and had become a bit more domestic because of it. They still went out and danced at the local clubs, but there was a lot less binging and quite a bit less loose and open socializing. These days, Radin mostly hung out with Cayson, Riot, and a few other popular students, as well as those who were also enrolled in the medical program at the school. “So…" he began. His train of thought had seemed endless, but really only a short lapse of silence had passed between him and Orca. “Do you go to Janardan? I’m majoring in medical and healing fields there, though I’m here on a brief residency study at the Chafuo clinic." He trailed off, then, not wanting to divulge too much about himself or seem self obsessed. Even though he felt no particular attraction to this thill, he still liked to make good impressions on new acquaintances. He was only a narcissistic jerk when the situation called for it, and this one most certainly did not.
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>Orca followed him and listened to his explanation of the glasses thoughtfully - which wasn't exactly common for her. When he had finished, she nodded thinking to herself that she could never keep the same pair of glasses that long without loosing thiem, and she'd have to get so many pair that her parents would be mad at her, and then... well, she'd probably run away. She paused for a moment. Running away. Was it just her, or was this something that she did whenever things got rough? Her family situation was bad, she ran away. She got bad grades in school since she couldn't concentrate, not because she wasn't smart, though - so basicly, she ran away. Did this make her a coward? The ardens question about school shocked her, since she had just been thinking about it. <span style='color:pink'>Janardan? Well, I used to. I had problems, though. I couldn't keep up with everyone else - I couldn't sit still long enough to listen to the teachers lecture. I ended up in trouble for being to rowdy a lot... so I stopped going to school and started wandering. I'm an adventurer, of sorts.</span> She paused. She had stopped going to school, it was true. But she wanted to say how she saw it - just becuase saying it out loud would help it sink in. <span style='color:pink'>I more 'ran away' then 'stopped going', really. I ditched it. You're majoring in medical, huh? I can tell, you're good with bandages and such. It must be cool being at Chafuo for that.</span> She, of course, was simply wandering - that seemed to have been her life lately. She would fly or walk from place to place, staying in each one, but never for long before moving on. Her goal was to see the world, and she was already well on her way. She laughed to herself. Her parents, as rich as they were, had never seen more of world then they had to - they had no interest in the beauty of the land, just the beauty of what they could buy.</span>
OoC – At long last, I have time and energy to post again! BiC – When Orcalini divulged that she had “problems," Radin’s ears flicked, twisting towards her as he honed in on her voice and listened closely. What she described sounded a lot like an attention deficit disorder, though he was by no means qualified enough to make a diagnosis. Besides, that field – which blended medical problems with psychological ones – was not even close to his specialty. Thus, he did not mention his mental notations to her, but only nodded and made thoughtful noises as she continued. “You could probably find a mentor that’ll sit down with you and go your pace," Radin eventually said when it seemed Orca was done talking. He paused in his step and curled his lip upwards in a small, friendly smirk. “Someone who will have the time and patience to help you get through school, and it could be on your own terms. You could even do it through Janardan. You should look into it." Toeing the sand for a moment, Radin began to walk again, his expression neutralizing as the salty sea air brushed through his colorful manes of hair. “Dunno how you can deal with being a rogue," he added on after a moment of silence. “I like having a steady home, and a steady group of friends. I’d go crazy if I didn’t have Cayson and Riot there to support and anchor me at times. They’re also comic relief. This one time, I –" But apparently Radin thought better of telling that particular story, for he suddenly trailed off and only shook his head with a short laugh. “Yeah, it’s definitely cool to be working my way up and starting residencies. Intimidating and all, but definitely fun. It’ll only be a few more years before I become a fully fledged doctor. Doctor Dragyn. Doesn’t that have a nice sound to it? If you were a mom, wouldn’t you want to send your niotis to the magical Dr. Dragyn?" the green arden joked, a purling laugh rising, deep and rich, from his throat.
