Moonlight illuminated the ocean's shadowy depths. Around her ankles swarmed pockets of bright blue, following her with each step taken. Ying watched
the spirits dance in the darkness, prance from one position to the next, and hummed a quiet tune of encouragement. The sound of crashing waves was blown on winds heavy with sea salt; they brushed past her snout, synchronized with each of her breaths. She thought of Xiaochou (
@Astaroth) and imagined what it might be like to be found immersed in this tranquility.
a childish fit of belly laughter filled the air as he went prancing through the shallow edges of the sea, his steps illuminating a path of even brighter blue behind him as he continued his way down the coast.
at the sight of the familiar moonlit figure, astaroth sprung himself forward on nimble paws and took off in the siren's direction. he stopped just a few paces away, a cool breeze tangling his inky coat as he lifted his paw to send a few brightened drops of water her way, eager to test her repetitiveness of his playful advance.
Ying frowned and opened one eye, immediately recognizing the mink's familiar frame. She pretended to be unaware until he made his approach, splashing water haphazardly in her direction. Hey!
the huntress barked. Her expression was one of displeasure, purposefully misleading. Ying stood and walked a few steps away, flagging her tail in mock agitation.
Still with her back turned, she waited to see if he would follow. Ying dipped her snout under the water and gathered a gulp of water into her mouth, then turning back to the mink and spitting playfully in his direction.
she could have been an actress, for he was easily fooled. he played right into her little trap, his jaws parting to apologize just as she turned and spat a mouthful of water in his direction. immediately his initial spunk returned as he shook free the beads of water that had managed to hit him directly in the face.
"oohhhh you're going down" he teased as he lurched forward, intent on tackling her to the water while still remaining mindful that she did not do well in the sea, as per their last discussion.
Xiaochou's attack was easily landed. Ying shrieked as she tumbled and rolled through the shallow water, rearising soaked in saltwater. She giggled — Hush, boy!
— and ran toward him with shoulders braced, hoping to land a hit on either foreleg. Ideally, he would end up literally salty.
laughter bubbled out of him at the sight of her, his tail wickedly swaying behind him as he watched her prepare for an attack of her own. instinctively he steadied himself, toes sinking into the sand beneath him as she aimed and succeeded in knocking one of his forelegs out from beaneath him.
drops of cerulean blue flew into the air as he attempted to regain his footing. once balanced, and notably soaked from head to toe, astaroth rose and stuck a salmon pink tongue out between velvety lips in a mocking and childlike fashion.
You are so goofy!
She stumbled away after landing her attack, but turned back to watch him rise. His childish display was met with an eyeroll and equally childish sigh. Bor-ing
, Ying moaned. She stepped in front of the mink and moved to push their noses together, so that they might be forced into a staring contest. Ying wasn't really good at play-fights (it sounded redundant, really), but she assumed that this move was okay.
her eyeroll was met with a smirk, playful and innocent as he watched her waltz all the way up until their noses were touching. he knew the game and instantly widened his eyes in an attempt to keep them open a second longer than her own.
he'd unknowingly been holding his breath for the entire length of their contest, his eyes slowly coming shut with each second that passed. and so in a last effort to make her lose, or at the very least cause her to become distracted, astaroth pursed his lips and gently blew a puff of air in her direction.
Giggles continued to erupt throughout the duration of their game. Ying was barely keeping her eyes open, but held strong against her opponent. She was semi-confident that she would win, too...until he decided to play dirty. The gust of air came during an inhale, choking her as it forced its way into her windpipe. She began to cough and stepped away, regretfully sacrificing her title for her life.
Once she'd caught her breath again, Ying turned to face the mink. She had the expression of a fallen woman; though it was subtle, the droop of her eyelids would have been hard to ignore. Competitive by nature, she hated to lose, especially when she knew she could have won. She remained silent as she walked from water to shore.
his tail burst into a fit of wiggles the moment she had given up the win, a few heavy blinks restoring his dry eyes as he watched her slink from the illuminated water. he didn't aim to stop her but instead chose to follow until he slipped forward and aimed an apologetic bump to the side of her snout with his nose. win or lose it didn't really matter to the inky ghoul, but he knew not all were the same, she apparently included.
Xiaochou's silent apology elicited nothing more than a huff. She was moreso frustrated with the abrupt end of the game (which she had caused) than her loss, but was unwilling to admit it. Instead, she mimicked his prior behavior, sticking out her own tongue and sneering in his direction.
he'd take what he could get, her huff enough to satisfy him as far as apologies went. at least they'd both learned something about each other from their little game; he was a dirty cheater and she a sore loser.
and so when she played copy-cat, sticking her tongue in his direction, he returned the favor with an eyeroll and girlish "bor-ing" as to mock her previous reply. it might have worked had his voice not awkwardly cracked in the middle and left him cackling at his own embarrassment.
You are rude.
She stared down at him with a fragile frown, kept only by her efforts to refrain from smiling. His voice crack and subsequent laughter did bring about a snort, but she quickly returned to silence. I am trying to enjoy a night, and now I can't.
Ying's moment of peace had long since ended; she doubted there would be another chance tonight.
his laughter died quickly at her remarks, inky ears flickering at the thought of him having ruined her night. "do you want me to leave?" he asks, curious if she would prefer to be alone for the rest of the evening.
he'd rather stay and enjoy her company but if his presence was unwanted, he would have no issues with walking away. he certainly would not beg or plead to remain by her side, especially not after already apologizing once before.
Romance didn't interest Ying, but even she had to acknowledge the evening's aura. The moonlight, the ambient sounds; it would make for an ideal date. She dropped her snobby expression and frantically shook her head, hoping that it wasn't too late to rescind her accidental insult. I am not serious
, she told him, Don't leave.
The sylph lifted a paw and motioned for him to lie down, quickly moving to do the same.
forgive and forget - it came easily to him. the stoic expression of his face quickly turned upwards as she beckoned him to lay, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. and so when she moved to position herself, he did the same, wet sand clinging to his damp fur as he settled himself onto his stomach beside her.
"it's pretty", he thought aloud as he turned to watch the water glow softly in the moonlight. astaroth wasn't much of a naturalist, but even he couldn't help but wonder what caused such a bewitching phenomenon.
Did she have a crush? Probably.
Breathing deeply his scent, Ying moved to lean against him. She imagined that he were her mate — that which was chosen by Hydra — and this was their first date. Rather than quiet the butterflies, she allowed them to stir within.
Ying didn't respond to the mink's comment. She closed her eyes and relaxed, content to sit in silence.
he shifted his weight so that he might lean his head against her own, the sound of crashing waves playing on loop in the background. it was easy with her, comfortable, and for the first time in awhile he felt as if he could breathe. and so he did, sucking in a breath just as she closed her eyes.
he did not aim to break the silence, enjoying it for what it was. just him and her, on a beach, in the middle of nowhere, with the sea singing them a symphony under the moonlight.