While the waters close to the shore are tropical, Freighlei grows colder the further south you go. Very few areas are covered in ice, travelers are advised to watch out for icebergs. Because of the temperatures, the water is surprisingly clear! (+2 stat of choice)

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Yes, That is an Iceberg [P]

Postby Kestrel » 07/23/2017 4:01 AM

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The day was marvelous, bright and sunny, with small clouds dropped into a deep blue of a sky. Mialarin leaned over the edge of the small sailboat, a faint flute melody dancing through her head. She smiled and slipped an errant strand of black hair behind her ear.

They were headed out on a day-long boating trip, just the three of them: Mialarin, Erisine, and Soriel. She hadn’t seen either of them in months, far off in Lambastia as they—and most of their family—were.

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Re: Yes, That is an Iceberg [P]

Postby Kestrel » 07/23/2017 4:03 AM

Erisine slipped up next to her at the railing, one pale hand shielding his eyes from the sun. Mialarin grinned up at him. “Done with your sunscreen routine?”

He rolled his eyes back at her, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Hey, just because your lovely dark skin doesn’t burn like mine does…”

It was true, Mialarin mused, running one slim finger up her arm. Erisine was the palest of all their siblings, a paper-white that their father’s family adored. But she, like Soriel, was much darker, a medium-brown that reminded her of a warm cello solo, resonant and rich.

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Re: Yes, That is an Iceberg [P]

Postby Kestrel » 07/23/2017 4:06 AM

“I mean, you should still be using sunscreen, you know. Dark skin can still burn. Soriel already put hers on,” Erisine said, a note of urgency slipping into his tone.

“Of course.” Mialarin brushed off her hands and entered the cabin. Soriel was seated at table, dark head bent over a map. She glanced up as Mialarin entered.

“Mia! The water’s really nice, isn’t it?” Soriel’s smile was bright, her brown eyes dancing. Mialarin added in a piccolo line to the music in her head. That’d be Soriel’s excitement, weaving through the whole trip.

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Re: Yes, That is an Iceberg [P]

Postby Kestrel » 07/23/2017 4:07 AM

After Erisine had suggested the three of them (the only ones who could make it this weekend) get together and do something they’d all enjoy, Soriel had jumped onto the idea of a boat trip out in Freighlei. Mialarin and Erisine had been quick to agree, but it was Soriel’s enthusiasm that had really pushed the plans along.

Mialarin nodded in response. “Why don’t you come out to the deck and enjoy yourself for a while?”

Soriel frowned. “I need to make sure we’re careful about which direction we go. There’s some weird weather further south that we’ll need to go around. The wind’s blowing westward right now, as it happens, but I’d like to get a bit more familiar with the route.”

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Re: Yes, That is an Iceberg [P]

Postby Kestrel » 07/24/2017 1:52 AM

Back out on the deck, Erisine leaned over the railing and gazed out at the ocean below. Its lovely clear blue color reflected back out of his own ice blue eyes. The waters were lovely. At once moving, rushing, living, yet also soothing and rhythmic and calming.

He closed his eyes, letting the lapping sounds of the water against the hull of their boat envelop him. He took several deep breaths, matching the flow of his air to the movement of the water and the rocking of the boat.

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Re: Yes, That is an Iceberg [P]

Postby Kestrel » 07/24/2017 1:57 AM

It had been a rather hectic start to their trip. At the docks, there had been some troubles finding their boat, finding the man in charge of giving them their boat, locating all their equipment, getting the boat out on the waters.... Erisine was extremely glad they were far from the shores now, away from that awful man and his atrocious manners. He had actually spit, right onto the ground in front of him. Then he had proceeded to grumble to them about this and that, imaginary issues with the payment and his own personal organization problems. And yet his boat--this boat--was so lovely and tidy and cute. Erisine glanced up at the white triangle sail strung above them, bowed out and full of air. He smiled. Well, as long as the rest of the trip went according to plan, it'd all be worth any starting inconveniences.

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Re: Yes, That is an Iceberg [P]

Postby Kestrel » 07/24/2017 2:03 AM

Soriel came out on the deck then, map in hand.

"Hey Risi!" She waved energetically, even though they were the only two on the deck. "Enjoying the water so far? It's so lovely, isn't it."

He smiled indulgently back at her. Soriel was the youngest of their family, the baby of the group. Her brown eyes were filled with excitement, dipped in earnest enjoyment, and layered all over with innocence.

"Of course. It's soothing, it's lively. It's beautiful."

She stepped up to the side, peering over the side of the railing. "It really is. I'd love to take a swim."

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Re: Yes, That is an Iceberg [P]

Postby Kestrel » 07/24/2017 2:07 AM

Behind him, Erisine heard Mia's soft, musical chuckle. "If you are, you'd better do it soon. I've heard that these waters don't stay warm for very long."

He turned to see her walking up to them from the cabin, smoothing sunscreen over her arms. Her black hair was tucked over one shoulder, spilling down in soft waves down to her waist.

He grinned, a smile that showed teeth. "I must admit, I'm rather looking forward to colder waters."

"For the icebergs, of course," Soriel piped up, playing along.

"Definitely for the icebergs," he agreed, anticipation curling his mouth into another smile.

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Re: Yes, That is an Iceberg [P]

Postby Kestrel » 07/29/2017 3:26 PM

Soriel tipped her head to one side. The water did look absolutely enchanting. It was a deep, bright blue, a vibrancy achievable by nothing else. She ached to be in there, and feel the ocean's soft fingers trailing over her skin. She didn't swim in the ocean nearly enough, and she had never touched the waters of the Freighlei Ocean.

"Go for it," Mia said, a soft smile adorning her lovely face. Her siblings sometimes told Soriel that she was the prettiest of them all--she was quite pretty, she supposed, with even-set, big brown eyes and symmetric, regular features--but sometimes, when she looked at Mia, she longed for the sweetness and the softness gracing every curve and every line of her sister's skin.

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Re: Yes, That is an Iceberg [P]

Postby Kestrel » 07/29/2017 3:29 PM

"Yeah Soriel, go for it. You might not get another chance before the end of the trip!" That was Risi, lending his voice to the cause.

And Soriel would love to follow their advice and just dive in, but...

"Hm. I don't know if I can trust you two with the boat while I'm gone." She stuck her tongue out her two older siblings. "What if you, I don't know, crash into an iceberg while I'm out swimming and sink our boat?"

Risi grinned back at her. "An iceberg? This close to the shore? Surely you can't have such a low opinion of Mia and me that you'd think we could conjure up an iceberg in much-higher-than-freezing waters."

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Re: Yes, That is an Iceberg [P]

Postby Kestrel » 07/29/2017 3:34 PM

Still, she hesitated. Risi raised up an eyebrow. "Ohhhh. I see what the problem is now. You're afraid you can't swim fast enough to keep apace with the boat, aren't you."

Soriel immediately gasped. "Excuse me? You think I can't swim fast enough? Me? You don't know what you're talking about, Erisine Ambrose."

He only responded by folding his arms and grinning at her smugly. Next to him, Mia covered up a little giggle.

Soriel hmphed. "Fine then. I'll just have to show you then."

And with that, she hauled herself up the side of the railing and jumped into the waters below.

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Re: Yes, That is an Iceberg [P]

Postby Kestrel » 07/29/2017 3:38 PM

They had been baiting her, Soriel knew it, but ahhhh was it worth it. She broke through the surface of the water and treaded water, looking around her. The ocean was even lovelier from down here. She dove back in, pushing through the water with her strong legs, keeping herself aligned with the little sailboat she'd jumped off of.

It was glorious, these waters. Ocean and ocean, everywhere around her. She peered down, and the water stretched infinitely below her, darkening into the deepest depths. She spotted a few fish, swimming and flicking about. Ah, but this was heaven.

And then everything went wrong.

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Re: Yes, That is an Iceberg [P]

Postby Kestrel » 12/26/2017 10:06 PM

One moment, Mialarin was smiling as she watched her younger sister swim in the ocean, Soriel’s long hair streaming out behind her as she kicked through the water. The next, a strong gust of wind was slamming itself into the side of her head, wrenching her head to one side. She heard Erisine cry out as the sailboat lurched forward, racing past Soriel into colder waters.

She clung to the railing at the edge of the boat, desperately looking around for something they could use to rescue Soriel. She spotted the life preserver near the end of the boat. Gritting her teeth, she lowered her head and forced her way against the wind towards it.

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Re: Yes, That is an Iceberg [P]

Postby Kestrel » 12/26/2017 10:11 PM

She passed Erisine, who had made his way to the mast and was struggling to catch the ropes that the wind was dashing against the wood.

“We need to close the sail!” she heard him cry.

She had reached the life preserver now and was prepared to fling it into the water. Soriel was swimming hard, a white froth of foam flying out behind her, but she was no match for the boat, and she was growing smaller and smaller.

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Re: Yes, That is an Iceberg [P]

Postby Kestrel » 12/26/2017 10:12 PM

“Tie it to the ship first!” Erisine shouted at her, and Mialarin complied, quickly wrapping the loose end of the rope around a metal hook set into the end of the boat. She flung it out in the ocean, but the wind forced the life preserver to land several feet away from Soriel.

She bit her lip watched as the rope uncoiled more and more, letting the life preserver bob with the waves as Soriel raced towards it. Behind her, she heard Erisine spit out a few curse words, but didn’t dare turn to look.

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