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 Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 4:48 pm
Ying was deeply touched by Jia's open invitation, and he bowed to show his gratitude. "Who could decline an offer so graciously given? Of course, I would be honored to join you." He was eager for the opportunity to interact with her and study her character by means of observing her actions.
Although Guang YingXiong had heard tales of men being beguiled by seemingly gentle inviting beauties, he thought nothing of them at the moment. He felt that he could trust Jia completely, even though he had just met her. Perhaps their meeting was instead like other legends, ordained by fate.
He waited for her to enter the coral first, then followed after, close enough to join his lantern light with hers.
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 7:57 pm
With a gentle smile the female slipped back into the maze of coral, knowing that Ying would follow her. She glnced back to see that he came, but mostly brown eyes gazed about them to the coral as their lights illuminated this branch of coral while casting others in shadows from those branches closest to them. The zip of her own light as she had 'danced' earlier was missing, but otherwise the play of light was equally beautiful.
Jia sighed with happy appretiation, almost but not quite forgetting she was not alone. "There is a difference... but it is still beautiful."
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 4:21 pm
Agreeing silently, Ying smiled and swam a small space behind Jia, gazing at the lovely patterns that emerged in the coral. His eyes were also on the female Beta as she swam. The way she moved brought to mind the image of an ink brush dipped in red-gold ink, skillfully drawing a scene of young phoenixes nesting in an orchard of purple-blossomed trees. His soul stirred to finally speak, YingXiong swam up alongside her and sighed, "Yes... it is most refreshing."
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 2:17 pm
It did not cross Jia's mind that her companion might like to look at her as well as the coral. It was not from naivity, more that she found their play of light on the purplish coral to be so beautiful she would not thought to be able to hold a candle to it.
She turned her face to him and smiled when Ying swam up beside her and spoke. "I was not looking for this place specifically when I happened across it, though I am now very glad I did."
Brown eyes flecked with gold sought his tentatively. "I'd like to return, tomorrow or another night. If I wouldn't be intruding on your meditation. It's... soothing for me here." Her voice faded softly as Jia became contemplative. "Like a release."
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 7:12 pm
YingXiong's eyes widened as Jia looked at him, surprised to hear the very words he was looking for come out of her mouth. "Yes... I agree," he replied quietly, taking a moment to bask in the reflected light from the coral.
A little embarrassed that Jia might have thought she was troubling him, he explained, "Ah, you need not ask my permission to come here; you have as much right to be here as I. They are free waters, or so I would suppose." Smiling, he continued, "However, I would like also to return if you would be here. It might be good for me to do something other than meditation now and then, and one can never be burdened by good company."
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 10:11 pm
The male's wide eyes worried Jia more than anything and for that moment she was afraid she had overstepped some line or missed some protocol & inwardly chastised herself for such a slip. But his quiet words did not seem to match with his wide eyes, so perhaps she had only surprised YingXiong? But how?
Then Ying was speaking again and thoughts of how or why were pushed aside as she listened attentively. He wanted to join her & considered her good company? Jia's light slowly brightened at the thought. A shy smile touched her face, letting herself accept how much she would like to see him again too. "They are free waters... but free does not give leave to forget courtesy. I can understand how your meditation means to you and it would sadden me to deprive you of its tranquility."
A lowering of her eyes demurely. "It would bring me joy to meet you here again, YingXiong."
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 2:37 pm
Charmed by her ever-decorous manner, he smiled even more warmly. "I have begun to learn that meditation is not the only way to find peace. In the presence of good company, one soon forgets the vexation of bad company. I am most grateful for being able to share these waters with you."
A slow, irrepressible smile accompanied by a gradually more intense glow came to Ying as Jia said his name. "You have taken the very words from my mouth. Likewise, it would be my great honor and pleasure to see you again, Jia XiaoJie." He followed these words with another deep bow.
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 4:59 pm
Jia felt instantly warm by his increasing glow and the warmth of Ying's smile. She knew that when she did leave this pleasant night excursion to return home She would be seeking Elanorriel's wisdom. For surely...
The lantern female pushed such thoughts from her mind until later. Right now she simply wanted to enjoy Ying's company. She swam a little bit away, only to change the play of their lights. "It will make returning home brighter, knowing there is something worth leaving again to hold onto."
She spoke softly, in a contemplative tone that indicated she spoke her thoughts aloud but held no reserves in sharing them with her companion -intentional or not.
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 11:04 am
The lantern male blushed so hotly and fanned out his tails so suddenly it almost seemed he had burst into flame. Her words had had stolen all voice from him; he was speechless to express the great honor he felt. How could it be that she had made such a profound impression on him in such a short time?
After a great effort, Ying managed to regain his composure and gathered his tails together, flattening his fins at his side. Perhaps she had only been referring to the coral field? No... regardless of how any hope or pride might deceive his own thoughts, he could not question the honest tone in her voice. They had only just met; what reason could she have to be anything but sincere?
Bowing deeper yet than he had before, he said to her, "You... cannot know how great a gift you grant me. For you to imply that... to be called such... it... is an honor I do not deserve." He raised his head briefly, as if not daring even to look into her eyes, saying, "I humbly wish you a safe journey on your return home."
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 6:35 pm
It was the change in luminosity bouncing around & through the coral that caused Jia to turn swiftly to face Ying with all the grace of a dancer. Curiousity and concern filled her brown eyes. But before she could find the words and phrasing much less select the question she wanted to ask Ying had returned to how she had already grown comfortable seeing him. Something about him in that instant mad Jia want to go to him... offer comfort or support in some quiet way if only by stroking his back with her fin.
But that was certainly improper, and Jia felt instantly guilty for having let it stay in her thoughts so long. Ying was too honorable...
She gasped silently, her mouth forming a small 'o' briefly in surprise at witness such a deep bow - for her? Then he spoke, and the halting way he searched for just the right thing to say with the words he did say & the tone and body language behind them warmed her. Warmed her so that Jia almost feared she would melt completely and the ever moving waters of the tank would disperse her liquified form. She smiled, soft and faintly tender, a warm glow adding to her own, brightening & intensifying it visibly but not outrageously.
Lowering slightly in the water Jia sank until she was lower than the male and cast her brown eyes gently up to smile ever so softly. "You have honored me with your company and kind courtesy."
The female had not been intending to leave yet, but thinking about it -having the knowledge of her tankmates- Jia concluded that with the way her emotions were qualing within her a proper & strategic parting was most likely wise. So she returned the bow. "As I wish for you, YingXiong."
... and a safe journey back tomorrow, so we can see each other again. The thought flickered in her eyes.
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Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 3:10 pm
Feeling helpless to express his feelings adequately, the male Beta continued to bow, clasping his fins before his face. It was hardly comparable, he thought to himself, the honor which she had bestowed upon him to the meager offering of his own presence.
Ying unexpectedly found himself looking deeply into Jia's warm, beautiful, golden brown eyes. He felt a renewed warmth rising within him, and he made no effort to suppress it, allowing his own light to mingle with the lantern light of the female Beta.
At her words, YingXiong was unable to contain himself any longer. He sprang up from his bow, reached out and grasped one of her fins, drawing her close to him. With a wild look in his eyes, an expression between boundless joy and unfathomable despair, Ying searched her face, not even himself knowing exactly what he was looking for. After this brief moment, he brought her fin to his forehead, whispering ardently, "Thank you... Jia XiaoJie, thank you." Releasing her abruptly, he turned tail and fled before his feelings could betray him any further. Verily, in the graces of a worthy lady, a man's heart melts and the light of his courage wavers.
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Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 8:26 pm
She gasped ever so faintly at the suddenness of his movements, thrilling in them even as she wondered what was happening. She tried to keep her heart from leaping into her eyes, but seeing the wild look in his it seemed to call everything that had roused within her since meeting Ying. He had her fin, he was looking at her... she was touching his face, and they were so close... and he thanked her.
Jia did not know why he thanked her but it made her warm all over. It brightened her glow and made her half wish he would do more than hold her fin to his forehead. Properly she made no move other than glow and smile to show her inproper thoughts, but she knew her heart had been stirred by Ying's ardent words.
Then he was gone, and the female lantern felt suddenly bereft. Perhaps she should have left that moment sooner and not caused him ... well whatever awkwardness that had him leaving so very suddenly. Slowly she swam through the coral the way he had gone, pausing at the exit to see if there was some trace of his lantern light to tell her which way he had gone. Finding a flicker that could only be Ying she watched it go softly. "Until tomorrow night, Guong YingXiong." She whispered in the direction he had gone. "Or the next night, or the next. I will continue to return until we meet again."
With that Jia YaHuo Flicked her tail and headed for the portkey that would take her home. She hoped Elanorriel would have some wisdom for her.
******* [start a new day?]
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:58 pm
Guang YingXiong paced back and forth in his home tank, questioning himself over and over. All his feelings were in turmoil, and he could not find any organization or sense of what to do. What--or who--had occupied his thoughts? The male lantern Beta could think of naught else but Jia YaHuo, the beautiful and elegant female Beta he had met only the night before. He had barely slept that night, and the dreams that had come to him had brought him no relief. He sought the cool darkness of the present night to do a different type of meditation.
What was it that he felt? What had started as casual admiration for a lady's grace had turned into something much more intense, something that Ying struggled to understand and find the words to describe. It was respect--definitely respect. It was beyond the Chinese male to have any less regard for her. It was admiration for beauty--the female was certainly attractive, both in face, form, and carriage. Was it simply lust, then? Swimming furiously as he circled the tank, the male Beta's face darkened with a scowl. Such a term did not belong in his perception of her. Although she was beautiful, his honor could not permit him to think of taking advantage of her demure manner in any sense. Was it affection? Ying could not deny some degree of attachment to her. Could it be... love? Impossible, Ying thought, swimming even more vigorously, his cheeks burning in embarrassment and confusion. They had only met but once, and surely it was too early to even think of such a serious word. But if it was not love... what could it be?
Ying paused and settled himself in the gravel at the bottom of the tank, resting from this circle of thought and taking up another. What, then, should he do about these emotions? He could not deny his innermost desire, which was to see her again and bask in the light of her company, but he was afraid that she might no longer welcome him. Although they may have shared a wish to meet again, his final actions at their parting had surely been a severe breach of decorum. The Chinese male chastised himself vehemently. He had no right to touch her! He never should have so much as brushed a fintip to her scales. He had given no warning and no explanation. What if she now thought him a womanizer? What if he had offended her and she never wanted to see him again?
Eyes widening in fear at this thought, Ying lay still at the tank bottom. If this were true, there was nothing he could hope to gain from seeing her again. Then again... at least he should apologize to her for her actions. Vividly he remembered her request to meet him again at the coral reef tonight. Surely she was gracious enough to grant him a chance to explain himself. Guided by this optimistic concept, the male Beta sprinted off to the coral reef, turning over in his mind his choice of words on the way.
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Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:40 am
In her own tank Jia YaHuo spent a night filled with dreams of lantern glow and purple coral that she only vaguely remembered with more than a hint of joy -after she was able to dodge her tank brother's unwanted advances. She did not wake from her very pleasant dreams until after te sun reached its zenith and was already making its way west. Not unusual after staying out much of the night and then 'talking' with Himgûl. Of course as soon as she could the female lantern had sought out Elanorriel, seeking the elder & wiser female's advice. It was sound, as Jia had expected it to be. Not only that, but the elven evolved female had posed some serious questions to her honorary daughter which in answering -even if only to herself- had more than helped the emotionally charged lantern come to terms with what she was feeling.
Of course Jia would return to the coral. She had said as much. That had never wavered. Her need had been whether a lady should feel such things. Whether she should hope that Ying would take her fin again. Her fin tingled where his fin had held it & where it had touched his head where the feel of him lingered. He had perhaps been out of place to make such a move, when they had only just met. Her mind knew this. But Jia could hardly help her heart's eager flutter or how she hoped he would hold her fin like that again, with that intensely joyful despair in his brown eyes. As a female, it would be improper of her to confess such feelings outright or make a move toward them. Still, she had needed to know better the lines she should make if Ying advanced further -for Jia feared her heart would let her forget in his cultured charm.
If she saw him again.
That was a fret Elanorriel could not abate from the Chinese lantern female's mind. He had left so abruptly... perhaps he regretted his actions? Certainly one such as he could not be afraid. Not of anything Jia could represent. Yet he had fled from her. As the time between then and the coming darkness grew her anxiety over why he had left like that and what it might mean also grew.
The only way to find out was to go to the coral as she planned. But evening seemed to take forever to come. When at last it came time to go Jia YaHuo compelled herself to go no faster than she had the night before -no matter the urgency her beating heart tried to put on the matter. She may not be able to suppress the influx of feelings inside her, but she could be a lady and not advertise them.
Until she saw him.
She spotted Ying's light in the darkness first and the way her breath threatened to quicken and her heart pounded in her chest Jia knew it was not simply mistaking another lantern's light for his. Somehow she managed to continue her swim at its current unhurried pace. But there was an extra light to her gold flecked brown eyes and an added warmth to her glow. She did not pause or falter until they were both in front of the coral, almost to the spot where he had been waiting for her to exit from her dance the night before. Her graceful, pleased smile could not be contained, nor his name in greeting falling from her parted lips.
"Guang YingXiong." It flowed smoothly from her, filled with joy and tenderness Jia had not intended to display. In sooth, she had not anticipated the intensity of those feelings. Putting her fins together she bowed in proper greeting as much for protocol as an excuse to demurely cast her eyes from his. Then she lifted her eyes to meet his once more, and her rampant heart skipped a beat.
Is this Love?
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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 1:55 pm
Restlessly fluttering his fins in the water, YingXiong had determined to wait at the purple coral reef until Jia YaHuo appeared, even if he had to wait all night, or however long it might take. Fortunately, it seemed that he did not have to wait long at all. The bright lantern glow of another Beta approached, and when Ying knew who it was, he smiled. She had come!
Deciding that swimming forth to meet her might seem too forward, the male lantern Beta kept his place until she had come within reach. As the utterance of his own name reached his ears, Guang YingXiong bowed deeply, rising again to return the greeting. "Jia XiaoJie..." he began breathlessly, beginning to redden. His myriad thoughts clamored for dominance, but he fought them back with his first priority. It was of greatest importance not to risk offending the lady again. "Again you honor me with your presence. I wish to apologize for my rash actions last night. My behavior was out of place, lacking courtesy... It was unacceptable. Expecting nothing, I beg your forgiveness."
And hoping everything... I wish only that I may stay by your side.
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