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She could do no more else than to offer her fin as much as she had, and even that bordered for Jia on whether or not she should. Seeing Ying's widening eyes she had both hoped and been afraid. Afraid she was overstepping. His eyes on hers Jia silently wished ... for YingXiong to take her fin if only lightly & only for a moment.

Then he withdrew his fin and a cloud carrying her shallow and likely improper hope descended upon her gold flecked eyes, leaving them merely brown. Jia dropped her fin, the appendage falling like a rock like the ache settling into her chest. She had gone too far...

His smile was still a balm on the ache inside. The female lantern still wished to please him, to be with him. What her heart desired? Was there a song she knew that came close to what her heart desired?

The pain at both missing his touch and the breach of decorum she believed herself guilty of further softened seeing Ying's face so bright with a smile. Her own smile started to return, bearing a sweet, hopeful touch to her eyes. "I would like that, Guang YingXiong."

Jia YaHuo then gave him an apologetic smile. "I fear I know very few songs of our culture, and none of them hare anything like my heart's desire." A few gold flecks returned to her green eyes.

With that, Jia grew thoughtful a long moment. With a small nod of reaching decision she began to sing in a soft sweet voice that was either low soprano or upper alto. It was a song without words, but it spilled from her heart through her throat & out her mouth of unfathomable joy, bridled but still strong and waiting to be free.

The lantern female had never sung like that. Had never the will or the desire. Her way was usually more soft -back up to the others when they sang. A simple yet lovely sound.

Had Ying's presence drawn the song out from her? The notion was more than likely. Jia felt pleasantly adrift as she sang, the notes more pure and meaningful than anything she had ever spoken or sang before.

Her eyes were slightly glazed as if waking from a dream when she finished. And as a dream it felt to her, watching with a soft and tender smile as the male's tails fanned beautifully across the water and he neared. So like a dream. Ying took her fins in hers and her smile warmed even more, rivaling the increasing light of her body's glow. The gold flecks in her eyes seemed to multiply, and her heartbeat was picking up speed.

He held her fins in his. It felt wonderful and she sighed happily even as it started to dawn on her that this was no dream. The barest flicker of fear that she had perhaps done something dishonorable or improper was quickly washed away by joy. Did he... perhaps he felt something for her too? The tone of his voice enraptured Jia, made her feel like an Empress... but better. She felt... wanted. Respected. Honored. Lighter than air. Her soul still sang of her wordless song but now the notes altered, filling with hope.

"Yes, Guang YingXiong?" The heart and soul flowing from her music still carried on her soft voice, and reflected in her eyes.

Her heart was beating frantically, her head trying to hold on to how she should be responding and acting as was fitting & falling short in the face of Ying's voice and beautiful words. A thousand days... a lifetime... how long had it been since they parted last night, leaving her dreaming of nothing but the male now before her. Was it wrong for her to feel excited as he held her fin, to be glad as he kissed it? Warmth rushed through her, filling her comfortably and gently. His words... his heart beating beneath her fin -was hers as fast? How did it seem they beat as one when surely hers was at such a pulse it had never been before.

Their culture had tales only of love such as this that Jia knew of. Could it really be? Would it be right to follow her heart? In all the world, there was nothing she wanted more. Realizing she would put everything she knew on the line to be with him, Jia felt suddenly both frightened and alive.

What he offered her... was at both a responsibility and the sweetest, lightest feeling she could ever imagine to feel. What he said of her... her, Jia YaHuo... well she was not certain she was all Ying said of her and yet she hoped she was. She prayed she was everything this honorable beta deserved, for above everything else Jia found she wanted his happiness above her own. "I cannot hope to match the eloquence of your words." Her voice was soft & laced with love & respect. "Nor do I feel I could ever be worthy of one such as you, Ying. But I can do little else than to accept the great gift you offer, even if it feels selfish of me. For I only have my own to offer in return, growing these thousand years since last night, which bears the marks of your name etched upon it though I cannot say when they appeared."

The female lantern blushed, eyes casting demurely down at her fin in his, pressed to his chest. "My words... please forgive me. What is clear in my heart is hard to find words to fill. Other than I love you, Guang Ying Xiong."

Her eyes lifted back to his then, filled with everything Jia had feared her words could not convey. No matter the trails of time, she & her heart were already his -unendingly.

Her head swam, feeling like this had to be a dream, for how could anything real feel so wonderful, so perfect? Jia felt she really was a star, like the character upon her side, glowing bright and hot, rolling through the heavens threatening to burst...

Then she did burst, as if from one skin into another. The flesh so tender that the touch of being held was more than the never before experienced joy that it was but a fiery blaze of joy & happiness. The hugs she had experienced from her tankmates held no comparison to this, so tight, so close, so warm. Twin heartbeats -did they shift to beat in time?- thundering loudly against each other. Her eyes were closed, as if to keep out anything but this moment, the feel of this newness & wonder.

The sound Ying made brought her spiraling closer to reality yet it was not the fall Jia might have expected. More so it was a calming, rationalizing thing. Realizing he held her in his fins, that their bodies -ancestors look away!- were close together, their cheeks one upon the other, & their hearts physically separated only by the flesh of their bodies. The other feelings were still there, merely blanketed slightly now with an ability to think. Perhaps even to react rationally?

Possibly. Space came between them and Jia could barely make out what must be her love's tears barely distinguishable from the water surrounding them. It very likely could have been the glow of love that altered her perceptions and saw said water as having come from Ying. The cold water flowing across her body where it had seconds (hours? years? time when around Guang Ying Xiong seemed to not stay confined to the accepted definitions, and only remained something Jia wished to spend all that she had available to her with this male) ago chilled the oddly warmed places they had touched making her shiver. She both wished him to hold her again to relinquish this new chill while reveling in the feel of it, letting it be a mark of what they had just shared.

And yet... if she had thought the burning feeling of being a star would diminish or fade with the termination of their embrace Jia was pleasantly surprised for the fires within her burned bright and steady. Perhaps even more so now that she had just enough sense to see & feel them for what they were.

There was a faint whisper that asked 'what now?' within the confines of her mind. Did they kiss? Embrace again? Should he meet her guardians, those who had been like parents to her? Continue a courtship they already knew how their hearts wished to conclude?

The thoughts remained thankfully where they could not infringe upon Jia's joy of this moment. Her eyes upon Ying were flecked with so much gold the brown was difficult to see. Or perhaps that was reflections of their sea-illuminating bright glow.

Jia YaHuo boldly reclaimed a small fraction of the space between them that had been made when Ying released her from his embrace. She did not look away from his eyes, loving the look she saw within them, loving him, and showing all of her love in her own. She loved when he spoke Chinese to her; it sounded so beautiful from his lips. And these words... her heart clamored to tell her it understood them. Her whispered voice thrummed, not quite quavering so much as vibrating with emotions. "Wo ai ni, Guang Ying Xiong. Wo ai ni yong."

It was early, far too early for Jia YaHuo to come meet her love at the coral that purpled in their lantern glow. But it was nearing late for the two evolved beta who waited there, conversing softly. They were familiar with each other but though one could presume the pair a couple it was far from the truth. Both held an aura of guidance about them, something that indicated they were accustomed to taking care of others around them. They did not touch. They did not pace. They floated casually in the water within arm reach of each other near the coral reef, the colors more of a blue in the fading sunlight, without the red-tinted glow of a lantern beta to change their hue.

"I just never thought it of her." The male said with a frown, pushing his long brown hair back over his shoulder. His silver eyes narrowed slightly, looking off into the distance.

"What? That she might find love?" Her voice twinkled softly, laced with peace and wisdom and infinite patience. The smile on her elegant face was graceful even as the male huffed his sigh. "No, Elanorriel. That she did not speak of it to us." He folded his arms over his bare chest, the scene of the Christian Nativity flicking sharply through the water beneath him.

Elanorriel smiled, patient and sweet and with just a hint of longing. "But she as good as did, Aman. She is in love. It is there in the way she swims, the way she sighs & smiles and gazes at nothing that can be seen." Glancing down Elanorriel smoothed out the fabric of her sleeves, then her over-dress before lifting her bright blue eyes to smile gently into the silver eyes of the Christian. "Her culture though we have been able to teach her so little of it is quite different from either of ours. It would not be her place to voice her interest. If somehow she and the one she loves have managed to convey their affections to each other there is a high chance for guilt to form from not following proper traditions and tarnish their relationship."

Sighing Aman shifted the cross of his arms, reversing them. "I know. That's why we are here." It was more difficult for the Christian. He did not match the elf's tolerance of other cultures and beliefs. Oh he tried but it saddened him so that so many were unsaved and in fact had no interest or intentions to be saved. Elanorriel nodded softly, remaining silent to let him have his thoughts to himself. Very gently she touched a nearby arm of coral, the long flowing sleeves of her dress fluttering behind her with the movement. . Jia YaHuo has always had impeccable tastes.

((RolePlaying Elanorriel as if she already has the items I plan to order for her. Because going around in a shell top is really kinda ooc for her. wink just for the record.))

Having expected to in essence catch their 'daughter's' beloved unawares, Aman and Elanorriel were puzzled as two beta neared -neither fitting the rather enamored description Elanorriel had managed to earn in snippits by gently listening to Jia as she floated through her room in a dreamy manner. Bright blue eyes alighted upon a scroll carried by the two and with a faint and small arch of her eyebrow as she recalled what customs she knew of the lanterns' cultures Elanorriel placed a calming and staying hand on her companion's bare arm. Silver eyes looked from the approaching fish to the elvish lady and back again, Aman trying to fathom what exactly was being communicated here. At last his gaze registered the scroll. A missive?

Whatever the case... Aman spoke up. "Greetings. May God bless you this day."

Elanorriel smiled softly and nodded. It would be well that the Christian's culture and that of the Chinese lanterns' shared at least that the men should do the talking -or at least most of it. These beta did not look Chinese, but looks could be deceiving. Until she could determine how much of that culture's ceremonies would be followed it was more kind to go this route.

Stoically silver eyes watched the beta before them as the angelic male spoke. When he finished those eyes darted to his tankmate. Smiling softly Elanorriel gave a small and graceful nod of her head, the slender fingers of her hand lightly touching his arm in encouragement. Internally the Christian sighed. He did not know the appropriate next steps in this culture, and yet he wished his pretty little tankmate to have no cause for shame in what surely was a happy event for her. Jia YaHuo was after all the closest he had to a daughter, certainly the most biddable of those he and Elanorriel raised and cared for. Lord... was my ministry and example not enough to win her heart for You?

To the male he nodded singly as his eyes returned, only a fraction of a moment gone. "Yes. I am Aman, and this is Elanorriel. We are the heads of Trelweny's tank and have had the honor to be the guardians of Jia YaHuo." Normally he would not specify their tank, but it seemed appropriate after the others had mentioned their own. The slight nod to his side was indication enough for Aman that his companion approved and supported him. It was a relief.

Elanorriel softly watched all with her soft and bright blue eyes as the delicate fabric of her dress shifted in the lightly moving waters around them. Had she suspected that their 'daughter's' suitor would send emissaries (perhaps not the right word but it works) she would have tried to coach Aman a little on what might be accepted. As she could tell the others were new to this as well however the elven beta was not troubled. Both pairs would muddle through the Chinese culture's proper procedures as best they could. It was unlikely either would see a slip, and if they did even less unlikely that such a slip would cause the damage it could if they were truly proper Chinese and knew all the particularities of this particular custom.

Which Elanorriel suspected was to instigate the joining of the two lantern beta. (She had surmised Jia's young man was another lantern from extrapolating things the lovestruck female had said of him in dreamy & shy conversation.) The notion made her smile, soft & happy while a little sad.

"It is an honor to meet you, Nathan and Iris." Aman's silver eyes were friendly but unrelenting. "To what do we owe it?" The beta's name they mentioned sounded familiar. Like he had heard murmurings of it repeated in their tank. Murmurings, the Christian realized, had come from his 'daughter' Jia. He had not placed it as a name, nor clearly of the male she might love -which was seeming more the case the more the thought of it.

The visage of a female with orange and yellow stripes swam through his mind's eyes which Aman regretfully brushed aside even as only that much made his heart feel lighter, and this trial before him easier.