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Post by steven stone on May 15, 2013 23:26:50 GMT -5
The sun rose more slowly when he stared at it, much like a clock under the watchful eye of a child. The reflection of the light on water was enough to turn his golden eyes from it, and back on the shoreline which he walked while the tide was still out. Though it was never an intention of his to wake before sunrise, it seemed to have become an ingrained habit. Steven sighed, hands falling to his pockets as he slowly passed by each of the shoreline villas of Sinnoh's Resort Area. Morning walks, as well, had become a habitual thing over the years.
The sense of time he spent on the shoreline was soon lost, and eventually he came to a halt between two villas and turned to look back out at the ocean, which seemed more turbulent than it had earlier, as though the water too was finally awake.
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Post by eleonore badisa on May 15, 2013 23:48:11 GMT -5
She woke to the sound of gentle waves, sweeping in and out like the breath of a sleeping creature. Her eyes remained closed as her consciousness slowly pieced together where she was -- it was not every day that she roused to the salty mist of the ocean. (Sinnoh, her brain reminded her. Resort.)
Yes. Eleonore's eyes fluttered open. That's right; she was there on business. She silently slipped out of the bed, wrapping herself in a plush bathrobe and stepping out onto the balcony. The cool breeze caressed her face, the sharp smell of the ocean drifting toward her. It was still morning; she had time to enjoy herself.
Her eyes landed on a vaguely familiar figure. (Hm.) "Hello there."
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Post by steven stone on May 15, 2013 23:57:34 GMT -5
There's something that draws his attention, easily so since it's a voice breaking through the quiet of the morning he had previously enjoyed in silence. Steven blinks as the tone registers in his mind, something pressing at his memory that he hasn't thought about in years. He straightens slightly, his curiosity forcing him to turn, guarded eyes falling upon the woman who had caught his attention.
The physical recognition of her is what removes the veil on the memory. Was it really her, though? Oftentimes the mind and heart had a way of weaving tangled webs of deceit to hide negative emotion and desire. In the time separating them - if he truly faced now someone he had, at one point, missed - she had grown into a fine woman.
"Forgive me if I startled you." Steven murmured, taking a step forward so neither would need to raise their voice as much. "Good morning."
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Post by eleonore badisa on May 16, 2013 0:07:29 GMT -5
Her lips curve up in a smile. "Well, well," she chuckles. So her memories are as amicable as ever, it seems -- her suspicions aren't wrong, after all. "Good morning." The woman pulls the robe tighter around her body to stave off the chilly wind, gracefully descending down the wooden steps onto the cold sand.
It feels strange beneath her bare feet, and she offers a slightly sardonic smile. "Had I known, I would have dressed better." Eleonore is hardly fit to receive any sort of company in her current state, let alone someone like him. (But when has propriety ever stopped her before?)
The woman curtseys in the bathrobe with as much elegance as if it were a ballgown, her head tilted in amusement. "It has been a long time, Daigo."
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Post by steven stone on May 16, 2013 0:16:53 GMT -5
The smile is something that pulls at the chords of familiarity. The cautious doubt in his mind minimize as she approaches him. A small smile appears at the corners of his own lips at her words, and the gold eyes upon her soften slightly with her elegant movement. "Leo..." he breaths, removing his hands from his pockets and bowing slightly to her, as though they were to partake in a formal dance. "...it's been too long."
The man straightens slowly, and lets his eyes drift quickly over her body in assessment, as though he needed such to affirm his next words, "No matter the dress, you're as beautiful as ever...even more so than I last recall."
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Post by eleonore badisa on May 16, 2013 0:26:46 GMT -5
His stiffness is familiar, even now; she does not need to reach through the crevices of her mind to remember him as a gangly young man, barely an adult but just as formal. "That it has." He does not mention why, nor does she bring it up; they both know it is her fault, of course, but she is not one to apologize for something she does not regret.
Eleonore twirls for him, her smile slowly transforming into a smirk. "Thank you." The woman bows. "Your flattery has improved." Her eyes twinkle with amusement. "There's no need to be so formal, though." She folds her arms across her chest, raising an eyebrow. "We're not strangers, after all."
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Post by steven stone on May 16, 2013 0:36:43 GMT -5
He smirks slightly as she moves, and can't help but feel a fraction of pride let itself be known with her acceptance of his words. Perhaps it's something that hasn't quite faded through the years they remained out of contact - some teenaged will to compliment her properly.
Steven doesn't dwell on the thought, preferring to see the present rather than the past.
"You'll have to forgive my formality," he begins, "- I'm afraid it's natural, after so much practice." He places his hands in his pockets, sparing a moment to look at her before speaking again. "How have you been these past years?"
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Post by eleonore badisa on May 16, 2013 0:43:17 GMT -5
The woman shakes her head in resignation. "Sigh." Not once has she seen him anything less than the epitome of manners and politeness. It is a bit disappointing, but she supposes she can deal. Eleonore only regards him with a mixture of pity and amusement before turning on her heel.
"Come inside; it's better to speak in there." She does not answer his question, instead walking back up the balcony and opening the door into the villa. (Now is not the time to address such topics.) Gently shaking the sand off of her feet, Eleonore ensures he is following before leading him into the sitting room. "Would you like anything?"
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Post by steven stone on May 16, 2013 0:55:47 GMT -5
He nods in reply to her summons, and follows her silently. The motion to remove sand from his shoes mirrored by scuffing the bottoms quietly against the door mat. (He's probably the only person who would wear dress shoes on the beach and come off with them practically spotless.)
He closes the door quietly behind him, eyes tracing over the entryway (luxurious alone, disregarding the rest of the living area) before he takes a seat when offered, on one end of a couch in the room. "If you have any tea, that would be nice."
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Post by eleonore badisa on May 16, 2013 1:04:04 GMT -5
"Of course." She leaves to go boil the water, leaving the kettle on the stove long enough to go and slip on a shift above her underwear. Eleonore returns from the kitchen with two cups of tea, gently placing one of them before the man.
The woman slides down into a comfortable chair opposite him, tucking her legs underneath her. The warm cup is held between her hands as she blows softly, taking a small sip. "So." She tilts her head in curiosity. "What have you been up to, Daigo?" Eleonore pauses, then adds -- with a touch of playfulness -- "Were you simply walking, or also contemplating a swim?"
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Post by steven stone on May 16, 2013 1:14:19 GMT -5
He waited patiently for her to return, and allows her to take her cup of tea before reaching for his own, holding the warm object between his hands and allowing it to cool naturally for a moment as he replies.
"Various things." That was a simple reply if he'd ever given one. "Some interesting, some not, but not everything can be entertaining." His eyes roll once with her playful poke at him, and he raises the tea to his jaw where it holds for a moment. "You think you're being funny, don't you?" Steven asks mildly, the small curve of his lip enough to show there was no displeasure from her question. "Of course I wasn't going to swim."
He sipped the tea at last, content with his own answer.
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Post by eleonore badisa on May 16, 2013 1:26:44 GMT -5
Her eyes narrow. "Oh? Keeping secrets, are we?" She holds her cup, chuckling quietly. "Ever the enigma." His answer only serves to pique her interest and grab her curiosity, but the woman files the information away for later. She'll get answers from him sooner or later, one way or another. "And I'll be the judge of entertainment, since you clearly lack as much in your life." Another jab at him, and Eleonore is reminded how easily teasing him comes to her.
Then she shrugs, sipping her tea. "You mean you don't find me amusing?" she asks, feigning hurt. "Cruel, cruel man you are." She smiles, however, and taps her fingernail against the side of the cup. "Eight years, and you still can't swim." Eleonore shakes her head in mock sadness. "How embarrassing."
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Post by steven stone on May 16, 2013 1:45:47 GMT -5
He returns her words with a relatively flat stare. "I have plenty of entertainment in my life. That you can rest assured of."
Steven, too, takes another sip of his tea, the liquid being useful enough to mute the sound of only mild affrontedness he made in response to her teasing. He sets the cup on the table before him, only to cross his arms in a faux-defensive manner.
"It's not as though it's a bad thing. Many people can't swim for one reason or another. I happen to sink."
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Post by eleonore badisa on May 16, 2013 1:50:40 GMT -5
"Mm." Somehow, she doubts him, smiling broadly at the stare he levels at her. "Debatable." The woman rolls her eyes at him and his rather childish pout. "I never said it was bad, Daigo. Simply embarrassing."
She takes another sip from her cup. "And yes, you do sink. Undoubtedly. Even like a Stone, one could say."
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Post by steven stone on May 16, 2013 1:57:59 GMT -5
"Well --" he begins, realizing the woman has a point. "-- bad, embarrassing, close enough in my book." A poor attempt to smooth over what he admits is lackluster word choice on his end.
Her comparison earns a bit of grudging smirk in return, though he can't deny his name and this topic made a comment like that all too easy to produce. "Stone. Nice." His eyebrows rise to show his amusement, "I prefer to think of it as a similarity between pokemon and trainer. Steel-types aren't the greatest swimmers last time I checked."
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