Colors of the wind. (Gregory)

Like usual, it was a hot and sunny day.  Katarine was used to the heat.  After all, this was a tropical island.  However, it was still sweltering hot and she didn't like it.  She was from eastern France--Strasbourg--where the weather was warm in the summers, but not nearly as hot as it was on Concordia.  It didn't help that the winters had been extremely cold in Strasbourg, which she was used to as well.  Therefore, this extreme weather was not really enjoyable.

Katarine decided to cool down as best as she could by dipping her feet in the water of the lagoon.  Hell, she might just lay down completely in it.  But for now, she was wearing a baggy t-shirt, shorts, and was barefoot while she was standing in the shallow water.  She closed her eyes, feeling the slight gust of wind that went her way.  Gods, how she liked it.  She loved the wind, ever since she was a wee little lass.  It was a bit strange, because wind was the least important aspect of the weather and nature, but she had been fascinated by it nonetheless.

@kkram265

After a good hard training session earlier that day Dante chose to break up the training group for a bit so that no one over did it in this heat. Though they had been here for so many years already, it still was not what many of them were used to growing up and their bodies were getting used to the heat. It was better to take breaks when they could so that they could always give it their all. Though Dante knew enough to treat these few breaks as benefits for if the Egyptians or Titans chose to attack there would ne no telling how hot that day would be or if they would get any reprieve.

So that was how he found himself over by the lagoon ready to simply cool down in the water and relax for a bit with a nice book, wearing a pair of converse sneakers, shorts and sleeveless t-shirt. When he arrived though he saw he wasn't alone. Smiling when he saw it was Private Frost he approached her carefully and said, "Private Frost how are you doing this fine Sunny afternoon?" He stood a polite distance away and yet near enough that she could hear him, "It appears we both had the same idea to escape the heat, you don't mind if I join you at all?"

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When Katarine opened her eyes, she heard the sound of someone approaching.  It was easy because of the sound of water rippling.  She turned slightly to look at the newcomer, feeling both curious and wary.  As it turned out, it was a Garrison member.  First Captain Tyrell of Minotaur.  So far he was being respectful and professional, and she approved of that.  She also knew that he was entitled to her respect, as she was merely a Private.  She didn't see the need to salute him when they weren't in the Garrison, even if some others would salute anywhere else.  Katarine wasn't like that, though.  She gave him an imperceptible nod of her head, instead.  "Good afternoon, First Captain Tyrell," she greeted him. "I am doing fine, thank you,  although the heat is rather bothersome in my opinion."  She shook her head.  "No, I don't mind.  Its not that I have any right to this lagoon anyway.  Do whatever pleases you."     

"Good afternoon, First Captain Tyrell," she greeted him. "I am doing fine, thank you, although the heat is rather bothersome in my opinion." Dante smiled at that the heat was bothersome, and caused issues during training especially the new recruits. "No, I don't mind. Its not that I have any right to this lagoon anyway. Do whatever pleases you." He sat down next to her, then choosing to lay down and stretch a little. Enjoying a moment of silence simply listening to the wind and the birds.

Turning to face Private Frost he said, "So what about the heat is so bothersome? If you wanted to you could simply relax or catch a few rays to improve your tan?" He smiled a little hoping to break the ice a little. They were not at the Garrison and there wasn't anyone else there it would be nice to get to know her as more a person than simply a private. "Personally I enjoy it when you get the chance to relax and read a good book or go for a light swim. Though I could also be called crazy as I sometimes train in this heat."

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Katarine watched him as he lay down in the water.  She was still standing, and was a little reserved about getting her bottom wet in front of another person.  She'd be lying if she wasn't going to melt under the heat, though, and she envied him.  It wouldn't hurt to sit down, at least.  After all, he was doing it too and would understand why she would need to do the same thing.  The last person to judge.

And so the blonde girl slowly lowered herself down until she was sitting in the water beside him, crossing her legs.  Ah, that felt much better.  "I find the heat to be too hot.  Extreme, in fact.  It just makes me feel uncomfortable.  I know you're a son of Apollo, but I don't understand how anyone could even like it," Katarine said candidly.  She blinked when he suggested that it was good for her tan.  Oh, gosh, no, not a tan.  "A tan? No, definitely not something I want.  I'm tan enough as is.  I like the weather when it is much cooler and my complexion is lighter."  Yes, Katarine liked the winter.  Although Concordia was...well, a safe and enjoyable sanctuary, pretty much her home, she loved winter.  Sadly, winter would never happen on the island.  She would remember to go back to Strasbourg for a long visit when winter came.

"Well, I think that's beyond crazy," she stated when he said that he trained in this weather.  She shook her head slightly.  "But it's understandable, coming from you, because you're born to appreciate this kind of heat.  Otherwise, anyone else doing that is asking for the consequences."  She sighed and glanced away from him for a moment, looking at the distance.  "The only thing I believe is worth doing when it's so hot outside is swimming, or catching the breeze.  If only it could be stronger."  She couldn't emphasize more on the breeze.  Again, she was a wind lover, period.

Katarine realized that she had been mainly speaking her mind.  While that was in her nature to be outspoken with her thoughts, not matter what other people thought about them, she decided that she should afford this First Captain a bit more politeness.  Therefore, she turned here gaze to him again before asking, "How was your day so far...may I call you by your first name? We're not in the Garrison right now, so I don't see why I should keep calling you by your title."

"My day was going quite well Private Frost just spent the morning training a bunch of recruits before the temperature shot through the roof. Though we aren't at the Garrison and there are no other members of the Garrison here, you are free to call me Gregory, or Dante which ever makes you feel more at ease, even if that is just Greg." He smiled a bit as he then splashed a little water on her, "If you are going to cool off you should slip right into the water. I is refreshing and beats the training sessions. I maybe a Son of Apollo but even I like to cool down a bit." He slipped beneath the water before standing up quickly creating a small wave.

The water was very relaxing on his muscles and a much needed break more so than simply spending some time reading his book. He pulled off his wet shirt and stood in the water wearing his shorts and shoes. "I don't bite, nor will you get in trouble if you speak your mind. I don't take any disrespect to it, actually it is very refreshing. I never planned on being a solider and then the attack happened. There are rules and guidelines but sometimes they are meant to be broken so you can really get to know someone." He smiled again as he bent over and grabbed a little more water, threatening to splash her again.

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Katarine actually smiled slightly when he didn't object to her calling him by his name.  He even provided her a nickname to call him by.  In a way, she had been sort of testing him to see if he were one of those suffocatingly hardcore Garrison leaders who had to be formally addressed by their respective ranks all of the time.  She was glad it was not so with him.  He even stopped training his recruits when the weather was too hot.  Good, she liked him.  He wasn't crazy.  "I think I'll call you Greg," she said.  "I'm not sure how Dante relates to Gregory.  Is that your middle name?" She was a little surprised when he splashed her, but the water felt nice on her.  It was also a playful gesture, so she found the amusement in it and laughed a little.  "Thanks.  I needed that."

He suggested that she just go on and lay down on the water.  Because he approved so much of doing that, she felt less reserved to.  And anyway she was going to melt if she didn't do it anytime soon.  "Yeah, I guess I will.  My hair is going to light on fire if I keep on sitting up like this."  She slowly began to lay back in the water until her back and the back of her head was all wet.  Her long blonde hair flowed around her shoulders.  She was staring directly up at the sunny sky, but quickly brought up her hand to her brow to shield her eyes from the blinding light.  "Much better," she said with contentment.

She turned her head to look at him when he spoke again.  "Well, thanks, Greg.  You're one of the few who don't mind, and I'm glad that you don't.  I don't see why people should hide their true thoughts."  She looked up at the sky again.  "I mean, I understand when I have to be cautious of what I say, but generally I think that I should just be true to myself.  I'm not one to try to make others happy at my expense."  Now, Katarine could actually go a little too overboard with that selfishness, but that was in her nature.  She didn't see the point of being any different.  "To be honest, my only talent on this island is fighting, the fighting I was taught in the legion.  I'm not even claimed yet, so I wouldn't know what else I could do with my powers.  But I think you could be a healer, too, if you wanted."  Katarine was in no hurry to be claimed.  She already had a father figure in her life; her uncle.  Her mother had left the moment she was born, but she was beginning to view her aunt-in-law as a mother.  She used to be very mean to that woman, but ever since Colette saved her and her cousin Joel from a monster, she began to feel warmth toward her in that cold heart of hers.   

She looked at him again with an arched eyebrow when he said that rules were meant to be broken in order to get to know people.  She also saw that he was threatening to toss more water on her, so she swiped her hand in the water to splash water on his face.  "And I don't suppose that splashing people is considered breaking the rules, too?"

Notes: Fancy picture

"I think I'll call you Greg," she said. "I'm not sure how Dante relates to Gregory. Is that your middle name?" Smiling he nodded and saying, "Yes it is, my mother loved the classics. When she laughed a little when he splashed her with water and thanked him he had t admit he wasn't really expecting that reaction it wasn't bad though. She took his advice as well and laid back into the water. Her long blonde hair flowed around her shoulders and quickly brought up her hand to her brow to shield her eyes from the blinding light. "Much better," she said with contentment. He stood and gave a little bow to her before adding, "Anything to help out a lady." He winked at the end of the statement, even if she didn't see it.

She turned her head to look at him when she answered his statement of speaking your mind and how beneficial he found it, "Well, thanks, Greg. You're one of the few who don't mind, and I'm glad that you don't. I don't see why people should hide their true thoughts." She looked up at the sky again as she continued. "I mean, I understand when I have to be cautious of what I say, but generally I think that I should just be true to myself. I'm not one to try to make others happy at my expense." Dante looked at Katarine and simply found it was his time to listen rather than speak, he controlled conversations enough back at the Garrison and he had just told her that it was better to speak your mind.

"To be honest, my only talent on this island is fighting, the fighting I was taught in the legion. I'm not even claimed yet, so I wouldn't know what else I could do with my powers. But I think you could be a healer, too, if you wanted." Looking at her he smiled, true getting claimed gave you some benefits, he had X-Ray vision and could have a medical career if he wanted, or really could be expected but he was a big believer in setting your own goals and targets, why just be what your are expected because of your parent, it wasn't always the way things worked out.


"Whether you are claimed or not doesn't change who you are, it allows you to have a gift sure, but some people use that to dictate what they should be, my brother Nathaniel can heal small wounds and went into medicine though he still chose that path. I have another brother who is a bartender it doesn't matter what you want to do in your life as long as it is what you want. I respect my father and honour him as he deserves, but he isn't my only parent, nor is he the only reason I have to keep fighting. He laughed, before adding, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to turn this into a serious conversation. All I was meaning really is be the person you want to be even once you are claimed and yes splashing people can be when you are not asking if you can." As if to stick to his point he took the splash she gave him while dipping his hands deep into the water before creating a small wave with the force. Just before he dove under the water laughing.

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@katarine - Loved the Picture

Katarine decided that he was also thoughtful as well.  He seemed intent upon listening to her as she spoke, whereas others were keen on jumping in with their opinions.  He was...interesting.  To be honest, she couldn't fault people for being less patient.  After all, wasn't she lacking in patience? But that was probably the point...people with similar personalities wouldn't get along with her.

She listened to him as he explained that powers didn't matter, and that whatever she was passionate about, she should just do it.  That was actually a popular philosophy, but it was surprising by how many people were all about working based upon their powers and taking a specific pride in it...making Katarine feel like an outcast of sorts.  She was glad, though, that Greg was repeating what she needed to hear.  She wouldn't lie that it hurt her pride to know that she was powerless and could only rely on one special skill--fighting--to get herself a decent job.  He was a son of Apollo and being a child of Apollo came with all kinds of powers and benefits, but yet he still centered his job around the army.

"No, I enjoyed hearing you speak," she said.  "I agree with what you say.  I'll admit that sometimes I do feel ashamed that I don't have the honor of having a job that represents the power bestowed upon me by my father, whoever he is.  Some people on the island act as if it's the only important thing.  But, as you said, it all comes down to what people feel strongly about."  She pondered upon what she was passionate about, but nothing could really come to mind.  "So far I think fighting suits me, though." 

She grinned when he made the quip about splashing people being against the rules, but before she could say anything else, a wave of water splashed her.  She closed her eyes a little too late, and now she was completely splattered with water.  "Wha--hey!" She laughed and watched as he dove right under the water.  She wasn't the best swimmer, and she pondered whether she ought to dive in under him.  She then decided against it.  She never really liked to be submerged underwater and knew that she'd fail horribly, so she just stared at the surface a bit stupidly, not knowing what to do.             

That's right they were soldiers who were supposed to fight and protect this island. Even in the heat they would have to get back to training soon even if it wasn't fair to ask it of them it was required. This was their home now heat and all and it was where they would defend their friends and family. Her laughter though was a nice break from the drills and training it reminded him what they were fighting for. As he moved under the water he pulled at her legs so that she slipped before he was able to pick her up as he surfaced, "Fighting means defending yourself, even from an unknown enemy. Even if you are in the water having fun you should look for all opportunities to surprise your target like this." As he finished speaking he lightly tossed her into the water a little deeper in but where she could stand up if she wasn't that comfortable with water. There were all sorts of opportunities to train here, even when you were having fun. Keeping your head on a swivel and looking towards the shadows for any surprises. His eyes scanned the water and were Katarine was so he could see what the next move would be. She picked things up quickly and he wondered how she would handle the surprise lesson.

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@katarine

While Katarine was staring at the surface of the water, she had no time to react when Dante pulled at her legs, causing her to lose her balance.  That was the perfect advantage for him to scoop her up in his arms.  She screamed again, but that scream quickly gave way to a laugh.  Who knew that Katarine could be this jolly? Well, Dante had brought that out in her rather quickly.

"I know I let my guard down when I shouldn't have, but please, have mercy, First Captain!" she giggled, sounding and looking not very Katarine-like.  And then she was tossed into the water again.  Yet, this time when she got up to her feet, she scanned around in the water around her to spot any sign of him swimming toward her.  She understood what he meant; it was a joke but also a soldier's advice to another.  And being a soldier, she knew what she had to do.

Katarine spotted an imperceptible sign of him underwater from a certain direction.  He was close to her feet, and she quickly moved backward and away from his grasp.  Unfortunately, she was not as steady on her feet in the water as others were and fell backward, splashing back into the water and making herself vulnerable to any silly underwater attacks again.  "Ugh, curses," she murmured to herself, but with amusement.            

Dante jumped up out of the water as she fell and started laughing, though her balance wasn't as good she had seen him and that was the best part of the lesson. He walked over to her and chuckled, "I hope your hair wasn't something you wanted to keep perfect today. Though you are a woman who always looks great, it might not be your favourite look. Good job spotting me though, we can keep working on your balance if you would like?" He then extended a hand for her to help her up. Suddenly he was getting pulled face first into the water and when he it he smiled though he waited until he surfaced again to laugh, "Well done my young padawan! Now I think you aren't quite wet enough I can help you there." He then started to splash her again until he slipped under the water.

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