Splashing Water...(Xen)

[Jordana]

Her bare feet made no sound as she ran down the stone stairs. Dressed in a plain sleeveless sun dress that stopped just above her knees, she stopped right before the walkway. Glancing around with a book in her hands she let out a soft giggle then walked a bit more calmly across the sun warmed stones. They felt wonderful on her bare feet. Fiery red hair hung down her back in loose curls that she left untamed as she was heading toward her pool anyhow. Jordana never found the use of actually doing anything with her hair if she was just going to get it wet anyhow. Avoiding everyone as she had an idea where they would be and for what reasons she eventually made her way to the pool. It would have been quicker to just walk by everyone but she just didn't want to.

Making her way to the edge of the water she sat down pulling her skirt up a bit so it wouldn't get wet as she slipped her feet into the cool water. Sighing contently she smiled and kicked her feet gently in the water so not to splash herself. The old book she had brought down with her was right beside her. It was old, worn and tattered looking. Jordana loved the book, it was packed in her old bag when she had fled the farmhouse that night and got seperated and lost from Cyrus. One hand still held her skirt in place on her lap while the other rested on the book. She brought it down with her for when she was done enjoying her time in the pool. Tapping her fingers off the hardcover of the book, her eyes glanced around the area. Happy that no one was around she pulled the dress over her head. Wrapping the book in it she placed it away from the waters edge then slipped into the water.

Slidding down under the water she shifted easily into her hybird form. Her skin paled giving the illusion that her skin turned almost the color of the water. Her legs disappeared as they melded together and then formed a tail, different shades of blue and green scaled covered her stomach back and chest as well as parts of her arms and up her neck. Her fingers webbed to help her propel her way through the water. Curling up on the bottom of the pool she looked up through the water at the clouds covering the sun here and there then floating along. It was almost surreal how peaceful and beautiful looking it was when the world beyond was so incredibly dark and screwed up. Her thoughts were distracted when her red hair floated across her vision. Letting out a grumpy sound a few bubbles floated from the bottom of the pool. Her hair was the one thing that gave her away fro those that really looked hard enough.

It was one of the things she had yet to master. As the rest of her body changed colors, a variety of them initially why didn't her hair atleast dull herself. Blowing a few more bubbles from her mouth this time on purpose she began to propel herself through the water. The pool was more than large enough for her to stretch out and swim or just curl up along the bottom and daydream. Jordana was supposed to use the pool for practicing as well, to help herself if she needed but most of the time she was relaxing and enjoying herself. Giggling to herself at some of her fun memories she pushed herself to move a little bit faster through the water her tail cutting through the water before she stopped and swam towards the surface when she thought she heard something approaching the pool.

Raising her head just so that her eyes were above the water she blinked once and the protective lenses retracted off her eyes. Looking around she didn't see anyone but that didn't mean they weren't there. It could also be that she was getting paranoid, not that anyone ever bugged her. She had splashed and pulled in to many people, shifters and even caught one dragon off guard. It had been funny to her. Swimming to the side of the pool she crossed her arms on the warm rocks, resting her cheek on her arm she rested there to see if anyone was around or not.

[Xenophon]

It was a strange and curious thing to be speaking about having a Wyrmling of one’s own, and then to have a young Dragon, little more than a Hatchling, basically stumbled across their doorstep. Jordana was a good kid, and she was talented. Xenophon expected her to mature into a power in her own right. He hoped that she would remain with them for that time, he wanted to see it. Xenophon was walking around what he considered his ‘yard’, the spaces around Teotihuacan that he considered to be his and Ana’s. Beechwood was theirs too, indeed, the entire State, but the ‘Yard’ was what he considered private territory. It was where he and Ana spent their time, and occasionally those they considered close friends, nearly family. Brandt was one such, though he was also their Castellan. Not even the Dragons of his Court freely visited, though Jordana had quickly found a home with them. Xenophon felt that he would have to put her to work soon, if he meant to help her develop as a Dragon and as a contributing member of his Court. But what task to set her to? He would have to learn more about her.

“Brandt?”

“Xenophon?” The Half-Vampire replied with a slight smile as they took their weekly walk about the grounds. He was always more at ease on these walks, especially when it was one to one with his Monarchs; Being with the two of them at once made him feel the need for formality.

“If you were a young girl and a Dragon, what kind of work would you like to do?”

“I don’t think I’m qualified to answer that, Xen.”

“But you have an opinion.”

“I thought I just gave it.”

“Hmm. True. But you generally have some kind of insight.”

“I am neither a Dragon, nor a woman.”

“You’ve worn a skirt.”

“That was one time. And I lost a bet.”

“Still.”

“That hardly qualifies me to hazard a guess as to what kind of work Jordana might be interested in.”

“I didn’t mention any names.”

“I don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes.”

“Damn. I love those books. I should ask a woman.”

“You know at least one.”

“Very funny.”

“I’m your Butler, not a Comedian.”

“Are you sure? Picturing you in a skirt is always good for a laugh.”

“You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”

“Nope. But we have a few centuries to test the theory.”

“Maybe I’ll die horribly before we figure it out.”

“Sh*t, I hope not. I was looking forward to telling your kids all about how Daddy lost a bet one day.”

Brandt laughed and caught a flash of red from one of the pools, “Don’t look now, but here’s your chance to ask a woman.”

“But that’s the woman in question.”

“Who better to ask?”

“Confound your logic, Holmes!”

“Elementary, Watson, elementary.” Brandt clapped Xen on the shoulder, “I’ll check the south gardens. Good luck.”

“Coward.”

“He who fights and runs away…so on and so forth.” The Dhampir moved briskly away.

Xen frowned, shook his head, and moved to the edge of the pool. He lay down, stretching out on his belly, and slapped the water a few times to let Jordana know he was there. When she surface, he grinned at her, and asked, “What’s shakin’, Kid? Got a minute, or should I let you get back to your – whatever I t was you were doing?”

[Jordana]

Jordan had heard Xen approaching the pool. His foot steps were familiar to her as he approached, then they stopped. Looking up as she saw his hand above the pool before he slapped the water a few times. Glaring at him she resisted the urge to smack him with her tail. Instead she behaved , well slightly did. Answering his smack back with her tail first she smacked the surface of the water sending water towards him. Rising up from the water with a giggle she moved towards him. Resting her arms on the warmed rocks lining the pool she smiled innocently at Xenophon.

“Not much” she asked eyes narrowing at him when he asked if she had a minute. “I am guessing I don’t have a choice” resting her cheek on her forearm she looked up at him before pulling herself more up out of the water. “I was practicing and behaving….”

The last part wasn’t a fib and the first well she just hadn’t started to practice yet. She almost had her bubbles perfect just incase she would get asked on what she was practicing. Her head tilted as she looked up at the dragon king and well her second adopted father. He put up with her sometimes she was amazed at how much she was able to get away with. “I have a minute or more, what do you want to talk about?”

[Xenophon]

Xenophon endured the splashing, and smiled. Water didn't bother him, really, he knew he sank like a stone. He could swim as a man at least, his great strength countering his density, but he'd never be as graceful as Jordana in the water. He had noticed her glare, and recalled well that, like a fish, she -- and others like her -- could feel the vibrations of that through the water. It was that sensitivity that made depth charges such a danger to them. Xen smiled as she approached and rested her arms on the rocks, before he rolled over to look up at the sun.

"You were practicing how to behave?" He smirked, "You do need a little help with that now and then." Xenophon's head was pillowed on his arms under his head, leaving him stretched out in the sun. "Well, Kid, I need to put you to work, but I also need to keep expanding on what you know about being a Dragon. Problem is, I can teach you a lot, but not about anything in the Water. Ana can, a bit, she's at least not a total loss in her Dragon in the water, but I hate getting my feathers wet." The wind caused a tree to bend and cast Xen into the shade, he frowned and made an adjustment, moving the offending bough out of his way. "What do you suggest, Jordana? There's plenty to do, and I see that you enjoy the written word -- wanna help out with the schools?"

[Jordana]

Xen didn’t make a comment about her splashing him. He just smiled which had her make a face before shaking her head and moving closer to him. Not leaving the pool she rested her arms on the sun heated rocks. Tapping her tail on them as she spoke to Xenophon. Giving him the partial truth to what she was doing and how she really didn’t want to talk about anything. Normally talking meant something important was going to be said and for some reason she wasn’t to keen on the idea of talking. She liked freedom, doing her own thing and had got to do that for so long now.

Snorting at his comment she rolled her eyes. Pushing up from the rocks she crossed her arms over her chest and floated where she was. “No… I was practicing making bubbles and behaving at the same time” her tone was almost at the point of whining. “I behave perfectly fine Xen” she smirked and mumbled under her breath, “You just see things the wrong way” smiling she started to slip down into the water a little bit more when he said work. Stopping her eyes narrowed at him laying there in the sun. Making a grumpy sound she slipped silently beneath the surface of the water. Hearing him continue on perfectly she made some more grumpy, pouting like faces. Before surfacing once more.

“I think I am doing fine without you getting precious feathers wet.” she whined. Jordan didn’t like the idea of working no matter what she got out of it. When the branch covered his sun she giggled then cleared her throat. Hearing him ask her what she wanted she shook her head and glared at him. “Why are you asking me? You are going to come up with something anyhow…” she pouted.

“School?” she asked and shuddered. She hadn’t liked school. Jordana had liked learning by herself and the way she wanted. Well she liked everything the way she wanted and made sure others knew if she didn’t. Moving closer to him she tapped her fingers off the rocks and then placed her hands on his arms. Instantly she felt the difference in their skin. “Do I have to?” she whined as her webbed fingers gripped his arms.

[Xenophon]

Xen leaned his head back, regarding her upside down when she touched his arms and rose up out of the water a bit. He smiled as he watched her, “You’re so cute.” He grinned, “You know I live with a beautiful woman that also sometimes pretends she’s not as old as she really is, right?” The Dragon King winked, “Though, I have to admit, if I were like…two millennia younger…that pout would’ve totally had me.” Xen chuckled, “I bet you practice that, hmmm?”

He laughed, “They are precious. I like them where they are, and dry.” Xen reached up and cupped the side of her face, still eying her upside down. “Don’t whine, Sweetheart. You’re young, but not too young to know that won’t work.” He frowned and rolled over onto his belly, quickly getting his legs under him, and tackling her back into the pool – clothes and all. As usual, he sank like a stone, holding his breath; he crossed his arms and waited for her to make a bubble. When she did, he waited for her to join him, grinning, “Yes. You have to. And I’m asking because I want it to be something you enjoy, and something you’re good at. Also, Kiddo, to be very honest – we need the hands.”

[Jordana]

Jordan watched as Xen leaned back and looked at her upside down. He smiled at her and she made a face at him still pouting. Then when he called her cute she rolled her eyes and listened to him. Keeping her mouth shut as she was close to telling him that he spoke to much. Shaking her head she couldn't help the slight smirk when he mentioned Ana. Then he continued and made her snort. "Its talent Xen, you don't practice talent" she grumbled at him. Leaning her head against his arm at the mention of his feathers she giggled.

"You act like a women when it comes to your feathers... they can't be that precious" Still smiling she leaned her face against his hand when he cupped her face. Jordan sighed at his comment of her whinning and closed her eyes. So then he couldn't see her rolling them. Opening them slowly she got to see him coming towards her. Letting out a startled sound she was tackled back into the water. Sinking to the bottom of the pool with him she swam around him and smiled. Watching as he crossed his arms over his chest she stuck out her tongue.

Swimming closer to him, Jordan wrapped her tail around his legs as she placed her hands on his cheeks. Pressing her cheek against his she giggled before acting like she was going to kiss the top of his head. Instead she blew a bubble to cover his entire head. Making one for herself next she grumbled when he told her that she had to work. Uncurling her tail from around his legs she swam so that she was infront of him. Crossing her arms over her chest she nodded her head slowly and fought the urge to pout.

"Fine... I will help" she mummbled.

[Xenophon]

Under the water, Xenophon smiled within his bubble. “First, all my feathers are precious.” He chuckled and shook his head at her expression. He moved closer, and gave her a hug, rubbing her back. Dragon’s were tactile, particularly in their human form, and he understood that it was important for a youngling to know that and feel that, as she became more and more physically mature, her human form would be the most sensitive to touch. “I surprised you. We’ll have to work on that.” He nuzzled her and turned her about, embracing her from behind and sitting on a rock as if he did this sort of thing every day. “Oh, don’t sound so gloomy. You need to be involved, and I need you to be, but I do want you to at least enjoy some part of it. There’s enough crappy chores to go around, sure, but there must be something you’d like. How about learning from Sarah? We could always use a Water Dragon in the Scouting Corps.”

He didn’t really know what else to suggest. Jordana was young, but under a hundred, so she wasn’t a child really. She’d been around long enough to know that she just couldn’t sit around, but she was young enough and had apparently been pampered enough to not have to do too much. Xenophon sighed, and gave her a squeeze. “Look, you told us your friend Cyrus did things for people. Did you ever help out?”

[Jordana]

Jordana snorted at his comment on his feathers. Just like she had stated he acted like a woman when it came to his feathers. Crossing her arms over her chest she pouted a bit as he moved closer to her. She was in the mood to pout as he was asking her to do more than she wanted to do. Keeping her arms crossed as he rubbed her back she couldn't help but let up on the pout a little as it felt good, relaxing. "Yes you suprised me..." she mumbled and then giggled when he moved and wrapped his arms around her from behind. Her tail wrapped around around him once as he sat down and she sat in his lap keeping her arms crossed. Letting out a sigh she leaned back against him. "I can sound gloomy all I want... I did agree" she said in a mumbled tone.

Looking over her shoulder at him she made a face. "You want me to learn or to help out?" her defensive shields were dropping a little as she met his eyes. Then he metioned Cyrus and she turned her head back around and wiggled a little in his arms, shrugging. A bit.. I guess." she said softly turning around to face him a little bit more. "I was little then and there wasn't alot, alot that I could do."

[Xenophon]

Xenophon smiled slightly when she snorted. He restrained a sigh. He had not mentored many young Dragons, in point of fact, he had fought with more than he mentored. It said more about the relative rarity of hatchlings than it did about his combative nature; generally speaking, he didn’t look for trouble, trouble seemed to find him. When you’re known in Draconic Circles as the greatest soldier, thinker, and historian of an age, word gets around, and Dragons want to test your reputation. Xenophon had met all such challengers, and more often than not, he came out ahead. It was a pain in the pinfeathers, but it had also helped make him stronger and more powerful; strong enough to finally claim dominion of his own. It was a sign of maturity, a sign that he was likely moving into his Great Wyrm phase, whether he liked it or not. Jordana seemed so very young to him, and he had to remind himself that she might not agree.

She relaxed as he held her. Touch was important in the early decades of life, it gave one an appreciation for one’s human form. As a Dragon, Xenophon was certain that a small car could hit him, and while he’d be aware of the impact, it wouldn’t bruise the flesh under the scales. Anacoana’s full Dragon form was serpentine, and one of the things he loved was her coiled embrace when he was in his own Dragon form, or any really, but when his body was covered in scaly plates, her near-crushing strength was soothing, intimate. Jordana wasn’t that hard yet, so he was pleased to feel her relax, and embrace him in her own way, with her fish-like tail. “I’m glad I can still surprise someone.” He smirked, “You did agree, and I am grateful that you did.”

Xen hugged the Fledgling tight. “Both if we can manage it.” He sighed at the change in her demeanor, and nuzzled her. She felt him grow warmer, as if he were somehow accessing a furnace located somewhere in his chest. He nuzzled her, breathing in her scent, he’d have done the same in the larger forms. Xen combed his fingers through Jordana’s wet hair, “The point is for you to learn, grow, and enjoy doing both. I can be patient while you figure out what it is you want to do. I know Sinclaire is interested in teaching you how to fight in all your forms, but he’s sorta interested in teaching everyone how to fight.” He smiled slightly, “Sarah would welcome you, or Confucius, if you can take his jabber now and again. Ana and I only want what is best for you, Sweetheart, but Uncle and Auntie are the King and the Queen, which sorta makes you a Princess – so we all have to set a good example.”

[Jordana]

She wasn't stunned or shocked when he wrapped his arms around her pulling her close. Jordan could have slipped out of his grasp or tried to but she liked the touch. It was comforting, soothing and while she wanted to be mad and shrap she couldn't then. So relaxing as her tail wrapped around him she looked ahead straight to the wall of the pool and wondered what it had been before the fall of man who the water must have felt like and the freedom. Xen's words snapped her out of her thoughts causing her to smirk. "You tricked me that's why."

Jordan softened up at the mention of him being grateful. He would be able to feel it through her body since they were so close but she tried to keep off her features. She was a young dragon but still old enough to know that she wasn't a child. Years of learning and experience as well as living made that possible. Smiling as he hugged her closer she blew out a few bubbles nodding her head, giggling at the nuzzles. "Fine" she mumbled "Both I will try" emphasizing try a bit more. Jordan would try and do her best to help out, it was just and adjustment. Everyone had to adjust at some point even those that were sheltered.

At the mention of Cyrus it brought back memories of the past. Ones that she buried but never forgot. Things couldn't change the past and in loosing him she found another family luckily, ones that cares. Even though her goal seemed to attempt to drive Xenophon insane. Sometimes she thought she succeeded and others he gave her more reason to try. He turned so warm which had instinctively drawing closer to him taking the warmth and the comfort from him.

Resting her head on his shoulder she listened to him smirking at the idea of learning how to fight. "I will learn and spend some time with everyone to see... If that will make you happier" sher looked up at him smiling when he mentioned her being a princess. "Setting a good example should have started earlier in my life, but I promise to try" Jordan sat up and using her index finger made an X over her heart with a smile. As she uncurled her tail from around his body deciding to swim around him.