What a beautiful island

[SanctifiedSavage]

Blankets would always be a god-send. Vailea was quite pleased that Kaihe seemed to think so, too. Plush comforters stuffed with cotton and soft fabric tended to do the trick. Only the nicest for Vailea. She hadn't lived as long as she had just to have scratchy blankets.

She settled near Kaihe with the intent to remain next to them throughout the night. It was one thing to leave them alone in the village, sleeping, and another to leave them alone on a beach near the ship unattended. Vailea wasn't about to go wandering around now. When Kaihe made grabby motions, Vailea easily complied. She was expecting the press to her forehead and nose. Even murmured a "Good night" but the kiss was new.

Quite new. The lich grinned and sat up, leaning back on her hands. Only after she was certain that Kaihe was asleep did she allow the undead to return to the ship and continue their guarding of the cargo. Since they were in the area, eventually Vailea lay back and dozed off. Sleep wasn't physically necessary, but it was nice to shut off her brain every once and awhile. Let herself mentally recharge.

And the blankets were very good.

[Icy]

Kaihe slept incredibly well that night, their body curled up in a ball with the soft blankets covering every inch of them but their head. Having gotten a less than restful sleep the previous night thanks to the alcohol, they managed to recharge completely this night, and when they finally awoke in the morning, it had already somehow been a full hour past daybreak.

Their eye peeked open to see the sun, only to cause the maha to let out an annoyed grunt and curl up under the blankets even more, covering their face so they wouldn't be woken up anymore. Now that they were awake, there was a constant re-positioning to find the most comfortable position, which every position seemed to be for about a minute or so. Eventually they became tired of tossing, turning, and sweating, so they threw the blanket off of themselves to lay on their back within full view of the warm sun. Having kicked off their skirt at some point, they were able to enjoy a bit of nude sunbathing. "I could get used to this..." They mumbled to themself, making no attempt to stand up just yet.

[SanctifiedSavage]

When Vailea slept, she breathed very little – almost to the point of not at all – and didn't move. So the stretched out, on top of the blankets, place she'd fallen asleep was where she'd remained until the lich woke up as the sun started to rise. Waking up was much the same for her as others, though, and she stretched and yawned. Even rubbed at her eyes as though sleep had gathered in them.

Some habits just never went away.

Then she sat up, while Kaihe was still asleep, and idly checked on the crew and changed her clothes. She swapped out her breeches and opted just for the yellow sarong she'd been gifted and changed tops. Something a little more befitting the tropical climate. The sleeveless halter would be nice and cool in the eventual heat of the day. She ended with a small silk sash around her waist so she had a place to store her goodies – cigars and cindersticks.

Once she checked with the quartermaster on the progress of the ship and the state of things, she eventually returned to the blankets to sit next to Kaihe and enjoy a nice glass of coconut rum and cigar while the sun finished rising. She'd not been back very long when Kaihe woke, or at least seemed to be waking up. Vailea didn't press though and waited until the blankets were kicked off before saying, "Good morning. Sleep good?"

[Icy]

"Mhm... Very good. You?," They asked sleepily, rolling onto their side and pushing themself up enough so that they could quickly touch foreheads and noses in greeting. Resting their head on their propped up hand, they rubbed the sleepiness out of their eyes with their free hand.

"What do you want to do today?" They asked. "I can fly back to my village and be back by midday with boards if you want to surf, or we can relax and talk!" The maha offered as they finally reached down to tug up the skirt that had fallen to their ankles. Their eyes now trailing over Vailea's form, a bright smile came to Kaihe's face! "You're wearing the sarong again! It looks so nice on you, sister! I will have to get more so you can bring them with you on your travels. Which colors do you like the most?"

[SanctifiedSavage]

Vailea leaned back on one hand and considered. She didn't have much planned, but she also wasn't much of a planner on her times off. Go with the flow, do whatever she wanted. Which involved drinking and smoking a cigar, at the moment. When Kaihe suggested surfing, Vailea snorted a laugh but it wasn't because it was a silly suggestion, but because it sounded like a grand way to make a fool of herself.

And thus, a grand suggestion.

"I'm a terrible... swimmer. Bad in the water," Vailea reminded, grinning. That wasn't a no, though, so she nodded some and sipped her rum. "If you want to try and teach me to surf though... I think that sounds fun." Falling around in the water with someone who would be able to stop her from being pulled out to sea was her idea of a good time.

The offer to bring more was sweet and Vailea considered a moment before answering, readily, "Blue and green. Like the sea."

[Icy]

"Kaihe-.. Kaihe.. teach... Vailea.. surf!" They nodded, "Very fun!" Standing up, the maha did some stretches, raising their arms out above their head, leaning to either side to stretch their legs, unfurling their wings to give a few test flaps, before they turned back to Vailea. "Blue and green. I will tell our weavers to make them for you! Ooh, perhaps a sash, as well..."

Mumbling at that point, Kaihe shook their head to snap them out of it. "Kaihe come b-...back, surfboard, surf cloth, Vailea! Umm... not one-day-away. Until the sun is just past overhead, I think. Kaihe come back! Vailea see Kaihe!"

Unfurling their wings, Kaihe offered a small wave and a smile back to Vailea before stepping back over to the mast which was scaled with relative ease due to its tilt and the maha's experience with climbing, and once they were near the top, they lept off and began to glide back toward their village, the wings giving some additional flaps to maintain height and gain speed. Within a few minutes, Kaihe was already out of sight, flight apparently being far faster than walking.


A few hours later, around the time that Kaihe had said, the winged figure could be seen once again approaching from the distance, carrying something with their toes and a board beneath each arm. They seemed to be struggling with the extra weight, but they did eventually manage to make it back to the deck of the ship, collapsing immediately and letting the two finely crafted boards and a bag of sorts to fall to the floor alongside them. "K-...Kaihe... back... nnngh..." They groaned.

[SanctifiedSavage]

Kaihe certainly thought they were going to teach Vailea. What was more likely to happen was they were going to watch the lich flounder around in the water, but the attempt was likely to be entertaining. So. Why not? She smiled at Kaihe's enthusiasm and nodded when they said when they'd be back, understanding. "I will be here." she reassured. There were some Captain things she could take care of while Kaihe was away. Logs to tend to and accounts to settle. Likely some things to pay for. Boring things, but tasks she had to take care of regardless.

Once Kaihe took off, Vailea lingered a little longer – at least until her cigar and drink were finished – before she got up and set about her more serious duties. A skeleton eventually crept out of the ship to collect the blankets and put them away.

By the time Kaihe was set to return, Vailea was in a somber mood from her more mundane tasks and having to pay out for more supplies to fix the ship. More than she wanted, longer than she expected. All news she didn't like. The lich was sitting on the beach, nursing a bottle of coconut rum, when she spied Kaihe returning. She watched the descent and winced a little when she heard the rough-ish landing. Shouting up to the deck, she asked, "Are you ok?"

[Icy]

"Kaihe okay!" A chipper but winded voice chimed down from the deck of a ship. "Just-.. need... a minute...!" And for the next minute or so, pained breathing could be heard from atop the deck. Not a moment after that minute, the Yoreiq finally stood and waved down to Vailea. "Kaihe come," They said, taking hold of the boards under their arms again and the bag in their toes before gliding down easily and coming to a jogging stop in front of Vailea.

Dropping the well-crafted boards to the sand, Kaihe then greeted her friend once again with a forehead and nose press before they bent down to set the bag aside for the time being. "Okay! Surfing!" The maha declared, now wearing a pink wrap around their breasts and a new leaf skirt around their waist. They looked decidedly more feminine.

"Surfboard," She pointed to one of the boards, then got down on her belly atop it. "Arm move like splash-splash," She mimicked swimming atop it, "wave come, come feet!" She quickly stood up on the board, crouching down. "Body move surfboard, move side side, swing feet," She lifted her front foot to indicate which one, "move board. Very good?" She asked with a tilt of her head and a bright, innocent smile.

[SanctifiedSavage]

Vailea did stand when she heard that Kaihe was ok, but... just in case. She had no idea how flying actually worked or if she might need to go up there to help carry anything down. When Kaihe clarified they needed a moment, she granted that request and took a swig from her bottle.

Ah right. They were going to go surfing. Well, that lifted her spirits a little. The rum helped.

She chuckled when Kaihe flapped down with the boards and sipped her rum when it as explained to her. Kaihe tried, anyway. This was going to be a disaster, but Vailea nodded along anyway. She understood the theory. It was the application that was going to be bad. "Ah. Yeah. We'll... How about you show me first?"

[Icy]

"Okay, Vailea! Oh, umm.. Kaihe come... come.. I have a gift for you," She sighed, unable to get it all out in the trader tongue. Crouching down, the islander opened up the woven bag she arrived with and pulled out a skirt made of the large palm trees, much like Kaihe's own. A yellow chest wrap like Kaihe's was also brought out, and they were handed to Vailea. "Skirt, top! Vailea Yoreiqi now!" She giggled. "You can change now or later!"

Stepping back over to her board, Kaihe lifted it up and began walking toward the water. "Okay, Vailea! Kaihe!" Getting a running start, Kaihe waited until a wave broke in the shallows of the water before sliding the board down and hopping on top of it. Gliding a few meters across its surface until she lost momentum, she then got down on the board like she'd shown earlier, paddling out to where she knew the smallest waves would break. Once one was approaching, which Kaihe knew because the tide was pulling her in, she began to paddle away, finally rising to her feet once the wave was formed and rode it toward the shore.

Her feet were firmly planted on the board and her knees were bent to more easily distribute her weight to either side, which she also controlled by putting more or less weight on either foot. Obviously, she was a master of the art, but she made sure to exaggerate each of her movements so Vailea would be able to understand how she was controlling her body and the board. Once she was back to the land, she hopped off her board, lifted it and ran back to her friend. "Vailea look? Very fun!"

[SanctifiedSavage]

Vailea downed the rest of her bottle. Wasn't like she could very well swim around with rum in her hand. She was already going to have problems as it were. So she followed after it was empty and she sat in on the ground near the ship. It'd get picked up by one of the undead crew later on.

Curious, she followed Kaihe to see what manner of gift they might've brought. The lich supposed it might be the sarong they talked about earlier. It was the only thing she could think about. When Kaihe pulled out the skirt and top, though, Vailea's face split into a smile that chased away her previous somber expression completely. She certainly adorned new clothes. Since she already had the gifted sarong on, she didn't want to change out of that but... She took the chest wrap and peeled off her halter top so she could put on the wrap.

Now was always better than later.

She was done changing in time to watch Kaihe dash off toward the water. This was where it was going to get messy, for her. Vailea picked up her own board and walked after. The lich knew what should happen, ideally. That she could replicate the motions, but... that was probably not going to happen when she tried.

Alas.

Without any bit of hesitation, she jogged down to the water and slid the board into it as the wave broke into the shallows. Vailea managed to pop onto it, wobbling while she got her balance. She even made it a few meters out before she lost her balance, lost her footing, and tumbled into the water with a shouted laugh.

@Icy

[Icy]

"Vailea Yoreiqi now!" She declared as the woman put on the chest wrap, her arms raised in celebration.

Kaihe grimaced when she watched Vailea topple off of the board after following her into the water. "Uhm... sorry. You can just paddle out, you do not need to ride the board to get out to the waves, I only did that because it's fun! Sorry!" She apologized with a regretful smile and bow of her head. "Come! Big wave, fun come. Kaihe lead!" Climbing back onto her board, Kaihe waited for Vailea to do the same before paddling out, giggling as a wave broke over her head but didn't push her back.

Once they were out decently far, Kaihe turned her board around. "Wave tug now... leg pull on, feel?" There was an undercurrent pulling on them from beneath the surface, and should Vailea look back, a rather large wave was forming. "Okay... okay.... splash-splash!" She shouted, laughing as she paddled away from the wave. Once the board was moving along with the wave, she quickly stood up and tilted her board to the right, riding its crest further down the coast. "Wooohoo!"

[SanctifiedSavage]

Well. Vailea had known she was going to get dunked pretty quick and that had proved to be true. She sputtered some and caught the board before the water could steal it from her. She was none too gently pushed back up on the beach, so she would have to start again.

Never let it be said the lich was a quitter or that she didn't mind doing something she was decidedly bad at.

Paddling out didn't exactly prove to be any easier for her. The water fought her when she hit the part where the waves began to form so they might actually crash up on the beach. Just where it was about waist deep. So it took her a little longer to actually get out there. Even getting hit by a smaller wave that nearly pushed her off the board then, too.

Luckily undead didn't tire as a normal mortal might have.

By the time she reached Kaihe, she eyed the other dubiously when they indicated there was a wave to ride. Ah. Well. Vailea adjusted herself and was able to sort of ride it. She didn't stand, because she didn't exactly make it that far before she promptly fell off the board when the wave picked up speed, shooting the board out from under her.

Vailea and water really didn't get along. This was why she sailed on top of it.

[Icy]

"Oh..." Kaihe muttered when Vailea crashed into the water again. Bending down as she rode the wave, she gripped its sides tightly, expanded her wings, and tilted the front of the board toward the crest so she'd get air before flapping her wings and flying her way back to Vailea, where she let herself down and sat atop her board. "Vailea... not good surf," She chuckled, rubbing the back of her head.

"Again?" She asked, reaching down to help her get onto Kaihe's board. "Vailea, Kaihe! One surfboard! Kaihe hold, Vailea not fall," She explained. "Kaihe makuahine teach Kaihe same."

[SanctifiedSavage]

Going under, she certainly lost her board to the water and waves. The board made its way happily to the beach while she was left treading water. None the worse for wear, all things considering. Getting herself sorted, Vailea leaned back so she could float a little until Kaihe arrived.

"Ah, no. The most awful in the water," Vailea clarified with a lazy grin.

When Kaihe insisted they be on the same board, Vailea chuckled a little. "If you're sure. I might topple you off too," she warned. Which was entirely possible. While she wouldn't particularly feel bad because, well, falling in the water wasn't the worst thing that could happen, she also didn't want Kaihe to get hurt doing so. Despite the warning, she did climb carefully on the board and sit in front of Kaihe, if only so she didn't have to continue to tread or float in the water. Last thing she needed was a spiteful wave to come along and shove her under.

[Icy]

"Uh... yes. For now, you are the most awful, but you will get better in time! Do not give up so easily! Only when you believe you can do it can you achieve your dreams!" She urged Vailea on with a determined smile.

"Oh, I haven't fallen off my board in a long time! Even if you go, I will probably stay on," She teased, letting herself dip into the water so she could kick her legs, pushing the board further out into the water with Vailea sitting on top of it. Once they were out far enough, Kaihe climbed back on. "Okay.. This is going to be a little harder with two people, actually, because I realized that you're... kind of heavier than a child. No offense! I will take the lead, so just move as my body does."

When she felt a wave coming, Kaihe got to her knees and began paddling away from it with her hands so that they were in prime position. When it began to break, Kaihe stood and reached down to pull Vailea up with her, and assuming she came, Kaihe pressed her body against her friend's as her arms wrapped around her stomach, holding on tight.

Vailea was able to feel the muscles in Kaihe's stomach and legs contract and move as she controlled the board atop the wave since their bodies were touching, the islander making her best attempt to guide Vailea's movements. Depending on the success of Vailea's mimicry, they might have been able to make it to the shore! "Kaihe, Vailea, move like one!" She cheered!

[SanctifiedSavage]

Vailea actually laughed when Kaihe said she was 'the most awful'. It wasn't wrong, but to hear it come from the islander was endearing. It was sweet that they thought with enough effort Vailea might eventually be able to... be better in water. She'd explain she'd had this misunderstanding with water for the better part of a thousand years, but that was just... well, it wouldn't translate.

She did her best to remain on the board while Kaihe paddled them out. It wasn't that bad, actually. When Kaihe said she was heavier than a child, it prompted another laugh. "It's ok, it's ok." She wouldn't take offense to such a thing. She was fully aware that there were probably plenty of children far better at this than she was.

When it seemed it was going to start up, Vailea squirmed a little and did her best to mimic Kaihe's movements. She relied quite heavily on the islander, almost tipping over a handful of times. They were able to ride most of the wave, much to Vailea's enjoyment. Just as she was about to say as much, her foot slipped and she lost her balance, eventually resulting in her toppling off the board.

But hey, progress!

It wasn't too far from the shore either, so she let the water push her that way.

[Icy]

Kaihe tried to keep hold of Vailea, but the woman's weight became too much for her. Instead of letting go, however, Kaihe fell off with Vailea and turned their bodies so Kaihe was the one to take most of the hit while the board continued safely onto the shore. "Bleh! Ptoo!" The islander sounded off as she spit out salt water upon resurfacing, rubbing reddish spot on her shoulder where it rubbed against the sand. Still hugging Vailea from behind, she asked, "Vailea okay?"

Smiling, she continued, "Vailea good surfing! Kaihe good teach! Just a little more work until you are better than me!" She beamed, hugging her friend tightly before letting go and standing up. "Want to take a food break? I'm getting hungry. Ooh, and thirsty. Do you have any more alcohol?" Kaihe offered her hand to help Vailea stand.

[SanctifiedSavage]

Vailea actually felt bad when Kaihe was the one to get injured instead of her. She sputtered and flailed some until she was up, above the water, and eventually stood. One hand pushed her hair out of her face while the other idly touched Kaihe's shoulder, just to make sure she really was ok. "Don't get yourself hurt because of me, " she murmured, then smiled, "I'm fine."

Though that was quickly followed by a loud laugh when the islander said she was good at it. Sweet, but terribly incorrect. Still, it was a nice sentiment that had Vailea smiling as she walked up the beach, from the water, and stretching some. Surfing was a pain, but it had been fun toppling into the water.

"Ah, yeah. I can get some food. And I always have alcohol." She gestured for Kaihe to wait for her while she made her way up, onto the ship. Having it canted was still a pain, but she navigated easily enough toward the hold. There wasn't any way she'd have the same fresh display of food that Kaihe and her people would, but she still had some stores of jerked meat and always alcohol.

When she returned, she offered Kaihe some but didn't partake herself. Just a bottle of rum for herself, and one offered to Kaihe. "Don't have the same fresh food you do," she apologized, sitting on the sand.

[Icy]

Kaihe canted her head to the side when Vailea spoke in trader to her. She didn't quite understand the murmur. "Kaihe... uhm... Kaihe okay...?" She shrugged, but smiled and nodded when Vailea told her that she was fine.

As they walked up to the shore, Kaihe pulled both boards further onto the sand, past the point where high tide could come in to pull them out. "I like alcohol a lot. It makes me feel whooshy," She commented for no real reason. "Okay! Kaihe stay!" She agreed, plopping down onto the sand to watch the sky and the clouds.

When she noticed the food and drink offered to her, she exclaimed, "Ooh, foo-... food?" She accepted the jerked meat, sniffed it, then licked it, making a small face afterward. She took a small chomp out of the jerked meat and made an even more expressive grimace. "It tastes so salty... b-but it is good!" To ensure Vailea that she was grateful for the food, despite its saltiness, she took another bite and forced a smile, but quickly followed it up with a swig of her rum.

"You do not have fresh food? Do you wish to trade for some with my village? I would offer some for nothing in return, but... feeding all of your friends would leave my tribe lacking. I am sorry for this selfishness," Kaihe apologized with a small bow of her head. It wasn't often that her tribe had visitors so she wanted to do all that she could to make them feel at home, but she needed to draw the line somewhere.

"Oh! but right now, you do not have food of your own, but I can offer you a bite of my meat! Come on, Vailea, try my meat!" She asked in an overwhelmingly innocent and unassuming tone. Her sweet smile didn't betray this purity, either.