---

Nestled away a short distance from Eastbourne lay a grove of trees, thick with trunks and bushes, green and vibrant. In the middle of it all, Kairos had found a quiet pond. Only a turtle or two disrupted the water as they swam, sliding off of a rock amongst the water to dive back down and away, and Kairos noted that even in noise, there was a distant trickling sound of a falls somewhere, and the occasional rustling of the leaves in the canopies as birds went about their day.

It was a little haven, treasured and tranquil.

Kairos' toes lingered in the shallow depths tentatively as she decided if she would go for a lounge and a swim, wanting to try one last time to get the remaining smoke scent that clung to her fur washed away. Her mind had been particularly loud, wondering after Hyperion as of late, and Kairos had kept herself busy with the gardens in Eastbourne, tidying up after Francis's good work, and nosing around for seeds that she could freshly plant for herbs and flowers alike.

Alternatively, the Parthenon had kept busy with ensuring that Francis had a fresh flower laying for him every day in a place he would find, whether it be his den or area he would know to find, sticking to her guns in making sure that every day she kept her word. Otherwise, she explored the castle, the grounds, and the lands surrounding Eastbourne so that she could keep her mind off of her family, off of the bastard, off of the way her insecurities still plagued her.

Still she avoided looking at her reflection in fear of seeing everyone but herself.

Dipping further into the water, the redhead released a delighted sigh as the cool water soothed her warmed fur and skin, and she waded deeper through the lily pads until her chest was submerged fully. To the side, she saw a turtle swim by, seeking the water further away, and her winged features smiled. Her tail floated atop the water, fur splaying out atop the surface, and she dipped her head down as to wet her chin as she moved.

Kairos pushed her toes off of the ground and further into the deeper water before she took in a deep breath and disappeared beneath the water.

---

Francis followed - by accident, this time, not intent.

The trees sighed dreamily as he passed beneath their crowns, the leaves rustling in the breeze that wound around Francis' long legs before scampering off.

It was...nice, so he kept walking, his tail swaying soft and loose by his ankles as the prince's amber gaze drank in the idyllic scenery.

The scent of water lured him further along, equally curious and merely enjoying the quiet away from the castle. In his fur, dutifully tucked by his shoulder, was a red carnation. His eyes skimmed over a bright spot of blue in the branches above - a small mountain jay, who croaked at him to keep moving away from what might be its nest. Francis obeyed, huffing softly before he emerged from the thicket of trees.

A pool, crystalline blue, glittered in the summer sun. He didn't see Kairos - Francis' paw stepped on a twig, the snap rattling up his limb and causing him to glance down at it briefly.

Francis looked back up, taking in the expanse of the pond, the faint twinge of smoked lemon, the clean scent of grass and moss.

Floating atop the surface of the pond, surrounded by faint ripples, was a single blue lobelia.

He smiled softly at the sight, and meandered closer to the edge of the pond before allowing his body to sink to the cool grass. Francis settled his chin on his paws, his frame relaxed and his gaze lazily watching the pond.

No one seemed to be readily bothering him here, and he felt...not as weighed down, as usual. Perhaps he'd even sneak in a nap - wouldn't that be sly of him?

Still, he couldn't bear to tear his eyes from the surroundings he found himself in. It was no gilded palace, and yet, it took his breath away all the more easily than any castle. He didn't really intend to nap, but his did stretch his toes out and sigh rather luxuriously, the breath bending the little grass blades that surrounded his plush, cream-colored pelt.

---

Kairos opened her eyes beneath the water, her vision blurry as she blinked against the subtle stinging. As things sharpened and her focus returned, she could see the shadow of a turtle swimming through the very depths she found herself in. Bubbles popped through her nose and she glanced upwards as movement caught her gaze near the edge of the water.

Unable to resist the mischievous streak that she held, Kairos moved through the water in what she hoped was a carefully quiet and subtle manner, until she could feel the way she needed air, and the earth closer than before. Pushing up off the pond ground with her hind legs, she burst through the surface of the water with the intention to playfully scare who may be on the opposite side — whether or not they took kindly to it, she did not know, but it was the wayward streak she inherited from her father playing for dominance as she teased the line of reckless danger.

Water went flying as she resurfaced, and her mismatched gaze of ice and fire landed upon the handsome face of Francis. Francis! the Parthenon laughed, wondering just how the gentleman might react.

She could not deny the way her heart warmed at the sight of him.

---

His eyelids had just begun to settle lower and lower over his warm amber gaze, breathing in the scent of freshwater and earth beneath his paws as his mind wandered freely, not touching on any particular thought long enough to really notice it.

Until a form, otter-like with her fur slicked to her form, burst from the water before him. Francis jerked backward, alarmed, before recognizing easily the distinctive auburn and white coloring of the Parthenon. She had - well and truly bamboozled him, it seemed.

Laughter, unfettered, joyful and punctuated with a soft huff, bubbled from his chest as he realized what had happened. Miss Parthenon! Francis cackled, unable to reign in the lopsided and wholly sincere grin from his expression. The Prince got to his feet, trotting closer to the edge of the pool. He glanced over his shoulder, as if furtively checking to ensure the two of them were alone. Not that they were doing anything wrong, but...In some ways, the way Kairos convinced his soul to lighten, his joy to re-emerge, it felt more personal and more intimate than even sleeping, like he had to guard these moments from prying eyes. Lest they get the wrong impression, of course. You have gotten water on my fur, my lady, an insult I cannot bear no matter my favor for you. I hope you are prepared....for war.

The man's grin turns impish, crouching slightly as he eyed the water. He is preparing to jump in, with every intention of splashing Kairos as much as possible. She did start it, after all, he tells himself - and if she says the word to stop, he will be as if he were stone.

---

Her plan worked, and his laughter, surprised and shock, chimed in the air. Kairos' own laughter was free and bubbly as she lingered within the water, her winged face grinning cheekily as he crooned her name. His face, as handsome as it always was, was alight with almost a childish glee with unfiltered laughter and amusement. Her mismatched eyes of fire and ice glitter with her own delight as she lowers within the water as he stands, going so far as to have her nose just above the water level.

Cheekily, she blows some bubbles at him as he stood at the waters edge, and declaring a water war upon her. The Parthenon pushes back up in the water so that her mouth is out from it's liquid clutches, your favour for me has its limits? I am offended, Francis! Her laughter follows moments after, a chiming laugh as she eyes him as he prepares to leap into the water after her.

To declare war, you must be able to catch me, Kairos challenged him, childish and open as she purposefully goes to spin in the water, and with the force of her weight, she hopes the water splashes up as another hit upon his broad chest. Do you dare enter my battlefield, Sir Groundskeeper? Kairos crooned over her shoulder as she splashes through the water, wanting to make him work for the war he had so declared.

---

He shook his head melodramatically. I am only a man, Miss Parthenon, and a man can only bear so much insult. He pressed his paw to his chest, as if lamenting the truth.

At the edge of his vision, he could see bubbles glittering in the sunlight before bursting, forming a halo around the mischievous wolf hiding in the water.

Then, he was in the pool, droplets scattered on the air around him for a brief second. Kairos' wave splashed into him, pushing him deeper into the pool before he gained his bearings and treaded the water more comfortably. It's incredibly refreshing, the water - and the company, as always.

Those are some strange rules of engagement, but who am I to judge. He chuckled dryly, and made an effort to paddle closer.

She was already off, as agile as if she'd been born part seal in the water. This body was still unfamiliar to him in some ways - and in all truth, Francis usually hated getting wet. (Yes, even though he loved fish.)

Any preference for staying dry and well-groomed was entirely long-forgotten now, giving the woman splashing away from him a shark-like grin. Did he dare? Pah! I don't fear the wiles of even the most enticing of sirens.

---

roll for how well he's swimming, LMFAO

Rolling d20: 4

---

I would say you are far more than just a man, Kairos told him softly, eyes of ice and fire glittering as she looked at him, his paw to his chest and her giggle followed softly.

He's joined her in the pool and Kairos laughter was unrelenting; she didn't try and hide it, and let it come straight from her belly as she watched him, unsteady as he tried to gain his bearings within the new scene. Rules are rules, Francis, we cannot argue with them, the Parthenon reasoned cheekily, her features alight as she watched him paddle from over her shoulder.

It was fairly adorable, really. He was.. paddling, yes, but she wasn't entirely sure one could call it swimming. Affection shimmered in her eyes as she watched him, turning around in the water as her paws left the ground and no longer could she direct herself with the ground but purely only swimming. Is that you calling me the most enticing of sirens? Kairos sung playfully as she grinned at him, before she suddenly breathed in loudly and plenty, and then ducked down beneath the waters surface.

Blinking her eyes open, Kairos searched for the shadow of him in the water, and tried her best to swim towards him.

---

Far more than just a man, she said. Francis laughed, a little sheepish in his delivery but giving a swish of his tail across the water's surface all the same. The movement threw off his weak paddling's direction, and he splashed a bit to right himself to face in Kairos' direction.

Embarrassing.

I would be curious to know what makes you think that, my lady. And that was the truth. He was a prince, sure, but Francis had always aimed to not let that position strip him of his humanity too much.

As embarrassing as his flailing in the water was, Kairos' peals of chiming laughter more than made up for it. No one else was here to see him behaving so silly, and the wildfire of a woman was more than worth a faint blush heating his cheeks at his less-than-graceful doggy-paddling. Kairos, for her part, seemed to fit seamlessly in whatever situation she was in; from a flame-wraith in the forest to a nymph of the pool here, otter-like in her grace and dark sable fur.

Is that you calling me the most enticing of sirens? Francis grinned cheekily. You would argue otherwise? He teased, before she disappeared beneath the water.

Ah, he was truly in danger now. Francis paddled peacefully for a few moments, gaze skimming the water for any sign of her approach.