Relaxation (Chase/open)

[Gabby Brocklehurst]

It was a warm sunny day, something rare for so far north so Gabby was making the most of it. She ahd left her towel and bag on the shore and dived into the cool water. Her scar was still painful and so Gabby was using swimming to get back in shape. She dipped her head underwater for a few moments then broke the surface again. She started to swim, keeping to the clear water where there was no danger of being pulled under by either the plants or the monsters.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase had been outside almost exclusively since he'd gotten out of the hospital, the weeks spent within the same four walls having translated to a mild claustrophobia. So it was nothing strange that he was walking by the lake when the girl dove into the water. He stopped, watching her for a while before he recognized her; Gabby. He vaguely recalled meeting her in the forest not long before the duel. All he could recall of the conversation was his having warned her about Emilian. Chase didn't announce himself, but entertained himself idly watching her.

[Gabby Brocklehurst]

Gabby pushed herself until her scar burned. She turned and began to swim back to the shore when she saw someone standing there, watching her. "Damn" she muttered under her breath. she stayed in the water, letting it conceal her scars that would be obvious due to her bikini. "Hi Chase" she said, smiling at him, hoping he wouldn't be there long so that she could get out.

[Chase Firebrand]

"Gabby," Chase said, by way of greeting. He gestured toward the water with a nod of his head. "How cold is it?" he asked. Not that he particularly cared if it was cold; he'd been in the water when it was threatening to ice over, but he wasn't sure if Gabby would get offended at his inviting himself in, so he figured he'd wait for now.

[Gabby Brocklehurst]

Gabby shook her head. "It's warm actually, the sun must be on" she joked. She pulled strands of wet hair away from her face. "Why, were you thinking of joining me?" she asked treading water.

[Chase Firebrand]

"I was," he agreed, his lips curving lightly. "But I don't know, is there enough room for both of us?" His eyes glittered with the tease; the lake was enormous, but if she'd been intent on some alone time, he wouldn't intrude.

[Gabby Brocklehurst]

Gabby shrugged. "I think you'll fit, you're not that big" Gabby replied teasingly. She dove out of sight, waiting for Chase to join her as she enjoyed the cool water. Ok, so maybe the water was slightly cool but Chase would manage.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase kicked off his boots, but paused a moment before removing anything else. He really wasn't that self-conscious about his scars, as extensive as they were, but it seemed they always got commented on. Still, Gabby didn't seem like the type to ogle or say anything crass, so he went ahead, stripping to boxers while Gabby's attention was elsewhere. In the water, only the starburst-patterned stripes on his shoulder were visible. Chase treaded water for a minute, waiting for Gabby to surface.

[Gabby Brocklehurst]

Gabby surfaced and found that Chase was now in the lake. She saw his scars. "Pretty" she said. She straightened up, making her own scars visible. She now had three set out in a peculiar pattern. One on each shoulderblade and then one straight down the middle of her chest from the base of her neck to just above her belly button. She held her breath, waiting to see what he would say.

[Chase Firebrand]

"Thanks," Chase said dryly. His gaze flickered down to Gabby's scars, then rose to meet her eyes. "Do you want to talk about it?" He wouldn't ask, otherwise. His curiosity was not greater than the desire not to bring painful memories and awkwardness into an otherwise relaxing situation.

[Gabby Brocklehurst]

Gabby shrugged. "This one" she said pointing to the one on her right collarbone. "Came from Lucretia, I broke my wrist at the same time. The one identical to this was from my half brother when I was eight and then this" Gabby said, trailing her finger down her scar. "Came from Vannah in a duel we had and it nearly killed me" she said calmy. She stood there, not quite sure what to say next, but glad the had told him as it cleared the air.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase kept his thoughts about Vannah to himself, but they were clear in his eyes; she was a menace. "Did any of them pay any price at all?" His lips quirked. "Did you at least get a shot in?" The name Lucretia triggered something in his mind, and he recalled Storm mentioning it. His face darkened slightly. It was difficult reconciling her different faces into one person.

[Gabby Brocklehurst]

"I didn't get Lucretia. I was on a broom at the time and a little preocupied. That was how I broke my wrist, she made me fall off." she sighed, then continued. "Vannah I did get, Vannah I left lying in a puddle of blood and we would have both died if Ryan hadn't found us" she said, the memory of that night made her cringe slightly. "Vannah thought it would be nice of her to let me know what had happened the night I got my frist scar by entering my mind and unlocking the memory" she said casually.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase arched a brow. "How generous of her," he said. "I'm not really crazy about Vannah," he said. "She seems to go out of her way to be the biggest b~ possible. If you'll excuse the language." He didn't figure she'd have a problem with it, considering what she'd just told him about Vannah.

[Gabby Brocklehurst]

"Of course and I totally agree. I sometimes wonder why Ryan hauled her up to the hospital wing. He saved her life as well as mine" Gabby said. As her thoughts turned to Ryan though she smiled. She looked out across the water, watching the sunlight on the surface.