6th Submergence, Action Post open to all

[actingelegantly]

[The waves ease up on the shore with a quiet whisper, providing both backdrop and natural metronome to the smooth flow of music played on a violin. Michiru stands by the shoreline, the wind softly tugging at her hair and her dress. Her eyes are closed as she allows herself the moment of being embraced by the music and the comfort of the sea.]

Comments

action; I couldn't resist *^*

[soulofocean]

It'd been almost an entire day of chasing after crazy, murderous stuffed toys and dealing with The City's madness. Knowing she had done well despite her current disability had been encouraging, but Umi still felt horribly exhausted. She'd used up most of her magic fighting the pesky things. And what better place to unwind from it than the one spot in the whole City where she could find peace?

As the Magic Knight of Water approached the shore, she could hear the graceful sounds of a violin mingling with the soft murmur of the waves rushing ashore.

Letting out a little gasp, Umi decided to keep silent. She couldn't see where the tune was coming from, but she closed her useless eyes and concentrated on enjoying it. It seemed in perfect harmony with the rhythm of the tide. She could feel the sea's motions inside her, as if the very ocean was dancing to this music.

action; ^.^ yay~!

[actingelegantly]

[Michiru was ever attuned to the ocean, the senshi of the deap sea always able to garner hints of feeling and information from the nature of the waves. How much of this was her senshi powers at work and how much was simple sharp intuition was never really a topic of much thought. She trusted this sense, wherever it came from.

So when the water gently reached to tickle at her toes in a gentle caress, it felt more like a friend's touch to the shoulder, getting her attention and tempting her out of her reverie.

Her eyes opened and though she kept playing, she glanced around calmly. When her eyes failed to find anyone around her, she closed them again, and focused on feeling. Someone was nearby

action; \o/ ♥

[soulofocean]

[Unable to interrupt, Umi simply listened on, more than willing to wait until whoever was playing the haunting melody finished their masterpiece.

There was something more than soothing about the way the music blended with the ocean, too. Umi could feel the communion between the musician and the waves through her own bond with the water: every ripple, every rush of foam ashore... it could almost be measured by the same cadence of that violin. This had to be someone exceptional behind that music. Someone who also understood the sea as deeply as she did. Of that she had no doubt.

Opening her heart to the waves and their motions, Umi lost herself into the tune.]

action;

[actingelegantly]

[If Umi was willingly lost to the tune and the sway of the ocean, she wasn't alone. Michiru too dove back into that world, and it was a while before her melody ended, gently drifting to a close, delicate notes lingering to be absorbed into the sound of the waves.

After a moment of simply gazing out at the sea, she smiled, realizing that the presence she'd felt before was still here. The sea whispered to her softly, and she spoke, her tone carefully pitched to carry towards whoever might be out there without really raising her voice much.]

"You must truly enjoy the ocean, to have stayed so long."

action;

[soulofocean]

Ah! [Michiru's voice caused for Umi to return from her reverie completely: she had only been halfway to waking from the music-induced trance as the melody draw to its conclusion.

She turned toward the sound of that voice, regretting more than ever that her sight was gone for some more days before the deal was up. A girl...? Nobody she knew or remembered, at least.]

I'm sorry! I didn't mean to sneak up on you. It was just that it sounded so beautiful...

[She smiled to herself at Michiru's words.] You could say I do. The sea's a very important part of me.

action;

[actingelegantly]

[She smiled softly as she looked at the girl, reminded briefly of a team of younger girls from her world that also tended to react to her like this. She noted that something about the girl's eyes seemed distant somehow. Blind? she observed in thought, though she didn't broach the subject, of course.
Her tone was cordial and friendly as she spoke,]

It's quite alright

[She looked back to the sea, and perhaps there was a softness in her voice as she recognized another who perhaps shared something of a similar bond with water]

The ocean is very close to me as well. It's good to meet someone who understands the feeling.

action;

[soulofocean]

Likewise. I just never thought that bond could be so perfectly expressed through music. [Never bothering to hide the admiration in her voice, Umi took a step closer to the tide. She'd taken off her shoes upon arriving at the beach, and now the wet sand felt very welcoming. She shivered a little as the cool water touched her feet, enjoying the feeling.

She nodded in the direction of the older girl's voice, imagining she must still carry her instrument, as she'd just finished her ocean concert.] It's a violin, right? You're wonderful at it!

My name's Umi, by the way. Nice to meet you.

action;

[actingelegantly]

Kaioh Michiru. A pleasure to meet you.

[her expression and tone both warmed as she watched the girl approach the sea, and as the discussion turned to music]

Thank you for your compliments. I used to perform from time to time in my world. It was a dream of mine to be a top violinist.

[before she'd known her mission and had to make the decision to give up that dream. She brushed the memory aside for the moment.] Do you play?

action;

[soulofocean]

That's a gorgeous dream. Pretty ambitious too. I hope you're still in time to fulfill it when you go back home.

[Umi could relate, in a way. Not simply because she felt a certain kinship toward Michiru, based on their love for the sea, but also because she held her fencing in high regard and dreamed of being the best at it as well.

She felt slightly self-conscious at the girl's next question, though. Her face turned to the tide as sea breeze touched her cheeks. Umi's eyes remained closed. No use in keeping them open anyway.]

...Just the piano, and not nearly as good as you play that violin. It's pretty clear that you put your heart into it.

action;

[actingelegantly]

[at the notion of going home, her smile developed a touch of sadness to it, reflected subtly in her tone]

I think I will be in this world for a while yet.

[it was what the doctors and records had stated hadn't they? No one who existed as the living dead could return home. All things considered it was probably for the best. When she spoke again, her tone was light once more, and inviting as well]

Perhaps you could accompany me sometime. My partner plays piano as well, so we have one available for you to use, if you like.

action;

[soulofocean]

That's... [The sudden change in Michiru's tone hadn't gone unnoticed. For a moment Umi considered a single possibility, but discarded it almost at once. No, it was too awful to think about it. For someone with such dreams, and who could create such wonderful music...

Shaking her head as if to get rid of that passing impression, the Water Knight smiled, feeling a little awkward at how she couldn't stare at her companion directly. Umi wondered what the other girl looked like. For the time being she could only envision her as a fundamental part of the seashore.]

That's really kind of you! Though... I'm just an amateur. I hope you and your partner don't mind that. Do you live at the Opera house? [It occurred to her to ask afterward.] That's where all the artists I know lodge.

action;

[actingelegantly]

[a note of fondness and good humor in her voice. This girl was a little endearing]

We all begin as amateurs after all. I don't mind, and I'm sure Haruka won't either. We live in our own home, just a little up the shore.

action;

[soulofocean]

Haruka...? [Umi blinked, not just out of mild recognition but also because some spindrift had been caught on her eyelashes.] I know a Haruka! Though... of course I'm not sure how many people with that name are also stuck in this place.

So you two live by the sea? [Umi sighed with longing.] If the girls and I weren't all settled in Hikaru's apartment I'd sure look into moving somewhere closer to this beach.

action;

[actingelegantly]

[She closes her eyes and smiles, her voice tender as she pictures her partner and friend, clarifying for Umi's sake. After all, the girl has a good point. There could be many Harukas in such a large city.]

Tenoh Haruka, the head of Special Assault and Tactics on the police force. [it was interesting to introduce her as such. Back home the term 'genius racer' might have been more appropriate.] Haruka has been here longer than me, though evidently I was here once before, from a future point in my world's time. [how confusing this world was when it came to concepts like time...] We made a small deal with the deities for the house we share.

[the girl's sigh amused her, and she spoke with that same good-hearted amusement in her voice] Would you like to visit for a while?

action;

[soulofocean]

Tenoh Haruka! That's h--- what, you mean... she's a member of the police force!? [Like Abby... Just how many good friends or acquaintances did Umi have in the force and she hadn't been aware of it? Suddenly having ranted against it so many times felt even nastier.

But she was probably making a face and ruining the peace of the moment, so the Water Knight gathered her composure as best she could.] Um... I had no idea... Though... Haruka does sound like she's been here for a long time...

Eh? You mean that? An invitation? [Umi's eyes were wide with amazement, not because she didn't believe Michiru was completely serious about this but quite the contrary. Her companion was so kind.] But we've only just met! Would that be okay?

action;

[actingelegantly]

[So kind, or indulging in her own amusement and curiosity? Or perhaps all three. It's hard to tell with Michiru sometimes and she's certainly not telling. It's not terribly often that she comes across someone with such a similar bond to the sea though, and she'd be lying if she were to say she didn't want to get to know the girl a little better.
And though she does indeed notice the reaction to Haruka being on the police force, it's something else she doesn't mention in conversation, though this she might have made a mental note of.]

[She chuckles, and it's a gentle, honest sound] Unless, of course, you have other plans to attend to?