Marco Polo
Evan narrowed his eyes, looking for a ripple, an unusual splash, any disruption to the water that may indicate where his quarry was.
The lake was still, calm and peaceful. It was so smooth it mirrored the blues of the sky, a cloud here and there. It marked a strong contrast to the times in his early twenties when he and a few of his military buddies would escape to the lake near their base to cool off in the summer heat. That lake was constantly moving: the water being disrupted by dives and strokes, splash attacks and pranks. The coolness that pressed in against his bare chest and thighs was familiar, however, feeling almost exactly the same as those days.
"Having difficulty, Major?" Teyla called from the shore side. He twisted in to face her, the water swirling around him.
Evan tilted his head and gave a small eyeroll. "It's harder than it sounds," he admitted dryly. This Athosian game - almost exactly opposite to marco polo - was much more difficult than he'd expected. The 'marco' of the game was meant to keep his or her eyes open, to watch for the polos. The polos were meant to avoid capture through stealth, staying under the water as long as possible, only breaching the surface for breath, and only rarely.
The Athosian children were experts. Evan didn't think he'd ever be able to hold his breath as long as they did.
"They have been playing this game for a long time, Major. It is understandable that their aptitude would exceed your own." She raised a hand to her shoulder and fiddled briefly with the fabric there before it dropped away, revealing the scarce fabric that makes up a swimming outfit in Athos. "Perhaps two pairs of eyes would serve better," she said, the light of mischief burning low in her eyes. Evan knew he was staring, knew he should stop, but he couldn't tear his eyes away. Then she dove smoothly into the water.
She surfaced beside him. "The kids aren't the only ones with huge lungs," he commented. "I thought I saw some movement on the north end," he continued, pointing. "But it was gone before I could even face it."
Teyla nodded thoughtfully in front of him, her usually golden-brown hair looking deep-bronze plastered down along her neck and shoulders. "I believe Saran likes to stay as far from the chaser as possible, the others may follow his example."
Evan was distracted momentarily, watching her long lashes brush along the round of her cheeks as she blinked, a soft, dusky pink flush on her cheeks and the way the water slid down her long neck.
Her eyes flashed to his and a small smile turned the corners of her lips. "Therefore," she continued, "I suggest we keep our eyes trained to the outer reaches of the lake."
He wonders if he should take a chance, seeing as there's a perfect lead in for a sleazy pick-up line right there. Teyla's a beauty, from her face, down her fit body to her slim feet, sexy in every curve and line. Her personality is just as enticing, always calm, with a subtle wit that constantly catches him off guard; a charming alien woman who's deceptively flirty. What the hell, it wasn't every day he was alone with Teyla Emmagan on a 'mission'. "I don't know, there's something else--
"Watch it!" came a shout from the shore just as a massive splash erupted to Evan's left. The resultant wave washed up into his face, obscuring his view momentarily and when his eyes cleared, Teyla was laughing before him.
"Ronon! You must be careful, children are swimming in this lake!" she chided playfully.
The big Satedan made his way towards them, moving swiftly through the water, hardly creating further stir, even given his size. "I knew there were no kids there. Plus," he paused and glanced over his shoulder. "More should be coming now."
Sure enough, a troop of giggling and screaming Athosian children suddenly broke the treeline and spotted Ronon. "He's in the water!" a little girl screamed and they all dashed forwards. Teyla looked back at Evan, amusement lining all of her features.
He had to admit, the way her eyes shone when she was surrounded by her people, or when they were even just mentioned, were always bittersweet moments to him. Her dedication to them was unbelievably strong and she never looked so beautiful than those times. But he was not from Athos, he was from another galaxy.
"I'm sorry, you were saying, Major?"
He glanced around the lake as children started poking up all over the place, their game ending with the emergence of a new game in the form of Ronon. One that would likely soon include he and Teyla as well. He sighed internally, but smiled with good nature at her. "Nah, nothing important."
There was always next visit to New Athos.
The lake was still, calm and peaceful. It was so smooth it mirrored the blues of the sky, a cloud here and there. It marked a strong contrast to the times in his early twenties when he and a few of his military buddies would escape to the lake near their base to cool off in the summer heat. That lake was constantly moving: the water being disrupted by dives and strokes, splash attacks and pranks. The coolness that pressed in against his bare chest and thighs was familiar, however, feeling almost exactly the same as those days.
"Having difficulty, Major?" Teyla called from the shore side. He twisted in to face her, the water swirling around him.
Evan tilted his head and gave a small eyeroll. "It's harder than it sounds," he admitted dryly. This Athosian game - almost exactly opposite to marco polo - was much more difficult than he'd expected. The 'marco' of the game was meant to keep his or her eyes open, to watch for the polos. The polos were meant to avoid capture through stealth, staying under the water as long as possible, only breaching the surface for breath, and only rarely.
The Athosian children were experts. Evan didn't think he'd ever be able to hold his breath as long as they did.
"They have been playing this game for a long time, Major. It is understandable that their aptitude would exceed your own." She raised a hand to her shoulder and fiddled briefly with the fabric there before it dropped away, revealing the scarce fabric that makes up a swimming outfit in Athos. "Perhaps two pairs of eyes would serve better," she said, the light of mischief burning low in her eyes. Evan knew he was staring, knew he should stop, but he couldn't tear his eyes away. Then she dove smoothly into the water.
She surfaced beside him. "The kids aren't the only ones with huge lungs," he commented. "I thought I saw some movement on the north end," he continued, pointing. "But it was gone before I could even face it."
Teyla nodded thoughtfully in front of him, her usually golden-brown hair looking deep-bronze plastered down along her neck and shoulders. "I believe Saran likes to stay as far from the chaser as possible, the others may follow his example."
Evan was distracted momentarily, watching her long lashes brush along the round of her cheeks as she blinked, a soft, dusky pink flush on her cheeks and the way the water slid down her long neck.
Her eyes flashed to his and a small smile turned the corners of her lips. "Therefore," she continued, "I suggest we keep our eyes trained to the outer reaches of the lake."
He wonders if he should take a chance, seeing as there's a perfect lead in for a sleazy pick-up line right there. Teyla's a beauty, from her face, down her fit body to her slim feet, sexy in every curve and line. Her personality is just as enticing, always calm, with a subtle wit that constantly catches him off guard; a charming alien woman who's deceptively flirty. What the hell, it wasn't every day he was alone with Teyla Emmagan on a 'mission'. "I don't know, there's something else--
"Watch it!" came a shout from the shore just as a massive splash erupted to Evan's left. The resultant wave washed up into his face, obscuring his view momentarily and when his eyes cleared, Teyla was laughing before him.
"Ronon! You must be careful, children are swimming in this lake!" she chided playfully.
The big Satedan made his way towards them, moving swiftly through the water, hardly creating further stir, even given his size. "I knew there were no kids there. Plus," he paused and glanced over his shoulder. "More should be coming now."
Sure enough, a troop of giggling and screaming Athosian children suddenly broke the treeline and spotted Ronon. "He's in the water!" a little girl screamed and they all dashed forwards. Teyla looked back at Evan, amusement lining all of her features.
He had to admit, the way her eyes shone when she was surrounded by her people, or when they were even just mentioned, were always bittersweet moments to him. Her dedication to them was unbelievably strong and she never looked so beautiful than those times. But he was not from Athos, he was from another galaxy.
"I'm sorry, you were saying, Major?"
He glanced around the lake as children started poking up all over the place, their game ending with the emergence of a new game in the form of Ronon. One that would likely soon include he and Teyla as well. He sighed internally, but smiled with good nature at her. "Nah, nothing important."
There was always next visit to New Athos.