[D6MA] Off The Boardwalk

[Usagi Rei]

"I actually don't know how to do either of those things." Rei said, giving her an amused look.

Then he sighed. "I mean, it was something I'd only ever done with her, anyway. So without her..." He couldn't easily shrug, but it showed in his face. "I really didn't see the point anymore."

He sighed again, more pleasantly. "You sure you can't get your hair wet, Yakumo-san? It's nice, floating like this. Try it." And really, she didn't look like she'd have trouble floating... Rei cast her an appreciative smirk.

[Susumu Yakumo]

"Hmmmm..." she seemed to be thinking long and hard about it. Well... she was going to have to take a shower later anyway before the concert since she was out swimming. So that meant the hair would get anyway. "Ugh... fine!" Perhaps a touch overly dramatic, but that's how it was with divas.

Shifting over on her back, she managed to steady herself to float nicely in the water. Now this was pretty nice.

"Would you sing with someone else then, if given the chance?" Yakumo finally asked.

[Usagi Rei]

"Awww..." Rei smiled at her. "I'll make it up to you later. I promise."

With a bit of paddling, he drew next to her, so they were floating side by side. His extended arms might brush hers from time to time; he wasn't concerned unless she was.

"Maybe." Rei said softly. "It's hard to say. Ummm..." He chuckled without humor. "Have you ever seen a movie that was alright, but the ending was so terrible, it makes everything else in the movie terrible?" He sighed. "But... maybe new memories. I don't know."

[Susumu Yakumo]

"I know you will," she chuckled confidently. Oh she knew she would make him make it up to her.

As for the comparison to movies, Yakumo thought about it. "Not exactly, but... yeah, I get what you mean. I do. I guess... if I were to give advice, it's to not let other people bring you down. No matter who they are." Her hand drifted out to touch his. "I know it sounds horribly cheesy, really. Like the kind of stuff you hear about all the time; but I mean it. I spent my entire life until only a few years ago being dragged down by everyone, until I was suddenly popular - but all that hate? I just made it my strength you know?"

[Usagi Rei]

Rei let his fingers brush against hers, under the water, lingering for a few pleasant moments before they drifted apart again.

"Really?" Rei gave her a quick glance. "I had no idea." He was silent a moment. "One of my colleagues asked what you were like. I said that you had great depths, layers upon layers. How do you use your hate?" A reminder that she was, in fact, a Spider.

He sighed. "I'll try, though. Easier said than done, I feel."

[Susumu Yakumo]

She sighed softly, eyes closing for a moment as she pondered how to put that into words. Using hatred to like that was just kind of something Spider learned, since everyone seemed to hate them.

"It's kind of like... doing things out of spite. People think you won't succeed at something, so you pour your energy into it to spite them and prove them wrong. At some point what keeps you going is that feeling, rather than the feeling of wanting to do something because you want to or a sense of accomplishment." Clicking her tongue, Yakumo opened her eyes again and glanced over at Rei beside her in the water. "So it's not something to do in the long run, I suppose, but... when you deal with being disliked and hated a lot, you find what keeps you going."

[Usagi Rei]

"Huh." Rei said, floating lazily. "I don't think hate is something I have to deal with that often. Oh, sure, I get screwed over by Scorpion from time to time, but that's just business." He sighed. "I don't know about my wife. I suspect that was just business, too." Was that worse, or better? He wasn't sure it was either.

He glanced over at her, smiling gently, eyes briefly tracing her features, her lips. Ah, if this were a more private place... "When were you dis... oh." He frowned suddenly, making the connection. "With the Crane? Is that something you wanna tell me about? Or would you rather float and talk about fun things? You could tell me all the high class celebrity gossip, or something." He grinned.

[Susumu Yakumo]

She laughed and resisted the urge to want to splash at him. Since he'd probably retaliate this time.

"It's fine. I'm no longer the awkward kid from the Spider on a world full of Crane - I am now the biggest star in the Empire and they're not. So... kharma or something, I suppose." And if Yakumo had paid some attention to the religious teachings some more, she'd know that's not how kharma works.

"You do know almost all the celebrity gossip is fake, right? Unless it's an official interview, it's all a bunch of hokey."

[Usagi Rei]

"That makes sense." Rei said, shrugging and smiling. He didn't know a thing about kharma either.

He chuckled. "I'm not surprised. It sounds fake. Since you've shown up here, I've heard all sorts of crazy things..." He shook his head. "I don't know. I guess I've gotten to know you a bit. And I mean know you..." his tone indicated intensity, not lewdness, "-but still. It's all pretty obviously crap."

Rei shifted suddenly, planting his feet in the sand, the water coming up almost to his shoulders. "I guess people will believe almost anything, though. Especially here." He splashed himself with the sea water, dashing some of it onto his face.

[Susumu Yakumo]

"I don't think most people actually believe it, but they want for a moment to believe it?" she mused out loud. "That's kind of the point with a lot of gossip I think. It's not about if it's true, but about being entertaining for a while even if people think it's absolute crap as you said."

As Rei stood, Yakumo rolled over to let her own feet touch the sand beneath them, somewhat gingerly as her previous experience with water like this meant corals and possible sea creatures below her. But since this place was so perfectly created, there was no little crabs or axolotls to disturb.

"So what do you think, now that you know me?" Yakumo asked with a low chuckle.

[Usagi Rei]

"Entertaiment..." Rei brushed a hand across his face, then shook his head, finally brushing a hand back through his hair. As well put-together as he usually was, he could pull the wet beach look off pretty well too, droplets clinging to his form seeming to highlight his masculine good looks. "The need for entertainment drives a lot of what happens on this planet. Including the gossip."

Hearing that chuckle, Rei turned in the water to face her, smirking playfully. "Well. I'd like to think I learned at least a little bit about you, Yakumo-san. And you about me."

But then his expression turned more serious. "But at the same time, when I look into your eyes..." he did then, deep and violet, "-I can see depths there I haven't yet touched. Maybe someday." He smiled. "Maybe after I hear you sing."

[Susumu Yakumo]

"Not just this planet, I think, but yes... I suppose this world of dreams is a little less bashful about indulging in it so much." It really was a hive of scum and villainy in so many ways.

But there were good things there too. Like Rei standing there and perfecting his wet-hair-at-the-beach-look. Yessss.

"Perhaps. But like most other performers, I too have facades and masks I put on for the stage. It's me and yes I am pouring my heart and soul out, but it's also just another facet of all that I am. If that makes sense?"

[Usagi Rei]

"Too much, perhaps." But then Rei smirked at her again. "Although I don't think there's anything wrong with a bit of indulgence, now and then. Wouldn't you agree?" One last brush back through his hair, eyes closing. It had to be deliberate. Ah, for the lack of privacy, Rei thought to himself.

He looked at her again. "Of course, I understand. A performance is just that. But still, you can tell a lot about someone from the mask they choose." He took a breath. "And... I feel like it's an important facet."

Eyes narrowed as he traced her profile, both admiring and evaluating. "How well do you think I know you, Yakumo-san?" He asked, smiling. "Because if you have an idea on how I might learn more, well, I'm all ears." The smirk returned.

[Susumu Yakumo]

That just had to be deliberate. Stupid sexy Rei, Yakumo thought as she began to gently swim back towards the shore.

"Hmmm, I do have ideas, but I do like it when you figure it out yourself," she replied with a chuckle, pausing just enough in her strokes to look back. "After all, you're a very clever man, hmmm?" She deliberately said those words in a very sensual tone, not only to tease him but to encourage him to think of how to get to know her better.

[Usagi Rei]

Rei grinned after her, watching her swim away, admiring more than just her wit. "Well, then." He said, still grinning. "I suppose I'll just have to apply myself..."

Kicking out, he began to swim directly after her. His form was excellent, arms cutting skillfully through the water. Yakumo didn't have far to go, and she had a headstart, but Rei was fast...

[Susumu Yakumo]

... Much faster than a songstress who didn't have good core muscles or upper body muscles, so he quickly covered the headstart she had. Especially since she realised too late that he was suddenly coming after her!

There was lots of flailing arms and splashing water as Yakumo was rudely captured by the swift Hare!

[Usagi Rei]

Rude though he was, Rei was at least polite enough to capture the Spider princess in shallow water, taking extra care to make sure she didn't end up with a lungful of water, or even a submerged face.

"Oho!" He laughed, grinning. "I guess I learned that you're not as fast as I am." He teased. His hands ran teasingly up and down her flanks, her legs, over the curves of her hips, their forms concealed by the water, playful with just a hint of sensual.

[Susumu Yakumo]

"Eek!" was soon followed by a high-pitched laugh, and eventually she managed to wiggle herself free of his grasp... and retaliated with a very fierce splash attack using both hands.

"How rude!" Yakumo laughed back at him, unable to keep a serious tone.

[Usagi Rei]

"Ufff!" Rei stumbled back in the water, clearly exaggerated, as water splashed over his face. "Ooh. That's another thing I learned. The Spider knows how to bite. Of course, that one I already knew." Rei smirked at her.

He rose to his feet, wet clothing now loose and dripping on him. He offered Yakumo his arm. "C'mon. Let's towel off, and then we can finish drying in the sun."

[Susumu Yakumo]

"Lewd, Rei," she teased, and gave one last splash before deciding to honor the truce by accepting his arm. "Phew... thanks. And thanks for taking me out here today. I really needed this without thinking I did."