Shadows Continued

[jacques]

He was tempted to start laughing when she again started to bounce on the balls of her feet, and gave her a small smile when she stopped, winking. Slowly, she began to unfurl the paper, and he looked down at, unaware of her eyes on his. A breeze flicked his hair in front of his eyes, and he pushed it back, frowning.

Now, Jacques was no critique, he couldn't tell water color from ink, he hadn't even seen a famous painting, not the Monalisa, or any of them, not even a picture of it on the internet. He looked at for a minute, and a slow smile began to creep on his face. It wasn't rich in detail, the background was only half finished, though to him it made it seem more..well done, and it was slightly rough. All in all, it made a very good sketch, simple, but lavishly done, by far the best picture he had ever seen. He traced the out line of the tree branch on it, then looked at he real one, still smiling. Nodding his head approvingly, still smiling, he said in Swahili, "Ajabu," HIs voice remained quiet, and he met her gaze with his piercing one, "it's beautiful."

[Susan Matthews]

Susan watched as he looked over the drawing, unbeknown to her searching eyes. She held her breath waiting for some sort of critique. Good or bad? Modern or traditional? Together or scattered? Susan's heart raced as she considered all the possible things he might say. Jacques' final reply was spoken first in Swahili, and then repeated in English.

Nodding his head approvingly, still smiling, he said in Swahili, "Ajabu," His voice remained quiet, and he met her gaze with his piercing one, "it's beautiful."

Susan blushed, and smiled brighter than ever as she met his eyes. She left his gaze to look at the drawing herself. She allowed herself to examine the art. It was true that she hadn't spent as much time on this drawing as the others that littered her sketch book. Maybe that was the beauty of it. The fact that she'd rushed, and still managed to capture the essence of the scene and the boy before her.

"Thank you," she murmured as she began to close her sketch pad again. She was afraid that it anyone looked at it too long, they would notice something wrong with it. "I'm glad you liked it," Susan told Jacques, looking into his eyes again.

[jacques]

Jacques grinned as she smiled, not something that he usaully did, and it curled his scars, making him look like a yawning cat. He watched her refurl the sketch, and he bent down and carefully stuffed his note book in his backpack. His grin faded to his classic calm smile, and he looked over at the lake. Her eyes were a pale blue, and were pretty. Distractedly, he pushed back his hair as another gust of wind rippled it.

''So..do you want to go..swimming?" He said absent mindly. He was sure, unless she enjoyed cold water, that she wouldn't go swimming, but it was the first thing that had come to mind, and the sun had felt warm..He didn't really mind cold water..it was..refreshing.

[Susan Matthews]

"Swimming?" Susan repeated, surprised. The previous breeze had whipped her bangs around her head again and sent chills up her arms. Swimming might have been acceptable a few weeks ago, but the weather had certainly changed since then. Not long ago, it would have been perfectly normal to see students in their rough clothes diving and splashing in the murky waters of the lake. Now, however . . . Susan looked across the lake. She spotted a spontaneous ripple not far off. The squid, Susan thought. The lake was calm and undisturbed, with the exception of the varied ripples caused by breezes, and the squid of course. No students dared venture into the obviously freezing waters today.

"As much as I love swimming, Jacques," she began her apology, memories of the good times she'd had swimming flashed through her mind. "But I don't care to go the hospital wing with hypothermia today," Susan turned it to a joke. She searched his features, trying to understand what was going through his mind. "You really want to go swimming?" Susan asked curiously.

[jacques]

Jacques gave a loud, purr-like laugh, then rubbed his head and smiled ruefully. It was the first thing that had come to his mind, and this was the expected answer, but hey, not everyone can has amazing topics to come up with on the spot. He himself had no problem swimming in the dead of winter, not after a 5 or so long day trip in a freezing river from Kenya to the Congo. "Nah, sorry, just the first thing that came to mind." He smiled ruefully again, and gave her an apoligetic glance. "Unless.." He said, a slight teasing note in his calm voice, "You dare me to.."

He kept a completely straight face, resisting the urge to grin. He tilted his head, and leaned forward on a branch, resting his chin on the heels of his palm. He had once gotten sick when he fell into a lake on the first snow storm. He had been seeing how far out he could go, when an all resounding crack split the air, and he was plunged under the obviously thinner then it appeared ice. It had been rather cold.

[Susan Matthews]

Susan was relieved to hear that Jacques was merely making conversation. He hadn't actually intended for them to go swimming in this weather. Susan glanced out at the lake again, listening to his next words.

"Unless.." He said, a slight teasing note in his calm voice, "You dare me to.."

"Unless I dare you!" Susan repeated in surprise. She turned quickly to face Jacques with wide eyes. "If I dare you, you will jump into the freezing lake?" Susan stared openly at the strange boy. Did he realize how cold the water actually was? Maybe Susan was cold-natured, but it made her shiver just thinking about submerging even a pinky toe into the lake.

"Alright then," Susan said, brushing her bangs out of her face, her arms coming to rest on her hips. Deep in her gut, Susan had a feeling she was going to regret her next words. Then again, she was pretty sure Jacques wouldn't take her seriously. Even if he did, Susan didn't think he would actually do anything. So, with a totally serious face, Susan blinked once and said, "I dare you."

[jacques]

She seemed to be suprised by his half teasing challage. He, himself, was undecided if he were going to jump. On one hand, he preferred not to get hypotherima, on the other, he didn't want to look a coward. She gave him a disbelievable stare, as if it she couldn't believe someone was wack enough to jump into a freezing lake. That decided him, and he involentarly squared his shoulders.

"I dare you."

At these words, Jacques let a large grin spread across his dark complection. Shrugging in playful helplessness, he let a fake, woeful look spread across his face. "Well, if you insist.." And like that, he sprinted off to the edge of the lake. After a few, slow steps halfway to the lake, he got his shirt off, rolled up his pants to above the knee's, and headed off at full speed. He braced himself for the cold water, and, hands clasped like a professonal swimmer, he dove off the edge.

[Susan Matthews]

Despite all the manners she'd ever learned in her life, Susan let her mouth hang open. She stood in awe for a moment as she watched Jacques take off toward the lake. Her hands fell from their place at her waist and she sputtered, "I . . . I mean . . . Jacques, I didn't mean it!" She yelled after him. It was no use though. Susan desperately chased after him as he neared the lake. Susan's legs were long, but Jacques' were longer. Susan found it impossible to catch up to the boy. As fast as she raced, Jacques happened to move a little faster.

"Hey, wait!" Susan called after him, passing his discarded shirt. Without hesitating, Jacques soon had his pants rolled up and had dove into the cold lake. As fast as she had been running, Susan hadn't calculated the accurate stopping distance she would require. As she neared the edge of the bank, she put a halt on her gears. She waved her arms dangerously as she teetered on the edge, the cold dark waters threatening her from below.

"Oh!" she cried as gravity took over and sent her splashing head first into the lake below. A cold rush went over Susan as she hit the water and was instantly submerged. It wasn't long before her outstretched arms reached the slimy and detritus-ridden bottom on the lake. Reacting quickly, Susan used the lake floor to push off of with her feet. She reached the surface sputtering. Water had lodged its self in her nose and ears, not to mention completely soaked her thick jeans and tank.

A chill went over her as the coldness of the water overtook her. "Jacques?!" she yelled, trying to hold in the laughter that was threatening to consume her. She looked around, treading water all the while.

[jacques]

Jacques looked down at Susan, his expression twisted with laughter and a horrorified shock. He had been grabbing onto the edge, ready to drop off into the watery deapths when she peaked over the edge. To his surprise, she had sprinted up, halting on the edge for a split second before losing balance, and plummeting into the water. He gave a loud laugh, and dropped down in the water, making barely a splash as he dove head first. Resurfasing, drenched from the head down, he looked aorund for Susan. Muck coated his feet, and he kicked out strongly till it floated away.

Jacques?!"

She called, and he swam up behind her, cocking his head to the side comicly, and tapped her on the shoulder. "Present!" He said, treading water. Looking up he saw the cliff, and a ways down a rocky, pebbly beach. The water was cold, not like ice, but cold enough to get you sick if you didn't get out soon enough. Jacques found it rather refreshing, and he didn't shiver.

[Susan Matthews]

((OOC: Sorry It took so long . . . ;] ))

Susan let out another squeal as Jacques came up from behind her. She blindly attacked her bangs until they were out of her face enough to see. Susan quickly turned around to face Jacques. His smiling face greeted her. He didn't look at all the like cold was bothering him, or if it was, he wasn't showing it. Susan's teeth were chattering like crazy. Not to mention, she was almost positive her lips were so blue that anyone else might have thought she just sucked on twenty cotton candy dum-dums.

"So . . . cold . . . omhmegrsh. . ." Susan stuttered. She didn't mind if Jacques wanted to stay, but Susan herself, was already heading for the bank. Swimming swiftly and strongly, Susan swam until the water was shallow enough to stand in. Once standing, she shakily made a mad dash for the shore. Absolutely soaking, Susan fumbled with her pocket until she'd retrieved her wand.

"T-tergio!" Susan managed to speak, as she pointed her wand at herself. The water was instantly siphoned out of her clothes and sent flying back into the lake. She'd gotten much use out of the simple spell Alessandro had taught her. It was almost funny how many opportunities she'd had to use it. Almost.

Although her clothes were completely dry, the spell hadn't worked on her hair, and the goosebumps still lingered on her bare arms. Her eyes searched for Jacques in the water, as she bounced up and down in an attempt to help her circulation.

[jacques]

Jacques smiled simpatheticly, his eye brows drawing worriedly together. She was shivering, and her lips were beginning to turn blue. She made her way out of the water, scrambling to the bank in the shadows, then bouncing up and down on the bank. He watched her bounce, half smiling, before completely realizing that she was out, and he still in. Sighing, he dove under again, though keeping close to the top so he wouldn't smash into the mud, and burst out in the shadows, taking a few deep breaths.

The water was refreshing, though cold, it didn't bother him, even though he could see goose bumps ripple up his back and arms. The water came up to his chin, and powerfully began to run forward, and, like anyone who has tried to run in water, he fell flat on his face. After a brief struggle, a long with lots of water going down Jacques throught, he scrambled out, not gracefully at all. He shock himself like a cat, one leg at a time, and spluttered, spitting out the murky water.

"Ter-" He spat again, pointing his wand, "gio!" He finished, the water arching back to the lake. Now dry, though his hair was soaked, he picked up his jacket when he saw Susan had goosebumps. Offering it to her, he grinned gleefully. He felt a little ephoria from the cold water and the swim.

[Susan Matthews]

Secretly, Susan was happy that Jacques had left the lake as well. She wouldn't have blamed him for wanting to stay and swim, especially since seeing how much fun he was having diving in and out of the waters. Despite the chattering in her teeth, Susan did manage to laugh at Jacques' clumsy exit from the mucky waters. He managed to fall several times before making it onto the banks where he could perform his Tergio charm. As Jacques extended his arm with his jacket on it, Susan gratefully took it and wrapped herself in it. Jacques had been smart to remove a few pieces of his clothing before diving straight into the lake. Though Susan's clothes were dry, they were still as cold as the lake water its self.

"Thanks," Susan said, rubbing her hands together through the sleeves of the jacket. It was far too big for her and the sleeves too long, but Susan didn't care. Some of the warmth from Jacques, before he had dove into the lake, still lingered in the jacket.

"I didn't think you would seriously jump in," Susan said as she looked Jacques over. He didn't seem cold at all. Some how Susan wasn't surprised. It seemed like it was his nature to be out and in the elements. Susan knew what it was like to long for the outdoors. She did have her limits though. Especially when they involved freezing cold lakes.

[jacques]

"Your welcome." He said, grinning as she put it on. It was a bit to big for her, quite a lot in fact. It could have been a night gown, and he had to hide a small chuckle at the thought.

Smiling calmly now, though his eyes were lanced with the sensation of euphoria, shining gold. Shrugging helplessly, he said, "I'll always take a dare." And he gave a little salute, "And always keep a promise." It was true, unless he was forced to break one, he would keep a promise to his death. Except for one..but he banished the thought, before it brought unwanted memories.

He was finding it easier and easier to talk with Susan. He didn't feel the urge to go away, to hide out alone, become reserved. He also figured he was at ease out into the elements though. Which might play apart in the fact of why he was more relaxed. He was enjoying the talk though, but he didn't want her to be cold. Casting her a worried glance, he said, "Are you still cold? I can find my shirt.." He looked around, rubbing his arm. After a while, most of the goose bumps had gone, and he let it swing at his side.

He loved the outdoors, he craved for them when inside, and relished them outside. To him, a day without the elements was a day badly spent. He had no limits, he had even spent a few cold and damps night out under a starry sky, when they had had one, that is.

[Susan Matthews]

A smile crept on to Susan's face as Jacques explained his stance on dares. It was pretty brave of him to say such a thing. Susan figured that if she wasn't as nice as she was, she could have easily dared Jacques to do whatever she she wanted.

"Be careful who you tell that to," Susan said, with certain evil persons in mind. She hated to think of what might happen if someone wanted to hurt Jacques. Though she was completely serious, she spoke as if it were a laughing matter. There was no reason, after all, that Jacques should worry. Susan doubted that he would put himself in that type of position in the first place. It was always good to get it out in the air though, just in case . . .

"What?"Susan asked absentmindedly. Her mind had been lost for a moment. She'd missed Jacques' last comment. Her mind backtracked to catch the words.

"Are you still cold? I can find my shirt.."

"Oh no, I'm fine now," Susan partly lied. It was mostly true because she was warming up . . . it was just taking a little longer than she wished it would. Mostly she lied, because she didn't want to deprive Jacques of his clothes. His jacket was more than enough. Susan began to gather her things together. Holding her sketchpad in her arms, with her book sack over her shoulder, she looked longingly toward the castle. As much as she loved the outdoors, her hair was still wet and she couldn't be getting sick now.

"You wanna work our way back to the castle?" Susan nodded her head in the direction of the towering stone walls.

[jacques]

Jacques looked at her closely, before deciding that if she didn't need it, he wasn't going to press. He nodded reasurringly when she warned him about telling people that he would always keep a dare, seeing through the mask of humor, and knowing that she wasn't joking. It was good advice to, you never knew how people would turn you to their own advantage. He smiled though, and kicked his pants into the air, catching it with his finger tips.

"You wanna work our way back to the castle?"

He took a deep breath, scanning the outside for a second, before exhaling and nodding reluctently. He knew it would be smart to head back in, if they didn't want to get a cold, though with Susan to hang out with, going inside wouldn't be that bad at all. He gave a bow, one hand pointing to the castle door. "Lead the way," He said sollomly, and grinned.