I Like Boats Too [Noku]

[Deleted]

Lilith woke up in her small cottage in the second district. Alone in her queen size bed, as she was every day. But today, she woke up giddy, her purple eyes popping up in the morn, a sparkle in her eye from that moment on. Boats. She suddenly really liked boats. And no wonder why, the king had invited her to go boating with him. A big gesture on its own, never mind the fact that Noku adored boats. That meant he wanted to share it with her; she thought anyway. Regardless she was excited. It still hadn’t fully sunk in that he had asked to court her and she had agreed. That could be because she hadn't told anyone about it yet. Not really. She had the feeling people knew, but she hadn't talked to anyone about it yet. Meaning Aria. She needed to talk to Aria soon. Lilith got out of bed and shuffled to her closet, having picked her outfit for this long ago. It was a light fabric white gown, a sweetheart neckline with a thin white stash thrown over her left shoulder like a strap. The waist had diamond shaped green gems across it like a belt, while the sash was tucked in it, sitting down the front middle of the down. Across the neckline and most of the skirt, was a pattern of peacock feathers, beautiful greens, yellows, blues and reds dances across the fabric. Aria had given it to her and she loved it, and she had to admit it fit the situation rather nicely.

Adding to the ensemble, she put on the thin gold feather bracelet Aria had given her, giving the look a beautiful touch. Her hair was always down, and Lilith liked it that way, so she kept on with the trend, but braided two parts of it to keep it from being in her face, and pulled them back into a bun at the back of her head. After she was done getting ready, she grabbed her bag as always. Inside was her sketchbook and charcoal, a notebook, a few viles of magical things, mostly for healing, some for headaches and other ailments, and the novel she was reading at this point. Something about a shapeshifter woman being shunned by her tribe and trying to live in the world alone. She hadn’t gotten to far into it yet.

Lilith left her cottage and locked the door, throwing her keys in the bag with everything else. She set off where Noku told her to meet him, which is why she left so early; it was a decent walk for her, but she didn't mind one bit.

Once she arrived, she stared in awe at the coves. She had never ventured out here, not really. She used to live on the outskirts of Third, but she never really went near the harbour, or any of this. It was simply beautiful. She looked around, trying to find signs of boats, or docks, knowing they would need something like that for this trip to be possible. After a minute or so, she found a dock and walk along to the edge, standing with her toes hanging over the wood. The breeze over the water felt beautiful, so Lilith stretched her arms above her head sighing softly. This was a good day for a boat ride.

Dress

Tag: Noku Noru

[Noku Noru]

The air was crisp and salty, the sun shone brilliantly in an azure sky, and the sea rocked steadily, serene and bright. An even breeze brought the deep fragrance of the ocean along with its comfortable gusts, making this a very pleasant day indeed, particularly for seafaring. The king commanded the helm of the schooner as it rounded the edge of the cove, approaching the docks, as servants fussed about him, accosting him in his endeavor. "My lord Noku, you really shouldn't be going so fast, we'll risk running aground!" ; "Your majesty will blister his hands if he strains himself at the wheel so!" ; "The sun is so bright, you must avoid heatsroke sir! Have a glass of fresh juice." ; "Your majesty, is it really safe for you to be out here without any soldiers?"

Noku stood unperturbed, his golden eyes surveying the vessel and the quickly approaching docks, a stern and regal expression on his face. He was adorned in a white naval coat, parallel sets of silver buttons running down the breast, that terminated at a thin black belt with a silver buckle. His pants were of the same design, thin white piping embellishing the flank, and braced by a partial tunic edged in intermittent black tassels. He wore boots that rose above his calf and turned down in a short collar; these were of polished black leather, and fastened by a series of silver clasps studded with rubies along the outside, in line with the piping of his breeches. His white hair was pulled back into a single braid and bound round with white cordage. At his side, a black scabbard extended below the ornate hilt of a broad saber, reaching almost to the deck of the vessel. Noku returned the banter of the servants with a commanding tone: "Not only your king, I am also your captain aboard this vessel; and, what's more, currently piloting. It would be to your interest to leave it so." As he issued this admonishment, he barked out: "drop anchor and pull up the foresail! Coming around to port!"

The servants aboard quickly complied, as Noku spun the wheel and brought the schooner abreast to the docks, losing momentum rapidly as the anchor did its work and the the foresail surrendered its service. His gaze met the image of a splendidly dressed female in many colors, obvious against the dull palette of the docks, and he recognized Lilith, though still far off. Decelerating to an appropriate speed, Noku hailed Lilith, and gave orders to the servants to lower the longboat and ferry his guest to the vessel. The schooner's deep blue was trimmed in gold at all the portholes, along the railings, and even the masts. The decks were of beech, and very bright, properly polished; the Noru crest was emblazoned everywhere in a thin but brilliant crimson outlined with gold. As the vessel pressed on past the majority of the docks, it at last came to bear at the final dock, rocking gently from its change in momentum. The longboat was dropped straightaway, and Lilith escorted to the schooner by it. Once aboard, the servants prepared a couch and parasol for her, nearby a dish of assorted fruits, another of small cheeses, and one lavishly engraved containing strawberries resting on a thin bed of ice, garnished with lilies. A servant procured her bag and stowed it below while another produced a fan and enhanced the effects of the morning breeze with its motion. Noku remained at the helm, and barked more commands: "Weigh anchor, and drop the foresail! Set a course East, South East, at 117 degrees! If we're quick about it, we may be to sea before any at the castle realize my absence!" A hearty laugh followed, and as the vessel regained speed and began to exit the cove, Noku relinquished control of the wheel to a nearby servant, who set the heading at intended mark.

Noku descended from the helm and joined Lilith on the couch, selecting a cheese and a mango from the dishes. He addressed the servant with the fan with a request for a particular bottle of Juice from the cellar below, dismissing his current action in lieu of the pleasant morning air. He greeted Lilith warmly, a strong light in his eyes-fierce and assured, piercingly intense. "Good morning, Ms. Harmonia! I must say, your choice of attire is most becoming; few flowers grow at sea, you know." He closed his joke with a broad smile and soft chuckle, and set to work at the mango with a short paring knife. The sweet fragrance of the fruit mingled with the briny air, perfuming the two as they reclined. The schooner rocked softly as it tacked steadily out of the cove and into the open sea, barely noticeable without looking at the horizon for reference.

[Deleted]

Lilith hadn’t been standing on the dock long when the ship came into view. As it got closer a grin appeared on her face. In the distance she could see a man in white standing out compared to the rest of the crew, which was clearly Noku. Quickly enough, she was aboard he ship with him, her face punk with flustering nerves, yet a grin was clear on her face. Her bag was taken from her and moved, which she wasn’t particularly fond of at first, but she let it go quickly enough. She was brought to a beautiful couch surrounded by equally beautiful platters of food. Before sitting, Lilith chose a pear from the bunch, and cradled it in her palms as she sat down, waiting for him to join her.

Finally, he joined her on the couch, and she looked up at him smiling. Good morning Your Highness. She beamed at him, laughing lightly at his jest. Actually, you must thank Lady Wurud for this. She gave it to me; she said it reminded her of my Festival dress. She looked down, flushed, realizing she had brought up something she hadn’t meant to just yet.

She took a bite out of her pear now, using her opposite hand to catch the juices, a giggle erupting from her. You’re right!! These are delicious! She turned to him, still laughing lightly. The view no doubt, was simply splendid, and her hand was itching to get out her charcoal and start sketching it out, but alas, her bag was no longer with her.

[Noku Noru]

Servants hung close about the two, eagerly attending to the slightest inclination. "A ripe berry, madam?" "Cigar, your majesty?" "A glass from the cellar, perchance?" "Chilled towels, m'lords, if the sun proves too harsh." They particularly serviced Lilith, as servants are prone to do with any new guest of the royals.

The schooner skipped along, reaching a surprising speed directly, and left the cove in the distance within the scope of the hour as Noku and Lilith tittered playfully on the lavish cushions, closely attended by servats. The sun bore hot upon the deck, tempered by the fair breeze, and made for a lovely morning as they consumed each minute in eager conversation, moderate refreshment, and heartfelt jubilation. "Lady Aria demonstrated admirable taste in her handling of the festival; her choice is equally fair with you. Now that I think of it, that very night a radiant flower with similar attire was whisked from my very fingers. She favored a somewhat blunt demon of questionable etiquette; so goes a masquerade. I'm glad you find the fruit to your liking. It is the one real point on which I am able to impress you." After nearly an hour of varied conversation, Noku fell silent, suddenly at a loss for material. As the painful moments ticked by, the awkwardness of his previous meeting with this woman weighed on his mind, and his expression became grave. Noku rose and paced along the railing, peering into the ocean with a distracted air, rapidly at first, then moderately, slowing his gait to a meander. He removed a spyglass and held it aloft, aiming high on the horizon, and observed for the better half of a minute.

Returning the spyglass to an inner pocket in his coat, Noku called out to the pilot in his former tone: "SOUTHWEST, 240 DEGREES! Steady on the mainsail; Foresail to half! Keep a hard bearing, no crosswinds today!" He returned to the helm, stood behind the pilot, and employed the spyglass again, observing as before. Satisfied, he returned to the deck and approached the couch with a genial smile and a light step. He extended his hand and spoke amiably: "Would you care for a peek at our destination? The sky is clear today, and good for the spyglass."

The lookout called out "Captain, three vessels off of port displaying no colors! Two are at full sail, the third is adrift!"

Noku became serious, and returned to the helm directly. Again to the spyglass, he consulted the sextant and the compass interchangeably, peering long at the horizon both fore and port. He whispered close with the pilot in a hushed, anxious tone a few moments, and the two nodded in mutual agreement at length, the king's disposition assuming a more relaxed demeanor and inferring confidence. He returned to the deck and resumed, in his former genial manner: "As I was saying, we'll be arriving shortly, would you care for a look through the spyglass?"

[Deleted]

Lilith was definitely not used to this kind of attention, and thus declined every offer brought to her; she was fine as she was, perfectly content. Once her pear was finished, she handed it off to one of the fussy servants, but that as all. She continued to blush profusely throughout their time, having no control over it on a normal day, and even more so when the Festival was brought up.

Yes, the decor was amazing; I remember she told me she was in charge of it, she was so nervous. I don’t know why, she clearly knew what she was doing. Lilith cleared her throat, looking down at her hands folded in her lap. Questionable etiquette… She sighed, He certainly was different, but my situation was far different back then, clearly. However… I had no idea whom I was dancing with, and thus I must apologize for both mine and his behaviour that evening. She turned her head back up to face him, offering a meek smile of apology, her face clearly nervous about it. When Aria had told her who the Man in white had been, she’d felt her heart drop into her stomach; irony seemed to follow her every where. You don’t need to impress me; if anything its the other way around! She blurted out, her eyes innocently wide.

Time passed and they feel into a tense silence. Any other time, Lilith would have started drawing to fill the gap, but she didn’t want to ask to do so; it could be considered rude. Abruptly, he stood and walked away, leaving Lilith alone on the couch to fiddle with strands of her hair. She kept her eyes on him as he paced, looking out at the water before starting to yell, which caused Lilith to jump on her seat. After a few minutes, he returned to her, and she offered him a sweet smile. She raised her hand to meet his and accept his offer, but he pulled away as someone called to him, walking away from her. She lowered her own hand and leaned back against the couch again, watching curiously as Noku spoke to one of his men. Something was going on, and no doubt it had to do with the ships in the distance. Something she had a feeling, he was going to keep her out of.

He returned again, to which she smiled once more, accepting his offer once more. Yes, I think that would be lovely, thank you. She stood, following him to where he directed her.

[Noku Noru]

Noku's brief lapse of composure melted away in the warmth of his expression as he presented the spyglass to Lilith's observation. The schooner bore hard upon the waves, scattering them with a barely perceptible bob, accommodating steady, level viewing. Guiding her bearing, Noku brought to her attention a small island nearly a mile in length of volcanic origin, as evinced by the dark, prominent peak surrounded by a comparatively small beach, punctuated by an attractive cove on the far side. The peak rose several hundred feet above the ocean, rising abruptly to a marked pinnacle, and demonstrated little if any vegetation. All about, the beginnings of a healthy tropical oasis were readily apparent; palms, mangroves, ferns, and divers undergrowth contrasted sharply with the still predominant beach, gleaming white and pristine in the morning sun. At the place where this infant jungle broke and gave way to the cove, mists rose from the foliage, and imparted a mysterious and adventurous grandeur to the already well developed charm of the place. The vessel was still ten or fifteen leagues off from it, but it was apparent by its heading that this was the intended destination. Noku reaffirmed this fact in a silken voice, coquettish and sonorous:

"See, there? You should be able to locate the peak very easily. Tell me what you think of it; a charming little place, no? In truth, a real gem, and one I am proud to say I was able to discover for myself, though entirely quite by accident. When I was a youth, accompanying my father on a diplomatic journey to Kanto, a sudden gale took us by surprise and swept us off course. Because of the sheer fury of the short storm, our vessel was separated from the two escort galleons, and our lookout was tossed from the crow's nest. We recovered the good man, fortunately for him, but he was senseless, and his spyglass badly damaged. Luckily, I had brought my own-a gift from my uncle, and finely crafted-and, being young, eager, and sharp sighted, sprung to his post. In searching about for the galleons, I had the good fortune of sighting the dark, prominent peak on the horizon, and was pleased to find, after the fact, that the island it indicated was not on any map known to the Noru family. " Noku gave a grim expression when the words 'uncle' left his lips. However he continued with his story. " It is, therefore, one of my very few secret treasures: unspoiled, handsome, and pleasantly inhabited by a good many flora and fauna, a small number of which are not known in any other location."

Another point on the horizon brought Noku's focus about, and he redirected Lilith and the spyglass accordingly. Speaking in a somewhat suppressed and excited tone, he pointed in an animated fashion to indicate the source of his agitation.

"Look! Quickly! A spout! Two, I think; or three! There is a small pod of whales off starboard; can you see them?"

There were, in actuality, more than a dozen, the majority of which were well beyond the three nearest, which had drawn Noku's focus initially. What he could not see, besides the genuine size of the pod, were the six or seven dozen other spouts dwarfed by the whales', indicating a moderately sized family of dolphins. The spyglass would reveal not only their spouting, but their joyful leaping, accompanied by an occasional spiral or gregarious somersault. The warmth of the shallow water around the underwater range that produced the island they were approaching made good habitat for an unseen swarm of plankton, attracting predatory fishes of every scale, and, in turn, the dolphins. They were swimming eagerly alongside the whales, knowing by instinct and experience what delicious fare always arrived to feast on the whales' favorite meal.

[Deleted]

❊ BACK TO NEVERLAND ❊

Lilith took the spy glass carefully in her small hands, nervous as she’d never actually used one before. She glanced to Noku shyly, bringing it up to her eye and looking around. She turned her head where he directed her, seeing the island after a moment. It took her a moment to figure it out, but she soon realized that the island was where their boat was headed. Lilith looked back to Noku when he begun speaking, a small smile on her face. It looks very charming indeed- I’m sure it’s even more so in person. Lilith added, giving her opinion when asked. When he went on with his story, Lilith gazed up at him happily, enthralled by his tale. She loved learning about him, and hearing someone so mighty as him had such a rich childhood- or so it seemed from what she’d learnt thus far. She knew to some degree he must have been shrouded in darkness as well, what with his mother being where she was among other things. And that was slightly further confirmed as he spoke the word “uncle”, a change of tone clear. Her eyebrow rose, wondering which uncle ( not that she’d met any of them to her knowledge. )


I feel so honoured that you would share this with me… Lilith spoke softly, her face turning pink instantly. Quickly she brought the spyglass back to her eye as he directed her again, urgency in his tone. She felt her heart pounding in her chest, slightly startled by the change in tone- but in a good way. She doubted she’d ever heard him so giddy. I see them! Soon enough she was giddy all on her own seeing the large amount of whales. After a moment of focusing, she also saw what she believed to be dolphins, causing her to gasp, her mouth turning into a large grin as she leaned forward more, going up on her tip toes in excitement. She’d never seen dolphins in real life, even from such a distance. Look! Oh my goodness! I’ve never- there’s dolphins! She gasped, quickly handing him the spyglass back, pointing excitedly where he’d directed her.  Ohh, I love dolphins! They’re so beautiful! Lilith swooned, an enchanted smile still on her face.

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SHIN OF GS + ADOX

[Noku Noru]

Lillith's announcement of the dolphins piqued the interest of Noku's handservants, who were less accustomed to the sights of the ocean, and they eagerly gathered nearby, producing a somewhat inferior spyglass more suitable for surveying on land, and pointing and gesturing excitedly as they each strained to locate the spectacle in turn. The whole party was greatly amused with the dolphins' antics for a time, along with the whales' occasional fleeting appearances. Noku observed with a satisfied and jovial expression; it was turning out to be a most excellent outing. A favorable wind bore the sleek vessel to its destination at an hours' length, coinciding properly with the fading amusement from the cetaceans, and they all prepared to disembark. Noku's schooner properly anchored, a comfortable dingy was outfitted with lavish cushions and a sun-shade; this bore Noku, Lilith, and two handservants to the island. Another followed, fully loaded with amenities for dining and lounging, as well as the four remaining servants-who were present primarily for lifting things.

The landing party came aground on a narrow beach nestled in the only cove of the island. To their left, the lone volcanic mountain loomed impressively above the treeline, dark and granite from the midpoint up. It terminated in a craggy ridgeline that descended into the ocean, framing one border of the beach. To their right, lush tropical foliage extended into an impenetrable thicket, full of exotic calls, clicks, and whistles from an unseen multitude of local fauna. The two extremes melded here at the beach, giving way to a stunning display of medium-height cataracts fed from a small river originating somewhere on the mountain, creating a glittering pool of uncannily clear water, and a thin strip of golden sand, upon which they now stood, surveying the beauty of the island. While Noku and Lilith strode casually along the beach, arm-in-arm, and shaded by a handservant, the four lifting types set to work hanging an elegant ivory-colored canopy over a broad, plush carpet-burgundy, accented with gold images of various exotic creatures-and arranging rounded cushions into a relaxed, low-resting sitting area. This, the other servants prepared a buffet luncheon for, of divers cuts of cured meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, and rich cheeses arranged on silver platters atop a golden tablecloth. One of the servants cut a few fronds from a palm tree to frame the meal and add some flare. Small pots of prepared spreads were spaced throughout, turning the display into a genuine piece of royal resplendency fitting of the Noru name. Noku and Lilith returned to the canopy once preparations were finished, and a handservant approached Lilith bearing a parcel of her possessions.

"Your things, ma'am." She added politely as she handled the bundle to Lilith. "Safe and dry, I'm sure, Miss." -Servants are not typically well-known for their conversation around nobility-

Noku reclined with a piece of melon dressed by a small dollop of yogurt and allowed the sea breeze to play in his hair. He turned to Lillith with a smile and addressed her warmly:

"I trust this location is to your liking; I was quite concerned the weather would turn on us, but it seems favor has proven our ally today. If you are feeling strong enough, I would be honored to take you on a short walk after the meal to a more scenic location."

[Deleted]

❊ BACK TO NEVERLAND ❊

Lilith silently enjoyed the fact that the cluster of sea creatures brought the ship crew together. She knew what it was like to be them, and knew this little bit of joy and excitement would be good for them as well as Noku. Lilith glanced back and forth between the majestic creatures and the majestic smile she saw on Noku’s face. She never would have imagined this side to her King existed; yet here it was before her, and it was beautiful. When they arrived on the island he’d pointed out from before, Lilith gawked at its beauty, even as she stepped off the dingy and on to the shore. 

She happily accepted his arm as they began walking, talking about idle things. Their walk was very pleasant, and something about it made Lilith feel warm in her chest. It was so simple; a walk on the beach, yet it caused her heart to speed up, and her face to flush. What was this man doing to her? When the preparations were complete and they approached the set up once more, Lilith was approached and her bag was returned to her. A stunning smile reached her face as she took the bag back in her arms, nodding to the woman. Thank you very much. She responded kindly. When she looked back to Noku, she found him already reclined with food, looking honestly majestic as all hell, with his hair flowing in the wind like he had not a care in the world. With minor hesitance of nerves, Lilith strode over to join him, making herself comfortable beside him. 

This island is amazing; its so natural and calm. And I think the weather will stay this way, at least it seems so. The sea is too calm for it to suddenly change. Lilith added, more to herself, her light purple eyes staring out towards the water, the reflection from the sun making it sparkle. She looked back to Noku for his offer, a sparkling grin of her own appearing. I would love that. She responded, and after a moment she opened her bag from before, pulling out a worn out looking book, and a small container of charcoal. It wasn’t long ago she’d taken many of her drawings out of this book, so aside from landscapes from the city and the springs, only one portrait remained- she was too proud of it to let it go. 

With a quick glance to Noku, she flipped it to a new page, and grabbed a piece of coal. Do you mind if I draw you? I know you could easily pay someone of far greater talents… but I can’t help but want to- when I see something beautiful, my hand just gets so restless.. Lilith flushed, hoping he agreed.

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SHIN OF GS + ADOX