Out past the first small breaks, riding the undulations of he sea, Balthazar feels... for a moment... like he's home. The waters are aquamarine, streaked with darker blue here and there, and capped in white frothiness. He smiles to himself. Yes, he is going to like this. He will take this board all the way to the Dream of Oceans.
     He straddles the long board, seated upon it like a saddle on the back of this great creature sea. His short red-brown hair, flecked by the sun with amber and bronze, sparkles with the first dampness. In purple and in blue he looks like some prince of water, his skin tone deepening to an even richer caramel. He drinks up the sun, and the sun loves him. He smells of sea salt and coconut where the lotions and oils were rubbed, and his face -- the sculpted cheeks and his nose are painted with yellow zinc. It makes each glance seem more focused, more intense, even though he is quite relaxed. Or maybe it's the sunglasses. It makes him look like The Sun on vacation.
     Quite relaxed, indeed. Balthazar is at home on the water, clearly. His balance is good. He is not timid. The strong legs are used to activity -- who knows what kind -- and his bare feet move easily back and forth within the deep. The leash is around his ankle. It reminds him of his tether with every motion.
     The Sun turns his head to his left. Behind the yellow lenses, cinnamon eyes watch the return of his instructor, and his mouth forms a full, easy smile, openly warm. "Are the waves to your liking? I believe the phrase is tasty. Is that right? Tasty waves?"

     Something's tasty, anyway.
     "They're good waves. Some of the best surfing's here - and the water's warmer here than in other parts of the Pacific, surprisingly," Maddie says out loud. She's very relaxed, right now, gaze flicking to you but returning to watching the waves. Her board is off-white, with a design of a cranky-looking black witch's kitten arching to swat at the water. "It means you don't have to wear a wetsuit. If you were surfing in Australia, you'd want to."
     She's removed her outer layer, thin as it was; under it, she's got on a two-piece swimsuit. The top is a sling-style bikini top, white and snug over the breasts and gradually tinting into pink until the strings that tie behind her neck and back turn bright pink and then red. The bottom piece are an equally snug pair of boyshorts which are altogether white - except for a red, cheeky heart where she sits down. Both conspire to reveal the figure of an American Girl in all her youth and health and athleticism, with just the right amount of bounce and just the right amount to bounce.
     Presently she lies on her surfboard, on her belly, heart turned up to the sun. "When you're riding in," Maddie counsels, "try to keep about two board lengths away from any other surfers. It minimizes any risk of collision, and gives you greater control over possible outcomes. Other than that, you seem to have the hang of the basics." Her smile is mischievous as she glances over at you, blue eyes sparkling. "The rest is just practice."

     He thanks God (and his angel mother) for the sunglasses. It provides a veil through which he may take his time in his survey. From your heart to your face to the waves and the others that are out today. He makes a quick measurement and estimate of what two board lengths would be, and then he looks back to you. You're staring, Balthazar.
     He thanks God (and his angel mother) for the coolness of the water. It provides nature's stop-sign and snaps his brain back into focus. From the cheeky heart at her cheeky bum, along her back to the wet auburn hair, the red and hot pink ties of the top, and to her face. Balthazar smiles again. You're still staring, Balthazar.
     With a smile, he slides against the board, shifting positions gracefully (another gift from his mother). More eye-level to you now, Balthazar smiles. "Wish me luck..." Powerful arms propel him on the sea surface with alternating strokes, as you've shown him. He takes the measure of a wave and he gets into position...
     ... And while board placement will take some practice, his balance and his strength serve him well. His legs and body are in position and he lowers in his stance, using gravity as a sling-shot, at first pushing him against the wave and then cresting it. His feet steer and balance a good distance away from the others. He spins...
     And the spin move looked fantastic, but the ocean likes to have a little fun (and the last word). Balthazar manages to save the spin, but he tumbles at the end, submerging only for a moment at the end of the ride. He's all grins as he's paddling back, giving a glance over his shoulder for a moment and navigating other waves to return to the outer and calm position.

     She watches you, and while your back is turned, she wears her heart not just on her bottom but on her sleeve, in her eyes as she sighs. I'm going to have to keep all the luck to myself if I'm to have a hope of coming out of this intact. Maddie, this is so stupid. You know better...
     "Good luck," she choruses anyway, with a little smile. She does her best to put on a face of judgment, propping herself up on an elbow as she watches you, waiting patiently for your return. When you are in earshot, she calls out to you, "Nicely done, you're picking up quickly. You're remembering to stay low, keep your center of gravity down, and that's important. Straighten up too high too fast and the board's going to shoot out from under you. But if you get too cute with it, well, Mother Nature likes to have the last word."
     She grins at you, then closes an eye in a wink so you won't see how her heart beats. "My turn," Maddie tells you nonchalantly. She paddles forward to get into position, pulling herself low and up to plant herself securely. She gets to where she wants to be, and lets the wave come up underneath her, arms out to give her more balance. And for the moment, she simply forgets you are there.
     It is spiritual, it is uplifting. There's herself and the board and the ocean, and if she isn't singing, it's only because her lungs have a different job to do right now. It is sex and philosophy, religion and nature, all rolled up into one package, all on unselfconscious display as she rides the wave, ducking under the curl with an almost flippant grace.
     It doesn't last forever, of course. It never can. A few meters from shore, the wave collapses, taking her board out from under her, and she vanishes under the surf for a moment before resurfacing, laughing and hugging her board.

     It is exhilarating. Like flying. Balthazar is grinning warmly, widely as he paddles back toward you. "I was trying to be cute, a little," he smiles, coming upright on his board in a straddle as he nears. "I get a little ahead of myself sometimes," he notes, his grin permanent. He maneuvers around so he can watch you.
     Like now. What are you doing, Balthazar? She is young, beautiful. All of these things. But she is vulnerable. Don't be cruel...
     ...But is it cruel to like her back? Why shouldn't I? She is quick and charming, lovely and sweet. She's like sunlight. I could eat her with a spoon like honey...
     ...like honey...
     Hands bracing on the side of the board by his thighs, Balthazar watches as you split the curl and hug your board like it was your best friend, laughing with your buddy ocean. A dolphin girl. He chuckles -- you cannot hear him -- and he watches you as you return. Loving you would be like loving the sea and sunlight, he thinks to himself. And laughter. Everything that is bright in this world. You just radiate it like a winking sun.
     "That was beautiful," he calls out. Just like you are. He is smiling when you return, his smile is warm -- the sun recognizes itself -- and it beams on you and for you. "You are amazing out there. I could watch all day."
     Shifting on the board again, a move of flying grace slowly done, Balthazar returns his body to the board and begins paddling out to take the next turn. He holds out his hand for you to high-five.

     She laughs as she paddles towards you. "No, you couldn't," Maddie retorts, grinning at you as she lifts her hand to strike your palm with her own. "You couldn't surf if you did. And that'd be a tragedy!" There is the temptation to take hold of your hand instead of striking it, to take hold of it and not let go. It is only the exhilaration of the wave that holds it back as she turns her board, letting her hand slide wetly from yours.
     "I'm going to call fifteen more minutes," Maddie tells you, "so we can get cleaned up and dressed for dinner in plenty of time. Besides, we have to watch out for dehydration out here. It's too easy to stay out here too long, sometimes." She laughs at you, smile warm and a little bit wistful. "I just knew you'd be good at this, though. I'm glad you like it."
     Because this is mine, more than it ever was Gilly's, this is my domain, my strength. And if you like it, well, maybe you'll like me more, too...

     "It's life. What's not to love?"
     Balthazar focuses -- it can be seen running through his entire body. He propels forward toward the birth of a wave, staking his claim. As it curls, his body comes upward, feet on the board and crouching for balance. As it lifts, heaving upward, it curls around him and he lowers again, shifting his balance so he shoots through it. He turns, slicing -- and learning what that does -- and banking -- and learning what that does.
     It's the same as flying... And so, he flies on water, and he grins, riding this time until he runs out of water.
     Feet and arms, his body reclines again with the gracefulness of motion that is innate to him. Paddling with his left arm, in between strokes to return to you, he props his sunglasses on his wet haired head, the wetness making the strands start to curl as they partially dry in the sun between runs.
     He sits up as he nears you, paddling and turning with his legs until he is beside you again. "I don't care how late we stay up tonight, or how much we drink," he says with a smile to you and to the ocean. "I'm coming out here with you tomorrow morning. I think," he says, hands bracing on his board to either side of him -- one hand, therefore, near you. "... it's in my blood. And I could have gone about my life never knowing how amazing this is. And that would have been a very sad thing for me."
     And I would have continued chasing after the moon, ignoring the sun completely. Eyes are uncovered now. There's no veil to hide the look. It is exhilarating, like inhaling pure sunlight. And so are you. He gleams with it, sun on its downward path behind you both. "Thank you, Maddie," Balthazar murmurs between you, and he leans toward you, brushing your cheek with a warm kiss.
     You barged into his life and made him open the door, and when he looks to you, the door is very much open. "I think you should take the final run. I'll be here waiting, then we can head back," he quietly notes. He unhooks his leash.

     She watches you with her heart very much on her sleeve, no matter how hard she tries not to. She is half sick with it, faint upon her board as you shoot out upon the wave. She settles with crossed arms, floating lazily as you turn and return, watching you from under her lowered lashes.
     "Well, then," Maddie tells you, smile curving up at the corners, "I guess we have a standing date in Oahu then, don't we?" She blushes as your lips brush her cheek, shivering with it and pulling her board up a little to get herself into position. "I'm glad you like it," she adds quietly, voice lowered as if someone else were here to hear. "I thought you might."
     She pulls the board round, looking for the wave she wants, gaze intently turned from you even as she blushes further. "Last run. For now."
     The wave begins, and she paddles for it, plopping herself onto her board with seal-like agility. Her toes curl in against the grain, and she straightens up a little, knees lifting as she tucks in her hips. It's one of those picture-perfect moments, her hair streaming wetly out behind her in the oceanic breeze.
     This is my life. No matter what else, this is who I am. Are you listening to me, god? I could use a blessing or three...

Posted by rowan at April 01, 2009 09:11 PM