touchscreens | 003; Video

[This is Mai, backlit by the daylight outside as she apparently uses a terminal in one of the districts. Her expression isn't quite so even and bland today. There's a fine sheen of sweat on her face and a flush to her typically pale cheeks that's anything but embarrassment.

From what one can see from the chest up, she's wearing what amounts to a tube top. It's a deep maroon in color and yes, she hunted everywhere for one that shade. If she's going to do this, she's going to do it in a color she likes.

Her voice sound distinctly annoyed.]

It's pretty sad when there's a heat wave that I can't stand. Not that I love the heat or anything but you'd think living in the Fire Nation's lands would give me some resistance to a heat wave like this.

[She bears no bones about running the back of one hand under her bangs as she mutters.]

Maybe I've been in Ba Sing Se way too long.

[And now she's quite literally fanning herself. If anything the poker face look is gone beneath her own wave of annoyance and discomfort.]

I'm sticking by the water until this heat wave blows over. If you need me, you know where to find me. I don't suggest looking for me though, not until it's a lot more comfortable.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She just... what? Wait.]

No, I meant...

[Then she just sighs out, waving a hand.]

You know what, never mind. Yes, you saved me a step. Bravo for you.

Um... thanks...

[...you know, for being congratulated, it doesn't feel very much like she's really praising him. But, you know, maybe it's best to just leave it at that. At least he's been forgiven.]

You know, I didn't catch your name. I'm Lloyd.

[Why does it feel like she's talking to a less angry version of Zuko here? It almost makes her homesick.]

Mai.

[If Lloyd had to compare Mai to anyone he knew, he'd probably compare her to Sheena, but that's not really the best match, either. He'll just be content to think of Mai as Mai.]

It's nice to meet you, Mai.

So... [Change of subject.] Since you're already wet, are you going to go swimming now?

[She considers that a moment. He had a point, she was wet already.

With a shrug of her shoulders, the drops the bottom bit of her sarong-type skirt aside to step into the water.]

May as well be in the water if I'm going to get drenched by it.

The water's pretty warm. [Or at least it feels like it. It's not really helping with the heat he's feeling, anyway.] But hey, it's still pretty fun!

[He reaches for his towel and wrings it out, then wades out of the water far enough to lay the towel out on the sand. Maybe if he's lucky, it'll be dry by the time he gets out.

Right, back to what he was doing to begin with.]

What if we played a game together? Two people would be twice as much fun!

[She's waist deep when she has to stop and give him a look.]

What kind of game.

[Is it volleyball? Because she could actually get into volleyball.]

[Lloyd didn't think to bring any kind of ball with him, so unless Mai brought something, their options are limited. Fortunately, though, Lloyd's creative enough to work around that.]

We could play Marco Polo. You up for something like that?

[~~THANK YOU FOR KEEPING YOUR BALLS TO YOURSELF LLOYD GEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE~~
Mai will just be crossing her arms under her chest, a brow raised.]

How do you play it?

[~~WHAT, MAI DOESN'T WANT TO PLAY WITH HIS BALLS? FINE, HE SEES HOW IT IS.~~]

You haven't heard of it before? [Actually, that makes sense. She's probably from a different world. Even if they have the same game, it might not have the same name.] It's easy! One person keeps their eyes closed while everyone else swims around. The person with their eyes closed calls out 'Marco!' and everyone else who isn't underwater has to say 'Polo!' so the person can hear where they are. Whoever's 'It' just has to find someone and tag them without opening their eyes.

003; Video

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]