fh_trips | The Crown Princess - Monday [Cabins and Lido Deck]

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spring break 2009: crown princess cruise

The Crown Princess - Monday [Cabins and Lido Deck]

It was a beautiful day in the Caribbean! The sun was bright in the cloudless sky, casting no shadows on the open section of the Lido deck: Sunbathers beware. Luckily, the Horizon Court offered umbrellas at some tables for the sun shy.

Near the pools were large lettered signs discouraging guests from diving or jumping into the water due to the lack of depth.

[OOC: Cabin Listing | Ship/Shore Post | Cabins Thread | Pool & Bars | Terrace]

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Leto leaned back in a deck chair. He was slowly getting used to the movement of the ship and it wasn't quite as nauseating as it had been yesterday. However, the bar had refused to serve him, claiming that he was not of a suitable age for alcoholic beverages, and while he had stopped himself from forcing them to, he wasn't in the best of moods.

"You seem vexed," Alice noted, dropping herself into a chair alongside his. "Vacations are supposed to be relaxing, if done properly. What's troubling you?"

She herself had a fruity drink with plenty of umbrellas and other decorations. Non-alcoholic; she could hardly pass for eighteen, and really, she'd only wanted the festive look.

Leto smiled when he saw her. "They refuse to serve me drinks and I am still not used to the movements of the sea." His hand reached out for hers. "But I'm sure you can distract me in some way."

Alice twined her fingers through his, grinning. "I suppose I might be able to think of something," she allowed. "I could tell you of the excellent boat trip this morning. The bottom of the ship was entirely glass, and I was hoping quite earnestly it wouldn't break. Or a game, perhaps. I chose one last time, which means I believe it's your turn."

She frowned. "They wouldn't allow you a drink? You can share some of mine, if you should like."

Had they refused his money? Curious.

"Not one with alcohol in it," Leto clarified, leaning his head to one side to watch Alice. "And I will come up with a game, but not tonight. So you will have to tell me about the boat trip that I missed."

"I expect it will be smashing," Alice laughed. "Your game, that is. I would suggest we find other distractions, but this seems a touch public for such endeavours. Very well, the boat ride. If the ship wasn't glass -- the bottom, that is, not the entirety of it, as I doubt that would be safe -- though I'm not certain how it is safe, to have a bottom of glass -- if it was glass, which I believe was my original point: if it wasn't glass, then it was another substance like it, clear as if there was no bottom to the boat at all. We could stare down into the water, with all the fishes and corals swimming by us. I expect they were quite confused, you know. They could hardly be expected to know it was glass. They must have seen loads of people standing around mid-water, and tried to join us, only to be stopped by some invisible force. Very confusing, for a fish."

"Now I have to hope you don't have too high expectations and will be disappointed," Leto laughed, leaning closer. "As for other distractions," he added, "I would offer them, but you would have to invite me to a more private location." Also, while on this subject, he couldn't help paying attention to what she looked like in a swimsuit. They were quite revealing, after all.

"And I'm sure you managed to confuse the fish. Did you learn anything from studying them?"

If he was leaning forward, then she should have the courtesy to meet him halfway. "I have great faith in your ability to play games," she smiled. "Are there private locations on this ship? I have a roommate, and I presume that you do, as well."

This didn't mean that she couldn't steal a kiss.

"I consider it a point of honor that I may have confused the fish," she continued. "I don't know that I learned much. Only that they were beautiful, and quite fascinating to watch. There's something quite soothing to the ocean, in that regard."

And he certainly was not going to refuse to return that kiss.

"Perhaps," Leto said thoughtfully, "Our roommates could be persuaded to spend some time together?" He paused. "I wish I could find the ocean soothing. To me, it's just... unpredictable."

Alice laughed, shaking her head. "That would sound quite more sinister than its actuality, wouldn't it?" she asked. "I hardly know my roommate, though he seems a kindly enough gentleman. I hardly know how to ask such a thing. 'Please, vacate the room; I should like some time for kissing.'"

She glanced out towards the water, considering the rest. "How is it unpredictable? And why is that unpleasant? I should have imagined you were fond of chaos, in such things."

Leto would have no problem asking that of his roommate, but he was uncertain whether Alice's reply meant she felt that kind of privacy would be a little too intimate, so he didn't pursue the subject.

"I suspect a chaos must be familiar in some way to be enjoyable. Water is... alien."

"Entirely, or only in such large quantities?" Alice asked, mulling over the idea in her head.

After a moment, she added, "Oceans are ... large, and slow. Sleeping. The laps onto the shore are just her lazy snores. She tussles with the blankets, as the water rises and falls for high tide. She's only dangerous when roused, and you shall know that when you see it."

"In larger quantities, mostly," Leto replied. "We all consist partly of water, after all. I assume you have to get used to it, like you have to get used to crowds of people. With skill you can bend both the untameable sea and the blind force of masses to your advantage."

"Mob rule," she agreed, nodding carefully. "Each drop of water follows the others, in a fluid, rolling arc. Oceans aren't malevolent, by and large. Nurturing, or absent-minded, more likely."

She would omit mention of dangerous storms at sea, high winds, and hurricanes. Those would hardly be of assistance.

Leto would rather not think of storms at sea. Desert storms he knew well enough.

"Yes. Not to be underestimated." He reached out to lock his fingers with hers.

"Never," she said, feeling the same surge of warmth that even small gestures from him gave her. "So how shall we be certain not to underestimate her? If we've a plan, then we'll be prepared for any eventuality."

Squeezing her hand, Leto smiled. "Be on our guard, pay attention."

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The Crown Princess - Monday [Cabins and Lido Deck]

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