Undeniable Friction [Ren]

[Rico de Arroyo]

I'M THE ONE THAT MAKES YOU SCREAM

It was a fine morning in Fire Nation. So fine that it was nice enough for everyone to take their shirts off and bask in the sun. This of course didn't apply to one particular male. This day just didn't apply to him to take his shirt off. He never wore shirts or any scrap of fabric upon his darkened tanned skin. Rico didn't believe in clothing in general but of course there was proper code so with that, he chose to simply wear cargo shorts along with a pair of leather boots. That was all he needed. Rico is a sight that could never be forgotten. His body perfectly sculpted as if the creator wanted to punish and torture all women alive. His body was a glorious sight with the appearance of the eight-packs. Rico knew he looked good. He knew this all too well. The male walked up the steps of the palace where most of the royalty resided. It was also where the fire lord had his meetings and Rico was summoned to this particular meeting. Rico would've much rather to stay behind in his home and gaze upon the beautiful figures of women in their bikinis running along the beach that laid right outside his house. But, ah, duty calls for Rico. He finally arrived at the grand doors with two guard stationed at the sides. They recognized Rico as an invited guest. The opened the doors to let him through. The hours passed in the meeting itself and many times Rico had yawned and scratched at his chest, feeling the raised bump of his tattoo that decorated this upper chest. All Rico had to do was report what had happened so far when he was out in the field, he even offered up some strategies that bested the war minister's strategies. Finally the members of the meeting were dismissed for the fire lord and the minister to discuss further things. The six feet tall male emitted another yawn after he stepped out of the room. "Well that was terribly boring." huffed Rico. He hoped there was a girl to come along for him to have fun with. Rico smiled to himself fantasizing about how a beautiful figure would walk by him and seduce Rico. He let out a deep chuckle as he started walking.

LAIKA OF GS!

[Ren Fei-Long]

TAGS: Rico NOTES: none ☯

The day really couldn't have been anymore perfect. The sun was bright and warm, and Ren had spent most of the morning training. Normally, she might have ventured to sit in on the meeting, but all to aware of the situation and the reason for the gathering, saw little point in being bored to tears by the babbling of old-men about possibilities. No, Ren had a far sweeter intention as she slipped stealthily across the hallway toward the kitchens. All she needed to do was not get caught in the act. It was nearly noon and the kitchen would be preparing for meals. Glancing around to make sure the coast was clear, a single hand darted around the corner to snag two long toothpicks worth of fresh hot dumplings. Popping the first dumpling into mouth, Ren let out a faint sigh in satisfaction before heading for the gardens. She had reason for want to avoid getting caught, as she not in any mood for a lecture from the cook or worse, her mother. Then again, after twenty-three years, one would expect the staff to be more than accustomed to the princess's antics. Passed one of the young maids, who gave a quick greeting, caused Ren to turn on her heel and flash a cheerful grin return, though it wasn't hard to figure out what she had done. It was to nice a day not to enjoy some fresh dumplings in the garden. Unfortunately, as she rounded the corner, Ren wasn't watching where she was going and was suddenly greeted with something of a surprised as she ran backwards into what solid mass. "Ah, my apologies." Ren apologized with a smile, assuming the it was just another member of the palace staff or a guard, hoping to excuse her goof-off as a simple accident. However, the image that met her gaze at first was not what she expected to see. Lifting her chin, it wasn't hard to see how much taller than stranger was than her. Unfortunately, it was something else that made her face suddenly darken to an obvious shade for crimson. He was shirtless... No, worse, she was against his chest, his naked chest. It took only a split second for Ren to quickly put as much distance between herself and the man as was politely allowed. "S-sorry." She chirped quickly, bowing in apology, not daring to look up for obvious reasons. Ren had quite some experience dealing with soldiers, but most of them were in armor. This one.... The princess didn't quite now what to make of a half-naked man wandering around the palace. The fact that Ren was highly conservative, inexperienced, and tradition, did not help matters in the slightest. What was she suppose to say?... Oh heavens, what would her father say if he saw this? Was he aware of this one's presence in the imperial home? She was aware that she had been off on diplomatic matters for a while, but surely, the palace had not fallen into such disarray in such a short period of time.

LAIKA OF GS!

[Rico de Arroyo]

I'M THE ONE THAT MAKES YOU SCREAM

Rico's mind was somewhere far far away. It probably involved maybe at least two women or somewhere along those lines. It was a given that Rico's mind was wired a bit differently. ...Okay maybe he wasn't that different from your stereotypical male but at least he was very open about it. However, something tore Rico's mind from the lovely fantasy that had kept playing over and over. He looked down to see a figure had bumped into his chest. "Ah, my apologies." said a voice then that was when Rico saw one of the most prettiest smile on a face. Apparently this girl had not expected to meet with his pectorals because she blushed a deep shade of crimson. Rico's flashed his white teeth smile, a smile that meant that he obviously dug her. Rico was very used to this kind of reaction from the ladies that he had encountered ever since he hit puberty. He enjoyed every minute of it. Then in an instant, the female quickly tried to put the distance between the girl and his glorious abs. "S-sorry." The girl was quick to bow, her eyes avoiding making contact with him. Rico let out a deep throaty laugh. "No need to apologize cariño mío1." said Rico, his spanish accent and language showing through. He raised his right hand to run through his silky wild brunette strands. No matter what he did to his hair, it always naturally looked good even if it was not tamed.  He studied her features. She wore an eyepatch over her left eye but her visible brown eyes was just simply beautiful. Her skin was fair and smooth. He admired her lips, even thought how soft it would feel against his lips. He smiled once again, his sharpened teeth appearing into view giving a feel of a dangerous edge. Being with Rico is dangerous in general. Rico had realized that this lovely female is the eldest princess. He had spotted her before with the fire lord.  "It is I who needs to apoligize, mi princesa2." said the male as he bowed slightly and getting closer. His right hand grasping hers to plant a gentle kiss on her hand.His crimson eyes never left her beautiful face. Rico could not resist complimenting on her beauty. "Tiene la sonrisa más hermosa del mundo.3" said Rico in his best attractive spanish. "What's a beautiful lady like you doing around here?" asked Rico, genuinely interested in her plans for the day now that he spotted the dumplings in her hand.  1. cariño mío - my darling 2. mi princesa - my princess 3. Tiene la sonrisa más hermosa del mundo. - You have the most beautiful smile in the world.

LAIKA OF GS!

[Ren Fei-Long]

TAGS: Rico NOTES: none ☯

Ren tried not to show her embarrassment as the man laughed, sensing that he was more than capable of picking up awkwardness. Not that it was all that difficult to see, but she couldn't stop herself from glancing up curiously as he spoke, his accent nothing short of hypnotic. Of course, Ren was fairly well traveled and so had come across many manners of speech in her time, but his was one she could have listened to for hours and never grown bored with. It's deep tones were smoother than honey and just as rich, a true gift that went far beyond any silver tongue that she had come across. The problem was he was making it very hard to think clearly and his move to kiss her hand only made maintaining her composure all the more difficult. What was wrong with her?! She was a future Fire Lord, a war hero, and she was behaving like a teenage girl in court! Why in the name of heaven had she read so much as a kid? She couldn't keep her mind focused and for some reason it continued to retreat to the various tales of romance and war from the Fire Nation history. This only caused her to blush worse as she managed to get a rather clear mental image of what she had run into - every line and subtle curve of his chest and abdomen. Ren almost seemed to freeze up a bit, looking a bit like a startled deer by the whole action. It wasn't until he addressed her as princess that something seemed to snap Ren rather hard from her thoughts. Maybe it was the realization that the man knew who she was and the years of experience in the Fire Nation court, all to aware of the political schemes that tried to worm their way to the throne through various puppets and attempted marriages. Of course, it wasn't long before Ren had become painfully cynical towards the ideals of courtly love and romance in general, which was in some small part what had caused her to focus so greatly on her abilities as a warrior. Given her position, there were very few people that Ren could actually trust, even within her own circle of those closest to her, as she could never be certain of the motivations of others, Whether they really felt something for her or their affections were merely another deception, brilliantly crafted to steal the crown or gain power, remained an ever present question in her mind. It had made her existence something of a lonely one over the years and it was a matter that Ren rarely confided to others about, even within her own family.  The blush finally seemed to fade as he spoke once more complimenting her smile, which earned a faint smirk in amusement. She wasn't certain if the man was really that bold, that egotistical, or whether he was simply patronizing her with such a compliment, but either way, she had no intention of playing any of his games. "Please spare me your pick up lines and pretty words. Vipers are also very beautiful, but I am wise enough not to keep company with them either." Ren explained somewhat poetically, her cynicism allowing to regain some of more familiar confidence. Right, there was no reason to get so flustered. No matter how shirtless and muscular he was,... Ahem, he was only human and a horrible liar to ask such an obvious question. "If you know who I am, then it should be obvious that I live here." She answered somewhat bluntly, though Ren was hardly the proper lady and it seemed it would take more than an accent to help him now. Moving to the side in a fluid manner to step past him, the princess decided that she had wasted enough and ready to head for the gardens before the dumplings got cold. "Now... if you'll excuse me, it's a nice day out, the trees are in bloom, and there's a shade tree calling my name." Ren added calmly in an easy-going manner and offering a faint wave with her free hand, hoping that her plans would somehow deter the flirtatious soldier when presented with an activity that was rather boring in comparison to some of the sights the palace had to offer.

LAIKA OF GS!

[Rico de Arroyo]

I'M THE ONE THAT MAKES YOU SCREAM

He watched with a smile as she remained flustered after receiving a kiss on her hand. Oh how Rico loved women who weren't used to this kind of attention. He just loved the innocent kinds. The corrupted were just no fun and way too predictable tough that didn't mean Rico wouldn't keep his hands off them. He loved all women in any shape or form. He saw beauty in each and every one of them. Then the girl's blush began to fade away. Rico furrowed his eyebrows together though they were mostly hidden underneath his crimson red headband. Something was wrong. Was she over him already? Had he said something wrong. No, Impossible. Rico couldn't have messed up. This women was probably too stiff. He was going have to fix that. "Please spare me your pick up lines and pretty words. Vipers are also very beautiful, but I am wise enough not to keep company with them either." said Ren as Rico crossed his vastly muscular arms over his chest making him seem much larger. He had to give it to her that she made her own words sound so poetic. Something that he actually admired about her. But that didn't mean Rico liked what she said. "Mi princesa. I am many things but viper is not one of them." said the man with a stern expression. He didn't take the viper part kindly however he was called beautiful. But it was not enough. "If you know who I am, then it should be obvious that I live here." answered the princess in a blunt fashion. This received another stern look from Rico. Rico's gaze followed the lady as she sidestepped him in a graceful motion. "Now... if you'll excuse me, it's a nice day out, the trees are in bloom, and there's a shade tree calling my name." Rico had to let another laugh. He haven't had this challenge in a long time. This was going to be interesting. Rico easily managed to reach Ren with his wide strides, he cut her off in her path. His body was only inches away from her once again. "I know you live here amor mío. But someone like you around is a rare sight... And I am blessed to see you today and I must say you look so stunning." whispered the male, his seductive accent putting an emphasis on the r's. "I shall accompany you to the garden. I would like to see the trees in bloom. I'm sure it is very beautiful but I'm afraid I would be distracted by another beauty..." said the man, smiling his dashing grin as he leaned in closely to the lady in front him to whisper into her ear. "You."

LAIKA OF GS!

[Ren Fei-Long]

TAGS: Rico NOTES: none ☯

It took some amount of will to hide the faint smile that threatened to surface as the solider crossed his muscular arms in disapproval at the accusation. Of course, Ren would have been lying to say that she wasn't just a little bit proud of herself for knocking the arrogant man off his perch. It seemed more than obvious from his reaction that he was rather accustomed to being fawned over and getting what he wanted when it came to women. As he would learn, however, the eldest princess was not like any female he had likely come across before. Woman or not, she was still the heir to throne and the future Fire Lord, and as such, would not allow herself to be swayed by such petty emotions. He soon spoke and explained that he was not a viper, a matter that Ren had no intention to argue because in the twenty-three years that Ren had lived in the capital, she had never once heard anyone admit to being a liar or a conspirator. Mainly, because it was a death sentence, but that was beside the point. Even so, she was aware that such people existed in great numbers and it was part of the reason she never went anywhere without a sword. Unfortunately, the princess simply didn't have the luxury of trusting every pretty smile or friendly face, no matter how charming someone was. Once she had stepped past him, Ren had hoped that he would leave her alone, but it seemed that her earlier assumption had been proven wrong. Before the princess realized it, the man had darted around in a few quicken strides and had come to a halt directly in her path to block her escape. Persistent one, wasn't he? Her brows knitted together in slight annoyance at the close proximity once more, glancing up at him to avoid staring directly at his chest. However, as he continued, it was his mention of looking 'stunning' that made it almost impossible to hide the vague smile in amusement. Now, Ren had wondered if the man had been patronizing her before, but after that remark, she was almost sure he was doing it on purpose. Almost self-consciously, the princess glanced down at her attire to see the familiar dark blue top and pants, along with fringes of her trademark long white coat. Even Ren couldn't deny that it made her look more like a male than she preferred, but considering that it was easier to move around in and she had been training not an hour before, the attire was not unusual. What was strange, however, was that the man had just called her stunning.... Stunning? In an outfit that made her look like a common solider?.... If he was not after something from her, then the only logical conclusion was that there was something very wrong with this man's head. Ren finally glanced up about the time the man decided that he would accompany her to the gardens, which earned a faint sigh in annoyance. Well, so much for avoiding him. Unfortunately, what he did next caused the crimson color to flood back to her cheeks once more as the warm breath brushed against the sensitive ear. There was no controlling it or maintaining any ounce of composure, as her mouth suddenly went dry and the urge to swallow seemed to prove impossible. Clearing her throat, Ren instinctively took a step back, her face still red and her gaze directed somewhere off to the side in embarrassment. "F-Fine.... Do as you please." Ren answered softly, her tone expressing every ounce of disinterest and uncaring as she could possibly muster up. Unfortunately, her face and words weren't quite matching up. "Do you, at least, have a name? I don't like not knowing who I'm talking to." She admitted somewhat hesitantly, though did feel at a slight disadvantage considering that he seemed to know so much about her. Stepping aside once more, Ren motioned with her hand for him to follow, deciding it would be far less conspicuous if they walked and continued the conversation, rather than standing in the middle of the hallway for prying eyes to take notice of.

LAIKA OF GS!

[Rico de Arroyo]

I'M THE ONE THAT MAKES YOU SCREAM

Rico watched every reaction the princess made. At first she seemed annoyed that they two were so close to each other once again but she still wanted to avoid looking directly at his tattooed chest. Then he saw it. A small curl of her lips after he called her stunning. This earned a big grin on his face. Rico watched as the female look down at her attire. Rico wanted to kiss her right there but it was too early and he'd most likely get a slap. No, this girl was going to take time to grow onto Rico. He had realized that the eldest princess dressed masculine but that didn't matter to him. He knew all women came in different forms and shapes, they also came with different style. So what if she looked like a soldier than a princess? All it mattered was the beauty that they held inside. The beauty of their inner spirit in their glory. The wolf-like man smiled widely as he watched the crimson glaze over her cheeks after whispering into her ear. It had worked. The control was back in Rico's hands. He finally felt right with himself. He watched her with his crimson orbs as she took a step back. Rico greatly enjoyed the color of red on her face. It was his favorite color on women. The female was obviously affected by his seductive whispering into her ear. "F-Fine.... Do as you please." said the female in a soft voice but it was strained with disinterest. However, her face told an entirely different story. "Do as I please? I like the sound of that." said Rico wickedly. Oh he could think all of the ways he'd want to do that involved this beautiful princess. "Do you, at least, have a name? I don't like not knowing who I'm talking to." asked the princess as she side-stepped once more. She motioned for him to follow her. The muscular figure turned around smiling as he checked her figure out before actually following her. She had the body of a prideful warrior but it was beautiful nonetheless. "I apologize mi señora1. My name is Rico. Rico de Arroyo. I'm just an admiral." introduced the male, raising his vastly robust arms above his head. His hands latching onto each other and rested on his mess of tangled brown strands.  Rico turned to looked at the female as he walked along next to her. "Mi princesa... I want you to know that you do really look stunning. Your smile is just simply beautiful and it makes me happy when you smile." said Rico. He really meant it, he didn't know how to prove it to her other than kissing her senseless like he usually did but that would not work for now. "Soy muy afortunado de ver y pasar tiempo con usted hermosa.2" said the man. 1. mi señora - my lady 2. Soy muy afortunado de ver y pasar tiempo con usted hermosa. - I am very fortunate to see you and spend time with you beautiful.

LAIKA OF GS!

[Ren Fei-Long]

TAGS: Rico NOTES: none ☯

Ren rolled her eyes slightly at his answer, attempting to rid herself of the blush as they walked the palace halls towards the garden. Not surprising, the princess kept her gaze forward, rarely venturing over to observe the young man and walking in a manner that seemed to exhibit all the confidence one expected of a commander. The princess really was something of a contrast, a war hero that showed so little fear on the field of battle, and yet she would scarcely turn her head, unable to bear the sight of a shirtless male without blushing. It was amusing, no doubt, but probably very peculiar for a woman her age. Most noble ladies would have been married years ago and yet, Ren remained devoted only to the cause of war and defense of her homeland. It wasn't until the man introduced himself that the name seemed to bring about some hints of recognition and caused her gaze to stray from the path in front of her in curiosity. "Just an admiral?" Ren repeated with a faint chuckle in amusement. "One of the youngest men to ever gain the promotion of such a rank, if I remember correctly. They say, that you are the envy of men and like a beast on the field of battle." Ren recalled calmly, listing off what sounded like a military report that she'd had memorized. Then again, there were few things that went on the Fire Nation military and navy that Ren didn't know about. However, it was hard to hint that Ren seemed to have some interest in the man, even if it was only in his skill and prowess in combat. Unfortunately, there was one other piece of information that Ren had heard tale of. "...The soldiers also say your a flirt and a notorious womanizer." She added seriously, arching a brow to make clear that she was aware of his reputation. Maybe a small part of her also wanted to see if the man would explain himself or had some excuse for the matter, though it mattered little. It was obvious that Rico had not fooled her and would not be pulling the wool over her eyes any time soon. When he expressed his belief that she was stunning once more and his happiness over being able to spend time with her, Ren simply offered up the second stick of dumplings to share with him if he was hungry. "You'll forgive me is I am unmoved by such confessions, Admiral Arroyo. Unfortunately, from as far back as I can remember, many people have sought my happiness... Not because they necessarily cared about how I felt, but because they feared my father or that happiness granted them something they desired. Wealth, prestige, influence..." Ren explained in serious manner, recalling that aside from money, there was a fair amount of reputation with the chance to train up or teach a princess of the Fire Nation. "If there is one truth in this world, it's that words are fickle. Action is the only manner in which a man can be judged, both on and off the battlefield. If you wish to impress me, then tell me something I do not know. Like - where were you born? Or do you have any family?" The princess suggested, clearly uncomfortable with hearing details about herself. Apparently, she seemed so cynical towards the idea that there was any sincerity or truth behind the compliments, that she found it easier to simply silence them and change the subject. It was hard to imagine, but someone that could command armies really was that shy. Instead, Ren had shifted the conversation to something of more merit and in some ways, allowed her to ask questions about the man that she would otherwise be far to embarrassed to ask herself. It was a calculated maneuver in some ways, attempting to regain control of a conversation in which she had little say when he was constantly complimenting her. Besides, she hated being seen as a princess or a girl, it made things very awkward. If Ren could make him treat her as he did other soldiers, then she would not have to acknowledge the strange fluttering in her stomach every time he spoke in that thick accent or smiled at her.

LAIKA OF GS!

[Rico de Arroyo]

I'M THE ONE THAT MAKES YOU SCREAM

As soon Rico had introduced himself, flickers of recognition were found in her face as her gaze moved from the path in front of her. "Just an admiral?" said the princess, followed by light chuckling. Rico only smiled, he knew he wasn't just any admiral. "One of the youngest men to ever gain the promotion of such a rank, if I remember correctly. They say, that you are the envy of men and like a beast on the field of battle." said the princess, talking as if she had his profile file within her hands. "...The soldiers also say your a flirt and a notorious womanizer." Rico let out his hearty deep throated laugh. "So you have heard of me. I won't deny any of things that you had said. I am a womanizer and I'm not ashamed of it. I just... admire women. Their bodies, their mind, their spirits. My madre taught me to treat woman right and I do more than just treating them right. I worship them." said the male, flashing his wide white teethed grin. "I consider myself a man and a man's job is to make a woman happy. I intend to make every woman happy." whispered Rico. After Rico had complimented with more words from his native language, the princess had offered up her other stick of dumplings. He smiled and took it from her with a respectful nod, appreciative of the gesture. "You'll forgive me is I am unmoved by such confessions, Admiral Arroyo. Unfortunately, from as far back as I can remember, many people have sought my happiness... Not because they necessarily cared about how I felt, but because they feared my father or that happiness granted them something they desired. Wealth, prestige, influence..." said Ren with a serious tone. Rico did not like what he had been hearing. If Rico had knew about those men, he would've burned them alive and sent them to hell for they did not respect a woman. "No worries mi princesa. You do not have to worry about me using you. I have no interest in wealth, prestige or any influence. I am content with my position and I would only like to get promoted if it meant helping more people and protecting our citizens and innocents from harm. And... please call me Rico. There is no need for formalities with me." said Rico seriously, his eyes blazing with the truth. "If there is one truth in this world, it's that words are fickle. Action is the only manner in which a man can be judged, both on and off the battlefield. If you wish to impress me, then tell me something I do not know. Like - where were you born? Or do you have any family?" asked the woman. Rico looked at her, smiling rather gently. Not most women asked Rico about his past. They were mostly too caught up with his looks to care about his personal life. Rico let out a sign, finally taking a bite into his dumpling before answering. "Well... I don't know where I was born. My father left my madre before I was born so I never met him. My madre is the one that is responsible for the way I am now." said Rico with a chuckle. "However, as special as my madre was to me. Her time with me was short. She passed away when I was young and I became an orphan. Luckily I was picked up by one of the fire nation crew and trained under them and you can probably guess the rest of my history." said the male. He never cared if he had met his father or not. Rico was not the kind of little boy that would cry at night for his non-exisitant dad. He was only angry at him for leaving a woman in a time when she needed him the most. Rico continued to eat the dumpling, realizing he was more hungry than he had thought. He again smiled and took a step closer to the princess. "What about you? I would love to hear something about you that I do not know. Like... do you have a boyfriend? Any love interest?" asked the male, smirking rather mischievously.

LAIKA OF GS!

[Ren Fei-Long]

TAGS: Rico NOTES: none ☯

Ren smiled once more as the young admiral admitted that her memory was accurate of the tales she'd heard. If there was one factor that the princess prided herself on more than any other, it was her mind and knowledge about her country, especially it's military and citizens. Sure, some women in court would have been far more pleased to be admired for their beauty or grace, but such attributes were quick to fade and served little purpose outside of court. However, knowledge was power in their present state of war and what often proved to be the most dangerous was information. The ability to retain and recall such details at a moments notice was what had made Ren not only a capable commander on the front lines, but someone who was well liked even off the battlefield by the average soldiers, many of whom she could recall by name and rank after only a couple meetings. Such a feat was rare even for an experienced officers, but certainly made her a rarity among the nobility. In many ways, it made her more approachable to the common people than perhaps her father was and had cemented a great deal of loyalty and favor from the Fire Nation's citizens. Not that Ren had to worry about challengers to the throne as the eldest child and the only current heir that was old enough to succeed the Fire Lord. Even so, the princess was careful to mind her steps, especially given how fickle court politics could be. Fortunately, the more Rico continued to speak, the more evident it became that he lacked any ambition or ill-intent towards her position. Rather, it seemed his reputation was based on little more than a deep-seeded love of the opposite gender, based on nothing more than that sheer pleasure that it brought them. Some might have found the ideas laughable, but to be honest, Ren had to wonder if Rico wasn't just a little to good to be true. Here was a man, whose soul purpose seemed to be to serve his country, his people, and the women that he adored without question or hesitation. What Ren would not have given to have a hundred soldiers like this one. He was charismatic, he was certainly charming beyond definition, and bore absolutely loyalty without the stain of personal ambition... There had to be a catch somewhere, some dark secret lurking. No one could be that perfect in this day and age. Unfortunately, no sooner had he flashed another smile than the princess felt her face heat up once more and a shot of crimson blazed across her cheeks, causing her to quickly avert her gaze. "A-ah, I see... Rico, then." Ren chirped sheepishly, biting down onto another dumpling to distract herself once more. "It's a shame that there are not more people like you in court. I fear such chivalry has long since been lost these days." She admitted truthfully, though she wasn't exactly wrong. Ren was hesitant to say more, however, fearful that she would only manage to embarrass herself in the process. Despite this, even she had to admit that Rico's views were certainly something to be admired. As he began to recount his past though, it suddenly became clear how such beliefs had emerged. His mother had obviously played a very large role in the young admirals life and had clearly instilled in him some of his better qualities. Although, when he confessed that she had passed away, there was a clear softening on Ren's expression that had not been there before. Perhaps, because she knew better than most what it meant to loose a close family member and the toll that it took on a person. Even if Rico had managed to overcome such an obstacle, it could never remove the hole of loosing that person or the place in which they occupied. "Forgive me, I did not mean to dig up painful memories. You have my deepest condolences. I know what is like to loose a family member and such is a fate that I would not wish on an enemy, let alone someone-" Ren hesitated half way through her sentence, having made the mistake of looking up at Rico and apparently forgetting how to breath as her gaze met his face. "S-someone with s-such a-admirable ambitions." She managed to stammer out, attempting to save some face, but failing miserably at the attempt. It was obvious what Ren had wanted or intended to say in the beginning. Despite his eccentric nature, the princess did not think of him as a bad person. Quite the opposite really, Ren was actually starting to like Rico on a personal level, but attempting to admit that out loud and to his face was enough to flustered the princess beyond words. Unfortunately, what Rico did next didn't help that situation in the least as the question came up about a boyfriend or love interest. Ren attempted to regain her thought by staring at the floor again, but even this technique seemed to fail as she attempted to piece together a reasonable answer for the young admiral. After all, Ren didn't want him thinking that she was inexperienced and recluse when it came to matters of love... Even if that was exactly the case. The truth was, the princess had simply stopped trusting others somewhere along the line. Even though she was known to be kind and cheerful on the surface, there was always a part of her that was kept locked away and had been ever since her brother's death. Maybe in the end, that was the real reason that it became so hard to trust people, because she knew how easy it could be to wear a mask in front others and pretend to be someone else. "I'm afraid with the war, I don't have time for such frivolous matters." Ren answered in a serious tone, though glanced away as they reached the garden. "Besides,... I gave up on such notions a long time ago. Royal marriages rarely happened based on love, anyway, so there's no point in bothering with something so trivial." The princess explained cynically, though there was a vague sense of regret on her features as a hand retreated almost subconsciously to allow a few fingers to brush against the black patch on her eye. It was clear those weren't Ren's true feelings, but merely a well-rehearsed answer to compensate for the obvious truth. She was known as a hero in the Fire Nation, but that honor had come with great sacrifice. Men admired women for their beauty and noble-breeding, not for their bravery or the scars gained from protecting their home and family. Ren might not have known everything about the world, but if there was one thing she did know, it was that no man in his right mind would ever be attracted to someone like her, certainly not enough to propose marriage. In the end, she was a good solider, but that's all there was to the matter. When the time came, Ren would simply be fulfilling yet another duty expected of her, no matter how lonely a fate it seemed. Stepping away from Rico silently, the princess moved down the small pathway over to a nearby bench beneath the tree that was next to a small pond with several turtle-ducks frolicking and floating around on the surface of the water. It was peaceful and serene here, like another world in comparison to life outside, maybe that was why she retreated here so often. "It's actually kind of nice to have some company here. Usually, I'm stuck watching the garden alone, since everyone else is always so busy." Ren admitted calmly, allowing her shoulders to relax a bit, though there still seemed to linger some amount of sadness on her features. She missed the old days more than the princess cared to admit. Back then, she and Shen would often come here to play, spar, or even to escape the nagging of their tutors. Sadly, those days had long since passed and there were some parts of them that Ren would never get back, yet every year she came to watch them as the only member of the royal family that seemed to remember those better times.

LAIKA OF GS!

[Rico de Arroyo]

I'M THE ONE THAT MAKES YOU SCREAM

He watched as the lovely flower before him blush once again as soon he smiled. "A-ah, I see... Rico, then." said the princess. The male only grinned more, "Now that's better." the male spoke. "It's a shame that there are not more people like you in court. I fear such chivalry has long since been lost these days." said the female. Rico did pride himself on his values and virtues b ut Rico wouldn't be Rico if there was more people like him. "That would be bad news for me if there was more of me. Not sure if the world can handle that." laughed Rico, slapping his chest as if it was a really funny joke. Rico had just basically admitted that he knew he looked good. Almost too good. When Rico spoke about his past, he could see the uptight woman actually began to soften. He smiled, happy that she did have a heart inside of her. He's always known that she wasn't coldhearted but it was a good thing for Rico to see it with his own eyes. "Forgive me, I did not mean to dig up painful memories. You have my deepest condolences. I know what is like to loose a family member and such is a fate that I would not wish on an enemy, let alone someone-" Rico looked at her to see what had stopped her from speaking. The princess had became flustered once again. Rico only can smile more. "S-someone with s-such a-admirable ambitions." said the princess. The male glanced away for a moment before returning back to gaze at her face. "I'm glad you find my ambitions admirable. But there is no need to apologize for digging up my past. I'm proud to talk about my madre and she would be so proud to see that I am treating the princess rightfully." said the male. After the man had teasingly asked her if she had any love interests. Ren only continued to be flustered, avoiding his gaze completely by staring at the floor. Rico was enjoying this light teasing. "I'm afraid with the war, I don't have time for such frivolous matters." said the female. "Besides,... I gave up on such notions a long time ago. Royal marriages rarely happened based on love, anyway, so there's no point in bothering with something so trivial." said Ren as the two reached to the garden. Rico looked at her and got closer to her. His finger lightly brushing the jawline of her face and nudging it upwards to his face where his crimson eyes gazed into her eye. The muscular male was rather close to the female. "I find it hard to believe for such an ambitious princess like yourself to give up on something on love. I believe you can change the idea of royalty marriage if you tried hard enough. Everyone in this world should always make time for love." said the male. Then he whispered into her ear. "I admire you, you're different from most women. Not only you look beautiful, you also fight for what you want and love." Then Ren proceeded to sit on the bench underneath the tree. Rico spotted the pond of turtle-ducks going on with their simple business in their life. "It's actually kind of nice to have some company here. Usually, I'm stuck watching the garden alone, since everyone else is always so busy." said the female. Rico bowed slightly. "I am glad I'm the one to accompany you. Para estar en su presencia, es un placer1." said the admiral. Rico picked up the sensation that the woman wasn't exactly happy at the moment. Rico sat down next to princess. He could probably guess why she felt sadness and loneliness. He decided that he was to comfort her. "Mi princesa. I understand that your brother had disappeared a while ago. I assure you that I am still looking for him. He's out there, I know it. I promise you, I'll bring him back one day. If he's related to you, he's bound to have some of your spirit and is alive." said the male, placing his thick sturdy hand on her shoulder, gently massaging it in an attempt to comfort her. 1. Para estar en su presencia, es un placer.- To be in your presence, it is a pleasure.

LAIKA OF GS!

[Ren Fei-Long]

TAGS: Rico NOTES: none ☯

Ren hid a faint smile at Rico's admission to not being sure the world could handle more than one of him. Of course, while the princess couldn't be sure about the world, when it came to her personally, he did have a point. Ren wasn't sure that she would have been able to handle being any more flustered than she already was thanks to the admiral's antics. If such a thing occurred on a daily basis, then no doubt, nothing would ever get done and it was probably in the best interest of the Fire Nation that such a predicament be avoid as often as possible. However, she had not expected him to reach out once more and was a bit shocked to feel his fingertips graze against her chin. Even so, she didn't resist and instead found herself looking up at him in surprise, unable to hide that obvious blush that spread across her face as she attempted to maintain eye contact with him as she spoke. Her pride would no doubt be the death of her one of these days, but suddenly realizing how close the admiral was, Ren didn't dare to move or lower her head for fear of making the situation any worse than it already was. She knew that Rico was speaking and tried to pay attention. However, her focus was torn between his words and the deafening pounding of her heartbeat that seemed to echo in her ears. Her stomach, meanwhile, was far to busy doing cartwheels as Ren attempted to ignore the lightheaded feeling that came as she was certain indicated that all her blood was now rushing to her head. In the meantime, Rico reassured her that love was not something to give up on and a matter that could be changed, provided one was willing to fight for it. Unfortunately, Ren had yet to find anyone worth fighting that fate for, nor believed anyone would do the same for her. She couldn't bring herself to admit that to the young admiral though, so simply allowed her hand to reach up to meet his gently. The warmth was more comforting than the princess cared to admit, but no amount of fighting could change the inevitable. Ren had spent most of her life in battle and even challenging certain matters that she did not agree with, especially in the war. Sadly, there were limits to how far one person could go in the Fire Nation and Ren had to contend with more than just her personal demons. "Even the best soldiers get tired of fighting eventually... but I can't fight a war alone, nor can I openly challenge the orders of the Fire Lord." Ren admitted somewhat shamefully, glancing down as she removed his hand and stepped away. For most, this situation would have been a simple one, but the man wasn't just her leader, he was her father. For Ren, who valued her family above all else, it was a fight that she simply didn't have the stomach to attempt. Not because she necessarily feared the man, but because she had already suffered the loss of a brother. If she went against protocol, it meant possibly battling or loosing forever the people that meant the most to her. That was a fate far worse than being trapped in a loveless or arranged marriage, even if it wasn't right. Rico soon joined her and though his spoke, Ren found her mind somewhere lost in the distant memories of the past. It wasn't until the admiral spoke regarding her brother that the princess' eye closed and she silently bit down on her lower lip, attempting to control the torrent of emotion that still stirred. "You don't have to comfort me, Rico... It's been four years. I'm sure that if Shen was alive, then he would have found his way back to the Fire Nation by now." She explained calmly, attempting to maintain the same strong image that most people saw whenever the matter was brought up. It was the same mask that she'd worn throughout the funeral, the stoic and almost solemn mannerism that seemed almost ready to break under the bottled up tears and personal guilt that she felt. Despite her attempts, no one could deny that the loss had caused a devastating blow to the royal family, as without a body, they weren't even able to give the boy a proper burial. There had been no closure, just the unending guilt that it should have never been allowed to happen. Under the weight of Rico's hand, it was possible to feel the faint shaking as Ren leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. "... It was all my fault." Ren confessed regretfully, thinking back to the day that she'd got the letter of the news. Why? Why had they always pushed that stupid rivalry? Maybe if Ren had conceded the title of heir back then, then perhaps, none of this would have happened. Instead, she would spend the rest of life with the guilt, knowing that she had drove him to commit an act that had resulted in his death. Now, she would never have a chance to see him again, let alone apologize for her behavior from back then.

LAIKA OF GS!

[Rico de Arroyo]

I'M THE ONE THAT MAKES YOU SCREAM

Rico studied her facial expression and actions as he had gotten so close to her. Her skin felt velvet to Rico. Smooth and gentle. Something that Rico would've loved to run his hands over but that was a thought to be saved for later. Then the female's hand placed over his hand gently. He smiled widely at her, pleased with the response. "Even the best soldiers get tired of fighting eventually... but I can't fight a war alone, nor can I openly challenge the orders of the Fire Lord." said the female. Rico crossed his arms over his massive bare chest. "If your father respects you, I believe he will respect your opinion as long you pick a good man." said the male, winking at her playfully. "Though I'd doubt you'll find anything as good as me." said the male, letting out a chuckle. Sometimes he was full of himself but everyone had flaws. After Rico had spoke about the matter concerning her little brother. "You don't have to comfort me, Rico... It's been four years. I'm sure that if Shen was alive, then he would have found his way back to the Fire Nation by now." said the female. The male's eyebrows furrowed together. "I don't believe that for a second. I feel it in my chest that he's somewhere out there. No worries mi princesa. Just wait and be patient. Maybe he'll come back any minute, you never know." said Rico, his expression now holding a gentle smile. However the smile faded away as soon he felt trembling of the body under his hand. "... It was all my fault." said the female. Rico could feel his heart breaking for her. "Oh mi amor... Come here." said the admiral, withdrawing his hand from her shoulder. He was probably going to far with this but it went against Rico's values to not comfort this divine beauty that sat next to him in her most vulnerable state. He scooted closer and wrapped his muscular arms around the girl, gently nudging her so that her head would be pressed up against his finely toned chest.  He hoped that the physical contact with his body would be enough to somehow distract her from the inner tormiol that she was warring with.

LAIKA OF GS!

[Ren Fei-Long]

TAGS: Rico NOTES: none ☯

Ren might have smirked at his humor, but knew better than most that this was no laughing matter. Even if an exception was made, there was still the matter of finding a suitable man and that was far more difficult than Rico made it out to be. Her choice was not simply one that she needed her family to approve of, it would have long lasting consequences. A weak partner could bring down an dynasty and throw a country into ruin, something that Ren would never allow to happen. Of course, her pride had a great deal to do with the matter and there were few things the princess feared more than being considered the weak link in the pages of the history books. No, if worse came to worse, she could always remove the source of the problem after she became the Fire Lord. Although, Ren didn't want to resort to that method except as a last resort, it was still an option and probably easier to deal with if a political marriage proved to be... detrimental or a hindrance to her rule and her country. Although, somehow she doubted Rico would approve of such tactics and for now, decided to keep her possible options to herself. Nevertheless, Rico appeared to be adamant about his beliefs regarding her brother. She wished she could have shared such sentiments, but four years was a long time and with each passing day, Ren was smart enough to realize the chances were only getting slimmer and slimmer. If grown men, trained Fire Nation soldiers had not managed to survive, then what chance did a kid with no experience of the world have? Besides, it was easier to assume that he had not suffered. Having known the horrors of war and baring her own scars from such conflicts, she didn't want to think about what would have happened to any unfortunate victim that might have survived. Sadly, that didn't quite erase the guilt that Ren felt and anyone that had known her previously had seen how quickly she had thrown herself onto the front line. Some believed it was for revenge, others attributed it to simply burying herself in her duty and work to silence the pain. Unfortunately, no amount of hell raising could bring back her brother and once that loss had hit her, it had completely changed her outlook on the current conflict. She had come to hate the war, to despise with her very being the thing she'd wanted her whole life to be a part of, and that which had stolen away her brother. Before Ren realized it, she felt herself pulled into the warmth of his chest. Almost immediately, her face flooded with color once more, but strangely enough, she didn't put up much resistance. Instead, the princess allowed her forehead to rest against his chest, mentally at war with herself over not wanting to cry or show weakness in front of other and the natural urge to simply linger in the warm embrace. How long had it been since she'd allowed anyone to comfort her? Ren couldn't even remember anymore. She'd been the pillar of strength for her family and her country for so long, but despite her best attempts, that didn't quite change the fact that Ren was still human. Underneath the title of heir and the heroic stories, she was just a girl and one that was still suffering from a devastating loss. "I-I'm sorry..." Ren apologized softly. She hated appearing so weak in front of the admiral, but her hesitation to retreat from the man came as a surprise even to her. It was warm, safe... something that Ren hadn't felt from anybody since she was just a small child. Mind you, she knew that it was probably wrong and no doubt rather improper to be wrapped up in the arms of a man that she'd only met, but Ren couldn't help herself. Just this once, she needed to know that she wasn't completely alone. She couldn't exactly explain it, but the princess felt genuinely safe, a concept that was completely foreign to someone who constantly had to be on her guard, even in their own home. Not only was it something of a shock, but Ren hadn't even been aware that it was possible to feel that way around another person and it took everything to reign in the flutter that stirred in the pit of her stomach as she suddenly realized this fact.

LAIKA OF GS!

[Rico de Arroyo]

I'M THE ONE THAT MAKES YOU SCREAM

As soon the male pulled her into his loving embrace, he had expected resistance judging from the way she had acted toward him today. But he was pleasantly surprised to see that she had not. This woman was full of surprises. That only made Rico adore her even more. He tried to absorb her touch on his chest for he knew that these moments would be rare. One of Rico's strong arms was wrapped around the female's midback, holding her gently against him. His right hand began to gently pet her smooth jet-black silky hair as the princess leaned her forehead against his bare chest. "I-I'm sorry..." said the princess softly. Rico paused his gentle petting of her hair for a moment. Rico took this moment to kiss on the top of her head. "Mi princesa... there's no need to apologize. It is alright. I'm here for you." whispered the man into her hair. Then Rico resumed his smoothing petting. He even began to rub her back some. He was immensely glad to be able to be comfort the princess somehow. Perhaps it was fate that this darling girl ran to meet with his bare chest at her palace. "Even if I had just met you... Just know this, whenever you need anything. I mean anything. Just tell me and I'll do whatever it is. You're special, mi princesa. I really mean it." said Rico. He really did mean it. Ren was one of those rare girls that had managed to derail Rico from his throne when it came to loving women his way. She had managed to surprise him at every turn within their short time of knowing each other. She asked him questions that no other women had ever asked him.  His petting hand eventually stopped and slide down her back to where his other hand was. He looked down at the lovely female in his arms. He then raised a hand to her chin, nudging on it gently so that his eyes would meet with hers. "Forgive me.. but I do really like you." whispered the male as he leaned into the female. Placing a loving kiss on her cheek. If he had it his way, he'd be kissing those lovely lips but he decided that would be pushing it too far with this delicate flower now.

LAIKA OF GS!