Beach Bodies (Closed)

Participants: Koriand'r | Roy Harper
Open/Closed: Closed
Location(s): San Francisco's beaches
Time of Day: Mid-afternoon
Weather: Sunny, with a strong sea breeze.
Summary: It's a date - roll with it!

Koriand'r stood a few feet away from the stall, a large, unsightly teddy bear clasped under her right arm, its head resting in the crook of her elbow. Despite being a Tamaranean of tall stature, the cuddly, heart-laden bear was almost half her size, and its soft footpaws hung only inches above the sand underfoot. Dressed in a two-pieced swim suit, pink in colour, that allowed her bronzed skin to drink in the sun's rays, and a teal sarong that revealed a great deal of her legs when caught in a stray breeze, Starfire (as she so often did) caught the eye of a number of passers-by, their gaze drawn to her appearance, or indeed to the mammoth stuffed toy she carried.

However, her gaze was fixed entirely on the stall, and indeed the man at said stall, preparing to hurl a baseball at a tower of cans: Roy Harper. Their date had begun, in earnest, earlier that day. During a break from Justice League duties, Koriand'r had travelled to San Francisco to visit her old teammate– Arsenal helping tutor the Titan's new recruits. They had decided to spend the day on the beach, and for many hours they'd wandered through the surf, basked (or burnt, in Roy's case) in the sun, and eaten their weight in ice cream.

It was during a slow wander back toward the Titan's Tower that Harper had set his sights on a carnival-esque stall, challenging people to knock over cans in order to win prizes. One of the winnable nick-nacks was the giant bear currently in Kory's grasp, and having off-handedly suggested it was cute, the archer had decided to try his luck at the game. Being strong and incredibly accurate, he'd had little trouble in earning her the bear, much to the tout's chagrin.

About to walk on with their winnings, the stall's owner muttered that Harper wouldn't be able to repeat the feat – a challenge he was quick to accept. And it was there, watching the focused red-head that Koriand'r stood, beaming. Since meeting again, years after they had first met, Roy hadn't ceased making Starfire smile – even when he wasn't trying to. They had not discussed 'where they stood' or 'what they were', but in Kory's mind, it was't immediately necessary. They were happy together, and that, as far as she was concerned, was all that mattered.

Roy Harper
Notes: Hope you've enough to work with!

Today was a good day. Outside of the sunburn he could feel growing on his skin, today had a lot more positives than negatives. He had been spending most of his time with the Teen Titans, mentoring them and making sure the new team could handle themselves. It had been during a small down period that Koriand'r had shown up and the two had agreed to something of a date. In truth, Roy still didn't know what they were, so he wasn't sure if it really was a date per se, or just two friends spending some time together. But in all honestly, just getting to spend time with her was enough to brighten his day and make the day worth it.

Despite being a well toned man with a well defined physique, all the more noticeable thanks to the lowly pair of plain red swim trunks the redhead wore, no one seemed to give him a second glance. He didn't blame anyone however, when flanking him at his side all day had been a powerful, tall, orange-skinned, beautiful woman in a two piece. Really though, Roy didn't mind not getting the attention Kory was getting. He liked blending into the ground, it made it easier to slip away if duty ever called. Though, thinking about duty calling today made Roy realize he'd probably just tell them to call someone else in. He was greatly enjoying his time off with Kory and didn't want it to end.

There hadn't been a lot of talking during their time at the beach. The two had just enjoyed the presence of the other. Roy, as much as he liked to talk and ramble on, enjoyed just being around Kory. There was something about just being near her that could brighten anyones day, and Roy really needed that kind of positive energy in his life. So, even if the two hadn't exchanged too many words, just being close to one another seemed to speak volumes. At least for Roy.

The walk back through a carnival had diverted their diet from ice cream to hotdogs and cotton candy. It was lucky for both they trained so hard and exercised so often that they could afford themselves a cheat day like today. It hadn't been too long after they finished said cheat foods that one of the stalls had caught both of their eyes. Always out to impress, as soon as Kory had made a comment about the stuffed bear that was nearly larger than himself, Roy just had to go for it. Given his pedigree and his heroic identity, he felt almost as if he was cheating by tossing some balls at some cans. Though, in fairness, a lot of the carnival games were rigged in the carnivals favour, so Roy figured his skill really was just leveling the playing field.

With relative ease, Roy had knocked down the cans and easily won the big bear. The redhead, happy with having won Kory the big bear, would have easily just left it at that. It was when the two were walking away that Roy's pride took over him however, as the owner of the stall made a backhanded comment he couldn't do it again.

"I can, and I'll do it further back, with an arm behind my back too" Roy stated with pure and utter confidence in his voice. Roy was Oliver Queen's, the Green Arrow's, first apprentice. If anyone could be cocky about their accuracy, it was any of the Arrow clan. "And when I do, you give her whatever prize she wants" Roy stated, gesturing to Kory. Koriand'r never struck Roy as someone who needed to be showered with gifts or trinkets, so he wasn't sure if she really even wanted another prize if he won something.

Taking the three balls, Roy handed off two of them to Kory. He could see the big beaming smile on her face and that only made him more determined. He really couldn't make a fool of himself now, he needed to win her another prize. So he turned and focused. Taking a few steps back further from the stall, Roy tucked an arm behind his reddening back and with ease, tossed out the first ball, knocking down some cans. Taking the second ball resulted in much the same as the first. With the third is his hand, Roy took a few more steps back. The crowd that had began to gather around were getting louder and more into what they were seeing. "Do you have a second bear of the same size?" he asked before the ball flew out of his hands.

Now here is the point in time where all of Roy's good fortunes and positive things happening in his day would come to a screeching halt. He would miss, he slip and fall on his face. Maybe the ball would slip from his grasp and collide with Kory's face. Something, for Roy Harper, always went bad when everything seemed to be going so well.

SMASH!

But not today. The third ball collided with the third set of cans and they scattered. The crowd gave a cheer and Roy's smirk grew. Thank goodness things didn't go belly up. His gaze shot back to Kory, hoping to see her still beaming. He didn't really care about the prizes, but making Kory happy, now that was a win in his books.

It was no surprise to Koriand'r that Roy managed to knock the awkwardly stacked cans over once again – Harper had always seemed burdened with self-doubt, but the Tamaranean had nothing but belief in the red-head, which, it seemed, was rubbing off on the archer. As the metallic cylinders collapsed for the second time, a small cheer rose from a crowd of gathered spectators Kory had paid little heed to, and she let their collective voice accompany her as she approached her date, pulling him into a tight hug, along with the giant bear currently in her grasp.

She held both close, beaming, for longer than she perhaps should, and it was a cough from the tout that caused her to release him – turning her attention to the unimpressed stall-owner. Once she had turned to face him, he thrust another giant bear out toward the bronze-skinned woman, the same size as the last one, but wearing a cap and sunglasses, and carrying a large beachball in the place of a heart. Accepting it with a polite nod and a “Thank you!”, Kory tucked it under her free arm, turning toward Roy to smile – almost matching the inane smiles of the giant soft toys glued to her sides.

“Now you have proven your skill with balls, what would you like to do?” Though no double entendre had been intended, the miserable tout guffawed slightly, her words apparently applying a bandage to the wound Harper had dealt him. “We could perhaps ride the ferris wheel before we return to the tower?” She offered a suggestion, inclining her head to the giant, slow moving ride that offered spectacular views over the bay, out to the horizon line, where blue sky met blue ocean. She could achieve similar views flying, yes, but there was something beautiful in the ferris wheel's simplicity, and it would no doubt prove a more memorable experience than her simply taking to the air; something she did frequently in her work as a heroine.

Roy Harper

Roy Harper had many qualities that many of his friends would more than likely point out about him. Key was either his self-doubt, or his determination. A weird combination of features to say the least, but while Roy doubted a lot of things in himself, he would always do what he could to improve on himself. Or, in the case of going to a carnival; show up a fast talking stall owner. The red-headed archer had spent enough time with circus-kid Dick Grayson to know how rigged many of the stalls could be, for a normal person. Roy, and his lot of friends, were hardly normal people however, and he had shown that twice. Perhaps it had been a little cheating just because Roy Harper was one of the most accurate people on the planet, but the stall owner didn't need to know he was Arsenal.

Giving a couple of high-fives to the crowd that had gathered, Roy could feel their positive energy. But chief amongst their energies was Koriand'r's. While she took the second prize from the stall, Roy couldn't help but feel her positive energy. It had been really good for him to be spending so much time with the alien princess. There was just something about her that helped Roy feel more comfortable with who he was and what he had gone through in his life. While, sure, Vic and Wally were always good for a pick-me-up, meditating with Raven was good to clear ones mind, and beating up crooks with Ollie helped release some frustrations, Kory was different. She was everything all of his friends were, just combined into one person. With her around, he just felt like he was himself. Not someone trying to overcome past dealings. Just Roy Harper. And oh man did that feel good.

Leaving the potential double meaning aside, Roy gave a glance over to where the other had nodded. His eyes moved back to her, and then to the two giant stuffed bears. "I'm game for that. Maybe they'll let the two bears sit in their own cart while the Ferris Wheel does it's thing"

Knowing full well how strong and dexterous Kory could be, he had no doubt she could carry both bears, but Roy could also not help hearing a nagging voice in the back of his mind berating him for making his date carry things around. Date. Right. Was this a date? Was this just two friends hanging out? Maybe he would need to ask Kory exactly what they were. Maybe...maybe he should just wait. If they were a serious thing, she'd bring it up, right?

"Hey, uh, speaking of the bears...want me to carry one for ya? So you can free up a hand if need be?" Ya, the date question could wait. At least that's what Roy's mind told him. For now, at least.

Koriand’r beamed at Roy’s approval of her suggestion, outwardly expressing the happiness that welled within her - he wasn’t quite ready to end their afternoon together, and of that, she could not be gladder. The time she spent with all her old friends and former teammates was precious, especially considering her frequent absences from the planet she called home, working with the Justice League to ensure the safety of other races dotted throughout the cosmos. When seeing them, she did her utmost to eke out their visit, enjoying their presence for as long as she possibly could.

This had become even truer of Roy Harper.

She glanced down at the two bears as the Red Arrow suggested they might need their own cart, and Kory nodded in agreement. Having seen the size of the Ferris wheel, it would be a rather tight squeeze to get the stuffed animals and the two heroes in the same seat – doable, certainly, but it wouldn’t leave much room. Not that it was necessarily a problem. The Tamaranean didn’t mind being in close proximity to the archer in the slightest.

“It would be nice for them to have their own date,” she added, and then handed one of the bears to Roy when he offered his assistance in carrying the giant prizes. With her hand freed up once again, she reached for Harper’s free hand and took it, nimbly entwining her fingers with his, wiggling them against the back of his hand. She smiled over and began a leisurely walk toward the slowly turning wheel.

A companionable silence fell between them, and Koriand’r turned her face out toward the sea, letting the ocean’s breeze catch her hair, salt and sand grains softly stinging her cheeks. If it was possible, her smile only grew, and it continued to tug at her lips until they reached the wheel she hoped would give them the perfect view of the bay.

Roy Harper

The nagging voice that berated him about the bears latched onto his thoughts about whether this was a date or not. The voice soon morphed into that of his good friend Raven, someone who had caught him sneaking out of Kory's room not so long ago. She had brought up some really valid points about Roy and Kory and how he should express how he feels and to get answers. Really, Roy couldn't argue with Raven on that, and maybe the Ferris Wheel would be the best time for that.

The voice was subdued by Kory's beaming energy and hand off of one of the bears. As he got the large stuffed toy in a comfortable carrying position, he felt some fingers wrapping up with his own. His eyes moved from the bear, to the hands, to the face of whose hand was holding his. The hue of orange entwined with his own and seeing the bright smile from the other he was with slowly gave Roy more of that positive energy he was feeling earlier. His face softened and a small smile crept onto his face before it relaxed and became his default expression. Koriand'r really was a good influence onto his life.

While Kory's eyes went to the sea, Roy's were fixated into her. His nagging self doubt told him that despite all the good he was feeling, something bad was surely around the corner. This feeling was always what stopped Roy from going through with asking Kory about them. Roy's life had had so many down moments that all he could ever think of was what bad things were going to happen to counter whatever moments of happiness he received. It really wasn't a healthy thought, Roy knew that, but it was very persistent. However, with Kory's hand around his own, and that smile, even if it was facing away from him, it all gave him hope. With his eyes fixated onto the alien, Roy was filled with a joy he hadn't felt in so long.

And then he was also filled with a steel barricade to the nether regions. As the two had been walking, even with Kory paying attention, Roy had been so enamoured with the moment that he hadn't adjusted his course as the two nearly the Ferris Wheel. Roy had careened right into the barricaded that just so happened to be at the same height as a certain import part of the body. Roy keeled over briefly and air escaped his lungs as he winced in pain. Smooth Harper, so smooth his mind chastised as he readjusted himself.

"Well that was embarrassing...and painful. Maybe let's rush onto the Wheel so I can hide from the embarrassment"

Koriand’r’s gaze was pulled from the sea when the man at her side came to a sudden stop. “Roy?” He yelped, wheezed, and then doubled over, causing her to instantly adjust her focus, tilting her head toward him and dropping into a crouch at his side. Concerned green eyes searched his body for a wound – but there was nothing obvious, nothing that appeared fatal. Looking about the pair, it took her a moment to piece together what had caused him injury, but a quick survey of the path he was walking suggested a crotch-height pole was the culprit; one that he’d clearly not noticed and walked right into. While some may have laughed, poked fun at him or been too embarrassed to remain at his side knowing the nature of his injury, Starfire’s expression seemed to soften only more once she realised what self-inflicted pain he’d caused, and she released his hand in order to cup his cheek.

“Are you alright?” she said, in a voice little louder than a whisper, and stroked his held cheek with the soft pad of her thumb. While he didn’t immediately respond, the fact his wincing lessened and his breathing became more regular suggested he was likely to make a full recovery. However, Koriand’r remained crouched with him until he was ready to stand, maintaining her calming and comforting presence, and only returned to her full height when he did.


“Well that was embarrassing...and painful. Maybe let's rush onto the Wheel so I can hide from the embarrassment"

Koriand’r shook her head, leaned over, and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. “It is not as bad as you think it is. Very few people saw, and even fewer laughed.” She released his cheek and retook his hand, but made no movement to guide him forward. After the injury he’d sustained, it was likely he’d want to try walking again at his own pace. Thus, the Tamaranean simply waited – allowing Harper to move at his own pace.

Her assessment of the injury proved accurate, for after a few pained, laborious steps, he began moving as if the pole had never existed, returning to his usual gait. Starfire, who was taller and longer-legged than her human companion, kept pace easily, but ensured to continue stroking the back of his hand with her thumb in an attempt to console his wounded pride. If it worked, she wasn’t sure – he kept his features set and pushed straight toward the Ferris Wheel.

Roy Harper

There was a lot of physical pain Roy had endured in his life. Cuts, scratches, bruises, gun shots, hell, he had even lost an arm. But nothing. nothing would top the pain a guy would feel from having that part of his body get hit. And while it wasn't physical, the pain to his pride also could be felt.

But so to could he feel Kory's gentle grasp of his cheek. His eyes met hers and for the briefest of moments, all the pain in the World ceased, only for his mind to remind him exactly what had just been hurt. He winced again and his eyes shut tightly. "Oh, I'm fine. I'm fine. Just my pride is hurt. Oh God is my pride hurt"

Slowly standing up, with the help of the alien beside him, Roy's head leaned in gently to her kiss. God, what even is pain? his mind thought as she was so gentle with him. As she helped him to stand tall, her looked around as she mentioned few saw or even laughed. A lot of the guys around seemed to be crouched over and grasping in solidarity. A lot of second-hand pain probably. Roy gave a thumbs up, which seemed to ease some of the men that had been watching, a few even clapped in approval of his recovery.

Roy readjusted the bear and hobbled forward a bit. His free hand searched for hers briefly before he realized it was stroking his back. He didn't fuss to hold her hand and nodded to the Ferris Wheel operator. "Can we get seats for the bears too?" The operator nodded and soon the bears were placed in, and Roy waited with Kory for their own pod. "Hey, uh...thanks for not laughing back there. And for comforting me during it all"