Pool Time ♥♥♥ So Fine

Summer time! Hot air, cool water, pools! Who wouldn't be excited at that moist thought of throwing yourself into a pool of fun coolness? Most everyone, except Ezra. Just recently, he had been invited to an escape to the pool for a day with his good friend Hera and a friend-to-be Edward, but he hasn't actually met them yet.

Ezra always was up for group events, in fact, he encouraged them, but his anxiousness about water was always obscured behind his usual playful grin.

Ezra wasn't particularly afraid of water, but never enjoyed being around it, especially in the summer. The intense and the watery goodness never combined with him well. If anything, he was more of a Spring person, where the temperature was just right. Not too hot, not too cold, and considerable amount of rain. It was an odd choice for such a character as Ezra, who had the temper of boiling water, but the magic of an Ice Slayer.

In the changing room, one would see a redhead crouched on the ground, hugging his stomach as if sick. He shivered quietly and mumbled under his breath, as if speaking another language. No way in hell I'ma get in that pool... just thinking about it... NNGH! Ezra gagged when his thoughts returned to the bitter idea of splashing in the chilly water. If anything, he could only lukewarm or hot water. Heat and chilly water never went well with him. However, in most cases, if the redhead were to calm down and relax, it would be easy to enjoy the pool.

Aight now... time to get up and out... Ezra thought to himself as he would reluctantly raise himself from his original posture, revealing his grey jacket, black tank top, and brown shorts with sandals. However, his departure from the changing room came to an abrupt stop when a shorter, blonde man with a rather heavy outfit entered.

His outfit was oddly familiar upon first glance, as it was clearly associated with organized religion. Ezra stroked his chin until it finally came to him, smiling over to the stranger, "Hidy do! You wouldn't happen to be with them priests and priestesses over at Magnolia's Chur-... er, Cathedral, would'ya?" The redhead inquired. He wasn't as savvy with religious terminology as others were, leaving him puzzled on how to address certain things.

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MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

For the most part, Ezra simply wanted to get his mind off of his paranoia of pools. Perhaps conversation was one of the best ways to do so, since being social required your attention.


In this changing room were several stalls that men and boys could go into for some privacy and change. The blazing redhead found his back leaned against one with his sharp eyes on his acquaintance. If anything, the man looked to be more of a feminine build. He certainly was attractive. His golden locks and shining blue eyes stood out just as equally as Ezra's red hair and blue eyes.


"Hidy do, yes sir, yes sir!" Ezra would retort pleasantly, "Folks 'round these parts don't seem to talk like me." The redhead explained, although it was quite obvious that what he said was true, it went without saying. The southern man listened attentively to the man's words, which was full of capability.


If anything, the man reminded him of his siblings. His younger brother and sister both had blonde hair, and he just happened to be the only one who resembled the Father with his blazing red hair. He got tired of seeing those golden locks day and night and often reminisced of those days when they were together, only to instantly feel blessed to not have to be nagged by them.


It was those days he missed. It seemed as if everyone around him had some sort of tragic past. Families die, lovers betray one another, people become murderers, homes are destroyed and the memories within them abandoned. Ezra felt unique among those people, which was morbid in of itself. He grew up in a happy, stable household with two married parents and two younger siblings. The only things he would consider tragedies would happen to be just a few misfortunes, like falling into a lake when he couldn't swim, his magic spiking when he was angry or upset, and the alleged death of his Father when he was eighteen.


When Ezra had thought about it, he reckoned that it was the lake incident that began his paranoia of pools and lakes, and the magic spikes beginning his secrecy about his magic, and the death of his Father putting the path of a professional wizard ahead of him.


He was grateful to have had a happy background but often found himself sympathetic for those who didn't.


With those thoughts festering in the back of his head, Ezra continued to listen to his new acquaintance. It had been revealed that his name, oddly enough, had been Edward Von Aurence and he indeed had been associated with the Church. In fact, he was the priest.


“I'll be damned. I knew I've seen that attire of ‘ers somewhere, I reckon.” Ezra laughed with his hearty voice, turning back to Edward, “What’s a religious fella like you doing about these pools ‘n all? I guess even priests need some time to enjoy themselves, yeah?”


Ezra remained jolly throughout the entire conversation, genuinely intrigued by Edward and his doings. He supposed it was none of his business, which it wasn't, but asked the questions he did anyway.


”Edward von Aurence, huh? Name's Ezra Aurence. Ain't that something? You my soulmate?” The redhead teased, patting the blond on the back.


Ezra was quick to instantly return to shunned thoughts about Hera in her bathing suit. He actually did want to see it, but he tricked himself into thinking that it was for innocent reasons. The thought made his cheeks flush a rosy red and his face looked more frustrated than anything, when truthfully he was just embarrassed.


”...Anyway, I best be getting back to girly out there. You wouldn't be so busy to join a man for a slushie or two?” Ezra grinned, offering some time to spend with the man over some shaved ice with flavoring.

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MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

Ezra listened attentively to what Edward had to say. It wasn't all that interesting, to be honest. He seemed like any other religious fellow, except had a one-dimensional lifestyle. Based on what he was saying, it seemed as if most of his daily routines often involve his religious practices if going to the pool was something so alien to him.

The idea made Ezra rather bored, just thinking about this man's hypothetical daily routine. Though, he wasn't one to judge. Most of his daily routine involves working out and drinking. At the thought, Ezra snickered to himself and shook his head as he listened.

"Nice of ya to do that for the townsfolk. Lots of fellers don't do the same, ya know?" Ezra acknowledged. "Keep doing what 'er 'doin, e'eryone could use a little compassion, ya hear? Heh."

It wasn't as if Ezra didn't believe a God existed, he just didn't have a personal God. With demons, minor deities, and treacherous monsters, it wasn't hard to believe some higher divinity existed, he just never lived following win. He believed in his own strength, will, and power, and felt as if he didn't need a God to justify that.

However, as Ezra continued, his thoughts quickly shifted back to their similar names. "Last time I checked, sure is. Born Ezra, raised Ezra, living by Ezra. Ain't nobody named Ezra Aurence 'cept Ezra Aurence, heh." The redhead scratched his scalp nervously, rather proud of his name, but putting more light on it than need be.

Frankly, he wouldn't be surprised if the two were related or came from the same village. Betrothals happened every year at home, though most of the children who left the village were in their betrothed parent's custody. He didn't think too much of it at the time.

On that note, Edward dismissed himself to the changing stalls, leaving Ezra alone with his thoughts again. As the image of Hera in a swimsuit loomed over him, he grew more and more restless, his cheeks flushing a cherry-red once again. However, before his thoughts could trail off any further, Edward had emerged from the stalls, somewhat defeated. He was a rather lean boy, not fat, but he wasn't very muscular either. Ezra could already see them having a conversation about exercise at some point in the future.

And as quickly as Edward emerged from his stall did the duo emerge from the facility and out to into the open, where they would discover a sight unheard of in such heat. Snow? Well, that's 'somethin... The redhead thought to himself.

In the near distance would the two find two animal-like beings and with them, Hera and an unfamiliar face. Her scent was dry, and rather unnoticeable, as was her presence. Hera's, of course, stood out the most. Her scent was rather strong but pleasant. On that note, she also wore one of the most exposing swimsuits he had ever seen. Or perhaps it was because of his body structure? It did get a lot of attention, but Ezra didn't find big-chested women to be appealing, comparatively. He was rather modest, believe it or not.

"Hidy do, ladies!" Ezra greeted the two women with his usual jolly tone, "Who're these fellers, girly?" The redhead would then query, curious two the two beasts and woman.

"Oh, also," Ezra pointed to Edward, "looky here!" The redhead was oblivious to the fact that Edward and Hera had already known each other, and that he happened to be in their guild. He never got a proper introduction.

The redhead would then turn over to the large wolf and coo at it, somewhat interested but didn't seem to freak out like Hera did, "Well, well, well. I'll be damned,
Ain't you a big one, eh?" Ezra wiggled his nose happily with a toothy grin to follow it up.

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MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS