Octavius had dressed quickly and jogged to the docks, rendering his new set of clothing smelling slightly of perspiration, but he didn’t care. He had missed it upon first seeing it, but left to his thoughts as he changed out of his soiled clothes he had realized that Regan was in a state. What kind of state, exactly? Well he was hurrying back to her to figure that out.

When he caught sight of Regan he slowed. She was a wounded soul if he ever did see one. He gave himself a moment to drink in the angst of it all. When he drew nearer she’d find kindness in his eyes and an easy smile.

“Let me guess.” He started, gentle humor thickening his tone. “They stopped serving dumplings to the military units in Lorendale?”

Octavius closed the distance between them, his smile growing at her response. When she stopped rubbing her eyes he would adopt a seriously expression, eyes wide, mouth open, too melodramatic to be legitimate.

"The dumpling gods will not look kindly upon those who undermine their authority." He dropped the jest, mostly anyway, and looked her over. She wasn't looking better. His brow furrowed in concern.

"Are you okay?"

Octavius liked to see her loosening up a little, but it didn't quite shake his concern. He was sure she'd encountered horrors in Lorendale, if the kingdom was as chaotic as he'd heard rumor of. But that wasn't quite it.

"No, I mean..." He drew closer to her, if she didn't shy away, and he'd raise the back of his hand to her forehead. "You don't feel so hot. And you look like hell."

Octavius retracted his hand and frowned at her, smiling despite his brows. She thought he was attractive? He'd been an awkward looking kid until just years ago. Apparently Cambria had done a wonder on him, she wasn't the first woman to mention his looks. In fact, hearing it again now, he was momentarily distracted from her state and was dwelling on his instead. If he was an attractive man this would have implications for him concerning marriage, wouldn't it? Now that was a thought...

"Wha--ater? Yes. Definitely." He checked back in and looked to the sea. Its waves were gentle, beckoning a safe dip. Octavius whipped off his shirt. It was rather standard for a man to swim in underwear. He glanced at Regan, curious to see if she'd equipped herself accordingly.

Werewolf form or no, Regan had always been an insatiable creature. Even if she didn’t act on the impulse—which, she hadn’t exactly been perfect in that department—it was always there. Like a kid with a sweet tooth that couldn’t help but eye the candy in the shop window. It took Regan a moment to realize she was staring at the bare-torsoed Octavius. Once she did, she quickly averted her eyes, looking down at her boots as she shucked them off her feet.

Regan slipped her tunic over her head. The undershirt beneath would hide her wound and keep her decent. Maybe the salt water would do it good, she thought. Cleanse it, or something. Regan unbuckled her trousers and kicked them aside, similarly stripped down to her undergarments. Regan wasn’t here to impress anybody, nor did she think she would.

After standing there for a moment, looking at the dark waves, Regan looked at Octavius with a lopsided grin.

“Race ya.” She’d take off down the dock, charging toward the water.

Octavius was something of a gentleman. He averted his gaze and gave her privacy as she undressed. There was something sensual about watching a woman take off her clothes, wasn't there? It hardly mattered what she was wearing after she was disrobed. Okay, it totally mattered, but...

His eyes flashed to her form as she took off. Was it ever not jarring to see a girl so scantily clad? No, no it wasn't. But whatever tendency towards sexual thoughts that were not uncommon for men (and women) were easily snuffed at the memory of Grant's face as he inadvertently expressed his deep care and desire for the woman before him. Octavius, unlike some, could remain platonic. He'd do so happily for the sake of a friend.

"Oh no you don't!" He hollered as he worked his long legs and pumped his arms, hotly pursuing her. If she didn't cheat with her half shift then it was very likely that he'd overtake her and hit the end of the dock first. Regardless of who won, he'd cross his hands, point them overhead, and plunge into the waves.

She did cheat. The beast was so close to the surface, so unbearably tempting that it rose unbidden. Her eyes flashed before she reached the end of the dock, her supernatural speed launching her off the edge and headfirst into the blackness. The cold water swallowed her whole, all light disappearing as she plunged into its depths. The ocean salt stung in her wound. The pain, coupled with the cold and sense-numbing quiet dark, bought her a moment’s peace. She lingered in the black. Regan herself sink until her lungs burned for air. Only then she she reemerge, breaking the surface gasping for air. She’d look for Octavius, eyes glowing faintly for a moment before growing dark once more.

Octavius was shocked when the woman passed him and entered the water first. The shock heightened as he broke through the cold of the waves. Unlike Regan, he immediately surface, never one to play with the darker things in life. His eyes swung, searching.

“A wolf and a fish, huh?” Octavius asked aloud, hoping the sound of his voice would beckon her forward. After another few seconds that felt like minutes he started to panic. He had no idea how well she could swim, and he started to assume the worst.

“Regan?” Alarmed at first, but then with panic, “Regan?!” Just about then her head popped up and she took her petition for air. Octavius’ heartbeat was in his ears, racing with fear.

“Dammit, Lass. Don’t do that.” His grin wavered a little as he swam towards her.

Regan grinned, chuckling at Octavius as he swam for her. She looked up at the stars, barely peeking through the veil of clouds that blanketed the night sky. With the chilling water sinking down to her bones, the night was both bleak and peaceful.

"Have you ever come out here like this before?"

Octavius got close enough to be close without being too close. Not for a moment did he forget that this was Grant’s girl. Grant’s girl and his friend. Even if the moonlight on her face was oddly romantic. Even if Octavius yearned for something more with a woman in his life.

He stopped looking at her and turned his gaze to towards the sky.

“Yep. Not in these specific waters, but night swimming is a pastime.” He grinned as he said it, entertained by his own description. “You?”