(open) welcome to the exsilium transport swim team!

[crocodilesmiles]

Date & Time: August 6th, Afternoon
Location: Hold Training Facilities Swimming Pool
Characters: open to all! heard of it, completely ignorant, stop on by! threadjack! cr!
Summary: The first meeting of the Exsilium Transport Swim Team
Warnings: N/A

By the time the afternoon rolled around, Collette was down and rearranging the towels on the bleachers by the far wall. All those invited were either going to show up or not -- and new people might stop by hearing voices from inside the arched hall of the indoor pool.

Either way, it was a great distraction for her, and she hoped it would be useful for those who wanted to learn or practice swimming, or just have fun diving after rings and pulling them up off the bottom of the pool. Not to mention, maybe people would start diving!

And so it was that the person arranging the whole thing sat in her suit in her borrowed wheelchair (manual when she'd come over in her electrical) at the poolside, examining the lifeguard whistle around her neck with the stopwatch, and leaning over to poke at the lifeguard buoy.

Comments

[boundbydevotion]

[And here is the specter of terrible news, following Allen around just as he promised he would. This is an athletic pool so there probably aren't really any seats set out around, but he's made himself comfortable by the wall regardless. Fully dressed too, because is that really what passes for swimwear in this era?]

[debtor]

[Ughhhhhhhh.

Allen's doing his level best to ignore him, but it's kind of difficult in this setting. And he looks silly, dressed like that here! People are going to wonder what he's doing.

And Allen absolutely doesn't want anybody to know.

Eventually, he speaks up, without turning to face Link.]

...Are you just going to stand there the whole time?

[boundbydevotion]

[Looking up from his notebook.]

That is my intention, yes.

[debtor]

[ A groan. He'd put up a fight, but not right now. ] At least wear a swimming costume! You don't blend in at all.

[boundbydevotion]

[He considers just shooting down the idea entirely, but he supposes Allen isn't currently surrounded by Order personnel who know what's going on. Still... Eyeing the pool dubiously.]

Unfortunately, as I've only just arrived, what funds I have will be going toward food and essential clothing. Which is to say I haven't a swimming suit to wear.

[debtor]

Neither have I. Miss Collette's provided them, there. [ He gestures towards the men's locker room!! ]

[boundbydevotion]

[. . . Closes his notebook. And. Gives the doorway to the locker room a long considering look. I guess. ]

[debtor]

[Allen turns to face him fully now. THIS SMILE IS SO ENCOURAGING,]

Please, go ahead. It's a pool, Link, you can't wear your street clothes.

[Certainly not if you're going to be going for a swim.]

[boundbydevotion]

[YOUR ENCOURAGING SMILE JUST MEANS YOU'RE UP TO TROUBLE]

I will have to if there is nothing appropriate.

[debtor]

[SUCH LIES!]

You'll be able to find something more appropriate than what you have on now, I think.

[boundbydevotion]

[GIVES A BIG SIGH. He's clearly being too considerate this time around, not following him home, sacrificing his dignity so Allen can feel like he's not standing out...]

I will be put out if I return only to find you've wandered off.

[Marching off toward the locker room.]

[debtor]

[Link's hard life.]

I won't.

[Allen watches him go, and it would be a lie to say he doesn't consider running off now while he has chance. . .

But he told Collette he would be here and act as a "junior swim instructor", whatever that entails, so he can't just leave.

So instead, he dives into the pool and swims to the opposite end of it, as far from the locker room as he can get. FREEDOM, however brief.]

[boundbydevotion]

[It's probably a longer moment of freedom than Allen was thinking he'd get though, since Link is actually still getting used to the fact that he has a giant death-scar on his chest. He'd meant to choose something that honestly doesn't stand out but is reminded he'd rather not be asked what that scar was about and has to pick something else partway through changing.]

[boundbydevotion]

[Eventually returns wearing one of the wetsuits Allen had opted against.]

[debtor]

[...Allen doesn't regret his own swimwear decisions, once he sees the wetsuit in action. Though he does wonder why Link would pick it. Is he simply very prudish, or was it something else-?

He remains where he is, on the other side of the pool, watching to see if Link will follow him or not.]

[boundbydevotion]

[It isn't that terrible... Though I can only assume it's some black and purple thing with Initiative logos on it if it's free to borrow in the facilities. But he certainly doesn't appear particularly comfortable in it, at any rate, walking rather stiffly like he's being too mindful of where all his limbs are.

Link only looks around to spot Allen's mop of white hair (there's more than one head sporting that color apparently) before he seems intent on going back to his spot on the wall from which he'll continue his monitoring duties.]

[debtor]

[Well, at least he doesn't look so... suspicious, anymore...

But despite how Allen's misgivings regarding his personal stalker, he can't help but feel it's his fault, that he's making Link waste his afternoon passively watching everyone else have fun. And he's all dressed up, too!

After Link's settled, Allen swims his way back over to him, and leans on the edge of the pool.]

You won't come join us?

[boundbydevotion]

[The look Link gives Allen is some weird mix of unsurprised (at his Allen-Walker-ness) and mild wariness]

As your inspector it would be strange of me to take part.

[debtor]

[He takes note of the wariness, but doesn't quite give up yet,]

I don't know about that. [ glancing around at his fellow swim club members ] Nobody here would find it strange.

[boundbydevotion]

[Should he even bother pointing out there are other Exorcists here? After another pause just sort of resignedly heading over to the pool though he slows down a bit once he's in splashing range...]

You needn't be friendly with me out of awkwardness, Walker. You'll stop feeling so aware of my presence soon enough.

[debtor]

[Allen doesn't see why they'd care if Link participates or not! Not that he knows what they actually think of Link.

His smile drops when he speaks up, though. Three days into this and Allen has a difficult time imagining he'd grow so accustom to this that he'd simply forget that there's a man following him, watching him, constantly. And to hear it phrased so bluntly...

Is that really what it's like, back home?]

Would you prefer that?

[boundbydevotion]

[Seems a bit taken aback at being asked his preference. It isn't something he'd really bothered to examine amongst his concerns of abiding by his mission while attempting to mitigate the emotional impacts, without compromising the truths that he felt were important. Honestly he had been assuming Allen would be more comfortable if it was clear that he was free to just ignore him.

He stills, considering the question almost gingerly, like it's not something meant to be touched on, though what comes out sounds rather practiced.]

. . . I have no preference one way or the other, so long as I am able to perform my duties.

[debtor]

[No preferences at all? This is strange, what is he even supposed to say to this guy...]

Well. Then, if you want to swim, you should. I don't see how that would interfere with your duties. [ your inconvenient, uncomfortable duties...

he shrugs. ] But if you don't, that's fine too.

[boundbydevotion]

[Quiet for another moment before he sits down on the edge of the pool, feet hanging in the water.]

[debtor]

[Watching him. . .

It's like you've never been asked to come swimming before, or something. Allen just smiles

(it's a little funny.)]

It's a start.