Land-Locked and Full of Wanderlust [open!]

[learntowalk]

Date & Time: 01/22; late evening to late night.
Location: The apartment building hallways. Mostly around the 500 units but she might scoot herself a little further.
Characters: Dr. Aileen Kimbler and YOU.
Summary: A mermaid fresh out of water tries to figure out standing and probably bugs passerbys with quick-winded questions due to ocean-to-land culture shock.
Warnings: All this poor sap has on her right now is a towel.

[ So walking back to her own apartment is severely hindered by the sudden disruption of her own timeline, and now there is only a very wet, very confused Aileen standing where there was once Dr. Kimbler. She's looking ten years younger when the reality is far more decades than that, with seaweed twisted up in her hair and body pretty well coated in sand underneath her towel.

But here she is. Fallen on the ground now that her legs are dumb, new things to her. She's frightened of this new place for sure but her heart is racing for an entirely different reason, she knows. All that time spent fleeing across a harsh and wide sea, dragging herself up past the shore-- this proves how worth it it was. It might not be where she originally pulled herself up but that can't tarnish her excitement. So long as it's anywhere but home, how could she care less?

If someone happens by the halls this evening they're likely to come across Aileen hanging out here on the floors, finding more wonder in a plain hallway than previously thought possible. ]

Comments

[outright]

[ Well, that must mean she's not a doctor in whatever ocean she crawled out of. He looks a little amused, but nods. ]

That was how you re-introduced yourself to me. And as we got to know each other, well, I could tell you were no liar!

[ He reaches both hands out for hers, making to stand. ]

Come, that's enough sitting on the floor, let's have you up—

[learntowalk]

[ Any story that foretells her of all people becoming a doctor is definitely rising higher on her scale of believability. Or okay, things she wants to believe anyway.

She stares at his hands oddly, the gesture a little foreign. Then it clicks and she pulls back, her head and ears drooping sadly. ] O-oh. I did say this was my first time up here, s- Vanadi. I'm sure you understand I haven't quite...figured things out yet. [ a.k.a. this is embarrassing in front of somebody important, please don't make her say it. :c ]

[outright]

[ Walking lessons, is it? Well, he probably has the patience for that. For a while, anyway. He considers that for a while, hands hovering, until a very favorable possibility occurs to him. ]

Sorry, does that mean you're new to legs in general? Or only to using them on land?

[learntowalk]

[ Head. Tilt. Shouldn't he already know something this obvious? ]

It's completely new! Back in the ocean no one has legs. [ But with his hands still out like that she feels like she should be doing something. So. She awkwardly reaches out for one of his hands. (The other is still holding closed that towel, of course.) ]

[outright]

[ Oh, happy news. His interest is only picking up, and he folds both hands over that one of hers with a cheery smile. ]

Why, then you must be a virgin. Yes? At least to the sorts of things we legged folk get up to.

[learntowalk]

[ Oh Vanadi. That question can mean two things in her world. One is the obvious and the other is blood ritual. Her heart is kind of hammering in her chest and her eyes go a little wide. WHAT DO? ]

That is-- a strange question to ask. Didn't the other me ever talk to you about that?

[ A weak stall, but maybe she can decode the sudden interest. ]

[outright]

Well, yes! [ And here's where he quickly hopes that this sort of lie can't be too easily disproven... ] In fact, you'd picked up quite a few tricks by the time I'd met you, and taught me them all.

[learntowalk]

[ oh. OH THANK GOD HE'S TALKING ABOUT SEX.

...wait she was teaching-- WHOAWHOAWHOA. ]

We were lovers?!

[outright]

[ That gets a laugh, and a 'oh you're so silly' look to go along with it. ]

Very fond ones, too. [ He pats the hand of hers still held, smiling. ] I will. of course... understand, if you feel uncomfortable or would like some space. But we were very good friends, the two of us.

[ This is really one of his finer schemes, he has to admit he's proud. ]

[learntowalk]

[ She takes a moment to process that. Or attempts to process that. Processing that really involves a whole lot of picturing that. She's blushing crimson. Help. ]

I... [ Is this true?! It would explain why he dismissed the formal address. ] You said you were only here for a few days though...

[outright]

A months before that, as I said, yes? It seems we began our relationship back then, and came to pick it up again once I'd returned without memory of it.

[ Does that make sense? He thinks it does. Having a pair of amnesiacs is incredibly convenient, actually. He smiles at the blush, lifting a and to pat her cheek fondly. ]

It's a lot to take in, I know! I'm very sorry for that.

[learntowalk]

[ She's suddenly feeling so anxious. Not even out of the sea for a day and she's got her future self's sex-capades to deal with. Just how much fooling around was she doing??

Okay, deep breaths. Her free hand goes up to meet his, nervous fingers feeling his skin. ]

This is all so strange.

pretend that was 'and months' not 'a months'. and then also 'hand' not 'and', damn

[outright]

It is, I know. I felt the same.

[ He leans in to brush a kiss against her forehead, then back again. He's offered the bait, time to make it seem appealing. ]

Well, first things first. Would you like to re-learn to walk?

no worries, i understood B)

[learntowalk]

Oh, yes! Of course!

[ Immediately she breaks back into a smile, hopeful and taking his hand from her face so she can hold it more properly in her own.

Even if this new development is something she's not sure she wants any part of, well... How can she turn down something as valuable as walking lessons? Vanadi seems harmless, besides. Right? ]

[outright]

Well, then up we go.

[ He offers no warning beyond that, but takes both her hands firmly and pushes himself to his feet — pulling her along with. He also pulls in slightly, so that if she falls, she'll fall nowhere but against him. Safe and enjoyable, how can he lose? ]

[learntowalk]

[ Oh that's just not fair at all! She nearly squeaks from the surprise, feet forced under her weight and stumbling to support herself. There's honestly no way she isn't going to fall and with her knees buckling she finds her face pressed against his chest. She looks up at him, looking pretty miffed. It's kind of annoying that she lost her towel in the process, too. ]

You could have given a better warning than that, you know.

[outright]

[ And he grins down, all sharp teeth and good cheer. This is all turning out rather well, and the fallen towel is an unanticipated bonus. He looses her hands to clasp her upper arms instead, for better balance and closer proximity. ]

Why, but you're doing just fine. [ He ducks his head to land a quick kiss at her cheek. ] Come, gather yourself, you won't learn walking just standing there.

[learntowalk]

[ In her own culture, a kiss on the cheek is usually a sign of gratitude, but she's not fool enough to misinterpret it here. She eyes him uncertainly, still a little irritated but does what he says.

Moving her legs so much and so suddenly hurts give the scars down the inside of both, but she ignores it with some effort. Feeling with her toes helps gets both feet flat underneath her, and, staring down she tries to position them similar to Vanadi's with decent success.

She mumbles out, under her breathe: ] Awful things...

[outright]

[ He watches her with a pleased smile at first, until he drops his eyes down to her steps. She's doing well enough that his patience for the game stays intact, and he's even feeling generous to make his steps backward slow and cautious. ]

There you are, that's not so bad. Quite good for a girl new to toes. [ And with a grin: ] And they're very nice toes, never let anyone tell you otherwise.

[learntowalk]

[ She pays close attention to how far he's moving each foot, copying with a bit of a stumble at first but finding the right balance is a lot easier with his arms keeping her steady.

There's a small smile at the compliments, along with a glance up to his eyes that says she doesn't believe a word of it. ]

You have such kind words for me.

[outright]

[ He glances up to catch that look, and his grin in return says he knows exactly how much his lie reeks. But when has that ever stopped him? ]

Kind words for a beautiful woman, what can I say? It's natural.

[ He takes a few steps more, still moving slowly. For now. ]

[learntowalk]

[ It's starting to dawn on her just how good with words this guy is and she can't decide what to feel about it. It does seem like he knew her, though, and he is doing her a huge favor, so he still has the benefit of the doubt. Bothering him about it would probably be rude, anyway. She never did like prying. ]

Flatterer.

[ More time spent trying to match his steps. Her movements are still pretty shakey but it looks like she's picking up on how wide each step should be. ]

[outright]

[ As she begins to get the hang of it, his hands slip down from her arms to her hips. Much more nicely intimate. The pace picks up a little while he's at it. She can take it, can't she? ]

By the by— I don't suppose you need a shower, do you? You're looking a little... sandy.

[learntowalk]

[ Whoa hey! The change in pace gives her a moment of worry, but she's determined not to fall this time. Her hands go to his shoulders since he's apparently not helping her balance anymore. Still, all that doesn't bother her, not if she's still on her feet, its only when she takes notice of where his hands have relocated themselves that she's staring at him oddly. ]

Shower? I guess there was a lot of sand, but my towel should be fine enough to-- [ A glance back and its actually kind of far away by now. And that's upsetting, because it was a gift, not to mention her only possession up here! ]