[OPEN] I Want to Swim Away, But Don't Know How...

[treadwater]

Who: Undine and You
When: Mid-May, after the Battle Royale
Where: Pool Deck
Summary: Trying to remember how to relax
Warnings: Discussion of the event and violence possible


1. Flyers
Hand-written flyers on Serena Eterna stationary are posted in a few public spaces. Perhaps you run into Undine while she has an armful of them, sticking some up in the library or Playback or around the seating area of the Windjammer. They're fairly plain, words hand-written and a vague silhouette-style drawing of a person doing a swim:

SWIM LESSONS AT POOL DECK, 3PM-5PM

Apparently someone's looking to do something productive in the aftermath of all the things.

2. Swimsuit Shopping
Of course, Undine's going to stop and find herself a new, flattering swimsuit at the new Tommy Bahama before the lessons. If you're a friend, she might encourage you to join her. It's always an interesting time for her, shopping. Blue hair can clash with a lot of things, if she's not careful, but she also doesn't want to lean matchy-matchy. That's something she does in her transformed form, and she doesn't want to evoke that same sort of mood now.

"Alright, so here's the question: paisley or floral?" She's holding up both suits for a second opinion.

3. Lessons
Swim lessons go here--Undine starts everyone out in the shallow end, getting to know their level of comfort with the water. Luckily, she found some kickboards and floaties on the sports deck, so she can give lessons at all levels. She's an encouraging teacher, a bright smile on her face the whole time.

4. Free Swim
Once lessons are done, Undine gets herself a virgin pina colada from the pool bar and sits at the edge of the water, dangling her feet and relaxing. Now's a good time to talk to her about anything on your mind. Or maybe, maybe to get her to talk about what's on hers.

5. Wildcard
Same bat time, same batchannel: darkersolstice or darkersolstice#9463

Comments

[treadwater]

"The only one? Yeah, that seems like it might be a problem." Undine looks disappointed by that news. "Especially if there's most stuff like the island that happens."

[lightconductor]

"Yes," he says heavily, reflecting once again on the children involved in this entire mess. How old is she? She's at that age where it can be hard to tell, but she's definitely too young to have to deal with any of this.

"You were there, on the island, weren't you?" Watson asks, suddenly. "You were at the tables at the-- the other night."

[treadwater]

"Yeah, I was there. Ava and I thought that camping sounded like a fun idea. I died on the first day, though. Uh, Prompto and I killed each other."

She glances down sheepishly, as if worried he'll judge her for managing to get a kill on her way out.

[lightconductor]

Children. Children don't belong in places like this. Children shouldn't have to worry about the realities of taking a life.

"I'm sorry," he says. "You shouldn't have been in a situation like that, much less... how are you holding up, Miss Undine?" Watson is looking at her rather worriedly.

[treadwater]

She doesn't answer immediately, then sighs. "If I say I'm doing fine, I'm certain you'll know I'm lying, and you'll be concerned that I'm messed up in the head. If I answer honestly, you'll know this place is messing me up. There's no good way for me to answer that, really, is there?"

[lightconductor]

"That's... insightful," Watson says, a little surprised. "How old are you? I know grown men who don't have that sort of sense of their own minds."

And she has a solid point.

"Honestly, Miss Undine, I imagine that most of us are going to be suffering ill effects from this place very soon, if we aren't already. Though these things are difficult to speak of, I know."

[treadwater]

"I'm fourteen. But I'm not exactly like the sort of kids in a lot of other worlds. I'm a magical girl--gifted with powers I use to protect the city from monsters every night. So I'm used to being under pressure and my life being in danger, and I have been for years. I'm not entirely not used to things like this, for better or worse."

Really, it's the relaxing part of being on a cruise that's hard for her.

[lightconductor]

"You what?"

Watson puts up a hand to signal her to wait a moment please, while he processes this, and rubs the bridge of his nose. He shouldn't be so shocked by this sort of thing. He knows perfectly well that young men sometimes lie about their ages to enlist, but this doesn't sound like that. "Setting aside that you are a 'magical girl,' which I will have to take your word on as I know nothing about magic, you are from a city that is protected by young girls? Is that not... dangerous?"

[treadwater]

"Yes, it's dangerous, but we're the only ones who can fight the monsters."

She knows very well how dangerous it is--the look she gives him is quiet and steady, like any soldier who's seen the horrors of their war firsthand. It's a look Watson's probably seen in the mirror plenty of times.

[lightconductor]

That the looks is familiar doesn't make it any better. Watson meets her gaze, a crease forming between his eyes.

"That," he says, "seems a great tragedy to me, but then, I think it equally terrible when my own country sends lads of eighteen off to their deaths in a war they know nothing of. It was horrible enough for me, and I was twenty-six. Fourteen, though."

The look he gives her is quietly sympathetic, trying to work out what he thinks about this.

[treadwater]

"I've been a magical girl for two years already. We only have the dream and become magical between ten and thirteen, and most lose their powers before they go to college. But considering we're in the last city on Earth, maybe, it's important to protect all the people we can."

Yes, it's a damned lot to rest on young shoulders. But it's the only way things have been all her life.

[lightconductor]

"The last city on Earth?"

Watson's expression is pained. "The fate of humanity, in your world, depends on sending children with magical powers to fight monsters. Miss Undine, that is tragic. That would be a difficult burden for a grown man to carry, much less someone as young as yourself."

[treadwater]

She looks up at him, her eyes sharp and cold.

"I know, but what else can any of us do? Sure, there's girls who don't fight, but I'd hate myself, if I had the power and I didn't do something with it. I know, I know it's a lot--I have a therapist back home I talk to every week about what I'm dealing with. But what do all the rest of you think, when you tell me my world is unfair, is tragic? Do you think I'm going to say I'll stop, if I go home? Or start pitying myself more? It's my life, and I've got to live it. If your world is better...cherish it. Love the world where little girls don't have to fight, it's not the one I know."

[lightconductor]

Watson takes a moment to answer, meeting her gaze. It's a fiercer response than he'd expected, and in retrospect, yes, she's completely right. He knows that.

"In your place, I would feel the same way," he says at last. "I only meant to offer sympathy, from a former soldier to a current one. It's a hellish business, whoever's doing the fighting. I'm sorry, Miss Undine."

[treadwater]

"It's...it's fine. I'm sorry for blowing up at you." She glances down, looking like a child for once as she sort of deflates. "It's just. It seems like a big deal to everyone else, when it's just how things are to me. How things always have been."

[lightconductor]

"And there are things about the world I come from that have horrified people here," Watson says, "and yet they are how I've always known them to be. I don't claim to be from some perfect utopia, either."

He puts a hand on her shoulder, comforting, or at least an attempt at it.

[treadwater]

She sighs softly, relaxing when his hand settles on her shoulder. Look, she's big and tough and mighty and she really could use a hug and for someone to tell her that they've got this and she can relax just a little. But there's no way in hell she's going to ask for that, that's the problem.

"Um. Thank you. Sorry."

[lightconductor]

"If you ever want to talk about it," Watson says, "in lieu of your therapist -- well, psychological health isn't exactly my area of expertise, but I know something of what it's like." He pauses. "Not... not the magic, I can't help with any of that. But the rest, yes."

[treadwater]

"I might like that. Perhaps over drinks at Sand Dollars?" Not the typical hard drinking people do when sharing war stories with one another. But she kinda wants to be the one to introduce him to the concept of bubble tea. Look, look, Palamedes' reaction was priceless.

[lightconductor]

"Certainly. Any time you'd like."

He's thinking coffee, but yes, please do introduce him to bubble tea, he'll be very confused.