[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

[broshaw]

Uhhhh, teenagers are always better aware of what is and isn't cool, obviously.

Also, that sounds a lot like something Effie would have said when he first stumbled into the world of Tommy Bahama, so he's gonna bet it's solid advice. And you know who wouldn't think about flowers in his beard??? This guy.

"Dude, that's a good idea!" But then he remembers, "Uh, are there even any flowers around here?"

[treadwater]

"Probably like, fake flowers. I'm not sure I've seen any real living ones on the ship, but I haven't really been looking. Maybe the dining room--the formal one--has some centerpieces no one is using?"

She would bet this man doesn't often visit the formal dining hall, somehow.

[broshaw]

"Hmm. Yeah, I guess that'd work. I should probably go in there but, like, they want me to eat at nine PM? And I'm usually drinking by then, soooo..."

So he doesn't want to accidentally make an ass of himself in a fancy-ish establishment. He knows his limits, and he has some pride. Somewhere.

"Uh, not that -- you look the age I should be saying, 'don't drink' to, so, like. Don't drink, or whatever." Yep, he's fulfilled his adulting duties here.

[treadwater]

"I'm not one of the troublemakers, you don't need to worry that you're going to corrupt me by mentioning that you plan on drinking." She laughs easily, waving it off. "Also? The dining room won't kick you out whenever you show up. It's okay to go early."

[broshaw]

"Good, 'cos I do not need that on my conscious." He already feels bad for using party liquor on Blade, okay, and that had been a fuckin' necessity. "And... I guess I figured that it was like, a cardinal sin or something. One of those things that get you murdered on the ship, or whatever."

Because that's how it works, right?

[treadwater]

"I don't think you'd be murdered for that. Friday might scold you, perhaps, but I'm pretty sure that's about as bad as it would get. Right?"

The murders were more random than he anticipates.

[broshaw]

He holds up his hands, "Like, I dunno! I'm trying to just, like. Stay right in the middle of everything so that I avoid all the bad shit. As long as I do that, I'm good. ...Right?"

Totally, right???

[treadwater]

"...ah. I'm not sure anyone gets to avoid the bad stuff. I think...it's just going to happen to us, no matter what. The island battle royale, there were good wholesome people who were forced to kill. And who got killed."

Undine deflates a little.

"I'm sorry."

[broshaw]

Sharky waves both hands at that, like, nahhhh. "Don't apologize, it's not like you're the one setting up the battle royale or whatever. Although, kinda sucks that it was sprung on all of you like that."

He... apparently doesn't seem too phased by the concept of murder games. It's just, like, whatever, man. "I guess if you want to live rent-free on a fancy ship with no fear of hunger, thirst, or sickness... you gotta shoot a couple of people, huh?"

It's a bummer, and not an entirely acceptable one, but... well, it's not like anyone stays dead, right???

[treadwater]

"...for some of us, it's a little harder to get used to, than that. Dying isn't exactly pleasant at all."

She...really doesn't know what to make of him, at this point.

[broshaw]

"Oh, yeah, don't get me wrong, I am talkin' a hella big game for a dude who just showed up. As soon as I get murked, I'll probably start thinkin' differently about it." He makes a face at the idea, fairly confident that he'll go down like a sobbing baby if one of these dang teenagers had to shoot him. "I bet it fuckin' suuuucks. But I'm not, like, too surprised that's what it takes to keep the party going."

Because that's how it works. This is a ship full of infinite resources, where they're left largely to their own devices, allowed to do almost anything they want seemingly without repercussion. The price has to be huge to pay for all of it. And since it's obvious that cash isn't the legal tender here... Blood seems unfortunately like the most logical choice.

He's saying all this, obviously not realizing that Undine has a more personal stake in the matter. Would it affect his opinion? Probably not. But he definitely wouldn't be saying it if he knew!