[Closed]

[hippocarnival]

Who: Yuya and Strange
When: later day 161
Where: Greysol and the lake
What: Yuya tries to teach Strange how to swim.
Warnings: Secondhand embarrassment?

Yuya's ready to make an honest effort at swimming lessons with Strange, but first they're going to need something more appropriate than heavy coats and slacks for swimming in, so when Strange reaches out to him, Yuya sets up a meeting at the first swimwear clothing shop he can find--he doesn't look into it much beyond the sign, but there's gotta be something normal in there, right?

His hands are stuffed in his pockets when Strange walks up, Koemi perched on his shoulder. Once he looks up he manages to pull his hand up to wave enthusiastically. "Mr. Strange! Siobhan!"

Comments

[kingsroads]

Strange continues bobbing up and down in the water, occasionally submerging before quickly kicking back up to keep his head above water. He watches Yuya, trying to take in as much as he can about the other man's form, how he moves, how he pushes the water away from him. That...well, hopefully he can do it. Strange won't lie and say it looks easy, but it certainly looks doable.

"That seems simple enough!" Strange remarks, with a little laugh. "Just pushing your legs forward and—" And then he sinks again, getting a mouthful of lake water in the process. Bobbing back up, Strange spits the water out, looking over at Yuya.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya stops his circling as Strange bobs underwater mid-sentence. Satisfied he isn't drowning, he instead considers Strange's description of it.

"You don't want to bend your legs that much. Using your arms to push forward and steer is really important, and you kick with your legs for power."

He floats to Strange's side and points to the shore. "I think you should practice by swimming that way first."

You know, to water he won't drown in.

[kingsroads]

"That's probably for the best," Strange remarks, with a wry little smile. Swim towards the area where he won't drown, brilliant idea.

"Well, here goes."

Of course, it's all kind of terrible. Strange doesn't stick his head in the water and his legs and arms are moving at different speeds, entirely unsynced with each other. But he's slowly moving forward and he isn't sinking, so that's what matters in the end.

[hippocarnival]

He's... he's not sinking, and that's all that matters in the end. Yuya's going to float behind Strange, giving him plenty of space to flail about without getting splashed. It's Koemi who pops up to swim beside Strange like some sort of constant demonstration, but given her short limbs and long body it... probably isn't very applicable to himself.

"You got it! Keep going, and try to move your arms and legs at the same speeds,"

[kingsroads]

Good Lord, he's got to move his arms and legs at the same speed as well?! Why the hell couldn't swimming be more simple! This was ridiculous! A brief look of disbelief flashes on Strange's face before he tries to start moving his arms and legs at the same time.

Unfortunately, all of the different rules that he's juggling end up with Strange hopelessly muddled, hopelessly confused, and downright flailing. So, he panics. And then he sinks. Fortunately, the water's only a few feet deep so as he sinks, he scrambles in the water for a few seconds before popping back up, feet back on the ground.

"Well! That could have gone worse!" But, that annoying little voice in the back of his head points out, it could have gone better.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's optimistic expression drops as Strange losses his composure and sinks. He's already starting to swim to his side as he resurfaces, righting himself onto his feet one the water is about waist level.

"Yeah, that's right. You still made it a couple feet, that's better than other people!"

Koemi rolls over to float on her back. "You just need practice."

[kingsroads]

Strange's curls are plastered to his face thanks to the water. He takes a moment to push his hair out of his face while he listens to Yuya talk. Likewise, Siobhan swims over to the two of them, looking everybody over as she does so.

"Well! That's reassuring to hear!" And is certainly making Strange's ego puff up a little bit. Ha! He's a good swimmer! Or, at least, he has potential to be a good swimmer. "I'll make certain to keep practicing, especially while I have Siobhan to help me out."

This is not going to happen. Strange is going to diligently practice for four or so days before getting distracted and doing something else or taking up a different hobby.

[hippocarnival]

"That's right!" Yuya pumps his fist with a grin. "It's just like bike riding, once you get the hang of it you'll never forget."

Or Strange will give up and never learn in the first place.

[kingsroads]

Yuya's grin is infectious and Strange matches it with a grin of his own.

"So! Shall we practice swimming some more?" After all, he does have potential, might as well throw himself whole-heartedly into this and learn as much as he can!

[hippocarnival]

"Yeah, sure!" They have plenty of time, and if Strange is still up for it then Yuya figures they can keep practicing for... a couple hours at most. If Strange can make it that long.

He swims back out, finding their original spot and waving. "Try swimming back and forth between me and the shore a few times."

[kingsroads]

Strange won't be able to make it that long. But, he's got around an hour's worth of practice left in him and enough energy and pep to keep going hard for that hour. He watches as Yuya swims back out to their original spot. And really, half of him is just tempted to walk over to Yuya but that's not how this works, he needs to practice swimming.

And so, Strange swims out to Yuya. It's still really terrible and he still seems reluctant to put his head in the water, but at least a third of the time, his arms and legs are moving in sync.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya would definitely notice if Strange was walking, that's not in the spirit of things at all! But since he's not, he looks pleased as Strange starts to make his laps. Yuya stays where he is to mark the boundary, but Koemi swims beside Strange as he goes back and forth. It's encouragement!