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WHO: Naomi and Will
WHERE: the river shallows
WHEN: a warm day!!
WHAT: swimming lessons
NOTES OR WARNINGS: n/a, will add if necessary

[ It feels like it hasn't been that long since the new Displaced were released from the Safehouse, but Naomi's been busy. She's working to help restore the city and found a new job in the process, now doing the work under contract. Her first check was small, but enough to purchase some athletic gear that she thinks will be alright for swimming. Obviously an actual swimsuit or her underwear would probably be more comfortable, but they want to cut down on accidental contact, right? Will still hasn't taken her up on her offer of testing the bond and this isn't how she'd want it to happen.

It's a beautiful, sunny day that she happens to have off, and they've decided to do something they spoke about at the very start: swimming lessons. Maybe some fishing, too, if Will wants to stay by the water. And sure enough, she sees him sitting on a park bench with a pole propped beside him when she makes it to the arranged meeting spot. She comes up and sits beside him, smiling to hide her nerves.

He won't let her drown, she knows. She's more worried about making a fool of herself. ]

Hello, Will. Good day for it, hm?

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( She's not the only one that's been busy; Will's taken every available opportunity to stay away from the safehouse, given the fact that he's currently homeless. He doesn't have much of a choice but to head back for a safe place to sleep at night, but thankfully he's found himself employed at practically lightspeed. It's a well-paying job at that, and given the crashed housing market at present he plans on an expeditious escape.

Not every day is a workday. He still has to fill his days off with something, and as it so happens he owes somebody swimming lessons. It's hot as Hell, sunny, the river's ambling along at an easy clip thanks to the drought. Conditions are perfect.

He also owes her dinner, which he plans on catching himself before he afternoon is out. That's priority number two, though.

He's appropriately dressed in swimming trunks, but not shirtless like most of the men sporadically spaced along the shoreline. He's cognizant of the potential blue glow, and although he doesn't know what his power is he's sure there are ways to accidentally trigger it. A dark sleeveless tank top makes for a decent enough security net, just in case. )

Couldn't ask for much better.

( Agreed, and there's a note of amusement in there floating around. He's picking up on her nervousness. Insert the phrase about laughing with, not at.

Evidently he's heading straight into it; )

There are generally two approaches to entering a body of water. You can either tentatively wade in and slowly adjust, or you can dunk yourself right off the bat to get it over with.

( The question's unspoken: which is it going to be today, Naomi? )

[ Very appropriate, Will. Naomi herself is dressed in tight cropped workout pants and a long sleeved but very thin running top, her reasoning there being even though it's hot, Will might have to grab her at some point.

He asks an excellent question. Naomi taps her chin, making a show of considering it. ]

What if I still waded, but quickly?

[ She isn't quite brave enough to just jump in all at once, but a dunk while she can still keep track of the bottom sounds like a plan. For now she leans down to unlace her shoes. ]

( He doesn't envy her the long sleeves, but once the water hits it may actually be a benefit. Her skin won't dry because the water isn't wicked away, it'll keep her cooler if it's the right material — and it seems to be.

The alternative suggestion actually pulls a proper grin out of him. If we're being honest, he'd planned on drawing a few conclusions based on her approach. Splitting the difference with an unprompted option number three is good. Clever. A little cheeky. )

Sounds like a solid tactic. I'm curious if you'll commit to it once you're actually in.

( River water can be cold at first until you adjust. Really, any water can be cold at first. It'll probably be real tempting to slow down by the time she's waist deep.

He slips his own shoes off — threadbare, safehouse provided. He hasn't spent his stipend on a new pair yet. Once she's slipped hers off, he takes the proactive initiative to gather them with a finger tucked into either heel. They're placed tidily beside his own, next to a tackle box and a messenger bag. It's less out of the alpha male tendency to dictate his surroundings and more out of conscientious care. He's detail oriented, he's dedicated by habit. The odds of anybody trying to steal their shoes, particularly without their noticing, are slim to none. Still, don't @ him, he's a weirdo.

A weirdo that leads the way into the water, picking out a mindful path between river rocks. )

Ready?

[ She doesn't think it's weird at all, or some kind of dominance showing. Just considerate that he'd gather everything together for them. The tackle box and fishing pole get a little grin before she turns back to the water -- she was right that he wanted to fish, too.

Naomi follows him down to the edge of the water and nods once, determined. ]

Ready.

[ And carefully, trusting that Will is at her back in case she slips, she steps forward into the water. Just ankle deep to start, and now she can see why some people wade very slowly and others jump. It's cold, but she's used to space. Space is cold. This is only a shock because it's so warm outside on Earth. ]

I'm beginning to understand the 'dunk yourself fast and get it over with' technique.

[ She's delighted by the water, though, a broad smile at her face as she keeps stepping forward into it. The current isn't too strong, just a light tickle against her skin, and the shallows are sloping gently. Unless she steps in a hole or something and gets startled, it does seem like she's sticking to her 'wade quickly' methodology.

Will might think he was right when she gets to about her waist and it's suddenly feeling much colder... but instead of stopping or slowing down she just bends her knees quickly, submerging herself to the neck with a little 'whoop' at the temperature. ]

That's bracing. Come on in, Will!

( He doesn't even remotely bother smothering how entertained he is by the demonstration, particularly delighted when she follows through and drops down almost completely. Her whoop earns a flash of teeth, followed quickly by a faux-reluctant concession. )

Fair's fair.

( He doesn't just go to neck, though. He takes a step or two farther, up to his chest, and then fully dunks himself under. When he pops back up a second later his hair's a wet mop that he flicks out of his face with a quick dog-like jerk of his head. One hand passes over his eyes and mouth to clear away the excess run-off.

A little breathlessly: )

Good news, that was the hard part.

( Not really, but kind of.

He wades a little closer to her, somewhere within catching range should things go awry. Important point of order-- )

How long can you hold your breath?

[ Naomi runs her hands experimentally through the water and chuckles at Will's dunk, the way his hair plasters itself to his head. His question, though, has her a little stumped. ]

I've never tested it. Should I now?

I think that's for the best.

( He nods, hands settling on his hips. )

I think it's a good idea for you to get a rough idea of your own lung capacity. Some kind of instinctual feel for the timing, and what it feels like when you're pushing it. Figuring that out under water...

( Not recommended. There's nothing quite like kicking frantically for the surface when you realize you dove too deep and you're cutting it too damn close. )

Maybe above water first, then take a couple seconds to catch your breath, then we can do it underneath.

Okay.

[ It seems easy enough, and smart. She takes a deep breath and holds it, starts to count. She makes it a little over a minute before it becomes really uncomfortable, and lets it out in a whoosh. ]

Now underneath? Can I hold my nose?

( He seems encouraging, appropriately pleased by her technique and how long she can hold it. A minute isn't bad, a minute's pretty standard actually.

He nods. )

I'd recommend it, the first time. Don't push it, and maybe... don't open your eyes, it can be uncomfortable.

( One step at a time. )

Alright. Here goes.

[ Naomi holds her nose and submerges her head for the first time, feet planted apart so she doesn't tip over in the water. She focuses on staying under as long as she can, but is struck by the way it feels like lower-gravity. Like home, almost.

She manages a lot longer underwater, who would have guessed that it's easier? When she pops up she's about a minute-forty in, and wipes the water off her face with a grin. ]

How'd I do?

I'm impressed.

( He says it like he's conceding a victory to her. She can bask in her triumph, he's happy to enable that. )

You wanna do it one more time without holding your nose, or do you wanna get down to the actual swimming part?

( Considering her overachieving so far, he has a pretty good guess which she'll choose. )

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