No D33 in the Pool

[d33tached]

WHO: D33 and Archie, feat. Magnus Chase
WHERE: Archie's house
WHEN: late May
WHAT: D33 learns house to swim (?)
WARNINGS: will update as needed

[D33 has perhaps been spending a bit more time at Archie's house than usual. It has a great deal to do with not sleeping very well and/or eventually passing out there and waking up the next day. He goes to work, does his thing at the library, goes home to mack on his husband a little, etc.. Then, he usually ends up here.

[Not that anyone would put it past D33 to wear a sweater in late May, but today he's actually wearing (lo and behold) a t-shirt and, perhaps even more shocking, a pair of obnoxiously bright pink swim trunks that Archie had positively insisted on him putting on. They're out by the river, so it makes sense, he supposes, especially since even sitting on the bank is bound to bring about a few splashes from rowdy water Pokémon or perhaps a mischievous undead teen demigod - oh yeah, Magnus is there too. And D33 doesn't even mind! As long as Blue stays in the house.

[Anyway, despite whatever else Archie and Magnus might be doing in the water, and despite the fact that D33 has been assured several times that it is a.) shallow, b.) calm, and c.) very fucking hot outside, he stays seated firmly on the bank with his legs crossed, watching the Pokémon behind dark shades - whoever knew that these ridiculous looking "sun glasses" actually served a purpose? It is way too bright out here to have his pride take over and insist upon squinting his way through the afternoon instead.]

Comments

[h2no]

[it's not actually archie that flags dee down. it's alberta the wailmer.

she floats over to him, looking at him with big sad eyes.] Waiiii? [she asks. why aren't you in the water? the water is so fun!

archie notices her, fortunately, and swims over.]

Don't you even want to just... dangle your legs in?

[wailmer flaps her flippers gently, making small waves towards dee. not enough to splash him, though.]

[fehus]

[for his part, Magnus, in his very cool swimming trunks, pops up from beneath the stream with another small handful of Interesting Junk, mostly cool shaped rocks, shells and sea glass washed in from the ocean, and small bits and bobs he's found along the river's floor]

I'm starting to think they lied...

[the fish described a Neat Fossil in the area, and he's hoping to find it for Annabeth. he swims to the river's edge, dumping his recent finds onto the grass]

[d33tached]

[D33's face isn't any more emotive than usual, but he does almost look a little sympathetic when he faces Alberta. It's tempting to reach out and pat her, but since she's in the river, he can't really do that.]

I don't trust what you might do if I got that close. [He is so not going to risk getting pulled into the water.

[Then, to Magnus:]

Who lied?

[h2no]

Ya might get splashed, Dee, but no-one's gonna pull you in. That'd only make ya run out like a wet cat, I reckon.

[archie comments, swimming up beside alberta. she makes another sad noise and sinks down into the water a little... no friend....]

[fehus]

[he agrees with Archie;]

Yeah.

[speaking of wet cats -- Magnus slicks long hair back, pulling himself up onto the bank of the stream, at the other side of the wailmer. he clasps his hands together in the water, squeezing them to create a makeshift Water Gun to cheer Alberta up a bit. he looks over his shoulder at Dee]

I was talking about the fish. I can check for crabs, if that's what you're crabby about.

[the smile makes the dumb joke softer]

[d33tached]

You were--

[Talking to the fish. Of course. Why not?

[He rolls his eyes behind his glasses, largely because he knows nobody will see it, then eyes the Wailmer and the water's edge again.

[He's still wearing his dad sandals, this yahoo.]

Is she upset about something?

[h2no]

[to magnus:] Maybe it'll tip the scales in your favour.

[archie swims up to alberta properly, absent-mindedly wiping the water over the side magnus isn't squirting.

(magnus'll hear her say a quiet, very happy i love you mago as her expression changes to bliss. ahh, water.)]

She likes it when people come into the water with her. She doesn't understand why you don't like it and she's worried about you.

[fehus]

[Magnus' similar eye roll at Archie is not hidden. bad dad pun. bad dad pun? but then he smiles at Alberta's cute whale cooing and gives her a wet hug, leaning his face and body lazily against her bulk]

Don't make Alberta sad, Dee. [she doesn't look that sad, enjoying the water, tbh, but] Come swim.

[d33tached]

I can't swim.

[He says quickly, as if it's a line he's been waiting to draw out of his pocket for the last ten minutes and get them off his back once and for all.]

[h2no]

Yeah?

[he says that like it's the LEAST SURPRISING THING EVER, because it honestly is? there's no judgement in his tone, though.]

It's shallow. I can show you how, it's literally one of my jobs. I won't charge you though. Maybe.

[d33tached]

No, I--

[Whoops, that sounded a little too nervous right off the bat. But it's clear that the very idea makes him anxious, his jaw clenching once he shuts himself up.]

I don't...really see any reason to.

[Except for the, uh...sad whale, of course.]

[fehus]

[Magnus' expression, soft already as he partially-zones out against Alberta, softens more at the anxiety he (naturally) hears]

Why not? You can decide if you like it. Plus it feels good on a hot day.

[h2no]

Yeah! [archie chirps, continuing to bully dee into getting into the water.] You can hold onto Alberta, she's like a floatation device.

Mer! [she replies. which, to magnus, will just be a simple yes!.] It's shallow here. You could just stand up if you didn't like it.

[d33tached]

[D33's jaw tightens, still clearly nervous, but perhaps he's considering the idea. He doesn't really feel like he's considering it - the very thought kind of makes him want to get even farther away from the water.]

What of some...current, or...what have you. [His eyes go back to the water. He can see the breeze moving it around, but it's only about up to Archie's chest, and D33's damn near a foot taller than he is.

[Suddenly he's kind of concerned about looking like a huge pussy.]

[fehus]

[Magnus, who is never that concerned with how he comes off with regards to being a -- well, just not that concerned with how he comes off, easily assures]

It's not strong. You won't go floating into the sea or anything.

[h2no]

[fortunately for dee, archie's fuckboyery doesn't cover thinking of people as cowards and magnus just... isn't a fuckboy. i want to punch myself for even implying it in this here meta.]

Not strong at all, [he agrees.] Plus Alberta is here. So are we. Sharpedo's jettin' around somewhere-- you ain't gonna be alone.

[d33tached]

[New fear:]

He'll knock me over. [Sharpedo.] I mean, I--

I really have no desire to...be under any water-- any water.

[He sounds really nervous now, but that's probably because he's about to agree to this ridiculous thing?

[It can be a pretty important survival skill, to swim, right? Right. Right! Right.]

You'll have to tell him to mind himself.

[h2no]

How dare you, implying Sharpedo doesn't have perfect control over his speed. He's-- [archie points to where sharpedo is, a good way down the river. jetting around with crobat flying above it.] --busy, anyway.

[he pats alberta again.]

You just got this big girl to help here. She won't knock you over. Y'can use wild Wailmers to learn to swim with, their temperament is so good.

[fehus]

[leaning his head around Alberta]

Is that true? That's so cool.

[he asks Alberta]

Will you help Dee learn how to swim, Alberta?

[h2no]

[she bobs in the water happily, spraying a light mist into the air out the holes on her head.]

Yes... I like helping humans!

[d33tached]

[Somewhat nervously, glancing at Magnus:]

What did she say...?

[fehus]

[eyes fluttering closed, happy in the sunshine;]

She's gonna eat you alive and spit your bones into the ocean.

[d33tached]

[Pointed glare at Magnus.

[Then, eyes back to Alberta, slowly, begrudgingly:]

Fine. [He waves his hand] Very well, I'll...[He glances down, tugs a bit at the bottom of his shirt. Is he supposed to take it off first?] Is it...terribly cold in there?

[Stalling, stalling.]

[h2no]

[alberta whines lightly at magnus's translation. no, noooo! i didn't say thaaat! though it's lighthearted enough that it's obvious she knows he was joking.

archie glances between the two, settling on dee.]

When you first get in, but it warms up when you start movin'.

[HE UNDERSTANDS DEE'S PROBLEM but can't help the little bit of impatience that slips into his tone.]

idk if I was supposed to skip mags or nah

[d33tached]

[D33 can sense the impatience, feeling a bit impatient himself at Archie's impatience. He eyes the water for another long moment, then begrudgingly starts taking off his ugly dad sandals, then his shirt.

[He doesn't usually make a habit of being unclothed, but he's not necessarily terribly invested in hiding any of the scars on his body - he's covered in them, especially his back, and the brand "D33" on his neck is even more clearly visible with no collar to hide under.

[He inches toward the water, slowly - very slowly - sticking his feet in at first. Then, he spends another good minute just staring like that before something in him finally switches on and he lowers himself in completely.

[The water only goes up to his chest, but he latches immediately onto one of Alberta's fins anyway, looking not unlike a newborn donkey stumbling around like he suddenly doesn't know how to use his legs drama queen.]

u good fam

[h2no]

[he wants to pull dee in. he wants to pull dee in so badly, because it would be so funny... BUT HE PROMISED HE WOULDN'T, and magnus would probably be furious on top of it. so he doesn't. but he wants to.

archie back up slightly when dee gets in to give him and alberta space. when dee latches onto her, she coos slightly. despite being a child herself, alberta is suddenly acting like something of a seasoned trainer, thanks to her natural instincts. she bumps against dee gently, offering him an extra level of support.]

How you feelin' so far? It shouldn't take too long for your body to get used to the water temperature.

[d33tached]

[The water is cold, but D33's certainly felt worse - still, his body shakes a little, and he still struggles to find his footing, lowkey a little freaked out by what the ground feels like against his feet. He appreciates Alberta more than anything - it's weird how her presence makes him feel more safe than Archie or Magnus can. He clings to her more tightly when she gets closer. He says softly to her:]

I'm not hurting you, am I?

[His voice is quiet, slightly shaking too. He certainly doesn't seem like he's enjoying it all that much yet.]

Is this as deep as it gets here?

[h2no]

[alberta makes a small noise that doesn't sound hurt in the slightest. archie answers for her:] It'd take a lot more than anythin' you can do to hurt her, Dee. Don't you worry about that.

[she stays still in the water despite the small waves and keeps dee stable in doing so.]

Yeah, [archie points over to where there's a rock sticking up out the water a 15 metres away.] It don't get deep until you get past there, which you won't.

[fehus]

[Dee probably won't notice it -- but Archie might, that Magnus has gone quiet from concentration, rather than lack of interest. his hair glows golden -- or is it just picking up the sun overhead? and along with the easy flow of the river is an easier atmosphere; a peaceful atmosphere. Dee won't get hurt; Alberta and Archie and Magnus are here, and suddenly more present than before. the water is full of rocks and mud and fish and plants, all natural things, all things that belong there. whatever his brands or his brand-newness, Dee belongs there; it's a beautiful spring day, and even if it feels unnatural to be in the river at first, it's not. it doesn't have to be]

[Magnus blinks his eyes back open, and his voice is full of the same peace and calmness rising in steadiness around them]

Open your hand against the current. It feels pretty gentle, right?

[d33tached]

[The change in the atmosphere is so subtle that D33 hardly notices it at all. A few moments pass, and he notices that his breathing has slowed along with his heart rate, that the anxiety knotting up his insides has eased, and that the water actually feels quite nice against the burning heat of the sun.

[He glances down at his hand which he opens under the water. The current barely nudges it. D33 nods, then glances back at Magnus again.]

Yes, I suppose it does.

[h2no]

[he does indeed notice it and can't help but watch magnus do his thing for a moment. as big a nature slut archie is, magnus will always be more in tune with it-- being a nature demigod be that way.

he puts his own hand out, next to alberta. she coos gently.]

It's nice, here. This is my favourite part of the river. It's always so calm... how are you feeling about it all, Dee?

[d33tached]

[D33's quiet for a long moment, distracted by that gentle current, his eyes on the water, but without any of the alarm that they had been holding before. It does feel rather nice, really, just to stand here, finally steady.]

I suppose it is rather calm...[He glances back toward Archie, looking a little nervous again.] Must we...progress to the next step, or...? [He swallows.] Well, there surely must be more to it than this, I know, but I am...rather content to simply...stand, for now.

[Baby steps, but he is not about to put his face anywhere near the water no matter how fancy Magnus's nature powers are.]

[h2no]

No, we don't need to. You don't even have to do anything else at all today, if you want to just stay standing with Alberta.

[there's no impatience in his voice this time. he's over that.]

If you're content, then you can stay where you are until you feel ready to move on.

[fehus]

But don't pee. This is a river, which means it just goes downstream.

[a helpful interjection, certainly]

And that's where I am, so wait 'till we get out.

[d33tached]

[d33tached]

Why would I ever choose to do something like that?

[He sounds shocked just to be alive after hearing that.]

[h2no]

[IGNORE ARCHIE CACKLING INTO ALBERTA'S SIDE]

[fehus]

That's what people do in open water? The ocean, rivers, lakes...

[Magnus looks bemused]

All animals do it?

[d33tached]

[Actual footage of Magnus and D33 right now at this current moment.

[And he's out, ladies and gentleman.

[Suddenly very much on the shoreline and sounding not unlike an old woman who just had her skirt ruffled by a group of rowdy teenagers, he says (voice about an octave higher than normal):]

Why would you ever let me enter into it with, with, with-- [He gestures helplessly to the river.] With that knowledge?

[Alberta, he trusted you.]

You're both disgusting. How could you--

That can't be true. Archie, tell me that isn't true.

[FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T LIKE WATER, HE SURE IS ABOUT TO GO SHOWER UNTIL HIS SKIN MELTS OFF.]

[h2no]

Did you think... fish flopped into a human bathroom, or something?

[he exchanges a glance with alberta, who warbles a little at dee getting out the water so suddenly.]

You realise it's such a small amount and there's so much water in this river and because of the currents, it's literally not even noticeable, right?