petit poisson, petit poisson

[exceptfebruary]

WHO: Calendar Man & the Doctor
WHERE: a swimming pool in... heropa i think?
WHEN: February 19th
WHAT: Calendar Man grew gills (thanks, Pisces) & they want to test this out
WARNINGS: nah brah this is just silly fun



[ Julian arrived at the swimming pool promptly. He's not sure how he feels about this new power, exactly -- not least because he got it halfway through Aquarius. The least it could do was arrive at the beginning of Aries. But no matter.

(It makes him miss the trolls, a little.)

But he can't summon monsters anymore. Learning how to use this power is better sooner rather than later, just in case. And who best to test it out with than the ever-enthusiastic Doctor? And one of the only people Julian knows who he'd be willing to... well. If something goes wrong, he trusts the Doctor to help him out.

Speaking of his friend, he looks around, wondering if he's here yet.]

Comments

[helpline]

[ The Doctor is already there, waving widely at Julian. The building's a smaller local gym, certainly not one of those large corporation type gyms, most notable because of the indoor swimming pool that various swim teams practice at and various senior groups do their water aerobics at. The Doctor is 100% not dressed for the pool, as he's wearing his regular velvet coat. That fact seems to have entirely escaped him. ]

Thanks for the Valentine, by the way. I'll get you something nice for St. Patrick's Day.

[ yes, St. Patrick's Day isn't like Valentine's Day but hey, it's the holidays, Julian would appreciate any sort of celebration of the holidays no matter what. ]

So! Shall we test these gills out?

[exceptfebruary]

My birthday is coming up before then.

[ Just. Gonna casually (""casually"") drop that one there.

Julian approaches, not exactly in his element. On the way there he slipped into a store and borrowed (read: shoplifted) a pair of swimming trunks. Though he's not wearing them just yet. ]

But yes, let's.

[ He reflexively reaches up to feel the gills at the side of his neck. It's very strange and oddly surreal. ]

[helpline]

Then I'll make certain to give you two presents. [ said as if that's obvious enough. ] It'd be stupid to get a St. Patrick's Day present for your birthday, wouldn't it.

[ It'd be especially stupid to give Calendar Man a birthday present on St. Patrick's Day and vice versa.

The Doctor pushes open the door, holding it open for Julian to enter. ]

There shouldn't be any sort of classes going on at this time. If there are though, then they'll most likely be in the shallower end. We can use the deeper end for power testing. [ though speaking of powers, ] Any idea of what you had for Aquarius, by the way?

[exceptfebruary]

[ Julian can't help but do that little smile of his. This is why he gives the Doctor the time of day.

He goes in, feeling oddly uncomfortable. It's just so... civilian. ]

I could move water, even defying gravity. I didn't find much opportunity to use it much.

[helpline]

You should have found opportunity to use it! Use it to water the high plants or something like that.

[ With a grin, the Doctor pushes open the door to the pool area, holding it open for Julian to enter. ]

[exceptfebruary]

I don't have plants.

[ A pause. ] One moment.

[ ONE QUICK CHANGE SCENE LATER and Julian reappears in his new swim shorts and a loose t-shirt and feeling even more self-conscious. ]

Don't let me drown.

[helpline]

Well get plants! [ the Doctor calls out as Julian goes to change into his swim shorts. When he returns, the Doctor gives him a once-over...and then doesn't say anything about the outfit because it's a swimsuit, what is he supposed to say? ]

Don't worry, I know human-based CPR. Nobody's drowning on my watch.

[exceptfebruary]

Good to know. [ Said as dryly as possible.

He reaches up to feel the gills as if to make sure they were still there. ]

Let's test out Pisces.

[ And he goes to the water's edge, before hesitating slightly.

Swimming isn't his strong point. ]

i will 100% change this tag if you want me to, I just couldn't resist

[helpline]

[ The Doctor spots that hesitation. If he were a good person, he'd say something like 'it's okay, the water's not that deep, you can probably touch bottom, you have gills in the first place,' and so on and so forth.

He is not a good person.

So he just straight up tries to push Julian in the pool. ]

NO IT'S PERFECT

[exceptfebruary]

[ Julian was unprepared and soon there's a large splash as he hits the water face-first. For a moment he almost chokes on water, briefly forgetting the entire purpose of the exercise.

But then his gills kick in. There's a moment where he just floats under the surface, before he comes up to inform the Doctor of the results. ]

Was that necessary?

[ Sort of. ]

[helpline]

You weren't getting in the water. [ said as if it's a simple enough answer. Julian wasn't moving, the Doctor made him move. He walks over to the edge of the pool and bends down slightly so he's a bit closer to eye level. ]

Did it work?

[exceptfebruary]

[ Julian is trying his best to float, though he's not good at it. ]

Yes. Do you have a watch?

[helpline]

[ Pushing his sleeve back, the Doctor taps at a watch on his wrist...which even from the pool, Julian can tell the watch looks a bit weird. It's slim and streamlined but the watch face has a few too many knobs on it. ]

Shall I count you down?

[exceptfebruary]

[ Julian knows the Doctor well enough by now that he's just gonna roll with the whole weird watch thing. It's legit. ]

That would be good, thank you.

[ He takes a deep breath, though he doesn't really need to, and submerges himself again.

He's down there for quite a while. Hopefully he's okay. ]

[helpline]

[ He's still timing Julian as the man submerges himself...and wow, he has been underwater for a while. Bending down slightly, the Doctor peers into the water, trying to see just exactly how Julian's doing.

Don't be drowned. That'd be annoying. ]

How's everything going?

[exceptfebruary]

[ Julian resurfaces. ]

It appears there is no time limit.

[helpline]

Huh! [ The Doctor responds, with a little smile on his face. ] Well, let's give it up for your powers then! You should hang out at the bottom of the ocean or something like that.

[ it's the middle of February. ]