The Pool, Thursday Night

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew had heard that there was a pool in the basement, but, not being much of a swimmer, he had never really been to see it. So armed with a towel, some water wings, and a big pink styrofoam noodle, he embarked on a quest.

It was a short quest, as the way to the pool was pretty clearly marked, and he was pleasantly surprised to find the water warm upon dipping his toe into it.

Floating there was nice. He could almost convince himself it didn't feel like like the weight of the world was pressing firmly down on his shoulders. Plus, when he slapped his palms down on the water, it made a really cool plunking sound.

[ooc: the pool is open!]

Comments

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"I've been okay," Andrew lied. "You know, just kind of doing what I do." He leaned back, sinking into the water till just his nose was sticking out.

[withoutverona]

"That is all any of us can do," Romeo said, noticing something about Andrew's tone didn't sound quite right but giving him the courtesy of not prying. "Which does remind me, I signed up for the language club we spoke of."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"Oh. Awesome," Andrew responded, trying to force a little excitement into his voice. It wasn't that successful.

"I'm really looking forward to that."

[withoutverona]

Romeo shot him a suspicious look. "If you wish me to unjoin, I can."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"No! No, I'm sorry," Andrew said. He sighed. "I'm sorry," he repeated. "I'm having a craptastic day. Week."

"Life."

[withoutverona]

"Then I am most sorry to hear that," Romeo declared, refraining from asking if Andrew's craptastic week involved any deaths. "Is there anything a friendly ear could help, or do you hope your sorrows drown in this shallow water?"

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

He paddled over a little closer to Romeo. "The water wings pretty much ensure I don't drown," he said. "But I think the left one here has a slow leak." He poked at it.

[withoutverona]

Romeo took a hop closer, and poked at the same water wing. "I do hear a leak," he agreed. "Can you swim without them?"

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"I don't really swim," Andrew replied. "I float." He wiggled the end of this pink noodle. "But I came with a backup, just in case."

[withoutverona]

Romeo examined the wings and the noodle closely. "But what should happen if they all failed?"

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew blanched, pale as he was. "I, um... I should probably stick to the shallow end, huh? At least when there aren't this many people around."

He poked as the now half-deflated water wing. "Though it kind of fits right now."

[withoutverona]

"That it does," Romeo agreed, and dove under the water in a complete somersault.

"I had never found the pool before. Is is usually quiet?" he asked, surfacing.

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"I guess not," Andrew replied, bewildered. "This is my first time down here. I had no clue so many people went for night swims."

He regarded Romeo. "You're a good swimmer."

[withoutverona]

"I have done it all my life," Romeo explained. "This, though, is just showing off, nothing challenging." Like, say, swimming in full armor.

"Night swims can be very beautiful, though they are better outside."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"I kind of like that it's indoors," Andrew admitted. "There's a lot less to worry about, like sharks or rabid birds or skin cancer."

[withoutverona]

Romeo just stared at Andrew for that, for a long moment.

" ... Thou worry about rabid birds?"

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"I was totally attacked yesterday," Andrew explained. "The thing just swooped out of the sky and attacked. Nearly took my head off."

He pointed out the nearly invisible scratch on his scalp. "The doctor almost had to give me stitches," he exaggerated.

[withoutverona]

Romeo raised a brow at the slight injury. "I see, 'twas a killing blow indeed," he said. "Was it a hawk?"

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"I think it was a robin. Or maybe a finch." He thought about it a little more. "It could have been a sparrow, but like a monstrous one, you know?"

[withoutverona]

"A mutant spongbird," Romeo said, now openly skeptical. "Did it try to nest in your hair?"

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"No, I didn't give it a chance," Andrew explained. "I might have been taken by surprise, but I assure you, after that first peck, it didn't have a chance to get close again."

Andrew karate chopped the water, flinching as a little water found its way up his nose.

[withoutverona]

Romeo could tell Andrew was an absolute warrior, yep. "How did you bring it down?"

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"Well, I gave it a little of the old choppity-chop, and the bird just took off," he lied.