driftfleet | Just Keeping Swimming

[ If Maglor had moved away from him, Kai never would have been able to catch up, so at least he didn't do that. ]

Right. For my behavior.

Behaviour? [ the longer he focuses on Kai, the more the madness in his eyes ebbs away ]

You... ah. The pool. [ It took too long for Maglor to remember that, he realises, and blinks, finally seeming to pull himself together (mostly) ]

Are you well?

I feel like I should be asking you that question.

[ Okay, maybe there had been quite a bit of panicking when he'd first shown up, but Kai's mostly over that now. He's fine with a shift of conversation, since he didn't actually want to go through the whole apology. ]

You seem a bit not well.

[ Maglor sighs, suddenly old and tired ]

I am not. [ He admits frankly ] The Song of this world is too loud, and exactly the sort of thing I am drawn to. This is not the first time it has dragged me out of the ship, even with my brother and cousin watching me. But I will manage.

[ Probably ]

But you did not like the water, I remember. [ Amazing how coherant he seems, when he's focused on Kai ] Are you sure you are well?

[ Kai's eyes twitch, but he manages a sort of smile. Maybe more of a grimace. ]

I'm not a damn cat. I'm fine enough.

[ He could go back to the ship, after all, but that sounds more like learned helplessness to him, and he can't afford that. ]

Where will it drag you now that you're out here?

[ An eyebrow crooks up, but Kai does not appear to be frantically flailing, or drowning, so... fine enough he is, and Maglor nods ]

I don't know. [ He sighs again ] As long as I have something else - or someone else to focus on, it's not so bad, I can fight it, for a little while anyway. But the other singing planet wanted to keep me - well. Keep... us? I think? I don't... Maedhros had to drag me away. I suppose this one might be the same.

[ He can manage staying still and trying to forget that he's underwater. Moving might not go as well. ]

Sounds like we should get you back to a ship while you can think about it.

Should I call up Maedhros?

[ Kai's pronunciation of the name is smooth at least. He's that much elfin. ]

Probably wise. [ Maglor nods, casting a glance back at temples ]

I... it might be better. [ He sighs ] It is either that or you return with me to more populated areas.

[ Kai gives him an assessing look. ]

Will helping me flail through the water in that direction help you focus?

Probably [ Maglor apologises ]

I ... if I have something to do, I can ignore it, better. I can see if I can teach you to swim properly, if you like?

Only if we do it headed back in the direction of the ships.

[ And this might go about as well as it did last time. ]

That much I can do. [ He nods ]

As much as this world draws me, I suspect if I allowed myself to explore I... would not be returning. [ Of course he doesn't know if Atroma would forcibly relocate him, either ]

Sounds dangerous.

[ Kai is going to start moving in the right direction, though it's more of a splashing flail. ]

I suppose it might be. Easy! Water is strong, remember - but it will support you. The more forceful you are, the harder it will push back. Half of the skill is learning to move with it, and that means slow and steady, down here.

I'm still not convinced I'm going going to drown.

[ It was a half-mutter under his breath.

For the rest he tried to be less forceful, but that mostly lead to him sinking down towards resting on the ground. ]

Maybe I should walk.

I think very few of us are.

[ Maglor says dryly ]

Walking is probably a good place to start, since we can, here. [ Maglor points out ] It will give you a good idea of the sorts of movements that are required - essentially, slow, and slightly exaggerated.

[ Maglor hadn't seemed concerned about that when Kai first came across him, but perhaps because he hadn't been doing much thinking.

This is better.

Not that walking is much fun. ]

Yeah. It's really slow going.

[ That's how he got here, but he settles back into it. Ugh. ]

[ Maglor follows besides him ]

It is, yes - but... pay attention to the pressure that is around you - that is what you must overcome, to swim. But pushing too hard, or irregularly, at it, will only slow you down as it pushes back. Feel how it almost wants to carry you? Water is strong - you can try bouncing - just, lightly push off with your feet. See how it lifts and moves you? Swimming takes advantage of that.

[ Kai's trying to follow the instructions -- and to his credit, the attempt by Maglor is better than Kai's gotten before, as far as swimming instruction -- but he is doing it with a frown on his face.

But talking seems to be focusing the other man, and Kai knows he was unreasonable the previous time they interacted like this. ]

The last time I tried swimming in my world I didn't have much of a choice. I had to try to keep two elfin babies from drowning. There wasn't much time to think about it.

[ It had also been more flailing than anything else. For now, Kai is trying with an effort to keep the flailing to a minimum. There's no surface to stay atop. ]

[ The talking does help, but even like this, Maglor's voice ebbs and flows like the tide. Kai's frown doesn't matter - so long as he's trying, Maglor keeps talking. It is the only thing that grounds him. ]

That is, in fact, a reasonably good place to start, in truth. The body remembers water - perhaps a memory from when we were carried by our mothers. The biggest lesson is not to panic - movement must be deliberate. The more you fight the water's hold, the faster you will sink. You need to push rather than cut.

[ Generally Kai's not short on perseverance, he's just prone to whining about it while he perseveres. ]

Which means what, exactly, in Singlish? The pushing?

What is Singlish? [ Maglor asks curiously ]

Mm, like what you're doing when you bounce - you "push" yes? When you swim - you use your arms to "pull" and your legs to "push", although the motion to drive you swiftly is more kicking, than the bouncing movement to float.

Human common tongue. Simple English.

[ Or what you get when you smash English up with even more stolen words than usual. ]

You saying I should try to shift from walking now? Hope you're prepared to catch me.

[ At least a partial improvement from the last time they met, since he's willing to handle Maglor touching him, if it's necessary. ]

Ah! I see, a combined word.

[ A wry smile ]

I am if you're willing to try! I would suggest - start with a push. Kick slowly as you leave the ground - big movements, remember. The harder you kick, the more you will push yourself forwards, so don't kick too hard, but the movement must be deliberate. Try to keep your legs relatively straight as you do, using the whole leg, rather than just the feet or the knees. Keep your arms down to begin with - you can work out how to co-ordinate once you have the legs sorted first.

Just don't do it unless I really need the help.

[ To his credit, Kai actually does his best to follow the instruction, focusing on the movement and trying to ignore the alarming sensation of moving without any kind of contact with the ground. And he's focusing on not panicking, which is mostly working. It helps that it's a kick out and then gravity takes him back to the ground, rather than anything more sustained for now. ]

I feel ridiculous.

[ And he's carefully checking that he isn't being laughed at. ]

Seems fair

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