driftfleet | Just Keeping Swimming

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. ]

Alright. [ Maglor nods, watching him critically ]

Good! [ He praises ] That's the idea. The more you kick, the more you're pushing the water, you see, so the further you will go. Theoretically, you don't need arms at all, although I find it helps a good deal to steer. Try kicking back and forth once you're off the ground in a steady rhythm - if you go too fast, or you start to wobble, you can just stop, and let the water carry you. Try not to be too tense, as it means that you are likely to strike out too hard.

[ Kai does his best to keep them moving in the right direction, at least.

Although the truth is that he wants to learn to swim, and the instruction isn't hurting. He's not someone generally inclined to take things slowly, but Maglor's instruction is keeping him focused on a single step at a time.

He kicks, too fast, and makes an effort to move more deliberately with the next attempt. It's not particularly graceful, but it's working. ]

I don't really do 'not tense'.

[ Half a joke, the rest not. ]

You are not doing too badly at the moment. [ Maglor says mildly ]

Not too fast now. [ He cautions him when Kai kicks too fast ] See how it makes you wobble? Swimming is almost like dancing, in many ways. You need to find the rythym that works for you.

I never learned to dance either.

[ This is his idea of light conversation.

Who would have taught him, though. Dempsey? That's a pretty funny mental image. Dempsey was just worried about teaching him enough so he could have Kai to take care of him in his retirement.

Still, Kai tries again, slower, following with another kick. He does know what rhythm is, can see how it makes sense here. It's the same with running, just slower and in water. ]

Did you learn the blade?

[ Maglor nods approvingly at his actions, giving correction in a quiet voice ]

That is a dance of it's own, you know.

Learned it, yes. Dempsey insisted. Always preferred guns though.

[ Guns don't need dancing, don't require one to have physical strength over one's opponent. They let someone keep their distance.

Kai'll keep knives on him for if something happens to his gun, but he'd always rather just shoot.

He lets his feet touch the ground to serve as a reminder it's there, and then switches back semi-horizontal. Kick. Kick. ]

When do I get to start using my hands?

I do not think I will ever grow used to them. [ Maglor shivers ]

They are too... impersonal. Cold, for all they use fire.

When you think you have the feet part down. [ Maglor says, amused ] The motion you want is a "pull", unlike the "push" with your feet. Like with your legs, you are using the whole arm - and you want to keep it straight as you do.

They're pretty great. Mostly because I'm a fan of living and I go against things that would kill me -- or worse -- if I couldn't stand my ground.

[ And he can't, with just a sword. ]

[ Keeping his arms straight. That sounds like a recipe for disaster, but Kai gives it a flailing attempt, forgetting in the process how to use his legs right. ]

I think if you learnt with them it might be easier, but... [ Maglor shivers again ] Their songs are cold, and I distrust them. Better a good blade in my hands.

Easy! [ He cautions ] Try moving a little slower - you can just use your arms, if co-ordinating is a little tricky at first. Bring the arm up over your shoulder and cleave the water, "pulling" it back towards you, that's it.

To each their own.

[ If anything, it's a slight relief. Kai doesn't plan on getting in any fights with Maglor, but it's still comforting to know he has a chance of holding his own.

As long as they don't happen underwater.

He tries that, moving back more to something sort of like walking through the water, but with his arms moving now, trying to follow the other's instructions. He half bites back a growl. This is getting frustrating. ]

Slowly, slowly. [ Maglor encourages him ]

You do well. You have the rhytm, now - now start to kick, again, and once you're moving, bring the arms into play.

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