[video and action]

[the_tailor]

Who: Lance and you!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Iskaulit
When: Today

[video]

[Hello, ladies. And gentlemen. And anyone in between, and anyone not any of the above. The video screen is currently showing a dripping wet, shirtless Lance. However, the baffled look on his face is enough to show that this isn't some kind of accidental broadcast of a racy video meant to be sent to one person.]

Okay, so, uh... I think I'm kind of in a pickle right now. Glitches happen here, right? I mean, obviously they do. I've never had them happen to me before, though. Buuuuuuut... So here I am, right as rain, having a totally normal day. Routine. Average. Nothing out of the ordinary. But then! Then I step into the shower--

[And he gestures around himself. He's obviously in one of the standard fleet shower stalls.]

Turn on the water, and, er... Fall. But I didn't trip, not exactly. Tripping implies you have legs to trip on.

[He tilts the camera lower on his body. Don't worry, he might be technically naked, but he's not flashing anyone. Instead of his usual long legs, he has a tail now, much like a fish's. It's a rich blue color, just as his armor is. Said tail gives a sad flop against the wet shower floor. He brings the camera back to his face. And in fact, if you look carefully, there's something much like gills on the sides of his neck.]

...Surprise?



[action]

[Once he's actually not stuck in a shower stall, Lance is much happier. Especially now that he has the entire length of the Iskaulit pool to move freely in. It's taken him a little time to get used to how to swim with his new tail and breathe properly underwater, but now that he's gotten the hang of it, Lance is nothing short of exhilarated. After all, it's always been one of his dreams to be a merman. And now, he is! He'll think about all the logistics a little later, but this is something he's definitely going to take advantage of as long as this glitch lasts.

Come say hi! Swim with him! Admire his beautiful shiny blue merman tail!]

Comments

[the_tailor]

Keith! Babe! My hero!

[He probably should have messaged him with a "please come pick me up the floor", come to think of it.]

[tempredmental]

Why didn't you just call me?

[He frowned. This was going to be awkward. It was a tight space.]

Can you... move? Like at all?

[the_tailor]

I figured you'd see my SOS message, or that you'd get some kind of telepathic boyfriend-in-distress alert in your brain.

[He reaches up his arms, making grabbyhand motions.]

I can probably drag myself, but I don't think I'd get very far... Uh, it's probably best if you bring me to the pool.

[tempredmental]

I saw the message. Sorry.

[He shrugged, giving Lance a somewhat sheepish smile.]

But... you can breath okay? Like... are you going to be like this all the time? Or is it just when you get wet?

[He frowned a bit, the tight space making actually picking up Lance really awkward.]

I'm going to have to pull you out a bit.

[He gripped Lance's forearms for leverage to help get him out of the shower stall.]

[the_tailor]

I don't know. I haven't really tested it out yet. It's only been like...I dunno, half an hour? But I can breathe fine, yeah.

[He helps the best he can to drag himself along, though it's more pulling himself along. His tail flops uselessly behind him.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith crouched down, slipping one hand behind Lance's back and the other under that tail before lifting him up.]

Well, at least we know you're not going to suffocate or something.

This is probably the glitch thing, right? Like when I was a kid?

[the_tailor]

[He wraps his arms around Keith's neck, taking the opportunity to snuggle in a little bit, because he's Lance.]

Can't think of what else it'd be. I didn't eat anything weird. That's be really weird, though. A fruit that turned you into a merman. It'd probably taste like fish, though, and fishy fruit just sounds gross.

[tempredmental]

That... yeah... [Keith grimaced.] That does sound gross. [He headed out and towards the transporter.] You know... this means we can't share a bed or anything...

[the_tailor]

[His eyes widen. Of course, of everything going on, that's the part that strikes him, and he lets out a whine.]

Nooooo... But I'm so used to being in bed with you! Maybe I'll just keep a bucket of water nearby to dip my tail in or something...

[tempredmental]

Do you need to be wet all the time?

[Wow... that sounded terrible... Keith bit his lip for a second and then nodded at the transporter controls.]

Wanna hit the button? My hands are a little full...

[Smirk.]

[the_tailor]

Shouldn't be a problem with you around~

[Yes, Keith. Yes, he went there, because Lance gonna Lance, and he'd probably be in physical pain if he held back that joke. He laughs before reaching out, slapping his hand against the button.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith groaned and rolled his eyes as Lance hit the button, and then - woosh! They were on the Iskaulit. He started walking towards the pool.]

So... okay... did you notice anything weird about yourself when you woke up? Like... I don't know... maybe you were already changed, but didn't notice until you got hit with water?

[the_tailor]

[Sorry, dude, you asked for it. Lance hums as he's carried, adjusting his grip so he's nice and secure and maybe cuddling a little bit.]

If I was already changed, I wouldn't have been able to make it to the shower! No, I definitely had legs when I got up in the morning. But then I went in the shower and turned on the water, and it was just like... bam. My legs felt all weird and tingly and suddenly I was flat on my ass and flopping around.

[tempredmental]

[Keith listened for a moment, considering that.]

Augment glitches seem to usually kick in when people are asleep, I think. So, I'm wondering if you can change back if dry off enough. You know... like get your legs back.

[the_tailor]

Huh. That's...an idea. I guess I'll give that a try.

[Pause.]

...Soon. I wanna swim first.

[tempredmental]

You think you'll be able to figure it out? It's probably different than with legs.

[Keith smirked.]

[the_tailor]

Easy peasy! It can't be that hard. The water's, like, my home anyway.

[tempredmental]

Oh, yeah? So... if I like... just... toss you in? You'll be fine?

[He smirked a little. Look at this power he had over you, Lance. Cradling you in his arms like this. The pool wasn't much further now.]

[the_tailor]

I would be fine. But you wouldn't be that rude, would you?

[He's just giving you a look now, Keith. Choose your next words wisely.]

[tempredmental]

Would I?

[There was that shit-eating smirk Keith usually got when he was planning on being a jerk. Whether or not he carried out that plan was a different matter, but he was willing to let Lance live in suspense for the few more feet he had left until he was in tossing distance.]

[the_tailor]

Keith.

[It's not just a look now. It's a Look. Capital L. Choose your next actions even more carefully.]

[tempredmental]

[The smirk turned into a grin, and he paused, looked at the water, looked at Lance, and then...

...placed him on the side of the pool so he could slide in on his own.

He wasn't that mean.

Though, if this had been before they were dating? He probably would have done it.]

[the_tailor]

[He would have dragged your ass right in the pool with him. Lance is relieved when he isn't tossed in, at least. He pushes himself towards the pool, quickly sliding in.

Being underwater has always felt good to him, but right now? It's amazing. It's so comfortable, and after blinking a few times, he can see crystal clearly. It's the next part that scares him a little at first, testing if he can breathe underwater... He chokes on his first breath, and nearly panics until some new kind of instinct kicks in. And suddenly, just like that, he's managing to breathe.

Keith might be able to hear a very muffled shout of joy under the water before Lance tries to take off and swim to the other side of the pool. Except he just kind of...wriggles in the water for several moments, trying to figure out how his tail works.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith watched with amusement for all of a few minutes before he frowned a bit. He crouched down tapping on the water to get Lance's attention.]

Hey! Come back up for a sec.

[the_tailor]

[He can't exactly hear what Keith is saying, but he does see the tapping and propels himself back to the surface. Lance chokes for just a second before reverting his breathing back over. That's something he's going to have to get used to.]

I know what I'm doing!