Pool Party for One (Open)

[Ineo Minn]

It was probably, by any sane standards, far too cold for the pool. The autumn chill had most of the town beginning to bundle up in thin layers, with scarves and jackets and tall, fashionable boots, and surely no sane person would want to swim, at least not outdoors.

But Ineo was not a sane person. Or rather, technically, Ineo wasn't a person, exactly. At least not a human. And Ineo really, really missed the water after a few weeks of being back at school.

Ineo sat by the edge of the water and dipped her feet beneath its surface. Her legs up to her knees slowly shifted, green scales shining in the sunlight, and Ineo gave a contented sigh as she watched the autumn leaves swirl in the water.

[Zaïren]

Zaïren had upgraded from light jackets to thicker ones, though he was not yet into winter coat territory. He was certainly well on his way, though.

So he was confused to see someone by the pool. Not that swimming was something he did regularly anyway, since even as a waterbird, water was cold and even swan feathers got damp and drew heat away. The only time he enjoyed swimming was summer.

He thought he recognized her, though putting a name to the face was a bit elusive. He came over and leaned against the fence, his arms wrapped around his chest.

"You know, there's these things called bathtubs with warm water."

[Ineo Minn]

Ineo startled slightly at the sound of another's voice. She had known there were others in the courtyard, of course, but she hadn't thought anyone would be so close to the pool.

She turned to look at the source of the voice and was immediately stricken by the wings. Another fae, undoubtedly.

"And you could just as easily fly in an airplane, but it wouldn't be the same, would it?" Ineo gave him a knowing smile. "Truthfully, I'd like to have a natural body of water, but it seems there are no lakes in Lakeshore."

[Zaïren]

Zaïren grinned. "I did always find the name amusing. But I know what you mean; a potted plant just isn't quite right. The cold doesn't bother you then, I take it?"

[Ineo Minn]

"Not once the scales pop up." Ineo lifted a foot out of the water into his line of sight, showing off the glittering blue-green scales of her legs. "Not so fond of the chlorine, though — it's not very comfortable to get in your gills."

[Zaïren]

"I bet it burns something awful, yeah. Just the smell bothers my nose sometimes. Not that I come over here too often. Plants dislike chlorine too. Not like someone with gills would though I'd imagine."

Zaïren pulled his collar up and more tightly about his neck.

[Ineo Minn]

"I just miss having a real body of water to swim in." Ineo pulled her feet out of the water and spun around to face Zaïren, her scales slowly fading as her skin dried in the cool air. "I'm sure you can sympathize. You're a swan, yes?"

[Zaïren]

Zaïren nodded. "Half. I really hate cold, so I'm a lot less water-loving than most. Like, if it's warm, I'm all over it, but that requires either indoor or summer."

[Ineo Minn]

"Hm." Ineo smirked and slipped outside the gate. "That must be frustrating. I can't imagine not being able to swim. D'you think the Headmistress could be convinced to add a nice, heated pool somewhere indoors?"

She brushed at the rolled up legs of her pants until the fell back down to her ankles. "You're Zaïren, aren't you? Your brother is History of Arcadia with me."

[Zaïren]

He nodded again. After all, how many people were there with green swan wings? But it never paid to make assumptions in Lakeshore. "Which one? And I'm tempted to apologize no matter which one, but they'd probably have the same reaction to someone talking about me."

He grinned. "But then, don't most siblings feel the same way? Family is meant to be embarrassing."

[Ineo Minn]

"The loud one," Ineo replied, a knowing quirk to the corners of her lips. "The first day of class he said that he didn't need to listen to the history of Arcadia because it had no bearing on his day-to-day life."

Ineo leaned against the fence. "I don't have any siblings, personally, or at least not any that I've ever met. My mother has other children, but they're all hundreds of years older than me. I always wanted a little brother, though."

[Zaïren]

"Yeah, that seriously narrows it down." He scratched the back of his head and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Aaah, we little brothers aren't worth the effort." He grinned. "You spend your whole time trying to keep him from getting himself killed while wanting to kill him yourself."

[Ineo Minn]

Ineo gave a soft, melodic laugh. "Are you speaking about all little brothers there, or just certain ones? Surely it's not so bad. I always thought it would be fun to have someone to look after and keep me company."

[Zaïren]

"Just this certain one." Zaïren laughed. "Though I could say the same things about a certain older brother, so I guess it all evens out.

"Have to say I'm a proponent of even unofficial adoption, though. Blood of the covenant is thicker than water of the womb and all that. Pun... mostly unintended."

[Ineo Minn]

Ineo's eyebrows arched at the comment, the corners of her lips quirked. "Than the waters of the sea, too, I'd imagine."

She was quiet for a moment. "I hope you don't think this is an intrusive question, but are you full fae?"

[Zaïren]

Zaïren shrugged. He didn't really care. There was no shame either way, as far as he was concerned. "Half dryad. So, yes. At least, as far as I know. I never met my father, so for all I know there is human mixed with the swan, but I don't think so."

There was only one reason he could think she'd ask, but while he didn't mind answering, other people might. He decided to go back to the previous topic. "The blood's only thicker if you don't mix it. ...Bah, I'm dropping the metaphor. The saying only means that the ties you choose are stronger than the ones chosen for you, after all."

[Kazuo "Kuma-kun" Baratoge]

Kazuo raked his hair out of his face and toddled towards the pool, hoping the chill would mean finding a calm place devoid of the giggling girls that seemed to follow him like ducklings every new moon.

He heard voices. Kazuo tipped his head as he came into view of the pool, wondering who else had the idea of lounging out in the crisp air.

"Am I alright to join?" Having a human voice always felt odd at this time of the month. He zipped his hoodie up a little farther and quirked his lips into a hopeful smile.

[Ineo Minn]

Ineo opened her mouth to respond, but felt the words escape her the moment Kazuo came into sight. She covered her mouth to stifle a squeak.

That's right — it was the new moon tonight, wasn't it?

"Ah, you look so adorable, Kazuo," Ineo cooed, reaching up to ruffle his hair. "Did you come out to say hi to your noona?"

Then, looking back at Zaïren, "Oh, I apologize — you probably know him as Kuma-kun. He's just precious like this, isn't he?"

[Zaïren]

Zaïren glanced in the direction of the new voice and managed to keep his appreciative glance short. "Certainly. I didn't think this was any sort of private conversation."

At the name, Zaïren smiled. "Ah, yes I know the name. That explains why I had trouble connecting the voice to anything. Hello, Kuma-kun."

[Kazuo "Kuma-kun" Baratoge]

"When would I ever miss the chance to greet you, noona?" Kazuo grinned and gave Zaïren a little bow of greeting as he looked up from Ineo ruffling his hair. "Hey Zaïren." He chuckled. "It's nice to be able to see you as a human-- I didn't quite realize your wings were so green."

[Zaïren]

Zaïren grinned back and nodded. "So very green, yes. I'm easy to lose in a garden and hard to lose in a crowd."

He shifted his position against the fence and ran his fingers through the back of his hair. "Hiding are we?"

[Kazuo "Kuma-kun" Baratoge]

"I'm a touch colorblind as a bear, but I must say that I like the color."

He gave another light chuckle, this one more nervous. "Eh, every time I shift, a handful of people come out of the woodwork and giggle at me. It's a little unnerving." He tapped his fingers on the top of Ineo's head. "My classmates can't all be calm and collected like Ineo here."

He was quiet for a moment as he took a seat on the ground, a bit away from the water's edge. "They move in packs and I'm not entirely certain that they aren't just very gradually herding me into a corner."

[Zaïren]

Zaïren felt heat rising in his cheeks and bit the inside of his cheek. "Thank you. Thankfully I'm rather fond of it myself."

"People do seem to come in packs. Must be disturbing for someone whose other form is so solitary. I naturally flock, so the groups don't bother me."

Zaïren thought for a while. "...You could always try to form a pack of your own? Friends to help shield you when the fans come ravening."

[Neylen]

Neylen was silent as he flew. He could be after all, it was his best secret weapon, no one ever expected the quiet Neylen.

He looked down from high above and could see clearly the pool and the target. He grinned as he glided in the cool sky. And then he dove. Not too fast, he didn't want to hurt his target.

And he was there in a matter of seconds. He wrapped his arms around Zaïren leaving his brother's wings alone and in a second more he was over the pool. And he let go. "SWIM GOOSE!" He yelled making a honking sound as he landed on the far side of the pool.

[Zaïren]

Zaïren's honk was much more natural. And he didn't have a chance to recover before he was in the pool. Getting back out, wearing layers as he was, took longer than he appreciated and then he was soaked and cold and shaking as much in reaction as cold.

"NEYLEN!" He honked again and took a deep breath. "REMIND ME WHY I LIKE YOU AGAIN."

He fought to pull off his wet jacket, grumbling under his breath. Each tug on his clothing resulted in another soft honk and each one darkened his blush.

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