lifeaftr | Let's Go In The Garden

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Let's Go In The Garden

Who: Chara, Frisk, and you!
What: Two kids enjoy a classic tale, and a small child decides to intrude on everyone’s personal space.
When: November 13-15th
Where: Near the Storyteller’s Temple, and across the Islets
Warnings: Potential CW for self-harm in the third prompt.

You’ll Find Something Waiting -- 13th

[Just because it’s overcast doesn’t mean that today isn’t still warm. The greatest reprieve to the heat at the height of the day is the ocean breeze sweeping up across the beach and through the trees around the Storyteller’s Temple. It makes for a peaceful area to stop for a while- to sit and think, to wander, to nap. Undoubtedly, a few people would take advantage of this, over the course of the day

Those travelling to and from the islets may hear the voice of one such person relatively close to the mana pool. Their words seem almost practised, spoken in a tone that is almost caught up in what they have to say, almost reverent.]

Yuichi and I are climbing a ladder in the jet-black gloom. Together, we peer into the cauldron of hell. We stare into the bubbling red sea of fire, and the air hitting our faces is so hot it makes us reel…

[A curious person might decide to follow the voice. It wouldn’t take long. And in doing so, they’d come across two children, one reclining against a tree with a well-loved book in hand, carefully holding the pages. The child known as Kidwun continues to read aloud, whilst their Partner….

The child known as Kittu seems to have dozed off. Head in their sibling’s lap, they take no notice of anyone approaching.

Chara does. And whilst their eyes flick up from the pages of the book itself, they continue speaking- continue reading a story that, apparently, they don’t really need the book to read aloud, anymore.]

But the place we are in right now is just too dreadful. It is not a place where two people can make a life together.

Although I had been earnestly daydreaming until then, I suddenly started to laugh. “I see two lovers standing over the edge of the cauldron to hell. Are they contemplating a double suicide? This means their love will end in hell.”

I couldn’t stop laughing.

Right There Where You Left It -- 13 to the 15th

There’s a child with a mission, stalking across the island. Knocking on doors and approaching anyone who doesn’t quite belong in this realm. Not keen on talking with them? Tough, really. If anything, it’s those who seem to be going out of their way to step around them that Chara haunts the most, insistently dogging their heels until they give up, and deal with what the child has to say.

This is their time to shine, after all. Their time, to do what they do best.

“Forgive my intrusion, but may I steal a moment of your time? I would like to ask you a few questions.”

Ignore any signs they’re unwelcome in their continued endeavors to be as invasive as possible.

[[OOC: there’s a handy little OOC post for this; if you haven’t checked it out yet, please do, even if you’d like to thread a conversation!]]

Everything Stays, But It Still Changes -- early mornings, 13th to 15th

If the past six weeks have proven anything, it is that Chara has a weakness they can no longer ignore. Guzma has made mention of it. Connor has made mention of it. More than once, this gap of experience has nearly led to their doom… so perhaps it’s time to do something about it.

Sneaking away from their hut in the early morning, Chara chooses a section of beach that’s not too far from the Storyteller’s temple, but not too close. If they make a serious error, a call for help may still prove fortuitous… and hopefully, no one will stumble across them otherwise. For several minutes, Chara stands at the shoreline. Simply staring out at the waves as they lose themself in thought.

Then they make a face, and pull off their shoes. The knife strapped to their hip follows… and four more after it, stowed away in their pack and carefully hidden from view. The last, important piece? A heart-shaped locket, stowed away in their left shoe. Even if someone were to make their way into their pack without Chara noticing, they wouldn’t find that.

Heaven help them if they did.

And that is all the excuses they have to stall, before avoiding what they must do becomes innate procrastination. Expression still sour, the child steps into the waves, deeper and deeper. When the water reaches their chest, they stop, once again looking about carefully, just to ensure that absolutely no one is watching.

Hours later, they don’t really care. Flopping about in the waves, Chara is clearly making- an attempt at….something. Kicking off the ground and flailing their arms and legs, until they inevitably sink below the surface.

So anyway learning to swim unassisted is going Super Well.

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What a shame; I don't believe I give a darn either way if you did or didn't.

[Guzma spits back, mirroring the way this child smiles. Look, he can do it, too! Aren't you proud? Guzma even gives his head a ditzy little shake, before he slouches again, his expression darkening back to its usual scowl. He's not here to play games, he's offering this kid a means of improving on something they can't do - to help keep them alive in the future.]

You wanna continue playing Magikarp Splash, tiny, then by all means...there's plenny'a ocean available. But if you wanna learn to swim, and do it right, I'm offering to teach you right now.

[And he isn't going to leave whether the kid says yes or no.]

[The smile drops, Chara straightening as they scowl back at him. It's not just an insult, it's a challenge. Fine, then. It's worth the embarrassment of showing him just to rub it in his face later.

And they're not that tiny, you big oaf.]

Whatever.

[Back into the water they go, then, stiff and clearly not even remotely comfortable with his presence. And the moment they're deep enough to try to keep themself upright, the reason becomes fairly obvious.

Chara doesn't know what a Magikarp is, but they don't have to. Guzma does, and the reality is still the same.

A Magikarp would probably do a better job.]

[Wow, that's...yeah. That's pretty awful.

Guzma heaves a large sigh and gently pushes them back up onto the shore, where they can easily keep their chin above the surf. He shakes his head and thinks a moment - this is not going to be quick or easy, the kid has literally zero skill. They can't even doggy-paddle or float or anything... He's going to have to start with the barebones basics, right from square one.]

Yeah, that sucked. Congratulations. [He snorts, wiping water out of his face where he got splashed a bit.] Now, first thing's first - y'all gotta learn to float, otherwise you're 'bout as good as a Graveler in them waters.

...That means I'm gonna have to touch ya a bit, t'keep you up while you learning. That okay? Can't make no progress unless y'all agree to it. [It's not so much a challenge this time as it is a straight fact - Guzma's going to have to put his hands on or close to them a lot during this to help out, while their learn. If they don't accept or don't like that, there's really not much he can do further.]

[They won't thank him for it, but waterlogged as they are, it's a relief not to have to drag themself back to solid ground... again. Their SAVE is still there, tucked away as an ace up their sleeve- if worse comes to worst, they can utilize it.

But it would be far better to do so after they've finished this activity, lest they regret being exhausted later. For now, they make a face at his declaration- really? They had no idea they weren't doing well. None.

His next words are even less impressive.]

...Floating. [They don't know enough about swimming as a whole to argue. He could be spouting absolute nonsense- to give him reason to touch them without having a knife drawn in response? How quickly could they respond if he shoved their head underwater- how easily could he restrict their arms without a sharp point to hinder him?

Chara doesn't like it. At all. Shoulders hunching, they bite the inside of their cheek, hard enough to feel the sting. To taste copper.]

...Fine. [If this is the price of learning, fine.

Then they can teach Frisk later.]

[All through the youngster's inner thoughts, their squirming and discomfort, their faces, Guzma remains silent and watchful. He waits for their decision without changing his facial expression, and whether he's happy or not by their acceptance of his offer isn't easily visible. He has a pretty good poker face, if anything. But Guzma does nod, and wades closer to the shore. They don't need super deep water for this, just deep enough for them to work with.]

A'ight, now c'mere. What you wanna do is lean back into the water - kinda like you was falling backwards, yeah? The point is to keep your back straight and feet together. And, uh...obviously your face from getting wet.

Ain't as easy as it sounds, so I'll hold your back up'n make sure y'all is straight...then I'll move 'em out from under you and have y'all take a go on your own. If y'can keep straight, you won't sink and go under. Try to keep your face above water for as long as y'can, okay?

Whenever you're ready, kid.

[He really doesn't know what he's asking for here, does he? Chara stares at him quietly for several moments longer- as long as they dare, before their mind begins to whisper that they're stalling. Following after him with some difficulty, they come to a halt, turning stiffly.

So if his description is correct, what he requires of them right now...is a trust fall.

Haha.

They are doing this for Frisk. They have to remind themself, consciously, that there is something to potentially gain, here. An ability once learned that cannot be lost. They only need to do this the once. Just the once.

When they fall back, they do it all at once. Stiff as a board with eyes squeezed shut-- flinching, when their back comes into contact with his hands.

Just the once.

Just once.]

[Oh, Guzma knows rather well what he is asking - it's half the reason he explained that he would have to touch them quite a bit, in order to continue this lesson, and waited for their approval and confirmation. It's also the reason that, when the young child leans back into the water and on his arms, Guzma lowers them just an inch or two - first to gauge if the child's backside would sink, and also so they would not be in direct contact with his skin.

Guzma may not know exactly what sort of story these two siblings have written, but he's fairly certain anyone who pulls a knife on someone trying to rescue them from drowning is, uh...a bit wary around touch. The pieces are indeed coming together, slowly, and it only fosters a deeper liking to the youngster, as well as understanding.]

...Huh. Not bad for a first try. [And he means it - Guzma is actually impressed. They've remained stiff and afloat for a good half minute now. It's sloppy, but it's also decent. Not many children remain so still like that on their first try. They usually bend and sink within just a few seconds.] Gonna move my hands now, try'n keep yourself up like that for as long as possible, yeah? If you feel yourself going under, touch the bottom with your feet and stand up...then we'll try it again.

Edited 2017-12-17 16:47 (UTC)

[They absolutely hate this. Whether or not he's touching skin, he's touching their back- where they can't see what he's doing, where he could grasp and wrench without them being any the wiser. If the Underground had taught them anything, it was that very little water is required to drown.

But he does nothing. Calmly commends them for the attempt, lets them know he's letting go. The barest hint of a nod- they remain still, eyes closed, but losing the creases at the edges.

Not clenched quite as tightly as before.]

[They don't remain a float for long, which is what Guzma half expected. They are good, but still not experienced enough to keep afloat for longer than perhaps a half minute or so. It's better than most, by leaps and bounds, but they need to really practice to perfect it. But, with repetition, they improve even in the span of a few tries. Hopefully they maintain that, though Guzma will certainly dog them a bit to keep trying.

Eventually, maybe after another hour or so, give or take, Guzma splashes water over his face and nods.]

Doing pretty good, for a first run, kid. C'mon, let's get outta the water and dry up 'fore we get burnt up, yeah? [He doesn't burn as bad given his farmer's tan and the fact he lives in a tropical climate, but the kid is pale as heck, and the sun is reflected in the water...they'll burn easier. Plus, swimming is a full-body sport - they'll get tired, hungry, and thirsty easily.] Next time, we'll try treading water. That's another real good thing to know. Bring y'all's sibling, too...they gotta learn this stuff, too.

[They slogged back up through the water as he speaks- they’ve been at this for a few hours, now, and yet this feels like the first progress they’ve made all morning. It’s indisputable that they’ll suffer from a sunburn later, but they hardly care about the state of their skin, right now.

He’s right. They’re tired, hungry, and thirsty. And already far too short on patience and trust not to make their thoughts known.]

To be frank with you, sir, I shall be doing no such thing. [They card their fingers through their hair, wringing out the longer locks.] Teach me if it pleases you, but you shall not be teaching my sibling. If positive progress is made, I shall teach them myself.

[Guzma's face might get a bit red, but he's already got the mother of all farmer's tans, and his skin has been exposed to the Alolan heat for literal years. He's perhaps better in terms of exposure. He'll get red, but nothing more than that. Perhaps trying to get a bit of coconut oil going would be something useful to learn as well, for things like this...or aloe. Hell, he may even use up a favor for sunscreen.

Guzma's thoughts are broken as he shakes out his hair, smoothing most of the white parts back as best he can. Oh, here we go... He raises a brow and snorts.]

Right...so I guess I'll just go on and ask 'em myself, then. [He stretches, turning his head left and right with a few satisfying pops, and reaches to put his hoodie back on, leaving his tank hanging over one arm.] Since I don't think it your right to be making decisions for other people, yeah.

Anyway, nice job for a first-timer. Y'all did better'n I expected...given you straight up sucked the first time. When you wanna learn more, look me up, m'here all day every day. [And as he shakes out his pants, grabs his shoes and socks, Guzma turns to go.]

[Haha no sorry Guzma, attempting to pad a threat with compliments is not going to work. They're silent, right up until he turns to go.]

I am hard pressed to believe I have not made this simple enough for you, sir. But I will say it one more time.

[One more time, because he's earned that much. Any further, and he is just as accountable for his own actions as any other.]

I am not asking you to not extend this offer to my sibling. I am telling you that you will not be alone with them in this manner. You are overstepping a line you do not wish to cross.

And if you continue, I will kill you. And I will continue to kill you, until the point has been made.

[Got it this time, buddy pal?]

Don't push your luck, sir.

[Guzma can't help it, he rolls his eyes and shakes his head when threatened. Who the hell said he'd be alone with them? He's extending the offer to both of them, at the same time, and probably Ren as well. Heck, anyone of the kids, adults, or whoever that would be effected by something like this in the future has got free tickets to his own personal swimming lessons. It's a skill everyone should have on an island like this, and he has years of experience. The kid?

A day. That's not going to cut it, sorry.]

Yeah? Well, take a ticket and get in line, kid. Y'ain't the first to have a hit on my backside, and definitely not the last... Now, if we're done for today, I'm heading home. [He snorts, throws his hoodie over his shoulder, and goes. You can take that little toothpicks and stuff it down your throat, anklebiter.]

[They watch him walk away with narrowed eyes, anger bristling beneath the surface.

And then they flip him off because whatever heck you too.]

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Let's Go In The Garden

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