sortinghat_logs | SWIMMINGGEDDON.

[It's at least a full minute later before Bro finally stands upright again. He runs a hand through his hair, fluffing it up a little from where the hat's had it pinned down. Once more, he's hesitant to turn around, but finally he does. Because they're just eyes, and he's... being silly. Even though he doesn't really believe that. He hates feeling so damn vulnerable, especially when he's in a situation like this where he's lying. And in the same room as someone he barely gets along with.

When he does turn around, he catches Murdoc's stare. He tries to keep his eyes on Murdoc's face, holding his gaze just so he doesn't look like he's a scared wimp.]

Yeah, they're orange. Big whoop.

[Except he's heard so many different opinions about them over the years, from horror to intrigue. It's made him a little self conscious about them. Obviously he enjoys it when people like them, but... Then there're the times when people freak out about them. That kinda gets to him sometimes.]

I've never seen a pair like them before. [He pauses, wanting to compliment the other man but not wanting to embarrass him by gushing. Murdoc is extremely fond of one offs and rarities, but he can't exactly buy bro's eyes, he can't even reach out for a close look like he wants to. He will lean a little closer, though, trying to be subtle about inspecting them without invading the other man's personal space.]

Why do you hide them behind those glasses all the time? Are they sensitive to the sunlight? Don't you want to show them off? [hes saying all of this while leaning quite far into bro's personal bubble, realising he's being invasive.] Sorry.

[Bro isn't sure how to take this. He can't quite pick up Murdoc's intentions. He realizes Murdoc isn't among the ones that have gotten freaked out, but... He isn't sure what Murdoc's intentions are. He almost feels like an animal on display, but that could just be his own insecurities. He takes a deep breath. He's trying really hard not to get angry or defensive, but the truth is he's uncomfortable. He's never felt more exposed, and even despite Murdoc's apology, he knows he was being examined and that just... feels awkward.]

Uh... Yeah, they're a little sensitive to light. Not as bad as Dave's though.

[He doesn't want to admit the real reason he wears the shades is because without them, he's just so... Open. He's spend all his life hiding behind them, afraid to show emotion because it makes him uncool. And all of his emotions are right there in them.

The answer to Murdoc's question is probably there, too. Fear. As well as his discomfort. But despite that, he finally looks away and shrugs.]

They're nothing to show off. Not everybody likes them.

[There's a hint of bitterness there. Finally after a moment, he can't help but voice something, and his tone is slightly annoyed.]

Why d'you care so much?

[WELL. Now Murdoc feels a little bit like an ass, so he supposes he and Bro are even for that tight pants comment. He regrets making the other man awkward, so he tries to refrain from looking obviously excited when he mentions Dave's eyes. He shouldn't ask about it. He really shouldn't. It would be rude after making Strider feel uncomfortable.]

Are they the same colour? [Give this man a you tried sticker.

He steps back, getting out of Bro's face and running a hand through his own hair, trying to go back to seeming casual and not insanely curious about those eyes.

The comment earns Bro a soft smirk and a raised brow.] Since when have you minded what other people think?

[It's a little empowering to know it makes Bro insecure, but the bitterness in his tone hurts a little. Time to ease the situation with a compliment.]

I think they're the most gorgeous eyes I've ever seen. [Alright. That probably just made it even more awkward. He clears his throat.] They're very interestin'.

[Okay, he was seriously starting to get fed up with feeling like he was under extreme scrutiny. Maybe it was the insecurity, but he was just starting to feel like an object on display in a freakshow and it was making him angry. And then he went and brought Dave into it? No. Nope. By then, Murdoc could probably see the frustration in his eyes.]

Look they're just e-

[But that's when Murdoc's last sentence actually gets through to him and he has to stop. Did he hear right? Murdoc. Gorgeous.

Did he seriously just hear that?]

...Wha-? [Now there's disbelief in them, brows furrowing.] Did I just hear right? [He's legitimately curious, his voice not sounding accusatory, just. Very confused.]

[Murdoc is very slowly going red. He really regrets saying that. Not because he didn't want Bro to feel flattered, just that. Well. It was a terribly awkward compliment. He rubs his arms as if the room suddenly got colder (despite the warmth radiating from his face) and he looks away.]

Probably. I don't know.

[He glances over to the bath, stalking toward it.] Shouldn't we be swimmin'?

Edited 2012-09-08 14:29 (UTC)

[No, that isn't good enough. Not nearly a good enough answer. He can tell that Murdoc's embarrassed. It makes him feel weirder. Like he doesn't know how to react, because it's just not something he's ever really expected to hear. Nor did he ever expect Murdoc to get embarrassed.

Fuck, this is awkward. But he can't just leave it.

When Murdoc turns to walk away, Bro crosses the distance quickly and catches him by the arm.]

Hey-

[Hey what? What does he actually... want to hear? Does he really want Murdoc to repeat that? Because if he did, it would probably make everything more awkward, and he really isn't sure if he could handle that. There's a small part of him that's tempted to say something that would probably change things, but. Now that he finally could, he isn't sure... how to. Do that. Or how he feels about that.

He lets his hand fall away.]

Yeah, we should get on that.

[He freezes for a moment when Bro catches him. He's almost scared to face him because he's terribly concerned, did he offend him? Was he going to punch him again? The funny thing was, he wasn't feeling afraid of being punched, he was terrified of having the other man hate him for a silly compliment. He's not sure when it happened, but he's started to see Bro as a small but constant factor of his life, he's not sure if he'd be able to deal with it if he came to dislike him.

But the hand drops and all Murdoc can do is throw the other man an awkward, twisted little smile. If he was angry, he wasn't showing it. He couldn't be too upset if he was prepared to get in deep water with Murdoc and rely entirely on him for support.]

So, you have no idea how to swim? [He quirks an eyebrow at Bro, not sure where to begin with this lesson. He throws a leg over the side of the mammoth bath and clambers in.]

[He wants to say something. He really, really does. To at least... say thank you? But he doesn't know how. He just feels really damn weird, like. This hadn't went at all how he expected.

Honestly he'd gone into this with no clear mind what he even wanted. He knew at least that he wanted to get to know Murdoc more. He also knew that in a way, he kind of just wanted to have sex with him, to put it bluntly. Because the man was hot. And also because it was kind of like a game. Murdoc kept turning down his advances, taking them for jokes. In a way he wanted to just... win.

But with what Murdoc had just said, it didn't feel so much like a game anymore. It made him feel... different towards it. In a weird, unexplainable way. Like it was less of a game and more like something he wanted. Which... made it different. It made it harder. Awkward. He didn't know what to fucking do.

And now he was stuck in the swimming lesson and a lie and part of him was afraid Murdoc would find out and get angry. Then what? They'd go back to hating each other? With the memory that hey, the douchebag he's fighting with thinks his eyes are pretty. Yeah... that would suck ass. God fucking damn it this was stupid.]

Yeah, no. Nobody ever taught me. [Liar.] Blame it on the mommy and daddy issues I mentioned before. [Such a liar. But at least the bitterness in his voice goes along with the lie, even though it's entirely for different reasons.

He makes his way over and steps in, too. He makes a show of staying near the edge, not wanting to head towards deeper waters.

He's hyper aware that soon Murdoc is probably going to have to get really close to him, and he's not... sure how to even feel about that.

Fuck thiiiis, this was so stupid. Biggest mistake ever.]

[He's taking the silence as an indication that he made the other man umcomfortable, but he's thankful for the fact that Bro seems to have slipped back into his normal behaviour.

He, of course, remains entirely unaware that the other man has any such intentions with him. He'd always defaulted to assuming the other man was joking everytime he made a pass and he'd never felt wrong in his assumptions. Bro was a ridiculous sort of man and Murdoc really doubted someone such as himself could ever be anything more than a target to him. He wasn't funny and he certainly wasn't pleasant to talk to. If Bro meant anything behind his passes, surely it would be in the hopes of humiliating him.

He isn't sure why he's so suspicious of the other man. Or why he feels so strange when he hits on him. It's almost as if part of him wants it to be real, but the better half of him has already decided it isn't possible. Not until it's proven, anyway. He'd dismissed the idea of it being anything but teasing the day Vriska clued him in on Sybille's visits, yet he was still finding himself desiring the company of the other man.

He's tired of everything being so hellishly confusing for him, though he supposes he over complicates things himself. He starts to dismiss the thoughts and focus on the task at hand. He strides backward in the water until it's chest height and opens his arms, gesturing for the other man to follow him.]

Understood. You'll need to come deeper. [He says, his face entirely devoid of any emotion, leaving no indication toward the blaringly obvious innuendo.]

[Despite the fact his feelings are everywhere and he just feels so. off He can't help but quirk his lips slightly in amusement at Murdoc's words, a low chuckle rumbling deep in his throat that Murdoc might not be able to hear from a distance. Even like this, he can spot an innuendo a mile away. Still, he doesn't say anything, because he knows it'd piss Murdoc off.

And he's suddenly really goddamn apprehensive about being caught in his lie. Thankfully the nervousness for that showing in his eyes is fairly deceptive, Murdoc would probably assume it's nerves about swimming. God why did this have to be so. Weird.

Bro steps forward and does it slowly, making sure to do so slowly. He stops about a foot are so from Murdoc, because. This is close enough right? Of course it is. I mean really does there have to be skin contact? Really? Because that seems like a thing that could definitely be avoided.

His eyes flicker to Murdoc's face, before he casts them back down to the water instead, because... Fuck eye contact or face contact in general. Just fuck it.]

Yeah, okay. Now what?

Edited 2012-09-11 12:54 (UTC)

[Meanwhile, in thoughts that have little to do with the awkwardness of the situation or the attractiveness of that damn smirk, Murdoc can feel his back twinging ever so slightly. It's no surprise that he should feel over worked, given all the stress the swimming classes put on him, but he continues to push himself anyway.

After this, he will visit the nurse straight away, he tells himself. He's sure he can manage one short lesson with an adult before it really starts to hurt. He's been through worse, anyway.

He tries not to look obviously strained as Bro approaches, feeling a slight pang of guilt as he realises the other man isn't making eye contact.]

Do you know how to float?

[Under normal circumstances, Bro might have been able to tell that there was something off about Murdoc. He's trained himself to be able to tell people's physical weaknesses. But right now he's just not paying enough attention, so he really has no idea that Murdoc's back is starting to bother him.

At his question, Bro shrugs.]

Not really? [He's still looking at the water.] What do I do? I mean...fuck, I've never really been in a swimming pool before or anything.

[He's starting to feel bad for lying so much, but he keeps telling himself it's for a good cause. Things are already...

Sort of better between them?

If by better he means seriously awkward instead of hostile, at least.]

Right. Then we need to go back until your toes don't touch the ground.

[And suddenly Murdoc's hand is going to lunge forward for Bro's wrist. All of a sudden his patience is running a little thin, but he feels less guilty man-handling Bro than he would a student.

He gives it a sharp tug and starts to wade backward until it's a struggle to keep his feet on the ground. He didn't really account for Bro's height, but it's no matter. He unleashes his wrist and pushes his shoulders back with one hand, the other hand nudging his lower back upward before shifting to push his legs up as well.

Both hands are now under Bro's back and legs, nudging to make sure he doesn't wriggle himself out of the position. Normally, he'd be less comfortable with so much contact, but now he wants to make this lesson short but sweet so he can leave the overwhelming awkwardness and rest his back.]

Stay perfectly still.

Edited 2012-09-13 16:46 (UTC)

Wh-

[And suddenly Murdoc's hand is on his wrist and he's being pulled out into the water. Okay he doesn't have a problem with that. Nope, there's no problem with that. He moves forward as best he can and then stops. Yeah that's cool, everything's fine.

That is until Murdoc is touching him, guiding his actions and then his hands are lower, at his legs and lower back and jesus fucking christ he wasn't prepared for this.

As if on reflex, his legs jerk forward to try and get Murdoc's hands off of him, which was a mistake considering it sent him off balance and falling backwards. To try and catch himself, his arms fly out and latch onto the only thing available- Murdoc. They clamp around his neck as he falls backwards into the water.

And at some point during all of this, he also let out a mix between a yell, a shriek, and a gasp.]

[Murdoc, of course, had no idea that Bro was secretly spring loaded. As such, he really isn't expecting the limb flailing and he jerks away from Bro, sending a stab of pain down his back.

He barely has time to stifle that when Bro is throwing his arms around him, and he most certainly does not have the strength to hold them both up at this moment. He lets out a loud, pained cry before the two of them collapse under the water with a dramatic splash.]

[During all of this, it's a whirlwind of flailing and fighting to disentangle himself with Murdoc. Because he needs to just get as far away from possible as he can because touching. It's awkward now and jesus christ just.

He flails. He flails a lot. And it gets him a few feet away from where Murdoc was. He breaks the surface, spluttering and splashing and doing his best to look like a drowning victim all the while. He'll just. Tell Murdoc that the lessons are off, until he can go somewhere and regain his composure and not be a stupid, awkward fuck.

After Murdoc saves him, that is.]

Blarhgh! HELP ME! HELP ME OPRAH, I CAN'T SWIM! SAVE ME!

[The awkwardness is a little beyond Murdoc right now because fuck. He's going to fucking drown while giving swimming lessons in a god damn bath. What the fuck would they say at his funeral.

He can see Bro flailing about and he strains, trying to drag himself upward through the water despite the screams of protest from his spine. It's pretty fucking difficult to do this when Bro's legs are flailing everywhere, so he delivers a swift kick to the other man's thigh before grabbing onto whatever part of him he can and climing up. He's practically screeching now in a pitiful tone.]

CALM THE FUCK DOWN, STRIDER. [WINCE. Yelling hurts.] Shit.

[Bro lets out a 'MMF' when he feels the kick, but it doesn't stop him from flailing any harder. Because he's drowning, he's supposed to flail!

But then. Murdoc grabs his ass. To be fair, Murdoc probably never meant to grab his ass, but Bro twisted at an inopportune time and his hand just. Grabbed it. Right onto it.

He lets out what can only be described as a shriek and twists out of Murdoc's grasp, foot coming up and kicking at Murdoc in defense.]

I fuckin' know, shit! What the fuck, man! Ugh, if you're gonna save me, get the- [He goes under water briefly, cutting himself off before rising up again.] YOU'RE A SHITTYASS OPRAH, FOR FUCK'S SA- [Blurgle, going under again.]

Would you stop fuckin' flailin' around for a god damn second?! My back has gone out, you prick. I can't fuckin' swim. If you don't calm the fuck down you're goin' to kill us both an' I'm goin' to die lookin' ridiculous!

Now's your chance, Strider! Swim you oversized manchild. [Not going to stop clinging.]

[Oh. Oh. Oh fuck seriously. SERIOUSLY? His back. Has gone out. Instantly he stops flailing because yeah, he kind of doesn't want to kill either of them. But the fact that Murdoc is clinging to him is a little.

Fucking weird, to be quite honest. Ugh, jesus fucking. Why was this happening? He should've just. Never done this.

They both go under the water for a moment now that Bro's stopped flailing, and that's when he realizes that he kinda has to give up the lie. Because. Otherwise right there and now, they're gonna drown. He'd let out a groan of frustration if it wasn't for the fact that he's under water.

Finally he just. wraps an arm around Murdoc and then swims them both to the shallow end of the pool. Quite goddamn expertly too, since he's been lying the whole time and he can swim just fine.

He hauls Murdoc up to the steps of the bath and then pulls himself away from his grasp.]

You touched my fucking ass, just FYI.

[Murdoc is a little distracted by INTENSE PAIN but he's well aware of how well Bro is swimming. However, his priorities are in order and all he cares about is getting out of this death trap.

Once they make it to land, Murdoc is quick to slump to the ground. He's trying so hard not to make any weak noises, but he can't hold back a slight whimper as he sits. He presses one hand to his back, keening quietly as he buries his face in his other hand.]

Eughh..

[He's saying that because his back hurts, but he isn't going to clarify that it's not in regards to Bro's ass.]

You're a fuckin' liar.

[Bro turns his back to Murdoc, arms folded. He isn't sure how to take that sound, but he's a bit too worked up and full of adrenaline to really think about it. But the liar comment kind of gets to him and he feels guilty.

He's been caught and now he has to pay the consequences, and the thought scares him. Because originally he'd lied for entirely different reasons. It was a game. Now it wasn't. He wasn't sure how to goddamn feel.]

Sorry, I just...I...

[He needs to get the attention away from this. He needs to just. Avoid this argument. He doesn't want to have it, he doesn't want Murdoc pissed as hell. So he blurts out the one thing he can think of.]

Your back's out, yeah? I can help with that.

[It's then that he realizes just what he offered. Jesus... fuck. But it's too late to take it back. It's too late and it's a good thing he has his back on Murdoc, otherwise he could see the expression in his eyes that can only be described as 'oh shit'.]

Yeah, I'm sure it was a damn funny idea at the time.

[He's trying to sound prickly, but it comes across as more disheartened and a little hurt than anything. Mostly because his immediate assumption will always be that he's being laughed at or mocked.]

How? [He peers over his shoulder as much as he can without hurting himself.]

[He's... not going to acknowledge that. Not right now. He's going to focus on helping Murdoc, because that's the only way he can figure to make this better. He steps out of the bath and goes over to his things. He rummages around in them, not even thinking to grab his shades, before producing his wand.

With a quick spell, he summons a cot for Murdoc to lay on.]

Just. Get over here and lay down on your stomach. [There's a pause as he realizes something.] ...You're gonna need help with that, aren't you?

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