SWIMMINGGEDDON.

[wwistful]

WHO: Murdoc Donoghue and YOU
TONE: Fun, WHIMSICAL, horrifying
RATING: PG-13 and onward
WHEN: September 7th
WHERE:  The Lake.
WHAT:  After this Murdoc realised the children (and staff) of Hogwarts were in dire need of swimming lessons.
STATUS: Ongoing

[GATHER AROUND CHILDREN it's a warm summer day and the lake is perfect for diving into your sudden but inevitable deaths. You should all be dressed in your swimming trunks (which you clearly have don't even lie) because Murdoc sure is. He's determined to conduct this in the best manner he can, though he wasn't quite expecting the turn out to be so large. People who can swim are welcome to become his assistants because he could probably use the help.]

Comments

[rule_britannia]

Making conversation. Don't start thinking I care about your health or anything like that.

[His next smile is more crooked, teasing, and he glances down at the picture]

That's Aranea, isn't it?

[eighttimeshandy]

Ah, yes. Of course. The art of small talk. [He nods sagely, then shrugs his shoulder]

Might be. She's very photogenic, don't you think?

[rule_britannia]

[There's a pause while he considers the drawing]

Mm.. she is. I had the good fortune of meeting her a few days ago. She's rather engaging.

[eighttimeshandy]

Yeah... [Siiiiiiiigh] Such a lovely, sweet voice... And she's so smart too.

[rule_britannia]

...

[Blink]

Bloody hell, Eriq. I don't think I've ever seen you lovesick before.

[eighttimeshandy]

[It's his turn to blink, and he stares at Arthur with a blank look on his face]

What? I'm not- What? She's just a girl...

[rule_britannia]

'Just a girl'? Eriq, come on.

[There's another look at the drawing]

You've put more work into this than any of your other sketches, it's far more dynamic, and I didn't miss how you spoke about her just now. You like her, don't you?

[eighttimeshandy]

[The tips of his ears are burning red, but he's shrugging his shoulders and meeting Arthur's eyes like it's nothing]

Like I said, she's smart, photogenic, and has a nice voice. I certainly appreciate those qualities in a lady, but I would hardly say that I'm in love.

[rule_britannia]

...

[One eyebrow quirks up slightly]

You say that, but I do believe we could heat the dungeon with the heat the tips of your ears are giving off.

[eighttimeshandy]

[He's just going to smack Arthur with his book now, thanks]

It's an involuntary reaction! It means nothing!

[rule_britannia]

[Arthur's immediate reaction is to burst out into laughter, grabbing Eriq's wrist to keep him from hitting him again]

You can't hide this kind of thing from me! I've known you too long!

[eighttimeshandy]

I'm not hiding anything, it's true! [He protests, voice rising in pitch] Love is stupid! It's not like she'd like me anyway!

[rule_britannia]

[Stop. Stare]

... Would you like to repeat that last part for the class?

[eighttimeshandy]

SHUT UP! [He tries smacking Arthur again before getting up to walk away. He doesn't want to talk about this]

[rule_britannia]

[Arthur lets go of his arm with something of a jerking motion, drawing his hand to his chest defensively, a little wide-eyed as he stares at him without making a move to get up]

Sorry, Eriq..

[eighttimeshandy]

[He looks away, face red with embarrassment]

It's just stupid, okay? Girls are just distractions that get in the way of accomplishing science. [A line frequently heard from one Herbert West] That's all.

[rule_britannia]

... You don't really believe that, do you?

[He feels a bit stupid for reacting so defensively to someone he's rather sure would never attempt to seriously hurt him, and he lets his next breath out slowly, lowering his arm]

[eighttimeshandy]

[For just a moment, he looks back at Arthur, then shrugs, looking away again]

It doesn't matter. It's just not going to happen. Believing otherwise is just setting myself up for disappointment.

[rule_britannia]

I'm sure you're familiar with the term 'self-fulfilling prophecy'.

[Glancing away, he shakes himself mentally, then gets to his feet]

[eighttimeshandy]

I am a student of divination, I should HOPE I know that one. [eyeroll]

Anyway, what does it matter if I chose to pursue a more solitary life style? It doesn't hurt anyone.

[rule_britannia]

I suppose it doesn't, but I'd think about if you're pursing that lifestyle because it's what you want, or because you just don't know how to be any other way.

[He brushes himself off and shoves his hands into his pockets. For a moment, it seems he's about to argue further, then he just shakes his head]

In any case, I'll refrain from bringing it up again.

[eighttimeshandy]

Whatever... [He just... shrugs, helplessly, plopping back down under his parasol, knees pulled up to his chest, arms wrapped around them]

[rule_britannia]

...

[Sigh]

Should I just..?

[He jerks one thumb over his shoulder a standard 'fuck the hell off' gesture]

[eighttimeshandy]

[He shrugs one shoulder, not looking up. Yes, he'd kind of like to wallow alone in his angst, but you know. Too polite to say that.]

[rule_britannia]

Yeah.. Yeah, okay. I'll see you later.

[Doesn't need to be said, really. He gives Eriq's shoulder a brief squeeze then leaves him to his.. angst, or whatever this is]