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

[skullsandstuff]

That's nice...

I guess it's not a problem? That or everybody's really stupid. [She ponders the squid situation another moment, then takes a seat.]

Did we? I spoke to a few people--which one were you? Were you the one that thought it was weird I liked my hair?

[marshall_lee]

[He chuckles.] I think it stays further out and away from people. They say there are merpeople in the lake too.

[He scoots over to make room for her]
Actually, I'm the one who asked you if you were a vampire.

[skullsandstuff]

[She perks up.] Really? Do they ever come out? [Then she pauses again.] Can merpeople even breathe air?

Oh. Still not, by the by.

You're a lot better at explaining that political type stuff than my dad. I guess because you're closer to my age, maybe? His explanations get all complicated.

[marshall_lee]

[He shrugs]
I'm not sure. This is actually my first year here.
[Well, he's not so sure about that. You smell lightly of vampire but he's not going to pry since it's none of his business.]

I'm glad I could help. Those kind of issues are always interesting to me. Besides, I'm sure your Dad probably just wants to protect you from the cold cruel world.

1/2

[skullsandstuff]

You're a first year? You seem a bit old.

It gave me some stuff to think about.

[skullsandstuff]

[The she bursts out laughing.] 'Cold cruel world'? Really?

[marshall_lee]

[He laughs at her astonishment.]

No, I'm a fifth year technically. I'm a transfer. It's just my first year here at Hogwarts.

What kind of stuff if I can ask?

[He grins]
Naah, not really. I'm just being sarcastic.

[skullsandstuff]

Oh. I didn't know they did that. I guess they do it with muggle schools though... ...But this is the only wizard school in Britain, right? Does that mean you're from somewhere else? Or do they have more wizard schools now?

Oh, just... I kind of... always thought of vampirism as being more, like... I guess, a bigger part of who a vampire is? But saying vampirism's just a disease seems like... [She waves her hands in a vague, frustrated gesture.] I don't know what I'm trying to say. Do you?

[She thinks for a minute.] You can say 'I'm a vampire', and that doesn't sound weird. But if you say 'I have vampirism', that just sounds wrong.

[marshall_lee]

No, I'm from around here. My Mom was a Muggle and we moved around a lot due to her job and stuff before I knew I was a wizard. I didn't want to leave her so I've mostly had tutors and stuff. It's not a very common thing to happen though.

Hmm..I thiiink I get what you're trying to say. I always thought of vampires as humans who become something else. It's like..being human was a starting point? But unless a human was bitten that would never happen so in that way it is a bit more like a disease wouldn't you think?

[skullsandstuff]

'Was'? Did she die?

Yes, exactly! ...Hm. The biting thing's true though. [She watches the swimmers for a bit, thinking again.]

[marshall_lee]

Mmm-hmm. Earlier this year..[He manages to look a little bit uncomfortable at this topic and attempts to change it.]

It's a hard thing to put into words that's for sure. But hey, don't worry about it too much okay? It's a nice day and there's plenty of time for worrying later right?

[skullsandstuff]

I'm sorry. That really sucks.

I'm not worrying, I'm just thinking. I'm allowed to think about stuff if I want to, even if it's confusing. [She's trying hard not to snap. It's always best to assume someone wasn't trying to be rude, after all. She pouts for a second anyway, then tries to change the subject.]

Anyway. It's too bright. I like overcast days better.

[marshall_lee]

It's all right..

You're pretty good at thinking. I think this is one of the best conversations I've had in a while actually..[He smiles]
I'm definately with you there. Overcast days are nice. You don't have to worry about getting burned and you're not all squinty.

[skullsandstuff]

[She smiles too. An older kid's complimenting her conversational skills! Plus that confirms he hadn't been trying to be rude, which is nice to know.]

Yeah. A lot of people don't care for them. Not sure why not.

[marshall_lee]

I think a lot of people find a lack of sunlight depressing. There's even some kind of disorder where the loss of light can effect peoples health too. I forget the name..Seasonal-something or the other.
I've always thought of overcast days as cozy and comfortable myself.

[skullsandstuff]

That's so weird.

Bright sunlight hurts my eyes. I'm always kind of surprised it doesn't more people. ...I'd probably be just as happy to just be awake at night instead, but then I'd miss everybody. Curse normal people and their love of light. [She shakes a fist jokingly at the crowd nearer the lake.]

[marshall_lee]

Well, I'm definately more of a night person. It suits me better being a musician and all. I usually don't get home from gigs until pretty late.
[He laughs]
Yeah! Curse youuuu![He shakes his fist as well.]