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

[doctorkishitani]

[As it happens, he's not here to swim either. But swimming lessons are intriguing, so he's here to observe. However, having spotted a small girl drawing under a nearby tree and having a fairly good idea of who she might be, he makes his way over and settles himself beside her.]

Hello! You're Ib Amano, aren't you?

[remembertheroses]

[Oh! She gasps a little when she hears her name being called by an unfamiliar voice. Spotting the older boy, she nods and smile shyly, putting her work away for the moment.]

Yes, my name is Ib. Hello.

[doctorkishitani]

[He bows his head slightly as he also takes a seat under the tree.]

I thought so. I'm Shinra Kishitani. We've spoken over the journal network.
It's nice to meet you in person!

[remembertheroses]

[His bow is returned with a deeper one as s sign of respect.]

Hello Kishitani-senpai. It's nice to meet you too.

[Her voice stutters over the honorific slightly; it's been a long long time since she's actually used it. She has to wonder whether he would prefer her to speak in Japanese or English.]

[doctorkishitani]

[Well... Nobody has ever called him that. He blinks at her, pausing a moment before responding.]

Thank-you!

[He pauses again before smiling amiably and gesturing at Ib's notebook.]

Is that your work? What were you drawing, Anano-kun?

["Kun" is the right honorific, isn't it? He hopes it is. He should probably know this. ]

[remembertheroses]

[Is her blush a good enough sign that he might have got it wrong?]

I was drawing the lake. It is very beautiful, and it is a beautiful day.

[doctorkishitani]

[He emits a quiet, nervous sort of laugh as he notes the blush. He probably got the honorific wrong. But no matter! She changed the subject and they can move on now.]

You were? I suppose the lake is very lovely.
May I see your drawing?

[remembertheroses]

[Passive and shy Ib covers her notebook with her hand.]

It is not finished yet and it is not very good.

[doctorkishitani]

[Oh, but now that he's not allowed to see it, he really wants to. He unconsciously leans just a bit closer as she covers her notebook.]

Everyone says that about their work. It's probably much better than you think it is.

[remembertheroses]

[And the more he insists, the more embarrassed and redder her cheeks will flush.]

A-ah! It is, still, not very good, and it's, ah...

[Shinra has her flushing and stumbling slightly over her words.]

[doctorkishitani]

[He pulls back slightly and peers at her for a moment before asking,]

Would you prefer to speak in Japanese?

[remembertheroses]

[As tempting as it is, Ib shakes her head.]

Thank you, but no. If I do not practise, I will not get any better.

[doctorkishitani]

I'm sorry. You just seemed rather ill at ease, so I thought I would ask. But you're absolutely right. In fact, I admire your work ethic, Amano... san?

[Was that the right honorific?]

[remembertheroses]

[It was. Ib just gives him a shy smile.]

Thank you for caring Kishitani-senpai. I am glad. It is not my English, but...my art still requires work. I do not want to show you bad and unfinished art.

[doctorkishitani]

[She doesn't seem upset this time, so he's just going to assume that he got it right and smile right back at her.]

You're very welcome!

[At the mention of the art, he tilts his head, leaning in once again because it's right there, but he's not allowed to see it.]

May I see it when you've finished?

[remembertheroses]

[No he's not allowed at all.]

...ok. I will let you know over the journals.

[doctorkishitani]

You will?

[He immediately beams at that.]

Thank-you! I'll look forward to seeing it!

[remembertheroses]

[Shinra's enthusiasm surprises and causes her cheeks to blush. Not many older teens have stopped and commented on her drawing before. And Shinra remembered her name too. He seemed like a really nice person.

He's really cool. So cool that the only thing Ib could do now was nod with her cheeks all flushed.]