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

[mo_cara]

Pins in my eyes, bro, I promise. [smiles] You want me to try letting go of your legs? I'll still have you up here [patting his back] and you can hang on to my neck, yeah?

[selfhatred]

You do realize you're taller than me, don't you? [He's just looking down and examining the fact that the water is at Gamzee's waist.] I'm probably going to drown regardless the second you let go.

[mo_cara]

Ain't I already told you I ain't letting go? [Gamzee asks with a smile.] Just your legs. Let them motherfuckers float free! I ain't gonna be letting you go under.

[selfhatred]

[After a moment or so, he finally nods, closing his eyes.]

I trust you.

[mo_cara]

[Gamzee takes a few step out deeper into the lake, so that the water is up to Karkat's shoulders, and his chest. Then he gently releases the smaller boy's legs, let him cling around Gamzee's neck while the Slytherin holds him securely around the waist. He shifts his weight from one foot to the other, to make Karkat's legs sway in the buouyancy of the water.] See? Ain't dropping you. Give 'em a little kick!

[selfhatred]

[He feels ridiculous, but he wasn't lying when he said he trusted Gamzee. It takes him another few minutes to start kicking his legs a little. His heart was beating at what felt like a hundred miles an hour, but he swallowed, trying to do his best.]

[mo_cara]

See, there you be! [Gamzee exclaims in delight, as though Karkat has done something much more impressive than start kicking his legs under the water. He shifts his grip so that he has the smaller boy around the hips, spanning them with his big hands and long fingers, letting the motion of the kicks pull Karakt's body up and out a little, while still keeping him firmly in Gamzee's grasp. To distract from the sensation, and encourage the other boy, he dips his head, kissing the Gryffindor lightly at the temple, the cheek, his jaw, not caring who saw. Karkat was his motherfuckin' best friend, and he could feel the jackhammer heartrate, and damn it, he was going to help, best he could!]

You're getting it!

[selfhatred]

[The kisses do help a little, but only a little. A small part of him is worried about other people, but not as much as he is about drowning. He takes a deep breath to steady himself, his fingers nearly in a knuckle white grip around Gamzee's shoulders as he closed his eyes, continuing to kick.]

No I'm not! This sucks! Oh my god I can't believe you carried me out here, you shit, stupid, airheaded asshole! [Yep. Here come the half-hearted insults from a scared fourteen year old.]

[mo_cara]

Nah, it's all good. [Gamzee disagrees, not pointing out the fact that it was Karkat that came out to the lake in the first place, that he could call it off at any time. He figures the other boy knows all that, he just needs to vent a little.] See, 'cause you ain't drowning, and you're floating, right? So that's pretty motherfuckin' good, instead of playing stone.

[selfhatred]

[Well, he hadn't really come out here of his own free will. More like he'd grumbled and let himself be dragged along by his uncle. Still, he's only kicking because even though he knows Gamzee won't drop him, it's all he knows what you have to do for swimming. He gives a small whine, shutting his eyes.]

I hate thiiiiiis.

[mo_cara]

I know. [And Gamzee will start wading out even deeper, until eventually the water is up to his shoulders. It means Karkat is pretty much submerged up to his neck, and with a little encouragement from his friend's hands, he can actually float out perpendicular to Gamzee, so that all he would have to do to be swimming was get the arms involved, then let go. The Slytherin doesn't release him, though, just lets him float like that so he can get used to the feeling.]

[selfhatred]

[Karkat let out a frustrated squeak when he's brought further into the lake, and he probably would've started flailing if he'd been let go of entirely. He feels like a little kid in the kiddie pool and it feels ridiculous, but he tightens his grip as much as he can anyway.]

Don'tfuckingletgoofme.

[mo_cara]

[Gamzee dips his head and presses his forehead to the other boy's, so only the Slytherin's long face and indigo eyes take up Karkat's vision.] Neverever. You gotta be trusting me.

[selfhatred]

[Panicking rust red glances up before Karkat shuts them tightly, taking a deep breath to calm himself down. His legs felt like they were going to fall off from so much kicking, but he knew if Gamzee did let go of him they'd be the only thing keeping him afloat this far out in the lake.]

[mo_cara]

[The taller boy's hands start to gently slide down Karkat's body.] Okay, bro, I'm gonna flip you over on your back. You keep hanging on, yeah? Then you can float.

[selfhatred]

[Karkat keeps his hands in a tight hold on Gamzee's arms, body jerking a bit in surprise when he feels the other's hands starting to move down.]

I can't.

[mo_cara]

Yeah, you can. Trust me, I got you. Promise I won't let you go under. [calmly] I'd never let you be sinking, you know that.