Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.

[swwag]

Characters: [Closed] Tavros Nitram(AU), Sollux Captor(AU), and Jane Crocker
Date: August 23, Afternoon/Early evening
Format: Prose
Content Warnings: Nada
Summary: Tavros introducing his moirail, Sollux, to his new friend Jane. Also swimming.

So you know what's really amazing?

Making friends!

You know what's even more amazing?

Introducing friends to friends and all being friends together! That's pretty darn fantastic and Tavros is very excited for it because that's what's going to happen today! Tavros has to talk to Sollux about it first though, which he's a little worried about. Sollux is a rather paranoid person in general and it can be a little tough getting him to talk to people. But he certainly did assist Sollux in getting more social with the others back home! Even if that was just... typing and video games, but hey, it's a step. Now he'll try to introduce Sollux to someone new and face to face, a nice big step! And they'll even be around water when it happens so he will hopefully be a bit more calm.

With that in mind, Tavros leaves his apartment and heads to Sollux's, knocking on the front door and pulling on a wide smile and keeping a positive attitude.

Comments

[anaglyphiic]

As per Sollux's agreement with at least one of his roommates, it's still early enough in the night that the Disciple won't be here. She said she wouldn't be around during the day, when he sleeps, which is good enough for him. Not that he tends to sleep long hours anyway. He's in the middle of cutting up some fruit to eat when he hears a knock.

Fuck.

Fuck someone is at the door what does he do.

Oh right there's a peep hole-

...And it's just Tavros.

Sollux opens the door, taking a bite out of a slice of fruit, and waving with the other hand. And now he's going to talk with his mouth full. "Tavroth you should call before coming or thomething," he says before swallowing. "I have a panic attack any time someone knocks on that door."

[swwag]

Normally you answer the door when someone shows up, that's just... it's just an idea, you know. But you don't have to. Tavros is pretty proud though, by how easily Sollux shows up and answers, and his already there smile grows a little once the door opens.

"Oh, sorry, I should, shouldn't I?" A pause.

"No, nevermind, you uh, you need to get used to people showing up like this! I think it's probably going to happen often, so it is in your best interest to get used to it and thus not have panic attacks as a result of company you were not informed about before hand." Closing the comment off with a nod.

"Either way, uh, I- er- we, have plans for today! I am just aboat to go for a swim, did you want to accompany me?"

[anaglyphiic]

"I'm not going to just get used to it. It's something that'll take... time. I can't just decide to not panic-" he stops mid-rant, to give Tavros A Look. One with an arched brow, and does not convey amusement.

"We? So I'm already in this plan?" Not that he has a problem with going for a swim. Now he's just teasing Tavros. "Well thanks for asking at least, and not presuming I'd just want to go. Fine. Let me just put this food away."

[swwag]

"Well I know, it will take time, but that's okay, lots of things take time." Tavros smiles when Sollux cuts himself off and to that single brow raise he raises both of his, giving him an ear to ear smile.

"Yes, of course you are already in the plan! When are you not already in the plan? You are always, it is you and I, with the plans together." A grin, stepping in and leaning against the door way, willing to wait. But then he looks a little more nervous and glances down.

"Uh, also it, will include someone else. Just one someone, but someone."

[anaglyphiic]

"... What." Yeah, that was a horrible segway into that, man. "What about what you just said? 'It is you and I'? That implies two people and two people only, Tavros," Sollux replies, annoyed at the idea he'd invite someone else. He continues to put the fruit in the refrigerator and acrosses his arms. "Who is this someone?"

[swwag]

"Uh..." Whoops. A sigh, looking back up to him with his hands fiddling infront of him.

"Well the plan was it was always three," puts up three fingers, "Not two," puts up two, "But three," puts up three again, before closing his hand in a nervous fist.

"Her name is Jane."

[anaglyphiic]

"Two is a superior number to three," he's biased. He knows. "I've never heard of her. Why did you invite her?" Yeah, it's the Moirail Inquisition now.

[swwag]

"I know I know, you prefer two, and uh, that's really great that you have found a shtick and stuck with it, but-" A sigh, rolling a shoulder and rubbing the back of his neck.

"I invited her because she is nice, and was interested in meeting my moirail! I'm showing you off, you should be um, confident or... cocky or something." Pause. "Not that you're like, a trophy quadrant, or something. You could be though since you're really great."

[anaglyphiic]

"Oh yes, I should be proud to be shown-off. When did I ever like being shown-off, again? Oh, right, never." He's sounding a bit more bitter about the whole thing than he's intending to. "Whatever. Fine. Let's go."

[swwag]

"You never did!- OOooooh-" Pause, sigh, moving over to him and sliding a hand over his elbow.

"I think it might be nice, and if it's not, you'll be in the lake and you can just swim away... okay?"

[anaglyphiic]

"I already said I was okay with it," he says, opening the door again for Tavros and aiming to follow him to the lake. "You're sure she's not a threat?"

[swwag]

Tavros takes the lead, giving Sollux a small smile and nod as they begin on their way to the docks district. He doesn't think Jane's a threat anyway, she just seemed like a nice alien.

"I'm shore. We'll be fine, I promise."

[anaglyphiic]

"Alright. Well. If you say so." But it's not like... Tavros has a very good sense of judgement. But that's why he was here, really. To protect them both, where Tavros can't. In this case, it might be from his own naivety.

[swwag]

This is true. Tavros isn't the most skeptical person and tends to give people the benefit of the doubt. Thankfully, Sollux does really help even that out so we'll certainly see how this goes. Tavros is happy Sollux is letting him tug him along though, it's nice to do things together and be out and about together, and it especially good to see Sollux willing to meet others. It makes his chest tug a little, his hand following suit as it moves to grab Sollux's hand as he directs him to the docks.

[bowlbuster]

Jane, meanwhile, headed off to the docks as soon as she and Tavros arranged this whole thing. She's brought a hello-present of some freshly made fudge to give Sollux, but that can wait until after they're a bit more acquainted. She left Lil' Seb with Dirk; he can't be on his own or he gets antsy, but if Sollux is that nervous then he might not take it well seeing a tiny bunny robot that can move faster than the eye can follow.

She's in just a simple blue sundress and sandals when Tavros and his moirail come into view, stuff that she can easily slip off when they go for a swim. She waves on catching sight of them. "Hello, Tavros! Hello- Sollux, right?"

[anaglyphiic]

Sollux stops for a moment when he sees her, gripping Tavros' hand and harshly whispering before they got too close. "You didn't tell me she was human." But there's not much else he can criticize, they're already too close and still walking forward. Wow. This was going to be awkward. He already knows humans hate him, this won't be any different than what happened with that one girl he has as a roommate.

"... Yes, Sollux. And you are Jane. It's... nice to meet you," he says, trying to be polite despite his impending feeling of her hating him.

[swwag]

Leaving Seb with Dirk was probably a good idea, Tavros would agree. Something that can move that fast would definitely put Sollux on edge, so thank you for that, Jane! Also the fudge is really nice too, though Tavros will be unsure if Sollux will be comfortable enough to eat it, and judging by how hard he grips now, and how he's whispering, Tavros isn't so sure.

He manages a wary smile to his moirail and grips his hand hard right back before leaning to him to reply.

"I didn't think it mattered?" If anything it's pretty neat, even if Jane looks a little weird without grey skin and horns, also it's kind of crazy to have eyes like she does too! The colour is already there and everything!

"Heeyyy!" Tavros replies to Jane, walking right over to her and tugging Sollux along like a clinging wiggler. Tavros doesn't seem to mind at all and turns to give the other troll a smile before looking back to Jane.

"Sollux, Jane, Jane, Sollux, but I uh, I believe I already told each of you eachother's names, heh. Are the both of you ready to go for a dip in the lake?"

[bowlbuster]

"Nice to meet you too, Sollux!" And remembering how much Tavros liked it, she dips into a little curtsey, smiling encouragingly. "I like your eyes," she continues, perking up a little. "They're very pretty! Thank you for coming, I'm very happy that you're here."

Gosh, Sollux, she's not rude. And you're not threatening her with a bident, that helps too.

"I'd love to go for a swim, if both of you are up for it. Tavros said you would be more comfortable in the water?"

[anaglyphiic]

He doesn't really know what to do to the compliments, although his cheeks flush in reaction to actually being complimented by someone he didn't know. "Uh. Thank... you?" Yeah, he's real smooth. Time to flow with the change in subject.

"Yes, I would. I'm still not used to living above water yet."

[swwag]

Another curtsy! And heck yes he likes it, he even responds with a bow of his own.

"Great! Then we should get right to that then, yes?" Smiles, moving closer to the docks with a wide and confident pace, he's already a bit pleased since Sollux hasn't taken too sarcastic of a tone just yet.

[bowlbuster]

"Sure, that sounds fine!" Jane follows after the two aliens, smiling like all this is totally normal. To be fair, though, not a lot perturbs her once she's initially encountered it. She trots along the docks behind Tavros and Sollux, and as they head onto a pier she swaps the sundress and sandals (along with her glasses) into her sylladex, leaving her in a red gingham one-piece swimsuit.

She doesn't ask if they want get in with her or any such thing, instead electing to be the first to dive in. When she surfaces she grins up at both of them, squinting a little due to her poor vision as she paddles a touch awkwardly. "Goodness, the water's awfully cold when you're not used to it! It's still nice in here, though."

whoops suddenly action tags

[anaglyphiic]

Sollux turns- quickly and frantically when he hears a suddenly splash of water nearby. He's a split second away from bringing out his trident when he realizes that it was just Jane jumping into the water. Crisis averted. He still has his hand over his collapsing and expanding bladder based aquatic vascular system though, out of sheer panic.

...And wasn't she wearing something different before?

Sollux looks to Tavros, a little lost for proper social direction at this point.

Wow, good job.

[swwag]

Tavros is already laughing a little, watching how quickly Jane takes to the water. Like a fish even! And he grins, following her. He'd jump right in as well but Sollux suddenly looks really nervous and that's not gonna do at all.

He furrows his brows, giving him a wary smile and putting a hand on his shoulder. He says nothing, just smiles, squeezing his hand in place a little before moving to the edge of the dock finally. With that, he quickly dives in, but it's a lot less of a splash as Tavros-even with his horns and cape- cuts into the water smooth like any sea dweller should, soon popping up to the surface and giving Jane a wide grin.

"The cold's nice, still warmer than uh, what Sole and I are used to!"

[bowlbuster]

"Sorry, Sollux, did I startle you? Brrr!" Jane giggles, swimming over close to the dock, grinning over at Tavros. "You guys must be used to it being really cold, then, because this is absolutely freezing to me!"

She smiles up at Sollux on the dock, waving up at him. "Come on in, you goof, you're the seadweller here!"

[anaglyphiic]

"You would probably be warmer if you didn't ... declothe before getting in," he says, before moving to sit down on the dock and then sliding into the water. He'd rather avoid a splashing sound at all, if he can help it.

[swwag]

"Decl- Oh! Yeah uh, what's about that?" Looks at Jane.

"Is a different set of clothing for swimming a thing humans do?" Tavros looks over at Sollux getting in with a small smile, because Sollux, that looks ridiculous. Stop it.

[bowlbuster]

"Well, for humans, if clothes get soaked they weigh us down and restrict movement. And we can't breathe underwater, so that's a problem! Also then my dress would be soaked through and it'd take forever to dry. This is a swimsuit, it's what we generally use to swim in."

She paddles a little closer, still shivering but smiling through it. "It's okay, though. I'm warm-blooded, so I'll adjust in a few minutes. It's just a bit of a temperature shock!"

[anaglyphiic]

No, he won't stop it. He likes being quiet.

But he's in the water now, lightly paddling over to where Jane and Tavros are floating. He understands being weighed down by wet clothes, which does happen on occasion. He can't even imagine wearing a cape like Tavros does and trying to remain floating, but Tavros is a bit stronger than he looks. "Warm-blooded?" Does she mean... like 'of low-color blood'? They tend to be warmer than seadwellers.

[swwag]

"Oh, that makes sense... I guess we uh, as sea dwellers are used to it? Plus our clothing dries pretty fast!" Nod. Wait, pause.

"There are no seadwelling humans?" And yes, he's rather strong! You'd be surprised what that much swimming in a cape and tux can do! Also he is just as confused about that warm blooded comment and gives Jane and odd look of his own.

[bowlbuster]

"Yes, you know, humans are mammals...?" And now she's staring blankly, too. Confusion circus all over the place! "But no, we don't have any seadwelling humans." She looks from Tavros to Sollux. "I mean, we're not really built for it."

[anaglyphiic]

"Well, landdwellers aren't meant to swim either," Sollux replies, slightly confused as to why there aren't seadweller humans, but whatever. Aliens are weird.

[swwag]

"Oh uh, mammals... r-right."

"Well landwalkers aren't built for it eith- yeah... Are there other kinds of humans at all?"