Instant Fun, Just Add Shark

[morphitudinous]

Characters: Billy and anyone!
Location: Garden's pool, fairly early one morning.
Rating: PG (nothing more saucy than people in swimsuits)
Open/Closed/Finished: Open!
Summary: Bubbles. Heart pounding. It's a shark---no, just Billy out for a swim.

When swimming, Billy prefers to keep his head below the water. It's not to show off his ability to hold his breath for a lap or two---that's a good side benefit, but it developed after his preference for staying underwater. He stays below because it's an easy way to drown out the world. With his head submerged, he can't hear any disapproval of offworlders. There's no commentary on his scarred body. And, perhaps most importantly, he can be aware of any lingering threats if his eyes are open.

So Billy spends as much time underwater during his laps as possible, prescription goggles firmly attached. He's a stream of bubbles and a peach and blue shape sliding the surface, only surfacing for air for a few brief seconds. This swimming is entirely serious business, you see. No time for chat. Just time to...run. Or swim, in this case.

His concentration is quite suddenly interrupted by the bean bags that some clown has decided to throw in. He scowls, surfacing for just long enough to toss one to the deck. You'd almost think some people have fun when they go swimming!

Comments

[silentscales]

The snake he addressed lifted it's tail out of the water and waved briefly before having to go back to moving again. It really wasn't built to float in one place.

Snake still relaxed a little ways away, opening one eye at the sound of Billy's voice. He closed it again, "'Hello,' is what Oscar is trying to say."

[morphitudinous]

"Thanks for the translation," Billy answered, half out of breath. Really, it was nice to know that the snake was friendly. Definitely alleviated his concerns about sharing the pool.

"Hey, I remember you. So are you all settling in?"

[silentscales]

Snake yawns and opens his eyes. He stretches his arms before nodding to Billy, "'It is not anything like we are used to, but it isn't so bad,' says Emily. 'The food is good,' says Oscar."

[morphitudinous]

"Have you tried the hot dogs?" Billy suggests with a little smile. "I've enjoyed some of the bread as well."

He idly flicks at the water's surface. "No one's been treating you badly, have they?" says Billy, clearly the most tactful of people.

[silentscales]

Snake shakes his head no to the last question, "'The bread is never stale, but what are hotdogs?' says Oscar."

[morphitudinous]

Billy sucks in a breath, trying to call up the words to explain. "They're a...processed meat, softened and wrapped in a thin skin. They're chewy and fairly easy to eat, better with spices."

He shrugs. "I prefer burgers, but they're not too bad if you don't think about how the meat is ground."