jikan_network | un: overlords

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un: overlords

[Fairly late in the evening, a message comes up on the network--]

Does anyone have any advice for help with sleep troubles?

I just arrived at the beginning of the month, and I don't think I've had a restful night since then.

I suppose it doesn't help that I haven't decided whether to try and remain nocturnal or not, but I'd settle for anything if it meant getting some sleep.

[And then, much later in the evening--]

How do other vampires handle living in a climate like this?

Even with this air conditioner on, it's too hot.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ oh shit

there he goes

Childe shifts from his squatting position by the side of the pool reflexively, leaning forward to dip his fingers in the water when Shell comes back up. ]

… okay. Baby steps, I got it.

[ The jewel on his belt flows faintly when he leans back, allowing Shell to grab the edge of the pool. ]

Here. Grab and start kicking out your legs.

[ He doesn’t say anything else, but there’s a splash??? Behind Shell?? This place was empty, right? ]

--hm?

[Well of course he's going to turn and look?? While still doing as he's told because of course he's going to follow orders, he's a bottom.]

...did you throw something in the water?

[ why is he like this ]

Hm? No, I didn’t. Ah - straighten out your legs a little more, you want to give really strong kicks. Here —

[ and the water churns, sliding over muscles and thighs and there’s the distinct feeling of something curling around Shell’s leg to guide it into stronger, more powerful motions.

It may or may not feel like a hand. Or a tentacle. ]

[Childhood abandonment issues, mostly.]

Er, more like-- wha!?

[Things progressed to tentacle porn much faster than expected.]

[Amazingly, he keeps his composure enough not to just jump right out, continuing to kick his legs despite the brief hiccup.]

A-Are you doing that...?

Well, how else am I supposed to teach you? [ short of just getting in the water, but. It’s the little things.

He keeps this up a few moments longer, and there’s a look of thoughtful concentration on his face, taking in Shell’s attempts with gradually increasing nods of approval. ]

Okay, good, very good. You’re doing great. Now —

[ He unfolds his arms from where he’s got them folded on his knees and starts making the motions of a simple front crawl stroke. ]

Try practicing like this. And uh. It’s usually done with your face in the water, but I think we can forgo that for now..

[Shell, who has no idea what magic is, is now extremely impressed with Childe. And probably thinks he's a witch or something idek.]

A-All right! Like... this?

[He's going to look a little goofy as he tries to figure out how to do this without putting his face in the water. But he's a pretty fast learner, and seems to be picking it up pretty well! It'd be easier if he could float like even a little bit, but some people are just denser okay.]

Yeah, you’ve got the right of it!

[ He sounds a little proud, almost. There’s not grip on Shell’s legs, which… might be telling, but Childe continues on like nothing happened.

Stretching out a hand, he points at the corner of the pool that’s still in the shallow end. ]

Now, using what you’ve learned, try swimming down there. Make sure your feet don’t touch the floor.

[In which Shell learns he might have a praise kink, too--]

Got it!

[AND OFF HE GOES gradually. Still a little slow, and splashing a lot more than he needs to, but he manages to swim all the way down, stopping only when he bumps right into the wall... a-and then casually tries to just turn around and swim back, u saw nothing.]

[ oh gosh he’s so excited, Childe can’t help but to laugh a little at the enthusiastic swimming motions. ]

Okay, let’s crank it up a notch.

[ have you ever seen a fifteen foot tsunami before? well guess what’s about to come crashing down :) ]

[SIR WHAT IN THE GODDAMN??]

[Shell manages to YELL before he's slammed down by the water, being dragged around the pool as the water splashes around. He forgets to even try to swim at first, but eventually the frantic kicking starts as he tries to grab onto the edge of the pool.]

Wh-What are you doing!? Are you trying to drown me!?

Of course not, you’ve got the basics down, comrade! You’re a natural!

[ it’s telling Childe has to shout to be heard over the sound of rumbling water. The jewel at his hip glows with an otherworldly light, and Shell can probably see the beginnings of ripples in the water.

The ripples gyrate faster and faster, turning into a cyclone of sorts?? And before long there’s a giant whirlpool forming in the middle of the pool, trying hard to suck Shell in. ]

Remember to kick with your legs! [ Childe says, like that’s any help at all. ]

[INSERT WARBLING SCREAM HERE]

[Yeah, this is no help at all, because try as he might, he's no Olympic swimmer. And even an Olympic swimmer would be like son what the fuck.]

[SO INTO THE VORTEX HE GOES]

— ah.

[ well that’s not what he’d expected to happen. but he doesn’t repent, the whirlpool doesn’t stop, and Childe quickly cups both hands to mouth to be heard of the roar of water. ]

Kick with your legs! Your legs!

[HIS LEGS DO NOTHING, SIR, HE IS ACTIVELY DROWNING]

[If Childe doesn't let up in another minute, he's gonna breathe in water and stop moving.]

[ it’s getting obvious pretty quickly that this isn’t helping. perhaps be overestimated Shell’s abilities, but also - he supposes he might have gotten a little carried away. just a little.

Straightening, Childe shucks off his shirt and lets it flutter to the ground before diving cleanly into the churning waters. As he cuts a clean path to Shell the whirlpool slows, and then eventually dies down altogether, and the Harbinger takes a moment to tread water and haul one of the blond’s arms over his shoulder so he can paddle them back to shallow water at the pool’s edge. ]

[As soon as they reach water shallow enough for him to stand, he chokes -- and then begins coughing, trying to get the water out of his lungs. It burns in a different way from being choked, the stench of chemicals burning his nostrils in a way that makes his headspin.]

Wha... what the hell was that about...?

[ Childe’s going to done there gently patting his back, like he hadn’t just almost drowned the blond a few moments ago. Which he hadn’t meant to, really, but… he supposes he just got a little carried away. Just a little. ]

You looked like you were handling it okay, so I thought I’d give you something a little harder. Perhaps the whirlpool was a little much.

"A little harder"? You almost killed me!

[ASSHOLE]

[He's done swimming for now, maybe forever, so he's going to walk out and start heading right back to the locker room.]

[ okay maybe he does feel a little guilty. ]

I wouldn’t have let you drown! [ he’s hauling himself out of the pool, stopping to pick up his shirt and thread his arms through as he follows along behind the man. ] Trust me, you’d know if I did!

Says the one who threw a ten foot wave on me before dragging me into a whirlpool.

[SIR]

[Also just gonna go into the shower and wash the chlorine off first, keeping the suit on. The shower isn't private at all, and he doesn't want to have this conversation naked??]

[ he’s just gonna. follow him over there, because where else is he going to go?? they’re still gonna fight after this, right?? ]

Yeah, but - you survived, didn’t you? [ he’s just casually leaning against the wall, watching Shell wash off, for some reason. he has no idea what chlorine is, after all. ]

Didn’t it feel exciting? You’re never going to get another experience like that unless you go out into the wilderness. The prospect of coming so close to death - didn’t it make you feel alive? Better than just treading water like a fish.

You and I have very different opinions of what makes a person feel "alive".

[He's just doing a quick rinse to get the smell off, and then grabbing a towel. Pat, pat, pat...]

[But with that done-- he steps out, and then levels a glare at Childe. A very different expression from the friendly one he's worn so far.]

And I take it that fighting is what does it for you, yes?

You’re not wrong.

[ He’s nice enough to give him space to maneuver out, but he still hovers a little nearby. Does he want to get started fighting right here, right now? That’s the most likely option.

But his eyes when he sweeps over Shell, focuses on his face, is telling. There’s a glimpse of something like unease, perhaps even concern, but he doesn’t speak or act on it. ]

Well. Then I'm sorry I won't be able to give you a satisfying fight.

Because you've already lost.

[With those words, the atmosphere of the room changes abruptly.]

[The air becomes thick and heavy. As if his lungs were caught in a vice, it'll feel nearly impossible to take a breath. Anxiety and fear overwhelms Childe's mind. No matter how irrational it may seem, right now, the presence of Shell standing in front of him will be terrifying, as if taking a single step would be the end of everything.]

Kneel.

[His words sound so loud, so commanding. More than just his mind, every muscle in Childe's body will ache to follow the command, as if not doing so would cause him to be consumed by this horrible feeling of dread forever.]

[Will Childe be able to resist it? Perhaps it was a little unfair not to give him a warning. But in Shell's defense, Childe didn't give him one in the pool either.]

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