the_lioness | (no subject)

*Adam sneaks up behind her and grabs her by surprise.*

And where did you think you were going?

*Alanna shouts with surprise, annoyed at herself for failing to hear his approach. Face red, she glares at him mutinously.*

Nowhere! I mean... inside to find out what was keeping you, of course.

*She sniffs indignantly.*

*He holds onto her arms, grinning, and raises an eyebrow.*

You weren't going to try to back out of your lessons, now were you? Because that would certainly not be fitting of a knight.

*Her eyes narrow.*

What a ridiculous thing to say. I am no coward, Adam Young. You should know that by now.

*Alanna's eyes shift toward the bar as angry color moves across her face. Grousing under her breath, she starts to twist her arms free.*

Lovely... day. *She grunts.*

*As she twists, he just holds on harder.*

Beautiful, isn't it? I'm sure the water's great for swimming.

*Growling, she stomps her foot.*

You do realize I could break free at any moment, don't you? But I do not wish to injure you, Adam.

*She sighs. It's a pained and resigned sound. Lips twitching, she relaxes a minuscule amount and takes a step closer, looking up at him.*

Perhaps I simply forgot to don that bathing costume Bar gave me.

Well, you'd be in luck, then, that Bar would be willing to give you another, no?

*He grins at her, and lets go of her arms.*

Of course. I trust you with my personal safety.

*Still grumbling, Alanna crosses her arms and squints toward the lake.*

It looks cold. And deep. *pause* I don't suppose you left your bathing costume at home?

*She sounds hopeful.*

*He's already started to undress as she speaks, wandering towards the edge of the lake.*

I did, but luckily I was wearing shorts under my pants.

*And indeed, by the edge of lake, he undoes his pants to reveal boxers. Nothing special, just a generic plaid print, blue and green.*

*Chewing her thumb, Alanna watches him. Her eyebrows shoot up at the sight of his boxers, and she sighs.*

Yes... luckily.

*In her lecture on courage this morning, she totally forgot to address the issue of all but disrobing in public. Glancing around, she slowly lifts her shirt, frowns at nothing in particular and pulls it over her head, biting back an oath when her arms gets stuck. Finally freeing herself, she takes a deep breath and tosses it aside before she loses her nerve and yanks it back on. As bikinis go, it's not necessarily tiny, but she feels practically naked - even with her pants still on.

Uncertain, she stares mulishly at the water and continues to blush.*

*Adam resolutely ignores the pale shade of pink his face is turning as she takes her shirt off, and instead watches her eyes focused on the water.*

It's not going to bite you, you know. It hasn't got a mouth.

*She makes a face, unbuttoning her breeches.*

The shark does.

*After a quick look at his face, she averts her eyes.

This is ridiculous. He has seen you in far less... Goddess. That certainly didn't help.

Oh, just do it you fool.

Gritting her teeth, she pulls her pants off and hurls them angrily toward her shirt. She squeezes her eyes shut briefly, then moves to stand by Adam.*

I can do this.

Right then. Now what?

*He lays a hand lightly on the small of her back and smiles at her*

Yes, you can.

*and winks.*

Now... we get wet.

*Alanna gives him a dubious look and nods, moving closer to the water. After sticking one foot in the lake, she hastily withdraws it and scowls.*

I don't like getting wet.

I don't like being cold.

That *she points to the water* is both wet AND cold.

*She turns to look at him. Underneath the obstinacy in her expression is a thin veil of fear. Her last attempt at swimming didn't go very well.*

*He contemplates using Thom's method and simply throwing her in, but given the look in her eyes, that probably wouldn't go over very well. So instead, he gives her arm one last squeeze and uses himself as an example, wading easily into the water. It's cold, but not too cold, and he's up to about his knees when he motions for her to come join him.*

*I am a knight. I will not let this defeat me. Watching him closely, she swallows and silently berates herself for her behavior. I am not a child.

Nodding reluctantly, she walks forward, sucking in a breath when the water laps at her calves.*

Gods, cold. So cold.

*Shivering, she continues forward until she stands before him. The water hits her about mid-thigh, and she reflexively reaches out for his arm, looking around for a shark fin.*

I am here now. Yes. It's still cold.

*He smiles kindly and reaches a hand out to meet hers.*

It's not that cold. You only feel like it's cold because the air is so warm. The more you get wet, the more natural it'll feel.

*He starts walking backwards, leading them deeper into the lake.*

*Whimpering softly, she furrows her brow and follows. He's right, but she doesn't want to admit it. When the water is waist deep, she skims her hand across the surface and smiles.*

I think I still prefer the hot tub, but perhaps this isn't... totally horrible. I'm not letting go of you yet, however.

Still afraid the shark'll get you if you do?

*He smiles, though, and moves them a little bit deeper. He doesn't let go over her hand, but drops his legs out from under him, falling until he's nearly completely in the water.*

I'll blast him if he tries... Adam!

*She squeaks, squeezing his hand and digging her heels into the sandy bottom. Her other hand reaches out to grip his shoulder.*

Oof. I suppose I should get it over with. The dunking. I mean... I'm not completely inept.

Nobody's going to dunk you. I think you'll feel better if you get wet, though.

*He reluctantly lets go of her hand and stands, moving back a few steps.*

Here, I'll even catch you, if you want to lean back.

No... I can do it myself.

*Alanna doesn't sound particularly convinced: stubborn, but unsure. Feeling bereft without his hand in hers, she sighs and nods, slowly dropping to her knees. She falls backwards, blinking up at the sky through the water, and stupidly tries to suck in a breath. Surfacing quickly, she pushes her drenched hair back and gives him a sheepish look as she coughs.*

I think I am overly fond of breathing. That's my problem.

*He rushes back towards her and puts a hand on her back, patting lightly.*

Well, you're not supposed to breathe in the water. Maybe our first lesson should be holding your breath. Something tells me that as children, perhaps Thom was the better of you two at that.

I was five when I almost drowned the first time. I think all of my attempts to throw him in the fish pond were merely my own way of getting out of swimming lessons. He maintains that this is why he knows how to swim, and I do not. Self-preservation.

*She gives him a wobbly smile and lifts one arm to his shoulder, watching the water trail down his chest.*

Just tell me what to do.

*He smiles at her, reaching out and putting one hand on either side of her waist and - slowly, this time - lowering down into the water.*

Okay, so you've already learned trick number one to not drowning: don't try to breathe the water.

*He waits until they're both chin deep in the water and takes a large breath, ballooning his cheeks out comically, and dipping just the lower part of his face in the water. He mumbles something through his closed mouth that may or may not sound like "like so."*