How Not to Drown, Monday, September 1, Period 3

[sith_happened]

The swimming class was meeting in the basement pool of the dorms (Anakin had provided rather elaborate directions for those, like him, who had forgotten it existed), and their two instructors were waiting for them by the side of the pool with their legs dangling into the water.

"Hello, everyone," Anakin said with a casual wave. "We're here to learn to swim. I'm sorry if the chlorine is burning your eyes, but we had to give the pool a thorough cleaning after relocating the squid."

That was a normal thing to mention, right? He gestured to the dark-haired man to his left. "This is Commander Steve McGarrett, who you might recognize from his work at the Trooper Station. He's also a Navy SEAL."

"Retired, now," Steve said with a slightly tight smile. "And I'm not actually anything like a seal, the animal. SEAL stands for Sea, Air and Land, and we're the United States Navy's premiere special operators. Among our skills is, well, swimming. I'm here to assure you that no one will actually drown."

Steve dropped down into the water with a small splash. "The first thing to do is to get comfortable in the water," he said, "so everyone hop into the shallow end. Your feet will be on the bottom of the pool, so there's nothing to be afraid of." He sent Anakin a slightly puzzled look. "Especially now that the squid is relocated."

"Introduce yourselves as you jump in," Anakin added, sliding into the water.

Comments

Re: Introductions

[totalwildcard]

"This is bein' taught by the guy that threw us in the water in the first place?!"

And also a fuckin' cop, but Harley was enough of a criminal to remember to keep that bit of outrage to her damn self even while running her mouth otherwise.

Still, she kind of hopped into the water with a little splash. Only because it was visibly shallow. "Anyway, I'm Harley Quinn, and I've almost drowned twice, although one of those times it was a big vat of unknown chemicals so I dunno how much swimming skills would've actually helped me there. Also I broke up with the only person that's offered to teach me before, so... Here I am!"

This was apparently something she'd signed up for in her sleep deprived delirium on Friday.

Re: Introductions

[sith_happened]

"But you didn't die!" Anakin said happily, like that was somehow the correct reply. "We will...probably not be teaching you how to swim through chemicals--" Beside him Steve gave a thoughtful shrug because he thought it might be useful, "--but we'll give you some of the basic skills by the new year."

Re: Introductions

[totalwildcard]

Harley waved a hand. "It was a small enough vat to stand up in, anyway. Swimming wasn't the real issue."

Then why had she brought it up?

Because it still related to drowning, and that was how her associative paths worked.

Re: Introductions

[sith_happened]

"The chemicals?" Anakin guessed.

Re: Introductions

[totalwildcard]

"Well, that and the bein' completely outta my mind at the time."

Re: Introductions

[sith_happened]

"I don't think we'll be working through that part in this class," Anakin said. "Something about liability and insurance."

His tone indicated that the insurance people were giant babies for not allowing Anakin to, you know, drug people to help them swim better.