glub glub glub

[jedimindkink]

CHARACTERS: Oxford and anyone who fancies popping up!
LOCATION: One of the swimming pools located near the passengers' quarters.
WARNINGS: None at the moment, since Oxford is being a reasonable human being and has decided not to skinny dip.
SUMMARY: Much to his endless pleasure, Oxford has found a swimming pool and is taking a leisurely swim to

Comments

[nopodbaydoors]

Logically, HAL knows better than to wander off unaccompanied. It's not a good idea, he'd reasoned to himself only a few hours before, You're not yourself. You might trip. You might get lost. You might get hurt.

But HAL is and always will be curious. He was programmed that way, and now he suspects it's been ingrained into his organic mind just as much as it had in his circuitry. So, he keeps a close eye on the numbers of doors, of any surrounding landmarks that might help him if he does get lost, and does his level best to stick as closely to the passenger's quarters as possible, in case he needs assistance. It is, after all, just as logical to be safe when exploring alone as it is to not explore at all

[jedimindkink]

[ ooc: I AM SO SORRY FOR HOW UNREASONABLY LATE THIS IS my brain has been all over the place lately adgbnjkdfgdfg ]

With all the people that had recently arrived upon this ship, Oxford could hardly have expected for this little swim to have been a private affair. Another person's presence changes nothing; he continues his length at a very leisurely pace. The swim is no longer in the interests of exercise, it's more movement for the sake of movement. Upon being addressed, however, it seems like a perfectly reasonable interruption to his largely aimless floating. Swimming closer to the side of the pool, he rests his arms over the edge, raising a somewhat curious brow.

"A swimming pool?"

It seems like such an obvious thing to him, but naturally he's rather aware of the fact that people have arrived here from vastly different worlds and even times - himself included. That, along with the soothing qualities of water, have made Oxford's patience somewhat surprisingly firm during his stay abroad this ship.

[nopodbaydoors]

Oh. Of course. Now that he's gotten the term it feels absolutely silly that he'd forgotten it at all. "Yes, right. My apologies, my mind has been having trouble with some lesser-used vocabulary." He takes a few steps closer, though he's obviously staying clear of the edge; he's fully aware that water won't hurt him, but he's equally aware of the fact that he has no idea how to swim.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you," he adds, "I was exploring."

{{IT'S OKAY i'm equally as bad it seems haha))

[statsraaden]

Stats has been wandering around the passenger quarters for a while, when he stumbles on the swimming pool. Stats cannot be anything other than thrilled.
First, there's a body of water onboard. However small it is, that still makes one more than zero.
Then, it would be an occasion to drop the black outfit. any occasion to drop it is a good occcasion.
And finally, he's curious about how he'll be doing as a human. This promises to be more of a challenge than getting his balance. that was easy. Well, easier than expected, at least.
Oh, and there's people there. "Hello!"
Stats removes his outfit and goes carefully into the water. He can't swim yet and he doesn't want to drown. Well his buoyancy isn't quite what it was, but he can still use it.

[jedimindkink]

[ ooc: dhjkasdf i'm so sorry for how late this tag is!! MY BRAIN ]

"Good day."

He isn't surprised. This is a communal swimming pool, after all, and Oxford suspects numbers of swimmers may rise once initial panic and confusion over the entire situation dies down. Either way, he continues his peaceful paddling, every so often throwing a glance over towards his company. It's a little worrying to him that even with his power very much "switched on", so to speak, from the other end of the pool, he cannot feel even the slightest bit of another person's consciousness from what is a relatively small distance. He decides, however, that now is not the time to dwell on it, and once again his power is dormant.

"New to swimming?" It seems a fair question, Oxford thinks, as he approaches Stats' end of the pool once again.

[statsraaden]

"I'm afraid I am." Sailing was much easier. Well, Stats would have to make the best of what he had left. "I think I'm getting the hang of it, although I'm far from done."

[mindsext]

If Oxford had been at the peak of his powers then perhaps he might have felt the cool little mental presence of Cambridge as she quietly let herself in to the pool deck. Perhaps he might have noticed that although she didn't bother particularly hiding her presence she certainly didn’t announce herself - not until she had rifled through Oxford’s discarded clothes and deftly removed his rather smart shoes. Perhaps, he might too have noticed the mental thrill of mischief in the other operative as she sat herself by the pool edge, knees crossed as elegantly as she could possibly manage in such a hideously figure-hugging jump suit, and carefully cleared her throat.

"Such priorities, darling. Forget the exploration teams - dear Oxford has a body to maintain."

[jedimindkink]

The use of "if" would, were Oxford aware of it, would have made him feel entirely more bitter for the lack of a happily functioning power. At this point in time, trapped on some absurd spaceship, it felt as though telepathy was the kind of thing that would prove rather helpful in trying to gather information, but it's just not the same. He's rather grudgingly sure that in time this will become less of an issue for him, but right now, in this state of confusion, he can think of nothing worse. It would be quite a lie, though, to say that the familiar voice Oxford suddenly hears behind him doesn't fill him with a sudden sense of pleased anticipation. This almost catches him off guard, because it's not unlike what he feels at the sound of a different - but still the same? - voice from back home.

"Are you not familiar with the state of sheer relaxation one can achieve with the help of water, Cambridge?" He turns, starting a lazy breast stroke towards his... colleague. "Anyway, it isn't a crime to want a little time to oneself, if you ask

[mindsext]

"It was hardly a criticism. In another universe I would have a vested interest in the maintenance of that body," Cambridge replied, unable to resist the smirk that curled at the edge of her words. As Oxford swam closer she shifted, collecting the first of the shoes from her lap and passing it back and forth between her hands before coolly letting it hang from the inside of the heel on one pale, slender finger over the edge of the pool. Her expression was as emphatically cunning as ever, with one eyebrow raised and ever-watchful eyes trained like daggers on Oxford's lazy strokes. Still, despite the electrifying challenge that made up every other facet of her body language, the smile remained on her lips. The threat was obvious: splash her and the Sturlinis would get it.

"The fact that 'a little time to oneself' also happens to mean 'the only shipboard activity that legitimately allows one to pose half-dressed and artfully damp' is merely a coincidence, I suppose?"

[jedimindkink]

Oxford raises a brow at the way in which Cambridge balances the shoe on her finger, though his lips are faintly curved to one side. What kind of a child do you take me for, my dear? he asks, sinking beneath the water for one last, long stroke, before resurfacing once again by her side. Folding his arms over the edge of the pool, partly in the interests of comfort, partly so that his well toned arms are on adequate display, he stares up at Cambridge coolly. No more attention is paid to the shoes. Oxford isn't particularly willing to rise to the bait, not too quickly. Anyway, he has far more exciting endeavours in mind for his - alternate - colleague, and he is, unlike Cambridge, capable of patience.

"Entirely a coincidence, I merely thought it a good opportunity to indulge in some exercise. A spaceship makes for a terribly dull running location, sadly. There's nothing even slightly scenic about the place, sadly." He pauses, surveying Cambridge with interest. "What brings you here?"