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[prayingone]

[Action]

[The past few days have been hard for Shirley, with Senel being sent home. She's spent most of her time with Stella, helping out as much as she can; she's very worried about her sister

Comments

[action]

[no_use_running]

[There's someone else who likes the water, and this one doesn't seem to mind if it's cold. Ami is as immersed as she can be, with an almost meditative look on her face.]

(ooc: and apologies beforehand if LJ's slowness/lateness/fail notifs lately make me slow T_T)

[action]

[prayingone]

[Shirley didn't see Ami when she first arrived -- but when the other girl floats into her line of sight she starts in surprise, a worried a look on her face. Ami's stillness, even though she's not underwater, concerns her: she might be too cold and tired to get out of the water. Unfortunately, she can't see Ami's face from her position so close to the bank of the river.

Swimming for pleasure and swimming to help someone who might be in trouble are two completely different things in Shirley's mind. So, after taking several quick steps deeper into the river until the water is up to her waist, she braces herself for the cold and slips into the water. As soon as it becomes wet, her hair shines a soft blue color. She's an adept swimmer, so it won't be long until she reaches Ami.]

[ooc: psh, no worries! As I'm sure many people will attest to, I'm a pretty slow tagger. |D; I hope I interpreted your tag right!]

Re: [action]

[no_use_running]

[Ami... will never need help in the Water. It's hers. She turns around once Shirley is close and watches her somewhat aloofly.]

[action]

[prayingone]

[Sorry, Ami. She's more used to seeing the humans of her world struggle in the water than embracing it. That aloof look at least signals to Shirley that Ami isn't helpless in the water, although she's still worried. When she's close enough to talk, she'll stop, treading water to stay in one place.]

Are you all right?...

[xelhes]

[Fenimore doesn't believe in this "being alone to clear one's head when sad" thing. ...Well, when it concerns other people. She'd probably try it herself in a similar circumstance.

So she eventually tracks Shirley down at the river. She sits on the edge of the bridge (on the railing, if there is one) and puts her chin on her hands.

After a moment:] It's still too cold out. [Because she'd probably already tried the water a few times this spring already, at least by wading.]

[prayingone]

[And when Fenimore tries it, Shirley is bound to track her down. It all works out.

When Shirley hears Fenimore's voice, she turns to face her, smiling sadly.]

Yeah... I was hoping it would be a little warmer, but... I suppose it's still a little too early for that.

[Too bad by the end of the day, Shirley will have returned home cold, wet, and sneezing anyway. Whoops.]

[xelhes]

[Fenimore returns the smile, but it's not very big. She doesn't like seeing Shirley have to force herself like this.]

It shouldn't be too cold too much longer. Though it will be pretty cold for a while. [She waves her feet slightly back and forth, considering wading in herself.]

[And at that time Fenimore will scold her and grab a towel.]

[prayingone]

Just a few weeks longer... and then we can all go swimming together. [Her face brightens, a little.] I can't wait to show you the bottom of the lakes, Fenimore. They're not the ocean, but... they're beautiful, in their own way.

[Shirley will sheepishly accept the towel and the scolding without complaint.]

[markofthewise]

[This happens to be on Sokka's daily route, given he lives next to CH5. So when he's crossing the bridge and spots someone down there, he'll lean up against the railing and stare for a little bit before speaking up.]

Bit cold for swimming, isn't it?

[prayingone]

[Shirley turns at the sound of the unfamiliar voice; she wasn't expecting to be interrupted by a stranger.]

A bit... I was hoping that it would be warmer. [She turns back to the river, a faint look of longing on her face. She's been waiting for the water to be warmer since late autumn; it's a bit disappointing that it's still not warm enough to go swimming without getting sick on the way home.]

[markofthewise]

[Ah. He nods at that.]

Yeah. I took a swim not too long ago. Not that I wanted too at the time.

[prayingone]

[That's a weird statement; Shirley looks back towards Sokka.]

Did you fall in?