Dec 30 11:04:29 105 PA
From Chronicles
The current game time is: Wed Dec 30 11:04:29 105 PA. Weather at Wed Dec 30 11:04:32 105 PA (-3.33C, 26.01F): A light wet snow drifts down from a lightly clouded sky. Here and there the sunlight manages to reach the ground, but not quite enough to melt the snow. None the less the snow is quick to melt in most places, though if the temperature drops too much it's bound to make for a very icy day. But at least it's relatively warm out for a winter.
By far, the most popular attraction of Harry's Gym is the pool. Fully olympic in size it ranges from three to eighteen feet deep and is kept extremely clean. The public is almost always present here, except in 'exclusive' swims. Sometimes, there are lots of children present -- especially during the day -- but morning and evening tends to have only adults here, most of which are interested in swimming for the sake of working out. There are almost always lifeguards present and the water is quite warm.
The wet snow outside doesn't encourage many people to go swimming, but perhaps boredom and the comparative warmth might have caused the pool to be reasonably occupied at this time, mid morning. Caliopa is joining them, wearing the simplest of red two piece swimsuits. Nothing flashy, but it does nothing to hide her figure, or detract from the fact she has achieved that rarest of things; removal of the oil and grease. She makes her way slowly into the pool area, towel in hand, because everyone should know where their towel is. She takes her time in hanging it over the back of a railing, before turning towards the pool.
Ah, the pool. Sebastien strokes back and forth with terrible form, spraying water more than moving it, but he's getting a workout. Clad in a close-fitting set of blue trunks, Sebastien's frame is fit for swimming; strong without bulging. He doesn't venture into the deep though, afraid of what horrors may lurk below five feet of water.
Caliopa reaches the pool, picking her spot carefully, before diving in. She isn't a bad swimming but style isn't her objective. Exercise is all that matters, and she is utterly unaware, focussed on her task. Unaware of any effect she might be having on the other, more male, swimmers, particularly the hapless male following her lengths.
The young man's flailing becomes all the more dramatic as he realizes a strong swimmer's ahead of him, and he begins sinking as he gradually. Forgets. To. Stroke! Sebastien grabs for the edge of the pool and comes up coughing, head turned as he tries to avoid detection.
Caliopa's focus dissolves in the face of the coughing man, despite his attempts to not be noticed and she redirects her strokes towards him, coming up beside him with a concerned look on her face. "You alright? Oh Sebastien, didn't see it was you..." She reaches out, aiming to touch his shoulder lightly.
"Fine," Sebastien croaks, looking down. Nope! Down bad! He looks up, attempting the art of looking at Caliopa's face without meeting her eyes. Harder said than done as his face flushes ever so lightly. Another small coughing fit racks him as he works to loose the last of the chlorine from his lungs, ignoring the hand as best he can while surreptitiously crossing his legs.
The looking goes utterly unnoticed, and her concern for him increases as he coughs again. She, unused to giving any physical help to humans, pats his shoulder awkwardly, giving him a warm smile. "Mebbe you ought to get out...Here." She turns then, gripping the side of the pool, to hop out, water streaming down her body. The movement, unfortunately, brings her body to eyelevel, and bending down to offer him a hand out of the pool does nothing to help.
Whew. He can turn to face the wall. Disaster averte-. The young man peers up at the mechanic, mouth opening and closing helplessly. "Sure! I mean no!" He grins up nervously. "I like it here. It is ah, warm. And wet." Sebastien's eyes widen, somehow never quite meeting Cali's. He bobs a moment and winces at how that sounds, grabbing Caliopa's hand though he's not sure he's going up or if she's coming back down. Not that many cylinders are firing just now.
Caliopa gives him a smile, his nervous grin being returned with interest. "Nicer than outside, anyhow." She replies ,seemingly not noticing his distressed state, as she uses his hand to slide herself back into the water. The slower movement takes a couple of moments to bring her into the water, and then she balances herself against the ledge to tilt her head back into the water, removing hair from her eyes. "You sure you're alright?" She questions again, giving him a warm, bright smile.
Sebastien climbs easily from the pool, well-toned body everything one can expect of a young knight. Supple, agile, strong. Shame it's attached do firmly to the head of a very *young* knight. Rivulets of water stream from his hair down his chest while Sebastien assures, "Just fine, mademoiselle, and how are you? Is the tho- throng at work treating you well?"
Caliopa giggles up at him, tilting her head back to be able to see him. "Ain't so much a throng at the garage, jus' me 'n' Bair really." She hops out of the pool, perching on the ledge as she talks to him, dabbling her toes in the water. "Like a pair of yoyos, in and out of the water." She observes, amused by the thought, her sunny smile brightening her face as she stands up, lifting hands to squeeze the water from her hair.
The young man smiles naturally in reply, broken face tilting awkwardly as he does. His near elbow nudges the olive goddess as he replies, "Come now. You collect people as strays. You cannot tell me this garage of yours is devoid of people with dubious mechanical needs?" He tilts his head to peer around and meet Caliopa's eyes, trying to push her on the defensive.
Caliopa's smile turns into a giggle, and she pulls her plait over her shoulder, squeezing it to remove the water. "Strays? Ain't really, jus' a person has to help folks when they can." His headtilt wrinkles her forehead but the smile doesn't waver, and she turns to face him properly, resting her hands on her hips, leaving the plait to itself. "Mostly, jus Bair 'n' me, sometimes Vargus and his bird, Kid, Atti, ..." She looks slightly thoughtful as she makes this list, adding a couple of other lesser known names.
"The plot thickens!" Sebastien replies, pointing at Cali. Which is really pointing at her chest, but who's keeping track? "The young man leans forward conspiratorially and offers in a low voice, "YOu see, I gather a small crowd here at the gym, but as with your list they are mostly men. You, I think, get the better end of *tat* bargain!" Sebastien licks his lips, grinning at the young woman.
Caliopa's smile does waver then, confusion rising, as she completely misses the implications of his comment. "Kid ain't a bloke." She observes, aiming at the logic, since she grasps logic. Perhaps better as it applies to machines rather than people, however. "Ain't so sure it is a bargain, more like work, 'n' things. I mean, Bair works for me, 'n' Atti 'n' I live together, Kid is my best friend, 'n' Vargus, well his bird needs the pieces of old metal I got..." Logic. Definitely.
Sebastien uh-huhs, nodding along as if he hears nothing but 'ain't a bloke' which gives a solid reaction from the young man and 'lives with me' which is minor. After all, he must be the live-in butler or something. "Well, for me it is more large, hairy men come lined up to beat me senseless. So." He raises his chin triumphantly, as if that wins him something. Sebastien makes a short move to stand, glances down, and settles again. He's rather stuck. Wet, tight-fitting trunks will do that to you. Sebastien folds his hands and settles them on his lap briefly before abandoning that posture with haste, crouching forward a touch. "Have I interrupted your swim?" he asks, hopefully.
Caliopa gives him a look of concern, his hunching posture giving her cause for concerrn. "You ain't well... mebbe you oughta get dressed, mebbe go along to the KEC 'n' tell them what you need." Those innocent words betray her obliviousness more than anything, and she crouches next to him, reaching out a hand to touch his shoulder lightly. "The swim ain't important, it ain't like I ain't fit..." She gives him a smile of pure sweetness, utterly oblivious.
"I think I will not find what I need there!" Sebastien replies hastily, and clears his throat to straighten a touch, in every sense of the word. He reaches to wrap a strong hand around hers on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze and lifting it so that he can give the backs of her fingers a gentle kiss. "I thank you for your concern, mademoiselle, but I am ah, more than fine. And so are you! Very fit, I mean." He gives her a reassuring smile, making absolutely no move to stand whatsoever.
The kiss causes confusion in the girl and she pulls away, blushing deeply, biting her lower lip. "Uh, I ...if you're alright I best..." She makes a movement, indictating the changing rooms before giving him a quick, embarrassed smile and turning, grabbing her towel on the way out, fleeing towards the showers.
"Agreed," Sebastien says, jumping to his feet shortly after Caliopa. Careful to keep enough distance behind her to avoid spearing the woman, Sebastien half-waddles his way towards, oh dear. He's following her obliviously, relief on his face for his blessed escape.
Entering the ladies shower room. Caliopa is oblivious to the man following her, and she rummages in her locker, seeking shower things before turning towards the showers themselves. She runs the water, humming a low tune, badly, as she plays her fingertips in the water, waiting for the temperature to run warm before stepping in. First order of business, she unties the plait, letting her hair loose, to wash the pool water from it. She steps into the water, tilting her head back and enjoying the warmth.
And following male protocol, Sebastien moves to the furthest stall on the opposite end, firing up the water and hopping in instantly, dancing a bit in the much-needed cold stream before hopping out, laughing and reaching for the waistlie of his trunks as the water grows hot.
Caliopa is reaching for her shampoo when he laughs, and draws her attention. For a moment, she stands paralysed in the water stream, trying to decide the right action. "Um. Sebastien..." Her voice is low, calling so it might just reach him without alerting others. She steps out of the shower, moving a little closer, her wet hair loose over her shoulders.
Sebastien's laughing trals as he replies, turning a face light with delight to Cali, "Oui mademoi..." as the color drains from his face. Wide eyes scan the locker room with thumbs halfway down his thighs, letting the moment sink in. Suddenly he's a blur of motion, leaving the faucet running full bore as he bounds over the shower divider, feet slipping and squealing on the floor as he scrambles for traction on the opposite side, and slides out into the pool area to dash across to the men's locker room.
Caliopa stares blankly after him, uncertain as to the correct response to a semi...hell, almost naked man running through the girl's shoulder... She stands there for a long moment before slowly returning to her own shower, her cheeks red as her suit. Tags: caliopa, sebastien
