(no subject)

[cutting_edgex23]

Outside in the lake X is swimming. There's a pile of clothes for her to change into on a nearby boulder, well out of reach of people that might be running by.

She was doing something like laps at first, but now she keeps diving deep, as if to see how deep she can go.

Or to spend some time playing a strange version of tag with mermaids and a squid.

Either/or.

Later she'll get out, toss her clothing on over her wet bathing suit, and head inside to work on combat evaluations for the students at the Avengers' Academy. Tigra asked, since they have been talking about strategies with X over lunch. And there have been a few casual demonstrations.

X's bewildered expression has not gotten her out of anything at all. Thanks, Tigra. (But it will be useful, X thinks. And that is important.)

[ooc: Find her in either place! Open until it scrolls.]

Comments

[peerless_thayet]

Now here is someone Thayet always looks for at the end of the universe. Sitting by the fire, Thayet raises her arm and gives an elegant wave hello when X comes back inside.

"X," she calls out, far less elegantly. "Hello!"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Thayet."

X pauses to get a towel for her hair from Bar, then makes her quick and quiet way over to her friend.

"You are okay? And the children. And your world."

And Alanna?

[peerless_thayet]

Anyone else might get a laugh and a few forced minutes of pleasantries before Thayet started answering the hard questions. She knows and respects X too much to dissemble or play court games.

"We are," she says, offering a reassuring smile, "but much has happened since I saw you last."

Her eyes widen.

"Much."

Beat.

"Ozorne has become a Stormwing."

Best to toss out the worst news, she feels.

[cutting_edgex23]

"You will need help to find him? And kill him."

It's almost not a question. Almost.

[peerless_thayet]

"We might," she says, honestly. "The Baron of Olau is currently looking into the matter."

Thayet is quiet for a moment, pondering how she wants to phrase what she says next.

"I am grateful for the offer, X, but it is important to me that you know I don't seek you out for your talents. You are a friend. I never want you to feel used by us."

Thayet, Jon, Alanna. Tortall.

[cutting_edgex23]

X's eyes widen.

"I know."

Her response is prompt.

"It is not -- "

She pauses, looking for the right words.

"I like it. Being useful. And you do not ask. Usually. I offer."

Beat.

"We talk about other things, too. When it is not an emergency."

[peerless_thayet]

"I know," Thayet replies. "I like being useful, too. And we do."

She smiles, thinking of the christening of Amy's son. It doesn't seem all that long ago, but she supposes it was.

"Well, now that we're clear on that point... He went and turned himself into a Stormwing, then vanished. George is utilizing his less than savory contacts to seek word of his whereabouts. The Riders are patrolling the coast. The diplomatic delegation has recently returned, and at least it seems all is well between Tortall and the new ruler of Carthak."

[cutting_edgex23]

X reaches out, very carefully, and shoves at Thayet's shoulder.

Call it a gesture of affection.

"You can tell me about the new ruler? You like him. Or do not hate him."

[peerless_thayet]

Thayet laughs, giving X the sort of carefree smile she rarely wears at court.

"I think I might like him, indeed. Daine seems to, though she thinks he has room to mature as a ruler. The same can be said of most of us when we take the throne." She lifts one shoulder in a shrug. "His name is Kaddar. From what I understand, he is not like his uncle."

That would be Ozorne.

"There have been talks of a match for Kalasin."

X can probably pick up on Thayet's concern over the matter.

[52_dropoff]

Charlie jogs by as he sees Laura go under. And stay under. He waits.

[cutting_edgex23]

The water ripples like something vast is moving around under it. A tail flaps at the surface, sending up spray.

Three minutes later X re-emerges, taking a quick breath and diving back down.

Two minutes later she is up again, and stroking toward shore.

Charlie's scent got her attention. Probably. And once she's out and dripping lake water all over the grass --

"Charlie. You are training?"

[52_dropoff]

"Yes, as usual. Just a jog. You?" Was that a mermaid.

Probably.

"Been a while."

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes. I was playing. Tag."

A pause.

"Underwater."

Another, longer pause.

"You have been okay? Here. And somewhere else?"

[52_dropoff]

"Somewhere else on occasion." Though he hasn't seen Minx in a while, so the most recent Somewhere Else might over. "Here for the most part.

"Who are you playing tag with?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Julia Fruitnugget. And some of the merpeople."

Beat.

"Sunshine Dust is sulking."

[52_dropoff]

"Julia's the squid, right?" You live here long enough, you learn a few things by osmosis. "How many mermaids are down there?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes," X says, in response to the squid thing.

She has to pause, then, thinking about what she knows.

"There has not been a census. For the mermaids."

Which is to say, she does not know.

[hate_gettin_older]

Over by one edge of the lake, not too far from the boulder with the pile of clothes on but not very close to it either, Edgar is discovering that it is not at all easy to train a thoatling to stay away from the mud.

"Look," he's saying to Nitwit with considerable patience, "I know you smell water, but that's dangerous water. Remember what happened last time?"

Nitwit bleats and shoves her head into his midriff, insistently.

[cutting_edgex23]

X emerges from the water head-first, gasps for air, and dives back under.

A tentacle emerges seconds behind her and follows her back down.

Does she see Edgar and Nitwit?

Who can say?

[hate_gettin_older]

The splash gets Edgar's attention, but by the time he looks, there's nothing but spreading ripples.

... and maybe some shape he saw out of the corner of his eye, but he can't be sure.

Nitwit does her best to take advantage of Edgar's distraction to push past him, snagging his attention back immediately. "No, you ridiculous infant," he says wearily.

[cutting_edgex23]

Here comes another tentacle! And hard on the heels of that an X, diving over said tentacle and vanishing back into the water.

And --

Is that a mermaid tail?

[hate_gettin_older]

This time Edgar looks in time to see X, and to stare.

What.

[cutting_edgex23]

It takes a few minutes more, but eventually she resurfaces, head tilted back just enough to keep her hair from sweeping into her eyes before she starts swimming back to shore.

She passes very near Edgar as she goes to pick up her clothing, pulling on her tank top and then stepping into yoga pants.

(Bathing suit or underwear, under there? Who can say. All of it was black, anyway.)

"Edgar. Hello."

[hate_gettin_older]

By this time Nitwit has been bribed away from the edge of the water with an offering of treats, and is contentedly nomming peanuts off of a flat rock.

"Hey," Edgar says with a wave. "Was that you out there playing with the squid just now?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes. And several mermaids. It is -- fun."

She almost sounds startled that she has used that word of her own volition.

"It helps that I can hold my breath. For a long time."