school: otome

[shaft]

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[momming]

Not in a place like this, but... [ she looks at the tube. ]

... It's going to be a fairly intimate fit. Are you sure you can handle that?

[shaft]

[ claude: clearly not thinking this through ] I think it should be fine?

[ ??? ]

You can float along in a second tube if you prefer.

[momming]

[ that icon is illegal-- ]

... [ She sighs, then slips off her shoes and sweater and also peels off her tights. ]

No, this is fine. I'll let you take responsibility.

[shaft]

[ He is operating with A LOT of confidence.

It fades a little as he pulls a tube out, holding it in place so that Otome can hop on first. ]

[momming]

[ There is so much amusement in her mood right now. Also a little bit of embarrassment, but it's fine, she'll hop on in. ]

[shaft]

[ Once she is in... the problem arises... ]

... Perhaps I didn't think this through.

[momming]

[ She just glances up at him with the sweetest smile, a hint of a challenge in her tone. ]

I did warn you. You're joining me, right?

[shaft]

I'm not quite sure...

[ He nudges her thigh, realising that it's going to be a struggle not to topple the tube over.

He places his foot on one side, and watches it steadily sink into the water.

The vibes are confused. ]

[momming]

...

[ Otome lets out an undignified snort in an attempt to suppress a laugh, carefully rolling up her skirt to splash off to the side and hold the tube steady. ]

Here, you first. You're just going to have to hold me.

[shaft]

[ There's a vague moment of embarrassment, and I'm going to handwave the finagling and rearranging to get them both on the tube, but after a little splashing and struggling, they're settled and.

Claude thinks that he's a little more tense than the lazy river is supposed to be. ]

... You might've been right.

[momming]

[ This is just preparing him for Manwol, it's okay. ]

Are you regretting it a little, perhaps?

[ They made it on, at least. ]

[shaft]

How could I? I'm quite comfortable.

[ He lets the tension out with a breath, relaxing back onto the tube and trying to to think about Certain Things lest this ride because uncomfortable in a way he can't recover from.

It's really kind of nice. ]

Are you okay?

[momming]

Yes, I'm fine! [ With a soft laugh. Maybe there's a bit of embarrassment, but she's also rather relaxed. ]

We just had to adjust properly, but it does feel nice, doesn't it?

[shaft]

Mm.

[ He hums, letting his head fall back and his eyes closed. There's still a wavering embarrassment from him, but also a kind of wonder. He hasn't really led the type of life that would suggest closeness like this. ]

The warmer weather is nice. Even if it's sudden.

[momming]

It does look like the seasons are transitioning a lot faster than I'm used to.

[ She also closes her eyes, leaning back against him. ]

[shaft]

[ Hopefully she can't tell that his heart is beating a little quicker than normal. But he is being zen. Very calm. ]

Same here. Though Sally and the others don't seem to think there's anything strange about it.

[momming]

[ She's a doctor, she can totally tell.

But it's fine, her own pulse is racing a little. Not that it'll be as easy to notice. ]

... Oh, speaking of that. Did your Dorm Head also, er... change a bit?

[shaft]

On Sunday, you mean? I heard from the others that Chad had... back to himself for a little while.

If we're talking about the same thing.

[momming]

[ She nods. ]

Sally-- that is, Annie came racing out in a state of excitement. She said it was the longest this has ever lasted.

... I wonder what changed.

[shaft]

[ There's a notable string of fondness there. ]

I have no idea. Maybe they all had a certain threshold of vouchers they needed to reach? Chad was worried about Sally though, so I'm glad that she broke free.

Did she mention anything helpful?

[momming]

... Er, well.

Shall I just say she has something in common with you?

[ and there's a little layer of sadness now. ]

[shaft]

... That doesn't sound good.

[ He can guess what it is. ]

[momming]

[ Otome nods, her voice a little quieter. ]

She said this world's compulsion was so strong that it didn't occur to her to be puzzled as to why she didn't need to eat, sleep, or drink. And she said she was just immediately Sally as soon as she arrived.

[shaft]

She doesn't—?

[ A spark of concern. ]

She just stays awake at night?

[momming]

I'm sure she probably rests, but admittedly we don't have access to her room. It might just be that she doesn't need it, not that she doesn't do it at all.

[ She tips her head back to look up at him. ]

But I can tell you're worried, so you could always talk to her about it.