overflow!

[competing]

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great minds *v*

[competing]

[ their eyes catch, and lance's shy smile splits into a wide grin. ]

Nah, he's swimming, [ he says with utmost confidence, turning to the vendor and holding the hat up. ] We'll take this, too.

[ and before linneus can even think to pay for it, lance is already pulling out his silver and handing it off to the vendor, who honestly couldn't care less where the money's coming from, so long as it's money. ]

Since I badgered you into doing this anyway, I might as well pay. [ plus, he has a job, and linneus seems new, so... treasure that month's-long stipend, friend.

anyway, once they're drawing away, he plops the sunhat onto the other's head, flashing another thumbs up. ]

A beach look isn't complete without accessories!

[inaurare]

Oh- oh...

[the boy has started paying before he's even managed to retrieve his own silver from his clothes. Catching his arm gently-]

You shouldn't have to--

--thank you.

[the transaction is already done, so what else can he say? His serious, concerned expression is wiped out, however, in favour of a startled expression when the hat is pressed onto his head. One hand flying up to touch it; to hold it there-]

This too?!

[competing]

Yep! Don't worry, it looks great. Yellow's not bad on you at all.

[ but quickly, quickly! back to the waters they go! lance doesn't mean to leave linneus behind, but he definitely isn't dawdling either. ]

I mean, you probably shouldn't wear it in the waters, but it'll be useful when you're out of it, for sure.

[inaurare]

I'll set it down with my clothes. Thank you again.

[though he supposes that to really show his thanks he should make good use of the gift. And that means learning to swim, come hell or... high water.

Well, he hopes the waters shan't be too high.]

Where is a good place to learn?

[competing]

We'll stick to the shoreline, right where the water reaches our hips. But first—!

[ he runs a little forward, stopping only to scoop up a little foam boogie board that he'd dropped earlier in his attempt to coax linneus into the waters. ]

Safety. [ he holds it out towards the other. ]

[inaurare]

Safety?

[taking the board, turning it over and back]

...what does it do?

[he's... pretty sure it's not some sort of a shield...]

[competing]

[ ah, yeah, he probably should have explained that first— ]

It'll help you float. [ he starts towards the water, leaving off his flip flops by the sand. ] The first thing in learning how to swim is learning how to float, and how to not panic when you don't float right away. This little guy'll help you do that.

[inaurare]

All right...

[perhaps it's with a hint of reluctance that he removes his hat, setting it down with his clothes on top so it won't blow away, his shoes to the side. Approaching with the float with a little smile]

I'm ready to learn.

[competing]

Great! First thing's first [ apart from "safety" apparently... ] we gotta get you acquainted with the water.

[ he starts to wade in, waving linneus over with a hand to follow after him. once they're about thigh-deep, lance gestures to the water. ]

Ocean, this is Linneus. Linneus, this is the ocean.

[inaurare]

Acquainted...?

[...Lance surely didn't mean it that way.

...nope, he did. He absolutely did. But he trusts his teacher's methods, even clears his throat lightly]

Hello, Ocean.

[competing]

[ lance's smile is small, innocent. he watches attentively as linneus does as he instructs, greeting the ocean.

but as soon as he does, lance's hand strikes out, quickly slapping a small handful of water up towards linneus himself (not necessarily his face, but definitely in his general direction). ]

[inaurare]

[a little gasp at the splash, backing up in surprise. Why, Ocean?! It takes him a couple of moments to process what has happened...

But he can give as good as he gets. His splash is a little more delicate, a flick of his fingers with the float coming up as if to shield himself from return fire]

[competing]

[ lance need only lift a hand up to ward off the few flecks of water aimed towards him, but his laughter rings out, proving his earlier actions were good-natured. ]

Well you already passed lesson one!

[ his hand comes down over the surface of the water again, but rather than slap against it or scoop it up, his hand merely rests along the gentle waves, riding each ebb and flow. ]

The ocean can be just as fun as it is intimidating. It's important to read its moods, and to know which kind of ocean you're dealing with today. Get a feel of it now—

[ he takes linneus' hand, careful to keep his hold gentle, and sets it over the surface of the water too, mimicking his other. ]

Feel that? Gentle, calm.

Above all else, if you respect the ocean, you'll be okay.

[inaurare]

That was a lesson...?

[and he passed the first lesson? Perhaps he's not as poor a study as he thinks...

He lets Lance take his hand, a little smile catching at the corner of his mouth as the boy brings it over the surface]

It's different to my rivers. To what I grew up with.

[the ocean could hold him, but it could swallow him as well. So Linneus' respect... come with a little fear, as well.]

[competing]

[ lance's methods were... unconventional, for sure. but it was how his older brother taught him, and how their dad taught him before that. ]

Take your time, [ he instructs gently, releasing linneus' hand so he can feel the water on his own. ]

When you're ready, let me know.

[inaurare]

[he feels a little self-conscious at first, standing there with his hands over the water, but... he tries to get past that. Closes his eyes and keeps his hands there, feels the water lapping against his legs; the rhythm to it. It takes him a little time to open his eyes, but when he does...]

I think I'm ready?

[he's not sure how one judges such a thing]

[competing]

[ lance allows the other as much time as he needs, knowing about 50% of this is all mental and emotional anyway. especially for someone who's never even seen the ocean before, it's definitely gonna take a considerable more time to mentally prepare.

so when linneus announces he's ready, lance simply beams at him in encouragement. ]

Great. Now grab up your board— we're gonna work on floating first. You're gonna wanna hug it to your chest, like this, and slowly lift your feet up so you aren't touching the and anymore.

[inaurare]

...this feels very ungainly.

[said as he is trying to get his weight over the board - if he situates himself wrong he feels unsteady, like he's pushing down against a resistance that is only going to fire the board back up again. Or else it squeaks against his dampened skin or costume. But he tries to get it right - hug it to his chest, Lance had said - and once he thinks he might be floating there, he carefully lifts one foot off the bottom.

Then... the other?

Is he doing it? Or is he simply clinging to the board for dear life?]

[competing]

[ i mean... tomato, tomahto.

should linneus glance up at lance in that moment, he will be treated to an encouraging smile and an even more encouraging (hopefully) thumbs up. ]

Looking good. [ as good as anyone clinging to a boogie board can look, anyway. but he's doing it, and that's all that matters! carefully, lance reaches down to grasp either side of the board, slowly trying to coax linneus to lay a little more horizontally against it. ]

Okay, now try sort of... laying down on it? You wanna let your body rest over the surface of the water just like your hand had been.

[inaurare]

[he can do this. He can manage. But Lance's hands, his help keep ing the board steady... it's reassuring to have. The boy doesn't mean him to hover, Linneus is pretty sure, but to use the board sort of as a... buffer?]

Like this?

[and, hesitantly]

It's not going to sink?

[competing]

Nah, its entire purpose is to stay ride these waves.

[ once he's certain the other boy has a good hold on the board, he starts to slowly walk backwards, further out into the deeper ocean, keeping his hold along the foam steady, gentle. ]

There you go.. you're doing great! How're you feeling?

[inaurare]

...awkward.

[he holds still, though, letting Lance tow him out into the water. He won't put it into words, but he feels like a boat. He feels like a boat right now.]

What is the next lesson?

[competing]

[ "awkward" isn't really what they're aiming for here, but it definitely could be a lot worse. ]

Next is trying it on your own.

[ they've gotten far enough now that the water reaches up to lance's ribs. carefully, he moves over to where linneus floats, holding up his hand for the other to see, then slowly slipping that back down under water. the flat of his hand finds linneus' stomach then, holding him steady. ]

I want you to try and separate yourself from the board, okay? I've got a hold of you here, so don't worry about anything. Just concentrate on how your body feels with the water. Try and float on your own.

[inaurare]

All right..

[It's reassuring that he can just... stand, worst come to worse, but Lance's hand is a comfort as well. How to go about releasing the board, though... it's rather holding him up right now. If he pushes it away he is probably just going to sink.

He is probably overthinking this too much. So he makes a start easing the board away and... hoping he doesn't sink]

[competing]

[ and he doesn't!

not with lance's help, at least, whose hand remains steady and stable and flat along linneus' stomach. he keeps a careful watch, too, certainly close-by enough to offer further help should the other need it.

but so far? he's doing really well! ]

That's it, that's it... Just keep calm, let the water lift you. If you feel yourself starting to sink, you can start moving your arms and legs, just sort of gentle paddling? To give yourself enough momentum to keep afloat.