bertall | Iɴʙᴏx ✉ Vɪᴄᴛᴏʀʏ Rᴏᴀᴅ

[The ocean was amazing. Especially now that they had arrived on the Sevii Islands, where the sand was warm, the sun bright in the sky and the water a bright azure blue, Armin couldn't get enough of it. He'd be pleased as anything to just sit there and stare at it for hours, to wander along the water line, searching for shells and other things brought in by the water.

But it had also made one thing impossible to ignore any longer: Armin couldn't swim. Not worth a single tiny damn. It had never been important during training, not when there were few rivers and lakes deep enough nearby to go swimming in. But here--

He'd need to learn. He had already made that decision. But swimming is not something you can learn from a book. Eren, he knows, doesn't swim much better than he does. And in any case, Eren is a lot of things, but a particularly good teacher is not one of them. Too easily distracted. Jean... honestly, while they are better friends now, Armin still remembers the times during their training that Jean had laughed when he had struggled to keep up. No, this was something he was not going to invite Jean to. Which only left--]

Bertolt, do you have a moment? There is something I want to ask.

Edited 2017-03-11 16:16 (UTC)

_{[The Sevii Islands, as Bertolt had discovered, also wasn't the best place to have an Arcanine who still had his winter coat. It broke Bertolt's heart to keep Marcel either indoors or in his pokeball during the day, but he couldn't risk seeing his best friend overheat. Being a fire-type was one thing, but a fire-type that had a coat thick enough to make a whole sweater from the shedding?

Bertolt still took him out at sundown and at night to sniff around the beach, at least, and being indoors meant it was a good time for the Arcanine to bond with Ulrich and keep him out of trouble.

It also gave Bertolt the chance to get away and take time for himself, especially after the boat trip and the stress sitting on his shoulders since Olivine. Who knew he'd get sea sick after all these years? It had never happened before, but...]}

If it's about me snapping a little on the boat, I'm sorry
I wasn't feeling good|

Ah, no, it's not about that. I know you couldn't help that. Rather, I have a request. You know how to swim, right? I remember you and Reiner mentioning it during training.

Uhm...

Yes? We used to slip off to the lake we brought you and Eren to that night every now and then, but we were taught when we were kids too.

_{[It was sink or swim in that situation, really. It was also better to know how to swim and not need to do it, than need to do it and not know how. The last thing they all needed was someone like them to drown and lose that.]}

Why?

Well, I was wondering if perhaps you could teach me. If it wouldn't be a bother, I mean.

Y|

Why me??

You were always incredible at mastering anything physical we were made to do in training. You managed to graduate third, after all. So it is partially because I believe you are probably the most skilled of all of us. But also... Eren isn't actually very good at teaching things. He tries but he gets distracted easily and then forgets what we were doing. And Jean... I know he has changed a lot but I still feel a little too embarrassed to try out something like this in front of him. I think he might... laugh.

_[Armin.]

You|
But I'm|
I um...
I'm not sure if I'm any of those things though. Reiner was always|

I'm just good at moving my body, so I don't... really|

_{[Oh, gods help him.]}

I don't know if I'd be a very good teacher

You are patient and I don't think you'd laugh. So, if nothing else, I think you'd make a better teacher than Eren and Jean right now. I know it's a rather forward request, but I really would love to learn. So if you wouldn't mind...

You're... sure about it? And, ah... When?

Yes, I'm sure. And whenever you'd have the time. I'd like to start on it as soon as possible. You know I don't learn this sort of stuff easily.

[Physical stuff, he means. Cause he has the heart of a nerd and a body fit for Weeny Club Jr's.]

I can't promise anything, but I can try. Being taught and then teaching someone is a little different.

I understand. But I'd appreciate the attempt nonetheless. Just let me know when you have the time. I think it would be best to learn while we are here. The water is quite warm here, after all.

Armin, you know I never have anything planned.

And you couldn't pay me enough to swim in cold water. My chest still feels funny after getting sick with whatever I had

Have you considered seeing a doctor? I'm not sure if a cold is supposed to linger this long.

It's probably just the change in weather and stuff, Armin.

If you are certain...

[Don't blame him for worrying. Bertolt and Jean had both been pretty sick those few days. Armin is just glad he managed to dodge it himself.]

I'll be fine. I promise.

_{[If he didn't die there, he should be good, right?]}

How soon can you get stuff for this? Or should we look around together?

What sort of things would we need? I have swimming trunks.

[They had all been splashing around in the water in those.]

Something to help you stay above water if you go out too far or get knocked over might be good. The waves look a lot stronger than anything I've been in.

No pokemon though, they're... I don't know how much they'd interfere, you know?

If you think it will help.

[Hey, Armin is asking for Bertolt's help here. He's willing to adjust to anything Bertolt says might help him out. He can even see how pokemon might interfere. Juniper would probably be fine enough, but Ambergris would definitely think the whole swimming lessons is a game.]

I think it is probably best if we go shopping together. You know what sort of things I'd need better than I do.

It's more along the lines of being safe than sorry.

_{[Bertolt isn't sure how Armin would feel about having to get CPR or something if he nearly drowned, okay?]}

Just give me a time and I can try finding you.

I haven't got any plans this afternoon. You can come find me whenever you are ready.

Iɴʙᴏx ✉ Vɪᴄᴛᴏʀʏ Rᴏᴀᴅ

Text;

Text;

Text;

Text;

Text;

Text;

Text;

Text;

Text;

Text;

Text;

Text;

Text;

Text;

Text;

Re: Text;

Text;

Text;

Text;

Text;

Text;

Text;

Text;