on a lark

[alicornucopia]

She combs and combs the world aside and there is another world, just ahead, and she steps in.

The combed-away hole closes behind her. She puts her comb in her pocket.

Thanjen (Unbitwise)

Blueberry (kappa)

Hivers (Rockeye)

Comments

[alicornucopia]

"I guess I just won't go deeper than swimming pools, then."

[wind_on_my_face]

“It would be pretty silly to make a swimming pool that was too deep, wouldn't it.”

[alicornucopia]

Blink. "Yes."

She sticks her breathing apparatus to her back, puts the end of it in her mouth, plugs her nose, and flops reasonably effectively into the water.

[wind_on_my_face]

He dry-suit-snorkels along at the surface to keep an eye on her. Not that there are any too-deep places anywhere this close to the beach, but just on the general principle of who knows what she will want to do next.

[alicornucopia]

She mermaids about quite happily and doesn't drown. She seems to find having human joints under the tail inconvenient, and at one point flops out of the water long enough to grab more material from the griffin shell and add it on so her tail is longer and she can get more propulsion without unsightly knee-bending.

[wind_on_my_face]

(He's not a big fan of swimming, humanly or any other way, but this is actually kind of relaxing, comparatively. He thinks.

He is not cut out for talking people into things. If she won't take his advice he should just give up and — leave —

This is no longer an immediately serious personal safety problem. This is a “who raised this child like this” problem. This is even less his field than diving. He should ask for help.

He starts composing an explanation of the situation.)

[alicornucopia]

Eventually she flops back onto shore, reconstructs the griffin to make sure she can put it back together right, and then seems to be between activities (although she has collected some seashells and is idly claiming them).

[wind_on_my_face]

(Transmit.)

“If I get you a radio, will you take it?”

[alicornucopia]

"I don't know what I'd do with one, but I guess, if you want."

[wind_on_my_face]

“You don't have to use it. It would be just in case something happens so you have the choice.

Would you like to come with me to get one, or stay here?”

(He will not be especially surprised if she leaves to wherever it is she came from while he's gone.)

[alicornucopia]

"How far is it?"

[wind_on_my_face]

“About thirty miles. Maybe fifty minutes there and back if I go by myself or carry you, more than that if you want to fly yourself.”

[alicornucopia]

"That seems like a long time to wait just for a radio."

[wind_on_my_face]

“‘Just a radio’ can be the difference between life and death.”

[alicornucopia]

"How?"

[wind_on_my_face]

“If you're somewhere with nobody around, like this island, and you get sick, or hurt despite your reinforcements, or you run out of energy in a place where you can't walk away, then you can ask for help. And if you want them to then, people can find where you are.”

[alicornucopia]

"Only if you're someplace where another radio can hear your radio."

[wind_on_my_face]

“That's why there are relays, to make sure that those places are very rare.”

[alicornucopia]

"Well, I don't think it'd be that useful for me."

[wind_on_my_face]

“Why not?”

[alicornucopia]

"I'm not always places where there's relays."

[wind_on_my_face]

“Well, if you're going into a cave or something, you can also bring local repeaters. Or, you know, make sure other people are around. I'm not saying bringing a radio can help all the time, just often.”

[alicornucopia]

"I don't think it'll help me."

[wind_on_my_face]

“Why's that?”

[alicornucopia]

"I already said, but you weren't paying much attention, I guess." She climbs into her reconstructed griffin and seals it up behind her. Stretches, catlike.