Love Poison No Cure Needed

Selkies and Drowning 3.4

Sorrel psyched himself up and then started a new lap of the pool this time swimming breaststroke. Halfway down the pool his control of his hair slipped and it started to drift out of its braid. Shifting his focus he tried to control his hair back into shape only to start at the sudden appearance of a seal’s face in front of his nose.

Sorrel jerked his head back and as a result his body sank and he ended up standing on the bottom of the pool with his mouth open for several minutes while his hair flickered about just as it was almost finished unwinding the Selkie moved its head back and flipped in place before shooting to the surface.

Sorrel belatedly realised that he should be struggling to breath right then and so hastily grabbed his hair to keep it from spreading out while he kicked off the bottom and swam to the surface. When his head broke out of the water sorrel looked around and then moved over to one of the ledges at the corner of the pool and settled down. Once again he stroked his branches back into the look of human hair and sighed.

“Ehhh? Why didn’t you splutter and start. You're not a fish so you should have been surprised and drank water to come up spluttering. So boring.” The Selkie swam over and circled in front of Sorrel for a moment before he shifted and spoke. The dark skinned boy with a shaved head was dressed in what seemed like lycra swim shorts but was probably his skin as he trod water in front of Sorrel.

Sorrel’s hands paused as he listened to him speak before he asked, “Human’s splutter when they come up because they inhale water? Why would they inhale water when they know they can’t breathe it?”

In response to Sorrel’s question the Selkie stopped kicking to stay afloat and instead sank beneath the water for a moment. When he resurfaced he all but yelled, “Your kidding me? The gasp in surprise when I appear which is a matter of inhalation and thus because their head is in the water they breathe the water in. Oh my god I cannot believe I’m reduced to a technical explanation of drowning.” The Selkie’s voice faded to a mumble at the end while Sorrel nodded in understanding.

That explanation made sense. Though it also created a problem. If he was surprised while swimming wouldn’t that mean he needed to be able to gasp and then sputter when he came up. Then he would also have to wipe his eyes. Ack, Sorrel realised that he’d failed to wipe his eyes before opening them when he’d surfaced just now. It seemed that still more practice was needed.

“Then, ah… I’m Sorrel. It's nice to meet you. Would you mind helping me practice a startled reflex so that it looks human?” Sorrel asked as he finished fixing his hair and flicked it back over his shoulder.

“Wha? No okay, no that look is illegal I feel like I’m kicking puppies when I see that expression. All right alright, fine. I’m Eddy happy to help.” Sorrel pulled her lip in and smiled putting the pouting mouth and begging eyes away.

Grandpa Ash had said that it was a look that could help one win an argument Sorrel would have to remember to tell him about the success of the method. Though he wondered what Uncle Ash had seen since it was not like he could make expressions.

So the practice began. For the most part it was Sorrel swimming until Eddy appeared underneath him. Sorrel would then flinch as he exhaled a large amount of bubbles before he kicked to the surface. Once he reached the surface he would keep his eyes closed as he coughed before wiping his eyes and looking around. Unfortunately the idea of what Sorrel needed to do was clear but the execution…

*Hahaha, you face is complexly blank as you cough*

*bwahaha you opened your eyes and then screwed them closed are you playing ostrich?*

*what even was that? That sounded like your croaking not choking.*

Sephy gave commentary everytime Sorrel surfaced but none of it was encouraging after the last time Sorrel surfaced he swam back over to the edge and settled down to think. This clearly wasn’t working. When Sorrel remembered the years spent trying to imitate some normal human expressions in time with emotional responses he got a headache.

“It might be better to just act like I’m not started at all.” Sorrel said as he drooped slightly. It had been discussed before whether he should go with a cold and expressionless personality to disguise the issues with facial expression to emotional sinking but Sorrel hadn’t liked that idea.

The humans always had such rich and varied expressions that you could read so much from their faces, he wanted that experience. Wanted to be able to share that process with his friends. He’d even found a further use for the practice in that he could force one expression when it didn’t match his emotions. It had prevented him from smiling as he experienced his first villainess showdown. Ella’s expression and style had been so impressive Sorrel kinda wanted to take lessons, but he doubted he could have pulled it off with the same elegance.

“don’t be disappointed we can keep trying. I’m sure you’ll get it eventually.” Eddy came over and grasped the side of the pool beside Sorrel as he encouraged. Sorrel nodded listlessly before taking a deep breath and nodding again. He had managed to incorporate so many human habits for everyday life he would manage this he just had to keep trying.

They started again, and again, and again. Until finally Sorrel managed a run where he didn’t forget any obvious steps and as he surfaced and coughed while wiping his eyes he rejoiced in his heart when there was no sound of Sephy’s laughter and critique.

“What the hell fish breathe? Are you trying to drown him? If you can’t manage your manners I’ll turn you into skewered blubber.” A light female voice hissed from above them which caused the pair to freeze before they turned in unison.