❧ Out ❧ Of ❧ Time

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[fliesonfour]

[He skipped another stone before he was out of them, and not quite daring to venture very close to the sea to gather more (riptides!) he instead peered against the view at a squint...

Before noticing something-- someone?-- bobbing hurriedly behind a rock.

A woman, his head supplied quickly.

Now, he'd taken in a lot of sea air, but he knew a woman when he saw one. Getting to his legs in a panic, he tossed a look about, and seeing no one he could ask for help... steeled his nerves.

God did he not want to go into the water. But he was quite sure (mostly) that he wasn't suffering a hallucination... and if there was a lady in the water, well! Well, then someone had to fetch her.

Looking a bit pale, he was quick to take off his jacket and his shoes, setting both on the rock he'd been sitting on hurriedly. If she were drowning, there might not be much time... but he also did not want to drown with the weight of his clothing, thank you very much!

That all done, he steeled his nerves a little... made a slightly unmanly whine under his breath and headed for the water, quickly.]

Ma'am, do hang on, won't you! I see you, there! I'll attend!

[Called, trying to sound reassuring... for them both. :l]

[cruelpatience]

[Oh, she wasn't quick enough... She was sure he'd seen her just then. There were several things running through her head right now: Swim away, make herself known, do something in between the two... All had serious consequences.

But while she was contemplating these options, he was full on panicking... And heading towards the water... Peeking around the boulder, she shook her head.]

You do not have to! I'm well, I assure you!

[fliesonfour]

[There was some solid relief that, indeed, he was not hallucinating!

More still that the lady should be well enough to speak.

But... granted. A good deal of confusion at her calm, clinging to a rock in the mid-ocean.

Pausing on the sand still, Joly made a face, nose crinkling. From what he could see of her (pale skin and very wide eyes, with a pretty dark fringe) she looked to be quite lovely. And, as promised; quite well.

But that couldn't be... because. Well, hypothermia, for one!]

My dear girl! I assure you, you will freeze, if there is no one to escourt you back to shore. Have you been shipwrecked?

[As there wasn't a hurry, he gave into his nerves a little, and took the time to fidget, rolling up his sleeves; still with half an intention to dive in.]

[cruelpatience]

[He was insistent wasn't he? She should have figured this, with how much he remained at the side of the ship when she was following it. Taking a deep breath, she shook her head again.]

No... and please, I will not freeze, I promise.

[And the last thing she wanted was for him to freeze trying to "rescue" her.]

[fliesonfour]

[Clearing his throat now, he became a little more insistent as he got the sleeve past the elbow, informing her;]

Sleepiness, clumsiness, dementia, the shakes, feeble pulse, low blood pressure! Ma'am, these are the symptoms of but five minutes in the ocean water!

[Well! If she would just insist that she was fine, he had really no choice, did he? The dementia must already be setting in.]

No one is capable of over twenty minute's survival in such cold as this! I am a doctor, I am-- I assure you it's true.

[So, taking a deep breath, and giving the water a... cautious, unhappy glance... he then insisted again:]

Hold: I'll attend!

[Before... well. Jumping in.

He was a fair swimmer, anyway. This, he reminded himself, at the shock of cold and the pervading though that he was absolutely going to die trying to rescue this lovely madwoman.]

[cruelpatience]

[A doctor, but a fool. As soon as Musichetta had opened her mouth to protest yet again, he jumped in. Swearing under her breath, she pushed away from the rock and submerged herself, glancing around the water for him.

Splashing the surface with her tail, she swam over to meet him... if he even got very far.]

[fliesonfour]

[Which, of course, he did not.

Though a very good swimmer, the current was pushing in the opposite direction of which he wanted to go and the water was very, very cold. He knew better than the swallow any, but it was natural for the human body to go into 'cold shock' for near two minutes, in which the limbs were very stiff and the breathing very choppy.

He managed to get away from shore, at least, but was not yet halfway to the rock when she went to meet him instead.

He had not noticed the fin, as he was busy trying not to fall into a total panic, to force his body forward against his better judgement, and to fight against the lap of the waves. It wasn't until that he felt a body bump his that he stopped, going to wade in the water instead, gasping a little.

Had she swam to him?]

Y-you... might have said you were a better swimmer than I...

[And not that she didn't plan to freeze.

He was trying to jest, of course, but as his teeth chattered, he felt a part of himself really meant it.]

[cruelpatience]

I'm a better swimmer than most. I did tell you not to worry about me.

[She grinned at him, tilting her head just a little.]

You should get out of the water, sir. Before you freeze as you worried I would.

[Because he will notice that her teeth are not chattering, nor does she appear to be chilled at all... Despite the lack of clothing on her torso, still modestly covered by the water.]

[fliesonfour]

[He might be more alarmed by a woman, seemingly sorted out, floating absolutely naked beside him in the Atlantic... if half of his alarm wasn't already being used up on his own shivering, and wet hair.

Still... he should be a gentleman about it, oughtn't he to?]

Yes, yes. I-I intend to. ...Though I will likely die of the chill from the wind, anyway... But you must come with me; certainly, certainly.

I could not leave you a-adrift.

[CHETTA PLZ. SHORE NOW.]

[cruelpatience]

[Honestly. She guided him gently, steering him to face the shore again.]

I will return with you, then... Stop your chattering and worrying and let us get you out of the water.

[Slipping his arm around her shoulder, she swam with him back towards the shore, going a little faster thanks to her tail. He may have noticed that she was considerably warmer than she should be... And once they near the shore, she pushes him towards it a little, staying away enough to hide her tail.]

[fliesonfour]

[He was thankful of her warmth, and of her impeccable direction... it was comforting enough to clear his mind just a little, just enough to also be thankful of her exceptional slightness of arm and curve of chest; in other words, to also be thankful of her nakedness, really.

Adjusting to the temperature as they neared the shore and she gave him a push, he swam back a little, but bobbed his head for her to follow.]

Let you get us both out, ma'am! I cannot help but notice you are not only s-swimming, but you are indecent.

[He said so as if the word were not insulting, but rather, simply a fact.]

Come; I shall give you my coat.

[And though Joly was a worry-wart more than most anything else, he still put women on a higher pedestal of worry; thus, he remained stubbornly in the ocean until she joined him in leaving it. Stubbornness was his other stellar personal quality, after hypochondria, after all!]

[cruelpatience]

I am?

[Yet more news to her ears... But still this stubborn man would not leave the water. So, with a rather exaggerated sigh and a splash with her tail, she swam closer to the shore, no longer able to hide her lower half...

And after a half moment there, she moved to touch the sand with her tail and watched as it morphed into a pair of legs slowly. She, albeit slightly wobbily, stood up and grinned at him.]

Only if you insist... and I have the feeling you are the type to insist.

[fliesonfour]

I... I do.

[He gave, washing up on the shore himself now, and... feeling dizzy.

He must be seeing things. The shock must have truly taken hold of him. He thought-- he knew, actually, that he had seen... well, a fin.

And almost equally distracting, now a quite definitely naked woman, who was quite... beautiful, really.

And possibly a trout.]

My dear, I meant to save you...

[Murmured, in surprise.]

...but I fear it is I who may faint.

[cruelpatience]

[A trout? Most certainly not! Please do liken her to something more graceful if you are to speak any of this out loud, Joly.

She smiled faintly and, not so gracefully, rushed forward to where he was, holding out her hands to make sure he didn't fall over.]

Let's get you somewhere to sit and warm up, then.

[fliesonfour]

Sit! Warm!

[He repeated, voice pitching high.]

My dear lady, you are entirely without clothing!

[She was the one who might need to warm up!

Though, really the best way to do that was between two naked bodies, but...

Well.

Huffing, he did let her take hold of him though, noting the curve of her body against his as very pleasant.]

Inside would be best; but I cannot take you in quite like that.

[cruelpatience]

[Really, if he would take notice of more than her curves, he'll notice that she's not chilled... Not yet, at least.

But she was quite without grace, walking and running on land. It was not quite second nature to her.]

This? Is it not appropriate? What, then, do you propose as a solution?

[fliesonfour]

I did mention my c-coat!

[Re reminded, flinging a careful hand out towards the rock where it was placed.]

My dear, how aren't you chilled to the bone... and might I add, you are a fish, madam!

[Choppy phrasing there; highly unusual for him; but he felt undone by this entire situation, and this bewitching lady with fins.]

[cruelpatience]

A coat is acceptable enough, then?

[She smiles a little and nudges him so he'll walk with her over to the dry clothing.]

Not a fish, sir... Mermaid. The cold does not bother me as much, I am used to the chilled waters around now.

[fliesonfour]

Not terribly, but moreso, perhaps, at that.

[And he does walk, teeth clattering, trying to both cover her and himself as he walks.

Well! Well.

A Mermaid. That clears everything up.

Not at all.]

You are a myth, which nearly rhymes with fish, so I was close. ...A Mermaid? Well! Charming! I am hallucinating something very enchanting, that I am.

[cruelpatience]

[She's trying to keep him from worrying about her 'decency', but that's clearly a losing battle.]

A mermaid and you are very much not hallucinating me... How far before we can get you inside and warmed?

[As soon as they reach his discarded jacket, she's picking it up and...

Well, she actually doesn't know how to put it on. So, backwards it goes first.]

[fliesonfour]

[...if anything can get him to focus, it is still poor fashion that wins out.

Making a face, he shook his head no, momentarily forgetting his own soggy predicament to tut.]

No, no... not like that. Give it here. I will wrap you in it properly.

[cruelpatience]

[Musichetta blinks and cannot help but smile. She had a feeling she was going about it improperly, but she was more than happy to let him fix it. Removing the jacket, she handed it over to him.]

Thank you.

[fliesonfour]

[A nod, and still chattering, he placed it about her more solidly, fitting her arms through the holes and buttoning her up.]

Q-quickly now! We'll go into the inn, to warm up.

[And to find her clothes! ...Possibly.]

[cruelpatience]

[Smiling brightly at him, she gave a nod and a kiss to his cheek as thanks.]

I will follow you, I do not know my way around here...

[fliesonfour]

[He turned a bit coloured at the cheeks-- which was good, bringing colour back like that!-- and stood a bit straighter, offering his arm, though it looked a bit silly as he dripped his way along.

Still, he'd lead her to the inn and straight inside, to his room, where he intended to order wine and start a fire by which to warm up.]