video | timaeusTestified

[givehead]

(The video feed opens up to Dirk squatting on the shoreline next to the Salt Lake. Behind him, the lake is shimmering with a brilliant pink light beneath the moonlight. Dirk's so still and pale that he looks like a statue. At least he does until he shifts back onto his heels. He's thoroughly drenched, only wearing a pair of sweatpants, some of his hair already frozen into peaks. By some miracle (or sheer force of will) he's not shivering.

Probably because he's beyond cold at this point. He's totally vibing with the bite.)

As a pro tip, taking a dip in the Salt Lake is good for the mind.

(...This was not an intentional discovery, but you would never know by how calmly he's speaking. His teeth aren't even chattering. He stands up. He places his hands on his hips. Dirk stares up at the moon, exhaling slowly, his breath forming a bit of fog in the air.)

Ironically, this helps with lockjoint too. (He raises his hands and turns them over as proof that he wasn't suffering from lockjoint due to the conditions. Granted, if he kept standing around in the cold like a jackass and the saltwater dried off...Hm. He curls his hands into fists.)

Just thought this would be an appreciated service announcement. I'm gonna go hit up Achelliac. See ya'll on the flip side.

Comments

[Action]

[opress]

[Savage saw the post and sighed through his nose. Reckless, so reckless. But he could understand on some level. He hadn't seen Dirk showing off any extra clothing, so he expected the guy would fly for something new or just freeze to death.

He unironically happened to be exploring in the area for something to eat, detoured now to make his way to the lake edge where Dirk was. He slipped off his massive coat as he went and threw it bodily on Dirk as soon as he saw the blond.]

You're going to get dry and warm before you go to any venues. Put that on. [It wasn't a request. Savage normally left all the bossiness to Maul, but he could when the situation demanded it.]

[givehead]

You know how to treat a guy. (Dirk is somehow both surprised and completely unsurprised by Savage's appearance. He doesn't deny the coat. His poor Texan blood wasn't ready for this bullshit, no matter how indifferent he was acting about it. He wraps the coat around him and finally lets himself look cold.

It might be the first hint that this wasn't totally intentional on his end. He bundles the coat up a bit since Savage was so damn tall.)

Achelliac is the ideal place to get warmed up. Hot springs, hot rooms...hot dudes. There's a theme they've got going. (Savage still might have a point. Traveling to Achelliac might not be worth it until the ice in his hair was properly melted.)

[opress]

I know how to not freeze. [There was a difference, especially coming from a society where survival was the paramount instinct. Dathomir was cold in the Season of Storms, and while he might not contend with snow, he knew how cold the few water sources there could get.

He approached in his usual looming way, reaching out to pull the coat tight around Dirk but also to hold it closed. Then he raised a brow.] If those pants are wet, you're taking them off now.

[He knew what sort of warmth that Dirk probably needed, but he wasn't going to just let the blond wander off without assurances he wasn't going to continue to be an reckless idiot.] It's also not a stone's throw away either. Thoughts of warm water and hot dudes isn't going to make you shiver less now. Why'd you decide to go in the water without preparation?

[givehead]

I'm generally aware of the basic science surrounding hypothermia. (He sniffs mildly. He wasn't going to get a cold, but his body wasn't perfectly immune to natural processes either. It's a nice feeling to have someone tucking him tight into a coat. He's grateful for his shades because his eyes shut, a bit like a content dog, and remain shut.

Mmmmmaybe he could wait for the springs. His place was much closer.)

Bro, I am not stripping naked in the cold. I cherish my balls too much to sacrifice them to that kinda abuse. (Even though he already did like five minutes ago.

It's a valid concern. He finally opens his eyes, hidden, but it's clear when he looks up at Savage.)

Fine, damn, dad. We can head to my place until I'm warmed up to your satisfaction. (Then they can hit up the springs. It sounded like a good way to spend the evening. Dirk doesn't fidget, but he does fall suspiciously quiet, thinking over the question and how honest he wanted to be.)

I was sleep flying. I'm trying to find the balance of my dream self and my waking self in this place and I guess I fucked up. (He does not admit this lightly. His voice is flat, but Savage may have spent enough time with Dirk enough by now to pick up on the fact that Dirk had different kinds of flat voices. This one just so happened to be his "I'm not remotely proud of this" flat voice.)

video; un:theyregreat

[frostline]

Hey, whatever you say, man, but it's pretty cold to be shoving yourself into ice water.

[ Like, this is a concerning thing, and Jack's not gonna come out and just say that, who does that, but he sure is... definitely concerned. ]

You need to up your brainpower that bad?

do i even pretend to be sorry anymore

[givehead]

(Who lost their twink? Damn, this dude.)

Yeah, maybe so, but sometimes we just gotta grab opportunity by the throat. (Did he sleep fly over the lake and wake up? Yes. Does he need to tell everyone that? Absolutely not.)

It was more that I wanted to alleviate some tension. Clear the mind. Awaken my senses and align my chakra. (All that good spiritual shit. He takes a deep breath to keep himself from shivering. Folds his arms over his chest. He's not hugging himself for warmth either!)

you should never be sorry

[frostline]

[ Jack's definitely concerned. And like, hey! It is not his business, maybe this dude is okay, but also Jack has Directly Experienced being shoved into frozen lakewater and it's.

It's bad! So maybe he's actually concerned enough to say something. ]

Uh-huh, yeah, that all sounds just great and definitely worth it but you really gotta go warm up. Trust me on this one, it's really, really not... actually worth it.

ur right

[givehead]

(Dirk is staring because this dude is for real. Was he being nagged? Was that what was happening here? Dirk says nothing at all, but he holds his hand out towards the video feed. There's whispering darkness that blacks the video out entirely.

About fifteen minutes later, the video feed starts back up. Dirk is in a Rainbow Dash kigurumi and in his bed. The tip of his nose is red, but otherwise, he's already looking warmer.)

Happy?

video; UN: TripleJ

[kyley_b]

Uhm. Dude, are you okay?

[givehead]

Never been better, my dude. Swimming in cold water increases endorphins.

(The aftermath sucked though. He floats up into the air so he wasn't directly on the frigid ground.)

Really though. It has come to my attention I may have been dealing with corruption. The Salt Lake seems to help.

[kyley_b]

Oh, well, okay good.

Corruption's no joke. You tell me if you need anything, okay?

video; un: seeingtheworld

[schoolingfish]

Is it? I'm coming right now to try that out!

[He's especially excited to see water that this guy can get into without freezing, like Luca would have expected of anyone getting in water this time of year.]

Just to make sure...the reason you're not freezing isn't because of some kind of special power, is it? It's safe for all of us to get into the water without freezing to death?

video

[givehead]

Yeah. The water seems to have active healing properties. At least it does when it looks like this. (He gestures over his shoulder to the glowing pink waters. He's pretty sure he was only freezing because he was out of the water now. He wonders how long he could have stayed in.)

Nah. I don't have coldblood. (But...also...Can he really just let this kid come in and swing into the water?) The water is cold though. The air is much colder. It might be wise to have warmth available nearby after you get out.

Video

[schoolingfish]

[He's seen that lake before, and he knows it usually looks kind of gross. He'll keep that in mind that if it's not pretty, don't expect good things from it.]

Oh. How cold? Is it as cold as it normally would be if you got into water when it's this cold out? Because that might be too cold for me. I mean, I'd be fine if it's like the ocean was in October, but...

[Mostly because in October, it was as cold as his home would normally be in winter, and he's used to being underwater year round. This weather, though, is colder than anything he's ever experienced.]

[onerthes]

Hah. You know, it had never occurred me to use the salt lake itself. It had seemed hazardous to go out that far, so I figured something awful would happen. That could have saved a little embarrassment I imagine. Ah well, no big deal.

Something to remember next winter.

[givehead]

What can I say? I'm a hazardous guy. Got no problem being this town's test subject for this shit.

(Ignoring the fact that...! He didn't mean to do this! She doesn't gotta know. The end results were the same.)

If it wasn't pink, I have a hunch it would be a different story. I'm sure you already know what happens when the moon isn't full. I have the advantage of flying, so I didn't exactly swim out.

[onerthes]

Be careful there. I know a few with a mind towards experimentation. They might be looking for guinea pigs. [She chuckled a bit. Yeah, Wesker would absolutely do that.]

A distinct possibility. We'll almost certainly want to test those waters regularly in the future, to be sure of their properties.

[Video][UN:A_Wesker013]

[subject_013]

[Have a side-view of that hot, snarly fellow, although currently, he's at work in a more dimly-lit than usual lab space, peering into an old-fashioned microscope and jotting something on a notepad.]

I'd add a footnote: make sure you or some friends light a bonfire or plant a brazier somewhere on the shore. It's still deep in winter.

[A sidewise glance into the device and a small sigh through his nostrils.]

Do put on a shirt, my dear. If you hadn't clearly meant this as a PSA, I'd have thought you'd been punked by your Omen, as several of us have this week.

[Video]

[givehead]

(Hmmmmmmmmmmm yeah. That first-hand glance the last time was absolutely accurate. This dude was completely DILF certified. Bless his heart.)

If people can't figure out that footnote for themselves, I think that it might be weeding out the weak at that point.

(Yeah, he's...probably actually not the best person to be out here giving advice to people.

He smirks. Listen. At this point, he feels religiously obligated to fuck with this guy a bit. It was just fun. Even more fun with the idea of getting to see his reactions.)

Why? Am I distracting you from your work? I don't mind you looking.

(My dear!)

I don't get punked.

Re: [Video]

[subject_013]

[A dangerous smirk crosses the other's lean face.]

One way to eliminate the needlessly foolhardy, or the ones who don't think before they leap, as it were.

[The driest of dry laughs in his throat, then he sits back from the microscope, folding his forearms on the edge of the worktop and casually pushing his sleeves up slightly. Someone looks like they haven't missed an arm day in their life, though there's still a grace to him.]

No distraction here, as you aren't my type. I was thinking, rather, I'd prefer not to have yet another frostbite come through my examination room at the Lumenarium. [A slight lift of his head, suggesting an eyeroll.]

It appears you're one of the lucky ones. I take it your Omen is better behaved than mine, who decided to broadcast what I thought was a private confession to Doorway, when they appeared in the street before my door.

video; un: natsume.takashi

[natzoom]

...that seems like a terrible idea.

[How to make friends and influence people, Natsume style.]

video

[givehead]

(Oh this kid. Damn...Bro had been such a prick.

Dirk probably wasn't going to be any better. He can see why Bro had been a prick.)

It's only terrible if you're vulnerable. Some of us are...(He's pointedly staring very hard at you, Natsume.) Some of us aren't.

video

[natzoom]

[Natsume feels extremely normal about the whole thing!! He hasn't thought about it a bit!! Shut up!!

He's going to pretend he doesn't know what Dirk could possibly be referring to, and focus on the important part:] You should probably get inside. Before you ice over. [A pause.] You seem...different.

action!! punch me if this doesn't work for sequencing lol

[unsheathedfromreality]

[Dirk might've caught a faint tinny echo of his own broadcast from off down the lakeshore--because there's someone else out here, someone who lives near enough the lake that anything happening on its shores was bound to draw him if he's at home.

Which he generally was, come full moons. The lake's a sacred place to him; the rounding of the moon his call to worship. Or fish, or forage, as the season dictated.

Anyway: Illarion's not far off when Dirk starts talking, and by the time the younger man's signed off, the shrike's close enough to be heard when he says,]

And how is it you are ending up in the lake in the first place?

[He's maybe hard to see, black and pale among the trees he's standing among, striped with moonlight and shadow. But he's also got a basket of mushrooms over one arm, which lowers any accidental menace he might be giving off through sheer domesticity.]

this is amazin thank u

[givehead]

(Dirk wasn't one to lay down his guard. Ironically, that was pretty much exactly why he was in the lake, to begin with. He was dumb and fell asleep. He's trying to squeeze the water out of his hair when Illarion approaches. To Dirk's credit, he doesn't flinch or even looks surprised.)

I was taking a midnight stroll through the sky. (Honest enough...But missing a few key components.)

I was learning about how my powers function here. A bit of sleep flying. You know how it is. (Dirk peers through the dark at Illarian, his sunglasses catching the light of the moon and the shimmer of the pink lake.)

Foraging? Bit late at night for that, isn't it?