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Who: Keith And Friends
Where: Around Sevii Islands
When: Throughout January!
Summary: Keith has an evolution, Skarmory races, learning to swim, and more. If you'd like something specific, let me know and I'll set something up!
Rating: E for Evolving Character Growth
Log:

1. Evolution of the fittest

[Keith had taken a break from training his pokemon, but even his lower levels need to be working out. So he's out by the beach with Torracat and Ralts, trying to strengthen his tiny Ralts' defense. Torracat, though, is acting a little different. Keith can't put his finger on what's different, but she's a little more aggressive, like she's trying to push for something more than just the attacks Keith is telling her to do.]

Torracat - you've got to calm down. What's going on with you?

2. The Mystery Knife Man

[It's been a while, but Keith feels like it's time to work on his project again. Around the Sevii island house, Keith is starting to gather supplies. Cardboard, his different wet stones and knife sharpeners, pan, water pitcher, roller, everything. Then the tripod with his camera to record just what he's doing with the ingredients, but angled so he himself isn't in the frame.

Time to work and make the sharpest cardboard knife this world's ever seen. The hard part is that it takes a week to do, but plenty of time for the cardboard to dry with the bricks.]

3. Skarmory Races- Shiro

Okay, so this is what we're doing?

[Skarmory is out, and Keith is patting and petting along her chin and her head. She keeps trying to rub against his face, but the sharp bits don't exactly welcome it.]

Racing?

4. Swimming Lessons ™Death Note - Armin

[He hates the water. It's wet and it gets everywhere. Keith grew up in the desert, so large bodies of water, or pools, weren't really readily available. And the Garrison? Please, going into space didn't require it. The closest thing they had to a pool was the diving pool to practice zero g work and he didn't really swim in that.

But the ocean? It's big and watery and has nothing else in it but fish and... who knows. He has his pants rolled up a little bit and has his feet in the water, but Keith refuses to go in past his ankles. He's eyeing the water suspiciously.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I am. The water is great out there, even at this time of year. Besides--

[He hitches the squirming, claw-clicking mass of pokemon higher in his arms.]

It's time for Douglas to have his supervised swim time.

[Armin glances at the water too, but it is in considerably higher spirits than Keith.]

Are you sure you don't want to join us?

Edited 2019-01-20 02:32 (UTC)

[Keith looks down at Douglas, then up at Armin. This guy really does love the ocean.]

I'm... pretty sure. I can hang out here. Watch from here.

[He's not about to life guard or anything, but.]

[A childhood dream realised tends to have that effect on people.

Squatting down, Armin sets down Douglas in the water, laughing when the Anorith burrows into the sand in sheer joy, kicking up some water at Armin.]

Just don't go too far, all right?

[Normally he'd join Douglas, but with Keith standing there, that feels a bit impolite. Standing where he is, with his hands loosely clasped around his knees, he just takes a moment to enjoy the water and sight of Douglas slowly drifting over the sandy bottom. Eventually, he can't help but steal a few glances at Keith, hesitating for a moment, before saying:]

Do you mind if I ask you something?

[Keith is watching Douglas and. Well, the little guy is having the time if his pokemon life. It's hard not to smile! He digs his toes into the sand under the water and exhales heavy.]

Sure. What's up?

I was just wondering... do you not like swimming?

[It hasn't entered Armin's mind yet that Keith cannot. It's just that... it's very clear that when it comes to physical exercise, Keith is the sort of person who makes short work of that. He's probably not as strong as Mikasa (nobody is as strong as Mikasa) but they are very alike in that aspect. He's seen Keith work out on the beach from time to time.

Plus, Shiro and the others don't seem to be unable to swim. Lance would probably live in the water if it didn't prune his skin like something fierce. It has made him assume the same goes for Keith.]

It's just that... now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever seen you swim.

[Armin clearly hasn't seen Keith bench press a Graveler. But his arms are crossed and his hands tighten a little on his bicep at the question. He knew someone would ask eventually but.]

...I was raised in the desert. Swimming wasn't... really something I could walk outside and learn.

[He has not, but he is very interested in purchasing tickets.]

Really? That's amazing. What was it like?

[Growing up, Armin didn't just dream of oceans. He dreamt of deserts too. Not that he knew that was what they were called. His grandfather's book had just described them as lands made of sand. Still, he had always hoped to see one too. Alas, there are no deserts here. At least, not in Johto or Kanto. He's read that there is a desert in the Hoenn region, but so far, they haven't had the ability to travel there.

One day, he will though. One day.]

It was.... hot. Dry. Sand everywhere. A little further from my house, there were cliffs and plateaus, canyons and caves.

[He shrugs, kneeling down to put his fingertips to the water.]

There wasn't a lot to see, but it was within driving distance of the Garrison, so... I dunno, it worked out.

I've always dreamed of seeing a desert.

[There is something soft a dream-like as he glances at the water, recalling those many long afternoons Eren and he would've poured over his grandfather's book, talking about what the outside world might be like and how they were one day going to visit it. Later Mikasa would be included in that as well. Not necessarily as a participant (Mikasa had never cared about seeing the outside world as much as they had) but at the very least, present and happy enough to listen to them talk about something that made them happy.]

Of course, there wasn't one within the walls. My grandfather's book talked about them though. I didn't know they were called deserts until I got here though.

Hm. I'd say you weren't missing much but... [He looks back out at the water. Thinks back to those mornings and evenings with his father, and then alone.]

...The sun behind the hills and cliffs were nice. Wish I still had my pictures to show you.

That would've been nice.

[Keith sharing his photos, that is. Sure, he can look up photos in his atlas or online, but there is something more personal about someone sharing photos of their home.]

Honestly, sometimes it feels like... it could be the most boring place to see to most people, but I'd still want to see it, you know? To say I did.

[He nods, eyes locked on the waves. They're almost rhythmic, washing in and then sliding back out.]

Everyone has some place they like others don't. You'd probably like it for a while.

[It is absolutely rhythmic. At least, to Armin it is. Sometimes he gets caught up just watching the water roll onto the beach before retreating. It is meditative in a way.]

I guess if you grew up in a place like that, having this much water around must be strange.

It is. [No beating around that bush or sugarcoating it.]

I... don't know if I can get used to it.

[The honesty is appreciated.]

Does that mean you dislike it here? On this island, I mean.

The island is nice. I like the quiet.

[He pushes his hair out of his eyes watching the water.]

It's the ocean I'm.. not sure about.

It can be a little intimidating, I think. It was to me. I dreamt about it for so long, so it was really amazing too, but seeing so much water... it makes you feel small, doesn't it?

[Tiny. Insignificant. Easily swept away.]

And I couldn't swim, at all, so that didn't help.

Edited 2019-01-24 01:39 (UTC)

Hm.

[Well. He's gotta wash clothes anyway. So he plops right down in the water and sand, shivers with the cold but settles.]

Space did the same thing, making you feel small. Doesn't bother me too much.

[When Keith plops down, Douglas abandons his scooting around Armin's feet to mosey over to Keith, plucking curiously at his toes and clothing with his claws.]

I don't think using 'bothered' is exactly right in my case. It's more like... a very visceral reminder. But I don't think it is all bad either. Honestly, I think it is good to have a reminder like that once in a while.

[Armin doesn't look at Keith as he drifts his fingers through the water, plucking up a small, half-fractured shell off the sand and holding it up.]

Edited 2019-01-24 02:41 (UTC)