topherromijn

[topherromijn]

OPEN STARTER @fenrirswoodstarters location ; the duck fair

Topher was kind of waiting for something to happen, but as the days sped by, and the weather remained sort of the same - which was odd to say the least for British weather but not odd enough - they were starting to enjoy the fair that had once been tainted for them. They were snacking on a batch of far too expensive churros and deciding if they wanted to go in the bumper cars first or the ferris wheel, when they almost collided with someone. Their mouth full of churros they uttered a barely audible: "Sorry!"

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Topher grinned, acknowledging that Logan tried to match their energy. Not everyone liked foam, but Topher believed that if you were with the right company, anything could be fun, and it certainly was going to be. Because Topher simply wanted to run through the foam and maybe make some fun sculptures on each other’s heads. 

“No not at all!” Topher said, they also had no idea how long they’d been standing there, so it didn’t matter. They patted their outfit, slowly pushing their shoulders together. “Thank you,” they said. “My roommate helped me with my hair, I usually don’t like colour that much, but I can’t just go in grey tones for pride,” they said. They pointed the way into the club. “Ready to go in? First drink is on me, what would you like?”

when topher had invited logan to come with them to a night club, she was mildly surprised. not that she minded, she just hadn't thought of herself to be particularly good company in that sort of environment. but, she needed more reasons to go out and a friend inviting her was one that was pretty hard to pass up on, so she accepted. it only took a mild amount of panic in order for logan to figure out what outfit was club appropriate.

she spends a solid 5 minutes in her truck, trying to gather up the courage to finally exit it and make her way into the club. she doesn't know why she's so anxious, she knows topher and she knows it's going to be a good time. maybe it's the fact that logan isn't usually very involved in pride events. or maybe it's because she doesn't have very many friends, let along ones she goes out with. either way, she finally manages to get out of her truck and walk into the club.

it doesn't take logan long to locate topher on the other side of the club and it's clear that when she spots them they see her at the same time. she can't help the smile that slowly stretches across her face, feeling her anxiety melt away as she makes her way to meet her friend. "foam!" she yells back, trying to match their energy. "wow, i love your outfit! you haven't been waiting for me long, have you?"

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Topher shrugged, though it was a bit in jest, with a grin on their face. “Probably for the best, for those who would’ve felt our wraith that is,” he decided, chuckling. “Together we would’ve probably been unstoppable,” he decided. Or at least they would’ve had a lot of fun and all the people who tried to annoy them would’ve easily reconsidered. Now Topher often went by themself to the pub, but there wasn’t a whole lot that happened that could mean they would get into a brawl, people tended to keep to themselves. 

They grinned. “Basically Belgium is two countries, but nobody accepts that. Flanders, where they speak Flemish, which is a dialect of Dutch, and Wallonia, where they speak French. I’m from Wallonia, but my dad was from Flanders, so he spoke Dutch to me growing up, and my mom continued when he was gone,” he admitted. It was rare for them to talk about their father. “That sounds fun, and a little bit… useless. French only makes sense when you’re close to France, Canada, or one of the former colonies.” They bit their lip. “Are you fluent in Spanish?” they asked. 

The idea of Sofia moving away completely forgotten, Topher beamed. “I can teach you Dutch! It’s a difficult language because it’s Germanic, but it has a lot of English words and influences. Oh, and a lot of French and Spanish influences too. We can watch my favourite Dutch movie.” 

His proud smile made Sofia's mirror it, amused Topher was ready to fight, he would have been great to have by her side when she was back home and in the middle of some shitty bar, pissed off a bunch of idiots felt like saying something sexist towards her. "Same, people usually don't expect me to be so ferocious but...I've calmed down since I got here. Maybe it's good neither of us has to get into brawls anymore."

Half of what Topher was saying went over her head, and Sofia laughed as they casually explained it. "I don't know what the Flemish or the Walonians are, but I do know I got sent to a super rich school where more kids spoke French than Spanish which felt entirely useless is Southern California so I think it would be so sucky to live somewhere that you spoke a language no one else did. Feels...lonely."

"You'll start teaching me one, yeah? Then we'll always be able to talk," she insisted, still somewhat distracted by the sadness Topher had been feeling, an obligation within her to assure him that they would continue to be friends.

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“Oef,” Topher said in response. They couldn’t imagine having a kind of job where you didn’t get at least six hours of sleep. If they got less it was usually because they forgot to go to bed on time, and even then they’d still make about four hours. 

They took a sip from their bean water and frowned. “Are you sure you want to make waffles? On two hours of sleep, I can also make some kind of breakfast… not waffles though,” they joked. “Maybe not even something decent… I’d probably just run down to the store.” 

Her sundress matched the blooming flowers outside her window and the smile on her face was only proof of how much she adored the space Haylee had created for both herself, and now Topher. It was always meant to be shared — bask in someone's laughter, share the troubles of a long work day, prepare a meal and then rock, paper, scissor the other over washing the dishes.

Living alone has always felt incredibly lonely.

"I got home from the hospital really late — " she explained; blue on brown, "I've had uh, two — three hours maybe." she wasn't trying to be dramatic, the blonde was pleased with the amount. Usually, there were nights where she barely slept.

"Would you like some breakfast? I can make us waffles."

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“Cherry hibiscus refresher,” Topher repeated. “That’s a mouth full, it should have a cool name like…” They thought for a moment. “Cher-Fresh!” They shook their head. “That’s not a cool name either. Hibiscus is just not a name that’s easy to work with,” they decided. 

The human nodded, not that they needed to be told someone trusted them, despite the utter weirdness their life had been lately, Topher still did not care what older people thought of them. They would gladly take something to drink however if it was offered. They frowned. “Pickle juice?” they asked, looking a bit confused that anyone would consider that. Not that Topher was hung over often, they tended to drink mostly to look like they were drinking, but at the end of the night they wanted to make sure they could still beat someone’s ass if needed. “Hmmm,” Topher considered that. “But cola is nicer.”

"I believe this one is called—" he holds the glass up to eye level, observing the deep ruby hues of the drink, "the cherry-hibiscus refresher." Amir wasn't particularly adept at discerning flavors. His taste buds lacked the refinement to differentiate between floral, sweet, or fruity notes. "It's tangy—a bit minty. By far a new favorite." Though, truth be told, this wasn't exactly his preferred scene. He didn't mind bars; most restaurants served alcoholic beverages. In a culture so steeped in drinking, it was easy to stick out like a sore thumb, but Amir managed.

Ever vigilant, he couldn't help but step into that elder role, watching over the younger ones. Social work was not just a job for him—it was a permanent mark of his identity. Empathy was his greatest gift. "Don't worry." He holds his hands up in a gesture of reassurance. "I trust you." He wasn't about to make choices for another person. He had plenty of practice with Logan; even if a choice was safe for someone, it wasn't a viable option until they decided it for themselves.

At the mention of hangovers, flashbacks of a few cruel ones overtook his mind. He was fortunate to forget most of them, but some had left indelible scars. Despite his desire for the Amir of the past to lay to rest, there were always reminders he wasn't proud of. "Electrolytes, actually, and pickle juice were always my go-to remedies. Cola's not bad, but I agree it does help with hangovers." He nods thoughtfully. "Water, though, can help with pacing—"

[topherromijn]

Topher tried to push away the lingering sadness, and by imagining themself and Sofia eating pizza in Rome, they could. They'd never done the travelling around the world that they'd promised their ex-girlfriend. This would be a nice opportunity to maybe do a few of those things, if they had enough vacation days.

He grinned proudly. "Most of them yes," he said, straightening his back a little. "Not all of them, but usually I catch people off guard enough to get the upper hand." Not that he'd done any of that lately, but he'd kicked dudes who'd done stuff to girls in clubs before, and usually if he wasn't wining it, people would come to his aid.

"Sounds like a plan!" Topher said happily. "I can bring some Belgian beers and chocolate!" At the question of 'just French' they laughed. "Yes, just french," they admitted. "They do get some English is school, but it's very basic, so it depends if a student actually wants to learn that," they explained. "The Flemish are much better at learning French than the Walonians are at Dutch. But mostly of my classmates could speak basic English." For Topher to speak three languages, it didn't feel like a flex anymore. It just made sense. They were sad they'd never gotten to learn German, then they'd have all the Belgian languages.

Sofia wanted to admit she felt the UK was probably pretty much the same, at least across Britain, the other countries were perhaps more fun, but she doubted that was what Topher wanted to hear. A thought that was solidified by their expression at the concept of going to Greece. It was hard for Sofia to see their sadness but she also didn't want to discount her own discomfort living somewhere she had not chosen. It was a feeling Topher couldn't help, something she had to talk to Micah about.

"Italy would be nice too," she nodded, hoping to let the topic go so she didn't have to keep upsetting Topher by reiterating her feelings.

Sofia knew how he meant it, though the flirting was fine too. Sofia didn't think he was that much of a jerk he'd actively try and steal her away from Micah. If she thought that then they wouldn't be friends. "Are you winning these fights? How in awe should I be of your arse kickery?"

"Eh, SNL is just stupid, but the OC? We have to marathon, it's a teen garbage show, so amazing," Sofia grinned. Perhaps something to do when Micah went away, Sofia knowing he had a few shows out of the country coming up she would not be able to go with him for. "What language did the other kids learn? Just French?" It sounded silly saying just French but from what she could tell around here everyone was at least bilingual which was a nice change of pace from back home.

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Topher could see that, with their high opinion of Sofia, they were not surprised to find that the other was extremely knowledgable and could retain information quickly. Their mother had home schooled them for a while too, when their home situation had been at its absolute worst. But Topher had been incredibly young then, and there wasn't a lot that they needed to learn at that time. It was only for a little while, until things imploded, and until Topher felt confident enough to return to school. It had been an odd situation, and they weren't sure what their mother had done to assure it. "I might," they said. "But I guess that makes sense," they decided. "Sofia does seem to be very smart."

He grinned. "Good, first step of learning how to swim, trust the person teaching you!" he said happily. "Just let me know when, the summer will be busy, but I know all the moments during the week when it's the quietest, usually around dinner time, so six pm is a great time, or anywhere before ten am, because usually in the morning it's mostly the old people and like... parents with babies."

Typically, when she reveals that she was homeschooled, Nohemi encounters a range of reactions, varying by geographic location. In the States, she is often questioned about being raised by alt-right Christians or quizzed on America’s deficient gun control policies. Overseas, she was still gathering information on the prevalent perceptions. "You know, I'm not sure. You'd have to ask Sofia about that," she admits, recalling the mountains of paperwork involved. "I sort of just... I don't know, assumed she was just always smart." Nohemi looked up to her sister in so many ways; Sofia epitomized brilliance. "I guess I never really thought about questioning where she got the information from..."

Nohemi was unfamiliar with the world of competitions. Contemplating it too deeply would send her anxiety into a tailspin. Dipping her toes in first, however, probably wasn’t the best approach either, given her nature. She was a quick learner, and he wouldn't face any difficulty if she absorbed the lessons too rapidly. She smiled at the confirmation—a friend, witchy, yet she allowed it to warm her heart for a little longer. She even offered an affirmation she rarely entrusted to anyone. "I trust you." A significant statement, given that putting her in water could very well pose a threat to her life.

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"I'm not doing much better though I'd say I'm pretty brave, clearly it's all in our head, making us believe that it's too cold and we shouldn't do it. Like a block," Topher thought out loud. They shivered, glad to have company at least, else they would've been standing there all by their lonesome just staring ahead. Then they would've definitely balked at some point.

"Epic and then there is no turning back, not like standing in the water. It's just fighting your body in one instance and throwing yourself forward. We should put in a recommendation for the city council or whatever, tell them this place really needs a slide."

Topher nodded forcefully and took Noah's hand. "On three," they agreed, as they started counting down with the other. "THREE!" They plunged forward.

Noah laughed along with Topher, shaking his head with a grin. “I don’t know, man. After my little show just now, I don’t know if I’m brave enough to just plunge in after all.” He admitted, shivering a little at the idea. “I am all bark and no bite, clearly.”  He said, still chuckling. He glanced at the water, then back at Topher, a mischievous glint in his eye.

“I hear you though. A slide or at least a diving spot would make this a lot more fun… and easier, not to mention. Flying through the air, and then splashing down – could be epic!”

“Alright,” he said, taking a deep breath and steeling himself. “Let’s do it together. On the count of three?” He held his hand out to Topher, ready to make the plunge.” One… two…”

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Topher made a face, and then nodded. "Even if they did, I don't think anyone would take the memorial away," they added. If Merrin came back from the dead now, perhaps they'd even tell them that the memorial was far more important.

They tried not to think about Merrin that often, though their thoughts did often linger, when they found things around their home to remind them of their friend's Wicca thing, or when they thought of jokes that had been Merrin's to first throw out into the world.

Yet, talking about death while looking at a memorial of the dead, was definitely something that reminded them of Merrin, who wouldn't run away from this type of thing. They looked at Beatrice for a moment and wondered: how had they both ended up befriending that weirdo.

"Definitely not," they said. "I'd want my friends to remember me in their own way, not be part of the horrifying history of this city," they admitted. "You?"

"I don't like it," Beatrice frowns. The fact feels as plain as day. Over her chest, her arms cross. What would a memorial do now, so long after the fact? Names carved into stone would not bring anyone back from the dead. "I guess it doesn't matter if Merrin would like it either. They're not exactly here to give any opinion on anything."

The words still felt sour in her mouth. Death felt all to heavy to deal with, so it was easier to not. This was the first time in...weeks? Months? Since Bea had thought of Merrin. Work was easy to deal with. Death? Philosophers spent their entire lives trying to decode its mysteries, and still no single person was ever close to the truth.

"Would you want something like this?" She asks next. "For your name to be...memorialized in such a way?"

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Topher nodded, trying to imagine Sofia as a teacher, and finding that the idea was both highly amusing and pretty awesome, they figured that Sofia would probably teach a few more important lesson than they might in American high school, but then again: their idea of American high school was solely based on tv shows - some of which were Canadian not American - and their opinion of Sofia was high. "That's cool," they said. "How does that work, homeschooling? Does that mean Sofia had to like... learn everything before you? Or do they have websites?" they asked.

They chuckled. "I'm the best teacher," he agreed, "certified." At least they got the little paper they needed to be teaching kids how to swim and to save them. Very important. And they took their job very seriously, kids who could swim and felt confident in being able to do this one thing would go far. He loved hyping up the youngsters. "That should be easy enough, my witchy friend," he said - in joke - and nudged Nohemi's shoulder gently. "I'll have you competition ready in no-time, maybe even in time for them to finally finish whatever they're doing on the lakeside."

"Right." Chuckling softly as if savoring the punchline of an unspoken joke, she shakes her head, a wrinkle forming at the bridge of her nose. "So I'm not so sure that I told you about that part of my life yet… huh?" The admission comes hesitantly, the words delicately poised as if she fears they might shatter the nascent bond between them. She doesn’t quite know how to frame it delicately—that she was the resident weird girl and how to share this fragment of her past without risking the burgeoning friendship with Topher. "So, I was pretty much homeschooled for most of my life by my sister. It was, you know, safer that way and easier since we moved around a lot." The words hang in the air, a glimpse into a life of perpetual motion and guarded seclusion.

"But yeah," she nods, her tone brightening. "Since you're like the best teacher and all, I'd love to learn." The prospect of learning to swim feels suddenly vital, as though it’s not just a skill but a lifeline, a necessary preparation for navigating the turbulent currents of life. "You just have to promise me that I won't melt or sink." The sincerity in her eyes is matched by a gentle determination, the kind that comes from a lifetime of facing fears head-on.

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Topher made no distinction between alcohol and non-alcoholic, not in the same way that they did between meat and fake-meat. Though mostly to refrain from passing judgement onto anyone. If someone drank beer without the alcohol, that didn't make them sad or anything. If someone wanted to eat fake meat that looked and tasted like real meat: good for them.

They narrowed their eyes at the other. "So beer? Or fancy mocktails?" they asked, wiggling their eyebrows as if they were in fact drunk off of several alcoholic beverages, and not just drunk on the night. "I'm okay, I can handle this amount," they assured the other who was clearly attempting to be parent-like in the situation, not something Topher tended to take well to, and certainly not something they'd had for a long long time. "They say cola works much better against hang-overs than water, though."

Trying not to see himself in them, Amir's eyes endeavor to withhold judgment at the admission of more than a few drinks. He’s not the kind of sober man to chastise others, but his watchful nature—his fatherly instincts—are hard to suppress, especially when he thinks he perceives a reflection of his past struggles in another. Amir had been sober for almost fifteen years now. The addiction had taken root in his late teens, growing like a malignancy in his veins, always demanding more of the numbing solace alcohol provided. He had shaken and trembled in its grip, seeking a cure for the persistent pain that shadowed his life until, finally, he had banished the substances from his existence. His mind drifts momentarily, recalling the endless nights he had spent lost in a similar haze, seeking oblivion at the bottom of a bottle. But those days are long past, replaced by a resolve as firm as steel. He now navigates these spaces with a clarity and purpose that eluded him in his youth, each step forward a silent vow to never return to that dark place.

"Actually, I've taken to a couple of non-alcoholic beverages," he repeats, more to himself than anyone else, a small reminder of the path he has chosen. The words are his anchor, grounding him in the present, amidst the swirling chaos. His concern for others, however, remains undiminished. "You're okay, though, right? Not drinking too much? Should we get you some water to help dilute the veins?"

[topherromijn]

CLOSED STARTER for @logan-jones location ; VELVET

Topher knew they'd have to check out the foam machine. Sure the glow-in-the-dark theme at Into the Woods seemed fun as well, but there was something about foam and soap and paint that held their attention for much longer. They'd once participated in Holi with a friend, and it had been utter perfection. There was something about getting a feeling like you lived in a sunny paradise and not rainy Britain that excited their summer-longing heart.

They'd invited Logan to come with them.

Topher never placed all their eggs in one basket, sure, they'd develop crush after crush, but since their escape from Liege with their ex-girlfriend, there was a certain need to keep people a little at a distance. Just in case. It felt unfair to people, but that's why Topher made sure to mention their ex at least once in a while. They hadn't yet with Logan, but they also knew they could never be certain if another person had feelings for them without properly asking.

So right now, it was just two people hanging out as friends, and they'd see what would come of it.

"FOAM!" they yelled at Logan when they saw her appear at the other end of the street. They were wearing baggy pants and an over-sized shirt, for once in actual colours, with threads in different colours woven through their curly hair - curtesy of Haylee.

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Topher tried not to make it obvious that they were disappointed to hear that. They shouldn't be surprised, people after all didn't always stay in the same place for the rest of their lives. So they pressed their teeth on their lip and agreed that Sofia didn't have a choice in moving to this place. "You could roadtrip through the UK, maybe there are some other places you'd like as well," they said. "I could come visit you with my bike," they offered.

They attempted to sound more excited than they felt about Greecian hotties, their smile forced but light as well. They weren't that good at lying, their poker face was more because they didn't know how to feel about things than actually knowing how to hide their emotions. They now felt like they were at least being truthful to Sofia that it hurt them. "Greece sounds fun, I'd also like to go to Italy."

He grinned. "That's a deal, I'd like to be nursed back to health," he said in return, it sounded flirtatious but he meant well. He hoped she knew he meant well. "Oh they always do deserve it, I don't ever kick anyone without good cause." Which was true, all the fights he'd gotten into when he lived back in Belgium was always with the bullies, protecting some kid who didn't know how to protect themself.

Topher bit their lip and shook their head. "I don't," they admitted. "I don't know what SNL and OC are," they added. "I'm from the French speaking part of Belgium, I know some American stereotypes but I know way more British ones. The French live in a world of their own, my mom always said. It's a miracle I learned Dutch because none of my classmates bothered to learn."

"I don't really know honestly," she responded, not considering that her words might have worried him. They were friends, Sofia did not think distance would shift that. "I should ask Micah, I guess. I just sort of came here and didn't think about like the future but Nohemi is in college here and the production company is here. I feel like they both just understood it was permanent, but you know how it is, people get moved around a lot in Micah's field, he doesn't totally get a say. I think I just assumed eventually we'd decide some place together. This didn't feel...decided." She knew they'd be there for at least another year, the album was still being worked on and then it would need promoted before any actual tour but perhaps the real issue was that Sofia wanted it to be their decision to stay, not that she had simply arrived in his life and was following him. "I should talk with him," she reiterated.

It didn't seem enough to assuage the sadness she heard in their voice. "I'd always come back to visit you if things did change, you're like my first real friend, and I'd drag you places. I mean, if Micah ever actually gets famous I'd have to take you somewhere fun too. Maybe Greece?" she suggested, swallowing her worried tone that her friend felt abandoned. "Greecian hotties, that's what you deserve."

Sofia laughed at his insistence that he could defend himself. Size was definitely not an issue in her mind, she could kick some arse and she was only just slightly over five feet tall. If Topher said he could take someone on she'd believe him. "If you got hurt though I'd have to nurse you back to health," she gave them a small wink. "You're probably amazing for lots of reasons and if you're a dick then they probably deserve it."

Sofia laughed because this was true, she didn't know any Belgian stereotypes beyond their delicious chocolate. "Unfortunately you probably know a lot of American stereotypes, especially ones of Californians. I'm basically a latina version of Marissa Cooper from the OC," Sofia joked. "Or that SNL skit where they just talk about which highways to take."

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CLOSED STARTER for @museinitalics ft. Chae location ; DIRTY PETE

Topher had plenty of friends now, meaning they suddenly had to be well aware of keeping track of all of them, and since they weren't so great at phones and texting, they had made a schedule: every week they'd try to hang out with one friend. That was now several because Pride was something Topher was exceptionally happy about. They'd invited Chae to come eat with them at Dirty Pete. They came here plenty and they'd met Pete's husband once. And they really wanted to try the Vegan Husband Pete.

They'd hogged one of the plastic chairs and put their bag on the other, raising it when they saw Chae. "Hey! I got us a seat, though we can also eat at the park if you want," they said, enthusiastically, but in their own way. "I haven't ordered yet, but I already know I'm having the husband pete."

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Topher was so glad to share an apartment again with someone other than an almost-married couple. Not that they didn't adore them, but it was a whole different experience to hang out with a friend in the morning.

They stretched out as a cat as they got out of the bathroom, wearing a baggy shirt and joggers. Their hair was wild, bound on the top of their head with two knots.

They accepted the bean water with a grin. "Thank you, and yes!" they said, stressing the last word.

The human took a seat, they weren't good with most living things, had never owned a houseplant, and neither a pet, though they'd taken in plenty of animals to nurse back to health with the help of their mother. "What about you?"

where,  — Haylee and Topher's apartment closed  — @topherromijn

It was slightly strange  — to live with another person, again. To share her space with someone else. The last time she shared breakfast with anyone in the comfort of her home, was a few years back, when she was part of a coven, and her fellow sisters, as she called them, spent the night.

She handed the other a hot cup of coffee, a warm smile on her lips, "Did you sleep well?"

Her other hand was busy with a glass of water, she used to water the plants on the living room window. Warm reys of light caressing green leaves. She loved taking caring of living things, whether those were people, plants or animals, or even their home.

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Topher chuckled in return. "I was going to go for the plunging right in option," they said. "And then hope my body will regulate my temperature, it's what I do at the cold bath at the pool," they admitted. With a look out into the water, they were momentarily distracted, before their attention was drawn back by Noah's demonstration. They couldn't help but laugh. "I know right," they said, as they took a deep breath in and kept it there, gesturing towards going in, but not making it much further. They straightened their back again. "Always a challenge to plunge in though. They should install a slide or a jumping off point. Or a float in the water, I'd love to be able to just jump in." Their naked feet touched the slimy surface below the water. "Want to try together?"

Noah was excited about the beachfront finally being opened. It was a new place to cool down after work, and hopefully, this meant the pool wouldn’t be overcrowded with screaming children during the summer.

Dressed in a pair of red swim shorts that reached his knees, he stepped into the water, wading carefully to avoid creating too many waves around the other people. He only looked up when Topher spoke.

“It kind of is, isn’t it?” he agreed, though he hadn’t been too bothered by the cold water yet. He was only up to his knees, after all. “Just gotta grit your teeth and plunge in,” he encouraged Topher. “Or, you know, do the thing where you splash water on your arms and stomach before going further.” Demonstrating, he dipped his hands in the cold water and brought them up to his arms and chest, shivering. “Or, you know, not. It’s really cold.” He laughed lightly, feeling goosebumps rise on his arms from the chilly water.  

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Topher gave the other a look of 'I know' though it was playful. They were Belgian, UK water did not surprise them much, and they were certain both had similar temperatures. It did get a bit better in mid-summer, but only when the weather was doing well. They missed swimming at the fake beaches of home, but they weren't ever going home, so no need to miss it.

"I've been here for a bit," they said, though there was still a hint of an accent, not easy to pick up on to those who were unfamiliar with a French and Flemish accent. "I've never been one to think going in slowly will help, just jumping in there and hoping my body will regulate the temperature asap," they returned, grinning. "Have you gone in yet? Or not planning on?"

Juvenal wasn't much a fan of the water in practise. He couldn't swim particularly gracefully and beyond fishing, found it to be more trouble than it was worth. However, he liked the background noise it provided and had spent just about as long as he could remember curled up staring off into some body of water out there. Whether he was eight, staring into the water as he grieved and sniffled over his first broken bone, or twenty eight, pondering inwardly just where exactly his life was going, water remained the visual backdrop to his mental wool gathering.

He flinched as the other's complaining brought him out of his own head, taking a quick moment to look around and figure out what exactly had caught his attentions, a brow raised slowly as he tried not to smirk at the others misfortune. "Is that a surprise to you?" He asked, not trying to be rude, but, more thinking aloud. "It doesn't really get any better until around mid-summer. From experience? The best thing to do is just jump in and get it over with. It still sucks, but, it sucks for less time than if you go in slowly."