The Beach, Saturday Afternoon

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

The sand was warm between John's toes.  He figured the water shouldn't be too cold for the regular swim trunks he'd worn.  He'd brought a small bag with water and snacks and his book.  Swimming and sunbathing was a great way to celebrate not having detention.

[ooc: Open like a beach.]

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[not_in_the_book]

Ronan walked up behind John, clad in a swimsuit and a unbuttoned shirt. "Hey," he said, smiling, letting his own bag fall to the sand; much like John, he'd brought water and snacks, although he didn't have a book with him. He set down his towel as well. "Water looks good."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"It sure does," he replied, grinning and walking toward the water.

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan slipped off his shirt and followed along, hoping the water wasn't quite as cold here as it would be this time of year back in Ireland.

It wasn't, of course, although it wasn't exactly what he'd call warm.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

John suppressed a gasp as the water hit his legs. "That's not quite as warm as I was hoping. Isn't the Atlantic supposed to be warmer than the Pacific?"

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan laughed a bit. "I'm not sure, I thought it was the other way around. Here, give me a moment," he added, as he got to waist height in the water. He started talking in the Speech, quite quickly; it wasn't a spell, but seemed, for the pauses and listening posture, to be more of a conversation. Within moments, a wave of warmth spread through the water from Ronan's position; while it was hardly tropical in temperature, the water was definitely much more comfortable than it had been moments before. "Does that help?" he asked. "I talked the water into warming up a bit."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"That's much more swim-able, thanks," John said, diving into the water and emerging fully soaked. "Woo! I've missed this!"

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan followed suit, dunking himself and reemerging a few feet away. "I've definitely missed the ocean. I don't have nearly enough time at home anymore to go swimming, at the beach or otherwise." He laughed a bit, and definitely wasn't enjoying the sight of wet John.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"I used to surf a lot when I was living in California," he said, bobbing in the waves as he swam further out.

[not_in_the_book]

"Yah?" Ronan said. "I've never tried. There's some surfing back home, but not all that much that I know of."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"It's a lotta fun. If you're into sports, that is." John wasn't sure if Ronan liked sports. They'd missed that topic during their previous getting to know you episode.

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan shrugged. "I watch rugby. Some football. Not much for playing, though." He grinned. "I am fond of swimming, however."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"That's cool," John said. "Rugby's a lot like American football, right? I'm partial to watching college football, myself. But I do a lot of skateboarding and surfing besides apparently running the flag football club here." John still wasn't sure how that'd happened.

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan laughed. "It's like American football. With no padding. And when I say I watch football, I mean real football. What you silly Americans call soccer." He grinned, and on a whim splashed some water towards John.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Oho!" John splashed back, "Us 'silly Americans' happen to think our football is pretty real too, thanks!"

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan ducked under the water, avoiding the splashing wave by... getting more wet. But he still avoided the splash. "Your football, which is kinda like rugby only with more wimpy padding?" He ducked under the water again and swam towards John with the intention of pulling his legs out from under him.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

John jumped away and under the water, escaping Ronan's hands. When he emerged, laughing he said, "Hey now! Padding is not wimpy, it's necessary to stave off injury."

[not_in_the_book]

"Exactly! Only wimps try to stave off injury with padding." Ronan grinned. "A real rugby player would know that."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"I can tell I'm not gonna be able to convince you that my sport is real," John reached out to dunk Ronan under the water.

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan totally let John dunk him. That was his story, and he was sticking to it.

Of course, while he was down there, he was in a perfect position to once again try and pull John's legs out from under him.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

This time John wasn't expecting it because he was celebrating his dunking skills and was pulled under the water.

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan pulled back and chuckled as he, too, celebrated his successful maneuver. He grinned. "Success!"

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

John coughed up some water and held up both arms, "Truce!" He'd inhaled salt water when he'd been pulled under unexpectedly.

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan tried to look innocent. "All right, if you insist," he said. ANd then paused. "You didn't inhale too much water, did you? Are you all right?"

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

He cleared his throat, "No, I'm fine." He was too manly to admit it burned when he breathed, but that feeling would go away in a couple minutes. "So, sports are not a safe topic, huh?"

[not_in_the_book]

"Apparently not." Ronan grinned. "So what is, then? Girls?"