10810/Waterpark Blues

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Waterpark Blues
Date of Scene: 18 April 2022
Location: St Mary's Olympic Pool and Exercise Studio
Synopsis: A swim meet ends, and Sarah Rainmaker and Gabby meet a troubled young lady staying after for practice
Cast of Characters: Rebecca Ryker, Gabby Kinney, Sarah Rainmaker




Rebecca Ryker has posed:
The swim meet ends, freeing up the pool for the public to use. The change rooms are filled with people too fit, too young, and too athletic. But not all of the athletes are leaving; one is staying afterward for extra practice.

A deeply practiced breast stroke propels the raven-haired girl across the pool as people are allowed in. She has the singleminded focus that comes from top athletes, and a small stature that would make for a prime diver as well.

It's sad that for all this, when she emerges at the end of her laps, her eyes are dead. Sadness and anger, which would make sense if she'd lost. She didn't, she was in the top three of her age group.

Where could the darkness come from? The pool is till largely empty; few people would brave going through a horde of hardbodies to get into the sauna, after all.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Few perhaps, but there was one who gave no dangs. Gabby had been meaning to improve her swimming for awhile. Sadly the pool at Xavier's was usually more a place for people to sun and have barbecue than actually focus on swimming. There were only so many times someone could put up with hearing Rogue and Gambit flirt. And Scott chase after students to give them detention for stupid reasons. Really, she was kind of glad to get away from it all.

Wearing her one-peice because she hasn't really had the guts to wear a bikini yet, she pads into the pool area pulling her hair up into a ponytail so she doesn't get it in her eyes. Seeing the girl still here she cracks a grin and calls out, "How's the water?" Conversationally. A bit unaware of how Becca might be in a mood.

Sarah Rainmaker has posed:
Sarah Rainmaker is here for some of the swimming that will come after the meet has ended and the pool lanes are open again. She needs to get out at times. And exercise somewhere bright. It's not the same as the ocean, but the Hudson does not make for a great swimming area and she can't stray much further.

So that means that Sarah Rainmaker has gone to the pool to get something different in.

Her outfit is surprisingly just a one piece purple suit, and she's going towards the water and one of the lap lanes. The other woman just coincidentally catches her attention. Where does that rage come from?

Rebecca Ryker has posed:
The swimmer's one-piece is the same as the ones that people have worn for ages for competitive swimming. One piece, with the school's logo on it. In this case mostly black. She hasn't much to show off, though given her performance she likely aims for low body fat and all that.

She looks at Gabby, her eyes basically matching the suit: nothing and darkness. But she closes them a moment, taking a breath, and her fingers almost form into fists as she visibly rearranges her thoughts to interact with humans.

A second later she's less bleh and more human, her right cheek quirking slightly. "Sorry, what?" She looks back at the pool, then back to Gabby. "Probably fine, I guess. I barely notice anymore."

She sees Sarah arriving and blinks, a bit of jealousy at the woman's prettiness evident. But she only raises a hand in welcome, then looks to Gabby again. "You compete? You've got the legs to compete."

Sarah Rainmaker has posed:
Sarah Rainmaker would take a moment in surpruse as she would be addrssed, "Oh, hello there. And no, I don't." The girl would offer with a twitch of her lips upwards in a smile. "My mother used to, and hse go tme into swimming. I never had the stamina to compete, or the dedication. I was always rather horrid about maintaining discipline for an extended period. But thank you."

Someone noticed her legs! Sarah goes to look rather, rather pleased of the compliment. Then glancing over at Gabby. "Ah, hello." She would wave over to the smaller girl whiel looking about the area, sort of lazily surveying it.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney reaches up to wiggle the goggles ontop of her head. She came full gear it seems even if it was all a bit too nice and neat and brand new shiny. Still grinning she nods a single time toward Becca's apparent moment of getting her thoughts together. "Me either. I'm mostly a runner, and jumper sort. I actually came because I want to work on my swimming. Other than just jumping into the lake anyway."

Her attention shifts over to Sarah as well flashing her a familiar smile. "Hey! Been ages, how're you doing? I keep running into people everywhere lately." With tha she crouches down to sit on the edge of the pool letting her legs dip into the water. "Ah good it's not too cold. I can take cold but just don't feel like it right now."

Rebecca Ryker has posed:
"Don't see why you'd bother," the girl says under her breath as the conversation shifts. She motions to the pool, then nods toward it. "All yours. I mean, go ahead." She turns her head away from the two newcomers and looks at the windows, looking to see if anyone she recognizes is out there.

Apparently not finding what she's looking for, she looks back to Sarah and Gabby. "I'd rather run personally. Not that this isn't good exercise or anything." Which is weird. People who place second in competitions are usually driven. Not ambivalent.

Sarah Rainmaker has posed:
Sarah Rainmaker would shift her attention over, "All right." She would offer over and quirk a brow, "I find swimming preferable to running. It's quiet. Just you and the water. no one around, no disturbances. No worrying about people driving by, anyone walking past, interrupted by traffic.. At least if you can't run where there's no one else around for kilometers. I like swimming more here. It's peaceful."

She would nod at Gabby, "And I hope that you've been doing well. And the water's warmer than it is outside almost all the time. it's rather balmy out there." Being the spring and eveyrthing.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Well," Gabby reasons with a thoughtful look cast upward. "My family has a bad habit of drowning." That was a good enough reason for her to need to practice swimming, even if that might be a rather odd answer to the question. Flashing a grin at Sarah she nods in ready agreement. "Yeah, I've been bad about keeping in touch with people lately."

Her head tilts toward Becca curiously though. "Why can't you run?" Maybe she was missing something obvious here, but it wsa an innocent enough question. One that she might regret in a moment.

Rebecca Ryker has posed:
Rebecca doesn't really feel a need to answer Sarah's comment, but the reason why comes to light quickly enough when she says, "My father makes me do this." She says it bluntly, rather as if she'd rather be driving knitting needles into her own eyeballs. "And don't repeat that, I'll deny it if you tell anyone. I admit it's good exercise."

Hunkering down a bit, Becca sits on one of the short diving boards and looks at Gabby. "Drowning? Should I ask? Becca by the way, name's Becca." She upnods at Sarah as well, including her in the comment.

Sarah Rainmaker has posed:
Sarah Rainmaker would look over at Rebecca, "Nothing was said at all, and nothing was heard. We can't be aware of anything that wasn't said now can we?" She would answer conspiratorily but playfully. Looking to Gabby.

"I hate running in the city. It's so loud, there's so many things in the way, it's just too overwhelming. I like to run when I can and get a sense of focus, a sense of zen. To lose myself.. And that's impossible to get in the city."

Then looking at Gabby just as confusedly, "Generally family members don't come back after tehy were drowned."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Oh, well. Your dad's a dick then, but he won't hear it from me." Gabby then glances down at herself and sweeps her arms from stomach down as if indicating. "A few of them have metal bones kinda and so they just go 'SPLOOSH'," she explains as if that really was as simple as it was. With a little jump she scoots off the edge of the pool into the water itself with a splash. Quickly bobbing back up she turns to the edge to grasp hold of it while wiping the water out of her face with her other hand.

"There's such a thing as CPR," she points out with a broad grin. "And some people have healing factors." Even though she said it she looks between the two after that just to make sure there's no sudden gasp of 'Mutant!' while pointing accusingly.

Rebecca Ryker has posed:
Rebecca pulls her knees in to her chest and smiles, both responses making her feel a little bit better. She glances up again, anxiously checking and double-checking to see if she has to go yet. "He has to have the perfect family. It's insane."

A pause, then she says, "Metal bones. Huh." Not the normal response, and she seems to realize it. "Sorry, dad works on prosthetic limbs. I actually know a lot of people who have metal body parts."

Then she stands up. "I'm here a lot, if you want to really learn. I could get away with teaching prospectives how to train themselves, if Papa asked what I was doing." She shrugs. "I mean, if either of you really wants to be a swimmer. Andhaveanotherfriend." Mumbled, but there.

Sarah Rainmaker has posed:
Sarah Rainmaker would just look over at Gabriella, "That sounds rather.." Like a weighty thing. Sarah would nod at Gabby, "Yes, I suppose so. But if it's an ongoing issue maybe they should look into some sorts of alternatives?" She would look vaguely confused at it.

"I'm sorry on that. And.. It must be very draining. Jus tknow your father does what he thinks is the best for you.. And I suppose it's traditional for that to go down the family tree." Or so she's heard. "And I wouldn't mind having someone to swim with, sure."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Really?" Gabby pushes herself up on both hands, the rest of her body still dangling in the water, at Becca's response. "That would be great! And yeah if it helps you get out more, for sure! I can introduce you to some of my friends, too, maybe," she starts to ramble already plotting before she realizes: "Oh, shit I didn't tell you my name sorry! I'm Gabby. Nice to meet you, Becca!"

Tipping her head toward Sarah she just offers a laugh. "Oh well they usually avoid swimming so ... But they can't do anything about the metal. Uh, war injuries," she explains with an attempt at a shrug.

Rebecca Ryker has posed:
Grinning at the infectiousness of Gabby, Becca thumbs at Sarah. "That's okay, neither did she," she says, about forgetting to give names. "And there's actually a lot of water therapy for war injuries. I could get you some information maybe."

She has her eyes kind of on Sarah though, not certain how to respond to the platitude about her father. "Look...um.." she doesn't now Sarah's name. "I know that he loves me. Let's just not go too far into it. I need to go soon, he'll be here to pick me up and I'll have exactly nine minutes to be dressed and perfect daughter." She makes a face, but glances at the window just in case daddy's here for pickup.

Sarah Rainmaker has posed:
Sarah Rainmaker would look at Gabby with a bit of confusion. 'War injuries'? Nevermind, that's none o fher business and she gets a strong inclination that it's probably far more complicated than she'd really like to know.

"I'm Sarah and I'm sorry. And I understand. I'm sorry, I'm not meaning to come across as belittling you and telling you what you know. And how about you tell your dad you met a cuople of people that you're going to teach how to swim and can you setup some time to meet them soon?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney nods firmly at the mention of having to go soon. "Guess we should get you our numbers then, right?" She pushes out of the pool to her feet, and then dashes for the locker room still dripping wet. If there were still a lifeguard around she'd get whistled for running no doubt.

She's only gone a short moment though. When she's back, she's got her phone in hand. "Got a number? Or does he let you have a phone?"

Rebecca Ryker has posed:
"He'll want names and dates. I'll just tell him that the club is having me train two new recruits, and I don't know yet. The ...flipping... Ryker family can handle that much, so long as I pretend to be stupid." She shrugs, apparently something she's done before. Then stands up.

She watches Gabby dash off, grinning almost instantly. Everything that girl does feels free, and it makes her want ...yeah, not happening. "509-250-6355. Just texts, please god. I don't want to deal with that shitshow again." She doesn't explain, but there's enough to go on to make assumptions there.

"Be...Rebecca Ryker. Usually here every weekday, and most weekends. I got no life."

Sarah Rainmaker has posed:
Sarah Rainmaker would shake her head, "All right, we can coordinate some time to meet up and you can show us the basics." She goes to quickly exchange her own information.. After she remembers which number is her casual one, which is her covert one.. And which is for emergencies. Life is full of complications. Adding Rebecca's contact info to her list with a few flicks of a button.

"I'll look forwards to it. I think we can all use some friends."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney is already hovering her finger over the screen of her phone intending to type in the number while she can. Then... She blinks a single time at Becca's full name. Why did that sound somewhat familiar? The thought is pushed aside to focus on the moment. Time was, apparently, of the essence. "Ew, someone called you? Like called called? Text is fine, don't worry. Only my older siblings ever call my phone." She's typed it in then and grins at them. "Gabrielle Kinney, but everyone just calls me Gabby. I'll shoot you a text so you have my number," she promises.

Rebecca Ryker has posed:
Rebecca pulls at her hair, mostly just damp now from being out of the water. "It's cool, it's cool." She looks up again, then says, "Not cool!" She glances at Gabby, Sarah, then the window where a man is staring in at her.

Then she's moving, not even opening her mouth to wish a goodbye. She's moving, and she's hoofing it at the best safe speed the lifeguards will allow. Nine minutes, apparently, starts two minutes ago.

She doesn't pause or wave, and there's no glancing back from the change room that she vanishes into toute-suite. The man looking in glares at Sarah, then at Gabby. He's waiting, apparently. Son of a bitch even has the evil goatee look going on. Dang, dad. WTF.

Sarah Rainmaker has posed:
Sarah Rainmaker would give her own information over and then go to put her phone away, "Take care, and we can catchup soon. Then go swimming. And let's hope you don't sink like your family does. You're a bit young to need some metal bits in your body." She would add after a moment.

"And nice to meet you Rebecca, and to see you again Gabby." The gir's cheerfulness was infectious. Why not have an excuse to spend more time with her?

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney glances up when Becca's attitude suddenly changes spotting the father glaring daggers at her. She just ducks her head back down again finishing one typing on her phone, a simple message that states 'I'll send you my availability for training when I get home.' Just in case she needed proof. With that she moves to set her phone down on a chair she'd lain a towel on, and then stretches her arms overhead as if about to warm up again. "Should squeeze in a few more laps first. Good to see you again too, Sarah."

Rebecca Ryker has posed:
Very shortly, as if to make up for her lapse, a young lady with Rebecca's general build and hair joins her father. She is not spoken to, but her posture suggests that that will come later. She glances into the pool, for an instant. Then she's gone along with her father. The image of the dutiful daughter.