channellings | ☂ fellden inbox

[ Billy opens the door, and he definitely has gills. Four slits on either side of his neck that rise and fall a bit with his breathing, though not as much as they would if he were underwater. ]

Hey.

[ If he acts casually enough, maybe Klaus won't be weird about it either? Wishful thinking. ]

Edited 2020-02-03 22:21 (UTC)

[once he hears the door open, the compass gets tucked away. as soon as he's in front of billy and can see the gills, klaus's mouth drops open with surprise.] Hhholy shit, you weren't fucking kidding.

[then, without really giving it any forethought, he reaches out and attempts touching the gills on billy's right side. so long as he's fast enough, anyhow.]

Hey - [ Billy doesn't move away fast enough, and Klaus touches his gills. They feel like the rest of him, mostly, though they're a little more rigid than the surrounding skin.

They flare open for a moment before closing again, and Billy can feel the cold air inside of them. He shudders. That'll take some getting used to. ] - don't do that.

[ He pulls back, stuffing his hands in his pocket to avoid the temptation to touch them himself. ] This better not get in the way of my smoking.

[oh, those feel weird, but he doesn't regret doing it. in fact, if billy hadn't moved as quickly as he did, klaus would've tried touching them more firmly. thankfully though, he's out of the way fast enough, the medium won't try reaching even further.

and holy hell, look at how they move! there's a solid five seconds where he just stares at the gills— then he ultimately tears his gaze away, manages the most sheepish-looking grin he can while shrugging.] My bad, man, that was outta line. [a beat] I couldn't help myself, though. They're actually there and—

[okay, okay, he's gotta get it under control. his attention flickers between where billy's hands go, to the gills, eventually settling on his face, a half-smile brightening his own features.] Seems like you're breathing fine... What if smoke comes out of your gills?

[ He was about to get a cig out and try it, but the thought of smoke coming out of his gills makes him hesitate. He's not quite ready for that yet. ]

My lungs still work fine, which is a good thing because I have no idea how these work. [ That's what he gets for skipping so much school. He has no idea how fish breathe. ]

...do you know anything about that or am I gonna have to ask a nerd?

[what, billy doesn't want smoke just pouring out of these new slits on his neck? klaus wouldn't blame him a single bit because he's imagining it burning and eugh. thanks, he hates that.]

It's also good because that means you're still breathing. [must be billy's lucky day, klaus somehow remembers a thing or two.] A fish breathes by using its gills to extract oxygen from water. Kinda like how lungs work, except... underwater.

[a pause then,] But if I know, does that make me the nerd?

Yeah, it makes you the nerd. [ He shrugs and smiles, maybe a little bit affectionately. ]

Do you have to suck it in like air or is just being in the water good enough?

[ If only there was an actual fish he could ask. Unfortunately he is not Aquaman, he cannot talk to fish. ]

Well, there are worse things I could be. [a casual lift of his own shoulders then he grins right back. really, being a nerd isn't the worst, it means he knows things.]

I... think they suck it in. I'm not sure, you ever see a fish outta water? With its mouth opening and shutting because it can't breathe? At least, that's what I'd imagine is happening.

[sounds like it's time to ask for fishtalking. become aquaman, billy, or better yet: just be neptune.]

Is there a fountain around here?

[ Billy may or may not be getting a really bad idea right about now. ]

[this feels like it can only go downhill, given the two idiots in the situation.]

Dunno about a fountain, but what about a bathtub?

Alright, that works. [ At least, he thinks it should work. ] Let's go.

[guess that's his cue to direct them to wherever the nearest tub is— what's with him and leading lately?] Are you gonna ask me to hold your head underwater?

[ He follows along. ] Yeah. Are you willing to do that?

[ Billy doesn't think about the fact that he could probably bench press Klaus above his head, and having those scrawny arms holding him underwater won't accomplish much. ]

[there's a helluva lot of mixed emotions going on right now but—] ...I'll do my best?

[and that's all he can promise because honestly, billy, you're asking him to drown you. nevermind the fact he's weaker and will probably have to sit on the teen to hold him fully underwater.]

Cool. [ He nods, picking up the pace a little as he sees the fountain in the distance. ] I trust you not to chicken out.

[ ...Until he actually starts drowning for real because this is a fresh water fountain. ]

[klaus's stride quickens as well, eyebrows raising high with skepticism.] That's a lotta trust there, pal.

[seriously though, he's... gonna do his best? good thing billy has that mindflayer strength or else this could get really accidentally fucked up.] For real, like, if you actually start drowning, though. [an extensive pause and as they finally arrive at the fountain, he shucks his coat off before finishing,] I'm gonna stop.

I'm not gonna start drowning. [ He rolls his eyes.

Except yes, he totally is. He leans down in front of the fountain. ] Alright, ready?

[ And he shoves his head under. ]

Whatever you say, man.

[rather than respond to the question, he nods, bites down on his lower lip, watches billy kneel down and—

his head goes under. without missing a beat, klaus moves forward, bends over the fountain's edge and uses both hands to hold billy under, eyes wincing shut as he tries everything within his power to not think about the fact he's technically drowning someone.]

[ He coughs, and sputters, but then the gills open up and the water actually starts to pass through them...only he's not getting very much oxygen out of it. It's like trying to breathe through a straw.

Oh, shit. He's just now realized the flaw in this plan.

He tries to shove Klaus off so he doesn't drown for real. ]

[yeesh, just that small amount of struggling is almost enough for klaus to let go but he holds firm, even pushes a little harder despite his reluctance.

this is so extremely fucked up—

but what's even worse than that? how he does exactly what billy had asked and keeps him underwater, wincing his eyes shut with the effort, teeth sinking so hard into his cheek, he's pretty sure he tastes blood.]

[ Billy can't even be mad about this because Klaus is doing exactly what he's been told to do, by an idiot who thought that stagnant fountain water would be breathable.

He rests his palms against the floor and with a big push, he tries to throw Klaus off of him.

Sorry, bud. ]

[to be fair, they're both kind of idiots, thinking this would actually work out properly. so, really, there's no need to apologize when klaus should've maybe thought about it a little better.

despite pressing as hard as he can, billy is stronger than him and with that mindflayer strength to help him out, there's no way he'll be able to keep him under— not like this, anyway.

he lets out a startled yelp as he's tossed back, hisses with pain after landing flat on his ass.] Yee-ow!

☂ fellden inbox

text -> action

action;

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject