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	<id>https://rocksfall.org/rfwiki/index.php?action=history&amp;feed=atom&amp;title=Dovev_teaches_Aidan_to_swim%2C_7%2F13%2F2005</id>
	<title>Dovev teaches Aidan to swim, 7/13/2005 - Revision history</title>
	<link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://rocksfall.org/rfwiki/index.php?action=history&amp;feed=atom&amp;title=Dovev_teaches_Aidan_to_swim%2C_7%2F13%2F2005"/>
	<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://rocksfall.org/rfwiki/index.php?title=Dovev_teaches_Aidan_to_swim,_7/13/2005&amp;action=history"/>
	<updated>2026-06-15T20:00:42Z</updated>
	<subtitle>Revision history for this page on the wiki</subtitle>
	<generator>MediaWiki 1.31.12</generator>
	<entry>
		<id>https://rocksfall.org/rfwiki/index.php?title=Dovev_teaches_Aidan_to_swim,_7/13/2005&amp;diff=10112&amp;oldid=prev</id>
		<title>BalthCat at 13:54, 12 November 2014</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://rocksfall.org/rfwiki/index.php?title=Dovev_teaches_Aidan_to_swim,_7/13/2005&amp;diff=10112&amp;oldid=prev"/>
		<updated>2014-11-12T13:54:23Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;table class=&quot;diff diff-contentalign-left&quot; data-mw=&quot;interface&quot;&gt;
				&lt;col class=&quot;diff-marker&quot; /&gt;
				&lt;col class=&quot;diff-content&quot; /&gt;
				&lt;col class=&quot;diff-marker&quot; /&gt;
				&lt;col class=&quot;diff-content&quot; /&gt;
				&lt;tr class=&quot;diff-title&quot; lang=&quot;en&quot;&gt;
				&lt;td colspan=&quot;2&quot; style=&quot;background-color: #fff; color: #222; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;← Older revision&lt;/td&gt;
				&lt;td colspan=&quot;2&quot; style=&quot;background-color: #fff; color: #222; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;Revision as of 13:54, 12 November 2014&lt;/td&gt;
				&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td colspan=&quot;2&quot; class=&quot;diff-lineno&quot; id=&quot;mw-diff-left-l288&quot; &gt;Line 288:&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;td colspan=&quot;2&quot; class=&quot;diff-lineno&quot;&gt;Line 288:&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td class=&#039;diff-marker&#039;&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;#160;&amp;#160; out, since he neglected to bring a towel.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td class=&#039;diff-marker&#039;&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;#160;&amp;#160; out, since he neglected to bring a towel.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td class=&#039;diff-marker&#039;&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;* Aidan is pretty proud of himself!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td class=&#039;diff-marker&#039;&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;* Aidan is pretty proud of himself!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td colspan=&quot;2&quot;&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td class=&#039;diff-marker&#039;&gt;+&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;color: #222; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;ins style=&quot;font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;&quot;&gt;{{cv}}{{cv-log}}&lt;/ins&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>BalthCat</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://rocksfall.org/rfwiki/index.php?title=Dovev_teaches_Aidan_to_swim,_7/13/2005&amp;diff=8329&amp;oldid=prev</id>
		<title>Ladyiolanthe at 17:56, 11 March 2012</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://rocksfall.org/rfwiki/index.php?title=Dovev_teaches_Aidan_to_swim,_7/13/2005&amp;diff=8329&amp;oldid=prev"/>
		<updated>2012-03-11T17:56:16Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;table class=&quot;diff diff-contentalign-left&quot; data-mw=&quot;interface&quot;&gt;
				&lt;col class=&quot;diff-marker&quot; /&gt;
				&lt;col class=&quot;diff-content&quot; /&gt;
				&lt;col class=&quot;diff-marker&quot; /&gt;
				&lt;col class=&quot;diff-content&quot; /&gt;
				&lt;tr class=&quot;diff-title&quot; lang=&quot;en&quot;&gt;
				&lt;td colspan=&quot;2&quot; style=&quot;background-color: #fff; color: #222; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;← Older revision&lt;/td&gt;
				&lt;td colspan=&quot;2&quot; style=&quot;background-color: #fff; color: #222; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;Revision as of 17:56, 11 March 2012&lt;/td&gt;
				&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td colspan=&quot;2&quot; class=&quot;diff-lineno&quot; id=&quot;mw-diff-left-l95&quot; &gt;Line 95:&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;td colspan=&quot;2&quot; class=&quot;diff-lineno&quot;&gt;Line 95:&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td class=&#039;diff-marker&#039;&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Oh - as far as that?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td class=&#039;diff-marker&#039;&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Oh - as far as that?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td class=&#039;diff-marker&#039;&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Yesss.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td class=&#039;diff-marker&#039;&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Yesss.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td class=&#039;diff-marker&#039;&gt;−&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;color: #222; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; &amp;lt;&lt;del class=&quot;diffchange diffchange-inline&quot;&gt;s&lt;/del&gt;&amp;gt; Arcadia?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td class=&#039;diff-marker&#039;&gt;+&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;color: #222; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; &amp;lt;&lt;ins class=&quot;diffchange diffchange-inline&quot;&gt;softly&lt;/ins&gt;&amp;gt; Arcadia?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td class=&#039;diff-marker&#039;&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; It is very far.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td class=&#039;diff-marker&#039;&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; It is very far.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td class=&#039;diff-marker&#039;&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;* Dovev says simply.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td class=&#039;diff-marker&#039;&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #222; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;* Dovev says simply.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Ladyiolanthe</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://rocksfall.org/rfwiki/index.php?title=Dovev_teaches_Aidan_to_swim,_7/13/2005&amp;diff=8328&amp;oldid=prev</id>
		<title>Ladyiolanthe: Created page with &quot;* Aidan &#039;s stockings and shoes are discarded on the beach. * Aidan is walking knee-deep through the surf, skipping rocks moodily. His hair whips about loosely in the breeze, and ...&quot;</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://rocksfall.org/rfwiki/index.php?title=Dovev_teaches_Aidan_to_swim,_7/13/2005&amp;diff=8328&amp;oldid=prev"/>
		<updated>2012-03-11T17:55:08Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Created page with &amp;quot;* Aidan &amp;#039;s stockings and shoes are discarded on the beach. * Aidan is walking knee-deep through the surf, skipping rocks moodily. His hair whips about loosely in the breeze, and ...&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;New page&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;* Aidan &amp;#039;s stockings and shoes are discarded on the beach.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan is walking knee-deep through the surf, skipping rocks moodily. His hair whips about loosely in the breeze, and his shirt is &lt;br /&gt;
  half-unbuttoned.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan looks damn sexy right now, which is unusual for him.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev slides inland through the clear cool water.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan is usually too self-conscious to look damn sexy but he seems rather careless about his appearance today, which lends him a rather &lt;br /&gt;
  edgy, rugged air.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan stoops to pick up another rock and whips it out into the waves, altering his trajectory at the last minute when he spots something &lt;br /&gt;
  sinuous coming through the waves and tries not to hit it.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev rises from the water, shifting into his humanoid shape as he does so.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan nearly loses his footing, he jerks so violently to avoid throwing a rock at you. So much for looking rugged and edgy.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev stands about chest deep in the sea, fully clothed,the ends of his hair floating in the water.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan rubs his hands on his sides nervously, a gesture left over from his boyhood.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; (From when Tally would always get them into trouble!  ;D )&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev steps forward to about waist depth; the sea floor is rather steeply sloped here.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; (It would have been like Aidan was trying to wash his hands of whatever mischief Tally would put him up to.  ;D  )&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Hello&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Good afternoon, Dovev...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I almost hit you there, sorry.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Almosssssst.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I should have been more careful; I know you enjoy swimming often.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; ...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; How was your swim today - did you see anything interesting?&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Fisssh.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev shrugs, dripping.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Yummy ones, I hope...&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev smiles eerily.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; NIce, yesss.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan smiles back, not overly nervous. Like Rachel and Tally, he lost his anxiety over your eerie presence way back when you used to &lt;br /&gt;
  give him rides! ;D&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I&amp;#039;m glad.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I say, have you ever gone swimming down south among the coral reefs?&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev climbs the rest of the way out of the water.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev tilts his head to one side slightly.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; *I&amp;#039;d* take up swimming if I could do that...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; ...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; A very long time ago.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Oh yes?&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Before you were born.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; It must have been very beautiful - all the bright colours...&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan looks up at you and smiles.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; With a description like a *very* long time ago, I should hope it was before I was born...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; The ssssssea here is alssso very clear...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I&amp;#039;d like to cling to the illusion of youth for as long as possible...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Oh, is it?&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan looks out at it. It looks rather dark and opaque to him... Not turquoise and clear.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; (uh, yeah it is :V)&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; The fish are dull silver, though...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; And it&amp;#039;s *bloody* cold.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev shrugs.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; It&amp;#039;ss nice.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; (It is not cold, it&amp;#039;s warmer than Mactaquac :V)&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; (^-^)&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; It is warm enough for the missstresss.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I know...&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan looks down at the waves foaming around his feet.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev &amp;#039;s gaze flicks briefly up at Pen Dinas.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan catches the movement and squints up at it himself.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Something going on?&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan asks, out of concern more than anything.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Not really...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Ssshe will be here, later.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Oh?  Good.  :)&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I&amp;#039;m glad she&amp;#039;s getting her strength back so quickly.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Her firsssst time beyond the walls ssssince.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Yes, I thought it might be.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan beams with happiness over her recovery.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan &amp;#039;s smile fades away rather quickly though so he won&amp;#039;t look like a fool. ;)&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; We are all very pleased.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; What... what would have happened to you if she&amp;#039;d passed on?&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan asks, the thought having just struck him.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev turns sharply to look at you.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Why... why would you ssssay that?&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan shrugs.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev looks confused and even a little wounded.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; It just struck me... I&amp;#039;m sorry.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I had just never thought of it before... I guess you&amp;#039;d be very unhappy like the rest of us...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Why would you ssssay sssuch a thing? What poor manners...&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev clicks to himself, mildly agitated.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan looks sad that he upset you.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I just... I take you for granted so often.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; But I shouldn&amp;#039;t, because you&amp;#039;re a friend, almost an uncle.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev brightens somewhat.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Ssss.... truly...?&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan chuckles.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Yes... you&amp;#039;re on a par with Windrider in terms of fond memories from childhood and present.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; I would sssstay with Janusss.... if he wisshed it.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Oh!&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan &amp;#039;s dark eyes widen with surprise and then something like &amp;quot;Of course, that makes sense!&amp;quot; ;)&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Or I would go... back to where I came from.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Perhapssss...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; ...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Where *did* you come from?  Somewhere in the Dreaming, I guess...  what was it like?&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Very far away. I do not think you could reach it, now.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Oh - as far as that?&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Yesss.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; &amp;lt;s&amp;gt; Arcadia?&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; It is very far.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev says simply.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan smiles bittersweetly.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Was it beautiful?&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; One might sssay ssso.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan smiles.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, eh?&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan guesses it was beautiful to dragons, maybe, but might not be to Nockers.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan sighs.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Father went pretty deeply into the Dreaming once...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; yesss.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I always liked to hear him talk about it, the few times he did.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; My life is pretty mundane compared to his. &lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; It seems I am doomed to mediocrity... not anyone&amp;#039;s fault but my own, of course... I keep sabotaging myself.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; But that is neither here nor there.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan stoops down to pick up another rock and whip it into the waves.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev tilts his head to one side and looks at you.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev does not really understand what you mean.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan smiles self-deprecatingly.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan shrugs.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Do you always swim in your draconic form?   Or can you swim in your humanoid one as well?&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; I enjoy it more in the former inssstance.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan nods.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; You do not ssswim at all.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan shakes his head.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Humans float.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Cousin Isabel wanted to teach me once...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; But I would want a teacher who wouldn&amp;#039;t laugh at me.  :/&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; The resssst ssshould follow easily.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; ...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I can&amp;#039;t float.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I panic and feel that I&amp;#039;m going to drown.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev shrugs.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; It&amp;#039;sss only water.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Ah, yes, only water... but if one aspirates it, one can die.  If not from suffocation then from a lung infection... secondary &lt;br /&gt;
  drowning, I think they used to call it.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; If you always allow fear to bar the path to experience... the losssss is yours, I ssssuppose.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; :/&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I know.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I am more than a little bit of a coward.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan sighs.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I hold that Tally took my share of courage as well as his while in our mother&amp;#039;s womb, but I know I&amp;#039;m just making excuses for &lt;br /&gt;
  myself.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I am a tangled web of excuses.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; ...&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev steps back into the deeper water. letting the waves pick him up off the seafloor and pull him back.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan watches you.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Dovev...?&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan asks rather hopefully.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev watches you silently, his nose just above the waterline.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Um... I don&amp;#039;t suppose you&amp;#039;d consider helping me learn to swim?&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev glides a little closer to you.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Come here.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I...&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan steps a little deeper in, timidly.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; (it gets deep very quickly)&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; (Like drop-off quickly?)&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; (well, there are places where it might drop a foot or so)&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; (mostly it&amp;#039;s just a relatively steep seafloor)&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan is getting his nice clothes all wet... ah well, they&amp;#039;re old nice clothes.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan is obviously frightened as the water level rises relative to his body but he keeps going forward.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev is standing chest deep in the water, with his arms floating out to either side.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan gets out to where you are...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Okay...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Now what?&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Wait...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; for the waves...&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan smells afraid and anxious, not of you but of the water.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; to lift you...&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev lifts his feet from the seafloor as one rolls by.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; (how high is this wave?  :o)&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; (not high... just a normal wave)&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Okay... it lifted me a little...&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan is trying to be brave.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Come clossssser.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev steps back a little.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan steps closer to you, closing his eyes as if that might make the water go away.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Eyes open.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan swallows and opens his eyes again.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Eyes closed is a bad idea... You cannot seee the ssswell.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan laughs nervously.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; That was my idea behind it, anyway...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Face full of water...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; If you do not watch what you are doing&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan &amp;#039;s eyes widen but his face can&amp;#039;t go any whiter since he&amp;#039;s a nocker. ^-^&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Okay... keep the eyes open.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan agrees.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Relax yoursself...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; It is sssso peaceful...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; ^_^&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev looks almost blissful.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Hold out your arms... When it liftssss, pusssh up... ssslowly, like flying.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Ssseee...&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan looks around... he doesn&amp;#039;t see how such a vast expanse of water that could start heaving with huge waves any moment could ever be &lt;br /&gt;
  called peaceful... but he trusts you.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan tries to do as you say when the next wave comes.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; (Is Dovev floating on his back or front?)&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; (he&amp;#039;s mostly vertical, but sort of on the front I guess)&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan is fighting to keep from tensing up with fear, and manages to bob up and down on the next wave.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Oh- whoa -  feet not on the bottom!&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan starts to panic but as soon as the wave subsides, his feet touch bottom again, of course. ^-^&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan actually smiles.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; All right... that wasn&amp;#039;t so bad.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan says to you.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Seee... easy.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; But bobbing up and down on waves isn&amp;#039;t anywhere near swimming.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan could give up in defeat but instead he frowns with resolve.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; it is far from wading alssso.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan smiles again.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Yes, true...&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan glances at you appreciatively for pointing that out.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Let me do this a few more times before taking the next step...&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan bobs up and down, fear easing with each successive wave that doesn&amp;#039;t bowl him over and drown him.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev bobs in the water, watching you.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan gathers his courage.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; All right... what next, sensei?&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; I will ssshow you how to keep your head above the sssea, when it is deep...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Observe...&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan does as he is told, watching closely.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan learns how to tread water, and you can see his confidence grow.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan isn&amp;#039;t *great* at it, mind you, and his stamina isn&amp;#039;t up to treading water for hours. But he seems more confident that he won&amp;#039;t &lt;br /&gt;
  drown, anyway.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan looks pretty proud of himself.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; You learn well...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Thanks!&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Thissss next is easy...&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan grins, showing his very sharp teeth.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; I told you before that humans float and you did not believe me.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Neverthelessss it is true...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Breathe in, then lie back in the ssssea. Lift your legs up, and lie ssssstill...&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev gracefully floats on his back, his hair fanned all around him in the clear water.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan smells a little more strongly of fear again as he makes a few abortive attempts to float, panicking at the last second before he&amp;#039;d &lt;br /&gt;
  be fine.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Relax yourssself. You are not even out of your depth.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan frowns at himself, then floats!&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan laughs once he realizes he&amp;#039;s doing it, which makes him lose it.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan sobers up and lies back again, relaxing completely.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Oh.  Wow.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan gazes up at the clouds while being rocked gently by the sea.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Just... wow.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan almost whispers.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev rolls over onto his stomach, holding his head above the water.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; This is really nice, Dovev...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Yesssss.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan floats quietly for a while, then a sudden terrifying thought strikes him: what if he&amp;#039;s floating out to sea on the currents?!&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan struggles upright again, treading water, then touches his toes to the substrate and is relieved.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan treads water again for practice.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev waits, watching you.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Do you have time to teach me any more today?  When is Her Majesty going to arrive?&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan says after concentrating on treading water for a bit.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Try thisss way.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Ssssooon.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev smiles toothily.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Hey...&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan smiles.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I know you can&amp;#039;t keep secrets from *her*... but if you could both keep my swimming lessons secret from Lady Isabel, it could be fun. &lt;br /&gt;
   Next time she comes to visit, maybe I&amp;#039;ll be swimming almost as well as her!&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Why is it a sssssecret?&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev blinks.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan shrugs.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I just think it would be fun to surprise Isabel.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Oh.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Do you need more of a reason than that?  ^-^&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; If you ssssay sso.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan is eying your new way of floating dubiously...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Doesn&amp;#039;t you neck get kinked, trying to keep your head out of the water?&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; No&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; ...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Of coursssse it is easier not to.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev lowers his face into the water and floats like a dead thing.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan is suddenly afraid again, thinking of keeping his face under water.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; ...&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev flips his head up again.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; But I do not think you are prepared to do that today&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan is kind of petrified, yeah.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; The thought of putting my face in the water is frankly, terrifying.  &lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan agrees.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Perhaps I can tackle that the next fine day we have...&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Dovev&amp;gt; &amp;lt;w&amp;gt; Yesss...&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan smiles gratefully.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Thank you so much, Dovev.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; You&amp;#039;re a good teacher.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev is pleased by your compliment, purring raspily.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan floats on his back once more just to make sure he can still do it, then decides he&amp;#039;s had enough for now.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; I&amp;#039;m going to go dry off now, I think.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;Aidan&amp;gt; Thank you, again.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan flashes you another smile, then slogs his way back to the shallower water.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev watches you go.&lt;br /&gt;
* Dovev disappears under the water again. :)&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan wrings out his shirt as best he can, then finds a nice big rock or a crumbling concrete wall to sit on until the sun dries him &lt;br /&gt;
  out, since he neglected to bring a towel.&lt;br /&gt;
* Aidan is pretty proud of himself!&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Ladyiolanthe</name></author>
		
	</entry>
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