tishinka (tishinka) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-06-26 21:42:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | !complete, irisa nyira, myrcella baratheon |
Who: Myrcella and Irisa
What: Spa days
Where: Spa in Orange County
When: Early June
Rating: Low
Status: Complete
Irisa was a bit bewildered by the whole idea to be honest. She’d never done anything so...girly in her life. Having Myrcella play with her hair and do her nails was one thing, but this was...weird? She was completely following Myrcella’s lead. She felt incredibly self conscious and she felt awkward at the very idea that there were people who were there to make sure she relaxed. It didn’t sit right, Irisa was independent, she did things for herself and she didn’t need anyone else to do anything for her, like massages and facials.
And then there was the water aspect of things...Irisa had never swum in her life. And she hadn’t told Myrcella that yet. Hadn’t told her that when she said she’d need a swimming costume she had to go out and buy one, her first ever one. Nolan had been a great father, but had never taught her even the basics of swimming, their lives just hadn’t really permitted it. She had to admit that the prospect of it now was making her....anxious.
Myrcella meanwhile was in her element, she was well practiced with spa’s. Back in the UK it had been a thing she and her mum did to spend time together, Cersei had never understood why Myrcella would want to be one of the beauticians they saw but she indulged her anyway. Myrcella just wanted to give the gift of relaxation and beauty to people, she saw the good it did and the confidence it gave when you felt good about yourself.
She had no clue that Irisa couldn’t swim, she knew that her friend wasn’t comfortable with some of the treatments so she had let the beautician know ahead of time so she could speak to Irisa and stop whenever she wanted her to. They were lucky this was such a good place and the girl Irisa had was lovely.
“That was one of the best massages I’ve had” she said with a smile, “Shall we go and spend some time in the pool and jacuzzi before dinner?” she suggested.
Irisa hesitated to respond. “Uh, yeah? It was ok,” she replied, not willing to admit that she’d spent the entire time tense at the idea of someone with their hands all over her back. Irisa was firmly of the belief that the masseuse had touched her more in the last hour than she’d ever been touched in her life. She also didn’t want to ruin Myrcella’s victory gift. Irisa was more than prepared to face down any challenge, especially for her best friend.
Which is why she responded with “Sounds great,” when Myrcella mentioned the pool and jacuzzi, trying to keep any hint of fear or worry from her voice as she did. Irisa just followed Myrcella’s lead, figuring that she’d work out how to swim when she got in the water. After all, animals were born innately knowing how to swim, surely that knowledge must be buried deep in the animal brain of human beings, right?
That’s how she found herself dropping a towel on a deck chair at the side of the pool and standing at the ladder looking at the shimmering surface with trepidation while Myrcella floated like she’d been born to do nothing but swim.
Myrcella looked up at Irisa and smiled, “Are you alright? Did you want to start in the jacuzzi?” she asked, not realising what her friends true reason for hesitation was. Had she known she never would have made her swim, or at least would have asked her if she wanted to learn.
Irisa shifted from foot to foot uneasily, biting her lip as she considered her options; tell Myrcella the truth or keep quiet and attempt to swim without training and try not to drown. Realising drowning was bad and her pride could take a hit in front of Myrcella, she started talking, eying the water warily. “Uhh...I...I have a confession to make...I can’t...I mean I’ve never…” she gestured to the water vaguely.
“Oh my goodness, you don’t know how to swim” Myrcella said as it dawned on her why Irisa looked so worried, “Don’t worry, do you want to learn or would you rather we stayed away from the pool?” she asked, because she would happily help her friend learn but didn’t want to pressure her into it.
“No, no, I think learning how not to drown would be the wisest of those two options,” Irisa tried to joke and hide her discomfort. “Ok, so I’ll just...climb in I guess,” she said, turning to slowly make her way down the ladder. When she reached the bottom, she was clinging to it, unwilling to let go just yet. “So uh...now what?” she asked, straining to keep her chin out of the water.
“Firstly, don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen okay? I’m a strong swimmer and you will be too. Let’s get you treading water first, that will help build your confidence” It always helped to know you weren’t going to drown after all.
“So, you need to move your legs like this” she demonstrated with her fingers, “evenly, not too fast so don’t panic. And then move your arms like this” she showed Irisa how she was moving her arms as she treaded water.
Irisa watched her friend demonstrate and nodded, determined to get it right. Holding onto the ladder still, she kicked her legs off the rungs and started kicking them as Myrcella had demonstrated. Once she’d established a sort of rhythm with her legs, she tried letting go with her arms. She quickly grabbed back on to it when she felt herself bob in the water and once she’d re-established herself tried again. “Like this?” she asked, still straining to keep her chin out of the water, tension obvious throughout her body.
“Your rhythm is good but you need to relax. I promise you nothing will happen, it'll be easier if you aren't so worried” Myrcella told her, “Most people float naturally. If you panic hold your breath, your lungs fill with air and help you stay buoyant”
“Relax? How can I relax? I’m trying not to drown!” Irisa replied, struggling to catch her breath. “God, this is hard work!” she said, her muscles straining from being used in an unfamiliar way. “It gets easier, right?”
“You won't drown” Myrcella told her, “And it gets much easier. I can do it almost without thought now” she demonstrated, “See I can even use just my legs or just my arms”
“Show off,” Irisa joked with a hint of a smile. She tried to concentrate on breathing, that seemed key with keeping herself focussed and doing better. After a minute or two, things started to feel like they were settling down and she didn’t seem to be feeling quite so panicked. “Ok, ok, I think I’m getting it. Am I? Getting it?” she asked, trying to cast her eyes down at her feet below the water and getting a mouthful of the liquid instead. She sputtered and coughed, automatically reaching out to grab onto the ladder so she could stabilize herself and regain her breath. “Nevermind. I got cocky.”
“You’re getting it” Myrcella said, “You just need to learn when to keep your mouth closed” she grinned as she teased her friend to hopefully help her relax. “You’re doing really well Irisa, I promise”
Irisa cast a quick glare over at her friend, but it held little anger since it was the first time anyone had ever told her anything like that. Normally people were trying to get her to talk. She rubbed her hand over her face and slicked her hair back before looking at Myrcella. “What’s next?”
“Once you can tread water we can get you ready to swim. I’ll show you first okay?” Myrcella said turning to the side in the water, “So the easiest way is from treading water you lean forward a little and bring your bum up and behind you” she demonstrated, “Keep your chin up and looking forward not down”
“Well, that doesn’t look so hard...I guess,” Irisa reasoned with a shrug. “But you want me to tread water again first?” she asked, just to clarify before looking at her friend sadly. “Sorry, teaching me to swim isn’t exactly relaxing,” she admitted glumly. “I can just sit on the side if you like,” she offered.
“Don’t be silly, if I can help you learn then I want to. Everybody should be able to swim” Myrcella said, “So come on come and tread water then try what I just did”
Irisa took a deep breath and let it out before pushing herself back into the water and letting go of the ladder. She did what Myrcella said about treading water and felt a bit better doing it this time. Still a little bit tense and focussed on keeping her chin out of the water, but it felt better. “Well?” she asked.
“That is much better. You just need to keep working on relaxing. Nothing awful is going to happen, the worst is you’ll go under for a few seconds and maybe swallow some water, but you will be fine” Myrcella said, “Even if you stop it will take a few seconds for your body to go under. Bodies are naturally buoyant”
“Ok...ok…” Irisa replied, still concentrating on her arms and legs. “So, you said, lean forward and kick, yeah?”
“Yep, easiest way to start is to move your legs like this” she demonstrated with her fingers, “Think you can do that?”
“Yep, just...watch me!” Irisa told her. “And...y’know...stop me drowning,” she joked wryly, still maintaining her position treading water. “Ok, here I go…” she announced, attempting to kick her legs the way Myrcella had shown her.
“I will” Myrcella promised, watching as Irisa tried to copy what Myrcella had shown her. She did well and when she started to lose her way a little Myrcella put her hand under her friend to help her stay above the water.
It was...weird. Having someone touch her, she wasn’t used to it unless it was her hand or her shoulders, much like she found the massage, but she stifled her urge to flinch and tried even harder to do as her friend had instructed. “Well?” she asked.
“Very good. You’re going to be a natural” Myrcella told her brightly, giving the encouragement Irisa needed without lying. She was doing well considering she hadn’t even tread water before.
“It doesn’t feel like I’m going to be a natural,” Irisa remarked, still focussing on her arms and legs moving. She was surprised to find she was losing her breath. She considered herself quite a fit and healthy person, especially with her training with Alucard, but this seemed to be zapping her energy quickly. She stopped and grabbed on to the ladder again, breathing hard. “Wow...that...that is...hard work,” she huffed.
“Well I think you will be once you’ve gained more confidence in the water” Myrcella said, she’d been swimming since she was a baby but she knew it could be daunting for those without that background. “It’s more than you expect isn’t it? It looks much easier in movies and things” she smiled.
“Well yeah,” Iris wiped a hand over her face. “Except for Jaws.”
Myrcella laughed, “No sharks in this pool I promise” she said before resuming her teaching.