[He bursts out laughing, pulling the phone away from his face so he can be a bit obnoxious without blasting Levi's ear off.]
That's an amazing name. I love it. Who named them?
Plankton is uh...
[What is plankton? We just don't know--]
It's a type of micro-organism. Really, really small sea bugs, I guess? They feed on the dead stuff in the ocean, and then fish eat them, and bigger fish eat those fish, until you're up to like... A shark at the top of the food chain.
[That's what he can vaguely remember of his science classes in school- what little there were of them in between all the training for the games.]
My fault, I guess. [ He sounds a little grumbly about it. ] Called her that a couple times and then Erwin became convinced she wouldn't listen to anything else.
[ there's a little pause as he processes that new information, not entirely sure how he feels about it. Bugs in the air was one thing, but in the water?? That eat dead things? Levi's wrinkling his nose a bit on the other end, but he can at least recognize the concept of a food chain. Hange's ramblings were often along some kind of similar topics - although mostly to do with trying to figure out how Titans worked. ]
Sea bugs...right. What other kind of weird shit is hiding out there?
[ Alas documentaries probably don't exist in this world, someone really should just sit him down with a bunch of them. ]
Oh, so much weird shit, Levi. So much. 90% of the ocean was unexplored, 90% of the species undiscovered and unidentified. And the deep sea shit we did know about was really creepy. Fish that could survive in incredible darkness under the immense weight and pressure of a mile of water above them.... They aren't pretty.
Okay but I want to at least HEAR what you'd name it.
[He has not heard what the horse's name is but please tell him.
A small giggle at his dryness.]
I think sea creatures should be more afraid of encountering you, Levi. Shame you can't swim though... I can't siren-lure you into skinny-dipping with me.
[Levi's one person he doesn't think that would work on even if he could swim. Wait, why the fuck did he just say that?]
[ there's a bit of silence, Levi hesitates a bit before continuing thoughtfully. ]
...maybe. I...
[ a soft breath, exhaling. ]
I'll think about it.
[ it's not as though he's putting Finnick off - because if he didn't want it, he'd just say so. There's something about the thought of being in such deep water that puts an uncomfortable itch in his brain. ]
[He opens his mouth, breathes in, then pauses before speaking.]
No pressure. I know it's not for everyone.
[Everyone's got a different experience of the ocean, different skill levels and comfort with swimming and being in water. He's not so myopic as to think everyone will love it or should love it the way he does.]
Oh... That's actually a good point, yeah. You never know when you might need to swim to survive.
Hot springs? Oh, that sounds amazing. That sounds like a safe place to learn, too. You can't learn in the ocean, it's too dangerous with the surf, and I hear there's weird shit in the lake.
Wasn't that necessary before really. [ Although cadets probably did learn during training. Levi didn't go through any of that, and there were no bodies of water in the underground to learn in. ]
There is weird shit in the lake. Monsters, scary looking mermaids. Shit might actually try to eat you even when you're not a corpse.
[Finnick smiles like an idiot at that, throwing his arm over his own face.]
Oh- A siren is a mermaid that sings an alluring song. Sailors follow the song, and go toward the beautiful mermaid, and then she drowns them and/or eats them. At least, that's what legends say. In my world, they're not real, but who knows about this place.
[ He's lying back, slouched and sprawled on the couch. His feet don't quite reach the opposite end, but his toes are curling a bit, and flexing again. Even though Finnick is talking gruesome death (nothing he's not really heard before, really), he does have a nice voice to listen to. ]
Thought I heard something about the ones here being nasty. Might wanna steer clear, just in case. Can't jump in to get you if they start taking bites outta your ass underwater.
[Finnick laughs, a breathy sound. Even over the phone, he can feel a little bit of... Something. Some kind of tension between them, but a good kind.]
I don't mind my ass eaten, but not quite so literally. I'll try to steer clear. But it sucks, because the gelflings and goblins actually have a fishing operation on the lake, which I was thinking about getting into...
Pretty faces always get me. You should know that by now.
[He teases. Levi has seen him with customers. He's a huge flirt, though he always knows how to toe the line of keeping it work-appropriate. Somehow charming and professional, even when he's hitting on someone.
Though he butters up old ladies just as much as anyone he's actually into.]
Maybe they do. Or maybe they fight them off somehow, I dunno. They must have some defenses figured out against whatever is in there.
[ That earns a soft noise that Finnick has probably learned by now is a chuckle, a little quick exhale, amused. ]
Yeah. I do.
[ Finnick is quite good with people, much better than Levi could ever be. If nothing else, that alone made it a good decision to invite him to work at the shop. Between him and Erwin, there's always someone around people can go to if Levi's grumpy face is too intimidating or something.
Mostly, he wants people to be comfortable and welcome. Other people are better at making that obvious than he is. ]
Should ask. Bet you could fish circles around them. Fish in circles around them. However it works.
[ He chuckles again. Sure, Finnick has it bad for Levi which leads to a bit more giggling than usual, but Levi's also just very funny in his deadpan way. ]
I probably could. I might inquire with them about doing it on the side. Wouldn't want it to interfere with my work at the shop, though.
no subject
[He bursts out laughing, pulling the phone away from his face so he can be a bit obnoxious without blasting Levi's ear off.]
That's an amazing name. I love it. Who named them?
Plankton is uh...
[What is plankton? We just don't know--]
It's a type of micro-organism. Really, really small sea bugs, I guess? They feed on the dead stuff in the ocean, and then fish eat them, and bigger fish eat those fish, until you're up to like... A shark at the top of the food chain.
[That's what he can vaguely remember of his science classes in school- what little there were of them in between all the training for the games.]
no subject
[ there's a little pause as he processes that new information, not entirely sure how he feels about it. Bugs in the air was one thing, but in the water?? That eat dead things? Levi's wrinkling his nose a bit on the other end, but he can at least recognize the concept of a food chain. Hange's ramblings were often along some kind of similar topics - although mostly to do with trying to figure out how Titans worked. ]
Sea bugs...right. What other kind of weird shit is hiding out there?
[ Alas documentaries probably don't exist in this world, someone really should just sit him down with a bunch of them. ]
no subject
[He'd like a dog. He really enjoys Sky's dogs.]
Oh, so much weird shit, Levi. So much. 90% of the ocean was unexplored, 90% of the species undiscovered and unidentified. And the deep sea shit we did know about was really creepy. Fish that could survive in incredible darkness under the immense weight and pressure of a mile of water above them.... They aren't pretty.
no subject
[ Have you heard what he named his horse yet Finnick. ]
My imagination's running fucking wild. [ dryly. so dry. get this man some -- water. ]
Gross. Guess it's a good thing I can't swim, don't have to worry about finding one of those things trying to gnaw my ankles off.
no subject
[He has not heard what the horse's name is but please tell him.
A small giggle at his dryness.]
I think sea creatures should be more afraid of encountering you, Levi. Shame you can't swim though... I can't siren-lure you into skinny-dipping with me.
[Levi's one person he doesn't think that would work on even if he could swim. Wait, why the fuck did he just say that?]
no subject
He does snort then, much like a horse. ]
No fuckin chance with all those sea-bugs in there anyway.
[ That's not a 'no' to skinny dipping in general though- communal bathing was probably a thing in the Survey Corps at the very least. ]
no subject
[He's grinning- it can probably be heard in his voice.]
no subject
Hmm. Too late now.
[ is it? ]
no subject
[His tone is coy, meekly persuasive.]
no subject
[ sir, please, ]
Still can't swim though.
no subject
[He sounds a bit sheepish.]
If you wanted to learn.
no subject
...maybe. I...
[ a soft breath, exhaling. ]
I'll think about it.
[ it's not as though he's putting Finnick off - because if he didn't want it, he'd just say so. There's something about the thought of being in such deep water that puts an uncomfortable itch in his brain. ]
no subject
No pressure. I know it's not for everyone.
[Everyone's got a different experience of the ocean, different skill levels and comfort with swimming and being in water. He's not so myopic as to think everyone will love it or should love it the way he does.]
no subject
[ There's really no telling with that guy. ]
...there's hot springs, though.
no subject
Hot springs? Oh, that sounds amazing. That sounds like a safe place to learn, too. You can't learn in the ocean, it's too dangerous with the surf, and I hear there's weird shit in the lake.
no subject
There is weird shit in the lake. Monsters, scary looking mermaids. Shit might actually try to eat you even when you're not a corpse.
[ Pause ]
But yeah...good place to relax, too.
[ The hot springs. You know. ]
no subject
[He's long thought that if sirens were real he'd absolutely fall for it.]
Yeah, it sounds like it. I'd love to go with you.
[Two bros, chillin in a hot spring--]
no subject
[ There is an undeniable warmth, there. ]
Siren? You've mentioned that a couple times.
no subject
Oh- A siren is a mermaid that sings an alluring song. Sailors follow the song, and go toward the beautiful mermaid, and then she drowns them and/or eats them. At least, that's what legends say. In my world, they're not real, but who knows about this place.
no subject
[ He's lying back, slouched and sprawled on the couch. His feet don't quite reach the opposite end, but his toes are curling a bit, and flexing again. Even though Finnick is talking gruesome death (nothing he's not really heard before, really), he does have a nice voice to listen to. ]
Thought I heard something about the ones here being nasty. Might wanna steer clear, just in case. Can't jump in to get you if they start taking bites outta your ass underwater.
no subject
I don't mind my ass eaten, but not quite so literally. I'll try to steer clear. But it sucks, because the gelflings and goblins actually have a fishing operation on the lake, which I was thinking about getting into...
no subject
Well, maybe they know a trick to it. Could always stuff something in your ears so you can't hear.
Or does the pretty face get you, too?
no subject
[He teases. Levi has seen him with customers. He's a huge flirt, though he always knows how to toe the line of keeping it work-appropriate. Somehow charming and professional, even when he's hitting on someone.
Though he butters up old ladies just as much as anyone he's actually into.]
Maybe they do. Or maybe they fight them off somehow, I dunno. They must have some defenses figured out against whatever is in there.
no subject
Yeah. I do.
[ Finnick is quite good with people, much better than Levi could ever be. If nothing else, that alone made it a good decision to invite him to work at the shop. Between him and Erwin, there's always someone around people can go to if Levi's grumpy face is too intimidating or something.
Mostly, he wants people to be comfortable and welcome. Other people are better at making that obvious than he is. ]
Should ask. Bet you could fish circles around them. Fish in circles around them.
However it works.
no subject
I probably could. I might inquire with them about doing it on the side. Wouldn't want it to interfere with my work at the shop, though.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)