[Claire]

[plantfood]

Though Mathias doesn't mind caring for Sam at all, has come to love it, in fact, he can't deny that he does enjoy his mornings alone. When Sam wants to stay with Lucy and when the dogs want to stay with Sam, he's able to take his scuba equipment down to the ocean and go diving for as long as it holds his interest. The water is still the most peaceful place he's found on the island, even with all the life below the waves. It's easier to slip under the water than it is to try and push his way through the jungle most days.

The sun has fully risen when he finally comes out again, the tank still strapped to his back, his regulator dangling down by his side. If he could, he would probably stay out all day, but the oxygen won't last forever, even with all the extra tanks the island gives him nearly every year. It's not something he can rely on, he knows that much, and he doesn't want to wake up one day and realize that he's pressed it too far and all the oxygen is gone. It isn't the same to snorkel, though he supposes he could do that in order to preserve the tanks.

It isn't until he's in the shallows, mask pushed up onto his forehead, that he realizes there's someone walking along the beach. There's often people out, especially in the busier areas, which he tends to favor when he dives. He's trained well, but an emergency is still possible and he likes to know there are people in the area.

"Good morning," he says to the girl when she gets closer. With one foot out of the water, he tugs the flipper off, then sets his foot down again. It's a little awkward, trying to balance everything, but he manages without falling back into the water.

Comments

[regenerated]

She's been looking for ways to occupy herself, ever since the fight. All things considered, it isn't even the worst fight she's had, the friendship still intact afterwards, the kindness and feeling still there. She's had worse with her father, running away from him in every sense of the word, distrusting him, unable to predict a single move of his and feeling her life fall apart, all seemingly a farce. But there are other reasons for a fight to cut deep, and with Chris, it was...

...she shakes her head, not wanting to think about it. All that matters is that she finds ways to occupy herself now, ways to do things for herself, to take advantage of the life that she's allowed to slow all too much. When she sees the man emerge from the water in scuba gear, Claire feels excitement bursting in her chest, cheeks pink in a moment of sheer delight. She doesn't need to think about anything else, just the clear water that pans out in front of them, and the chance to imagine what it might be like to see all of that from below.

"Hey," she greets with a small wave. "You... have scuba gear. Which I know sounds totally like I'm just stating the obvious, but what I mean to ask, knowing that you have scuba gear, is whether or not you know if there's scuba gear that might fit someone a lot smaller? Like yours truly?"