Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2023 22:16:31 GMT -5
The amalgamation of an order and hard-earned wisdom, each of Woodwick’s words sunk as deep into Ber’s mind as the memory of water flooding his lungs. Whether they would be etched into his consciousness in the same, lasting way remained to be seen, but for now, the soldier had no intention of getting anywhere near the water again - or so severely overestimating his own capabilities. Silently, he nodded his agreement before glancing over and filling the weighted silence that lingered between them with a quiet, “I understand, sir.”
Pride and stupidity could get both himself and others killed. He had known that. And yet, when it had come to his own ego… Well, there were times when everyone thought they were the exception to their own rule, right?
When it was offered, Ber reached up and took the lieutenant’s hand. With another word of gratitude, he used the assistance to pull himself up onto complaining legs that had been perfectly happy not supporting any weight. As Woodwick continued speaking, Ber brushed the sand off himself. He wasn’t particularly pleased to hear that the other man apparently still expected him to learn how to swim - even though Ber wasn’t in the navy, a small part of him protested - but presently, he was too tired to do anything but nod his understanding. Maybe Woodwick would forget, though unfortunately he never seemed to forget anything. With a slight grimace, Ber decided that whatever swimming lessons the officer thought up would be a later problem.
After ascertaining that neither of them were in immediate need of medical assistance, Mrs. Beth had stepped away to give them some privacy, or at least the illusion of it, for their conversation. Now, as the soldier turned to make his way across the sand to the bench, she hurried over to fall into step beside him. Ber glanced over at her, but much to his relief, she didn’t offer too help him walk as if he was an invalid. When they neared the bench, dark eyes fell on the set of clothes he’d brought before he decided that changing into something warmer seemed like too much effort, particularly with the warming potion chasing away the worst of the Hiems chill. Instead, Ber merely settled himself heavily on the bench beside the medic.
Though he was too tired to fully appreciate the resemblance, Mrs. Beth reminded him of Temperance, so he had no real objections to passing the time in her company. When she was inclined to talk, he made polite conversation and listened, bemused, as she told him about her grandchildren, but he was otherwise content to sit in a fairly companionable silence. It was better than sitting in a booth with Woodwick or at a bar with Abbott, at any rate. Ostensibly watching the training session from which he’d been excused, Ber stared in the general direction of where the others swam their laps, but he couldn’t have said what they actually did.