Most people consider Bart to be unsatisfactory in nearly every reviewable category (he has a 1.5 star average for social interactions) so El certainly isn't the first to give him such an exasperated look. But the moment they reach out and clasp onto his arm, clearly terrified, Bart's bedside manner rears its head and he immediately lets his free arm come around their shoulders to hold them gently in place. Hopefully it's clear from his much taller frame and well-muscled body that he won't be letting them drift away anytime soon.
"It's okay, we're not going deeper yet. We're gonna stay right here." He sounds like an entirely different person now, eyes attentive on their face as the comforting, calm tone takes over. "I'm a lot taller'n you, so I'm gonna be here to brace ya. Don't worry, the first step to swimmin' is super easy." Repositioning - though not pulling himself free of their grasp - he flashes them a smile that makes all the sharp edges melt away to reveal the far more fitting boyish expression beneath. "First yer gonna float. That means I'm gonna have ya go on yer back and I'll have my hand under yer back the whole time, and I'll stand with mine to the ocean so ya can't drift out either, 'kay?" He says it as he moves so El also can't look out at the horizon and scare themself even more.
"But it's gonna feel scary as shit at first, so I want ya to practice just holdin' onto me and liftin' yer feet off th' sand at the same time. Like uhh...like bunny hops. That's what we'll call 'em." He'd come up with silly names for things for his pediatric patients all the time so it's quick enough to his tongue, roguish grin gone more juvenile as he aims it down at El, holding still so they can do it at their leisure.
"It's okay, we're not going deeper yet. We're gonna stay right here." He sounds like an entirely different person now, eyes attentive on their face as the comforting, calm tone takes over. "I'm a lot taller'n you, so I'm gonna be here to brace ya. Don't worry, the first step to swimmin' is super easy." Repositioning - though not pulling himself free of their grasp - he flashes them a smile that makes all the sharp edges melt away to reveal the far more fitting boyish expression beneath. "First yer gonna float. That means I'm gonna have ya go on yer back and I'll have my hand under yer back the whole time, and I'll stand with mine to the ocean so ya can't drift out either, 'kay?" He says it as he moves so El also can't look out at the horizon and scare themself even more.
"But it's gonna feel scary as shit at first, so I want ya to practice just holdin' onto me and liftin' yer feet off th' sand at the same time. Like uhh...like bunny hops. That's what we'll call 'em." He'd come up with silly names for things for his pediatric patients all the time so it's quick enough to his tongue, roguish grin gone more juvenile as he aims it down at El, holding still so they can do it at their leisure.
bartie
