vdistinctive | An out of the way "swimming hole", Indiana Dunes State Park, Saturday evening (Reply)

"Why are we doing this again? Without wet-suits?"

Parker liked swimming as much as the next person, if the next person wasn't some kind of mermaid. But in April? Brrrr.

Hardison	"Ain't nobody goes to a swimmin' hole in a wetsuit," Hardison said, with the authority of having seen several movies about bucolic summers. "I'm pretty sure that's what this is. Have to ask Eliot for sure. A swimmin' hole." He said the last in a slow approximation of Eliot's drawl. "I think we're supposed to get all buck nekkid and jump off a rope swing to enter it properly, but I ain't seen one of those 'round here." If he was gonna get dragged out here into nature, he was going to do so with his attitude fully intact.
Eliot	"That's because this is Lake Michigan, not the Mississippi," Eliot said. Hey, if Hardison actually wanted to do an outdoor activity, who was Eliot to stop him? "And I ain't going skinny dipping." In Indiana. In early April.
Parker	Parker gave him a disappointed look, then cheered up when looked at Hardison. "Shirts off, though, right?" Well, there goes hers. Parker had a black sports tank suit on underneath, of course. Black was awesome.
Hardison	Eliot, they were city children. You should know better than to let them decide things for themselves, especially when it came to the outdoors. "Heeeey," Hardison said, watching Parker as he shrugged out of his own shirt. "I'm good havin' us all go topless. We'll all have somethin' warm to change back into that way." He snuck a peek at Eliot to see his reaction to Parker's casual strip. Which wasn't a new thing by any means.
Eliot	Hey, it wasn't like it was Eliot's first polar bear plunge, here. And this time it wasn't because a Russian mobster threw him off a pier. As for Parker, he stared a little longer than was strictly polite before averting his gaze and reaching for the hem of his own shirt. "Assumin' none of the students sneak up and steal our clothes."
Parker	"IF they do that I am definitely finding out how to give them Detention." Parker jumped in, feet first. And screamed. "COLD COLD COLD COLD COLD COLD COLD!"
Hardison	Awww, yeah he did. Hardison also turned away and peeled off his own shirt, following it up with his pants, shoes, and socks. He left them folded neatly on a rock, then sauntered on down to the water's edge. "Hey little mama," he said, smirking. "Ain't you a pretty water nymph."
Eliot	Yup, that reaction was about right. Eliot finished stripping down to his underwear (boxerbriefs, black, naturally) and stepped up next to Hardison. "Well? After you."
Parker	"Somebody, anybody get in here with me and make it warmer," Parker demanded, moving fast to warm up. But yeah, appreciating the view. Yay view! BRRR.
Hardison	"I'm workin' up to it!" Hardison protested.
Eliot	"Uh huh," Eliot said. Then he shot Parker a wink, threw Hardison over his shoulder, and jumped in.
Hardison	The noise Hardison made when he and Eliot hit the water was strong and manly and not at all a high-pitched shriek and he would thank Eliot and Parker not to say anything to the contrary.
Parker	Parker giggle-snorted, and ducked under the water, starting to get used to the cold. Also, both guys looked really good wet.
Eliot	Eliot bit back his own shout -- it really was very cold -- and surfaced, shaking his hair out of his face. "You know, this ain't half-bad for a swimming hole." It was terrible. He was freezing. At least it wasn't January.
Hardison	Hardison was still making his very manly noises of protest. "Man, w-w-w-what are we even d-d-doin in this thing?" he asked, shivering. "I'm pretty sure I j-j-just saw a ice cube float by. Right next to my l-left asscheek which j-just froze and broke off."
Parker	"This was your idea," Parker hissed at him under her breath, then moved closer to hug him. Always fun. Although less so when he felt so chilly.
Eliot	"This was your idea, man," Eliot said, not even a little under his breath. He pushed his hair out of his face again, wishing he had a hair tie. It was making his cheeks cold. "But if you're done, already. . . ."
Hardison	"This was a b-b-better idea when I was s-s-still in my nice, warm tent," Hardison said, giving Parker an apologetic shrug. "Ain't it s'posed to be s-s-spring or somethin'?" He'd thought that the scenery would make up for it! He hadn't realized that he'd be losing his fun bits in the process. "Eliot, I blame you for th-this."
Parker	Parker gave him another squeeze, then let go. The whole point had been to get Eliot to join in and have random touching and looking. She was getting used to the chill, the same way she had when they'd gone mountain-climbing, and she ducked under the water to swim around Eliot and Hardison.
Eliot	Eliot didn't even get mad at Hardison trying to shove the blame onto him. "Hardison, man, you okay?" Complaining was basically the guy's default mode, so it was hard to tell when he meant it.
Hardison	"Perfectly f-fine, considerin' I'm 'b-bout to die of hypothermia," Hardison grumbled, starting to move around a bit as he got used to the frigid water. "I mean, my t-temperature's droppin' faster'n Yahoo's stock price after G-Google went public." So...uncomfortable. Very cold. In need of cuddles. Strong, warm cuddles.
Parker	Parker surfaced behind Eliot; she didn't kid herself that it was a surprise. The poke forward with icy hands, toward Hardison, might have been a bit more unexpected, though. "Better check on him!"
Eliot	Eliot batted her hands away. "What d'ya think I'm doin'?" He shook his head, making his way closer to Hardison. Were his lips going the wrong color? "Hey. It's cool, man. We can get out if you want. Go get the fire goin'." Or hang out in that godforsaken tent, even. Which probably had central heating.
Hardison	His lips were turning an attractive shade of purplish-blue, yes. "N-n-naw, man, I'm f-fine. We're out enjoyin' nature. The thr-three of us. S'great. Having all the fun. R-Really."
Parker	Parker swims up to kiss those chattering lips, hoping to warm him up. See, like this Eliot. "Warmer?" she asked hopefully.
Eliot	"He ain't going to get warmer till he gets out of the water," Eliot told her, and started herding them both towards the edge. He'd've liked to pick them both up and just carry them out, but he wasn't quite that strong. "It really is too cold for this." Oh, sure, now he was being Mr. Responsible Outdoorsman.
Hardison	"I d-d-dunno," Hardison protested, even as he appreciated the herding. "I'm l-likin' her idea. Has m-merit!"
Parker	Parker gave him another hug for good measure, but let herself be nudged toward the edge of the water. Mostly so Eliot could get closer to Hardison. The second the air hit wet skin, though, she shuddered. "COLD. COLD. COLD."
Eliot	"More merit on dry land, man," Eliot assured Hardison. He rolled his eyes at Parker's reaction. "Yeah, I know, darlin'. Grab the towels, would ya?" And he grabbed Hardison around the waist and shoved him at the bank, fully prepared to carry the frozen idiot if necessary. Revenge for the princess-carry stuff? Maybe.
Hardison	Yeah, unlike Eliot, Hardison wasn't complaining. Instead, he just wrapped his arms and legs around Eliot like a spider-monkey, trying to absorb all the warmth he could. He didn't mind being carried. It meant he could save his energy for important things, like keeping his teeth from chattering so hard they splintered. "If w-w-we'd gone to a hotel like I w-wanted, we could be swimmin' in a heated p-pool right now." Ignoring the fact that this entire trip to the 'swimming hole' had been his idea in the first place. "Can I h-have another one of them k-kisses, babe? You know, to k-keep my strength up?"
Parker	More kissing! Very close to Eliot! And then Parker had to hug Hardison and help him get in, because he really did feel even colder than she did. "Next time, heated pool. This time, heated tent."
Eliot	"Next time maybe you'll look at a weather report before you decide to go swimming," Eliot suggested, trying not to obviously ogle his two best friends making out while he was literally carrying one of them. Oh, and none of them were exactly clothed. It was a good thing it was so cold, or Hardison might've noticed how much Eliot was enjoying this.
Hardison	Had it been less cold, Hardison might have been able to notice things like Eliot enjoying this. "Don't need a w-weather report," he declared once Parker had relinquished his mouth. "Th-that's what we got you for. Ain't you s'posed t-to be able to look at the s-sky and tell us what way the w-wind is blowin' an' how f-fast an' everything?" The one benefit of nearly freezing to death during a four-minute swim? No one would be able to blame him for demanding they snuggle together for body heat.
Eliot	"No, that's what weather apps are for." Look, Hardison! Eliot was referencing using technology! He adjusted his grip on Hardison and started back towards the campsite and his emergency blankets and chemical heatpacks. "Parker, grab our clothes. I'm going to get Mr. Not-quite-a-polar-bear-plunge next to the fire."
Parker	Parker had already shrugged into a shirt, because COLD. She picked up the rest, and then took a moment to appreciate the picture they made before catching up. "Next time, skinny dipping. Somewhere warm. Like Barbados." She paused. "As long as there's no jellyfish."
Hardison	"S-See," Hardison said, ignoring Eliot's comment about weather apps because, yeah, he had a good point. He was just gonna snuggle closer and try to steal more of Eliot's precious, precious body heat instead. "Next time, we lettin' P-Parker plan our trips. Sk-skinny-dippin. Barbados. Warmth. I'm all in."
Eliot	"Works for me." Was Eliot just humoring him? That's certainly what he'd say if pressed about skinny dipping later. "I don't think I've ever been to Barbados before." There weren't many places like that left in the world.