"I think that is exactly the cause of my difficulties." He replies, somewhat morosely, "But be that as it may, it still means that I feel somewhat disinclined towards attempting to swim in potentially overcrowded bodies of water. The river was quiet, at least."

Quiet, and thick with pollution. It had all still been very strange to him, really. The taste of the water, the way it chilled his legs and ran between his toes, the experience of having to hold his breath if his head went under... none of it was anything like swimming had been back home. Shrieky glances at Jae, quickly taking in his carefully composed image. "How about you? What have you been doing?"