Orion was silent in the journey to the lake, taking up the rearguard position. He brooded over the events of the day and those that preceded it. He was good at brooding. Rarely did he give off the sense of existential angst that craved and considered craven by the youth of the Western world. Instead he usually managed to maintain the cool facade that came so easily to him. He craned his neck as if peering into a place that only the truly perspicacious could see. He always looked like he was leaning casually on a wall, even when he wasn't. He slipped trough the world with a synchronicity that belied his distracted mien.

Orion considered the day. He had seen things which had before only existed in the realm of idle fantasy and creative exploration. A supernal structure erected upon a floral foundation. Exhibitions of extraordinary talents among his fellow freaks and frauds. Most were fiery and fantastical, in appearance or at least in the effect they produced on their would-be wielders. Orion, however, had no such means at his disposal. His 'power' much like his manner of introspection, was much subtler than that, and just about as useful. He did not know what code the sun was trying to signal him in as it flicked and flashed in front of his eyes, or the meaning of babel speak that emanated from sweat of his comrades, it was, like his slightly frowning visage, fascinatingly and frustratingly inscrutable. Orion looked down into his palm at the little blue vial. A magic potion. How about that. It had been an interesting day. He was supposed to drink it. He had probably imbibed stranger things because of peer pressure. Popping the top it poured the liquid into his mouth. He swished it around his mouth. It tasted to him of jellyfish and  mouthwash. Actually, it didn't taste like anything he could define. He swallowed.

He watched the rest of his merry band strip to skivvies and slip into the water. If he didn't think they were crazy before, he sure did now. Their underclothes were going to be soaked when this was done, he didn't envy them marching home in them. Shrugging, Orion tore off his coat and peeled off the sweater and shirt beneath. Orion had never been embarrassed about his body. Why the hell should he. He looked good. He knew that. Usually he managed to avoid the obsessive narcissistic displays, the flexing, stretching, and posturing that often accompanied such self-aware, early bloomers. Kicking off his boots his let them scatter on the grass with the rest of his clothes. Pants and boxers came next, together in one smooth motion. He kicked them off too. He stood for a moment, placing his hands on his newly naked hips and just basked in the sun and wind on his skin. It was brisk, but nice. He wouldn't want to be out in it all day, but it was nice to feel the elements intimately for a moment. Lifting his feet to remove his socks he wiggled his long toes in the grass. A sense of serenity melted the remaining ruminations from his mind. No longer adrift. This was Orion's element, he lifted his knees stretching, twisting his torso and folding one arm over his chest and then the other. Just a little warm-up. Whether they thought it cool or not, it was always a good idea to limber up before any kind of exercise. Besides, he reiterated to himself, he wasn't worried about gawkers. He was long and he was strong, gifted with the physical accouterments that his grandfather liked to joke was a small reparation from Rousseau for slavery. He had a swimmers physique, but Orion never considered himself much of a swimmer. There wasn't all that much opportunity for any kind of competitive practice of the sport in Oakenheim, and Orion preferred team sport. He was still pretty confidant in his performance in water, and confidence, as he had often learned, was key to success in most endeavors.

Bouncing on the balls of his feet he burst into a run, smoothly jogging to the edge of lake before diving high and long into the water with very little splashback. A moment later the water exploded with flailing limbs and curses.

"Motherfucking assfuck!" Orion howled and yelped. Whatever else Orion might be, he was not, in point of fact, a cold-weather creature.