Pool Play (Finally done!)

This one's really long overdue (as with so many other artworks i am still working on!) But i am glad to finally finish it. I lost count of how many times i had to draw and redraw this piece until i was finally satisfied (sort of) with the result. I played around with really bright colors, experimented with a bit newer art style, tried my skills on reflections and water as well as ambient light, composition and contrast. I hope you guys like it!

This is the winning entry from our November Poll, 2nd batch. The idea was from DragotheLizard I hope it was worth the wait, buddy! Congratulations and thank you for this awesome idea, it was challenging but i sure enjoyed it. :)

Pool Play

Bikinis, coolers, sunscreen, tons of food. Indeed, nothing starts summer better than a trip to the beach or swimming pool resort with your friends! Ever since she lost all her limbs just a few years ago due to a mysterious illness, Mika has never been seen near a pool or any public body of water for that matter- Not in summer or any other day of the year; So imagine her friends' delight when she finally agreed to go with them for their summer break outing. "I hope it's not rude to ask but did you swim when you still had your limbs?" Eri, her friend asked, while shuffling through her bag for her bikini. "Oh, I get asked that a lot, actually. No i don't mind." She assured, "To answer your question, yes I used to swim, but when I lost my limbs I had to learn to do it again. And at one exercise my sister got distracted and I slipped from her hands causing me to sink." She shivered as she recalled. "Not having limbs is tough, and when you're submerged and do not know what to do to get back up except squirm and hope that somebody takes you out of the water, you just feel helpless and traumatized."

Eri clutched the bikini in her hand. "Im sorry, that sounds terrible. It is brave of you to finally come along with us despite your experience. Erm we could at least go sunbathing?" Mika nods and smiled affirmatively to her friend. "Hey, it has been years, and it's not really much of a big deal for me anymore, not that i've tried swimming again, im still scared, but.." Mika bit her lip. "It's more of, erm, people stare at me and i'm not exactly very confident with the way I look" She looked down at the empty space on her seat where legs normally should stick out of her hips. Eri leaned and hugger Mika without, much to her surprise. "You're beautiful and you ought to be proud of what you have!" She encouraged. "Besides, today is baby steps, it's only us and the gang, Jeff, Micheal, the girls, they all know you and think you're the most beautiful girl, outside and of course in the inside." She touched Mika's cheek and smiled at her. The limbless girl smiled back and inhaled. "Alright, I actually really miss being out in the sun, not ashamed of my skin and taking a dip. I may need a bit of company though." Eri kissed her forehead and hugged her. "I'm excited, I won't leave your side, Mika"

"Speaking of, I bought you this" Eri pulled a set of pink purple bikini and held it for her limbless friend to see. "Eri! Isn't that a bit too skimpy?" she squirmed and blushed. She was partly embarrassed yet also excited. She has not worn a bikini in years since her operation! Eri simply grinned "Im gonna need some help to put those on." With that, the two headed off to the changing room.

When they got to a private room, Eri carefully removed Mika's seat strap that keeps her upright. Usually it was Mika's mother or sister who took care of her, but today Eri felt great being granted the opportunity to look after Mika. She was very careful and watchful for her friend's reaction as she unbuckled her. "I cannot sit up without leaning on to something, so you gotta be careful" Mika reminded. Her friend smiles nervously and nodded. She noticed that Eri tensed and leaned against her chair as soon as the straps went off. "I've toppled over a few times before and it's not pretty" She remarked. In a second, Eri moved over to pick her up. The girl arched and pushed herself so she could lean towards her friend and she lift her butt as far as she could for Eri to slip her hands under. She was surprisingly soft, Eri thought. She wasn't sure what she was touching. Mika's bum was soft and had no trace of bone or stump, it was a mear smooth curve towards her front. despite this, she could feel tiny muscles move and contract under her touch, as if Mika was trying to latch on with her absent limbs. "You can lay me down on the counter so you can take off my dress and underwear." Mika blushed as she realized it was going to be Eri's first time to see her naked body. Her friend was visibly tense and flushed. She couldn't help blushing, herself. How she wish she had at least an arm so she could have some independence and reduced embarrassment! But she shook her nervous thoughts away and focused on keeping steady in her friend's arm and giving her an easier time undressing her. Eri couldn't help but admire the limbless girl's body. As soon as she slipped off Mika's dress, she was greeted by the most toned and feminine torso she's ever seen. Her eyes wandered from the ends of her shoulders to her hips. They all end perfectly round and almost without a scar or blemish. Her body was a perfect hourglass figure, not too skinny or plump. She had a toned belly and the soft, full bosoms that every girl wish to have. "Your body is amazing" She couldn't help herself blurting. Mika blushed, "you don't get put off by the absence of my arms and legs?" She shook her head hard and replied. "It's about time you go out there clad in the sexiest bikini, girl" She grinned and affirmed her as she brought out the pink two piece.

Meanwhile the girls and their boy friends had already started their pool games. They eagerly awaited for Mika to arrive at the pool, but they still weren't sure if Eri managed to persuade her to come along. And if she ever enters the water, how do they interact with her. Their minds mutually ran countless questions. What does she look like in bikini? Can she float? How rough can she play in the water? How do we avoid splashing her face? They were sincere and objective questions, and they were tense for a moment when they saw Eri with a towel wrapped Mika in her arms, walking towards the pool. They waved at mika and the girl smiled back and winced as sunlight shone on her face. "Mika needs some lotion, guys?" Eri jokingly asked the boys, to which they cheered and jokingly volunteered. "Eri, Stop that!" The girls scowled at the boys for being such perverts but Mika couldnt help noticing the admiring glances she got from everyone, including the girls. Thankfully they had booked the place all for themselves, otherwise she wouldn't be so confident showing her skin, or her stumps. She was placed carefully on to her front and she wriggled her body so she is more comfortable. this made her butt move around and Eri couldnt help staring. Her boobs bulged out from the sides but she couldn't really get comfortable being on her front for long periods. Thankfully the sunscreen application was quick and Eri gave her a light pat on the butt to which she giggled and jokingly bit at her friend's side to tickle her back. Cautiously, the two headed for the pool and Mika's friends helped her lower safely into the water. Mika closed her eyes and held her breath, but alas her friends were careful and gentle.

"Are you alright, Mika?" Eri asked as she got into the water. She took mika into her arms and glided through the water slowly. "I feel nervous" the girl admitted. Eri nods and assured her that she would not leave her side. However, as Mika grew more confident, the girls took turns holding her and watching her "swim". Surprisingly, Mika felt natural with her body and she adapted well to the freedom of movement she gained while floating. There were still a few times when she forgot she didn't have arms to stroke with or legs to kick with, especially when she wanted to keep her head above the water. Thankfully, she found that as long as she kept air in her lungs, her body is light enough to keep her afloat without much effort. To move around, she just had to wriggle her hips and keep her head afloat. The process proved to be slow and direction was out of the question. With out arms, she simply could not stir herself where she wanted to go. furthermore, she couldn't see much where she was going as she had to keep her head towards the sky or she would get water in her nose. Nonetheless, the girl felt more and more comfortable with being in the water, once more. At one point she asked her friend to let her float on her own and just keep watch as she swims unassisted. It was truly a liberating experience that she has not felt since her operation.

Eventually there were splashing and shouting as the troupe resumed their water games. Mika was no longer afraid and she was able to stay afloat for longer periods without assistance. Still, Eri kept close and diligently watched her friend enjoy her time at the pool. When it was time for the ball game, the group rented a floating chair which was perfect for Mika. At first, she was refused to use it, insisting that she plays without a floating device. It didn't take long before she accidentally exhaled too much air as she tried to get to the ball that she started to sink. Even though she did not panic, her friends did and she finally agreed to use the chair for now as she didn't want to spoil the fun. Minutes had passed and Mika finally felt tired from all the wriggling and squirming. He floating chair allowed her to push with her hips, neck and shoulder and hit the ball with as much force as she can muster. The ball was relatively harmless and light so that it did not matter if she missed it and it hit her face or chest instead. She found that this was a way better form of physical therapy than anything she's gone through during her first year as an amputee. Her entire body ached and soon she and her friends agreed to get a massage at the resort spa. The newly tanned girls lined up, faced down as the masseurs rendered their service. They giggled and talked about how they ought to go out swimming more often and everyone agreed, including and especially Mika. Indeed, today she felt her old adventurous self coming back. Through her friends she has gained confidence to go out and enjoy the things she used to enjoy when she still have limbs. She knew she might never get to do them the same way she used to, but she has friends to make sure she gets the best out of every experience. She turned her head and smiled as she watched her girl friends laugh and talk about their tan lines and what not. She wanted to reach out to Eri who was next to her, to thank her for making it all possible. "Thank you guys" she muttered and the girls turned and giggled. "It's our pleasure, Mika. We are all here for you. Also, Summer's just started and we've got so much more to do!" For someone as limbless as Mika, something as simple as wearing a bikini in public is a dream hard to come by. For the first time since losing her limbs, the girl found freedom and confidence she never knew she still had.

End

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A rather straight forward story (I had to type this one away as I really wanted to post this piece already), i hope you enjoyed it anyway! My apologies for the super delayed post. I intend to make another post about my older works that I haven't posted completed versions of. The reason I haven't put them here yet is because I couldn't finish their stories. so I was thinking of opening it up for collaboration for anyone who might be willing to share their story telling abilities. I love reading new stories and appreciate our members who contribute great literature portraying amputee characters. My writing easily gets rusty and is far from perfect, but i am always open to criticism and advise! Still, it is great to see variety in art and writing style. Tell me what you guys think!

Anyway, thank you for reading :D Have a great day, everyone.