Twenty-somethings gotta twenty-something

[mikangirl]

Who: Everyone invited, everyone gatecrashing (technically you're all invited, so...)
Broadcast: Who knows, maybe some drunken texting later on
Action: Iskaulit Pool!
When: 3 July

[It's a party for a narcissistic redhead who likes to be reminded she's alive.  Come celebrate!  Alternately, come sneak in and steal the food!  There's a bar set up for drinks drastically lowered to cost-price or to-be-paid-later-tab, a non-alcoholic punch in case of wandering minors (spike it and Nami will end you) and random snacks.

Oh, and a pool.  Which is heated.  Kind of important, that part.

Step right up, I'm reliably informed we'll have Thor with his shirt off, take pictures while you can.]

Comments

[vartex]

[internal screaming WHY]

...It's... decided. Perhaps after the party.

[axi]

[She chuckles.]

Do you want to try asking her, Messer?

[If he doesn't Kaname certainly will. No worries, friend.]

[vartex]

I will if you'd prefer.

[Two can play at this game, you know!!]

[axi]

[Kaname raises her brows at him and takes the bait.]

Make sure to introduce yourself first.

[vartex]

One would hope I'd at least know that much already.

[Just because he doesn't have the commander here to do the introductions like he usually does...!!]

[axi]

[She grins and nudges him lightly in the side.]

How about we ask together? That seems like a good compromise.

[vartex]

...Fair enough.

[Thank god she is a merciful creature. If it were anyone else he wouldn't put up with so much teasing.

ANYWAY.]

I'm surprised you're not in the water, yourself.

[axi]

I was for a bit, but I came to sit with you. I'll go back in later, as well.

[Kaname looks up at him curiously.]

What about you? You enjoyed swimming on Ragna, right?

[vartex]

Mm, I did. Chuck's siblings were still quite young when I came to live there, and they were very persistent when it came to dragging me out into the sea. My duties were lighter when I was still in training, and I had no responsibilities in the restaurant, so it was... suggested... that I keep an eye on them sometimes.

[For some reason Marianne always complained that she couldn't join them due to work.]

[axi]

[She nods in understanding, smiling fondly at the mention of his siblings. They were never close like they were with Messer, but she liked them well enough.]

Then what's the reason you haven't gotten in the water yet?

[vartex]

I've been working with Q-Lulu, in case another trick could be learned before the party's end.

[It's mostly a delay tactic- he's better at training than mingling. If Q-Lulu were an animal more perceptive to tricks it would know a whole roster of moves by now.

...Yeah he should probably just go swimming.]

[axi]

[She knows he's stalling, but she doesn't berate him for that. She can't. Kaname knows even coming to this party is a solid step for Messer, and she wants him to have fun, no feel pressured.

So why not compromise?]

Maybe he'd be more receptive if you tried to teach him while being in the water, too. [They both know he won't be.] Should we try that?

[She's even willing to work with them.]

[vartex]

[Ssssssssssiiiiiiiigh okay but she has a point. He gives Q-Lulu another baleful look as it floats somewhat uselessly on its side, then strips off his upper jacket and slides off the edge into the water. It's a bit chilly, of course (as a pool in space might be) but nothing compares to the ocean he's used to.]

[axi]

[To her credit, Kaname's eyes don't even glance at the giant scar on his left shoulder over his chest. She's seen it before, and she knows he's not fond of it either. But it's another part of him now. She'll readily accept it with the rest.

Once he's in the water, she follows, sliding in with practiced ease.]

Have you tried making him come when called? [Because otherwise they're going to have to retrieve him.]

[vartex]

"Tried" being the key word.

[He demonstrates- shakes the little bag of treats they'd brought along from the edge of the pool, snaps his fingers, whistles, pats the surface of the water in front of himself. Q-Lulu is swimming in circles, chasing his own fin.]

I suspect it's a two-person job- someone will need to guide him through the process of any trick we try to teach.

[axi]

[Kaname does her best to fight her growing smile and remain serious looking. To her credit, only the corner of her lips twitch in amusement. Bless their little pet.]

I see. [Taking the advice, she goes over to Q-Lulu and gently takes hold of him to face him towards Messer.]

Let's try it again now.

[vartex]

[Yeah, this'll go great. He's sure Q-Lulu will totally get it in no time, just like before.

But it's a thing to do, and Kaname's here, so he holds the treat with one hand and snaps the other.]

Q-Lulu, come.

[axi]

[Q-Lulu stares at him for a long moment before swimming forward!

Only to veer off to the left towards the middle of the pool. Kaname reaches to bring him back.]

Well, he... moved.

[vartex]

...He did.

[Technically. It could have been on a whim.

Messer gives him half a treat for the effort.]

He's going to get fat before he learns anything. Q-Lulu, come here.

[axi]

[It was probably on a whim. Kaname bites her lip to hold back her smile. Something about super serious Messer trying to train a mercat is so wonderfully entertaining.]

I hope it won't be so bad. [Q-Lulu looks at him. And just. Stares.]

[vartex]

[The slightest of eye twitch. Messer reaches out with one hand to push Q-Lulu towards his tapping finger.]

We'll need to pick a cut-off point.

[He's not exactly keen to call it a surrender, but...]

[axi]

[Now Kaname starts to giggle as the mercat flips on to his back and basically plays dead.]

I should leave that up to you.

[vartex]

Hm. That, or smaller treats.

[HE DOESN'T WANT TO GIVE UP it's nice to have an excuse to spend time with her, okay.

Q-Lulu rolls over again, wobbling sideways in the water. It's a bit like trying to train a water balloon.]

[axi]

Sure, let's try that.

[Kaname sinks lower in the water so her face is half submerged. Slowly, she sneaks around to Q-Lulu's other side.

The mercat floats idly around, only to splash with a startle when Kaname comes into view so close. He speeds his way over to Messer.]

[vartex]

[.....

okay that was definitely a fluke, he was just startled, it wasn't the least bit intentional.

.....

Messer gives the mercat a treat.]

That method's effective.