[he has to remind himself that he's not as far off the bottom as he thinks he is - it's too easy to forget. If he had ever ridden a bike in his life, he'd be able to compare this to the training wheels coming off but... he hasn't done that, either. But Lance is careful enough about withdrawing his hand that he doesn't feel too discomfitted, though his pace quickens a little bit.
Not sinking. It's not the most elegant scene, but they're going for function, at least to begin with. Form can come later.]
[ form can definitely come later, especially as linneus has got no one to impress here but lance himself, who is already incredibly impressed that he's braving this in the first place.
his expression lights up in pride, and if he had any room to clap right now he would. ]
[he may not be ready for the deep end just yet, but the encouragement is more than welcome. He can't laugh and swim, though, so he manages a few more strokes before he straightens up, putting his feet down and taking a moment to get his balance with the strange change in his weight compared to in the water.]
Thank you.
[a little sheepish]
...I shouldn't have straightened up, should I? Did I just disrupt the lesson?
Nah, it was getting to be around time for a break anyway.
[ ??? didn't they just start. ]
You did really well for your first time! Keep practicing a few more times, then you'll be ready to learn the strokes, and soon you'll be swimming circles around everybody.
But even more important than practice is reward.
[ he holds up a finger, very serious-like. ]
And all that progress definitely deserves a popsicle, I think.
[should... he have been educated about popsicles, or is this something they have in other worlds? Like some of the strange figures of speech he has encountered - blow his mind? He can only assume what that means, as he moves to follow Lance back up to the beach, minding his feet as he goes]
Is it... some sort of fruit? Summer treats in my country are generally made with seasonal fruit...
Well, yeah, most popsicles come in fruit flavors. It makes it extra refreshing, I think. [ also you feel less guilty about digesting all that sugar, but. ]
But it can come in different flavors, too! It's like... flavored ice.
You are a kind, benevolent soul. [ lance's laughter tapers off as they near the spot where linneus had left his clothes and hat. he helps the other take them back up into his hands before leading the way back towards the harbor, where there are sure to be many vendors selling the very thing he's suddenly got a craving for.
sure enough, they find plenty, and just for the sake of time, he'll go to the nearest one and purchase two popsicles on the spot. ]
[holding his little bundle to his chest as he looks over the board and all the pictures there, the... "pop-sicles" displayed looking like they were cut from jewels or coloured glass. His finger hovers above one that looks like a cylindrical piece of rainbow, like colours stacked up]
Then... this one?
[or he could pick something that's just one colour and decide whether he likes it, but... if he's guessing correctly how this works, he should be able to try the most flavours like this, right? Right.]
Ooh, nice choice. [ lance nudges linneus with his elbow, giving an approving nod. ] That's definitely a popular one.
[ turning to the vendor, he points to a red, white, and blue rocket-shaped one. ] And I'll get this one, sir.
[ once silver and delectable ice treats are exchanged, he hands the rainbow-colored one off to linneus, and doesn't hesitate to take a sizable bite of his own. ]
[Oh. Oh. This is a little bit bigger than he was expecting - somehow the board made them seem smaller. But he's not going to bite into a chunk of ice - Linneus isn't sure how smart that is, even if the boy doesn't look to be wincing.
He just... isn't sure there is a way of eating this without it looking inappropriate, but he's going to try his darnedest as he starts on the red. Pulling back once, then twice - first from the cold, second from the flavour-]
[ s...upposedly. look, let's not ruin this magical moment by getting into weird things like red number four or artificially flavored. he starts them back towards the sand, so they can enjoy their popsicles by the water.
and so they can easily wash off any accidents, should they happen. ]
Be careful of brainfreeze. That's what happens when you eat something too cold too quickly — it's like someone with ice powers reached right into your head and — zap!
[so quick! Linneus is barely through the red section of his, though he's enjoying it - even if he's chasing away drips.]
I do. As a child, yes, but even as an adult, truthfully. Though most would say a man shouldn't distract himself with things like that...
[but then, Linneus has long since accepted that he isn't like most other men - he has never dressed like one, never acted like one, why should he think like one? Even if he is older and jaded, now, and doesn't really believe in fairytale princes or in magic, that doesn't mean the stories don't still capture his imagination.
A moment while he tries to get through a little more of his popsicle]
Perhaps there are other similarities, if our worlds shared the same story.
[ lance cannot help but make a little face at that. ]
That's weird... Stories are great. They used to be my favorite part of bedtime, when I was a kid!
[ especially when his mom or dad would make the stories about heroes named lance... heh.
in any case, he doesn't really fit into the standard mold of "a man" either, what with his nightly skincare routines, and propensity for flair and theatrics. ]
But, yeah, maybe you're right. What's your world like?
I had no bedtime stories, but my master's son would read to me. Later he helped teach me my letters...
[his lips press together a moment - partly in thought, but more to remove the smarting cold from them a little. He's made some progress on the popsicle though.]
I can't say my world was quieter than this one... I think they're both loud in their way. We had none of the technology, though, so that has been an adjustment.
Well, not exactly. More odd jobs here and there - I was such a small child they weren't always sure what to do with me! But if the word 'butler' helps you picture it, then yes.
[ he laughs a little nervously, one hand coming up to rub at the back of his neck, which feels a little warm (along with his cheeks and ears) in his embarrassment. ]
Sorry, was that prying? It's not really a term I hear that often anymore, so I got kinda curious...
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Okay.
[he has to remind himself that he's not as far off the bottom as he thinks he is - it's too easy to forget. If he had ever ridden a bike in his life, he'd be able to compare this to the training wheels coming off but... he hasn't done that, either. But Lance is careful enough about withdrawing his hand that he doesn't feel too discomfitted, though his pace quickens a little bit.
Not sinking. It's not the most elegant scene, but they're going for function, at least to begin with. Form can come later.]
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his expression lights up in pride, and if he had any room to clap right now he would. ]
There you go.. that's it, you're doing it!
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Thank you.
[a little sheepish]
...I shouldn't have straightened up, should I? Did I just disrupt the lesson?
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[ ??? didn't they just start. ]
You did really well for your first time! Keep practicing a few more times, then you'll be ready to learn the strokes, and soon you'll be swimming circles around everybody.
But even more important than practice is reward.
[ he holds up a finger, very serious-like. ]
And all that progress definitely deserves a popsicle, I think.
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Well, thank you. We shall see about these circles...
[but he will practice. Just... teach him what a pool is. But speaking of teaching-]
What is a pop-sicle?
[some form of reward, he understands, but... his world doesn't have freezers.]
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[ lance rears back a little, both hands now coming up in that (multi?) universal sign of hold up, wait a minute. ]
Have you never heard of a popsicle before? Oh man. Oh man. Linneus, I am about to blow your mind.
[ he's already moving back towards the shore, motioning with a hand for the other to follow. ]
It's only, like. One of the best summer treats ever.
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[should... he have been educated about popsicles, or is this something they have in other worlds? Like some of the strange figures of speech he has encountered - blow his mind? He can only assume what that means, as he moves to follow Lance back up to the beach, minding his feet as he goes]
Is it... some sort of fruit? Summer treats in my country are generally made with seasonal fruit...
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[ also you feel less guilty about digesting all that sugar, but. ]
But it can come in different flavors, too! It's like... flavored ice.
[ ... ]
I swear it taste better than it sounds.
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I will take your word for it and withhold judgement until I have tried it for myself.
[but at least he knows what ice is. That's a start?]
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You are a kind, benevolent soul. [ lance's laughter tapers off as they near the spot where linneus had left his clothes and hat. he helps the other take them back up into his hands before leading the way back towards the harbor, where there are sure to be many vendors selling the very thing he's suddenly got a craving for.
sure enough, they find plenty, and just for the sake of time, he'll go to the nearest one and purchase two popsicles on the spot. ]
Alright, now which flavor do you want?
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[holding his little bundle to his chest as he looks over the board and all the pictures there, the... "pop-sicles" displayed looking like they were cut from jewels or coloured glass. His finger hovers above one that looks like a cylindrical piece of rainbow, like colours stacked up]
Then... this one?
[or he could pick something that's just one colour and decide whether he likes it, but... if he's guessing correctly how this works, he should be able to try the most flavours like this, right? Right.]
This one, please.
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[ turning to the vendor, he points to a red, white, and blue rocket-shaped one. ] And I'll get this one, sir.
[ once silver and delectable ice treats are exchanged, he hands the rainbow-colored one off to linneus, and doesn't hesitate to take a sizable bite of his own. ]
Enjoy!
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He just... isn't sure there is a way of eating this without it looking inappropriate, but he's going to try his darnedest as he starts on the red. Pulling back once, then twice - first from the cold, second from the flavour-]
Oh-- strawberry?
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[ s...upposedly. look, let's not ruin this magical moment by getting into weird things like red number four or artificially flavored. he starts them back towards the sand, so they can enjoy their popsicles by the water.
and so they can easily wash off any accidents, should they happen. ]
Be careful of brainfreeze. That's what happens when you eat something too cold too quickly — it's like someone with ice powers reached right into your head and — zap!
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[echoing, a thoughtful lick of his popsicle while he comes up with an equivalent]
Like the Snow Queen? Do you have that story, where you come from?
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Do you like stories?
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I do. As a child, yes, but even as an adult, truthfully. Though most would say a man shouldn't distract himself with things like that...
[but then, Linneus has long since accepted that he isn't like most other men - he has never dressed like one, never acted like one, why should he think like one? Even if he is older and jaded, now, and doesn't really believe in fairytale princes or in magic, that doesn't mean the stories don't still capture his imagination.
A moment while he tries to get through a little more of his popsicle]
Perhaps there are other similarities, if our worlds shared the same story.
no subject
That's weird... Stories are great. They used to be my favorite part of bedtime, when I was a kid!
[ especially when his mom or dad would make the stories about heroes named lance... heh.
in any case, he doesn't really fit into the standard mold of "a man" either, what with his nightly skincare routines, and propensity for flair and theatrics. ]
But, yeah, maybe you're right. What's your world like?
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I had no bedtime stories, but my master's son would read to me. Later he helped teach me my letters...
[his lips press together a moment - partly in thought, but more to remove the smarting cold from them a little. He's made some progress on the popsicle though.]
I can't say my world was quieter than this one... I think they're both loud in their way. We had none of the technology, though, so that has been an adjustment.
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...Master?
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[...oh, he said something strange.]
I have been-- I was in service. Since I was a child.
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startling. ]
Like... a butler?
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Well, not exactly. More odd jobs here and there - I was such a small child they weren't always sure what to do with me! But if the word 'butler' helps you picture it, then yes.
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Sorry, was that prying? It's not really a term I hear that often anymore, so I got kinda curious...
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[normally he would just try to divert their talk away from those topics. But it's fairer to be up front, perhaps, than to just shut things down]
I will let you know if you get too close to them. I take it it's not to common to go into service where you are from, then?
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