Let's Dance.

As the two take a seat at a nearby table, Henry wraps his hands around the hot, piping cup of hot chocolate he has set before him; to him, the scalding temperature of the mug is but a dull warmth against his palms (Surely, there is something absurdly wrong about this?), and he taps thoughtfully against the clay exterior, humming a soft 'hmm'. It’s odd, for Inigo to inquire of him of his experiences, but he answers anyway, his tone akin to that of an excited child. "A few months ago… there were these monsters, in the city. Of course, if you didn’t dodge them fast enough, you’d die! You’d get ripped to shreds, and there was blood everywhere. That’s why it was so fun…”

Olivia’s name lingers on his tongue as he’s a second away from launching into specifics, of how he saved her (ran away to the next sector, more or less, it doesn’t make for a very interesting story), until Inigo speaks up once more.

Ah, there we go, that’s the son he knows and loves.

[ Inigo hides his smile with the rim of his mug, listening to Henry's delighted account of what sounds like utter bloodshed. Naturally. It always was like Inigo's father to get so worked up about such gruesome matters as these. Sometimes, Inigo wonders exactly how a man like this could be his father. They were hardly alike. ]

[ Still, Henry's rant stirs a familiar feeling of affection in Inigo's middle -- especially when Henry provides some (admittedly horrible) romantic advice for his son. ]

"Father, you know I'm not a mage. Just a sellsword." And a dancer. Inigo's own interior addition makes him blush, so he coughs to cover it and shrugs, smirking in a devil-may-care manner. 

"So I'm afraid your method of courtship might, erm...Well, it's lucky, really, that I have such a handsome face and charming manner. I can thank you for that, I suppose."

[ He taps his finger on the edge of the table and smiles at a waitress as she passes by. ]

"I do hope the maidens in these parts are more, ah...receptive to my charm. This might come as a shock to you, Father, but I'm afraid I didn't have much luck with most ladies back home."

"I wouldn’t worry about things like that, " he said in direct response to the comment about stealing women from Inigo. It wasn’t as though that was ever a thing that was going to happen anyway.

But before they really had much chance to talk about how ridiculous a notion it was that Makoto would do anything even remotely similar to cockblocking Inigo the boy ran off, leaving the green eyed boy to stand there blankly waiting for his return. In the mean time, he supposed, he could hop in the pool and waste some time so it was a bit less awkward when Inigo eventually returned.

He probably should have been a bit more surprised when the white haired man came back in a swimsuit unusually similar to his own, but instead he simply gave a warm smile.

[ Inigo shuffled somewhat uncomfortably, suddenly very aware of the fact that Makoto was watching him. It wasn't exactly like he was embarrassed; after all, he really had no reason to be. Makoto knew he was a beginner. ]

[ Still, as Inigo dove somewhat clumsily into the pool and surfaced again, passing a hand through his sopping hair, he found himself wishing the other boy wasn't looking at him. He felt sloppy and stupid and graceless, which was...unusual, to say the least, for a dancer and a swordsman like himself. ]

[ Even more unusual was this level of self-consciousness. He dipped his lips and chin briefly under the water, kicking his feet to keep himself afloat. When he popped back above the surface, he gave Makoto what he hoped was a playful, winning smirk. ]

"Why don't you join me, so I can show you what I've got?"

"That’s a lot of dead people."

"If it didn’t hurt to breathe right now, I’d hug you."

"Just keep thinking good thoughts."

"If there’s something good or beautiful in any of this, please, enlighten me."

"Sorry, I have a reputation to maintain."

"Don’t panic, but I think we’ve been through here before."

"What am I hearing? I don’t want to hear this! I’m not hearing this!"

"If we keep going, eventually we’ll get somewhere! Probably an airing cupboard. I seem to wind up in those a lot."

"I can’t believe I wore this! Maker, what was I thinking?"

"You’re telling me you never gave your blade the ol’ spit shine?"

"Wait… What are you talking about?"

"Let’s see. Do I respond well to threats? I don’t think I do."

"Shall we end this quickly?"

"You have not paid for your crime yet."

"Who’s laughing now, huh?"

"You are the last of nothing. This is pointless… you’ve lost."

"I know your game. No shadows. No lies. Just you and me."

"Do you have any idea what’s at stake here?"

"The hate you inspire is unfortunate."

"You better have a good reason for bothering me."

"Does the word ‘insane’ mean anything to you?"

"Not listening! La la-la la la!"

"Somebody’s been drinking."

"That’s a most offensive odor!"

"I am a woman and I reserve the right to be inconsistent!"

"Let’s show them our hearts, and then show them theirs."

"Congratulations, you have found a waste bin."

"I saw you playing with that kitten!"

“Let’s see… When was the last time I slipped my hand into some dark hole? Hmm… Long story, that.”

“You can probe me anytime.”

“Now that we’ve talked about tying me up in that context, do we have any extra rope about?”

“I have just browned my trousers, yes?”

"Andraste’s flaming sword - I know where babies come from!"

"Are your fruits forbidden?"

“Where can I get some sauce for that rump roast?”

"Bad things happen when I lead. We get lost, people die, and the next thing you know I’m stranded somewhere without any pants." 

"We were already doomed. A quick death now or a slow one later - I’d rather die fighting."

"Well, it can be a lot to take in I know."

"I swear it was this big!”

"Don’t look, but I think that whore’s making eyes at you."

"I am not cleaning this up."

Henry is quick to detangle himself from Inigo’s frame, a bit jerkily, in his rapid haste, adjusting the cape around his shoulders afterwards. As Inigo pauses, however, glancing at his father before glancing away once more, Henry’s head tips to the side, in mild amusement as his pale gaze observes the silence before him.

“Yeah, of course!” He nods his head, in compliance with Inigo’s suggestion, beaming in the latter’s direction, and continues in a gentle tone, turning on his heel to begin leading the two down the sidewalk. ”You haven’t been around the entire city yet, have you? There’s a good coffeeshop, hmm, over… Ah, there! I visited it a couple of days ago, and met the nicest crow…”

[ He follows Henry into a coffee shop, sitting down at a table after ordering some bizarre kind of tea. This world is certainly unusual. The buildings and vehicles and customs and clothing feel so...futuristic, for lack of a better world. Still, it's nice to see Henry is still dressed in his head-to-toe Plegian garb; it's a comfort to Inigo in this strange land. ]

"So, Father." Inigo takes a sip of his tea. Not too bad. Not like they brew it at home, but no matter. "Tell me about this place. It seems as though you've been here for quite some time; you must have had some interesting experiences to pass on, no?" 

[ Inigo grins, unable to stop himself from voicing the inevitable. ]

He tried to manage a smile at the story, although clearly he was not overly impressed with the content of it. Still, what mattered was that he was here and enthusiastic. That was the entire point, right?

"Don’t worry about it, we can begin. The pool’s right inside. I…" a pause, looking at Inigo still dressed in his typical armor. "I hope you brought a swimsuit?" He asked, sounding slightly concerned. He hadn’t thought to inform his friend, it seemed like common sense.

"Gods, Makoto, I surmised you might be competition with the ladies, but..." He gestured uselessly with his hands. "Standing next to you, I stand absolutely no chance! Not that I mind," he added, chuckling sheepishly. "Like I said, we're friends, not rivals, right? I suppose I'll have to resign myself to the fact that I shall forever stand in your shadow while we're together."

[ When Makoto stepped out of his pants, however, Inigo could see what he meant by "swim suit." The tight-fitting black garment resembled Makoto's underthings: snug, skin-tight and thick. ]

"Well, that certainly leaves little to the imagination!" Inigo laughed nervously. "Er...as it happens, I am wearing something similar, but...it's a bit shorter than yours. And I'm not entirely sure it's fit for swimming."

[ Somewhat self-consciously, Inigo jogged off to the locker room to strip himself of his armor, his thoughts swimming. He had always considered himself to be a relatively well-built man, but Makoto put him to shame. He stepped out of his armor and put it aside, examining his lean, scarred back in the mirror, chewing his lip. Not nearly as many muscles as the other boy. Pity. He would simply have to try harder. ]

[ His ears perked up at a sound from the far end of the room; it appeared there was a vendor there who sold the sort of suit Makoto was wearing. Inigo hastily purchased one, skinned out of his undergarments and stepped into it, grimacing a little at the tightness of the damn thing. ]

[ Donning his new swimsuit, Inigo stepped out to meet his teacher, pushing his hair awkwardly off of his forehead. ]

[ Upon sighting his new friend and swim instructor at the edge of a public fixture, Inigo beamed. ]

"Makoto, my man!" he chuckled, drawing level with the slightly taller boy and clapping a hand on his shoulder. "Forgive me for my lateness; I ran into some lovely maidens on my way here, and simply lost track of time while chatting them up!"

[ Meaning: he got horribly lost, ran into some girls, asked for directions, and proceeded to garner a slap from one girl for making a remark about her slim-fitting garment. ]

[ But Makoto need not know any of this. ]

[ You nod once, sipping your tea. He's an uncommonly kind person, Makoto. The kind of person who's easily taken advantage of. You hope no one's ever tried. ]

"Don't worry," he added, chuckling, "I'm not completely inept. I know how to tread water well enough, but...I lack a certain finesse."

[ And, since finesse was pretty much Inigo's endgame for all endeavors, he was definitely seeking to change that. Still... ]

[ He smiles through his confusion, somewhat sheepishly. ]

"Are you sure it’s going to fit?"

"You’re being too rough."

"I’m not fragile, you don’t have to be so gentle."

"Wrong hole!"

"I’m dripping wet."

"Don’t get it in my hair."

"It won’t stop squirting."

"Bend over."

"I’m never getting on my knees for you again."

"You’re really hitting the spot."

"Yes! Yes! Oh Yes!"

"You’re going to break me."

"Are you sure two fingers is enough?"

"Take it."

"Is that it?"

"That didn’t last very long…"

"I didn’t know it would get that hard."

"Just put it in!"

"Right there."

"Who taught you how to aim?"

"Hit it really deep."

"We might as well go out with a bang."

"What’s that pressing against my back?"

"I got it in my eye."