Let me call you sweetheart...

[scotch_egg]

Who: Alec & You
What: Valentines Event
Where: Anywhere
Warnings: Who knows



Alec cam be found anywhere, looking more cagey than usual. Find him in his office filling out endless forms or answering calls curtly, or in a bistro or cafe with a single cup of steaming tea, or even in the park bundled up against the cold day.

More to the point he has a box of Valentine's Day candies with him that he cannot seem to stop eating. It seems almost unconscious. However this meeting turns out is going to be an interesting ride.


[[ooc: feel free to chose the words of the heart that he eats and put it in the subject. Or leave it up to RNG]]

Comments

[chenqing_player]

"Trust me. This is only my second time on skates. You are definitely getting the better side of this bet." But Wei Wuxian is a quick learner, has a dancers balance, and a determination to not fall so he feels good about his chances regardless.

"I don't know why my ass is being targeted for so much abuse today. I know it is nice but that means I want to keep it that way."

[scotch_egg]

"Fine then, deal." He would hold out his hand to shake but given the circumstances he was currently ignoring.

"That's because it tends to define your character." In other words, you, sir, are a bit of an ass. Or, well, if Alec were more inclined to pun, he would say that Wuxian was cheeky. But he wasn't and so that would never be said aloud. Instead:

"The rink then. But first, the library. If you can stomach it."

If he could or not, the books were returned forthwith and half an hour later, Alec was tugging on a pair of rented skates, seriously considering buying his own. That would lead to a line of questioning so he had best not.

[chenqing_player]

Wei Wuxian is amused, understanding what he meant by that and not at all offended by it. He finds nothing wrong at all with being considered 'cheeky'. And he does manage to stomach the library just fine since it gets him to this next part.

He carefully does up his skates but remains sitting once they are tied. Standing up is not his favorite part in all of this and he would rather not lose the bet before they ever actually made it out onto the ice.

"Alright, my ass is ready to win this wager." Or not. Maybe he should have upped the wager to if he feel down a few times and not just once.

[scotch_egg]

"We'll see." Skates tightened he slides out onto the ice with a practiced ease, seeming completely at home. "Come on then, if you're not chicken. Show me what you're capable of."

[chenqing_player]

He lets out a slow breath and then pushes himself up. There is something rather shameful about a dancer being unable to be steady on his feet but he will get there. Adding a very thin piece of metal under his shoes will not be added to his choreography...ever.

He waddles his way to the ice and then very carefully guides himself onto it, gripping anything he can for support on his way. Where are the training wheels when he needs them?

He tries to relax as he pushes away from the wall, clearly unsteady but at least secure enough that he won't be falling down right away. "Hard part is done. Also it is not about being a chicken. I am not afraid of falling down. I just don't like it."

His smile is tentative at best though as he starts his way around the rink.

[scotch_egg]

"Then stay on your feet. You're looking a little wobbly." He observes him as he skates backwards, hands behind his back. "Are you sure you want to move from the railing?"

[chenqing_player]

"Maybe I'll just stay on the edge. Wouldn't want to get in anyone's way."

He is gliding very slowly along the edge, ready to grab onto anything if he feels like he is going to fall. Right now...slow and smoothish.

[scotch_egg]

Chicken noises. Just you know. Randomly. And he moves further out toward the center, watching Wuxian critically.

[chenqing_player]

There might be a small whimper of uncertainty as he looks around to make sure no one is coming. But he will move away from the edge and towards Alec.

"There is a new rule. If I fall because someone runs into me, it doesn't count."

[scotch_egg]

"No changing the terms." He grins. "You'll just have to trust your luck. Keep an eye out. Especially for those..." He nods to a pair of kids who are pelting around the ice. "Dangerous."

[chenqing_player]

He makes the mistake of looking and there is a wobble but luckily it isn't enough to really put him off balance. He turns his attention back to Alec. He saw enough of a blur of the kids to know he doesn't want anything to do with getting in their way.

"Well then they should be the ones keeping an eye out for the novice skaters and not be jerks."

At least he is getting the hang of it...a little. More of what he was shown the last time he was on the ice is starting to come back to him.

[scotch_egg]

"You're not doing so bad for a novice. You just need more courage. Come on. It's just like walking, just without getting your feet off the ground." He moved further in, even offering a hand if Wuxian wanted help.

[chenqing_player]

"I don't think I've ever had a shortage of courage until this moment." He latches onto that hand without even thinking about it. Needing that added feeling of stability.

"I think the courage will come once I've made it enough times around without falling down." How many times is 'enough'...he isn't sure.

[scotch_egg]

"You're young. Falling down will barely hurt. Come on." He turned and began to pick up his pace. "Don't think about it. Just skate. Find the rhythm then it's easy."

[chenqing_player]

Find a rhythm...if he can dance certainly he can find a rhythm with this easily enough. He tries to relax and not think so much. There is music playing around the ring and he tries to focus on that, thinking it might help.

He's definitely not trying to think about how much faster they are going then the slow crawl he had started with.

"Isn't it in your best interests for me to fall? So why are you giving me pointers?"

[scotch_egg]

It felt better to help somehow-- but he wasn't saying that. He was going to regret enough already.

"Do you want to fall? If not, then shut up and don't worry about it. Don't lean back or you will. Keep your balance forward and bend your knees a little."

[chenqing_player]

He's amused but it is good advice so he will do as he is instructed, feeling a lot steadier then he was before. "Of course I don't want to fall. I intend to win this wager."

And talking helps him not think about skating.

[scotch_egg]

"Not sure if it counts as winning if you're getting help." He managed to keep a straight face as this thought occurs to him. "If you ask me, it sounds more like a tie."

[chenqing_player]

"There was nothing in the rules about not getting assistance." Because there wasn't really any rules. But that isn't what is important.

"I feel like with a tie you still somehow win."

[scotch_egg]

"It was implied. And you know, there is one important lesson that comes with ice skating and life. Do you know what that is?" Said as he deftly dodged around one of the kids, only just narrowly missing bumping into Wuxian.

[chenqing_player]

He becomes a little shaky and latches onto Alec's arm with his other hand, moving closer as he shoots a glare towards the kid.

"If this is the 'if you fall down just get back up again' kind of lesson, I prefer the one where I never fall."

But he looks at him with curiosity.

[scotch_egg]

"That's part of it aye. If you can't learn to get back up, your first fall is going to be your last one. BUt I think you're a stronger person than that." He does his best to steady him. "No the ultimate lesson is that life isn't fair. And neither is skating. Falling is inevitable and painful."

[chenqing_player]

"Wise words." He might be smiling just a bit as he steadies again. "But isn't that why you find someone to hold onto? So that you can keep each other from falling and lift each other back up when you do?"

Having someone to support the other person helps take some of that unfairness out of life and the odds of falling down also diminish slightly.

[scotch_egg]

It was bloody sentimental was what it was, but Alec felt charmed by it anyway. Wuxian was going to make someone a good partner one day, though he doubted he'd live to see it.

"Fair point, provided they've the arm strength." He tilted his head. "Ready to go on your own now?"

[chenqing_player]

He squeezes Alec's arm as if testing his arm strength, "Seems pretty strong." Grinning for a moment before it turns to a pout and pretends he wants to cry, "Do I have to let go?"

But he slowly let's go of Alec's arm. He already knows how this is going to go. He will start to get confident and then when he least expects it he is going to end up on the ground. Perhaps it is simply time to face the inevitable.