Going Swimmingly

[palmerthing]

 *Palmer has found a lake today and is giving it an uncertain kind of look. Not only is such a large outdoor feature a bit unexpected when there appears to be nothing in particular dividing it from the couches and chairs in the main area of the nexus, not only would he probably start turning into something aquatic on automatic as soon as he tried swimming, but he's fairly sure that he saw Gollum from The Lord of the Rings swimming in there and that's just too much weirdness for him. Not that he has any room to talk, but he's not up for that meeting yet. So he sits on the beach and watches the waves. Hopefully there won't be any merfolk or cartoon fish, one fantasy character at a time is bad enough.*

Comments

[save_us_alice]

[Alice shrugs a little, adjusting her grip on Chester] Hence the demonstration. . . [and watching Chester once again go straight in on his cone] Though I think you've already guessed how well THAT'S going.

[palmerthing]

Not very well? Yeah. But then babies don't get cause and effect yet, either.

[save_us_alice]

I think he's going to get an inkling in a little bit. [carries both Chester and her ice cream over to a table to handle them better -- and yup, there's Chester, whining again because of too much cold in his mouth. Fortunately Alice is able to get him to copy her again and warm it up with his tongue]

[palmerthing]

You'd think. I guess we'll find out?

[save_us_alice]

He's got to learn sometime. Though I think right now. . . [she takes the cone from him and scoops a bit off with her spoon, feeding it to him so he can't just try to eat the whole thing in one bite]

[palmerthing]

Probably for the best, yes.

[save_us_alice]

[Chester obviously doesn't quite agree, but as she's got control of his ice cream, he's got no choice but to eat what she gives him. Alice gives him a few more little bites before taking a few herself of her own ice cream]

[palmerthing]

*Palmer is happy to just watch them and eat his own ice cream for the moment. People-watching in general is fun for him, although that's probably the ambush predator thing.*

[save_us_alice]

[Perhaps, but as long as he isn't actually ambush-predating. . .as it stands, Alice manages to get them both through a decent chunk of the ice cream before Chester starts reaching for her bowl] What, you want the strawberry now? Well, you can try a bit. [gives him a spoonful, which he sucks down greedily]

[palmerthing]

*Palmer has been very good about not predating if he does say so himself.*

He seems to like it.

[save_us_alice]

[Alice chuckles as Chester keeps trying to grab at her strawberry bowl] Yes, he does. It's my favorite flavor, so -- maybe this is another thing he gets from me.

[palmerthing]

You really have such a great family, it's good to see.

[save_us_alice]

[shoots Palmer a smile] I do. I never -- after my parents died, I never thought I'd have a family again. And now. . .

[palmerthing]

May we all recover so well.

[save_us_alice]

Really. I'm very aware I'm extremely lucky. [hugs Chester, causing him to squirm because he doesn't want affection, he wants more ice cream]

[palmerthing]

*Palmer laughs a bit at the kid.* Regular little sweets fiend, isn't he?

[save_us_alice]

That he gets from me and Victor, if it's not just "standard small child personality trait." [she'll relent and give him a few more spoonfuls of both types of ice cream]

[palmerthing]

It's also a small child personality trait, though, so it's likely doubled now.

[save_us_alice]

Heh, you're probably right. Especially given how he tried to hug his ice cream before. [Chester attempts to get the spoon away from her, but she pulls it out of reach] Nooooo, you're not allowed to accidentally choke yourself on this.

[palmerthing]

Fairly sure that's not how you eat ice cream, kiddo. *He chuckles as the baby tries to steal the spoon.*

[save_us_alice]

[Chester whines briefly, but shuts up as Alice gives him another little spoonful of ice cream] He'll learn eventually. When he's older, and has better hand-eye coordination.

[palmerthing]

Right, that. Sometimes I almost forget that not everyone is born effectively an adult. I mean, he's small and hasn't got the best grasp on language, but I forget how much more to it there is.

[save_us_alice]

Well, you can -- er. All right, maybe you can't remember Palmer being a baby, that might be a bit too far, but surely you can still remember his childhood? For reference?

[palmerthing]

Yeah--but it's not my first thought, you know? I have to remember it, instead of it seeming blatantly obvious.

[save_us_alice]

Right. . .humans must be weird from your perspective. Actually, all animals with a proper juvenile stage where they need a parent to care for them must be weird.