(no subject)

[wisecracked]

WHO: Kenzi and Gil
WHERE: The Zoo
WHEN: 8/10; Morning/Afternoon
WARNINGS: Kenzi's mouth? Gil freaking out over very big cats?
SUMMARY: Kenzi told Gil she was going to take him to the zoo...so they're going.
FORMAT: Quick

[It's nine in the morning and Kenzi...is running a little late. She gets up early enough, early for her anyway, and gets ready to go. Dresses in a light dress and somewhat sensible, as Kenzi doesn't really do a shoe below a three inch heel, shoes; she's even wearing sunglasses and some sunhat that goes along with her dress like Gil said she should. Her bag has sunscreen, which she's already slathered on, and some water in it for the day. One last check to make sure she had everything that would be needed and she's out the door.

The trip doesn't take long but traffic and everything else keeps her.

At the entrance she catches sight of Gil quickly enough, he really does stand out in a crowd, and rushes over.]

Sorry I'm a little late.

Comments

[wisecracked]

[Kenzi hums thoughtfully as she tries to think of how best to explain it to Gil.]

Seals, much like dogs, can be trained to do tricks. Whales and dolphins can be as well but I don't know if they have all that here. [She shakes her head to keep from getting off the subject.]

Anyway, it's usually little stuff like jumping through hoops or playing out some tune on some horns or something like that.

[invoking]

Alright.

[ It's not as if he has anywhere to be and it's really Kenzi's day to relax. He nods as the exit the avian building. ]

They do this at all the zoos in the City?

[wisecracked]

All the ones that have the animals for it? [She shrugs. She hasn't been to any other zoo and this is her first time coming to zoo since arriving in the City. She's never been to New York so she can't comment there.]

[invoking]

Are there zoos without animals? [ Is that... possible? ]

[wisecracked]

[Kenzi laughs and shakes her head.] No, I mean not all zoos have the same animals so they can't all do the same things.

[invoking]

Oh, I see.

[ He slows down a bit to look at her. ]

Where are the seals?

[ Since she has the map and seems to know this place already. ]

[wisecracked]

Just follow me. [She speeds up a bit, leading the way to the aquarium and, subsequently, the big cats.]

[invoking]

[ At first he doesn't seem to notice what people are flocking to, but high pitched squealing from kids garners his attention quickly, so he looks to the area where everyone is gathering.

It takes him a moment to realize behind the crowds and the glass a lion lays lazily in its enclosure. The lionesses are moving about, playing with the large logs in their den.

He slows down again, eventually coming to a full stop, eyes widening and the colour draining from his face. ]

[wisecracked]

[Kenzi just keeps moving along, completely oblivious to Gil's fear of cats. She pauses after a few stops, turning to say something to Gil only to realize he's frozen a few feet away. She stares at him for a moment before walking back over with her brow furrowed in confusion.]

Why'd you stop?

[invoking]

[ As much as he wants to, he can't tear his eyes away from the lions. Why are they close to this enclosure in the first place?! ]

Those are...

[wisecracked]

[Kenzi follows his gaze then slowly turns back to him. Is he afraid of the lions? Well, she can't blame him; they are big and dangerous.] Lions, yeah. They can't do anything to us so just c'mon. We wanna get good seats, don't we?

[invoking]

[ He jerks to life without warning and he begins to back far away, as if those lions pose a threat to him despite being behind glass. Some people passing near them slow and stare at Gil's eccentric behavior. ]

Cats?! Why is it so close?!

[wisecracked]

[Kenzi's eyes widen, hands going up in front of her with palms toward Gil out of reflex. She quickly glances around, noticing the few stares before moving toward Gil and trying to place her hands against his chest.]

Shhhhh, shhhh. It's okay, calm down. We're just gonna go through here real quick, okay? [She'd probably laugh if she weren't so freaked out herself.]

[invoking]

[ He's almost as white as a sheet now. ]

Why do they have those things here?!

[ He's being irrational, not that he realizes it just yet. Meanwhile, some people find it rather rude he's referring to such adorable lions "things". ]

[wisecracked]

[Talking isn't getting through to him, at least not as long as he can see the lions. So this leaves her with one one option.

Not caring if anyone sees her Kenzi floats up so that she's face to face with Gil, her small hands clasping the sides of his face so he's forced to look at her. She even leans in so she's only a few inches away from him.]

Gilbert?

1/2

[invoking]

[ His hand prickles at first before its hot pain shooting up his arm. He yelps loudly, successfully distracted. ]

Gyaa!!

[invoking]

[ When did Kenzi get so tall?

He blinks, clutching his left hand while staring back at her. The colour returns to his face, although he's still visibly shaking and sweaty. Maybe he's a little too red now. ]

Ken...zi...?

[wisecracked]

[She always forgets about the hand. She blinks at him before lowering herself back down to the ground, hands still on his face and hopefully keeping him focused on her.]

Here's what we're gonna do, you're going to close your eyes and hold onto me and then when I tell you to open them again we'll be where the seals are. Okay?

[invoking]

[ It hurts, but he's not upset about it. He's more upset about the lions and the fact he had to see them. Why can't he ever escape cats, big or small?

Then it occurs to him she's touching his face. Contact. Skin on skin.

His face burns hotter with embarrassment. ]

C-Close my eyes?

[wisecracked]

[She can feel his face heating up but doesn't remove her hands, not yet. She continues to speak in as soothing of a tone as she can manage.]

Or you can just stare at the ground, just don't look around.

[invoking]

[ He feels ridiculous, but who knows if there are more big cats around? Apprehensively, he nods and shuts his eyes. ]

Okay...

[wisecracked]

[Unfortunately for Gil this means Kenzi has to get real close. She finally releases his face and moves to wrap her arm around his.]

Okay, I'm going to start walking now, ready?

[invoking]

[ He blushes again, though swallows and nods once more. ]

Yeah...

[wisecracked]

Okay. [She starts walking, staring off slow to make sure she doesn't just jerk him along then begins to speed up a bit. She figures the sooner their out of the big cat area the better for him.

She occasionally gives Gil the instructions to move left or right in order to avoid colliding into anyone and before long they're past the cats. She doesn't immediately release him, however.]

You can open your eyes now. [When he does so he'll find the aquarium standing before them. Like the avian house there's cartoonish paintings of various aquatic creatures on the walls. It also appears to be busier than the avian house was with families filtering in and out, mostly in. The children all excited and chattering about seeing the penguins and the seals.]

[invoking]

[ It's very tempting to peek just to ensure they're going in the right direction or that he's not about to walk into someone, but it's risking seeing big cats again and he's not feeling that daring.

Another horrible idea arises in his thoughts: what if they have certain feline-like animals roaming about freely?

He gulps, saying nothing. He doesn't want to know really.

When she assures him it's safe to look, he slowly opens one eye and then the other, gold eyes carefully surveying the area. It really does seem like it's for the sea mammals. ]

Ah...

[ He hasn't seen this much water since he and Donna flew over the ocean together. It's so blue and... charming, in its own way. ]