It really felt like they were in a cartoon. One of those silly American cartoons where gravity only kicks in of you look down.

>> "If I had a wooden leg, that would have made more sense."

She did not really understand what he was talking about. One thing she knew for sure about the guy by now: he was jumpy as a freaking squirrel.

>>"Squirrels must be rabid around here...."

"I think dey just feel safe. You are not supposed to hurt animals in a zoo."

That would just be... wrong.

"But, we can go somewhere else." she offered, and held out a hand to help him back on his feet. He was an adapted, and as one, safe to touch. What a relief. That alone made Sveta smile again.

"You are still an adapted." she noted

The secret to NYC squirrel's behavior had been perfectly summed up by this fine woman. They must all live in the zoo, then branch out their nutty behavior to the rest of the city. Never had he in his life seen squirrels get so close to a human being, and never had he seen one climb up a person. Maybe this particular squirrel had been raised by human, raised off a bottle and such. Still, it shouldn't be climbing up his pant leg and most certainly needed to learn legs were not trees. Reaching out to the extended hand, he took a hold of it. Hey, he wouldn't say no to holding a hand, even if it was only offered to aid him to his feet. Grasping her hand, he took the offer.

While rising to his height, he stopped midway to kiss the back of the hand of Sveta. "I am in debt to you again." Upon standing flat foot again, he gave a slight pat to Sveta's hand that he held. "Do you think the penguins would pardon us if we took refuge inside for a bit till the...squirrels scatter along someplace else?" It cost money to go in the zoo, and he certainly wasn't going to throw that money away because some silly squirrels insisted on making him leap like a jar full of jumping beans. He would have liked to spend another hour or two watching the penguins.

Lowering his voice, Eion leaned in a bit. "Its rather foolish and all, but they make me rather...well I think that goes without saying." A slight nervous laugh escaped from his mouth as he let go of her. Straightening up, the Irishman started to smooth out his pants, patting away the dust that might have collected on them from the ground. "Last time I checked, I do believe I could be considered an adapt and unless the unchangeable changed, it would seem I am stuck being just that forever." Looking behind him, he tried to get a view of his backside. "I hope this isn't to forward, but how does my rump look?"

>>"I am in debt to you again. Do you think the penguins would pardon us if we took refuge inside for a bit till the...squirrels scatter along someplace else?... Its rather foolish and all, but they make me rather...well I think that goes without saying."

Sveta chuckled, trying really hard not to sound like she was laughing at him. There was plenty to laugh about, but she was more polite than to just rub it in. Everyone had their own little phobias. Sveta's was touching people. She was really in no position to laugh at... quirrelophobia? She nodded yes, and glanced at the penguins. They did not disagree.

>>"Last time I checked, I do believe I could be considered an adapt and unless the unchangeable changed, it would seem I am stuck being just that forever."

She nodded again. So he knew what he was, that made things easier. Also, very comfortable. She let go of his hand, and enjoyed the momentary silence without the usualy coffee buzz. That was worth a bit of actual coffee.

>>"I hope this isn't to forward, but how does my rump look?"

Cute.

"It looks okay" she observed very seriously "I hope you did not fall too hard. I am not used to carrying people."

Yeah, way to not rub it in.

"So, my name is Sveta. What's yours?"

On the positive side, she wasn't offended by his request of checking out his backside. After spilling coffee on her, then leaping into her arms, it was good to know he wasn't offending her in any way. Examining her face, he couldn't see any signs of discomfort or disgust. This was very nice, and highly beneficial to himself. Two wrinkle lines curved upwards from the corners of his eyes while another set of two winkles curled down in the same location from the ends of his eyes. With a simple smile, his eyes shone brightly. His lips didn't have to stretch far, for it was with the eyes that the center of the smile gravitated from.

"I am sure I will be fine, thank you for your modest concern." over my rump . His eyes sparkled slightly with his reply. Taking a moment to straighten himself out more, Eion tilted his ever so slightly and offered out his hand again. "That is a very lovely name. It is my pleasure to meet you." The brown eyes looked deep into her face, searching for signs of anything. Yes she had told him that she had a boyfriend, but relationship status didn't mean much unless their was a ring on the finger. With that lacking, he was free to admire.

"My name is Eion, but if you prefer to call me something else, we can make arrangements." Letting go of her hand, if it was given, the Irishman gave a soft smile. With a clearing of his throat, his eyes drifted away for a moment. "Shall we go inside, or would you prefer more heroic endeavors concerning a silly Irishman?"

>>"I am sure I will be fine, thank you for your modest concern. That is a very lovely name. It is my pleasure to meet you. My name is Eion, but if you prefer to call me something else, we can make arrangements."

Sveta blinked at him, once again confused. Why would she want to call him anything else but his name...? A strange name as it was.
Maybe she did nt understand him right. It was kind of hard to follow the way he talked.
He had a nice smile though.

>>"Shall we go inside, or would you prefer more heroic endeavors concerning a silly Irishman?"

"Um..." she wrinkled her eyebrows "so... you are Irish?"

That explained so much...