Welcome to Gaia! ::

An indoor water park? Niko had never heard of such wonders, having only recently come to Gaia. The elf had stumbled across it while taking Demyx to the park one day--and silently he thought the infant would enjoy visiting it far more than their usual trip to the park and ice cream during the dead of winter. "Come on, Demy," he said, flicking black hair out of his eyes. He really needed to get it cut; he disliked looking so much like a modern teenager. He carried a diaper bag with a pair of swimming trunks for Demyx in it, as well as several other neccesities.

"Wader?" Demyx asked, looking around when they were inside. He'd never seen so much water in his life. And so many people! His eyes grew round in wonder. "Ooooh," was all the infant could say. That was until Niko took him to the booth where they were selling water wings, inner tubes and other water toys. Niko picked out a pair of blue water wings and gave the woman at the booth a few dollars; the amount given on the sign. "First we've got to put these on you," Niko explained to the curious infant. The elf sat next to an elderly woman, but he paid her little attention. He struggled to blow up the waterwings, and then had more trouble getting them on his squirming infant.

Ugh. Maybe swimming was too much of an ordeal. "I'll join you in a few," Niko said, putting Demyx on the steps of the swallow end after finally managing to get the wings on the tot. "Don't go far," he added. He didn't know how well Demyx could swim, even if the boy could control water.

Niko looked up, blue eyes blinking at the older woman for a moment. Oh, she meant him! He would have to get used to being called "young man"; he knew he looked the part. He moved to her side. "My name is Niko," he started, not exactly sure how to answer her question. "Well..." He didn't think a woman like her could do much harm; she was far too old to attack if he revealed what he was. Still, something at the back of his mind told him to be cautious. "I'm an elf," he said finally, tugging on one pointed ear.

Demyx gave a bright smile and returned the wave with some difficulty. He was finding it hard to move with the water wings; but that might have been because he wasn't used to them. He moved off the step his father had placed him on, and started to kick and splash towards Bailey.

"Well, some of us make toys, but yes, I come from the woods." Niko replied, trying to be helpful. "If you mean the tiny things that are supposed to make toys for that jolly giant--whoever he was. Sandy Cal-us or something, I think they were dwarves or something. Midgets. Gnomes." Whatever Gaians called people tending to be short and fat. "I've never come across a short elf."

Demyx was trying and failing to draw near to the toddler, flailing his arms in attempt to pull himself closer. Why wasn't the water listening to him? It usually did. It even danced for him, when he asked it to. But this! The water must have been stubborn. It wasn't letting him move very well at all. It was then that he realized the toddler was coming closer. A bright smile crossed the previously pouting face. Maybe they could be friends! Maybe they could play.

"Our children are often small," Niko replied with a nod and a smile. They tended to stay that way for a long time, too, but he wasn't about to tell her that. He paused at her question, not sure how to respond. Was it wise to reveal elven secrets to an elderly woman? Still, Niko thought it was likely that she would pester him until he did anyway. "Well, I'm over seventy," he admitted. That was good. He wouldn't tell her how old he was exactly; truth be told, he had past age seventy several decades ago. "I could show you some glamor tricks, if you'd like?" He wondered if the woman wanted to look or feel younger. It was true that he wasn't able to make her live longer--but--he could make her comfortable.

Demyx knew an offer when he saw one, and reached for the older child's hands. "Fank you!" he said, giving Bailey a smile. "How you do that?" How did Bailey make those bubbles? He wanted to, too!

Niko flushed. "I'm little more than that in our realm as well," he said, almost stiffly. He didn't like being reminded that he was still considered a child in elven eyes. "As long as my fiancee doesn't notice," he gave the woman a wink. Tish was too maternal; she'd never let him out of her sight.

Demyx stared for a moment. Then he tried mimicking the older child's actions. He put his face in the water, and took a breath. He smiled; he could breathe! Keeping his eyes open, he watched Bailey. He thought it was rather unfortunate that his water wings didn't allow him to go further under the water.

Niko smiled, before giving a sigh. "If she finds out, it'll be more likely that she adopts me rather than marries me," he muttered. "Or laugh. Either would be terrible fates." He silently hoped Tish remained ignorant of elven ways. "What about you?" he asked. "Tell me about your life."

Demyx pulled up from the water, spouting a tiny fountain of water from his mouth. "That fun!" he said with a smile. Then his short attention span veered to the older child's wings. "Ooooh. What those?"

"A nurse?" Niko looked interested. He had no idea the human race had become so intelligent. "She died? Poor thing," he muttered, looking to Bailey. "He must miss her awfully much." He knew he still missed his parents--though he tended to avoid thinking about them.

Demyx found Bailey's wings to be the most amazing thing he'd ever seen. Of course, it was rather easy to amaze an infant. "Oooh. Do it 'gain!" He wanted rings too! They were so pretty, and he was sure they'd help him play his sitar in some way.