"Well, we have not gone far, so if you will be waiting a moment, I will ask them." Ivan responded, figuring that he would at least be able to find his way back over the short distance to where Alfred was. Darting back into the office, he hastily queried the staff, before returning and informing Alfred of the location according to the staff. It was a named room (insert name here), and not one that he knew where to find, but he'd been told that Alfred would know where to find it.

"What is the energizer bunny?" Ivan wondered aloud, bemused, after relating to Alfred where his luggage was being held. "You do not seem like a bunny to me - those are more timid and nervous, and they eat their poop." He pointed out bluntly, amused and figuring that saying something like this might allow him to hear Alfred's laughter again. "You remind me more of a puppy - those are known for running around and bouncing and making noise and being friendly."

"The staff ladies said that it wasn't far to the room they mentioned, and that other people's luggage had been put there also - I will recognise mine, do not worry, but I am wondering whether I will see any others who are new to this land." He mused aloud, pondering the matter. What countries would they come from, he wondered? Ah, but it was just as possible that his timing and theirs would totally miss one another.

Ivan's mentioning of the room was met by a nod from Alfred, who set off in that direction with his hands slipping into his pockets. When he heard Ivan's comment about bunnies he had to take a moment to thin on it before he burst out into loud, amused laughter, having to lean against a locker to keep himself upright.

((It's okay uvu -pets gently-))

((Thanks ^_^))

"Ah, you are welcome~" Ivan responded, a little bit flustered. He hadn't really expected Alfred to say something like that, but he definitely couldn't disagree with him there. Truth to tell, Alfred did look very nice - which made Ivan feel self-conscious about his own appearance, thinking that he looked pretty drab next to his new friend. "Oh, that? Ah, it was cheaper to get these ones. My last suitcase was paler, but the zipper-thingie broke off, among other things." He replied, when Alfred spoke of his luggage. "I do prefer the lighter colours, but these were cheap and sturdy."

"Da, thank you, that sounds perfect~" Ivan smiled, already picturing the flowers again in his mind's eye. He liked to be able to relax outdoors without worrying about anything, and to be able to do so with a friend would be quite nice. Would Alfred think it was strange if he wanted to look for pictures in the clouds, he wondered? It was a little childish, but it was calming and sometimes funny. Well, whatever they ended up talking about, they would be out in the fresh air.

"As for the Smash game, I think that it can wait - though I am looking forward to it." Ivan finished, unaware of Alfred's train of thought. He had never encountered Nintendogs, though he would probably find it to be right up his street. He'd heard of Kirby, though, and found the creature's appetite both hilarious and fascinating. On that subject, he was prone to wondering how it worked, and trying to figure out whether there was anything that Kirby could not or would not consume.

Alfred nodded and turned to start back out of the college, smiling. "The park then a movie marathon it is, then," he responded, his bounce present in his step once again. "I might get on Youtube to show you the Energizer commercials first though so you can better understand why I called myself the Energizer bunny," he added, looking up at his companion.

"Hmm? Okay." Ivan replied, following Alfred as the other began to talk about the bunnies again. Well, at least these bunnies were unlikely to go blaargh and wave plungers around. The ones that did were funny, but it wouldn't really be appropriate for selling batteries. "I like YouTube, there are many funny things on there~ Lots of songs, also. I found that playing around on that website helped me practice for understanding this language, back when I was learning it."

"Really? Spasiba! That is very kind of you~" Ivan blurted, startled, before realising that he had lapsed briefly into his own language. "Ah, I meant thank you. I have got good handle on this language now, but I do make little slips sometimes." He had never been randomly offered a gaming handheld before, and he was quite pleased by the idea of it. "If you are certain that you want to give this thing to me, then I would be happy to receive it~" Possibilities were already dancing behind Ivan's eyes, and he wondered what kind of handheld it was.

"A water park?" Ivan asked, once more in the passenger seat of Alfred's car. He didn't tend to be too keen on small spaces, but cars had windows, so he'd never had much of a problem with them on relatively short journeys. "That sounds interesting. I am glad that I remembered to pack my swimming trunks now~ I have not been to such a place for some time, but I like the idea."

Alfred had to cover his mouth to hide the giggles over how positively /adorable/ the large Russian's outburst had been. And as for the brief lapse, Alfred had felt he already knew the meaning of the word. Maybe it was because of the context?

Ivan didn't notice Alfred's amusement over his outburst, as he had been distracted by a bird he'd spotted through the window, and he had only returned his gaze after the tell-tale ex
pression had fled. "That sounds like fun. There is a new version? I did not know that. You are a very nice person - you know that, da?"

The idea of going shopping for swimming trunks with Alfred amused Ivan, as he had heard many things about shopping in America - some of them a bit ridiculous. The mental image of himself in garish Hawaiian-print trunks of day-glo rainbow hues sprang unbidden into his head, and he had to giggle - more so when he pictured the same thing, but with cartoon characters on them.

"Allergies? I have none that I am aware of, so that is okay. Thank you for asking, though, it is nice to know that you care about my health." Ivan responded, fidgeting with his scarf yet again - though it was a subconscious habit, and he was unaware that he was doing so. "Ah, do you really think that I am cool? Nobody has said that to me before."

Alfred smiled, glancing over at the Russian with a more sincere ex
pression than he had been wearing throughout the day, those being more out of amusement than anything else. "Well, hey, the Golden Rule, man. Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. And even beyond that, I'd hate to imagine a world where people don't help eachother out," he told him, taking another turn and slowing to a halt. After putting the car in park he cut it off and leaned back, motioning towards his window. "And there you have it. Our nearby park," he told him.

Something in Alfred's words and ex
pression spoke to Ivan, but he didn't know how to respond, so he settled for nodding. He would have said something, but he couldn't reach any words that would be a good response. He was rescued from his moment of awkwardness by their arrival at the park, and he unbuckled himself eagerly, following Alfred out into the sunshine. It looked wonderful - with many of the flowers he was fond of, and others that he was not familiar with. There were bushes, and the occasional tree, benches, grass, and a pond with ducks in it. Just the sort of idyllic setting he'd been hoping for. "Ah, it's so pretty~" He sighed, taking in the sight.

"Really? I am flattered - I had not thought that I was cool. Perhaps it is something that one cannot tell oneself?" Ivan replied, after listening to what Alfred had to say. It took him a moment to place the word 'chill' as equivalent to cool, but he got there. "Do not other people put up with you? They must be not very patient. It is not hard to talk with you."

Strolling gradually towards the nearest bench, in no hurry and making sure that he did not outpace his friend, Ivan continued to listen. He was momentarily taken aback when the other mentioned nicknames, and he smiled. "Nicknames? There are many nicknames for existing names in Russia, although yours does not have one, and other types of nickname as well. For my name, for example, the simplest is Vanya - it is a friendly nickname. However, if someone wanted to be mean, they might call me Vanka - is ruder. Longer nicknames based on actual name are for closer relationships, like family and romantic people. For you, I would probably use Alfya - I think it fits you better than Fredya would. If I didn't want to use your name in it, though, I might call you Lyeta - summer - although that is not a usual nickname, it would work. Similar is Solnyshka, which is for sunshine, or little sun. Ahh, but I am babbling now, please excuse."

Ivan had no idea why he had rambled on like that - he hadn't thought that he would, but his tongue had run away with him. He did sometimes like to explain things, but usually after thinking about it first. This had just seemed to slip out naturally. He was panicking a little inside, hoping that his foot had not found its way into his mouth.

Alfred chuckled gently. "I tend to wear other people out it seems," he responded with an idle shrug. "It's a skill to be able to put up with me fr long periods of time since it's usually hard for me to sit still."

"Ah, I see. I do not mind you being so frequently in motion, it is just a part of you." Ivan responded simply, shrugging. "Ah, it is?" He reacted, relieved that he hadn't irritated Alfred, but uncertain how best to proceed. "I suppose that a lot of Russian nicknames tend to be that way. I guess you could say that cute nicknames are a part of the culture." At the moment, the adorableness on Ivan's mind wasn't the diminutives, it was that ex
pression. Alfred looked so innocent and sweet, as though butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. "Ah, well, you seem to me to be a very warm person, and - ahh - you have hair that shines like the sun. Does that answer your question?" Ivan was still fretting a little, wondering whether Alfred would find his reasoning silly, sappy, or otherwise inadequate.

For some reason, he had the oddest feeling that he had already said something like this to Alfred before, almost hear his voice calling him by his primary diminutive. It puzzled him for a few moments, before he recalled what he had said in the coffee shop - but not been heard to say - and put the rest down to wishful thinking. "You do? Well, I would not want to be Pookie either. I think I actually did meet a dog with that name once, but it could have been something else." It was cute, the way that Alfred wrinkled his nose, and Ivan suppressed a giggle. It looked as though Alfred was fine with the things he had said, so he was not worried anymore. "Do you want to sit down?"

Alfred nodded at the explanation and smiled. "Well then, you can call me whichever of those you want and I can call you Vanya, if that's okay with you," he said with a grin, nodding slightly and sitting down when asked. "I'm pretty sure I've come across several dogs named Pookie," he said as he leaned back on the bench, idly pulling his legs up so his knees touched his chest. It was a common stance he'd adopted since he spent so much time on his couch either playing video games or reading and it just was comfortable for him.

((That sounds both funny and believable~))

"I can? Thank you~ I think I like all of them, though, so it could depend on context or whim. I am certainly okay with being called Vanya~" Ivan responded happily, beaming. He sat down next to Alfred, crossing his legs and leaning back. He was mildly curious about his friend's stance, but it seemed right somehow, and he was too happy to really care about why. If Alfred was comfortable, that was all that mattered about it.

"I am? I had not thought that. Usually, I find it hard to make friends, so I suppose that I thought I was cold. With you, though, it seemed to happen very easily~ I think part of that is in the way that you are so bubbly and friendly - which is part of why I think you are warm. Left to my own devices, I am usually quiet and by myself." Ivan had been winding one end of his scarf around his left hand as he spoke, absentmindedly. He was flattered that he had been called warm, but he didn't really believe it for some reason. "Hmm? Oh yes, I do. I like to look for animals in the sky~ Right now, I can see a lion - right over there, you see?" Ivan replied, pointing upwards. That ex
pression really suited Alfred, he mused, but he wasn't going to say so - it might change if he did.

Alfred nodded to show he'd heard his friend, looking over at Ivan when he'd pointed out the lion before following where his finger was actually pointing. This was met with a grin and him lifting his arm as well. "I do, yeah, and the one beside it kind of reminds me of a whale," he responded. Getting to do this with someone, even at the age they were currently at, was rather...amazing. It felt nice, being allowed to act childishly for a little while, to pretend that he wasn't an adult with adult problems and things he had to do.

((For me, this is around one in the afternoon, and I'm going somewhere from around three up until about five - just thought I should let you know))

"Ah, I can see that too, although it looks like a bit of a roly-poly whale. Do you see the kitty?" Ivan responded, also revelling in the opportunity to act like a child. He always relished such opportunities, and being able to do so with a like-minded friend was a rare treat - although maybe not so rare anymore. That thought made Ivan feel warm inside, like a little snuggle. For one as lonely as he, such things were precious.

"Ah, well, it is a rougher way of saying it - is seen as more abrasive and coarse, like something a lout would be saying. I do not know how to explain why this is so." Ivan replied, shrugging. "Do not be worrying about it, Alfya. I am not fully understanding your culture either. We can help each other, da? I will not hold your mistakes against you, if you will not hold mine against me~"

"I do, yeah," Alfred responded, pointing it out. "There's another one over there," he told him, pointing up in the cloud's general direction. "And there's a cute kind of dragon thing over there!"

"I see it, and it looks like it is blowing bubbles~" Ivan answered, looking at the little puffs of cloud that seemed to be emerging from the dragon thing's snout end. "I am glad that it makes sense - it would be difficult to explain things if I was being confusing." Ivan smiled, glancing back at his friend. "Hmm, I can see what you mean. It would be like someone from Russia not knowing where to find Siberia, or St Petersburg. I know that I would be annoyed about that. It is kind of disrespectful to not know simple things about the country that you were born to."

Ivan was startled when Alfred mentioned his point about the globe, and somewhat aghast. "Really? That is pretty bad. I hope it is only the really stupid ones - it would be sad if there were smart people who couldn't recognise their motherland on a map. Of course, even if it is stupid people, it is still worse than I would have thought. Kind of hurtful, da?" Ivan was affected in much the same way as Alfred, though he wasn't sure why. Perhaps this was what was meant by patriotism? Feeling the need to respond in some other way than merely with words, Ivan put his hand on Alfred's shoulder. It seemed like the right thing to do. "If it makes you feel any better, I am useless with GPS. It annoys me, and I end up abandoning it. Look, I see a bunny over there. Is it like the energizer?" Ivan hoped that, by shifting the topic back onto the clouds, he could cheer Alfred - and himself - back up again.

((No problem))

Alfred nodded at the assessment of the bubble-breathing dragon, smiling. "Yeah, and I'm pretty sure there are people who wouldn't be able to find Washington D.C. on a map either," he responded with a deep, heavy sigh. He wasn't sure why it mattered to him so much, but it did. Almost on a personal level.