Not So Cold [Canada]

[Ivan Braginsky]

Ivan had taken the time to walk along the boardwalk border-lining the beach just below it, focusing contently on the ocean's waves rolling in and out and lapping at the sand. There was a salty scent to the moist air and a few birds were calling up above, plenty of features that the Russian wasn't used to whatsoever. The constant presence of the cold and winter he knew so well forbade any usual trips to the beach, and just as foreign was the feeling of the sun radiating warmth onto everything below it.

It was a nice change that he wished he could have experienced more often. There were people crowding the water and enjoying themselves with the various stands and activities going on. He didn't entirely pay attention to them however, barely even taking notice of the fact that he had just bumped into someone, just a tad shorter than him, along the way of his path. Perhaps it was because he was so distracted by his sightseeing, or the fact that whom he had just collided with barely even seemed to make an impact against him.

[Matthew Williams]

Matthew finally became weary of staying indoors. It didn't take him long to slip on his shoes and walk as far as he has. It seemed that time had passed him by and not vice-versa, and his legs did not stop. His thoughts were racing, and everything else was a blur. Matthew commonly daydreamed like this, whether it was on the ice or at home. It consumed the time, and Matthew had a lot of that on his hands.

After a while, a light, salty scent caught in his nose, a cool breeze erecting the hairs on his arms. Matthew's thoughts became paced, and he adjusted his glasses while his vision cleared from the center outwards. It sent a small buzzing through his ears, as if he had become deaf momentarily. His attention was brought to the civilians swarming the sand. He is an observant man to say at the least. The smallest, most insignificant things could be seen as amusing through his eyes.

Someone had been caught in the corner of his eye, a large man dressed in cold attire. The thing that really flared his interest was his snowy hair and scarf, a long jacket that dangled from his broad shoulders as he walked. The man seemed to be as empty-minded as he was moments ago.
Seeing as the two begun to cross paths, Matthew stepped to the side. He squeaked, being thrown off balance as their shoulders still clashed even after he had stepped to the side. Matthew let out a slight yelp of surprise. He paused for a moment, shifting his weight from one leg to the other to adjust before looking past his shoulder. It really held no effect on him whatsoever? Even if it did, the incident itself deserved some sort of apology; and that is what Matthew did. Turning a heel, he hopped back, taking a few large steps towards the man with caution, he pinched the thick tan cloth and lightly tugged. "I-I'm so sorry, sir...!" His voice managed to make a fool of himself yet again as it hitched in a slight panic.

[Ivan Braginsky]

The bump of the two strangers' shoulders was as light a feeling as the breeze in the air, absorbing the cooled temperature of the ocean water and wafting it over the heads of the various citizens, brushing against the skin of their faces. He would have resumed on his way, eyes closed and listening closely to the noises that surrounded, if he hadn't heard a peculiar noise that seemed to come from directly behind him. It was like a small yell, followed by a series of small steps against the wooden surface of the boardwalk..

Eyes opened and he took a moment to come out of his daze, blinking once or twice now that he had become more aware. He felt a small rustle of his coat as something tugged it against him; was something trying to get his attention? He turned around with a low, curious hum, met in surprise by the presence of a fairly tall male having stepped closer to him, letting off another strange high-pitched noise. His own eyes slightly widened as they stared down at those of nearly matching hue, sitting behind a pair of glasses. His hair was much longer and sported one odd strand that stuck out. Hadn't he seen something like that before?

"Chto?" he said softly, trying to grasp in his mind what exactly he was being apologized to for, and with the use of such a formal address. Regardless, it didn't seem to bother him much as his head had tilted just a tad and a smile was already curling his lips. "What for? Is there somethink you needet?" His gaze hadn't wandered far, intent on watching the unfamiliar man.

[Matthew Williams]

S-so he was Russian....? It seemed like it.
Matthew's cheeks burned with embarrassment as he soon realized that he had made a fool of himself. Watching eyes that were much like his widen, the only difference is that the color seemed to corrupt into a deep indigo when reaching the ends, he chewed on his lower lip. It felt like he was shrinking under the man's stare...! His curl twitched. How would he get himself out of this?

That had to be Russian....maybe Hungarian...it was definitely European. The Canadian identified every bit of the man, seeing as he was being stared down and had no other choice. Besides, his features were interesting. It didn't look like he saw much sun, but that pale color degraded to a light, barely noticeable pink when it reached his lips an--was he smiling?! The air became heavy, like a dark veil, but his smile stayed innocent and pure. Pure as the untouched snow. He sparked an interest in Matthew.
"I-I, e-eh-" Now came his verbal tic with a sole purpose to kill the Canadian. "I h-had b-bumped i-into y-you sir, and I thought that you deserve-ed an ap-ap-p-pology, eh!" Matthew knew it was far too much to be said to a stranger for such a simple problem, but Matthew couldn't tear his eyes from this man.

[Ivan Braginsky]

The reddening of the fellow pale man's cheeks was almost taken notice of, though the abrupt movement of that one stray strand of hair distracted him. It was a wonder how such a shape stayed in place, and that its darker color didn't seem to match the blond tone of the rest of his hair.. His fingers twitched longingly, but he refrained himself from touching, although being thoroughly unaware as to what sort of mess that would have lead to if he did.

He couldn't quite put his mind on where this man might be from, but he could tell from his drawl that he was different. Hearing that unfamiliar sound that hung at the end of the boy's sentences and the quietness of his voice kept his interest, and his eyes slipped peacefully shut for just a moment.

"You dit?" he continued on casually, the expression on his face and the mere fact that he was still standing there while the other blond nervously rambled to him making it apparent - although, most often, it wasn't easy to tell from him - that he wasn't upset by what had happened. It still wasn't clear what the other seemed to be so nervous about. "I dit not notice, so it is fine."

The people nearby them and the cool beach setting were finally coming back into mind, his previous thoughts now almost completely lulled away; but his eyes still didn't stray away from the man for too long. He already didn't want their attention to break off, nonchalantly continuing to speak. "Haff you ever been somewhere like this before..?" he said, head tilting ever so slightly.

[Matthew Williams]

The eyes that he had gazed into had fallen closed. Then again, eyeing the taller man probably just made him look odd, but he had not seemed bothered, Matthew realized. Why he cared way an awful lot about the two crossing paths was unclear. A movement in the corner of his eye was captured. Glancing down for a moment, he saw his rather long fingers twitch. This puzzled the Canadian, but he said nothing. His eyes trailed back up his figure to his slightly rounded face. A face of a child, that was for sure. It was....rather cute.

The other was obviously amused by something. Once his eyes opened, Matthew had already stolen a glance before looking past his shoulder towards those at the beach. His words rung in his ears, making the Canadian flush. He rolled his wrists before speaking. "S'that so....I'm sorry." With this, his curl twitched ever so slightly, and his eyes reverted back to the other.

A cool breeze shook though his golden locks as well as the other's cream-colored hair that seemed to naturally curl with his head. It ruffled his short bangs and it took all of Matthew's power not to fix them, as he usually would with anyone else.
It struck Matthew as an odd question, seeing as by now, the conversation would just end as 'it's okay.' or 'No worries' or something, and then they would part, but it's not like Matthew minded the extra time spent here. The sun wasn't going to kill him, even though he was wearing his usual red hoodie and skinny jeans. Not like he had anything else to do. Matthew thought of his answer, a sweet smile creeping onto his peach lips and he looked away thoughtfully. "A few times, whenever my brother drags me here, but I just don't like warm places, eh."

He noticed his head, and his smile widened, the creases in his tainted cheeks stretching with it.
Going up on his tiptoes, his interest converted themself into action as he reached upwards towards the taller figure and with his thumb, gently pushed his bangs away from his sight. His hair seemed thin, but the color had to be natural. He hadn't noticed his action, actually. It was a childish act in itself. Along with this, plus his smile, came his words of curiosity. "Ah, y-your name?"

[Ivan Braginsky]

To him there was nothing that stood out about how they were acting toward each other, making it out as just as normal a situation as anything else. He wasn't exactly thinking about it in the first place, much more absorbed in the immediate interest they seemed to have in each other, and how he found himself almost drawn to the way the other man was acting. He seemed so gentle and careful in his actions and naturally timid and quiet, from what he had seen so far, and he couldn't help taking a liking to that.

Even if the conversation were to end there like that, at this point he wouldn't have been keen on the two turning and going on their separate ways and would possibly try and keep him here by any means. His own smile had grown all the more in tune with the other's, catching the happy, content vibes coming from the other blond in sync with his own - and, aside from that, the apology went verbally unanswered.

Although he could feel his hair grazing gently against his forehead from the breeze, it was nothing compared to the harsher weather he was so used to and went just barely noticed. Again, eyes flickered onto the curled strand moving obviously with the wind, looking like it was going to detach any moment.. but it again got away with receiving any attention when his own attention returned back to their conversation. The sudden change of subject didn't seem to bother him either, as he was purposely looking for something for them to continue talking about. "Ah?" he started in his childish voice, "You do not? I haff always wisht to liff somewhere warm. Livink in colt all of time is like nightmare. Ant I rarely get to see beaches."

The increasing smile on the blond's soft features pleased him all the more, almost not even noticing that he was beginning to rise on the tip of his toes. Amethyst eyes were quickly following the thumb, however, as it reached just above them, feeling it so gently swipe those pesky strands of snowy-blond hair out of the way. He blinked a few times and felt a small shiver down his spine from the sincerity of the smaller boy's move, followed afterward by a short giggle falling from the Russian's lips. "My name~?" he said as if he forgot they haven't even introduced themselves yet. "It is Ivan, ant what is yours?"

One hand had thrust itself into the Canadian's and gave it a forceful handshake, while the other couldn't help but lift up and take hold of that curl between his thumb and index finger, giving it a little pull. "Ant what is this~?"

[Matthew Williams]

Matthew cocked his head slightly to the side as he caught the other's answer. If he had enjoyed warm weather, why was he dressed so heavily? "Eh? Living in the cold isn't too bad, especially when you have lived in it your whole life." He shrugged before looking off to the sea. He giggled, voice as soft as ever. "But it is always nice to visit places like these every so often."

Matthew's broad shoulders slumped and his head spun less as he begun to relax around the man. He couldn't help it. Though it was not a good quality to carry, he layed a sense of trust on others very easily just by what he was feeling. Even if he was untrustable and Ivan's face was decieving, he still would treat him with kindness. And then he realized what he had done before his own question, and his lips split in shock, heart sinking.
T-To a complete stranger?! B-But he...giggled? It didn't seemed forced at all, and when pulling away, Matthew could have sworn he felt him shiver. He took a small step back in embarrassment, one he hoped went unnoticed.
"Ivan?" The name seemed to roll off of his tongue with a giggle as he repeated it back. "That's a p-pretty name..." Matthew mumbled, hopefully being able to go unheard. "E-Eh? ...O-Oh! M-Matthew."
With this, before the awkward Canadian was able to rub the back of his neck in even more embarrassment, it was quickly taken in the larger hands of Ivan's. Matthew's hand was like a rubberband before he gave a weak shake back.

And then it happened.
The last thing he wished or thought of. His cheeks flooded with a dark crimson, eyes wide before they shut tightly. He let out a small, breathless squeak while his free hand reached up to cover his mouth. Seeing as he couldn't unwravel his other hand with the death grip it was in, he reached up to his forehead and placed fingertips on Ivan's hand in an uncontrolled reaction before thin fingers wrapped around his hand. The hair on his arms stood and he begun to studder and moan slightly, shoulders hitching. "I-I-ah, it's-s--, p-please d-don't tou-ouch, e-eh~~"

[Ivan Braginsky]

"I haff lifft in it all my life," he interjected quickly, sounding serious for just a moment although the beaming expression hadn't left his face. Matthew's giggling was like velvet to his ears and only coaxed more from himself; and it was noticeable that he was growing more comfortable with his words, yet still seemingly embarrassed for reasons he didn't yet pick up.

But before he knew it, the other's face was suddenly rivaling a tomato and he had taken a step back and away from him, those round purple eyes squeezing shut. His own pair were blinking in a mesh of curiosity and confusion, watching Matthew practically shrink down before him. His hand had released the shake but the other remained occupied, tightening its grip between his fingers to tug the curl and attempt to press it down against the rest of his hair. It was just a strand of hair, wasn't it...? Still, his mind hadn't yet made the connection as to what was making Matthew react this way.

His gaze briefly flicked onto the hand that was now curled around his own, then back to studying the flushing male's face, his mouth parted slightly. Hearing the unexpected noises coming from him, the Russian couldn't help but feel a small rush of heat and a tint of pink to his own cheeks, taking little notice of the few nearby citizens that had stopped to stare at them quizzically. "Matvey..? Do not touch? Why not~?"

He had already stopped tugging it, at least, but his hand seemed to be stuck in place.

[Matthew Williams]

It felt as if Matthew was being driven up a wall. This couldn't get any worse. With every slight movement, twist and tug, The Canadian's face had blossomed into a deeper shade of crimson. His mind had begun to blur, eyes kept close as his hands begun to slightly shake, followed by his knees buckling. With his other hand finally freed, he wrapped it around Ivan's much larger hands, biting the inside of his cheek as an attempt to stop himself from moaning anymore. He gave the other's hand a small squeeze before squirming in the place he felt he was going to die in. His name being said in the heavy accent drowned in the innocent voice of a child did not help at all. He opened half-lidded eyes at the man, staring up with sincerity before stuttering out the words he could barely pronounce. "I-it'ss s-se-sensit-tive, e-eh~~" He exhaled through parted lips, eyebrows threaded as he continued to cringe while his hands begun to run in circles on the perfect, pale skin of the Russian's. Why did his ahoge have to be even more obnoxious than his brother's? "P-Pleaasee, I-Ivan~" A moan escaped along with what sounded like 'Maple' while he spoke.

((Jen, what are you trying to do to my Widdle Mapleleaf, kill him?!))

[Ivan Braginsky]

It was hard to tear his eyes away from the reddening of Matthew's fair skin, how his limbs were shaking and he seemed ready to fall over. As confused as he still was himself, he rather liked the reaction before him as he would have with anyone, but something with the Canadian was particularly adorable. The words and the little moans coming from him didn't alleviate anything either, and he didn't realize what he was doing was making things worse. He caught the staring up at him and returned it, finding the slight begging even further satisfying and cracking a smirk.

Despite the two hands that were wrapped around his own, he dragged the tips of his fingers down the curl and straightened it out, only to see it spring right back into shape once he let go. His hand had finally lowered and let the ahoge go, but not before quickly giving the rest of Matthew's blond locks a flick to see if they had the same effect. He returned to watching the other male innocently. "Ufu, is it? It seems like silly think to haff, maybe you shoult get rit of it."

((*grins* Me, no way~))

[Matthew Williams]

The other's positive smile made the moment all the more dense. Matthew's chest swelled, finding it all the more demeaning which made his face burn. He locked gazes with Ivan through half-lidded eyes. Matthew watched his lips spread across his round cheeks before one eye closed itself.
Matthew sucked in a breath as he saw Ivan's hand stretch the curl, tightening his grip on his hand, breath then cut short before they were distributed through choppy moans. His eyes now watched his hand. The damn thing....and by this he meant his hand and his curl. Matthew kept his cold, slightly feminine hands wrapped around Ivan's much larger hands in a shaky grip, relieved that he was able to breathe correctly after that incident, though his face was currently stained. He shuddered as the light flick of the fingers dashes through his locks, but he could care less. Seeing the show he had put on, he had assumed that the other wanted to leave or something, thus Matthew kept a light grip on his hand if he wanted to. If Ivan even saw that as an option. Even so, Matthew looked away, unable to look elsewhere. He shot a few glances over to those enjoying the warm weather, but thought nothing of it.
The thought of 'getting rid' of his curl entered his mind and hs eyes widened. I-I'm s-sorry about...e-eh, t-that." He apologized like a young child would their parental figure, innocence painting his lips as it seeped into his words. He looked farther over his shoulder, not willing to make eye-contact while his hands stayed around Ivan's.

[Ivan Braginsky]

Things resumed as if nothing out of the ordinary had passed just then, no matter how long the sweet image of Matthew's flushed face and the realization of what touching that part of his head did was etched into memory. Attention from those walking around them eventually began to fade away, feeling with relief that the slight reddening of his own face had ebbed away as well. He followed what it was the blond was watching and peered down at their hands along with him, showing no signs of protest against the one still latched on to his own, although it made him curious. Once looking back up it was clear that the male's attention was on anywhere but himself.

"You do not haff to apologise," he replied anyway with another tilting of his head, briefly giving their hands a sway. At this point it would take a lot to pry his attention away from the other. He tugged on Matthew's wrist and began leading him off in the other direction and along the rest of the boardwalk. It could have been an effort to move on from the strange incident, but his interest was determined and there was still a lot to learn about the other man. "Tak, Matvey~ Where is it you are from?" He was leaning on the thought that he could have been American, but he seemed to be far different from those of said nationality that he has met before.

[Matthew Williams]

Matthew took another deep breath of the heavily salted air, it slightly stinging his nose before tilting his head a bit to the side, only to bring Ivan in his sight once again. Matthew by now had made out that Ivan made his curiosity stir. Something was unique, a bit particular, and Matthew couldn't help but think this silly encounter was by fate. Or he had been over thinking things, that too. Something flickered in Matthew's amethyst eyes. While with the man, it all felt a bit precarious, but he easily overlooked such a thing, bringing his sight to Ivan, and looked him in the eye. There was a sort of darkness when he spoke of himself which made the smaller man wonder.

"I'm sorr-err- I-I'm sorry-...!" He realized the circle this was going in and quickly caught himself, puffing his lower lip out in frustration. "Sorry...it's out of habit. He responded to his own slip-up. Ivan's stare didn't feel so much like a stranger's anymore. The tug took him by surprise, but he let himself become maladroitly pulled in the other direction. Walking with him couldn't be a bad thing.

"Where am I...from? He repeated under his breath. "Canada, eh. He answered somewhat hesitantly. Unknowingly, a smile curled on his face as he pushed away the uncomfortable feel of the conversation. With this, he also realized that it felt as if they had known each other for a while....no no, that was only him over thinking the simplest of things once again. "What about you? Where might you be from? He asked mirthfully, childishly giving their connected hands a sway.

((sdfghjklI'm so sorry for not responding in forever. Jen I love you >-< Please forgive meee~~))

[Ivan Braginsky]

He was pleased to have the other's attention once more, although now his own was distractedly focused on the direction in which they were headed - there was no particular destination in mind, and since the Canadian had succumbed to the tugging and was following him, there was no need for pulling him along. The two walked at a mutual pace, their connected hands swinging in rhythm with each step taken and with the pressing of the breeze against them - the lighthearted gesture brought no questioning or curious thoughts to mind, as if it was completely normal to do even though they had just met. It was a much better gesture than those he was used to seeing upon first approaching someone, and it was common that the Russian would do all that he could to make friendly relations with another.

He let loose another breathy laugh at the fellow tall man's habitual apologizing despite what he had said, pulling his forward gaze away to peek over at the frustrated blond again. "That must be unfortunate habit," he said with a continuing smile at the thought, though he put an end on the subject for now lest the habit would persist any further. "Kanada.." he repeated thoughtfully, hearing the accent in the boy's voice, whilst attention was returned ahead of them.

The many surroundings were eye catching; there were stalls and stands for various foods and games, lights abound and attractions providing for plentiful things to do. But for the time being he was absorbed in the conversation they were having, violet eyes watching the environment as they continued their path along, though he wouldn't object were the other to wish to stop somewhere. "I am from Russia.. but now I woult like to know, is it nice there~? Not as colt?"