ADVENTURE TIME!!! [Matt]

[PETAL PAIX]

Ah, picnics. They were Petal’s bread and butter. They kept her connected with nature even in the city. And plus, who didn’t like eatting outside while watching the clouds go by on a blanket? That’s just what she was doing. While listening to her Ipod of course. She was really getting into salsa music these days. It sounded really fun. The dance was amazing and Petal knew she just had to learn it. So there she was laying down on a blanket, eatting a chicken sandwich and trying to think of choreography for her salsa duet with Spencer.

She really didn’t know why she said she’d dance with Spencer. Salsa was definitely a beautiful dance when a couple performed it but… Spencer and Petal weren’t a couple! Salsa required you to be close and intimate with your partner. Your bodies move together. Why did she think she could do that with anybody? Especially Spencer? Maybe there was something more to the spiritual attraction she got to them. Petal’s mouth suddenly went dry and her palms felt sweaty. No, she didn’t. Not at all. She pulled the headphones out of her ears and sat up.

She needed to get away from dance for a while and try something totally different. The idea excited her. What could she do? Petal looked around wondered. While she was thinking, she finished her sandwich and began to eat a delicious strawberry scone from Gingey’s. That place was amazing! Finding it was an adventure though. Wait… That’s what she needed. An adventure! But to where?

[MATTHEW PETERSON]

As fun as adventuring alone was, there really was something about having a partner in it all that just made the thing that much more appealing. You couldn't go treasure hunting without a partner. Just like you couldn't go bungee jumping or sky diving and weren't supposed to go swimming without one either. Just about the only thing adventerous you could do was climb trees; and really, it was a good thing Matt didn't mind climbing them alone.

He'd been resting for a good five minutes or so when he heard it; the sound of someone invading his territory. Matt crouched low in on the branch where he was perched, his movements hardly making a noise. He was an expert at this, after all. Slowly--much too slow for his tastes, really, but it was necessary--he began to crawl forward until he could see just who this mysterious newcomer was. They had to be alone; Matt couldn't hear any voices. Maybe it was Addison, come to surprise him! He grinned at the thought; more at the idea of Addie ever being able to successfully sneak up on him than anything else.

The sight that greeted him was not Addison, however, but a stranger. A stranger, parked right beneath his tree! Matt had half a mind to chuck an acorn down at the girl for her stupidity, but rapidly decided against it. She didn't look as if she'd give any reaction worth getting from a measley old acron. Best to move on to plan B...

In one fluid--almost unnaturally so--motion, Matt, was hanging upside down from the tree, just a few feet away from the girl's head. The grin on his face was big as ever as he glanced down to the food she was holding. "Whatcha eatin'?" he asked merrily, hardly aware that such acts of spontaneity were generally frowned upon.

[PETAL PAIX]

Petal took in the park and wondered what she could do. If only she had brought some extra bread, she could feed the birds. She pulled out her ears plugs and paused the salsa music. She could go for a walk. Yes that sounded wonderful. The weather was nice enough and she might even meet some people. Or people walking their dog! She loved animals. Dogs were always so fun to play with. Petal had been thinking about getting a mascot dog for the studio but she never got around to asking her mom.

Wait type of dog should she get? A tiny on like a chihuhua or maybe a big, sweet one like a golden retriever. Or maybe a—

"Whatcha eatin'?

Petal jumped a little bit and looked up in awe. He was hanging from the tree! That looked so fun! It took Petal a second to realize the boy had asked her a question. “Oh, it’s a strawberry scone!” she answered him cheerfully. She pulled another one from he basket and gave it to the mysterious boy. “Here I have one extra, if you want it. They’re really yummy.”

The kid looked to be a few years younger than Petal. He probably was in high school. It was hard to tell upside down. She held her hand out and said, “I’m Petal by the way. What’s your name?” She was sure to have a warm smile. Not that she didn’t already. Petal was almost always smiling.

[MATTHEW PETERSON]

Matt couldn't help but laugh as the girl jumped upon hearing his voice; it was a loud, short burst however, and then he clamped his hand over his mouth and merely shook a bit, the smile behind his palm more than reaching his eyes. Once he'd finished, Matt merely cocked his head to the side in a rather childish like manner. "A scone...? he asked a tad apprehensively, hesitating a moment before jutting his hand out for whatever sort of delicious treat she was offering him. He did really like strawberries.

Matt took the offering without so much as a "thank you", taking a large bite out of the thing and replying with an upside-down, half-full mouth, "Dis is delerous," before determing that perhaps it would be easier to eat the thing while facing upright. One hand still holding the scone, Matt gripped the branch he was hanging from and flipped himself around effortlessly, so that he landed just a few paces away from the girl. He took another large bite of the scone. This time, however, Matt managed to swallow what food he was chewing before extending his hand with a grin. "Like on flowers, huh? That's a neat name. I'm Matt. Short for Matthew, but no one calls me that but my friend Addie. That's short for Addison," he added quickly, just in case Petal was unaware of the nickname.

[PETAL PAIX]

Petal looked curiously at the boy. He reminded her so much of herself. Well, what used to be herself. Had the stress of running the dance studio make her forget the fun of climbing trees and making merry? Nah, she’d just been busy.

"A scone...?”

“Try it!” Petal demanded cheerfully. She held it closer to his face and watched him snatch it up and take a bite. The whole act looked pretty comical.

"Dis is delerous,"

Petal giggled and watch him jump out of the tree and sit next to her. “I’m glad you like it!” she said. She watched him tear into the scone some more and covered her mouth to hide her giggles. He was pretty ahdorable. If Petal had ever had a little brother she’d want him to be just like—

"Like on flowers, huh? That's a neat name. I'm Matt. Short for Matthew, but no one calls me that but my friend Addie. That's short for Addison,"

Matt. That was his name. She’d definitely want Matt as her brother. It’d be fun every day! She never understood why her parents didn’t have any more kids. Being the only child was kinda lonely. She always expected to have a few brothers in the house when she came home. It was really trippy.

“Thanks Matt! Is Addie here or were just telling me that?” Petal asked looking up in the tree wondering if another person was going to pop out of it. That would be fun! Petal got up and flipped off her shoes. In a few swift movements she was up in the tree sitting. It was a pretty nice view up here, no girls though. “So watcha doing in the lovely Hyde Park today Matt?” Petal asked looking down at him.

[MATTHEW PETERSON]

Matt didn't like being ordered about, but that scone looked so wonderful...well, perhaps it would be okay to let the always-do-the-ordering-never-the-order-following rule slide for a quick bite to eat. It was dessert, after all, and dessert tended to be one of those things allowed to stretch Matt's solid lines of reasoning.

Upon hearing Petal's question about Addison, Matt shook his head, making a sort of face. He took another (the last) bite of his scone and swallowed. "Nah. She usually is, but she's off doing something boring today. Like going to the library, probably." he made another face and shook his head. Why Addison did the things she did sometimes...well, he would never really know.

"Hey! Hey! What're you doing?!" he snapped indignantly, staring at Petal in shock as she made her way onto a tree branch. "You can't--it doesn't work like that," he spoke with all the patience of a five year old, and the same amount of confusion as to why she didn't understand what happened when someone wanted to climb trees with him around. "I climb the tree first. And besides, you're doing it wrong," he added in a huff, her question about what he was doing in the park now completely forgotten.

Silent determination written on his face, Matt approached the tree without so much as giving it a once over, swinging his body around it once in a manner sort of resembling a gymnast. Ending up about a foot above Petal and a bit to her left, Matt, grinned as he looked down at her, evidentally thrilled at his successful attempt to show off. They were always successful when tree climbing was involved, however. He wasn't surprised. "That's how you climb a tree.

[PETAL PAIX]

Petal found this guy interesting. He reminded her a of little boy kind of. Petal didn’t have many boys in her dance class but when she did they were always adorable! They could talk your ear off about how they’re big and strong and like monster trucks and other man stuff. Sometimes they even did they’re little boy flirting which really didn’t bug Petal since they had no idea what the L word meant.

"Nah. She usually is, but she's off doing something boring today. Like going to the library, probably."

“The library's not boring! They have tons of books that could entertain you for hours and hours. One time I stayed there all night read this series about a lady pirate named Charlotte. It was amazing!” Petal said smiling. It was one of those few books with female characters that kicked butt. Definitely a good story.

"Hey! Hey! What're you doing?!"

“I’m just having some fun,” Petal said letting her legs dangle.

“You can't--it doesn't work like that I climb the tree first. And besides, you're doing it wrong,"

“Well, I decided to mix it up this time. You can’t have fun doing the same thing every time. It gets boring after a while,” Petal stated. She watched as Matt did some kind of fancy move and landed on the branch above her.

"That's how you climb a tree.”

“That’s pretty spectactular? Do you do gymnastics? You have to teach me that!” Petal exclaimed clapping for him. She was sure she could do that if he taught her how. Hopefully he’d be nice enough too.

[MATTHEW PETERSON]

Matt shook his head at her defense of the library, making a sort of scrunched up face as he did so. He wasn't buying it. Libraries were horrid places to spend one's time. What was the point of going anywhere if you couldn't talk in a normal voice? At the mention of exactly what stories Petal read, however, Matt perked up. "You like pirate sotires?" brown eyes wide as saucers, a smile crept over his face again, any trace of disagreement gone. "I love pirate stories! Or, well, ones where the pirates get killed, anyway," he shrugged absentmindedly.

" 'S not about doing the same thing every time," Matt interjected, clearly offended by her stupidity. "It's about--well, there are rules, ya see. And mosta the time you break 'em, but sometimes...I just always climb up first. Always." he nodded in a huff, half expecting Petal to mutter an apology and jump down straight away.

The response she actually gave, however, was even better. Matt's face lit up like a sunbeam, his cocky grin sliding over his face to take up everything else. "Nah. I'm too good for that stuff," he shook his head proudly. Gymnastics had far too many rules and regulations involved. Plus, those outfits didn't look all that comfortable, in Matt's personal opinion. Cocking his head to the side, Matt responded after a mere moment's hesitation. "I donno...I mean, I'm the only one that can do it properly, you know," he spoke sternly, in his best impression of someone speaking to a child who'd just asked to go bungee jumping for their seventh birthday. Not that he was worried about the danger--there was just a gigantic appeal to being the only one able to do something.

[PETAL PAIX]

“You like pirate stories?”

“Yep!” Petal said, “I love the ones with girl captains. The damsels ones are pretty silly to me.”

"I love pirate stories! Or, well, ones where the pirates get killed, anyway.”

“Hmmm… I like good pirates. The ones who pillage the greedy rich guys.” Petal let herself pretend he was a cute little boy from her elementary dance classes. That way he didn’t bug her or anything. He was too cute to walk away from just because he was a guy.

" 'S not about doing the same thing every time, It's about--well, there are rules, ya see. And mosta the time you break 'em, but sometimes...I just always climb up first. Always."

“Okay Mister.” Petal said holding her hands up in surrender. She tried to hide her giggles but failed miserably. She fell backwards and hung upside down.

"Nah. I'm too good for that stuff."

“I see,” she said. He looked even funnier upside down. Maybe Matt was tall for his age and he was actually only twelve. “Hey Matty, just out of curiousity, who old are you?” Petal said. She swung back you into the sitting position on the branch and plucked a few leaves out of her hair.

"I donno...I mean, I'm the only one that can do it properly, you know.”

“That’s why you should teach me. Then you won’t be the only one!” Petal suggested. “Then we should go on an adventure. I haven’t been on one in awhile.” He’d be perfect for an awesome adventure. Back home, she used to go on hikes with her friends in the uncharted woods. They’d find all sorts of cool places.

[MATTHEW PETERSON]

"Hmm..." Matt pondered the idea of a girl pirate captain for a moment before shaking his head. "But you can't kill girls. That's not fair," he remarked, making a face at the idea of it all. Obviously this Flower girl had never experienced a duel of any kind, or she'd know full well the great advantage gender alone had on the outcome of it all.

He shook his head again. "That's stupid. Everyone knows pirates are evil. Whoever writes books like that is a stupid liar," nodding, he crossed his arms over his chest with considerable amount of authority.

The instant Petal began laughing, Matt joined her, clutching his stomach as she toppled over the branch, no concern whatsoever for if whether or not she'd injured herself. If he could right himself easily, then she should be able to as well. It was an incredibly basic Mattism--the one that usually left him far ahead of anything resembling a crowd and wondering what sort of bumbling idiots he could've been grouped with for such a thing to happen.

Once the giggling fit had ceased, Matt paused to listen to Stem's question. He cocked his head to the side, turning it almost upside down so as to see her better. "Me? I'm..." he paused, brow furrowing as he mentally counted it out. "...Seventeen..." it sounded dreadfully old, now he said it out loud. For a moment, he couldn't help but pout. "Why?" he narrowed his eyes, quirking one brow upwards in suspicion.

He pondered her reasoning for a moment, stroking an imaginary beard for added dramatic effect as he did so. "Yeah, but if I'm not the only one, then--" his eyes lit up. He practically bounced with excitement. "An adventure?! Yeah! Let's do that! We could go narwhal hunting! Addie never wants to do that with me..." he paused, deciding to go with a slightly different approach. " 'Nless you've got a certain adventure ya wanna go on? Got any pirates that need killing or anything?"