piwakawaka | Carl in Wellington

They've got a good selection of gelato and Tiwa leans over the counter,

"Can I get a chocolate with passionfruit and a Phoenix coke?"

The young guy who's there looks a bit stunned by the brightness of her grin and gets to work on the gelato while Tiwa turns back to Carl,

"Maybe, lifetimes are strange things."

Carl believes in living dangerously - if she likes it, he wants to try it.

"Make it two," he adds.

The server gets making another round going and nods to the fridge as he asks Carl,

"This your first time in Wellington?"

Tiwa's already grabbing the two bottles of soda and glasses and paying the cashier as Carl is asked and handed two gelato cups.

He debates on a reply for a split second.

"First time on holiday, I was here once on business and knew I just had to come back."

"Looks like you've got a good guide, think she lives up at the museum and know her mother since she owns the best bakery near Vic. Here you are and she's paid things up for you."

Once he's sure Carl's got the cups, the server gives another grin and Tiwa sings something into the wind to lead Carl out to where they're sitting with a view of everyone and the water too.

She's paid before he gets a chance to protest (he'll get something later if she'll let him) and he thanks the guy as he takes the cups of gelato out towards the tables and chairs.

"Next time I'm buying, you come down here a lot?"

"Yup."

She turns and points up the hill where a red brick building can just be seen,

"Fly down some days since the wind's best down by the water and then grab something here or at the library."

"You should always have places where the people know you, it makes a place really feel like home."

If he's speaking from experience (more of the not ever having that feeling, really) he'll never tell but it's still a valid point.

That sets her off laughing for a moment,

"Carl, this is New Zealand, there are places here where you can't go without running into someone I'm related to."

Then she sets into the gelato, this will make sure she's going well through the day.

"Great so I'm going to be surrounded by your family and friends the entire time, way to make a guy feel the pressure," he teases, picking up his spoon and having a bite.

"This is damn good, by the way."

She taps his nose with her spoon and a more serious look is in her eyes for a moment,

"We all owe you a boon, me more than most so no worries."

"I was just teasing," he comments, nodding a little. "And you don't owe me anything."

"I wasn't, debts are important."

Then her smile is quickly back as she goes back to eating.

"Loyalty is important," he says.

Debts and favors, not so much. He'd rather have loyalty than payback.

Then it's back to the gelato and the...Phoenix coke?

Its just coke but sweetened with honey instead of sugar and Tiwa's already a bit more hyper,

"Oh yes, you and Jack, two knights though I wish you'd remember that you don't need shiny armor to be a knight."

"I'm not a fan of shiny armor, it's easier to be spotted that way. These days I prefer to work behind the front lines."

Though he was usually always behind the front lines - behind enemy lines, really.

"Just as long as you're the one controlling the explosions."

Tiwa has almost polished hers off and is grinning as the wind starts to shift,

"Might rain soon but we can go to Te Papa. You should see the Freehold now that everything's sorted."

"Bit of rain never bothered me, and I'm the one following you," he reminds her with a bit of a grin. "And controlling the explosions these days."

"Course not but this is Wellington rain, it goes sideways. You'd better be or else."

"Or else what?"

Rain won't bother him at all, and he scrapes at the bottom of his gelato cup to get the last bits, already feeling the sugar in his bloodstreem.

Tiwa's up and bouncing as she sips the last bit of her coke and grins as she feels the wind bring up the clouds,

"Not going to tell you since that'd ruin the surprise."

"You and your surprises," he laughs.

Coke and gelato done, he gathers her trash and moves to get rid of it.

"Where to?"

"Was going to get that. Pick a direction."

Its a good day so she's going to let him lead.

"You got the bill," he says. "Least I could do was get the leftovers."

He's never been here before, so one direction over the other doesn't matter - but eventually he picks one and off they go.

They're heading towards Te Papa which is bright and has something extra about it and as they get closer, Tiwa even glows a bit,

"You've earned entry to the Freehold if you want. Its kind of in and about the museum."

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