[ once freed, keith chirps happily and stands as tall as he can when shiro ruffles his head. it isn't very tall, mind you, but the effort is made and then he toddles off to the water. one look back just to say: ]
Okay. I'll bring you something nice.
[ not that keith's worked out what that something nice would even be just yet, but he holds up one flipper in some facsimile of waving before plopping bellyfirst into the shallows and paddling away. in contrast to all that waddling around he was doing on land that was all clunky and awkward, being in water is a joy.
he does a drive by swim past shiro, bobbing along the surface before splashing water at him with his feet. shiro might hear some telepathic laughter as keith dives deeper in the water. he chases a school of startled koi, making them scatter in a shower of orange and gold, and then he's off to the bottom of the lake. at some point though, penguin instinct may have kicked in because instead of looking for something shiro may genuinely find cool, like a shark tooth?? -- he comes across a cluster of smooth rocks at the bottom and thinks perfect.
keith takes his sweet time trying to pick one out because of course, it's gotta be the prettiest, shiniest, smoothest rock in all the land. a treasure any penguin would envy. really, he should be questioning that if only because shiro isn't a penguin?? it becomes a bit of an afterthought though because when he finds the pebble to beat all other pebbles, he snatches it up in his beak and swims all the way back up to the surface. ]
Shiro! Shiro, I got it! Hold out your hand and close your eyes.
[ keith makes sure not to come any closer until shiro does as asked. no ruining the surprise, obviously! but with shiro humoring the request, keith paddles up closer and kicks out of the water to carefully deposit the treasure in shiro's extended hand. the black pebble is smooth and held the right way shines an iridescent shade of purples and reds. chest out and again, standing as tall as he can, keith waits for a verdict. ]
i think you should make an oc.
Okay. I'll bring you something nice.
[ not that keith's worked out what that something nice would even be just yet, but he holds up one flipper in some facsimile of waving before plopping bellyfirst into the shallows and paddling away. in contrast to all that waddling around he was doing on land that was all clunky and awkward, being in water is a joy.
he does a drive by swim past shiro, bobbing along the surface before splashing water at him with his feet. shiro might hear some telepathic laughter as keith dives deeper in the water. he chases a school of startled koi, making them scatter in a shower of orange and gold, and then he's off to the bottom of the lake. at some point though, penguin instinct may have kicked in because instead of looking for something shiro may genuinely find cool, like a shark tooth?? -- he comes across a cluster of smooth rocks at the bottom and thinks perfect.
keith takes his sweet time trying to pick one out because of course, it's gotta be the prettiest, shiniest, smoothest rock in all the land. a treasure any penguin would envy. really, he should be questioning that if only because shiro isn't a penguin?? it becomes a bit of an afterthought though because when he finds the pebble to beat all other pebbles, he snatches it up in his beak and swims all the way back up to the surface. ]
Shiro! Shiro, I got it! Hold out your hand and close your eyes.
[ keith makes sure not to come any closer until shiro does as asked. no ruining the surprise, obviously! but with shiro humoring the request, keith paddles up closer and kicks out of the water to carefully deposit the treasure in shiro's extended hand. the black pebble is smooth and held the right way shines an iridescent shade of purples and reds. chest out and again, standing as tall as he can, keith waits for a verdict. ]