Gavin jumped, yelping in surprise as he felt his best friend grab him. "Fucking dammit Kiwi! I'm gonna kick your sorry ass!" he shouted, flailing and trying to whack the other male with a already washed serving spoon. Perking up at ice cream, he nodded. "Um...have you got gnats in your ear mate? Of course I want Sweet snow!" Gavin groaned at the mention of dishes. "I never wanna see another dish in my life man...."

Meriel smiled, laughing at the two young men as they goofed off. Kiwi looked like he was having fun, thus, she decided to imitate him and squeeze Gavin. Plus, Gavin made those funny sounds and said weird words. "Raape!"

"Ok..Meriel will not joke or be talking around boss." Meriel let go and nodded, eager to try this 'ice cream'.

Suddenly, Gavin smacked his head. "Oh snap! Dude, I gotta get Deckle, I'll be right back mate. You and the missy take the opportunity to make out or somethin'" snickered the male, ducking as he knew he was probably gonna get something chucked at his head....again. He loved pissing people off for the laughs.

Nearby, a young couple was kissing as they wandered out of the dining hall. Meriel of course was confused.

"Kiwi...what's that they're doing? And what is m-making out?" Meriel tilted her head, curiousity and wonder written on her face.

Kiwi had been about to smack him with a clean spatula from the sink, but Gavin was too quick for him. Defeated, he put it back in the sink.

"Uh." He stared at the couple, then stared pointedly out off the side of the boat. "That's what making out is. What they're doing."

Deckle was downstairs, at work. She was just getting off her shift and had just stepped out of her haz-mat-like suit.

"Hello love, fancy a cup of sweet snow?" Gavin asked, leaning against the wall outside the door to her haz-mat suit room. He smiled, his timing perfect as she came through the door.

Meriel blinked, still looking a bit confused. "Making out? but.....make..and out...none of the pictures or lessons showed that..."

Deckle looked up, grinning. "Hey there. If you mean ice cream, then sure. Otherwise, I have no clue what you're talkin' about."

"It's a term we humans made up on our own...it's called 'slang,'" Kiwi explained. "Sometimes we use words that mean something already to refer to something else."

"Meriel thinks that's confusing and odd. Is it always called making out? Is it fun? Meriel is curious." the innocent young woman smiled at Kiwi, even more intrigued since the two seemed to be smiling even more after they did it.

Gavin nodded. "Yup, sweet snow, ice cream, my word sounds cooler. Want some?" he grinned, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

Kiwi coughed, sheepishly. "Yeah, it is always called that...and...yes, it is fun. But...it's only for mates..."

Deckle chuckled, grinning. "Sure. Let's go."

"Oh! So they are mates? Does that mean Friend Gavin and Deckle do it?" she asked. then, a thought occurred to her. "How do they learn how to do it?"

"Shall we madam?" Gavin offered his arm, smiling good-naturedly.

Kiwi nodded, scratching his head. "Well...they're not mates, yet. They're just...courting. But I'm sure they've made out before, yeah. You don't really learn how to do it. It comes instinctively for humans..."

Deckle took his arm, smiling in response. "We shall."

Gavin grinned, leading along back to where Kiwi and Meriel stood in the dining hall.

Meriel frowned, brow puzzled as confusion once more plagued her mind. "But..if they are not mates...and it is only for mates...why would they do it?"

Deckle went with, content. She then noticed that Kiwi seemed a little flustered. "Oh, my...something's going on. Shall we scope it out?"

Kiwi looked flustered, indeed. "I...well...everything that mates do...you can do during courtship," he tried to explain, awkwardly. "Courtship is like...mate training. You want to be mates and try doing whatever mates do, but you aren't official mates yet."

"An excellent idea. I was just thinking the same thing. Let's do it." Gavin grinned, nodding as he eagerly watched the two in the dining hall.

"So...they practice before they become mates?" Meriel questioned, trying to puzzle it all out. So.....how do they practice? What if you mess up? no mate then? How man chances do they get?"

Deckle didn't approach right away--instead, she watched Kiwi attempt to explain, with glee. "Oh...this is rich. I wish I had a camera."

Kiwi bit his lip. "Well...they get as many chances as they need unless they displease their potential mate. It's sort of complicated..." He didn't know what to say, and he felt quite stupid.

You and me both. Heck, I wish I had a video camera. This is great! Never knew he got embarassed around a lady before." Gavin chuckled with glee.

While Meriel still had a very shaky grap and understanding of the concept, she decided it was a decent enough understanding for now. With a bright smile, she hugged Kiwi. "Meriel thanks you Kiwi! Meriel is very glad she has Kiwi to teach her, Kiwi is so smart and kind to teach Meriel all sorts of things."

Deckle was in the middle of studying Kiwi, intently. She looked serious. "Hey, Gavin. Summarize Kiwi in a few sentences for me, would you? What sort of person is he? I've got a suspicious feeling about something and I want to see if I can confirm it..."

Kiwi hugged her back, smiling. "It's no trouble at all. I'm just glad I seem to be teaching you well."

Gavin paused, hand at his chin in thought. "Well let's see. Kiwi is a bit of a flirt and a ladies man, but he isn't mean. He's courteous and polite, but he's not so submissive that he will bend down and be a doormat. He has some strong ideas and codes of conduct. He likes to have fun, he's neat, clean, hard-working, and observant. He loves nature, and he hates drama of any kind. I dunno, it's hard to describe Kiwi." Looking over at Deckle, the young man quirked a brow. "Why do you ask?"

Meriel smiled happily, delighted to have met and be taken in by Kiwi. "Oh yes very good! Kiwi is very good teacher for Meriel, Meriel learn lots from Kiwi."

Deckle tapped her chin a few times, eyeing Kiwi pointedly. "...I have my suspicions. Tell me, have you ever known him to hop around on...both sides of the fence?"

Kiwi coughed, his back still to them. He didn't comment on that...

Gavin laughed, shaking his head. "Most definately not. As far as I know, he's only ever been interested in girls. Why, what makes you think otherwise?" Gavin was both stunned and curious. What did Deckle see?

Finally hearing and seeing the other two, Meriel beamed happily. However, she once more grew confused. "Both sides of the fence? What fence? Meriel doesn't see a fence.."

Deckle wagged a finger. "I have...very powerful gaydar, Gavin. I always have. And it's tingling at the moment. I think he's a fence-hopper, indeed..." She folded her arms across her chest. "Well, Kiwi? Am I wrong?"

Kiwi stared at her for a moment, speechless, and then glanced at Meriel. "It...well...it means basically someone who is interested in both males and females..." He didn't call Deckle out on being possibly wrong.

Gavin blinked, tilting his head quizically at Kiwi to try and see if he gave any signs. His best friend seemed straight, and he'd never seen him with a giy. Sure, Gavin knew it was possible, but it didn't seem probable. The puzzled male was curious to know know. Deckle was smart, and she seemed to know these sorts of things.

Meriel nodded, smiling. "Oh..ok." She wasn't sure she understood what he meant or why those seemingly unconnected words meant liking both males and females, but she decided not to question it. "Which side of the fence is Kiwi on?"

Deckle's grin only widened. "Yes, which side of the fence are you on, Kiwi?"

Kiwi put his face in his hands, wearily. "Fine, fine...I'm bi. I like both...geez." He didn't seem to think it was that big of a deal. "I'm on both sides, I guess..."

Gavin blinked, looking at his best friend wide eyed. "Really? The hell..since when mate?!" Gavin was stunned, accepting, but stunned and confused. He never would have guessed.

Meriel smiled. Kiwi was smart, and she wanted to be similar to him in terms of human conditions, thus, she cheered happily. "Meriel is bi too."

Deckle was about to comment, but then she stared at Meriel. "Bi means you like both males and females, as well...'like' in this sense means to find attractive."

Kiwi scratched his head. "...Since I was about...fifteen or so. I've known...I've only ever been in a relationship with another guy once...just once. A long-term one..."

"You have? And you never told me. Mate, you gotta have more faith in your buddy, thats just cold." Gavin pouted, flinging an arm around Deckle and around Kiwi.

Meriel blinked and looked at Kiwi, hugging him. "Meriel finds Kiwi attractive."