MHA Holosuite, Saturday Afternoon

[pocketpretzels]

It had taken no small amount of work, but eventually Watts had been able to program a scenario in the holosuite to his satisfaction. So following their return from the mainland, they'd gone back upstairs to change into clothing more appropriate for cycling- which yes, meant Watts was wearing a t-shirt definitely a t-shirt no matter what the photo is along with the bottom half of his running costume.

The setting resembled a park, with a well-paved pathway winding through landscaped trees and bushes, and two single-gear bicycles leaning against a nearby tree.

"Well," Watts said. "Are you ready to begin?"

[ooc: for the beau!]

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

As much as Steven liked the idea of Llewellyn being nearby as a concept, let alone to keep him steady, Steven worried that might be too much. "Give it a go first, I think? Don't want to hurt you if I muck it up somehow."

[pocketpretzels]

“All right,” Watts said. “If you feel yourself getting wobbly, don’t worry about brakes, just take your feet off the pedals and touch the ground. Ready?”

[hasaknightjob]

"That's handy," Steven said, though he still looked for the brakes to be on the safe side.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts leaned over to offer a quick peck on Steven's cheek. "For getting to step one," he said.

[hasaknightjob]

"Now I get to pedal one?" Steven said, looking proud of himself. He gestured at the bike. "Eh? Pedals?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Absolutely incorrigible," Watts said, shaking his head. But he was also visibly holding back laughter, so.

[hasaknightjob]

Which Steven took as encouragement of all sorts in this situation.

He did turn his attention back to the bike, though, and attempted to push off. He was overthinking it instead of relaxing and letting that muscle memory take over, so he immediately started to wobble. He stopped himself after he'd gone a few feet forward. "Right. Er. Work to be done. I think."

[pocketpretzels]

"Still," Watts said. "Not terrible for a first try."

[hasaknightjob]

"There's a lot of moving parts," Steven said. Meaning the bike and himself, really.

[pocketpretzels]

"You're not wrong," Watts said. He thought about another time Steven was trying something new with a lot of moving parts. "You had trouble with dancing at first too," he pointed out. "But you've since overcome that. Perhaps what was helpful there could be applied here as well."

[hasaknightjob]

"That's a good point," Steven said. He hadn't thought of comparing it to dancing but it made sense now that Llewellyn had made the comparison. He grinned at Llewellyn. "Course part of what helped there was holding on to you. Don't think that's going to work. No room for the bike then."

[pocketpretzels]

"No," Watts agreed with a slight smile. "But I'll be nearby, at least. I have to be, if I'm to dole out your reward in a timely manner."

[hasaknightjob]

"Knowing there's a reward definitely helps," Steven said, giving Llewellyn a smile. He looked ahead of him. "Maybe a small goal? Like make it as far as that tree over there?"

Steven pointed to a tree that was about twenty feet away.

[pocketpretzels]

"Quite reasonable," Watts agreed, gaze following to where Steven pointed. "Whenever you're ready."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Right. Ready. I think."

[pocketpretzels]

"I have every confidence in you," Watts told him. "Now go, before you give yourself too much time to overthink it."

[hasaknightjob]

"Right, right," Steven said, because Llewellyn did know him well after all. Steven took another breath, quicker this time, and pushed forward again.

This time he still wobbled but he only had a couple of false stops before he was able to make it to the tree in question. Once safely stopped, Steven lifted his arms and gave a shout of triumph.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts hopped on his own bicycle and pedaled to catch up to where Steven was. Yes, he could have just walked with the bicycle alongside him given the short distance, but that seemed to go against the spirit of the activity.

"You see?" he said, sliding off so he could lean over and offer the promised kiss. "You've done it."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven looked as pleased as if he'd won a cricket match. "Got it in the end, didn't I? Trick is not to think about it. You're right."

[pocketpretzels]

"I often am," Watts said smugly. "So, another goal-post? A little further, this time?"

[hasaknightjob]

"Agreed," Steven said. "I've another idea as well. Why don't you go first? Then I'll be concentrating on watching you and not overthinking it."

[pocketpretzels]

"That seems logical," Watts agreed. "That tree there, then?" he said, pointing to one that looked to be roughly twice as far as Steven's initial jaunt.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven looked to where Llewellyn pointed, then nodded. "Looks about right. Let's try it."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts nodded, swinging his leg back over his bicycle and settling down on to the seat before setting off in one smooth motion.

He didn't go as fast as he normally might, but he also didn't go excessively slow, either. Just a nice, even pace.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven waited until Llewellyn was a length or so ahead, then followed behind him. He kept his attention on Llewellyn ahead of him and where Llewellyn was going, which in turn helped Steven from thinking too much about what he was doing. Thus muscle memory had an easier time taking over. The bike still wobbled, but not enough that Steven had to stop along the way.

(Did it help that the view of Llewellyn from behind was pleasantly distracting? Yes. Absolutely.)