surprised to see the other getting a tan. "Hey, I hope you're using some sunblock, snow white."

occasionally enjoyed the sun and he's wearing SPF 60 danke. "Very funny Gabriel. I'll have you know that I do enjoy the sun from time to time."

grins, sitting next to him on the sand. "Hey, I'm just saying... But thankfully, summer is coming, soon Algarves will be full of tourists again.

"

glances at him and nods. "There won't be room to even lay down at that point."

grins, obviously thinking about gold. "The less places to rest, the more money, m'dear." He hums, closing his eyes. Ahhh, he missed the old days...

couldn't deny that money was certainly a good thing. "Ja, I suppose that's true."

chuckles, raising one eyebrow. "so, how things have been? we haven't talked in a while... My fault, actually."

chuckles at the blame. "I think we've both been busy but if you want to take the blame I won't complain. As for how things have been. They've certainly been better. What about for you?"

nods. "Things have been better, yes! Calmer, despite a few days here and there..." He licks his lips, playing with his own hair, a little shorter than usual as he wasn't even keeping it in a ponytail. "And a_

bad haircut..."

knits his brows together as he studies him a bit better. "What happened? Who got at your hair?"

sighs. "I decided to change barbers when I visited Madeira... It was even shorter, now's... Just above my shoulders." He pouts. "It's ugly."

smiles lightly. "I think it looks fine." He says as he sits up. "Look at it this way, it'll grow back soon."

laughs. "Such a charmer!" He nods anyway, hopeful. "Yes! Thankfully it grows fast, but it had been cut awfully short." He twtiches his nose.

flushes. "Just stating a fact." The corner of his lips drop. "You could always hide away in your house until it grows back." He suggests with a quirk of his brow to signal he was being sarcastic.

pokes his cheek. "Relax, you liked my hair, I'm glad for it... Don't blush like I just asked you out." He knew the German would hardly change. "I did it for a while, then I grew tired and the paperwork piled_

up." He grins, jokingly. "See, the world missed me too bad."

flushes out of embarrassment this time. "I'm a little surprised you actually did paperwork." He smirks. "Are you sure you weren't just occupying yourself with other stuff."

raises one eyebrow. "I'm not that lazy... And hey, what do you mean?" He narrows his eyes, leaning in with a huff.

shrugs. "Why don't we enjoy the beach." He says changing the topic.

rolls his eyes, but then just shrugs his shirt off, laying doen flat on the sand.

quirks a brow at that. "Do you want a towel. I brought an extra one."

shakes his head. "No... When I wash myself I'll stretch mine over the sand." He laughs a bit at the other's quirked brow.

pushes his sunglasses onto his face as he accepts the answer. "Did you want to stay for dinner. I believe I owe you one if memory serves me right."

nods. "You do, yup... Yes, I'd like to stay for dinner, then, if you're going to cook!" He perks up at that, happy a bit at the idea of food. "I'll wash the dishes, deal?"

smiles lightly. "Deal. But for now, let's just enjoy this. It's not everyday I get to come out here."

isn't in a hurry! "As you wish, I'll be swimming." He hums, leaving his belongings in the sand as he walks off to the water.

ends up fixing Gabriel's belongings and dusting off the sand placing it neatly by his stuff.

swimming a bit far from the shore, happy that it's finally warm again. Maybe he'll take his boat out...

sits back and watches the other man swim around. He's probably have to give it a go sometime soon.

he should definitely do it!

glances around deciding that at least he'd be able to watch their stuff from the water. He pulls his shirt off and makes his way into the

water wading in until it's up to his chest. "The water's not to bad." He comments with a small smile.

crosses his arms after he brushes his hair away from his good eye. "It's great... You're yet to see waters that are 'not too bad' then."

not really known for his tendencies towards water. He sinks into the water wetting his hair before coming back up and wiping the extra water from his face and pushing his hair back. "Maybe one day. I'm not

known for being very much of a seaman."

chuckles. "Then better to keep it at the shore... The sea's an angry mistress." He hums, feeling relaxed, floating a bit.

starts wading further into the water until he can no longer touch the bottom and turns on his back doing a few back strokes. "Oh I know

even watching her from shore is frightening." He speaks up just to make sure Gabriel can hear him.

stands a bit and swims around him, laughing. "You can swim, though, right?"

nods. "Of course. What does it look like I'm doing right now." He says as stops his back stroke and wades in place.

shrugs. "Just making sure." He dives in, then, seimming away with his bad eye closed.

stays in place watching Gabriel swim off and keeping an eye on their stuff.

soon swimming off, smiling as if he's finally at home, beause in a way, he is. There's not much in his bag to be stolen, just his clothes...

doesn't follow after him but decides to spend a bit more time in the water moving with the waves before his heading back to shore.

notices it, then starts to swim back, humming happily.

makes it out and gently deposits himself on his towel, looking up at the sky. His blue was located above him. The blue he was more familiar

with.

comes out of the sea and walks back to sit on his own towel, grinning. "Back! Sunny today, hm?"

smiles. "Welcome back~ It is. I just hope I don't burn."

chuckles. "Who knows? I think with you Northerns is kinda like Russian roulette, except you get burned instead... Arthur did it all the time."

rolls his eyes at that. "Well I like to think I take care of myself a bit more."

snickers. "Can you at least tan?" he rolls onto his back to do just that, lazily stretching.

's brow twitches. "Ja, of course. It just takes a little longer."

smiles. "No offense, I'm just asking..." He closes his eyes, resting his head on his arms once he's lying on his stomach.

stares up at the sky. "Although, I don't get too dark."

understand this as the other's way of saying he just got a little reddish and then like him when he doesn't get enough sun. "Pale skin can be nice too, I guess..."

would point that at least Ludwig doesn't get weird tan marks on his ass, but that'd be rude. And he hasn't gotten to Tonio's point of skinny dipping just yet...

shrugs and smiles lightly. "It all depends on taste in the end." He has done his own fair share of skinny dipping. Then again he like being

naked in nature when no one was around.

had his days, but... now, not so much. "I guess." he chuckles. He'd definitely find odd that side of Ludwig, but after that soda add, few things are questionable, honestly...

Gabriel forgets that wasn't a real ad. "What do you prefer, darker sink or lighter skin or neither?"

hums. "I think... Well, both can be good, huh." He smiles, looking at him. "I tend to go after more darker, like... Ah, nevermind about Iracema, but light skin can be also nice." He waves a hand, dismissing_

some bad thoughts. "But that's mostly because you can mark light skin easier, biting and all." He shrugs, opening his eyes to look up at him. "And you?"

curious about Iracema. "Iracema? You'll have to tell me more on that subject." He says as he thinks over the question. "I don't really have much of a preference." He answers, his lips firmly together and to

the side in a thoughtful expression. "There are other things that I focus on..."

raises one eyebrow. "Oh? what other things, hmm?" He leans in a bit, curious, purposefully avoiding the talk of the woman altogether. "And she was... wasn't important, anyway."

she was if he still clearly remembers her. She must have had some sort of impact on his life. "It's nothing physical per say but I tend to focus on a persons mannerism." He explains.

chuckles. "So you tend to fall for such things?" He carries on, still dodging the other subject because he knows the moment he talks of her, he'll sound like a lovesick puppy all over.

hums. "Ja, I mean if they fall under what I find attractive bonus but looks aren't everything, right. Now, tell me more of Iracema. I've done enough talking."

sighs. "I was hoping you'd forget it..." he hums, then lowers his voice and sits up. "She was... Well, I found her when I found Brazil. Luciano.. He was a little boy, I remember, and Iracema was a really_

beautiful woman, Ludwig. She had dark skin, reddish like the sun, and the darkest eyes I've seen... When I looked into them, I..." He pauses, shakes his head as he shivers. "I had this strength... We fell in_

love, it's true, but I'm afraid it was just that who killed her. I was greedy, and not very often we'd agree, especially when it came to Lu, but.. I remember she'd always laugh, the best laugh ever, when I'd_

say I wanted a boy with her eyes..." He goes red, covering his mouth. "One day, when I returned there, however she'd... she was gone."

listens attentively his expression neutral and only at the last part does he reveal any sort of emotion. There is no pity, only sad

understanding because there had been a point he was afraid he would lose his own brother. "I'm sorry to have presses the topic Gabriel...if

I had know I would have immediately dropped it. But one more question, do you still love her now even though she's gone?"

smiles. "It's no worries... Brazil brings it up sometimes too... And Angola, Bárbara is one of the few who, oddly enough, remember her." He clicks his tongue, pausing to think of it. "I'm not sure I do.. I_

mean, I do keep things from her enough, I still do remember so in a way, yes, but it doesn't hurt, you know? I'd say I still love her, because I think I love far too many people, but it's not stopping me_

from loving someone else anymore, or moving on... It's a calm feeling now." he smiles at the other. "Have you ever had someone like this?"

nods but doesn't quite understand the true extent of such a feeling. "Honestly, I'm not sure I do. There are too many memories that I can't

remember as my own." He explains sitting up. "I would imagine I would have had to at one point." He muses.

chuckles. "Ah, your memories... I hope one day you'll have them back." he chuckles, but not too happily. "It's rather painful too, but worth living." he smiles widely. "They say it's always worth the fall, hm?"

smiles sadly. "I doubt it but it's a nice thought." He says leaning forward so he's leaning on his thighs.

reaches over and gently pats his shoulder, rubbing his back. "Your brother's visited me too, the other day...." he starts, trying to lighten up the mood.

finds comfort in the touch. "Oh? I hope he was reasonable."

chuckles. "He suggested me to find a couple one-night stands..." The iberian jokes, keeping the small touch. "And apparently, my rooster scares him."

laughs. "You would think he would like your rooster considering he loves Gilbird. Any luck with your one nights?"

laughs too. "You would...At least both came out slive, hm?" he jokes, shrugging, but then pauses at the question. He blinks, then crosses his arms and goes bright red, looking away and mumbling a 'not your_

business' that sounds more like a 'no'.

can't help and nod at that he had met Gabriel's rooster. The thing was not always the friendliest. He can't help but chuckle at the reply. "I feel like you weren't really trying in that case."

his rooster is a lovely company yes, when its not jumping at the guests... Oh well. "Trying what?" He hisses, staring at the other man. "To find one-night stands? I am, but..." he pauses, gesticulating and_

thinking to himself as he takes a deep breath. "Alright, mister, what do you suggest?"

watches the gesticulation with amusement. "I suggest you tell me what's stopping you and then I'll try and propose a better solution to your..." He didn't want to say problem. "situation."

laughs loudly at that, shaking his head. "I don't think nothing is stopping me... Hey, relax, it's my problem, I'll solve it." He replied shortly, laying down on the grass. "Unless you're up to sleeping with_

me, that's it." he closed his eyes, smiling jokingly still.

laughs. "I don't think I can relax more than I am right now." He admits before quirking a brow at the last comment. "I'm going to assume that's a joke, unless you're actually serious."

just stares at him, waiting in silence to show he was serious.

flushes when it's clear it isn't a joke. He clears his throat sitting back up. "Hmm, I see. Well..." He wasn't sure what to say and he certainly couldn't look at Gabriel at the moment. "How do you want to

do this?"

to bite back a laugh, looking serious as he nods. "We have diner, then we think, you don't have to say 'yes', you know..." He smiles softly.

knows that. "I know.." He says. "You're fine eating anything right?"

nods. "Yup, but you have my heart if it's a Portuguese codfish or pork."

quirks a brow his lip curved up at the comment. "We can do pork. Let me know when you're ready to go?"

shrugs. "I'm ready when you are." He shrugs. He lived close to the sea, beach was a thing he could go daily.

gets up, dusts the sand off of him and grabs his towel and bag. "Ja, I'm ready."

sits up, then grabs his towel and dusts some of the sand off, throwing it over his shoulder. "Then guide the way!" He hums.

does so and leads the Portuguese man the short distance to his car. He unlocks the door with the remote and places his stuff in the trunk before sliding into the passenger seat, starting the engine.

places the towel on the seat so as not to have too much dirt on it, sliding into the passenger seat while holding his bag.

backs out of the parking lot before driving off. It was a longer ride to get to his place but not unpleasant as he opted to put a bit of music on from the radio.

smiles at the music, crossing his arms and staring out at the window, admiring the landscape.

manages to make it home in decent time as he pulls up onto the driveway and slowly eases the vehicle in park. He turns off the ignition and steps out stretching a bit before going to grab the bag in the

trunk. "Alright, I'm going to take a quick shower and you are free to as well and then I'll start on dinner." He explains his plan as he walks up to the front door and unlocks it.

nods. "I might as well should too... wouldn't want to smell like fish." He fetches his bag, nodding. He remembered the bathroom from the last time he'd been there. "You're going first, then?"

|"There's a guest room with a shower. You can use that. There's enough hot water for the both of us." He says as he shows him where the bathroom is located.

nods once again and wanders into the room, excusing himself and closing the door before he strips himself and goes to enjoy his well-deserved shower.

doesn't waste time in the shower and when he's clean, changed and clothed, he makes his way downstairs to start cooking the pork and food.

takes a longer shower, because... hair. He isn't in a rush to get dressed either, so when he walks down in a cotton shirt and loose jeans, cross necklace hidden against his chest and the small earrings of_

always on his ear, he can even smell dinner. He keeps his hair loose, still wet, and grins as he walks into the kitchen. "Do you want any help there, Ludwig?"

glances over his shoulder at Gabriel at the sound of the man's voice. "I'm actually nearly done." He answers with a small smile. "Take a

seat. Relax, grab a beer?"

walks to the fridge, opening a bottle and serving both him and the German. "Smells great." he places Ludwig's glass on the counter, taking a seat to watch him.

is grateful for the beer. He actually used some beer for the cooking of the pork. He dishes them both some pork, sauerkraut, and potatoes

before placing it in front of Gabriel. "Try it first." He says as he takes a seat beside him.

cuts a small piece with the fork, munching before he raises both eyebrows high. "This is great." he comments as he makes himself a plate.

had been a little to occupied trying not to look like he was waiting to see Gabriel's reaction but is pleased when the other likes it. "I'm glad you like it." He smiles lightly before finally digging in.

understands the feeling, as he's always waiting for people's reactions to his food. "Even better because I haven't had it in... Years, I guess." He prepares his plate then, digging in.

almost horrified that he's hearing this. "Really?"

laughs a bit. "Really! It's tradition in the north but.. I haven't been there to eat a good 'tripas à moda' in a long time."

couldn't deny it was tradition. "In that case I insist that you come over more often."

rests him chin in his hand. "I'll save a couple dates to invite myself over for dinner then, Ludwig."

his*

nods at that, satisfied with the lack of protest. "Good. In that case let's finish enjoying this meal."

doesn't reply and serves himself a second time, eating it to his hearts' contents.

doesn't mind that at all. He wants Gabriel to eat as much as he wants. Ludwig on the other hand stops after a while feeling full as he decides to entertain himself solely with his beer.

doesn't touch the beer as much, resting his fork and knife once he's full, closing his eyes and sighing softly. "Ah.. that was freat."

smiles at the response. "Go relax in the living room and I'll clean this up." He tries to offer even though Gabriel had already insisted on cleaning up after them. It was worth a try.

frowns. "No, you're always cleaning it up.. Ah, you Germans." He huffs, rolling his eyes, but amuses him and goes to relax a bit anyway.

surprised but glad for the acceptance and starts cleaning up, making sure everything looks more than presentable.

closes his eyes, humming a song to himself. He spots Aster, whistling at her. "hey girl, come here..."

finds it amusing how close the two had gotten. He's done cleaning in record time, the kitchen looks spotless. He quickly dries his hands before heading towards the living room and spotting both Aster and

Gabriel. "It's amazing how much she likes you and remembers you."

goes to take a seat on the far chair and is soon swarmed by Berlitz and Blackie. "They all are." He smiles as he pets both of them.

chuckles lightly. "Here they come..." He keeps scratching Aster's ears, laughing a bit. "You should visit me with them, I'm sure Aster would love the grass..."

had never thought of doing that but would certainly not pass up the offer. "Let me know when you have free time and I could certainly bring them over."

nods. "Sure, there's always free time, and if they miss some good old grass, too." He grins, tugging Aster's face up. "Right, lady?"

they have plenty of grass here and is sure Portuguese grass isn't too different. Astor seems more than pleased and tries to lick Gabriel's face.

laughs at her, letting the dog lick the side of his face. "Oh god, ok, yes, thank you for the kisses, Astor." He pushes her away, grinning like a child. "Poor Ludwig, you're stealing all the attention I_

should be giving to him instead, lady!" He pokes the dog, then looks up. "I apologize.. Pets just get to me easily."

chuckles. "No, worries, I'm the same way." Blackie and Berlitz were laying comfortable by his feet and Astor was still quite excited that Gabriel was here but upon seeing Ludwig lays down too.

nods. "Ah... I didn't get to see that from your short children days." He leans back against the foot of the couch, thinking a bit. "I thought for a while about finding myself a dog, but Eustáquio is already a_

handful..."

can imagine, that rooster is quite the character. "No? I would have thought you would have...well, who knows, there might be another occasion where you might." He couldn't rule it out. "As for getting a dog,

you need to make sure you can commit, but do feel free to come visit Astor if that's what you want. I don't mind lending her to you."

nods. "I had a podengo for a while, sure, but ahhh, poor thing died..." He pauses, licking his lips as he thinks. "Oh, you don't? Well, if three dogs ever become too much, I'm sure you could leave her with me!"

would never find that they are too much. "Too much...no, never. But if ever have to go away for a long time on business, then you could take care of Astor. I'm sure Gilbert wouldn't mind taking care of Blackie

and Berlitz." He offers.

agrees. "Yes, absolutely! I guarantee it won't bother me at all." he smiles softly, bringing his hand up to cover a yawn.

chuckles and notices the yawn. "Are you tired?"

hums. "I guess a nap would do me some good... Would you mind?" he gently pushes Astor aside ans stands up, stretching.

shakes his head. "Not at all, you are the guest. Would you like me to set up the guest room for you in that case or you can sleep in my room

which will give me more time to tidy the other one. Either options work for me."

sighs. "I couldn't possibly take your own room, so I'll wait..." He supposes arguing he can set up his own bed won't work on Ludwig anyway.

knows it certainly would not. He nods as he gets up to do just that. He wouldn't waste time seeing as the man did look tired. Moments later

he comes back down and nods again at Gabriel. "It's ready now. Feel free." He would spend the time reading or something of that sort.

pats his shoulder as he passes. "It's just a quick siesta... You should try it too." He adds, Astor trailing after him curiously as he walks to his room and lays down on the bed.

doesn't take that many siestas...or any at all really. "Maybe one day." He compromises. "Enjoy your sleep." When Gabriel disappears he goes over, grabs a book and sits down to read for a little bit.