Chapter Text
After going back inside, taking their snow gear off, and changing into some lighter clothing, Steven and Connie were ready for their planned post-snow ice cream escapade. It was still too icy on the roads to drive, plus, no local ice cream shops were open, so they decided to travel via lion somewhere hot and southern. Though it was meant to be a cozy, snowed-in break, they were still teenagers (young-adults) craving desert, and no adults were around to tell them otherwise. But their tastes couldn't be satisfied until they had their transportation.
"Lion!!"
"Hey, Lion! C'mere boy!"
"Man, I hope that ice cream shop has Lion Lickers, or else he's gonna be grumpy."
"That's only if we ever find him!"
Lion had always been able to sense when he was needed by Steven or Connie, but if there wasn't an active threat, he didn't always show up right away. Or, he just liked being a lazy lion.
"Maybe we need to be in danger for him to come?"
"hmmm..."
Steven had a devious plot a foot. He walked over to the stove, turned it up max heat, and placed his hand on the burner. He wasn't really worried about getting hurt, as his healing powers made him basically impervious to all minor injuries, but it might be enough danger to lure in their protective puff-ball.
"Lioooon... My hand's gonna burn if you don't come soon!"
"It doesn't seem to be working..."
To add to the artificial danger, Steven slowly opened the drawer beside the stove and pulled out a medium-sized kitchen knife. He never intended on using it in any way, but the more danger the better.
"Ohhh what's this I have? a knife? very dangerous, I must say.
Connie, help me out here!"
"Oh, uhm... Lion! If you don't come I'm gonna... Jump out this window!"
Dramatically she flung apart the curtains and slid up the glass. Cold air begun to fill up the apartment, which was not her intent, but it seemed to be an effective touch. Suddenly, a magical whir and a pink glow appeared in the middle of the room. Then, very expectedly a pink lion jumped out, and immediately laid down where it stood.
"Aww why does he always listen to you!"
"Because I'm his favorite."
Connie looked at Steven with a smug, braggy look. He sneered back at her in pure envy.
"Whatever... He still loves me, even if he doesn't show it. Don't you lion?"
Steven walked up to the sleeping lion (At least, attempting to sleep while the magic boy gawked over him) and began to stroke his pink fur very gently. Lion looked at him in mild annoyance out of the corner of his eye, but appreciated the pets. In his baby voice, Steven continued:
"You're such a good boy! Thanks for coming to get us, buddy. You deserve a treat!"
At this Lion perked up his ears, stood up a bit and crouched, signaling it was time for them to go.
"Wow, he likes the sound of that!"
"Then onward! Lion, take us forth to ice cream!"
With that, the two lion-goers climbed onto the Lion of the going. Lion then stood up, roared into the air summoning a portal, and leaped through.
When they came through the other side, they found themselves in an inter-city area; Palm trees, pedestrians and cars bustling through the streets, The sound and smell of nearby ocean waves, and the sun shining hot on America's southern coast, where it was warm and appropriate to enjoy a cone during the winter (about 75 degrees Fahrenheit.) They landed somewhere beside the designated shop, somewhat outside the view of passerby's in an alley way. (It took Lion some time to learn not to jump out of portals right in the view of unsuspecting humans, but eventually he got the gist, with A LOT of persuasion.)
"This place looks perfect!"
"Yeah, we really owe you one buddy."
Once they jumped off Lion, Steven gave him a big hug around his neck, and Connie stroked his side. The cat began to faintly purr.
"Steven, did you bring any money?"
"Oh, right!"
He reached a hand into Lion's main and pulled out a wallet. Steven always made sure to keep some extra cash in lion for emergencies, as Pearl suggested (He was known for being forgetful of important items.)
"Alrighty, let's a go!"
"Don't forget to lock up!"
"Ah, of course! Beep beep!"
Steven tapped lion twice, imitating the locking of a car.
"We'll make sure to bring you something bud."
Turning the corner, the two were at the doors of their dessert destination. It was a small, local business aptly named, 'Southern Sweet Tooth.' The shop itself was decorated with blue and pink stripes, with an image of a vanilla waffle-cone next to the stylish cursive letters of the main sign. The main doors were glass, and it looked decently busy for such a small shop, around 10 customers inside ordering or waiting. As soon as they opened the doors, they were hit with cold air and a pleasant aroma of sweet dairy.
"Wow, 30 whole flavors to choose from! Where do we even begin?"
"I know exactly what I'm getting already, my regular vanilla-strawberry twist with hot fudge and sprinkles."
"But you get that at like every ice cream shop. I mean, you could get freaking raspberry lemonade sorbet!"
"Very intriguing Connie, but I think I'll stick to my usual."
"Well, AT LEAST get an extra topping... what about this?"
She pointed to a board with small writing, labeled 'TOPPINGS MENU.' Directly where she was pointing read, 'CHOCOLATE DATE GANACHE'
"That sounds good! You could substitute that for hot fudge, since I don't see it on here.
"Hmmmm I d'know..."
"C'mon! You'll never know til' you try it!"
"Eh, I guess you're right. But If I don't like it, I'm eating your ice cream instead."
He crossed his arms and smirked at her teasingly.
"Wha-" *Sigh* "I guess that's fair. Now... what should I get..."
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After receiving their orders, Steven and Connie moved outside to find a place to sit. Of course, Lion had already wondered off to who knows where by then, but they expected to lounge about somewhere local anyways.
"Guess Lion got bored... this Lion Licker we got's gonna melt... (surprised they even had them down here)"
"If he wanted it that bad, he would've stuck around."
Connie ruffled his hair with her free-hand... but noticing the sweat, regretfully wiped it on her shorts.
"But... first lets just get somewhere shady, the sun is killing me!"
Looking around with squinted eyes, there didn't seem to be any outside seating for blocks. The densely packed store-fronts and constant business of the streets didn't accommodate for the plights of sweaty tourists.
"hmmm I think there's a beach over in that direction?"
Steven pointed to their left towards what seemed to be a sandy area 5 blocks in the distance. The cramped cityscape and sounds of traffic made it difficult to tell which direction the waves were crashing. Still unsure, Steven decided it might be easier to just ask a passerby where the shore was.
"Hello there! Um, would you happen to know- oh... okay, have a nice day!"
Steven waved at the stranger as he hustled past them, despite the guy not even noticing his presence.
"Maybe we could just look it up, I mean, I have my phone."
"Oh, right hah! I think I forgot my phone at your place actually."
"Tch, Pearl was right, you do forget important things."
"Heyyyy that was ONE TIME, okay."
Connie, giggling to herself, clicked open her phone and pulled up a GPS.
"Looks like you were right, there's a beach just a few minutes that way!"
"Nice! lets go then, I think I'm sunburnt already."
Connie slipped her phone back into her pocket knowing the directions, and grabbed Steven's hand, ice-cream cone in the other. As they walked through the streets, past the mom-and-pops and tourist traps she had to practically wrangle her naturally gullible and curious boyfriend in to not get lost amongst the calamity of the city. With that and needing to dodge between urban obstacles, other groups of tourists, locals, and the occasional scam-artist, it was a real mental and physical workout. But soon enough, the scent of the salty ocean breeze and squawks of seagulls filled their senses, and they had finally spotted a shady seating area. They sat at a round table with a bright green umbrella overhead to rest as they finished what remained of their half-melted ice-cream.
"So... how is it?"
Steven attempted to look up at Connie while trying desperately to lick up the vanilla-strawberry ice-cream melting down his hands.
"Hah, guess that means you like it?"
"Yah! its not what I normally get but... the fruity ganache flavor mixes well with the strawberry. I'd give it eight stars out of ten."
"Alright Mr. Michelin, I'm glad you're enjoying it."
"How about yours? You always get something unique."
Though Steven was dead-set on his usual order, Connie had taken her time to scour the menu and curate the best cone to her liking. After ten minutes of Steven begging her to just choose and order, she decided on a coffee-toffee turtle with coconut flakes.
"It's really good actually! I mean, I'll like anything that's coffee... but this is probably one of the better combinations I've tried in a while."
After finishing their lunch-time desert with the comforting, familiar sounds and smells of the beach, they decided it wouldn't be a bad idea if they took a dip in the salty water to clean off and cool down. They didn't bring swimsuits, but in the heat of battle, you're not gonna have one anyways.