It was hard to catch a break in the wasteland, and when their small group finally camped next to the stream after several days of travel with only dry land in sight, a bath was the first thing to come in mind. Jack and Rudy were gentlemen enough to let Cecilia wash herself first while they went to pick up firewood - after swearing they wouldn't peek of course. After they returned, Cecilia in exchange offered to go search the surrounding area for berries or anything else edible while the guys took their baths.

Hanpan quickly excused himself and went after Cecilia when Jack stripped naked without shame. Rudy didn't appear too reserved about it either, although he at least had the decency to wait for the Wind Mouse to leave. The water in the stream was cool as it flowed down from the mountains, but it was welcome after the scorching sun they'd been stuck with for the last few days.

"Aah, can't get much better than this," Jack said as the two of them dipped themselves into the water. "Okay actually," he corrected himself, "a hot bath would be better, but damn this feels great. Be sure to wash properly, Rudy, who knows when we'll have the chance to do so the next time."

Rudy nodded as a reply and continued washing himself. Jack couldn't help but to notice that the younger man seemed somehow bothered all of a sudden, and while he got out of the water himself and sat on the soft grass by the stream to let the sun dry him, Rudy stayed waist deep in the water. "You're going to get cold if you stay there for too long you know," he pointed out.

"It feels nice," Rudy replied, even if it sounded suspiciously like an excuse. Jack grinned and leaned forward, then grabbed Rudy by the arm and pulled him closer. "Hey, come on, you..." He started saying, about to joke something about Rudy's balls getting cold, but that was certainly not the case, since Rudy had an erection. "...Oh. So that's what this was about."

By now Rudy had managed to escape to the side and sat there, looking horribly embarrassed. "I, uhh. Sorry."

Jack grinned as he sat back down. "Oh, come on, nothing to apologize about. You're that age already, so it's only natural that this stuff happens to you for no reason whatsoever. I could tell you about when I was your age..." He trailed off and looked thoughtful all of a sudden then laughed. "Wait, maybe not. That makes me sound old."

The younger man blinked and stared at the man, still appearing embarrassed, but he was also starting to look horribly confused now. "That... age? My age? Wait, this is natural?"

"Well yeah, you're fifteen, right, it's..." Jack was about to try to joke about it, but somehow it hit him that Rudy was serious. "Okay wait a minute." He stopped to consider about it, idly hoping Hanpan had been there, as thinking deep things wasn't one of Jack's better traits. He took a deep breath as it started to make sense. "So. Does this mean you have no idea what I'm talking about? Come on, didn't anyone tell you about this stuff?" He paused. "No wait," he caught himself. "You were traveling alone and don't stay in one place for long. Still, you've got to hear people talk in the taverns... But then again not like they explain the details, they're just busy rambling about the act itself... Okay so. When did this start happening?"

The boy was quiet for a moment, looking even more embarrassed than before. "Just a couple of months ago. I do know something about this, it's been a while since anyone told me anything and... I, uh."

Jack sighed. "Okay, I take it you aren't completely ignorant but still." He went quiet again for a moment but then grinned. "All right, Rudy! It looked like you need some man talk, and it's my duty as a fellow man to teach you about these things! You see... Well. I'm sure someone's told you that this is about being a man. You're not little kid anymore."

"A man. Well, I... suppose, sure?" Rudy muttered as a reply. He stared at Jack for a moment then escaped behind the nearest bush to get his clothes back on, suddenly appearing to be very conscious about the fact that they were both naked.

The swordsman smirked at that then lay down on the grass. Well, he would have to give the kid a long talk sometime later, maybe after they reached an inn. He couldn't help but to wonder exactly how much he would have to teach the younger man, but then again... What was there to lose?