[oom] April Fool's Day

[hell_in_highheels]

Oh, River is not a morning person, but this prank requires some dedication and preparation.  She has her sonic screwdriver set to wake her an hour before the alarm, and she'd packed the blanket and the picnic basket the afternoon before while he was out running.

The matter of the prank itself is a simple few moments with the screwdriver on the red setting.  Quick.  Harmless.  And best of all, reversible. 

She still expects to get a bit of a hiding for it, but he did throw down the gauntlet.  Her cheeks ache from grinning at the very thought of the look on his face when he figures out just what she'd done.

Prank accomplished, she slips into her boots and shushes Damocles, swearing him to silence.  Rather, bribing him with future promises of bacon.  She leaves the note on the pillow and catches herself just before she kisses him on the cheek.  If he wakes, the surprise will be ruined before she can make her escape. 

Dear Richard~

Have been kidnapped by rabbits.  They said something about their pelts being used for "unseemly" purposes. Their leader says, if you ever want to see me again, come alone.

(crudely drawn map of the lake side and the meadow with an X)

Love,
~River

Comments

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"Not particularly," he agrees with a soft fond smile.

The forest around them is already wide awake, full of birds and chittering squirrels calling warnings to each other as the predators pass. The path, if it can be called that, is faint and twisty, following the bends of the forest floor. It's one of the many game trails that run through the place and Ryan uses them to help hide his own passage.

"It's not quite as warm as the jungle," he says after a moment of looking around.

[hell_in_highheels]

"No, but it's real," she observes quietly. "And down to earth. Anyway, the best part of the cloud forest was sharing it with you."

Her pace lets him know she's hiked before, and her scent tells him she's missed it.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He tugs on her hand, pulling her closer so he can bump her shoulder. He's still not quite recovered from his earlier scare.

"It was beautiful," he agrees. "Hot, but beautiful." He prefers Scotland.

[hell_in_highheels]

The bump turns into a bit of a lean. She grips his hand tight.

"I'm glad you liked it."






"You were going to tell me what happened..."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He doesn't look at her as he slips into debriefing mode.

"It was about a year ago," he begins, emotionless. "There was some sort of...creature stalking the outdoors. It kidnapped people in such a way that they were instantly sent to other worlds, worlds they weren't always compatible with. I'm not sure if they moved or teleported or what, but you could be talking to a person one second and they'd simply be gone the next." He pauses, gritting his teeth for a moment.

"So when Dam just disappeared in front of my eyes, I thought it'd come back. And since I smelled you, but didn't see you, I thought it had taken you both."

[hell_in_highheels]

"Bloody hell," she exhales. "Oh Richard, I'm so very sorry. I should have waited until you found me to activate the privacy screen. Well at least you know I can't plot my way out of a wet paper bag."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He arches an eyebrow. "You couldn't have known," he says, starting to thaw again.

[hell_in_highheels]

"Doesn't matter. A good plan poorly executed is still a failure." Her scent is one of self-recrimination again. "Will you let me make it up to you?"

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"Through no fault of your own," Richard says firmly, bumping her.

"And only if we skip the part where you turn my things pink."

[hell_in_highheels]

"But that was my favourite part," she teases.

The forest is getting denser now, but the path is getting more clear. She's watching him from the corner of her eye, trying to get a sense of him in this context.

"You've never brought anyone out here before, have you?"

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He shakes his head a bit wryly. "I dragged Deitmar into the mountains once for an overnight survival trip, much to his chagrin." He smiles. Good times.

"But no, no one's ever been to visit and it's too deep for most people to accidentally come across it."

[hell_in_highheels]

"Deitmar?" She gives him a befuddled, amused look. "On a survival trip? Oh that poor lad."

"And I don't suppose you're set up for entertaining, from what Damocles has said."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"I've a few blankets and pillows out there, but very little else." He'd mention Suzi brought them out, but that was a full moon night and he doesn't want to give her any ideas.

"I might be able to pull something together," he says a bit dubiously.

[hell_in_highheels]

"Well I wouldn't worry, love. It sounds like a palace compared to some of the dig sites I've had to camp at," she bumps his shoulder gently.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"Mm, I know that feeling." He headtilts a bit.

"That...privacy screen, was it? Must have been useful if you'd no quarters of your own."

[hell_in_highheels]

She pulls the palm-sized disc out of her pocket and hands it to him. Black and sleek, with an indentation for her thumb, it looks like a paper weight.

"It can be handy for all kinds of reasons." She waggles her eyebrows at him. "I should alter it to put off a rabbit repelling field. On the off chance that you grant me a rain check."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"That may take some doing. They're no ordinary rabbits."

Richard headtilts sharply, an idea having occurred to him. "Is it on now?"

[hell_in_highheels]

She gives him a little perplexed look and shakes her head.

"Press that little button, and you'll see it expand in a sphere around you. Release the button when it's the size you want. It only covers about a three meter radius."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Richard hits the button, staring as first his hand disappears followed by his arm as the field expands. It's only when it reaches his head that everything reappears.

"That was strange," he comments, releasing the button once it envelops both of them. "How long can it last?"

[hell_in_highheels]

"That one lasts about 20 cycles. About an earth day. It's much more effective when you're standing still. If you use it while you're in motion, there's a distortion echo that follows you. Like the wake of a boat."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"Even so, that's incredibly useful." He hits the button again, assuming that will turn the device off. "I think I'd like to add one to my combat gear. Did you make this?"

The path narrows a bit ahead and Richard steps out in front to make sure its clear. He doesn't let go of her hand, though.

[hell_in_highheels]

His assumption is correct and the field collapses. "No, but I'm sure we can ask Ray to duplicate it. Or Bar, for that matter."

She lets the idea of him in combat skip off her thoughts like a meteor off the atmosphere. Not even going there today. Just going to focus on the feel of his hand in hers.

The woods are a wonderfully serene place compared to the frenetic pace of the bar. River squeezes his hand, letting him know that she wants to pause for a moment.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"Hm?" Richard stops and turns to face her, head tilted curiously.

Damocles has been bouncing all through the ferns, but he starts bouncing his way back over to them once he sees they've stopped.

[hell_in_highheels]

It's still a beautiful setting even with the sound of Dam's feet in the foliage. She just wants a moment and then they can continue.

"Let's try again," she whispers, stepping in close to him. "Good morning, love."

She stands on her tip toes and very lightly nuzzles his chin, asking for a kiss.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

The morning would have gone much better if it had simply started like this.

"Good morning." He lowers his head until he can reach her mouth, kissing her gently.