[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]

He scowls. "Affectionately, how else?"

He's more upset with himself than her. No wonder Deitmar was always so annoyed with him.

[hell_in_highheels]

"No, no. No scowling."

She takes a step, turning to walk backward a pace before pressing her hands to his chest, halting his forward progress. A little nudge makes him set the blanket down.

That accomplished, she takes his hands and brings them to her face, nuzzling first his left and then his right palm.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Well, he's not quite scowling any more.

The look on his face says 'what are you doing?'

[hell_in_highheels]

She's showing him how she likes to be touched. Silly man.

"Or this," she whispers.

She turns his hand slightly, brushing her cheek against the backs of his knuckles.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"That's not terribly enthusiastic," he observes dryly. Which is kind of the point behind a ruffle.

[hell_in_highheels]

Her eyes go a touch wide, her scent confused and a little frustrated.

"Perhaps we should stick to shoulder bumping then?"

Which is sad really, because she loves having her face petted.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Up goes an eyebrow.

"I didn't say there was anything wrong with it."

It's just not a ruffle. Woe.

[hell_in_highheels]

"You're lucky I am smitten with you, Ryan. Some days you drive me batty."

She leans up on her tip toes and kisses him on the lips, the frustrated scent easily overwhelmed by the love scent.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"Mmm," he says, not quite returning the kiss, though his scowl smooths some.

"I assure you the feeling is mutual."

[hell_in_highheels]

River purrs a little under her breath, not giving any ground. "Good."

She leans against him, her eyes half lidded as she nuzzles the corner of his mouth. "I'd hate to think it was all sweetness and light."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Craaaap. He can't stay mad when she does that!

He harumphs, kissing her cheek.

[hell_in_highheels]

She catches a handful of his shirt, a quiet, giddy laugh on her lips. When she speaks, her voice is low and rich. "Let's get a move on, shall we?"

My mate.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

That last earns her a full fledged grin as he turns them back towards the path.

And lands a good smack on her rear to encourage her to pick up the pace.

My mate, he says innocently.

[hell_in_highheels]

She squeaks and turns to glare at him, unable to suppress a grin.

She does set an impressive pace on the trail thereafter, making him stretch his legs.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He lets her set the pace because he knows he's faster, but he keeps at her side. It's a week from the moon, but he still knows better than to run behind a human.

There's a low sort of hutch that appears under a stand of trees. Upon closer inspection, it's obvious that the trees are the supports for the structure. It's roughly a foot and a half off the ground with a wide opening on one side. It looks like two people could fit inside, and there's a glimpse of cloth in the dark interior.

Damocles is checking the perimeter, nose snuffling from tree to tree and stopping at the far end where there's a dip in the ground. There's a lot of pale white over on that side and the dog alerts and pounces before coming up empty jawed.

Mouse, he grumbles at them, disgruntled at having missed it.

Richard waits silently for a reaction.

[hell_in_highheels]

River approaches it with a look of wide-eyed curiosity, her eyes taking in every detail. She can see the bones scattered under the carpet of leaves. Her nose twitches as she approaches. The scent of him is thick here, but not overwhelming.

She turns back to look at him, a soft smile on her lips. "It could use a coat of paint and maybe some curtains, but other than that, it's nicer than the first flat I ever had."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Richard raises an eyebrow.

"Do you have any idea how much paint reeks?"

Still, it's obvious there's some relief about him.

[hell_in_highheels]

River is already sitting down on the platform, her hands planted on either side of her hips as she kicks off her boots.

She wiggles her toes and gives him an arched eyebrow right back. "Maybe just curtains then. Little frilly curtains. With ducks on. Oh no, not ducks. Rabbits."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Richard gives her a look that says she's being silly.

"They're aren't any windows." He's eyeing her toes.

"Are you hungry?" He is, but that's hardly surprising.

[hell_in_highheels]

She rolls her eyes at him.

"And yes, I could eat. What's that over there?"

She's walking, barefoot through the leaves, towards the bone pile, the bright ribbon of curiosity in her scent. She squats down and begins picking through the remains of his meals like, well, an archæologist, really.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"Discards," he answers, setting down the satchel and heading for the den. He climbs in halfway, rooting around among the blankets before emerging victorious with a sheathed knife.

Damocles.

Yes, sir? The dog comes to attention. He knows it's important if Captain's using his full name.

I want you to bring me the largest pieces of dry wood you can find, understood?

Yes, sir! Dam trots off with his mission.

That taken care of, Ryan heads for some trees that look like they'll make good spits.

"See if you can find a large, flat rock, would you?"

[hell_in_highheels]

"Right." River sets down her hand full of rabbit bones, and carefully toes over a bleached femur. There are teeth marks and later she'll get measurements.

She roams the area a bit and comes back with a stone fitting that description, depositing it beside where he's clearly laying a fire.

She's a bit muddy, knees, feet and hands. But she looks perfectly content, if a bit on the chill side. "So it's rabbit for breakfast then?"

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"No point in letting them go to waste. And these don't taste nearly as foul as the fire breathers. I believe it's fair play, seeing as how they got in your basket." He grins a little toothily.

"What all survived the attack?" He asks as Dam drags the first stick back towards him. Good dog.

[hell_in_highheels]

River dusts her hands off and goes to retrieve the basket. She sits on the edge of the den and peruses the remains of her breakfast picnic.

"Some bread, some cheese. A bit of the bacon. None of the eggs. And the wine. The bottle's a bit of a mess but it's intact." She sounds disappointed all over again.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

The spits are about down since there's not much to making them. River may have noticed, but there's no fire pit anywhere.

He doesn't cook out here.

"Nothing's been ruined, you know," he says to her, wiping splinters off the knife. "We have replacement protein. We had to move, but this is much more secluded than the valley."

Privacy screen or no, he doesn't think he would've been comfortable doing anything more than eating out there.

"Also, the bacon survived."

Bacon?

"Oh, that word you recognize?"