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Perhaps, a little.

[ To offer or not... She considers the sky before them for a moment. ]

No reason you can't get an encore. We're all in the same place.

...

I, ah, have something of a distaste for voyeurism, truth be told.

[And there's a moment where even he seems to realize how that could be taken as a dismissal, and hurries on to clarify.]

Though if you'd wish to be a partner to both of us... We are all in the same place.

[ It had sounded like dismissal and she's about to let the subject drop when suddenly he continues speaking.

...Well. That's one way to get her attention and she sits up straighter as she turns to get a better look at him. ]

I'd like that.

[There's a moment where he... looks quite surprised. It's not so much the acceptance ... though there is a portion of that. The fact that it happened out of hand. Immediately. With clear attention and understanding of the situation.

In expressions she'd yet to see: it's quite a smile.]

I will look forward to it.

[ That's a damn good look on him and she's watching him with open appreciation. ]

Same. You want to make it a few more miles before we set up a camp for the night? [ Teasingly, ] Or is here good for your tired bones?

[His brows furrow and his chin lifts a bit. He gets up, pocketing his comm and shouldering his pack.]

There's plenty of light. I imagine we can easily see the peak today.

[Twice, nearly three times as far as she'd offered. Just because he can.]

[ If he wants to keep going, she's not going to stop him. Her pack is pulled back on and she keeps in step with him, to make sure she's not enforcing a ridiculous pace for him to keep up.

She has a small smile on her face that's been permanently fixed for most of their trip. Being out here has felt a helluva lot better than cooped up in the city. ]

I thought you were going to keel over halfway up.

[His pace wasn't quite a quick time, but it wasn't a stroll either. It was refreshing for him as well. It had been far too long since he'd simply been out, no deadlines, no ImpSec following him...

Though at the comment, the reply is a little stiff.]

I'd merely thought to appreciate the vista.

[ She sets her pack down and stretches lightly. Not that she needs it, but the memory bleed is strong and habits die hard. ]

Well you have an even better one to appreciate now.

[On the other hand, Aral's movements are far more sloppy as he takes off the pack and sits heavily against it. HE IS FINE. Just, that last bit of the slope was the whole problem, clearly.

On the other hand... it was true. Over one side was a sprawling valley down below, the lights of a town beginning to show up like early stars. The just setting sun turning the sky a soft red.]

I have missed this...

[ It's gorgeous. She stands beside him with her hands resting on her hips. She really had been missing this part of her life. ]

So have I. We're going to have to go hiking in Texas sometime. I remember a few places that were good for camping and hunting, if you're into that. [ A small pause as she considers, ] If they're still around.

We'd have to dress and pack the meat no where near the house if we do, but otherwise, I'd quite enjoy that.

[There's a pause here though, mostly trying to place "Texas" mentally draws him back around to...]

Is that where you took your alias from?

It's why I was given it. Everyone at the Project had an alias for one of the states. Allison was from there.

[ It's stated as a matter-of-fact and she shrugs. ]

We could do the hunting closer to home, but smaller game should be fine if we have time to cook and eat it there.

Hm. It shouldn't be an issue either way. Cordelia hardly minds others partaking as long as she's not asked to, but I fancy the preparation would be a bit much.

[Stretching his weary, complaining muscles, he sits back up properly and drags his pack out in front of him to start pulling out supplies.]

Do you prefer small game?

[ She shrugs. ]

Not sure yet. My memories on it are fuzzy. Small game would be easier to use up though if travel's a concern. [ A beat then, ] You want me to gather kindling for a fire while you set up camp?

[There's a nod to that assessment. They'd start there, then. That would be easiest with a good hunting dog, but they could make due.

He upends his own pack before standing, looking for an ideal flat of land for the bedrolls and fire pit.]

If you would.

I'll be back in a few. [ She rests a hand briefly on his shoulder then is off.

She takes her time in finding debris that'd work well for their fire. They won't be here longer than this night and part of tomorrow, but she'd like to have a good map of their terrain. It's about half an hour before she returns, ready to dump everything into the prepared fire pit. ]

[By the time she's back, the site is well prepared. Most Barrayarans get a cursory survival training for both their home planet and just about anything another can throw at them. That is those scrubs. This one was trained by Piotr.

The ground is cleared to a perfect perimeter, still well enough under the cover of the heavy trees to hide the camp from overhead surveillance. The firepit is a shallow, round pit of melted rock - a quick burst from the plasma arc on low. Bedrolls and bug netting set out, compact cookware by the pit, cold lights powered off but sitting nearby - it's practically military.

... Or would be if Aral wasn't standing with an expression somewhere between flabbergasted and long suffering, looking in a decided floral print bag he certainly did not pack himself.]

[ Tex is impressed when she comes back into their clearing. He works fast and well, she'll have to keep that in mind for their future trips out. She doesn't get a good look at what has caught his attention until she's deposited the kindling in the fire pit.

What the hell kind of bag is that? Nothing dangerous if he's staring like that. She moves to stand beside him, trying to catch a glimpse inside. ]

Cordelia pack us something?

[He simply hands the bag to Tex. It's quite the bag, from simple egg vibes, to colorful dongs, a harness, to even a length of soft red rope.]

I believe Cordelia might be a little impatient. [Dryly.] It's hard to tell.

[ She accepts the bag and it only takes one look before she lets out a long sigh. Of course Cordelia did. ]

Well. She gave us rope. We could string these up somewhere.

[There's a beat and then just laughter.]

They'd make for poor wind chimes though.

I suppose it's colorful enough for decorations.

[ The laughter is contagious and causes her to break into a bright smile of her own. ]

I don't know, these [ she picks up the bundle of vibrating eggs ] might make a good sound if knocked together.

I'll leave the acoustics to you. I still think the tree could use a bit of color, though.

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