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I thought the same about you. [ Still does but. She shrugs and finally removes her backpack of supplies. ]

[He starts to say something to that... and instead goes to look at the phone conversation with Miles.

This, my friends, is a veritable rainbow of expression as he reads through the short conversation.]

That..... He is more than a little drunk.

[ Wrong thing to say? Maybe he's not as interested as she thought. There's a small frown on her face as she watches him out of the corner of her eyes.

Not that her conversation with Miles must be helping any. ]

Yeah, I could tell. Cordelia's going to be more blunt with him.

[He catches only a glimpse of that frown and subdues himself, unsure of how to take that after the bright mood there HAD been most of this trip.]

With any luck, he'll remember it. I don't envy him on that side of the scalpel today.

Remember it and neglect to bring it up again. I don't know what they were talking about that made that a conversation topic. Apparently he saw us kiss at the meeting during his allergy-induced haze.

Ah.

[... Well that is certainly a pleasant mental image. ... He would not have thought that would have appealed but HERE WE ARE.]

I seem to have missed that.

[ That's an expression she's never seen on his face before. She barely manages to hold back a laugh. ]

Yeah, somehow. Regretting it?

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. ]

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