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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.

These already have cords attached, so you can have the rope for your decorating.

[ She hands him the bag and slings the egg vibrators over her shoulder. She can already see the perfect branch to string them up on. ]

[In the mean time, Aral considers the tree from a couple of angles, smirks to himself and gets to work.

It's not... anywhere near perfect. No real materials and it's certainly not his medium, but by virtue of a fortuitously shaped tree branch, the o ring harness and being quite handy with knots, it's a deer head with colorful, silicone, multi-speed antlers. ]

[ Meanwhile, she's climbing up into a tree to find the best spot the damn vibrators to get caught in the wind. It takes her some time to secure the batch to a sturdy tree limb and she gives the bunch a smack to make sure they'll clank together properly.

If Cordelia had other plans for these, she really should have included instructions.

The sight that greets her after she climbs down is rather... majestic. She laughs as she walks around the makeshift deer head and reaches to touch one of its antlers. ]

Good work.

I think it adds a certain something.

[And just. Digs out his comm from his pocket and hands it over to Tex.]

[ She doesn't need any instructions, she takes the comm and snaps a few photos of their campsite. ]

You want a special message included with these to Cordelia?

[He considers that seriously for a moment.]

I lean towards no warning. You?

Yeah, I think so. [ She smirks at that and sends the pictures off, no context included. ]

Volley fired.

I do wonder if we'll actually get a reply.

[He starts to amble over to the firepit to inspect what had been gathered for the night. A stray breeze catches some speed and force as it whistles up along the small mountain, ... setting Tex's hard work to a loud display of thunks and clacks as plastic ricocheted off each other and tree bark.]

It... [There's an obvious struggle not to laugh.] ... is certainly functional.

[ She sets his comm down by their bags and glances up to admire the elegant movements that only those devices could make. ]

I'll take it down before we turn in for the night. They make good ambiance. [ For what, she doesn't know. ]

Something like that...

[He unholsters the plasma arc and puts it back on low, and barely squeezes the trigger, aiming just above the logs and branches. The hot trail of plasma sets the firepit ablaze instantly.]

[ Some might call that overkill. Tex, however, stands there watching with open appreciation and whistles. ]

Where have you been hiding that all this time?

I usually keep it with me. [And several... other weapons at all times.]

The last time I had to make a trek out into the wilderness it was without one. Deeply regretted it.

The time before that as well. I made a promise to myself, after that.

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