captainryan | The Archives

"I'm not that particular. If there's nothing there to chase us but something interesting for Dam to poke his nose in, I think that'd be fine."

And then he gives her and amused smile because he assumes she's still being scanned and can't answer.

She holds his gaze while the archive program completes, blinking occasionally. The machine chimes and the voice announces, "Incremental archive complete. Please review archive and confirm."

She beckons Richard with a hand.

"Now, this is the point where I go through my archive and decide what I'd like to keep and what I'd like to revert to an earlier file version. The bones in my hand, for instance, have never been broken because I chose not to archive that information. But the scar at my shoulder is carried forward. Helpful if I ever decide to get a tattoo or something," she winks at him, teasing.

He frowns thoughtfully as he stands next to her.

"That could take a while, unless you're just looking at the changes from the last save file?"

"Yes, exactly, just the last file."

Her fingertips fly over the file, each sector lighting up as she touches it. It's clear she's done this a few times.

She talks while she works. "So Greece then? There are ruins in Greece." The enthusiasm in her voice reminds him of the way some women would mention a shoe sale.

"Have you been there before?"

He has, but he was mostly just passing through. Sight-seeing has never been high on his list of priorities.

"No, but I've read about it. I mean, I don't mind skipping the ruins."

She finishes her work and hits confirm on the file. One last scan passes over her and she shivers, her scent reverting to one akin to her having just stepped out of the shower.

"Two copies, please."

Two tiny discs, perhaps an inch across, appear on the desk beside her. She slips them into a little sleeve, and pockets them.

"There. Done." She stands, catching his hand again, standing on her tiptoes to brush a kiss against his cheek.

"Now, let's see what options CAL has come up with for us."

There's a stack of large format books on the end of the reading table now, that may or may not have been there when they arrived.

"Oh, I don't mind seeing the ruins. I've just never had the time before." He was a busy man, once.

"Whatever you like." He really has no preference. Even the singing sands would be interesting.

Give her half a chance, she'll keep him very busy. Just not running and shooting things.

"Right. Well, let's see." She flips through a few books. While she's looking, a warm body hits her thigh.

"Oof. Hi Dam." One hand reaches down to scrub the dog's ears. "Here, this looks nice. Carriacou, Martinique. Sparrow Bay, specifically."

He bends down to get a closer look.

"Looks lovely," he opines, eyes on her. He plants a kiss on her cheekbone.

She leans into that kiss, her eyelids fluttering closed, her scent awash with longing. Her hand comes up to catch his shirt front.

After a moment, she remembers she was in the middle of something. "Martinique it is."

Blinking rapidly, she smirks up at him, her cheeks flush with colour now. "Right. Tell Dam what's about to happen?"

Richard takes a moment to figure out how to explain this. Damocles.

Yes, sir?

While we're here at the Library, we're able to visit the places that books talk about. River just has to put the book on that ledge there, and a doorway appears that takes us to whatever the book is about. That's how we're going to visit the beach. Understood?

Yes, sir! Is it like the beach outside?

It's the same type of beach, but from a different place. You'll smell when we get there.

Okay!

"I believe he understands," Richard says, looking back at her.

"All right. Here we go."

She puts the book up on the ledge and opens it, stepping back as the portal opens. It's a glorious summer afternoon, twilight perhaps an hour away, and a lovely a warm breeze blowing off the sea.

This time, she takes Richard's hand and leans against him.

And of course he lets her, standing strong as he supports her and peers through the opening.

Go ahead, Dam, Richard jerks his head at the portal encouraging the pup to go exploring. "Let's," he says to River, taking the few steps forward necessary to step inside.

He stops sharply just through the portal as the old familiar pressure that only recently began building suddenly sky-rockets.

"...the moon's full here, isn't it."

"I don't know, is it?" He would know better than she. But it doesn't hurt to verify. "Inquiry: Moon phase, current location?"

The same mechanical voice responds, "Current moon phase is 90% and waxing."

"That answers that. Shall we find another locale then?"

He tilts his head sharply at the unseen voice, still not fond of the 'out-of-nowhere' technique.

"I'd prefer it, yes." Damocles! We're leaving!

But we just got here!

NOW.

...yes, sir.

"Right."

No question, no hesitation, she simply backs out into her office again and, as soon as they are all back through, she closes the book.

A quick inquiry of the stacks finds them another image of the same beach, this one at the new moon, and she resets the portal.

"Sorry, I should have checked first. This should do us just nicely."

Richard eyes are closed as the pressure falls back to the levels from the bar. He's experienced sudden changes in levels before, but to go from new to full in less then a second...he shakes himself off.

"All right," he says, opening his eyes. We'll stay longer at this one, Dam. The last had a full moon.

Is that bad?

When I'm not expecting it, it is.

The new portal opens and she gestures Damocles through. And then she turns back to Richard.

Her hand comes up to rest on his chest.

"You all right, love?"

"Yes." He gives her a reassuring smile. He isn't just saving face. He is fine. That was just surprising.

"I should keep that in mind the next time I'm hurt," he says wryly.

She slips her hand through his arm and waits for him to advance into the new environment.

"Yes, I suppose that would come in handy." There's more than a bit of concern in her voice at that thought, but she is ever the pragmatist. And that is a very good thing to remember should the eventuality present itself.

"I wonder if you're affected by alien moons as well. The planet with the singing sands has three moons. That could have been exciting."

She's getting a 'when did you become crazy' look. "Or very very dangerous," he says emphatically as they head in the second time.

We didn't know he had a 'when did you become crazy' look.

River gives him her 'I've always been crazy, and it took you this long to notice?' look. She's been giving him this look daily since she met him, we suspect.

"Well, yes. But dangerous can be exciting. Don't try to deny it."

They can hear the seagulls complaining bitterly about the intrusion to their peace and harmony as Damocles races towards them.

"Fair enough, but if we're looking for exciting can we at least find a book that presents equal danger for both of us?"

And not just for her?

"Yes, yes we can." That is an idea she can get behind.

"I keep telling myself I'm going to go back and face that bloody T-Rex someday. Perhaps from a safer viewing distance this time."

She hugs his arm tight at the thought.

"Or borrow an RPG from another book."

Pause.

"Can you do that?"

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