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[captainryan]

The bed's made and Richard's relaxed on it, one hand tucked behind his head as he watches River finish getting dressed. The other hand is hanging off the side of the mattress, scritching Damocles' head.

"So CAL makes a copy of your data every time you return to the Library, and if something happens, she can restore you from that, correct?"

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[hell_in_highheels]

She's grinning broadly now, her scent rippling with deep amusement.

"You have a deeply perverted sense of humour, love. Spots or stripes, do you think?"

"Or should we even wonder out loud, lest Bar find an excuse to revamp our wardrobe?"

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Richard grins. "We're not in the bar. She couldn't possibly know."

He gives her a sharp look.

"Unless someone tells her."

[hell_in_highheels]

"My lips are sealed," she swears solemnly.

And then an image strikes her and she's giggling again, pressing her face against his shoulder as they walk.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"What?"

Does he want to know?

[hell_in_highheels]

"Your lily white arse in a leopard spotted loin cloth," she explains fondly, still laughing. "Hell, my lily white arse in a leopard spotted bikini. We'd blind the poor creature. He'd go running off over the hills, little arms flailing."

Management is just not sure how well this plan was thought through.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"Does that count as facing him?"

[hell_in_highheels]

She's laughing so hard tears are flowing down her cheeks, and she can only playfully punch him in the arm.

For a memory that used to give her the cold shakes, the fact that she can laugh about it now speaks volumes.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

It's a lovely punch, too.

"Or is that mooning him?"

[hell_in_highheels]

More laughter, another feeble punch. "Yet another full moon I have to look out for when I'm around you? Oh please."

The sun is sinking below the horizon, and she stops, turning so that her back is against his chest, wrapping his arms around her, so they can watch the spectacle. She lays her head back against his shoulder, smiling like a kitten in cream.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He buries his nose in her hair, still laughing himself. He can just see over her head into the sunset. The pinks, purples, reds, and blues swirl across the sky, dotted here and there by purple tinged clouds.

Damocles is still chasing seagulls, his barks a sharp interruption to the sound of the waves.

[hell_in_highheels]

"So beautiful," she murmurs. "Better than even the singing sands, I think. We should do this more often."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"Any place you want to go..."

He'll go.

[hell_in_highheels]

"I think..." She starts the thought, and holds it in her mouth for a long moment, finding the words. Her scent is cautious, but hopeful.

"I think perhaps I'd like to do more exploring outside of the bar. Not just here, but in the universe at large again. The last century has been enlightening, but I think I'd like to go some place -- uncatalogued."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"Someone should start an inter dimensional tour service. Maybe a bed and breakfast."

He may be teasing her a bit.

"No, that should be simple enough. Did you just want to go...looking?" Or do combat missions count?

[hell_in_highheels]

She does grin at the jest. "I dunno. Hadn't given it that much thought really. It's just time."

"I think that the last adventure ended badly..." There's a nervous laugh in the back of her throat. "Just say it, River. I died. There is no more final end, is there? But this is a second chance? And I have you to go with me. To look after me, so to speak."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He arches an eyebrow at her.

"I thought you didn't want me to do that?"

Not that he ever had any intention of letting that stop him.

[hell_in_highheels]

There's a thoughtful shrug and a wash of that powerful emotion in her scent.

"It's nice sometimes, to have someone you trust at your back. Like I said before, I like the way you ground me. And you know, it means I can look after you as well, doesn't it?"

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"I'd like that."

There's nothing like trusting someone you trained yourself to watch your back.

"You know that's an excuse for me to train you harder, yes?"

[hell_in_highheels]

He can feel her grin. "Not an excuse, a valid reason. I'm certainly up for anything you can throw at me. But if you think that's going to bypass our philosophical differences in certain areas, you'll have to think again. If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem tends to look like a nail and all that."

She gives him a squeeze in anticipation of the rumble she knows is coming next.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"I resent the implication that my only tool is a hammer," he huffs.

"I also use guns, swords, and my own two fists."

[hell_in_highheels]

"And your mind, Captain. Your mind is your most valuable asset. One should only resort to guns, swords or your own two fists when your mind has exhausted all other possibilities."

"Tell you what. You train my fists, and I'll exercise your clever little brain meats. Then we'll both be amply prepared to face whatever the universe throws at us, hmm?"

She leans her head back to look up at him.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"Mmm, how so? Are you giving me brain teasers?"

He has nothing against the diplomatic approach. It's just that by the time he's been called in, it's already been tried and failed.

[hell_in_highheels]

"Thought exercises. Riddles. Conundrums, perhaps. I assume you took tactics and strategy in officer school, no doubt?"

River's of the opinion that most people who have 'tried and failed' didn't try hard enough in the first place.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"Of course. But I usually leave negotiations to others.

"For instance, you seem rather talented at it."

He doesn't mind being the brawn on their team.

[hell_in_highheels]

"Oh really. So -- why should I have to learn to fight again?" There's a teasing lilt to her voice.

"System redundancy, love. It's never a bad idea."