The Preserve, Thursday Evening

[okteiviakom]

The smart thing would probably have been to wait until tomorrow morning before trekking out into the preserve as it grew dark. Not that Octavia cared about that kind of thing. She knew this preserve in particular, and how to move around the woods at any time of day in general and anyway, they had flashlights.

And they'd already been making their way through the trees for a while, now, carrying all their assorted camping gear.

"We're almost there."

It wasn't going to be the same spot they'd camped at last time. For... more than one reason, really.

[ooc: For the snogon!]

Comments

[betterthanaplan]

That was probably a good plan. Duke trailed after her, trusting her judgement and guidance through the darkening woods, even though he was rather less comfortable out here than she was.

He was never one to let discomfort with a situation slow him down anyway.

"It's nice to go hiking somewhere you don't have to worry about hunters."

[okteiviakom]

"Or much else," Octavia said, heaving her backpack a little higher up one shoulder as she walked. "Alots aren't exactly a threat."

And she was way too prone to being monosyllabic to ever have to worry about the deer.

[betterthanaplan]

She'd clearly never met a rampaging alot!

"Alots are the big fluffy pug monsters, right?"

[okteiviakom]

"Yeah," Octavia said, and stepped carefully over a fallen branch.

"Watch your step."

[betterthanaplan]

"Yep, got it," Duke said, stepping over with equal care. Then pulling up short as his bag got caught on a low-hanging branch. "Dammit."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia looked back, not alarmed, but -- ready to be.

Then just gave him a faintly wry look.

"Trees can be kind of mean, though."

[betterthanaplan]

This was what happened when you were tall. "Hang on," he said, trying to twist and reach back without taking the backpack off. "I got it. . . ."

He didn't.

[okteiviakom]

With a little huff, Octavia stepped up to him, then around him to see where the branch was holding his bag hostage.

"Hold still," she said, "I've got you."

[betterthanaplan]

"Nah, I've --" Duke started, then untwisted with a sigh. "Yeah, alright, good plan."

[okteiviakom]

"I could've also left you here to struggle for however long you wanted to," Octavia pointed out, as she dislodged the bag from the branch. "But I figured it'd be nicer to keep moving together."

[betterthanaplan]

"Well. When you put it like that."

He would have eventually figured out to take off the backpack. But he probably would have flailed a bit more first.

"Mochof, gona." He leaned in to give her a thank you kiss.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia huffed quietly, but reached up to accept the kiss all the same.

"De nada, jaka."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke gave her lower lip a soft nip, then pulled back and nodded down the path. "Right. Let's get back to it, huh?"

[okteiviakom]

As much as the nip made Octavia want to stay here for a longer moment so she could actually repay him for the sensation... It also reminded her that at some point sooner rather than later, he was going to end up finally seeing the bruise low on one side of her neck, still conveniently hidden by her zipped-up hoodie.

And that didn't need to be right now. So she reached up and ran her fingers down his cheek, then nodded, and turned to continue trudging along.

"It's another clearing, pretty close to the stream."

[betterthanaplan]

They'd tackle that bruise when they got to it.

"So we're not sleeping in a tree then, huh?" Duke teased, falling into place behind her again. "That's good. Falling out would be a hell of a mood-ruiner."

[okteiviakom]

Snort. "I would love to see you try to set up a tent in a tree," Octavia rasped. "But no. I scoped out a good place for us. Room enough for the tent and a campfire that's not gonna set the woods on fire."

[betterthanaplan]

"I am very much in favor of not setting the woods on fire," Duke agreed. "I trust you."

[okteiviakom]

"Mochof."

And she meant it. You could hear it in her slightly softer tone.

She kept moving. Keeping an eye on all the things she used to keep track of where they were, and where they had to go.

[betterthanaplan]

And Duke followed, keeping a sharp eye on any more entangling branches.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia wasn't going to let any more trees be mean to him, either.

Anyway, she hadn't been bullshitting when she'd said they weren't far anymore: it didn't took too long before they stepped into a clearing, just like she'd said.

It wasn't very big, but it was enough. Big enough that moonlight got to them past the trees surrounding it.

"Here we are," she sighed. "This is our camp."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke stepped up beside her and surveyed the clearing. "Cozy," he said, and leaned down to kiss her again. "Perfect."

[okteiviakom]

"Thought you'd like it," Octavia murmured.

Since he was, you know, such an expert on campsites. Or something.

[betterthanaplan]

Of course he was! For instance, he knew that putting them in trees was a bad idea.

Duke slid his arms around her and let the kiss linger this time, taking his time exploring her mouth with his own. That was the joy of coming all the way out here, after all. Slowing things down and taking their time with each other.

[okteiviakom]

It was a whole back-to-basics thing.

Octavia melted into the kiss, bringing her hands up to gently cradle his face. Even with all the bags on them, out here in the darkening, quiet woods, this was...

Perfect.

[betterthanaplan]

It was exactly what they’d needed.

Duke pulled back slowly, reluctantly. “Let’s set up the tent,” he murmured. “So we can rip each other’s clothes off.”