[earlier days, pt. 2]

[forewarned_is]

Kali wakes to sunlight on her closed eyelids. She stretches luxuriously without opening them, taking a moment to savor the pleasant lingering ache of last night's exertions -- both the battle, and what came almost immediately after.

That was, she has to admit, pretty unexpected. But there's some satisfaction -- all right, a lot of satisfaction -- in the knowledge that it took him even more by surprise. And a lot of amusement in watching him try to pretend that it was his own idea all along.

She rolls to her side, and opens her eyes.



At the volley of astonished swearing, a flock of small, brightly colored birds takes swift and panicked flight from the trees overhanging the little tent.

Comments

[changeinasnap]

"Good morning, my sweet."

That's from her other side, sounding unconcerned and -- dare we say it? -- rather smug.

Maybe it's because of the handiwork that went into the creation of their (very nice) tent. Likely? It's for another reason entirely.

[forewarned_is]

She whips around in the direction of the voice, and lunges.

It's a little harder to sound smug with a forearm pressing down across your windpipe.





Very sweetly: "Where are we?"

[changeinasnap]

"Hrk."

In arm-against-your-windpipe-ese, that might mean, why, a nice beach with a great view on an uninhabited island, of course! Isn't it lovely?

Alternately, it could mean, please stop choking me. It's a difficult language with many subtleties.

[forewarned_is]

"Hmm?" she inquires brightly.

(Not so much with the subtleties.)

And, after a pause, eases up on the pressure on his neck.

[changeinasnap]

We're taking a moment to suck down some sweet, sweet oxygen....



...and we're done.

"Little beauty of an island out in the south Pacific," he rasps, more cheerful than not. "Completely uninhabited. Nice beach out there too, take a look."

[forewarned_is]

Kali eyes him with dark suspicion. It's not a very comfortable expression to look at from a distance of three or four inches.

Finally she straightens up and rises to her knees, the sheet sliding away from her skin.

"Don't you go anywhere," she murmurs, reaching down to tap his bare chest firmly with one finger.

[changeinasnap]

"Wasn't planning on it even a little."

Especially after the last eight hours or so. Oh yeah.

Chancing his luck, he props himself on his elbows and stretches up with all intent to kiss her.

[forewarned_is]

She lifts a hand between her face and his, and meets his eyes with a look that's a clear warning.

Heat waves shimmer about her fingertips.

Very very softly: "Hold that thought."

[changeinasnap]

A sly smile sneaks its way over his features.

"But of course," he says, and tucks both hands behind his head, stretching back along the ground.

[forewarned_is]

There's no doubt in her mind that he knows exactly how infuriating that smile is.

Or (though there's no way she'll admit it at a moment like this) how attractive.



She gets to her feet, sweeps her hair behind her shoulder with one hand, and lifts the other to push open the tent flap. Strong unfiltered sunlight pours in, gilding her brown skin with fire.

[changeinasnap]

He's pretty sure she's not still choking him. Kind of hard to tell for a second there though, when she's framed in the doorway like that: lit up like the most gorgeous bonfire he's ever seen.

He keeps the appreciative whistling to himself. The sentiment sticks close by his smirk, though.

Some people have no compunctions about letting the other party know how attractive they are.

[forewarned_is]

Outside the tent is a stretch of brilliantly white sand, fringed on one side with lush greenery, sloping gently down toward water of the most astonishing blue-green. Sunlight darts back from the wavelets as though from a handful of diamonds.

Kali studies the scene for a long moment.

One would have to be standing very close to her to hear the faint intake of breath.

[changeinasnap]

He untucks his hands and sits up, the sheet bunching at his waist; his smile maaaay be softening a little bit. Maybe. Just a little.

"You like it?"

[forewarned_is]

"No."




She looks back over her shoulder, with the smallest smile twitching the corners of her mouth.

[changeinasnap]

His own smile grows.

"Yeah," he agrees. "Figured you wouldn't."

[forewarned_is]

"It's beautiful," she says, without her tone changing in the slightest. "Where'd you steal it?"

[changeinasnap]

"Hey, stealing," he says, lifting a finger, "implies previous ownership. Nobody's set foot on this place except birds and a couple turtles."

[forewarned_is]

"Really? Losing your touch, are you?"

She lets the flap fall, and makes for the little heap of fabric draped over the tiny folding table at the other end of the tent.

[changeinasnap]

Blandly, "More like thinking uninhabited's the way to go, what with every habited continent turning into one big happy disease cesspool."

He rolls onto his stomach and rests his weight back on his elbows, watching her with interest.

[forewarned_is]

"It happens every so often," she says, unperturbed. "And it's not as though either of us are subject to disease."

She draws a length of silky red fabric from the pile and starts wrapping it about herself.

[changeinasnap]

"Yeah, but..."

He pulls a rather impressive face of disgust.

"It's depressing."

[forewarned_is]

"Aren't the humans calling it the end of the world, in Europe?" Faintly amused.

[changeinasnap]

In spite of himself, there's a touch of fondness to the snort he offers in reply. "They wouldn't know the end of the world if it bit 'em in the ass."

One foot lifts, idly, and he rotates the ankle to and fro.

[forewarned_is]

Unconcerned: "Oh, they'll know when it comes."

She drapes the end of the fabric over one shoulder, and bends to pick up something else.

[changeinasnap]

"Mmm-hm." Another crooked smirk. "I'm sure you'll make very certain of that, m'dear."

She's not really one for holding back in the midst of battle.

Or anywhere else.