012 [Voice/Dictated] Dated to the end of York's party

[youfallback]

Guess we all need a chance to celebrate something every now and then. Even in a magical castle that doubles as a worst nightmare some days.

[NOBLE team, York, Wash]

[And then, back to business,] There's another expedition coming up. Wasn't well announced before this woman took over. I'd like to get a headcount of who's going from our teams. I'll be asking Agent South Dakota to come with us, under my direct supervision at all times.

[Just Wash]
I need someone back here at the Castle I can trust. Last time a group of us left, we were left wide open for attack and we needed to evacuate.

I'm including the list of floor captains but a lot of us will be going on the trip. I need you to take charge if something happens back here.

[South]
There's a chance to get out of the Castle coming up sometime. You interested in coming with the rest of the team?

Comments

action/timeskip

[encryptedlock]

[It turns out he's glad for her horse expertise, because being first a city boy and then a space marine doesn't give York a whole lot of riding experience. Carolina ends up helping York choose a particularly docile horse for him, since he's not the most skilled rider in the world.He will leave notes at their stalls, though, saying these two have been claimed for the expedition.]

Probably won't hurt to practice a little every day until we set out, huh?

Action!

[youfallback]

[Carolina leans lightly on the fence dividing her from her future mount. He'd need some extra help, but he's got extra help right here.]

We'll ride out a couple miles every day and take lunch with us. 0900-1300. [She is formally scheduling them for a romantic ride out to a picnic lunch every day for the next week.]

[encryptedlock]

[Yeah, he sees that for what it really is.]

It's a date. And we'll need saddlebags too, right? So they get used to the weight?

how did I miss this.

[youfallback]

[Carolina nods as she shifts into a more upright stance.]

We can pack those tonight. [Or. Well. If he wants to hang out in her room until the late hours.]

because we have all the other tags?

[encryptedlock]

[Oh come on, like he'll say no to that.]

Sure thing. I'll pack the least perishable foods, too. We can wait until we actually have a departure date for the fresher stuff.

ayup

[youfallback]

Good idea. [Carolina nods as she starts to head back in to the Castle.]

Want to crash in my room after packing tonight?

[encryptedlock]

You have to ask? Course I do!

[Not like his room is that far away from hers, but that is so not the point.]

another timeskip?

[youfallback]

[Carolina's got two sets of saddlebags sitting out on the rug in front of the fireplace, supplies tucked neatly away inside. She can't help the yawn that stretches her jaw as she takes a couple more moments to make sure the ties are fixed in place.]

Sounds good to me~

[encryptedlock]

[Once they got back, York had changed out of his armor and left it in the guest room. He's still not a hundred percent sure if he's crashing there or in her room, but it's better not to jinx it.]

Looking good to me. I'll get a cooler ready for the perishables and then just stock it up once we know a date.

[youfallback]

[For a moment, Carolina stretches, dressed in her usual sweatpants and t-shirt. She honestly still has to decide if she'll offer him her room or ask him to take the guest room once again. After all, she wants to make sure that they're making steps in communication before they get back to their usual thing. Although, if they're going to be sharing a tent, then they should get used to each other's sleeping patterns again.

Nodding,] I'm pretty ready to get out of this place for a few weeks.

[encryptedlock]

You and me both.

[He leans back and stretches as well, grinning just slightly. He'd be fine with either option, but of course what he really wants is to be as close to her as he can.

And it had just been his birthday (party), after all.]

And the place we're headed is supposed to look pretty nice, too. I've seen the painting.

[youfallback]

[Oh, speaking of birthdays, Carolina still has his present back in her bedroom and no it isn't condoms. She'll remember it in just a bit. As it is, she slowly scoots over to sit next to him, settling a hand on his chest.]

The Castle's brand of nice or wilderness nice?

[encryptedlock]

Wilderness nice. Well, maybe not entirely natural, but nice anyway.

[He shifts a little so he has one hand around her, and suddenly this packing is quite a bit more cozy than it was.]

And I'm glad you're going. Wouldn't be the same without someone to share it with.

[youfallback]

[Carolina's fingers play with the fabric of his shirt lightly before she settles her hand again, knuckles gently moving along the center of his chest.]

Noble Five's going. [She can't help the slight smirk that piques the corners of her lips.] He might not mind you cuddling up to him in the middle of the night.

[encryptedlock]

Oh, come on. He's like seven feet tall, Carolina. Probably thinks I'd be a better pillow than anything else.

[Exaggerating a little, perhaps, but Jorge isn't exactly his type.]

I think he should get his own tent.

[youfallback]

[Fffft, that earns some laughter. Her eyes are absolutely brimming with amusement.]

You could be his man pillow.

[encryptedlock]

I am not going to be a Spartan's man pillow.

[Though the look in his eyes suggests he'd be fine with being her man pillow.]

[youfallback]

[Yeah, she's got a good feeling he wouldn't mind being her man pillow. As it is, she leans over to lightly kiss him on the lips, which is, well, the first time since they broke up a few weeks back.]

At least, not on your birthday.

[encryptedlock]

[York would point out that hey, his actual birthday was a while ago, but he has more important things on his mind right now. Like the urge to pull her in and crush her lips to his.

He holds back for the moment, though.]

Speaking of which, you said you had a present for me?

[youfallback]

[His lips against his are so familiar the kiss is soothing, welcoming and altogether exactly what she wants right now, too. ] It's in my room.

[She grins just slightly as she slowly gets to her feet, tugging on his arm.]

[encryptedlock]

[He follows the tug happily, following closely enough to brush up against her back just a bit as they walk. It's a very physical type of flirting, sure, but also light enough that she doesn't need to feel obligated to respond in turn. Testing the waters a bit, so to speak.]

[youfallback]

[Feeling him that close makes her want to just toss him on the bed and mount him, but she holds back as there's a gift she wants to give him first. However, she does grin wider, maybe tugging him just a little closer once or twice. Once unlocks her bedroom door, she heads in, her hand still wrapped around his. Her first stop is her dresser, where she digs around in the top drawer for a small, black box with a neat green bow tied around it. It fits easily in her palm as she holds it out toward him. ]

[encryptedlock]

[Oh, good. He was hoping she'd respond like that.

Sadly he does have to let go of her hand for a moment to take and open the box, but he's definitely grinning. What could it be?]

[youfallback]

[It's a ring! Well, two of them, neatly tucked into the cushion inside the box. One is a small, silver band with a turquoise stone that's clearly too small to fit any of his fingers. Along the band is her real name and rank before Project Freelancer. The other ring is a bit bigger, gold, with a green stone and his codename engraved on the band.]

Mine's supposed to go on the chain with the dogtags. [Which had been her original intent, but giving him one of her rings might be weird. Maybe he wants one for himself!]

[encryptedlock]

[He's silent for a long moment as he looks at the rings, and his expression is somewhere between sadness and awe. Without a word he slips the necklace with her dogtags off and slides the ring on, replacing it just as quickly. He takes the gold ring and slides it onto his hand and then smiles down at her, the earlier traces of melancholy vanishing.

He'd have her wear it, but, well. It doesn't have his real name on it yet.]

These are great. Thanks.