--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--This RP is set on Friday 13th February 2015.
Skylar:
We approach the cabin. At least I think it’s the cabin. I’ve been portal jumping to get **** there, that’s why I’m not carrying anything right now. My stuff’s already inside; acoustic guitar included, cos I’m not going “camping” and leaving that at home. Not to mention Ms Thing can let herself in and out when she likes. My other guitars are at Dillon’s. I’m not sure if Ric noticed that or not.
“Okay, so I gotta warn ya.”
Because it’s only fair to warn someone of their fate at the appropriate moment and right before they walk in and see the place, well, that’s today’s appropriate moment.
“The place isn’t furnished and they keep a load of plants or something in one of the back rooms. I think we’re meant to stay out of there. So yeah… I got one of those blow up mattress type dealies, and we’ll be sleeping on that. I figure between hunting and entertaining ourselves we’ve got the weekend’s activities covered. Oh… did you bring a book? You know… in case I bore you or something?”
Ric:
I don't know what to expect this weekend. To me it isn't that big of a deal, but Skylar wanted to try and go hunting, so I was up for it. When she starts informing me about the cabin's state and lack of amenities, I listen and wait for her to stop talking. "I camp. A lot. In the woods. A blow up mattress is a lot better than the cold, snowy ground this time of year." I shrug because whatever it does or doesn't have, doesn't bother me. I can make do for a couple of nights. "You do realize that I'll have to come back here each night, right?" I remind her. Not because I think she's forgotten, but that the whole waking up across town might cut in on some of our outdoor time and experiences this weekend.
Skylar:
“Yeah. I remember. That’s pretty hard to forget. Just, you know, don’t dilly dally on your way back.”
I backhand him in the shoulder and hope he doesn’t realise how truly annoying his stupid disappearing act is. I know he can’t help it and most days it doesn’t bother me, but it’s a serious pain in the arse. Not to mention it limits where we can go and what we can do to this shithole of a town. Though even if we could go, I have no clue where we’d go to, I mean it’s not like I had any plans to get the hell out of this place before I died, and now I was more emotionally tied to this place than ever. I could go a year without seeing my family easily, but Ellie, Dillon, they wouldn’t be so easy to leave behind.
“I take it you’re ready to learn just why I don’t play around with the pointies I make?”
I know I’m going to make an arse of myself but that par for the course of being me. I’ll try but I really hope he’s not expecting miracles, cos I already know I’m not going to turn into some kind of battle babe. I cast my eyes at him sideways as walk. Is that what he expects and wants from me? Cos really he’s picked the wrong girl if that’s the case. I’m sure he could find himself some blade wielding ***** if he wanted one. Then again he didn’t exactly pick me now did he? I did that for him. At least that’s how it feels to me on occasion.
Ric:
I shake my head at her last question as I don't dwell on the other bit. I can't do anything about it, Skylar seems to recognize that and so when we say our piece about it, it's over and done in my mind. "I'm ready to teach you how to use those things you make. Making them is fine, but you need to understand them. What's the point of making them if you don't? And before you say to help others, which is noble in a way, you wouldn't buy or use, let's say...a guitar from some person who made one and never had the nerve to play one, would you?" I stop moving and look at her.
Skylar:
I stop when he stops and just shrug. Does he have a point maybe, but I don’t think my lack of skill in wielding a weapon has held me back so far.
“I dunno. I guess if their skill is in making the instrument, that’s their business. Not everyone can play like I can. So… does it really matter if the guy making the guitar can’t play? I mean maybe he just enjoys his craft and likes to hear other people make the thing sing. Just like I can play a guitar. But I’ve never tried building one.”
There that nagging thought again at the back of my mind, only this time I can’t silence it, or muffle it rather, silencing my thoughts is a whole new level of control and since I can’t even control my lips, I stand a snowballs chance in hell of silencing my thoughts.
“Ricky?”
I sigh and then look him in the eye. Just because I need to say the words doesn’t mean I need to act like some stupid, insecure teenager and avoid his gaze.
“Does it bother you that I’m not some kind of battle babe? I mean, most of our kind are. Do you regret… you know… dating someone like me?”
Ric:
I don't know what to say. I haven't given this much thought. Most, if not all Altaire's knew how to fight and defend themselves. But I wouldn't date an Altaire because they were my family. And if something went bad, people were emotional and not logical. There would be a side picked from them and it would be uncomfortable in the family. A few months ago I wouldn't even say I would ever date, but here we are. I look around as I think and then shrug my shoulders. "Most the women I know can probably kick my *** between you and me. With you and my thing being the exception. I guess I don't have to worry about that if I was dating them." I am being honest and practical. It is the way I am familiar with and know.
Skylar:
Great. Here I am looking for god knows what from him and he says that. I smack him again with the back of my hand only this time I put my weight behind it, and while I may be small, I’m not as weak as he thinks I am.
“Great. Lump me in with her. Fantastic. So you’d date her too then eh?”
I start to storm off. I already know he won’t date his thing, he’s told me before and he was pretty damn convincing when he said it too cos it sounded like the idea actually repulsed him. I guess it’s the same way I’d sound if anyone seriously accused me of crushing on Ellie.
Ric:
This is the side of Skylar I don't like. And the drinking one. I say something and she hears what she wants to hear. She doesn't listen. She just hears. "That's not what I said." I say as I follow after her, going deeper inside the cabin as I do this. There are plants everywhere, some I recognize for ritual purposes when I did them. I don't bother with them anymore. "I just think you should be able to defend yourself. Anything could happen in the city. When I'm not around. Defending yourself isn't that big a deal. It's smart."
Skylar:
“Still avoided answering the question though didn’t ya?”
I point to the room I set the bed up in and then fold my arms across my chest.
“If you’d rather date some battle babe than someone like me, just say. I can take it Ricky, I’m a big girl.”
Ric:
"I answered your question. I don't think I would like being concerned about potentially being killed over some emotional outburst by my significant other." I tell her before looking at the flowers and plants. "I'm no gardener or anything, but Pi should really look in after these things. They won't be any good for any ritual." I point to the wilted flowers in a hydro not far from where I stood.
Skylar:
“Actually no you didn’t say that.”
The way he phrased it this time sounds different, it’s more understandable, that or his use of the words significant other got to me; I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard him use those words before.
“I’ll tell you don’t approve of her handy work.”
I beckon to him. As much as I did kind of get my answer and I know I should shut up, I can’t help but push for a little more information. I know. Shocking right? Me pushing the boundaries.
“So basically… If you could date anyone in the world…”
Which he could, I’m pretty sure of it, even if he is an arse at times; well, most of the time.
“You’d prefer to date someone who couldn’t beat you in a fight? Is that right?”
Ric:
"Why do you always do this? Take my words and pull them apart? So we can argue about nothing again?" She gets like this sometimes and I honestly want to strangle her, even if it's pointless. "I had no urge to date before we were dating. I would probably have no urge to date if we were not dating. I do not think about these things. I have better things to do with my nights than pine for some potential soul-mate or whatever it is other people do."
Skylar:
Urgh. Why do I do this? Do I like to fight? Is he more attractive to me when we’re arguing. I shake that thought from my head. Nope. He’s most attractive to me in the shower. At least I think that might be when we work best. Unfortunately we can’t live in there though.
“You know I can’t help it. I think a thing ad it comes out of my mouth. Sometimes I’m speaking before the thought is even fully formed. It’s who I am. I guess I just sometimes wonder why you are dating me, and so help me god Ric if you say it’s because I told you we were dating I will come over there and smack you. Most of our kind seem to revel in violence is all and that’s just not me. I guess I was checking to see if that bugged you or not?”
I’ve explained myself as best I can. Yes. I may just be poking the bear again but as I told him, my lips and brain don’t always get on and agree on stuff. I’m just thinking how right I am about that when I recall the plant he pointed at as looking just fine the day before, healthy even. My nose crinkles slightly and I frown as I focus on it. I’m going mad. Obviously, I blame Ric for this.
Ric:
"Why is the sky blue? Why do we call winter, winter and not spring and why is red called red or other colors of tied to the red spectrum on color charts?" This was not what I wanted to do this weekend. I'm starting to feel like she brought me here just to argue or trap me in to saying or doing something I don't want to say or do. "Why can't you just appreciate how things are and leave it at that?"
Skylar:
“Cos you may not like how things are. You may want me to be a battle babe. How will I know unless I ask?”
I’m not done with the conversation but I am distracted; the plant is bugging me. I swear it was alive and well not twenty-four hours ago. Less even. What the hell had happened to it to make it give up the will to live in just one day? I go over and sniff the leaves to see if there’s any plant poison on it, though why Pi would poison her own stock I have no idea.
Ric:
"What are you doing?" I watch her as she goes over to a plant and starts sniffing it. "It's dead. Long dead. Won't smell like roses." I tell her before I sigh. "I didn't say I want you to be that. I said I wanted you to know how to defend yourself. Everyone should know how to."
Skylar:
“ ‘Kay.”
After all my questioning that’s all I have to say on the matter. It really wasn’t all that difficult for him to just say that at the start but typically, we took the long route to the answer. I half think if Ric was ever interrogated – before he died – that he’d of lost all of his digits just through being his usual vague self.
“The plant was alive yesterday. I mean, I’m no gardener but I swear it was alive when I last saw it. Can plant just… you know… commit hara-kiri and like… will itself to die?”
Ric:
"No. If it dies it is because the owner isn't taking care of it properly. It needs proper food and light. It's not difficult to take care of a plant. You could probably not water this one for a couple nights. It's been severely neglected. For maybe the better part of a month." I tell her with a shrug of my shoulders. "I thought we were here to hunt. Not talking about gardening 101."
Skylar:
I laugh. He’s right. The plant must have been in worse shape than I thought.
“I don’t suppose you wanna christen every room in the cabin first do ya?”
I know the answer, but I have to ask. Actually. I’m expecting a question before I get the answer, but occasionally Ric surprises me with what he knows. And who knows. He may know the meaning of this expression.
Ric:
I just look at Skylar. Had she been drinking a little tonight and I hadn't noticed it before? "You know I don't really believe in god and such. But if it makes you happy, go for it. I'll just be over here. Getting our gear ready." I point to the pile that was mine. Well, ours since I got her some stuff too in there.
Skylar:
I roll my eyes. Okay. So no question just a good ole’ fashioned, straight up miss communication. I walk over and grab a hold of his hand, pushing my fingers between his.
“Erm… darlin’… I think ‘christening a room’ might be one of those things I need to explain. It’s kinda like a euphemism for having sex. I was asking of you wanted to have sex in every room of the cabin before we started on the hunting portion of the weekend.”
He likes to get down to business. I know this. As vague as Ric can be, he’s usually pretty straight up and doesn’t really mess around. He can, but it’s not really his style; it’s more mine and I’m under no delusion about that.
Ric:
"Oh." I say as I look down at her fingers between mine. I give them a squeeze. "But isn't one of these rooms off limits? Because it is Pi's and Elliot's?" If someone had sex in my bedroom I would burn everything in it and then kill the two of them. I don't want anyone leaving their traces of themselves in my personal space. "But I can give you approximately two hours before we have to take care of the real business for the weekend. We have to scout the territory for a good place to set 'camp,' and look for evidence of life too. Which shouldn't be too complicated thanks to the snow." I take my hand back and start looking through the pile of my stuff.
Skylar:
I’m not sure I’m hearing him right. We could have sex for two hours? Is that really what he just proposed. Two hours and then we go hunting?
“Yeah well we don’t have to get freaky in the plant room.”
I smile at him.
“I mean we don’t want an audience or anything.”
Because plants can really see and all. Much more than dogs. Poor Blackie, like the thing wasn’t traumatised enough before he came to us. He’d probably had to see more than his fair share already. Though he did usually make a run for it the moment Ric walked into the room, so maybe he hadn’t witnessed as many ‘christenings’ as I thought.
“I have to check something though… Did you really just offer to have sex for the next few hours?”
Ric:
"I was stating that if you wanted to have sex, then we should have it in the next couple of hours because I do intend on hunting as you proposed when you spoke about the weekend. I do not think sex can last two hours. That seems impossible." I keep digging around until I think I've found what I've been looking for. "I have something for you. The thing I made. I researched what women like for this day. Valentine's." I start out.
Skylar:
It’s rude to laugh and I know that but I can’t help myself.
“Oh Ricky, it’s definitely not impossible, though I can’t actually confirm that considering the type of guys I date.”
I probably shouldn’t have said that but it’s the truth. Hot and heavy seems to be the style of the day and anything over twenty minutes was a bonus.
“I thought you said we don’t do typical things.”
If I’d of known he was gonna look for a gift, I wouldn’t have given him his hand back.
“And are you okay?”
I tease.
“Saying the V-word and all.”
Technically Valentine’s day is tomorrow but I’ve corrected him on so much stuff already I let it slide. This was our “hunting” weekend after all; it didn’t matter if we gave our gifts a little early.
Ric:
"The terminology doesn't bother me. We do things for the other and since you seem to like this day, or at least made a deal about it, I, in kind decided to try and take part in the celebration. Or whatever it is. Like how you are going hunting when I know you would rather like to be doing something else." I tug at the small thing and present it to her. "I could have bought one, but they were all the same. To me. Different colors, but looked the same. I didn't like them. So I made this one from fabrics from a craft store. I ordered online."
Skylar:
I look at the bear in disbelief. Where do I even start with this? I mean it’s well made but how do you ask ‘what the **** is this?’ without hurting someone’s feelings and yes, I’m pretty sure Ric has them.
“Well it’s unique all right.”
I look at him, shake my head a little and then just start laughing.
“Only you could think a zombie bear with his guts hanging out is romantic.”
I roll eyes, look the pathetic creature over again and giggle some more. Turning the thing towards Ric I say;
“I think he needs to see a doctor. And if you didn’t name him… he needs a name. Poor guy looks like road kill. Is this your not so subtle way of showing me what happens to someone that can’t defend themself?”
Ric:
I smile when she says it's unique. I was successful. "Women like teddy bears, I read and saw. On advertisements." I confess before wondering if I should have stopped myself from adding the intestine part. "It is not real, but if it requires a name, then you should name it as it is your gift." I tell her before thinking about her last set of words. "No. But it could be you." I nod. "Though a lot worse."
Skylar:
“Gee thanks. Just what every girl wants. And erm… Ric. You have a go at me when I do anything you consider A-typical. So the bear, not necessary. But thank you.”
I let my fingers trail over the bear’s innards as I turn him to face me again.
“I think I’m gonna call him… lucky.”
I look up at Ric and grin cheekily.
“I got you two gifts, in keeping with tradition, or more accurately, your love of even numbers. Want them now?”
I let the comment about it being me slide, I’m not starting another argument; mainly cos it’s one I think he’d win.
Ric:
I can tell she doesn't like the bear. I will have to try again with something different. "Two? But I only got you one." Even if it had bothered me to only make her one thing. When I made the bear for her, I had to start another project immediately. "Was two required?" I ask, not realizing that I'm killing the whole idea of Valentine's day with the gift or these questions.
Skylar:
“No. Two gifts are never required. Gifts in general aren’t required. I just wanted to play to your Ric-ishness. You like things even and I can do that. Besides. One’s kinda a joke gift. I mean. I should explain it. It’s not just for you. It’s kinda for both of us. A book. I’m gonna read it too.”
I walk over to my stuff and look through my duffle. The book is at the bottom of the bag and wrapped up in red metallic wrapping paper. I take it over to him and hand it to him.
“Okay. Now open it and let me explain before you get huffy and think it’s insulting… ‘kay?”
Ric:
I look at the wrapping paper and resist shaking my head. What a waste of a tree. Not that I needed air anymore, but the point remained. It was a waste of a tree and resources. Manpower too. "Okay." I agree before ripping the paper off and then stare down at the book. What was this? I start flipping through the pages to get more insight on the book she got me. Or us.
Skylar:
“I’m not calling you stupid I swear. Or insulting your sexual prowess. I love having sex with you. I just think we could both stand to learn a little more. This is a pretty well-known series of book. For dunmmies, that is. They’re supposed to teach you a lot of things and in words you can understand. So I guess they’re like text books for normal people.”
I hope this explanation is working cos the sex for dummies book would definitely hep him, if he gave it a chance and I definitely plan on reading it too. You know, just in case I’m missing any of the basics myself.
Ric:
I thought it was a joke or something. The title of the book. But when I flipped through the pages, I saw it wasn't. She's talking like I'm offended and I'm not. "Okay." I say with a shrug before putting the book down next to me. I wonder if 'normal people,' would be offended at getting a book like this. The ones that had sex all the time. With a lot of people. She said that word again. That L word. I don't comment on it, but I'm definitely noticing Skylar use that word more and more whenever we talk about relationship things. I should keep a tally in a journal and prove to her that she uses that word more than what is necessary. "Is the next present a book about having sex in the shower? Or a magazine filled with random beds?" I offer her a slight smile.
Skylar:
“You wish. This one was a little too tricky to wrap… So…”
I reach under the duffle, as I’d placed the bag on top of this gift to keep it hidden. Placing it in the bag would have been a bad idea for a lot of reasons, mainly for the safety of my stuff, and me I guess.
I take out the dagger turn the blade to face me and hand it to him hilt first.
“It’s not as pretty as I’d like but I think it’s you and I haven’t made anything better. And yeah I know I keep giving you these things but I want you to have the best of what I have to offer.”
I shrug, but the sentiment is true, I do want him to have the best of what I have to offer. I want him safe. I want to make sure that he isn’t fighting with some piece of crap that’s gonna break and get him injured. I wanted him to be able to come home to me, always. The reasoning flashes through my brain and I blush slightly, as I hadn’t actually admitted to myself just how much I liked him until now.
Ric:
I look at the gift and I'm pretty sure I know what it is. Though I'm partial to the last one she gave me. When she says it's better, that will have to wait to be proven when I use it. Not that I disbelieve her work, but I've had some swords that haven't been very good even though they appeared to be great quality swords. "I like my old one." I tell her before really taking in the swords appearance and then running a finger over the sharp edge of it. "But I will use this one to kill a lot of things too. Maybe even something tonight." I tell her before grinning wider. "Thank you for my gifts." I look around for a clock and note the time. "We are running out of time. To, do that thing. In the rooms." I say before lying the sword down on its side.
Skylar:
I laugh when he mentions us christening the rooms. I’m half tempted to let him off the hook since it’s his valentines weekend too but there’s no fun for me in that and if was going hunting, I was sure we could spare a little time for my kid of fun first.
“How about we save the talk of killing for later and we just have sex here. Quality and not quantity. Let’s go for substance over speed. Yeah?”
I grab a hold of him and kiss him properly - twice - before beginning to tug his t-shirt over his head.
Ric:
And that's how it began. By the time we were done and showered, we were late. I try to remind myself of Skylar's statement that sometimes we do things for others, like those we care about. So I don't get mad. I don't even say anything about being late. Even though I know this will set our hunting back. We'll barely be able to scout for a good location tonight before the sun will approach and we'll have to come back here. Instead, I just count until I hit twenty-two and then I am ready to go. Almost. I pick up a backpack and give it to her, then put my own on. "I put food in yours. Just don't eat it until it's safe to. Meaning no wind." I tell her, even though I'm sure she knows this. Skylar knows random factors about things I never thought she would.
Skylar:
“Yeah yeah. I remember.”
I tell him as I take the backpack from him, having dressed in clean, clothes I hadn’t washed in stinky fabric softener.
“I’ll look to you to tell me when it’s safe to eat. ‘Kay?”
I’d probably still be thinking about out time in the bedroom. Ric might be a novice but he’s not half bad if you can actually get him between the sheets, or in the shower, or on the floor; it’s the getting him part that’s difficult but I’m getting better at it. This relationship was a learning curve for both of us.
“Oh… I made myself a new sword… To play with… Do I need to bring that with me?”
I haven’t shown it to him yet and I don’t know how pressed for time we are, so I slip my arms through the straps of the backpack and wait for his reply.
Ric:
I stop and look at her. "You made one, for yourself?" I ask her in disbelief before nodding. "Yes, you should bring it." I tell her, not believing I would have to spell it out for her, but she was new at this thing. "I'm sure you could stab a small critter or two with whatever you're packing." I give her an encouraging smile. Or try to at least. I think my teeth are showing and I'm not really actually smiling, but I was trying to. I still had work to do when attempting to mock the looks others give.
Skylar:
“If the wind changes you’ll be stuck like that.”
I tease him and go to get the sword I made.
“And if you’d rather have the sword than the dagger, just say. I probably shouldn’t have made something so big for myself but I figured there was less chance of me impaling myself on it if there was more of it to avoid.”
I pull the sword out from under a blanket and present it to him – hilt first – as it should be.
“What do you think?”
Ric:
"You aren't going to impale yourself. You're around these all night and not an idiot. Take what you want. Whatever you feel the most comfortable with." I grab the offered blade and give it a good looking over before nodding. Her quality was always top notch and any of the weapons she grabbed would do her justice. Skylar just needed the practice and confidence. I lean over and give her a kiss on the lips, two of them actually. Two quick ones.
Skylar:
It’s a good job I don’t need air anymore else I’d be holding my breath about now. It’s just two small kisses but the fact that he ever initiates any kind of physical contact with me still surprises me.
“Guess you are into battle babes after all.”
I’m half teasing, half serious when I say this. The sword did seem to get a favourable response from him, so it has to be something to do with that, maybe. Or maybe I’m just selling myself short and he actually did just want to kiss me.
“ ‘Kay. Well I only brought the two. Yours and mine. So… This one it is. Guess I should have fashioned some kind of scabbard for it shouldn’t I?”
I hold the thing at my side once he gives it back to me.
“So what’s the plan oh fearless leader? Besides traipsing through the forest and such looking for stuff to kill. And don’t be too disappointed if I don’t kill anything. ‘Kay? I’m not sure I want to make anything die.”
Ric:
"Then what's the point of hunting?" I look at her, resisting to deadpan. She knew I hunted and that I killed what I hunted. "How about we try using bait?" I look at her. Letting her know she could be said bait with that look. Was I serious? Nothing in my face was giving me away. "We have to track whatever it is we want to try and hunt, then wait. It's a game of patience, mostly."
Skylar:
“The point, darlin’, was for you to hunt and for e to learn how to defend myself. I never said I’d kill anything.”
I poke my tongue out at him. That’s the only reaction he gets from me. If I’m to be bait, then I’m bait. If I get maimed in any way he’s the one that’s got to look after me and I’m pretty sure he knows that. It doesn’t escape me either that once again he’s ignored the battle babe comments. Damn him.
“Tonight we track, hunt, whatever. I’m gonna watch and learn. Tomorrow or Sunday. Possibly both days, you’re gonna set aside some time to show me how to use my sword. Make sense? We both on the same page yet?”
I’m pretty sure he knew I didn’t want to kill anything and that he was just goading me, but regardless I lay things out for him once more.
Ric:
I nod my head. I'd show her how to use a sword. On a living creature.Skylar could think and believe that she wasn't going to get her hands dirty this weekend, but she would be. I just wasn't going to tell her that. It seemed smarter that way. Women liked to think a certain way and nothing you said or did was going to change that thought process. As delusional as it could be sometimes. "Same page. Tracking and hunting today. Fighting tomorrow." I look at what weapon she's bringing and then look at her back. It's lacking a camp kit. "Just bringing the sword?" I say as I swing my own pack up and fix it to be proportioned to my shoulders so no one side is carrying most the weight.
Skylar:
“I have whatever you packed me.”
I thumb over my shoulder at the backpack he’d given me earlier.
“I planned the sleeping part of the trip. I figured you’d prep the hunting stuff since that’s your thing and all.”
I shrug. I wasn’t lying. I was totally in his hands in this and he knew it. As far as places go, his hands, not a bad place to be, in any aspect. I trust Ric. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.
“And we don’t have to fight all day. Just an hour or so, so you can teach me the basics. ‘Kay?”
Ric:
"An hour won't teach you how to defend yourself." I say rather candidly, before I shrug. "Look at Black Thursday. That could have ended badly. If I couldn't summon you and things got out of control like Katrina about a decade or so back. Looters and all that. Got to be prepared." I give her the once over and nod in approval at the fact she has all the gear I packed her, then headed to the door. "Time is wasting with all this jibber jabber. We can whisper. Quietly. In the woods." I make sure that she knows whisper needs to be, whisper.
Skylar:
“Pi was with me then. She wouldn’t let anyone kill me.”
I shrug and follow him to the door. What I said might not be entirely accurate, as she might very well still want me dead at times but I figure for Ellie’s sake I’m probably safe. If I ever fall out with him though, all bets are likely off.
I go quiet as we leave and follow where Ric goes. I half want to take his hand but we aren’t going for a stroll, we’re hunting and we’d been couply before we left. The weekend isn’t all about me. I really do want him to enjoy himself too. Not that I don’t think he doesn’t like sleeping with me. I just know that too much couply stuff will likely lead to him running away; again.
Ric:
Pi. Did Skylar forget that Pi didn't like her? At least, last time I knew. From the auctions it didn't appear to be that way. Her comment about Pi does little to ease my mind or lessen my desire to train Skylar to defend herself if for some reason I couldn't. Or Pi wouldn't. Elliot might try to, but if it came down to Pi or Skylar, I was betting he would save Pi before Skylar due to our meeting. I stay at pace with Skylar, I don't want to lead her, even though I have the skillsets to take the lead. I want her to experience the process with me. At the same time. I want her to do the things I do. "Rabbits, wolves or bears?" I ask her, barely above an audible whisper.
