A camping we will go! (reserved)

[Hannah Lynn (DELETED 8242)]

Hannah closed the door on her Ford Fusion after the predominately pink and gray Terra 55 backpack was looped around both arms and shoulders. It was locked with two pushes of a button on her door locking mechanism, then stuffed in the front pocket of her denim jeans. The brunette picked up her sleeping bag, with her left hand, while the right grabbed the cinch of her small two person tent. Looking down at the small cooler she had, Hannah realized that she needed to stack her tent and sleeping bag on the thing. After shuffling things around, Hannah was good to go!

Hannah glanced one last time at her truck, making sure nothing was forgotten about, and recalling she had locked up, before leaving the parking lot of the saloon in the Cherrydale district. She had asked if she could park her truck there for the weekend, towards the back of the saloon and gave the guy fifty bucks for the trouble. Not that Hannah suspected there would be any, and the guy was all to happy to let her park it there. Said the saloon's hayday had come and gone twentyish years ago. It was rare the lot was full any day of the week.

At three-twenty eight, Hannah stood on the platform of the train station and waited for two familiar faces, and then two unfamiliar faces. She suspected it would be easy to tell who was part of their 'party' because they would more or less 'look' like her. Some would pack lighter, some would pack more than enough for just a weekend, but regardless, it was unlikely there would suddenly be thirty people in camping gear standing there, waiting to go camping, or get on a train.

(Note: for fast pace and ease, less than 300 words per post is fine! But not a stickler on word count!)

* Edited because I'm a dork*

[Louvel von der Marck]

A T T I R E

Louvel paused before climbing out of his truck. The keys in his hand fresh from the ignition went into his right front pocket. He reached over the bench seat and grabbed his second set of hiking boots that were temporarily tied together at the laces. A lift and drop over the top of his shoulder had the waterproof pair dangling but secure in their placement. Once he was standing on solid ground he closed the driver’s door and with an attempt to get back in confirmed that it was locked. Making his way to the bed of the truck where the backpacks were waiting to be claimed. He reached under the rear fender and found the spare key hidden where Buddy would expect to find it. The delivery at seven required the truck to be available. That also meant that the relic wouldn’t cost him if the city was tow happy while they were out in the woods.

A stretch over the side had the expedition grade backpacks in reach and pulled out. One went over his left shoulder and the other went over his right. Packed nice and compact within was everything from fishing rods, sleeping bags, one small tent, clothing he took the liberty of choosing and sunscreen to items he wouldn't have packed if it was just him that was going. Thanks to the ‘One hundred items you should never go into the wild without’ checklist from Cosmopolitan conveniently left on his Odyssey desk he was prepared like never before. No only that, he had greatly reduced it to ‘Twenty things you can survive on while living outdoors’ and would submit it back to the publishers once it was confirmed effective over the weekend ahead. The comforts of shampoo, scented soap, that fluffy yet coarse sponge used to debride skin and lots of family wine cleared the checklist. Depending on how the trip went they would only have to worry about recycling when they got back and at least one hangover.

Just as he was about to step away from the truck he remembered the emergency bag he had at the back near the tailgate. He stretched and retrieved it as well. Now all would be covered no matter what came up. He glanced at the watch he typically hated wearing. Anytime Leonie was due to arrive. He looked around and discovered a face that had been a while since he had last seen it.

“Hannah!” He nodded as he walked towards her packed down with the weight of what was reasonable to bring and feeling that much closer to the great outdoors.

[Leonie von der Marck]

The dark-haired von der Marck woman was already up out of her seat and at the doors of the train after the stop had been announced. She’d had to run a quick errand to the bank, and to stop in to see Melba before they took off for the long weekend. She’d slipped out and away, though not before leaving a hand-written note for Alaric where he was most likely to see it, while Lou was working on something around the manor. It occurred to her, where it likely hadn’t to the others, that the elder would probably be wondering where they’d all disappeared to when he couldn’t sense them around the property with that strange ability of his, and Leonie didn’t want him to worry. Just before she’d taken off, she had left the excessive and apropos list she'd torn out of a magazine for Lou. Mostly tongue-in-cheek, because she had a pretty good idea of what the outdoorsy, adventurous male would make of it even though she'd deferred to his judgment on what exactly to pack. Still, if certain items made their way into their bags, she would hardly be disappointed. Leonie had done the ‘roughing it’ thing a few times before and she’d had lots of fun – even though she’d lived a glamorous life, she could run around with messy tied-up hair and no makeup with the best of them. As long as the wine passed Lou's muster, she would be plenty content.

As the train finally came to an abrupt halt at the agreed-upon meeting place, the Lioness hopped out with an air of excitement. The only item on her person was a small clutch containing a few cards and her ID, the ever-present inhaler, and her cell phone. No matter their patriarch was immortal; if he needed to reach them quickly, she had no intention of leaving the device behind. Her hazel gaze scanned the platform to find her golden god and her recently-acquired friend just a short way away.

She sauntered up to both, a grin growing on her lips. This was going to be fun… she could feel it already.

“Hey heyyyyy,” she called out in her trademark purr as she drew closer, the sense of excitement only growing.

[Doc]

Cyril looked at the pile of camping equipment, as he spoke into the phone. “So you want me to deliver this.. To someone names Amalea.. And tell them you are running late..?” Cyril sounded unsure, as though he really did not want to have to do that. “Are you sure…. This is work related?”

On the other end of the phone, Doc nodded, and vocalized his affirmation, “Yes Cyril.. This is business. It is like an outward bound.. Business networking after hours,..” He lied easily.

“Oh.. i see..” Then Cyril’s frown faded somewhat, replaced by a hint of confusion. “Why do i know that name from.. Amalea..?”

Doc slapped a new magazine in his gun, while holding the cell up to his ear with his shoulder, “That MoU.. ? Her company.. Hence.. Business networking Cyril. Do I look like that type that camps for ******* fun?”

“Right of course.. I got it.. I will deliver the equipment.”

“Good.. Thank you Cyril..”

“Oh! Wait Doc.. before you go, .. there is an issue I need to address with you. Grace.”

Doc holstered his gun and took the phone into his hand, “What about Grace?”

“Well she went to California and so I cancelled her access to the company credit card. Now there is a Theater calling wanting me to give them another source of payment, or they are cancelling her tickets.” He paused, “I know you are .. fond of her.. But using the company credit card for personal entertainment is wrong.. I am afraid we may need to audit all her past expenses and make sure they were legit.” Cyril said in his best disapproving voice.

Doc was frowning, Grace wouldn’t do that. Doc paid her too well. He was just about defend her, when it realization dawned on him. The opera tickets. “****!”

“Yes. Precisely. ****.” Cyril intoned in a sad commiserating fashion. “It is never good when we discover we have been used.”

“No Cyril.. The tickets are for me! I need that name and number. I will take care of it..”

“And how is this business related?”

“Grace was PA. She handled a plethora of things for me. This was one of them.”

“I see..” Cyril said in a clipped affronted manner.

“Don’t worry Cyril I will handle it.. It wont come out the business account. Go deliver the camping gear.’

---

An hour later Cyril, still dressed in his business attire was hauling, then lugging, then dragging camping equipment to the platform. Clearing his throat, he called out. “I am looking for an.. Amalea?”

[Amalea]

Amalea had packed and repacked several times over the past week for this camping trip. Having never been, she had had to resort to a bit of online research to see what the difference was between packing for this and a weekend trip away. The best she was able to determine was that aside from the addition of needing to bring your own shelter and bedding, which she expected. The only glaring difference was the suggestion to pack ‘survival’ gear.

Items had been added and removed until the red-head was comfortable with her selections. She had settled on a couple changes of clothes, something to sleep in, and basic toiletries including bug spray and sunscreen. She capped her selections off with a few “survival” tools; namely a flashlight, first aid kit, the Swiss Army knife her father had given her, and matches. Her bladed weapons were a foregone conclusion given she never left home with them. The only concession she made to modern conveniences, aside from her phone, was her camera.

Her staff had already been informed that would be out of reach until at least Monday morning and that she should only be contacted in a true emergency. The legal team was given special direction to hold any documents for her approval and signature before proceeding. Her assistant, Rei, had been expressly told that in no uncertain terms was she to open any mail addressed to Amalea; she liked the woman but she tended to be nosy.

Having the spent the night in her apartment, she’d been able to hop the train instead of dealing with trying to sort out weekend parking given Cherrydale station didn’t have its own lot. She had made note that the organizer of the outing had wanted a headcount for food and supplies, but she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to leave all her meals in the hands of some mystery person. Heaven forbid the person forgot or was some sort of crazy vegan who only ate green foods; so she made a stop at the grocery on her way to meet the group. The red-head picked up a variety of food items though she had no particular menu in mind. She had chosen several grab-and-go type items along with some simple items that could be sides for whatever main courses where planned. As a precaution, she picked up some ground beef and hot dogs for dinner taking care to pack them at the bottom of the cooler she had packed earlier with some drinks.

--

Shouldering her bag, she nabbed the cooler as the train pulled into the station; she was one of the first only passengers disembarking and was soon standing on the platform. Checking her watch, she noted she was a bit behind schedule and began scanning for the group she was supposed to meet. They weren’t exceptionally hard to find given the amount of equipment and bags present. She was surprised to see a well-dressed man approaching the group gear in tow.

Amalea was even more surprised to hear the man state he was looking for her. She took the last few steps to close the distance between herself and the group. “That would be me,” she waved at the rest of the group, before returning her attention back to the man. “I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage.”

[Judah Marck]

Jude had one foot up on the seat, re-trying his laces and tapping it with a vague air of nervous agitation. The man behind the steering wheel glanced over at him like he might say something but seemed to think better of it, closing his mouth and going about humming along with a song on the radio. A few minutes out from the station and Judah was trying to decide if this was his best plan. It could be a tense trip, considering the past few weeks had been beyond rough for him and he was aware that at least a few of the people coming knew about his troubled dreams. They had gotten better, through help from Alaric and some unknown force, but they weren't entirely gone. Something still hovered at the edges of his mind when he slept, it lurked, waiting for an opening, for him to be vulnerable to it again. It wasn't quite ready to give up, but neither was he. "You don't HAVE to go." Said the dark haired driver, the familiar Texan twang touching his words. Jude had openly agonised over the decision once he'd initially agreed it could be fun, knowing that he might feel slightly on the outer if Leonie and Louvel were there together, and Hannah was busy with others who had decided to join her. He'd never had much of a problem making friends, doing the small talk with strangers thing, but he just wasn't sure he was in the mood for that outside of his work right now.

"I know..." He eventually replied, offering a sideways smile to his companion, shrugging off some of the nerves that were fluttering about in his stomach. "But you're going to, right?" Jude nodded, he was going to. "Yeah... Look, it could be really fun? I just want to pretend it is all good, that I can enjoy a casual camping weekend with friends and none of us are involved in anything supernatural. That there isn't creepy monster things wanting to eat my brain or make me one of them, that my ancestor isn't a vampire, Hannah doesn't drink vampire blood and that you aren't a superhuman warrior... Thing." He left out the fact that both Leonie and Louvel were sorcerers, he didn't feel that it was his place to announce that. Sterling snorted a laugh at the description of himself, but gave Jude a commiserating look, taking a hand of the wheel to pass briefly over Judah's hair, ruffling the back of it affectionately.

The station loomed ahead, Sterling pulling into the short stay car park nearby so he could help Jude grab his stuff. He had a small tent and inflatable bed roll that he'd strapped onto a hiking pack containing the essentials, easy enough to chuck on his back so the only thing he had to carry separately was a cooler. He hesitated once they'd dragged them out and the boot had clicked closed, staring down at the items. It was the other man who made a scoffing noise and stepped forward, interrupting the moment of uncertainty to tuck Jude against his chest in a tight hug, pressing his mouth against the top of head with a sigh. "You're acting like a kid going to camp. Get your stuff and go have fun, if you need rescuing just call." Jude laughed, returning the hug. "Ok, ok, I'm going." Jude arched back, leaning up to account for the slight height difference so he could press a rough kiss against the stubble of Sterling's cheek. "Thank you..." He released him, grabbing his pack and swinging it onto his back, collecting the cooler and making his way to the platform before he could change his mind. He didn't look back, but he heard muttering in Spanish and a fondly harassed sounding laugh leave Sterling before he was out of earshot.

It didn't take long to spot the gathered group, Jude jogging the short distance to join them. He put the cooler down so he could wave, giving one of his trademark grins, greeting Hannah first officially with a kiss to her cheek. "Hey, is this everyone?" He nodded in the direction of the others, lifting his chin in greeting shortly after to his cousins.

[Hannah Lynn (DELETED 8242)]

Louvel was the first to arrive, and that got him a smile and a wave as Hannah had claimed a spot on the top of her cooler while she waited. "Hey." The waters, hypothetically that was, were still uncertain with the guy. She had much better luck with his cousin Judah-they just seemed to click better. Then again, they hadn't endured customs together and a bag mix up.

Not very long after when he showed, Leonie appeared. Her smile grew-simply because Leonie was someone that Hannah considered a friend, instead of an acquaintance like her...cousin, was it? Louvel. They had hung out a couple of times together since the first time Hannah and Leonie had met and the big secret about Alaric had been spilled out. Some guy with a bunch of stuff arrived, followed by another woman who apparently was 'Amalea.' Hannah had never seen or heard of the woman before, but that didn't matter. "Hi!" Hannah offered the woman, before giving the introductions. "I'm Hannah, that's Leonie, and Louvel."

"Welcome to the weekend." Hannah had been looking forward to this since she made the vague plans. Even if no one had shown up, she would still be going. An entire weekend off, in the wilderness too. It could only be great, in Hannah's mind. "We're waiting for two more...one I know..." She trailed off, before grabbing her cellphone and sending Freddie a text. 'We're about to hit the woods, see you on Sunday. X Her phone was pocketed again, before she saw Judah. Hannah waved to the approaching figure, before accepting the kiss to her cheek. "Uhm....no. I think we're waiting for someone called 'that guy?'" She looked around to the others, wondering if they might have any idea who he might be. "Have you met Amalea?" Hannah pointed to the only person Hannah suspected he probably wouldn't know in their awaiting group.

[Louvel von der Marck]

Standing there weighed down with what he had shouldered kept him still long enough to give an smile to those arriving while he adjusted where the straps were most comfortable. Hannah appeared set with a cooler and used it for a seat while people began arriving. Out of all the outdoor adventures he had under his belt this was rather unique from the rest. Casual camping with strangers was a rarity. More often it was strangers who had been gathered for an expedition. This was worth the weekend invested. Even more so as he nodded to the woman arriving and caught sight of the well suited business ready male that appeared with more supplies than what was on his own back.

When Leonie appeared he allowed her backpack to slide off his shoulder and land in the fast grip of his hand. He met her half way and winked as he held out what was hopfeully going to keep her comfortable for the next couple days. A kiss to her cheek was brief at the sight of Judah arriving. Naturally Lou gave his full attention as he nodded back at him. How many times had they done the camping thing? Not nearly enough the more he thought about it.

"Been looking forward to it."

Louvel raised a hand to acknowledge his name given then let it drop and sink into his front pocket. His eyes bounced around the parade of people coming and going wondering who else was going to fall out of line and hang around. That guy was still unaccounted for so obviously they wouldn't be taking off yet.

[Leonie von der Marck]

Leonie sauntered up to Lou with a telling grin, barely contained, before she remembered herself and the mixed company they were within. So, instead, she drew in a short, sharp breath and accepted the almost chaste kiss he dropped to her cheek as she accepted the backpack he’d brought for her, all the piqued curiosity over what had made the cut and what hadn't tantalizing her, though she would wait to see for herself. They’d have their time later to be affectionate, in the privacy of a tent, she hoped. Because at that moment, Leonie realized they’d never camped together before and she had zero idea of what he’d planned. For all she knew, they’d be literally out in the open, with nothing but thin sleeping bags to protect them from the late-spring Canadian elements. With an internal shrug and a rise to her brow to match the internal rise to the potential challenge, she nudged the male with a shapely hip before moving forward to greet Hannah with a hug and a peck to the cheek. In the midst of this, a stranger appeared with some kind of delivery. That it was camping gear was not lost on the woman, but who he was and the intended recipient were, definitely were.

She backed off, though, just as her eye caught Judah and another woman she had yet to meet arriving, to make way for him – and possibly her? - to greet Hannah too. A nod was given in return to her cousin, along with a smile. She was surprised, to say the least, that he was okay being out in the open as they would be. But with Alaric assisting Judah through the worst of the recent issues, she knew he was strong enough of both mind and will to fight the awful nighttime visions off and enjoy a pastime he and Lou used to indulge in, on occasion. Yes, no matter what, he was safe with friends and family, and they would all hopefully enjoy themselves on the wilderness jaunt. She smiled as Hannah introduced them to Amalea – aha, the owner of the newly-arrived gear - giving a quiet wave, before she moved back to Lou’s side, close enough and yet far enough away to be modest. Time was ticking away, with the sun riding high above already.The von der Marck Lioness was hoping they would be well on their way to their destination before sunset could even think to approach.

[Doc]

As the female let herself be known, Cyril breathed a silent sigh of relief. To say he felt awkward hauling camping gear about, was an understatement. Cyril was not the outdoorsy type. His idea of camping was staying at a motel, instead of a 4 star hotel. To actually sleep outside on the ground? Heaven forbid. He wanted to give this woman the gear and go. However, as he caught sight of Amalea, Cyril knew immediately why Doc wanted to go camping. The woman was stunning.

Cyril released the bags and offered Amalea his hand, “Cyril Emmerson at your service.” He pushed his glasses up further on his nose, “I believe you and I have been conversing via email.” He smiled expectantly. “Genesis Laboratories.” He added for good measure. Then turning he pointed at the bags, “We have here the state of the art in sleeping bag technology, light weight but quite warm. As well as couple of pop ups, should it decide to rain on you.

“Doc told me to let you know he was delayed, but he would be coming, just a bit later than originally expected.” He leaned toward her and said for her alone, “Just after sundown..” He gave her a knowing look, and then stepped back, about to leave, when suddenly he stopped short. “I almost forgot..” Cyril fished a small gadget out of his pocket, it looked like it could be a thumb drive. “He asked me to give you this as well.” He placed it in her hand. “Well I am off. Have a good trip, and beware the mosquitoes!”

Cyril waved awkwardly to the rest of the group, confident he had completed his mission as expeditiously and efficiently as possible. It still surprised him that Doc was the sort to go camping, even if it was to get close to a female. But then again Cyril realized that for all Doc’s wide variety of interests, there was probably a woman involved in it somewhere..