::Closed RP for A and River::

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

It was impossible for A to miss the turn of seasons, with all the work he did outdoors in his garden. Impossible to miss the cool turn the weather had taken. It was a little sad to see summer go, but there was beauty in colder weather as well.

But some things required warmth, and there was just barely enough. Thus, the owl.


River,

Would you like to have a last picnic in the garden before it gets too cold? It is nice out today, just a little windy. I will bring the cats unless you would prefer a catless picnic. Let me know if you would like that.

A

Comments

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

The timing couldn't have bee better: River had been just about to send a note of her own. She had discovered an artist of some renown, known for a certain print (http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Chat-Noir-Posters_i408979_.htm), but had found a different image (http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Chiffon-Asleep-Posters_i1664268_.htm) by the same fellow she thought A would appreciate. And, considering the subject...

A,

I think a cat-friendly picnic would be best today. Branch and Bloom are giving me The Look. You know which one.
Meet you in the garden,

River ♥

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

It seemed like a good day for Schrodinger and Einstein to frolic in the cool windy air as well, and A was glad to give them some exercise before the snow flew. He had a heartier picnic lunch than usual, hot cider and thick stew and crusty, fresh-baked bread; when he issued a picnic invitation, he made sure to be prepared!

He smiled as he headed to the garden, looking forward to a leisurely afternoon with River.

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

Having tied the print up with a little bit of ribbon and shrugged into a light sweater, River made her way out of the castle and across the grounds. Branch and Bloom, more than eager to get out and stretch their legs, bounded easily ahead of her. Clinging stubbornly to a lock of hair, Rui-Wen peered out from behind her neck with his customary wide-eyed curiosity.

She waved as soon as she caught sight of A, holding the rolled-up print easily behind her back, though not trying too hard to hide it.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A returned the wave with a broad smile; well, as best he could with a pair of frisky cats using him as a jungle gym.

"I am glad to see you," he said sincerely when she grew close enough to speak without yelling. "I am always glad to see you. Will you sit with me?"

He noticed the rolled-up tube she carried, but trusted her to tell him about it when it mattered.

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

River sat down gracefully in answer to that, setting the print between them with a smile. The cats, absolutely overjoyed at their reunion, proceeded to make catly havoc.

"This is for you," she smiled, indicating the print. "I thought of you when I saw it."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

Intruiged, A untied the ribbon and unrolled the paper.

"Oh!" he exclaimed with a delighted grin. "It, it's wonderful! I will have to hang it high on the wall, so Schrodinger and Einstein don't get jealous and attack." From his serious tone, one would be justified in thinking he considered this a real danger. After admiring it a bit longer, he re-rolled it carefully and set it aside where it would not be damaged during their picnic. "You're wonderful," he said, edging closer and giving her a firm hug.

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

River returned the hug with a wide grin of her own, pressing a kiss to his cheek before settling back in her seat. "I do like to make an attempt at wonderfulness every now and again. Definitely better than a lack of wonderful." she held out a hand to the cats as they romped past, receiving four sets of headbutts before the little group dashed off to play their games.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"You are an abundance of wonderful," he said solemnly, opening the picnic basket and pouring her a cup of hot cider, steam rising faintly in the cool air. "Being around you makes the world better. And I, I wanted to ask if you would help with something."

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

She wrapped her hands around the cup with obvious pleasure, taking a good whiff of the stuff before taking the first sip. Cider, like so many other wonderful foods, had been a near impossibility. And while it was almost always readily available from the kitchen... there were some things better shared with friends and lovers than on one's own.

"Anything you like, as long as I don't have to jump out of a cake," she said with a cheeky little smile and a wink.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

That was an odd thought. It seemed to A that it would be an inefficient use of cake, and rather messy.

"Any cake will just be for eating," he promised. "It is not a jumping-out-of-things favor. There is, the other Hufflepuff prefect and I, we are planning a sort of potluck feast. Hosted by Hufflepuff, for the whole school. I wanted to ask if, if maybe you would help me with a few dishes."

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

River blinked at him, surprised. "Of course I'd help! What a silly question," she laughed, setting her cup down and covering it with part of her skirt when Schrodinger got a little too interested. "What kind of food would we be making? Is your partner prefect going to be cooking to? Have I met them?"

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"The other Hufflepuff prefect is called Skwisgaar," A told her. He had been a little uneasy around his co-prefect, and wasn't sure if he wanted River around him without his own dubiously protective presence. "He is Swedish, and has asked for there to be some Swedish food, but we won't have to be the ones making that. I thought I would discuss with you what we should make. It should be something that is good for many people to enjoy."

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

"Skwisgaar... I don't think I've met him yet. Sounds like an interesting guy." Interesting, perhaps, in the batshit crazy way, considering how A was speaking of him. She smiled and switched back to the topic of food. "Remember we had that idea for fondue? That might be fun. Cheese, meats and vegetables to start, chocolate and fruits for dessert?"

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"For the potluck? Yes, I think we could do that. But I would like to make it with just you first, as a practice run." He touched her hand with a warm smile. "And I think it would be a nice thing for us to eat together."

And perhaps feed to each other? It sounded romantic but he didn't know if it would be practical.

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

"I have no argument with that," she nodded, taking another sip of cider. A sly little smile tugged at her mouth. "Perhaps we can do our practice run when the kitties are otherwise occupied." She reached into her hair, running a finger over the top of Rui-wen's head. "And this little fellow, too."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A tried a matching sly smile, but it had to fight a goofy grin for dominance. "That would give me even more incentive to make sure it came out well," he said, not even thinking of the double entendres he was coming out with. "I would want to be sure you were pleased."

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I'm sure whatever you come up with would be quite pleasing," River replied, her mind most certainly on the double entendres.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A got the double meaning this time, and blushed. "You, you, you know I will do everything I can to make you happy," he said earnestly.

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

She laughed, tossing her head back, full of joy. "Oh, you are quite good at making me happy without having to do anything at all," she told him, quite sincerely. "You are A. A is happiness."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I learned it from the cats," he said promptly, with a faint grin. It wasn't entirely false, after all. L had given them to him to show him how to play and rest, and the sort of simple contentment cats excel at. He took her hand lightly, tracing letters into her palm with his thumb. A loves River.

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

River flushed, smiling and leaned over to kiss his cheek. "The reverse is true as well. We're perfect math."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A pondered the analogy. "More like gardening than math, I think," he said. "Math is structured and set in its ways. Gardens are alive and grow and change and sometimes make beautiful things you don't expect."

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

"Ah," she held up a finger, her grin not fading even the slightest. "But math is like a garden. It has its roots, its ways, but there is always more to discover. And yet simple. The perfect equation for love is one and one. You, and me."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I like that math," he said warmly, catching her hand in both of his. Pulling it to his face, he kissed her palm. "And we can prove that equation over and over, in many ways."

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

"I look forward to it," she said, leaning so that their foreheads touched. She could feel the love in his thoughts when she did that; it was wonderful. She laughed, then. "For now, though, our food is getting cold, and the smell is driving me crazier."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

Grinning, he brought out the flask of stew and their bowls.

"It's lamb stew," he said, "flavored with rosemary, with lots of potatoes and carrots."

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

Ah, the smell was heavenly. A brief thought occurred to her: Why was it that small, cute things always tasted so delicious? She decided not to approach this subject out loud and accepted her bowl with thanks. "We eat better than kings and queens," she said, as if it was the truest thing in the world. Which, to her, it was.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"Kings and queens don't get to have quiet picnic with cats, I think," he said, slicing the still-warm (thanks to a convenient spell) bread. "And kings and queens do not have the goodness that is River and A enjoying a meal together. So of course they do not eat as well as us."