For Rachel

[likesthestooges]

Aidan hated to admit it, but the change in scenery had been good for him. He'd never really been a big fan of the old west. He'd been too focused on what was happening with the American Civil War to really experience the wild west, but it still brought him back to a time that he had lived through and with that, a fresh set of memories. The memories helped banish some of the pain that had come with losing Martha and reminded him that life goes on and few people got a second chance at their humanity.

Aidan wasn't going to waste that chance. He still missed Martha and Alfie, still ached at their loss, but it was something he could deal with and move on from. Which was why he had taken up Rachel on her offer of a date, although he had politely not mentioned her offer for a lap dance. No matter how nice that sounded, it wasn't what he wanted or needed right now. Besides, he had a good guess as to how uncomfortable that would be for Rachel.

Instead, he had asked her on a genuine date. He'd found an outfit that he was pleased with and, most importantly, was relatively clean. He'd also managed to gather a bouquet of wildflowers, mostly daisies, to bring her. He thought that was a good way to say, "Hey, I knew we had a one night stand before, but no pressure or expectations this time, okay?"

Even so, he was a bit nervous. It had been a while since he'd been on an actual "first date" so he was feeling a bit of pressure. Smoothing out his vest and wiping his palms on his pants, Aidan knocked on the door and waited for Rachel to answer.

Comments

[starchilde_lost]

To say Rachel was nervous was an understatement of epic proportions. She'd never really been on a first date. Even with Franklin, before everything went to hell, it hadn't really been dating. They just started holding hands and occasionally kissing when they went to movies instead of just going. And with Korvus, well... they kind of skipped all the dating parts. Finding a good Italian place was impossible out in the Shi'ar territories.

But when Aidan asked, she'd simply said yes, that would be great because, well, it would be. She wanted to try dating, and she actually liked Aidan now that they'd gotten to know each other a little better, but now that she was listening to him knocking on her door... and she had no idea what she was doing. She took a moment to smooth down her dress before she opened the door, blinking a little.

He looked good in that. Damn.

[likesthestooges]

"Wow," Aidan said, grinning as she opened the door. Rachel had definitely managed to make the old west look good. Maybe it was just that Rachel was attractive regardless of what she was wearing. Still, he wouldn't have thought of her as a pink and lace girl, but she pulled it off well.

"You look great," he told her, handing out the flowers. He knew it was a bit of an archaic gesture, but he was an archaic kind of guy. "These are for you. I wasn't sure what your favorite kind was, or I would have looked for them."

[starchilde_lost]

"Really?" Looking down at the dress she wasn't sure. It was awfully girlie compared to what she usually wore, but it was one of the few things she found that wasn't buttoned up to the top or made her look like a saloon-girl. "Thanks."

Her eyes lit up at the sight of the flowers. She actually loved daisies and anything that could be picked up out of a field. It reminded her of playing outside when she was a kid. Even clovers and dandelions. "These are perfect. And really sweet. Come on in so I can find something to put them in." Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she moved out of the way so he could come inside.

[likesthestooges]

"I'm glad, there wasn't exactly a floral shop that I could stop buy to get some, but I found a few while I was out looking around," he staid, stepping through the doorway and glancing around. Her place seemed to have gotten similar treatment to the hut he and Josh shared. Everything was essentially there, just changed slightly.

"I love what you've done with the place, very rustic," he joked.

[starchilde_lost]

"Why thank you kindly, sir." Rachel laughed a little as she found a mason jar she could use. Instead of modern running water, she'd found a well and pump out back, but she had a pitcher of water already inside. She busied herself with arranging the flowers a bit before setting them on her little table, decked with a checked table cloth.

Let no cliche go unturned, she supposed.

"It worries me how in-stride I take all of this now. Like, home was crazy, but I don't think I ever woke up in the wild-wild-west." Turning back to him, she brushed a few drop of water off on her skirt. "So what did you have in mind? I'm thinking a movie's kinda out of the picture."

[likesthestooges]

"Movie as a first date are for boring bimbos people want to look at but not talk to," Aidan said, grinning at her. That definitely wasn't Rachel at all. "I prefer actually talking to my dates. It's a lot more fun for both of us."

At least, he hoped it was more fun for Rachel. Aidan didn't want her going on this with him just because she felt bad for him that Martha had left. He didn't need a pity date. He doubted that's what it was though.

"But it's a surprise, you'll just have to trust me."

[starchilde_lost]

"Trust, huh?" Rachel smiled and might have actually blushed a little. She liked it, though, that he wasn't telling her. She could do with a few surprises in her life and it wasn't like she didn't trust Aidan. She trusted him as much as she trusted most of the people here, maybe a little more since he ended up not being a dick over their little one night stand.

"I guess that will work." Crossing to the door, she plucked a lace shawl and parasol off their hooks and gave him a little spin. "Ready when you are, kind sir."

[likesthestooges]

"Hey, I'm trusting you to not kill and bury me in the desert too you know," he said with a smile as he stepped out of her place. The shawl and the parasol were actually kind of cute, especially since he wouldn't have thought she'd be the type of girl to grab something like that.

"So have you ever been in the Old West before? I know you did a lot of... traveling around back in your world. Any time traveling that took you to this time in history?"

[starchilde_lost]

"I've missed this one. Sorry." Most of her travelling was forward. And back. And forward and back again. Well, there was that one time back to World War Two with Kitty and Logan, but that didn't really help her here, did it? "Why, is it important?"

Opening the door, she headed out, knowing that Aidan would shut the door behind them. She had pretty much everything she needed. "And I wouldn't bury you, just so you know, scavengers would just dig you up. A good bonfire would probably take care of that, though."

[likesthestooges]

"No, not important, I was just wondering. I was still in Boston during most of this period," he said. "The Civil War was coming to a head during that time and Boston was always a hot seat of early American politics."

Surprisingly enough, Aidan had fought for the North during the Civil War. While it might have seemed that vampires would favor the South, what with slavery being a convenient means of food, he had fought hard to free the Colonies from England and he wasn't going to see it torn apart.

[starchilde_lost]

The parasol actually served a purpose. In the hot sun of the desert, Rachel knew she suffered from the curse of the red hair - meaning she burned in a heartbeat. Usually she kept the suntan lotion on, but SPF 50 didn't exactly exist in the Wild-Wild West, so parasols and bonnets it was. And since she didn't want her hair mussed for whatever this was going to be, she opened the parasol as she looked back.

"Where all have you lived, by the way, it's got to be a long list, right?"

[likesthestooges]

"Other than being on the move during some wars, I've mostly lived in Boston, actually."

He'd had time to go around the world leisurely, that was one of the few perks of being a vampire, but he'd never really have said he lived most of those places. Boston would always be home.

"The world is a nice place, but vampire families are pretty tight knit and finding reliable food sources in strange cities can be risky at times."

[starchilde_lost]

"I can see that. Can't really equate it with anything in my life, but..." She shrugged. Ororo had spend time as a vampire, briefly, she might understand some of it, but Rachel... she just couldn't empathize with those kind of concerns. Rascism, intolerance, war, abuse, loss, those were all things she had personal experience in. Finding someone to snack on was not in her repitoire.

[likesthestooges]

"That's good, I wouldn't want anyone to have to think like that," he said. Far too many people enjoyed thinking like that once they were turned.

"But, today it's just a picnic of biscuits, chicken, and some apples. Plus a little surprise, but you don't get to see that until we get to the picnic spot."

[starchilde_lost]

"A picnic?" Rachel's expression brightened, "I love picnics, but this surprise is really starting to get to me."

Holding the parasol in one hand, she took Aidan's arm with the other. It seemed the thing to do as they walked and frankly it was a preventative measure in case she tripped on her long skirts. Not that she thought she would, but hey, why take the chance when there was a handsome man to hold on to?

[likesthestooges]

"Just don't be too disappointed, I didn't say it was a particularly good surprise," he said. She seemed excited enough with the picnic though that maybe even if the surprise was boring she wouldn't have a terrible time.

"But what have you been up to in the Old West?"

[starchilde_lost]

"Lately? Planning classes." She kicked a stone and watched it skitter away. "The martial arts teacher left so Zell and I are taking over the class next semester. I've been putting together different plans, figuring out what's good to teach to younger kids, older students, less experienced, more experienced..."

In truth it was a lot more complicated than Rachel had initially thought when she signed up for it. But she was excited. She never really saw herself as a teacher, but Nathan was proof that she could do it and do it well. At least in a world ruled by Apocalypse. The relative quiet of Tabula Rasa would be something else entirely.

[likesthestooges]

"That sounds like a lot more work than most people think it would be," he said, rather impressed with it all. It wasn't that he didn't think Rachel was capable of something like that, he knew that she was, but it was still impressive that she was putting that much work into it.

"I'm glad you found time in your schedule though, you might find today useful. By the way, here we are."

Aidan gestured a hand to indicate the blanket and the basket near a twisted, gnarled log. Rather cliche, but hopefully fun.

[starchilde_lost]

It was simple and for the environment, it was perfect. Not that she thought he'd set up anything less than wonderful, he just didn't strike her as that kind of guy, but it was still... kinda perfect. Stepping forward, she manged to maneuver her and her skirts down to the blanket, being careful to keep her dusty shoe off of it.

"I really like this, Aidan. It's sweet."

[likesthestooges]

"I'm glad, I thought you would," he said. It was normal, something normal people would do. Something that normal people would have the time for and on the island, they had the time so why not indulge?

"As for the surprise..."

Aidan reached behind the log and pulled up a length of rope. Nothing fancy, just a length of rope that looked well used.

"Today you learn how to lasso, if you don't already."

[starchilde_lost]

Rachel looked up at him as he moved to pull the rope out. For a moment, her mind went to a totally different place. Which... was understandable considering their history, but it made her feel like a heel when he told her what they were doing.

"Lasso? You actually know how to lasso?"

[likesthestooges]

"It... seemed like a handy thing to learn at the time," he admitted. The number of times that it had actually come in handy though were considerably less than he had thought they would be. Still, it was an interesting thing to know.

"But yes, I know how to throw a lasso."

[starchilde_lost]

"That is... kinda sexy there, Cowboy." Chuckling, Rachel spun her parasol a little as she looked up at him. "I think I want a demonstration before we eat."

[likesthestooges]

"Here, stand off to the side so you can watch," he said, moving a ways a bit so that he wasn't next to her.

"As the cliche goes, it's all in the wrist," he said, turning the rope around and around above his head. "Also, you don't want to grip the rope tightly when you throw it, you don't want to interfere with the motion of the rope."

With that, Aidan let the rope go, sending it at Rachel and pulling it snug to tighten around her waist.

[starchilde_lost]

Curious, Rachel set down her parasol and stood up, moving to where Aidan had indicated. She had suspicions, but didn't say anything, even when the saw the rope looping towards her. With a slight grin, she tilted her head in genuine curiosity, "And what do you think you're doing with this, Aidan McCollin?"

[likesthestooges]

"It's for making sure things you don't want to get away stay close, Miss Grey," he said with a grin as he pulled at the rope, gently tugging her closer to him.

[starchilde_lost]

With a laugh, she gamely let him pull her close as she felt her face heat up in a way that had nothing to do with the sun and her lack of parasol at the moment. It was so cute it was almost cliche and despite her attempt to be jaded, she found that she kinda like it. It was old-fashioned whatever it was. Maybe not quite romance, but something... or was it romance?

"And what do you plan on doing with me once I'm all close-like?"

[likesthestooges]

Aidan wanted to pull her closer and kiss her, but he resisted the temptation. Given their history together, there was no telling just what sparks that might set off and he was resolved to not go there just yet.

"Have you join me for a picnic," he said with a grin, reaching out to loosen the knot in the rope so that it could drop to her feet. "If you'd like."

[starchilde_lost]

"Pretty sure it was what I was already doing, but thanks for asking again." She was glad, mostly, that he hadn't tried anything, because frankly she didn't know how she would respond. Wasn't that part of what they were doing here today, figuring out if they were friends, more than friends, friends with benefits?

As she stepped out of the circle of rope, she smiled. She liked his sense of humor and she had to admit he was being the perfect gentleman. "What's for dinner, anyway?"

[likesthestooges]

"Rattlesnake," he said with a grin. "Apparently a lot of people are taking advantage of unlimited ammunition and a high population of snakes."

With how cliche the rest of the date was, he figured this would at least shake things up a tiny bit. Or maybe where she came from, rattlesnake was part of the normal cuisine.

[starchilde_lost]

"Yum, Rattlesnake. I hear that's a delicacy in some parts." She smirked, sitting back down on the picnic blanket and spreading her skirts out so they wouldn't get too rumpled. Which, she had to admit, wasn't exactly something she thought about doing on a regular basis. Or, ever, really, in a normal world. Mini-skirts, jeans and shorts, those were her staples.

[likesthestooges]

"Here I think it would be a staple," he said, sitting down next to her.

He was amused at watching her smooth out the skirts, something that seemed very foreign on her. It always amused him how modern women could be so comfortable in hardly anything at all, but out of sorts covered up. Now that he was human, he could better appreciate the trend toward less clothing.

"Fortunately, we've also got potatoes, biscuits, and booze."

[starchilde_lost]

"Wow, you went all out for this picnic thing. I'm impressed." And a little touched. It had been a long time since anyone had done anything even remotely like this for her. It was downright romantic.

Which was the point, wasn't it?

"C'mon, let's tuck in, get blitzed and fool around." It was hard not to blush at the last part, said as a joke, but with her and Aidan, who could tell, right?

[likesthestooges]

Aidan really was trying to keep things casual, but the way that Rachel was flirting, it was hard not to let his mind wander to possibilities. If this had been a first date, he wouldn't have thought much of it and flirted back. While this technically was a first date, it was difficult to treat it that way seeing as how they had already slept together once.

"Alright, but don't tie any knots with the rope that you can't undo while a little bit tipsy," he said, taking out the food and the bottle of booze.

[starchilde_lost]

Holding up a hand, she chuckled, "Scout's honor."

Rachel reached for the basket to help set things out, trying not to think so hard about the flirting and everything that went with it. It wasn't awkward, really, but it hung over everything they were doing. Which in her mind, wasn't the best way to be spending a first date.

"Hey, Aidan, can I get something off my chest before we go any further?"

[likesthestooges]

"Sure," he said with a nod, shifting to face her fully.

He wasn't surprised she wanted to talk about something, he even had a guess as to what it was. Aidan didn't want to assume though, so Rachel had his full attention. He wanted her to feel as comfortable as possible to share whatever was on her mind.

[starchilde_lost]

"So I just wanted to say that I like you. And obviously I find you really sexy, and I'm pretty sure that feeling was mutual right?" Not waiting for an answer she continued, "I feel like we're just... tip-toeing around the second part."

She didn't really know what to say after that and she suddenly found it really hard to meet his eyes. Whatever this was, she didn't want it to stop before it got started because they were too afraid to just have fun.

[likesthestooges]

"I find you attractive in a lot of ways," he said, smiling at her. She brought up a good point, he certainly didn't want to ruin this because he was too attracted to her or something equally ridiculous.

"And I don't want to ruin anything, friendship or something more, because we've already slept together. I'm not looking to head back to your place once this is all done and before you agreed to come I'd decided I would refuse if you did, because wherever this goes I don't want it to be friends with benefits. So any flirting is... laying groundwork for later, if that makes sense."

[starchilde_lost]

"I think I can be okay with that." Especially since it meant that there would be a later. She kinda liked the idea of there being a later, that maybe this wasn't... some impulse that was happening just because she'd made an offer when he was low and he was just going through the motions. Not that it would have been the worst thing in the world, it was just that since he'd asked, she'd been thinking. She liked the idea of dating someone, it was something she wanted and he was someone she kinda wanted it with.

She had no idea where it would go, but for awhile it sure would be fun.

[likesthestooges]

"Alright, with that settled shall we try the snake?" he asked, passing her a plate.

He didn't want to try and nail down exactly what their relationship was, not right now anyway. That seemed to serious and like it would kill all the fun of it. Aidan knew eventually that would have to come, but he hoped it would be later.