likesthestooges | For Rachel

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

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."

From:

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?"

From:

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."

From:

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."

From:

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.

From:

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?"

From:

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.

From:

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?"

From:

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."

From:

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?"

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

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?

From:

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.

From:

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?"

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

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.

From:

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.