ZRP-2 Chapter 6: Scattered

(Sam)
"Yeah......no. You can walk just fine Eve."

(James)
"So.....wonder how long we'll be stuck on the river now. Another day? Two or three?"

Eve giggled. "I can try." She stood, then looked around. "Uh...where did I leave my jeans..."
Having removed her pants due to it being way too hot sleeping in them, the girl started digging around the bed.
"Here." She popped up and scooted them on. "Ok! Let's go!"

(Sam)
=At first, I blinked, praying to god my being tipsy had nothing to do with her pants being off. But then I sighed, got up, and walked for the door=
"Okay. Lets see what's on the menu."

"Let's go!"
She slipped her hand in Sam's and let her lead.

(Sam)
=When we walked out of the room, I was barely surprised to find that the lounge and kitchen was empty. No one was there, either asleep or just not hungry=
"Uh, doubt they have any cereal. Or milk."

Eve looked down. "Oh well...what is there?"

(Sam)
=I opened a cabinet, and pulled or a plastic tube filled with crackers=
"Crackers, is what's for breakfast."

"...not even a half glass of milk I guess?" Eve said softly.

(Sam)
"I'd be amazed if there was any fresh milk these days. Unless someone's managed to keep a herd of cows around."

"Shepherds have a few cows. Others are just running wild. You just gotta find them." Eve said softly. "Like horses."

(Sam)
"Maybe we should raid the shepherds compounds that have the cows. Would be nice to have some real milk again."

"Good luck." Was all Eve said as she sat down and ate five crackers.

(Andrew)

=I gave a slight yawn, a question coming to my head=

You know their frequency, Cooper?

=I looked at tower in the distance=

Cause we'll need to know it to contact them, when we get there.

(James)
"So, do you plan to sit there the rest of the journey, or do you want to get out and move around a bit?"

(Sam)
"Heh, yeah..."

*Cooper*
"Yeah, I've got it memorized. But one step at a time Andrew, first we need to seeif the damned thing is still operational."

Hibiki stood up. "Gotta keep fit for the baby."

(James)
"Yeah, would be a shame if you didn't stay in shape. Then id have to protect your ass more often than usual."

Hibiki scowled. "You wanna continue that train of thought?"

(James)
=I couldn't help but grin=
"Maybe."

(Andrew)

=I nod, satisfied=

Right...Let's just hope our luck holds.

Cause we're long overdue for some good luck...

=I sigh and yawn, once again feeling the lack of sleep get to me=

Hibiki crossed her arms.
"I have a sword."

Eve finished her breakfast, then waited patiently for Sam to finish.

(James)
=The grin on my face became even more cocky=
"So do I."

(Sam)
=I wasn't eating much. It was mostly some canned fish which tasted very salty, and I realized they were anchovies=

Hibiki rolled her eyes. "You don't get to sheath that with that kind of talk."

Eve didn't look at Sam.
Have to be respectful...don't be like that...

(James)
"I'm just kidding Hibiki."
=Playfully, I thumped her shoulder with my fist before sitting down next to her=

"But honestly, as your pregnancy progresses.....I do to want to call you weak, but I'd prefer it if, whenever I'd have to fight or scout for supplies, you would hang back, where its safe."

(Sam)
"You know you can look a me Eve. I won't turn you to stone."

Hibiki leaned against James. "I know...I was planning to."

Eve looked up shyly. "I didn't want to start staring...you would find it creepy..." She blushed. "And I can't stop some...fantasies...either..."

(Sam)
"Heh, well I can safely say i wouldnt findit creepy, and as for the fantasies......"
=I do not kow why, but a sudden image appeared in my head. It was like the opening to a late night show on Cinemax, where Eve just got up and walked over to me and sat down on my lap, her hands resting on my shoulders as she planted her ops on mine and forced he--NO NO, DEFINITELY NOTNHAPPENING NOW. Without changing my outward look, I reigned in my thoughts and managed to shove them to the side=

"I'm in the same boat with ya Eve."
=In a very bad way=

(James)
"Maybe we'll find a safe place to live by then. Call me crazy, but raising a kid on a boat doesn't seem healthy."

Eve giggled.
"Well....guess that means no sitting on your lap and just...feeling your warmth?"

Hibiki looked out the small window. "No...no, it's not."

(James)
=Sighing, I got up and headed for the door=
"Well, I'm going to try my hand at fishing again. With luck, I'll catch some more fish this time."

(Sam)
=The fantasy played again, more clear in my head now and harder to stop. I returned the kiss while my hands tried to go under her-- good god what was wrong with me? Jesus, I needed better control=
"Lets.....not tempt fate here."

=It was all I said before I got up to leave=

Eve blinked, confused. "Ok?"
She got up and followed, confused.

Hibiki nodded. "Get a big one for the baby."

(James)
"Heh, I'll try."
=With that, I stepped outside and found Sam and Eve=

"Hey, nice to see you two are awake."

(Sam)
=Thankful for the distraction, I looked to James=
"Hey, morning James. Yeah, we've been waking up earlier lately."

=Please ask to do something with Eve, I need to be alone=

Eve smiled. "Yeah daddy." She moved over and hugged James. "How is mommy?"

(James)
=I smiled as she hugged me, my hand rubbing her head affectionately=
"She's doing fine. Hey, listen."

=Letting go, I got down on one knee in front of her=
"I was thinking of fishing, grab us some real breakfast. Care to join? Could use a second set of hands."

Eve nodded. "Sure!"

(James)
=Wow that was easier than I expected. But I smiled all the same as I stood up=
"Cool. It's not the most fun I admit but it gets better when you catch something."

(Sam)
=Thank god for the distraction. That left me time to....diffuse myself=

Eve shrugs. "Sam needs a minute alone."

(James)
"Does she? Well, may as well give it to her."
=Walking outside and onto the deck, I opened the large crate on deck that had the fishing gear. I grabbed one of the poles and handed it to Eve=

"I'll grab the bait. I'm sure you can safely hook the bait without hooking yourself?"


=Coopers group continued down the road, nearing the hill the tower sat upon. So far it did not look like there were any roads but they kept driving, hoping for at least a dirt road=

Eve looks at the hook and the bait, and started her attempts to get the bait on the hook.
"Daddy?" She called. "Um...I can't get it."

(James)
"Really? It's very simple Eve, here, let me show you."
=Taking my own bait and hook in hand, I showed her how to pierce the hook through the bait and out the other end=

"See? Simple."

Eve finally got it two minutes later.
"Yes!" She grinned. "Got it!"

(James)
"Excellent. Now, all you need to do is cast the line. Like this...."
=For an example, I swung the pole, releasing the line and letting the momentum carry the hook out. It flew maybe twenty feet before landing in the water behind the boat, and as we moved through the water the distance increased=

"Now you try."

Eve tried...and caught the edge of her shirt, nearly pulling it over.
"Uh...that didn't work..."
Extracting herself, Eve tried again, this time with it hitting the side of the boat. "Awww...."

(James)
"Don't swing too hard. First, just hold the pole straight up, then pull it back a bit. Make sure the bait and hook is hanging but not by much, and then swing forward gently, one smooth arc."

Eve took a breath, an tried again...and got her line crossed with James'.
"Fuck..." was all she said.

(James)
"Okay, lets start this again...."
=I did my best to smile, but honestly this was getting pathetic. I reeled in both lines and when they got close enough I managed to untangle them. Holding my pole again, I made sure she was looking before casting the line=

"Like this."

Eve tried, and this time it did ok...until she lost her grip and the pole hit the side of the boat and clattered to the deck.
"Um...Daddy...I should stick to archery..."

(James)
=Honestly, she really should have=
"Don't le yourself get discouraged Eve. It just takes practice. And patience. Try again."

Eve did so, one more time...
And then cried out in surprise as her short was tugged over her. She stumbled around before falling on her ass.
"Daddy. I think I've proven I can't use a fishing pole." She said miserably from the deck.

(James)
"Okay, how bout this....."
=I grabbed her fishing pole, cast the line, and sat down next to my own pole=

"We just sit and wait for a bite."
=No way she can possibly fuck this up=

Eve sat and waited.
And waited.
And waited.

"Daddy? This is boring."

(James)
"This is fishing. It's not all tht exciting until something bites."

"Aren't we suppose to AVOID biting things?" Eve asked.