The Shores of Selkie Lake, Friday Evening

[geniuswithasmartphone]

DJ Roomba was cranking out to tunes, though Hardison had left the soft serve machine at home, making this officially a 'roughing it' camping trip. Not that Eliot would necessarily agree (there was still electricity because Hardison was many things, but a goddamn savage wasn't one of them), but was it really a date if the two of them didn't bicker about something pointless while Parker looked on and offered commentary?

No. No it was not.

Originally, Hardison had planned to pitch the tent up in the woods, but something about them had been...off-putting. So instead he'd spent the morning setting up here on the shore, including hammering a 'No Suits Allowed' sign next to the water to encourage skinny dipping by his sexy, sexy partners. Steaks were resting in Eliot's signature marinade, other stuff had been peeled and chopped, the all-natural, hickory-chip grill was gently glowing red.

Aww yeah, he done good.

[For the crew!]

Comments

[whoisalicewhite]

Very very good! Parker was contemplating a swim, one full hour after eating. You never knew what would happen if you broke that rule. "I brought extra chocolate in case we run out making s'mores."

She had her priorities.

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"An' we're right under the peak," Hardison pointed out, a little smug at how good he was at planning. "So if you ever wanted to burn off all that energy after s'mores by leapin' off the cliff, it's right there."

[whoisalicewhite]

"And then climb back up again," Parker said, very pleased. "You are the best Logistics Guy. As always." Mischievously she added, "You can jump off with me, too."

[geniuswithasmartphone]

Hardison just gave her sad eyes - the teasing sad ones, not the real ones. "Now mama, what I ever do to you that makes you so mean?"

[whoisalicewhite]

"Made funny noises when we dropped off towers," Parker offered, then leaned in for a kiss. "And! Gotten so much better at it, they're just squeaky noises now."

[geniuswithasmartphone]

And he'd stopped wetting himself, except for when he was pushed without notice, Eliot.

"So if I go back to screamin' shrilly...?" he checked.

[whoisalicewhite]

"We'd have to practice some more," Parker said seriously. "Also, there would be cuddling on the way down." Just as motivation, you know?

[geniuswithasmartphone]

Hardison shuddered. Okay, not going back to the screaming, the last thing he wanted was more practice.

Even with the promise of cuddles.

"What if I stayed here an' made s'mores while you an' Eliot jumped?" he suggested desperately. "So you could be greeted by a snack with every leap?"

[whoisalicewhite]

Hmmmmmmmmmm. "Acceptable." Parker nodded, tiny smile lurking as she poked at one of his biceps. "This time."

It was gonna happen sometime, Hardison.

[geniuswithasmartphone]

Yeah, but the longer he could push that off, the happier he'd be.

He leaned down to kiss her. "I know my girl," he said, smug.

[vdistinctive]

"Soooo, we got enough chocolate for, like, four months of camping, huh."

[whoisalicewhite]

"What if there's an amok Alot that we need to distract?"

That would be a Yes, Eliot.

[vdistinctive]

“You’re basically inviting over an alot of chocolate here, darlin’. And then you’re just gonna yell at me when I gotta fight it.”

[whoisalicewhite]

"You don't *have* to fight it. We could just invite it to stay."

Parker couldn't make up her mind if she'd want to cuddle an Alot of chocolate, or trap it and lick it to death.

[vdistinctive]

"Yeah, until it turns into an alot of aggression because you refuse to share."

[whoisalicewhite]

"I'm... getting better at that?" Really, Eliot. "And maybe it would catch the aggression from you, and not me. Since you're better at sharing feelings."

[vdistinctive]

"I'm not aggressive," Eliot protested. "Not, like, needlessly so, anyway."