[closed] a walk down a new path

[heiroglyphs]

WHO: Vera and Alison
WHERE: Recollé Forest
WHEN: Saturday morning
WHAT: A nature nerd shows a sheltered girl what "outside" is like.
WARNINGS: Extreme dorkiness

[Vera stands at the entrance to Recollé Forest, flipping through her phone as she waits for her friend to arrive. In truth, she had just arrived from the mall, where she bought an outfit she felt best designed for hiking: a pair of white athletic pants and tank top, covered in a thin checkered top to keep the sun off of her shoulders. On her feet she wears a pair of heavy hiking boots try to make up for the height lost from her heels, and on her head, a white sun hat monogrammed with her initials in a brilliant gold font. Shifting her weight, she adjusts the straps of her backpack, filled with food for the two of them to enjoy once they get to Alison's favorite spot.

As she spots her friend approaching, her face instantly lights up. If there is anything the heiress hates, it's waiting, but she's willing to put up with it to spend time with her friends. Come to think of it, this is the first time the two have met in person. She hopes she's made a good impression so far.]

Hey, Alison. You ready?

Comments

[seeker]

[It’s occurred to Alison that she’s not entirely sure who she’s looking for. Around this time of year, there were crowds of summer camp kids, or folks on vacation wanting to experience the great outdoors. She’s not sure she’ll be able to find Vera so easily, but once she’s hiked over the tiny slope to the beginning of the path they were meant to meet at, she spots her right away.

It’s funny. She’d almost forgotten, during their conversation, that she was an heiress. Alison makes a mental note to avoid anything particularly taxing, path-wise, today. She reminds herself too, were she invited to some white tie event, she’d similarly look just out of place. It’s almost cute. Her own choice in outfits is a bit more subdued: a pair of jeans that have long since been broken in, a heavy pair of boots. A light blue shirt with the sleeves half-rolled up, her sunglasses propped on her forehead. Besides her practical outfit, she just looks like someone who is accustomed to the great outdoors: she has a noticeable tan, the very ends of her bright red hair, tied back in a ponytail, have gone sunbleached, and what can be seen of her arms is subtly muscled.

She waves as she approaches, smiles.]

Ready as I’ll ever be. I’m glad you could make it.

[Compliments that don’t involve the word “clever,” possibly followed by a partially sarcastic thumbs up do not come easily to her, but she says, politely, and (to her credit) without irony:] I like the hat.

[heiroglyphs]

[The blonde steps closer, smiling up at her with her new light violet eyes. It's a little intimidating how they look nearly opposite, with Vera's ivory-pale skin and professionally managed hair. Her body, while lightly toned, looks far from athletic. Okay, no big deal, right? She said she'd never been hiking before, there's nothing wrong with looking the part. Maybe this can be a first step towards a healthier lifestyle?]

Oh, thanks. I thought it would be a nice touch. It's important to keep cool, right?

[seeker]

[An approving nod from Alison.] It doesn't get too warm out here, but you don't want too much sun exposure, either. When I was a kid once, I thought it'd be a great idea to run around out here without prep. I burned like toast. [A chagrined smile.] My dad poked fun, said I looked like a lobster.

[The memory smooths the edge out of her grin. She rolls her shoulders, stretches.] You can follow me. We'll go up that ridge I came from, [she points ahead], and keep going until we hit where the river starts. The clearing's not far from there. It's an easy hike — not too many inclines. Though...sometimes I get in my head, so if I'm going too fast, let me know. Deal?

[heiroglyphs]

Yes, well, as nice of a color red is, I don't think it would look very good on my skin.

[Thankfully she loaded up on sunscreen before she left. Her fair skin would burn pretty quickly in direct sunlight.]

Alright, but I'll do my best to keep up. I don't want to slow down the professionals.

[seeker]

Well, this professional won't rush you. It's all about... [a wave of her hand] experiencing the majesty of nature. Right? You're supposed to take your time.

[Sarcasm aside, she totally loves the majesty of nature. She does, however, remember to keep her pace sedate as she starts the hike. A few moments of this, and she asks:]

What's it like, growing up in a mansion?

[heiroglyphs]

[And Vera follows right beside her, hands on the straps of her backpack. She keeps herself in shape, but she's never been the "long walk" type. Still, she knows she wont get tired for at least a little while. Hopefully it isn't too far.]

It's... quiet. Just my parents and I, and my grandfather when I was very young, but I don't have many memories of him.

[She reaches behind herself to unclasp the water bottle hanging off her pack, taking a sip.]

We had servants of course, a live-in chef and some maids, but I didn't talk with them much, father doesn't believe in that sort of thing. I spent most of my time in the upstairs of the house, where guests weren't allowed.

[seeker]

Wow. [Alison looks over her shoulder, expression apologetic.] That sounds...lonely.

[She seems to realize, halfway into saying this, that she may be overstepping the bounds of near-stranger relationships, and amends:] Sorry. I don't mean to be rude about it. It's just hard to picture, I guess.

[heiroglyphs]

No, you're totally right. It was pretty lonely.

[She shifts her weight, tugging her backpack higher up.]

I didn't really know anyone my age, growing up. Other than the children of our business partners, anyway.

[seeker]

Hm.

[She's quiet for a little while. Thoughtful. They reach a split in the path, a low-hanging branch toward the leftmost trail, and Alison pushes it out of the way, holding it steady for Vera to step through first.]

Now I feel a little bad. My dad never made me schmooze with the country club regulars of the future. He just made me clean my room.

[A beat.] And kicked me into Girl Scouts when I weaponized the roomba.

[heiroglyphs]

Well at least I can say I never had to do that, there's some benefits to having maids.

[She gives Alison a thankful smile as she cautiously steps over the branch.]

But what exactly do you mean by "weaponize"...?

[seeker]

Well... [She grins, rubs at her neck, adjusts her pace so that they are walking side by side, now. It was easier to hold a conversation when she wasn't looking over her shoulder.]

The easy way is to duct tape something pointy on it, but I wasn't going to win the 4th grade science fair with that. Somehow I got him to agree to help me weld an extra mechanism to it. [...] I think I promised him that I would stop asking him for a pony every Christmas.

It shot ping pong balls. He just didn't know that I was going to program it to do that on its own.

[heiroglyphs]

That's amazing.

[Just the thought of it puts a grin on her face.]

My greatest accomplishment was coding a MySpace page, but you were quite the technical terror growing up.

[seeker]

That's a slightly nicer way of saying "budding mad scientist." But thanks.

[Her attention turns to the path they're walking along, and she brightens some, kneels down. Her voice is low when she speaks again.]

Hey, check it out. These are deer tracks. If we're quiet, we may be able to see one.

[heiroglyphs]

[Vera freezes in her tracks, crouching down beside her and making sure her voice stays at a low whisper.]

I didn't know there were any deer in this city. I've never seen them outside of movies.

[seeker]

They're skittish around people. But if you're diligent, and know how to read the tracks, you can see them, sometimes.

[...] It went ahead, and ducked into the bushes over there. Chances are, it's making its way to a clearing to graze. Let's go.

[and off she goes! quietly though, and slowly, slightly crouched so as not to alarm any woodland creatures.]

[heiroglyphs]

Oh wow...

[That's all she can manage to get out before Alison heads for the bushes. Vera will do her best to crouch-walk right behind her, but has a bit of difficulty walking in this strange position. Eventually she opts support herself with her hands in a strange sort of crawl.]

[seeker]

[Alison reaches the bushes first, and ducks behind them, though not before pointing ahead. Just as she'd predicted, in a clearing is a doe with a young, gangly fawn. They're grazing, just as she said, a few paces from the river she'd mentioned in their first conversation.]

See?

[heiroglyphs]

Oh my god.

[Vera gasps, doing her best to stay silent as she watches the deer tend to her young fawn. It might be one of the cutest things Vera has ever seen in person.]

Will they... let me pet them?

[seeker]

[Oh, that's cute. She smiles.]

It's not likely. Not when she's with her young like that. We could get a little closer without spooking them, though. Stick close to me.

[heiroglyphs]

Oh... [She'll try not to sound too disappointed, but she's happy to take a closer look.]

Okay. Right behind you.

[seeker]

[She slips from behind the bush, quiet still, and leads them into the clearing proper. They're still some ways from the doe and her fawn, but they're much closer now.

Alison stands up, keeping her voice pitched low.] Good chance to take pictures, if you want. No flash.

[heiroglyphs]

Good idea... [She whispers, fumbling with her phone until the flash is off. It takes a bit of adjusting before she gets a good focus on the zoom, but she manages to get a few good shots of the little family.]

They're so cute. Are there a lot of deer around here?

[seeker]

At least a small herd, is my guess. I haven't gone far enough into the forest to see many others, but I see doe and their fawns often. Once I saw a huge buck, but he's been scarce lately.

[She sits at the edge of the clearing as Vera snaps pictures. busying herself with twining blades of grass around her fingertips.] What you'll see most often are rabbits, wild mice. Lots and lots of different birds.

[heiroglyphs]

I had no idea there was so much going on so close to where I live. I'd always figured it was just a bunch of trees and bugs.

[She takes a few more pictures before she decides she's had enough, and puts the phone back in her pocket.]

I definitely want to come back again.

[seeker]

It's easy to overlook if you've never had the chance to explore it.

[She stands up, dusts off her jeans.] If you're up for it, I can show you more another time. I practically live out here, with work...

Want to keep going? We're not far from a rest point.

[heiroglyphs]

If you're sure I can't pet the deer, then yes, we can keep going.

[She chuckles.]

[seeker]

I'm sure. Sorry. [A quick flash of a smile.] But we might see a rabbit, or a fox, before we hit the rest area.

[heiroglyphs]

I didn't know wild rabbits were even a thing anymore.

[seeker]

Really? [She laughs, surprised but not mocking.] They're very shy, and fast — hard to see unless you're out here.

You might miss a chance to take a picture of one. They don't take as well to people as the deer do.

[heiroglyphs]

I mean, I'm not surprised, but I've only ever seen them in a pet store.

[seeker]

[Both of Alison's eyebrows raise. She remembers, again, that despite this being a great segue into a princess trapped in a tower joke, it would not make the best impression. And so:] Then you're in for a treat. They're all over the place, out here. I bet you'll even get tired of seeing them.

[...]

We're almost to a rest stop, if you're sick of walking.

[heiroglyphs]

As long as they're cute, I don't think I'll get tired of them.

[But she's never been swarmed by rabbits before so who really knows?]

I suppose a moment's rest wouldn't hurt. I'm not really used to walking this much.