2020-06-29 - С Днем Рождения

The door of the house opened, an older lady that was definitely not Kip or Ariana stepped out. Getting ready to go somewhere. She took pause, examining the boxes and then called back in to the house before carefully side stepping said packages and heading to her car. It wasn't long before the door opened again and there was Kip, looking like she might have just rolled out of bed not too long ago. Her brow furrowed briefly, looking around before picking up the card first, opening it up and reading it.

Kip's gaze flitted from the boxes to the card and back, a grin forming. She collected the boxes and brought them up to her room. That was a tough decision. Maybe seeing the outfits would help her decide. Both packages were opened up carefully. She would try on the Sunny Day outfit first and then the Flashy Night one.

Kip tried one both outfits, admiring herself in the mirror. It didn't talk too terribly long for her to decide at the end of the day though. A Sunny Day it was. She hardly wore bright colors like the yellow dress so it might be a nice change of pace. And she may or may not have a couple other ideas in mind for future use of that black dress. Once back in the sundress she snapped a selfie and sent a text along with it

(TXT to Rekani) Kip : A sunny day with you sounds like a wonderful birthday zaychik

(TXT to Kip) Rekani : 😲She done figured out my ruse!

(TXT to Rekani) Kip : 😂 That is why she is an investigator.

(TXT to Kip) Rekani : 😉 What mamacita wants she gets. ESPECIALLY in that dress. I'll pick you up at 11.

(TXT to Kip) Rekani : AM

(TXT to Kip) Rekani : Day after next... Because I'm sure you got other plans tomorrow...

(TXT to Rekani) Kip : I actually have no plans if you want to come tomorrow...I have not really done anything for my birthday for some time.

(TXT to Rekani) Kip : But if you have some crazy elaborate scheme planned that hinges on it being the day after tomorrow then that is perfectly fine as well!

(TXT to Kip) Rekani : Did you...not get the thing in the card?

(TXT to Rekani) Kip : Oh! I have the memory of a goldfish clearly. 😂Right. I totally have amazing plans already for tomorrow.

(TXT to Kip) Rekani : I'm glad you've got time to fit me in. 😉

(TXT to Rekani) Kip : ❤ I am looking forward to it.

Hesitant wasn't the right word for how Kip was feeling. Maybe self conscious would be better. She had never actually been to a spa before and this one looked extremely fancy to her. She wasn't exactly sure what to expect so she dressed simple in a pair of cloth black shorts and a white t-shirt. "Good morning." Kip offered up a bright smile, though still a touch uncertain. "I have an appointment at 11. Kapitsa. Or it might be under Kip." She explained to the lady as her eyes wandered over the various pamphlets and posters advertising their services.

Kip waited patiently, though maybe she went to the wrong place? She could feel a bit of heat creeping up on her cheeks. "...The owner?" She asked though quickly followed up with. "Uh, what is in this platinum package? And..how much is it? It is a monthly thing?" What in the world had Rekani done? Her fingers twitched, as if wanting to reach for her phone but she resisted.

She put on another smile. "I, uh, will think about it. Sorry. This is very new to me. I have never been to a spa before." She admits, trying to rein it in and remain composed.

The woman smiles in a congenial manner, an understanding nod made at Kip's admission of ignorance. "Oh, hon, don't you worry, you're in good hands." She was still clicking a few things as she set up the account and got her bearings to answer the questions.

"Platinum package is sort of a 'Whatever You Want' kind of thing. My time is blocked out to give you any service you'd like in the next four hours. The usual set ladies go for is a Brazilian, Mani/Pedi, deep tissue massage, facial services like masks and brows, and maybe a skin wrap. The monthly bit is upkeep, so you can return as-needed for waxing or if you break a nail, and up to one additional massage." Again, that slight confusion, and her face takes an apologetic tilt, "I can't see specifically what was spent. Usually when the owner just puts stuff in, it's something special she worked out with a client." She does lean a little forward with a bit of a conspirator grin, "But I can tell you it's at least 500 in value. Monthly going forward would be about 200 for two massages and the same upkeep."

Kip listened closely and wide eyed. That was a lot of money. She shifted a bit and finally nodded. "Wow. Okay well. I will think about it as far as the continued payments. " She said and then chuckled. Forcing herself to relax. This was a special gift and she needed to just enjoy it and not worry about the associated costs.

"Well. Tomorrow is my birthday and he has since kind of surprise day trip or events planned." She pulled out her phone finally to show her the selfie of the dress before putting it away. "I want to look my best for it. Maybe waxing and a massage but I will put myself in your capable hands to decide the rest."

"Yes...I guess so. I am lucky." Kip grinned then.

She felt much more confident as they went on and the woman seemed to know her stuff. The idea of waxing her entire body sounded unpleasant so she settled on her bikini area, under arms, and cleaning up her eye brows and upper lip. A deep tissue massage that reminded her of muscles she wasn't even aware of, a facial, and finally there was a mani/pedi designed to match her dress for tomorrow.

The entire thing was surprisingly enjoyable and Kip would snap a few pictures here and there so she could send them when she texted Rekani later on and let him know she had a good time.

Rekani would, of course, respond with appropriate amounts of steamy-eyed emojis or wolf whistling gifs at such pictures, along with his wish she had a good time.

The next day, he would show up quite perfectly on time, as he had said. As always, his presence was announced by the roaring purr of a well tuned engine. Kip probably knew the sound by heart at this point, the growl shaking the neighborhood as his clean black E60 rolled up, shining from a fresh detailing. Rekani stepped out in simple clothing, a tee that fit his upper body well, and some fresh, well-tailored khakis, finished with some mint-condition white Addidas. He walks up toward the door to ring the bell, leaving the car idling gently behind him on the road.

Kip was curious, excited. Looking forward to whatever day trip he had planned. She gotten up extra early for a hair appointment even so along with the outfit he'd picked out, her hair was styled so it had a nice wave to it, curling up near the ends. Just a touch of mascara and lipstick as she heard his car approaching and then she was heading downstairs. She opened the door up not long after he knocked and lashed him a cheery grin.

"Hello zaychik. She leaned up to give him a soft kiss as her arm moved around to hug him. "Thank you for all the gifts. You spoil me."

“Damn, mamacita!” Rekani was quick to begin as his eyes travel down Kip in the brief moment before she was in his arms, his big limbs curling around her waist and pulling her in close, “That selfie did not do it justice!” He follows this by a squeeze, then a low whistle as he reaches for her hand and steps back, lifting the joining of the grasp and pulling gently in a circle as if to encourage a dance-like spin so he can admire her more in the dress. There was a large grin on his face, almost stupified as he looked at her.

When he can find words again, his eyes flit up, as if jarred from distraction, “Oh? Yeah, well. Yaknow... I spoil you, I get arm candy. Everyone wins.” Again, the dance of non-admittance, even as his fingers would try to twine with hers, “You ready to go?” He asks with a wide grin, eyes sparkling with admiration and just the slightest hint of mischief.

Kip giggled at his reaction, a light flush rising to her skin even as he spun her around. "I love it. I'm glad you like it too." Of course, he'd better had since he was the one who picked it out! She slipped her fingers in with his, giving a squeeze. "A win-win situation." She chuckled. The dance of non-admittance is, of course the dance they did best. She steals one more kiss on his cheek before grinning again.

"I'm very ready to go." She agreed. "I've been wondering non stop about what you might have planned." Kip gave his hand a squeeze. "And that look in your eyes? Has been even more curious."

"Well, the first part of the kidna-, I mean my master plan is getting you in my car." Rekani jokes with faux stutter and correction, leading her down to the waiting Beamer and leaning to open the passenger door with his free hand, holding hers until he could safely deposit her inside. She might notice a sizable cooler tucked in the back seat alongside a large wicker basket. Yes, an actual picnic looking basket. Dance or not, this probably looked like some sort of romantic date... Would he? He comes around to the driver side and gets in, hand reaching to the stick shift and getting ready to head off.

"The second part is to skip town as fast as possible and book it for the coast." he offers a cocky wink in Kip's direction and slides into gear, gently taking off as smooth as if it were an automatic.

Amusement danced in Kip's eyes at his joking as she followed him down to the car. Settling in and half turning when she caught sight of the cooler and basket in the rearview mirror. She made a thoughtful noise and then properly settled in and buckled after he got into the car. "I have heard of worse kidnapping scenarios. I think this is one I can get behind." She laughed, settling in. Still not entirely sure what to expect but looking forward to it nonetheless.

Her hand moved over to rest on his thigh as they drove. "So where are we actually heading? Or is it a surprise?" Not figuring he'd be serious about driving to the coast or out of town.

He'd taken her damn near to Seattle on their first... hang out? Date? Pick your noun here, we all know what's happening. And just like before he was angling to get out of town, though this time he was actually heading west just like he said. His hand drops atop hers as soon as he's able to get into high gear and not need to shift. He flashes another grin her way.

"You'll have to try harder than that to get me to talk." He says this in that horrible facsimile of a Russian accent he can sometimes affect. She'd not shot him down about it being insulting, anyhow. Back to normal, though, he continues, "It's not far. The way I drive, anyway." Which was true. This road followed the north side of the harbor until it met the capes and coast, but he would take an exit that would lead a little further north as well.

Kip gave him a devilish grin when he said she was going to need to try harder, though the accent did bring a chuckle forth. She shifted a leaned in closer to murmur into his ear and provided another nice view down her dress. "You are lucky, then I am more patient than most." Her tone teasing as she nipped at his ear lobe before settling right back down in her seat like nothing at happened.

Kip gave his thigh a squeeze, looking out the window. "It's so pretty out here." She rolled down the window just a bit to enjoy the breeze and the sun. "I don't think I have been this far out yet." Admiring the views that they passed, making note of the exit he took. Maybe wanting to remember this area for future reference if she enjoyed it.

Did Rekani list a little bit to the right as hid eyes were drawn over and down, treated to a certain unbridled view as Kip leaned over? Absolutely not. He was in complete control the whole time*.

"Yup, pretty damn lucky." He agrees once he course corrects to get back into his lane. His voice seemed high, just shy of a nervous crack, likely Kip's influence. A quick glance in the rear view had Rekani wondering if the food would keep while he pulled over to...

Nope, just gotta behave for now. Take another exit onto a wooded and winding two lane that seemed to be following the coast, were one to guess at geography. Wooden signs announcing their approach to Griffiths-Priday State Park start to be seen occasionally.

Rekani seems to slow down a tad, his attention caught as he seems to be lolling for something. He breaks into a grin a they near one of the turn-offs into the park. It was a smaller one, just a 2x4 lumber sized sign pointing toward 'Overlook and Picnic'. Though he seems to be showing down as if to turn, there is a sign blocking the way saying the road was closed, and the big yellow swinging gate looked like it was shut.

Kip giggled again as he corrected but she doesn't tease him any further. She's excellent at behaving! Or something like that. She settles in to take in the scenery of the state park, her phone coming out to take some pictures as they passed by. Her brow furrowed a touch as she spotted the sign and the closed gate. Looking back over towards Rekani. " Will we have to walk the rest of the way?" She obviously had no qualms with trespassing on to places but it didn't seem like the car was going to be able to keep going from her point of view.

"Nah." He says while giving Kip a cocky grin, Rekani holds his hand up, resting his wrist on the wheel, his palm up, then makes a lifting motion with his fingers. The Road Closed sign lifts neatly out of the way. Behind it, the padlocked rod that appeared to lock the gate from this distance seemed to just slide up and away. Rekani makes a pushing motion, and the gate opens to allow them to drive through.

Another quick glance to make sure Kip was watching as he showed off, then he was looking in the rear view. A few hand motions later and the gate and sign were replaced.

"Those are just to keep other people out. Cant be havin' some hoodlums comin' in messin' up your birthday. Yaknow, besides me."

He flicks one of his controls and the hydraulics lift the car to a good height to start going over gravel and dirt roads, taking them further into the park.

Kip watched as he so easily moved everything out of the way. "Show off." She grinned, turning to look behind as it all got set back. "But, you are right." There's a little bit of a surprised noise as she feels the car lifting before she continues. "You are the only hoodlum I want harrasing me on my birthday." An affectionate tease as she leaned over to kiss his cheek.

She leaned forward in her seat some, like a kid waiting to see Disneyland come in to full view. Curious to see the overlook that the sign had indiciated and, presumably, was their destination.

Rekani hoped it was like Disney for her, and the closely grown path he ended up navigating them through sure gave that magical faerieland feel to it. As protective of his car as he we, he was almost hunched over the steering wheel in concentration, and Kip likely felt his mind quest outward and brush stray limbs out of the way so they wouldn't get scratched.

Finally, he pulls out into an open grass clearing, a post of the park actually kept mowed to allow for picnics or play. A handful of tables are spread around, one perfectly perched to admire the stunning view, the whole reason this section was called the overlook.

He guides the car into a nice spot of shade, pulls the brake, and cuts the engine, pausing just so he could watch Kip's reaction.

Kip was completely quiet as they began to drive through the forest. Captivated by the way the trees and branches moved out of their way. In the back of her mind, she knew Rekani was causing it but that didn't matter. She was glued to looking out the windshield. When they finally broke into the clearing, a soft gasp escaped her.

"It's so beautiful." She lifted a hand up as if she was going to touch the windshield, but stopped herself. She unbuckled her seat belt and grinned over towards the Latino. "You are amazing, zaychik. This is amazing." She leaned in to pull him in to a brief, but passionate kiss before starting to get out of the car to help unload things.

Rekani is happy to return the kiss, holding it as long as she allows, then laughs as well, seeing her happy, and that his actions caused it just making him feel even better. He had pulled the car into the perfect spot so the back end was facing one of the picnic tables with a grill pit, and the reasons become clear quickly. The basket has everything they need for a picnic, and the cooler was stuffed with a frosty bottle of rum, some juices, waters, and a few beers as well. He had loaded it with ice. Kip's help is taken to get it out, but it's obvious that it seemed lighter and his power was being used once again. Once those are set out, he opens the trunk, revealing, of course, his sound system, but also a bushel of firewood. That's set by the fire pit, but left alone.

"So, you have choices. I have, of course, brought food, music, booze, all the selections to please." He sweeps his hand to the edge of the overlook, which the first of a wooden step can be seen. It actually was a stairwell that led down to a boardwalk that crossed the dunes and led to the coast. "With this one entrance blocked off, we've got a shit ton of the park to ourselves... And it's a Tuesday, so... Not much to worry about."

Kip might chide him later on for just extensive use of his powers but for now it doesn't matter. Everything gets set out and then Kip takes a couple minutes to look around, excited by this place. Sure it wasn't haunted, probably, but it was old. And the whole vibe was just cool for the Russian. How often do you get to travel a secluded beach/park without anyone else to bother you?

Kip finally makes her way back up to Rekani, looping her arms around him to give him another hug. "Let's pour a couple drinks and walk down the boardwalk?" She suggested. "We can explore a bit and then come back up here to eat and do some dancing."

Returning the hug, Rekani holds her close for a moment, staring down at her while his hands rub gently at the small of her back. Its a long moment, a moment he simply feels distracted by having her close and looking upon her smile. With a gentle squeeze, he finally releases, eyes seeming to have to be pulled away so he can complete the task.

"Your wish, my command." He intones dramatically. The rum is pulled out, along with some juices and grenadine. Taking some cups out and scooping some ice in, he mixes them up a pair of Rum Runners and shakes, then hands a metal thermal bottle to Kip after he pours hers in. "Just in case of the Rangers, yaknow." He adds with a wink.

His prepped too, he extends a hand to her, making to lead her further into the park toward the walk. Curiously, he briefly breaks out his phone, looks at something, then pockets it again.

"If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who'd it be? Like alive or dead."

Kip doesn't ever seem to mind the closeness. She's content to stay in the embrace as long as he wants. Head resting against his chest, enjoying the weather and the sounds and him. She lets him go, though does capture his fingers in a quick squeeze before he finishes his walk to the table.

She chuckles, taking a seat at the picnic table to watch him put everything together. "Oh yes. A great cover up." She agreed, grinning as she accepts the metal thermos. "It would be a shame for the Rangers to come and ruin our fun on my birthday present." She takes a small sip from the thermos and makes a pleased noise before standing up again.

She takes his hand so they can start walking towards the path. Her head tilts at he pulls out his phone but she doesn't try to actually see what he's looking at. "That's a hard question." She says finally, letting her gaze wander as she thought it over. "Can it be two people? A married couple - Edward and Lorraine Warren. They were very prominent paranormal investigators. You know those movies? The Conjuring and stuff? Inspired by their stories." Kip looked back up towards him. "How about you?"

"Since the wildfires," Rekani begins, likely in explanation about the bottles, "Funding's been a little low, so patrols are less, which is why I know we'll probably be fine. But, better safe or whatnot." he jokes. His fingers still gently tangled with hers, he grins at her answer, though there's the slight bit of mischief to the look.

"Oh, not just one person, a married couple? That's kinda kinky." he offers a conspiratory wink at this, though he was definitely just teasing her, letting out a short laugh after, even if it earned him some reprisal. "If I seen the movie, I was probably high as hell. I am a pretty bad person to watch horror with, cause I get kinda laughy. It's like... seems too fake, or shit, yaknow?" And likely paled in comparison to his night terrors, anyhow. He pops the lid to his bottle one handed and takes a sip, letting out a contented sigh at the refreshing drink, then taking a moment to think.

"Me? Uhh, I dunno. I mean, if you're getting two, I'ma say Daft Punk." he taps his temple briefly, "Cause like, I gotta ask what goes into wearin' some robot heads and spinnin' shit like they do. Though maybe that's just that weird dance thing we did that put it in my head." Again, he laughs at that.

Kip gave him a playful nudge as he teased her. "Most horror movies are terrible." Kip agreed. "But there are some that are fairly good. I haven't watched any in a while though." She shrugs and gives him a bit of a grin. "We will need to do a movie night some time. Any kind of movies. And maybe some edibles and things. It would be fun." She gave his hand a squeeze before taking her own sip out of her thermos.

She shakes her head at the talk of robots. "That was so weird. And then the thing with the cheerleaders? It was like a weird trip." She nodded. "If you ever find out though, I want to know too." Her gaze wanders over the area, taking a moment to pause when they reached the bottom of the steps, looking out over the water. "This is a beautiful place. Peaceful." Kip turned to grin up at him again. "Thank you again for bringing me here. It is a perfect spot. Truly."

The mention of edibles is a reminder to Rekani, and he awkwardly fishes a pen out of his pocket. Why? A good question. The boy always seemed to have a gentle high going. Did he forget? Was he preoccupied somehow? Either way he offers her the vape pen first, birthday girl first of course, before he would want to hit it himself.

"Hell yeah, I'm down. Jammies, munchies, movies." He agrees with a grin, "You can cuddle up on me if you get too scared." He teases with a jutted bottom lip as if to mime sputtering fear, then beams once again as he laughs. He takes another drink, stopping alongside her to admire the view as well... Which meant when she turned her smile on him he was just staring at her. It takes him a beat longer than she might expect.

"Yeah... Agreed... You're welcome." He heaves a heavy, faux suffering sigh and rolls his eyes, "You keep heapin' that on me, I'ma have you thank me other ways." His fingers twined with hers reach briefly, making a flipping motion at the very edge of her skirt. It was a tease, maybe a distraction.

He eyes the boardwalk, holding her hand toward it as if to ask if she wanted to go further. He takes one more moment, eyes peering aside as he has to remember something. "Do you wanna be famous?"

Kip accepted the vape pen, first taking one more inhalation of the fresh air and then a hit off the pen. Holding it in as she passed it back to him and then slowlyyyy exhaled the soft smoke cloud. When she sees him staring there's that light flush of color to her skin again. She liked the way he looked at her. Maybe even loved it. The thought caused her the color a little deeper as she laughed.

"Oh yes, you will definitely have to protect me from the scary television monsters." Kip agreed, eyes bright. "It will be a fun time." There another giggle as he flips the edge of her skirt. "The day is still young, we will have plenty of time for me to thank you in all kinds of ways." Teasing him with that devil's grin of hers.

Then she was looking back towards the boardwalk as he pointed with their hands. "Hm..." Contemplating before his next question distracts her again. "Famous? I don't know. I used to want to be famous...now I don't think it matters so much as long as I can keep doing the things I love." Kip gave him a curious smile. "Why do you ask?" Giving his hand a gentle tug to indicate they could walk a little farther.

There’s a large bit of raucous eyebrow waggling at the dangerous implication, taking her hint to begin walking again, careful to pick his steps so the extra grass and weeds wouldn’t be too near to her exposed legs. You never really know in state parks, ok? Ticks are everywhere.

“Oh, uh... just making conversation.” Which was literally the worst excuse anyone had ever come up with when asking seemingly deep and direct questions. Rekani didn’t seem any more genuine about the remark than his forebears especially with the fact answering the question on the exhale of his own breath from the vape pen meant he uttered a short cough thereafter. He tries vainly to cover it over, “You know, you made YouTube channels and all, I make music. You’ve asked...” Something occurs to him then and he blinks, then quickly shakes his head. No, she couldn’t have... He realizes he paused and finishes the thought, “You asked me, I mean, if I wanted to be famous.”

Kip looked at Rekani skeptically. "What are you up to Rekani?" Head tilting to study him as they continued walking. "And don't you try and tell me you're not up to something." Playfully wagging a finger at him. Then she nodded. "Yeah, I like the channels. But I think I'd be fine if I just stayed middling you know? Not blow up and be on TV and stuff. Not that I think that could happen staying here anyways." She looked forward again, leaning her head on his upper arm. "Do you want to be famous? With your music and DJing?"

Whatever she says about not trying to debt it, Rekani's just gonna go ahead and try anyways. Pen safely touched away, his bottle bonding hand raises an index finger, pointing it at Kip.

"Aight hol' up. Look, just cause I pampered you like a princess, gave you hot clothes to wear," which of course just makes him look down at her in admiration, briefly derailing his faux indignation. "...and brought you to the middle of a purposely deserted park to ply you with delicious food and alcohol doesn't mean I have to be up to something." Which was, of course, completely dodging the issue since it was the questions that had tipped her off. He makes a fakely emphatic tsk sound.

"And, I dunno. Maybe and nah? Like I just like to make music. Being famous might make it just about money and like... Fake. It's something I've thought about but don't think about when I'm doin my thing." Thankfully her asking him reminded him she hadn't actually asked the question before, which was a relief. Weed and paranoia are fast friends.

Kip just gave him that look that said she knew he was full of shit. However, she was willing to let it go for now. She lifted their hands so she could do a little twirl in the dress for him and laughed softly, taking another drink from her thermos.

"Fair." About his answer on fame. "It would be a shame if your music turned fake. But, on the other hand, I can't imagine you not putting your heart and soul into your music." She looked back towards the water and then squeezed his hand again. "Let's head back up. I'm getting a little peckish ."

Rekani's eyes are just mysteriously up and to the side, the picture of innocence as she gives him the look. This quickly turns into a look of his own, though his brows scrunched as he bites his lip. His neck cranes a little, as if he could just get a lower viewing angle as she was twirling, he could... Again, his eyes climb in innocence, then he utters a short laugh. He takes another drink, then leads the way back across the boardwalk to the steps up. He just cant seem to help himself as his eyes track up and left, the typical direction people associate with tapping into memory.

"Speaking of music," Ok, now he was jumping around the list, but he didn't think it mattered? "When was the last time you sang to yourself?"

The line of questioning was strange for Kip. Sure they talked about music and such now and then, as much as they talked about cars or the weird, or food and whathaveyou. Maybe it just felt weird because her brain couldn't help but try and figure out what else he had up his sleeve. "Sang to myself?" She made a thoughtful noise. "Probably in the shower. I hum a lot when I clean and stuff though if that counts. I probably do it more than I think I do." She chuckled. "Not that my voice is anything to write home about." She climbs up the steps with him, taking another sip from the thermos and giving a contented sigh.

"I mean, I'm pretty partial to it." Rekani's tongue cheats out the edge of his mouth as his eyes make that innocent climb to the heavens once more, then looks back to survey the damage, chortling. He finally releases her hand as they remount the overlook, everything as they found it.

Rekani goes about tossing one of the two of those quick lighting, paper wrapped logs, setting it afire in one of the grill pits and then layering some of the other firewood on it. He opens the cooler again, digging deep to pull out some sausages and chorizo. He'd go to work grilling.

At one point, he'd pick up his phone and his car would start to play music, good Spanish salsa inspired electronica, but not too loud they couldn't talk. He seems to fold it a few moments longer than he needed too, flipping through something, then tosses it on the picnic table, facedown after clicking the button. He'd give her another thinker.

"What's your perfect day look like?"

Kip giggles at his comment, giving him a playful little nudge. Once back up on the picnic area she retrieves her phone to take a few more pictures of the view. Lucky for him this distracted her enough for her not to notice him fiddling with his phone longer than necessary. When the music starts up it doesn't take long before she's swaying to it while letting him take care of the grilling. She lingers close, but not so close that she's in the way of the grilling work. Just close enough that they can still talk easily while she lets the music move her.

"My perfect day huh? Are you sure you're not trying to plan a proposal?" She asked and then suddenly laughed. Skin flushed brighter red. Apparently the alcohol and the weed had loosened her tongue. "Sorry." She pushed a hand through her hair and grinned a bit. "Let me think about it." She was quiet for a few longer moments while she thought and danced.

"My perfect day...would be something like this. The sun out, the wind not too breezy. No big crowds, but a few people would be okay. " She stops in her dancing to study him again. "Not having to be doing anything specific really just spending time together. I'm relatively easy to please." She laughed.

You'd think a man that spent part of his work life watching women dance in various states of undress would have a certain desensitivity to the sight. The way he seems distracted by Kip's movements does not support this theory in the least. But then there's a moment of slightly widened eyes after Kip's 'joke', overly focused on the sausages he was grilling over the open flame, where Rekani is just sort of speechless a moment. Then she backpedals, and he has at least a little bit of a nervous chuckle, as if her backstep had somehow saved the situation. He grabs some buns out of the basket, as well as some condiments, setting those out, while letting the bread get a little bit of a toast before he's tossing some meat in them. It's during this process of making sure food was being prepared, facing away from Kip where he jokes himself,

"I mean, I've been called crazy, but like, I figure I'd date a girl for a little while before trying to plan a proposal." He lets that hang, realizes that sounded hella accusatory, and turns around to look at Kip in another slightly wide eyed, trying-to-keep-a-joking-smile expression, palms up and out in a defensive sort of posture, "Kidding! Kidding!"

Kip carefully lowered herself to the picnic table, flushed and focused on the table as she tries to compose herself. This dance of theirs was becoming increasingly more difficult to keep up with. She could feel the butterflies fluttering around her stomach at his counter-joke. It was all so ridiculous and it caused her to start laughing then, rather suddenly. She ran a hand over her face briefly and then looked back up at him, giving him another smile. "Why kid? Dating a girl before proposing seems like the proper way to do things." Thankfully, the food is almost done. Kip takes a long sip from her thermos, nearly emptying it.

She stands up, moving towards the end where the alcohol is set up. "I am going to try and make more of these things." Not actually remembering what he had called them, but vaguely remembering what he put in it. If anything, at least it would be more alcohol because she felt like she needed it.

"It just uh..." Rekani begins, "No, like, yeah, that'd be the way to do shit, I just... It sounded harsher than I meant it to..."

The vape pen finds the sunlight again as Rekani takes another steadying hit off of it, holding it as he tucks it away again, then breathing out as he bends to start retrieving things off the grill, bringing them over to set out for construction. One of the trips, he flips his phone again and seems to read from it, eyes briefly flicking to Kip, as if trying to do it in secret and being ass-all at hiding anything. He flips the phone over again, hitting the button, but this time he must have done it wrong, and there was no click of the phone locking. He hadn't seemed to notice. He returns to the fire, flipping the sausages. Seemed he was going to follow his tack rather than try to clear up any confusion from the last one.

"Alright, next weird one:" he glances Kip's direction, "Oh, uh, it's like one to one to one on the juices and rum, then a shot of grenadine." He looks back to his work, pulling sausage onto plates as he decided they were done. "You know you'll live to 90. You can stop the aging of either your body or mind today. Which one do you pick?"

"Ah, I see. It sounded okay." Kip mused, an attempt to reassure him perhaps. She spies him messing with the phone as she fiddles with the small collection of bottles, seeing which ones sounded good and which ones he used. A small bite of her lower lip as she thought. He was just controlling the music after all right? Maybe he was reading the next few songs on the list? In which case...there was no harm in looking right? Kip rights to talk herself into not feeling bad for wanting to look at Rekani's phone.

She follows his instructions on ratios, putting the various liquids together in the mixer and shaking. "Oh that is a good question." She ponders, or at least seems like she is. While he's distracted with pulling the sausage she does a quick reach to try and peek at his phone. If she gets caught? Well she just really wanted to know the name of that song. Nothing wrong with that right? She peeks at the phone screen quickly before setting it back down. There's a beat longer of silence than she intended. Like she's frozen for several seconds, processing what she'd just seen.

Then she shakes herself out of it, though her face is flushed despite herself as she answers his question and starts to shake the mixer. "Oh. Uhm. Right. Sorry." She manages, trying to feign like she got distracted putting the drink mix together. "Mind I think. I would rather look old and stay sharp. Yourself?" Feeling just a bit guilty for peeking at his phone regardless of what she'd just seen on it.

Well it was well known that Rekani wasn't always the sharpest, and constantly hitting a THC vape pen didn't really help that, but no one could have guessed he'd be absolutely oblivious to the fumbling attempt at sneakery Kip performed looking at his phone. Maybe he was just too distracted by the impending meal, or maybe the universe was against him. Either way, he turns around soon after piling the meat links onto a plate and returns to the table, none the wiser that the jig was up. He sits down at the table with a bit of a grin, "Oh, if I age like my dad, I'm fine. I'll take the smarts." he jokes, then winces in apprehension, "If I age like tío, though, maybe I should take the looks and just be a stunning Alzheimer's patient."

He begins to serve them both a little of both meats, spinning open some half-jars that had diced onions, relish, all the fixings for a good grilled spread. Again, that phone is glanced at, flipped, an evident but brief moment of panic as his eyes snap up at Kip briefly when he realized it was unlocked still. He actually clicks it closed this time and tries to look like nothing happened. But yaknow, they'd been sleeping together for like a third of the year, it wasn't a great act. He tries to cover it over with some fake drama, spreading his hands like a performing storyteller.

"Ever had a hunch on how you'd die?" Thankfully, he follows the question by biting into his sausage, so hopefully she didn't think the food was poisoned. Yes, it was clearly a question from the list she just read from, wording changed for artistic license.

Kip grinned a bit at his answer. "I guess we will find out in, oh ...70 years or so?" She teased, though her heart was pounding. The food was a good distraction but how long could this really go on for? He must have something planned right? And if he did - well...he'd put so much thought into everything Kip didn't want to ruin it. And what if she spoke up about it and her thinking was all wrong? Maybe he was just using the list because the questions were interesting?

She was briefly gripped by her own panic so she didn't pay much attention to his own minor freak out with the phone. Lucky him. Though he might notice her skin was still a bit flushed even as she poured out some her drink concoction into the little thermos cups. She drained her own in one go as he asked the next question and made a little bit of a face. Not as good as Rekani's had been. But not too terrible.

"I would like to die in a haunted house by a vengeful spirit because that is a story that will live on...however I am pretty sure I will get run over by a bus or something instead." Kip started to doctor up the meat and then countered with a question of her own.

"You have traveled a lot, yes? What would be your ideal travel destination?"

It was warm out, yeah? Like that's all the reason Rekani had to be kind of flushed himself, and Kip's skin had that rosey hue. Everything was normal, ok, no one was freaking out. All of these were total lies, and Rekani needed a drink to wash them all down with. He certainly didn't have any complaints about the cocktail Kip had mixed up. He at least tries to keep the conversation going as he tries to get his shit back under control.

"I mean, I'd much rather you live to that ripe old age. Least 'til I kick off, then do whatever you want." He follows this up by taking the first bite of a bun and garnished sausage. Was that some sort of forethought of how long he wanted to spend with her? His eyes widen slightly again as he realizes this, and he coughs, covering his mouth and swallowing heavily, reaching for his drink again. Taking a second time to get his dumbass under control, he answers, slightly hoarse.

"I mean, it's gonna sound dumb, but with how much we been all over? It's not like one spot really is what I want, it's who I'm with or what I'm doin." He is looking down at his food real casual when he counters, "Why, where do you wanna go?"

Kip takes another longer drink of the alcohol. This was...difficult. Painfully difficult. She almost said something. Almost. Especially when he talks about growing old and kicking the bucket and such. She draws in a breath, reaching over to give his hand a squeeze and smiles. "I'd much rather we both live to a ripe old age too." She released his hand and then tucked into the food again. This was all coming to head soon right? One more implied wordage, slip of the tongue, maybe one more of these drinks.

She realizes she was staring at him and colored a little more. Even though he was answering her question. She swallowed as he looked down and took another sip. "There are lots of places I would like to go." She said finally. "The company is what's most important when travelling, I agree." She is thinking something over, choosing her words somewhat cautiously.

"I think I would most like to go to somewhere tropical. Like the Caribbean or Hawaii even." There's a beat of pause before adding, "With you." And then quickly following up with another bite of food.

"Hey, I always wanted to go back home to visit. Maybe you can find the demons my parents said haunted our house." Rekani jokes, taking the 'With you.' remark in stride even though the weight of it was like taking a shove directly in the sternum. Then it occurs, "Puerto Rico, I mean. Miami is home too, but like, yaknow, that's just where my parents are. Which you would, ah..." he stops, trails off, goes totally quiet. He had been staring at Kip's hand on him, and his eyes flit from there to her face. There's a moment, just a moment, where he seems to sigh.

"Ok." He says, taking a deep inhalation, "I've got some bad news. We probably need to talk." Really, such a great way to start a conversation, because that's literally the worst opener, even if it was absolutely true of the conversation. He turns in his seat and buts one leg outside the table, straddling the seat to fully face Kip. He reaches to take her hands in his, again looking down at that contact before taking one more nervous inhalation and looking her in the eye.

"I uh... caught feelings."

"Demons in Puerto Rico. Sounds like a fun episode." Kip speculated with a little bit of a chuckle, though it trails off when he says he's got bad news. Her heart's already hammering in her chest and now she's got a that fluttering of butterflies stirring in the pit of her stomach again. When he turns to face her, she does the same. A myriad of emotions running over her face. What if he was actually just going to cut ties with her? What if this was just some elaborate way of letting her down easy? What if-

"Oh." She says finally. About as good as his conversation starter. And then shook her head, giving his hands a squeeze as she drew in a breath. "That...that isn't a bad thing Rekani." She held his gaze even though she was feeling just a little on the shy side. She leaned in to press him into a soft, sweet kiss.

Settling back in her seat, she spoke up again. "I caught feelings too." Her voice a bit on the soft side. "...For a while now." Unable to really hold his gaze anymore as she slightly averted her eyes. "I just didn't want to say anything because...well...I don't know. I didn't want to scare you off I guess."

Kip played Rekani like a fiddle in that moment, the exact same horrible bout of anxiety visible in widening eyes at the 'Oh.'

But then she goes on. And kisses him. His brain seems on hold processing for a moment, seeming stunned before he gets it. The amount of relief is immediately evident that the round Puerto Rican box seems to melt or at least sag visibly in his seat. "¡Oh, gracias a Dios!" he breathes out all at once. He doesn't settle for a sweet kiss, his hands go up to her cheeks and he leans, pulling her into a much more forceful kiss. When its done he sits back again and retakes her hands.

"I've been scared shitless since I figured it out. Like..." He separates hands long enough to gesticulate, his usual eager hand-talking to indicate way back "Ugh, so many women that start the friends-with-benefits things just like for cold as fuck if you wanna make something out of it, like I wasn't even trying to... It just... Happened?"

There's a muffled sound of surprise but she doesn't shy away from the harder kiss, returning it and happy to let it linger until he pulls back. Her heart was still pounding but at least the nerves were gone. She liked him, he liked her. They didn't have to keep trying to just be friends that were fooling around. It was...freeing in a way. She grins up at him when he retakes her hands, listening.

"I don't even know how we managed to not talk about it sooner." Kip admits. "I almost came clean that day you came over with the, uh, the chicken and rice stuff. And we talked about the Veil stuff. I don't even know when it happened either. I just sort of realized...I mean." She paused, trying to collect her thoughts. "I mean I knew I liked you, obviously, you're fun to hang out with, easy to be around. But I don't think I realized how, uh, deep it all ran until you rescued me and Ari." She shook her head again.

"And like, I didn't know how to bring it up because I haven't...felt like this in, well. Ever maybe? And I didn't want to ruin what we had going if you weren't feeling the same. Especially because of the age difference? So I just..." Let it go. She pulled him in to another kiss and grinned a bit. "But I am very, very happy that you feel the same zaychik."

"Yeah, I'd say that's when I kinda got it, too." Rekani admits sheepishly, though after a moment of thought there's a sudden roll of his eyes, "Ah, fuck. Nova's gonna be such a bitch." He squeezes Kip's hands gently, looking down at them, the feeling of it seeming wholey different now it was an understood agreement between them that something was different. "She was givin' me shit the whole time we were going to see you. She said you were leaving enough clothes at my place, you had to like me. I thought she was just playin'." Since she no doubt had done it in the past to devastating result. There's a self-deprecating laugh after, but to Kip it was likely innocent enough. His eyes meet hers again.

"You're interested in like everything, and like, you make me interested in that. I'm never bored, even if we're just sittin' around. And yeah, it's just easy..." Frown, grimace, panic, apology, "I mean! Not easy like easy! But like we like seem to fit. I dunno I've ever felt it like this before either. I didn't wanna like say some shit and you back off and lose that. And age difference?" He makes a noise and waves a hand over, dismissive, "Numbers, bullshit."

Kip giggled as he ranted about Nova. "Ana was giving me shit too. Teasing me about how often I was over at your place. How I talked about you all the time." Kip ran her thumbs lightly over his hand as their fingers stayed entwined. "I wasn't sure how much longer I could go without saying something but...I'm glad it's out in the open. We danced around it a pretty long time." She laughed again, released one of his hands to lay her hand on his cheek. "I know you mean you mean." When he started panicking again some. "Things are easy with you. It does feel like two matching puzzle pieces. I like just hanging out and doing nothing as much as I like going out and doing things like this." A beat of pause. "Not that I've ever done something particularly like this before. It's been an amazing day so far." She gave a contented little sigh and took his hand up again.

Another grin when he talked about the numbers not mattering. "Well, good. They are, but some do not feel that way." A light shrug of her shoulders. "But what others think doesn't matter." She adds in. "It's funny...how we were feeling the same about talking about it. Not wanting to scare the other off." Finally she lets go of both of his hands, if he'll let her, retrieving her cup to take another sip of her drink. "So. What were we going to do if I wore the black dress?' She asked, raising a brow as she looked back to him.

"Hey, I don't do shit half-assed. Whole-assed only, which, let's face it, if I did half-ass something, it'd still be the same." Rekani jokes about Kip's assessment of his day-plan, patting his backside. He was never shy to give himself shit about his weight, even if there was a considerable bit of muscle beneath. He does shake his head with a grin at the bit about Ari, understanding how it could have been, even if he honestly didn't think he'd ever had a friend half as long as Ari and Kip had been. Unless you counted Nova. Neither Nazario counted the other, though.

"And hey, in my experience, the sooner you bring it up, the faster the sex stops, and I just couldn't let that happen." he adds a little lascivious look down Kip's body and back up, lips then pursing as if admiring fine art, an eyebrow cocked. After a snort, he answers the alternative.

"Clubbing in Seattle. Bottle service, VIP lounge, and topping it off with a hotel room at the Edgewater." he explains with a shrug. As if it was questionable how he afforded the spa day, the other night description seemed far exorbitant as well, compared to his daytime park and picnic.

Kip dissolved into giggles again as Rekani joked, still flushing a bit when he gave hr that once over. "I mean. If anything there should be more sex shouldn't there?" She asked, giving him a devilish grin. "Now that it is all out in the open there are more things that could be tried..." Waggling her brows a bit. But then she was studying him, curious and. Well. Maybe a bit suspicious.

A light bite of her lip before, "That sounds like an expensive evening. Fun, but pricey." If they were going to do this, she didn't want to be starting off with any kind of secrets. "They are paying well at the shop then?" Mostly just a curious question. "Or you have been doing well on DJ side gigs?"

"Pretty sure that's why the phrase is 'One thing leads to another'." Rekani quips, his mind quite laser focused when it came to remarks about racier things. The lip bite is mirrored, though for different reasons, his tone a little teasing, "We can try some things out in the open. We do have all day in a mostly deserted park."

Rekani seems oblivious to this being about trust in a new relationship, so when she's commenting on the amount of money, he simply says, "Ehhh, I have my ways." with an innocently cryptic tone. "But the shop has been pretty good to have a regular check. Jack doesn't pay shit, either. And if it's after hours work, he just doesn't care, long as we don't break anything, so I can do some moonlighting for extra cash if I want to, or I can do my Cabaret shifts. Hell, I can even play at that new place at the casino that opened, if I wanted to, I bet. I gotta talk to the dude over there."

Kip considers Rekani's answer, a touch of a thoughtful look crossing her features. "As long as you are not doing anything illegal." She smiled. It's a comment that's sort of geared towards being a tease but also she's dead serious. She gave him a little nudge and a mischievous look. "And yes...we could try something out here where no one else can see." Properly teasing him now, leaning up to kiss his cheek. "Have you been to that casino yet? I 've been wanting to check it out. Maybe we can go some time." She suggests. "Though I am a terrible gambler so I would probably lose all the money I came in with."

"As long as I'm... Girl, you ride in my car!" Rekani puts on a faux-incredulous act in a joking manner, because the amount of exhaust noise and enhancements, along with his usual penchant to speed like a demon, there was almost nothing legal about that car past the registration and plates. He waves his hands around the area, "Also, blatant misuse of signage and state owned land. If you weren't comfortable with illegal, you a few miles outside being able to protest now."

He does that little chin-dropping nod of 'Know-wha-im-sayin' as he lifts his drink for another pull, making a little breath of enjoyment and setting it down again. All her little teases had his attention just shy of her face, though, when his eyes return.

Kip grinned. "There are certain exceptions." She conceded with a laugh. She finishes off a few bites of food, enjoying the scenery ,the company. She scooted just a bit closer to the Latino man. "You know the main reason I hang out with you with the fast cars and reckless driving." Another tease and giggle. "Also that thing you do with your tongue." She relaxed against him, laying her hand on his thigh and looking back out over the view. "This place is just amazing." She sighed contently. "I would like to come back here some time."

"I mean, I guess your new boyfriend can probably take you." Always the jokes with this one. It was a mark of his mood and Kip's influence when Rekani eschews more food himself, deciding instead to turn his body more into her lean, slipping his arms around her waist and settling his chin low and to one side of her head, likewise enjoying the view. And the scenery.

"Sounds like I've hit two out of three qualifications already. Do we go for the hat trick?" All thisteasing and mischief, she'd likely feel just a little warmth and expansion of his mind before something else.

A little tugging at something on her hip, before it feels... a bit looser.

Kip laughed softly at that, relaxing into him more fully as he turns. "I guess he could. I'll have to ask nicely." She grinned up at him a bit before looking back towards the water. "Hat trick?" She asked, not totally familiar with the term. Her gaze started to drift back upwards, but then she felt that little tug to the string of the underwear he'd gotten to go with the outfit. "Oh...those tricks..." Kip's attention diverted down towards her hip. "Those ones are also fun." Another giggle escaping. Not that, as far as she knew, he had used his powers like this very often with her.

"Really? I'da thought Russians would be all about that hockey." Pause for thought. "Its a hockey thing, right?" Eyes lift to the sky, more thought, "Pretty sure. It means three goals, basically." And it seemed like Rekani definitely had goals, as Kip's other hip has that same little feeling. Frivolous power use? Absolutely. But to him, it seemed the ends justified the means. He was grinning like the mischevious goof he was, peering down at her from around her shoulder as one hand lifts to sweep her hair up over an ear, then around the far side of her head. Her neck exposed, he leans in to gently kiss at the skin there.

"Maybe? I was never really one for sports." Kip gave a shrug of her shoulders, grinning when she felt that little tug on the other side of her hip. "You're terrible." She murmured, teasing affectionately as his lips met the skin of her neck. Her eyes closed, head tilting to give him even better access. Her hands slid down to rest over his hands once they'd settled again. She shifts some and she can feel the undergarment fall away. Finally she moves so she can be facing him, pressing in close with a mischief-filled grin of her own, arms draping around his shoulders. "Let's be terrible together, hm?" Giving him a suggestive little waggle of brows.