2022-01-24 - Backroads and Byways 2

Lunch was good, a little walk like intended, then a trip to town. Cleaned fish, still fresh in the market from others at least, they didn't have to do the dirty work. Some stuff to cook with it even. Foil packet it was. Just right on or into the fire even. They can take time shopping no rush, get back and get a fire going. That's what Jack sets out to do when they get back. Get a good fire going. They can get wood bundles instead of seeking out there own, its a state park after all. He may have insisted on some cheap lawn chairs, to enjoy letting the food cook after they get it together. But he makes a small stack with some twigs and pines to get it going, bundles can be added to it later.

"Its an art form, really," he acts like he camps a lot, but not much since his younger days for reasons, "A good build is a good fire." He put a big rock on one side that rose above the others in the ring around the pit, to draw the smoke away from them. "Fire is everything, food and warmth come from that. We can really relax after this." Or make the food. She can set up chairs or layout food while he gets that going. He has a lighter and a little lighter fluid, he'll cheat by all means, he's no fire purist or something. So it won't take long until ground twigs crack to life with fire dancing on them and he can move to adding a few logs to get them set up and going.

The already caught and cleaned fish were a relief, it looked good though, all of the things they had gotten. Erin watches as he builds a fire, putting the cleaned fish into foil but leaving the seasoning up to him, he was far more experienced in cooking than she was. She was definitely interested in the way he was making the fire, "That's true, the mother of all inventions maybe." She remains close enough to the fire, it wasn't exactly warm or anything out. "It was fun walking and shopping with you. The sun will be setting soon, I wonder if we'll get a good splash of color from the sunset." Just a quiet musing. She starts setting up the lawn chairs then heads inside to the ice chest and brings it out to sit it between the chairs as a makeshift table. "Would you like a beer?" Tilting her head some as she asks.

For his part, fire going, and seasoning left to him, it'll be a mix of salt, pepper, some creole seasoning maybe and some butter to retain moisture until the fish is fall apart good. "Yeah, mother of all or the spark that started it." See, even stoic Jack can find a pun some where. Maybe that wasn't on purpose. He's finishing up the packets when she's setting up the cooler between the chairs, ready for the light show of setting sun. "Yeah, Rainer," it was the nearest largest mountain even not that they could see it from the lake here. Just pines and smaller ranges that blocked the view of the larger majestic mountain. He was Washington local, it was always Rainer in his can or pint. Foil packets in the fire, he comes to get his chair and watch. Laying back one hand behind his head even. "So, we find a perfect place for us two. What's your thoughts on how its gonna look for when we decide? Bigger than the cabin." Which was literally the big bed and the two bunks inside.

Erin enjoys watching the methodical way he moves and even when he's cooking or building a fire or working on car engine, everything he did had a purpose. The creole seasoning was a must for sure and she smiles. "That looks really good." And it did! His pun isn't lost on her and she glances his way with a look of amusement, "I think you're right. The spark that started it all." She gets him a beer when he finally settles in, even opening it for him before offering it over, then getting her own. The sun was setting, she looked towards the sky and the horizon, a soft and contented sigh. "Does life get any better than this?" He asks about their future place and she laughs softly, "Definitely bigger than the cabin. We need to cook inside and outside at different times. We need space for a hot tub and we need an indoor bathroom. Maybe an office for me when I need to do some work from home and we need a garage for you for your projects away from your regular shop. Do you want to add anything to the dream?" A lopsided smile his way, but briefly, so she can look back towards the setting sun.

"You bet," he agrees, on the food looking good. It'll join the fire smell before long too, if one's close enough. jack is settling on in with her, The sky is purple to the east and gaining color over hills and trees to the east. All is right in the world. "Nah, not much, you're here with me," he pauses, "Can't beat that any which way." He's getting his beer and cracking the can. No rush to drink or get drunk, he's going to enjoy it. After each drink, it will nest in any ice to stay cool. Ice cold, the right temp for a beer. "Hot tub and big indoor bath, and an office. Sounds like a house not an apartment for sure." He turns a little her way, the knee opposite her props up, the other leg flat and stretched out, he can watch both the horizon and turn to her occasionally. "Pretty serious." No opposition at all in his words.

Like him, Erin sips at the beer before placing it in the ice. Her eyes rest mainly on the horizon in the distance, watching the eastern sky first, but will eventually watch the west also. The purple deepens to an almost midnight blue and a single star dots the sky. She grins over at him and starts the saying. "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight." She closes her eyes and makes her wish before opening them again and looking over at him. "Pretty serious indeed," she agrees. "Your turn to make a wish, Jack. Anything you want."

He doesn't watch the rising star, the first one spotted by either. He's focused on the one falling beyond the horizon and the girls next to him. "Make a wish," he ponders, like something he's not sure he even does. "I got what I need right here." A slight look her way, "How's the old proverb go, if I like it I should put a ring on it." A purse of his lips, "And wishing only gets me halfway there." He's familiar with some Disney it seems. "I mean, I'll make one," he closes eyes and half mumbles star light star bright as if to get through it. She'll see his eyes clothes if she looks, then he nods and looks her way, "Yeah, I think I'm good moving forward." With the wish and with the now.

Erin truthfully hadn't thought he would really do a wish, so when he seems like he's not going to, she doesn't look surprised. Except he says the whole ring on it thing and then she does look surprised. For a moment she is at a loss for words, but she finally smiles, looking his way and takes that popular line from his book. "That so?" The smile brightens though and she reaches over to touch his hand briefly and she does watch as he makes the wish all proper like. "I am good moving forward too, Jack. I have all I need in the world right here and now." Indeed looking at him as if the sun rises and sets with him.

Its a line, he knows it, he's heard the song even if he might not listen to that when he's in control of the radio at his shop. Others have come and/or gone who have changed stations apparently. Jack nods though, "Yeah, that's so." Concurring maybe both, that the line is true and that he's thought about it even. The sky deepens in the color display the sun dips more towards the horizon and beyond. He turns more to look at here, "So, we're halfway there, have to put in some work I suppose. Get a place then its you and me. I've looked for the other part, just not sure how you felt about all that." What other part, a ring for some point?

Huh. Erin doesn't look away from him, even when the colors of the sun streak the sky with pink, purple, orange and the most vibrant golden color imaginable, something that may lend credence to streets of gold in heaven, if comparable. "Halfway there," she echoes softly, realizing for certain he doesn't mean the journey to Detroit. "I've been so excited for this trip since we decided to do it, now all I can think about is getting back home and searching for a home for us. Together. It's an adventure all its own." There it is, the truth of it all. He was her adventure, she didn't need other places. Though he mentions looking for the other part and it takes her several moments to put it together. "If you're asking in your 'Jack' sort of way, I'll answer in my 'Erin' sort of way. I wouldn't say no," All laid out there now, she takes a breath and glances towards that incredible sky that now even has hints of red and she finds herself smiling, even tearing up a little before blinking it away, not used to being so sentimental. "I love you, Jack. I have for a long time."

"Soul searching," he says between her halfway there and her mentioning being excited for the trip and it being an adventure together. Jack uses that to respond, "It is, and it took knowing what I wanted to be here with you." That and her making the first step, his way of saying he's thought about her even while they had some time apart, a lot of thinking perhaps. No hand on beer or chips, fish still cooking to a tender, fall off the fork goodness, he uses the hand to reach over the color between them to grab her arm and hand, not just a brush but to grab it more firmly. "Yeah, in a way, it is an ask. I guess making sure we're on the same track and all." A pause, "No need to shop, but I've got my grandmothers, just need to make sure its the right size." Ring? He looks her way, "I know you've had my heart for awhile too now. Just took a bit of a Journey to be open about it." For him at least, in his way.

"Soul searching. That's a perfect way to put it." Erin says softly. "The trip, for me, has done more than I could have imagined. Perhaps the destination wasn't a place, but something more." He takes her hand, she smiles at him and damned if the sentimentality doesn't make a reappearance when he mentions his grandmothers. She does assume he means ring though! "Aww, Jack. I feel like I've wasted so much time and now we have each other and are being open and honest, I want to begin our life. Together."

"There you go then," responds Jack to Erin. the skyline to the west is more red and orange, as purple climbs towards the summit from the east to blanket with night before too long. "That's what this trip is, the beginning and we know the destination its on. We're just enjoying the journey there now." He looks to her, eyes only partially taking in the dazzling show over the hills, trees and mountains to the west of the lake. "Fiance," both to each other, "We just spend this time to learn more about each other. Like will Erin like cooked fish by the lakeside, fresh and all. Or will Jack like .. shopping for new clothes in a new mall instead of his Target duds, white shirt and jeans. We figure out our first steps of together on the trip, and put it together with her old ring when we get back after the trip?" He sees if that's the page both are on, or something else even.

"Fiance." Erin tries out the word and finds it exciting yet comfortable. The smile lights in her eyes more than the reflection of any sunrise or sunset could do. Her eyes meet his and she reaches out a hand to touch his cheek gently, "The journey to us. I like it." She was engaged to Jack! "We will find out. Usually I don't eat a lot of seafood, but trying new things seems to be something I want to do. Maybe I was waiting to experience all of this with you. I'm happy, Jack. And I rather favor you in jeans and a white shirt. And your Ford shirts." After a moment, she glances down at her left hand as if trying to envision a ring there before lifting her eyes to his again. "I can't tell you how much it means that you're offering your grandmother's ring. It makes the moment even more special." They are certainly on the same page.

"Yeah maybe I was the same," waiting to leave town, see other things, with her. Jack nods. She says she likes his attire. "Okay, a new ford shirt, but bought at a place I haven't been." Shopping which he doesn't do much, but new places which she might do more than him at least. "I wouldn't want much more than a shirt and jeans, preferably one that says Ford on it. You know me." And she does, him and his simple tastes or otherwise. "Hey, if we're in it, we're in it to win it." Hence the ring he's talking about. No trial runs or rings, straight to the heart of it so to speak. "Who's this cabin adventure count as? When its done the other gets next pick and all of places to see and do." Though, really it was a bit of both of them coming here. It all works out, just conversation.

"I'm glad it's us here together." Erin's smile lifts at his talk of shopping, he knows she loved it and went probably too often. Or she used to? Who knows? There's a light clarification, "I'd love to shop with you either in a store or online or anywhere. We had fun Christmas shopping too, playing nerf guns and everything." It was a great memory she had of them and their trip to Seattle. "I haven't been shopping as much, and when I do I lean more towards oversized sweaters and comfort as well as scrubs for work. I haven't even been to Rodeo Drive in a year! I didn't have much time for it." Or maybe it was being cut out of the will and she was saving money. He mentions in it to win it and she playfully offers a fist for a fist bump. "All the way, baby."

His question has her hesitating in thought before smiling. "I think we can both claim this one, but a lot of it was your idea." The sun was sinking lower, long shadows cast around them and more stars starting to twinkle above.

Jack's fist comes up for the bump, "All the way." he concurs, listening to her recall the memory, being glad its them two. "Nah, I thought we'd be further but I think," ponders Jack looking back up at the spread of stars showing more over them now as long shadows grow from across the lake towards their side. "But now I'm sure we're supposed to be right here and you mentioned getting a cabin." It may have been an idea just to get a place before they got another parking ticket, but here they are and things were right in the world. "Come on, lets try those fish packets, they should be about done." He'll move to get one out of the fire, sitting up on his lawn chair and moving to pull it from the fire. The cooler is a perfect place for hot foil with its lid back on, have to let it cool before getting more beer to drink, that that's okay. The first packet at least smells delicious, to him, as he use a utensil to cut it easily enough and smell it. He can't wait, he'll grab a flake of tender cooked fish. It pulls apart, its done right, he gives it a taste. Eyes close as he enjoys and growls affirmative, then the other part of his bite, he's lifting over two fingered for her to try, she could eat it from his hand the way he holds it up for her.

Erin bumps her fist with his then does the explosion thing she'd seen on some random movie before. "I don't mind the slower pace. I'm learning to take things slower and taking the time to notice the things around me.. and right in front of me. Turns out I've been missing a whole lot." The encroaching darkness doesn't bother her, she's comfortable here with only them, the lake pretty much to themselves. "I think you are right, here and now, we're where we are supposed to be." She watches as he draws out a foil packet and can smell the deliciousness when he opens it. "I'm so hungry, that smells amazing." Watching as he enjoys it, she smiles, that growl and closed eyes look just does something to her and she smiles. "I hope I can cook something that makes you look exactly like that one day." He offers her a bite and she leans in to take it from his fingers, the delicate fish taken even as she allows her tongue and lips to suck the juices from his fingers. There's a soft sound of approval, "Incredible," she whispers softly.

He misses the explosion, but watches her. "Wait, I didn't know we were doing that." He puts his fist back up and will do an explosion too. He even does a little bit of sound effect. No one has ever heard him do that; make a sound effect. Just for her. The lights of sunset bounce off the dark waves as they turn towards black with the setting sun. He swallows, "You make me make faces like that," he says, then she's sucking at his fingers after taking the bite. He does that, mmms and lets his eyes close a little. "You got that right, I can feed you anytime you like." He says, deeply. He reaches to grab some more but tastes his fingers a little, as if tasting her. "Best fish I've had in a while." If she lets him he'll offer more. "Lie back, I gotchya." If she does, he watches to see if she puts this meal in his hands even more.

Erin smiles at the second fist bump, even laughing lightly at the sound effects he includes. There's a look of complete adoration on her features when she meets his eyes afterwards. "Love the sound effects." Just so he knows she appreciated the gesture, if the look wasn't enough. Again, she watches while he eats too, the looks, the sounds, the way he seemed to enjoy every little thing. "I didn't even know I liked it, but I do." And at his suggestion, she does lay back, trusting him completely, leaving it all to him as she wears a sort of sultry look. This was all new to her, but she seemed pretty open to it!

"Never know til you know," he says surely, about what is liked or not. Just Jack being Jack as he watches her give him some trust. She lays back in her chair, he moves the cooler to sit a little closer with his and be able to reach the food. He'll pick some up and feed her, then is more a touch to her lips. Just watching how her mouth moves with each bite, "Yes." He agrees with some encouragement, touching to her lips to see if she opens but holding it up a little until she opens enough to take the bite. Letting her lick fingers if she chooses, doing the same on his own bites. His eyes catching her sultry look, his confident and firm. "Close your eyes," he offers again. Then its a sensual game, when will the food come which he holds back longer. But it must come close by the smell. But then he's chewing, either he's close to her or loud. Then he feeds her, touching her lips and lifting seeing if she's hungry enough to chase even. Mmmm, he says quietly, enjoying it as he feeds them both slowly.

"That's a good point," Erin agrees easily. Then she's laying back and he feeds her, she licks more of the sauce off his fingers before sucking on them, his thumb briefly before he's pulling it back. He asks her to close her eyes and she lifts dark eyes to his a moment before allowing her lashes to drop down to brush lightly on her cheeks. It was certainly a play on the senses, being blind to the bites, but smelling it more as he nears her lips with it, then the brush of his fingers only to lap the juices off after eating the delicate, flaky fish. Hearing his enjoyment only increases hers and she lingers longer at his fingers with every bite he gives, a soft, feminine sound of protest each time he pulls back, all the while keeping her eyes closed.

Each bit is a nibble at first then more to satisfy her basic hunger, its food, but other hungers can stir within. Jack seems to enjoy it, "Oh yes." He seems to say deeply, "Good girl," even comes from him. Its hard to tell if he's nearer, or his voice sounds closer more filling to her ears because it is near night or simply that her eyes are closed. He lets her taste his fingers, sometimes he nearly pulls them from her tasting and sucking at them to let her pull them back in even. Letting one hand feed them both from the foil done fish, his other then dots and brushes at her arm, down towards her fingers. But is skips about, arm, her hand, her leg, near her cheek. Randomly brushing sensually along flesh and clothes alike. "I could watch you all night," he admits from somewhere very close at hand, perhaps his breath felt along fine hears near her ear, cheek or neck even.

Fade...