master of disguise

[fintastic]

Who| Feferi & Dave, Venus
What| Feferi engages in "creative" camouflage techniques, finds friends, and slays geese with them
Where| the forest and then the pond
When| week 2
Warnings/Notes| violence against geese?

[ closed - for Dave ]

After a few days in the Arena, Feferi realizes that her technique of trying to hunt others down isn't going so well. Maybe they hear her coming, or maybe it's just bad luck, but it seems like she always winds up somewhere after someone else has moved on. Her tracking skills could use quite a bit of work, so she decides to come up with a new strategy. It takes some effort to put it all together, but she winds up with... something special. It's getting on into the evening by the time she's done, and she's failed to run into anyone yet, but she's come so far that she can't just give up on it.

Settling herself between a couple well-placed bushes, she's pulled a mass of branches and leaves up to cover the rest of her. With a sharpened, pointed stick, in her little pile of forest refuse, she has built herself a rather conspicuous fortress. From the outside, while it might not seem too off from a distance, once anyone gets close, it's pretty obvious that it's been put together by someone. But that's what the stick is for. She listens closely for anyone to approach, ready to jab the stick out at them.

If they wanted her to be better at this, they would have given her a little more warning, or maybe put them on a tropical island with a beach nearby instead.

[ goose hunting - for Dave and Venus ]

It's a good thing that Feferi is a light sleeper and an early riser, otherwise sleeping outdoors like this would take a tougher toll on her than it already has. As it stands, waking up cold is unpleasant, but this morning she has a little extra warmth that she steals from Dave. It doesn't take her long to get up and on her feet and get her things stowed away. She's wary of staying resting in any one place for too long. She'll remember her way back to the little alcove of rocks, but also be mindful that someone else might find it and get the same idea.

First order of the day is to find something to eat. She's had moderate luck slaying animals and either eating them raw or building a little fire to cook them over, and armed with her trusty stick-- rock-sharpened at one end and heavy at the other-- she's almost as perky as ever. You'd never think she was here to murder people, but that comes after breakfast.

"Come on, time to get going! Those honkbeasts are not going to hunt themselves!" There's no need to announce it-- she tells Dave she's going to go hunt some geese as soon as he's awake-- but it's worth repeating to try and get him to follow along once she's ready to go.

Comments

[fintastic]

"Mostly!" As soon as he's in, she follows, and turns to pull the rock back over the opening. A little bit of light creeps in through the cracks, just enough that a human might be able to see a little bit; with the waning daylight, though, it's not bound to last for long.

"It's not so bad though. It's kind of quiet, when animals are not trying to murder me. Oh, and I saw your... what's the word? I saw Bro, and he almost got killed by a honkbeast, but I saved him. Just so you know." With the alcove sealed off, she sets about getting her things situated, so that she can make a hasty retreat, if need be, then settles down into a little nest of dried leaves. It's not amazingly comfortable, but it works. "What have you been doing?"

[shenunigans]

It's a little unsettling to be sitting in the dark like this, but there's also an undeniable amount of safety in it. At the very least, he isn't too proud to keep his shades on, so he's plucking those off and tucking them over the top of his shirt.

"Good." Is his initial response to Bro's peril. "I hope you let it bite his ass first, that makes for good viewing. Gifs will pop up in no time." He rubs his hands together, partly out of conspiracy and partly because it's still a little chilly in here.

"Me? Uhh. Found Karkat, killed a goose, met a guy in the Strider family tree. The usual." He shrugs, even if it isn't too visible. "I never thought I'd miss the mall, but I do."

[fintastic]

"There's another Strider? What did you do with Karkat, he didn't die, did he?" Once she's comfortable, she reaches out a hand to try and grab for any part of Dave, and guide him closer to her. "Come here, it will be warmer that way."

She'll be warmer that way, but that's a given. Even if she can't convince him, it's still her lucky day. She doesn't often get to see him without his shades, so when he takes them off, she smiles wider for it. Even in the dim light, she can't help staring at them; it's probably better that he can't see her back quite as well.

"And no, there was no butt-biting, I was pretty sure the goose was going straight for the kill... they would probably make gifs of that too, though."

[shenunigans]

That is a whole bunch of questions at once and it earns Feferi a raised eyebrow. He's about to answer, but then she's pulling at him and it seems so heartless to deprive her off his natural human body heat. That is absolutely the only reason he obliges and leans in, not because he doesn't have a problem being affectionate because he enjoys being affectionate with Feferi or because he's worried about her or anything like that.

Nah. Definitely not.

"Can't believe he let a goose get the better of him." He grumbles that to himself, but he sounds more amused than anything. "Yeah, there's another Strider. From another world, even. He looks nothing like me but he cooks a good fish." He refrains from saying she should meet him based on that alone. "Karkat is fine- I mean. As fine as he gets, anyway. And we haven't done much just Arena stuff."

[fintastic]

Give her an inch, and Feferi takes a mile, snuggling right in happily, casually. She chooses not to acknowledge the look he gives her, it's not her fault she hasn't seen him in practically forever. Now she's all caught up-- how's that for efficiency?

"I want to meet him! And I want to find Karkat. And speaking of fish..." Yes, Dave is probably wise for not making the comparison. "Come find food with me tomorrow."

Which may, in fact, turn out to be fish, though goose has thus far proven to be far more easily obtained. The lake is cold, and while she can stand it, it's getting warm again that's difficult, even with the clothing she's got on. She's only tried it once so far, and she isn't eager for a repeat, but if it means the difference between the two of them starving to death and... well, not, then she'll deal it.

She breathes in and out slowly, the rest of her body actually relaxing now that she's comfortable, and her eagerness fades from a roar to a loud whisper. "Who gave you permission to be so warm, anemoneway?"

[shenunigans]

There's something about Feferi that makes going about your business in a terrible place a little more cheerful. Dave is suddenly looking forward to finding old Strider with her, and Karkat. And. Fish. She makes this too easy.

"If you can stand the stench you can meet the ancient hobo. I mean, Karkat. We can visit the museum of Strider as well, if he hasn't concealed himself with his forest-man-magic." He gives his chin a contemplative stroke, slowly easing more into the contact. The fact that it's dark and concealed away from everyone and everything makes it easier to just relax about it all.

"Well. My planet was literally made of fire. And heat. And I'm from Texas. I was destined to be at least fifty percent lava god." He holds his hands out in front of them, then moves them so they can press inelegantly against Feferi's face. "What was your planet anyway?"

[fintastic]

Feferi laughs; Karkat doesn't smell that bad, but she doesn't try to defend him either. Immediately, she claps a hand to her mouth, not wanting to be too loud and give their place away to someone who might be lurking in the area. It would be tough to find them in this little alcove, but not impossible, if she makes too much noise. It's hard sometimes, since Dave is too good at being funny.

"Oh right, I forgot. Well then I guess you are allowed to remain warm." As if she would have a say in it. "My planet was the Land of Dew and Glass." She says it with feigned amazement, like it's something grander than it really was. "Mostly it was just a lot of wet grass and some weird glass statue things everywhere."

[shenunigans]

The greedy part of Dave enjoys the validation he gets from making people laugh, so it's hard not to keep at it when she lets that slip. It doesn't help that it's cute, even if it's muffled, but he's trying not to give any real consideration to those thoughts.

"Why would I turn off the self-heating system at a time like this anyway? That's not smart thinking." Most of that is muttered because he can't help but be contrary, but he moves on. "So you mean it was a fish tank?" He asks blandly, daring her to tell him he's wrong.

[fintastic]

"Like a really boring one without enough water to even swim in." If you discount the dome her hive landed in. That doesn't count, though. The water in there was too stagnant for her to stay in there for very long anyway. At least, she doesn't find it worth mentioning it. If she did that, she might get distracted from staring awkwardly at his face in the dark.

To stop herself, she takes the liberty of tucking her head up under his chin, mindful of her horns as ever.

"Do you know, Sollux's had a lot of fire too. Do you think that says something about me?" She pauses, then adds, "I mean, besides that I am always cold."

[shenunigans]

"Should've called World Animal Protection on whoever thought that was a good idea. You're an endangered species, we can't have you milling around in subpar enclosures." His voice wobbles as she tucks in closer, but he defiantly keeps talking through it. Enjoy those throat rumbles, Feferi.

"That you have great taste, probably." He points out, though there's an internal flinch when he thinks of Sollux. He's not sure why he feels guilty, he's just watching out for his girl. It's not like he's stealing her. It's not like he wants to steal her. It's not like she wants to be stolen. Right? Right. But she's cold, so he isn't doing his job anyway.

"I just had a thought." He announces, because this is turn of the century stuff. He shifts back, unzipping his coat and opening it as invitingly as he can in the dark. "Step into my office."

[fintastic]

It takes Feferi a second to pick up on what he's implying, but as soon as she does, she doesn't waste a second in nestling right up against his chest, wriggling her arms in around his torso. It takes a good few seconds to get properly situated, trying to navigate the horns as well, but one she stops moving, she heaves a very contented sigh.

"Have I ever told you that you are my favorite human? Because you are definitely my favorite human." Sorry Jade. Not your fault for not being there to give Feferi warm snuggles, but what can you do?

[shenunigans]

It's a good thing they're being filmed, because this is rare stuff. Dave likes to imagine the cameras can't get to them in here or some such, because he certainly doesn't mind being affectionate when he doesn't feel like someone is breathing down his neck while he dishes it out.

But whatever. Emergency.

"I assumed." He answers blandly, as if he isn't sincerely flattered by it. He gets about midway through zipping it up over her before he considers her hair, so he very gingerly hooks a hand under the bulk of it so he can properly drape it away from the zip. "I'd say you're mine, but the last thing we need is Karkat summoning himself in here, flaring his nostrils and shrieking."

[fintastic]

Meanwhile, Feferi hopes they're getting this on camera. This is some primetime adorableness that she's laying on him right now. It doesn't help that she's actually taking a great deal of enjoyment from it, or relatively so, anyway. Dave is warm and funny and charming in a dopey way, and his snide remarks about Karkat get her to snort, while his gentle handling of her precious hair has her blushing a bit.

"Oh, that's a good idea though. Save that one for later, next time we need to find him!" The worst, or perhaps best part, is that she can almost picture it actually happening. "It's okay though, you don't have to say it. Who is going to take first watch?"

She's all ready to doze off when she stops to think that maybe they should still take turns sleeping. Just because they're tucked away in this little cave doesn't necessarily mean they're safe. Anyone could find their hideout at any time during the night. Though even if they're both awake, it's sort of like fish in a barrel...

"If you even want to take turns. I don't even know if it matters."

[shenunigans]

"Trust me, I know all the turns and tricks for summoning him. I'm a blood drawing and a candle away from being able to pull his essence out of thin air." And it's something he prides himself on too. He adores Karkat, but he also takes great pride in winding him up to great pinnacles of rage and letting him go.

The fact that she's dozing off is pretty obvious just from the way she's breathing against him. He's pretty buzzed. Tired, but still alert and still eagerly protective. Too much-much to sleep at this point, so he just rests his chin on her head while avoiding the horns as best he can.

"You sleep. I still got braining to do. I'll give you a nudge if I feel myself drifting off." He won't, and she probably knows, but that's irrelevant.