Jul 04 22:06:31 106 PA - A Camping We Will Go

From Chronicles

Jul 04 22:06:31 106 PA - A Camping We Will Go

North America - Old Highway

The morning of their first camping trip, Vixen drags out her camping supplies. She has a whole collection, with a small two person tent that's actually an automatic set up that need only be unfurled to pop up into readiness. She has only one sleeping bag, but a few blankets that she'll make use of to make a nice, cozy place inside for them. She has that part of camping decently known and will handle it personally, once she's parked her bike, having insisted that be brought along. And now it's afternoon, after spending a little time on simple camping practices, like where to camp and how to set things up properly. Now, Vixen sits in front of the chosen place for the firepit, a bundle of gathered wood and kindling near to her. She wants to know how to make a fire and now that the means are gathered, she considers the various pieces. "This would be a lot easier of I bought some firestarters," she notes, looking towards Leo. "Though I guess I won't always have 'em." She'll have her coat off, the warmth of the day making it uncomfortable.

Leonard is by no means a taskmaster. Survival training notwithstanding, he views this trip as a micro-vacation more than immersive training. A cozy tent, bedding and transportation are all welcomed rather than frowned upon. He may be reasonably capable of living without such comforts, but that doesn't mean he enjoys misery. There is little direction on his part concerning her setup, other than some common wisdom on location and organization. Once she's gathered the firewood and kindling and stared at it a while, he moves to her side and chuckles. "As entertaining as it might be to watch you rub two sticks together in frustration, a lighter is something I'd expect you to have with you most any time. It's just a matter of starting small, and building your way up..." He arranges a pair of the larger pieces to form a windbreaking pocket, then begins to array the smaller kindling above it.

"Well yeah," Vixen replies, her habit of smoking an obvious thing, though she has been cutting back a little bit. Or trying to. "But the point is to know how to do it all the way, right?" She leans forward a little, watching the set up idly. "I've seen people set fires up a few ways.. sometimes like a cone, other times with the big pieces of wood stacked, like.. cross ways." She mimes having some set one way, then more on top in a perpendicular manner with her arms.

"The only wrong way to start a fire," Leonard offers with a casual grin, "is the one that doesn't work... or burns out of control and kills you, I suppose. I prefer this arrangement, myself," his stacking scheme is the latter of those she described so effectively with her gestures, "but only because it's easier than trying to get everything to balance and stay in place."

Vixen nods her head, grinning a little at Leo. "I sorta figured that there was some reason to it, you know?" She shrugs her shoulders a little and wonders, "So how is the best way to light a fire of you don't got a lighter or one of those firestarters from the camping gear store?" She'll casually pick up one of the larger pieces of wood to carefully place it in between Leo's own stacking.

Leonard nods, pleasant grin still in place. "The easiest way is the best way, of course, so use whatever you can. A battery and a bit of small wire can make a nice little firestarter if it's fine enough. Friction will work, but takes alot of time and patience. I've only had to try that once, and that was only because I dozed off during a lesson. If you're feeling very energetic, I can show you how, and you're welcome to try." He selects a small twig and then points towards the tent with it, grin widening. "I'll be over there napping in the meantime."

Vixen snorts faintly and shakes her head a little. "Maybe on another trip," she replies, considering the build up wood thus far as she slips a hand into her pocket, fishing out her worn lighter. "I guess I'd probably have a lot of other issues to deal with if I'm ever in a situation where I don't' got my lighter. Means I ain't got much of anything else."

"Precisely." Leonard makes a final adjustment or two of the kindling, then places some tinder beneath it. "If you're missing your belongings to that degree, I doubt stopping to build a fire would be high on your priorities. I think this has a fair chance of starting, now. Shall we?" He straightens back from the stack, but keeps more kindling easily at hand.

"Yeah." She flicks open her lighter and adds, "I suppose I might go read up on some ways for next time. Try out some of 'em. I wanna be prepared. "Not sure what for, but you never really know what you're gunna have to be prepared for in the future. Cause eventually you get that thing you weren't expecting." She leans forward a little, flicking the lighter on. "So you get them little things in there.." She eyes the kindling inside the structure and carefully applies flame to the edge of it.

Leonard watches as the kindling alights. "As I said, start small and work up. Paper, leaves, grass... then twigs, and eventually sticks and logs. The only catch," he reaches over to grab a handful of twigs and small sticks from the collected fuel, "is that the small stuff burns fast, so you have to keep a close eye and feed it."

"Do I gotta blow on it?" Vixen looks towards him a moment before she gets some of the small sticks herself, poking one or two in carefully. "Seen a guy do that on a vid once. He was rubbing sticks to make a fire too. But I know at least half the stuff you see in the vids is bullshit. Don't remember no one else doing it when I've been out, but I don't always hang out and watch how they light up the fures."

"If it's smoldering rather than flaming, you can." Leonard admits this, although it is not necessary in this case. So far, everything seems to be flaring up quite nicely. He adds in a small piece, then sets the handful aside to point towards the array of larger-diameter branches crossed above the nascent fire. "Once a handful of those catch fire, you should be relatively safe. They'll actually leave some coals to ignite a log or two, and then you won't need to watch it so carefully."

Vixen sets the few sticks she had in hand aside and picks out a few of the larger ones as indicated. "This is cheaper than relying on fire starters, I suppose. Even if it is a pain." She slots in one of the larger branches carefully, keeping her eyes on the fire as she speaks. "I guess this would be even easier with magic. Like the dome you made before. Kept out the rain and it warmed up a little. I noticed that, even if I didn't mention it before."

Leonard shifts his attention from the fire to her, and offers a smile. "The conjuration does mitigate the temperature to some extent. It's isn't climate-controlled, but it is a little more comfortable when it's too warm or chilly. There are plenty of ways to make fire with magic, also, of course." Now she receives a gentle nudge. "I thought you would be the last to want to rely on magic over skill, though."

Vixen glances towards him and grins a litte. "I can't really rely on it myself," she notes casually. "I know you'll help when you can, but you won't always be there.. just like I won't always be with you either. I like having someone to watch my back, but can't forget how to watch my own." She lifts a hand to lightly stroke his arm. "I do like having someone else to watch, though. Feels nice."

The nudge turns into a pat and Leonard's smile broadens. "It's simple to watch your back when it's so easy on the eyes. I can't always be there, true, or you'd tire of me too quickly. You're more than capable of taking care of yourself, Vix, but I'll still help, regardless." A soft chuckle is loosed. "Somehow, I think you'll be the one keeping me out of trouble more than the reverse."

"I get into trouble too, Leo," Vixen replies. "Like with that Senastien guy. I've been thinking about him a bit. Mostly since that time we were in the Dregs and he was talking to that chick in the Coalition armor." She looks back to the fire, continuing to feed it slowly, careful not to disturb the stack of wood. "He annoys me all the time.. can't seem to run into him without getting my back up. But I guess that whole thing.. it kinda hit close to home, you know? Been thinking maybe I should talk to him. Or something."

Leonard arches a brow. "How so? Is there more to him than I know about? Other than a flair for the dramatic and a keen interest in woman that I can hardly blame him for, I don't know much about him. Well, other than he can be a royal ass." He smirks, but can't really comment too much more about such things without sounding too hypocritical.

"You were there.. I didn't look too deep either. But it sounded a bit like me and you at the Deli that day, you know?" Vixen looks to Leo again. "With him being me. I suppose maybe I should talk to him.. see what happens. Just haven't gotten up to it. Busy.. and sort of procrastinating on it. Ain't exactly the nicest thing to drop in on someone to gab about if you an't tight with 'em."

"Ah, yes," Leonard nods, "I did notice that. We aren't the only ones who have or have had ...issues, obviously. Are you sure it is a good idea to delve into another's wounds, even if you are hoping to play doctor? I never took the impression that you two were especially fond of each other."

"Ain't thinking to be a doctor," Vixen counters, shaking her head a little. "Don't know enough about what's going on.. but sometimes people can use a friendly word. And I suppose it ain't too much to offer that, even if I don't really like him. He ain't never really done nothing to me, he's just annoying as fuck." She sticks in the last of the sticks she picked up, carefully prodding it inward before she leans back a little and considers the fire. "I think its going good now."

Leonard chuckles and looks to the flames. "That he is, and the fire looks healthy. Good work. If you want to talk to him, then do so. You are quite good at offering wisdon on the end of a blunt object, you know. That might be what he requires."

Vixen shakes her head a little. "Nah.. I dunno about that," she murmurs, brushing her hands together to knock off some dirt and bark grit. "We'll see." She rises up then, eyes lingering on the fire a bit before she looks to Leo. "I'm working on making a little pulley system so I can set up moving targets for your throwing. For now, we can start you off trying to toss one of these today." She pulls a knife out of the sheath at her side. "Ain't too good at jabbing with 'em, but I can throw one pretty good."

Leonard eyes the knife somewhat warily, and the threat has nothing to do with her holding it. "Are you any good at bandaging cuts? We might have the opportunity to practice first aid out here, too. I do know which end to hold, but beyond that... This should be interesting."

"I got my RMK, so don't worry," Vixen replies with a casual grin. "They'll stitch you up if you get some cuts. But don't worry, we'll be taking it slow." She glances to a nearby sport with a broad tree. A nice, fat target that she turns towards. "You probably won't get it for a while. There's a certain way to hold it and when you do, it's going to spin if you do it one way. You have to be able to predict how many spins you'll need and be able to actually do it that way. All while putting enough force into it so that it sticks into the target. Or you can try it without the spin. It's harder to learn, I'm still not real good at that way, but you can think less about how to throw when it comes to a snap shot."

"Spins?" Leonard arches a brow in momentary, mild confusion. After a moment, a smirk signals his epiphany. "Ah.. I guess I would want to hit something with the pointy end. So it's either difficult to judge the tumbling, or hard to throw it without. This doesn't exactly serve to encourage me, Vix."

"I'm just giving it to you straight, Leo," Vixen replies, motioning for him to come near to her. "I figure you're used to tedious stuff.. all that book learning you must have done before to do your magic. THis is the same sort of thing. Gotta teach yourself to think a certain way and your arm to be a certain way." She'll wait for him to move up next to her before she flips the knife carefully, grasping the blade near to its center of gravity. "You hold it here. Blade first, but not at the tip. Then you just.." She snaps her arm and wrist, the blade flung, a precise spin given to it that sends it through two revolutions before the blade sinks in inch or two into the tree. "But yeah.. harder than it looks." She turns her attention towards him.

Leonard's other brow arches after a blink with her throw. Snapping whips, smoking keyboards and even blazing handcannons he's seen. This is somewhat new, despite the prior mention. "I can certainly try, but I think I'll still let you do the dicing in the kitchen. I just hope that I can pull the thing back out..." Now he steps towards the tree to try and do just that.

"It ain't in that deep," Vixen replies, lightly amused, lingering where she stands for now. "Pull it out and give it a try. Grip at the center of balance and give it a spin. This is one of those things that I can talk about a lot, but talking won't be what teaches you. Doing will. But I'll give you some help to figure it out or at least tell you what you're doing wrong."

"That shouldn't be too hard to determine," Leonard gives a slight grunt as he tugs out the blade, "and give us much to talk about." He turns and steps back to her, hefting the knife in hand to feel the weight.

"Just give it a toss," Vixen replies with a casual grin. The knife itself is not the best knife for throwing, but it has some balance to it that makes it adequate. Finer, better balanced knives would make it easier, but this one does the job fine enough. "Don't over think it for now, cause you don't yet got it in your head how to think it. Gotta get that frame of reference."

Leonard nods and looks to the tree, turning the knife over in his hand. He grips it at his best guess of the proper point without balancing it across a finger or using some other definitive test. Then is it brought up and flung. Far too many tumbles follow, preceding its impact into the dirt short and wide of the tree. "I will be doing a great deal of fetching, I think."

"It'll be good exercise," Vixen notes with a casual grin, motioning for him to get to it. "A little too much wrist, not enough arm. Wrist gives you aim, arm gives you power," she suggests, waiting for him to get the blade and try again.

"That was too much aim?" Leonard is doubtful as he retrieves the blade and returns. "My knees will get a good workout as well as my arm, it seems." Her grin is returned in kind before he lines up again for another toss. As it's released, he notes, "I think I liked the rocks better..." He is fortunate enough to his the tree this time, but the lazy three-quarter rotation means that it strikes parallel and rocochets off.

"Too much spin," Vixen notes. "You want just the right aim, not as much as you put into it." And after the next toss she grins a little. "A bit more wrist." She looks towards him with a casual little grin. "It'll take time, don't worry." She reaches out to run her fingers along his arm slowly. "We have time for that, then we can relax and do something lighter."

Leonard chuckles. "Good, I wouldn't want to get too tired from all this walking. Next time, we should probably bring more knives, or someone else to retrieve them." The touch on his arm causes a pleasant delay before he fetches and resets once more. "If I throw enough times, I suppose I'll get lucky at least once, though." The words are mildly prophetic, as he not only succeeds in hitting the tree, but with the pointy end, too. It even sticks, but just for a moment, as there was too much spin for a clean strike.

"You're getting closer," Vixen notes, with a nod. "Accidental, but you just found a place close to where you want to be. Just have to get used to that area, then refine it until you're doing it intentionally." She grins broadly, looking towards him. "Lets keep going. And she will insist they keep going for at least an hour, two if she can prod him along that far and his arm will hold out. A lot of throws, advice coming along every few. She keeps a positive voice on things, without compromising the simple truth. It won't be easy to learn this.

Leonard doesn't expect it to be easy, but at least the tossing isn't physically exhausting. The retrieval of the poor, abused knife is a bit more work, even if it's more tedious than strenuous. After an hour and perhaps a half, though, he's fairly spent. "Are you sure there isn't a manual somewhere that I could study for a while, instead? You're right in that that's what I'm more accustomed to."

"That's hardly going to convince me to give you a break," Vixen replies with, though she does reach out to take the knife away, officially ending the day's training. "I like the idea of getting you out of yur comfort place. Getting you a bit more active. Ain't saying nothing against you, cause I love you for you. But still, ain't a bad idea to work out a bit more, build up the bod a little." She steps up to him, arms lifting to loosely wrap his neck as she looks him in the eye. "Especially if you're going to keep doing this merc thing. Ain't saying you shouldn't, but being your best for that is a good idea."

"If I'm to the point in a fight where all I can do is throw something," Leonard smirks mildly as he accepts and returns her loose embrace, "I'm in big trouble. I could still stand to build up a little, of course, but I think that's more for impressing the ladies." The smirk twists to a wry grin.

"I like being impressed," Vixen counters with, touching her forehead to his. Perhaps a bit too firmly, though not a hard knock. "I don't toss knives much either, but you never know when you might need that kind of skill. Like learning to make fire without the easy way. Maybe I won't do it much, but that one time I need it.." She lets the thought trail off.

Leonard's grin widens a bit more at the slightly headbutted comment. "Good, as you're just the lady I had in mind to impress. I wasn't complaining, of course. Having dangerous objects flying /away/ from me is always a welcome thought."

Vixen grins a little and leans back a bit. "Yeah, I know. But I think, maybe, you don't gotta worry so much about that no more. At least, not unless you're out in the field. It's good.. really good. Things finally feel normal again." She moves back, but a hand moves out towards his, linking with his own to draw him towards the midst of their little camp. "Lets try some cooking. Won't be anything special, but something easy to talk you through. A bit of a late lunch, but there will be enough for a little dinner too."

"As long as the food won't be dodging out of the way when I try to cut it," Leonard chuckles as he is escorted back to the camp proper, "we shouldn't starve. What did you have in mind? Wounding trees has given me some appetite."

"I brought all we need for it. So won't have to go hunting or anything." Vixen notes, going to her bike and the bag she has has secured to it. "It's a way to make stew.. not something that you need to have certain things for. A little meat, some veggies, scrounge some common spices and just.. toss it in. A friend of mine used to call it Toss Soup." And she brings out a small cooler with various odds and ends within for it, carrying it over, along with a little pot. "Just need a little something to hold the pot over the fire."

Leonard watches her move to the bike and return. "Interesting... and you don't really need to hang the pot." He steps to the fire and uses one of the larger sticks to rake the coals and knock down the remnants that have yet to become them. A pair of moderate logs are then carefully added, close enough together to form a base with some coals between. "Hmm... did you happen to bring any liquid soap?" He's the purported survivalist, yet he's not all that organized in his inventory preparations.

Vixen watches him prepare the fire, grinning a little at the results. Though his question gets a shake of her head. "Nope, I didn't. I guess maybe that's a good idea." She sets the pot on the logs and lays the cooler down. "Can use the water from my canteens. Fill it back up at the river later." She brings those canteens to start filling the pot with water. "It'll be better than in the past, since the water is cleaner."

Leonard watches as she empties the canteens into the pot. "Just be sure to treat the water if you fill them up from the river. Boil it, if nothing else. Otherwise, you'll have a good chance of picking up something unpleasant. Not likely to be deadly, but enough to make you very uncomfortable." He makes a rather unpleasant face as he notes this.

"Yeah, I know. I've got some of those pills. That should clean the water," Vixen replies, setting the canteens aside once she's got the water in. As it heats, she motions for him to come closer. "Now, for something like this there is no real recipe. Whatever you got, you toss it in." She opens up the cooler, bringing out some cut up chicken in a plastic bag. The bag goes to Leo. "So get tossing." She grins at him and starts pulling out chopped vegetables, also in individual bags.

"Didn't we do enough of that with the knife? I won't be able to move my arms by the time you're through with me." His tone is far too light for Leonard to be making a genuine complaint, and he retrieves some of the chicken to toss in. Not all is simply dumped into the pot, in favor of waiting for the other ingredients and that there's only the two of them.

"Don't be skimpy," Vixen prods as she hands him shredded lettuce. "There will be enough for a while and it keeps well too. Dump it all in." There isn't a huge amount, but as she keep pulling out things like sliced tomatoes, celery, carrots and even a few slender shrimps, it'll certainly be enough for a half dozen healthy portions at least once everything is mixed together. "Get it in there, I'll get the big spoon." Which she goes to do, leaving Leo to do the dumping.

Leonard rolls his shoulders and upends the rest of the meat into the pot, then begins to follow suit with the rest of the bags. "It does make measuring easy, although I suppose that everything could be portioned out ahead of time, if needed." Now that his responsibility is merely to dump, the bags are emptied quite quickly. "It is... colorful, too."

"I didn't measure that stuff, just chopped a bunch up and bagged it before we came out," Vixen corrects, returning with one of those long handled wooden spoons from her bags. "The whole point of it is that there ain't no precision to it. Whatever you got, you put it in. Makes it different every time you make it, unless you always use the same stuff." She sticks the spoon in and starts to stir together the mix of ingredients. "Sometimes it ain't so good. If you only got potatoes and old beef it sucks. But it will fill you, which is the point."

"It does help take care of leftovers, too." Not the more valued benefit, but Leonard notes it, anyway. "If you needed to hunt and forage for food on your own, a stew would be an easy way to fashion it all into a meal. As you said, you just toss in whatever you have, and it will be filling."

Vixen grins a little and gives Leo a sidelong glance before handing over the spoon. "Your turn. I got a few bits to toss in and then we just let it simmer and heat." She notes. "Just stir nice and steady." With that simple instruction, she goes back to her bike and the bags strapped to it. She'll come back with another sealed baggie, this one with a mixed hue powder within. "A little salt, pepper and some other seasonings. My special mix," she clarifies.

Leonard, now promoted to Stirrer from Dumper, takes the spoon of his new station. His new responsibilities are handled with glee, or as much as one can have from stirring a pot, until her return. "Special mix? Doesn't that contradict the 'no recipe' part?" A grinning tease before he looks to the baggie. "I do hope that you're not planning to dump /all/ of that in. Might be a bit too much there for that."

"Trust me, its just enough," Vixen replies with a casual grin. "And there don't have to be no recipes, but when you hit a good mix of spices, you keep it." And she'll open the baggie and dump the spices in. "It'll be a little hot with a nice tang, but it won't overstay, if you get my meaning." She looks towards him and grins. "I think you'll like it.. and if you don't, you can figure out your own mix."

Leonard winces a little at the sudden and complete addition, then stirs it in like a good little student. "Hopefully that means that my mouth will not erupt into flames. I'm sure that I'll like it, Vix." His mild wit softens as he returns the grin. "You've been quite accurate about most everything else, afterall. It does smell good..." He leans over a bit as he keeps stirring.

Vixen leans as well, though after moving up beside him, an arm lifted to slip over his shoulders lightly. "You just tell me how you like it when you taste it. It's quick too. Just, like, about ten, fifteen minutes should be good. Maybe a little more. Been a while since I had to cook over a flame rather than on a stove of some sort. Though it can vary depending on what you put in there. But then you can taste it from time to time to see how things are going."

"Quick is almost always good," Leonard notes, "and I doubt the heat source matters too much with this. It's simply enough that even I can't burn it without some extra effort." The suspense is perhaps too much, as he withdraws the spoon with some of the liquid in it. It is blown on to cool before he takes a tentative taste. "Hmm... What did you have in store for me after our tasty meal?"

"I dunno, actually,' Vixen replies, keeping an eye on him as he tastes for any clues as to his thoughts. "Usually when I've been out camping, its always been business. Off to go do something. Never just.. to camp. Ain't really sure what to do. Most other times, I just relax or mess with my gear or my computers. But that ain't the sort of thing to do this time around."

Leonard gives a grinning nod. "You can find yourself with a great deal of spare time when out of doors. A nap is always an easy solution, especially after a meal." Before any looks can be given, he clarifies, "Sleep is something you shouldn't ignore if you find yourself trying to get by out in the wilderness. It's best to get some whenever possible."

"Yeah, but its too early for that and it ain't like we're out that afar or off to do anything big today," Vixen notes. "We should do something fun.. just not sure what yet. Don't usually come out here for fun, so I dunno what is fun to do." She glances down into the pot, but doesn't call a change to the action there yet. "Ain't the usual sort of fun things I like out here." Her eyes shift towards him.

"I don't have too many suggestions to offer, really," Leonard rolls his shoulders, "other than a bit of exploring, which isn't really applicable here. I'm not an avid outdoorsman, and just know what I need to get by. The comforts of home are preferred for the most part."

"I might have to go ask someone, I guess," Vixen muses. "Someone more used to being outside. Like, maybe Sage. She seems the sort. Might have some decent ideas. Exploring sounds interesting.. like a hike? We could do that a bit some time. I never really did much looking around the area out here."

Leonard remembers to check the tossed stew and give it an extra stir. It draws his attention briefly, but not completely. "A hike isn't a bad idea. You can find our way back to camp so that we don't become lost, yes?" A brow arches with the query.

"Me? You're the explorer," Vixen notes with a light grin. "Maybe I could, but I dunno.. I could have stuck a tracer on my bike to follow back, but I didn't bring any of 'em. I suppose I should next time. Would make having to remember the way pretty moot."

"I could, but it would be more educational for you to try, wouldn't it?" Leonard returns her grin with a bit more wry in it. "We can take a stroll later, if you wish. At least then I would be sharing all the exercise."

"Alright, we can do that," Vixen agrees with a light smile. She peers into the pot and grins. "Almost done, I think. Keep stirring for the moment." She straightens up and moves back to her bike. Bowls get drawn out, along with a ladle, these items brought back. "Ok, lets see if its ready. Hold the bowls, I'll serve." The bowls being offered.

Leonard nods and then proceeds to switch with her, pot for bowls, when they are offered. "There's plenty, so we certainly won't go hungry. Hopefully it will be up to your fine standards." One of the bowls is lifted close to the pot to aid in her serving.

Vixen dips the ladle in and scoops out a healthy portion that gets carefully poured into the bowl. "If it ain't done, we can dump it back in to simmer longer. If it is, we can take it off the fire and cover it up." She'll give the other bowl the same treatment before the ladle gets settled into the pot and she produces a pair of spoons, handing Leo one, prepared to take her own bowl.

Leonard trades again, this time giving up a bowl for a spoon. A spoonful is taken and blown upon several times to cool before he takes the bit. He promptly makes a series of uncomfortable faces and fans his mouth.

Vixen waits for Leo to take the first bite, giving her own a little time to cool. Dosen't stop her from smirking at him, her head tilted a little. "I guess we should get it off the fire for now," she murmurs with light amusement. Snagging the insulated handle carefully before she pulls it off to sit beside the warming coals rather than over them. A lid for the pot produced and settled on. She then moves back towards where tent and bike are, settling herself down with a light pat to the spot beside her.

Leonard nods his agreement before swallowing with a mix of grimace and relief. "Good idea..." He then straightens and moves to sit adjacent in the spot conveniently provided. "How long did you wish to stay out here, Vix? I'm certainly not complaining, and simply curious. It's good to see you moving at a more relaxed pace, for once, but, by the same token, unusual, as well."

"Just the one day. We can go back in the morning," Vixen replies, leaning lightly against his shoulder. "I don't wanna be away too long.. wanna be where I can keep track of what's going on." She lifts her spoon then, getting a bit of the stew to blow on, then sample delicately. Still a bit hot, but she gets a good enough taste. "Not too bad," she murmurs.

Leonard already has another spoonful out to cool before she finishes her bite. He allows extra cooling time and prodigious blowing before consuming it. "Not bad at all, especially for just tossing things in and allowing me to cook it." Even stirring by him might somehow depreciate the dish. A nod follows in light of her other answer. "I wouldn't attempt to keep you away too long. It's relatively safe this close to the city, I'm sure, but we'd both get bored before too long, I think."

"Until we find more stuff to do," Vixen replies with a casual grin. "Maybe we can do some exploring around eventually. I don't mind being with you, even just to hang out. And this is a new place to hang out for us." She glances around slowly. "I am a little edgy, but not too much. I feel. Exposed out here."

"It is a little more open than the city," Leonard concedes as he follows her glance, "but it does mean you can see others as well as they might see you. A mixed blessing, I suppose." A hand leaves his spoon to rest on her shoulder. "There's no reason to be /too/ uneasy."

"If I was too uneasy, I'd have my armor on, babe," Vixen notes with a casual grin. "But we're close enough that I could be in the city in a few minutes on my bike." She breathes out softly and continues lightly eating from her bowl between words. "But when we go walking, I'll get my coat on. All the same, I'll be more relaxed when we're back inside the walls. They might be enclosing, but they're a comfort too."

Her shoulder receives a squeeze before it returns to his spoon to shovel stew. "It's good to see you without armor on for while. The plates are very unflattering, and it looks uncomfortably warm, environmental controls or no. One night won't hurt you, Vix." He smiles in reassurance. "I'll ensure that all the nocturnal predators with their claws and teeth and tentacles stay well away from you."

"The environmental controls are divine, Leo," Vixen replies with a casual grin. "When the weather is bad, I sometimes just go around in it cause its easier than dealing with wind, rain and cold." She grins a little. "Only thing that stops me most times is it can be a little uncomfortable and restricting. But with that bodysuit armor, I'm thinking that if I could get a little warm/cold system into it that would be almost perfect."

"I agree, but I find armor clumsy and restrictive all the time, really." Leonard chuckles. "So the bodysuits don't have the systems already? That could get a touch sweaty in the heat and humidity, especially if you're planning to wear one most of the time. Almost seems that you should save that for the fall or winter."

"That's why I'm thinking about a system for it if they don't already have something like that." Vixen smiles at Leo. "I'd assume they got some kind of consideration for that. Wouldn't make much sense otherwise, really. I'm sure there is a way to keep it cool. I want to wear it all the time, even under my normal armor, cause that way I can have that little bit of extra assurance. I've been looking into some nice, but expensive armor that they say is more maneuverable than what I have now. Though I might think about getting some of that NTI armor instead in that case.. not sure yet. I've been doing some looking to get my needs in line before I put down creds."

"I do have some light Urban Warrior too, which is my more comfortable suit. Though it is lighter," Vixen notes. "Though right now I keep it as backup. The hard combat armor is more suitable to going out to dangerous places." She grins a little as she reaches out to lightly trace a finger along Leo's cheek and chin. "Heard of a few kinds of force fields, but that's looking like a premium sort of item. But that'd be about perfect for casual protection."

Leonard's cheek distorts under her touch as he smiles. "A force field seems somewhat too obvious for casual protection. Besides, then I doubt that I could return the favor." His hand moves to her cheek in return and example. "The one nice thing about the city is the sense of security. Most of the time, anyhow."

"Dunno what it might look like, but if it worked well and I could get it for a decent price, that'd be a nice little something to have, don't you think?" Vixen grins a little. "Maybe some day, but I got a lot I want to buy and the operation with Kess paid out big time. A hundred thousand. So its a good time to get what I need. And still have a nice chunk left over for a rainy day."

An impressed whistle escapes Leonard's lips. "Maybe I should accompany you on your journeys more often. Just to make sure someone's watching your back, of course." His grin says otherwise, but his keeping an eye on her is a solid assumption, also. "You might have enough left for a monsoon. Now I know why you've talked so much of shopping and upgrades. Burning holes in your account already?"

"Creds are there for a reason, Leo. To get spent." Vixen smirks a little as she keeps her eyes on him. "I can share, if you got a little something you might be interested in getting. I got a few items that I'm considering getting you. Nothing real big, but useful things." She smiles as she scrapes the bottom of her bowl, not wasting a bit of the stew.

"Thanks, babe," Leonard smiles fondly, "but I don't have anything specific in mind. Formulae for various effects are always an interest, but some of them can easily cost in excess of your hundred grand. As I said, I might trade in my armor for something a bit more refined, but I'm not even certain that is worth the expense. With any good fortune, what I have will alst me a very long time."

Vixen smiles lightly as she leans over to press her lips against his cheek. "Now you know that you can ask. Don't want to blow it all.. not when saving is a good idea. But things we need, those are always something to think about." She wonders, "You want some more stew? I think I could have a little more. Then maybe we can go for a little walk around the area."

Leonard nods and snags the ladle to serve them both some more. "You're the expert, babe. I happen to have the majority of what I need right here. The remainder is just the icing on the proverbial cake." After a wide smile, he adds, "Don't worry. If there's something I decide that I absolutely cannot do without, I'll be certain to mention it since you are the one with the full pockets."

Vixen lifts up her bowl to have more settled in and then rests back in a comfortable sit. "Ain't never done a lot of sharing, you know? Feels.. nice to do that kinda thing." She digs her spoon into the new portion, then pauses and adds, "I hope you don't mind that I don't give you gifts and stuff. I hear some people do stuff like that, but I never really gave much thought to it."

"Of course not," Leonard shakes his head, "as it's /my/ job to be pelting you with presents. It's a masculine responsibility." He pauses to take a bite or three before grinning. "Even if you do happen to be the wealthy one."

"Creds don't last for ever," Vixen notes. "Though I think I'll be giving you some presents anyway soon." She grins broadly. "Some more tech for you to puzzle over. Though I'll help you figure it out, no problem."

Leonard arches brows at that. "Oh? Now I'm not sure whether to be anxious, or worried. I've no idea what other little electronic toys you might be able to bestow upon me." His lips lift as well, into a renewed grin. "Not that I won't appreciate them all the same. One of the arcade machines for the living room, maybe? If I stayed home all day for a few years, I might be able to get skilled enough to beat you once or twice/

Vixen laughs lightly and shakes her head, "Maybe.. I've never thought about getting one of those home units. I've always prefer the portables, but maybe we can snag one some time. Not that we'll have a lot of time sitting around to play." She starts scraping the bottom again, though isn't quite done yet.

"It is good, isn't it?" Leonard gestures to her bowl with his spoon before scraping more out of his own. The mention of portable gaming causes a bemused thought and he taps his head as he speaks. "I'm surprised that you haven't found some way to link your handheld to yourself. Then you'd be able to play hands-free with it in your pocket... although I suppose that could be a little distracting."

"It would be cheap," Vixen murmurs with a grin. She sets her bowl aside and adds, "Part of it is the play. The skill involved in it. can't take that out of it otherwise, what's the point?" She then rises up. "Why don't we get ready and get out there soon. Before the sun goes down. I wanna be bundled up with you before it gets dark."

Leonard looses a soft laugh as he stands. "That's the best idea I've heard all day. The bundled up part, that is. We should get going if we're going, yes. I don't plan to go far, anyhow. Just a pleasant stroll with the chance to see a little wildlife. Preferably, there will be no big wildlife met."

"We can clean these later," Vixen notes, settling her bowl near the covered pot. "Once I get my coat on, we can get going." She'll go to snap up her coat and get it on. A quick walk around the camp will be good and do double duty as she'll snap up the canteens to carry along. And, fortunately for them it will be an uneventful walk and a close, cozy evening before the morning comes.

Leonard stacks his bowl with hers and awaits her retrieval of coat and canteens. Then he'll gladly escort her about, absently pointing out any glaring things of interest they might find. Other than that, he treats it as the pleasant, casual hike that it is. The fact that he has her all to himself without any other pressing business will not be wasted by making it solely educational.