Who: Mal and Inara Where: The Forest When: Week 8, Sunday. What: Get lost in the forest, stranded, interesting fluff occurs. Rating: Lowish? Status: Ongoing and Closed
"It's not my fault," Was all that came from Mal as he pushed another brunch out of the way, and ducked beneath it in order to move into another clearing that, once again, was filled with nothing of value. Frowning, he shook his head and then looked back to her, "And we're not lost."
Looking around, he stepped forward into the clearing and set both hands on his belt as he turned in place, looking up at the sky, then sighed before rubbing at the back of his head and looked back at her. Then back forward. Yea, they were lost. He'd simply wanted to bring her by his ship in order to show her a couple of items he'd picked up that he thought she might actually like. In all honesty, they'd make interesting pieces in her place as decorations. He wasn't going to tell her how he'd come across them, they were pricey pieces though, and he figured she'd pay--plus, he would offer a 'friendly' discount.
But, never the less, the vehicle he'd been driving had broken down and he thought there was a shortcut through these woods to the nearest town, but instead of finding a town they were now lost, and it was now getting dark, and the least he needed to do was find shelter. He pointed forward, "This way, just... through this patch..."
Inara had been quiet letting him speak, merely giving him disbelieving looks whenever he glanced back at her. Stepping lightly, she was glad that she tended toward comfortable slipper like shoes rather than heels. Heels would have been a poor decision, but she could feel every rock and stick underneath her feet through the slippers. The purple gown had a slight glitter to it and a gold accent panel that allowed a freer movement to her legs than the form fitting dress suggested. Inara had never been afraid of getting dirty if it was needed, but even in the wilderness could look impeccable and clean.
Coming through the brush, she looked around and then up at him. "Through this patch? Mal, I'm pretty confident that we are no where near the water nor any place you have gone in your life." Inara stepped in front of Mal in an attempt to get him to stop wandering foolishly, but the failing light shadowed a root sticking out of the ground. Her foot hooked underneath it and she toppled to the forest floor, twisting her ankle in the process.
Impervious to diseases by her angelic nature, Inara's human host was not so toward injuries. Pulling her foot loose with a whimper, she pressed her lips tightly together to fight back the cries of pain she was feeling pulse through her leg.
"Yea... well I'm pretty confidant I know where I've gone to in my life and I ain't ever been lost for more than a day in my life, and I assure you I ain't lost now," Mal grinned as she began to step around him, turning up his brow as he watched her, "Not to mention we're getting much further than we would be just sittin' around whining like you ar--"
Then she went down, blinking when she fell to the ground in a trip. He moved quickly, trying to catch her but not succeeding very well, instead he fell to his knee beside her and looked to her ankle when she pulled it out of the branch. He looked up to her, then back to her ankle, reaching out to touch it very gently, "Can ya' move it? I don't think it's broken..."
Glancing back up at her he looked her back into the eyes, "Alright, keep it elevated..." He said as he pulled off his jacket.
He helped shift her a bit to lay her back on the ground, then stuck the folded jacket beneath her leg and then pushed to his feet, "Seems we're not going anywhere too far now..." Clicking his tongue, "I'm gonna go climb that tree and see how far away we are from anything, and make a plan from there. If a bear comes about, lecture it, I'm sure it'll get it to run."
Through grit teeth she tried to move her foot, but whimpered as she did so. More pain shooting through the joint. It might not have been broken but it was definitely twisted and maybe torn. "No, I am not sure I can walk either."
Letting him help her, she laid back on her elbows and watched him. "Really? Climb a tree? And lecture a bear?" For a moment there she had thought he was being sweet. She flopped back onto the ground with her arms crossed. "Of anyone I could be stuck with, why did it have to be you?"
"Got any better ideas, sweetheart? We can just sit here and cuddle and hope the animals don't eat us, or we can come up with a plan. I need to know which direction I'm headed if I'm gon' carry you out of here, you may be light but all that make up and jewelry you've got on, might be a bit rough on me," Mal offered before moving to the nearest, but taller tree, and began to climb.
"Don't worry, I'll be back before you can actually start missing me. It won't take too long," And so he began to haul himself up the tree.
It only took him about twenty minutes to get to the very top, look around, and climb back down. Now, approaching her, he shook off some of the pine needles and dropped into a seat next to her, looking down at her, "So there's a cabin, in a bit of a clearing off that way. A bit far, probably a mile. Didn't see any smoke or lights, so could be abandoned, might have people--might have crazy Supernaturals that'll enslave us and make us do dirty things to them and each other. I think it's worth the risk.."
HE frowned looking at her and the ankle, "Doubt that's feelin' any better, so I'll be carrying ya. We'll have to get movin' quickly though, before dark settles in."
Inara rolled her eyes at him. He was such a jerk. She was sure it would literally kill him to pay her an actual compliment rather than the childish insults he threw her way whenever that were together. "I think it would take millennia before I could actually miss you," she retorted.
No matter what wild animals were in the forest, Inara want exactly afraid. Animals didn't attack her because they could tell she would never harm them nor their family nor territory. Angels imbued peace into such creatures. Inara did worry about him hurting himself by climbing the tree.
"I bet you would. I don't think you could afford touching me, nor have the stamina to do dirty things, even at gun point." She shook her head. Her deep brown eyes glancing down at her ankle, she could still feel the stinging pain with every pulse of her blood.
With a sigh, she shifted her weight to try to stand up with her good leg. Inara may not have been built or excessively strong, but she had grace and flexibility that could put others to shame. "Fine."
"See, Inara, that's where you're probably right. Couldn't afford to touch ya', but then again I ain't one aimin' to pay for it. After all, that's the difference between your kind and mine, we like not paying for things you can have for free, which includes relationships and people," Even as he said this, Mal was snaking his arms underneath her legs, and wrapped around her back and hauled her up off of her feet when she tried to stand up.
"Nope, see, you have too much dress and bad shoes, you try hoppin' on that you're going to twist the other ankle, do twice the complainin'. I can carry you most rest of the way I think."
He winked to her and looked her over before nodding as he began to make his way towards the clearing, "You'd be surprised the sort of stamina a man like me's got, I may be without all those fancy powers and that, but I never take on a job I can't finish. Still, ain't something you'll have to worry about, I ain't buyin'. How much you go for anyway? On a good day. What, like, hand is 50? Mouth is 100? Go on up for the more traditional, even higher for the more exotic?"