Who: Eretria and Wes Where: Starting at WAMM and ending at her property When: The afternoon Warnings: None Status: Completed GDoc
Ere was still worried about Wes so today she packed up lunch, towels, and rode her horse into town, stopping outside of WAMM, ground typing him she knew he wouldn';t leave, then walking inside. "Wes. come on. let's get you outside."
Wes happened to be walking through the lobby area when Eretria came in. He glanced over, saw it was her, and smiled warmly. His clothes were more wrinkled than he normally was, and his hair was in a perpetual state of bed head.
"I've got work to do," he told her, though his voice was anything but convincing.
Eretria gave him a look. Then tapped her foot. "Nope. Come on. Get your ass outside with me right now. I have an adventure for us." she was determined to drag him from whatever hole he'd dug himself. If that meant she'd kidnap one of her best friends so be it..
He reached up to run a hand through his hair. All that accomplished was to make it stand up more awkwardly. He sighed as he let his hand drop. "I do need to go into my office and close the program running on my computer, or it will lock me out.".
She made a shooing motion. "Go on then. do that."
He disappeared into his office, and spent a few minutes in there shutting down his computer and what not before her reemerged. his hair had been combed down, though it didn't do much good. "All right. Where are you taking me?"
Ere was a good friend. He appreciated that. He needed friends. With Angel gone and Faith keeping her distance, he had K-Mart and Stuart, of course, but he didn't really tend to hang out and do things with them..
"Out." She shook her hair out then smiled at him. "Somewhere. Trust me." She led him to her horse. "Deal with it.I don't like cars." She jumped up into the saddle then held an arm down to swing him up. The horse was large, black abs could easily carry them both
Wes eyed the horse skeptically after following Ere out of the office. "I...Well. I've never..." he said with a shake of his head. He knew she wasn't going to take no for an answer. He somewhat reluctantly took her hand and allowed her to help him up onto the horse.
"Just hold on. To me. Dork." She grinned as she made sure he was settled before heading out. She had plenty of land and.she was taking a trail to it. She had the horse walk at a smooth even pace, ere made sure his hands were around her waist.
He knew how to hold on. That wasn't going to be an issue. He kept his arms securely around her, and clasped his hands together. He wasn't apprehensive about the possibility of falling off, though he knew it was possible. More accurately, he respected the fact it could happen, and made certain to be as safe as possible.
"I have to say, this is an interesting mode of transportation."
"Yes well, it's all we had back home." she laughed softly, then once he was secure in holding on, she clucked once then nudged the horse into a smooth floating gallop, cutting across the field and through the trails towards Ere's place. She steered them towards the barn by the house, it was a few minutes ride, and slowed until they were next to the pond and waterfall. She patted her horse's neck and smiled, then slid off the side. "Come on then"
Wes slid off and to his feet. He felt a little unsteady for a moment, but it didn't last. He grinned at Ere. "Lead the way, and I shall follow."
He took a moment to look around and appreciate the scenery. it was a beautiful area, and the light of the sun gave it all a satisfying glow.
Eretria put the horse on a long picket line then grabbed something off the back of the saddle and slung it over her shoulder. She was glad that Wes trusted her enough to just go with it.
She paused and looked around, she loved it too. She was glad she still kept the land instead of trying to get rid of it when Allanon vanished. She started on the path towards the outcropping of rock up at the top of the waterfall.
Wes never once questioned going along with her. Perhaps he should have. There was a pessimistic side of him. He knew how terrible people could be. But he trusted her. He believed in her.
"It's quite lovely up here," he said. "It's a beautiful, soul refreshing spot." He smiled and nodded and took in the sights around him. The air was cooler, crisper. More invigorating.
Ere hoped she'd proven to him time and time again she'd never hurt him. He was one of the only friends she had left here, and she valued his friendship. She was worried about him, still, to be honest.
"isn't it?" she set the bag down and pulled out food - all fresh made, mostly just sliced meats and sandwich fixings, but that wasn't the point. She also smirked at him and threw him a pair of swim trunks she'd guessed might fit. "Its the perfect spot. Also..." she stripped, she had a bikini on under her leathers, blew him a friendly kiss then dove off the top into the deep water down below.
Ere lived life. she was going to push him to laugh today too.
Wes stood where he was after she jumped. He grinned, shaking his head at her antics. Surely she didn't expect hi. To follow her over the cliff.
Except he knew she did. She'd given him shorts to put on after all. He had a moment of guilt and regretn he really should be at work. But he also had the sort of job that allowed some leeway on the hours that he worked.
Hearing Ere splash down in the water he moved to look over the edge and down to where she was in the water below. Maybe l etting loose and challenging himself to do something he'd never done before would be fun.
Ere popped up after a moment, slicking her hair out of her eyes. She had infact dove right off the cliff and she did in fact expect him to cut loose a little, too. She called up at him "There's a ledge about ten feet down you can jump from if you're too chicken to dive from there" she grinned wickedly.
She rolled her shoulders back and ran her fingers through her hair, pulling the wet braids off her shoulders and looking up at him, expecting. Waiting. Giving him a grin that bordered on wicked. "LIVE A LITTLE WES" she called up.
He just shook his head at her. "You're insane!" He yelled down to her. If he were honest, though, he thought she was interesting and she intrigued him.
He stepped back, out of view. He shimmied out of his clothes and into the shorts. They were slightly tight but not uncomfortably so. He shook his head at himself even as he moved to the edge of the cliff.
Grinning down at her he was seriously questioning his own sanity. Deciding to go for itn he moved back to take a running start for his dive.
She floated on her back, hands cradled behind her head, using Water magic to help keep her floating easily. "Yep." she yelled back up at him, grinning and laughing. "You don't mind THAT much!" she added as she waited patiently.
She hummed as she watched him vanish, hoping he was putting on the shorts and getting ready to join her in the water. She wanted him to have a little fun and not be so much of a fuddy duddy. She was not disappointed as he peered over the edge again.
"Wooooohoooo!!" she grinned widely. YES! SUCCESS.
Heq plunged into the water and resurfaced a few moments later. He shook his headn spraying water off his hair which was too long and in desperate need of a trim.
"I can't believe you made me do this." It wasn't so much that she made him do it but she got him to do it. She effectively made him relax.
Eretria hooted with laughter as he leapt off the top of the waterfall. Her eyes were bright as she swam over to where he surfaced and smirked at him, reaching out to move the longer hair out of his eyes laughing.
"Look at you. I'm so proud." she teased gently. She splashed a handful of water at him, smirking a little. "I can. I mean, please, you know me."
He was reminded of Angel's time in the water but shook that from his mind. Angel wasn't in Madison any longer. Thoughts of him now were just another frustration Wes didn't need.
He disappeared under the water, surfaced a few feet away. "Some might say you're a miracle worker. "
Ere laughed as she treaded water where she was, head tilting. She had her own memories that left her frustrated and angry, this place had been a labor of love, as it were, and now it was just hers.
"I'll take that title. Eretria the Miracle Worker." she pursed her lips into a smile that could light up the night sky. "I like it. I think I'll keep it"
"It suits you." Wes grinned. The sun was warm but the water was cool, refreshing. He would have to admit this was a much better way to spend the day rather than cooped up in the office.
"Thank you for this." He showed his appreciation by splashing water at her.
Ere wiggled her eyebrows as she pushed the braids out of her eyes and looked up to soak in some of the sun. "Careful, we'll give me an ego problem." she winked then squeaked as the water splashed into her face.
"Brat." she returned the favor. She made him have a little fun in the water, before she suggested they go eat and relax in the sun.
Wes was more than ready to eat and relax. They'd had a lot of fun, fun Wes never really thought about or expected. He wasn't a water boy. He liked keeping his feet on dry land. But sometimes a change of pace shook things up just enough to be good for the soul.