InsaneJournal

Who: Vala and Sam
When: Pre-bodyswap
Where: In the car
What: Vegas roadtrip
Rating/Warning: None/Low
Status: Complete



Vala parked up in front of the address that Sam had given her, checked her reflection in the rear view mirror then got out and headed up the driveway to the front door. The sun was bright, the birds were singing and there was a bounce in her step because she was off to Vegas with a chance of winning! Knocking on the door, she admired the little front garden while she waited.

Sam answered the door wearing a black dress and small heels, “Is this okay?” she asked by way of greeting. Having fretted over her outfit for the last couple of hours. “I’m not sure what the etiquette is for Las Vegas casinos”

“You’re a natural,” Vala complemented with a grin. “You got your overnight bag? I’ve booked us rooms at the Bellagio for tonight,” she told her, very happy with herself.

“Okay, thanks. Oh, Hi by the way” Sam smiled, still looking slightly flustered but more relaxed now. “Yes I have my bag. Blimey, even I’ve heard of that place. Quite up market isn’t it?” she said as she picked up her bag from next to the sofa.

“Nothing but the best for me and my friends,” Vala told her proudly, gesturing to her car by the kerb. “Shall we?”

Sam smiled and nodded, “Okay, here we go. Adventure waits right?” she smiled as she shut the door behind them and locked it.

“Are you ok? You seem...unsettled,” Vala asked, leading them to the car which had the top dropped. She got into the driver’s seat and waited for Sam to join her.

“I’m just worried I’ll do something wrong. I mean it’s not illegal to count cards, I looked it up but the casinos do frown on it” Sam replied, though if pushed she had to admit she was excited to try.

"Hey! Relax, you're with me! What could go wrong?" Vala grinned as she started the car up and pulled out. "And besides, its not like you have to try when you're doing it is it, so just let it happen," she encouraged as she guided them out of the city.

“Right of course” Sam said, Vala couldn’t be that much like her trouble attracting dream counterpart right? “No that’s true. Okay, so deny everything and have a good time” she nodded, wishing she was a little more gung ho like her own dream self but she had always been a little more prone to nerves in new circumstances.

"That's the spirit," Vala smiled. "And if anything goes wrong, which it won't," she added quickly. "Then simply do as I do," she tried to reassure her.

“Right, do as you do” because that couldn’t go wrong at all, right? “I’m getting a very strange sense of deja vu” Sam murmured before shaking off the feeling, “This is a nice car”

“Thanks,” Vala smiled over at her. “It was one of the first things I bought when I came over here. Was walking past a showroom, saw this beauty and...” she held her hand off the steering wheel as if to present it then patted the wheel again. “Bob’s your uncle, had to have her. Didn’t even have my American license but it didn’t stop me,” she laughed.

"Wow, that's pretty impulsive" Sam said, "Not that its a bad thing. I probably need to be more like that I think"

“Yeah, that’s kind of me all over,” Vala shrugged happily. “Although I have to admit, I seem a bit more so in my dreams,” she admitted.

Sam nodded, “I do think it’s a good thing though, it means you take more chances and don’t have as many regrets”

“Oh definitely, don’t have many of those hanging around,” Vala smiled. “What’s the point in worrying I say!”

“It’s a good philosophy to live by if you can” Sam smiled, “Maybe I need to take a leaf out of your book”

“You should!” Vala enthused. “Take a chance! Don’t worry about the odds or what ifs, just...live life as it comes,” she shrugged. “And look at you anyway, you’re already doing it,” she pointed out, raising her hand to indicate the sign they happened to be passing that mentioned Vegas on it.

Sam grinned, “You’re right I am” she nodded, “Maybe you’re already a good influence on me”

“I’m always a good influence,” Vala told her proudly. “Well, mostly...more often than not...you should probably talk to my best friend Faye, she’s probably more of an authority on that sort of thing,” she joked.

"Yeah? You two get into trouble together a lot?" she smiled, "Is Faye a dreamer too?"

"I wouldn't call it trouble...so much as...adventures," Vala grinned. "You know, I'm not sure. We've never really talked about it," Vala told her.

"Ah adventure, of course" Sam nodded with a smile, "Really? That's kind of refreshing to hear. Most people are obsessed with them"

“To be honest, we have other stuff to be talking about, if you know what I mean,” Vala winked at Sam.

“Actually I’m not sure I do but please don’t feel the need to explain” Sam replied wryly.

“Oh Sam, we need to work on that,” Vala grinned. “So what do you do in this life then?”

"Well that's why I have you now right?" Sam said with a grin. "Here, I'm currently a teacher. Physics and astrophysics mainly"

“Cool, so you’re just as brainy here as you are in the dreams?” Vala asked. “Why aren’t you...y’know, flying the shuttle or part of NASA then?”

"Well yeah I guess, my intelligence level seems to be similar both there and here" Sam replied before shrugging, "I never went down the military road. I followed research which led to teaching"

“Huh,” Vala gave a little laugh. “Isn’t it funny how different we turned out,” she pondered.

“So what do you do?” Sam asked Vala, “I guess you aren’t a con artist with a spaceship” she joked.

Vala laughed at that,settling back into the seat some more. “Not yet I’m not,” she joked. “Nah, I’m an events planner, y’know, birthdays, campaign, baby showers everything really,” she shrugged. “Everyone’s unique, that’s why I love it,” she smiled.

“That actually sounds like fun” she said, “if you like people anyway. I’d be terrible at it but I can see why it works for you. You’re the most people person, person I’ve ever met”

“Thanks,” Vala grinned. “Yeah, I’ve always been able to read people,” she shrugged. “You should come to one of the parties I get invited to! Get you hooked up with a guy,” she teased. “Or a girl, doesn’t matter to me,” she reassured.

“It’s a great skill. I’ve always been better with numbers” she smiled, “Oh well thanks. I’m not really too lucky when it comes to relationships” she said somewhat ruefully, “And it’s guys, for the record.”

“Fair enough,” Vala shrugged. “Just putting it out there,” she elbowed her. “And did you ever think that your ‘luck’ when it comes to relationships is because you’re a little...how should I put it...tense?”

Sam nodded, “It’s appreciated” she said honestly, “I know, you’re right. But I’m not really sure how to change that. Even my dream self is more confident and relaxed about it all than I am”

“Well, that’s why we’re friends,” Vala announced proudly. “Fate obviously wanted us to meet so who are we to argue with fate?” she grinned.

“Who indeed” Sam agreed and smiled brightly, she may as well embrace this opportunity and let Vala lead the way. It was a bit of an adventure and that was something she definitely needed in her life.