I’m thinking of trying to take some time to go San Francisco next month... Who: Aramis and Anna When: Early March Where: Out for a hike What: Exploring the world Rating/Warning: Low/None Status: Complete
Anna was excited to get out and learn some new things. She was meeting with the man she’d spoken to online, now that it was safe to get out again. The sky was mostly clear, and that made her happy.
She waited by the park, on the street near the bus stop, where they’d planned to meet. There was a large park with a hiking trail just behind her, and she thought it’d be fun to go take a walk around the small lake hidden in the woods. She’d heard about it, but hadn’t been yet. It was a bright, sunny day, and she’d packed some water and snacks for the hike. Anna didn’t know much about hiking, but the path they could follow claimed to be for beginners, so…
Aramis had been run off his feet since he got to Orange County. The volcano incident, as he was referring to it, had happened just days after his arrival, and he really hadn’t been prepared at all. At least now he knew what, exactly, the Agency was all about. So it was nice to get the chance to relax and start to see what was available to him. He’d already made some progress in regards to bars, restaurants, and, uh, special friends, which was always good. This, though, could be fun, since he had always been a bit adventurous.
When he got to the meeting spot, he waved and gave a little bit of a bow. “Anna, I assume?”
Well, Anna definitely was interested in being friends. Just not the special variety. Maybe. He was older than she was, and that was a bit of a caution sign? But Anna’s heart broke into pitter patters when he came up and bowed. It was so… chivalrous! She gave a little, shy giggle and nodded. “That’s me. You must be Aramis?”
He was very chivalrous. A little bit of it was simply for show, but he really was a gentleman at heart. Sometimes he felt like he’d been born in the entirely wrong era. “You’d be right about that,” Aramis told her. “I hope I haven’t kept you waiting long.”
“Nah, not really. I’ve got this incredibly annoying habit of turning up ten minutes early to everything,” Anna admitted, the grin spreading a bit. “So… it wasn’t your fault I was standing around. Anyway, I had a chance to take a look at the trail. Are you ready for a hike?”
“Nothing wrong with being punctual. It’s an admirable quality.” Aramis glanced at the trail and nodded. “I was born ready. Ladies first.”
Anna beamed. "Here goes!" Then she started off down the path and into the trees. It was a beautiful day, and the path was clear. Anna loved days like this. It was exhilarating to be outdoors. "I packed water and snacks for later," she said to him over her shoulder. "If you get thirsty, just let me know!"
“So prepared,” Aramis commented, laughing a bit. “That’s a good quality. You never know what you’ll run into.” Aramis was also always prepared, but less in the way of snacks and water and more in the way of firearms strapped under his clothes. In his line of work, he learned not to go far without one, and it was more a security measure for himself than a worry that something would go wrong on the hike.
“Another good quality?” Anna said, breaking into a bright grin. So bright she nearly sparkled. “That’s two. Punctual, coming prepared. I’d totally be the best Boy Scout ever. Only, they don’t let girls or gays in, so I would never.” She shook her head a little, moving along the path with him. “I wasn’t a Girl Scout, either. Actually, I didn’t get out of the house much as a kid.”
“No?” Aramis hmmed a bit. He would have taken Anna for the sort who liked to do things, but then he remembered their conversation on the net, and he nodded, mostly to himself. “That really is too bad. Especially when there’s so much out there to see.”
"I don't think anything is going to stop me from seeing it now." Anna said, grinning brightly. But then her grin faltered slightly. "I mean, apart from volcanoes."
“Apart from volcanoes.” Aramis gives her a wry smile. It had definitely been an interesting first week on the job. “I guess you’ll just have to cram it all in between natural disasters.”
“I think I can handle it. I mean, they don’t happen all that often, right?” Anna smirked, starting up a slight incline now as the path led further into the trees. “It would be nice to have a couple of months free for exploration… you know, without having to brave volcanic ash and Orcs, or whatever.”
“One would hope not.” Aramis followed, then picked up his stride so they were walking more or less beside each other. It certainly made talking easier. “I’m thinking of trying to take some time to go San Francisco next month, so I hope there’s nothing that gets in my way.”
“Oooh, the Golden Gate! I’ve never been up there. You’ll have to send me some pictures, or something.” Anna said, then ducked out of the way of a tree branch that was hanging over the path. “What are you going to do in San Francisco? I hear they have amazing sourdough.”
“I’ll try to take some.” Aramis laughed, and shrugged. “Paint the town red? I’ve got a friend actually, I think he might be interested in going with me. Between the two of us we’ll no doubt get into trouble.”
“That sounds like so much fun!” Anna chirped, excited for him. “I hear that road trips are just a thousand times better when you’ve got a good friend by your side!” She wouldn’t really know, she’d never been on one. But she’d seen lots of movies about them.
“They really are. And I can’t think of a better place to go. You should get out on the road and explore a bit yourself. You’re at the best age to do it, you know.” Aramis gives her a grin. “I’m sure you could find plenty of people to go with.”
“Am I?” Anna asked, blushing a bit. “...I don’t know. I don’t know if my parents would want me to go. It’s really far from home.” They still liked keeping her close. “But you’re right. Maybe I should find some friends and … Just drive up the coast, or something.” She liked beaches.
“Of course you are. When you’re young, everything is amazing. And if you learn how to have fun early, you just keep going,” Aramis said brightly. “It worked out great with me. Anyway, I’m sure if you go with a group and tell them your route you’re taking and leave them phone numbers, they can’t be too upset.”
“Yeah. Well, not like they can do anything about it, anyway. If I want to leave, I can leave. I’m an adult.” Anna said, puffing her shoulders up a little bit. “I mean, I’m strong and confident, and I can handle myself. And I have control over my trust fund already, so.”
“Then you’re all set!” Aramis clapped her amicably on the shoulder. “You’ll be glad if you do, you know. You’ll never regret it.”
“Thanks!” Anna said, giving him a bright smile. “Hey, think it’s getting to be lunch time yet?” She asked. Maybe she should have eaten before she left the house. But now that she mentioned it, her stomach gave a little rumble.
“I don’t see why not.” He checked the clock on his phone and shrugged. “Close enough for me! There’s a spot over there a bit that looks nice to sit at,” Aramis added, pointing it out.
“Works for me!” Anna responded, then led the way over to the nice area so they could sit and have some lunch.