Italy: Hiking in the Dolomites, late day Thursday 6/12

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"I don't understand," Annette began as they trekked along, the heels of her boots crunching along the rocky path. "That pub way back there, I swear to everything that's holy that that guy was a vampire. I know it. He wrinkled up his nose when I got close," thanks to her garlic necklace, "and when I pulled out my water gun he freaked. Definite vampire material. I only got a few shots off--" Annette paused, shaking her head. "--threw me out, even after I paid for my drink. Are you listening to me, A.J.? It just wasn't fair. I still can't believe no one came after us. That vampire, surely he had a... nest somewhere." She paused, stopped, looked at her traveling companion. "Maybe we should go back, search for it?" she suggested oh so wisely.


[For the one with her, of course, unless there are other Alp hikers! :)]

Comments

[by137.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I'm listening," A.J. mumbled at some point in all that, although, really, honestly, a lot of it was just coming off as a dull sort of buzz that you don't really notice after a while, but he knew to listen for key tones that might be a question. Once Annette actually seemed to pause for a breath or an opinion or something, he lightly shook his head. "I don't think we could go back even if we wanted to, Annette. That guy was not a vampire, I'm telling you."

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"These foreigners," she shook her head again, adjusted her pack, and started walking again. "I just don't think you know, A.J. They sure kicked us out of there in a hurry; makes you wonder, doesn't it?"

[by137.livejournal.com]

Don't laugh, A.J. Don't. Laugh.

"You were threatening them with a holy-water loaded Super Soaker," he pointed out. "And we're the foreigners here, Annette."

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"Yeah well we were in Romania," she said in a duh-like tone. "Every legend out there has vampires originating from there. Can't believe they confiscated my water gun. Just not right. I paid alot for that considering where I had to buy it from. Ooh, A.J.," she exclaimed, smiling suddenly. "Isn't it beautiful here?"

[by137.livejournal.com]

Backpacking across Europe was a good idea, A.J. A good idea, really. A good idea...

He gave a slight smile back, glad to pause for a moment and appreciate the view. Especially since the view was now completely lacking in potential vampires. "Yeah, it is..."

The grin grew a bit more; it was a good idea. "When we get to the next summit, we gotta stop for a moment so I can sketch this.

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"Sounds good to me. Hopefully there will be a stream or river nearby so I can wash a few things," Annette said, grinning over at him. "I haven't seen anything you've done lately; when we stop, you'll show me?"

[by137.livejournal.com]

A.J. gave Annette a lopsided grin. "What if I said you couldn't?"

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Annette gave him a look. "Then I guess I would have to barter, wouldn't I?"

[by137.livejournal.com]

This was leading somewhere better than A.J. had anticipated. Perhaps somewhere that might even make up for the whole vampire debacle, really. "I guess you would," he said, nodding a bit in agreement; all the hiking left him too tired to really manage to hide his grin too much.

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"Question is, do I have anything that you would like to see? Or have?" she asked, giving him a knowing little grin.

[by137.livejournal.com]

"You mean, that I haven't seen already?"

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Annette lowered her eyes. "You never know, I could have picked up a little something in Romania. You don't know everything, A.J."

[by137.livejournal.com]

"I swear to God," A.J. stated, shaking his head as he continued along their hiking path, "if it ends up something like a wooden stake..."

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Laughing lightly, Annette caught up to him. "What about a specially made rosary, just for you?"

[by137.livejournal.com]

Uhh...

"Well, uh, you know how religious I am, Annette..."

Which was to say, you know, not in the slightest...But he did know that she came from that sort of background, so that made things suddenly a little uncomfortable.

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Except that she was teasing him. She knew his background and yeah, she came from it but... whatever. Her hand slipped into his. "Last time I checked, though, rosary beeds weren't made from silk. And you know I how I love silky things..."

[by137.livejournal.com]

"Annette," A.J. said, as his fingers twined in with hers, "we've got a lot of mountains to go still for you to start bringing up silky things."

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"Right, so I should just hush, huh? Not mention the color or the little silky bows..."

[by137.livejournal.com]

"Well...maybe you could mention the color, if you wanted."

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Annette swung his hand a little. "Deep red. Romanians, they seem to like that color which is fine because it's really... well, I don't want to ruin any surprise and it still all depends on whether or not I get to see anything you've drawn."

[by137.livejournal.com]

"Oh, come on," A.J. said, "you know I'll show you."

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I know it," she chuckled, scrunching up her shoulders a bit.

"How much longer before we make camp do you think?"

[by137.livejournal.com]

"You're not tired already, are you?" A.J. teased.

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"Well..." Annette hadn't complained much, really. "I think I have a blister on my toe."

[by137.livejournal.com]

"Big toe?" A.J. asked, sending Annette a small smile. "Or little toe?"

Clearly, it was very important which.