Chapter 29: The Settling — Part 1

The ship technically done, its masts seasoning under tarps, fans blowing the vapors of varnish out of its belly, there is nothing to do but wait for the body to settle, then check for cracks or warps in the materials. The nine retreat again to the house, setting into their rituals meant to tone the body, preserve the mind. Having built the thing, all of them have enough knowledge behind the theory of how the ship should fly; pending it will balance correctly once it is moving. According to George, and based on models, it should fly straight, with only a hint of a lilt either to the right or left, depending on the wind. There is time, in other words, for lesser projects.

Heath and Blake set out first thing to begin the hard work of building up the individual pieces of an antenna, as the day promises a sky that isn’t crashing with thunder, or threatening rain: A dry, sunny day in which they can work up into trees, set antenna cables, and be ready to seek out human life, wherever on the planet it might still be clinging on. Heath is the squirrel chosen for this job, and it is on such a sunny day that the two head out, thick, weatherproof rope over Heath’s shoulder, lightweight antenna parts tied together and strapped to Blake’s back. They will be gone, Heath is certain, until the rain creeps in from the sea.

Daria and Jynx have been hiking all morning, George and Jude are in the study, reading up on books about organic farming, while Blake and Joe are sequestered in their bedroom, quietly making love, and Paige finishes cleaning up in the kitchen after having made a massive meal for anybody wanting to eat. Paige finishes at about the time that Daria and Jynx return, sweating from their hike about. The foursome find themselves in the bedroom, where ChoCho is drawing out plans for one of his many strange devices. Daria throws her armor and padding onto the desk next to ChoCho, while Jynx undoes her boots, pausing only to rub her sore feet.

Jynx sniffs herself. “I stink. I’m heading to the bath. You coming with?” She asks Daria.

“I still have to do some sword work. No point in bathing twice. You go ahead.” Daria says, stripping down only so she can dress back up in her base padding and steel plate armor.

Paige works over the straps and helps Daria to strap her wooden training sword to her side. She then drops the toe shields over Daria’s boots, and checks over all of Daria’s straps, making certain none need mended, and that all are tightened down. She shakes the armor down, then settles the helmet pad, and drops the helm into place. The armor is of a grade of steel that has held against the new physics, and though she would usually have titanium chain mail under it, today Daria has opted for a lighter workout. Jynx digs through a drawer, pulling out some fresh clothes and a towel.

“ChoCho, you wanna get wet with me?” Jynx asks, sounding coy.

ChoCho takes the briefest moment to look at Paige, who continues to work on Daria’s armor as if what Jynx is saying is unimportant. ChoCho has been bathing with Kevin every day, a comforting ritual both seem to cherish. It is their time to bond, to cuddle, to talk, and that last part is mostly nonsense. Today Jynx has asked to take Kevin’s place, to take from Kevin and ChoCho a moment of time. Since Paige seems unbothered, ChoCho nods, and the two leave towels in hand. Paige hears the door shut, pausing long enough to take a deep breath.

“Hurry up and change. If you’ve got idle hands, I can do more than just work at form today.” Daria says brusquely, happy for a chance at a hard fight.

Paige changes quickly into her fighting clothes, and readies herself for a beating. Daria and Paige head outside, where Paige will spend most of her time dodging Daria’s wooden training blade, her heart and mind elsewhere. When Paige loses her sword for a third time, Daria loses her patience and snaps Paige in the ribs with the word, then takes Paige to the dirt with a careful throw of the hip. Paige stares up at her, angry and hopeless. Daria loosens her grip on Paige’s throat, stroking her cheek.

“You can’t let your mind wander.” Daria says. “Not when you’re fighting, not in training and not in the field.”

Paige’s cheeks flush red. “Paige is sorry. This is supposed to be Kevin’s time with ChoCho. Paige is distracted.”

“Did Heath dismiss you from your duties?” Daria asks.

“Paige is done for today.” Paige says.

“Then get me out of this armor, and I’ll see if I can’t drive you to further distraction.”

* * *

Once her straps are undone, Daria is left with armor padding in place. It is a warm garment, comfortable, and it conceals what it needs to, so she opts not to go into the house to change into clothes that might ultimately look less silly. Paige is still in her workout clothes, which are essentially a specialized shirt and skirt made of thick black canvas. The two put the armor and swords on the firewood in the hallway, and head out into the woods by the house, to a private place that Daria and Jynx often walk to. Set against a tree, sealed in a plastic container, is a sleeping bag and some rations, a canteen full of water, and a tarp. She sets down the tarp, the sleeping bag, the rations, and another smaller shoulder bag, her smile turning sly.

Daria has never taken Paige out into the woods, and stealing Paige from her homebody life of housework and reading seems to bring Paige great pleasure.

“Is this where you and Jynx go when you’re out hiking?” Paige asks as Daria sets down a tarp and then throws the sleeping bag over it.

“Not every day.” Daria says, her tone edgy and droll. “Does it bother you that we’re here now, Paige?”

Paige has her back to Daria, her eyes in the distance. Her mind must be elsewhere, and so she doesn’t answer. Daria doesn’t like being ignored. She snaps out and pulls Paige to her, dragging her to the ground, putting Paige between her legs. Paige squeals in surprise. She looks hurt, a little angry, a little scared, but she doesn’t look at Daria, doesn’t turn toward her. She has her head down and her arms crossed as Daria holds her from behind, catching Paige in a hug that includes both her arms and her legs. Daria has removed her boots at some point, and her heels are wrapped around Paige’s ankles.

Daria is simply too needful to stop with a hug, however. Instead, she nibbles gently on Paige’s ear, whispering gentle compliments, her hands drifting to the ties and straps that keep Paige clothed, keeps her feeling like Paige. Daria is careful, because Paige is resisting her. She pulls down Paige’s shirt, exposing her shoulders to the sun, then reaches in from behind and grips Paige’s chest over the nipple, squeezing just as she would with Jynx. It is that same rough exhale that tells Daria just how bothered Paige is, how badly she must need this.

Paige is pinned by her own shirt, her arms caught at the elbows, her chest still covered from the sun. Daria has seen to it that the girl can’t move, but gives Paige the hint of an opening, and Paige takes it. As Paige tries to sit up, to shift, Daria moves with her, one hand holding tight to Paige’s chest, the other reaching out and pulling a shoulder bag within range. Daria fiddles with the bag, reaches in and pulls out a condom.

“Kevin is ready –” Paige starts to shift in thought, to go into the state that will allow Kevin to become, but Daria’s hand grips Paige’s chest tightly, nipple locked between the knuckle of Daria’s thumb and index finger, and Paige yelps with a mix of pleasure and pain.

“I want Paige right now.” Daria says. “I need Paige right now.”

Daria puts the unopened condom to her lips, tears open the wrapper with her teeth, and rolls the condom onto two of her fingers, letting her saliva wet it thoroughly as she does. She does this in a way that makes the action invisible to Paige, who keeps looking ahead. Then Daria slides her hand down and under the back of Paige’s loosened skirt. Paige breathes heavily as Daria’s fingers begin to explore, working toward dark warmth almost of their own accord. She rubs her way between Paige’s legs, working back up to the base of the spine, then pushes her fingers into the cleft beneath, her entire focus on Paige and her response.

Paige exhales, leans quietly against Daria, surrendering everything she is to the moment.

Advertise Here