crossing_lostrp | [Amanda] Skipped Time (Day 10): Surf's Up! (open tag)

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[Amanda] Skipped Time (Day 10): Surf's Up! (open tag)

George was splashing around in the surf with Carlos. Again.

Amanda watched them with ill-concealed jealousy. Rose glanced at her, pausing in her preparation of fish stew for today's lunch. "Why do you do this to yourself, girl?" she asked. "There's lot of attractive men around here."

Amanda didn't bother to answer. She just continued chopping up fruit with more force than was strictly necessary. She looked up again. Carlos was teaching George to body surf. Amanda laughed mirthlessly as George tumbled head over heels and disappeared in a breaker.

They'd gone for a swim every day before lunch for the last three days. It was always the same. They spent all morning together, either playing grab ass while pretending to teach George to fight or disappearing into the jungle. Supposedly they were foraging or setting and checking snares, but Amanda knew they were screwing around out there.

Then they'd come back grinning like idiots, usually with something in hand to justify their disappearance. They'd go swimming (more grab ass), eat lunch, and then they'd disappear again for a siesta. Amanda snorted. ("Siesta" my cute little ass!)

"Why're they out there playing in the ocean while I'm stuck here," Amanda muttered. She was talking to herself, but Rose answered anyhow--apparently she found it impossible not to stick her nose into everyone else's business.

"They've been doing their share since the first day here," Rose said. "Or since Carlos joined us, in his case. If they want to take some time to relax, they've earned it." Her voice hardened. "Your friend Shannon has spent a lot more time relaxing with a lot less justification, if you ask me."

"I didn't ask you," Amanda snapped.

"No, I guess you didn't," Rose said with aggravating calm.

Amanda snuck a glance at Rose. She continued to methodically prepare the fish. "I just...don't understand what he sees in Toilet Seat Girl," Amanda said.

Rose paused, knife upraised. She looked at Amanda in surprise. "What?"

Amanda feigned surprise. "Oh, didn't you know? George claims to have been killed by a falling toilet seat. Now she's undead or something and she sees dead people, like that kid in The Sixth Sense. Or so she says. Just goes to show far some people will go for attention, I guess."

Rose blinked and glanced out at George, who was sputtering and wiping her face, hip deep in the surf. Amanda worked hard to control the spiteful smile she felt. She was taking great joy in spreading the story since she'd heard it this morning. Rose shook her head sadly, and Amanda smiled faintly.

"You're a pretty girl, Amanda," Rose said. "But you'd be a lot prettier if your insides matched your outsides."

OOC: I've created an icon for Amanda. Feel free to steal it.

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Ami's eyes went wide at the words 'snakeskin miniskirt.' She saw the mischeivous glint in Ripley's eyes and it was mirrored in Faith's. "What? No!" Ami immediately protested, "You're not very likely to see me often in a skirt or a dress, and ... snakeskin miniskirt?</> I think not.

"Come on, Ripley, you know me, you see how I dress," Ami indicated the simple khaki shorts and tank top with a sweeping hand motion. "This is it, the Ami Jackson Tropical Island look. In season all year around when stranded on desert island."

"You've got the legs for it, why not show 'em off?" Faith asked as she casually inspected Ami's legs.

Ami didn't know what was more disturbing, the fact that Faith was checking out her legs, the fact that Ripley was grinning maniacally, or the fact that a woman she knew as a friend and a woman she hardly knew had just met, bonded and decided to turn her into their personal dress up doll. Or some combination of all of the above.

Rose chuckled in the background, and as Ami turned to look at her, she said, "You're going to miss these days when you could show it all off and didn't take the opportunity."

"Oh, please Rose, by all that is holy, tell me you don't actually think this is a good idea!"

"Well, they're your legs," Rose said and went back to lunch preparations.

Ami looked pointedly at both women, "No. No. And no."

Faith nodded in understanding. She turned to Ripley, "So, who's Emerson, and how many skins do you think he'll need for a skirt?"

Faith grinned, Rose chuckled, and Ripley chortled. Ami groaned.

Scott had just started work on his new project -- the one that required an inch-wide pebble of milky quartz, his sphere, and a lot of time -- in a secluded spot on the far side of the stream when Ami punched through his shields. He'd thought they were pretty solid, too, since the project was a surprise for her. Nevertheless, a rather exquisite image of Ami wearing a skimpy black halter top, high heels with ribbons that wrapped around her ankles, and a snakeskin miniskirt popped into his head. He flushed from head to toe, his project utterly forgotten. /Oh, yeah,/ he thought to her. /Not very practical on a desert island, but... yeah. Are you guys fantasizing about going shopping or something? 'Cause I'll give you a blank check./

Ami was surprised to hear Scott's thought; he'd been prettily heavily shielded all morning - teasing her, but refusing to tell her what was such a big secret - and now he was there in her head again. Not only that, but he must have picked up on some of the images that sprang to mind at Ripley and Faith's suggestion.

/Oh yeah?/ Ami repeated, half-embarrassed and half-flattered. /You're as bad as Ripley and Faith. They're the ones plotting on getting Emerson to make me a snakeskin miniskirt./

She paused, then asked, curiously, /Would you really like it if I wore something like that?/ Ami couldn't believe the little epiphany that sprang up: she was truly considering it, if only because Scott was interested.

(I suppose the other question is: precisely how long would I be wearing it?)

/I suppose the other question is: precisely how long would I be wearing it?/

Scott grinned lasciviously. /Heh. That's part of the reason why it's impractical. But seriously, once in a while, that would be sweet./ After beating back another round of hormones, Scott resolved to get back to work, if only to get back to Ami sooner. /Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my project./ Scott narrowed their link to a trickle and erected his shields. It took a few moments to banish the image of Ami in a snakeskin miniskirt to the back of his mind, but he did get back to work.

Ripley laughed. "Ami, take it easy. It's just that dammit, sometimes dressing hot is just the thing. I mean, what about those mumblings about a formal date with Scott? Have you thought about what you're gonna wear?"

She reached into her vest pocket--encountered the shirt rag soaked with "Pierson"'s blood, made sure she didn't pull it out, and checked the other one--coming out with a rolled up snakeskin in golden brown.

"How about a tube dress made of this?" She waggled her eyebrows a little. "Snake hunting's easy, since the bastards keep trying to take chomps out of us. Bet it would set off your hair and eyes really nicely."

"You got a hot date planned?" Faith asked.

"No, I don't have a hot date, I just - " Ami stopped noticing that all three women were looking to her for an explanation and sighed. "I've just been trying to plan something ... a little romantic for Scott and I. In all the chaos we never really, well, dated. And it sounds completely daft when I explain it."

The look Faith was giving her made Ami resist the urge to take a step backwards. There was a new level of consideration in Faith's eyes, as though somehow she was reaccessing and reappraising Ami. "Whoa. Are you sayin' that you and Scott hooked up *here*?"

"Yes," Ami admitted, feeling marginally embarrassed as she once again recalled those first odd and unsettling days on the island. (Has it really only been ten days?)

"Damn. So, you two are the serious shit, then, huh? I mean, the way you two act and look at each other, I thought that maybe you'd been together *before* you got here. So, damn. That rocks. The last two people I knew who were that into each other - " Faith stopped suddenly and pushed hair over her shoulder. "Doesn't matter. So, in other words, hot date. You need something to wear 'cause the Liz Claiborne hiking look is not going to do the trick."

Faith changed subjects so quickly, Ami nearly got whiplash. The odd pang of loneliness mixed with guilt and regret that she felt from Faith before the woman changed the subject had her curious, but she didn't know Faith well enough to pry.

Ami eyed the snakeskin that Ripley was showing her, and glanced to Rose.

"Oh, don't look at me. I don't have anything to do with what you young girls do and plan these days," Rose said.

"Thanks," Ami murmured, and then surprised herself by reaching out to actually touch the snakeskin. It wasn't slimy, but rather felt a bit leathery, but softer and yet not, somehow. "A tube dress? Is there even enough material to make a complete dress? Won't it be a bit short?" (And tight,) Ami added mentally.

"Short, tight and skimpy, just the thing," Ripley nodded.

"And you probably won't be able to wear any underwear," Faith added, making Ami go scarlet. "But hey, it's only Scott who's gonna see you right? He'll be hard and hurting before you can take two steps anyway, so easy access is always good."

Ami forced her jaw shut, her eyes bulging as she stared at Faith. Her face was burning, but not from Faith's words; more from the images and thoughts and feelings that Faith's words conjured up. Doing her best to battle back her hormones and shield Scott from the rising brigade, she resisted the urge to simply run off and find him.

Rose choked and gasped at Faith's baudy description. "Faith! Are you always like this?"

Faith winked at Rose, "Nope. Right now, I'm being tactful."

If this was tactful, Ami did not want to see Faith when she wasn't being tactful.

"So, what do you say, Ami?" Ripley prompted, clearly amused and not the least bit bothered by Faith's version of tact.

(I can't believe I'm agreeing to this,) Ami thought right before she said, "Sure. Why not?"

"Woohoo!" called Ripley in triumph, waving he snakeskin like a banner and earning a few odd looks. "Seriously, though, I'll catch a few more like this, we'll have some snakey barbecue goodness, and you can have a nice cocktail dress out of the deal. Emerson will not mind. He's one of those guys who wants to keep working with his hands til his dying day."

She really liked Faith. She recalled that Faith was going on the trip out into the jungle with Pierson and the others, and it was yet another temptation to go with them. "Damn," she said thoughtfully. "I'm really torn."

"What is it?" Ami asked.

"Oh, well, Pierson and a couple other people I'd like a chance to hang with more are going on this quest into the jungle. But I also want to make sure security here is covered."

Faith laughed at Ripley’s triumphant whoop. Ripley was cool. So was Ami. Faith hadn’t been sure about the reception of the people on the beach, but so far, so good. The people here were all good people, cool people, and so far, she couldn’t complain. She took a moment to look around for Mara, and found her talking to Tommy near the tree line. Further along the beach, Harry and the Brit guy – Charlie – were being held apart by John and Blaise. (Damn. Fight. And I missed it.)

Then again, considering the participants, she probably hadn’t missed much.

She turned back when Ripley commented on the trip back into the jungle. Faith wasn’t sure what trip Ripley meant until she referred to Dr. Pierson. “Yeah, we’re going back to me and M’s plane. Daniel thought there might be something worth scavenging there.” It was clearly evident that Ripley wouldn’t freak about George’s purpose, and while Faith wasn’t one hundred percent certain, she thought Ami might handle it too. Rose, on the other hand, was a wild card so Faith chose to keep quiet about George going to collect souls and send them onto the afterlife.

“You should definitely come with. The more the merrier,” Faith said. “Daniel is making us wait until the Doc’s team gets back, so the beach should have plenty of protection. Some of it of the really hot kind.” Of course, leaving out after the Doc’s team got back meant that Faith wouldn’t have an opportunity to find out if Ash was all talk and no action.

(Well, you’ve gone this long without it girl, another few days won’t kill you,) Faith reminded herself. (Nope, it just feels like it will when they’re so much eye candy around.)

Ripley cast a look over her shoulder. "Oh for fuck's sake, who did Harry piss off this time?" She shook her head. "Stupid kid."

"He still trailing after you all the time, then?" Ami asked, pulling a face.

"I'm a fortysomething pilot with a reputation for breaking heads. Having some barely pubed rich kid looking at me like I'm an underwear model is just weird, even if he wasn't a complete waste of flesh." She cleaned the crabs, being careful to use a /knife/ instead of her claws, and set the guts aside for fishbait, then slipped them into the pot for a simmer.

"And yeah, I'd like to come with. I just don't want to leave the beach with too few of its big guns. But you're right, when the boys get back it should be a little better."

She noticed the thoughtful look on Faith's face and cocked her head curiously. "Y'all right?"

"Huh?" Faith looked at Ripley, and had to think back to capture the woman's question. "Oh, yeah, guess I sorta zoned there, huh? I was just thinkin' 'bout how some people are gettin' a little somethin' somethin' and the rest of us just kinda gotta admire the scenery."

Pushing a lock of hair from her eyes, she grinned and drawled lecherously, "Not that there isn't some real good scenery to look at. Just be nice to do more than look, but the pickings are gettin' to be a little slim."

As though on cue, Sawyer walked past and gave them all a smarmy grin, although he continued on his way without saying anything.

"See, that's what I'm talking about. Real pretty package, but I've heard rumors that it's only wrapping. Although if he didn't talk much, I could probably handle it. Don't know if he could handle me, though." She chuckled throatily.

Ripley snorted. "Not true. The guys outnumber the girls here by a good margin, and some of 'em have to be down with a casual screw."

She watched Sawyer walk by.

"Yeah, he might be an interesting fuck if you stapled his lips together first." Ripley's voice was rather loud, and Sawyer...paused for a moment, then kept walking just a tad more quickly. Ripley barked a laugh and set to helping them clean fish.

Faith looked curiously at Ripley, "So you got a short list?"

Rose chuckled softly and Ami choked again, but this time she didn't need the heimlech.

"Aw c'mon, Ami, you'd be thinking the same thing if you weren't getting some every night from your little boy toy - and don't even try to tell me that you two aren't screwing like little lust bunnies."

Ami's blush and deep interest in cutting up vegetables answered Faith's question.

"Nothing to be ashamed of girlfriend, if he can get you off without you fakin' it, that's always a good thing," Faith chuckled. Her brown eyes looked around the beach a bit, "I started my list when we first met up with Doc's group. I think I'm puttin' Ash on it. Whatd'y'all think?"

"Short list? At the moment my list is narrowed to one, largely because he's caught my interest so intensely." Ripley's eyes gleamed. Now granted, there were a few others for whom she still felt pounceish, but how many of them could not only handle her as she really was, but keep her hooked? "That's actually pretty damn rare."

"So does this studmuffin have a name?"

Ripley smirked a little. "Pierson."

"The doc? The one whose hair sticks up all over?"

"Yep."

"Wow, he seems so quiet...."

Ripley snickered. "Yeah, until it's time to make some noise."

Ami seemed embarrassed. Some of that early twenty-first century prudishness plaguing her. It was ok--not her fault, anyway, and very widespread, apparently. Ripley actually found Faith's bluntness a bit of a relief.

/Wait--faking it? Faking what? Must be some weird twenty-first century sexual thing./

The mention of Ash made Ripley smile. "Yeah, he was on mine too, but I think he was a bit wary of me in that respect. Happens." She shrugged. "He rocks. He's got foot-in-mouth like nobody's business, but he's gutsy and fun and can handle weirdness."

Faith grinned and bounced on the balls of her feet. "Now, see that's what I like. A guy who can handle weirdness and is still fun. I heard something about his zombie stories, but never really got to hear 'em."

"You wanted to hear zombie slaying stories?" Ami asked.

"Hell yeah. He can tell me his horror stories and I can tell him all 'bout sticking it to some vamps. It'll rock."

"Vamps?"

Faith frowned, not sure if she should say more. She was certain that Ripley could handle it, but Ami and Rose she wasn't so sure about. Yeah, Ami seemed to take Mara, River and the whole space-ship, time travel, alien stuff in stride, but that was science fiction. A lot of people thought that was *fun.* Vampires? Not so much.

Ripley and Ami were staring at her with outright curiosity while Rose was pretending not to listen anymore. "Um, yeah. Vamps. Vampires."

"You're not talking Goths are you?" Ami asked quietly, looking a little less shaken than Faith thought she would be.

"I am if it'll make you feel better."

"Whole lot of stuff in this world that people don't believe in, or just can't see. Some of it, you just gotta take on faith," Rose said quietly. "And that's coming from a woman who didn't have a whole lot of it before we crashed here."

Ami peered at Faith and sighed. When she spoke, her voice was resigned. "I suppose that here nothing should surprise me anymore."

"I wouldn't worry too much 'bout it, A," Faith shrugged. "Too much sunlight 'round here. Vamps got a serious sun allergy."

"I want to hear both of your stories. I think they're neat. Just...not while you're in the saddle, ok? That would just be weird."

Snickering all around.

"So...vampires. Scary monsters. Like Ash's Deadites. Monsters, here. On /this/ planet." Ripley's eyes had a certain gleam to them that Faith found familiar. "Threatening people."

Faith shot her an interested look. "What are you thinking?"

Ripley grinned slowly. "I'm thinking, once we get out of here, point me at 'em." /Worthy opponents. Woohoo! And...c'mon, bloodsuckers. They want to suck my blood? One mouthful and they'd melt. That would be funny to watch./ "Weird people are fun. Weird people who /eat/ people? They're target practice."

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[Amanda] Skipped Time (Day 10): Surf's Up! (open tag)

[Ami] The Snakeskin Brigade (tag Faith, Ripley, open)

[Scott] Oh, yeah! (tag Ami)

[Ami] Oh, yeah! (tag Scott)

[Scott] Oh, yeah! (tag Ami [optional])

[Ripley] Resistance is Futile (tag Faith, Ami, open)

[Ami] Resistance is Futile (tag Faith, Ripley, open)

[Ripley] Resistance is Futile (tag Faith, Ami, open)

[Faith] Resistance is Futile (tag Ripley, Ami, open)

[Ripley] Resistance is Futile (tag Faith, Ami, open)

[Faith] Resistance is Futile (tag Ripley, Ami, open)

[Ripley] Resistance is Futile (tag Faith, Ami, open)

[Faith] Short list? (tag Ami, Ripley, open)

[Ripley] Short list? (tag Ami, Ripley, open)

[Faith] Short list? (tag Ami, Ripley, open)

[Ripley] Bloodsuckers? Bring it. (tag Ami, Faith, open)