The Second Date Wouldn't Measure Up

[Riley Forrester]

Riley hoped Zoe was telling the truth with that crying thing, but then again the girl didn't seem like that much of a liar honestly. Still, Riley felt a little concerned, even as she quickly finished up eating. Although her mind was lingering on what Zoe had said. Something about a preventative? Mostly likely something that could block out Zoe's powers. Or help Riley should something happen. Right? Riley wondered curiously. If it was the former, that could mean she and Zoe could actually cuddle for a while. If it was the former, well, that just meant it was in case Riley and Zoe cuddled too much. Both good things.

But Zoe seemed enthrall ex as she talked about the plants and wild life here, eventually gazing upward. It made Riley chuckle and get to her feet, hands on her hips. "Well then? Let's wander a bit! I'd love to look around this thing." She said honestly, gazing up at the gigantic tree

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Technically, Zoe had both an antidote, which would work after the fact, and a preventative which would work toward stopping it from happening. The latter had come a good deal later and happened to be rather more difficult to create, but both most assuredly existed and had been tested in the past.

They likely wouldn't be using either for the moment, as Zoe was enthralled with the tree. Riley seemed to go along with it, and Zoe nodded, rising up. "If you're done eating," she glanced down, noticing that she'd picked through about half a sandwich, most of her salad, and a few pieces of fruit. She hadn't even touched the cake. "We could, um, save the cake for later?" she said, looking over at Riley and smiling a little more. Assuming Riley agreed, Zoe would be quite willing to venture on ahead, to go for the glorious tree looming so gloriously above them.

[Riley Forrester]

"Oh yeah, I'm fine." Riley assured the girl with a smile, glancing back at the tree. Just to imagine the fact that all those kids with plant abilities would come here to make the gargantuan tree grow even greater was completely awe-inspiring. As was the product of the students. Seriously. This thing is utterly amazing. I wonder how high it will grow after we graduate...? Riley wondered before she was pulled from her thoughts to listen to Zoe speak about the cake.

Riley chuckled, seeing the enthusiasm on her face. "I'm fine with Later. Besides, you seem ready to burst with excitement" She answered. "And I won't forget about the cuddling because I definitely want to still."

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe gave Riley a slightly odd look as the other girl insisted she was fine. People did that around Zoe far, far too often, and she was never quite sure if they actually meant it or not. She wanted to trust Riley; that desire didn't diminish, but she couldn't help but wonder. Then she had to remind herself not to overthink the situation but to just go on ahead.

So it was nodding, moving, and giggling at the comment. "It's just so wonderful!" she insisted, spreading her hands out to gesture at it. "Just look at how--" Zoe stopped, realizing that Riley had mentioned cuddling, and she flushed for a moment. "Um, cuddling and cake, but first, um," she pointed toward the tree, then gestured. "Oh, there's this really neat little hole where the roots go up," Zoe walked forward, seeming to crane around, obviously looking for something. "I think it's an animal den, but I haven't seen any."

she looked back at Riley, grinning with excitement. "It could be because a lot of shifters had this way too. There are a lot powers that are really tied to nature after all." And oh, how Zoe wished she'd gotten one of those instead of her own. The thought made her smile slip, but she just moved forward, still trying to figure out where that hole was.

[Riley Forrester]

Her insistence on being fine was met with a high of an odd look from Zoe. However, before Riley could ask, Zoe had moved on and was up, gesturing at the tree. She seemed so excited, although she did flush at the mention of cuddling and cake later, which made Riley smile a little. But Zoe was on the move then, talking about a hole she wanted to find in the tree. Then she grinned at Riley, explaining her theory on the hole's existence.

"That would make sense." Riley mused, glancing up at the tree. It was amazing, so Riley wouldn't be too surprised if shifters wanted in on it too. It almost seemed like the mother of the forest or something. Annnd you're back to cheesy land. Good going. She thought. But then she was focused on Zoe again as the girl moved. Her smile seemed to slip a bit, which made Riley a little worried as she followed. Still, she took Zoe's hand in her own, interlocking their fingers together and give her hand a squeeze.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe nodded, glad that Riley again saw it her way. She almost wanted to speak to that, to mention how relieving it was to have someone who actually got it, who may not have exactly seen things her way, but could at least understand it enough to make statements like that and mean them. "I'm just glad that it's been mostly untouched," Zoe said. She paused to lay a hand on the root, feeling it for a moment. Her other went to Riley, fingers interlocking, a squeeze passing between them.

Zoe looked to her date and smiled then. "you don't have to hold my hand all the time, you know," she pointed out. She didn't release, however, but instead rubbed her thumb along Riley's hand. "I don't want you to lose feeling in it or anything. You're a musician," she raised the hand to her lips to kiss it for a moment, "these are really important. So take care of them, please?" Zoe offered another smile and squeezed the hand before releasing them.

"Now," she clapped her hands together, "I'm pretty sure it's over... ah!" Zoe pointed and then ducked down, showing where there was, indeed, a little animal hole. "See? And--" Zoe paused, because she thought she saw something moving in the leaves and grass below, and she was really hoping it wasn't a snake...

[Riley Forrester]

Riley nodded in complete agreement with Zoe, glancing around. If people came around too often, or at least people that didn't appreciate nature, this spot could be ruined. That would be the greatest shame. Something so amazing ruined like that. Riley thought softly, slowly running her hand over the trunk of the great tree with a wistful smile.

But then her attention was drawn to Zoe as she spoke, and Riley could only give a lopsided grin. "But I want to. So I will"\." She stated firmly before watching Zoe. What is she....Oh. Riley blushed a little at the kiss, but managed to beam back at Zoe with a warm smile, nodding. "Fine. But only because you asked so nicely." Riley joked, he smile turning into a bit of a smirk.

Zoe refocused on finding the hole, and she did only a few seconds later, which made Riley laugh. However, Zoe suddenly cut off, which made Riley suspicious as she looked down. Something was moving, and she pulled Zoe back slightly out of concern. However, what popped out turned out to be utterly adorable. It was a baby fox that looked at the two of them curiously and warily, only poking it's head out. Holy shit that's adorable.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe gave Riley a slightly perturbed look at the other girl insisted that she would keep hand-holding. She opened her mouth, ready to insist that this was important, that it wasn't something that she wanted Riley to joke about, possibly even to state that Riley should ask Devyn what it was like being hospitalized for it (though Devyn probably would've said it was totally worth it and suggested that Riley start nibbling on the girl's ear or something). But before Zoe could do so, Riley insisted that she would. Zoe gave her another slightly offended look.

Then hole, movement, Zoe freezing for a moment. What came out had Zoe letting out a gasp and moving to tug at Riley's hand, pointing as if Riley couldn't see the really obvious adorable animal standing around and blinking. "My camera!" Zoe hissed, before turning to try and remember. But of course, she'd left it back at their picnic site. She practically whimpered, but turned back to the creature again. Clearly they couldn't go move and look at it: that would startle the poor thing. so it was stand there and watch, staring with disbelief at the sheer adorableness that crept around in front of them.

[Riley Forrester]

Uh oh. Zoe did not look happy about that. Probably because she thought Riley was being too lax about her power and all. Instantly Riley felt like an idiot. She sent someone to the hospital you moron! Of course she's worried! Her brain blasted, fuming. "Sorry." Riley said sheepishly, glancing away. "it's just..... hard to resist." She admitted, feeling like a total load of shit. Good going, Riles. Way to keep your date's feelings into consideration.

But then there was the fox and Zoe's attention was diverting, as well as Riley's. The little thing was utterly adorable, yet seemed scared. Riley heard Zoe whisper about her camera, and instantly knew what she meant. But obviously the girl was terrified to have the critter flee. Come on, think Riley! Her brain insisted before she got an idea. She had heard a fox before. Slowly, very slowly, Riley got down on her hands and knees, watching the creature. It eyed her curiously, but still seemed terrified.

Let's hope this works! Riley thought as she began to make fox noises. Immediately the little thing's ears perked up, and it trained its eyes solely on Riley. Then it slowly, ever so slowly, began to crawl it's way out

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

At some point, Zoe would have to explain the whole power thing and her nerves about touching and what all the various medical things she had could actually do to her and for them both, and at some point she'd probably have to explain not only Devyn, but Ava and that whole business involving her family. But all that lay at some hazy point in the distant future, not something they had to immediately worry about.

Especially not with the adorable fox in front of them. Zoe looked and sounded as if sh were about to explode with pure glee, almost vibrating with joy at the sight of the cute little animal. She had already knelt down to get a better look. Soon enough she was jumping as what sounded like another fox erupted next to her. It took Zoe several seconds to realize that it was coming from Riley, as she turned to look up and flash a smile.

The fox started coming out and Zoe gasped again. She practically wiggled, watching it, and only just remembered that she did still have her phone on her. Cautiously, she reached down into her pocket, edging the phone out bit by bit, not wanting to startle the animal. All the while she kept looking toward Riley, hoping the other girl could keep it up.

[Riley Forrester]

Riley kept solely focused on the little guy in front of her, coaxing him out of his hiding hole and into the open. It was slowly getting closer, close enough for Riley to reach out and pet. And so she did, slowly extending her hand out, stopping every few inches as the fox eyes the hand and flinches occasionally. Eventually, she manages to reach out and slowly pet the little critter's head. So soft! Is all she can think.

After that, it becomes easier, and the little creature seems to realize it's in no danger. It approached Riley more steadily now, and even licked the girl's hand. Riley jet had to smile, glancing up at Zoe and grinning before looking back at the pup. She gently picked it up and held it in her arms. Luckily, it did not protest, and instead licked her chin and made Riley smile. Turning, Riley looked at Zoe with a big, goofy grin on her face before saying softly: "Tada!"

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe froze up, watching the creature approach, her joy and excitement amping up with each inch. She couldn't help but be slightly worried though, trying to remember what she knew about baby animals and so forth. Shouldn't its mother be around? And wasn't it a bad idea to touch it? The creature kept going forward, even getting close enough for Riley to pet it, and Zoe couldn't help but squeal and forget about all her worries for a bit.

"That's probably a student," she said with a giggle, watching Riley scoop the creature up. "At least, I almost hope it is," she leaned over slightly, looking to him. "Because aren't you, um, not supposed to touch baby animals? I'd hate to get its mother upset at us or something," she fidgeted for a moment, before seeming to realize that there was one decided benefit to Riley holding the creature: it would be still for an extended period of time.

The realization lit Zoe's face for a few seconds, before she went hurrying back toward their picnic area, making a beeline for her camera bag.

[Riley Forrester]

Riley smiled at the squeal the little critter elected from Zoe, happy to hear the girl happy and excited. Riley herself was excited, the little baby settling happily in her arms and continued to lick at her chin, making the punky girl actually giggle at the sensation. And she wasn't the only one giggling it seemed, as Zoe did as well. However, Zoe did make a sound point about holding the baby, even as it turned it's head to regard the british girl curiously.

"I think that counts for... baby birds? Right? I'm not too sure about baby foxes." Riley answered honestly. "But I'll put her down again in a moment, I promise. She's just so.... cute!" Riley admitted with a bright smile, leaning her head down from the fox to lick her nose. Which of course got a chuckle out of Riley. "That and I figured..." Riley started as she looked up, but already saw Zoe making a beeline for her camera bag back at the blanket. The sight made Riley laugh heartily and shake her head.

"Looks like I didn't even need to tell you!" Riley teased, looking back down at the fox with a smile and petting its head softly, earning another lick of her chin

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

It even licked and looked adorable! Zoe probably would've squeed until she exploded, had she not been heading off to grab the camera and get it out and fumble with lenses and do everything it took to get it ready to take pictures of it again. She did listen as Riley continued, saying that what Zoe was worried about applied more to baby birds than foxes or something. Zoe was about to reply when she heard the tease about her pictures.

"You're dating a photographer!" she called back, flushing slightly. "So you should get used to it!" Which used up most of Zoe's gumption for the moment. She finished getting the camera together, moving while she did so. Her fingers flew across the delicate machinery, moving with the practiced skill of someone who'd done this dozens of times before and knew precisely what to do. The camera would look different to Riley too: older, certainly not digital.

"I still sort of hope that's a student," Zoe said, looking up at the fox, "because it's quite friendly, and it's mother should be about..." Zoe chewed at her cheek for a moment, staring worriedly at the creature, momentarily forgetting about the heavy camera dangling around her neck.

[Riley Forrester]

Zoe huffed up a little at the teased about Riley dating a photographer, with made the punkish girl both blush and laugh simultaneously. She smiled warmly at Zoe, and couldn't help but feel fond of the girl. She so adorable. Riley thought even holding the baby fox in her arms. "....I think I am." She stated slowly before blinking and blushing just a bit more, looking back down at the fox. Talk about a romantic cliche. Her brain commented drily.

Riley did take note that this camera seem to be a little older, but she got caught up in Zoe's next words. A student? That made Riley give a lopsided grin. "Then they're really making out with your date, Zoe." Riley teased as the fox licked her cheek. But then Riley nodded, seeing the worry on Zoe's face. "Don't worry." She assured her with a smile and a look around. "If the mother were about, she would've made herself known to us by now. I'll put this little girl right back where she came from once you take some pictures. I promise." Riley vowed.