Richard needed a break. The company he worked fro, Firebird Industries, had just been sold off suddenly to a new company called Jagger Worldwide and there were rumors of jobs being cut and "reorganization" etc. Richard was also tired of fighting bureaucratic red tape. Getting approval and authorization for funding and materials to continue developing his new munitions design (think bullet that turns into a small shrapnel bomb on impact and can be laced with chemicals) was taking so long he was almost thinking of trying to build prototypes in his garage. Furthermore, he had a number of ideas for new microelectronics that he almost knew would not get approved just because the person doing the approval disliked Richard for some reason. Personally Richard thought that being able to create devices that were that compact and with such a low power consumption while offering significant computational and processing power was a good thing, and with better control of his mutation he was starting to be able to design increasingly intricate, complex and powerful designs. What he needed was a programmer, one who could help him write drivers (low level) and high level software and give him feedback. He had requested one months ago, but again his application seemed to have been conveniently lost or  overlooked or forgotten that Richard was ready to throw up his hands in frustration and stop making innovative proposals altogether, well at least at work. He would probably still create and build things but he would patient them himself. Annnyhow Richard had decided to cash in some of his leave and go car camping in a forest. He had found a nice spot next to a small fast flowing creek where the ground was soft. There was already a nice indented fire pit there and Richard had brought his hibachi. After putting up his tent he first started a fire in the fire pit for warmth and light then began grilling sausages, pesto mushrooms and flank steak on the hibachi. While waiting for the food to cook, having set a timer, Richard lay back on a blanket and contemplated the beauty of the stars above him. He was so lost in thought that he did not hear the sounds of someone approaching.

Let it be known that Charlotte Merle was not an outdoorsy girl. She didn't do hiking, or dirt, or anything that would ruin her appearance. And she definitely did not do bugs. Not little innocent ones, or ones that spun webs, and definitely not ones with wings. Flying bugs were the spawn of Satan.

So what series of events had led to the blonde trudging through the forest, a suit case and two small duffel bags in tow? Why, she was a good friend, of course. Betty, her hot mess of a neighbor/friend, broke up with her boyfriend for what seemed to be the hundredth time. And being the hot mess that she was, she read in some Cosmo magazine that "glamping" was the new thing, perfect for a last minute getaway. Well that seemed just perfect, but she couldn't do it alone. And that's where Charlotte came in. After hours of begging and pleading, and eventually a mild breakdown, the blonde agreed to accompany her friend into the woods.

"This is ridiculous." she mumbled to herself, eyes glued to her phone as she trampled over broken twigs and through low-hanging branches. Betty gave her very vague directions as to where their cabin was supposed to be. "Just past this sign, there's a road you take, and then you pull over at this rock formation and walk this far until you reach the cabin!" Easier said than done. 

After what seemed like hours, a familiar smell filled her nostrils. Smoke? Smoke! Where there was smoke there was fire, and surely Betty knew how to start a fire. Quickening her pace to a jog, the blonde broke through some underbrush into a clearing. She saw the fire, and heard the sizzle of meat, and the babbling of a creek to the side. But there was no cabin, only a tent. And Charlotte's heart dropped.

"Betttttyyyyyyy! There is nothing glamorous about this!" she whined, dropping her bags at her feet. She took a few steps toward the figure relaxing on the blanket, but stopped short. That was not someone she knew. That was a man. 

"Oh. You're not Betty.." 

Richard was letting his mind wander, he enjoyed looking at the stars. he liked to get away once in a while to places where there was no technology. He was.... at peace. Something tugged on the edge of his consciousness. A breaking of branches, the sound of things being dragged through the forest that were never designed to traverse said terrain. Thinks like luggage. Then as if to fully jar him from his happy contemplation a decidedly female voice rang out. It was a nice voice, and would have been pleasant to the ear if it had not been being used as a wining tool at the time.



>"Betttttyyyyyyy! There is nothing glamorous about this! Oh. You're not Betty.."



Richard rose to his feet. His hands in his pockets, it was a sort of awkward moment. "Umm, Hi, I am Richard. Can I help you?"



Richard said as he observed this newcomer. Well whatever she was, apparently adventurous was not one of them. Her attire and the state of her attire spoke to that. He wondered why she was here. He wondered what she was like. Richard enjoyed meeting people, there were always things you could learn and stories to hear if one asked the right questions.

"Umm, Hi, I am Richard. Can I help you?"

There were many things Charlotte did not want to run into in the woods: a bear, a pack of wolves, giant spiders. However, an attractive man was definitely not one of them. Clearing her throat, she ran a hand down her purple camisole, smoothing the wrinkles and dusting the dirt from her khaki cutoffs.

"Hi..Richard. I'm Charlotte. I was supposed to go glamping-" You know how some words sound better in your head, or on paper, but once you say them you realize how utterly stupid they are? Yeah, glamping is one of those. The blonde could feel her face turn a subtle shade of red as she came to this realization. Clearing her throat, she continued. "I was supposed to go camping with my friend, but I think I'm lost.. or gave me wrong directions."

The sun had disappeared beyond the horizon, and the woods were coming alive with the hoots of owls, the quiet hum of bugs, and other indiscernible noises. Charlotte could only imagine what creatures lurked out there, and she shivered at the thought. 

"I know it's an inconvenience, but would you mind if I stayed here for a bit? Just until I hear from my friend?" she queried, flashing an innocent smile towards the man. Surely he wouldn't just let her wander back into the forest alone..right?

Richard at times wondered how he appeared to other people. He had a hard time telling what others thought of him. He looked Asian, and climbed regularly and led an active life. he would never consider himself handsome nor handsome but he liked how he looked. To be honest he did not give that much thought although he always dressed so as to be professional, presentable and if possible "smart".

>"Hi..Richard. I'm Charlotte. I was supposed to go glamping-"

Glamping.... Richard rolled the word around in his mind. His look of confusion and raised eyebrow must have shown (Richard did have a great set of expressive eyebrows, well he thought that but would never admit it to anyone) as Charlotte hastened to clarify.

>"I was supposed to go camping with my friend, but I think I'm lost.. or gave me wrong directions. I know it's an inconvenience, but would you mind if I stayed her for a bit? Just until I hear from my friend?"

Richard smiled. Here in the middle of nowhere a rather attractive lady stumbled into his camp and essentially played the damsel in distress. Richard caught the Oh-So-Innocent smile for what it was, but in this case he was happy to oblige. Never turn down attractive and potentially pleasant company.

"Of course. Umm if you don't hear from your friend you are welcome to use the tent and sleeping bag. I have a spare bag in the car. Besides it is a nice night to sleep under the stars." Richard was thankful that it was not a cloudy night and that it was not forecast to rain. Besides all the higher chance that he would get to see the sunrise, that glow when the first rays of the sun hit the tops of the mountains, setting them ablaze with glorious light (Alpine Glow). That....that moment was magical. Returning to the present he motioned to Charlotte. "Come grab a stump" he said gesturing to a numb er of tree stumps/Logs lying around. "Have you eaten? I always cook too much and it should be done in a few minutes." Said Richard scooting his log over so as to make room for Charlotte by the fire. Perhaps then he could get a closer look at the siloute that might share this campsite for the night.

"It wasn't my idea!" the blonde exclaimed, seeing the confusion and hint of judgement on Richard's face. She knew how ridiculous it sounded. She wasn't proud of it. "I only came as a favor." Why she was defending herself, she wasn't sure.

>"Of course. Umm if you don't hear from your friend you are welcome to use the tent and sleeping bag. I have a spare bag in the car. Besides it is a nice night to sleep under the stars."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Charlotte rested two of her bags against a nearby tree, brought the smallest one with her, and took a seat on the stump opposite the man. Either her femininely charm was working or he was a serial killer. Hopefully it was the former. She wasn't ready to die. "Thank you, so much. Hopefully I hear from her. I don't want to put you out." she responded, rubbing her hands and holding them out to receive the fire's warmth. Directing her gaze upwards, the young woman was in awe. There were stars everywhere. Living in the city for so long had ruined her idea of what a nighttime sky should look like.

>"Have you eaten? I always cook too much and it should be done in a few minutes."

Food sounded amazing. She ate a light lunch before she began her adventure, but trekking through the forest had given her quite an appetite. Smiling sheepishly, she nodded. "I'll only take a little, though." Leaning back on her stump, she turned her gaze to her new companion.

"So, what brings you out here?"

>"Thank you, so much. Hopefully I hear from her. I don't want to put you out."

Richard smiled. "That is fine, I have a few friends who tend to be a little spontaneous with their schedule, which is a kind way of saying scatterbrained." He chuckled. "Often when I set out, I am never sure if one or a few of my work mates will be coming or not so I bring at least one spare set of gear. Not only are they spontaneous but also last minute. So don't worry about putting me out, I am enjoying the company so far. I do hope she is ok though."

It looked like Charlotte was indeed not dressed for spending the night out doors. Richard was glad that he had started the fire. It had seemed a little indulgent at the time as it was only himself but he was glad that it seemed to offer warmth and cheer Charlotte up.He also surmised that she was a city girl. He looked up at the starts with her and quietly said. "It is beautiful isn't it, it strikes me every time."

>"I'll only take a little, though."

"Nonsense, Charlotte, here you are not exactly dressed for spending the night outdoors and you are worried about "putting me out"? Come." Richard promptly set about serving the food. There was some flank steak, sausages, mushrooms stuffed with pesto and grilled zucchini. All hot and fresh. "Can I get you something hot?" he asked indicating the Jetboil that was beginning to boil.

>"So, what brings you out here?"

"I come here now and then to get away. At work I am surrounded by technology and the demands of work and schedules and all that. So I come out to the wilderness to relax, unwind, take my mind off work and the stresses of life." He smiled. He made no mention that one of the reasons that he enjoyed nature was because no technology. Nothing that he could accidentally brush up against while feeling curious and inquisitive and suddenly experience a huge data dump that would send his mind reeling. He wondered if Charlotte was a mutant herself but wondered if it would be impolite to ask. "What do you do to get away or take your mind off things?" Richard asked. Charlotte was rather beautiful, especially lit by the firelight as she was.

Glancing down at her phone, Charlotte let out a sigh as her signal bars quickly disappeared. Why she thought she would get service in the middle of the woods, she didn't know. But her chances of finding Betty grew slimmer as time passed. Slipping the phone into her purse, she turned her attention back to Richard. "Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one with unpredictable friends." she responded, letting out a small laugh. "And she's probably fine. She's one crazy lady, so I'm sure she can handle herself."

>"It is beautiful isn't it, it strikes me every time."

"It really is." she nodded. "I almost forgot how many stars there were. I'm lucky if I see two or three from my apartment." These were the aspects about nature that the blonde did enjoy. It was so serene, being away from it all. Not having to worry about the hustle of city life, or waiting on people at work. She could just breathe for a moment, and that was nice.

>"Nonsense, Charlotte, here you are not exactly dressed for spending the night outdoors and you are worried about "putting me out"? Come."

Sticking her tongue out, she accepted the plate of food, and picked up a fork. "I'll have you know I brought plenty of warm clothes with me!" she exclaimed, jabbing a mushroom with her fork and popping it into her mouth. "I'm pretty smart for a blonde." she joked around a mouthful of pesto. "And I would love some coffee, if you have it. Or tea. Anything, really." 

>"What do you do to get away or take your mind off things?"

Slicing the flank steak into strips, and then the strips into smaller chunks, it took a moment for Charlotte to find a response. She didn't get away very often. If she wasn't working, she was sleeping. That was the extent of her relaxation, apart from the occasional shopping spree. "I don't do much, honestly. My boss has had issues, so I've taken on more responsibility at work. I do enjoy swimming, whenever I get a moment." 

Shifting her attention to the creek, she wondered how deep it was. Somewhere she read that natural water supposed to be rejuvenating for the body. It wouldn't take much effort on her part to divert the flow of water, or at least slow some of it enough for her to swim without getting swept away. She'd have to experiment later. 

>"I don't do much, honestly. My boss has had issues, so I've taken on more responsibility at work. I do enjoy swimming, whenever I get a moment."

Richard laughed, "So you too are a a bit of a workaholic then. Swimming huh? I was never very good at swimming. I once almost pulled a muscle while attempting to swim. I believed it was described as flailing at the water and trying to beat it."

Richard smiled it had been rather embarassing at the time. "Although I should learn how to swim properly at some point in time. May i ask what you do for a living?"

He was curious about this rather attractive young lady. Who knows perhaps they could become friends and one could go many places from being just friends.