Ed

[goodfellow]

Robin was adjusting to their new locale better than most people, he imagined. He'd done this before. Many times. Started over. And he'd also spent many years living in places just like this, with no technology. Little comforts.

Part of him was quite reinvigorated.

In the short term, he thought he might as well do something useful. Not to mention that he'd rather missed hunting. So he had fashioned a spear, and was standing at the lake with a small pile of fish at his feet.

Comments

[no_joy]

When the evacuation had sounded, Ed had been in the armory. He didn't know much, but he knew if the only hope was the nearby system, he wasn't going unarmed. And when his pod had come to a stop, Ed emerged with enough weapons to suit himself.

When he happened upon Robin, he was carrying a phaser rifle on kill in the hopes of finding something worth eating.

"You had better luck than me," he noted, nodding at the pile with admiration.

[goodfellow]

Robin lifted the spear out of the water and let his gaze wander to Ed, then the gun.

"Yes, well, I'm fairly certain that would just explode the fish," he said dryly.

[no_joy]

"I was looking for something bigger than fish," he chuckled. "Back home I'd be looking for a moose. You know what a moose is?"

[goodfellow]

Robin laughed. "Yes, I know what a moose is. Have you ever shot a moose, slugger?"

[no_joy]

"When I was a kid. Too small to pack it out, but I shot it. Fed my family all winter," he admitted proudly.

[goodfellow]

"Well done," said Robin. He looked him over. "I think you're more likely to find smaller things to kill for food here. You might want a lighter touch. You know how to use a bow and arrow?"

[no_joy]

"I can use one. Did I bring one? No. Nor do I know how to make one," he admitted.

[goodfellow]

"I do," said Robin. "Though we'd need some decent materials." He raised the spear and plucked the shaved rock off of the end. "This might do, shaved down a bit, but we'll also need wood and fiber.

[no_joy]

"Sure. Got that. In abundance," he quipped dryly.

[goodfellow]

"It's also not entirely necessary yet," Robin pointed out. "Lots of rations. And lots of fish."

He looked out to the woods. "And hard to know yet what's out there."

[no_joy]

"Don't be nervous, Rob," Ed said, reaching to clap him on the back.

"I'm not going to let anything bad happen while we're here."

[goodfellow]

Robin couldn't help it.

He laughed.

"Yes, Ed, you're very tough," he finally said, "but you have to admit you're entirely out of your element. And I can assure you that I don't need you to settle my nerves."

[no_joy]

Ed glanced at him sidelong curiously.

You think this is out of my element? Rob, you said you knew about Canada," he said. "Before I met Soph-" he said, chatting along until her very name choked the very breath out of him.

He had to clear his throat.

"Trust me, this isn't much different. Warmer."

[goodfellow]

Robin looked at him for a moment and then said, "My apologies, I shouldn't assume. In that case, I imagine that our little cohort here is very lucky to have you."

Because the vast majority of them, he suspected, had never spent much time without access to a computer and a replicator.

[no_joy]

"I dunno, man. You're the one with the pile of food," Ed pointed out. "You want to get some more? I can help you pack it all back."

[goodfellow]

"I don't want to over-fish the lake," Robin said. Though he did lift the spear again... and threw it into the lake, pinning a fish against the rocks.

Okay, yes, he was absolutely just showing off at this point.

[no_joy]

"Good shot," Ed grinned, waiting for Rob to fetch it.

He'd help.

He wasn't getting wet.

[goodfellow]

Robin chuckled and waded into the water, already barefoot, retrieving the spear and plopping the fish into the pile with the others.

"I think I'm done for now," he said.

[no_joy]

"What are we carrying them home in?" Ed asked, admiring the haul. "You got a bag?"

[goodfellow]

"You could give me your shirt to fashion one," Robin suggested. "It's looking like it's seen better days anyway."

[no_joy]

Rob wasn't wrong. He'd snagged it on a bramble and it was torn. It was filthy, and Ed knew he didn't smell great. I needed washed, and, really, it may as well get dirtier.

He shrugged, put his phaser down, then peeled his shirt off. On each shoulder was a tattoo. One Earth based ink and one Risan dermal lifted. The ink was the insignia of his first company, having come to the Federation through the Canadian Security Force. The other, a portrait of a woman with dark hair and dark eyes. His build was lean and muscular, and he seemed tensed and ready to fight. Ed carried himself that way when dressed, but bare it was clear he was ready to strike any moment.

"Here," he said, tossing it to Rob.

[goodfellow]

Robin didn't bother to even slightly hide his gaze raking over Ed. It was no surprised that he had a good body, but also the whole vibe, he just seemed like he could shove Robin against a wall and make him like it.

"Thanks," he said, and ripped the shirt before laying if flat on the ground and piling the fish onto it.

[no_joy]

"If you'd wanted to see that bad, you should have asked," Ed chuckled.

"I don't know that I would have taken you seriously, though," he added. "Not up there."

[goodfellow]

Robin snorted as he tied up the shirt. "What, you think the months of innuendo were just to hear myself talk?"

[no_joy]

"Kinda, yeah," he shrugged. "I figured it was part of your business model."