helluva_pilot | Open Post

"It looks perfect," Poe says. "No major storms, and weather is completely clear where we're headed." He points their course toward one of the smaller islands. "I got us rooms at a little place a guy my dad ran in the rangers with owns now. It's real quiet there, good surfing and fishing, kind of a hidden spot that doesn't get lot of tourists."

He glances at Finn. "Though if you want exciting stuff, like dancing, it's a twenty minute hop to somewhere a lot bigger. So we're not out in the sticks completely."

His own preference is for relaxation and taking it easy, and if he's feeling like more action, he can go to it. This is supposed to be a chance for him to unwind, and the first thing he needs to do is have a couple days to breathe and shake off the ghost of combat.

Not being overrun with tourists does sound perfect; Finn relaxes a little to hear it and grins back. "Maybe one day of excitement. The rest of the time, low-key ought to be just the right thing. Long as there's somewhere we can pick up swimsuits first."

That was one of the activities the medics had given him full freedom on - swimming should be great for his back as long as he pays attention to when he's getting tired. Surfing and fishing? He doesn't know how, but Finn's willing to bet that Poe can teach him.

Poe sets the freighter down expertly and Finn gives him a shoulder-squeeze before getting up to go unload. Not that he has anything besides his travel pack and a happy BB-8 to unload, but he does his job and makes sure everything on the ship is secure.

"Oh yeah, definitely. There's a grocery shop and a couple restaurants and a beach shop too. The kind of places locals still need. Sop wet can get bathing suits without having to go to the bigger island if we want." He grins. "Unless you want something really fancy."

The manning field is small, run by the local control net and one elderly pilot who probably spends most of his time napping. Poe doesn't get too crazy about security for that reason

He rents a little hopper for them so they don't have to take the freighter everywhere and takes them over to the hotel, which is really more of a bed and breakfast, which has been built into a Cliffside. Check in involves a lot of hand shaking and the promise of a beer and catch up time later, and then they have their rooms, one on top of each other in a stack, a little ladder between them if they don't feel like using the main corridor and stairs.

"What do you think?" He asks. Roomy by either of their standards, homey, and the view out to the ocean is without compare. The first thing Poe does is open the windows to catch the salty breeze.

"I think it looks perfect." Finn almost offers to take the top room out of habit, but he doesn't want his back to complain at him for climbing after a long day of exploring so he tosses his bag on the bed in the lower room and flops down to test it out. Nice and soft, and big enough for him to stretch out and still have plenty of room. The sound of the ocean is a bit different than the hum of an engine or the ever-present noises in a base but it's infinitely better than the silence of the desert.

"Let's hike around the island today, Poe. My legs could use stretching." A treadmill in a ship works, sure enough, but it's not the same as even just walking hallways, and why not get to know the place a little better?

Poe tosses his bag onto his own bed and then climbs down the ladder. "You're on. This is my first time here, so we're exploring it together." Sounds like fun to him. "If we pick the right direction, maybe we'll find one of the shops along the way."

The hotel has water bottles and trail mix and a map; Finn grabs the first two and gives the third to BB-8 just in case they get lost. A lift takes them up to the top, and there's a well-traveled trail headed in several directions. Finn takes the one that looks like it'll get to the nearest beach fastest and sets his pace at a nice, slow scouting speed. Instead of danger, he's simply drinking it all in; he's been to places similar to this in training before, but never just to enjoy himself.

Hopefully Poe doesn't mind him pointing out every bird or reptavian or new kind of flower or unusual rock structure.

Poe doesn't mind at all. The place is new to him anyway, but there is also something special about seeing leave in general through the eyes of summertime to whom this is entirely new. They can go where they want, at whatever pace they want, and there's nothing life or death about it. He can feel a knot of tension he didn't even know he'd been carrying slowly unwinding with each step.

The sun's warm on his shoulders and after they've walked a bit, he strips off his shirt and tucks it into his back pocket. Breeze, warm sun, perfect. The mine they get to the beach, his boots are coming off.

Taking off his shirt is a good idea, but Finn waits until he's actually at the beach to follow suit, figuring they'll want to dawdle a while there. The sand is soft and cool just under the surface for bare feet, and the water is just the right temperature when Finn goes up to dip a toe in. BB-8 presents him with a seashell and Finn's happy to take it.

"This is great, for being so close to the hotel. Bet there's more though?" The boots go back on, but he supposes he might as well leave the shirt off as they continue.

Poe laughs, extending a finger to poke Finn lightly in the side. "What, you want more than this?"

But of course there's more. "I know there are some caves somewhere. And the trails are supposed to be a really nice walk. And there's a neat tidal pool... I think? All sorts of stuff." Another light poke. "Or are you hungry already?"

"I want all of it," Finn admits, grinning at the pokes. "And you know I'm always hungry. Not hungry enough to stop, yet. Let's see where the trail goes next." He pokes Poe back for good measure.

The trail leads back up as there are cliffs to either side of the beach, and the views are great - aside from a few other islands in the distance and the occasional trail of a cruising ship in the sky, it's ocean and sky everywhere. There are a couple skimmers out on the water here and there, mostly liight fishing craft but there's one that just seems to be zipping around and creating a huge wake.

Finally there's a bench under some shade trees, and Finn takes a quick break for some water. "This is good, this trail. Might be able to jog it every morning."

"You gotta pace yourself, just like with dessert," Poe says. It's definitely the same concept. "Trail for now sounds great."

And it's a wonderful walk, Finn has that right. It'll be a good run too. "Great idea. Though you better take it easy at first." He definitely needs to run it himself, that's for sure. He still needs to keep himself in shape even if they are on leave.

He doesn't elect to sit, but rather leans against the bench next to Finn, arms loosely crossed. "Look at that sky, though. There better be some flying in that list of yours."

"I am pacing myself," Finn complains, but he's smiling. "All kinds of things I could be doing right now if I wasn't." He's definitely not avoiding looking directly at Poe's bare chest when he says that, nope. He's paying attention to...the birds. Yes. Definitely the birds.

But that gets a laugh, and Finn looks at Poe again, eyes fresh and amused. "Should have guessed. Parasailing? Gliding? Or you gonna rent a trick craft?"

Poe nudges Finn lightly, just bumping him with his hip. "Like what? Climbing rocks? Cliff sprint? Skinny dipping?"

Okay that last one sounds good, if challenging because he'd kind of like to see Finn naked and really shouldn't be letting his mind wander there.

"I was thinking, rent a skimmer for a day and just go play. They have two seater models if you're in for some fancy flying."

"I got the all-clear on swimming. No stress on my back. Climbing, heavy lifting, wrong kind of stretches, that's out." So. That's not a no on the skinny dipping. "The hotel have an indoor pool? Hot tub? Hot tub might be good."

Poe with a skimmer is either terrifying or a ride unlike any other. Maybe both. "As long as I get to ride and you do all the fancy stuff."

Yes, he has rather noticed that's not a no. The dumb Dameron mouth has probably gotten him in trouble again. But it's normally fun trouble that he gets himself into, at least. "Who needs an indoor pool when you have all this?" He gestures out to the sea. "Don't know if they have a hot tub, but it's worth checking. If not, there's a really nice, huge tub in my room at least. Don't know if you checked yours."

But Poe, there are people out here. "I gotta show off my new swimsuit after I get it, don't I? Hot tub, though--hot bath if they don't have one, sure." But he likes the idea of a hot tub with Poe. Skinny dipping. You can't go skinny dipping in the bathtub.

Depends on which bit of the beach, Finn. It's a big ocean. "Just getting one so you can model it?" he teases. "Well, we'll check when we get back. I bet a soak would do you some good after all the hiking around." After the way he's been cooped up on the ship for so many days.

He sighs happily, looking out over the horizon. "There's nothing like this on Yavin 4. Lakes, but no major oceans, none warm enough to swim in. I can't wait."

True. If they find a secluded cove or two, he might reconsider. "It's half for laying around on the beach in anyway, isn't it? So it ought to look good on me." He is counting on Poe to help him out with that part, since the only fashion sense Finn has is whether or not that armor's practical.

"We better keep scoping it out, then. C'mon." Break time is over - time to see what's next on the trail.

"True. Though then it depends on how you feel about tan lines." Poe grins and gives Finn a little bump again. "Finn, the secret is that you're gonna look great in almost anything."

Okay, not everything because he can think of some really revolting colors that Finn could pick, but other than that... But almost anything, and nothing at all. Whoops. Divert, divert!

Poe takes the lead for a bit as they keep going, looking for paths down to the beach, private coves where the water isn't too turbid, since that's what would be best for swimming. He spots one with bright white sand where the waves aren't coming in strongly at all. He gives Finn an excited grin. "This looks perfect."

"You think so? Even with this thing on my back?" Meaning the scar, of course. Not that it's unusual to see people with scars in more obvious places, or limbs missing entirely, but--it's still new, he's still self-conscious about it. As long as Poe thinks he looks good, though, there's nobody else on the planet whose opinion would matter.

When they get to the cove, Finn looks over it with a critical eye more accustomed to evaluating combat situations than vacation spots, but either way he likes what he sees. The cliffs rise just high enough to shield it from casual observation and the water looks clear and calm thanks to a breakwater row of rocks farther out. "Looks good. You want to stop here now or try to get some swimsuits first?"

"Of course I think so," Poe says. "I know so." He sure thinks Finn is hot, scar or no scar. Probably not the time to mention this, though. The only bad thing about that scar is it also makes him think about how Finn looked when they loaded him onto the medical cart, and that had scared the hell out of him.

Oh heck with it, they've already walked for a while and he's here because he wants to swim and let loose. So he grins at Finn and gives his shoulder a little shove, then takes off running for the beach. "Last one in has to buy dinner!" He calls over his shoulder.

Finn shouts and runs after him, pausing only to kick off his boots and--well Poe did say skinny dipping, and that sure looks like he's taking his shorts off, yes it does. Two can play at that game, and Finn races ahead to splash into the water. It's pretty shallow for a while, but eventually it's deep enough for actual swimming instead of wading. The saltwater stings a little on his scar but not badly enough to stop him.

Of course, once Poe's close enough, Finn shoves a wave at him. "Ha. Gotcha."

Well gosh Finn, who wants to walk back in damp shorts? You have to think ahead, buddy.

He follows Finn in--the water is perfect--and manages to not inhale the little wave. He splashes Finn back. "Hey Mr shouldn't be running newscaster he has a back injury. Guess you're getting a free meal."

The scar doesn't look bad at all, really. Maybe it's that the rest if Finn looks so great, it's easy to forget that angry red line.

It's not that he hasn't seen Poe in various states of undress before, but Finn still can't help checking him out in the crystal-clear water. Yep, still looking great, no change there. Poe Dameron is almost unfairly attractive, but then, Finn's probably biased because he's always got a smile turned in his direction.

"Good, cause I want to try some fresh fish! Damn, this water's nice." He splashes out a little further so he can barely touch the sand at the bottom. If this is typical for this planet, no wonder the whole place is billed as a tourist resort.

Wait, was Finn just checking him out...?

Nah. Stop overthinking things, Dameron.

"Well, if you want to go easy on my credit chit..." Because fish is probably going to be the cheapest thing here, considering the environment. He laughs, and follows Finn with a few easy arm strokes. "See, I have the best ideas."

Once near, he pokes fun in the shoulder and then twists away.

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