A Primland Resort Tree House; North Carolina, Saturday [12/09].

[sword_chocobro]

This little get-away spot that Gladio had planned would have been pretty perfect a few weeks ago, when he'd actually originally planned to whisk Nell off for a belated birthday trip, only to miss out on it on it due to being a kid, but he really hoped that it was early enough into December that it wouldn't have gotten too cold and bleak for them to go now. Especially since one of his main reasons for choosing the Primland Resort was how much it was touted as an excellent place for stargazing.

The other reason he'd picked it were its Tree House cabins, which were clearly just too perfect to pass up. And so, up bright and early to make the most of their time and to squeeze in a good breakfast before hitting their portal because they'd need the energy for the hike just to get to their lodgings, Gladio and Nell made their way up through the woods and the mountains to reach their destination.

"Well," Gladio announced, with a pleased and satisfied sigh at how this was all shaping up to pretty much how he'd imagined it would have been, opening the door with a little gentlemanly gesture to welcome Nell in first, "here we are. Home sweet home, for the next two days, at least. But, if we hate it," he threw Nell a wink, "I did bring a tent, too."

[[ for the belated birthday girl, and NFB for distance, of ~course~! ]]

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[mylandmyrules]

Nell had been captivated by the beauty of the land and the forest as they hiked along and then to find the treehouse! Her breath caught in her chest as they approached and she had to take a moment to just look at it all before throwing her arms around Gladio.

"This is beautiful and amazing!" she said into his chest. "I can't believe it!" She hadn't known what to expect, telling him she trusted him and was happy to be surprised. The trek though the woods had made her heart sing with happiness and she'd have been content to sleep under the stars or in a tent - knowing how much he loved that - but this was like the perfect mix of that and more pampering than she could have expected.

"It's perfect!" She all but danced around the treehouse, looking at everything and laughing at the huge soaking tub with overhead shower - 'like a waterfall,' she laughed - and the huge window there for nature and star watching. And the porch! And being in the tree!

Then, of course, she grabbed her old pink blanket from her bag - hey, he had his tent, she had her blanket - danced her way down to the base of the tree and kicked off her socks and shoes, before sitting and sinking her bare feet into the ground, patting the space beside her for him to join her if he wished, and closing her eyes to commune with the land.

[sword_chocobro]

And to think, not even fifteen minutes in at arriving at the cabin, and Gladio was already feeling like he'd gotten everything he'd want from this trip...and they still had the whole weekend to fill it with even more. He had to chuckle fondly (proudly, really, no lack of patting himself on the back here for a job well done!) as he just let Nell feel the place and just sort of bask in her enthusiasm, and he happily followed her down so she could literally feel the place, too.

He lowered himself down to join her on the blanket with a little bit of an exaggerated grunt, kicked off his own boots to follow suite, and then leaned back with his arms behind him for support to stretch out his long legs in front of him, too. A little contented sigh, looking out over the woods around him, and then glancing on over to Nell.

"Good pick, then?" he asked, chuckling a little at the obviousness of the question.

[mylandmyrules]

"Hate it like poison," Nell chirped cheerfully with a grin. "Of course, it is, it's perfect!"

She closed her eyes and let her consciousness extend into the earth and out into the surrounding forest and land, letting out a deep sigh of contentment. The woods were happy here, settling in for the fallow season, chipmunks and squirrels, birds and deer, and all manner of creatures going about their business. A good place. A very good place.

"I love it here," she murmured, eyes still closed.

[sword_chocobro]

"And I hear the real show," Gladio said, "comes around at nighttime. But, obviously, we'll have to wait a bit to see how true that it. Which...fine by me."

His own attention shifted, from where it had just been soaking in the warmth of Nell's clear enthusiasm and just enjoying how content and thrilled this place was already making her, back to the woods themselves to do a little bit of soaking them in, too, and just thinking about the fact that he may have been a city boy, but, for some reason, it was always when he managed to get out in nature that he always felt the most comfortable.

"It's a good place to wait."

[mylandmyrules]

"Oh?" Nell said. "Well, I imagine the stars here must be amazing. And the sunset!"

She leaned over a little to rest her head on him. "Thank you. This is amazing."

It was even nicer that he enjoyed being here as well. He wasn't just doing it for her, he truly loved it himself. Nell couldn't imagine ever being truly at peace somewhere if the person she was with wasn't enjoying themselves as well.

[sword_chocobro]

"And after that," Gladio pointed out, shifting a little so that there was more of him for her to comfortably lean on. After all, he had all that good real estate, might as well put it to good use!, "we'll have a good sunrise to look forward to, too."

Although really? If he was going to sleep in on occasion, this was definitely the kind of place he'd be willing to do so in.

"And you're welcome," he said, smiling that pleased, proud, content smile again. "Happy belated birthday. Sorry we couldn't do this earlier."

[mylandmyrules]

"Mmmmm... Sunrise overlooking all this beauty," Nell said happily. Neither of them was really the sleeping in type, but from the look of the place they'd even be able to enjoy the beauty of it all from the bed.

"It's perfect just as it is, just at this time," Nell said. "I'm sure it was meant to be this way. Besides, when else would we have gotten to argue over who got to make the oatmeal?"

[sword_chocobro]

"Gods," Gladio snorted a laugh, shaking his head, "I was such a brat as a kid...:

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed. "And I was awful stubborn. Got me into lots of trouble."

[sword_chocobro]

"See, now," Gladio said, with a small chuckle and a little shift like a nudge, his voice filled with fondness, "that's the big difference, though. You still are stubborn."

[mylandmyrules]

"I am, yes," Nell said unrepentantly. "Thank heavens."

[sword_chocobro]

And, well, that response just meant Gladio's broadening grin also came with an arm wrapping around Nell to give her a little squeeze. "Thank heavens," he agreed in a pleased echo, and maybe just a small, grateful kind of sigh. Because, really, what else could be said to that? That he hadn't already said plenty of time before? So he was content, in that moment, to just enjoy it and the fact that they'd finally gotten the chance to do this, and that they still had the whole weekend out here in front of them.

[mylandmyrules]

After some time Nell, still snuggled up against Gladio, opened her eyes and sighed contentedly. "Okay. The land is happy and I'm even happier. But now I'm a little chilly so either I need to put on something a little warmer or we need to get moving a little."

[sword_chocobro]

"Wanna go explore down the other side of the mountain a little?" Gladio offered, definitely feeling like he could easily squeeze in another hike. "Maybe grab a quick bite to refuel, head out, see if we can't find a good spot for a nice campfire? This time of year, I wouldn't be surprised if we pretty much have the whole place to ourselves."

[mylandmyrules]

"That sounds wonderful," Nell said. "And you're right, there's almost no other people anywhere around. We have this part of the mountain all to ourselves!"

She leaned in for a quick kiss, then stood to brush herself off and fold up the blanket - once he was up, of course. "Time for an adventure!"

[sword_chocobro]

Although it would be kind of interesting to see her trying to fold up the blanet with Gladio still on it! But it didn't take him much to get back up to his feet, taking a thoughtful look around as if considering the potential paths ahead of them as he habitually brushed at his pants and his butt as if he'd have maybe gotten dirt on them, even though the blanket, clearly, prevented anything like that from happening. It was just a reflex more than anything.

"So," he grinned over at her, "who's gonna take the lead?"

[mylandmyrules]

"That depends," she said with a smile. "You planned all this, so you might know of some good places to go. I know where the animals are."