Issue 1 Downtime

In the end, they actually hadn't gone to Bobby's shop. Instead, Lucy had reasoned that she'd always done her exploring without a car, so why should they get tied to one now? So instead, she'd practically dragged Bobby to the train station, and chatted at him happily on the not-quite-long train to Dover.

When they got there, she stood next to him as they looked at the cliffs. "Wow," she said, a bit surprised. "They really are white."

Bobby nodded, equally impressed.

Stretching his torso up a bit, he got a slightly more elevated look at the chalky expanse.

"I read about how invading armies from Europe were stopped by the mere sight of this.. Wow.."

"I always thought it was just a title, like 'the Red Baron' or something," she said thoughtfully. "Huh."

"Well, let's find a place to camp, then! I want to camp up at the top, because it'll have a good view! And we've got lots of time to get there, and then we can get something to eat!"

Bobby returned to normal proportions, and smirked.

"Maybe we should find some food first?"

Lucy scrunched up her nose as she thought about it. "That might make sense," she admitted. "So we go eat and then we find somewhere to camp! As long as you want to eat? I mean, I don't want to make you sit and stare at food again if you're not, we can totally just come back for food later if that'd work better!"

Bobby grinned, taking her hand.

"We'll go back up the shore a little bit, and get some food. And I promise I won't just stare at it. On my honor."

"Good!" she said cheerfully. The town... honestly, didn't have a lot of places to eat, but they found a good enough place, and Lucy started happily munching her fish and chips. "Y'know, when you're on the coast, right by the sea, ya'd think that the fish would taste different, right?" she said thoughtfully. "Maybe that just means that London fish is really good too, though? Because I don't think I've had fish farther in, so maybe that's it."

"This fish is really good," Bobby agreed.

"Maybe next week, we go as far north as we can, and try the fish there. for science, of course!"

popping some chips into his mouth he looked across the table at Lucy, then out towards the English Channel, and reflected on the past few days.

"Ooooh! We should go to the Water District! It's soooo pretty up there and I never got to paint there so that'd be reeeeally nice, and we can fish! I think! I don't know? Maybe we could fish there! Do you know how to fish? You could teach me!"

"I can't fish, sorry! But I'm sure we could find an old salt of the sea type guy to teach us."

Bobby laughed, amazed at Lucy's unpredictability.

"Nah, we can just buy some fish. Fishermen are kind of weird, they're always all 'Oy, poppet, you can't swim in that lake, you're scaring the fish!' or 'Oy! Girl! You hot? Just kip in the lake, you don't need a suit!' I mean, make up your minds what the rules are!"

Bobby shook his head and smiled, remembering the scene in the bar just a few short hours ago.

"We'll figure it out. Now let me get this straight.. you're Chloe's sister, but not quite? And you didn't know about being a bird until just a few months ago?"

Oh bugger. Was this going to turn into another 'So... can you introduce me to Chloe' debacle? "Well... I was born in another world, but we don't really pay attention to that much because it's not important. And I've been practicing my flying! I'll be as good as she is after I practice enough!" She said hopefully.

"Eh, you're pretty awesome right now. Lucy."

Smiling, he gave her a friendly poke.

"We should go do some flying at the cliffs when we are done."

She grinned, resisting the urge to giggle (barely) as he poked her. "Silly, you're too heavy for me to carry. Why do you think all I keep on is a bikini? Budgies are tiny!"

Bobby winked.

"Hey, I'm a shifter too. I've been practicing a few moves."

"Ohh! Well, okay then! Will you be able to stay up here, or is it kind of a 'glide to the ground, thing?" she asked, rummaging around the area of her lap again. "Because it's okay if it is!" she said brightly pulling out a long coil of rope.

Bobby laughed at that.

"Well, we'll keep the rope in reserve. Just in case."

"Oh, good. Never though I'd get a use for this. Bloke from Manchester gave it to me, said he'd show me how to use it if I came over that night, but I told him I already knew. I mean, who doesn't know how to use rope, right?"

Bobby choked a little bit at that, as water came out of his nose.

"I'm ok, I'm ok.." He said, stifling a chuckle.

"Is your food bad?" she asked, sounding worried. "Because I can go make them give you new food!"

"No, some water just went down the wrong pipe..."

Bobby quickly got his napkin, and wiped off the excess water.

"I just want you to know, Lucy. This has been a great day so far." he added, with a smile.

"Awwww... good! I'm glad! You're a lot more fun when you aren't pouting with a shot of booze you aren't going to drink!"

Finishing up, Bobby put a few pound notes on the counter.

"Back to the cliffs, then?"

"Uh-huh! We need to find a good place to camp!" she said brightly. And as she stood up, she slung a big bagged tent over her shoulder.

"Need some help with that?" He asked, smiling in amazement.

"Huh? Oh, maybe later. I just wanted to get it out while I had the chance. You can carry it later if you want, though!"

After a while of hiking and talking and getting to know each other a bit more, they came to a nice camping location at the top of the cliffs, close to the treeline.

After the tent had been setup and the camp had been cleared up a bit, Bobby sat down and took a nice glance out across the English Channel. Even on the slightly hazy day, the shoreline of France was visible in the distance.

"Wow.."

"Hmm? Oh! That's pretty!" Lucy said, setting down the sleeping bag she'd been about to put in the tent and walking over. "Now that's something to look at," she said, nodding sagely.

"Sometimes I forget the beauty of the land, being in London for so long."

"Silly," Lucy said. "You don't get out of the city? Why not? Everything's more fun out here!"

Bobby nodded, turning her way.

"I've got a business now, along with the problems and stuff that brings. I guess I haven't made any time."

"Now why would you make yourself that busy? You're young! When are you supposed to enjoy things!" she giggled.

"Well, I'm enjoying things right this very moment! It's a start!"

Smiling, he scooted next to her.

Lucy just grined and leaned against him, too. Sure, she might not be the pretty twin (triplet) or the hot twin (triplet), but she had the cute boy right now. So ha ha, take that, pretty and hot twins.

Standing up, Bobby grinned.

'C'mon. Let's go flying."

Lucy pouted at him. "Well... okay, if you want," she said. And without giving him a chance to rethink it, she turned into a bird, leaving her hoodie and shorts behind.

Bobby took off his top, leaving on a pair of unstable molecule pants.

Taking a few deep breaths and arm swings, he ran full speed for the edge of the cliff, diving off.

The little chirping budgerigar was following, flitting around on the rock face happily, and spinning rather dangerously around him.

Bobby's arms flattened and lengthened, and most of his mass was shunted to that area. After a few moments, a stable glider form emerged, and leveled out, catching an updraft before a couple startled beachcombers below.