Romancing the Holy Whatsis Part 2
May. 15th, 2006 06:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xp_daytripper posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
xp_logsDinner follows this meeting. And things continue to get exciting.
"I think our best option is to take a boat down the Ganges to Kanpur and from there catch the train to the border. Once in Nepal, we should be able to pose as foreign adventurer types wishing to climb the local mountains - there's so many teeming Nepal that it's not likely to garner suspicion and you at least look fit enough to fit the part," Stephen explained quietly in between mouthfuls of food.
They were in the hotel's restaurant, Wanda pointing out that establishing his role as her 'boy toy' would be fair more effective if they were seen together. Although he personally thought it was more likely for him to have picked up her than the other way around. It was unlikely he'd be recognised, she argued, cleaned up and dressed in the light linen suit she'd acquired for him. She'd even trimmed his hair, which had been getting shaggy during his weeks of flight. He had to admit, he was enjoying the notoriety of his assumed role - and the company. It made him realise how much he had desperately missed her. "It's a roundabout way, but safer, I think. If anything the diversion should put my pursuers off the trail."
"I hate boats," Wanda sighed, sipping her wine as she studied him when he wasn't looking. The tan suited him, she thought with a smile, waving off the waiter. She wasn't sure if he looked confused because of the two of them or just her. Even in clothes that better fit the region and the people around her, she still looked slightly out of place. "But most of the time no one asks for ID when you board a boat. And those that follow are looking for a single person, not two, which will help. I will drop someone at the mansion a call on my 'work' cell phone to let them know I am still on vacation and probably have a few of my things shipped back ahead of me. I highly doubt we're going to need a dozen brightly colored shawls that I somehow managed to buy without realizing it." Despite the danger that was out there, she was finding herself relaxing in ways she hadn't been able to since he'd left.
He chuckled a little. "Not unless you plan to use them to blind any pursuit by wrapping them around their heads or something," he said, slowing down on the food now the immediate need was satisfied. He hadn't had a lot of time for eating in the past week either. "The boat trip itself shouldn't take more than a few days, and like you say, it's best for travelling with no questions asked." Taking a sip of water, he cleared his throat a little nervously. "I have to say... This brings back old times."
Wanda's fingers squeezed the wine glass suddenly and she forced herself to relax. For once in the entire time she had known Stephen, she had no idea where he stood about her or their relationship... former and current. The memory of their first date surfaced in her mind and her face softened. "Yes, it does, doesn't it? It feels like it's been forever."
"I wish..." Stephen cut off the thought. "It's been hard on you," he said instead. "And I'm sorry for that."
She barely resisted the urge to kick him. "We both knew it was going to be hard when you left," Wanda said firmly but softly. "I told you back then not to apologize, this situation isn't your fault."
"I know, it's just..." Stephen sighed. "I don't want to hurt you again, Wanda, but I want you to know... Seeing you, like this, it makes me want any number of things I don't think I have a right to any more. And I don't want to put you in that position again, where I hurt you." He dropped his eyes to his plate, wondering why he was saying this. Hadn't he made a plan?
Wanda blinked at him and put the wine glass down. Without really thinking about it, she reached across the table and took his free hand in hers. "Maybe I want to be put back in that position again," she said roughly, voice unsteady. "I have missed you, Stephen, I have missed us."
Oh God, she was not going to cry.
"You have no idea how much I..." he said, or at least began to. Movement caught his eye behind her head and he stilled, squeezing her hand. "How well can you run in what you're wearing?" he asked, not changing his tone at all. "Because the man behind you has a gun under his jacket and he's coming this way rather purposefully."
"Thank God I wore slacks and comfortables shoes under this," Wanda replied, not bothering to look behind her. Accidently dropping a napkin on their joined hands, she shook her sleeve down further on her free one. "This is going to get interesting very quickly."
There was a dull flash of red, hidden by various cloths, and she squeezed his hand tightly and watched. A waiter going to the next table suddenly stumbled, feet tangling up in a purse that had just been set down on the ground. With a curse, he fumbled the dishes in his hands and sent a rain of soup and hot items down on their table and those around them. A perfect distraction as suddenly everyone was up and yelling.
It was a thing of beauty, it really was. Stephen sat stunned for a moment until Wanda tugged on his hand, urging him up. "Another reason I love you," he said with a grin, taking the lead and pulling Wanda towards the kitchens at a half-jog. "This way - they'll be waiting out the front." They raced past bemused staff, Stephen shouting apologies in Hindi as they went, until they hit the back door and spilled out into another alley, this one considerably less garbage and filth-strewn than the last one they'd found themselves in. There was a shout as the door closed behind them, and two more men ran towards them, waving wicked-looking machetes.
"Perhaps the front would have been a better idea," Stephen muttered, raising his hand palm-outwards towards them and saying a string of words that sounded vaguely Hebrew to Wanda. There was a sensation of pressure and a wavering of reality - the men ran into an invisible barrier and were flung backwards. "Ow," the magician said with a wince. "I really loathe that spell, but it's so very handy."
Wasting no time, Wanda grabbed his hand again with a small smile. "I'm glad I wasn't looking at the strings when you did that," she said, tugging him down the other end of the alley. "We have to get back to the hotel room, at least for a few seconds. There are things I cannot leave there." Most of it could be left behind and then word sent to the hotel staff to ship, she was thankfully paid up with them so there was no worries there. But they would need the money and she was loathe to leave her brand new knife set.
They hesitated at the entry way and glanced out into the bustling crowd. This was where it could get more dangerous. "I always did say you made my life more interesting," she wryly remarked and squeezed his hand. "And that's why I love you."
'That wasn't as hard as it was before,' Wanda thought, not letting Stephen have much time to react as they merged with the crowds. They had more or less danced around that particular issue towards the end of their relationship and she'd never been less than honest with him regarding her issues with opening herself up that completely. Amazing what seperation and danger would do to one's hang ups.
He would have argued against going back to her room - it was too dangerous, in his estimation - but she was right, there were things they needed like money and papers. He carried everything he needed in a money belt, but he was mourning the loss of several books left in his own room. All that, however, was forgotten as she said the words, and he couldn't help the broad smile even as they ducked through the crowds and back into the foyer. There was another shout as they reached the stairs, one of the bell hops pointing them out to the men from the restaurant.
"Damnation," he said, following Wanda as she ran up the stairs, two at a time. He was in reasonable shape, but he was starting to feel the effort. "Remind me... to go to... the gym more often... when we get back."
"I'd say something witty about that's what sex is for but I do not think I have the time." Slamming the door shut behind them, Wanda immediately grabbed for the worn satchel in the closet. It was her carry-on bag and the one that had the capacity for holding a lot more than it looked like it should.
Practised, smooth motions accompanied her dumping out the needless articles and replacing them with much more urgent things. "It was rather ironic that I bought these the other day," she murmured, stuffing the knives deep into the bag, though she did slip a few into her outfit. Just in case. There, nothing that could not be purchased at a later date and everything she needed to survive whatever was to come.
Glancing over at him, she grinned. "Sadly, I think we may have to exit stage left..." Wanda jerked a thumb towards the windows.
He nodded from his position against the door just as there was a heavy thump on the other side. Someone hurling themselves against it. "I think you might be right," he said, just as a machete blade cut through the thin wood by his ear. Stephen barely repressed an unmanly squeak. "Stage left it is," he agreed, flinging himself away from the door. "I take it you have a plan to avoid going splat?" They were on the first floor - luckily New Delhi didn't go for high-rises.
"Blast and here I was hoping you'd have an idea." Reaching the balcony, Wanda peered over and frowned. The drop wasn't one that would kill them but it could hurt and an injury would mean getting caught. But something caught her eye and she grinned. "Thank you efficient cleaning crews."
Reaching back through the sliding doors, she grabbed Stephen by the arm and tugged him out. "Look," she said, pointing down and to the left. "A very large pile of discarded laundry that someone was going to be doing. We can drop onto that with less chance of harm."
Behind them there was another thump on the door and the sound of wood splintering. Not really time to debate the pros and cons of the situation. "We don't seem to have much of a choice," he said nervously, even as his stomach flip-flopped at the idea of jumping. He hated heights. Another thump and a shout. Looking back, he saw their pursuers had managed to cut a fist-sized hole in the door and someone's arm was reaching through, groping for the lock. He swore under his breath and glanced at Wanda. "Here goes," he said, and jumped into empty space, eyes tightly closed. If he was going to hit the pavement, he didn't want to know.
With less hesitation, Wanda followed suit and barely managed to avoid landing on Stephen as a result of the fall. But they both had landed true and the bags eased the pain of the landing. More used to falling than he was, she was on her feet faster and had already grabbed him by the hand to tug him away from their pursuers.
"Where to now?" she asked as they ran. She was fresh out of ideas, the hotel had been her only connection to the country they were in. When she said she wanted to go somewhere new, she never played around. But that was not playing in their advantage and they needed a game plan. They could only run for so long before they got caught.
"Down here," Stephen said, hobbling a little as he got his breath back - he'd knocked the wind out of himself when he'd landed. He took the next street they came across, then another and another, apparently at random. "I think it will be best if we leave New Delhi as soon as possible - we'll head for the river, I know someone who will take us on board his fishing boat with minimal questions." With a slightly embarrassed grin, he added: "I did him something of a favour back when I was here in my student days."
A laugh escaped suddenly at that. "I will have to remember to ask about that when we are not running for our lives." Hopefully that would be sooner rather than later. Wanda wrinkled her nose slightly as they crossed another street, it was obvious they were nearing the harbor as the entire place was starting to smell slightly of fish.
It took a few more minutes of dodging this way and that before Stephen even began to slow down and she was able to see the water in a short distance.
"Believe me, we'll have plenty of time for stories once we're on the river," Stephen replied, slowing down to a walk so they didn't attract attention - the river docks were like the market quarter, teeming with people going about their daily business. Stephen steered Wanda towards the river's bank, glancing back every so often to make sure they'd thrown off the pursuit. So far, so good, but he wouldn't bank on someone not selling them out so the less time they spent here the better. "I just hope Ramajhan's not halfway down the Ganges right now."
His concerns were short-lived, however, as a familiar prow came into view between several other fishing boats. On board the rather dilapidated looking boat was a small Indian man about Stephen's age, busy stacking full boxes of fish on the deck. He looked up as Stephen hailed him in Hindi, a broad grin appearing on his brown face. "Mr. Stephen!" he exclaimed, climbing down onto the dock to embrace the much taller Westerner. "My friend! It is good to see you. And is this your lovely wife?"
It was, Wanda thought, a good thing she knew how to deal with things on the fly. As Stephen's friend turned to shake her hand, she couldn't help but grin at the reddening expression he had. "I'm Wanda." Shaking hands, she very simply left the explanation out of her hands, neither confirming nor denying the implication. Either way, it was going to be an amusing response.
"You should marry her, make you a fine wife," Ramajahn said, taking a little too much pleasure in Stephen's blushing. In response, the magician looked the way they had come and blanched a little.
"Ramajhan? We're in a spot of bother and I'd really appreciate it if you could take us up the river a spell? With hiding us now included in the package?"
Fortunately Ramajhan's English extended beyond the tourist. "Hide? Yes, yes, of course, you come with me." He beckoned them onto the boat which was in a better state than initially appeared. "You hide under here, no-one look for you," he continued, holding up the end of a pile of fishing nets. Stephen looked helplessly at Wanda.
"It's going to be a bit on the fragrant state I'm afraid," he said, as sudden movement in the crowds along the docks indicated their pursuers weren't so easily shaken off.
Slipping off her back pack, Wanda stuffed it under the nets before sighing. "I think I can handle the smell," she said with a wan grin. Going under proved to be a bit of a tight fit and she curled her legs under her as Stephen settled in next to her. When Ramajhan dropped the netting back over them, she closed her eyes as the light disappeared and the smell grew worse.
The incident with Cthton hadn't made her entirely claustrophic but it had made her incredibly wary of being stuck in a place she couldn't get out of. And from the sounds of the sudden voices that were very close, they really couldn't afford to leave. Not bothering to reopen her eyes, she settled for pressing into Stephen's side and trying to breathe through her mouth.
Stephen could feel the tension in the woman pressed so very close to him, and groped carefully for her hand. Ramajhan was busy telling someone he hadn't seen any foreigners, thank you very much and would they leave a busy man to earn his living now? There was some back-and-forth and then there was the sound of footsteps approaching their hiding place. Stephen gripped Wanda's hand tighter.
"They are to be going now," Ramajhan's voice said quietly as the fisherman busied himself with some fishing pots next to the pile of nets. "But I think they will be watching to see if you are here. Time to be taking a trip, yes?"
"Can you get us to Kanpur?"Stephen replied, like Wanda breathing through his mouth - the smell of fish was overpowering. "We'll be able to continue on from there." Ramajhan hesitated a little, and he added in Hindi. "~I'll compensate you for the lost work.~"
"~You are my friend, I cannot expect you to...~" Ramajhan's protest was token, however - life was hard for him and his family. "Please to be staying there until I say it is safe." There was the sound of his bare feet on the deck moving towards the engines, and Stephen relaxed as well as he could in their cramped space, moving his head slightly so he could talk in Wanda's ear. Her hair tickled his face.
"Not exactly five star travel, but he'll take us to Kanpur safely," he murmured. "Once we're out of Delhi we'll be able to come out. Are you all right?"
"For now," Wanda replied, forcing herself to count to twenty and then back down. "I'm not fond of spaces I cannot get out of and it will be a while before I am." That and she really didn't like boats all that much. It was harder to get off of a boat and go where one pleased than it was a car or a horse. For the same reasons, planes were not high up on her list of fun things to ride in.
When the boat jerked slightly under them, indiciating movement, she forced herself to relax and tried to focus on Stephen's hand she was holding, his presence and meditating. That would help. Hopefully.
"I don't think there's many who are," he said, running his thumb over the back of Wanda's hand soothingly. Her tension was screaming at him through her aura and he cast around for something to take her mind off things. "I meant it, you know," he found himself saying. "When I said I loved you. Things are still difficult in terms of being together, but I wanted you to know that at least."
Allowing herself to move her head slightly so she could pillow it on Stephen's shoulder, Wanda took a deep breath--mouth only still--and smiled a little bit. "I... I know. As did I. And, honestly, I would rather be here with you, despite the horrendous smell, than anywhere else right now."
The absurdity of the situation struck him, and he struggled not to burst into laughter. Fishing net piles didn't laugh. "Me too," he said, resting his cheek against her hair. "And once this is over, how about the two of us take some time for us? Tell all those stories?"
The very idea cheered her up immediately and she grinned. "I believe, Dr. Strange, you have yourself a deal. I think by the end of this I will need a vacation from this vacation."
Wanda paused.
"And a bath."
"I think our best option is to take a boat down the Ganges to Kanpur and from there catch the train to the border. Once in Nepal, we should be able to pose as foreign adventurer types wishing to climb the local mountains - there's so many teeming Nepal that it's not likely to garner suspicion and you at least look fit enough to fit the part," Stephen explained quietly in between mouthfuls of food.
They were in the hotel's restaurant, Wanda pointing out that establishing his role as her 'boy toy' would be fair more effective if they were seen together. Although he personally thought it was more likely for him to have picked up her than the other way around. It was unlikely he'd be recognised, she argued, cleaned up and dressed in the light linen suit she'd acquired for him. She'd even trimmed his hair, which had been getting shaggy during his weeks of flight. He had to admit, he was enjoying the notoriety of his assumed role - and the company. It made him realise how much he had desperately missed her. "It's a roundabout way, but safer, I think. If anything the diversion should put my pursuers off the trail."
"I hate boats," Wanda sighed, sipping her wine as she studied him when he wasn't looking. The tan suited him, she thought with a smile, waving off the waiter. She wasn't sure if he looked confused because of the two of them or just her. Even in clothes that better fit the region and the people around her, she still looked slightly out of place. "But most of the time no one asks for ID when you board a boat. And those that follow are looking for a single person, not two, which will help. I will drop someone at the mansion a call on my 'work' cell phone to let them know I am still on vacation and probably have a few of my things shipped back ahead of me. I highly doubt we're going to need a dozen brightly colored shawls that I somehow managed to buy without realizing it." Despite the danger that was out there, she was finding herself relaxing in ways she hadn't been able to since he'd left.
He chuckled a little. "Not unless you plan to use them to blind any pursuit by wrapping them around their heads or something," he said, slowing down on the food now the immediate need was satisfied. He hadn't had a lot of time for eating in the past week either. "The boat trip itself shouldn't take more than a few days, and like you say, it's best for travelling with no questions asked." Taking a sip of water, he cleared his throat a little nervously. "I have to say... This brings back old times."
Wanda's fingers squeezed the wine glass suddenly and she forced herself to relax. For once in the entire time she had known Stephen, she had no idea where he stood about her or their relationship... former and current. The memory of their first date surfaced in her mind and her face softened. "Yes, it does, doesn't it? It feels like it's been forever."
"I wish..." Stephen cut off the thought. "It's been hard on you," he said instead. "And I'm sorry for that."
She barely resisted the urge to kick him. "We both knew it was going to be hard when you left," Wanda said firmly but softly. "I told you back then not to apologize, this situation isn't your fault."
"I know, it's just..." Stephen sighed. "I don't want to hurt you again, Wanda, but I want you to know... Seeing you, like this, it makes me want any number of things I don't think I have a right to any more. And I don't want to put you in that position again, where I hurt you." He dropped his eyes to his plate, wondering why he was saying this. Hadn't he made a plan?
Wanda blinked at him and put the wine glass down. Without really thinking about it, she reached across the table and took his free hand in hers. "Maybe I want to be put back in that position again," she said roughly, voice unsteady. "I have missed you, Stephen, I have missed us."
Oh God, she was not going to cry.
"You have no idea how much I..." he said, or at least began to. Movement caught his eye behind her head and he stilled, squeezing her hand. "How well can you run in what you're wearing?" he asked, not changing his tone at all. "Because the man behind you has a gun under his jacket and he's coming this way rather purposefully."
"Thank God I wore slacks and comfortables shoes under this," Wanda replied, not bothering to look behind her. Accidently dropping a napkin on their joined hands, she shook her sleeve down further on her free one. "This is going to get interesting very quickly."
There was a dull flash of red, hidden by various cloths, and she squeezed his hand tightly and watched. A waiter going to the next table suddenly stumbled, feet tangling up in a purse that had just been set down on the ground. With a curse, he fumbled the dishes in his hands and sent a rain of soup and hot items down on their table and those around them. A perfect distraction as suddenly everyone was up and yelling.
It was a thing of beauty, it really was. Stephen sat stunned for a moment until Wanda tugged on his hand, urging him up. "Another reason I love you," he said with a grin, taking the lead and pulling Wanda towards the kitchens at a half-jog. "This way - they'll be waiting out the front." They raced past bemused staff, Stephen shouting apologies in Hindi as they went, until they hit the back door and spilled out into another alley, this one considerably less garbage and filth-strewn than the last one they'd found themselves in. There was a shout as the door closed behind them, and two more men ran towards them, waving wicked-looking machetes.
"Perhaps the front would have been a better idea," Stephen muttered, raising his hand palm-outwards towards them and saying a string of words that sounded vaguely Hebrew to Wanda. There was a sensation of pressure and a wavering of reality - the men ran into an invisible barrier and were flung backwards. "Ow," the magician said with a wince. "I really loathe that spell, but it's so very handy."
Wasting no time, Wanda grabbed his hand again with a small smile. "I'm glad I wasn't looking at the strings when you did that," she said, tugging him down the other end of the alley. "We have to get back to the hotel room, at least for a few seconds. There are things I cannot leave there." Most of it could be left behind and then word sent to the hotel staff to ship, she was thankfully paid up with them so there was no worries there. But they would need the money and she was loathe to leave her brand new knife set.
They hesitated at the entry way and glanced out into the bustling crowd. This was where it could get more dangerous. "I always did say you made my life more interesting," she wryly remarked and squeezed his hand. "And that's why I love you."
'That wasn't as hard as it was before,' Wanda thought, not letting Stephen have much time to react as they merged with the crowds. They had more or less danced around that particular issue towards the end of their relationship and she'd never been less than honest with him regarding her issues with opening herself up that completely. Amazing what seperation and danger would do to one's hang ups.
He would have argued against going back to her room - it was too dangerous, in his estimation - but she was right, there were things they needed like money and papers. He carried everything he needed in a money belt, but he was mourning the loss of several books left in his own room. All that, however, was forgotten as she said the words, and he couldn't help the broad smile even as they ducked through the crowds and back into the foyer. There was another shout as they reached the stairs, one of the bell hops pointing them out to the men from the restaurant.
"Damnation," he said, following Wanda as she ran up the stairs, two at a time. He was in reasonable shape, but he was starting to feel the effort. "Remind me... to go to... the gym more often... when we get back."
"I'd say something witty about that's what sex is for but I do not think I have the time." Slamming the door shut behind them, Wanda immediately grabbed for the worn satchel in the closet. It was her carry-on bag and the one that had the capacity for holding a lot more than it looked like it should.
Practised, smooth motions accompanied her dumping out the needless articles and replacing them with much more urgent things. "It was rather ironic that I bought these the other day," she murmured, stuffing the knives deep into the bag, though she did slip a few into her outfit. Just in case. There, nothing that could not be purchased at a later date and everything she needed to survive whatever was to come.
Glancing over at him, she grinned. "Sadly, I think we may have to exit stage left..." Wanda jerked a thumb towards the windows.
He nodded from his position against the door just as there was a heavy thump on the other side. Someone hurling themselves against it. "I think you might be right," he said, just as a machete blade cut through the thin wood by his ear. Stephen barely repressed an unmanly squeak. "Stage left it is," he agreed, flinging himself away from the door. "I take it you have a plan to avoid going splat?" They were on the first floor - luckily New Delhi didn't go for high-rises.
"Blast and here I was hoping you'd have an idea." Reaching the balcony, Wanda peered over and frowned. The drop wasn't one that would kill them but it could hurt and an injury would mean getting caught. But something caught her eye and she grinned. "Thank you efficient cleaning crews."
Reaching back through the sliding doors, she grabbed Stephen by the arm and tugged him out. "Look," she said, pointing down and to the left. "A very large pile of discarded laundry that someone was going to be doing. We can drop onto that with less chance of harm."
Behind them there was another thump on the door and the sound of wood splintering. Not really time to debate the pros and cons of the situation. "We don't seem to have much of a choice," he said nervously, even as his stomach flip-flopped at the idea of jumping. He hated heights. Another thump and a shout. Looking back, he saw their pursuers had managed to cut a fist-sized hole in the door and someone's arm was reaching through, groping for the lock. He swore under his breath and glanced at Wanda. "Here goes," he said, and jumped into empty space, eyes tightly closed. If he was going to hit the pavement, he didn't want to know.
With less hesitation, Wanda followed suit and barely managed to avoid landing on Stephen as a result of the fall. But they both had landed true and the bags eased the pain of the landing. More used to falling than he was, she was on her feet faster and had already grabbed him by the hand to tug him away from their pursuers.
"Where to now?" she asked as they ran. She was fresh out of ideas, the hotel had been her only connection to the country they were in. When she said she wanted to go somewhere new, she never played around. But that was not playing in their advantage and they needed a game plan. They could only run for so long before they got caught.
"Down here," Stephen said, hobbling a little as he got his breath back - he'd knocked the wind out of himself when he'd landed. He took the next street they came across, then another and another, apparently at random. "I think it will be best if we leave New Delhi as soon as possible - we'll head for the river, I know someone who will take us on board his fishing boat with minimal questions." With a slightly embarrassed grin, he added: "I did him something of a favour back when I was here in my student days."
A laugh escaped suddenly at that. "I will have to remember to ask about that when we are not running for our lives." Hopefully that would be sooner rather than later. Wanda wrinkled her nose slightly as they crossed another street, it was obvious they were nearing the harbor as the entire place was starting to smell slightly of fish.
It took a few more minutes of dodging this way and that before Stephen even began to slow down and she was able to see the water in a short distance.
"Believe me, we'll have plenty of time for stories once we're on the river," Stephen replied, slowing down to a walk so they didn't attract attention - the river docks were like the market quarter, teeming with people going about their daily business. Stephen steered Wanda towards the river's bank, glancing back every so often to make sure they'd thrown off the pursuit. So far, so good, but he wouldn't bank on someone not selling them out so the less time they spent here the better. "I just hope Ramajhan's not halfway down the Ganges right now."
His concerns were short-lived, however, as a familiar prow came into view between several other fishing boats. On board the rather dilapidated looking boat was a small Indian man about Stephen's age, busy stacking full boxes of fish on the deck. He looked up as Stephen hailed him in Hindi, a broad grin appearing on his brown face. "Mr. Stephen!" he exclaimed, climbing down onto the dock to embrace the much taller Westerner. "My friend! It is good to see you. And is this your lovely wife?"
It was, Wanda thought, a good thing she knew how to deal with things on the fly. As Stephen's friend turned to shake her hand, she couldn't help but grin at the reddening expression he had. "I'm Wanda." Shaking hands, she very simply left the explanation out of her hands, neither confirming nor denying the implication. Either way, it was going to be an amusing response.
"You should marry her, make you a fine wife," Ramajahn said, taking a little too much pleasure in Stephen's blushing. In response, the magician looked the way they had come and blanched a little.
"Ramajhan? We're in a spot of bother and I'd really appreciate it if you could take us up the river a spell? With hiding us now included in the package?"
Fortunately Ramajhan's English extended beyond the tourist. "Hide? Yes, yes, of course, you come with me." He beckoned them onto the boat which was in a better state than initially appeared. "You hide under here, no-one look for you," he continued, holding up the end of a pile of fishing nets. Stephen looked helplessly at Wanda.
"It's going to be a bit on the fragrant state I'm afraid," he said, as sudden movement in the crowds along the docks indicated their pursuers weren't so easily shaken off.
Slipping off her back pack, Wanda stuffed it under the nets before sighing. "I think I can handle the smell," she said with a wan grin. Going under proved to be a bit of a tight fit and she curled her legs under her as Stephen settled in next to her. When Ramajhan dropped the netting back over them, she closed her eyes as the light disappeared and the smell grew worse.
The incident with Cthton hadn't made her entirely claustrophic but it had made her incredibly wary of being stuck in a place she couldn't get out of. And from the sounds of the sudden voices that were very close, they really couldn't afford to leave. Not bothering to reopen her eyes, she settled for pressing into Stephen's side and trying to breathe through her mouth.
Stephen could feel the tension in the woman pressed so very close to him, and groped carefully for her hand. Ramajhan was busy telling someone he hadn't seen any foreigners, thank you very much and would they leave a busy man to earn his living now? There was some back-and-forth and then there was the sound of footsteps approaching their hiding place. Stephen gripped Wanda's hand tighter.
"They are to be going now," Ramajhan's voice said quietly as the fisherman busied himself with some fishing pots next to the pile of nets. "But I think they will be watching to see if you are here. Time to be taking a trip, yes?"
"Can you get us to Kanpur?"Stephen replied, like Wanda breathing through his mouth - the smell of fish was overpowering. "We'll be able to continue on from there." Ramajhan hesitated a little, and he added in Hindi. "~I'll compensate you for the lost work.~"
"~You are my friend, I cannot expect you to...~" Ramajhan's protest was token, however - life was hard for him and his family. "Please to be staying there until I say it is safe." There was the sound of his bare feet on the deck moving towards the engines, and Stephen relaxed as well as he could in their cramped space, moving his head slightly so he could talk in Wanda's ear. Her hair tickled his face.
"Not exactly five star travel, but he'll take us to Kanpur safely," he murmured. "Once we're out of Delhi we'll be able to come out. Are you all right?"
"For now," Wanda replied, forcing herself to count to twenty and then back down. "I'm not fond of spaces I cannot get out of and it will be a while before I am." That and she really didn't like boats all that much. It was harder to get off of a boat and go where one pleased than it was a car or a horse. For the same reasons, planes were not high up on her list of fun things to ride in.
When the boat jerked slightly under them, indiciating movement, she forced herself to relax and tried to focus on Stephen's hand she was holding, his presence and meditating. That would help. Hopefully.
"I don't think there's many who are," he said, running his thumb over the back of Wanda's hand soothingly. Her tension was screaming at him through her aura and he cast around for something to take her mind off things. "I meant it, you know," he found himself saying. "When I said I loved you. Things are still difficult in terms of being together, but I wanted you to know that at least."
Allowing herself to move her head slightly so she could pillow it on Stephen's shoulder, Wanda took a deep breath--mouth only still--and smiled a little bit. "I... I know. As did I. And, honestly, I would rather be here with you, despite the horrendous smell, than anywhere else right now."
The absurdity of the situation struck him, and he struggled not to burst into laughter. Fishing net piles didn't laugh. "Me too," he said, resting his cheek against her hair. "And once this is over, how about the two of us take some time for us? Tell all those stories?"
The very idea cheered her up immediately and she grinned. "I believe, Dr. Strange, you have yourself a deal. I think by the end of this I will need a vacation from this vacation."
Wanda paused.
"And a bath."
