A camping trip

[gentleman_tiger]

John hadn't been making a large issue over the fact that he was heading out camping over the weekend; he hadn't hidden it like a secret. He hadn't done any of these things because he wasn't stupid, and he was extremely good at keeping secrets

Comments

[wizard_p_i]

"Oh, okay. I see the problem, then. Thing is, when you want to make a potion, the power has to come from somewhere. Maybe some natural site that has a lot of power, like...well, like Old Faithful. Or from a site that's a focus of magical power, like Stonehenge. Or...inside. Thoughts. Will. Emotions.

"The most powerful magic comes from inside. And when you're making potions in a lab, that's generally what you've got available.

"So say you're trying to make a potion. A protection potion. All the ingredients would have to relate to protection, both by definition and in your mind. If you stuck in an ingredient that you didn't believe would protect you no matter what, believe me, it would go horribly wrong. Because it's your will, your emotions that you have to infuse the ingredients with. And will and emotions...that's you. Part of you."

He paused. "And that's why it varies from person to person. Because each person's perceptions and will and emotions and desires are different. They're as individual as fingerprints."

Much of this is paraphrased from Storm Front.

[gentleman_tiger]

"By whose definition, though?" John shook his head. "I'm afraid I'll have to watch and see."

[wizard_p_i]

"Yeah, you will." Harry grinned at him mischievously. "I think you'll enjoy it. A lot."

He put aside the brook trout for the moment and began eating the vegetable soup.

[gentleman_tiger]

John drained his, and turned his attention to the fish-- which was very good, for camp-cooking. Having butter and salt had helped immeasurably.

He stretched out his legs as he ate, stretching cramped muscles and curling his toes; his legs and feet would be sore in the morning.

[wizard_p_i]

Harry had finished eating the soup and was cheerfully polishing off the remainder of the trout.

"I think we've found another couple of foods that you can cook," he said contentedly. "You want dessert?"

[gentleman_tiger]

"You do tend to enjoy my cooking, which only lends credence to my opinion that you're insane." John peered at his bag. "You mentioned popcorn? Popcorn would go down pretty well."

[wizard_p_i]

"Now, see, you're just saying that because you haven't tasted my cooking," Harry said with a smirk. "Compared to me, you're the chef at the Waldorf.

"And sure, I brought popcorn. You want something to drink with that? Beer? Soda? Water?"

[gentleman_tiger]

"Beer and popcorn. Mister Dresden, I may have to kiss you."

[wizard_p_i]

Harry laughed as he stood up to get the popcorn from the tent and the beer from the bag in the creek. "If you do, I'll promise I'll kiss you back."

[gentleman_tiger]

John took him at his word, standing up with a suppressed wince and following him so that the taller man would turn into his arms-- and a kiss.

[wizard_p_i]

Harry walked out of the tent virtually into John's arms. Laughing, he embraced John...while trying not to hit him in the back with a large bag of popcorn kernels.

[gentleman_tiger]

A blow John would take for the cause, if it happened. He craned up and captured Harry's lips in a smug, self-satisfied kiss, just long enough to make his point.

[wizard_p_i]

And Harry kissed him back as if John were the dessert.

[gentleman_tiger]

Making a point turned-- perhaps inevitably-- into kissing his lover for all that either of them were worth, basking in warmth and affection. He might have melted slightly, although he would deny it to the death.

When he pulled back, his eyes were lidded.

"I would love you even if you couldn't kiss like that." He reached up to lay his fingers over Harry's full bottom lip. "But I am not complaining. Not even a little."

[wizard_p_i]

Harry's dark eyes were all but glowing.

"I know that you would," he said in a husky voice as he gazed down at John. "But it's amazingly good to hear. God, I love you so much. There aren't words for amounts that big."

[gentleman_tiger]

"If you were anyone else, risking everything for a romance would be unthinkable." In the light of the sunset and the fire he studied Harry's face, looking into his fathomless eyes.

"But it is you. Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. The real thing. And that being the case... the risk is not only thinkable, it is unquestionable. I have no idea how long I have needed you, but it was too long."

He blinked. "Pardon me."