fh_trips | Nihi Sumba, Sumba Island, Indonesia, Monday Evening

Libby had to laugh a little bit, at that last part, even though it did absolutely nothing to keep the grin and the blush off her face, and, look at that, with her long hair back, she could effectively hide both of those things behind it. But not for long, though, as she tucked her hair behind her ear, didn't really know what to do with the compliment, and instead just asked, "So who'd you get for a roommate this time?"

And her toes kicked a little bit in the water, mostly to give herself something else to do to stave off the urge to just scoot closer.

"Oh, I am rooming with Jo!" Kurt said with a smile. "So not too bad, and easier now that we are ourselves again."

Kurt glanced over at Libby with a smile and shifted ever so slightly and leaned over, resting his hand between them as he looked around at the still nearly unbelievable scenery.

"How about you?" he asked looking back over to Libby with a small grin.

That still unbelievable scenery sort of faded away into the background for Libby, when Kurt set down his hand in between them. A little thing, she knew, for most people, but it was now jolted to the forefront of her mind, and, after a tumultuous and terrible whirl of indecision and reluctance, she slowly lowered her own hand to gently rest on top of his.

And then let out a soft, almost sardonic sound. "TJ, actually," she admitted. "Which made yesterday a little...interesting."

"Oh, I bet... well, at least we all seem to be back to ourselves so... hopefully a little easier all around," Kurt offered with an encouraging smile.

He looked down at Libby's hand over his and felt as if the fuzz all over his body was tingling somehow. Slowly he shifted his finger under her hand so they were almost holding hands. It would always be a little awkward trying to match up three fingers to five.... but maybe they could figure it out easily enough with time. Slowly Kurt turned and looked up at Libby with a shy grin.

Well, with Kurt's hand now turned toward hers, Libby's was definitely making the best effort to make it work, slipping her fingers between his confidently.

She was a little less confident in looking at him right now, though,her head down and looking at the surface of the pool while doing a poor job of trying to rein in the rampant blushing across her face.

"Much easier," she said. "That whole thing was definitely different, wasn't it?"

"Definitely weird... weirdest thing I've been through so far. Other than the whole animal transformation thing," Kurt added with a grin.

He looked down at their hands and smiled fondly, giving Libby's hand the gentlest of squeezes. This was nice, really really nice, actually.

For such a small and gentle squeeze, that sure sent quite the little thrill all throughout Libby who, after a moment, gave a similar squeeze back.

"I think," she mused softly, "if I had to puck, though, I'd still take being a boy over being a lamb again. It was fun, but I could still do the same things I always do, as a boy. And changing back was much less awkward, too."

"True... the lack of easy communication is bit of a drawback when in animal form, isn't it?" Kurt smiled, keeping his hand still, almost afraid to move it and ruin the moment.

"So..." he ventured after a moment. "How are you liking the island so far?"

"Oh."

Just that sound and the way Libby practically melted with it would probably have been answer enough, but she shook her head and elaborated further.

"It's so beautiful, I can barely get over it. Just like with any of these trips, I can't help but marvel that there are places this incredible all around the world..."

Well, that wasn't the incredible part. It didn't surprise her at all that the Earth God created would be so filled with wonders. It was more incredible to her that anyone would think you were best serving Him by never even getting to see it and appreciate it.

"And we get to just come here and enjoy it. It's amazing...."

She finally looked over at Kurt, with a smile, a tilt of her head, and another squeeze of his hand.

"How about you? How are you liking it?"

"Oh this is the most beautiful place I have ever seen" Kurt gushed with a wide grin. "I could just sit and stare at it all and never feel like moving. And at the same time I feel like I am missing so much when I only get around to one, maybe two activities each day" he added with a small laugh as he tightened his grips slightly in return and shifted a little closer as he did, swinging his feet a little in the pool as he did.

With as much attention as she'd been spending on the space in between them, Libby felt her breath catch, just a little, when Kurt shifted closer, and without knowing if she should do the same or shift away for decency's sake, she stiffened a little as if to resolve to not move one way or the other.

"I definitely want to get in as much as I can," she said. "And then I can just come out here and relax afterward. Kind of perfect, really..."

Kurt nodded, noticing the change in how Libby was sitting and holding herself. He stared down into the pool for a moment, trying to decide what to do that would break the sudden tension before it got too bad while not making things any more awkward. He eventually turned and looked at Libby with a smile.

"Think a swim sounds pretty good before turning in. Wanna join me?" he asked as he gave her hand a slight squeeze before slowly letting go and starting to slip off the ledge and into the pool. He had debated taking off the t-shirt he was wearing but decided to keep it on... all things considered.

Libby's brain and its continued ability to function properly appreciated the discretion.

"I'm still not very good at swimming, I'm afraid," she said quietly, although it should be noted, when Kurt moved away and slipped into the pool, she may have scooted a little bit closer to the edge herself, leaning forward, as if in anticipation for just diving in herself here shortly.

"We can stay over here, in the shallower end..." Kurt offered as he ducked under the water a minute to get himself fully wet and then poked back up and stood up. "Can easily touch the bottom but still deep enough to get wet and all."

Kurt hesitated, biting his lip slightly, almost forgetting somehow that he had fangs that kept him from worrying his lips like that usually. He looked at Libby and then gave a little sigh as he reached up and held a hand up to her.

"I could help ya get a little more comfortable and all..." he offered with a smile.

The moment Kurt made the offer, Libby's face lit up with a smile, and there was no hesitation in taking his hand this time.

"I would like that," she said, now scooting forward enough to drop into the pool with him, "thank you."

Kurt smiled as he took Libby's hand and helped her in. He gave her hand another light squeeze and then started to half float, half swim as he backed away, pulling her forward a little before letting go somewhat reluctnatly.

"We'll stay here on this side till you're ready," he reminded her with an encouraging grin.

Nihi Sumba, Sumba Island, Indonesia, Monday Evening

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