Undertow — Rio and Andrew
Rio, Daughter of Bleys,
meets
Andrew, Son of Fiona
© 2004 Val Conder, Leslie Lightfoot and Simone Cooper
--Val:
Andrew would be happy to chat with Rio. He is soft-spoken, polite and a good listener. His gaze is direct, without being offensive. You would notice that he is frequently taking in what else is happening or who came in or left, but you have the bulk of his attention while you're talking. Likes to stand with his back to a wall...--Leslie:
Rio would grin at that but let it pass. It's not so very bad a thing to be doing in this company, not at all. But she'd like to know what Andrew's passion is. Not in a sounding out for a manipulative handle type of way. But just in a truly curious way. After all, Rio assumes that one must have a passion in life if one is to endure it.--Val:
If you ask about his passions, Andrew would stare off into space a few moments thinking about it. This is something he's never really thought about before... "My passions?" He says slowly. "Well curiosity would be right up there... everything from studying the stars at night and wondering if there's life out there, to what the keys are to a lasting peace in Ireland or the Middle East. That's one of the wonderful things about life Everything you learn raises two more questions. Life itself is a passion, especially when you've come close to dying. You savor the start of each new day, everything from watching a sunrise to carrying an injured friend to the aid station. We all have to endure failures at times, but don't let it beat you down because the darkest storm can still make rainbows... " He doesn't raise his voice, but there is a quiet intensity in his words. "Or isn't that what you meant?. .--Leslie:
Rio is smiling hugely at Andrew's words. "Si." She murmurs. "That is exactly what I meant." Though it is obvious that some of Andrew's words - Middle East, Ireland, Everest - have no connection for her."Discovery..." the girl tastes the word. "I enjoy discovery too. Dawn and storms as well. And si, life is the grandest passion of all."
--Val:
"I've always felt discovering people was the most interesting thing. There's only so much about stars you can determine, but people have a marvelous variety... Making a friend is like watching a sunrise... And there may be storms along the way, but the rainbows are worth hanging in for..." He smiles back at her.--Leslie:
"Why, Andrew. Are you hitting on me?" She teases gently. The girl doesn't seem upset by that thought at all. And is content with whatever Andrew's response is.BTW, where would you like them to have met Val? As I've said, Rio is in and out of Amber. Probably there for most of the big to-dos. And shows up in random shadows at other times. Do you have a preference for where they might have met?
--Val:
Well we could meet formally for the first time at the Anniversary gathering. And there could be other meetings later. We might even have met accidentally before without each knowing who the other was. Maybe a few moments under a shared umbrella in a rain, maybe I dropped my wallet and you ran after me to return it and we shared a cup of coffee... We do have trumps of each other so Rio could visit him in his shadow when he's on leave, or he could visit hers, or perhaps somewhere in Amber.--Leslie:
Uh, if Andrew dropped his wallet near Rio... unless she really liked the look of his ass, she probably wouldn't run to return it. Rio is a big believer in windfalls.--Val:
Andrew, on the other hand, would run after the owner and return it, or at least try, whatever he/she looked like... Wouldn't change the fact that he likes Rio...--Leslie:
However, the shared umbrella is right up Rio's alley. I kind of like that -- it makes for a nice scene. How about this? In Andrew's home shadow, they share a few moments under Andrew's umbrella during a surprise rain flurry. Only to meet again a few years later at the Anniversary. At which time, they recognize each other, laugh and strike up a conversation.--Val:
Sounds good... We're both leaving a restaurant maybe at the same time, and are caught in a cloudburst. He shares his umbrella to get a dry Rio to a taxi... Kicks himself at the time for not getting her name...--Leslie:
After that, well, Rio doesn't have a shadow that she considers 'hers', though she makes frequent visits to Torveth, which is her brother Blade's shadow. They could meet up again there, during one of Blade's galas.--Val
Andrew has already accepted an invitation from Blade to visit his shadow, though it hasn't happened yet... We could arrange to meet there .--Leslie:
That would probably work well. I know that Blade is so proud of his home. I'm sure he would like something special family-wise to happen there. So, tentative to Chris' agreement, we could say that Andrew and Rio met up again at a gala at Blade's.Now, Rio wouldn't ever call Andrew via Trump. That is no reflection of her feelings about Andrew, just something going on with Rio. But if Andrew wants to call her, that'd work. Let me know if or how many times Andrew might do something like that and I'll be glad to come up with some of the circumstances Andrew might have found Rio in when he called.
--Val:
Might call her 3-4 times to see what she's doing... And more might follow. Maybe invite her through for a picnic at the fot of Everest, so she can see what he was referring to. Might even show her a poem he wrote about it...Everest Muses
They never bring the dead down.
Long I dwelt unknown, five miles
Of stone and snow, cloaked in mystery,
towering into the skies.
Then men came. Some dwelt
In my shadow. Others sought
To scale me if they could
and stand upon my crown,
because I am here, wrapped
in a mantle of snow, a cape
of clouds, where with icy hands,
clawing, chilling, clutching wind
plucks the warmth from trespassers,
toys with the trash
they dare leave behind,
its savage music a requiem
mourning those who will never leave.
Oh little mites
I can be surmounted,
but do not underestimate me.
My siren call reaches out
To all who have spirit.
And they come,
Pitting flesh, bone,
and pulsing blood
Against stone, ice,
And carving cold
Some succeed.
Some…I allow to leave.--Leslie:
"Oh, Andrew! Es magnífico!" Rio would laugh and clap her hands. Her eyes full of the magnificent mountain and her heart full of her cousin's poem. Andrew would definitely get a kiss for those.Maybe the two could do something together? Does Andrew have any hobbies... riding? Hunting? Wind-surfing?
--Val:
Well, Andrew has learned to ride since coming to Amber, and a gallop sounds like fun. If by hunting you mean going out and potting some poor rabbit with a shotgun isn't his idea of fun. Might do it if he was starving but otherwise not interested. But if you mean a situation where the prey has an even chance he's your man. Other interests include rock climbing (he's always wanted to try Everest) camping, swimming, acrobatics, fencing, skydiving, and, occasionally, poetry. Would be interested in learning wind-surfing.--Leslie:
Riding is wonderful. It's something that Rio loves to do (there's more than a little speed freak in her).--Val:
Not a problem... I'm sure Amber has an excellent riding stable.--Leslie:
And Rio completely agrees with Andrew about the hunting. There is absolutely no reason to hunt little fluffy things unless one plans to eat them. But really? Rio's eyes would get all big. Andrew would be up for hunting Bandersnatch? Or other things totally serious?! Hooray!! The rest of the boys are all cautious about that kind of stuff. And Rio loves serious hunting contests!--Val:
Well, Andrew had never hunted Bandersnatch (has read Jabberwocky), but is willing to try his hand at it... He does take time to prepare if we do this, and carefully checks his equipment... Gets familiar with it if its something new to him... The Bandersnatch will have had his teeth, claws and whatever else all his life. He's a quick learner, and well co-ordinated.--Leslie:
Rio wouldn't prepare. She's a 'natural' at hunting. She loves it, does it well, does it intuitively. She might get a little impatient with some of Andrew's 'fiddling around' but would certainly wait and slow it down if Andrew felt it was really important.All of the other activities are great too. In addition, Rio is an expert at watersports. Wind-surfing, regular surfing, white-water rafting, water-skiing, speed boats... if you can do it on the water, Rio's your expert. And would love to teach Andrew.
--Val:
He love to learn... Not an expert in the water (she might note it doesn't bother him she's better than he is), but does a good job...--Leslie:
Rio comes by her golden tan honestly. And loves beaches. BTW, when on the beach or engaging in warm-water sports, Rio's tendency to minimalist clothing becomes extreme. She is definitely a thong wearer.* * *
other writings: Background, Quiz, "Rio and Andrew", "Rio and Blade", "Rio and Dartmouth", "Rio and Duncan", Undertow log, "Blade and not Rio", Ebb Tide log