Age of The Understatement

Part 9 - The Chamber

Miles helped Alex up off of the blanket as they pulled their clothes back on and started packing up their little love nest they had laid out on the plush moss.

"I was serious about the river." Miles said to Alex as he buttoned his pants back up. "Once we get back, I'd love to take a quick dip."
Alex nodded back as he rolled up his shirt and blanket. "Well if we're doing that we won't need any clothes." Alex said, a cheeky grin creeping across his face just before he took of running through the woods in nothing but his cowboy boots and drawers, making his way back to where Pearl still laid sleeping. Miles hurriedly picked up the rest of their items and took off after Alex, balancing blankets, shirts, and Alex's pants in his hands as he carefully dodged trees.
"Al, wait up!" Miles called out, still trying to stay rather quiet as he made his way back to the camp, finding Pearl rolled to her other side still in a deep sleep, campfire almost burnt out, and the pile of blankets that Alex had just tossed down before running to the river. Miles laid down his and Alex's clothes and carefully added a few more logs to the fire before he slipped his boots and jeans off, running over to the river bed. Alex had precariously placed his drawers on top of his boots, Miles fixed them immediately so they wouldn't fall into the water.
"Ya comin' in or what?" Alex said, wading his way over to the edge where Miles still stood.
"Give me a minute, doll." Miles whispered back as he slipped off his underwear, placing them next to Alex's.

Miles jumped into the river, eventually making his way to Alex's side, who very quickly wrapped his arms around Miles' shoulders and his legs around his hips.
"Thank you for this night, Mi." Alex hummed, pressing his forehead against Miles'. The night air was filled with the familiar sound of crickets and katydids, a few toads croaking in the near distance as moonlight danced on top of the ripples of the river, reflecting beautifully onto Miles and Alex's bodies.
Miles hoisted Alex's legs a little higher on his hips before wrapping his arms around his thin waist.
"Soon, we'll be able to have every night like this.." Miles whispered, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the sweet moment, the warmth of Alex's forehead against his, the feeling of Alex's bare skin against his own. Alex gently twirled the back of Miles' hair in his fingers, his eyes fluttering across Miles' features before replying.
"I can't wait."

That Morning, possibly around 6:30am

Pearl was the first one to wake up, looking across the fire to find both Miles and Alex still sleeping and all huddled up against each other. Pearl sat up groggily, scratching at her head as she looked into the seemingly fresh fire, with the last time she had fueled the flame being around 9:40 pm -ish, it should've been well burnt out by now. She felt like she had been hit with a brick, her head was throbbing, the cool morning sunlight feeling like hellfire. She had lightly woken up a few times throughout the night from hearing some odd sounds that were coming from the woods. Eventually, Pearl ignored the sounds and fell back to sleep, assuming the noises were some sort of bobcat cry– completely unaware that Alex and Miles were not on the camp grounds, and in fact the ones making all the noise.
Pearl stretched and looked down at herself, horrified to find that she had fallen asleep in just her chemise in front of the two men. She quickly pulled herself to her feet, feeling rather dizzy as she made her way over to the rocks that Miles had laid their clean clothes on.
Pearl placed her corset back on, swiftly pulling and tugging at the laces until it was just to the right amount of tightness.
Nobody likes a loose woman.
Pearl thought to herself as she tied the strings together, tucking them into the corset itself before quickly pulling on her over shirt and frilled skirt. She turned back to face the camp, Alex and Miles still fully passed out. Pearl shook her head and mumbled something to herself as she made her way over to their horses, the heels of her shoes crunching at the dry bits of dirt beneath her. She was hoping whenever they'd be in town today that she could get her hands on some new clothes, soap of course, and anything food wise, other than oatmeal. She truly thought if she had to eat goddamned oatmeal one more time she would actually lose her mind. Pearl struggled a lot, with so many things. She had many mental illness issues that her doctor couldn't quite figure out, throwing it all under that blanket term of 'female hysteria'. The fact that men get to do whatever the hell they want, fuck whoever they want and get praised for it was infuriating. And when a woman does it she's called difficult, hysterical, and a whore? Pearl wasn't the housewife type, although she's always wanted to be. Pearl never could quite figure out who she was, the overwhelming sadness that tended to cloud her every day life wasn't helpful either. Pearl yearned for a life where she could feel free, happy, and normal– if normal was even a thing. Her physical urges were too much for most everyone. Maybe once this heist is over, she might be able to find someone that can handle her, and all of the emotions she comes with.
Pearl rummaged through her satchels, trying to find her small jar of Vaseline for her face. She knew she had just had it, since she had used it just a day prior. Getting frustrated with herself, thinking she must've dropped it on the way here– or possibly someone must've snagged it since her satchels looked dug through. She huffed at the idea and made her way back over to the campfire, nudging Miles' back with her shoe, assuming he took it.
"Miles." Pearl said, still pushing him with her shoe, her arms crossed. "Miles!" Pearl was growing impatient as Miles finally woke up, letting go of Alex as he sat up onto his elbows.

"Huh?" Miles asked, who obviously was just in a deep slumber. "What's wrong?"

"Did you take my Vaseline?" Pearl asked, her arms still crossed as she looked down at Miles.
Miles' eyes widened, he'd obviously been caught. What would he say?

"Yeah um, sorry I had a few um– blisters on my feet I used it for. I'll get you a new one when we're in town today?" Miles was pretty satisfied with his response, surely she wouldn't ask more questions than that.

"You fucking used all of it? That was a nearly new jar! You owe me 20¢." Pearl stamped her foot and huffed off towards the horses again, rummaging around in another satchel for god knows what.

Alex rubbed his eyes before sitting up a bit. "What's going on?" Alex asked as he looked around, eventually looking up at Miles who was now fully upright.

"Pearl found out I took the Vaseline, I said that I had some blisters on my feet." Miles replied, keeping his voice low as Pearl returned back to the fireside.
Alex laughed a little, his eyes still not quite opened fully as he laid back down, resting his head on his hand.

"Well we have a big day–" Miles yawned. "–aahead of us." Miles stretched his arms out, blinking a few times too many as he tried to fully wake himself up. "At least seven hours of horseback before the next town. I'd suggest we leave soon after breakfast."

"I don't want oatmeal Miles." Alex mumbled, his eyes still shut. Pearl agreed with him.

"Well, toast it is then." Miles said as he prepped the fire to lay a few pieces of bread on it.