Work Text:
“Summer,” sighed Dr. Joan Smith. “Freedom at last! And, okay, academic conferences and curriculum planning for next semester and grant writing and interviewing a new TA. But still, a pretty healthy dose of freedom.”
“Maybe for you,” Yaz teased her girlfriend. “Some of us don’t exactly follow the academic calendar…but I’ve got a bit of leave saved up. If you want to take a holiday, maybe two weeks? That might be nice.”
Joan rubbed her palms together with delight. “This is why I like you. Well, one of the many reasons. Always up for adventure, Yasmin Khan. What do you think? Great American Road Trip?”
Yaz frowned. “Definitely not, for two reasons. One, we’re an interracial lesbian couple with foreign accents.”
“I’m sure we could steer clear of the worst bits,” Joan countered. It was looking increasingly worst bits, but still!
“A claim I would put much more weight behind except: two, you can’t read a map. And navigating the Tube doesn’t count.”
Joan’s mouth clicked shut. “Bit rude,” she muttered, her pride grazed. “I mean, accurate. But a bit rude. Okay, so not that.” Her irrepressible motor wasn’t going to be repressed that easily, she swore. “What about a walking pilgrimage? That doesn’t take a map. Just follow the same route folks have been taking for centuries. What do you say? Get those steps in?” She waggled her eyebrows cheekily at Yaz, who gazed back, amused but curious.
“I’m just trying to picture us - a bad Muslim and an agnostic - going on a pilgrimage. Takes me back to secondary school and Geoffrey Chaucer,” she said with a smile.
“Ooh, we should definitely tell each other bawdy stories as we go. Well, bawdy if it’s just us. Maybe not so bawdy if we invite some of the others to join us, make it a proper outing.”
“I bet Graham knows some doozies,” Yaz chuckled. “Alright, I’m convinced. Let’s put it in the groupchat and see who bites.”