JUNE EVENT: CAMP

[sailmods]

early on June 10th, Friday's morning announcements end with a request for everyone going on the latest excursion to meet her in the atrium. she seems in noticeably better spirits than she had been last time, and she leads them cheerfully to the tender. once they are all aboard, and the door is securely shut, the interior fills with gas, and, perhaps, their last thought before they slip into unconsciousness is "oh shit, not again."

passengers wake up on a rickety old school bus, driving down a dirt road surrounded by woods. what is it that they notice first? that, no matter what they were wearing before, they are now wearing a camp t-shirt and legitimately horrifyingly short shorts? the overstuffed backpack between their knees? the words "take one down and pass it around" dying on their lips? the fact that Friday is absolutely driving the bus?

or, maybe the fact that it's already slowing down, pulling up in front of a massive wooden sign, saying:

 

 

 

 

 

CAMP AION

when they get out of the bus, Friday is the one to divide them up into their cabin groups, and she is the one to give the counselors their very official-looking clipboards and whistles. she explains that they are in charge, and that she will be back to pick them up in a week, and... very little else. she responds to nothing outside of whatever is on her unseen little script, and she gets back on the bus shortly after, leaving them there.

welcome to camp. let's make some summer memories!

Comments

[touchofcashmere]

"Then what is on your mind, Darcy," he says gently. "What are you worried about. I'd like to know if you'd care to tell me. It'll be good to be prepared." And he can't help her if he doesn't know. But he also has a feeling this is a young woman who has see things, so he won't press.

[saltwaterlungs]

"You dying horribly."

Darcy ruminates for a moment, trying to work out how to phrase this without revealing too much of her own shit. Then quietly weighs if revealing some of her shit is worth Stede not making a mistake this dire.

"I had... a friend back home, who died, horribly and alone. She came back afterwards, it was a magic thing, but... it didn't stop how awful it was that she died. Even though she was fine afterwards, it still... fucking sucked. Sure, there are no consequences to dying here, but I don't want you going through that. It will hurt. And the Captain has ways to hurt you that are worse than death."

Dough that has been perfectly kneaded has the texture of a human earlobe, soft but springy and stretchy. The dough in her hands was well and truly overworked, tough and resistant. She was going to need to throw this batch out. Darcy huffed, frustrated at herself and feeling uncomfortably exposed.

"You're going to do whatever you're going to do, I already know I can't change your mind."

[touchofcashmere]

"Darcy..." It's said with fondness, affection. He can't help but feel touched by her concern. He can't help but feel a little bit loved.

"I...I wish I could say I wouldn't. I definitely don't want to. And the thought of...dying horribly is even worse." Maybe he's not making this any easier for her, but as he tries to think, he can't come up with anything that's not...absolutely horrid or a horrible lie.

"He has ways to hurt us all I suppose, coming and going." He sighs. "So we have to find the happiness where we can. Until we find out how to run." Beating the captain? Maybe not. But all they had to do was get away.

"But thank you, Darcy." He briefly rests a hand over hers. "I'm glad that someone as cool as you cares what happens to me." It's a joke, but told softly and with a smile. "And I care for you too. Like you're my own." And it's true.

[saltwaterlungs]

Stede's an adult, and adults don't bend to her whims, even when it comes to keeping themselves safe. She knew this much about her Krewe, and her mother, too. But he's at least listened to her, which is more than most do. She's about to snort something derisive about finding happiness in hell, like she's one to talk. But then there's a hand on hers, and- oh. Oh. Her heart aches and there's a complex mix of expressions across her face for a moment. Trying to ascertain if he's joking, as if Stede is anything but earnest, an ache for the comfort of someone looking out for her, and then disgust at herself, at the depths of feeling that 'I care for you' brought out in her. It's embarrassing, she's too soft still, in spite of everything that's happened to her, and everything she's learned about people and how they hurt you. It's impulse that leads her to lean her head on his shoulder to reciprocate the gesture, and she'll schedule to feel awful about it later.

"Thanks." It's forcibly flat, and she hadn't managed to completely hide the choke in her voice from the word.

[touchofcashmere]

"You're welcome." He he puts his arm around her shoulders and gives her a squeeze, letting her stay as long as she likes and pretending he doesn't notice any emotions that might come from it. Sometimes people just need a hug.