Paranoid Parrot Campfire, Saturday Afternoon

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

Simon didn't mind the cold. Being a pale Englishman, he actually much preferred it to the summer heat he knew they should have been having on the island. And it wasn't just that: the cold also cleared his head. Which really needed clearing, after he'd spent half the day trying to calculate just how much slower time was going back where he was from. It seemed that even though he made calls to England at regular intervals, every time less and less time had passed over there between his calls.

It was a little troubling. He tried telling himself that at least it was probably better this way around: had time been going faster there, he would've run the risk of missing something important. This way, he'd have more time to react to whatever might happen. He could be there in an instant, from their point of view.

That's what he kept telling himself to stop worrying. But, he needed distractions. So he was out. Roasting marshmallows. Occasionally chewing on his lip as he got lost in his thoughts without meaning to.

He'd burned a few marshmallows that way, too.

[ooc: Open!]

Comments

[annieadderall.livejournal.com]

Annie had been running a few errands today, so she found Simon outside on the way back to her cabin. "Isn't it a little cold to be outside when you don't have to be?" she checked.

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

"It's not that cold," Simon replied, glancing over at her with a quick smile that was barely anything more than a little twitch of his lips. "I... I like it."

And he was kind of bundled up in winter clothes, so that helped.

[annieadderall.livejournal.com]

"And I guess if you're going to be outside, around a campfire is a good place to be..." she said, now considering whether it might be warmer there than inside.

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

Simon thought it was probably warmer inside, but he kind of enjoyed the cold mixed with the warmth from the fire.

"I have marshmallows," he said, by way of vague invitation.

[necroslacker]

"What's up, cabinmate?" Sam asked, greeting her with a brief wave. "Ventured out into the arctic tundra today?"

[annieadderall.livejournal.com]

"No, mainland. But to get to the mainland I have to almost deal with arctic weather," she replied. "It worries me that I don't question how any of this is possible."

[necroslacker]

"Isn't that a good thing?" he asked, blowing into his hands to warm them up. "It either means you're adapting or you're desensitized."

Sam paused, considering that statement.

"I'm not sure which one's better out of those two, actually."

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

Dave wasn't letting the cold bother him. He was from Wisconsin, after all, and as long as he stayed on the island it was practically October. Or April. Or pretty much any month in between, they all had cold and snow. But that wasn't going to stop him from going by a fire to keep a little warmer, especially if there were people around it.

"Good afternoon, everyone," Dave said. "Oh, having marshmallows?" Yes, Dave. That part was pretty obvious.

[annieadderall.livejournal.com]

"I think we're faking that it's summer," Annie greeted him. From beside the campfire in winter clothes.

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

"Just remember, it is summer. Even if it really doesn't feel like it," Dave said. "Just ignore that second part."

[annieadderall.livejournal.com]

"I'm trying. Hence the marshmallows," she explained, while trying not to set hers on fire.

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Simon replied, because they were, and he was like that. "You can have some. If you'd like."

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

"Oh, thanks, I'd appreciate that," Dave said. "Anything to help with the cold even a little, right?"

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

Simon nodded, and gestured a little at the bag of marshmallows, and the sticks. "We should consider hot chocolate, too."

[necroslacker]

Sam hadn't done much this week. With the snow and the cold, it'd just felt like a week to stay inside and drink way too much hot chocolate and eat too much food.

By Saturday, he was feeling restless enough to bundle himself up and try to find a fire. He considered himself pretty damn fortunate to find both a fire and a fire with people around it.

"Looks like I'm not the only one that doesn't wanna stay cooped up in my cabin," he said by way of greeting. "Gets suffocating in there."

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

"The alcoves are a little small," Simon agreed. Not that that was really why he'd come out. "Would you like marshmallows?"

Those seemed to be working well in this meeting new people thing.

[necroslacker]

"No thanks," Sam decided, sitting down on one of the logs and rubbing his hands together. "I had about fifty marshmallows in the hot chocolate I drank this morning. I think my blood's going to congeal and turn into a marshmallow if I'm not careful."

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

"I don't think that's possible."

... The meeting new people thing? Also still made Simon a little nervous. Which in turn made him a little literal, apparently. He caught that himself, and looked down with an embarrassed little smile and amended, "It sounds like it would be unpleasant."

[godgavemecable.livejournal.com]

For all that he'd told himself he wasn't going to go outside if he couldn't help it, there really wasn't all that much to do in the cabin. So Toby decided to bundle himself up in his hoodie and brave the outdoors. It wouldn't be too bad with a campfire going, right?

"Hey," he greeted with a nod. "Cool if I sit here?"

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

Simon nodded at the new arrival. "Yes," he said. "There are marshmallows."

[godgavemecable.livejournal.com]

"Sweet," Toby was not one to pass up free food, so he happily availed himself of a handful. "Thanks, man," he nodded around a mouthful of fluffy sugar. "Not exactly a well-balanced meal, but it'll do."

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome," Simon replied with another little nod. "Did you come out just for the snacks?"

There was no blame in that question. Simon had gotten the idea that most people didn't want to be out in this kind of cold just for fun.

[necroslacker]

"I think I miss your tail," Sam decided, managing to keep a straight face as he said it.

[godgavemecable.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the only response Toby had to that was to reach out beyond the area cleared for the campfire and grab a handful of snow to throw at Sam. "I bet you do," he deadpanned back.

And then immediately moved to hold his hands out over the fire because ow ow ow cold.

[necroslacker]

"Was that worth it?" Sam wondered, shaking the snow off his jacket and cheek. "I bet your hands feel great after that! Probably miss being fur covered."