[closed] So here's to drinks in the dark at the end of my road

[reconnaissance]

Date & Time: forward dated: Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th March
Location: a fair way into the Outlands
Characters:
Asami Sato chittybang, Cedric Diggory theboywhodied, Collette whatsupcroc, Ellie Linton reconnaissance, Fi Maxwell burnsinvisibly, Katniss Everdeen accidentalrebellion, Mitsuki Ishikawa drowns, Peter Parker arachnoid, Steph Brown controlledvariable
Summary: Nine teenagers with varying degrees of trauma decide to go camping.
(Actually, eight teenagers get bullied into going camping by Ellie.)
Warnings: Not sure yet; I'll add them as they come up. At the very least some language, and fallout from PTSD.



Ellie had found the place once before on her wandering into the Outlands; a dilapidated old barn, with stone walls and a roof that was, by some miracle, completely intact despite all the evidence of nature clambering up its walls and trying to reclaim it for the land. There's a hill leading down to it, and if you follow that hill down, you meet the woods, a big lake. It's beautiful, she thinks. Nowhere near so wild as Hell, but that was better.

Finding that place had been how it started, before thinking about getting some of the others together had kicked in. A way to unwind, after the body swap. At the very least a chance to get some decent people all together in the same place (and maybe a way to apologise to Asami for pointing a gun at her that one time).


OOC: Party style, adventures everyone.Just go wild, if you want it to be set at a particular time, maybe specify in the subject line? I'm doing some starters just... in case that helps but do whatever you like tbh. YEAH. There's also the ooc plotting post so chuck folks in there and scheme and let the madness and CR unfold.

Comments

[controlledvariable]

[Steph sidesteps the water, lazily tucking her hands into her pockets like she isn't bothered at all.]

You were pretty quiet, but you'd also given away what you were up to by practicing on everyone else.

[Don't think she didn't realize what you were up to, Ellie.]

[reconnaissance]

I could have gotten bored after getting Asami. I mean, her face was pretty priceless.

( Ellie is dreadful. She's still laughing about it. ) Are you going to come in?

[controlledvariable]

[Steph can't help it, she laughs.] Okay, I'll give you that one.

[At the question, she shrugs]

Maybe later, it's a bit cold for me at the moment.

[She's never going in that water, because it would require either going in clothed - which doesn't sound like much fun when there aren't hot showers - or stripping down, which isn't going to happen.]

[reconnaissance]

( Right? It's almost dangerous how smug she looks.

Ellie cocks her head, considering Steph for a moment before she scoops some water up to wash some of the mud off her face that the rain hadn't taken care of yet. ) Okay. Just tell me when, I'll come in with you.

( Going swimming alone is just stupid, especially in lakes none of them know very well. Even when you're Batgirl. Nevermind all those trips down the creek Ellie took on her own to get to the Hermit's hut, this was different. This was friends, rather than just herself. )

Oof, okay. ( Excuse her, as she gracelessly scrambles out - not taking the easy, logical way out, but trying to haul herself up a little ledge. It's satisfying, doing things the more difficult way, pushing herself that little bit more. ) Are you doing okay?

[controlledvariable]

Sure. [Her smile is an easy thing, telling a lie that she doesn't feel too guilty about telling, despite the promise of honesty.

(Maybe later, she'll admit that she doesn't plan to swim, but not now, when there are other people around.)

And she just looks amused at Ellie's scramble up the ledge. She could offer a hand, but where's the fun in that?]

I'm having a great time. [That's mostly a truth, even if she's still a little wary of people.] This was a good idea, I'm glad you did it.

[reconnaissance]

( Don't offer a hand. Ellie's pride has led her to slide down cliff faces before, instead of accepting help. She grabs a protruding tree root, tests it, before resting her weight on it and getting up the last bit to tip herself onto the grass a few metres away from Steph. Wet, muddy, but at least now the drenched singlet clinging to her is showing less ribs and more muscle. )

Well, I couldn't let Fi go and think I was lying about making all these friends. Besides, they're good people. It's better for all of them to know each other, have a bigger net of people.

( And she looks at Steph. ) Including you.

[controlledvariable]

[That certainly gets a reaction, mostly in the form of an indignant look]

I have lots of people! [No, she has like, three friends. tops. and a couple of allies. but god forbid she let Ellie be right about something.]

[reconnaissance]

( Forgive Ellie as she looks mightily incredulous. ) Oh, of course. That's why you hang out with me so much, because you've got so many people.

( It's not an insecure comment - Ellie just knows she's difficult. ) Either that or you're a masochist.

[controlledvariable]

Or I just like you more than I like my other friends.

[Despite sounding a little petulant about the whole thing, that is, well, true. Even if Ellie's only beating out a few people for "Steph's favourite person".]

[reconnaissance]

( With a very slight smile, as if she's really trying not to: ) I am pretty great.

( And, unfortunately, it means she opens her arms out wide. ) Does that mean I get a hug?

( While muddy, and grubby, and just... Ellie. )

[controlledvariable]

Don't push your luck. [She takes a half step back, levelling a glare at Ellie.] That's not the kind of dirty I like to get.

[Worst innuendo.]

[reconnaissance]

Ugh. What a mood killer. ( But she's grinning, even as her arms drop to her side. ) Are you saying I'm not your type?

[controlledvariable]

Well, you're short, that's a start. [Not that she has a type. And anyway:] But generally speaking 'people covered in mud' isn't my type.

[reconnaissance]

I am not. ( Yes, she is. It's huffed out, just a big indignant. The very tiniest bit. )

Mud's good for your skin, or something. I'm going to be so pretty later, and you're gonna feel real dumb.

[controlledvariable]

You're shorter than me. [It'd be placatng if she wasn't smirking.

And that smirk only widens.] Are you saying it's only a limited time offer?

[whatever "it" is.]

[reconnaissance]

You're freakishly tall.

( She sees that smirk and raises it a raised eyebrow. ) I'm just saying someone else could scoop me up first. First in, best dressed, something like that.

[controlledvariable]

I'm five-eight, that is not freakishly tall.

[Ellie's comment is essentially a challenge, so despite the mud, Steph steps closer, lightly trailing a finger along Ellie's arm, upping the ante.] You could always wait for me, I'd make it worth your while.

[reconnaissance]

( Her gaze flickers to Steph's finger running along her arm. Right, okay. If this was going to turn into a competition, there was no way in Hell she was going to back down. She doesn't pull away, but relaxed into this ridiculous proximity. )

Really? I can take it into consideration. ( Making a show of thinking it over, though she's not terribly impressed.)

You might have some stiff competition.

[controlledvariable]

Oh? [A slightly sharp look, as she curls her fingers around Ellie's wrist; it isn't an entirely unfamiliar gesture, but she doesn't usually stroke her thumb over Ellie's skin.] Who should I be looking out for?

[reconnaissance]

Hmm. ( Cocking an eyebrow at Steph, she stubbornly holds Steph's gaze, doesn't give her the satisfaction of looking surprised by the new twist to this familiar intimacy. ) Why? Are you jealous?

( Too much reacting. It's her turn to ramp things up, and she rests a hand, very lightly, at Steph's hip. ) I'm sure you could work it out.

[controlledvariable]

I don't get jealous. [Which is - relatively true, when it comes to friendships or relationships. She just gets upset if someone does end up betraying her.

The hand on her hips gets a small, amused smile] It's Fi, isn't it? You two had a thing going back home?

[Today in ridiculous accusations with Stephanie Brown.]

[reconnaissance]

( Nope, okay. That's it. She's done. She had been prepared for Cedric, or Pete, or even another terrible crack about Ezio, but Fi? Her mouth drops open, and she almost doubles over from laughing. )

Oh my God, Steph! You're a shocker. ( A gentle shove, pulling her hand back from Steph's hip. ) As if. Fi is one of my best mates. I mean, she's gorgeous, but-- ( She makes some... awkward gesture with her hands, trying to emphasis how absurd that is. )

You're an idiot.

[controlledvariable]

[Steph's smile widens into a grin, an she pretends to stumble back a little at the shove.]

Hey, it seemed the most reasonable guess. [a beat, as something occurs to her, and she smirks] Collette would be shocked, if she thought you had a thing for Fi.

[reconnaissance]

How was that the most reasonable guess? ( This is not computing at all. ) And yeah, of course she would. Fi is-- she's Fi. And I'm not into girls, anyway.

( She makes a face, shrugging. Bloody Hell, Steph. ) Wait, hang up. Why... are you mentioning Collette, specifically?

[controlledvariable]

She's the person you're closest to. [Said as if it's obvious. And she raises an eyebrow, still amused.] You totally missed the part where she thinks we're dating, didn't you?

[Oh, Ellie.]