a camping we will go

[sniptuck]

[ Anyway so one day a bunch of nerds went camping and it went exactly like this the end.

To be more precise, close to the lake on Floater Island a nice lil camping spot has been made! There are a couple of tents next to a campfire. The campfire even have logs arranged around them for that authentic camping experience? You sit on the logs, obviously.

A large variety of snacks have been brought over! There are hot dogs that can be roasted over the fire (made out of... some... animal idk use your imagination). Most importantly, they have marshmallows and chocolate to make s'mores! Because that is the most important part of camping. Clearly.

Mingle with other crew members! Wander around Floater Island and pet birdogs! Tell scary stories by the campfire! Fall into a ditch somewhere and have to be carried back by your crush like a stereotypical shoujo heroine! etc etc have fun ]

Comments

a!

[hopefragment]

[Hinata was just trying to have a good time. Hanging out with friends, making too-sweet American snacks, pretending like this is all a camping trip they'll be able to go home from, that's the closest thing to his jam he can get right now.

Except even while most of his attention is elsewhere, he can't exactly undo all the rewiring his brain has gone through. Even he'd be hard-pressed to say exactly which martial art talent sets him in motion, but when he sees the ball from the corner of his eye, he reads instantly that it's too late to dodge. So he'll have to deflect it, one hand dropping the s'more he'd been holding to instead smack the ball with his palm. And catch the falling s'more with his other hand, because of course.

Deflecting the ball like that isn't just going to knock it to the ground. There's just a little bit of luck there, too, sending the ball rocketing back toward Jake's face. Ganbare gun friend.]

[potentite]

[It takes him off guard but he manages to block it with his hand, fumbling to catch it before it hits the ground.]

Whoa! Didn't mean to get on your bad side, friend.

[hopefragment]

Ack!

[Okay, he really hadn't intended that kind of reaction. It had been all reflex... Hinata's quick to move over, holding both hands up with a self-deprecating laugh.]

N-no, that's not it... it just startled me, that's all. Are you okay?

[potentite]

I'm fine! [Ben is at his side, trying to wrestle the ball from his hand but Jake is distracted, grinning at Hinata.] Your reflexes are amazing now!

[hopefragment]

[He laughs awkwardly again.]

I guess... A-anyway, who's your friend, here?

[He crouches down, offering a hand to the dog. Or, well... "dog." Its movements seem a little too precise for a real dog, hm.]

[potentite]

[Ben sniffs Hinata's hand before licking it with a warm, wet metal tongue an coming closer for pets. On closer inspection, the fur is real, just, well, not dog fur but rather taken from some of the land animals.]

This is Benjamin. Isn't he sweet? Dirk made him for me. I always wanted a dog.

[hopefragment]

Benjamin, huh?

[His first impulse is to try to add a -chan suffix to the end of that since it is a pet, but Benjamin is a long enough name as it is... seems like a mouthful. And he can't help but wonder just how many animals had to lose their fur for this friendly companion.]

I guess the birddogs don't lend themselves well to domestication...? How do the cats on base treat him?

[potentite]

I reckon they don't mind him much! He's a very well-trained dog. I've got a pair of cats from Roxy in fact.

[He pets Ben's head.] But since it's cramped, I usually leave him here on the island and come see him everyday.

[hopefragment]

A pair?

[He laughs quietly, shaking his head.]

I feel like just keeping track of the Countess is enough for me. I can't imagine having two mutant cats I was expected to take care of.

I didn't realize you were such an animal person.

[potentite]

I love animals! It's monsters that I hate. Back at the island, most creatures got picked off by the monsters. It was kinda inevitable? But I have Han and Leia and then Ben here.

[hopefragment]

I'm sensing a theme with your naming, here...

[Not that Hinata's a movie -- or sci-fi -- nerd himself, but he has a passing knowledge of pop culture.]

But do you usually come out here all by yourself? I'd be happy to come with sometime, if you wouldn't mind.

[potentite]

[He can't help looking a little shy, embarrassed.]

Yeah, this humble island is where I go on my lonesome. I wouldn't mind company sometimes. I usually just work on my traps or play with Ben or something. I have no idea if it'd be fun for you!

[hopefragment]

Hanging out with you would be fun.

[It's honestly that simple for him. He likes being around people?]

But uh... what do you mean by "traps"...?

[Jungle boy what are you doing out here.]