By the Light of the Fire (Seb, Jun and Yue)

[Thomas "Monroe" Montgomery]

Monroe still wasn't sure why he'd agreed to come on the camping trip, especially when he knew he'd have to sit in the cabin all night, trying not to sleep because they came to see if lights were out at 11. So instead he just got lost in his thoughts at night, staring up at the ceiling of the cabin. Really, it had been a mutual decision between him and Sebastian. They'd sort of dragged each other. They got out of classes, so it was worth it, right?

Monroe looked into the light of the campfire, leaning forward with a stick to poke at the wood in hopes of getting it to be more blazing. He had to keep himself awake somehow after all. Honestly, he felt as if he could pull his hat over his eyes and doze off, if it wasn't for the conversation around the fire.

[Deleted]

CAMPING!

Jupei was definitely excited, he hadn't ever been on a camping trip before. Heck, he hadn't ever been on a class trip before. His mother and he moved around too often for him to go in elementary school, and the Hirai-ke would never let him go once he started going to Eisai. So to say that Junpei was excited was a gross understatement.

But of course, he wasn't going to go alone. Getting Yue to come was easy, she seemed to be pretty compliant, but Sebastian….well, he clearly didn't want to go, but that was no fun! While everyone was gone and having fun sleeping out in the wilderness, enjoying marshmallows around the campfire, Sebastian was going to just stay back at Hammel all by himself!?

Junpei wouldn't have it!

Between him and Monroe(a sir that Junpei had only recently met through Sebastian), the introverted blonde was well on his way to having the time of his life!

At least that's what he was thinking when he showed up at the campfire with a beaming bright smile and four roasting sticks, a bag of marshmallows, a large package of chocolate bars, and a box of graham crackers. He passed them out to his friends, smiling expectantly at each one of them as he handed them their wands. "Ureshii. I very happy. I never before go campingu." Junpei turned slightly red, realizing that he may have gone overboard with his excitement, as he took a seat between Yue and Sebastian.

[Yue Hirai]

Yue had wanted to go one the camping trip even before Junpei had asked her about it; knowing he was going along made her that much more excited. Because he was a fun person to hang around, and she had totally not gone and bought a dress (her first one) just for the retreat dance in hopes to get attention from a certain someone. Nope. That wasn't her at all.

And so now she found herself settled around a campfire, finding a natural place nestled between a couple boys whom she didn't know all that well but were friends of Jun, so she supposed they would be alright. She was used to hanging out with just guys anyway. However, she kept mostly quiet until her friend arrived, and gave him a bright, cheery smile as he sat between her and the blonde guy - Seb?

"You've never been camping before?" she asked, a little surprised; but then, she realized, she really didn't know all that much about his past, which was a sort of slap in the face at how short they had known each other. She eagerly took the offered food and stuck a marshmallow onto the end of one of the sticks, holding it out over the open flame. "You're sure prepared for not having experience with it," she grinned, slowly turning the puffy food item to let it roast evenly on all sides. "I haven't had s'mores in... I don't even remember how long."

[Sebastian Bolstad]

Sat beside the campfire, pale blue eyes took in the sight around him. Sebastian hadn't wanted to go on the camping trip, that was very true. It was difficult enough being trapped with all the freaks in the school near the town, where at least he could have run to safety if anything happened. Out here in the woods he was completely at the mercy of whatever happened, a thought that terrified him tremendously, but between Jun and Monroe's gentle insistence he had eventually caved in. Clearly being surrounded by mutants all the time was making him weak willed.

Still, he couldn't deny that the woods were a beautiful place. Earlier in the day he'd gone down to the lake and upturned some rocks, looking to see what interesting animals and plants he could find here. A number of brightly coloured bugs had been the subjects of hurried drawings, and he'd even been lucky enough to see a small family of shrews scurrying by the waters edge. It made him miss his gerbils all the more, though. He hoped they were getting along okay with Tomer.

Sat between Monroe and Junpei Sebastian was a little more at ease at least. He knew and trusted both boys and, even if he wasn't so sure about the girl yet, at least the conversation was pleasant and the surroundings were breath-taking. Seb took the proffered stick with a confused look, turning it over in his hands and watched with curiosity as Yue started melting one of the mallows in the flame. “I have never been camping before either.” He indicated to the browning marshmallow at the end of Yue's stick. “Is it supposed to be doing that?”

[Thomas "Monroe" Montgomery]

Monroe put down the stick that he was poking at the fire with and took a roasting stick as they were passed down, nodding in thanks to Junpei. "Well, for never going camping before, you sure did your research. S'mores are a necessity when camping." Of course he didn't remember the last time he'd gone. Probably during middle school with some of his old friends, before the world became a screwed up mess and he was sent to Hammel. He really didn't picture himself going again, but here he was, around the campfire, about to roast a marshmallow.

He chuckled slightly at Seb and his question about the marshmallow. "Personally I like mine burnt." He'd always been like that. "You've never had a s'more?" It was directed towards Seb of course, as he looked over at his blonde friend. He was pleased he'd come. I mean, Monroe didn't particularly want to hang around everybody that was here, but it was a way to get away, a change of scenery that was much needed.

[Deleted]

So maybe Junpei was a little too excited for this camping trip, and maybe he was forcing his glee on his friends a little too much, but really, what was wrong with being happy? Or excited to be spending time with friends? Or to be trying new things?

Junpei nodded at Yue's query, "Hai, this is first time." Though Monroe and Yue did make a point that Junpei was just a little bit too prepared for someone who had never been camping before, and Junpei's face flushed red again, hopefully unnoticed in the dim light of the fire. "Hai…" he said again, sheepishly. "I research how to make sumoru." Along with a bunch of other things, all of them saved on his phone for quick reference in case he needed them. Oh, technology was a wonderful thing! He didn't know what he would do without it, though the only downside to the camping was that he didn't really have a signal and couldn't look up any new information outside of what he'd already saved on his phone.

Junpei wouldn't know how marshmallows were supposed to look when roasted, but he supposed that he would find out soon. He put a 'mallow on his stick and stuck it into the fire, watching in amazement as it started to brown and bubble….until it melted right off the stick and into the fire. "Ah! Taihen da!" He leaned forward to watch as his fallen marshmallow dissolved into coal in the fire. "Mottainai shi…" he mumbled with an indignant pout of his lower lip before grabbing the marshmallow bag for another. He looked to Seb with a smile, "Hora, Sebastian! You will try too?"

[Yue Hirai]

"Um," Yue started belatedly, realizing she should probably introduce herself if she was going to make any new friends. "I'm Yue, by the way. I dunno if I've met either of you guys before." She glanced a bit uncertainly at Junpei as he passed out the sticks to the other two boys, but offered a friendly smile once she turned her attention back to the other two.

She glanced at Seb as he asked about her marshmallow, which was coming along quite nicely in her opinion. "Oh, yeah," she said with a bit of bewilderment. "You haven't done this before either?" She sent a look to Monroe. "At least I'm not the only one!" she told him, smiling a bit. "I was starting to worry I was sitting here with a bunch of s'mores newbies." Her marshmallow was starting to look a little dark, so she pulled it out of the flame and blew on it a bit, reaching blindly for the graham crackers and chocolate she had seen Junpei bring in.

"Yeah, everyone should try!" she agreed with Junpei, grinning at Seb. He seemed a bit sullen; she wondered why. A slight, familiar crawling sensation tingled up her arm, and she glanced down to see a bright green caterpillar down her bicep. With practiced ease, she took her free hand and captured the critter, placing it on a nearby plant a safe distance away from the fire.

"So, um, anyone going to the retreat dance?" she asked a bit awkwardly. She didn't want to go and end up not knowing anyone. She was actually a pretty good dancer, but she only really practiced in her room without anyone knowing. Yue had never really been to an actual dance before.

[Sebastian Bolstad]

Perhaps it shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone that knew Seb that he had never had a marshmallow before, but then again Seb had never really spent much time around his friends in the cafeteria. It was hard, keeping to his strict diet. It was even harder when people were asking why he always ate the same things, why he never varied it up, why he never enjoyed anything remotely treat-like. He had already failed once, at the community fair. His friend Tomer had bought him a glass of lemonade, and he'd already bought it before Seb could refuse, and it would have been rude to deny it so he'd had little choice.

He'd be lying if he said hadn't enjoyed it, though.

“No, I have never had a s'more. I'm not entirely certain what one is.” Seb's smile to Monroe was slightly awkward and unsure; he could see where this might end up going and he was beginning to fret. He turned his head when the girl spoke, and he did his best to make the smile polite and friendly. “Hello Yue. My name is Sebastian, and this is Monroe. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

The girls question caused Seb to shake his head slightly. “I do not think so, no. I am not a good dancer, and I have no one to go there with anyway.”

[Thomas "Monroe" Montgomery]

"S'mores are the treats of the Gods, dear Sebastian," Monroe told him as he put a marshmallow on his stick and held it over the fire. When the girl introduced herself, he leaned over to look around Sebastian to see her. "Yep, Monroe," he said in response to Seb's introduction. "Nice to meet you. If I look tired, it's not because you're boring me."

He turned back to the light of the fire, watching his marshmallow intently when the topic of the dance came up. "I actually think the dance might be a good opportunity for me to get some sleep," he mused. "Everybody will be there so that I can get some shut eye without interruptions." That's what he'd been planning anyway, but part of him wanted to bring Sebastian. Get him out there. Monroe didn't like to put himself out there too much either and he wouldn't push Seb, but the idea did amuse him.

[Deleted]

Yes! Things were going so well and people were interacting, Junpei couldn't have planned it better. Yes, he wanted everyone to get along and maybe this group could be a regular group of friends? Maybe? Maybe?

Junpei continued to insist that Sebastian take one of the marshmallows from the bag by bouncing it up and down before him. As he did, his other marshmallow caught fire and Junpei brought it out of the fire to blow it out. He wasn't really sure what to do next though...then thought, Oh yeah!! He retracted the bag of marshmallows and instead offered Sebastian the slightly burned one that Junpei had just finished browning. His eyes still looked incredibly expectant.

"Dansu? There is Dansu Partei?" Junpei didn't know that. And again, he'd never been to a dance before. "I want to go!" But he also wanted Sebastian and Monroe to go too(even though he'd only just met Monroe a short while ago). "We can all go together!" he exclaimed with a slight bounce in his seat. Things were always so much more fun with more people. But even Junpei was realizing that he was getting ahead of himself by assuming that Monroe didn't have sleep he'd rather be getting or that Sebastian wouldn't be completely uncomfortable surrounded by so many metas. "Gomen, he said with a slight dip in his head and sheepish smile. "I do not think maybe Sebastian and Monuro do not want to go. I am too much thinking what I want, but..." he looked at the pretty blonde. "I do want to go with Sebastian." Then looked to Yue, "And Yue-chan. And Monuro." He chuckled awkwardly to himself.

[Yue Hirai]

Yue chuckled and nodded to Monroe's comment about s'mores. She liked this guy, even if he looked like he might fall asleep at any moment. "Chocolate and graham cracker and sticky goodness.... Mmm," she sighed, finally managing to find the rest of the ingredients for her own treat and smoosh them all together into one delicious sandwich. "Tadaa!" She held the item out proudly before taking a huge bite, getting crumbs and stickiness all over her lips and fingers. "Mm, nice to meet both of you," she added as she covered her mouth with her arm, holding back a laugh at her own messiness. She watched as Junpei offered Seb his roasted marshmallow, wiping away the crumbs on her lips as she giggled at the sight.

"Yeah, I think it's tomorrow night," Yue told him, trying to ignore the fact that her cheeks were feeling warm as she spoke to him about it. He, at least, seemed excited about it. "You guys should come too!" she agreed. Of course, she hardly knew either of them, but thinking about going to the dance alone with Junpei just made her a little too nervous; and it would be fun to have other friends to go with, right? However, she was also aware of the various reasons the two boys didn't want to go, and gave a small pout to both of them before adding,"Well, I'd be happy if you guys came, but I don't want to force you to do anything..." Who was she to try to push strangers into doing something they were uncomfortable with? She looked at Jun, giving him what she hoped was a cheeky grin. "You'd dance with me, right?"

[Sebastian Bolstad]

Watching the other three preparing their sugary treats, Seb would have been lying if he said he didn't think they looked good. They smelled sweet and appetising, unlike the melted cheese whose smell and sight he had come to utterly detest, and he found it was actually taking some willpower to politely refuse the snacks. Monroe, Jun and Yue all seemed to be friendly and happy despite their diets... why weren't they all sick and corrupt? What was it about these three that keep them good even though they weren't even trying to avoid the disgusting processed foods?

Monroe's plan for what he'd rather be doing while the dance was going on was a little relief to Sebastian, because at the very least it meant he had a sort-of excuse for not going himself. Whilst he knew Jun pretty well he was still closest to Monroe, and he'd only just met Yue, so there was an outing if he needed to take it. Out here it wasn't so bad, he could easier pretend that he wasn't surrounded by other freaks, but it would be harder in a big hall when he was literally surrounded. The blonde turned his head to Monroe. “I think that is a sensible idea. It would be a rare quiet moment for you with no one else around.”

The bouncing bag of mallows were once more politely hand-waved at, but when they were replaced by the single slightly charred mallow it was harder to resist. It smelled so sweet and inviting, and the look on Jun's face was enough to let Seb know that the other boy would be hurt if he refused. It was like the lemonade incident all over again. With a quiet sigh Seb closed his eyes and plucked the warm mallow off the stick and popped it into his mouth before he had a chance to hesitate any more.

And it was... good. The texture was slightly worrying but the flavour... Blue eyes went wide as he chewed on the marshmallow, clearly slightly in shock, and long fingers curled around the log that he was sat on. So in wonder at the flavour of the marshmallow, Seb didn't realise Jun had addressed him for quite a few moments and when he caught on that he'd actually been spoken to the blonde swallowed the sugary treat awkwardly. “Are you not supposed to attend a dance with a lady, though? Or a gentleman if you are a lady?”

[Thomas "Monroe" Montgomery]

"Well I'm actually shocked I'm being invited to something, and I appreciate it," Monroe said, nodding at Yue and Jun-- giving them a sideways glance as he carefully picked his burned marshmallow off of the stick just as he liked it and smooshed it between the graham crackers. Marshmallow seeped out the sides and he took a greedy bite before continuing speaking. "But it's not really Seb's scene and honestly, not really mine either. You don't want to see my dancing. My greatest move would be falling asleep on the dance floor." He could use a quiet night, maybe just sitting in silence with Seb or taking a nap. Although part of him did want to see Seb go out and do that with Yue and Jun. It might be good for him. But he wouldn't force Seb to do anything he didn't want to do. He hated when people did that to him.

He took another bite of his s'more and turned to Sebastian. "Are you saying I'm not enough of a lady for you to take to the dance? Man, and I worked so hard on growing my hair out," he joked, not sure how Seb would take it, but it was all in good fun. "And Seb, in this day and age, women can go with women and gentlemen can go with gentlemen." Sometimes he felt as if Seb was stuck in a different century, but he liked that quality about the guy and how he spoke so formally. It was nice to know that some people still had tact.

[Deleted]

Junpei started on another marshmallow the second that Sebastian took the one that the over-excited asian boy had offered him. He was exceptionally pleased to see Sebastian indulge in the marshmallow. It seemed like he really enjoyed it. Junpei really wanted to enjoy the s'more as soon as possible, and it looked like both Monroe and Yue had gotten the jump on both Sebastian and Jun in that department. Though, watching Yue muss herself up with goo and chocolate all over her tiny fingers and lips was super adorable, it only made his grin widen with even more excitement.

"Hai," Junpei replied with an enthusiastic nod of his head. "I will dance with Yue-chan!" He didn't know a thing about dancing, at least not partner dancing, but he was determined to do his best.

However, Junpei wasn't entirely sure how to respond to Sebastian's question, as if he was confused at the suggestion of a man taking a man to the dance. Though, when Monroe clarified the meaning of same-sex dance partners with Sebastian, Junpei's face went completely red in an instant. "Chigau! Sonna imi wa nai!" Did it really seem like Junpei had asked Sebastian to the dance like a date or something? "I do not mean like that," he repeated. "I only want to have more time with Sebastian and Monuro to be more friends."

[Yue Hirai]

Yue watched as Seb took the offered marshmallow, finishing off the last of her s'more and sucking any remaining stickiness off of her fingers. She did understand why some people might not want to eat the white treats - she tended to be a bit of a health nut herself, and only indulged like this on special occasions. But she didn't believe people needed to splurge every once in a while.

"Well, if you guys change your minds, it'd be great if you came," she told them, giving a bright smile at the two boys. "I'm sure you'd have fun, at least." She wondered why Monroe seemed so adamant about sleeping; they could just sleep in the next day, right? Shrugging, she took another marshmallow and set it into the flames, waiting for it to be roasted. Yue sent a impish grin Junpei's way, glad he, at least, seemed eager for the dance.

She had to laugh at the conversation about same-sex dancing, though she was honestly a little flustered about the subject. While she was used to being around guys about 95% of the time, it was weird to think of going with them to something that was typically viewed as a sort of date-scene. Especially because the more she was around Junpei, the more confused she was about the weird feelings she got in her chest whenever he did something particularly endearing. Which was a lot of the time.

She wasn't quite sure what to say, and before she could, another tickling sensation caught her attention. Looking down, she saw two caterpillars making their way down her arm, and she let out a frustrated huff. Silly things; they often came out without her knowing when she felt flustered, which was extremely embarrassing. She placed her marshmallow stick to the side and stood, taking a critter in each hand as she stepped away from the fire to find a plant for both critters to hang out on.