04th Anomaly . spam

[dinosize]

[ Stephen never quite relaxes. Even though he's in his element, even though it gives him a thrill every time breathing in the thick, pure air. Even as he finds himself smiling at the sun trickling down through the leaves. He can't quite stop expecting a monster to break the spell.

Find him:

At night, he makes campfire. Flickering light and shifting shadow. Follow the sight of the flames, the smell of wood smoke and cooking fish and meat. He will be close by his pack, rifle within easy reach, curled up in a hollow or against a log.

During the day: fishing. Careful hunting, making sure the shots he takes are to animals, not the little sentient bears or people from the Barge. (Try not to get in the way of a bullet, please, everyone.)

He pushes out and explores the forest.

Wades in the streams.

Swims in the pools, not particularly worried about nakedness. (This is probably the only time the rifle ends up away from his hands.)

Once, early on, he finds he's being followed by a group of creatures like little bears rustling the leaves around him. He calls out hello, and they burst out of their cover, brandishing spears. He raises his hands, slowly. - Help him? ]

Comments

[dinosize]

[ Stephen is silent, for a moment, rubbing a thumb along the barrel of a rifle. ]

You found some girls who can keep up with you. Doesn't sound so bad to me.

[americasdirtiest]

[He means to walk away, but when Stephen doesn't answer or follow he stops, as if waiting. He doesn't have friends, but... He rubs his face and sighs, letting out some of the steam pent up in his chest.]

It's okay. Whatever. I came out here to [decompress] like, de-estrogen a little bit. [He slings his pack down over one shoulder and lets Stephen peek inside to see a Kimber handgun and several packs of ammo.]

[dinosize]

Space to breathe.

[ He understands. Sometimes he has a hard time being around people for a really long time - people who won't let him just be a quiet presence. ]

[americasdirtiest]

To shoot off a few rounds, but sure. Same difference.

[dinosize]

[ He shrugs. ]

Let's find a spot, then. There's a valley up ahead.

[ Better to shoot into the side of a mountain, when it's just for sport. It's just casual safety, especially given that they don't know who's around in the woods. ]

[americasdirtiest]

Whatever. Fine. [LIKE HE CARES if you're there or not, Stephen.

But, you know, notice that he's letting Stephen go with him.]