Marshmallows by the fire

[auschars]

Who: Xavier, Clive, Chris, Kayla, Gil, Emil
When: Sunday night, after this postWhere: The California Desert

Comments

[walkingxgil]

Gil sleepily accepted a marshmallow, and ate it slowly. When he'd finished, he spoke, playing with the marshmallow stick as he spoke.

"Maybe he means a story about what happened to us ..out there." He touched the medallion around his neck, reflectively. He looked around the circle, meeting everyone's eyes in turn, then dropped his gaze to his hands.

[cowboy_chrismc]

"Oh," Chris said, feeling kind of sheepish that he'd started babbling about the Farmer's Market instead.

[kayla_mc]

"I learned that giant roaches - and little flesh eating roaches - are really, really scary," Kayla said.

She shivered. "It was super creepy."

[dantesque]

"May I tell a story?" Emil asked.

It wasn't a story about now, exactly, so he wasn't sure. He looked to Xavier for approval. "It doesn't relate precisely to what just occurred..."

[auschars]

Xavier chuckled. "Talk about whatever you want ... I wasn't asking for anything in specific. Besides, the details of a vision quest are yours to share and keep, whatever they may be -- but never forget them."

[dantesque]

"Several years ago when I was lying in the jungle thinking I was dying of malaria, I had a dream," Emil said.

"I didn't understand at the time that I'd been bitten by a lychanthropic roach or whatever you'd call this condition of mine - but I had a high fever and I was sweating it out on a cot in this little hut in the middle of nowhere. And I dreamed that I was baking in the sun- walking down this road, and I didn't know where I was going... and suddenly there was a shadow blocking out the sun. A giant bird-like shadow. And big feathery wings beat to cool me..."

He touched his amulet with a gentle hand. "And that's when my fever broke. Now I wonder..."

[auschars]

Xavier nodded, and looked to the others.

[walkingxgil]

Gil patted her hand. "Yeah. But, if it helps at all, that was the good guy roach and his ..teammates."

He shuddered, too, then looked at Emil, embarassed. "No offense, sir."

[dantesque]

"None taken," Emil said, used to the reaction by now. It didn't sting as much as it used to, but he still withdrew a bit, wrapping his arms around his knees.

[cowboy_chrismc]

"I think you did great," Chris said, moving a little closer to Emil. He offered a freshly roasted marshmallow.

"It was impressive what you did."

[dantesque]

Emil smiled, then munched the offered marshmallow.

"Thank you," he said. He shifted slightly, just enough that their shoulders were touching. Not exactly an invitation, but when Chris slipped an arm around his waist to draw him closer, he didn't pull away.