(Untitled)

[hereand_now]

Wolf has found the big bouncy thing near the Compound.

Now that he's here, he wishes he would have found it earlier, because it's the very best thing on the island. Besides the good people, of course, and maybe the cows. They're all pretty great, but this is fun. This is the most fun he's had since Jack and that nice man let him ride in the back

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[seeyousoonthen]

Savannah had been in the barn and smelled of horses and hay, sweat, manure, and dust. She smelled just like home so far as she was concerned. She was picking stray straw from her hair when she heard howling and the tell tale sound of springs. The sight of the enormous man having such a good time made her stop and smile as she watched him.

On a down-bounce she caught his eye and waved, just so he knew she was there, but she didn't think it was much of a time to try to start a conversation.

[hereand_now]

"Hi!" Wolf says when he sees the blonde girl waving at him and he raises one huge hand to raise back. "Come bounce with me!" He doesn't know her, but that's okay. Bouncing is an activity that he wants to share, even if it's with a complete stranger. Maybe especially if it's with a stranger. Doing something fun is the fastest way to make new friends, he thinks.

"It's fun!" he adds, as if she couldn't see that for herself. "The most!"

[seeyousoonthen]

She looked at the trampoline and then him and figured if she could handle surfing, she could do this.

"Well, stop bouncing a second so I can climb up," she laughed, taking hold of the edge and slinging her leg up.

Something low in her belly pulled and hurt, but it didn't stop her from her climb.

[hereand_now]

Wolf slows his jumps so that the material isn't shaking anymore and then holds his hands out to the girl so he can help her up if she needs it. "I'm Wolf!" he says, holding his big hands out toward her. "I never seen anything like this back home. Not anything. There were men that could fly, but nothing that makes you jump so big!"

It's almost like flying. Not like the men with wings, because there's no pain, but close as he'll ever get to flying, he thinks.

[just_hormones]

Aphrodite's got a killer new outfit, a pair of bright pink hot pants and a lacy pink spaghetti strap tank top, and she's sashaying along in her pink heeled sandals, totally not wondering where she might be able to find Dido right now.

She doesn't pay much attention to the bouncy thing someone's told her is called a trampoline or who happens to be on it, usually, but the howling is pretty hard to ignore, and when she glances that way, Aphrodite can't help the smile that brightens her face.

"Hey, Scruffy!" she calls cheerily, finding her way over to the edge of the trampoline. "Having fun?"

[hereand_now]

"Yes!" Wolf answers happily, allowing himself a few more bounces before he begins to slow, smiling down at Aphrodite. "You should come bounce, too." As far as the island goes, there are plenty of things Wolf really, really likes, but he isn't sure he's found anything as good at the bouncy thing. Except his new friends, of course, they're better than any one thing, but this is his favourite object.

"We never had these back home. I sure wish we had," he says, then holds out his hands. "Come bounce!"

[just_hormones]

"Oh, sweet pea, goddesses don't do trampolines," Aphrodite laughs, smiling up at Wolf. He's so adorable, though, she finds herself thinking that if he persists, she just might join in. "You go ahead, I'll watch from solid ground."

[hereand_now]

"But it's so fun!" he shouts, wishing she would come up with him. It's fun as it is, but Wolf bets it will be even more fun with someone to share it with. Most fun things are like that. "Trampoline," he repeats, trying out the word. "That's what it's called?"

[little_moons]

It's... Fucking adorable, is what it is. Almost sickeningly so, and I let out a snort of laughter, making my way over to him on feet that have a mind of their own. I mean, how could somebody stay away from that, anyway?

"What the hell are you doin', man?"

[hereand_now]

"Bouncing!" Wolf shouts, shooting into the air again and twisting at the same time so he can face Neil. "Come bounce with me, Neil! It's almost like flying." He's never flown before, not when the only people in his world who can fly are the ones with wings, but he thinks this must be what it feels like.

"Come bounce!" he insists again, slowing his jumps so that Neil can climb up if he wants to. "I wish I had one of these at home. I would've used it every day, right here and now!"

[little_moons]

Laughing, I kick off my shoes and climb aboard, 'cause why the hell not? "My best friend back home had one. But she'd kinda outgrown it by the time we met."

Wendy and I were both surly, cynical little shits, even at ten years old. Jumping on a trampoline only would've been fun if we were sneaking inside somebody else's fence to do it.

[hereand_now]

"That's sad," Wolf says, because he can't imagine ever outgrowing something that brings him so much joy. At times, he understands that he's simpler to please than most, but it's never bothered him.

"I would use it every single day," he says, still beaming. "I'll use it every day here, after I help take care of the cows. Anne won't mind, as long as I do my chores first!" He doesn't have chores, not really, but he does what he can to look after the animals in the barn.

[island_anne]

Anne isn't too far behind, but once she sees where the noise is coming from she feels comfortable letting Matthew run on ahead to the edge of the trampoline, looking up up up at the man jumping on it then throwing his arms in the air like he is either celebrating or asking to be flung up into the sky too.

Probably the latter.

[hereand_now]

"Hi, Matthew! Hi, Anne!" Wolf shouts in the middle of a jump, grinning and waving when he sees them. Anne's nice to him and she takes care of the cows, which is what Wolf used to do back home and so he feels a kinship with her. Not the same as the one he feels with the other Wolfs, a very different sort, but an important sort. Being a shepherd is an honour he takes very seriously.

"Hi," he says again, panting as he slows his jumps. "Do you want to bounce with me?" He looks from Matthew to Anne. "Little bounces."

[island_anne]

"Very small bounces," says Anne firmly, but Matthew is already grabbing hold and trying to scramble up over the side of the trampoline before Wolf has even come to a complete stop.

Well, if he falls or gets his little fingers caught, he'll learn pretty quickly.

"Bounce high!" he insists, though at least he doesn't try to throw his hands in the air this time, what with how they're gripping the side of the trampoline.

[hereand_now]

"Small bounces, your mom said," Wolf answers, reaching down to help Matthew up onto the trampoline. He likes Anne Shirley, he sure does, and he doesn't want her to be upset with him if he gets little Matthew hurt, so he won't. If there's anything a Wolf can do, it's take care of little ones.

"What's this called?" he asks Anne, getting up onto his knees as he holds Matthew's hands. If he stands up, he'll be too tall, but this is just as fun. "I never saw nothing like this back home, not once! It sure is fun!"