it's nothing

in a manner out of character for the typically stoic counselor, heba shrieked her joy as gage pulled her into his lap. “oh really? well you haven’t been acting like you’re happy to see me.” she pouted, arms around his neck to keep from falling onto the hard ground. “i haven’t seen you all day!” she sighed, going limp in his arms to dramatically swoon with a hand to her forehead. “you’ve found another best friend- i just know it.”

*.:｡ 

 “I would never!” Gage gasped dramatically, “I could never even consider doing something so traitorous - so vile!” 

He leaned down so that his face was level with hers, grinning, “You know you’re my one and only, Heba darling.” He lifted one of her hands to his mouth and pressed a loud, obnoxious kiss to her knuckles.

Heba was the only person who felt like a constant in Gage’s life - the only motherfucker he trusted for miles around. If he were a better man, he’d tell her that more often - be more open about his feelings and all that mushy crap. But, he wasn’t, so he hoped she knew as much through his actions. Hoped it was enough.

“Get off for a moment, I gotta stretch. I’ve been sitting for too long and my ass is killing me.” He let her off his lap and gently deposited her on the ground, before standing up with a grunt. He placed both of his palms on his lower back and stretched until it clicked. 

“I trust you got into ample mischief while we were apart?” 

“you want to join?” heba looked up, recognizing dylan from previous summers. she’d never really interacted with him beyond necessary occasions, though he had seemed like a nice enough guy, if not a bit shy. “how well can you swing a sword?” she leaned back to her bag and pulled out one of the foam covered wood swords. “because we could always use more help in the fight against agmazan, demon of the haunted forest.” the sword made a soft sound as she set it over the books.

 ♩♫

“Whoa-ho,” Dylan chuckled when she pulled out the sword, his eyebrows shooting up to his hairline. “Can’t say I’ve ever been in a swordfight, sadly, but there’s a first time for everything.” He picked up the sword and turned it over in his hands to admire it. It was surprisingly light, and seemed well-made enough that if he swung it it wouldn’t fall apart. 

“This Aggro-amazon guy sounds like a doozy. Is that Jeff Bezos’s alter-ego or something?” He joked. He swung the sword in his hand, and it cut through the air with a swish. “Also, what makes a forest haunted? I’d imagine there has to be a specific ratio of ghosts to trees.” 

           Hesitantly making his way through the forest, Jax was replaying the many ways the introductions could go in his head. Rehearsing multiple conversations mentally; he was only making himself more anxious. The menacing glow of the campfire peaking through the trees was taunting him, like a narrowing tunnel leading to a dead-end.     “Jesus christ   ” He muttered under his breath, startled by Dylan it was like a jolt of lightening had went through his body.      “Hey    They kick you out of the party?” Jax teased with a slightly shaky breath, looking down at his coworker with an anxious grin fitting to his features momentarily.

 ♩♫ 

 “Yeah, uh, you know,” Dylan’s tongue darted out to wet his lips nervously, “They couldn’t handle... all of this.” He gestured to himself as a whole, then immediately fought the urge to grimace.

That was bad. He felt like he should be ashamed.

He realised, then, that it was probably common courtesy to introduce himself - even though he really, really didn’t want to. He kind of wanted to turn tail and run, maybe hide in his cabin for the rest of the night. 

“Uh, I’m. I’m Dylan, by the way.” He said.

"oh- i'm sorry. am i not wanted?" heba's eyebrows raised to her hairline as she made herself comfortable on the log. "wow gage, i didn't realize that your feelings had changed so much since earlier today." her hands slapped her knees in a dramatic fashion as she made to stand up. "well- in that case, i'm going to go sit with someone who will appreciate my wonder and beauty."

~

If there was one person he actually did want to see, it was Heba. So when she moved as if to leave, he laughed and let out a playful whine.

"Hebaaa!" He grabbed her hand and tugged her back, sending her sprawling into his lap. He wrapped his arms around his friend's middle and propped his chin on her shoulder.

"Don't be like that," he huffed, "You know I'm always happy to see you."

BASIC INFORMATION:

- Full name: Dylan Lenivy - Nickname(s): Dyl, DJ Dylan - Age: 20 - Gender: Cis male - Occupation: Scheduling/announcements at Hackett's quarry - Nationality: American - Date of birth: 19 July - Pronouns: He/Him - Orientation: Gay - Relationship status: Single

PHYSICAL INFORMATION:

- Face claim: Miles Robbins - Height: 6'1" - Eye color: Brown - Hair color + style: Dark brown, wavy and short - Dominant hand: Right hand - Accent + intensity: Very subtle New York accent - Tattoo(s): A tattoo on his arm of a wolf, half realistic, half geometric - Scar(s): None - Piercing(s): None - Glasses: No

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

- Hometown: New York - Current residence: New York - Mother: Eda Lenivy, present in his life - Father: Dmitri Lenivy, present in his life - Ship: Ryan/Dylan (currently one-sided) - Sibling(s): Two sisters - Child(ren):  None - Pet(s): A cat named Schrödinger - Adopted?: No

VICE & HABITS:

Dylan stood off to the side, palms too sweaty and pulse racing in his neck. He was surrounded by people he barely knew, milling around the fire, chatting and joking and laughing too loud into the night, all blissfully unaware of how nervous they were making him.

It felt like too much. Dylan was exhausted, already, and it had barely been one day of this.

He found himself gravitating away from the party and wandered a short distance into the woods, if only to have a moment of quiet. He slumped against a tree, the rough bark digging into his back, and sighed.

A rustling off the side grabbed his attention. He glanced up in time to see someone step through the brush towards him.

"Heyyyy..." He said, drawing the word out for longer than he probably needed to, and lifted his hand in an awkward wave.

The fire roared, and Gage watched as one of the logs crackled and popped. He lifted the beer bottle to his lips - he wasn't sure who'd snuck alcohol into camp, but he wasn't complaining - and took a swig.

Somebody took a seat next to him, and Gage quirked an eyebrow as he glanced in their direction.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" He asked.

BASIC INFORMATION:

- Full name: Gage Gittelman - Nickname(s): Git - Age: 21 - Gender: Cis male - Occupation: Works at a gas station. Working as an assistant theatre coach at Hackett's Quarry over the Summer - Nationality: American - Date of birth: 8 November - Pronouns: He/Him - Orientation: Gay - Relationship status: Single

PHYSICAL INFORMATION:

- Face claim: Joseph Quinn - Height: 5'10" - Eye color: Brown - Hair color + style: Dark brown, messy curls - Dominant hand: Left hand - Accent + intensity: Gage has a Boston accent. It isn't so strong that it's distracting, though. - Tattoo(s): He has a few stick n pokes, including: a crow's skull on his left bicep, fangs on his right hip, and a lit match on his right wrist - Scar(s): None - Piercing(s): Tongue piercing, multiple ear piercings - Glasses: No

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

- Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts - Current residence: Boston - Mother: Unknown - Father: Unknown - Ship: Unknown - Sibling(s): None - Child(ren):  None - Pet(s): None - Adopted?: Never got adopted, only lived in the Foster care system

VICE & HABITS: