location: jungle time: beginning @calliope-warren
It’s not awkward between them exactly, or he’s trying not to make it so. Hard not to feel a little strange when you’ve got a seven year long absence, and weeks of mostly blank expressions before the proverbial light bulb flickers on and reminds him Calliope is here. Really here. It’s not just Rose, not just Josephine - both of whom seem to filter into his every thoughts - but Calliope, too.
One more person for him to add to an escape plan. Truthfully, he doesn’t know if that’s still ongoing, and he’s not quite how to broach the subject with anyone else.
And now this. “Are you sure you want to come along?” he questions her, sending her a look of concern out of the corner of his eyes as the lot of them begin their trek into the jungle. Several people look as though they’d rather leap off the cliffs at the western cove, and he tries not to linger on what feels like a reflection of his own face. “I doubt it’ll be pleasant, and I’m not sure what horrors stories you’ve been told about this. Feel a bit like the plane people have mixed feelings about this place, too.” And it’s a bit strange to call them plane people when he knows three of the bunch, but it’s also hard to break the habit.
“Here, I can hold the packs,” he volunteers, picking up the two bags of supplies, unconcerned with the weight digging into his shoulders. “I’m grateful we’re going as a group at least, the last time I went here on my own was less than pleasant.” The only experience on par was his trip onto the Leander with Emre. He suppresses a shiver, remembering the trip, fruitful as it was, and says with the slightest tinge of amusement: “I suppose this is better than going on the Leander again, though.”
