#cswbonfire

Bonfire was the best, people were running around, people were talking, she was dancing to music that was barely audible over the sound of the fire, and she felt completely in her element - or at least very close to her element. She was at the same time roasting Mallows over the fire, seeing as she had complete control over the perfection of those mallows, she didn’t need to be anywhere close. 

“Hey you! Do you want to try a perfect Mallow?” 

“Glad to finally meet you--- was wondering if you were like, hiding out this week or something, but I assure you, I’m not as scary as Jay might’ve let on,” he joked.

“Hey there, stranger,“ Arthur slumped down beside Otter on the dock. He set down a bottle of light beer by her leg and then offered her a stick of freshly toasted marshmallows,” This is for you.”

From the beach, the party and the bonfire were barely audible, but the sound of it was very present and very nice to keep away the quiet. Tamhas enjoyed especially the drinking part at this moment, he barely had any, but drops of alcohol made him feel more at ease, and he had been rather on edge since coming to camp, it was all rather confusing. 

“One more?” he asked his drinking pals. 

The marshmallows were a big hit apparently. Their reserves running rapidly low and they needed a filler up. Arthur walked up the reasonably proportioned set of stairs up into the Big House and made his way into the pantry for his super secret stash. He was hoping that he’d be able to share them with his new Angles as a peace offering after they made it up the Stairs of Doom, but he’ll think of something else to give them. Maybe some nuts. 

With a big helping of marshmallow packets in his arms, Arthur half-circled toward the exist before he stopped at Books’ door. Over the fire, he heard one of the counsellors---Maverick, a technopath---updated the cable in her room. It was definitely worth checking out. Arthur knocked. 

“Books? You in?“ No answer. Last he saw, she was at the bonfire but he had to make sure. “I’m gonna open the door, okay? Don’t be in there.”

Empty. Arthur fumbled straight for the remote on her bedside table and slid onto the hardwood floor in front of her bed. He switched it on and passed through every single channel until the screen flipped onto an MLB game. Two fists punched the air. He might’ve shed a tear if he didn’t need his eyes to watch the pitch.

By the fourth innings, Arthur had forgotten all about the party and his fingers were covered over with marshmallow powder. He didn’t hear the footsteps coming from the living room, and didn’t notice someone was inside the Big House until they opened the bedroom door.

Arthur turned and stopped mid-chew. “Hi...? Can I help you?“