His retirement had been, to put it gently, impulsive, life-altering, equal amounts kind and terrible. A rogue ambush leaving his partner dead and him in a coma for three months before doing his damndest to cut all ties with everything the hunting life had to offer. His family included, his father still the man of the house, the leader, burning the bridge between him and Alexis the moment there was even the faintest change of heart.
Now, he was being accused of looking and acting like a serial killer. It’s all in jest, entirely teasing, and he takes it in stride. He’s been called and accused of much worse. He’s got a feeling she doesn’t know a thing about him. And that’s fine. He’s happy to build a story around him, if only to keep his peace.
“ Ah. Of course. ” Still noncommittal, but there’s a little back-and-forth of his head, like he’s contemplating. “ I take almost a year to build a cabin form the ground-up, on the edge of a little town that looks like it’s something out of a postcard, so I can… Build a scary death dungeon for a basement. ” There it is. He’s teasing now too. “ Great start to my retirement. ”
Weather calling him ‘ Paul Bunyun ’ a compliment or not, he doesn’t quite know, or really care either way. He’ll take it. “ Gets cold on the lakeshore. ” But he will defend himself, just a little, for his very stereotypical, but very practical, choice in attire. “ Surprised you’re not cold yourself. ” Though, as she said, she can take care of herself. He can pass that off as a simple observation.
There’s a beat before he gave her what she was looking for. “ Alexis. ” He’s never been great with first impressions. His name is a little heavy, almost embarrassed. “ And you, miss… ? ” He didn’t want to give her that it was nice, meeting her, nice getting to have a real conversation that was so light, so open, after all this time. Things are soft, but not quite malleable.
If someone was ‘confessing’ to being a serial killer, a normal person would steer clear but not Camille, her grin widening ever so slightly as she chuckled in response to his killer scenario. “I can just hear the True Crime podcast now.” she replied with a laugh. “Netflix deals, books, crime fangirls stalking the place.”
“I’ll bet, but there are coats.” she teased, “Why is it always the plaid? I swear they could make an alternative pattern or something.” she tilted her head a little, truth be told it did suit him, the rugged look and she wasn’t even the slightest bit serious about the comments regarding his shirt.
The comment about her seemingly not being cold caught her off guard, though she fought to keep her features neutral, making a mental note to add layers in this weather. “I never was one to feel the cold,” the lie came easily to her, given that she lied as naturally as she breathed throughout her life. To her family, her friends, herself. It was easy.
She was perfectly happy to wait for him to decide if he wanted to provide a name, and when he introduced himself, she gave a slight nod of her head in greeting. “Alexis,” she repeated, hoping committing it to memory as she realised this meant she had to give her own name.
“Cami.” she replied, “I moved here only a couple of months ago, and I just like the lake. I find it calming. But uh, I am curious what kinda things you were warning me of... like bears?” she asked, knowing full well it probably wasn’t bears that he was referring to.
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