campfire at the cove {ft. corb + koda}
What: Corbin and Koda’s Bday Celebration 2.0
Where: Rocky beach by the docks
When: Saturday, March 25th - After the Games
Who: @kxdapaync, @claytonboyd, @mitch–douglas, @felix-tee, @cvnstantin (and maybe some stragglers)
[For once the air didn’t smell like salt and wood rot. It smelt warm, fuggy, smoke filled and heavy. It was nice. It was nostalgic. It made him think of sticky summer evenings, sand salted toes and tipsy indiscretions. He was even a little excited at the thought of smelling wood smoke on his pillow in the morning.
The soft orange light quivering in the distance made the night seem less overwhelming. He liked it, felt drawn to its presence like the proverbial mothhe was. The darkness on this island was all consuming. He’d never known night like it. But as he walked towards the bonfire, circled by the sound of cheerful voices and splintering wood, he felt comfortable. Excited. Other words. Even with a botched ankle.
His shoes scuffed along the shingle, one hand nestled into a pocket, the other swinging loosely by his side. Clay could only make out the shape of four sets of shoulders as he came into eye shot but that didn’t bother him, small, intimate groups were actually where he felt his best. Plus the pulsing vibe of happy people, happy being happy, was something he craved these days. A birthday celebration was perfect.]
Evening boys…[Spoken as he slides his way into a space that doesn’t need to be offered. He lowers down, meeting Corbin’s eye as he does so.] Your gift is me coming out past my bed time by the way. [Said with a soft smirk, one that he extends to all those in attendance. It doubles as a survey, his smirk curling itself upwards to make way for a soft snort.] Shit, if I’d have known this was a couples thing I’d have brought along my other half. [Said in jest with a soft shrug. He couldn’t be more single if he tried.]
[[ Mitch was surprised to receive an invitation to this party, to say the absolute least. It wasn’t that he didn’t have plenty of friends around the colony, and was rarely wanting for social interaction or long nights spent in good company. It wasn’t even as if he didn’t think he was that good of friends with Koda, considering how many nights they’d spent together entertaining each other at the Catch while babysitting overenthusiastic drinkers or, sometimes, just spending time together without having to keep a watchful eye on anyone else.
Still, there’s something in Mitch’s deeply rooted insecurities that has difficulty taking this at face value. He assumes they also needed a chaperone, some kind of supervision, and maybe he was just the first name that came to mind. He tries not to dwell too heavily on that as he wanders down to the cove, mindful of his footing in the rocks and sand, and experiences a near-comical swelling of nerves that remind him of his days attending his first few parties at college before he really got his social footing. ]]
Evening, all. [[ Mitch surveys the group with an easier smile than he may feel yet, but there is a reassurance in knowing everyone there. His smile lingers on Koda, and he reaches out to give his shoulder a brief squeeze. ]] Happy birthday. [[ He nods at Corbin, too, still smiling. ]] And you too, huh? Delma’s party wasn’t big enough? [[ He’s… not going to mention Corbin’s dance. He’s not. ]]
[Corbin notices the way Constantin’s arm around Koda’s shoulder turns into a subtle hand-holding as they sit, but other than a bit of shared, amused glance at Pax, he says nothing on it. Besides, Boyd shows up a beat later, and shortly after, Dougie, so there’s plenty of good distraction.
Boyd makes an entrance that’s… sarcastic and dry as always, which Corbin appreciates, and he slides his mate a smirk as Boyd sits down next to him.] Aww, don’t pout, Stud. We’ll find ya another Daddy real soon, promise. Besides—Pax and I always got room fer a third if yer feelin’ lonely. [He shares another cheshire grin with Pax, who makes some drawling, affirmatory comment, and Corbin pulls out a cigarette from his jacket, holding it near enough to the embers of the fire to light it.
That’s when Dougie sidles in, looking delightfully awkward as he wishes Corbin a happy birthday and… tries not to blush, is Corbin’s bet. He bites back his smirk this time. He’d already mortified Cambie enough concerning their relationship lately—he’ll try to avoid embarrassing Mitch any further with talk of his strip show a few weeks back.
He scoffs in reply.] Never, mate. Besides, that was weeks ago, and clearly more about Femboy Turner than anythin’ else. Tonight is ‘bout me. Well—and Koda. [The almost-slip is intentional, and he sends Koda a teasing grin and a wink. Honestly, if it hadn’t been for Koda’s birthday, and for the timing of Cambie’s getting back to them about the campfire, he might not’ve celebrated his own birthday at all. Or maybe he would have—he’s not too sure. He’s sort of hit or miss with this shit. Proudly unpredictable.]
But thanks fer makin’ it—all o’ ya. I reckon we’re all pretty tired after the Games today but what a way to wind down, yeah? Oh, and obligatory-congrats to Torren’s win, [he adds with a cheeky tip of his head to Costin.]
[As people filter in, he’s surprised to find that most of the faces are familiar ones. Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise, as it’s a small Colony and Constantin has been here long enough to have met most people at least in passing. It’s nice, though. Eager as he is to meet new people, there’s also comfort to be found in the familiar. He remembers Clayton from the bar, and Mitch is someone whom Constantin holds in high regard even if he hasn’t had the opportunity to speak to the man as much as he’d like.
There’s a nice atmosphere of teasing and camaraderie. Everyone seems to be in good spirits. In a way, he thinks he might even prefer this sort of evening to the victory party of a few weeks before. That party had been ostentatious, and fun, but it had felt like everyone was putting on a show. Well, they were – if not literally, then with their costumes.
But here feels very honest, somehow. People squint as the salt spray dries their eyes, a breeze tousles their hair, they take a wonky step on the uneven ground. Constantin feels that he doesn’t need to try in any way, he can just be. He feels more comfortable with his arm around Koda’s shoulder here, less self conscious than he has been before.]
Oh, well, I did try to rush Donovan and Dr. Fitrei in first two minutes, and get ‘killed’ immediately. Vas good contribution, but I hate to take all the credit.
[Actually he’s a bit embarrassed at his poor performance, but generally the best way to get over embarrassment is to just laugh at yourself.]
[[ He nods to Clayton, having not spoken to the man it’s easy enough to dismiss the ‘boys’ comment. It’s comfortable, here, under Constantin’s arm, surrounded by people simply happy to be here. The salt, the smoke, it’s all the sort of reinvigorating scents that would leave Koda feeling new afterwards. Koda lightly pats Mitch’s hand on his shoulder and smiles up at the man at his arrival.
It was merely a happy coincidence Mitch could count as their ‘chaperone’ — Elite or not, Koda would want his friend here. It’s quite funny, now he thinks of it. Now sat between his Spaceman and the Colony’s favourite Science Teacher. Not the sort of company most would expect from Koda.
Constantin’s description of the games gets a heart laugh from Koda: the image of him rushing two of the ore serious elites here, and the physically formidable Alex in the games? It’s excellent. He just thinks he needs to find Constantin during one of these games, even just to bunk off. ]]
Very modest for a Torren. [[ He jokes, lightly. Koda’s used to fading into the thick of things, prefers smaller intimate moments surrounded by others and often time simply sitting back and watching. ]]
