A Camping Trip With Isak

[colonelcannibal]

 *Ives is enjoying himself tremendously. It's been too long since he went camping, doing so again is a lot of fun--especially with a friend. (The fact that he has a friend is pretty amazing all by itself.) He enjoys pointing things out, and enjoys even more when Isak notices things for himself.*

We can go fishing tomorrow, if you would like? Or just swim, one way or the other.

Comments

[colonelcannibal]

Gladly. It gets lonely out here, just me and the dead men.

Would you rather I carried those, by the way?

[isak_cederstrom]

"Ehm," Isak said, glancing down at what he had. He shook his head, looking back up. "I think I am okay. Thank you. If I need help, I will let you know."

[colonelcannibal]

Of course you're okay. That doesn't mean it isn't worth checking.

[isak_cederstrom]

"Mm," Isak replied with a nod, continuing on behind Ives. "I think I am most looking forward to swimming."

[colonelcannibal]

I do like to swim, but fishing is a bit more relaxing.

[isak_cederstrom]

"What sort of fish do you have out here?" Isak asked, continuing the hike.

[colonelcannibal]

Salmon, a couple of kinds of trout . . . plenty of fish.

[isak_cederstrom]

"Good! I am excited to catch and eat them for supper."

[colonelcannibal]

Mmm. You're starting to sound like me now, at least to the fish.

[isak_cederstrom]

Isak let out a little, sheepish laugh.

"I suppose I am. I cannot help it -- I love eating them! Just like you, only with people."

[colonelcannibal]

It is something of a big difference, admittedly. Fish can't talk, after all--well, not as far as we know.

[isak_cederstrom]

"That is the last thing I need to know," Isak said with a laugh. "I would feel terrible eating them if they could talk and ask me not to."

[colonelcannibal]

It's strange, that. You know they don't want to be, but because they can't talk it doesn't matter.

Of course, people rarely think to ask either. Too busy freaking out.

[isak_cederstrom]

"Survival instinct is strong in everything, I guess. No one wants to be eaten or killed," Isak reflected.

[colonelcannibal]

Especially in that order. But it is a very strong instinct, yes.

It's why I'm like this, after all.

[isak_cederstrom]

"Ja, your survival instinct. It makes sense."

[colonelcannibal]

I usually do. Often more than most would like, in fact.

[isak_cederstrom]

When they came across the river, Isak carefully set the things down far enough from the water's edge. He put his hands on his waist and glanced around, smiling to himself.

"Even if we do not catch anything, it will be nice to be outdoors."

[colonelcannibal]

You don't have this much nature where you live, then? I rarely find the outdoors itself exciting.

[isak_cederstrom]

"No, not really. Even back home in Sweden; we are surrounded by wilderness and nature, but Stockholm itself is very metropolitan. We have parks and that kind of thing, but you have to travel a bit to get to the real outdoors. And there is barely anything aside from the occasional park in New York and Providence."

[colonelcannibal]

There's a reason I don't go to cities that often. They're rather lifeless in their way.

[isak_cederstrom]

"They are, that is true. I think that is part of what attracted me to them, though. Aside from having grown up in a city. I like being able to -- blend in, sort of. Though my height makes it somewhat hard for me to blend in anywhere completely."

[colonelcannibal]

I don't blend into crowds well these days. Eventually someone is bound to catch a glimpse of me eating, after all.

[isak_cederstrom]

"You could probably get away with hiding it in New York, if you were careful."

[colonelcannibal]

Perhaps, but I don't have to be careful out here. There are very few witnesses in the middle of the wilderness, eh?