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

[isak_cederstrom]

"Has the church and all changed much since you were involved, when you were still mortal? The Church of Sweden has the largest Lutheran population in the world, technically, though a minuscule number of people actually attend. As I said once, I think, many and most of us opt out of supporting the church with tax money once we are able to at 18. I would be curious to see how that continues to change over the years."

[colonelcannibal]

Church people never really change. They're more rabid than they used to be, at least in America, but they still have the same kinds of mindset that they ever did.

[isak_cederstrom]

"They are quite -- well, as you said, rabid here, aren't they? It is interesting to see, coming from a place where barely anyone knows what the inside of a church looks like. I cannot understand why people would use their religion as a weapon. I suppose when the promise of salvation is at stake, no matter how false it might be, people get a little .. crazed."

[colonelcannibal]

They are quite frankly screaming lunatics, it's hilarious to watch.

I think they would perform human sacrifice if their priests told them to.

[isak_cederstrom]

"They would -- I have no doubt of that. It is hilarious until you realize how much danger it puts everyone in. People seem think that this world belongs to them, when it belongs to none of us."

[colonelcannibal]

Perhaps I ought to become a priest again, hmm? My church could have a weekly lottery, the winner joins me for lunch.

[isak_cederstrom]

"Ives!" Isak exclaimed with an enthusiastic laugh. "That sounds like an incredible idea. Though I imagine someone would start getting suspicious as more and more people disappear."

[colonelcannibal]

That's true, unfortunately, but the idea made us laugh at least. It's always nice when my humor is appreciated.

[isak_cederstrom]

"Unless you could convince everyone that the winner gets to go on some ... mysterious trip as a reward for their winning the lottery."

[colonelcannibal]

But eventually they would notice that no one comes back. In any case, even complete fanatics would be able to tell that my religious opinions are a little . . . odd.

[isak_cederstrom]

"I suppose. It is too bad you cannot do take care of some the truly terrible ones. I have heard about a church somewhere out this way or perhaps in the midwest that is particularly hateful."

[colonelcannibal]

There's no reason I couldn't simply slaughter the lot of them. It would be rather fun, actually . . .

[isak_cederstrom]

"You would be well-fed for weeks, months even."

[colonelcannibal]

*An oddly soft smile.* A delightful thought. I will have to keep it in mind.

[isak_cederstrom]

"So, what should we do now? We are going to go fishing and swimming but not at the same time tomorrow, ja?"

Did you ever get around to watching his movie?

[colonelcannibal]

Would you like to come and see the stream, at least? It's a lovely place.

I actually started last night after I finished GoT! I only got like 30 mins in before passing out

[isak_cederstrom]

"Absolutely," Isak replied with a smile. "Lead the way!"

LOL You've heard Colqhoun's story, right?

[colonelcannibal]

*And lead he does, through the forest and down to a small river.* It's a lovely place, isn't it?

Yes .. they were hiking up the mountain to find the cave when I stopped.

[isak_cederstrom]

Isak smiled brightly, soaking in the landscape around them. He had a particular love of the outdoors, and he appreciated the fact that the geography of the world was so different from place to place. He found it fascinating that this environment could look so different from his home of Sweden.

"It really is. I can understand why you love it."

Well, that's the area they're in :D

[colonelcannibal]

*He sits down on a stump and sighs happily.* It's not exactly unexpected, no.

Do you see that cave on the other side? When I first arrived here my fellow travelers and I wintered inside it. *He licks his lips absently.* The others never left.

Ah, okay! The forest-y area by the caves? Or like, the snowy mountains? LOL

[isak_cederstrom]

Isak glanced around to look for the cave, and it took him a few moments before he finally saw it. He stood near Ives with a hand on his waist, the other billowing out his shirt to let some air flow to his sweat-laden skin.


"You had been turned already by that point?" he asked, glancing over at Ives.

The cave, duh LOL

[colonelcannibal]

I'd been turned for a year or so by the time I came here. *He smiles creepily.* Don't go inside, by the way. There are an awful lot of bones in there by now . . .

XD I'm an idiot - I more meant like, did they walk through the mountains to get to the cave?

[isak_cederstrom]

"So you were already a Wendigo by the time you were in here with other people. I see." Isak considered the cave for a few moments. "They had no idea?"

That was my thought, yeah

[colonelcannibal]

Not until it was far too late. When we had eaten all the draft animals and I seemed a bit too cheerful about our prospects they probably started to wonder, but after a month or two snowed in inside a small cave curiosity falls by the wayside.

If you want to go exploring I won't stop you, but you're unlikely to enjoy seeing what's in there.

Okay. :) Just trying to keep Isak's reactions appropriate to the landscape

[isak_cederstrom]

"Ehm, no, that is all right," Isak said, coming to rest on a nearby rock. He re-tied one of his boots and then looked over towards the cave again. "I think I can conjure up a good enough image for myself." He took a glance at their surroundings. "This is probably a good place to do it; no one around, isolated."