colonelcannibal | A Camping Trip With Isak

*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.

Current Mood: accomplished

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

isak_cederstrom

"I won't lie and say that it is still a little unsettling, but when I think of it in those types of terms, it is easier to understand and easier to accept. We do a good enough job of destroying each other that the risk of being eaten should not be that surprising."

From:

colonelcannibal

For what it's worth, I would savor you. I always do, with people I like.

Probably not worth much, but it's hopefully better than nothing.

From:

isak_cederstrom

"I will -- ehm, do my best to take that as a compliment," Isak replied with a slightly uneasy chuckle.

Edited Date: 2016-09-23 02:36 pm (UTC)

From:

colonelcannibal

Making you uncomfortable, am I? Well well, good to know that you have a survival instinct around here somewhere. I was starting to wonder. *He smiles, looking mildly relieved, and then rather unhelpfully goes back to eating.* Mmm, I think our meals have both turned out very well.

Edited Date: 2016-09-23 02:46 pm (UTC)

From:

isak_cederstrom

"A bit, yes. Not enough to make me go running, but yes." Isak finished off the last of his whiskey and set the glass down on the counter. "I think -- Well." He went quiet for a few moments, glancing down to the ground. "I think sometimes that I used my survival instinct up at too young an age. And that is why it is not strong as it used to be." He gave a bit of a shrug. "I am glad you enjoyed yourself," he replied with a very faint smile. "Thank you for inviting me again."

From:

colonelcannibal

May I ask what happened to cause that, or is it something you'd rather not think about more than you have to?

You're most welcome. It gets rather lonely out here, after all. Which is my own fault, admittedly, but I can't help that.

From:

isak_cederstrom

Isak considered the Colonel's question for a few moments, wondering how much he wanted to reveal. It had nothing to do with Ives himself, but rather Isak's own inability to discuss certain things with those he did not know painfully well. Even then, he was very discerning. Still, it wasn't as though Ives was going to judge him for anything; he knew that by now. He went and grabbed his whiskey glass, poured himself another, and sat at the table across from Ives. He fiddled with the glass while he spoke.

"I -- I am not comfortable going into a lot of detail, but -- I will say that it is because of my father. He is not and has not been a very -- good person." He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "When I was quite young, he was all right enough, though he was not home very often. He is the CEO of the largest bank in Sweden, and so work took priority over his family." The exact opposite of the culture of the country. "But then as I grew older, he became more and more angry. Mean. Little things would set him off. He enjoyed throwing things to -- I guess alleviate some of his anger or stress. His favorite were crystal glasses. Walls had to be patched and repainted many times from where he'd throw things or punch them. One time, in the dining room, he threw a glass against the wall while I was standing nearby. Shrapnel shot out and hit me all over my body." He pointed to the scar on his cheekbone and pulled his collar away to reveal the one along his collarbone. "All I remember is the pain and the blood. There was so much of it, from what I can remember. I remember crying, trying to pick the pieces out of the cuts." His face is flushed a shade of pink now as he remembers. "He did not apologize. He simply walked out of the room. My barnskötare heard me crying and brought me to the hospital so I could receive stitches." He took a long, deep sip of the whiskey and set the glass back down. He cleared his throat and shifted in the seat. "There were other incidents. But -- that is why. I had learn to learn how to survive that. How to survive him."

From:

colonelcannibal

Well well. A man who can walk away from his own child, in pain that he caused . . . a good man would not be so cruel even to his own dog.

Not that I'm a good man by any means, but if I had a child I would probably be an overprotective father. I know what's out there, after all.

From:

isak_cederstrom

"He was considerably nicer to the dogs," Isak replied, bitterness in his words. He took a long sip of whiskey and set the glass down with a bit of force. "I still do not know the extent of what he did to my mother. But I made sure that he never laid a hand on me or my siblings ever again. Not after that happened." Of course, Isak did leave to go to the States for university, but he was still working through that guilt. "I did the best that I could," he added, his voice a whisper, his gaze lost in the whiskey.

From:

colonelcannibal

Made quite sure, did you now?

From:

isak_cederstrom

"Quite sure of what?" Isak asked, lifting his eyes to meet Ives'.

From:

colonelcannibal

That you didn't have to deal with him ever again . . .

From:

isak_cederstrom

"My father is still alive," Isak said, deciding to leave out the word 'unfortunately,' though it was what he felt. "Though his health is not very good at the moment. It may not be long before he passes."

From:

colonelcannibal

I wish you luck in that endeavor, then.

From:

isak_cederstrom

"Ja, tack. It will -- be an interesting thing for my family to go through, for sure."

From:

colonelcannibal

Good interesting, bad interesting or just, ah, generally interesting?

From:

isak_cederstrom

"To be honest, I am not quite sure yet. I hope it will be -- a relief, of sorts, for all of us to have him gone. It has been a long time to live under his tyranny."

From:

colonelcannibal

He sounds like the sort of old man who wants smothering with his pillow.

From:

isak_cederstrom

Isak snorts a mix of amusement and bitterness.

"Believe me, we have had that thought many times over between the three of us."

From:

colonelcannibal

Then why have none of you done it yet?

From:

isak_cederstrom

"Ehm, well. It is mostly wanting to avoid being arrested and charged for murder."

From:

colonelcannibal

So don't let anyone know. If he's that old no one should question it.

From:

isak_cederstrom

"He is not incredibly old -- he is shy of 70. He is a very, very powerful man in Sweden. I can guarantee you that even if I did not tell anyone, they would investigate and find out. They would immediately suspect foul play. It would not have been the first time his life was threatened. The last time it happened, they apprehended the man within a day."