canetetienne

[canetetienne]

The man let out a soft chuckle. "You know." That she did.

"That depends on who or what you consider to be the devil." Étienne circled his drink as he kept his eyes on the woman. Yes, she knew what it was, but then her social standing was different. Maybe for one night, he could ignore the voice in his head.

"I'm intrigued though, that are those rules you've broken before."

"I know," Lyudmila interjected smoothly—if anyone held that knowledge, it was certainly her. But that was as far as she’d let on.

Catching the spark of intrigue in his gaze, she let out a low laugh. “Hold your horses, cowboy.” Barely a day into the weekend, and it was already turning into something far beyond what she’d expected. “Let’s just say I don’t mind breaking a few rules here and there—but I’m not nearly drunk or stupid enough to play with the devil.”

[canetetienne]

"I don't think it's the outdoors that people are worried about." But then she knew, of course. Everyone knew, it's just that some people, as she said, had it better than others. "Kind of shitty to think that everyone is here and the most popular answer is 'I'll survive'. We're a bunch of psychos, aren't we?"

"I'm doing mildly better than the greater majority. " To put it lightly, some people seemed rightfully sick over the prospect of the charity event - let alone who they ended up paired with. How Diana expected anyone to get out after a few days unscathed was, almost deplorable in her mind. "Never really shied away from the whole, outdoors thing, so... I'll survive."

[canetetienne]

@jeanpalfroix

"Come here."

[canetetienne]

Étienne found her amusing, so he chuckled at her words. "I'm sure you'll be fine. Channel your inner goddess and become one with the nature." As he spoke, he pointed at the powder on her compact. "Find Oli if this doesn't help. I know he's got other things which will help you relax to the next level." Though he made a mental note to check in with her, make sure she didn't end up wondering somewhere in the woods, or going to the lake. He didn't want her death.

"Alright, alright, calm down, Fee. You're never going to relax like this."

The Frenchman took a sip of his drink, before reaching his hand out to her. "Come on, let's take a stroll and see what's good. Get you to loosen up a bit."

"Thanks" she smiled softy, her shoulders relaxing a bit more.

Carefully glanced around, checking they where safe from not having too many on lookers. Pulling out her compact mirror she balanced it on her knee, and created a neat line of her white snow comfort. She wore the coke necklace that Olivier had gifted her, held to her nose and sniffed the line."

"I haven't consumed enough to relax yet, my bathroom is bigger than these fucking tents, and cleaner. Jean better not snore, or i may end up smothering him in his sleep."

"My job didn't follow me to this weekend, everyone went batshit crazy for the bags and smoke before i even left the house to get here. Plus, there is too many Ruther-rats and Russians hanging out. Can't be too careful, and I can't exactly get caught dealing when they're live streaming half out it. It isn't like we're going to be surrounded by people we trust the entire weekend." She pulled out a joint that she had tactfully tucked into one of her socks and tucked it before he, unsure if there would be a search of her belongings are they arrived. Once she was in, she knew she'd be safer to light up away from the streaming.

It didn't take long for the hit to strike, and she instantly felt more at ease." At least my camp partner is decent, I'll give them that. I'm never camping again though. "

[canetetienne]

THE NEXT DAY

He fell asleep by the fire.

"Tell me that's coffee." He said, as he slowly got up from the ground , cleaning off the dirt off of his shoulder. "Don't ask me. I was talking to someone, and I remember them offering me a threesome in their tent, but they wanted a chase game... I'm too old for this shit."

"Got it." He didn't need an order: not after the last time he'd been in charge of looking after her. The way she'd been taken, and he hadn't been there to stop it — but most of all? It'd been seeing Étienne, that anger. It'd been one of the things that'd kicked him into gear. Made him change everything. Olivier was aware everyone had to start somewhere, and that'd been his.

And it was Étienne's revelation about Acid that had him barking a laugh. He thought back to the Smoke 'N' Mirror days, when they'd spent more time snorting and watching dancers than anything else. "Let's start with snow, but you'll find me at one with the world in a few hours. I can promise you that."

Maybe everyone just needed some MD, and world peace would be initiated.

[canetetienne]

"Ah, well, now you've put me on the spot." He grinned. Taking one two shots, he passed one to her. "How about a toast? To a beautiful woman who took pity on this poor man. May this night be everything you hope, and more. The more part will be great if I have a say about it."

The Italian took his arm loosely, following him back toward the bar she hadn't long abandoned. It didn't take her any time at all to procure an entire tray of various shots, sure there would be something he could appreciate.

"Well, I'm the one with the drinks, and you're the one with the company, so I suppose you better start proving you're good company and I haven't been conned."

[canetetienne]

Life really was testing him. Not that he had anything against the woman herself, but she was married to someone threatening. And yet here he was, having a conversation with his tent partner's sister in law.

"I'm glad." He said, offering her a small, polite smile. "Well, for the likes of the lesser tents, it is all about making connections." And Elaina could be less stingy, less bossy about it.

"Just settling in. How about yourself?"

"Actually, yes. I'm great," she said with a smile on her face. She loved the outdoors and was hoping she would be able to get her little boy to love it as much as she did. She made a note to herself to take him camping and show him all the things her family had showed her.

"Brought a flask, huh? I'm sure my husband owns one, but I didn't even think to look. But my friend in the more priveledged tent is supplying me with drinks so...can't complain."

She took a second before asking him, "You alright? You seem a bit stressed."

[canetetienne]

He certainly didn't expect it, but he certainly enjoyed that.

Enough to pull her back for a second one. "That ended a little too soon." He smirked, before letting her go with a light tap on her ass.

But alas, the dare ended on him and Étienne was in the mood enough to just try something. Spotting Catalina, one of Lara's close things, he pointed at her. "May I please have your hand?" He asked as he took it and pulled her to the middle. ( @catalina--rojas )

Now, Étienne was certainly not a dancer, but he had some moved up his sleeve. Pulling the woman in close, he started to dance with her, the way people in Cuba danced in clubs. Dirty dancing, they called it? He put his hands on her hips, pulling her in close, moving along with her before dipping her.

"Thank you for you assistance." He grinned.

"Alright. I dare the next person to fake an orgasm to two people you'd like to share a tent with on the third night."

Dare & Dare Game @ the fire pit

"The rules are simple. If you're a fucking pussy - you get the fuck out or I'm going to kick you out. This is a game for grownups only. So if you're coming in here with some morals or other shit like that - you also leave." Adriana smiled at the group gathered.

"Ladies and Gents, please leave your alliances behind because I've declared this no-man's-land."

"To being, I dare you to take a shot..." She paused, shaking her finger." But you have to pour it out on their chest and lick it all up."

[canetetienne]

"You as well."

Well, shit. The higher he was going to get, the more fucked up this was going to be. Maybe fun, too? But...

Better to avoid.

Happy Camper Hasan nodded, and backed away he kept his head high this time. Étienne seemed pleasant and that was good enough for him respecting other campers wishes was cool and should always be at the top of camp rules. "You're welcome. I'll be around if you need help with camping activities. Enjoy your weekend!" Happy Camper Hasan gave a a wave as he walked away leaving Etienne alone.

[canetetienne]

That was going to be a thought for later. Étienne had to stay vigilant, but at least it also meant later. Besides, the coke was going to keep him up alright.

"Ah, you are a woman after my own heart." He smirked. "Well, my lady, my saviour?" He offered her his arm and started to lead the way. "Whilst you're doing something for me, how can I offer myself for you?"

"The opposite. What could be done definitely hasn't be done yet."

A morbid thought, and Gianna didn't want to expect the worst after previous events she'd attended, but one it'd be foolish to ignore with Russians there.

"How about let's be overachievers and do both. I'm from the right side of the tracks," she said, nudging her head in the direction of the 'rich' side of the camp. "Come on, I'm in the charity spirit. Can't have a man with an empty hip flask. Drinks are on me."

[canetetienne]

"You think?" Though Étienne wouldn't be surprised, in fact, he wasn't. He'd seen Konstantin at events, he knew how he acted. Because if one had to look at the holistic view of the Russian mob, not all were savages. They wouldn't have a place anywhere if they couldn't act from time to time.

Besides, he knew because he had those animalistic tendencies all the same when angered.

"Well, well, well." He grinned at her. "Now, not all rule breaks are bad." This was new, and he was intrigued. "Whatever happens during the camping, at the camp?"

"I never said that," she remarked, settling into the seat beside him. "You'd be surprised how civil he can be." Though, of course, that was assuming he had no reason to behave otherwise—a detail Lyudmila kept to herself.

"Well, here I am, sitting and chatting with you, so clearly, I am going against any rules I'd ever had for myself – so, who knows."

[canetetienne]

"Come on, Fee, relax." The drugs were working, so he was actually having a good time. Not that he was fully fucked - he reserved a good amount of logical thinking if shit hit the fan. But for now - everyone was pretty much falling into the same thing - drinks and drugs.

How very charitable of everyone.

"Your job is to push that stuff around and yet you didn't bring enough to last the whole weekend?" Étienne chuckled at her, taking out his bag and passing it to her. "I expected better from you. What's got your head so out of it?"

When the campout was first announced, Ophélie actually thought it would be great, especially as it was for a good course. She however, was expecting there to be the divide of rich tent, pour tent and nor did she ever think it would be random as it was.

Of course, she was grateful she had a camp buddy that she could stand rather than someone she'd like to throttle. Not everyone had been so lucky.

It didn't take long for her to spot a familiar face, and Etienne just happened to be the first one she came across. She made her way over, joining him at his side.

She let out a frustated grunt "Minus the shit show this whole thing has turned out to be already. Some of the pairings are seriously fucked up, and I have to to the in fucking peasant tents."

"Please tell you have plenty more where that came from?" she sighed. "I do not have enough dubes to last me the weekend, and there is no way in hell I'm surviving in that piece of shit without some for of liquid courage."

[canetetienne]

"So you'd really say your ex husband is a savage?" It wasn't meant as an offence, or something to make her not feel at ease. Étienne had decided that this was a charity event and if the killings really were to happen - he was going to be impressed. "This being a charity event and all."

After taking a sip of his drink, the Frenchman indicated for her to sit next to him, if she wished.

"That;s only because it is still early, trust me. There's much fun to have. And how about yourself? What kind of fun are you in for?"

"In your position, I’d say focusing on yourself might be wise."

There was no malice in her tone. Taking a sip through her straw from the drink she’d secured thanks to her fortunate connections in the estate’s finer quarters, Lyudmila donned an expression of perfect innocence.

“You don’t seem to be enjoying yourself much.”

[canetetienne]

"What's done is done, right?" He laughed, shaking his head. He had decided to simply enjoy the nights and not put much of an importance on the situation.

Except for Lisette, because she would probably have some kind of reaction.

"I'd offer you a drink, but I'm a little low, so how about my company instead?"

Whilst she didn't know him personally, Gianna had been keeping a close eye out for whomever was unlucky enough to get paired with Konstantin Vorshevsky. This was the unlucky bastard who'd drawn the short straw.

"Shouldn't the rest of us be asking you that?"

[canetetienne]

What the actual fuck was that?

Étienne rubbed his eyes for a moment, just in case Olivier had actually slipped some of his LSD into his drink and now he was actually seeing things. But no, it was still there once he opened his eyes once more.

"I'm too sober for this shit." He muttered under his breath. "Yes, yes, I'm fine. Go... Go somewhere else. Thank you for your concern."

"I am friend! Thanks for asking, are you alright? Enjoying yourself so far? I see you're properly socially lubricated, and on your way to having a happy camping experience!" Happy Camper Hasan motioned mimicking the man drinking from his flask. "Don't forget to stay hydrated and enjoy a camp snack so you have plenty of energy for party favors!" Happy Camper Hasan gave Etienne an energetic thumbs up. "Any camping activities you're excited for?"

He waited with baited breath for Etienne's response.

[canetetienne]

Étienne had to laugh at the way Olivier took this. Yes, he understood that the situation was perhaps more complicated that even he himself could understand, but the way he said it? He was still chuckling when the replied. "It's nor an order, Oli. It's just a way to make sure we're all going to be alright by the end of it." Lisette was her own person, too. It wasn't as f she couldn't take care of herself. It was only because Étienne himself was thinking a few steps ahead.

Just in case.

"Just snow and stolen alcohol. For me, this is not the place to take acid. Actually, acid is never the answer to anything when it comes to me." Weed he could do, but even his anger management therapist said he should avoid psychedelics. And he meant to.

Was it wrong? That all this time later, even though he knew they'd never be...he still cared for Lisette. It'd been in the fire that they'd been forged, and his decision had torn them apart. It was his own guilt about the situation that had him wishing he could change the past. But...there came a time, like there'd been in recent months, where he'd been working on himself. And the pity party wasn't something he was willing to allow to consume him anymore.

He had prospects, a daughter, and a potential job a life time.

The thing he wanted most in the fucking world. And he was going to get it. That was his mentality now...there was not a world for fuck ups, only progression. Maybe that's why his relationships had been less strained, easier to mantain. He wasn't constantly waiting for his missstep, or trying to pre-empt it. "I'll do it." that was all he needed to say, no elaborations required.

However, even for a man who'd worked on himself, he couldn't stop how he stilled hoped that she was okay...that he might one day get some sort of chance to redeem himself, somehow. "Snow, I've got. Weed, check...and LSD." he smirked. "What's your poison of choice? Still snow?"

[canetetienne]

Étienne only arched his brows at her. "I dare to disagree, and really, I would suggest you to rethink and reevaluate." Well, that was actually silly of her. "Look around where you are. Without friends here, you don't mean much." He meant the fact that initially most of the people here were in the mob. The people that she herself was surrounded, was in the mob. "Your way of thinking is going to get you killed and myself? I don't deal with stupid. Apologies."

There had to be some of them that could keep the alcohol flowing. The mention of snow, knowing what she had packed herself, in case of an emergency, was starting to seem like the best option. "Friends seem overrated."