#rel.sefa&cleo

[royalbloodedbastards]

chatzy // campfire camaraderie

DATE: Friday, May 15, 2020 CHARACTERS: Cleo, JTT, Sefa, Tai, Jordan, Malia, Graves ABOUT: An impromptu hangout at the campfire.

Cleo took a seat at the campfire, set her tote bag beside her, and added a piece of wood. She stoked the fire with a stick and opened her wine, wondered if it was sad to drink alone, and then took a sip, figuring she could just pretend that she wasn't drinking if someone asked.

There were times when JTT wondered if being dyslexic affected his hearing too. Constantly having to ask people to repeat themselves, even JTT got tired of his asking. Eventually he just learned to nod if he didn't catch what they said on the first, second, or third go around, and usually they would just move on. He sometimes wondered if maybe English wasn't really his first language, but JTT also didn't speak anything else.

"Yeah, nah, we just had a good yarn about it and we were good as gold," Sefa explained as they approached the campfire. JTT just nodded. "Ah, hey," Sefa called out to Cleo with a wave as they took a seat across the fire. "How's it going?"

Cleo placed her growler down beside her and waved at Sefa and JTT with the hand that wasn't holding the stick she was using to stoke the fire. "Great." She smiled a bit, tilting her head around the fire to see them a bit better. "Just getting the fire started, I guess. How about you guys?"

"I'm great! A bit knackered, my buddy and I just had a little pickup game." Sefa slapped a hand on JTT's back. "But feeling great. Sefa, by the way. You are?" Cleo nodded a bit and scooted so that she was a bit closer to them. "Ah, Cleo!" She smiled. "Sefa." She tilted her head more so that she could she JTT as well. "And you?"

JTT sup nodded Cleo. "JTT, Junior Travis Taylor, JT Taylor. You can call me JTT."

"I dunno, I guess I like scruff? And I see guys with full beards and they look super handsome, buuuuut I dunno.... Kissing all that? It might not be worth it." Malia sighed, looking up at the stars as she and Tai approached the campfire. There were already people there; she checked quickly and decided she liked the people she knew and— Malia stopped in her tracks and slapped Tai's chest. "Tai," she whispered, "is that the Scarlet Surfer?"

"I dunno, I feel like clean-shaven is so hot. 'Special when..." Tai trailed off as they came into sight of the other campers. He laughed at the question and stepped forward, holding his hand out for a bro shake to Sefa instead of replying. "Ey, mate, how's it hangin'?"

Malia's mouth fell open, and she followed Tai over to the group, finding her composure again on the way. She smiled at Sefa and waved, wiggling her fingers, then regarded JTT with a different, slightly brighter smile.

Sefa turned toward the newcomers with a smile. "Hey mate! An Aussie?" He stood and pulled Tai in for a bro hug then offered his hand out to Malia. "You too?"

JTT just returned Mal's smile and waved back.

Cleo gave a small thumbs-up to JTT. "JTT." She said in acknowledgement as she nodded. She gave a little wave to Tai and Malia.

Her attention snapped back to Sefa and she sighed, taking his hand. "Nope, American."

Tai grinned as he stepped back to give Sefa and Malia space. "Yeah, man! Love an ol' kiwi." He took a seat beside Cleo and held out his hand towards her. "Not t'be rude to you. I'm Tai."

"Respecting your superiors, smart man," Sefa joked as Tai stepped away. He turned to Malia. "Sorry, an American you said? No worries, can't all be perfect." He extended a hand out toward her. "I'm Sefa."

Cleo took Tai's hand and shook it. "I'm Cleo. I think we tan together."

Tai laughed at Sefa and waved his hand in a dismissive gesture, clearly amused. He turned back to Cleo. "Yes! But we haven't spoken." Looking over her shoulder, he smiled at JTT. "And you are?"

JTT pointed at himself, brows raised to confirm he was the one being asked a question. "JTT," he responded, guessing at what Tai asked and hoping he was right.

Tai stretched an arm out towards JTT for a shake. He used his other hand to adjust his prosthetic so he could sit more with more comfort on the ground. "Bonzer 'nitials," he commented. "Real awesome." The last word was said in an odd approximation of an American accent.

"I know. Do you like hearing that or does getting recognized get old? I'm Malia," she replied, smiling.

JTT lost 3/4 of Tai's sentence but caught 'awesome' and smiled. He shook Tai's hand and muttered, "Awesome."

"I think so!" Cleo nodded, somewhat excited. "I'm Cleo." She smiled as she nodded at him. "I don't know if it counts as tanning with how much sunscreen I use. Maybe it's more... sunning."

Sefa laughed. "Nah, not old. Malia, you said? Nice to meet you."

Tai grinned at JTT and grasped his shoulder in a friendly way before he looked back at Cleo. "Sunning. That's funny. You guys enjoyin' the fire?"

"I am." Cleo bobbed her head. "Are you?" She took her growler from where it was sitting on the log near her feet and held it out to Tai. "Did you want any wine?"

Tai waved his hand to decline the offer. "Nah, good for now." He lifted his head to look at Malia. "Hey, Mal, you want any wine?"

Cleo smiled and held the wine out to Malia as if she was the one offering at first instead of Tai.

"Nice to meet you!" When the wine was offered, Malia beamed and moved over to Tai and Cleo, taking the bottle. "Thanks! Is this your homemade stuff?"

“Of course.” Cleo smiled and stuck her legs out. “I only ever have homemade wine. When it comes to tequila though, I’m not as sustainable.”

Malia nodded as if she understood and tipped the bottle back, taking a few gulps. "Ooooh," she said to the group, wiping a small spot of wine from her lip, "should we play a drinking game?" Tai ran a hand through his hair. “Sounds like a good plan to me.”

"I'm keen!" Sefa took his seat beside JTT, who nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I'm down."

Cleo nodded. “I have enough wine for us to share.” She shrugged one shoulder. “If everyone wants to drink.” She pulled another bottle from her bag, poured a bit out into the edge of the fire, and then passed it down.

"Ah, chur mate!" Sefa exclaimed as he reached across JTT for the bottle. "Pouring one out for the homies?" He asked, indicating to where Cleo poured some wine into the fire.

"Gotta do it or our parents get pissy," Malia said with a sigh.

“Pour one out for the old man.” Cleo formed both her hands into the hang loose symbol and shook them.

"Ah." Sefa took a big swig of the wine before handing it off to JTT. "The old man. Or woman. Who's yours?"

JTT took a drink of the wine as well before handing it off.

Tai ran his tongue over his teeth. "Pass it here?" he asked JTT just to pour a drop out for his mom. "Don't wanna risk anything."

"Oh, are we all meant to pour a bit out? Are they gonna smite me?" Sefa asked.

"I don't know my parent," JTT shrugged, passing the bottle to Tai.

"Mom for me," Malia said dropping a little out into the fire. "Aphrodite." She looked over to Sefa and shrugged. "I guess it depends on your parent?"

Cleo shook her head. “I just pour one out per bottle for my dad. I guess it couldn’t hurt to all just... tip some out though.” She shrugged one shoulder.

Tai sized JTT up with curiosity. "Unclaimed?"

"Yeah," JTT confirmed. "Mom's still out picking up milk."

Cleo snorted and pressed and hand to her mouth as she held a hand out for a bottle.

"Alright, I'll pour one out for the old man my next go around," Sefa conceded. "Don't want him flooding the place."

Tai laughed. "I feel it. Took me years to get claimed." He looked around for a bottle, deciding that tonight would be a drinking night.

Cleo smiled at Sefa. “Poseidon kid?” She tilted her head. “Are you new?” She crossed her ankles. “What game are we playing? Never have I ever?”

"Yeah, just got here a few weeks ago," Sefa confirmed. "Heard Poseidon's kind of a big deal, though."

Cleo bobbed her head. “It’s the best cabin, honestly. Besides Dionysus.”

"Um, no, sorry, don't listen to her, Sefa. Aphrodite is the best cabin." Malia interjected, giggling. "I'm down for never have I ever, but instead of counting down from ten we should just drink every time we've done something."

"Alright, yeah, let's do it. I'm keen as," Sefa exclaimed. "Here's one, never have I ever broken a bone."

Cleo shook her head at Sefa and smiled at Malia. “I think the drinking version is way better.”

JTT held his hand out for a bottle and gave a little wave.

Malia passed the bottle off to JTT. "Same," she said to Sefa.

JTT took a drink of wine.

"Are we playing it where if you're the only loser, you gotta tell the story?" Sefa asked the group.

Tai also did not have a drink. “If we’re drinkin’, any of you have more alcohol?”

Cleo grinned and looked at Sefa, then JTT. “Absolutely. You should tell the story.”

JTT shrugged. "I'm a motocross racer. I was eleven or twelve? Lost control on the woops, fell off the bike and landed on my arm." He held up his arm and pointed to a faint scar running up and down his forearm.

Malia shook her head at Tai. "Should we get more?" She didn't wait for a response and tuned in to JTT's story. She winced, feeling a small sympathy pang in her arm. "Ow.”

Tai held up a hand. “I broke a bone too,” he commented belatedly, having been too caught up in not having alcohol to bring it up previously. “But yeah, ouch. Sucks, dude.”

Cleo patted Tai’s arm. “I have another bottle, if we’re short, but those other two bottles are mine, and they’re strong.” She nodded a bit before looking at JTT. “Ouch. Did you even have a license then?”

"It was just a dirt bike," JTT shrugged. "Wasn't that bad."

"I can go grab another bottle from my cabin if you want," Sefa offered. "Got some 42 Below."

“Never have I ever known what 42 Below was.” Cleo smiled at Sefa and then snapped and pointed at JTT. “A dirt bike at eleven or twelve is... Badass,” she decided on.

Malia laughed and looked over to JTT again. "Can I have the wine? I knew what that was."

"Vodka," Sefa explained, shaking his head. He took a sip of the wine from JTT before passing the bottle to Malia.

JTT sat back and let Sefa lean over him. He looked over at Cleo and explained, "My dad's a pro racer so I picked it up young."

Cleo rested her hands on her chin and her elbows on her knees. “Hm. So you just... pro race?”

"Semi-pro," JTT explained.

"Nah, this guy's being modest," Sefa interrupted, clapping a hand against JTT's back. "His dad's a legend. He and his brother are the real deal."

Tai leaned forward with interest. "For real? That's sick as hell."

"Uh, yeah," JTT confirmed less than enthusiastically. "My dad's Travis Taylor. He was a four-time Supercross champ. My brother and I race the 250 Class, which is like the smaller league."

Cleo didn’t really know what any of those words meant, but nodded along. “That’s neat. Do you have a bike, then?”

Jordan materialized behind Tai and took a seat next to him.

JTT nodded. "Yeah, I brought my bike." He gestured over toward the Hermes cabin.

Tai startled then slapped a hand on Jordan's shoulder when he sat down. "Hey buddy! You gave me a jump, I didn't hear you walk up."

Cleo looked back at the Hermes cabin and bobbed her head. “Oh! That’s way cool. I don’t think anyone else here owns a motorcycle.”

Jordan smiled at Tai. “Quiet steps. It’s my talent.”

Sefa jumped in his seat when Jordan materialized. He clapped a hand over his heart and exclaimed, "Bloody christ, you almost gave me a heart attack!"

JTT seemed unfazed. He just smiled and shrugged at Cleo.

Jordan tilted his head at Sefa as if he didn’t know what he was so excited about. “Sorry, I can be very quiet. I should wear a bell.”

Malia looked over to Jordan when he materialized beside Tai. Her smile faded but she made no other indication of her displeasure and took another drink from the bottle.

Graves strolled up to the bonfire, handle of Kraken in hand. He spotted Tai and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey man."

Tai lifted a hand to tap knuckles with Graves. “Hey! Pull up, mate.” He nodded towards the space next to him.

"Ace." Graves straddled the bench, holding the Kraken out to Tai. "Y'want some? Ever had it?"

Tai grinned at Graves and took the bottle. “Yeah, man. Love some ol’ sea monster.” He took a swig and held it back out to him, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Come to hang?”

Malia moved away from Tai and Jordan and settled somewhere closer to Sefa, offering him the bottle once again. "How do you like it here so far?"

Cleo gave a little wave™️ to Graves from across the circle when she noticed him.

Sefa accepted the bottle from Malia. "It's great. Nice little place," Sefa offered with a shrug. "Can't stay long though. Gotta get back to work."

"Of course, man. It's not a party til the Hermes kids show up." He grinned, accepting the bottle and taking a sip. "You want some?" Graves nodded at Jordan, holding the bottle out. He saw movement in the corner of his eye and caught Cleo's wave, flashing her a wink and a bright smile.

Jordan smirked at Graves and took the bottle. "Cheers." He took a swig and then made a face as he held the bottle back out to him.

Malia nodded like she understood. "Are you just like, between projects right now and wanted to check it out?"

Tai looked between the two of them, smiling widely. "Know each other?"

"A bit." Jordan nodded. "I'm a bastard with his sister, mostly."

"That, and he shot me once. With a cupcake." Graves laughed, taking another swig out of the handle before setting it on the ground so Tai and Jordan could both reach it. "How are y'all doin'?"

Sefa tipped his head back and forth. "You could say that. Just finished a bunch of shoots before I came so I'm good for a bit, but fashion weeks for next season start in June , so I gotta leave for that."

Jordan gave Graves a thumbs up and stretched his legs out.

"Oh yeah!" Tai laughed. "He used me as a shield." He bumped Jordan's shoulder. "Funny guy. I'm full aces! How's it with you?"

"You're too pretty to be a human shield. I'm doin' alright, nothin' to complain about." Graves looked between Tai and Jordan. "How do you know him again, I forget," he directed his inquiry at Tai.

Tai ran a hand over his hair and grinned at Graves with the compliment. "He's my roomie."

Jordan gave another two thumbs. "We're also in witness protection together, but we're not supposed to mention that." He clapped a hand over his mouth. "Fuck."

"Ugh," Malia put her head in one of her hands. "That's so cool. Sorry, I don't want to be a total dork in front of you but, ugh, I follow Fashion Week religiously."

"Nah, no worries." Sefa waved the thought away with his hand. "You trying to become a model or designer or something?"

Graves arched an eyebrow at Jordan. "Witness protection, huh? No worries, I'll keep your secret."

Jordan sighed and shook his head sadly at Graves. "We have to kill you now. I'm sorry. My condolences to Rosie."

"Ah shit. I guess my luck finally ran out." Graves hung his head, sighing dramatically. "Do your worst."

Malia sighed. "Yeah, I'd love to model. I'm getting there on Insta, have some small brands that want me to like, try their tea, but," she shrugged.

Tai laughed and slung an arm around Jordan's shoulders. "I bet he can keep a secret, you can let him alone."

Jordan narrowed his eyes at Graves and then pointed his fingers from his own eyes to Graves's. "Okay, but you're on thin fuckin' ice." He looked at the bottle between them. "Can I have more?"

Sefa shrugged. "Did you take the deals?" He took a swig of the wine then passed it to JTT.

Graves put a hand to his heart. "Tai, lookin' out for me. Thanks, man." He nodded, unsing his foot to nudge the handle closer to Jordan. "Yeah, y'can have as much as you want. Release the kraken."

Jordan took the bottle and opened it, taking a long swig before he held it out to Tai. "I like that. You sound like fucking Davey Jones." He blinked. "...Gravey Jones."

"I mean," Malia laughed. "Duh." She looked past Sefa to JTT, smiling at him. "Hi, sorry, I totally didn't mean to edge you out of the conversation. I guess we aren't playing anymore..." She looked disapprovingly at Jordan.

Tai laughed along and looked between the two of them, taking a swig from the bottle before he spoke. “Who’s that?”

Graves cackled, "Gravey Jones! Fuck, dude. I love that." He grinned at Tai, "Y'ever see Pirates of the Caribbean?"

"It's cool." JTT shrugged.

"We should go for a swim," Sefa suggested. "Anyone ever go skinny dipping in that lake?"

Jordan grinned at Graves and then looked at Sefa. "Well... One person did... once." He shook his head gravely. "His name was Kevin, and... he was never heard from again."

Sefa shrugged. "Kevin should've learned how to swim."

"Skinny dippin'..." Graves raised an eyebrow. "I could be convinced." He picked up the bottle of liquor and took a sip.

Jordan sniffled and buried his face in his hands.

"I have," Tai volunteered after no one else did. "A bloody age ago."

Graves reached around Tai to pat Jordan on the back. "There, there. Kevin is missed."

JTT furrowed his brows at Jordan's weeping.

"What do you say, mates?" Sefa asked the group. "Are we keen for a dip?"

Cleo looked around at the group and smiled as she sipped her wine. "I think it's the perfect night to go swimming."

"Me too," Tai agreed with Cleo brightly. He raised a hand to point towards the moon. "Not too light, not too dark."

Malia breathed out slowly and eventually nodded. "I'm in."

JTT shook his head. "What happened to Kevin?"

Graves looked across the circle, raising his eyebrows at Cleo before looking away. He took another swig from his bottle. "Yeah Jordy, what happened?"

Jordan raised his head and took in a shuddering breath. "He.... he..." He dropped his head into his hands again and tried to disguise his laughter as sobbing.

Cleo grinned at Graves and winked at him, raising her wine bottle in a long distance cheers.

Tai looked alarmed and put a hand on Jordan's back. "You okay there, mate? Was he a friend of yours?"

Malia rolled her eyes and leaned over Sefa to look at JTT. "He's fucking with you," she told him.

JTT still looked confused but just nodded. "Yeah..." He watched Jordan have a fit across the fire and shook his head.

Sefa stood. "Then let's go, eh?"

Jordan sat up, seemingly composing himself in a matter of seconds. He stayed where he was and looked around to see if others were going to do the same.

Tai stood up after Sefa and stretched his arms behind his back. “Yeah, dude.” He grinned down at Jordan. “You comin’?”

Cleo smiled and stood with Sefa and Tai.

JTT looked over at Malia. "You going?"

Jordan shook his head. "As if I wanna end up like Kevin."

“Oh.” Tai hesitated, glancing between the water and Jordan. “Y’sure?”

"Go, Tai." Graves waved towards the water. "I'll stay here and make sure Jordan doesn't get too sad remembering Kevin. Drink?" He held the bottle out to Jordan.

Jordan gave a short nod, bristling slightly. "Yeah." He rolled his eyes at Graves and took the bottle. "Yeah, I can drink to forget."

Malia looked at the group that seemed to be going, noting that Jordan was not among them. "Yeah, I guess so," she said with a smile.

"Cool." JTT stood and looked at the bottle of wine in his hand. "Can I finish this?"

Graves watched everyone get up and head toward the water. He gave them a wave before turning to Jordan. "Whatever works, Nightcrawler. What's your deal with the lake?"

"Let me have it one more time, and then yes," Malia said, holding her hand out for the bottle.

JTT passed Malia the bottle.

Jordan looked at Graves. “Nightcrawler,” he repeated back with a smile. “Nothing. I’m just not gonna get naked in front of a bunch of strangers.” He took another sip from the bottle and then held it back out to Graves. “Do you have one? Or are you taking pity on a poor, lonely boy? Because you can go strip if you want.”

"Fair enough. No deal either, just don't really feel like swimmin' tonight." Graves shrugged, smiling. "Plus, I like drinking. And once y'unleash the kraken, you've gotta finish the bottle. Or so it goes," he said, accepting the bottle from Jordan and taking a longer sip.

Once he was sure it was okay to go, Tai broke into another grin and headed over to Malia. "Good for a splash?"

Malia took one final gulp of wine and then handed the bottle back to JTT. When Tai approached her, she shrugged. "I think so!"

JTT took back the bottle and downed the rest in one go. "Cool."

"Don't litter," Sefa warned as he started off toward the lake.

Jordan smiled wider at Graves. “I guess so. Does that mean we have to finish the whole bottle?”

“Sure as shit does.” Graves held the bottle out to Jordan. “We got a lot left, yikes.”

Jordan snorted. “If I finish this with you, you’re gonna be scraping me up off the pavement later.”

Tai glanced back once at Graves and Jordan, then smiled at Malia and held out his arm for her. "To the lake?"

“We can save some for your roommate. When he gets back. Or, I’ll get a shovel. Make scrap in’ y’off the pavement a helluva lot easier.” Graves laughed.

Malia returned the smile and took Tai's arm. "To the lake!"