After(life) Party--

[soylentprotag]

[Lenka isn't talking much, though he spends most of the time after the execution either expressionless or frowning, moving among the ones still left at the campfire to check on people and try to make sure none of them are trying to either follow Boa or possibly throw literal or metaphorical stones at each other. Probably everyone's too exhausted for any of that at this point.

At some point he disappears for a little bit and comes back with an entire table and supplies -- not from the kitchen, but from the stash he'd accumulated in Cabin 2. It's not much, but it feels better than eating anything from the kitchen right now. Nobody wants that.

There's just some crackers and fruit snacks and some cheese with them. A few baggies to take them to go since most people aren't hungry right this moment. Once that's set out, he'll idle at one end of the table, staring out into the lake.]

Comments

[particlebarrier]

[Lance gives Lenka a look that's hard to place - concern? sadness? Whatever it is, it doesn't last long.]

You're acting really strange, Lenka.

[It's all matter-of-fact, but he does open the trunk to grab a spare set of clothes.]

What's with everyone acting all mad at me, but not saying what their problem is? Geeze.

[soylentprotag]

[He catches the tail end of that look, and his expression softens a little in response.]

I know. I'm sorry. It's been... a long day.

[A long week. A long, long camp.

He's been trying as hard as he can not to take it out on anyone else -- because the easiest target is always himself, until he runs out of rage and frustration and all else -- but it's harder and harder to keep it from spilling out the edges.]

Just be patient with us on weekends. It'll make sense once camp ends.

[He doesn't add that that's just a hope. Maybe it's easier to say, because he's talking to one of the dead.]

[particlebarrier]

[Looking somewhat miffed Lance gets up to change his clothes, but pauses at that last bit.]

I don't really want camp to end. I actually like seeing you guys around every day.

[soylentprotag]

[... He looks down at his feet for a moment, but there's something wry in his voice.]

I like seeing the people here too. Maybe we'll still be able to see each other. After it's over.

[Pipe dreams to get you through the day, eh?]

[particlebarrier]

[He lingers for just another moment.]

We can be still pen-pals if we can't see each other, right?

[soylentprotag]

Pen pals...?

[What. What is that.

Lenka's expression blanks for a moment, because he's only owned something like a mailbox for the first time in the past handful of months. He has not yet leveled up (leveled down?) his communication skills from tablet to snail mail. But also: asking for an explanation might get long, so:]

Uh, we can talk about it after you're done.

[Just so they're not discussing this over Boa bits.]

[particlebarrier]

....Clueless as ever.

[But fiiiiiine, he'll go change now to make the other children happy. Off to the shack he goes.

...And just doesn't come back. Lenka how do you keep managing to have this effect.]

[soylentprotag]

[He still hasn't figured out why Lance's coral counterpart is this moody, but well. Maybe it's a subconscious effect of being unwillingly dead and all. Lenka is going to look up a couple of times to see if he wanders back but... even if they lose him, he'll turn up at the cabin later.

Someday he'll learn what a pen pal is.]