The Preserve, Friday night

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

A small glade opened in front of them and River tilted her head, looking thoughtful. "Might work."

She had handwavily showed them a detailed sketch how three tents could be combined to one large, semicircular structure with room for an open fire in the middle. That was hoping the direction of the wind didn't change, of course. Oh, and there was that corner which would not be quite watertight, should it start to rain. All in all, River was satisfied with the design. It just had to be put to the test.

The dorky uniforms would also be put to the test. And their knot tying skills. River had a feeling knitting didn't count.

[Pre-played, to be continued in comments. Locked to River, John and Claire, please.]

ltcolkirk	"I think it's good," John said, dropping his bag and tent to the ground. He reached down and tugged at his knee socks. "Tell me again why the uniforms are necessary?"
savedfornow	Claire had followed Jo's example in class and tied her shirt around her waist to afford her some breathing space around her midriff. Also, her sockes were firmly pushed down around her ankles. "Because we'll get failed if we don't?" She suggested with a shrug. "Never question the strange ways of teachers."
moonbrain_tam	"Uniforms as a way of depersonalising people and open up the potential to uncharacteristic behaviour?" River suggested, then frowned as it made her wanted to take hers off and change back into her own clothes. She shook her head. "Pitch tent?"
ltcolkirk	"Both of you make good points," John shrugged. "Tent pitching it is!" He pulled his tent out of its bag.
savedfornow	Claire crouched down next to her tent and pulled it out as well, struggling a little with the weight of it. "OK, so how do these go together again?"
moonbrain_tam	River pulled out her sketch again and held it up to them. "I suggest we begin with constructing the framework and then add the fabric."
ltcolkirk	"Can do," John said. He gathered the pieces of his tent's framework and carried them easily to where they were going to begin assembling the tent.
savedfornow	Claire was not finding it as easy, being smaller and just not as strong as him. But she managed sort of, dropping a pole or two on the way.
moonbrain_tam	River immediately began to assemble the tent poles, making a nice structure that didn't look much that the one they'd been intended for. "Someone hold this end?"
ltcolkirk	John grabbed the end River had indicated and held it in place for her. "This is gonna be pretty cool once it's all together," John commented.
savedfornow	"It is," Claire said, hanging back and trying not to look too useless. "Almost a shame we have to take it down again."
moonbrain_tam	River smiled widely. "Temporary existence is part of the fascination. Like mobility. Next step now."
ltcolkirk	"Like flying, never staying in one place for very long," John had lived that his entire life. John held up some of the fabric, "Ready for this?"
savedfornow	"You fly?" Claire asked, as she grabbed the other end of the fabric.
moonbrain_tam	"Yes, just like flying," Rive agreed, and began to pull the fabric over the structure. "But with better food."
ltcolkirk	"I'm almost done with my pilot's license," John told Claire. "You ladies like s'mores?"
savedfornow	"Ah," Claire says smugly. "I can't fly anything, but I can make awesome s'mores."
moonbrain_tam	River's face lit up. "S'mores? Perfect." As she'd said, better food. The tent was almost finished. "Just need to fasten the fabric now."
ltcolkirk	"Mmm...melted chocolate and marshmallow, just what Troop Leader Cooper ordered," John said, grinning while he held a portion of the tent fabric in place.
savedfornow	Claire helped fasten the fabric in place with a couple of false starts, and then stood back admiring the work. "OK, I'll get the s'mores," she says. "You guys figure out knots so you can show me."
moonbrain_tam	Pleased with the result, River inspected the tent. Then she sat down and pulled a few pieces of rope out of the bag. "With the instructions in the handbook this is easy," she noted. "But the purpose is unclear."
ltcolkirk	"Right, knots," John sat down in an empty space next to River. "Yeah, they're not all that useful in everyday life, but knots are pretty fun to tie."
savedfornow	It was then that Claire realised she had to light the fire as well as make the s'mores, but the wood wasn't hard to find and she set about trying to light it, watching the other two out of the corner of her eye. "Aren't they for... y'know, tying things to things?"
moonbrain_tam	"Prefer duct tape for that, but yes, they can be fun. There seem to be a naval origin to most of them. Should find something here to tie together." River frowned, thinking.
ltcolkirk	"We could always tie some wood together or tie something to the tent structure," John offered. "I didn't think to bring a boat along or we could let the knots live up to their original intentions."
savedfornow	Satisfied with her fire, Claire started to skewer marshmallows and chocolate and cook them. True to her promise that she made good s'mores, she also had with her cherries and bananas, wrapped and boxed. These also came out. "Some sort of fence around our camp?"
moonbrain_tam	"A fence." River nodded, holding two pieces of rope in her hand. "Will stop intruders and make escape during the night difficult."
ltcolkirk	"Good thinking, River. I'll get some wood." John went into the more wooded area and gathered some nice sticks and returned quickly. "Will these work for our fence?"
savedfornow	"Escape?" Claire repeated, distracted just enough to drop a marshmallow into the fire. Looking back just in time to see it, she darted her hand into the fire and pulled the hapless 'mallow out before the others could actually see. Hopefully.

Comments

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"In case these woods are too inhabited," River replied solemnly. It wasn't quite clear whether she was joking or not.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

John assumed she was and started tying sticks together. He wasn't looking when Claire's hand went in the fire.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

The fence got finished, the s'mores got eaten and while there were odd sounds coming from the woods occasionally all three of them eventually fell asleep.