The Park, Tuesday afternoon

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

Mohinder was sitting on a park bench, hands clutching a tepid-warm coffee. The girl behind the Perk's counter hadn't been too happy to hear exactly how he wanted his drink earlier, apparently taking 'something, anything with caffeine, please' literally.

Still, at least he was far from his home and cell phones. Bob might not exactly like what he heard before Mohinder's self-preservation instincts had cut in and cut off the call, but it could have been much worse.

Mohinder looked around, feet crunching the frosted ground beneath, and hoped the morning had been just a blip.

[Open and honest!]

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[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

Minsc was out for a walk, with Boo on his shoulder. Usually, he was a very chatty man towards the hamster. Today was certainly no exception. If anything, his chatting seemed even more continual and heartfelt than before, but, unlike those other times, sometimes he'd finish with saying something, frown, and consider Boo's silence.

"You know," he muttered, "sometimes I wonder if that man I won you from was lying when he said you were special..."

And then another long moment would pass before Minsc hurriedly said, "I am sorry, Boo! I did not mean to say such things!"

And he hadn't, really. It just seemed to have come out.

He was glad for the distraction to see that he was not the only one out and about, and he waved an arm when he spotted a familiar shape. "Hullo, Sir Mohinder! How fare you?"

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

"I seem to be more talkative than usual. But otherwise I am well and whole in mind and body," said Mohinder, "At least I think I am, but if I wasn't would I notice?"

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

"In mind, maybe," Minsc said with a chuckle, "but you're asking the wrong person there. In body, I imagine you'd be quite aware, as you'd be bleeding or ralphing or be missing some parts."

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

"This island doesn't have a psychologist or mental health professional to ask," said Mohinder, "And determining sanity by straw poll doesn't sound like a very good idea."

"Ralphing?" He took a quick glance down, "All of me appears to be present and correct - and cold too."

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

"That's because it is cold outside," Minsc noted importantly. "But it is nice. It's brisk! Wakes you up! Makes you want to go wrestle winter wolves and make things out of their heavy soft pelts!"

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

"Are winter wolves different to summer ones? They sound larger and furrier and more dangerous," speculated Mohinder. "I'll leave the wrestling of any wolves to you; I think it would leave me more in need of a hospital visit than its coat."

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

"There...actually aren't summer wolves," Minsc realized, his head tilting at the revelation. And, in fact, the revelation seemed to have held him in thrall for quite a long moment.

He broke the spell of enchantment with a shake of his head. "They shoot ice at you!" he informed Sir Mohinder with a bright grin.

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

"That sounds most uncomfortable. For the target and the wolf."

He thought for a moment.

"Where from?" Mohinder would have asked the question regardless. "A wolf hasn't any extra holes for that." That part he probably wouldn't usually have said.

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

That last part almost had Minsc chuckling like a twelve-year-old girl. Of course, he was far too large for the reaction to work to its fullest potential.

"From its mouth," he explained. "Much like a dragon who spits fire!"

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

Mohinder rolled his eyes at that, defending himself half-heartedly with, "It was worth asking to know to approach one from the rear."

"And in hot weather," he added. "I suppose it would be difficult to aim otherwise."

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

"Well, they tend to only inhabit cold to mild climates," Minsc said.

And then chuckled again.

"Oh, winter wolves farting ice! That is funny, Boo!"

No one ever said that Minsc's sense of humour was a sophisticated one. At all.

[offthelisthero.livejournal.com]

"They must tend to overheat," Mohinder thought out loud. "As well as probably not existing in this world. Although now I've just said that they might and I'll disclaim all fault for unexpected Fandom wolves while still feeling slightly responsible if they show up."

He tried to drag his thoughts back in line, or at least back into his head. "They'd probably become short-tailed quickly." Yeah, good luck with that.