Josh and Fraser; backdated to 4 Oct 2013
Oct. 4th, 2013 10:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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om_mainThe boys take a walk through the woods and get to know one another.
When Josh offered to help collect firewood Fraser promptly led him off into the woods to an area where they could find the best dry tinder. They weren't far from the others, but Fraser wasn't satisfied with every large stick they happened to come across.
"You can tell by the leaves which type of tree the branches may have come from," Fraser explained amicably as they walked. "It's always good to find some hardwood trees if you would like less smoke from the fire, but softwood makes great kindling."
Who would have thought that there were actually different types of wood to make a fire with? Back where he came from, most folks just burned garbage. Pretty fucking sick, but otherwise? Wasn't much space around for campfires. Josh was listening to Fraser talk with mostly amused interest, lopsided grin on his face twitching up every time the other boy pointed out a new fact to him.
"Tell me. How many times have you done this before?"
"Oh, innumerable. Once you learn to properly light a fire you never forget." Especially if your father abandoned you in the middle of the woods until you figured out how to successfully do it.
That time he chuckled. "So suggesting kerosene and a pile of paper and twigs wouldn't be a good one then, huh?" Damn brothers!
"Well, that could work as a starter, but if depending on how much kerosene you use, and whether or not you have enough substantial wood in the mix... that could also go up very quickly." Fraser smiled thoughtfully. "In these woods? I'd not recommend it."
"Didn't think so. Works better when you're out in the big city and you're mostly living on concrete," Josh snickered, and kicked at a fallen branch they had come across. He had no idea if the leaves meant it was a good one or not, so he rustled it with his shoe a bit in a questioning manner.
"That looks good," Fraser confirmed. "What city did you live in? I admit, I found New York city rather... overwhelming... when I saw it."
"That would be the one," Josh informed him with pride. "Not Manhattan, though, since I'm guessing that's where you went? I'm from Queens."
"I arrived at JFK so I believe we drove through Queens... it was all pretty disorienting by that point. I had a hard time sleeping over the course of the journey. What was is like, living in such a big city?"
"It has its ups and downs. There's all kinds of different people and there's always lots to do...if you have spare cash," Josh began, and cracked the branch with his foot by giving a little jump. "But it was getting pretty bad when I left there. Everyone's sort of out to fend for themselves most of the time. If you get your butt kicked, not a lot of folks will stop to help you."
A shrug. "But I like the action and the sounds and I miss the sights; Salem Center is so boring in comparison."
"That sounds extremely lively. It must be so quiet at the school."
"Yeah, it is sometimes. But I'm probably in the minority to think so anyway," Josh chuckled. "What about you? Was it a real small town you came from?"
"Occasionally we lived in areas with populations so small you couldn't even call them towns," Fraser admitted with a smile.
"Yeah? Is it close to where Jean-Paul and Jeanne-Marie are from?" What? Didn't all Canadians know each other?
"Quite far apart, actually. I was rather severely north. I've never been on this coast before."
"Like...Arctic north almost?" That would be kind of cool!
"Yes, exactly. That would be the nearest ocean. We did live in Alert for a while."
"Man, that's wicked--and probably makes camping out here look like a cake walk! Don't even have to deal with the winter wonderland, or anything." Josh grinned and made a jump for an overhead branch. Again, he wasn't sure if it was the good kind of wood, but he left himself hanging two feet off the ground for a moment as he spoke. "Unless you like the snow. It's cool for skiing and shit."
"I do miss the snow, but I will say that there's much less chance of getting lost out here. By the time you get lost, you end up on a main road again."
Main road. Josh found the use of that word to be kind of endearing in a way; all the 'main roads' around Salem Center were hardly roads at all! At least in comparison to the bigger cities. But to someone from a remote place it was all quite structured, wasn't it? Henh.
Dropping back down from the branch, Josh continued to walk alongside Fraser, not really minding the idle chit chat. "You say that so casually, dude, I'm guessing you've gotten lost somewhere before? That would be total balls!"
Fraser smiled, unsure about the phrase that Josh had just used, but going off his tone. "Yes, I have to admit I've been lost a few times. You end up somewhere eventually."
"Or nearly mauled by wildlife."
"You have to learn to commune with the caribou," he said, in the same tone he voiced serious statements--but that had to be a joke.
It did indeed get a laugh out of Josh again. "Much cuddlier than the bears and wolves, I'm sure! Though I dunno if I can say they're nearly as cute looking. From a safe distance."
"I assure you, adult bears aren't very cute either. Kind of terrifying actually, even from a distance. Majestic, impressive... could very easily rip you in two. I'll take my chances with the caribou." Fraser grinned.
"Dude...I think you're kinda bad ass. I hope you know!"
He smiled warmed. "Thank you kindly."
When Josh offered to help collect firewood Fraser promptly led him off into the woods to an area where they could find the best dry tinder. They weren't far from the others, but Fraser wasn't satisfied with every large stick they happened to come across.
"You can tell by the leaves which type of tree the branches may have come from," Fraser explained amicably as they walked. "It's always good to find some hardwood trees if you would like less smoke from the fire, but softwood makes great kindling."
Who would have thought that there were actually different types of wood to make a fire with? Back where he came from, most folks just burned garbage. Pretty fucking sick, but otherwise? Wasn't much space around for campfires. Josh was listening to Fraser talk with mostly amused interest, lopsided grin on his face twitching up every time the other boy pointed out a new fact to him.
"Tell me. How many times have you done this before?"
"Oh, innumerable. Once you learn to properly light a fire you never forget." Especially if your father abandoned you in the middle of the woods until you figured out how to successfully do it.
That time he chuckled. "So suggesting kerosene and a pile of paper and twigs wouldn't be a good one then, huh?" Damn brothers!
"Well, that could work as a starter, but if depending on how much kerosene you use, and whether or not you have enough substantial wood in the mix... that could also go up very quickly." Fraser smiled thoughtfully. "In these woods? I'd not recommend it."
"Didn't think so. Works better when you're out in the big city and you're mostly living on concrete," Josh snickered, and kicked at a fallen branch they had come across. He had no idea if the leaves meant it was a good one or not, so he rustled it with his shoe a bit in a questioning manner.
"That looks good," Fraser confirmed. "What city did you live in? I admit, I found New York city rather... overwhelming... when I saw it."
"That would be the one," Josh informed him with pride. "Not Manhattan, though, since I'm guessing that's where you went? I'm from Queens."
"I arrived at JFK so I believe we drove through Queens... it was all pretty disorienting by that point. I had a hard time sleeping over the course of the journey. What was is like, living in such a big city?"
"It has its ups and downs. There's all kinds of different people and there's always lots to do...if you have spare cash," Josh began, and cracked the branch with his foot by giving a little jump. "But it was getting pretty bad when I left there. Everyone's sort of out to fend for themselves most of the time. If you get your butt kicked, not a lot of folks will stop to help you."
A shrug. "But I like the action and the sounds and I miss the sights; Salem Center is so boring in comparison."
"That sounds extremely lively. It must be so quiet at the school."
"Yeah, it is sometimes. But I'm probably in the minority to think so anyway," Josh chuckled. "What about you? Was it a real small town you came from?"
"Occasionally we lived in areas with populations so small you couldn't even call them towns," Fraser admitted with a smile.
"Yeah? Is it close to where Jean-Paul and Jeanne-Marie are from?" What? Didn't all Canadians know each other?
"Quite far apart, actually. I was rather severely north. I've never been on this coast before."
"Like...Arctic north almost?" That would be kind of cool!
"Yes, exactly. That would be the nearest ocean. We did live in Alert for a while."
"Man, that's wicked--and probably makes camping out here look like a cake walk! Don't even have to deal with the winter wonderland, or anything." Josh grinned and made a jump for an overhead branch. Again, he wasn't sure if it was the good kind of wood, but he left himself hanging two feet off the ground for a moment as he spoke. "Unless you like the snow. It's cool for skiing and shit."
"I do miss the snow, but I will say that there's much less chance of getting lost out here. By the time you get lost, you end up on a main road again."
Main road. Josh found the use of that word to be kind of endearing in a way; all the 'main roads' around Salem Center were hardly roads at all! At least in comparison to the bigger cities. But to someone from a remote place it was all quite structured, wasn't it? Henh.
Dropping back down from the branch, Josh continued to walk alongside Fraser, not really minding the idle chit chat. "You say that so casually, dude, I'm guessing you've gotten lost somewhere before? That would be total balls!"
Fraser smiled, unsure about the phrase that Josh had just used, but going off his tone. "Yes, I have to admit I've been lost a few times. You end up somewhere eventually."
"Or nearly mauled by wildlife."
"You have to learn to commune with the caribou," he said, in the same tone he voiced serious statements--but that had to be a joke.
It did indeed get a laugh out of Josh again. "Much cuddlier than the bears and wolves, I'm sure! Though I dunno if I can say they're nearly as cute looking. From a safe distance."
"I assure you, adult bears aren't very cute either. Kind of terrifying actually, even from a distance. Majestic, impressive... could very easily rip you in two. I'll take my chances with the caribou." Fraser grinned.
"Dude...I think you're kinda bad ass. I hope you know!"
He smiled warmed. "Thank you kindly."
