[Video] | [Open Commentlog]

[mister_10_below]

[Bobby's outside, holding the journal facing towards him with one hand and tossing a snowball with the other.]

I promise this is not my fault! I had absolutely nothing to do with this.

[Not that anyone except for maybe two people would have any reason to suspect him. But he's too used to having to give a disclaimer every time snow comes when it

Comments

Commentlog

[angha_firebird]

[And Aara is cautiously walking toward and around the edge of the frozen lake, careful not to step on the ice, but clearly attempting to get nearer to the young man who had seemed so happy and energetic on the journal.]

Commentlog

[angha_firebird]

[Feeling somewhat embarrassed yet happy at his praise, Aara picks up the pace a little more, eager for gliding fast along the ice, but knowing she wasn't quite sturdy enough on her feet for that, yet.]

When did you learn how to do this? How long have you been skating?

[Her voice is somewhat breathless, and puffs of air can be seen when she speaks.]

Commentlog

[mister_10_below]

[Oh, good! She's adjusting to the pace easily, so Bobby picks it up again to set them at a nice, casual skating speed. He'll leave it there for awhile until she gets used to being on ice.]

Probably as long as I've been walking? I grew up in a place that was big on it, and on games played on the ice.

Commentlog

[angha_firebird]

[She's skating more easily now, getting a good rhythm, but the faster they go, the tighter her hold gets until she is able to relax and keep pace once more.]

Tell me more about capture the flag?

[She was really interested in it, and truly wished to guard this flag and be on Bobby's team. Belonging on a team with someone sounded like a dream.]

Commentlog

[mister_10_below]

[He chuckles at her question.]

Sure. The more people you have, the more fun it is, but really you only need eight or so, enough to have four on a team. Usually when the game starts, you get a certain amount of time to find a spot to build your fort and get it fortified.

If you have teams big enough, sometimes they'll send someone off to spy on the other team while they're building up where their fort, to find out where it is and how well it's built. So we'll stick scouts out to make sure we can build in secret.

Then when the time's up, some people will stay back to guard the flag, and others will sneak off to find the other team's fort, steal their flag, and bring it back. There's all sorts of strategies, from a frontal assault to a sneak attack to a combination of both.

Commentlog

[angha_firebird]

[Aara stares as Bobby explains, eyes wide and taking all the information in. Finally she smiles, imagining the game and how much fun it would be.]

It sounds fun. Complicated, yes, but fun to play with friends.

Commentlog

[mister_10_below]

[There's a laugh.]

Yes to both. It can get very complicated, especially when it comes to the strategies people start coming up with. But it's very fun. I played every year with my friends back home.

[He pauses for a moment, then smiles at her.]

And it'd be awesome to play it with my friends here.

Commentlog

[angha_firebird]

[Aara's eyes light up at that.]

Every year...

[Taken aback quite a bit, Aara doesn't really think her words through before they come out of her mouth.]

You have friends here?

Commentlog

[mister_10_below]

It was kind of like a tradition when winter came around.

[There's a pause at that question at that question as he blinks, then he smiles.]

Sure! I haven't been here that long, but I've made some friends.

Commentlog

[angha_firebird]

So... you mostly play this in winter? [She looks around, apparently trusting Bobby enough to guide her while skating even when distracted.] Where would be a good place to play?

[Smiling, Aara ducks her head sheepishly.] I just meant-- [She blushes lightly, humbly.] Friends are... they are treasures. I'm happy you have made friends here.

[Was she making friends? It was hard to tell. It felt like she was heading in the right direction toward friendships, however.]

Commentlog

[mister_10_below]

Pretty much, yeah. It's a lot more fun when there's snow to play it in.

[He pauses for a moment, considering that.]

I'd say the whole Keep, really. Limiting it to the outside, of course, and probably staying away from the forest. The more space we have, the more room we have to pick a place for our flag where the other team won't know about it.

[There's a smile at her comment.]

They are. My friends have always been my family. I'm happy to be making friends here, too. And glad you're one of them.

Commentlog

[angha_firebird]

[She considers this.]

Do you have any ideas on a good place to keep the flag, then?

[She really wants to keep this flag safe. XD]

F-family? [Aara stares in something akin to awe. Nice Bobby. You've made her stutter twice, now. She's no longer picking her feet up to skate, just standing frozen as he pulls her along. They were friends. Family. Then she smiles a happy, close-lipped smile, her eyes beaming.]

I'm glad we're friends, too.

Commentlog

[mister_10_below]

It depends on what we ultimately decide is fair game and what's out of bounds, I think. But yeah, I've got a few.

[Dedication! This is great. It's possible Bobby has occasionally gotten incredibly into games of capture the flag.

He smiles in response to her question, though he doesn't answer otherwise, and then his smile grows at her last comment.]

If you ever need anything ice-related, I'm your guy. Including ice cream.

Commentlog

[angha_firebird]

[Pauses. Then she has to ask.]

Have you... ever made a 'snow fort'?

[This is something else that greatly intrigues her, and she hoped to make one. She just didn't know how.]

Commentlog

[mister_10_below]

[He grins at that.]

I have! We can make one together, if you want? Kind of a practice run before the actual game.

Commentlog

[angha_firebird]

[The smile that lights up her face is enormous. She just stays there, beaming for a short while, the look in her eyes answer enough, though she still nods.]