[COLOR=GRAY][CENTER][img]https://i.imgur.com/mi2pSVZ.jpg[/img][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=SILVER][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]Team 78 Campsite[/I] - [I]Southern Plateau, Dundas Island[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=SILVER][b]The Homecoming Trials #1.83:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Pineapple Icebreaker[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][sub][color=SILVER][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I]Ariel [@Lawful Newtral], Kisha [@TGM], Sierra [@JunkMail][/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=SILVER][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Made It Here[/I][/right][/SUP]
[INDENT]Change didn’t have to weigh hard and heavy; so, he grinned back when someone answered him instead of leaving him hanging. He’d set the tent up; they’d make sure it stayed down. [color=deb887]“Alright. Thank you, thanks.”[/color] He hadn’t cared who it was, but a smile was definitely better than a frown, and anyone actually willing to take on what he asked them to was someone he’d happily hope stuck around. Not… that he thought there was much choice. They’d all enrolled into team spirit to be folded up and squished together. He’d kind of liked that thought before. Still did. Assigned or not, meant he didn’t have to struggle through finding ways to meet. They were all here already. Might not make them friends, but at least he’d get to know someone. [i]Friends…[/i] When the word echoed in his ears rather than his head, his expression turned bemused, not sure if he’d said his own thoughts aloud or if they were just thinking the same. Wasn’t going to turn them down though. [color=deb887]“Okay. Yeah. Friends.”[/color] Friends were good. This one was tall and freckled and seemed confident; he could use more of that in his life.

But thinking about pizza toppings while ignoring the way the wind was screaming was really all he wanted to do just then, so he focused on that next. Pepperoni, sausage, and cheese were his choices, after careful consideration. Then, he put his in when Ariel pulled theirs out and was very much wondering why he was staying where he was by the time Hawaiian was asked about. He’d held out the pineapple container just in case Miss Friend was asking because she wanted some, then glanced towards the vegan question, not sure if… well… she was definitely looking at him. Wasn’t sure why, but it wasn’t hard to answer. So, head shaking and voice rising over the wind to be a little too loud himself, he did. [color=deb887]“Vegans don’t like meat, right?”[/color]

Holding out the pineapple to her and her restlessness next, since she didn’t look too eager for the rest of what was on offer, he raised a shoulder in a helpless half-shrug at her confusion while making the same offer of pineapple to the black-haired girl who’d just sat down nearby before pointing to the oven. [color=deb887]“It’s hot. But I’m watching my pizza so it doesn’t burn?”[/color] Despite the direct explanation, Lucas’ lack of certainty as to how well his meaning would be understood made it sound more like he was asking Kisha if that’s what he was doing. It was the best answer he had though. Or, well, the easiest one. 

He wasn’t sure he wanted to try harder if she didn’t get it, wasn’t sure it was worth the effort, maybe she wouldn’t care. Maybe no one would… That’d be—[color=deb887]“Huh? I dunno. Okay.”[/color]

He’d maybe gotten a little too good at not listening and a little too practiced at being confused. Didn’t realise someone else was talking to him until Stegosaurus echoed itself and then he ran through words stalling for time before he’d even tried picking up the rest of hers. Had to twist back her way to see where she was glancing before he found the context for her question under his arm and falling out of his pocket. [color=deb887]“Oh! Yeah.”[/color] His grin flashed quick and crooked. [color=deb887]“It’s my dad. He thinks they’re cool, like Spike, but I like the longnecks.”[/color] As he talked, he’d set the pineapple down and then paused with his hands in front of him as he looked between them and the small plush dinosaur, forehead furrowing. [color=deb887]“Can you put it back? I’m sticky.”[/color]

He didn’t want to lose it or make it dirty. And his pizza was probably about ready, but he couldn’t move anymore until he was sure, absolutely sure, that the plush wouldn’t fall out. He also had no actual answer to the last question asked. He hadn’t been listening. He knew they were supposed to be pairing off because the tents had two beds, but whether Ariel had already been paired with him or if they’d simply taken him up on his offer, he didn’t actually know.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/color]