[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/9ZoT0oh.jpeg[/img][/center] [hr] [center][color=#ffc300]#ffc300[/color] | Beach > Main Hall | Interactions: River, Andy[/center] [hr] She assumed the man had preferred his own company so when Evelyn heard the crunch of snow getting nearer, she stepped to the side expecting a fit demigod to pass but the dark haired man took her pace. [color=#86a8ad] “Sorry. You caught me off guard.”[/color] Evelyn put up a hand for no hard feelings. [color=#86a8ad] “This place kinda felt like a ghost town and I just kind of assumed it was.”[/color] Evelyn smiled slightly. It certainly could be. [color=#ffc300] “There’s a few of us. Besides, I went the worst route in your defence,”[/color] she offered. [color=#86a8ad] “I think I saw that building when I came in. My sister was more interested in snagging a cabin before others arrived, rather than food. You up for some company?”[/color] He might’ve caught a glimpse of amusement before Evelyn was able to wipe it from her features. He had a smart sister, was already beside her and he was only being pleasant. [color=#ffc300] “Sure.” [/color] They walked in step. A comfortable silence lingered between them. For her at least anyway. She for the first time didn’t want to overstep by talking his ear off or giving him information he already knew since he may have been half versed in camp already. He seemed the kind to disengage with such empty chatter. [color=#86a8ad] “I’m River, by the way.”[/color] His hand came across. Evelyn smiled warmly, shifting her own body to shake his hand. [color=#ffc300] “Nice name.” [/color] Though that was probably more credit to his parents than him. [color=#ffc300] “Evelyn. Sorry. I probably should have said earlier.”[/color] She didn’t want him figuring her for rude or unpleasant. Maybe she was grabbing more of an air-head reputation so far but she could live with that. It was rarely about how others judged her regardless. [color=#86a8ad] “You’re kind of gorgeous, you know?”[/color] Evelyn stopped taken aback by the random compliment. [color=#ffc300] “Oh,”[/color] escaped her. She opened her mouth to say something more sensible or assuring for him but she didn’t know what. Nothing came forward. Apparently it took him as just by surprise. [color=#86a8ad] “Sorry, I don’t know why I said that. Yeah… So anyway.” [/color] Was his way of moving on. Evelyn blinked then laughed to herself. It wasn’t often she was caught off guard. [color=#ffc300] “Thank you. I think,”[/color] she said lowly for whatever it was worth. While it wasn’t a back handed compliment it was still very stray. He appeared stern featured and had the build of a brute yet , not that everyone was immune to fumbling or impulse control, he seemed socially challenged. Evelyn guessed it wasn’t lack of skill because he was unable but driven in his own endeavours. A business man of kind. She found him agreeable enough company however. At the corner of her eyes he seemed to be taking in his surroundings with new interest, evaluating the demigods in view and certain places. All of which she deemed fair to be extra vigilant and observing at camp especially when new. She just hoped he wasn’t conducting a pecking order and trying to place himself on the ladder. [color=#86a8ad] “Do you like it here? Because, from what I’ve heard about this place, I don’t know how anyone could like it here.” [/color] Evelyn tilted her head. An awfully subjective question and view from whomever he may have heard about it from. [color=#86a8ad] “Andy was [i]very[/i] defensive of this place. But I don’t see the appeal.” [/color] She laughed once again quietly but humorlessly. Case in point with Andy and his own early formed opinion, it was highly subjective. [color=#ffc300] “You don’t give much chances?”[/color] She asked. [color=#ffc300]“A lot of demigods find this place their home. Some even have a sort of trauma bond to the place and each other.”[/color] But that didn’t answer his question. She glanced over her shoulder then ahead again. [color=#ffc300] “As for whether I like the place…”[/color] it wasn’t a question she had ever been asked or actively considered whether she liked it here or not. [color=#ffc300] “I don’t mind it. Structurally speaking I find it spacious and versatile. Internally it’s…”[/color] she pursed her lips [color=#ffc300]“rarely dull.”[/color] Evelyn looked at him and shrugged softly. She didn’t mean to sound annoyingly vague, that’s just how camp was best pinned for her. [color=#ffc300] “Would my opinion have swayed you either way?”[/color] She inquired curiously. River seemed unyielding on his reaction to camp but she could never really know. The company she kept seemed unusually tense warped in his own thoughts. She would have left him to it however he was too taut and new, so unlike herself, Evelyn nudged his arm gently with her own, as if a misstep in the snow made her bump into him. [color=#ffc300] “Relax a little and don’t insult camp in front of the locals,”[/color] she told him quietly while close. She stepped away from him. There were few she could think about that wouldn’t take offence to camp being spoken about poorly. Newer faces seemed to be idling by as they got closer to the main hall. Some paired up with more familiar demigods serving a tour guide. Some suddenly helpful demigods proved interesting. But there would be time to dissect that all later. Evelyn pushed open the main hall door holding it with splayed fingers behind herself for River. [color=#ffc300] “Where’d you get your impression of camp anyway?” [/color] She flashed Andy a kind smile since she was nearest the entrance then shuffled up to the coffee automatically then the camp’s endless collection of food. Evelyn balanced both and grabbed a table with no particular strategy or regard in mind, it was simply vacant. When River joined she resumed her evaluation of him. Was he well informed about camp and demigods or was there a lot to learn? [color=#ffc300] “I’m not the greatest guide and I don’t have much exclusive knowledge.”[/color] She lowered her eyes abashed to admit it. [color=#ffc300] “But if you want a detailed run down there’s a few I could point you in the direction of.”[/color] Personally Evelyn was an information collector. She worked with what was given then could test what was shown. But some liked to navigate through exploration and trial and error all on their own.