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[color=00FCD8]“Marco sweetheart, I am standing in front of my tools of war and we're justifying mattresses that are probably as old as the first murder at this camp? No, no, no. Let me bask in the glory of the end of life and my eventual conquering of this disgusting, wretched place and.. Oh, at least that's well polished. [I]Hello there.[/i]”[/color] Aster turned his head this way and that in the distorted reflection in the bottom of the metal sink. It wasn't perfect but even in the hazy reflection, Aster felt the stress melt away as he watched the art in the sink: himself. 

[color=00FCD8]“What in the world would Em be- oh. Oh! You're talking about intimate things. I see. Well, you certainly have fun with that. I will be tucked away, dreaming of beaches and massages.”[/color] Aster dismissed the idea of Marco and Em stumbling around in the underbrush. [color=00FCD8] “A snack? That boy is practically feral! He thought Zeke was cheating on him with me, even though they hadn't said anything about being exclusive, but of course I stared at him like the child he was and that mollified him. Strange creatures, these people.”[/color] 

Aster hopped around, peaking over Marco's shoulder and looping him into a loose hug. [color=00FCD8] “Over easy with cayenne pepper. You don't think Dobbs will get us caviar? I would die for some and maybe a little non-alcoholic champagne. We could do mimosas one morning if we could wiggle out some OJ.”[/color]

Marco chuckled softly and rolled his eyes at Aster’s antics. It seemed that he was back to his usual self at that point, just a little bit. He hadn’t been [i]trying[/i] to justify why the mattresses were old and sad, mostly just explaining.  

[color=purple]”You can dream of your beaches and massages, but I’ll be here, with Em.”[/color] He chuckled at that and looked over at Aster as he said that the Dark haired boy, Demi, was practically feral. [color=purple]”Well then, as I said, if they just got together, I’m not gonna bother.”[/color]

Marco heard Aster’s order and relaxed against him a bit. [color=purple]”Over easy then, with cayenne. And I doubt he’d get us caviar. That might be too expensive. But some good steak, maybe some nice cheeses, and fresh vegetables and fruit. At least for the week.”[/color] He chuckled more as he turned to grab the cayenne pepper.

[color=00FCD8]“Uncultured. Dobbs doesn't know what he's missing out. At least we can get steak.”[/color] Aster sniffed, stepping out of Marco's way as he reached for Aster's cayenne and hopped up to sit on a counter. [color=00FCD8]“I just can't understand why people find these activities fun. Man invented air conditioning for a reason and insect nets for another. Is running around, tearing your clothes, getting dirt all over, and then barely having adequate facilities really all that fun?”[/color] Aster sighed dejectedly,  but shook it off.

[color=00FCD8]“Okay, last of my complaints. For now. At least they have a decent water sports area it seems. I can't wait to get on the lake; we just have to get this cabin suitable for habitation first.”[/color] Aster looked out past the kitchen door. [color=00FCD8]“Now, you and Em I know, feral cat and golden retriever I am acquainted with, which leaves us Jennifer. Do we know anything about her or just that she is attached to the two animals?[/color] ]


[color=purple]”Jennifer, there’s no… Oh. You mean Nancy, huh? …Where on Earth did you pull out Jennifer, Aster?”[/color] Marco raised his brow as he dashed the pepper onto the eggs, while moving to flip the toast and bacon. He was keeping an eye on the other eggs he had cooking, pretty sure the meal would be ready soon. He flipped on the warmer section of the griddle, and started to move some of the bacon over there and covered them with a metal bowl.

[color=purple]”She seems to have a medical condition, and is more withdrawn, but I think Em and her are getting along so far. I’d like to get to know her better, but I did volunteer to make breakfast.”[/color] Marco chuckled softly and then looked back up at Aster again. 

[color=purple]”Now, when you say get out on the lake, in what way? Canoes? You?”[/color]

[color=00FCD8]“Nancy? Strange - Jennifer feels much more appropriate. It's the cheeks. What Nancy do you know with those cheek bones? None, right?”[/color] Aster dismissed the question. He eyed the food, wondering if he could snatch some without burning himself. [color=00FCD8] “Oh, no. If I want to canoe, then I'll have someone paddle for me. I mean swimming. The walk was fine and all, but I certainly want to get my laps in. Just because we're locked away in this torture camp doesn't mean we have to let ourselves go. And I'm sure Dobbs can't complain - I'll just be making sure it's safe and clear of hazards and all that.”[/color] Aster hopped down and edged closer to the griddle, waiting for Marco to lift the bowl so he can snatch up a piece of bacon. 

[color=purple]”Ah, of course… gotta keep in shape. I’m sure that we’ll be going on plenty of hikes as it is, but I’m sure that you can volunteer to keep an eye on the swimming campers if you want to keep that swimmer’s body.”[/color] Marco looked over as Aster seemed to move in closer and raised a brow. [color=purple]”Now Aster, did you come to talk or are you [i]trying[/i] to sneak some food. Because you know you [i]could[/i] ask, dear.”[/color] Marco reached over to the bowl and fished out a piece of the finished bacon and handed it to Aster. [color=purple]“I just made a bunch so I could save some for lunch.”[/color]

[color=00FCD8]“Now, why can't I do both? I'm quite capable of multitasking. Have I told you you're my second favorite yet? After myself of course.”[/color] Aster accepted the bacon, popped it in his mouth, moaned appreciatively, and washed his hands. [color=00FCD8]“Normally, I wouldn't eat something so greasy but the stress from today is just ugh. And of course I'm taking those brats out on the water - at least that way I can have a halfway decent view. It might not be a mirror, but at least I can still see myself whenever. I'm sure I'll need it when those idiots try to drown themselves.[/color] Aster paused for a moment and looked at Marco suspiciously. 

[color=00FCD8]“Are you going to have a child one day, Marco?”[/color] 

Marco raised his brow and looked at Aster. [color=purple]”Child? Me? Maybe? That is more for whomever I’m with at the time to decide. But that’s a future thing. Right now I want to focus on finishing school, if they even let me back. I mean a little mini Em would be adorable, but that’s something we’d have to talk about. Why do you ask?”[/color] 

[color=00FCD8]“Because children are gross and we've never discussed it. I don't know your stance on them - I was hoping for a scorched earth policy here, but I supposed you have a soft heart.”[/color] Aster sighed. [color=00FCD8]“I suppose you'll want to play nice with the campers then rather than reminding them how inferior they are to us.”[/color] 

[color=purple]”I mean… Aster, you [i]do[/i] remember how I grew up, right? I’m not one to think of myself as superior to anyone that can [i]afford[/i] to go to camp, even one like this.”[/color] Marco sighed as he turned to the oven and fished the quiches out of them. As much as Marco did like Aster, he thought sometimes that Aster did forget that Marco really wasn’t from the same economic background as him. [color=purple]”But, I will be playing nice. What you do with them, that is up to you.”[/color]

[color=00FCD8]“Yes, yes. A tragic tale of economic misfortune and all that. But now you're associated with me and that means you are immediately better than the plebeians chaining us to this place.”[/color] Aster waved away the judgement in Marco's sigh. [color=00FCD8]“I have reached my limit of selflessness for the year - the golden retriever is enough effort for this trip and it will take everything in me not to let these [i]campers[/i] drown. I can't be expected to better another person's life beyond my presence.”[/color] 

Marco gently set the quiche down and started to let them cool, as he checked the food on the flattop. [color=purple]”Well, I’m sure you won’t let them down, and that’s all they can ask you to do~ For now, I think the food is almost ready.”[/color]

[color=00FCD8]“I'm nearly afraid to ask what they expect us to use as plates - half of me expects us to have to hold it all in hand. I'll set the table while you finish up. I doubt anyone here knows what a proper table setting is.”[/color] Aster sighed dejectedly, hopping around the kitchen to salvage something functional to serve with. Aster pulled open cabinets, drawers, and anything else he could open until he slammed one shut, trying to keep himself from gagging. He took a few steadying breaths and gingerly opened it. Inside, he found a small stack of paper plates that had been opened recently, and some plastic plates that… Aster held them with the tips of his fingers and dropped them into the trash as quickly as he could. [color=00FCD8]“Well, paper will have to do I guess. Dobbs here really wants us to figure out everything, hm? Barely even basics.”[/color] Aster grumbled and deposited the paper plates next to Marco, moving to plop everything else he’d scrounged up in the sink. The faucet spat for a few seconds as water pushed through and he quickly set to work scrubbing out the dust and gunk built up inside. 

[color=00FCD8]“This is the saddest excuse for a table setting in my life.”[/color] Aster complained. The mismatch made his skin crawl and [i]plastic[/i] cutlery made him want to die. Everything was disgusting, the place was awful, and he was not looking forward to insects and frogs or whatever else screamed in the middle of the night disturbing him along with the nighttime antics his fellow inmates would be doing. Aster put a little more effort into scrubbing, sniffling as he blinked back tears and his throat felt a little tight.  

Marco looked over at Aster, and then put everything on the warmer parts, and then turned all the burners off and walked over and hugged Aster from behind. [color=purple]”I’m sure we can ask Dobbs for nicer plates later. C’mon… let’s get some food in you. I know paper plates are not your thing, but it’s been a big morning already. I’ll clean up the dishes and get them nice and clean later.”[/color] 

[color=00FCD8] “Just… barely treating us like people, nothing is habitable, everything is awful. At least you're here.”[/color] Aster whined, turning around once the cups were clean and dry, resting his head on Marco's shoulder. [color=00FCD8]“This is just so- so- so dumb! I just don't understand why people think this is- Ugh, this is stupid and inhumane and gross! I just hate it, I hate this, I hate it all! The only good thing is you and Em are here so I won't be completely miserable and-”[/color] Aster gave himself the moment to cry and then stopped. One last sniffle and it was like he'd never been upset. The confidence was back in full force and just a little redness around the eyes gave away that he'd been upset at all. 

[color=00FCD8]“Okay, that's enough of that! Let's feed the peons and get them on their way. Then, I can actually get the cabin cleaned up and maybe that'll make this place less awful.”[/color] 

Marco didn’t want to point out the obvious. This wasn’t supposed to be a good time. They were all here as punishments for crimes. So of course they were barely people to someone like Dobbs, or the cops. But he wasn’t going to remind Aster of that for the moment. [color=purple]”Alright then. You go sit down, I’ll serve up. And call in the others. And Aster, if I’m in the kitchen, it’s always open.”[/color] He offered his friend a small smile before going out to the patio and ringing the bell to call everyone in. Since there weren't any real serving plates cleaned up yet, everyone could be served in the kitchen.