"if growing up means It would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree;"

[dragoneer]

Who: Hiccup and whoever wants to come!
What: Camping!
When: November 10th-11th
Where: Southern Lake
Summary: Hiccup invited anyone who was interested to the lake for a little camping trip. Hijinks ensue!
Rating: Shenanigans


Early on the ninth, Hiccup broadcast a short message to the journal reminding everyone about the camping trip he had planned for the weekend. The message was simple: pack your things, meet at noon in the plaza, and then they'd trek to the southern lake where they would make camp for the night. It would be chilly, but with a dragon in tow and clear skies, how bad could it be? Hiccup flies out to the lake early on the tenth to transport some camping supplies including extra tents, blankets, sleeping bags and tarps, as well as some food, before heading back to meet his fellow campers.

At the campsite itself, campers can expect to find such things including (but not limited to): fishing poles, cooking equipment (and ingredients), marshmallows, board games, card games, various sports equipment, harmonicas, et cetera. And Hiccup will definitely be trying to round everyone up for at least one round of storytelling around the fire sometime during the evening. Basically, anything campy (pun intended) can go on here. Have fun with it!

Here goes one of Hiccup's rare attempts to be a social planner. Let's see if it sinks or swims!

Comments

[dragoneer]

[Hiccup is here, of course. He'll be anxiously waiting at the plaza for people to show up, double-checking a mental list of things to do to make sure he hasn't overlooked anything essential. He reeeaally hopes people actually show up to this. But it was a success last year, soooo...here's high hopes?

He'll walk alongside Toothless as they make that trek out to the lake, the dragon bearing any additional luggage that campers may want carried if they're over capacity. Smooth sailing so far!

At the actual campsite, he'll try to help everyone get their tents and such set up before unloading some of the recreational things he's brought - fishing poles, as well as some assorted sports equipment, board games, cards and more. He'll try to get a fire going as well. Not too hard when you've got a dragon buddy.

And then? He'll be up to whatever typical camping activity is going on. Cooking over the fire, telling (potentially spooky) stories, roasting marshmallows, fishing, playing games, talking walks about the lake. He'll also be one of the last to sleep. He wants to make sure everyone is settled and okay first before retiring.

And then more of the same on the second day, with the advent of clean-up in the afternoon.]

[savedtheworld]

[Aang shows up in the plaza with Appa and any of his housemates who are attending, after the sky bison had been loaded up with most of the gear they needed. This was just the break he needed after all the recent stress, and it reminded him of the good old days in a good way. Appa takes the trek with them for some exercise - although Aang feels bad for him and winds up carrying some of the luggage himself to lighten his load.

And at the campsite, Aang is like a beacon of excitement. He does what he can to help set up the tents and campsite, then he will flit around between all of the social activities, ready to cover any and all games and other activities that don't involve hunting or fishing. He'll definitely lend his hand at storytelling around the campfire, too.

He's very early to bed, early to rise, which fits in well with the camping atmosphere. Early in the day, he can be found admiring the sunrise or meditating. He's eager to bond with the dragons, too, and he's owed a ride on Toothless.]

[not_a_troll]

[Loki has read Hiccup's message and since he likes Hiccup, dragons making barrelrolls and that entire concept of a camping trip, he'll show up. A bit late, though. And more dressed as if this is going to be a ski trip instead.

He brought everything that should be appropriate for a camping trip. Like a tent, and a blanket that was formed after a bag, and food that only came in cans and his dog Thori as well.

When he sees Hiccup (and his dragon) he waves shortly, smiling.]

Hey hello! And similar phrases used for greeting one another!

[dragoneer]

[Hiccup is a little surprised to see Loki approach - I mean, he's a god, didn't he have like...important godly duties to attend to that didn't include hanging around with a scrub like Hiccup? - but he waves and grins, all the same. Toothless even looks a little excited, as he trots over to sniff at Thori. He won't eat you, promise.]

H-hey! You're coming with us? That's great! [Interesting choice of clothes, but hey. Whatever works!]

[not_a_troll]

[Loki's godly duties mainly consist out of reading books, playing with Thori, cooking dinner in the kitchen and small acts of mischief. Really, they aren't a big deal.

When he sees Toothless approaching Thori he waves his finger at the dog and tells him to not breathe fire or call him names like... Ah well, the dog is already barking about ripping intestines out and other rather gruesome things.]

I am planning to, yes. After all, it is a good iniative.

[berkian]

[ Astrid is at the plaza before noon, but not by much. She's also got a dragon in tow - Stormfly showed up without much fuss a day or so after Astrid made it into town - who will also help with any supplies people can't carry. Astrid herself packs pretty light and carries all her own supplies anyway, so there's that.

She's pretty helpful all around when it comes to setting things up, but isn't exactly a social butterfly. She'll speak to Hiccup frequently throughout the trip, and will approach anyone she recognizes so far, but will otherwise be pretty content to keep to herself and the dragons. Unless she sees someone doing something wrong re: setting up or something, in which case she'll go over to them.

In terms of other activities, expect her to join in the fishing and whatever sports games are started up over board games and cards, although she can probably be dragged into those, too.

She's probably one of the last to bed (although she rises reasonably early), and will be sticking around for clean up and all of that. ]

[breezing]

[ Ikki arrives with Aang and anyone else from the Avatar household who signed on to go, and is all around SUPER THRILLED for the entirety of this outing. She's taken it as a sort of family bonding exercise, and several of her friends seemed interested in going, so that's fun.

Expect her to get involved with anything and everything. Games? COOL. Cooking? COOL. Fishing? ...Well, probably not that as much, although if Sokka goes she might be found inadvertently guilting him into letting his fish go, apparently.

Regardless of whether or not she knows someone, Ikki's bound to go up and bother people at various intervals if they're doing anything remotely exciting. Anyone she knows will only get more of this treatment. She is the best friend, right? ]

[not_a_troll]

[Loki has been sure he would understand how to set up a tent. Yet he notices that they are more complicated than he expected them to be in the first place.

When the tent collapses for a second time he takes a step back, frowning deeply and huffing softly. He isn't a quitter, not at all, but this Midgardian contraption causes a great frustration.

For the third time he studies the small guide that came with it, frowning deeply.]

[markofthewise]

[As far as camping goes, Sokka considers himself an expert. He DID grow up in a tent, after all. So he happens to know a thing or two about them. So after setting up his own tent, he goes around critiquing others or helping them or just standing to the side and shaking his head in disapproval. He's a great guy, really.

Of course, camping means the best part of all. Hunting! Sure, he has a fishing pole, but he has trusty old boomerang ready to see if they can catch some rabbit or something. Sure, it's November, but boys gotta eat. And Sokka is hungry. So when things are settled, he'll be sneaking off into the woods. Not so he doesn't have company. Mostly so Ikki doesn't tag along and ruin it like always. He loves her, really.

Before dinner, Sokka will be a bit away from the fire, proudly skinning a rabbit for cooking. Yes, it's bloody and disgusting work. He feels no guilt whatsoever. He's hungry. Really.]

[dragoneer]

[Toothless rolls his eyes when Thori starts to bark at him, clearly too-cool-for-school and not above giving the dog the cold shoulder. HE TRIED TO PLAY NICE.]

You think so? [Wow. Does he get like +1000 awesomeness points for that? He feels like he should. He has to tell Astrid about this. It's bragging rights.] Well, I'm glad! It should be a pretty fun time. We had a blast last year.

[berkian]

[ He gets a certain amount of respect for not just giving up and shouting, but Astrid comes over, anyway. The point of the trip is more fun and less learning requisite survival skills, after all, so a little help won't hurt. ]

Hey. Mind if I lend a hand?

[cooltrainer]

[Green is actually up at the crack of dawn and tracks down Hiccup - he'll help with setting up camp and carrying supplies to the spot.]

Good morning. I'll help you.

[not_a_troll]

[Loki moves to adjust his backpack and nods.]

Of course. It is to strengthen the morale after such a horrible event. Bringing people together, let them engage in fun activities and other camping-like-things.

[He sticks up a thumb.]

I haven't been here last year. I cannot state my opinion on that.

[not_a_troll]

[Loki was just about to begin sorting the parts of the tent for a third time when he hears a voice next to him. He peers over his shoulder for a short moment and finally nods shortly.]

Aye. That would be highly appreciated.

[berkian]

[ She's sort of appointed herself to help out, Loki, it's no big deal. Hiccup's apparently in charge of this trip, after all. Astrid immediately starts sorting through the parts of the tent, so she'll have a clean base to help him set up. ]

Astrid Hofferson. [ you know, if you were wondering ]

[risingwinds]

[Ven arrives right on time with a spring in his step and a great big smile on his face. The last camping trip was a blast, so of course he'd show up for round two!

Should anyone need help at the campsite, he'll eagerly lend a hand. Otherwise, he'll spend his time socializing with the other campers, attempting to fish and failing miserably, and just plain relaxing by the lake's edge. After all, that draft did a number on him. Might as well take some time to cool down.]

[risingwinds]

[Ven just so happens to be examining one of those fine poles as he moseys on up to Hiccup.]

So, how does this work, anyway?

[risingwinds]

[Well, once Ven spots Ikki, he'll be zipping right up to her with the dorkiest grin...

It's about time they spent some actual time together outside the journals!]

So, you having fun, Ikki?

[risingwinds]

[Well, Aang's not the only one beaming with energy! Ven happens to be zipping all over the place, ever the social butterfly. But right now, he's currently examining a set of cards, trying to wrap his head around how the game even works.

But he's willing to put that aside once he spots Aang, who he approaches with a wave.]

Man, I gotta hand it to Hiccup; he's really outdone himself this time.

[dragoneer]

[Hiccup stops to almost ask Loki how the draft went for him - but thinks better of it. He wasn't the kind to pry. And there wasn't a single person he'd talked to who hadn't been affected negatively by it. He didn't want to dredge things up.]

That's the idea. A nice relaxing weekend with good company. Do you like to fish?

[dragoneer]

[Whoa, way to be on the ball, man. Hiccup grins when he spots Green, glad to have the extra help.]

Morning. Thanks - I'd really appreciate it.

[dragoneer]

[Hiccup blinks, and it takes him a moment before he realizes what he's asking.]

Oh, the fishing pole? You've never used one before?

[accepted]

[Caius arrives on time along with a backpack filled up with all sorts of camping equipment he decided to bring along. When he arrives he wonders why he bothered, what with all the dragons and other large animal like things around. Not that he minds too much, dragons are cool!

When he's not keeping an eye on the campfire or running off to grab fallen sticks and twigs to keep it going, he'll be quizzically looking over the board games that were brought along. Seriously, the heck is this?

Caius will also be spending a lot of the time fishing and trying to catch enough for everyone to eat. You can't go camping without frying fish over an open fire. If Chien was really telling the truth then there should be some fish as large as his arm swimming around in that lake somewhere! And if there aren't any giant fish, well, he'll be happy with any size he can catch.]

[hisapprentice]

[Pardon the staring.]

You have a dragon too? [Luke's trying to balance with his bag stuffed full of snacks and admire the dragon at the same time. It's hard.]

[hisapprentice]

[Once they're at the campsite Luke does his absolute best not to go over and bother Hiccup about fishing. It really has nothing to do with fishing anyway, he wants to make friends with the big black dragon, honest friends. He brought no tent, and this feels like an oversight when other people start setting them up. Oh well, he does have a sleeping bag, maybe staying outside won't be so terrible?

But. The fishing.

He also keeps trying to approach Toothless just to chat. To ask things like how it's all going, really, and whether he likes camping.]