2025 Summer Camp Welcome Feast

Interacting with: @Mikey Forville and @Dylan Astor Please owl me for interactions! Mentioning: N/A Date: 08/11/25

Word Count: 430

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Avery smiled a bright smile and laid onto her back beside Mikey. Her arms gently draped over her torso. His hand was a mere couple of inches from where her own hand was. Close enough to know he was there even with her eyes closed, but far enough away to not feel his hand in hers. Avery turned her head to meet his eyes. Listening to what he had to say. Once he finished, she laughed. A real laugh that filled her. “Either way, you’re right. It was delicious. I don’t think even my own mother could match this!” The smile almost left her face at the mention of her mother. She hadn’t baked with the woman in years, but she could still feel the feeling of joy she always used to have. Avery quickly recovered. Not wanting to ruin what was already starting to become a perfect moment. There was silence for a moment as they lay there. A comfortable silence between two people that understood each other without even realizing how connected they really were. Avery stole a quick glance at Mikey. She guessed he was in a deep train of thought. Deep enough that he hadn’t even realized that she was watching him. It was then that she began to wonder. She wondered what life would be like if she just said the words she wished she could say to him. Maybe for the first time in her life she would experience true happiness, and maybe something more? She didn’t know. Not yet. So much had happened between them. So many moments. So little time to figure out where they stood. Avery didn’t even know if he felt the same as her. . . He sat up suddenly. Startling Avery out of her own train of thought. She sat up slowly. Her hair flowing over her shoulders and gently pinned back behind her ear with a simple hand gesture. She listened intently before a wide smile bread across her face as she thought for a moment. “Well, my grandfather always used to make something he called burgers before he got sick. I can almost remember how they used to taste.” Avery let out a sigh and closed her eyes. The memory filling her. “What about you? What food would you eat?” She said as her eyes opened. At the sound of laughter in the distance, Avery glanced for a moment and smiled. It was so peaceful, so different to her own home which always had something happening. She turned her head back to Mikey. Awaiting his response.

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Mikey nodded his head in approval at her answer, the edge of his mouth rising into a smile. "Burgers, then?" He rested back onto his elbows, imagining it. "Good idea. Respectful. Endless options, too. You can do it plain, you can do it strange with pineapple or eggs… you can even create something new." He laughed. "But also, you just gave me an appetite I had no idea existed until this second.".

Now all I can do is picture a huge burger and a side of chips." He made a small 'mind blown' motion, as if she had altered the direction of his life. For a second, his eyes stayed on hers. The softening of her eyes as she was remembering something, the quiet happiness in her face made him think of things he wanted to ask her about, but wasn't sure she'd be willing to tell him. And yet, there was comfort in simply being here, in the things that didn't require explanation yet.

"Me," he said, leaning a fraction forward, "I'm sticking with curry. But now I'm thinking. what if we collaborated? Burger curry or a curry burger. We could have the most unbeatable camp food monopoly in all history." His smile was flirtatious, but there was a relaxed ease to it, as if the final shreds of his worries had been swept aside. Her fairy lights danced lightly in the wind above her, sending soft changing light on her hair. They heard a round of applause erupt from another group, punctuated by clinking plates.

Mikey soaked in the moment for a moment, gazing at the far-off noise of music, the scent of sugar and spice carried by the wind, and felt a small surge of happiness at the thought that they were both here for everything. He placed the now-vacant plate on the table, swatted his hands on his pants, and stood up. "Okay," he said, holding out his hand with a grin, "least I can do after swiping half your strawberries." His fingers remained extended, inviting her to shake. When she did, he'd pull her gently into a sitting position. "So," he asked, blue eyes glinting with light, "what's the plan? Do we wonder around? Play the games at the carnival? Or try to find Dylan?”

Interacting with: @Mikey Forville and @Dylan Astor Please owl me for interactions! Mentioning: N/A Date: 08/11/25

Word Count: 240

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“Pineapple and eggs? I’ve never had that on a burger before. Sounds interesting.” Avery said as she laughed. She couldn’t believe how much she had missed Mikey’s sense of humor. He always had the right words to say to cheer her up. Avery smiled as he explained the burger he was imagining. “Now that you say it, a burger sounds delicious right now!” She laughed again. As Mikey talked about curry, Avery wondered what it was. She had heard of the mysterious food, but had never actually tried it before. Just hearing him explain it caused her to want to try it. “Curry? I’ve never had curry before, but whatever it is, it sounds delicious. Or maybe I’m just hungry. Making weird food combinations sounds fun, though! We should try that sometime!” Avery grinned contentedly. Avery accepted Mikey’s outstretched hand. Their fingers lacing together like it was second nature as she stood. She blushed a little at this. They had been through so much together. Most not easy at all. Whoever said that people got closer after experiencing traumatic experiences together wasn’t kidding. She honestly felt closer to Mikey after the wedding than ever before. “I’m good with anything. I didn’t see you much in the tent, so just having this chance to talk has been a breath of fresh air. What do you want to do?” Avery smiled as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

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Mikey smiled to himself, the sound low enough that it would pass undetected among the din of camp activity. "Alright, then it's settled—burger curry test runs are officially on the summer agenda," he said, letting go of her hand after a brief squeeze.

They stood there for a moment along the path's edge, the light from the mess hall spilling across the lawn behind them and carnival lights throbbing and flashing in the distance. The air was cold now, having risen so since before, and a light breeze played between them, bearing the stacked scents of night, frying dough grease, caramel sugar somewhere in the innermost part of the food stands, and smoky heat from a barbecue lazily over the throngs.

"Okay," he said, standing up on his heels and allowing his eyes to wander in the direction of the light of the games, "we'll go pick up Dylan first. If we can get him early enough, we can go down to the carnival together. And if I completely annihilate the ring toss, I'd appreciate some witnesses to mock me." His smile was a fraction too shallow to reach his ears, but it held a still, catching ease to it, the kind that was in keeping with the slow, sweeping beat of the music drifting in from the midway.

He looked to the side at her, eyes glowed dimly in the splash of light from a lamp on a nearby table. "Do wizards play ring toss at carnivals? Is it all, I don't know, 'levitate-the-prize-into-your-hand' games?" His eyes flicked quickly between the two ways before them—those curving toward the strobing lights of rides and crowded booths, the other lined with benches, food stands, and walking groups balancing paper plates piled high with camp food.

A pack of smaller campers swept by, giggling and pointing down toward the midway, and Mikey moved aside to make way for them, his shoulder bumping against Avery's in the process. "If you were Dylan," he asked, his head angled slightly to one side, "where would you be right now?"

Interacting with: @Mikey Forville and @Dylan Astor Please owl me for interactions! Mentioning: N/A Date: 08/11/25

Word Count: 231

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Avery smiled. She couldn't wait to try curry, especially if there was pieces of burger in it. Something in her told her that maybe it wouldn't taste too bad, and it may even become one of her new favorite foods. "Sounds like a plan! And hey, maybe it'll end up being delicious!" She laughed. Avery smiled as she stood and stretched. Letting the setting sun bathe her in light as a light breeze blew across the field. It felt so strange to her being in the stadium without a massive crowd screaming to whatever Quidditch team they liked. Without the crowds, hollering, and the general things that happen with a world Quidditch game the pitch was peaceful. Avery laughed again. Completely clueless as to whatever ring toss was. "Honestly, I've never heard of ring toss and I don't recall ever being to an event like this, so I guess we'll have to find out together!" Avery thought for a moment and glanced around the field in search of Dylan. The last time she had seen him, he was against the walls of the tent in the food area. Maybe he was still there? "Maybe he's still getting food? If he found marshmallows, well, that makes our job of finding him much easier." Avery grinned. Knowing all too well how much her cousin liked marshmallows. Especially ones completely burnt over a campfire.

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