SSO Winter Prompts 2020

8. Dusk (Connie, Justin, Scott, Tor)

Winter dusks in Jorvik were often the time of celebration, remembrance, or rituals. It might be lighting a menorah, attending a church service, bathing in the rising moonlight, or visiting the Silversong River to pay respects.

This night, however, was a more casual gathering of friends outside of Dundull, beyond the house on the outskirts of town. Justin Moorland and Scott Buttergood built a fire, and Connie brought out food and drinks, setting up a cozy place to sit around the fire.

"Any word from Tor or Rebecca?" Justin asked, looking at Connie. The GED intern dug through his pocket for his phone to check.

"Uhh... Tor says he'll be here soon, he has to take some sneaky way so reporters don't follow him as Raptor. Nothing from Rebecca yet," he said before sitting down.

"They're just letting us do the hard work," Scott joked, clapping his hands together to brush off bits of bark as he stood back and admired the growing fire.

"It just means we get first dibs on the food. Be a shame if all the marshmallows were mysteriously eaten before they got here..." Justin mused, going straight for the white sugary goodness rather than the actual food.

"Hey yo!" The call made Justin put his hands up with a guilty expression, Tor rounding the house to join them, waving as he approached.

"Did I miss anything?" the rapper asked as he sat down next to Connie, eyeing the food and drinks brought out.

"Nah, we were just getting settled," Connie reassured him before offering a mug of hot chocolate.

"Rebecca should be arriving soon," Scott added, getting a drink for himself and taking a seat.

"Glad you could get away from the fans and crowds of admirers?" Justin teased while he tried to roast a marshmallow without lighting it on fire.

"Something like that, I wish I could more often. I've never been to a holiday bonfire before," Tor admitted. Growing up in the city didn't lend itself for bonfires in the woods.

"They're fun! What do you normally do for the holidays?" Justin asked before hastily blowing on a burning marshmallow.

"Growing up just Hanukkah stuff, and whatever school activities I had to do. Now there are concerts and events and song releases..." Tor complained a bit. Being a famous and successful musician was a dream come true, but it was also exhausting, especially around the end of the year. "What about you?"

"Pretty typical stuff, the tree, the porridge, the goats. Dad and I usually had some sort of holiday event at the stables too, people like going on sleigh rides. People would tell stories, exchange gifts, and then Dad and I would celebrate our own little Christmas. Like I said, pretty typical," Justin explained with a smile, the fond memories warming him. He skewered a second marshmallow, the first one lost to the fire.

"Scott? Bad holiday memories?" Connie asked, eyebrow raised, noticing the grimace on Scott's face.

"We didn't celebrate anything after Mom died. My brothers and I tried, but Father forbid it," Scott grumbled, still bitter about it. Perhaps it was for the best that the Buttergoods didn't attempt to celebrate holidays as a family.

"Sorry," Connie winced, sympathetic, "my family celebrated the holidays, but it was usually busy. Lots of formal events and my parents working. December was basically the month of wearing suits and behaving so my parents looked good in front of clients."

"Guess my childhood isn't so typical," Justin joked, giving Scott a worried glance. Their eyes met for a moment and Scott forced a smile, raising his mug.

"To making better memories?" Scott suggested, the others agreeing and raising their mugs. Or in Justin's case, another flaming marshmallow.

"Justin! You roast marshmallows over coals, not an open fire!" a familiar voice cried at the burning treat, making the guys laugh and greet Rebecca as she joined them. The mood improved greatly after that, good food and better company making the night one full of happy memories.