Whimsical Academy discussion

((that's a beautiful image! Just not if you're Rowan XD))

(Oh crap, okay one sec I'll change it!)

((no it's okay! I honestly was in love with that image))

Ollie had gone to REI and gotten everything he could possibly need for hiking, though Rowan had talked him out of taking most of it. He had on brand new hiking boots, khaki shorts(look Ollie caught without his black skinny jeans :O), a striped tee and a parka over that. He was also carrying a backpack that had all kinds of things in it. Things they would probably only need if they were stranded somewhere and needed to survive off the land for a few days. But he wanted to be prepared, and he had so much fun spending the money on new things. He was going to have a find a place for everything when they got back to the dorm. Maybe he could get his own storage closet or something. Rowan was probably thinking he was a crazy person by this point, but he was just really excited. He looked over at Rowan, "Ready for this?" He asked as he popped some of a granolar bar into his mouth.

"I am. I can tell you are?" Ollie asked as he did another glance at Ollie's newly bought clothing and gear. Rowan himself had his hiking boots, since he owned two pairs, a backpack willed with snacks, water, sunscreen, bug repellent, sunscreen, and a first aid kit, and a tank top the color of the sky at noon on a cloudless day that contrasted with black shorts. He also had a lightweight black jacket around his waist. "This is the trail head," he told Ollie, pointing at the beginning of the trail. "I hiked this one last year. Hey, did you get the sunscreen and bug repellent on?" He asked. Rowan was honestly one of those people who has to wear a lot of sunscreen--he burned so easily with his pale skin, it would turn him almost head to toe red if he wasn't careful about re applying sunscreen every two hours or so.

Ollie looked up the trail with anticipation, he was so ready for this. This was a new chapter in his life, and he was ready for it. He made a little o with his mouth when Rowan asked if he put sunscreen and bug repellent on, "Um no. I forgot, one sec," He put his backpack down and started digging through his bag for the bug repellent and sunscreen he'd bought. "Oh here's one...." He had the bug repellent, "I can't seem to find the sunscreen though," He frowned and started stuffing back in his bag. "Can I use yours?" He asked looking up at Rowan. He stood up and started spraying the bug repellent all over his body, but especially around his ankles and neck, that was where he thought he was likely to get bit the most. Ollie turned to Rowan, wondering if he'd brought his own sunscreen, hoping that they both hadn't forgotten such a vital thing.

"Yeah, here." Rowan swung his backpack over his shoulders towards his torso and pulled it close, proceeding to unzip it and pull out a bottle of sunscreen. "Here you go. I applied some a few moments ago." It was a stronger one because Rowan was so darn pale, and was also unfortunately not the spray on sunscreen, which he'd found that at least in his experience, didn't work out so well for him.

Ollie took the sunscreen and noticed the high SPF, "Dang Rowan," He said looking from the sunscreen to Rowan, "Do you burn easily?" He asked as he began to apply the sunscreen to his arms, then his face. He didn't quite rub the white substance in well on his face, so he had a few spots that were pure white, making him look a little comical. "Here," He handed back the sunscreen, "Thanks." He pulled his backpack back on and adjusted the straps, they were surrounded by wilderness, it was kind of creepy, but also exciting. Ollie did his best to contain his excitement, barely bouncing on the balls of his feet as he waited for them to get started. "Do we need to stretch or anything?" He asked naively.

Rowan signed. "I am Scottish, so...yeah. Yeah, really easily," he mumbled. "One hundred percent Scottish, very pale." He pursed his lips together as he saw that Ollie had some sunscreen in on his face, and he held in a chuckle even though this was very hilarious to Rowan. Taking a new hiker out, and one that happened to be Ollie. "Ah. Ollie?" He pointed at his own face. "You have sunscreen you didn't rub in very well. And you're welcome." Taking the bottle back, he placed it in his backpack and zipped it back up again, slinging it back over his shoulders and adjusting it. "And you can stretch if you want, some people do especially if they have hip or back problems."

Ollie looked horrified that he might have missed some sunscreen, quickly he rubbed it in and then looked at himself through the camera in his phone, phew he'd gotten it all. "Thank Rowan," He said before pocketing his phone. "Hip or back problems? Well I don't have those, so I guess we're good to go?" Ollie looked to Rowan to lead the way, he'd skimmed over some things about hiking, like hiking markers, and making sure you didn't get lost. But he figured since Rowan was a seasoned hiker they would be okay, and he could learn a few things from the other boy.

"Yup. No problem." He hid a small grin at how Ollie had looked with the splotches of sunscreen, and admittedly it was kind of cute in a way. As soon as he thought that, though, he ducked his head and pretended his backpack straps needed adjusting, and so he worked at that for a second as he took a deep breath. No, it was amusing, not cute. And he felt bad for even thinking that it was amusing, because that just felt wrong to him. but it was amusing, could he help that? "And yeah, okay." He looked up and smiled. "Good to go then." Rowan led Ollie onto the trail; it was a simpler one that didn't branch off, so he didn't leave trail markers. He plunged onto the trail, and immediately the smell of the trees surrounding them--sweet and sharp--wafted into his nose. He took a deep breath, loving that scent with everything in him.

Rowan was ducking his head and fiddling with his straps, Ollie wondered what he was on about. But he didn't ask as he finished his granola bar. The mountains were ahead of them and there was so much ground that they could possibly cover, he honestly couldn't wait. This would definitely be something he would remember. Rowan said it was time to go and they headed into the woods. The smell of the forest surrounded them, as did the tell tale sounds of forest creatures. He wondered briefly just exactly what all lived out there. But he didn't linger on the thought long, he was going to be fine, so would Rowan. "So do you think bigfoot is real?" He asked Rowan as they walked, he knew that Bigfoot was a huge deal in America.

"Bigfoot?" Rowan repeated, and turned to look at his roommate with arched red eyebrows. "You mean the monster people sometimes talk about? No I don't think so." He paused. Even as he said it, he knew it was very possible Bigfoot was real, considering the school he went to had people who could do magic and considering his mother's own dalliance with spells in her youth. He then shrugged. "Actually who knows, maybe. But I never ran into anyone or anything bad on this hike if that's what you're wondering."

Ollie nodded, as if this answer would suffice any worries he may have had. "Well if he is real, I hope he'll stay still long enough for a picture," He said to Rowan cheerfully. "What have you seen on this hike? Anything exciting? Like a bear? Or a wolf maybe?" Ollie would have a camera ready for any wildlife they may or may not run into. "Is there epic scenery at the top? I was thinking we could take a picture together, put it on the wall or something. Ooo or maybe our door? Then people will know what we look like before we open the door," At this point Ollie was just rambling to fill the empty air, he didn't really do quiet very well, so he would fill the space however he could.

Which was unfortunate considering Rowan quite liked the quiet and nature sounds on his hikes. When he’d brought his roommate last year, the one who snored, the guy wouldn’t shut up while they walked. But oddly, Ollie’s chatter wasn’t annoying at all, and the redhead rather liked it and found it amusing. “A picture of Bigfoot and bears, huh?” He asked as he took a deep inhale of the sweet air around him. “I’d rather we not see anything like that, that’s scary. But I have seen deer and bright birds of various colors if that counts as exciting? Some rabbits. Once someone saw a mountain lion but maybe I shouldn’t have said that?” He muttered with a wince. He genuinely didn’t want to scare Ollie, especially on their first time out. “And yeah there’s a beautiful view at the top and of course we can take a picture.” He paused, a small smile on his face. “Not so sure about putting it on the door though.” The idea of people seeing that all the time…he’d be sweaty in that image and anyone who came by may thing he and Ollie were together. Which he knew Ollie would like.

A mountain lion? That was a bit too exciting, even for Ollie. He gulped but didn't voice his insecurities. "I'd like to see bunny rabbits, and birds," he replied, those were safe, and he could definitely take pictures of them as well as anything, well, unsafe. It was amazing how easily he fell into step with Rowan, welcoming the fresh air and nature around them. He bent down and picked up a yellow leaf, it was stark against the other leaves, he was excited to take a picture holding it, he put his arm straight out, hand holding the leaf, and snapped a picture with his other hand before tucking the leaf into his bag for safe keeping, it would be a good memory reminder. Surely there would be a way to keep the leaf safe? He'd look it up on the internet later. "So is there any history to this hike?"

“Birds are common, but blue jays are more rare. Though when we see them they’re gorgeous, the blue color,” he murmured. “And then in that case, I hope we see a rabbit.” He did admit he liked rabbits, with their small, twitching noses and little whiskers. Very sweet. Rowan glanced at the leaf. “It’s pretty isn’t it?” He asked with a small smile. “What will you do with the leaf?” He was typically against people picking up nature and taking it from it’s actual home but he wasn’t about to stop his roommate. “History to the hike? I’m actually not sure,” he admitted as he smiled, watching one of the blue birds he’d been talking about sweet down across their path. “But I could always look it up afterwards.”

"I was thinking of putting it in a book, can one press leaves like you do flowers? I do wonder," Ollie looked thoughtful as they continued their hike, he lit up when he saw the blue bird, "Look! Rowan, its the blue bird," He fumbled with his phone to try to get a picture, but by the time he'd righted it the bird was gone. "Damn," He muttered before pocketing his phone once more. He would have liked a picture, but he was pretty sure they would see another before the end of the hike, and that would give him another chance at a picture. "No, you don't have to look up the history, I was just wondering if you knew of any. Don't go to any extra trouble," Rowan was sweet, he was willing to look up the history of the trail just because Ollie had been interested. "Is there anything you want to talk about in particular?"

"I think maybe you should be able to press a leaf? As long as the one you're trying to press isn't super dead or stiff to the point of it crumbling under the weight it takes to press it, you know?" Rowan answered as he turned his attention back to the training. At Ollie's excitement regarding the bird, he smiled. "I know, it was beautiful, wasn't it?" He asked, admiring how bright the bird was and how lovely its feathers were, a blue he couldn't even compare to anything else in the natural world. "Hey, I'm sorry you missed the picture, birds can be fast. Surely you'll find another one or some forrest creature to capture on camera. This place does have a few of them." As they walked, he nodded. "Oh, okay. No, not really, other than this forest is hundreds of years old, if I'm right." At his roommate's question, he hummed softly as he thought. "Not really? I guess...hmm. Besides video games and partying, what else do you like to do? Not judging those...well you know how I feel about partying...but I'm genuinely curious."

"Well I'll try to press it when we get back," Ollie stated, he was very excited to try it. He put his hands in his pockets before walking on with Rowan. He asked what Ollie liked to do, and that was a big question. Because normally he would say he liked to drive fast, get girls, and knockback booze. But that wasn't really the case anymore. He was changing, he wasn't sure if that was the best thing or not, but it was something that was true. "I like to spend time with people, its hard for me to be alone," He admitted, letting himself be vulnerable for a moment. "I know it sounds stupid, but being alone with my thoughts? That's scarier than hell itself." Ollie picked off a green leaf and fidgeted with it in his hands, "What about you? What else do you enjoy doing?"

Rowan looked over at Ollie with a softer expression on his face when he admitted that. He shook his head. "Stupid? No. No, that doesn't sound stupid at all, I...I think that's very fair, when thoughts have the capability to run free without interruption, it's not always fun. And I think that's neat that you like spending time with people." He gave him a small smile seconds before his eyes drifted down to the leaf Ollie had in his hands. "Are you alright? I'm sorry if I triggered something, I definitely didn't mean to," he told him, wondering if the leaf fidgeting was a nervous habit or something. If so, he felt awful, he genuinely hadn't meant to make Ollie uncomfortable or anything. "I...I guess archery, but I think I mentioned that. Listening to my mom tell stories, that's always nice. And camping. I do like camping. Sorry," he added with a slight blush, "I'm kind of a nature boy. And a mama's boy. Though spending time with my little sister's always a joy, too."