between the sheets

Feeling a little bored of studying on a too-hot afternoon, August paced through his dorm room listlessly before an idea came to him. Gathering up pillows, blankets and other such fluffy items, August bundled them up into the widest sheet he owned. Tossing books, papers and snacks in on top of the things, August stepped back, surveying his room for any missing items. Standing with a finger pressed to his cheek, he decided against setting up in his room. What was the fun of a fort if no one could admire your work?
Hefting his load over a broad shoulder, August launched himself through the door frame, his legs working uselessly as the fat bundle of bed things refused to squish itself through the solid wood. Throwing his entire weight into it, he stumbled as it finally gave, throwing a pleased look behind him as he assessed that no rips or tears had damaged the fabric in the process.

Trotting on towards the student lounge, he was a little pleased to see that it was still fairly quiet, giving him just enough time to set himself up in a corner. Stealing assorted chairs, August made a tiny castle in the furthest right corner of the room, stacking footstools to make a little entrance way. Dropping his pile in the centre of the chairs, August carefully placed his books and papers under one chair, and the snacks under another. Dragging the wide sheet out from under the pile, August snapped it over his castle of chairs, letting it land neatly over everything, covering the whole structure almost perfectly. A small blanket was all that was needed for the entrance, and he quickly crawled inside to set up the decor.

Spreading a fluffy blanket out over the floor, he piled more blankets and pillows around the edge, creating a wide nest for himself to study in. The four biggest pillows he reserved for a throne for himself, and he set it up near the snack chair. Happy with his new home, August propped a book up on his knees, lazily combing through his snacks to pluck a small bag of crackers, leaning back into his self-made throne to return to studying.

Engrossed in the boring studies of whatever-this-book-was-even-about, August had failed to notice that someone else had entered. Moving to set down his book, a voice complimenting his castle threw him off guard, and the heavy book landed with a loud thump on his knee, sliding off onto the floor. Cursing, the boy quickly shoved the book back into it's place under a chair, and he slithered out to the entryway, his head and torso poking out regally to see who dared interrupt the king of the student lounge.

Blinking up at a very pretty man, August was struck a little dumb for a moment. He had been preparing to shoot off a mean comment, but that idea had faded rather quickly. "Oh, I ... Thank you. Would you ... Like to come in ...?" He was starting to get better at this friend thing, as unusual as it was. Frowning a little bit, August shifted his weight to one hand, while he rubbed his newly bruised knee. "I've even got snacks in here. It's much better than suffering going outside."

Pleased that his invitation was accepted, August quickly popped back into his man cave, settling and watching the stranger adjust himself. He felt a little bad that he had not made the enclosure a little bigger, though. "Smell nice...?" An uncertain frown creased his brow, as he worked to think of an appropriate response. He had never been told about his scent before, that was definitely a new one. "Ah, yes. I tan easily, but I do prefer the winter. I'm August. Good to meet you, ah, Bill. I'll go with Bill."

Pushing a dark shock of hair away from his forehead, August scooted over to his snack chair, his fingers closing around a little cookie package. "D'you want a cookie? Or something ... I've got loads of snacks piled up. I didn't know how long I'd be here so ..." Tossing a glance at the hoard of packaged foods, he felt a stir of pride for his exemplary cupboard. He didn't really want to go back to studying, especially since Bill had effectively managed to capture his attention. "So what brings you down to the student lounge? I was going to study but decided that's a bad idea."

Politely waiting until Bill had chosen his cookie, August took one as well, setting the package down between them just in case he decided on a couple more. He looked like the sort who enjoyed sweets like these.
Listening quietly as he bit into his own cookie, August nodded sympathetically from time to time. He could understand not enjoying being around people. It was far easier to be by yourself most of the time, and for the occasions when he was lonely, well, he had a cheetah for that.
"I like to be alone, too. People are too much to bother with. I'm a cat person, myself. My cheetah is back in my dorm, though. She doesn't like going out much either."

Shrugging as he nipped another piece off of his cookie, August cast a glance at the loathsome books and swallowed his bit.
"Couldn't have been that important, I can't even remember what I was reading about. Besides that, you're far more interesting than a book."
Raking an appreciative glance over William's appearance, August allowed a sly smile to grace his lips before sliding the rest of his cookie into his mouth.
"Have you got any hobbies?"
A little awkwardly, August was beginning to feel the start of the deep-rooted anxiety that came with trying to continue a conversation with a cute stranger.
"I uh, like fire."

Gisa always managed to come up in his conversations, no matter what they were about. He could be talking about trains and he could still manage to squeeze a mention of his cheetah in the subject. "She can be a handful. Her name is Gisa." It wouldn't be so bad if she wasn't such a baby. A tiger would be much more exciting — those are actually indimidating. More than pleased to see his new companion redden, August returned a slight smile at the soft giggle.

August straightened up at the mention of instruments, especially the guitar. From a young age, he had been encouraged to try to play the piano, but it wasn't too long before he quickly gave up and focused on proper boy things like sports. "I can make fire. It's the most fun, starting a forest fire." It was too exciting to watch the forest go up in smoke, especially if you came back later to see everything all crisped and charred. Ashes were a bit like snowflakes when they fell, firey little snowflakes. Offering out a hand, August continued, "I'm hot, too. See? My body temperature is higher than most people."