Sam smirked at the name when she said it. He nodded his head as if that explained the walls they were currently surrounded by. ”Refreezing is pretty easy I used to have to keep structures or sculptures frozen for weeks on end. Almost a second nature to me.” Sam said as he rotated a log that was becoming increasingly bright in his thermal sense. Even when he wasn’t focusing on the fire or Juliette he sometimes loses too much focus due to the new information.

”I wouldn’t dream of playing a normal campfire song. Classic rock or the king.” Sam said as he nodded, he could sing too but he doubted Juliette would like his renditions of his favorites sober… or when she was trying to go to sleep. ”Not to bad of a performer. No Disney princess but I at least don’t chase them away.” he said with a smirk his eye on the fire and his thermal senses on Juliette as she moved closer to him.

Tilting his head to hers kissing the top of her head he looked back to the fire, ”Thought that was why you were dating me or is it the patch? Adds a little mystery?” he asked with a little chuckle then an arm reaching around his girlfriend.

Mutations were funny things. Especially with the way they took over your life. For Sam, it was freezing things. For Juliette, it was worrying about her energy intake. She wondered silently what regular humans did with all their free time if it wasn't focusing on the various aspects of their mutation.

According to Sam, regular campfire songs were for lesser folk. Only the best for him: classic rock or Elvis. She chuckled even though she disagreed. There were some great camp songs out there. She remembered a few from class trips or summer expeditions fondly.

"Sam Johnson, Disney princess," Juliette smirked, imagining him twirling through an ice castle. She knew that that hadn't been his intent when sharing that comment, but it was an entertaining thought nonetheless. "I don't know if I'll be able to let that image go."

She leant into him a little more as he wrapped his arm around her, appreciating both the weight and added warmth of the limb. She wasn't noticing the dark as much as she wrapped her arm around his waist. The fire and the company were enough of a distraction to keep her sane. For a while, anyway.

"Oh, no. It's definitely the dog. I'm in it for the dog," she joked, referring to Bruno, who was safely tucked away at the mansion. Her grin faded after a second and she breathed in deeply, inhaling the intoxicating smell of the campfire. "No, it's your heart, I think. You've got a good heart." 

Suddenly, the world started to become a little blurry. The room had started to spin to a degree, and her head pounded. She winced and raised a hand to her temples, trying to subdue the feeling.

It was probably just a headache. 

”Let it go.” Sam added a little hum of the tune as he suggested it knowing that his knowledge of Disney movies (thanks to Rowan) would help her not forget the image she no doubt had in her head. Nothing more manly than an image of Sam dancing around with some snow people. He tried to shake the thought from his mind as well.

”I had a feeling.” Sam said with a little smirk, ”I think he likes you better anyways… you let him sleep in anywhere on the bed.” he joked slightly knowing that Bruno was very fond of her and her ability to tell Sam ‘no’. ”Cammie though…” Sam said talking about his tabby cat, ”You too her pillow… Not sure she will ever forgive you.” he said with a little laugh. The next comment however took him by surprise.

Sam smirked slightly, ”Been said I had a lot of things…” he wasn’t sure if he wanted to continue but he did, ”A good heart…” he stopped when Juliette moved and he too moved his hands when Juliette moved hers. His however moved to her back to make sure she had some support. ”Looks a little more intense than Jet Lag. You would not enjoy a trip to Russia.” Sam said turning towards his girlfriend and raising an eyebrow.

Juliette leant back slightly against the hand that had just been placed on her back, grateful for the added support. Sam was still talking, but her head was swimming too much for her to register all of it. She didn't often get migraines, but that one was by far the worst that she could remember having. 

”Looks a... more intense... Jet Lag. You... trip to Russia.”

"Hmm? Sure," Juliette muttered in agreement, having not really heard him. Something about a trip to Russia. Maybe he was going to Russia at some point? It wouldn't surprise her that much, all things considered. She would ask him about it again when it didn't feel like someone was taking a jackhammer to her skull. 

She leant forward again and placed her head in her hands, trying to think through what was going on. She hadn't thought to bring any pain medication with her, and the first aid kit probably wouldn't have what she was looking for. There really wasn't anything that she could do except...

A lightbulb went off in her head. Juliette put her hand over the fire and closed her eyes as she absorbed some of the light. The fire flickered and dimmed before returning to its former state. 

The woman stared at her hands for a second. Her headache had vanished immediately. She didn't really know why she had done what she had, but it had felt right. Her powers had never acted like that before, though. Were they changing in some way? Was it just a fluke? She hoped that it was just the latter. Only once before had she gone long enough to experience the effects of not absorbing enough light, and she had no intention of ever doing it again. But she hadn't gone nearly long enough for it to take effect there, so why had she gotten sick?

That was definitely something to look into. Another time.

At that moment, all she wanted to do was pretend that nothing had happened and enjoy the rest of the night by the fire. She returned to her previous position against Sam and shook her head. "Sorry about that," she said, her voice stronger than it had been. "I don't know what happened."

”You alright?” Sam turned his head to look at Juliette when she first put her hand on her head. He wasn’t looking at her directly but the amount of light and heat she gave off was easy to see something was up. Sam placed his hand on the small of her back and turned towards her slightly trying to give her a little space. It started to look like a headache, the way he got one when he first discovered his thermal sense. If she was going through something similar she’d need a drink by the end of it.

Watching his girlfriends hand move to the fire he was tempted to stop her but waited long enough to see the fire flicker and dim. Juliette was smart there was no way she was going to burn herself so clearly she needed some light. Maybe she needed a recharge? Sam waited a few moments before saying anything.

After a few moments she returned to his side as if nothing had changed. Rubbing her back a little he kissed her forehead then looked back to the fire. ”Battery was drained?” Sam asked figuring that was the best bet. If she could absorb light and redirect it the way she could it wasn’t too much of a reach to think that she needed to absorb it to keep her going.

”You feeling alright now?” Sam asked half wanting to get some extra fuel for the fire. ”Me make big fire?” Sam asked trying to lighten the mood. ”I can call a pick up if we need one.” Sam in his normal voice.

"It must've been that," Juliette nodded. That made the most sense, all things considered. That didn't make it any less weird, though. "I don't know, though. It's never happened like that, and it has even been that long since I last absorbed energy... must've just been a fluke."

It was so strange and foreign to her that she wasn't even sure what to consider. Were her powers changing? Just acting up? Was she sick and showing the symptoms strangely?

She shrugged off the thought of it, deciding not to worry about it at that moment. The trip was supposed to be a good time, after all; one without worry. They really didn't need to focus on her strange new power development. If it was still coming up, then she would deal with it when they got back.

”I can call a pick up if we need one.”

She shook her head. "No, I'm okay. Don't worry about it," she insisted. There wasn't even a slight feeling of the headache that had been so debilitating just a few minutes prior. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Her head felt completely fine.

The fire had gotten back to its original height and heat, so she didn't feel all that bad about stealing some of it. Her feet were warm down by the edge of it, but the rest of her body could still feel the chill. It was moments like that that she seriously envied Sam's powers. She snuggled closer into him and shrugged her sweater in a little closer, trying to gather any warmth that she possibly could. 

"Let's just talk about something else," Juliette suggested. "Distract me."

Sam shrugged, ”Could be? Keep an eye on it and we can figure it out when we get back? If it’s anything like my thermosense; coining that by the way more likely you’ll get some worse headaches.” Sam smirked slightly an shrugged his shoulders a bit not sure if that was the right thing to say. ”We’ll figure it out.”

When she said don’t worry about it he did his best not too but failed his train of thoughts already departed the station and he thought about several possibilities for portable rechargers for his girlfriend. She’d never be out of juice if he had anything to say about it.

Kissing her on the head again as she tried to snuggle into him more he pushed her away slightly and stood up going towards the direction of the sleeping bag. ”Distract you huh?” Sam took off his shirt and threw it near her so if she wasn’t looking she’d get a distraction one that might cause her to look towards him. She’d see he was then unzipping the sleeping bag to reveal it also doubled as a blanket big enough for two people. ”Maybe a little more warmth?” Sam asked as he walked back towards her and draped it on her.

”Hmmm... I ever tell you of Sedna?” Sam asked as he walked over to the fire and rolled another in the fire revealing burning side that gave off more heat. After a second he plopped back down to Juliette.

She'd asked for a distraction, and he certainly delivered. She'd watched him stand up, feeling the sudden rush of cold air on her side that had formerly been covered. She'd pouted slightly, but watched him to see what would happen next. The removal of the shirt was certainly a welcome surprise.

Juliette caught it with one hand and grinned at him, already in much better spirits. "Any excuse to get it off, huh?" she teased. She wasn't exactly complaining, though. She folded the shirt and put it in the sack near her feet where she'd kept the extra clothes that she'd brought along. 

The blanket was also a very welcome change. She closed her eyes as it was draped over her and pulled it further over, appreciating the break from the cold. Thinking that camping with Cold Steel would be a somewhat warm experience had clearly been a naïve thought to entertain.

”Hmmm... I ever tell you of Sedna?”

"I think I would've remembered a name like that," Juliette murmured, much more comfortable than she had been just a minute ago. "Tell me about it if you want."

”Let me in.” Sam said as he slid under the blanket in-between Juliette’s arm and the blanket. He only used a little so his body heat could give off a little more warmth for his girlfriend. It was one of the reasons he took off his shirt.

Sam smirked slightly into the fire when she said if he wanted to. ”Love talking about Sedna.” Sam said with a smirk as he leaned into her. His hand reached out for hers and he held it close his side closer to his side where it would be warmer. ”Sassy as they come. She’s gotta be like three hundred years old or something.” Sam said exaggerating her age.

”Old sha..woman? Medicine woman something like that? She’s of Raina’s village, anyways. She used to joke that in places like there village I was viewed as a god. Granted everything there was made of snow and Ice but it got me thinking, or at least a few seconds ago it got me thinking, If you can use light and turn to light… would you be able to control the sun?” Sam thought about it for a second then shrugged, ”Guess you’d have to get there first….” Sam looked to Juliette then smirked ”distraction.” and waved his free hand.

Untangling herself from the blanket that had somehow managed to wrap itself tightly around her entire body, Juliette raised her arm so that Sam could slip in beside her. She welcomed the return company and settled back in with her head on his shoulder. It was hard to worry about much of anything while in that position.

”Raina?” Juliette asked partway through, stifling a yawn that had been induced by the sudden increase in temperature and comfort. Raina wasn’t someone that she’d met or heard Sam talk about before. Ex-girlfriend, perhaps?

Sam the God. ”Is that why your ego is so inflated?” she interrupted playfully. She enjoyed poking fun like that. It did have a grain of salt to it, though. Mutants were random people that had won the genetic lottery; suddenly able to do crazy things just by willing it. In some respects, they were like gods. It just depended on who was judging.

Control the sun. She’d never thought about it that way. Sure, in theory, she could control the sun, but there were several limiting factors. For one thing, she’d have to actually get there, and she had enough trouble trying to fly for more than a few blocks. Going straight up into space didn’t sound like it would go very well. Plus, there was no air in space. Air was a necessity.

”Maybe in theory,” Juliette agreed, ”but I don’t think I’ll be causing any eclipses anytime soon. In the meantime, though, you can just call me Ra.” She winked to punctuate her reference to the Egyptian god of the sun.

”X-woman mermaid shifter and can sing some snowfall, though she down in the Caribbean’s with Luke, right now. Other X-Man, blind echo location… should call him when we get home…” in truth it had been long time since he had talked to them his lifestyle at the moment wasn’t a point of encouragement when talking to people from his past. Especially when they were reminders of his not real life. Luke was his ‘not-real-daughter’s godfather. And yes, there was a point where he and Raina got close before Luke and her had gotten back together but they both decided it was for the best that they remain friends.

”One of the reasons…” Sam smirked and flexed the arm Juliette was wrapped in to joke about another reason. ”I mean, I know I was cool before but that was defiantly a nice praise from a woman as old as Sedna.”

”Theory then.” Sam nodded his head and then smirked at the wink. ”Well Ra, the sun will be rising in a few hours. Maybe you should get some sleep for a bit. I’ll keep the fire going strong and join you in a bit.” Sam said hoping he could actually fall and stay asleep.

Sam kissed Juliette then added, ”and we’ll have to come up with a cool god name for me. I’m partial to Odin for the one eye but I’m open to suggestions.”

As Sam described Raina and Luke, she suddenly remembered seeing pictures of them hung up in various places around the mansion. There were so many X-Men that had come before her, and she wasn’t always great at remembering them all. Sam did, though. He’d grown into his role with many of them.

>>”Well Ra, the sun will be rising in a few hours. Maybe you should get some sleep for a bit. I’ll keep the fire going strong and join you in a bit.”

Sleep did sound like a good idea, especially since they were just starting the trip. She knew that she wouldn’t be getting a lot of sleep, but whatever she could manage would be welcome. Her future self would appreciate that action in the morning.

She leant into the kiss and placed her hand on the left side of his jaw before it broke. ”Ull, god of winter, hunt, and duel,” she suggested, leaning back to where she had been. It seemed pretty all-encompassing. Sam liked to spar, hunt, and obviously, he liked the cold. Sure, Odin fit the eye thing, but the rest fit Ull better.

Juliette leant over and kissed Sam again briefly before leaving her spot. She took the blanket with her and didn’t feel the slightest bit of guilt. He couldn’t feel the cold and she could, which meant that the blanket stayed with her. ”Goodnight, Sam,” she said through a yawn as she climbed into the singular sleeping bag.

”I like it.” Sam said with a smirk, ”You’ll have to tell me more about this great guy.” Sam said wishing her hand remained on his cheek a just a little bit longer. The second kiss was also something he wished was a bit longer but when he felt the security of the blanket leave his bare back he smirked.

”Night Jules. See you in the morning.” Sam turned back to the fire and stared at it for a bit till he started to feel his eyelid get heavy. He however pushed it off because if he did manage to sleep there’d be a chance he’d end up waking Juliette if he crawled into the sleeping bag with her. With a sniff he pushed himself up and rotated another few logs before deciding that a few hours of sleep would be a good option.

Crawling next to Juliette and the sleeping bag he laid down on the bare ground pushing back some more ice so there was less chance of her being cold. Head on his own arm he fell asleep facing Juliette.

‘Daaaaaaaddddd!’

Sam’s eye snapped open before he jumped up remembering where he was. With a low sigh he caught his breath and closed his eye again this time facing the top of the tent where the smoke was billowing out. After a few seconds he slowly rolled over and pushed himself up making sure not to wake Jules. She unlike him could sleep so there was no reason to wake her.

Sam threw a few more logs on the fire then decided to exit the tent. Looking around at the steam rising up from the ground he felt a certain kind of power here, there was an abundance of moisture in the air. Sam exhaled and started to move about throwing out blocks and strikes as ice started to coat his hands and arms. Other than alcohol, training was the only other thing that helped him get his mind off of his nightmares.

The first time around, it didn't take Juliette long to fall asleep. It wasn't the most comfortable of arrangements, and, despite what Sam had tried to do to accommodate her, it was still freezing. Still, she was tired enough to fall asleep within minutes. The roar of the fire had lulled her to sleep.

She woke up a little while later as she felt Sam climb in after her, but she didn’t move very much. Instead, she simply snuggled in a little closer to him without opening her eyes. His added body heat was exactly what she needed to feel more comfortable.

A few more hours went by until she was woken up a second time. Again, she didn’t move as she felt Sam leave and go to deal with… something. A nightmare, probably. She was supposed to be asleep, and she would have preferred to be, so she didn’t let on to the fact that she was still awake.

Eventually, though, it became clear that she wasn’t going to fall back to sleep anytime soon. She could hear the forest outside as well as the soft noises Sam made when training. With a sigh, she stood up and made her way to the entrance of the tent. She took the blanket with her in order to offset a tiny bit of the rush of cold air she was greeted with when leaving.

”What’re you up to?” she inquired gently through a yawn as she approached Sam.

A nice layer of sweat was on his brow now and more falling down his bare back as he threw another punch then brought it up to guard the ice around his limbs almost glowed in the very early morning sun. ”Didn’t wake you did I?” Sam asked as he ducked an incoming blow sidestepped then brought his foot to an imaginary knee. He knew he was being quite and unless she developed superhuman hearing there was another reason she was up so early.

”Therapy.” Sam tried to smirk but didn’t it wasn’t a secret that Juliette wanted him to talk to someone and while he was open to the idea he was still stubborn. He knew that going back to the basics worked well for him so that was what he was doing.

Sam brought a hand up in a block then threw out a fast front kick to where someones gut would have been. He was almost tempted to form some ice clones to help with the training but he decided not to. That would have been more noise and it was still early. ”Weren’t too cold were you?” Sam asked curiously.

Sam’s movement started to slow into a less aggressive one, his hands and feet slowly left the ground and were put down even slower. ”You ever practice Tai Chi?” he asked curiously, ”Or is yoga more your thing?” he added a smirk.