You were sitting outside the barracks. It was dark, 12:37am, cold, and snowy. You had an earbud in staring out across base. The mute, snowy ambiance mixed with the music creates the perfect environment to slip into your thoughts.

You let out a small puff of smoke into the cold air from the cigarette you had lit. Footsteps. You don't even have to look to know who it is. Simon sits down beside you.

A silent interaction occurs. You hand him your lighter, he takes it, lights his own cigarette, hands it back, you put it in your pocket, hand him your other earbud, he puts it in then leans back looking out across base as well.

'All the leaves are brown...and the sky is gray...'

California Dreaming' plays.