Tropical Distractions

[fredless]

Who:Fred, friends and YOU
What: A bonfire and evening to enjoy with friends
When:Second evening after arriving
Where:Down at the Beach
Rating: PG?


All things considered, it didn't seem that threatening. But Fred would never sit all that well with being yanked into unfamiliar settings without permission, and this was no different. After the rising waters, they first few hours on the ship had been especially difficult. It brought back too many specific memories. Still, a lot had happened between then and now -- and after a few hours it at least felt like she could breathe again.

And there were things that held some appeal.

Like the beach. There were memories as well, much more pleasant memories. And unlike the four seasons room, which always felt a little less than real? Fred couldn't help but think all that water actually lead somewhere. The air certainly tasted real enough, hot and sticky on her tongue. Everything soon started to carry the slightest whisper of salt.

She'd spent the day with Wesley exploring, and somehow they'd tumbled their way into fishing. It was something she hadn't actively done in years, not since summers with her folks on the Gulf. But it all came back to her, and soon they'd caught more than she knew what to do with. Fred didn't recognize the species, but the locals assured her they were edible enough. One idea tumbled into the other, until a sturdy bonfire was lit against the fading afternoon light. A dozen fat fish sat wrapped in palm leaves around the base of the fire, and a cooler rested nearby filled with a variety of fruit and drinks.

All that remained was to jot an invitation in her journal to anyone that might be interested.

Fred moved to settle into one of the higher dunes, watching the tide as it came in again. She was still in her suit, a simple sarong knotted at her waist. It might get cooler later, but for now she was content to catch the last of the sun on her shoulder and enjoy the sound of the waves.

Comments

[The fishing thread - because it's time for some fluff!]

[demonologist]

"You've caught another one? That's incredible!" Wes exclaimed, chuckling and quickly wading into the water to try to scoop it up onto the shore. His own efforts had been not quite so successful, but he'd managed to land a few. He had been enjoying the day, determined to view the world-change as something of a vacation as much as he could. The flood had been a bit harrowing, but now that they had settled in, he was starting to relax. He was dressed appropriately for the beach and currently with his trousers rolled up to his knees so as to not get them too wet.

[fredless]

Fred watched while Wesley worked to free her latest catch from the hook and add it to their ever-growing pile. It was oddly endearing to see his knees in the daylight, and her grin that followed was definitely one of the really-can't-help-it variety. There really wasn't any preventing it.

"It's the dark patches. If you look close enough, you can see them when the sun hits the water. Sometimes it's actually schools of fish."

Mostly, it was practice. And patience. Fred moved to secure her line, anchoring her own pole in the sand. She turned, finally really taking in the results of their afternoon. The pile was larger than she'd realized, and the sun was already starting to settle over them.

"...that's a lot of fish."

[demonologist]

"That makes a lot of sense. Why didn't I think of that?" He glanced down at the pile of fish, only just now realising how big it had grown over the past hour.

"Somehow I doubt that we're going to be able to eat all of them ourselves. Perhaps we should offer some to our fellow beach-goers and locals?" He wiped at his trousers, contemplating their 'predicament'.

[fredless]

Fred moved to kneel by the fish, noting the way the afternoon light glinted off the scales. The scent was especially pungent up close, but she didn't mine. She'd let go of being squeamish a long time ago.

"That's not a bad idea." She looked back over her shoulder, considering. " Or we could just sent out a note inviting everyone down. I'd have to think one or two people might be ready to take a vacation from this vacation. There should be more than enough fish to go round."

[fishy_go_byebye]

It wasn't so much that Del saw the note, as she saw the bonfire. Saw it and started trailing her way towards it the way lost travelers trailed after wil'-o-whisps. It drew her, and as it drew her it also tugged along her little Ditto.

Confused, it seemed. The poor pokemon was so confused, with a mistress that couldn't hold still and couldn't keep track of it. it had gotten to the point that that creature just left a tendril wrapped around her wrist, which she touched and petted and tugged thoughtlessly as she crept closer to the fire.

What was that smell? That lovely, burning, disgusting smell that made her stomach rumble in a painful way that it wasn't supposed to know how to do.

She hated this world change.

[fredless]

She'd just been checking the fire, making certain that the wrapped fish weren't getting overdone. Even with the sand Fred heard the foot steps, and straightened at the sound.

Her expression warmed slightly.

...hey there." A look down at the smaller of the two "And there."

[fishy_go_byebye]

Del hesitated at the edge of the fire, a wild-child with her dirty skin, baggy clothes, and fishnets.

Why was being human always so difficult. Why was it always so hungry so empty so itchy so full.

"Hello..." Her answer was dreamy and vague, even as her fingers tightened around the tentacle of her Ditto.

[fredless]

Fred took in the clothes, but she didn't comment on them. Not after all of her years with hardly anything more than a few roughly cobbled together skins. After a while, you just stopped judging.

Well, at least you stopped judging that. A few things came harder.

The soft voice barely carried over the crashing waves, but but it was enough.

"Decided to come down for the cookout? There's plenty here."

[succubitch]

Lilah wasn't one to usually join in on parties thrown by Fred of all people, but she had been spending most of the day on the beach anyways, so it wasn't like she had been going out of her way or anything. She was even dressed for it already.

Which is how she ended up sitting around the bonfire, sipping a drink with a group of people who didn't particularly like her. If nothing else, she'd enjoy how uncomfortable her presence might make people.

As far as world changes went, she couldn't complain. The beach was nice, like the ones she had went to on the cruise. Except this time, no one had tried to kill her. Always a plus.

[fredless]

From the other side of the fire, Fred caught sight of Lilah. The bright red of her suit seemed to blend in with the flames, and for a moment it was impossible to tell one from the other. She hadn't expected to see the other woman here, but then she had not been specific in her invitations either.

Well, there was nothing left but to make the best of it. It was already getting dark, the sky a muted purple that promised to continue to be warm. Fred moved past several groups before reaching Lilah's side.

"...did you want any of the fish?"

[succubitch]

Lilah looked up at the other woman at the question. Fred wasn't one of her favorite people to talk to, far from it, but she did get some joy out of knowing her presence wasn't exactly welcome.

It might have been spiteful of her to think that way, but Lilah never claimed to be a good person.

She nodded.

"I would," She said with a smile that might have almost looked kind if you didn't know her well enough

[fredless]

Somehow, Fred expected that answer. Though she couldn't exactly say why. Of course, it brought up why she was asking questions she already knew the answer to. In some ways, it'd been easier then they were more openly hostile with one another.

This felt like limbo.

"...fish it is, then."

She moved over to the fire and claimed another of the tightly wrapped bundles. Undone, the leaves formed a natural plate as she passed the meal over to Lilah.

ota!

[loisfuckinglane]

[Sun, sand, surf, and sullenness: one of these things is not like the others.

Maybe it's the fact that the city is full of obnoxious Pokemon noises right now, but the idea of getting away for a moment was definitely inviting, and Lois gladly donned a two piece and headed for the hills dunes. However, now that she's here, she's parked her butt on the sand, and is watching the waves crash in and out with a frown etched onto the corner of her lips.]

[supes]

[And there's Clark, taking a brief moment away from playing with Chris in the surf to sit down beside his wife-to-be. He keeps a watchful eye on their kid, obviously, but he turns his eyes to Lois.]

Are you alright? You seem a little unimpressed with all of this.

[loisfuckinglane]

Huh? [She rips her gaze off from the waves, as what he asks sinks in, and then she shakes her head, obviously a little embarrassed] Oh no. That's not it. I mean... [She waves a hand in a large arc in the direction of the city] very impressive. Full technicolor.

[ A little anxious smile creeps up her face ] I just can't help wondering a) what kind of mess the castle's going to be when we get home and b ) if that's going to put some kind of hold up on our wedding plans.

[ She shoots him a tiny glance ] ... I just feel like we've already been held up for an eternity. Can't blame a girl for getting nervous, when someone's literally gunning for ruining her wedding day, and then the Fates seem to be conspiring against all the same.

[supes]

Well, if Molotov tries anything, I'll know. [Or if he doesn't know, he'll figure it out. It's hard to sneak around a guy who can see through walls, hear muffled heartbeats and make time practically stand still when he needs to.] That and the castle won't stay this way for longer than a week or so. Last time we were in the Pokémon world, we were there for eight days.

[He smiles, reassuring and relaxed.]

And even if something pops up, we'll manage it, the same way we manage everything else.

open!

[likethetragedy]

[Elektra is standing a little ways into the water dressed in a black bikini and sarong. She seems to be at peace with the waves crashing against her legs. It has been a while since a real body of water touched them. For all her annoyance with the others for whining, moments like these make the changes and the inevitable reactions alright.]

Re: open!

[demonologist]

[Wes sees Elektra standing on the shore and approaches her with a quiet smile. He has with him some offerings of food: one of the baked fish, still wrapped in the palm leaves and a ripe guava-like fruit if she would prefer that. And tucked under his arm is a bottle of spring water.]

[likethetragedy]

[Elektra smiles at him as he approaches. Her eyes go over the food and water.]

Dinner?

[demonologist]

[He nods, holding the food out for her to take.]

Fred and I caught far too many to eat by ourselves. Well, actually, she did most of the catching. They didn't seem to like my bait half as much. But I did do all the gutting...after Fred showed me how, that is.

[Chuckling, he turned to look at the horizon.]

Not quite Paris, is it. But it will do.

[forgedinbattle]

[Xena approaches wearing a black swimsuit that honestly doesn't look that different from what she wears what she would wear in her own world and with a cubone following at her heels. It's almost comical how much the Pokemon resembles his owner in bearing and attitude. He may be small, but he's got enough confidence for someone twice his size.]

Hey. [It's one of those rare, unprompted, genuine smiles.]

[likethetragedy]

[Elektra smiles in returns. Her gaze lingers on the pokemon a minute before it widens.]

Hey. I like yours.

[wield]

This was all strange to her. The fact people lived in worlds where people used demons... animals? Beings? Whatever it was, to fight made Buffy a little amused. If anything was going to battle anything, it certainly wouldn't be her sending a creature out in defense or fun or whatever the reason it was why people did this.

So, when word got to her about the beach invite, it sounded perfect to try and get away from the madness that was this world. Buffy would never understand the castle, and just like people told her from the beginning she was actually starting to believe that she'd never understand why whatever happened... happened in this place.

So, she held what looked like a barely touched beer in between her hands, her gaze clearly stuck on the flames in the bonfire in front of her.

[fredless]

Fred caught sight of Buffy, tucked over to one side of the bonfire. With the breeze that evening, it was actually the warmest place to stand, but somehow she suspected that particular fact was even registering. Grabbing a beer for herself, she walked over to join the other woman.

"...figured it all out yet?"

[wield]

She wondered if Angel would have been here, what he would be doing. The thought of him in anything less than a tank top and a pair of slacks made a smile creep at the corners of her lips. Luckily, before she could get in too deep of thought, Fred gave her the distraction she needed.

"I'm sorry?"