paradisalogs | Tropical Distractions

Entry tags:

Tropical Distractions

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.

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[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.

[She's accepting and starting to move out of the water after stealing once last glance at the horizon.]

Agreed. It's nice city all things considered. [She glances down at the food.] I'm okay with the menu too.

There's definitely something to be said for the simpler things in life.

[He finds a spot and parks himself down on the sand, hoping that Elektra will join him.]

Relatively foolproof too.

[Referring to his much documented lack of culinery skills.]

[Elektra joins him for obvious reasons. Once she's settled, Elektra takes a bite of the fruit. She can't resist smiling even as she chews and swallows before speaking.]

The fruit tastes fine if it's any consolation.

The fish turned out pretty well too. But pretty much anything which has Fred's touch on it tends to.

[He turns to glance her way.]

How have you been, Miss El-

[Blinking at the slip he's just made, Wes shakes his head and chuckles sheepishly.]

Sorry. Elektra.

[Elektra watches him a moment before shaking her head. She's still amused, but for different reasons now.]

It's fine. I'm fine especially since we're getting out of the castle for a while.

I'm a little worried about the townhouse since it was completely submerged. There might be quite the clean up job on our hands when we get back.

[His most prized possession, however, he'd managed to save. Patricia's picture with her hand- and foot-prints had been removed from its frame and secured in a waterproof ziplock bag before the waters had risen too high. Still, he hoped his books hadn't been ruined. Fred's journal of the expedition to Libet and so on.]

I'm sure there will be. [She tried to sound positive about it. Elektra put her most treasured possessions (and a few weapons) in waterproof bags. She can only hope for the best now.]

We'll deal with it the way we do everything else.

[Fred appeared behind them then, only able to catch the very end of their conversation over the sea breeze]

...deal with that?

[There's a flicker of a smile in Wesley and she drops one hand on his shoulder]

Does that mean you already went and asked her without me?

What? Oh, no. I was just talking about how much water damage we might be facing when we go back.

[Well, Fred, now you've gone and jumped the gun. He gave her a mildly reproachful look, followed by a conspiratorial smile.]

Of course I was going to wait for you before I sprung it on her.

[She's looking between the two. Elektra isn't usually the type to miss something. This was new.]

What are we springing on me?

[Fred releases Wesley's shoulder, moving to sit next to him and leaving Elektra on the other side. Her head tilts forward to flash a smile at her friend]

...I'm going to let Wesley take this one. I already got one look.

[For all her playful words something serious pulses just underneath]

[Wes takes a slightly nervous breath and then reaches into his pocket and pulls out a slightly crumpled, rolled up ziplock bag. He hands it to Elektra, who will find there's a camera picture inside of a little blue-eyed infant baby girl, and a piece of blotting paper with little red and yellow paint imprints of hands and feet.]

This is Patricia. Our daughter.

[Elektra studies the picture carefully before glancing at the pair.]

She's beautiful. [There's something softer about Elektra as she says it. Family was one of the few things capable of bringing out a gentler side of her. Elektra's fingers go over the prints with a great amount of care before she speaks again.]

Why are you showing her to me now?

[Again, Fred's gaze flickers only to connect with Wesley's before it settles over the image as well. She hadn't managed at the well before with Patricia's initial arrival. Ultimately she'd hid herself away from the entire situation and how it made her feel, leaving Wesley to take care of her on his own]

That really is the question, isn't it?

[Well, here goes...Wes smiles proudly and reveals what they've been conspiring to ask her.]

Elektra, we can't think of any other person whom we'd trust more to protect and watch over that which is most precious to us. Fred and I were hoping that you'd do us the great honour of becoming Patricia's Godmother.

[There's a flash of surprise in her eyes at first. She thought to ask why, but that much is obvious. They are friends. As much as Elektra beat herself up over the past she knows she wouldn't do Fred or Wesley wrong. Their child would be safe with her. This left her feeling touched for lack of a better word.]

... Sure.

[Somewhere in the course of Wesley's asking, her arm has moved to slip around his waist]

Not that I'm planning on disappearing this time round.

[If there was a 'this' time. The castle had a way of turning things upside down. Fred looks over to Elektra]

This is when I get to say thank you.

[He allows himself to beam from ear to ear. It's brief, and not very often, but when he does grin, one can see that he has very white and straight teeth. It's almost a little on the horsey side, making him appear younger and more boyish than he really is. A flash of the man whom he once could've been if certain things had gone differently.]

Thank you, Elektra.

[Elektra can't help smiling too. If one didn't know any better they'd think it was almost shy. She's overwhelmed with so many different, but positive feelings about chosen still.]

You're welcome. Just try not to let me actually take the job, okay?

[It's the sort of grin that makes Fred want to kiss Wesley more than a bit senseless. He's lucky Elektra is there, saving somebody yet again. The sound of her friends voice finally jerks Fred's gaze off of him.

Her attention is turned]

Understood. Honestly, right now the main duties probably entail smacking me over the head if I go off and try to leave Wesley managing on his own again.

[It's light and quick, deceptive to how difficult the admission is. But Fred suspects Elektra will understand]

That, and maybe a play date or two.

I managed, but yes, this time I'm hoping things will be a bit more settled.

[He gives Fred a soft teasing smile, well aware of how difficult it had been for her last May. Hopefully they were both in a better place now to undertake parental duties. He couldn't wait to see Patricia again and he prayed the Castle would not deny them another visit.]

Play dates sound like fun.

It sounds like you both are planning to turn me into a part time soccer mom.

[Elektra gives a mock exasperated smile. She didn't miss Fred's message. If it came down to it, she would do everything in her power to keep everyone together. This was a more pleasant subject to focus on especially when this whole thing brings up the memory of Helen; the girl Elektra was waiting for.]

[Fred laughs at the image. Her nose stings a bit with it, and briefly she wonders if she's gone and gotten sunburned]

Do you promise to drive a minivan?

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Tropical Distractions

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