[open]

[bachjones]

 "The salty sea sighs
the wind leaves its edges of salt
Everyone - unwittingly - says
goodbye
to the promise of the Summer-"

Bach stopped stringing his guitar. The ocean had been calling, it was clear that there was a story waiting, but right now his mind couldn't catch up with his fingers. The guitar already knew, while he was struggling to get the pieces together. 

"Fuck." He punched the sand next to him before getting up from his beach chair for a stretch. Corry was sweet, but he couldn't have sex with his half-sister wasn't possible in his book. And he had kind of looked forward to sex, the last time had been too long. Maybe he should find Essie ..

"Where the fuck did I come up with unwittingly anyway? That's not a story-word .." 

Comments

[alfiehaywood]

It was unintentional, bumping into Bach before he’d determined what he’d actually say to the other guy. Especially with the hurry in which he’d dashed off last time, embarrassment rolling off him in waves. Admittedly though he had created, printed and stuck up a number of posters entitled ‘have you seen this cat?’ But here he was. He was walking Herb, the only-just-still-a puppy bouncing around his feet with a wagging tail. Excited clearly for a little one to one attention; since Penny was back at home feeling sorry for herself.

The eye contact was what threw it all though. Maybe if he’d just seen Bach, he could have politely scurried off before the other knew he was there. But he was more than certain the other had just looked at him. And it seemed incredibly rude to run off in that situation. So he ended up, essentially rooted to the spot, a little unsure what to do as Herb attempted to sniff anyone nearby.

[bachjones]

"Alf- Alfie."

Bach looked down at his guitar again. Had he called Alfie over here? He knew that people that got used to him, got more sensitive to it, but this thing with Alfie had just been one time.

Not that he cared, after that cold-shoulder-thing. "That your dog? I thought you had a bigger dog. An adult one. Didn't you?"

[alfiehaywood]

“Hey Bach,” he replied before he’d really thought what to do next. Herb seemed to be leading the situation when he attempted to move closer to the other guy, but was halted by his lead being too short. So it was natural to move closer right? Herb needed to get accustomed to other humans after all. Or at least that was Alfie’s excuse for going and standing near Bach.

“Yeah, Penny isn’t feeling too great so she’s at home.” If she was the same tomorrow then it was going to be an appointment at the Vets. “This is Herb. He’s a rescue puppy.” He paused for a moment before asking, “Have you heard anything about Cinderella yet? I put posters in quite a few places.”

[bachjones]

"Ah."

Bach never cared much for dogs, they were too present and wet and hairy. Maybe too much like other people, in comparison to cats. And now Alfie made him miss Cinderella again.

"Oh, you did? Did you put your number on it? Because I don't have a number, only an e-mail address. But thank you, Alfie. If she's around, someone will have to see her some time soon."

[alfiehaywood]

“Yeah, I did.” Although he hadn’t had any calls. Except for one guy asking if he was sure it wasn’t a ginger Tom cat that had been lost, as there was on constantly in his garden. “But I also put the apartment block in case.”

Perhaps talking about Cinderella was a bad way to start conversation. Alfie wasn’t particularly used to be unsure what to say in a given situation it was pretty new to him.

Lightly scratching the back of his neck, and feeling Herb’s nose pressing against his jeans, he finally asked, “So. What have you been up to?”

[bachjones]

"Thanks, thanks man."

He looked at the puppy again. "Is Penny okay with him? I mean - Cinderella always - shit, Alfie, I have another sister."

Bach couldn't even remember if they talked about the first one. "It's this fucking town screwing with me. And not in the fun way."

[alfiehaywood]

He’s about to explain that typically Penny is fine with Herb. Sometimes she nudges him out the way with her nose but usually that is when food is involved. Or when Herb is having one of his really nervous moments and she gets jealous as Herb needs Alfie to be with him constantly, (how anyone could so badly hurt a puppy he’ll never understand). Usually she enjoys the company though.

But then he realised what Bach really needs to talk about. He remembers him mentioning Corrine was his half-sister. Somewhere echoing in his mind, but apparently it was not just a lingering weird dream, it was real. “Oh. How… How did you find that out?” He asked, unsure really what to say. “Who is it?”

[bachjones]

"She told me."

He put his guitar down, scratched his cheek. "We met and there was a letter and that's she's related to Corry so that means she's related to me, right? Asshole dad can't keep his dick in his pants."

"April. The gorgeous blond walking around here. Looks like April is my sister."

[alfiehaywood]

“Ah.” He stated. He couldn’t really imagine the situation. Alfie already had siblings so it wasn’t a case of going from being only you to suddenly have two siblings. His sister and brother were 100% related and he’d been stuck (for better or worse) with them since particular significant births. Although he’d still be completely scandalised if a mystery sibling popped out of the woodwork. “I… I’m sorry that this was sprung on you. Someone should have told you when you were younger really.”

The name struck a bell, he was sure Les had mentioned her once or twice, but he hadn’t actually met her. Though he caught on to the bitterness in Bach’s voice. “I’m sure there can’t be any more of your siblings around and about. I can guarantee that I’m not related to you.”

[bachjones]

"Who? My mom? I don't think she knew, she hated the guy and he was gone before she could even tell him that I was coming along."

Bach rubs his face. "You sure? Because that would make things ugly." Uglier. "I just thought I'd feel better about knowing I'm not alone, but not like this."

[alfiehaywood]

“No! No,” he quickly tried to correct himself, “I don’t mean your Mom, as you said I doubt she knew about it. I just mean someone other than your Dad must have known. And they should have found a way to tell you.”

“Am I sure that I’m not related to you? Well, for a start I look a lot like both my parents, and I lack the whole Siren thing that seems to be a genetic thread.” Alfie realises that he’s waffling and possibly completely off topic. He shrugs before adding, “Family can make me feel lonelier than anything else.”

[bachjones]

"I think you have a point with the siren thing. All whole or half sirens. Dude must really love himself to forget condoms."

Not like Bach had ever been very strict with birth control, he always chose to believe the woman saying it was fine.

"That's shit, Alfie." Did he feel bad now because of the kiss thing or because Alfie was a possible friend? "But at least they're honest with you, yeah?"

[alfiehaywood]

Alfie’s heard horror stories of men who refuse to wear condoms and then refuse to acknowledge any offspring produced from such encounters. He’s never really understood it, but then he’s never really wanted children. So the condom seems a great option. His brother Brody however must have not agreed, leading to him hotfooting down the aisle with his girlfriend. “Yeah, must be it.”

He shrugs because it doesn’t stop it hurting, just because it’s honest. Especially whenever he receives letters about pastors who believe they can cure the ‘gay away’. It seems better to just ignore it overall, “Maybe it’ll be better. At the moment it’s a shock, but maybe with time you will get to know them better and be friends.”

[bachjones]

"Yeah, and I did like ..twenty-five years or something without them, so even if they turn out to be horrible .."

He grabbed his guitar and thrummed the introduction of a silly kindergarten song. "I was always fine with entertaining myself. I mean, Cinderella has only been around for a couple of years, I can get used of being without a cat again. Or I'll just get a new one. Not every person needs a big family and stuff around them, you know."

[alfiehaywood]

"Well, however it works out, you always have the right to just have those you want around you." Alfie can sympathise with the situation. He just wishes there was something he could say or do to try and soothe the blow of a second surprise sister. After all, he can't just lie and say it will all be completely ok. Because family is very complicated and sometimes it just isn't ever ok. A hug seems to send mixed messages, and he's confused as to whether it would be for Bach's benefit or his own at this point.

"That's true. Often small families are tighter knit and less complicated." He assumed so anyway. But you can never be fully sure. "And we'll keep searching. Cats are far better at taking care of themselves than they let on. Dogs are hopeless."

[bachjones]

"Wow, thanks for that, man."

Bach hears the words fall while they should land, and he tries again. "You're one of the few saying that. 'People need family', 'a man alone can be worrisome', 'surely there's someone for you out there', 'why not settle down and calm down', I mean, get out of my business."

The music calms him down and he allows his fingers to pick up the pace a little, little kids chasing each other, laughs and giggles. If he wouldn't know about this shit father, he'd might like children.

"True. Cinderella probably has a small army taking care of her by now. Little bitch."

[alfiehaywood]

"No," Alfie replies calmly. Because that wasn't what he meant at all, but getting angry didn't get work out at all last time. Alfie did believe that family was important - but then he was aware family had played a huge roll in his life and that it wasn 't necessarily correct for all. "I meant you can have as many or as few people in your life. Whether they are family, friends, acquaintances or enemies is up to you."

Really though, he feels like maybe he should leave. His company clearly wasn't welcome. But he felt guilty just leaving.

[bachjones]

"It's okay, it's okay."

If he can't have a nice life, he can compose one. "It's not your fault, almost not. Your kisses were good, your touches were. Don't - you're not the bad guy here, Alfie."

His fingers do the thinking now, turning the music into something more comfortable. "It's okay, I have the stories."

[alfiehaywood]

“I…” Alfie would sigh with frustration that he can feel his cheeks heating up so easily. He doesn’t, but it’s a close thing. Really he should stop blushing so easily though. “Thank you?”

He tilted his head a little, “What kind of stories do you have?”

[bachjones]

He's blushing. Bach knows that he knows nothing, but at least he can still make someone blush.

"Everything? What I know, what I have, what I want. Now that I have picked up on your song, it could be what you could have been, where you could go, what you could have done. Music is always everywhere."

[alfiehaywood]

Someone else being able to know a lot about you seemed terrifying to Alfie. Mainly because he tended to keep things tucked safe inside, where only he knew existed. He pretended he didn’t care that his family disowned him, when instead it felt a little like being stabbed sharply in the chest whenever he thought of it. Generally he believed strong feelings of any kind were usually best left hidden away, so people wouldn’t be scared off.

“I imagine it can be very comforting.” He pondered aloud. Really struggling with what to say so as to not embarrass himself further.

[bachjones]

"You can leave, you know." Bach shrugged. "If this is not your subject and you're uncomfortable ..I don't have to know. It's not for me to ask anything private."

"But yes, it is. Maybe addicting as well. You can always find comfort somewhere."

[alfiehaywood]

“Um.” Alfie’s eyes moved from Bach’s face and over the other’s shoulder to focus on the sea. It was subconscious, as was the motion of licking his bottom lip before worrying his between his teeth. After a moment he came back to himself, quickly parting his teeth to take in a breath.

“We’re still friends right?” He asked, deciding to just throw it out there, “I know it’s a bit…” He made an obscure motion with one hand, so as to not pull on Herb’s lead too sharply. “But even with the kissing, we’re friends?”

[bachjones]

Bach wanted to do things to that mouth. Indecent things and he really had to find some sex somewhere soon.

"Dude, I kiss all my friends. Why do you think there are so few of them around? And the rest turns out to be family."

[alfiehaywood]

A relieved smile spreads over Alfie’s features, as he lets out a deep breath. Completely unaware of where Bach’s mind is currently going. “That’s good, I… thought it had got all screwed up again.” He rests a hand on Bach’s shoulder as a substitute for a hug, giving it a brief squeeze.

“Don’t be daft; I don’t think your kissing would scare anyone off.” Realising what he just said, he takes a quick turn in the conversation. He asks with a general tone of curiosity, rather than an accusation. “You kissed on of your sisters?”