[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

[louise_abasi]

It's a good thing I have Osha right now.Maybe I need to start a dog walking service. It would give me an excuse to walk around town without people thinking Lou forgot something again.

Louise put her sunglasses down and carried on walking down the beach again, her shoes in her hands. She was glad the siren stopped singing, it made her uncomfortable but she didn't want to complain to him about it. From time to time Lara's big dog looked up at her, run past to boop her hand with her nose like she was checking in. "Yes, you carry on, I'll follow."

[risesandthefalls]

A little hungover, admittedly but the cigarette is helpings. Squinting behind sunglasses, he tips his hear back and exhales blue smoke.

Maybe another drink is what he really needs?

[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?"

[louise_abasi]

It's Osha that alerts her to someone in her path, stepping in front of Louise like she needs the protection of a huge dog from ..

"Rhodri!" Maybe he didn't want to see her. Maybe she was too loud, too nervous already about the mysterious stranger that continued to pop in and out of her life.

[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?”

[risesandthefalls]

"Hey there, sweetheart," he says, smiling and then taking another drag on his cigarette. He raises an eyebrow, giving the dog a somewhat a wary look. "And who's this?"

[louise_abasi]

"My guardian dog", she grins. "I'm not allowed to leave the room without it these days. Please tell me you at least enjoyed some of the food before silently leaving brunch last week."

[starsfallen]

Corrine's heading back into town, from airport to towncar and en route to her door. The driver continues to ramble on about his life and how it would make the perfect biopic and Corry's mind wanders everywhere. The reality of Les moving out sets in with each nearer mile to her house, but it also makes her think of Bach.

[TXT] It's Corry. Hear you get to write me a song. If you're feeling country, secret siblings is ballad material enough.
[TXT] Btw, not sure if you were serious about moving in. But Les is moving out.
[TXT] So the guesthouse is available again if you want it.

[nealdouglas]

Emerging from the water, Neal pushed through the smaller waves and ran a hand through his hair. Shaking the rivulets of water from his hair, he looked unguarded and relaxed for a moment. Squinting, he smiled at the sight of Lou walking along the beach.

Walking towards her, and the towel he'd discarded on the beach, he stopped in front of Lou and forced her to stop abruptly.

"Louise, looking lovely today." Neal drawled, bending down to pick up his towel.

[risesandthefalls]

"Sure," he says, with a smirk. "Why not?"

He hasn't been avoiding her, not exactly, but he hasn't exactly been looking forward to that weird, hitherto unexplained, weird feeling in the pit of his stomach when he sees her.

"How're you feeling, sweetheart?"

[louise_abasi]

Osha, lover of all things human and close to those, immediately got up on her hind legs to greet him.

Louise was a little bit less enthusiastic, but determined to not let Neal Douglas ruin her day. "Thank you, Neal. Did you enjoy your swim?"

[louise_abasi]

"I don't know, it's not like I personally made it."

Osha sat down on her feet, and if Louise wouldn't be so tired of the fates and the supernatural, she would see it as a sign. She just wasn't sure of what exactly.

"Most of my memories were restored to me by the siren matriarch of this town, but sometimes I am still unsure about what I know right now." With him, she felt, she could be brutally honest. "How are you?"

[nealdouglas]

Osha, lover of all things Neal, knew exactly who gave out treats and belly rubs. Rubbing Osha's head, Neal smiled at Lou as she didn't immediately run in the opposite direction.

"I always do. I can't temp you, can I?" Neal asked picking up his bottle of water and drinking heavily from it. His skin dripping with water before he brushed some of it off. "For a dip."

[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."

[louise_abasi]

"You can't. I only skinny dip at night, in little less public places and with people I know."

She glanced at Osha. "And I don't know if there are enough towels in the world to dry her if she gets the idea."

[risesandthefalls]

He doesn't mock her for that, just nods his head.

"I'm alright, sweetheart," he says. "Been trying to work in a few things. Find some balance."

Never mind that she seems to throw that out.

[louise_abasi]

"You can come try yoga with me."

She watches his face. "I'm kidding. I'm too impatient for slow movements. I hope you find it. In a legal, save way."

[risesandthefalls]

"Yoga's not really my preferred method of staying flexible, sweetheart," he says. He lays one hand over his threadbare T-shirt, against his heart. "But I'll stay as close to legal as I can manage. For you."

[louise_abasi]

She didn't want to blush and she was glad she had kept her shades on. "Pretend I never offered it, then."

"Else the next time we see each other would be in my work place. If you're fast of course, I'm not returning to the job until next month."

[nealdouglas]

"Mmm, I know. I remember how much you liked me getting you wet," Neal replied with a wicked grin. His hands going to reach out and touch her, press low against her back before he remembers. Letting his hand fall away, he scratched beneath Osha's chin before draping his towel over his shoulder. "Just give her back to Lara or Levi wet, I'm sure they won't mind at all."

[louise_abasi]

She took a step back. `I´d really appreciate it if you would try to be less vulgar.`

"And Lara is away on business, Levi is taking care of h- you have a point. It would be a test of his patience."

[nealdouglas]

"Less vulgar? Oh, did you think I meant... no, I just meant when I used to splash you in the bath." Neal drawled. He didn't react when she moved backwards, trying to put as always distance between the two of them. It was like she didn't trust him- or herself. He was hoping for herself more than him. "Exactly. And a test of whether or not he truly loves my dearest Lara."