Spring, And A Young Man's Fancy

[rassafraggin]

IC Time: Apr 26, 2523 - 09:44:44

A mild morning on the glorious shoreline means there is a good enough chance to procuring a bit of white beach for one's own party, the gaps between blankets and pickanick baskets and romantically sand-traced names still comfortably wide. The gentle waves ripple with golden sparks of light, boasting the sheer breadth of the sea.

Dale looks pretty smug as he wanders down the boardwalk. His home turf, he's got a whole lot going for him, so why shouldn't he make the most of a good situation? He knows people, a few folk look surprised to see him he's been gone so long, but nevertheless he gets friendly waves as he speaks into his com. "Ivy, Zander. I don't see yeh. Make some noise, dangit." Dale adds, "Not that kind of noise."

Dale tests his Spot against a 50 difficulty. The result is unsuccessful (-3).

Carrying her shoes in her right hand and her doctor's bag and piccolo case in her left, Ivy pads over the white sands of the beach. It's a beautiful morning. It's crowded like normal, but it's home. She lifts her hand and waves crazy like with those high heeled shoes trying to get someone's attention. "We're on the beach, Dale. Did you bring your guitar?"

Vondye has already secured his own corner of that white beach, close to the shoreline. Dressed in guady bermuda shorts and an hawaiian shirt that could blind most folk, his shoes are beside him, the tide lapping at his feet as he looks out across the water. He doesn't appear to be paying attention to any of the other beach goers, though his mouth moves as if he were talking to someone. Every so often he takes a gulp from the flask he holds in his hand, resuming his silent conversation with himself as soon as the mouthpiece is pulled away.

Zander has his coat slung over one arm and his boots in another. He's even gone as far as rolling up the legs of his trousers to get a little extra sun. "Ever been here before?" He asks Persi before asking Ivy, "How come it always takes us so long to come back?"

Dale naturally does have his guitar slung over his shoulders where he normally carries it. "Course, I do. I'd be an idiot to come home without it." He snorts into the com." The man looks up and down the beach but can't seem to find his friends. "Alright, can you see me? Did I hear your message right when you said Zander's Ma was hosting a Clambake?" He looks incredulous and a tiny bit worried as he pauses a moment to let his boots sink into the sand an inch. 'Might be time to take off your boots and enjoy the good life' says one voice in his head. The other voice argues 'You're a spacer now, yeh sleep in your boots. Folk'll think yeh went soft'. It's like a conversation between the angel and the devil inside.

Lee is the one of the solo figures leaving a trail of damp prints by the tideline as he ambles a length of the beach, his hair and undone shirt all breeze-stirred and twitching. Trousers rolled up to his shins, and going barefoot, he is for once not lugging around luggage, instruments, or even the missing articles of clothing. Instead, a mere bone-white disc that might be a clam shell, or a sand dollar, or, and this is more likely, a weird-ass alien sandclamshelldollar, occupies the fingers of one dangling hand, flipped dexterously in and out of hiding in his palm, and sometimes tossed like a deadly sawtoothed little frisbee straight up into the air. Looking ahead of himself, he can see people. People like Ivy, whom he regards lengthily. People like Vondye, whom he can't regard for long without starting to feel a bit embarrassed on his behalf.

Zander yanks his own commpiece out of his ear, having long turned the thing off. He smiles at Ivy, "I wonder who that was with though." He looks around the beach and digs his toes into the sand, letting the sun warm him through. "Wasn't the beach for me," he tells Ivy, "Was at the carnivale."

Ivy mutters something to Zander and points down the beach at some for away distance before spinning in the sand and looking. Looking. Or maybe she's just playing some funny game. It's the beach and it's busy...busy..busy. It be hard to pitch her voice to carry to her brother and it might be hard for him to locate on it because of the wind. But she doesn't think of that for long. As the wind tosses her long hair and she continues to wildly wave those impractical pumps in the air (Dale's certain to spot them, right?), she calls out in her best trained voice: "Over here DALE KANE LAMBSEY!" Gawd, maybe she's in tune.

Ivy tests her Entertain against a 60 difficulty. The result is unsuccessful (-7).
Dale tests his Listen against a 50 difficulty. The result is unsuccessful (-18).
Ivy tests her Spot against a 50 difficulty. The result is successful (34).
Vondye tests his Thrown_Weapon against a 75 difficulty. The result is unsuccessful (-36).

From his pocket, Von removes an oaty bar and unwraps it. Holding it under his nose, he sniffs at it, then turns it over in his hands a couple of times. Finally he starts nibbling on an end like a rodent would. He's eaten half when a seagull swoops down and snatches it with dexterous webbed feet. "Givit back, ya gorram rat with feathers!" Jumping up, he shouts a string of expletives at it, then bends down and snatches up a good sized shell. Winding his arm back, he aims at the flying thief, whose already wolfed the food down and is sqawking triumphantly. The rock flys through the air in a wobbling barrel roll, missing the bird entirely and falling down to the ocean with a plop.

Dale listens to very firm directions spoken into the icom by his sister Ivy. He walks thirty paces forward, turns a sharp right, glances but does not linger on the lady in the pink and purple taffeta. Who wears purple taffeta to the beach anyway? He starts walking forward another hundred paces into the beach to look for Zander and Ivy. He just might bump into them hes concentrating so hard. It's the shrill voice that stops him. "My Stars, what in heavan's sweet hell did you do to your tuff, tuff hair?!? Boy?! Dale Kane Lambsey, I ought to box your ears!"
Dale crings visibly. "Oh no..." he forgot to wash the dye out.

Zander seems vaguely amused by something Ivy tells him and then he hears someone crying out Dale's name. He turns and looks in the direction that Ivy had been and smirks. "This could be fun. I wonder what he's going to ... is that my Mom?"

You test your Dodge against a 50 difficulty. The result is successful (10).

Lee's reluctance to come up alongside the garish display that is Vondye is overcome just in time to catch the show. His eyes follow the reverse parabola of the crafty bird, at first astonished, then amused by the sheer cheek of it all. Then he's very nearly brained by Vondye's arm as it cocks back with a fist full of seashell. A timely feint saves him the headache, however - recovering his smile more cautiously, he sidesteps away to watch the shell's ill-fated flight, and shades his eyes with his own beachcomber prize. "S'a good thing ya didn't have your machinepistol on ya," he remarks keenly from his spot beyond the other man's shoulder. A considering glance upwards at the weird sand dollar thing causes him to more hastily drop his arm and hide the thing behind his back. Just in case Vondye's still looking for ammo.

Ivy nods struck dumb at the sight of Zander's mama in the crowd. She looks like she had something to say but whatever it was has quickly disappeared. She does give Zander a look that might in a moment of panic scream HIDE but she damn, Dale is coming right toward them and Mrs. Drake is following along behind Dale.

The older womans voice continues to ring out as she follows Dale, "If I had only had the good sense to invoke the demons of hell on you, boy! Maybe a few of them could have kept you out of such mischief. Did you lose a bet?"

With a final sqawk, the bird flaps off, leaving a rather pissed off Von yelling at the sky. His rant gets rather creative with the expletives, drawing appalled looks from some nearby touristy ocean swimmers. It's not until Lee speaks from behind him that Von stops rambling and turns around. Still scowling, he eyes the boy before beginning to curb his temper. "I coulda brained the ruttin' beast. Don't need no fancy weapons ta do it. The sun was in my eyes, is all." Picking up his flask from the sand, he opens it and chugs. "So, ya bummin' today, songbird?" Von wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, gesturing to Lee's lack of baggage. "Good weather for it. And nuttin' beats a lazy day on a 'quin beach."

Dale reaches over to help her carry the cooler before she strains herself and her lungs. "No, Ma Drake," he mutters, "It was just easier to get work this way." he tries to explain as they move towards Zander and Ivy. "Is everyone coming down today?" he tries desperately to veer her off topic. Instead Mrs Drake takes complete command of the situation.

"Yes, they will be. But never you mind that, you'd best let me look at your face boy. Hold on now." Mrs Drake makes him put the the cooler so she can study him. "Well, at least I can thank gawd there ain't no eyeliner which means Santos owes me fifty credits. He was certain you'd turn out the other way." she laughs richly and thumps him on the shoulder. "What are you doing, make yourself useful." She indicates the cooler he'd just put down.

"Nothin' like an explodin' gull to liven up a breath-takin'ly peaceful settin' such as this," Lee continues the thought, but facetiously, since anyone with working ears ought to be aware of all the shouting, cursing, and nagging going on 'round these parts. The brochures, they lied! The boy watches Vondye evenly, having borne the man's lingering wrath without too much discomfort, perhaps by being well used to it. He tips his head a little, taking the rest of the comments as rhetorical, and ventures his own remarks, "But wait. That's right - you don't hurt animals. Lemme guess. Yer charmin' friend the ring-tailed monkey convinced ya to get in the spirit of th'Circus?" He looks Vondye up and down, pointedly.

Zander looks around for a place to hide as well. He thinks about tossing his jacket over his own head, protection from the sun and Mama Drake's gaze. "What we gonna do? We gotta run!" He looks for the easiest escape route.

A small woman to be sure, but Ivy acts as if she doesn't hear Zander and she launches herself as if she were trying to bridge time and space at Zander...erm, no, at Zander's mama. "You're here. I didn't think you'd get the message. It was a last minute decision to come." What can you do except wait for the women to get done with the hugging and crying. At least she's distracted Ms. Drake from Dale and his hair. For a minute or two.

Dale shoots Zander a look that means they're going to have a *talk* later. He tosses him a credstick, "Here's your share from the uh, business a few days back." he doesn't elaborate on what business that he's talking about. The cryin' and hugging will go on for a bit when the rest of the family shows up he's sure. He just hopes that his father isn't in town. He steps over towards Ivy and Zander so that Zander gets to deal with a flood of questions from his mother. Dale mutters something to Ivy.

"Nice as a lazy day is, beach was startin' to git dull. None of the broads were bitin', ya see. L'il violence woulda livin'd the place up." With a grin, Von walks a foot or two, so that the water comes up just below his knees. "Ah, can't blame me for that incident. Tossin' a defenseless monkey ta ruttin' rabid, rampagin', blood thirsty hounds hardly seemed justifiable. And I took care of things, no problem." Another gull- perhaps the same one- lets out a cry as it descends to a rock jutting out from beneath the water. It eyes von with empty, glittering eyes. Von glares back at. "Shoo, git oughta here." Von looks over his shoulder at Lee. "I hate these flyin' trash disposals."

"....." Zander grins broadly and holds out his arms for his mother, timing it right so that when Ivy and Mama Drake let go of one another, it's his turn for hugs. He gets asked a hundred things at once and tries to answer as best he can. "........................................................................."

An unbidden smile presses through Lee's expression at that. "But they like you. Can't be that you're an easy mark..? Or maybe... what was that thing you were eatin' anyway..?" The question trails a bit, but appearing to repent such an implication, whether caught on or not, the lad then quickly wonders, "Y'still hungry, General? I think I saw a stand with a bread steamer up the boardwalk a ways. I can go'n' get some. Reckon they use /real pig/ here too." Lee shoves his hands into his hip pockets, sand dollar and all, and blinks appealingly at Von. What's all this then. The urge to feed the guy some real cooked food seems to be resurfacing in Lee.

Ivy falls on her ass in the sand after letting go of Zander's mama, maybe she timed it that way, maybe she wants to be there. She drops her shoes and her bags and pulls her knees up toward her waist, she's flashing a great deal of leg but so is every woman there (what are beaches for if not revealing a little flesh)--even that lady in the way back wearing pink and purple taffeta. She looks down at her bare legs and frowns. Yes she has something, she's digging in her medical bag and pulls out what appears to be a sunblock of some type. All the while she's got a crick in her neck from watching Zander talk to his mother. "Why does my name come up three times?"

Dale takes a step back from the whole thing, it's always fun to be home, mostly. "I'd better go see what else needs to be brought out from the house, Mrs. Drake." He gives Zander a pat on the back. "You hold down the fort here man, maybe one of your cousins remembers me." he winks, then adds, "The female ones." quickly as he heads off. "I'll be back."

Vondye tests his Agility against a 75 difficulty. The result is successful (37).

Vondye creeps up on the gull, getting closer. It keeps his gaze on him, turning its head as he approaches. He pounces, grabbing it and catching hold. Immeadiately it struggles, flapping and shrieking. "Gotcha, ya harpy bird!" The sharp bill pecks at Von, the whole while Von laughing with evil glee. But suddenly the bird breaks the hold. Von gets a face full of sharp beak and madly flapping wings before he bats it away and it flies off with a croak. "Ha, that'll teach ya ta mess with the General!" It takes several moments for him to regain his composure, grin still plastered on his lightly scratched face. The mention of food eventally makes him look back at Lee. "If ya offerin', I ain't inclined to say no. Besides, 'aven't had a decent meal in days, just packs ah gorram noodles. Ta ma duh, ah miss 'avin a proper cook." Von doesn't elaborate if he's referring to Lee's cooking, or his old crew's. Stepping out of the water, Von unbuttons and shrugs out of his shirt, once again blinding nearby beach goers. Screams of horror don't quite erupt, but they may as well have. He uses the shirt to wipe his legs dry. "I got creds, if ya can't afford to spare."

Zander tries to answer Ivy's question but his mother is all over him for another few minutes. Finally he breaks free and kisses his mother's cheek. "Look, let me and Ivy go and help Dale, okay? We'll be back soon and we're staying for a day or two, so we can all catch up with you and Uncle Santos." He holds out his hand to Ivy, "Coming?" Mama Drake shakes a finger at Zander, "You best not be skipping out on me, Zander Drake. I'll expect you back here within the hour." Zander sighs, "Yes Mom."

Ivy jumps up to her feet, curses foiled again. The sunblock stays in her right hand and she leans down to retrieve her medical bag but leaves her piccolo case with Mrs. Drake (insurance). "He won't disappear again so fast, he promised to take me to the carnival." Ivy calls to the other woman before move to Zander's side. "You're afraid that Dale's going to run right into cousin Tim and not recognize him in his skirts and veils? Really, Pa had the talk to him about boys who like to play dress up and not just for theater roles. Tim makes a really pretty woman though.." Whatever protests Mrs. Drake might be forming, Zander and Ivy seem to be prepared to leave 'em behind for a short time.

Zander waves to his Mom before dragging Ivy away quickly, "Hey it's a valid lifestyle choice." He waves again to his Mom and then dashes away.

"Uh. What're ya doin'?" Lee starts to ask, right when Vondye assaults the poor creature. "...Chareest..." he mutters, staying where he is at first, then moving haltingly into the surf when it looks like the triumphant hunter is in danger of having his eyes plucked from their sockets. Luckily, he doesn't have to employ his own meager skills at bird wrangling, when the situation sorts itself out. Trying to disregard the pecks and scratches that might start beading alarmingly with blood, Lee eyes the squid tattoo with a passing curiosity, but looks away soon enough as though he's seen it before already. "Food's on ya?" he muses easily. "Sure, why not - Sorta lost a small bundle playin' Pontoon on Ezra couple weeks back. All for the sake of charity. The poor orphans." That said with a grim, ironic little smile.

Vondye wrings the shirt dry and wipes his face with it before throwing it over one shoulder. Whatever wounds he had were shallow, and don't seem to bother him at all. "So ya went ta the charitable Ezra thing after all, eh? I was thinkin' of goin' to contribute for the li'l orphans myself, but ah bottle of Bourbon and a pair of twins got in the way of my flight plans." Von lets out a deep laugh, and pushes his feet into his boots. "Needless to say, when I got done, was a bit late to take the Yunn that way. Wouldn't have made it. So, want to point the way to this fine establishment? Real meat stuff is soundin' more finer by the minute." Von pats his bare belly.

Lee has gone back to watching Von, this time with more fascination. "Twins.." he utters in pure bemusement, while starting off across the shifting sands, bound for the staircase leading up to the boardwalk. "That's... unbelievable. Uh," he hastily amends, "not that I don't believe that you-.. Just I ain't never seen the Von Dyetrich Girl-Magnet Charm in action. Ever." He starts to smile mockingly, then quiets a bit to think it over. Something appears to change his mind on the matter, as he more quietly mentions, "'Lise an' me are outs. Again. Figure I must be doin' somethin' all wrong with'er." He then pauses, sets his jaw, and awaits the jeers and jabs that are rightfully his.

Vondye follows, having grabbed his flask on the way and taking long draws from it. Charm. Who said anythin' 'bout charm. Ya don't need it when ya got the creds." Von nods as if issuing important advice. "Tha's all the broads are in'rested in these days anyway. The size ah ya wallet, and how deep ya pant's pockets are. Though, that's probably just the type of women I attract." Von doesn't make the appropriate jeering, surprisingly. He actually looks thoughtful. Which had the potetial to be worse. "Gorram, ah'm startin' to think ya ain't never..." Von drops off, deciding against that train of conversation. "Er, ya know, mebbe ya should take 'er on a date or somethin.' Ya even been actin' interested in 'er or what?"

Lee offers a distasteful frown and lets loose a pained sigh during the first bits of wisdom. Is he really doing this? Asking a lecherous boozehound for advice about girls? The fact that the man comes up with a couple helpful comments before he can even get around to asking, about stuns Lee, and he takes the steps up to the raised system of wide wood planks in silence. "I... yeah?" he mutters presently. "It's her that's all confusin' and flighty. She asked me over t'Ezra for that fancy-pants event where dates with all manner of folk were bein' auctioned for the orphan's charity - then flipped her wig at me for bein' a little interested in biddin'. That's... crazy. She's crazy. Like I had a thousand creds to be serious over it. Don't even know where she is, anymore." The rush of information ends with a moody zipping of lip, and a vague nod towards the hot steamed Nikuman stall up ahead.

Vondye's footsteps ae slow and languid, and this time he does grin, turning it towards Lee. "Ah, boy. That one's simple. She ain't asked ya over to Ezra to..." Von pauses a moment. "Jien tah duh guay, did ya just say ya were /biddin'/? On...folk?" Von's eyebrows shoot up into his hairline. "Eh, guess it don't matter none, really, cos the girl ain't crazy. She obviously saw it as a grave offense. Word of advice. Girl asks ya out somewhere, don't go biddin' on other folks. That advice ah keep ya alive." Von let's his attention get drawn to the food, but not before something else else occurs to him. "Hey, wasn't that auction for peddlin' men?" Von seems thoroughly confused. But food! Eating takes top priority and he pulls out some creds.

"Nah, equal 'mounts, men and lady folk," Lee corrects, with a quick glower. "An' I was just gonna bid t'get the money ball rollin', wouldn've /won/ anyone, fer fuck's sake. An' definitely not /her/.." He glances over the side of the boardwalk rails to where they'd been standing around near the surf, but Ivy's long gone. Pacing around agitatedly behind Von in the short line-up before the stand, he continues, "Er, whoever it were. Hell with it, anyway. I'm the wrong'un, then. Best just go'n wave a fancy-wordy 'pology to'er, right? 'Cause she sure ain't wavin' me, right? Right. Thanks for your support, General. I'll say hey fer ya." Rassa-fraggin-raggin-.. and so forth. With a young head full of steam, Lee's pacing becomes an abrupt departure from the area, heading for one of the public wave terminals stationed at the sloping entrance to the beach.

Vondye looks over to where Lee glances, not seeing anyhing and not knowing who he was referring to. He taps his foot impatiently. "Don't forget to grovel for forgiveness a l'il," Von suggests for the wave. "They like that. Trust me." With Lee having gone off, Von is left waving to him. "And hey, ya know, make mention that m'always up for a good time if she's done wit your arse." Von laughs out loud. Well, he had to make some jab, right?