Neal Douglas

"Hey Scumbag, this is your father speaking again. You missed Thai Thursdays. Only three weeks in a row, look you know I love you but it might be nice to see your ugly mug once in a while." Neal drawled, cradling the phone between ear and shoulder as he opened the lid on the take out box. Grabbing a pair of noodles, he toed off socks and abandoned them by his kitchen before heading towards his sofa. "Okay, so I could just fill this voicemail with my voice. Just to wind you up but I'll be good. Love you kiddo."

Neal sighed, dropping onto the sofa as he ran a hand through his hair and stretched out. One son that ignored him, the other didn't know he existed. And Thai Thursdays all by himself. Again. Maybe he shouldn't have thrown away that Canadian model's number away, she could have used him for a green card all she liked. Or the intern earlier, what was her name Carrie or something. She was nice, she could've stayed except

Groaning as the buzzer rang, Neal got up and headed towards the door to answer it.

"I wasn't expecting a booty call this late..." Neal began before staring at the person on the other side of the door. "This isn't awkward at all."

"Hey Scumbag, this is your father speaking. So, it's half eleven and your two hours late so I'm taking it your not coming. Your sudden silence is duly appreciated, I love talking to your answer machine. It's the best way to communicate... so stay hydrated and don't forget if your going to play in the rain- wear a raincoat. Oh, now you're talking to me... I am not embarrassing." Walking along the boardwalk, Neal cradled the phone to his ear holding up a hand as he pointed and ordered a familiar Siren Cove delicacy. Sliding a couple couple of bills out of his wallet, he offered them before taking the cone of fried pickles along with him. "Do you have a girl there? Do you have a boy? You know you can tell me I love you no matter which way you want to swim in the stream. Yes, that was an awful salmon analogy I know."

Neal leaned against the railing, staring out at the water and making a face as he chewed on the crisp end of a fried pickle. Glancing down he half expected his kid to be there, looking up at him with those big, sad eyes. Reaching out he let his hand fall away at the memory of fine hair between his fingertips, his kid looked like his mother which was a blessing to him. He didn't think he'd ever twigged or ever realised why he ever took such an interest in his mother's affairs or more importantly in his.

"What? Oh, no just thinking. I do, do that occasionally you know. So, do you want to meet for lunch later this week?" Neal waited for his son's negative reply, one of the only good things he's ever done in this world and half the time he was sure Killian didn't want to be seen with him. He could hardly blame him, his mother was a smart and sensible woman unlike his dad- unlike Neal. One kid who didn't care if he existed and the other one who didn't know he existed. "No, I get it. You're busy. Okay, okay... so I'll see you soon. Yeah... love you... kiddo. And he hung up. Great."

Crunching on the pickles he sighed and brushed his fingertips against the railing, running a hand through his hair thoughtfully. How'd he manage to fuck up his life this much that his kid didn't even want to spend time with him on a Sunday?

"Fuck," Neal swore, looking at his pickles. Who the hell was he going to share these with now?


[OOC: Catch Neal out on the boardwalk or heading back towards town.]

"Triple, Venti, Half Sweet, Non-Fat, Caramel Macchiato." Neal drawled, draping himself at the counter with a smile. Watching the harassed looking barista glare at him and his ridiculous order, Neal turned his attention to the woman behind him before giving her a flirtatious smile and asking her name in a low voice. Just as the barista, slammed the syrup on the counter and began to pump it out Neal held up his hand. "Nah, just kidding. I'll have black coffee please, no syrup but I will have a pastry. That one."

Neal waited, like the asshole he was, until the barista picked up the pastry and piped up.

"Nah, that one." Neal smiled as the woman behind him laughed as he repeated again and again until. "No, I was fucking with you. I'll have the first one and whatever-" Neal waited for the woman to give him her name. "-Brandi is having. Brandi, really? Why is it that all the Brandi's I meet are such beautiful women? I've only met the one Brandi though so..."

Neal grinned as she laughed, hitting at his arm before he finally took his order and Brandi's, scrawling his number on her cup. He smiled, sliding his hand over her hip as she laughed and licked her lips before taking her drink and heading towards rest of the college cheerleaders. A cheerleader, young enough to be his kid- what would his ex-wife say? Wives. Probably roll their eyes or slap him or both. He waved at her and her friends before heading towards an empty table.

"Oh what a beautiful morning," Neal sang under his breath as the barista slammed down his apron and yelled that he quit before storming out. Apparently musicals were the last straw for poor, glaring barista. "Some people... don't know what is this morning."

It certainly wasn't him. He was... charming after all.



ooc: introducing my asshole new character Neal Douglas, come say hi.