Boardwalk [OPEN]

[nealdouglas]

"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.]

Comments

[danibradshaw]

"That's disgusting. I can smell you from across the pier."

Dani had to clear her head. She'd been working night and day on the next issue of The Cove when she decided she'd had enough of Siren Cove's who's and what's. Besides, it looked like a beautiful Sunday and she needed a little sun.

She had just grabbed an ice cream cone when she heard the familiar voice of one Neal Douglas. It's hard to miss him, really--his loud voice obviously talking to his son, his presence, and well, the fried pickles. Dani slinks up beside him, leaning onto the railing of the pier as she takes a few licks of her chocolate ice cream.

"Disappointing Sunday?"

[lesparker]

His building had undeniable perks. More space. Good kitchen. Comfy bed now that the furniture was where it needed to be. Great view of the docks and importantly the boardwalk. The only downside he'd found so far is the smell, the smell of grease and sugar and popcorn wafting in when the breeze blew in the right way. Each time it made his stomach rumble with hunger and good memories becuase there's nothing like food from the grease-covered booths down on the boardwalk.

It's just a short walk down to the booth from his building, where they sold corn dogs and fried pickles and sweet lemonade. The pickles here are even better than Quill, and Les orders a cone and a lemonade, and he walks down to a bench near the end of the dock, takes his place and his lemonade.

Obviously this place is good for Les. It reminds him of Corry and his mother, mostly, and as he doesn't come down here nearly enough for lots of reasons. But today it's pretty nice.

[louise_abasi]

Louise was surprised that there was anyone left she hadn't met after her return to town, but of course it was the Nancy Drew of Siren Cove that had thwarted her ideas.

Dani had probably been too busy with anything to check in with her, anyway. She was always running.

And maybe she was right now, so Lou just lifted a hand in greeting.

[nealdouglas]

Chewing through the crisped fried batter, Neal spotted the familiar mess of unruly hair and headed towards him. The knot of guilt easing a little at the sight of Les, draped across one of the benches. He should've done more for him, he should've done something else but keep him from social services.

Reaching out to brush his hair, like he used to, Neal hesitated before pushing his hand into his pocket.

"Hey kiddo," Neal drawled, falling into the seat beside him on the bench. "Great minds, think alike. How's business?"

[nealdouglas]

"How dare you, these are a delicacy you know." Neal drawled, returning his phone to his pocket. Neal smiled at her question, wondering if she was asking as a friend/client or asking as a journalist. Neal considered dipping the fried pickle into her ice cream just to piss her off. "You know how it is with kids these days, always too busy to meet their old folks. But not so disappointing now you're here."

[danibradshaw]

Dani isn't going to let Lou Abasi just wave a hand and get away like that. She tips her hat back, taking another lick of her ice cream. "Hey, wait a minute. Do I know you?" It's a half attempt at a joke since Dani does feel guilty about the fact she didn't reach out to Lou.

[danibradshaw]

"A delicacy that should be banned." She rolls her eyes. Very Neal. "Hold onto that thought, I have a way of disappointing company in a matter of minutes."

[bachjones]

With his guitar on his back, Bach crossed the boardwalk a few times before he found someone willing to buy him some food.

The woman had - with some regret - said that she had to go to work, so Bach was now working his way through churros and waffles by himself. Which he didn't mind, especially because the combination was surprisingly nice. He should only have asked for a drink as well, because this stuff was sweet.

[lesparker]

Neal Douglas is one of those vague people in Les' life. Someone he only remembers exists when confronted with the high-profile, fast-talking lawyer. Maybe it's because of the memories Neal dredges up about those weeks after his mom died when decisions had to be made that Les was clueless about completely. By association Neal gets put in the box of Things Les Doesn't Like to Think About, unfair or not.

But the man had always been nice when Les didn't think he really needed to be.

He watches Neal sit down with his own pickles, and he shrugs. "Can't complain. I guess." Actually Les' life all things considered is good at the moment. "Especially not right now," he says, stuffing a pickle in his mouth.

[louise_abasi]

Louise knows it's a joke, but it still makes her freeze up.

"That's stone cold, even for a horrible gossip hound like Dani Bradshaw." She shakes it off and gives her a fragile smile. "I don't even know myself, so probably not."

[danibradshaw]

"Sorry. Sorry. That was low, even for me." She crosses her arms as a natural defense, even though Dani knows she crossed a line. "How are you?"

[louise_abasi]

"I'm glad you picked up on that."

Louise knows that everyone is allowed a mistake, but she knows how smart Dani really is and somehow that makes every crude comment hurt a little more. 'You should know better' was a serious issue.

"Slightly nauseous because of all these pickles around. Don't you dare turn that into Abasi Finally Knocked-Up, by the way."

[danibradshaw]

"Not interested in that story since I completely agree. I don't know what the deal is with Neal and his fried pickles." She drops her arms and her wall, just temporarily and only because it's Lou.

"I'm off today. Completely. Nothing printed and I really am sorry about everything."

[louise_abasi]

She scrunches up her nose before deciding to go the 'just colleagues' road. "He's a special fella, just keep it at that."

"Forget about it. Unless you were part of the people that thinks it's great fun to keep women locked up, I don't think you can be blamed for a lot of things. How is the writing coming along? Did I miss anything grand?"

[danibradshaw]

"Do you have anyone looking into that? The police?" She doesn't really want to press, but this definitely seems like something that should be under investigation. Dani waves a hand. "First issue in awhile will be out next week. And honestly it's the usual for Siren Cove, you know. Who's been seen with who. The auction definitely turned a few heads in the press."

[louise_abasi]

"People have been alerted and I have tried to help where I could, yes. My parents try to keep me away from it though, and I don't really mind them doing so."

She nods. "I'd like to put it on the record that I'm not breaking my best friend's heart by stealing her boyfriend, I know better than to cross a siren."

[danibradshaw]

She makes a note to check into that. Maybe see who's been assigned the case and if they're even confident enough for it. "Good. That's good then."

Dani smiles. "I think Levi Astor is one of the few in Siren Cove to not grace The Cove's pages yet. Your platonic event date is safe."

[louise_abasi]

".. he isn't? Because he can raise hell or because he - oooh." She gives her a conspiring wink. "He's your main source?"

[danibradshaw]

Dani laughs at that, truly, which she hasn't done in over a week, her head in the sand of gossip and scandal. "Right, he's my snitch. You caught us both, Lou."

[louise_abasi]

"Ha! I'm hurt and disappointed by the both of you, I thought my college secrets and seventeen tattoos were safe with him."

She grins. "I just wonder how the two of you communicate in public without anyone seeing. The size difference, I mean."

[danibradshaw]

"Those are the ones you have to be suspicious of. The ones that are easy to trust," she tsks.

"Hey, is that a short joke? I make him kneel when he speaks to me."

[louise_abasi]

"It was a comment about how vertically challenged you are. Definitely not a joke. But I do enjoy that picture."

She sighs in despair. "I should probably just give up on trusting any man."

[danibradshaw]

"Vertically challenged, mmhmm."

Dani waves a hand. "Did that years ago and it's been the best decision of my life."

[louise_abasi]

"I'm sorry you didn't deserve that, as one of your kind. I just started wearing heels earlier."

She blows her a kiss. "How will I fill the loneliness?"

[aoife_coombs]

Life was lighter right now. Thomas was back, Moira was off Aoife's mind and then there was silliness and kisses with Isaiah. Of course she could come up with plenty of things that would go wrong, but right now, she refused to.

Enjoying an outrageously big ice cream cone was easier anyway.