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]

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.

[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?"