asharpertongue | Beach BBQ [Open]

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Beach BBQ [Open]

Levi's idea for a beach party had been a good one. After the past few weeks they both needed to blow off a little steam and Lara had taken to the idea like the proverbial siren to water, inviting all her employees and friends. Levi had put the word out at the police station and among his closer friends so between them a decent crowd was forming.

The tables lining the beach were piled high with food and drink, a DJ was already in full swing and people were drifting over to the large bonfire for warmth as the chill started to cut through the summer evening. A few of the Heart of Gold employees had brought their kids along for the festivities and a friend of Lara's was performing little glamours and tricks to keep them entertained. Large clusters of huge pillows were dotted about the beach just a little way from Levi's house and lanterns and firelight bathed the whole area in a warm glow.

Maybe Lara had taken it a little far but she liked to treat her friends and everyone could use a little R&R.

OOC: Levi and Lara's friends have been officially invited, but everyone else feel free to wander in at your leisure~.

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"Uh..." Seriously? Essie blinked a few times, looking at both the guy and the drink in hand before giving what she hoped was a kind enough smile not to put him completely off. "No thanks, but that's very kind." Accepting drinks she didn't see poured from people she'd never met is somewhat of a big no-no in Essie's books. She could take some risks, but that wasn't ever going to be one of them. It was the adult version of not taking candy from strangers or going on rides with the guy in the white van.

But then she was sort of here to meet new people so turning him completely down was probably not the best idea. "But you can have a seat if you like. Blanket's big enough."

"Seriously." He empties one glass in the sand and the other in his throat.

"Are you sure about the blanket? I'm a dangerous stranger, possible. Who knows what I'll do to that blanket."

He joked about that, but all of Essie's paranoia told her it was legit. Just because she felt like this town was cool, she knew it had it's darker side. Every place did and in a place full of witches face value wasn't anything she could trust ever. Even if she wanted to. But she was determined to enjoy tonight and trust that no one invited by Levi or his girlfriend would be that horrible. Or if they were, they wouldn't be so stupid as to try anything at this kind of event.

"Eh, blanket's not mine. I call it expendable, or the perk of hotel living or something. I think it'll survive though."

"Are you okay?" He takes a step back, just a bit confused about how fast he's losing himself. "Because I can leave you alone. And get the detective, if you really need that."

"No, seriously, you're fine. I'm just in a... really weird mood tonight I guess." Which was the truth, mostly. She was caught in this weird place where she didn't know if she was staying or going, trusting or not trusting and she knew she was probably blowing everything way out of proportion but at the same time she couldn't stop. Usually she was better at hiding it, but apparently not tonight.

"I didn't mean to take it out on you. Honestly. You can sit if you want, or run away from the crazy paranoia-princess, I would not be surprised if you did. I'm also totally spacing on your name, have we met? I feel like I've met half the town in the last couple weeks and it's all a big blur that I have been hopeless at remembering." That was a little better, she reasoned, although she really wouldn't be surprised if he just up and bailed. She was just doing a FABULOUS job of things right now.

"Hey, I've been a mess with everyone and everything for the past month. We can blame ourselves and each other. And I don't want to get the detective anyway, means I'll have to show myself to his girlfriend and I'm pretty sure she doesn't like me."

Bach sits down, making sure there's a bit of space between them. "You're from the big city, not trusting strangers like that? Because you don't have to worry here, everyone's a fucking peach if you manage to fit in. We didn't meet before, space on my name all you want."

Edited 2014-07-10 21:17 (UTC)

That sounded like an interesting story. One that she knew she had no right to pry into. And yet she wanted to. Really wanted to because issues with the girlfriend probably meant some kind of issues with Levi and issues with Levi were issues with family and that just-

She really needed to stop. Maybe she should have taken the drink.

"Not so much from from the big city, just, exceedingly paranoid." Having members of your family that wanted you dead kinda did that to a girl she wanted to say. But didn't. "And not always good at fitting in. I'm Essie, by the way. Essie Wakewood." She'd yet to come across anyone who knew the name and for that she was grateful. Not that there had been any of her family in Siren Cove for a couple of centuries, but it was still a possibility and a fear. She had no idea what the town records would say and she knew that some memories were much longer than others.

"Bach. Short for Nebuchadnezzar."

"Nice to meet you, Essie Wakewood. The detective's side, Quinn's side or here for the beach and just confused about all these people here?"

"Wow, and I though Desdemona was an epic name to be stuck with, your parents weren't messing around, were they?" She was a little impressed. As much as she hated her name, she kind of had to hand it to her folks for just going for it. Whatever it was they were going for. Ditto this guy's parents.

Looking around she spotted Levi in the crowd and hooked a thumb in his direction, "Levi's side. I'm in town visiting." Or house-hunting. She hadn't decided which yet. "And yet still confused by all of these people. I guess Levi's girlfriend is kind of a big deal or something? Or Levi totally downplayed his job and he's an action-hero superstar instead of just a detective."

"My mother had pretty big plans about my future, I guess. No clue about what my father thought."

Bach nodded. "She's uh ..yeah. Owns the one decent bar here. Knows everyone. Gives a mean slap to the face. I only know the detective because he took a hysterical woman from my hands. And because he was banged up a bit ago. But not a bad guy, I think. Can I say that or are you going to knife me in the gut?"

"No knifing, you actually probably know more about Levi than I do, I just met the guy a couple weeks ago." Which she figured merited a little more explanation. Although what little he'd just said was... interesting. Lara sounded like she didn't take much crap from anyone. Wonder what she thought about Levi having a mystery relative showing up out of nowhere?

"His part of the family and mine haven't exactly been in contact the last few decades. I was kind of a total surprise to him and vice versa."

"Oh. Oh. But a nice one? I don't have any family around as far as I know, so someone just showing up would be a special experience."

He gives her a crooked grin. "Are you here for his powers and riches?"

"Yeah, a nice one. I don't meet much nice family." She didn't want to let on how nice because she was a firm believer in jinxing things. Or, not, as the case may be. Levi was nice. And pretty honest from what she'd seen. And not at all like the pack of jackals that were the rest of her family, at least those few she'd met. The rest she knew from reputation.

"But I don't need his powers and riches. I have my own." She hadn't actually done the math, but she thought she might actually have a bigger net worth than he did. Her father and grandfather may have been bastards of the first order, magic-ing their way into Silicon Valley royalty, but she was the one that was getting to reap the benefits.

"Than you're one of the lucky few. On all three accounts."

"Family, power, riches." Bach toys with his glass. "You'll fit right in here. Lots of old families in old big houses, as far as I've gleaned. You can be the first Wakewood back here, or something fancy."

"Oh, man, if the locals think all Wakewoods are like me, they are in for one hell of a surprise if the others show up." Not that she thought they would. Even centuries later, the treatment they'd received still stung the witchy part of the family. Even Grandy had a hard time hiding his disdain when he'd told her about the Cove. There was a reason they'd abandoned the town, put it in the 18th century equivalent of the rear-view and never looked back.

"I don't want to found any dynasties. I just want..." What did she want, really? It was a question she knew she wouldn't be answering soon. "I just want to chill out for awhile. Meet some new people."

"You can do that everywhere. But maybe here isn't so bad."

"Here is .. I hope you can make your own place here, Essie. I think that's something important for everyone. To have a place they can fall back on, find comfort in. This was probably not something you expected from the stranger offering alcohol."

"Not so much. You're quite the welcome wagon, dude. I'm impressed. And a little ashamed at the cold shoulder-ish brush off earlier." People, so far as she'd seen, were usually nice to strangers. She'd traveled all over the world and seen all kinds of welcomes, but for some reason she just hadn't expected this one to be nice. Maybe it was her nerves about meeting Levi. Maybe it was just being back in the states, even if it was on the opposite coast from home. Maybe it was what she knew about Siren Cove history. But whatever it was, each act of kindness charmed her and was one more reason she should stay.

"Hmm.." He tapped his mouth. "It's okay. Maybe it's something I carry with me, lately. Sent a girl into hysterics when I wanted to comfort her. So it's probably just me. But good to know I haven't lost all possibilities of being social. That would have hurt."

"Trust me, it was all me, dude. I'm prone to paranoia." She wished to hell she wasn't, but there it was. "You can even get me that drink now if you're interested."

A little flirty, maybe, but Essie wanted to keep things as light as possible. Everything needed to be light these days, she just didn't want this place to get heavy, especially since she was thinking of moving here longer-term.

"That's sad, but I guess we all have things we're not particularly happy with." He gets up.

"Anything special? I don't feel like you want to be surprised, at least when it comes to drinks."

"Um, how about something margarita-ish? We are on a beach after all." And it was something mixed so it would have a lower alcohol content that she could milk over a longer period. She liked to drink, and wasn't opposed to getting a little blitzed, but she liked to have more control over the circumstances than she did at the moment.

Stretching out her legs she leaned back onto the sand, making herself comfortable while a handsome man fetched her a drink.

"Something margarita-ish. Right away, ma'am."

Bach decided against giving her three options and simply returned with a classic Margarita, even pulling out the little umbrella (too childish) before sitting down.

"This is an one hundred percent Margarita, if you don't mind. Enjoy."

"Sweet." Sitting back up, she took the drink with a smile. It was nice, hanging out on the beach and chatting up a new person. It felt normal. She had a distinct lack of normal in her life.

Which considering the general abnormality of this place made the feeling even stranger.

She took a sip and grinned even wider, "This one hundred percent margarita, is one hundred percent awesome. Thank you very much, Bach."

"This place does know how to do its alcohol, definitely. Did you see the bottles they have? All this fancy stuff with big name brands. And not in the way that they stole stickers and glued them on the home brand bottle."

He waves it away. "That doesn't make sense. Good that you like it, Essie."

"I dunno, this whole thing strikes me as the go big or go home method of partying. Big brands would be my choice if I were doing something like this." Not that she'd ever done anything like this. Sure, she'd buy a round for the house now and again, buy up a pretty face's tab at the end of a night when she picked them up for some sex but nothing like this. It was elaborate to be sure.

Maybe now she could do something like this. If she stayed, that was.

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