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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"If you'd allow it, that would change soon enough. And not just because people are noisy and you're nice to look at. It's just how it goes, as soon as you're part of a group of anything." Bach shrugged. "I never worked hard for it and somehow still always landed in the center o-" He laughed. "Okay, talking about different things here."

"Why?"

"Why am I staying sober or why doesn't anyone know me?" She couldn't figure which statement she'd made he was asking about although both had related answers. Answers she wasn't the keenest to talk about. What would she say? The truth, that her own family was so fractured and divisive that they might actually attack her if they knew where she was? Or that because of her family she was hesitant to get to know, or be known by anyone? Or did she just lie, which she really didn't want to do because she'd just met the guy.

"Maybe both? If you want to share?"

"I mean, I won't offer you alcohol again if you're an addict. I won't stick around if you have a hobby of murdering strangers or something. He winks. "Just like that."

"I like staying in control of myself and I don't stay in any one place too long. Pretty simple, actually. Nothing too dramatic." Except for maybe the reasons for her control and wanderlust. Sure, it was nice running around the world, but doing it to avoid one's family wasn't the best. Staying in control was practical, but nerve-wracking when it's because one didn't trust any of the people one was drinking with.

"Okay, okay. Fair enough. I've only been in control of myself for the past five years, so I'm still getting used to the idea of being solely responsible for the who, what and where."

That was a bit more personal than he had planned. "Just saying, whatever you reason you have. It's okay."

Essie didn't really judge anyone, or at least she tried not to. Sometimes she was more successful than others, but nothing Bach was saying ran up any serious red flags for her. Although the issue of control was somewhat concerning. He was drinking so she didn't think addiction had been his problem, but whatever it was, it certainly wasn't her business now. Just something for her to remember.

She also felt it was time for a subject change, "So when you're not offering drinks to pretty girls on the beach, what do you do?"

"Sing. Make music. Write music. Perform music." He grinned. "Buy the most expensive food there is for my cat because she won't allow anything else and she's big enough to be a bother about it."

"And I think my monthly dinner with my land lady is coming up soon. What do yo do when you're not taking drinks from awesome strangers?"

"Not much, actually. Which is something I need to change if I decide to stick around here. I've kind of been wandering around the globe the last few years, studying this and that as I went." World magical studies. It was one of the things she'd done, every place she'd gone, Essie had looked into local witch populations. It was how she'd figured out her affinity for water and healing, the latter freaking her out much more than the former. What the hell was she supposed to do with that kind of a talent?

"I've been a beach bum on multiple continents." That was something she could handle.

"You don't look like it, if that's what you wanted to here. At least, not for the most part. Didn't get a real good look at your bum yet."

Bach sighed. That was weak, even for him. "I don't even know yet if I like the sea. Shit's way too big."

"Your loss." She gave him a wink and a smile as she looked out to the sea. It was different here than it was where she'd grown up, but the same. Full of mystery and potential drama.

"I like the big, big is a mystery, it forgets your sins and doesn't judge your mistakes. Unless you're a sailor, then you're fucked, but for normal people, it's just... comforting."

"What, you're not going to get up for me and give me a small tour?"

"Or big, depending on its size."

He followed her gaze. "I can hardly swim. I rather surround myself by creatures and creations I can control."

"You should swim with me." Reaching out her hand, Essie focused her will and created a small whirlpool near the shore. She was getting better at that kind of thing, moving water around, heating it, cooling it, making it obey her. She was pretty sure she could keep a single man afloat during a nice swim. "Probably get a chance to check out my bum if you do."

"That's ..." Bach was kinda impressed. "Cool. Is that a witch thing you did?"

He got up. "And how am I not going to pulled to the bottom of the ocean in that thing? It's like those things in the drain when you pull the stopper out, right? Suckers."

"It's a minor whirlpool, but I can do the opposite, too." With a little more focus, she stilled the water, making a perfectly calm circle that wasn't even affected by the waves as they crashed by. "Point is, water usually does what I want it to. And if I don't want it to drown you, it won't." Releasing it, she watched the natural rhythms of the sea take over again, rolling in and out with each wave. She was actually a little surprised that had worked that well.

"Probably easier if you start in a pool though."

"Damn, you're good at it."

He pulled off his shirt and unbuckled his belt. "Why? You're around to save me, right? Give me my own little private pool."

Blinking, Essie watched Bach undress. Partially because hey, there was a guy undressing in front of her and partially because she wasn't 100% sure she could pull off exactly what he was asking for. Looking over her shoulder, she hoped no one was watching as she took a deep breath and nodded. She could do this. Totally could do this. Pretty sure she could do this.

"Just don't go too far out, okay?" Remembering Grandy's voice in her ear, Essie slowed her breathing and focused the way he'd taught her. Instead of making a huge spot of still water, she instead focused on making smaller... walls to break up the waves and clear a path for Bach. It was hard, and she didn't know how long she could do it. She hoped he didn't intend on staying out for too long.

"Of course I'm not." He stepped out of his shorts and waded into the water, wondering why the hell he was doing what he was doing.

Still, the water was pretty impressive looking like this and he turned back to show two thumbs. "I like your style!"

"Don't distract me!" It was taking a lot of focus to still that large of an area. The sea didn't like to be argued with and the ebb and flow of the waves were hard to counter. Essie didn't want to suddenly lose them while Bach was out there, it would be pretty much the opposite of what she was going for.

He cringed and kept his mouth shut. Instead he dropped on his back and floated a little. He knew how to do that.

"At least warn me when you're letting go?"

"Will do!" Essie managed to sketch a salute and a little smile as she watched him in the water. He was interesting, that was to be sure. Easily one of th emost interesting people she'd met here.

"So this is what people are raving about, swimming in the sea?"

He tried to go under, but the water was too shallow and it - "Shit, that stings! Oh, that's because ..the salt?"

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Beach BBQ [Open]

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