Prescribed Recreation part 3: Chillax'n with a Vengeance

[fleurdesel]

Who: House 44, House 46, House 3, Saori, Steve Rogers, and whoever wanders in
What: Movie night on the beach
When: September 9th, in the evening
Where: The Beach
Summary: After an unfortunate tussle with a Chaos God, work on a farm, a swarm of refugees and stress piled upon stress, sometimes all anyone wants is to sit back and watch classic movies.
Rating: PG for possible adult language
Something that everyone could agree on was this: the past three weeks had been several shades of stressful. What they needed, what they all needed was something mindless and relaxing shared in the company of those they care for in a neutral environment. The beach works well enough, and it's not that far a trip for anyone involved.

Comments

[redjacketthief]

[The steadily growing crowd was exactly why Lupin broke away to investigate the rest of the beach. His visits were few and far between, and had become even less frequent since the crisis in June. Though it was still difficult, navigating through the sand was easier when he didn't have to worry about tripping over people.

He hadn't expected anyone to be on the boats he was casually looking at, nonetheless that distinctive hat. Grinning, he approached.]

She's beautiful!

[Context wasn't necessary.]

[deathsdoctor]

Isn't she? [Law puts down his storm lantern and pats a railing. The black ship with the red sails was a joy he tried to be out on as much as possible.] My lady here is called the Shinonome.

[He may have mentioned the ship's name in passing before, or not. He does not recall at the moment.]

[redjacketthief]

[He hadn't as far as Lupin could recall, but it had been a very busy month.]

So she's your girl? I was wondering what she looked like. You have excellent taste in design and color scheme.

[The colors reminded him a little of home.]

[deathsdoctor]

Thank you. Although, I had much help. [Brave Vesperia.] The credit for her can't just go to me.

Would you like to come aboard?

[redjacketthief]

[He swallows a delighted laugh.]

If you don't mind? That would be awesome. We still need to go on that fishing trip, but this will have to tide us over until then.

[deathsdoctor]

No, I don't. [He puts down a gangplank so Lupin can walk over from the rock pier. A gangplank that doesn't see much use. Law just jumps onto the boat and Itachi just walks over on the water and climbs aboard.] I don't often get a chance to show her off.

[redjacketthief]

[Lupin would have waited for the gangplank even if their abilities were more evenly balanced. It was a sign of respect, in his mind. Close friends would vouch for his tendency to enter their homes without announcement, but his usual 'victims' had returned home. The next ones in line for that treatment were the people he was all ready living with, and sneakng into your own home didn't carry the same charm. He made his way across, mindful of its placement above the water and under his own feet. While he was able to better manage his problems, they still required attention.]

Show her off all you want then--we've got time before the movie starts. You're more than welcome to drop by and join us. All we have planned for tonight is a quiet evening with food and good company.

[deathsdoctor]

[He's glad of that, or would be, if he knew that particular trait. Lupin had been in their home and he would have come to know how Itachi and Law would have reacted to unexpected intruders. Assumed hostile until otherwise assessed and identified.]

Movie? What kind of movie?

[He wasn't due back til late and watching a movie (something he had never done in the enclosure) sounded like a nice way to pass the time.]

[redjacketthief]

[His respect was high enough that he would warn Law of that particular habit before acting on it.]

It's a fun action film from about three decades ago in my home, called Superman. It's about a superhero who's very strong, very fast, and very kind...and about how he protects his city, his home, and those he cares about.

[deathsdoctor]

... oh. We had a Superman in Luceti once. Part of the Justice League. Same guy?

[Didn't learn much about him during his stay. This could be an awesome intelligence gathering opportunity.]

[redjacketthief]

[He wasn't surprised, considering that there is a Robin and how Fujiko declared that she harassed Batman--he hadn't been able to keep the information straight when it was lost in the tide of details that she poured on him when he arrived back in November.]

I don't know anything about the Justice League except that it's in some comics, but if the guy called himself Clark Kent? Yeah, then he's the same.

[He chuckled.] He did go around in glasses and called himself Clark Kent, right?

[deathsdoctor]

[Chuckling.] He did. [In which he had never interacted with either persona over the journal or in person.

But hey, nice to have the connection pointed out and confirmed.]

[redjacketthief]

Of course~ Oh, that dorky guy!

[No one can blame Law for not interacting with him. Kent was too much of a nice man for people who lurk in the shadows to tolerate for too long.]

[deathsdoctor]

[Much too nice and much too selfless and noble. To the point where understanding a mindset like that would be... difficult to say the least.]

I am unsure why he stuck to the secret identity business, though. You'd think it would be unnecessary in a place like this.

[redjacketthief]

Even super heroes have their masks, Law. Sometimes they're hard to let go of, even in a completely different world.

[deathsdoctor]

Mnn, when you put it that way, it's much more understandable.

[redjacketthief]

So much so, even if's not necessary.

...Actually, I also wanted to thank you for all of your help last cycle. I also had an idea that you might like, and would be good for both of us.

[deathsdoctor]

Oh? What were you thinking?

[redjacketthief]

Just that I could watch your girls in the event that you and Itachi are drafted or missioned at the same time and I'm not. They're really sweet little things, and they helped a lot during that week.

[deathsdoctor]

That? Would be much appreciated. The girls love you and I admit, we have been at a loss on who to ask ever since Madam Gracia left us.

[redjacketthief]

Good timing then, huh? Though, I admit, it's mostly to have an excuse to go play with them.

Another thing I was thinking of is something I could do if only you're away, or just busy. Your Itachi...he seems like a guy who doesn't have many friends. Period. Would you object to my dragging him out of the house every once in a while?

[More selfishness--Itachi reminded him a little of one of his absent partners, Goemon. While Itachi was far more polite, there was something tangible but not threatening to his quiet presence. It was something that he missed.]

[deathsdoctor]

No, I wouldn't. The seas know he needs it.

[...]

You have to understand something about Itachi. [Now how to explain the important things without revealing too much of his past.] He's been through the unspeakable. Don't be put off if he's remote for a long time... it takes him a while to warm up. He... probably won't know how to react at first to someone actively wanting to befriend him. Be stubborn.

[redjacketthief]

[...

Definitely like Goemon.

He nodded in understanding.]

My friends back home were won through stubbornness and working on opposite sides, and one of them is still very remote even after all of these years. Ita-chan doesn't sound too diffcult to manage.

[deathsdoctor]

Ita-chan? [Laughter.] Don't let him hear you calling him that. Then he'll be impossible.

[redjacketthief]

[He joined in the laughter.]

Au contraire! A little informality might be good for him. It's hard to be friends if we're still '-san'ing each other all the time!