[Santo - The Beach]

[walk_ins]

[master post]

You have to walk down a ramp to get to the sand. The ramp stretches over sand dunes, with sea oats dotting them, blowing in the near-constant breeze. On the same level as the ramp: a boardwalk, dotted with places to get sketchy-looking fried food, to try your luck at a number of games of chance, to watch performers, to ride roller coasters of the future!!!!

When you walk down the ramp, it's all white sand and blue water. Down about half a mile is a pier that juts out several hundred feet.

It's a nice beach. Not too crowded.

Comments

[gonna_live]

"...there's that whole time thing." She looks up at him. "Remember?"

[simon_doctor]

"...there is that," he sighs.

"We'll see, then. Maybe there'll be time."

[gonna_live]

"Maybe I could sneak out again."

[simon_doctor]

"Also a possibility," he says, without missing a beat.

His face is perfectly deadpan, until his eyes flick over to her, and then there's a conspiratorial grin.

[gonna_live]

"...you gonna be that helpful when I get a sunburn, too?" She might (might) have a little color in her cheeks that wasn't there before.

[simon_doctor]

"If you want." A pause, and he offers: "Though I have something you can use to prevent sunburn, if you'd rather."

[gonna_live]

There: the sound of a shakuhachi fusion quartet, floating on the wind. Kaylee turns her head to catch the music. The columbine in her hair loosens; she raises a hand to stop it from falling --

And shrugs, and tugs at Simon's arm. "Hold still."

[simon_doctor]

Agreeably, he slows to a halt. "What is it?"

[gonna_live]

She puts the flower in his buttonhole.

[simon_doctor]

He looks down at it, and chuckles.

"That works," he says, and offers her his arm.

[gonna_live]

She takes hold, and moves a little closer than she would ordinarily -- the sea breeze is still blowing, as it has been, and she's still a little chilled. The lanterns sway as well.

"You sure we got to go back?"

[simon_doctor]

"...well, not right away. Eventually. I suppose."

He glances at the nearby entrance.

"Certainly not before we get drinks."

[gonna_live]

"Somethin' warm?" Hopefully.

[simon_doctor]

"Anything you want," he says expansively, grinning at her.

It's that kind of night.

[gonna_live]

"...that's a gorram dangerous offer, Dr. Tam."

There is something a little knowing about her grin. "You gonna back that up when I come up with somethin'?"

[simon_doctor]

"That depends what kind of something."

His grin isn't so much knowing as suspecting.

"Are you going to deliberately try to come up with something outrageous?"

[gonna_live]

"You're just gonna have to wait and see," she says airily -- and runs a hand down her skirt. "Give me time."

[simon_doctor]

"Time," he agrees, "and something warm to drink. Shall we see what they have?"

And they start toward the entrance, arm in arm.

[gonna_live]

For Kaylee it's cocoa -- hot, sweet, and filled with liquor.

She crosses her legs on the stool; her skirts take a little more smoothing. And it's with a very awkward smile that she doesn't quite meet Simon's eyes when she says, "It's -- "

"A little... off. Or feels like it. Bein' this... okay. Or better."

[simon_doctor]

For Simon it's coffee laced with cinnamon liqueur; he's barely tasted it, and now sets down the cup.

"It's different," he acknowledges, after a moment.

[gonna_live]

"Off," she repeats. "I can't remember what -- it's like I..."



Kaylee shakes her head. "Never mind." Still with that same crooked smile as she picks up her cup.

[simon_doctor]

Simon tilts his head downward, trying to catch her eye.

"It's like what?" he says softly.

[gonna_live]

Kaylee takes a sip. It gets larger -- and it's good, hot and sweet.




"I can't help but feel like there's somethin' wrong with me." She sounds almost apologetic.

[simon_doctor]

A slight frown, somewhere between puzzled and concerned.

"What kind of something?"

[gonna_live]

"I can't remember how long it's been since I was this okay for this long." Kaylee's eyes are fixed on the bottles behind the bar. "All right?"