[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

[river_meimei]

River's attention drifts back to the seashells.

They're much more interesting than you, Jayne. So there.

[evil_koala_626]

Stitch begs to differ. That is a hilarious facial expression you've got going there, Jayne.

The small blue creature snickers.

[swinging-cod.livejournal.com]

Jayne stops his stride for a brief moment in order to snarl, "Guăn nĭ zìjĭ de shì, liú kŏushuĭ de biăozi hé hóuzi de bèn érzi."

And he's off again!

[evil_koala_626]

Stitch has enough presence of mind not to reply in kind but there really is no keeping the amusment off his face. It is entirely possible he will be asking River for a translation later on. Strictly knowledge for knowledge's sake. Of course.

[river_meimei]

River, sad to say, will probably help him with his pronunciation, too.

It's only fair. He taught her some of his language!

For now, though, she just makes an oh, please face at Jayne's back.

[evil_koala_626]

Sttich continues to grin after the big man's retreating back for a few seconds before a scent on the breeze distracts him.

Snuffle. Snufflsnufflesnuffle.

The alien unintentetnionally rises back up into a bipedal position (the better to scent the air, nose pointed firmly at one of the stalls along the boardwalk.

"Oooh." And without further warning he's scampering purposefully forward.

[river_meimei]

River takes a moment or two to notice. The sand is being interesting again.

When she does, though--

She's hurrying.

(She promised Mal she'd chaperone. Make sure things went smooth. Make sure Stitch didn't create any incidents.

The irony of this was lost on no one.)

"Stitch--"

[evil_koala_626]

"Eh?"

He pauses in his advance to glance over his shoulder inquisitively. Blame her tone. Slightly worried tone's coming from friends are a good way to get his attention.

[river_meimei]

"You're a dog," River says softly, garnering a confused stare from a passing tourist.

"In the social ramifications."

[evil_koala_626]

Well....yeah. Which is why he's doing such a good job of it.

"Bark bark bark!" Stitch states to the tourist.

See?

[river_meimei]

The tourist startles and hurries away, staring over her shoulder at the both of them.

River's face is briefly, if eloquently, dubious. "I'm here," she says. "Too."

[evil_koala_626]

He quirks his head to one side.

[river_meimei]

"It's a partnership."

Or, you know.

Chaperoning.

[evil_koala_626]

Blink.

Blink.

And then there's a hesitant slightly confused nod. A hand forepaw is waved vaugley at the ramp. It could almost be interpreted as an 'after you' gesture. Which is rediculous because dogs don't think that way.

She wants to go first? Okay...

[river_meimei]

River is confused too, now.

But the general impression seems to be: ...okay! That'll do. Sure?

She heads up the ramp, anyway, one hand dangling towards Stitch as if to hold hands. Not that this is possible with a quadrupedal theoretically-dog, but perhaps it's the thought that counts.

[evil_koala_626]

He walks alongside because, while 'ladies first' is a very admirable sentiment... he's excited. And there's FOOD up here somewhere.

The snuffling recommences for a few moments before he tugs urgetly at the hem of River's dress and points at a nearby stall.

"Eh! Eh! Eh!"

[river_meimei]

He has found the fabled land of Fried Things On Sticks.

"Okay," River says happily, and lets herself be steered into line.

[evil_koala_626]

Stitch's grin is huge. His estactic fidgetting is halted for a breif instant as he catches a glimpse at a departing customer's purchase.

It appears for all the world as if someone has coated the carcass of a large gecko in batter, fried it up and stuck it on a short wooden skewer.

Interesting...

[river_meimei]

Possibly because that's exactly what they did. After marinating it for a while.

Sadly, River does not buy Stitch a Crispy Citrus Gecko. Because she's mean. "Ice cream," she says instead, pointing in the vague direction of a row of battered blobs-on-skewers in the freezer section.

Beat.

"And one for my dog."

...Uh says the shopkeeper's face, especially after he gets a look at that 'dog.' But, hey, she's the paying customer; with a shrug, he immerses two ice cream skewers in the hot oil.

"Unusual breed you got there," he tries, and holds out his hand for the money.

"Yep," River says cheerfully.

Beat.

Beat.

Oh yeah, her expression says, and she belatedly hands over a few credits. One too many, but the man's honest enough to give it back. (River blinks at the coin as if she'd hadn't held it just three seconds ago.)

[evil_koala_626]

Stitch who has been doing his absolute best to remain incospicous during this transaction can stand it no longer. He begins to make grabby hands at one of the skewers.

[river_meimei]

"Wait," River says sternly. "Insufficient caramelization."

Mommy, a little boy whispers, that dog has hands!

His mother nods tolerantly without looking over.

[evil_koala_626]

He heaves a put upon sigh and drops back down to all fours yet again. The observant child is treated to a wide, toothy grin.

[river_meimei]

The child stares.

And then starts to giggle.

The shopkeeper, having mercifully missed this interlude while he was turning the ice cream skewers, fishes them out of the oil now and sets them to drain for a minute.

"Here y'go, fū rén."

River accepts both skewers happily.

[evil_koala_626]

Awhile later the pair are seated away from the noise of the boardwalk on an (for the moment) otherwise vacant strand of beach.

Stitch receives his skewer happily and makes short, sloppy work of the first mouth sized blob. Very short work. Ow.

[river_meimei]

River is nibbling delicately. This way she doesn't burn her mouth!

She does get ice cream dripping down her chin, though. Oops.

She doesn't seem too concerned.