[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

[simon_doctor]

"I'll try not to step on yours either," he says solemnly, and raises his mug to her.

[gonna_live]

Two drinks later, and Kaylee isn't quite leaning heavily on Simon's arm as they wander out, and down the beach again.

"You still so sure you want to do this?"

[simon_doctor]

"Let's see when we get there," he says, pointing ahead.

The platform is lit with more paper lanterns, alternating with strings of blue and green lights, and just over half full of dancers. At one end is the band, already in full swing; they can hear the music from here, an insistent beat.

[gonna_live]

They walk, slow; Kaylee can feel her shoes filling with sand. But that's all right -- she's got a feeling she'll be barefoot anyhow, once everything starts. The cold isn't as much of a problem any more, either, as much as she's had to drink.

"...I'm gettin' a little nervous," she admits, once they get closer.

[simon_doctor]

"...really?"

He looks at her, suddenly uncertain.

[gonna_live]

"It's been a while." With her other hand on Simon's arm, too. "And I don't much feel like fallin' on my face."

[simon_doctor]

"Mm."

He studies her face, and then glances back at the dance floor as they draw closer.

"It's up to you," he says.

[gonna_live]

Her expression eases a little.

"You gonna throw some punches on my behalf if that happens before I sober up all the way?"

[simon_doctor]

Very seriously: "If it seems appropriate."

[gonna_live]

"Shiny." She beams up at him. "You ready?"

[simon_doctor]

He smiles down at her.

"Whenever you are, xin gan."

[gonna_live]

She slips her hand down to his, and takes her first step on the stairs to the platform.

[simon_doctor]

The fastest dances are a little too much for him, in the end; he gamely struggles through one, and then firmly sits out the rest of them.

There are plenty of slower dances, though, and the band will be playing for hours yet.

[gonna_live]

Kaylee leans back against the rail, tilting her head back, looking up at the stars.

"We could stop," she suggests. "I mean... if you're not havin' fun, then we don't need to be doin' it."

[simon_doctor]

"I'm actually having more fun than I expected," he admits, "but ... we might want to stop soon."

A pause.

"One more dance?"

[gonna_live]

She tilts her head a little to the side. "Is that you sayin' that to make me happy, or 'cause you want to?"

[simon_doctor]

He offers a smile. "Couldn't it be both?"

[gonna_live]

"Nope," she says cheerfully, head still tilted back. "Either you want to or you don't. And we made it this long without findin' our way on a dance floor, I figure a little longer won't hurt nothin' if you don't want to."

[simon_doctor]

"One more," he says. Firmly.

The band's starting another song. Not one of the fastest ones.

[gonna_live]

The chord progression's easy -- so easy that even somebody who doesn't know anything about music can tell.

Kaylee lifts her head. Looks at Simon.

"This one?"

[simon_doctor]

For answer, he extends his hand to her, palm up.

[gonna_live]

The noise of the waves is arhythmic -- but no more than you'd get with an old record player and speakers. It's a nice counterpoint. Like it belongs.

Her left hand falls easily into his right; her right falls to rest on his shoulder.

"You can still back out," she warns.

[simon_doctor]

"If I were going to," he tells her, "I would have already."

His left hand goes to her waist, and rests there comfortably. Like it belongs.

[gonna_live]

"In which case..." She moves in a little closer. "You gonna lead, or what?" With an easy grin.

[simon_doctor]

"Give me a moment."

On the next downbeat he moves, and if it's deliberate and careful and not as smooth as it might be, it isn't hesitant at all.