[Terri]

Humanoid

It was quiet.

The air was still, the sand beneath his feet was still, the clouds were still.  Staring gloomily out over the sea, even the waves, gently lapping at his toes, seemed still.  Everything was too still.

He hated it.

Because, in the end, that's all everyone did: stood still.  Never was anyone trying to get somewhere, to do something.  Everyone he knew seemed perfectly content to cower in their homes, simultaneously anticipating and dreading the day when life would come and knock on their door.  Never doing anything to break the melancholy, the routine.  His dad was happy with just standing around, waiting for opportunity to come and find him.  His sister, too.  Tapi was as empty headed as they came, he thought with a scowl.  They were all the same.  They all lived the same life, all followed the same rules.  They'd all die in the very house they were born without ever having found out what other world was out there.

But not Payce.  The humanoid Lucain sat there on the shore, his arms wrapped around his kness, his toes digging absently into the grainy sand.  He stared out at the sea, past the sea.  Past this same old life.

There had to be something out there, past the horizon.  There had to be more to life than just this.

There had to be.

There had to.

[Matt]

Abby's in human form

"Life isn't all roses and pancakes you know." Mmmm...pancakes... "Shut it! Anyway, life isn't supposed to be roses and fairies and all that mushy baby stuff. You need to get out more, Abby. You'll waist away in that very kitchen if you don't!" Bruiser barked to her, but she didn't need to hear it twice.

Abby, a humanoid lucain, was on her scooter, mowing down the few birds that were coasting the beach. She had it set on full throttle, trying to break the silence of this stupid life, this stupid world.

And that's what it came down to.

Life was stupid.

She still had on her apron, which had drooping black flowers pasted all over it. The pink mascara Oden had dressed her in was beginning to fade, it's pink blending in with the black she had put on. She knew she was supposed to meet someone, but who was she to take orders? Never had.

Never would.

[Terri]

The male sacrcely turned his head to look at the newcomer.  With a snort of mild disgust he turned his attention back to the water in front of him; there didn't seem to be anything expecially interesting about the girl.  If she was pretty, he was too preoccupied to notice.

He would have continued sitting there, staring at nothing, seeing nothing, if he hadn't felt a sharp pain sear through one of his toes.  Glancing down, he saw that a small crab had attached itself to his foot via its strong pincers.  Irritated, but in no real pain, Payce got to his feet and kicked his foot out to sea, sending the small creatures crashing into the waves.  WIth a mumbled curse he realized that his toe was bleeding; unthinkingly, he dipped it into the water to wash off the sticky red liquid.  He howled--more in frustration than agony--as the salt from the sea infiltrated the cut, stinging.  He bit off a curse and sat back down, digging his toe into the sand to get the blood out of his sight.

With a flash of panic, he realized that the two passing edestrians would have heard him yowling.  His face flushed and he stared down at his hands, mumbling something unintelligible under his breath.  It's probably safe to assume that it was something profane.

[Matt]

Abby winced. She could hear someone a little farther down the beach, apparently in pain. Her ears still back, she peered out to him curiously. It was apparently male, and seemingly in pain. Bruiser barked curiously, then ran down the beach, his flames licking the sand. Abby sighed, and started up her scooter again, mumbling under her breath about leaving the dog here if he liked the guy so much.

Abby caught up with Bruiser once he had jumped on the male, licking his face. Sighing, she tugged on Bruiser's neck fur. "Bad Bruiser, bad!" The baskerville whimpered, but got off of the male and sat next to Abby. Cursing under her breath, she looked down at her hands. "Sorry about that.." she mumbled lightly, to no one in particular.

[Terri]

"Eek!" Payce squealed as the massive canine threw him face down on the sand.  His eyes widened in fear at the sight of the bludger, then squinted closed cringing.  It he was hit with that tail, he'd be a goner.  Swearing animatedly, he took a swipe at his attacker before curling into a defensive ball and waiting for the onslaught.

Instead on claws and jaws, he heard the voice of the girl on the scooter.  Cautiously, he looked up.  She looked thoroughly embarrassed, the Baskerville sitting at her side.  Comprehension flickered across his face; the canine hadn't been attacking him, it was just being friendly.  With a disgusted frown he wiped his face on his sleeve to dislodge the salive before muttering a reply.

"Don't worry about it," he said, not even glancing at the other Lucain.  After a few moments, he realized how utterly rude he was being.  With a resigned sigh, he pushed himself to his feet and held out his hand for the girl to shake.  "Really, it's fine," he assured her, attempting a smile.

He was pretty sure the smile failed, but he soldiered on.  "I'm Payce."

[Matt]

Abby sighed, and turned to the other. She mumbled a quiet "Abby," and tied up Bruiser's collar to a large safety pole. She muttered a few curse words, then unstrung her apron. Muttering a few things that seemed like "Stupid dog," she turned back around to meet his eyes. "Payce? Sorry about the dog. Thing was given to my keeer through the war. Blasted thing won't leave me alone." She cast a glare at Bruiser, who whimpered lightly. "Thing could kill a fly."

[3]

[Terri]

"Nice to meet you," he said.  Though, of course, he felt nothing of the kind--he only wanted her to go away and leave him to wallow in misery in private.  In the end, though, some deep-set manners managed to squeeze themselves through the hostility.

"Don't worry 'bout the dog," she said with an indifferent shrug.  "I've had worse."  His gracious small talk died off, finding nothing else to say.  Feeling awkward, Payce shifted his weight.  "Umm...do you wanna go get some ice cream or something?" he asked, vaguely gesturing to a small stand not far off.  "I've got a bit of change, and maybe we can get a bowl of water for the dog or somethin'.  It's hot out here."

[Matt]

She looked up as he got the courage to musteer out some defineable words, and let out a simple "Ok, thanks," at the invitation of food, healthy or not. Bruiser barkerd at the mention of water, though he was still cautious of this stranger. Abby giggled softly, trying to hide it from Payce. She untied Bruiser, who panted heavily, and started making his way to the ice-cream stand. Abby smiled lightly at Payce, blushing a warm pink, but hoped she had whipped around in time for him not too see it. She walked down the beach casiouly, as though no one was there to see her, still blushing.

[Terri]

Hands stuffed into his pockets, Payce ambled along beside Abby.  He smiled dutifully back, but the girl turned away so fast that he wasn't sure she'd seen.

...Wait, back up for a second.  Was she actually blushing?  Payce leaned forward a bit, trying to get a better look at her face.  He couldn't for the life oof him figure out why she's be blushing.

Whatever. He cast away the trivial thought as they neared the stand, fishing in his pocket for the correct amount of change.  He came up with a handful of KeyStones, counting them as to give him an excuse to meet his companion's eyes.  "So, uh...what kind of ice cream d'you want?" he asked.

[Matt]

Trying to wipe away the blushing with a smirk, Abby let Bruiser loose to sniff Payce eagerly. He was obviously very protective of Abby, even though he didn't have the guts to squish an ant, and would usually step over them. At the patient question from Payce, she met his eyes exactly. "Oh.. uhm.. coffee, please." She smiled lightly, but, realizing what she was doing, wiped it away byturning to Bruiser and tying him up to a Be careful when swimming in currents sign. He barked eagerly, and Abby slid a few extra ks from her own pocket to the ice-cream man for a small bottle of water. She dribble it into Bruiser's mouth, and he lapped it up impatiently. She giggled, and suddenly realized something. Never in her whole life since she turned from pup to adult had she ever had... fun. She was finally having..

Fun.

[Terri]

Payce raised an eyebrow.  "Coffee, huh?  But it's so hot out here," he said, taking his chocolate cone from the man at the stand.  He passed over the appropriate KS as he returned to the girl and her dog.

"You don't really have to tie him up," he said, nonchalant as ever.  "I mean, we could walk him down the beach or somethin'..." He shrugged, suddenly uncomfortable.  He wasn't normally so talkative.  Perhaps he was just starved for conversation?

[Matt]

Assuming the coffee pun was indeed a joke, Abby took her coffee ice-cream cone from the man and thanked him with a quick smile and nod. She dribble the water into Bruiser's mouth, and he lapped it up eagerly.

Bruiser barked unhappily, and Abby shrugged "Sure, we can walk him, if ya' want." She untied the large Baskerville, and tied the collar to her hand in her own very odd way. "So... what do ya' like to do, Payce?"

[Terri]

Oh.  Coffee ice cream. That made more sense.  Payce shifted uncomfortable, feeling a bit stupid.  He'd never had coffee ice cream before, and, to be honest, this Abby character seemed a bit strange.  He wouldn't have been surprised if she had asked for the beverage.  As it turns out, though, it was just ice cream.  So much for normal, offhand remarks.  She probably thought he was slow.  He wasn't quite sure why that irritated him, but it did.

As usual, he decided the best course of action was just to ignore his misconceptions.  It wasn't that easy, though.  Abby's question caught him off-guard.  "Uh..."  He swore internally.  It wasn't a tough question.  He retreated into his head for a few moments, searching for something...something that he enjoyed....  He was coming up blank.  He couldn't think of the last time he'd enjoyed anything.

"Uh...girls?" he said, then laughed a little awkwardly at his lame attempt at humour.  Smooth, Payce, he chided himself.  Now you sound like some freaky kink boy.

[Matt]

Abby raised an eyebrow and giggled in response. "Well, I like... gourmet food, actually. It's fun to cook in my limited spare time..." She sighed. It was true, Urchin was always putting her in the care of his pups, just because they were half-siblings.

"So, you wanna... meet up at my pool? We could swim and have dinner...." She cursed on the inside at herself, she sounded like such a fool! She could have bet good money that this guy though she was just another girl.