View source for 2020.9.6 Labor Day Weekend Beach Party

{{Infobox Log
|name      = 2020.09.06 Labor Day Weekend Beach Party
|summary   = A public beach party held on The Shoals @ Date
|icdate    = Sept 6, 2020
|ictime    = Evening
|players   = [[Caressa]], [[Johnathan]], [[Saraid]], [[Vivian]], [[Hayden]], [[Wick]], [[Conn|Arthur]], [[Valentine]],[[Tabin]], [[Beckett]]
|location  = The Shoals - Date - Prospect, CA
|spheres   = All
}}
[[Category:Logs]] [[Category:Caressa]] [[Category:Johnathan]] [[Category:Saraid]] [[Category:Vivian]][[Category:Hayden]][[Category:Wick]] [[Category:Conn]] [[Category:Valentine]] [[Category:Tabin]] [[Category:Beckett]]

 <---======##========[ Upcoming City of Hope MUSH Events ]=========##======--->
 NUM  ST        Genre     Title                       Date                 Sgnps
 1365 Caressa   all       Beach Party                 Sun Sep 06 18:00 CDT  2
 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Location: The Shoals - Date

 Beach Party Set - READ ME(#20326)<br>
 A section of the beach has been cordoned off for the party. It is away from the businesses and yet close enough to the water to account for the high tide, 
 which will slowly roll to low tide by 11pm. Off to one side of the area is a large grill for burgers and hot dogs. There are a stack of skewers in case
 anyone wants to do an actually weenie roast at the bonfire. The bonfire is made of 5-foot tall logs set up in a tee-pee structure.
 There is plenty of room for beach towel. Various cooler hold beer, soda, bottled water and juice. As well as a table full of prepackaged snacks.

Caressa nods to Johnathan, "We need to do this more often. Maybe not -here- but just out. A nice warm day for the beach. The water should be lovely, and high tide."<br>

What's that? A cookout at the beach and it's free?! And open to the public? Well, there's no way that Vivian is going to miss that. Still, it was suggested to bring something and not wanting to feel like a heel, the short haired blonde definitely does: a sixpack of some microbrew ale, a pack of sausages and their associated buns, and a fold out seat. The seat and beers are in one arm and the sausages and buns in the other, Vivian walks up past the cordoned off area and up to the pair on the beach. 
"Uh, hey," she says, smiling widely, "Is this where the party is? I, uh... brought some stuff for a barbie and some beer." She lifts the respective things as she mentions them, "Where do you guys want it?"<br>

Johnathan smiles to Vivian "Put it on the table next to the grill and I will fire it up and get cooking. I am Johnathan by the way" offering a nod to her as he gets up from the blanket.<br>

Caressa smiles up at the woman as she gets to her feet as well. "I'm Caressa..." She volunteers, "...There's a cooler at the end of the table for the ale as well. "<br>

"Gotcha," Vivian states with a nod and smile to Johnathan and Caressa, "Thanks. I'm Vivian. I'd offer to shake hands, but..." She hefts the food and beer again before looking around and locating the grill, stepping over to it. Settling the buns and sausage down, the blonde notices the coolers nearby and moves over to one Caressa mentioned. The glass clinking and the ice making that distinctive ice-in-a-cooler noise, Vivian deposits the beers inside one by one before taking out a different one that had already been inside for a while -- this one is cold, after all. 
Having completed her delivery, Vivian turns back to the pair and walks over, pulling out the foldout chair and popping it open, setting it down on the beach before flopping into it. With a practiced motion, the blonde woman pops the cap off the beer and takes a long drink, letting out an 'aaaah' of satisfaction afterwards. "That's good. I have to say, Prospect is amazing. I don't think there are that many places which would hold a free impromptu beach party for strangers." <br>

Caressa follows behind Vivian, selecting a wine cooler for herself. "Of course, we have 911 on speed dial if anyone gets out of hand with the alcohol. But otherwise, no, not many people throw public parties. But it is nice to meet new people. And everyone should get to enjoy a nice sunset now and then." She grins.<br>

Johnathan moves over and starts up the grill getting the fire going and setting the coals up to catch better fire and going to char to allow the grilling quicker. Looking over the meats and sausages to put on but not really the time yet. "Always nice to meet new people. Rarely get out all to much. Tons of work.. I own Velvet Dreams near the University, clothing store, well alternative clothing store"<br>

Vivian is sitting on a fold out cloth chair, a beer in hand, talking with Johnathan and Caressa. She grins and nods, "Yeah, sounds like a good plan. Both for the whole emergency number thing and the meeting new people." Her grin widens and she raises her beer in salute, "I take it you're the one who organized this? Well if nothing else, ma'am, you have my thanks." 
The blonde looks to Johnathan, pursing her lips thoughtfully, "Mmn. I don't think I've been there. I tend to go for, uh, more cheap clothing outlets." She motions to her rather utilitarian clothing, "But I should stop by and check it out. Always neat to see the various storefronts around town."<br>

Hayden walks up and is wearing a t-shirt with board shorts. He strolls closer quietly.<br>

Johnathan chuckles "We do have prices for students and we do have a pay as you can policy. I know what it is like to be a poor student and have to make my own clothing to look good and still have food, so I keep my prices low, specially for hand crafted clothing" looking to Caressa with a smile.<br>

Caressa grins and nods as she listens to Vivian and Johnathan. "I did organize this, and you are most welcomed." She nods in agreement with Johnathan, "I've got my psychiatry practice, EirsWay Clinic, and I'm the owner and current Artiste-in-resident at Enchanting Waters Jewelry. I also have By the Plot Community gardens and shop, thankfully I have some friends to help out with that one. So yes, time away to do things like this is rare. Considering we just left meteorological summer for autumn, it seems like a good time." She pauses to sip from the wine cooler, "I can to less expensive jewelry too, that looks at good at the expensive stuff for an affordable price." She offers.<br>

Hayden has a Cajun accent and says "What's up Doc?" as he gets closer.<br>

Caressa looks over to Hayden and smiles, "Hey Hay!" She grins in self-amusement, leaning towards him slightly, "Sorry, I'll stop that if you find it annoying." She motions towards the grill where Johnathan is. "If you brought anything to share with the grill, just set it on the table. Coolers of drinks are at the end, feel free to help yourself."<br>

A rumbling chuckle tumbles out of Vivian as she smiles wryly at Johnathan. "I'm not really a college student," she says, "Just an unemployed bum. But it's still neat that you supply such a service. I'm sure the ones actually in school really do appreciate it." 
Turning her attention back to Caressa, Vivian listens to her while gulping down more of her beer, eyebrows arching as the list of owned and operated businesses grows. She whistles once the beer falls again, shaking her head in wonder. "Damn, ma'am. That sounds like a -lot- of work. It's a wonder you have any free time after managing what... three businesses? One of which is a psychiatry office? Then again, I guess you have to be good at time management to get through med school." She tilts her head to one side curiously, "That last one intrigues me... community garden? How does that work?"<br>

Johnathan smiles broadly "Hello Hayden, how are you doing?" he is currently wearing dark shorts with silver celtic knot trim. Looking to Vivian "My offer is for everyone not just students. The garden is one of our joint projects, charity really to allow local growing of plants along with lessons on how to manage them." Motioning to Caressa to explain it better since he was getting meat on the grill.<br>

Conn approaches the cordon and waves, first, at Caressa as the host "Greetings Doctor Perlman, I come bearing mead, I hope it is sufficient a chiminage," he says it with a wink, and then waves at Hayden "Hey love, are you well? Wick sends his regards, and told me to tell you 'moop'."<br>

Caressa looks back to Vivian, "There are raised bed plots that we offer free use of to the homeless and low-income folks. We help them with the maintance of it. For those of means that can afford it, we rent the plots per season. There are some plots reserved for the shop to farm and anything produced from those are sold in the shop. We can't donate it all to the food and homeless shelters. But running it more as a community service. All the proceeds go right back into it. And then we have an education center for cooking, food preservation and gardening classes. I have good friend that help wtih that place. So I have time to see patients and jeweling has been a hobby since I was young. But yes, very good time management is key."
Caressa belatedly oos to Conn, "That's perfect! Thank you! I might have to take one later. I do love a good mead."<br>

Hay's whole face lights up as he runs to Conn and pounces him while being careful of the mead. He laughs and says "Moop."<br>

Saraid is a little late to the evening, looking as though she may have just woken up recently, and threw on the best thing that seemed fitting for the evening, a green one piece bathing suit, and a white wrap to go around her waist. Her hair pulled back with a matching scrunchie. It is quite out of character for what she normally wears instead of the victorian style dresses some have seen her in, but tonight is a beach party too, and you should always dress for the occassion. As she approaches, she offers a warm smile to Caressa and Johnathan, holding a basket of fresh fruit in her arms, blackberries, blueberries, grapes, and a few jars of fresh preserves. She has the scent of honeysuckle that seems to be clinging to her this evening, and moves quietly to the table to set down the treats she is contributing this evening. She is definitely quiet thought, as she doesn't interrupt the others, but just finds a place to sit down and listen and let her fingers sink into the warm sand. She is content to just be quiet this evening and let the others soak up the hosts attention.

Johnathan smiles broadly "Now it is looking like a party, Hey Saraid, how you doing?" he looks to Conn "Ah Haydens boyfriend, finally get to meet you" moving to Conn and offering a hand to him "Johnathan" he offers before slinking back to the grill with a mead cause snatch one when you can. And not to get the meat burnt. "First load is almost done if anyone is hungry"

Glancing over at Hayden as the man greets the others, her eyebrows raising as she spots the tall guy with wild spiked hair. Still, she raises her beer again in salute, nodding, "Sir."
Turning her attention again to Johnathan, she nods several times, "I see. Very generous of you. Always nice to see community minded folks."
A shimmer of recognition rises on Vivian's face as Conn arrives, the blonde again raising her beer from her fold out seat, "Hello again, sir." But then her attention is again gathered by Caressa. Vivian listens intently, nodding slowly several times during the explanation. "Huh. That's pretty neat, actually. You teach cooking, y'say? I might have to head on over there myself at some point. About all I can do is boil water. Though I -did- manage to cook a couple chicken breasts a few days back. A personal success that one." Draining her beer, the blonde looks around and waggles it, "Where do the empties go? Do you have a recycling bin around here or something?" Her eyes do flicker over to Saraid and Vivian offers up a pleasant smile, nodding. "Ma'am."

	Conn laughs in turn over the shared joke and in turn hugs and kisses Hayden, picking him bodily up and spinning him once before setting him back down, faking a somber and serious tone "I will take your dignified 'moop' as an indication of your well being, beloved." He nods at Caressa "It's locally brewed, we get in a case every month. I 'borrowed' this one from our stocks. Charlie will probably kick my ass for it later, but it's all in a good cause," he says with a smile and hands over the bottle.
He looks at Jonathan with a quizzical look. "I mean, I would have said so, but he was always reluctant to accept labels. Both of my boyfriends are a bit label reluctant. Me? I like labels. They help me contextualize things," he realizes he's talking without taking the man's hand and blushes, shaking it, "sorry, it's a pleasure to meet you. Yes, I'm Conn, short for <<Conchubar>>" he says a name that sounds like CRUhoar, "Arthur Patrick Conchubar Bond, but everyone calls me Conn. Except my Aunt in England any my prior employer."
He nods in recognition to Vivian, "Hello again Vivian, it's nice to see you again."

Caressa reaches into her over-sized beach tote and pulls out a heavy duty trash back, "We can use this for empties. I have more if its needed." She tries to finds an empty cooler and turns it into a makeshift collector with the trash bag. "Good enough." A nod is given to Vivian, "We have a local chef (NPC) who volunteers to give the teaching lessons. I can cook, but no where as good as he can." She silver-violet gaze in turn slides back to Conn and Hayden with a smile as she moves over to Saraid and starts to rub her shoulders, "You're quiet, sis."

Hayden says "I like my label du jour. I am just an odd duck. " Breathless laughter escapes him as he is kissed and spun around.

	Saraid offers a warm smile to Johnathan, and offers softly, a bit tired and late Johnathan. It smells so lovely here tonight, and admittedly I am hungry to! You have done well tonight!" and then a nod as well to Vivian, but cringes when called Ma'am. But who can be made when offered a warm smile, "Good Evening Miss." She offers softly to her as well. She then answers that question she knows is lingering though unsaid from Caressa. "I am fine Sis, just a little tired."

Oh hey! There is meat available! All the more reason to get out of her seat. Vivian stands up, moving towards the trash receptacle, tossing it in with a hardly a pause before her vector shifts and she moves right for Johnathan and the scent of sizzling meat. She does pause briefly to address Caressa, "Hell, just about anything would be an improvement for me. But it's nice to know that you actually have a professional teach." Returning to her previous trajectory, Vivian inhales deeply once near the grill. 
"Mmn, smells good, Johnathan," she says with a wide grin, "Been a long while since I had a charcoal cooked meat. Very nostalgic." 
When Conn addresses her, Vivian looks back to the man and flashes a wide grin, "Oh! You recognized me. I didn't think you would since we only met that one time. The feeling's mutual!" She gives a thumbs-up before looking back to the grill. Her attention does flicker briefly back to Saraid, brows furrowing slightly and opening her mouth to speak, "Tired? Maybe you need more iron in your diet." She motions a hand to the sizzling meat. Meat has lots of iron.

Caressa smiles to Saraid, "Good, want anything from the grill, I don't mind getting it for you. There's various alcohol and drinks in the coolers." She looks over to Johnathan, "Maybe I should get you to teach a bbq class, dear"

Hayden looks at Caressa. "Do you have any dead cow ready to eat?"

Wick drifts up the beach with a guitar slung over his shoulder. He'd heard rumors about a summer party on the beach, and he comes dressed for the occasion, barefoot wearing nothing but a set of floral swim trunks and a bright smile.

Caressa motions Hayden towards the grill, "I'm sure he has some burgers done, yes. Though if you brought steaks, he can cook that for you too." She blinks at the bright florals catch her eye. Her smile brightens, "Wick! So nice to see you again! You've been well, I hope."

Saraid smiles warmly at her sis, but seeing her guests growing even more, "No it is okay Sis. I can it, you take care of your guests this evening." She offers sweetly to her, and when she stands up and brushes the sand off, she walks over to give Caressa a warm hug, squeezing her hand, before she makes her way over to Johnathan to offer him a warm hug too. She looks tired but also hungry and curious to see what meats they are cooking tonight that she can choose from. "Everything smells so good Johnathan."

Hayden runs to Wick and hugs him tight enough to make breathing hard.

Beckett wanders up, pausing to check the postman bag he carried at his side. His chin abruptly lifts as Hayden zooms through the crowd towards Wick. He holds his breath as he waits for the moment of impact...

Conn nods at Vivian "I have a photographic memory, or as close as actually exists. You wanted to know about Tex, wasn't it? Did he get in touch? I didn't get to see him that day, as happens when you run a place like the Murder, I had something crop up. He's a good sort, we're all rather fond of him." He looks at Wick, "And there he is, hope your ears weren't burning earlier love" he says with a wink, "I should have thought to bring my guitar." He waves at Beckett "Hey buddy, how goes the day?" still no idea whether or not they hug, he offers his hand for a hand shake.

Johnathan was preparing plates and hot dogs for people to come and take. He is wearing black shorts with celtic knots in silver on them. "Food done for those who are hungry" smiling broadly

Vivian is over by the grill, peering down at the sizzling meat cooking over the fire. She glances over to the new arrivals and does a double-take at Wick, her eyebrows arching. "Oh, hey!" she exclaims, grinning, "You're... wait, don't tell me..." Her lips purse in concentration for a moment before an expression of eureka appears on her features, the blonde snapping her fingers, "...Wick, right? You were with Tex on the beach. Man, I think you two were the first people I talked to in town. Well, beyond just 'hello' and such." And then Hayden is making a run for the man and she blinks before chuckling and turning back to the grill. Best not disturb them. Instead she looks to Conn and smiles rather wanly, shaking her head. "No, I haven't. Hell, I haven't heard hide or hair of him for a while now. I'm kinda worried. I took a trip to his trailer, but no one was home. I hope he's okay."
But then Johnathan has plated some hot dogs and the blonde's attention is diverted. She immediately takes one of the plates and glances around the table, "Do we have any condiments? No worries if not, but I like a little mustard if nothing else."

Caressa nods to Saraid, "Alright." She steps aside as Saraid rises, and follows her over to the food. The empty wine cooler is throw in the trash before she collects a mead, and her own hot dog. "Mmmm. hot dog." She mutters as she savors the meaty goodness. She motions Vivian down the table where there are indeed all the condiments needed for burgers and hot dogs. "On the table, right next to the grill there."

Wick smiles with an affectionate warmth as Hayden runs to him. But then he blinks when he doesn't slow down. "Eep!" The impact makes him stagger back with a bright laughter, until that hug tightens to the point of making him squeak a bit. "Hi Hayden. How are you, sweet little duck?" 
	Smiling off at Conn, Wick ducks his head with a hint of shyness. "Ears burning?" He hesitates. "Oh... I mean... I can run back and get my violin... but... Oh! Hello Beckett." He offers a shy nod. 
	As Caressa's greeting draws his attention, his shyness seems to deepen. But after a moment of hesitation, he offers a soft smile and nods. "Hello Caressa." Johnathan recieves another hesitant nod, shyer still. And Saraid and Vivian each recieve a soft smile of warmth.

Beckett turns as Conn calls out to him and approaches their group. "Hello there," he greets. He stares at Conn, then extends a hand with the same inclination as someone remembering their manners. He smiles over at Wick and Hayden both. "Oh. Yes. Evening! My... it's crowded here."

Hayden looks at Wick and says "Moop!" then lets him go. "I am great."

Saraid carefully takes two barren grilled hot dogs, preferring hers completely naked, and finds a place to sit down and enjoy them, taking a bite before she compliments the chef. "These are really delicious Johnathan! You have done a wonderful job. They are perfect!" The scent of food and the energy of those gathered, maybe doing more to wake her up. Tonight she is dressed in a green one piece bathing suit, and white wrap around her waist. Letting those who know each other, talk more without interrupting. Though she does offer a smile to Wick who she recognizes but there is another joining she does not know, still offering a warm smile to Beckett as well.

Duuuuuh Duh. Duuuuuh Duh. Duh duh-duh duh-duhduhduhduh. POOF! A Tabin appears. Coming down the beach with a backpack, a violin case strapped to it, some trail mix and plenty of moxie. It doesn't take glasses, or a telescope, or teh blind, to tell you that there is a party afoot. I mean...look at it! Right there. Out in the open. Duh. "Wellllll welllll." He says. "Look at what I Spy with my very-much-not-lazy-but-quite-working-THANK-YOU eyes." He says, noticing some people he recognizes and probably the ones who texted him given he's holding his cell phone, he whistles and gives a wave.

"Ah! Thanks, I guess I was too distracted by the savory scents," Vivian replies to Caressa with a wink as the other woman motions to the condiments. She flashes a cheery grin at Beckett before happily shuffling down the line towards the condiments. The blonde plucks out some spicy mustard spread and ketchup, applying both in small proportions to the hot dog on her plate. Having done that, the blonde turns and makes her way to the cooler and once more plucks out a beer before heading back to the fold out cloth chair she brought, flopping down into it. He motion causes the flimsy aluminum structure to become a bit unstable for a moment, but Vivian manages to keep from tipping over with a short 'woah!' and an awkward chair dance. Once the thing seems relatively stable, the blonde grunts once and relaxes, popping the cap off her beer and placing it in a holder on the chair before taking a bite of the hot dog. An expression of pure bliss passes over her features and she lets out a sigh of relish. "Am om oon eean," she calls out to Johnathan before swallowing and clarifying, "That's some good dog!"

Conn chuckles at the awkwardness of their interaction but shakes Beckett's hand none-the-less "You're looking well as ever, Beckett. Nice to see you here." He smiles when Tabin shows up "Oh, the bad's all here, I should get Charlie to send my guitar over in an Uber."

Valentine walks up to the group, the simile on his face seems a bit forced. He walks right up to Wick and puts his arms around him. "Hia everyone"

Wick laughs with Hayden's playful sound and drifts further up the beach towards the others. "That smells great, he offers to Caressa with a shy smile. Catching Tabin's arrival, he brightens with delight. "Tabin! The Dashing! Glad you could make it. Ooh! And you brought your violin! Conn, if you can get your guitar, the band will all be here..." He hesitates a bit, looking to Caressa. "If... I mean... well, we'd be happy to offer a bit of music." As Valentine's arm slips around him, he rather glows and wraps the smaller man up tight in a hug. "Hi Valentine! It's wonderful to see you. Oh! Oh, we... we could dance. We could all dance. With the music." His features shine luminous with eagerness.

Valentine lets out a real smile as he hears Wick babble. "How are ya love?"

Caressa is expecting that there will eventually be too many people here she doesn't know to greet them all. But it is still early enough that she can pick out the ones she doesn't. She gives a wave to Tabin as she makes her way over. "Hello, I'm Caressa." She extends a hand towards the man while her silver-violet eyes study him absently. It seems to be a natural habit of sorts. "What lovely eyes."

Hayden sits down in the sand and seems happy.

Beckett glances towards Vivian, greeting her with a genial smile as she moved on to seize the bounty of many ketchups and probably countless assortments of relishes, krauts, and succotash. A veritable feast awaited for any hot dog connoisseur. Beckett's eyes linger on the U.S. Army shirt she proudly wears before he turns back to the group of folk he's more familiar with. If anyone else had greeted him, there's a good chance he may have missed those friendly or unfriendly hellos. "Ah! You two look as cute together as I suspected you would," he comments to Wick and Valentine. To Tabin he questions: "We've met, right?" And to Hayden. "Doing okay there, friend?"

Caressa claps her hands together as she looks back to Wick, "Oh, that would be lovely if you could! Thank you!" Her gaze then drifting to Valentine and getting lost somewhere above his head. "Oh my." She smiles to Valentine and extends a hand, "I'm Caressa. A pleasure to meet you." Her gaze dropping towards the sand curiously, then coming back up.

Beckett glances towards Vivian, greeting her with a genial smile as she moved on to seize the bounty of many ketchups and probably countless assortments of relishes, krauts, and succotash. A veritable feast awaited for any hot dog connoisseur. Beckett's eyes linger on the U.S. Army shirt she proudly wears before he turns back to the group of folk he's more familiar with. If anyone else had greeted him, there's a good chance he may have missed those friendly or unfriendly hellos. "Ah! You two look as cute together as I suspected you would," he comments to Wick and Valentine. To Tabin he questions: "We've met, right?" And to Hayden. "Doing okay there, friend?"

Caressa claps her hands together as she looks back to Wick, "Oh, that would be lovely if you could! Thank you!" Her gaze then drifting to Valentine and getting lost somewhere above his head. "Oh my." She smiles to Valentine and extends a hand, "I'm Caressa. A pleasure to meet you." Her gaze dropping towards the sand curiously, then coming back up.

Valentine smiles at Beckett, "Thanks!" he turns to Caressa and takes her offered hand. "I'm Valentine, Alexander Valentine. It's nice to meet ya!"

Tabin looks over as he hears his name! And his title! Who could it be?! He notices Wick and leans back letting out a gutteral "WIIIIIIIICCCCKKKKK." he says, giving a smile before he realizes that he has been swindled! Because now he has to perform! On the fly?! "Wait! We're what?" He then looks to Valentine, who is getting cozy with Wick. "Whodat?" He looks over to Caressa, who is mostly skin, approaching him with a smile. "Whodis?" He looks to Beckett. "Whositt?" He blinks. STOP! Dashing time. One at a time.

Caressa gets a friendly wide-angled hand-shake that eventually turns into just swinging hands. "Sup. Tabin. Nice to meetcha. Nice. Er. Just Nice." The hand is released when she ovvers it to Valentine. Next to Beckett. "Ugh...." He looks at Beckett and contemplates. "Don't think so? Maybe a single-serving friend maybe?" He says. Then to Conn. "We playing?" He looks to Wick. "You didn't even tell me! for shame!" He says. Then. He counts. Then Wick again. "We're playing?" He thinks he got everyone and everything.

	Vivian's eyes wander over the group, chewing slowly on her hot dog. "Very... huggy crowd," she remarks to no one in particular, "I guess just about everyone knows each other." She grins lopsidedly, "I take it this is not the first time a party like this was organized, then." When she spots Beckett looking at her shirt, the blonde smiles impishly, pushing out her chest and raising her beer in salute before taking a few gulps and returning it to the cloth holder on the chair.

Valentine smiles at the group as a whole and his sour mood evaporating quickly at the jovial mood.

Wick smiles at Valentine with a hint warmth in his cheeks. "I'm doing well. It's good to see you." That warmth floods to the tips of his ears with Beckett's comment. But he can't help but seem pleased. He quiets as Caressa approaches, keeping Valentine close at his side. But he's still smiling from her encouragement of their music and dancing. Peeking over at Tabin, he says, "Tabin, this is Alexander Valentine. And that's Beckett. And Caressa - our host. Aaand this is Tabin the Dashing." He pauses. "And... if you want to, I'd love for you to join the music. But you don't have to."

	Saraid keeps unusually quiet this evening before she moves over to Johnathan after finishing off her hot dogs, and whispers something in his ear careful not to disturb the festivities. She does leave a basket of fruits, with jars of various berry type jams on the table the food is set on, and nods her head respectfully to those gathered before she has no choice but to leave.


Conn smiles at Hayden and Wick as the ruction comes to an end and waves to Valentine "Hey Val, no hug for me? I'm gutted, just gutted," he says melodramatically, but utterly unable to hold the fake upset, "Yeah Tabin, my guitar's on the way over from the Murder. Charlie was good enough to stick it in an uber for me, so if you can give me ten minutes, it should be her by then." He nods at Vivian "Yeah; myself, Wick, and Tabin play music together. Valentine and Beckett are regulars in the Murder. And Hayden and I have been a thing for about six months which, in gay years, is basically forever."
Hayden points to Conn. "I'm his."

Valentine looks at Tabin, "We?ve met, nice to see ya again." He giggles at Conn?s words and gestures for him to come get his hug, not wanting to leave wick?s side.

Caressa smiles to Hayden since it seems the band will be playing, "Are you going to be singing, Hayden?" She glances to Wick and sighs softly as she steps away a step or two while sipping her mead.

Tabin nods to Conn and Wick. "I'm just kiddin'. Sure. I can play. I have my Ocarina in my backpack too in case you need a woodwind for some reason." He says to both. "I mean...I feel extremely overdressed, but no one wants to see this guy in ze nude. Know what I mean?" He says. "But yeah. I can play." When Valentine says that they've met before he nods. "Yeah, at the Murder I remember. It's just that Wick and I are friends and he didn't give me the 411? You know?" He gestures between the two of them. "So _someone's_ in ze Dog House." He playfully teases Wick. But otherwise is unslinging his backpack to grab his violin.

Caressa adds, "Strike up the band! Make the fireflies dance! Silver moon's sparkling!" Her arms rising in the air as she jigs over to Johnathan as if already hearing the music. She plants a big kiss on his cheek, "They brought the band, Love!"

Vivian glances at Saraid curiously as the woman whispers to Johnathan before stepping quietly away. The blonde looks after her for a moment before shrugging and returning to devouring her hot dog, chewing thoughtfully as Conn speaks. After swallowing, the blonde can't help but grin lopsidedly, "'Gay years'? I didn't know there was a difference." Her grin turns into a smile, "Though it's neat to know you guys all play instruments together. I'm kinda envious. I really have no musical talent what-so-ever." She eyes Tobin's violin and nods to it, "I did try and take up violin in middle school. I was rubbish at it and quit."

Johnathan chuckles with a smile "That is great" flipping some burgers and a steak looking with a smile to the people gathered. Trying to kiss her back but not wanting to get anything burnt
Hayden says "I'll sing if people want?" He is very happy just to chill.

Conn looks at Hayden "I mean. I don't know that I like to think of you as 'mine'. Ownership of another person isn't really in my comfort zone." He looks at Tabin and then at Wick and Valentine and then back at Wick "Oh. Oh, no, that's not, they're just, y'know... friendly," he says and walks over to Valentine, picking him Wick both up into a hug with a grin. "Tabin that's Beckett, Beckett, Tabin." He nods at Vivian "I had not no training until I was infirmed for two or three weeks, and Wick here brought me a beat up old guitar to teach me on. That'd be the bar guitar in the Murder."

"Do they call him Tabin the dashing because he breaks hearts?" Beckett asks Wick coyly through the teeth of his own smile but definitely loud enough that Tabin can still hear. He moves on to idle chatter with with the group. "Are you all going to play? That'd be lovely. Hmmm. Violin and Guitar? I don't suppose you know anything by A Silver Mount Zion? Not exactly Top 40. I wouldn't be shocked if no one's heard of them."

Hayden looks up and says "okay."

Wick bows his head and works his toes into the sand as Tabin calls him out on the 411 - his profound shyness quite clear. But looking to Vivian, he offers a gentle smile. "Everyone starts out rubbish. It's just how it is. But. If you didn't want to continue, that's fair." His gaze flits off after Caressa towards Johanthan and can't help but smile with their excitement over the music. He absolutely /glows/ as Conn picks Valentine and him up both into a bear hug, laughing with luminous delight. "If you like... until your guitar gets here... I could get us all started with something. A song I've been working on... a song of my own..."

Valentine smiles wide, and laughs as conn hugs him and wick. "It?s nice to see ya!"

Caressa snuggles Johnathan a moment longer. AFterall, he's running the grill and she doesn't want to get in the way of that. "Where did we put those...ah, there they are." She finds the long lighter and carries it over to the bonfire. There she kneels down and reaches the lighter into the logs while muttering to herself. Likely the wrong way to light a bonfire, but she's doing it. Of course, the magic juice is -inside- the 5-foot tall tee-pee shaped structure. There's a glow from inside where she was trying to light it and she quickly backs away as the kindling in the middle lights with a WOOSH.

Tabin slowly gives an ahhhh. "Got it." He says to Conn, while looking over at the trio getting a big bear hug. "Well if Wick is going to play then I don't have to do any warm ups. New piece huh?" He says with a smirk. "I'd love to hear it." Beckett's coy tease makes him give a playful little SNEER. SNEER Tabin does, but the smile breaks it. "I dunno why I got it! But I was granted it, and it stuck, and now I just own it." He shrugs.

Oh right, I remember you talking about that," Vivian replies to Conn, nodding, "Learning guitar while infirm and all." She smiles wryly at Wick, rubbing the back of her head and shrugging, "Maybe, but I never seemed to improve. Maybe I just gave up too soon, but, eh. I prefer listening to music anyway. I'll leave the creation of it to those who have the passion."
Her eyes swivel to regard Caressa as the woman moves to light the bonfire. Vivian blinks and jerks back in mild surprise as the fire WHOOSHes. "Damn! You must've used a lot of accelerant."

Conn winks at Hayden and rubs the back of his head after he sets Wick and Val down. "Thanks love. There isn't much from the Bible I liked, but 1 Corinthians 13 1 is amazing. Love is not selfish, I don't own you. I share my life with you, y'know?" He nods at Val "Nice to see you too, Val. We still need that sit down at some point," he says enigmatically with a wink. "It was the Paddy's day pissup Joel organised. I gave people nicknames, but only yours and Joel's stuck. But I think people were calling him Joel the Asshole before then." Looking at Beckett, "You? You're Beckett the Enigmatic," he says and nods.

Valentine snorts at how Conn addresses Beckett

Hayden looks up and says "Sure."

Beckett accepts his new title with a silent 'ooo' with lips pursed to shape a sound that never came and a wiggle of all ten of his gloved fingers. Very mysterious.

Tabin purses his lips. "I thought it was Hopp who gave me my title. Am I mixing things up?" He says, confused. Now he retreats into his mind of myyyyssstery and contemplates. "...Huh. Who knows. Better story that way." He says with a smirk.

Caressa shrugs with a mix of innocence and deviance to Vivian. "I wanted to make sure I had a bonfire. I didn't think I used -that- much. But that WOOSH is so very satisfying." She wanders back to the band. "What type of music do you play and how long till the Uber gets here?" She bites her lip glancing between Wick and Valentine.

Hayden gets a hot dog and a wine cooler then returns to his spot in the sand.

Wick laughs as Conn explains Tabin's title and puts one on Beckett. "See, now you have to give us all titles. Cause I think I sent home before I got one." He sticks the tip of his tongue out at Conn with a playful quirk of a smile. Peeking over at Caressa he offers a soft smile, "Thanks for the bonfire. And... I suppose it's sorta like indie rock? Folk? At least, most of the music I play. And... Beckett, I know that band. But... the song I know best, it's Broken Chords Can Sing a Little. On the piano..." Keeping close at Valentine's side, he slings his guitar off his shoulder. "So... um... shall I get us started?" He hesitates, glancing from face to face.

A taxi pulls up right on queue "Yeah indie, the lighter side of rock, or the heavier side of pop. That ambiguous area," Conn says. He makes a show of testing the tuning of his guitar, winking at Hayden as he does so "I can never eat hot dogs in public, I get too self conscious." He hrms at Wick. "Wick the Wonderful. Hayden the Handsome. Valentine the Valorous. Caressa the Kind. Jonathan the Just. Vivian the Vivacious. I have given you the names, you can keep them or not, but I don't do refunds," he says and strums out a G Major to ensure the guitar is in tune (which it always is).

Valentine laughs loudly, "I?ll take it." He moves to give Wick space to play, but stays close. He kisses wick?s head. "Show the what ya got hot stuff."

Caressa nods, "You can start when every you wish..." she starts to continue then does a double take when Conn names her title. Beaming proudly as Johnathan gets one too. "Umm. so if you are playing Wick.." She looks to Valentine, "..maybe I can get one dance?"

Valentine smiles at her and nods, "Sure."

Beckett perks up when Wick mentions he knows the band in question. "I'd love to hear you play that on piano sometime," he says, leaving Wick be to set up and play.

Caressa nods to Valentine, "Thanks." She wanders back to Johnathan. "I think you can pack up the grill, Love. Time to enjoy the party with me."

Hayden sits quietly and watches. He doesn't say a word.

Conn stills his guitar as Wick starts his personally written performance, rapt in attention, his eyes bright with admiration and love, swaying gently in time with the music.

Tabin taps his foot on the sand and listens to Wick's performance as he tunes his own violin. He doesn't need to play it to test it, having familiarized himself with the instrument enough to know it by mere feel of the chords.

"Well, fair enough," Vivian states to Caressa, smiling wryly before draining the rest of her beer. Seeing as the grill is being packed up, the blonde stands and stretches, quickly tossing away her trash into the proper receptacle and folding up her chair. "Well, folks, it's been real. As always, the hospitality of Prospect leaves me gobsmacked. Enjoy the rest of your evening." With a cheery wave, the blonde strides away, chair underneath her arm.

Johnathan starts packing up the grill since most of the food been handed out already smiling as he nods to her. Moving along with her more towards the party

Wick nods and stakes a steadying little huff of a breath. His cheeks remain burning with warmth as he prepares to perform the song he'd written. The chords begin in a lazy little tune. He shifts in a little dance as he drifts across the sand, hips swaying with each step to the beat. And then his soft voice lifts like a gentle summer breeze. The words are simple - a song of dozing off in the afternoons, waiting for you to come back. No where to be. Just music and summer sunshine. And love. 
Simple words. And much of the song is just soft humming. Gentle nonsense sounds. Ba-daba-da-da...

Caressa smiles when Johnathan comes up beside her. She slips and arm around his waist and leans into him happily.

Valentine watches happily

Wick's eyes drift shut as he begins to lose himself in the song. That song of his heart. He can't help but dance, glowing with a luminous delight. He savors the summer sunshine in that song. At last you return. Wrapping me up in a hug. Hours slip by without meaning. Who cares? Who needs to count them? Wind chimes in the breeze. Cicadas singing in the summer sunshine. 
Love fills that song. And few who listen could hope to keep from dancing along with him in that languid bit of joyous delight.

Hayden starts to dance in place.

Valentine begins to dance to the song, putting his all into it, hips moving to the rhythm. A happy relaxed look on his face

Tabin WAS working on his violin. But then he decided to say fuck it. So he tosses the violin onto the ground as if it was a heap of garbage and in a complete Not The Right Style of Dancing, begins to Disco on the sand. "Time to hop a dash!" Yeeeh.

Caressa manages to be more entranced by Wick's song rather than letting her feel the music. That is except for the one foot tapping on the sand.

Conn taps his foot, much like Caressa does, but is always concerned about relinquishing that much control and so instead begins to play in time with Wick, matching the tune and watching carefully for changes.

Hayden dances slowly like a beach bound fred astaire.

Wick smiles with entranced delight as Valentine begins to dance. Such beautiful, perfect little movements to that summer sunshine song. And he /glows/ as Conn begins to add to the song, his eyes shining luminous with emotion. His voice grows hoarse as he hums the last strains of it. And the moment those last strands of music fade, he sets the guitar in the sand and dashes into Conn's arms. "That was beautiful!!"

Valentine Slows to a stop as the song ends, and watches with a happy smile as Wick hugs Conn

Beckett maintains his austere composure whilst enjoying the music and merrymaking.

Caressa looks up to Johnathan and shares a loving kiss, then takes a moment to admire his shocking blue eyes. A heart beat later the song has ended and she applauds the musicians.
Hayden claps and smiles.

Conn chuckles at the dash "Love, you wrote it. I just played along," he says with a kiss to the top of Wick's head, "you're the one who did the hard work. My part was much easier, I just had to watch you and that's always easy."

Johnathan returns the kiss with a smile, applauding the musicians

Tabin finishes dancing and gives a clap. Then realizes he missed the set cuz he was dancing. "Shit!" He grumbles. "Now I feel like a dweeb." He slumps. Oh well. Another day for Tabin for the Dashing.