(Untitled)

[un_gloved]

Rogue had taken a lot of care in prepping for the day’s excursion. She’d had to find a new bathing suit, for starters, since her last good one had been stolen by a literal wave of bad luck. She’d packed a bag with water and sangria she’d left soaking for a whole day, two towels and a chewed up paperback edition of The Firm. Sarong firmly in place

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[justsookie]

"They are not monsters," I protest in mock indignation, although it's hard to keep the smile from my face as I look up at Neil. I feel a bit bad for the other girls- Neil can probably keep Rogue well enough occupied, I'm sure, but the other woman seems out for the count. It crosses my mind to try and share the girls a little more, but then again, I've got no idea how much either woman appreciates tiny, high-strung bottles of sugar and spice. "They're both gorgeous as can be. I mean, look at Flo here, who I'm sure's prettier than any real mermaids that might out there, though maybe someday we should go look."

I turn to Mack and lean in, brushing my nose against hers. "And Mack here's a right little genius. Have you ever made jewelry before, honey? I've got a jewelry-makin' kit back at the hut that I haven't broken into yet, if you'd like to try. Flo's welcome too, of course; I'm sure we could make you a real pretty necklace to go with the suit."

Pulling them both closer, I lean in an whisper, "You know, maybe you two should meet the other ladies too, mm? Make some new friends?"

[little_moons]

Leaning around Sookie to return the handshake, I say, "Likewise," and offer Faye a knowing smirk. Not one for chitchat, and honestly, I never was either. Not growing up. Not in Kansas. It wasn't until I got here, maybe not even 'til after I left Logan, that it felt right to be all friendly and shit. Sometimes it still doesn't feel like it fits.

"Sookie, you keep puffin' 'em up like that, their heads are gonna explode," I say, watching with a smirk as Flo seems unsure about bothering the other women, and Mack is too preoccupied with the prospect of jewelry making, even though she'd probably lose interest halfway through, and lose whatever she made the first time she wore it.

"Sorry if we're interruptin'," I say, mostly to the other two, even though I'm more amused than sorry, "We'll be on the move, soon. They got kinda short attention spans."

[un_gloved]

"It's nice t'be distracted from grown up stuff," Rogue said, with a little gesture of one hand as if to say 'pshaw'.

"Even if it's only comprised of tannin' real studiously."

[velation]

Maybe it's a little bit hard to believe the company that I've found myself with today. They're both so sunny, welcoming, one like powdered sugar and the other with more bite, but they're both a hell of a lot more positive than I am, maybe even on my best day. Makes me feel like a downer by comparison, and I haven't even said anything out of line. Already, I feel my sharp tongue dulling down as I figure out what exactly I'm supposed to say to that guy, the one who seems none too sorry about getting all up in my day, I'll tell you. I guess that could be the appeal of kids. You can bug the hell out of people, and no one can even protest.

Note to self: If I ever need to drive Spike nuts, obtain children. Possibly in multiples.

"They're kids," I say with a shrug. Sure, I'm not really that annoyed by them being there, sand aside. But it's not like I'm going to encourage them to stay the rest of the afternoon, either. "Isn't that the very definition?"

[justsookie]

It's becoming pretty clear that the girls aren't too sure about the other two women lying there. (Actually, it's more like Mack doesn't even care; I keep on hearing her mumbling about jewelry and her fingers keep on running along the ridges of the shell she's pull out for me.) I can't really blame them. Not all people know how to deal with children- even I'm not going to argue that I'm an expert, nor can I ever really claim to be until I've got kids of my own, I think- and not all people want to. And that's their prerogative. If everyone gave into their maternal and paternal instincts, it's very possible this island would end up overpopulated, anyway.

"If they're botherin' either of you," I say to Rogue and Faye, offering a very slightly apologetic smile. "I can always haul these two off to the trampoline for a bit." My voice lowers to a feigned hush as I lean in, not really trying to hide my words from the girls.

"The goal's to get them tired enough so that they'll take a nap."

[little_moons]

Tiring of talking about jewelry making, Mack wanders over to Rogue without hesitation, her plastic bucket trailing from one hand.

"I like your hair," she says, stopping just short of reaching out to touch it.

Tipping the bowl that's sitting between them to see what's inside -- fruit salad, by the looks of it, I pull Flo into my lap, turn to Sookie and say, as casually as I can manage, "So, how's it goin'?"

[un_gloved]

Rogue blinked, then smiled a little and ducked her head so Mack could get a better look.

"Thank you kindly, miss. Been like this since I was as little as you!"

[velation]

I'd never really thought about that before, Rogue's hair. There's no doubt that it's striking, in a way that makes it impossible to mistake her for someone else, even from a distance, but I'd always assumed that she just managed to get her hands on bleach over the months. Now I find myself turning to lay on my stomach in order to get a better look.

"Your hair's always been like that? Seriously?" Chin in my palm, I tilt my head, tempted to reach out and see if the texture's any different. "Never would have thought. It's pretty precise, a line of white in front."

[justsookie]

When Rogue and Faye drift off into their own conversation of sorts, I feel strangely grateful. It allows me to just sit with Neil for a while, my head tilted as I consider Flo's tiny little feet, then reach out to wiggle them, tickle them, just in case she can't handle being the odd girl out. But for the most part, my attention's on Neil, who's been watching pretty carefully over me the past few weeks. I can't begrudge the question- actually, it's kind of amazing that he hasn't already thrown his arms up and given up on me. Guess that's the mark of a real friend, right there.

"Better," I admit, pressing my lips together. "Things got a little strained all around, and not everything's... I mean, Mitchell can still tell that I'm a bundle of nerves, and it's got him all nervous too, but I'm okay now, most of the time. Just findin' more stuff to keep myself busy with."

[little_moons]

Watching with a smirk on my face as Mack reaches out tentatively and touches a fingertip to Rogue's hair, like she's checking to see if it's real -- I've gotten pretty good at dividing my attention in all different directions -- I say, "Good. You don't gotta tell me they were strained. I sorta noticed--

"Mack, don't do that!" I cut in when she tries to reach into the bowl of fruit with her sand-covered hands.

[un_gloved]

"Yup," Rogue said, keeping her head down for Mack's easy reach but turning it a little to grin at Faye.

"It's a blaze. My aunt Carrie had one, too. Just the pair of us, dunno why. My daddy told me my momma didn't have one. It's about all he'd say of her, actually." She blinked at Neil's interjection, and looked over to where Mack's attention had deviated.

"Oh, woops," she said, reaching over to catch the little girl around the waist and tug her back.

"Sugar, you wanna wash off those hands so your fruit isn't all sandy? It'll be yucky like that!" She paused, then glanced at Faye, and mouthed 'yucky?', clearly surprised with her own rapid adaptation to baby-talk.

She didn't have a whole lot of experience with it.

[velation]

"Huh," I murmur curiously, tilting my head to get a better look at it. My own hair's strangely colored by the island's standards, I know that much. Purple, green, blue hair, none of that seems to come from anything but boxes of hair dye here, but patterns in hair color are something entirely different to me, at least when the difference is so stark. Either way, I wind a few strands of my hair around my finger, before then turning in the direction of the kids, eyes widening as I shuffle over to help pull the fruit bowl slightly out of the way. "Whoa, kid, Rogue's... right, you'll want to wash your hands first, unless you like your fruit all salty."

My brow furrows in light amusement. "A sucker for kids, Rogue?" I ask, reaching over for a bottle of water. "Hands out, kid."

[justsookie]

It's nice to see that the other girls can, apparently, interact with the girls perfectly well when they're put to the task, and I allow myself the chance to sit back a bit. Rubbing at my temples, in circles, taking a deep breath. I don't really want to think too much about my problems right now, as much as I know that Neil is probably the best person to discuss them with anyway. Rolling my head around on my shoulders, I smile lightly and pick myself up, wrapping my arms around Flo and pressing a kiss to her cheek.

"Want some fruit?" I ask, laughing lightly. "As long as you agree to wash your hands, too."