Morning beachcombing [OPEN POST]

[too_late4tom]

After a strange incident with his pet turtle in the wee hours of the morning, Tom tried to get back to sleep. After staring restlessly at the ceiling for a couple of hours, he decided to get an early start on his day instead

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[harley_is_love]

Down the beach, he can see a figure coming towards him. From far away, it looks like a jogger. One of those crazies that go out before the sun rises and runs up and down the beach for hours on end.

When she gets nearer, Tom will recognize the jogger. It is Harley. She comes to a stop by him, jogging in place, glancing at him. Then the caffeine and then the ocean. "Hey Tom!"

Looks like someone is a morning person by that bright smile

[too_late4tom]

Tom is a little surprised to see Harley jogging towards him, but then reconsiders. There's a reason she is in amazing shape, after all. He returns her smile, certainly not as brightly but genuine all the same. "Hi, Harley. I'd ask what you were doing up at this hour, but the answer's pretty obvious."

[harley_is_love]

Harley definitely keeps fit. And fits the category of a yummy-mommy.

"Yah. I always go for a run, before breakfast and coffee with Markus."

"Though I have never seen you out here before..."

[too_late4tom]

Tom tries not to dwell on that fact. He does make a mental note to take up some of his old military exercises, to get back into shape.

"If I'm ever up this early, it's to go to work," Tom replies. How does he explain that he thinks his pet tortoise was singing and kept him from falling back asleep? "I had some trouble sleeping," he explains. "Thought a walk would pep me up a little."

[iamsthenyaer]

Well, apparently it's the day for people out to walk around early. A girl with brown hair and a pretty, but relaxed blue dress is sipping on coffee and absentmindedly walking along the surf. When Tom (or the girl) get closer to each other, they'll both recognize each other.

"Oh, hey, Tom," Mel says. She gives him a wave and a grin, trotting over to him. "Haven't seen you in a while. How're you doing?"

[too_late4tom]

Tom blinks as Melinda approaches, initially mistaking her for Irma. "Oh... hey, Melinda." It's kind of strange seeing a familiar face on a relative stranger, especially one that smiles so easily. "I'm all right. Up a little earlier than I'd like. What brings you to Shell Beach?"

[iamsthenyaer]

Mel could be Irma's twin, albiet one that spends more time in the sun. Mel's a bit brown from the Greek weather and smells like the sea and fresh air, maybe a little floral. "I get up early, and I had some free time today, so I figured that I'd come visit Sarah and Schreber. I didn't realize it was quite so early, so I decided to go for a walk on the beach before I inflicted myself on them." Mel figures that Tom started to glower at Schreber after he hadn't proposed for a while, but she'll make sure he did before she thanks him for getting Schreber to muster up the courage.

[too_late4tom]

It helps that Mel's hair is dark, too. But really, it's her body language that really sets her apart from Irma. Still, it takes him a little while to look her comfortably in her eyes. "Yeah, it's a little early to visit those two. Sarah might be up, but if you catch her before she's had her coffee, she's not that nice." He grins a little to show he's joking. Mostly.

[anna_was_emma]

Down by the pier, an easel is set up and a dark-haired woman is mixing paint on a palette. Sunrise at the beach is a classic theme, maybe overdone, but in her painting, the sun is a broken clock face, and there are people submerged in the water.

[too_late4tom]

Tom has finished his coffee, and now is just wandering towards the pier, hands tucked in his pockets. He doesn't recognize the painter, but he's drawn towards her art, all the same. Once he realizes who she is, he ambles down the pier with a little more purpose to his step.

"Hi Anna," He smiles in greeting. They've met enough that he doesn't feel compelled to call her Mrs. Murdoch.

[anna_was_emma]

She, in turn, doesn't recognize him until he gets closer. Once she does, she beams and rinses her brush, setting it on the edge of the easel. "Tom! Hello, how have you been? It's been a while."

She leans down and reaches into a backpack at her feet. "I brought some coffee, in a thermos. Would you like a drink?"

[too_late4tom]

Enough time has passed (and enough caffeine has passed through his system) that he doesn't look as tired, and that weirdness with his pet tortoise is off his mind. "I'm all right. How're you doing? How's John?"

He looks at the thermos. He may have just had a cup, but he can't say no to more coffee. "Sure, if you don't mind sharing." He gives a nod towards her painting. "I like it. Why are there people in the water?"