(Untitled)

[keepurshirtonlt]

At first, the streamlined, bland walls of the Compound had been comforting. Sure, it didn't have the smooth metal bulkheads of Enterprise but the plain, common walls everywhere still helped with his transition to the island

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[notfaking_it]

Lily's opinion of the island was still on the high side, even given recent events. Things went wrong no matter where a person lived, though they rarely went as wrong as toys attacking people. She worried about Nina, especially since the doll Lily had given her had woken up and tried to kill her, but she couldn't deny that it was a lovely day and she was out walking on the beach when she came across Trip.

"New place?" she asked as she wandered toward him. For awhile she'd stayed in the Compound, mostly to stay close to Nina, but the walls had gotten to her after awhile. It was too uniform, too clean. Lily had needed something imperfect and so she'd moved into her own hut near the dance studio.

[keepurshirtonlt]

"Yep. Just finished movin' in an' everything." Trip said proudly as he sat up in his chair, giving Lily a beaming smile. "The Compound was nice and all, but I really wanted something with a view of the ocean." His gaze went back out over the water and he didn't resist the feeling of contentment that came over him. Really, if he couldn't be home, this wasn't bad. Even with the killer toys.

[notfaking_it]

"I don't blame you," Lily said, returning the smile. "Mine's right on the beach, too, right beside the dance studio." There was an invitation in her voice, even if she didn't come right out and say it. Now she knew where he lived and he had directions to her place. No reason not to see him.

"So, you have an extra chair for a lady or do we share?" she asked, teasing, one hand finding its way to her hip. If he had an extra chair, she'd take it, but she didn't mind sharing if she had to.

[keepurshirtonlt]

Dance studio. Got it. Trip just grinned to show her the message had been received. Visiting was definitely doable. "I don't know how anyone can live anywhere else, honestly."

Trip actually had to think for a moment. "Ya know, there might be. I'm still sortin' through everything left by the old tenants. But, I got the feeling anything I find will be dusty so why don't we just share for now?" Because a gentleman couldn't offer a lady a dirty chair, or so Trip's momma would say. Granted, he didn't think this was quite the situation she meant, but hey, it still worked in his favor.

[girlsolo]

Collecting shells is becoming a favorite keep-to-herself pastime. They're not worth anything. Nothing on the island really is. But it's a familiar activity, amassing 'wealth', converting it or fencing it for things she wants. It hurts no one.

She's out beachcombing when she spots Trip in a beach chair.

"Well, if it isn't Mr. Tucker. Found yourself a nice beachfront property after all," Kate calls cheerfully up the beach. She smirks, small and sharp. "Must've had one hell of a real estate agent."

Had. Pun very much intended.

[keepurshirtonlt]

"She came very highly recommended." Trip said, quite happy to play along. "Definitely can't complain anyhow. Almost feels like home." Almost being the key word but this was the island after all.

"You know, I never took ya for a beach comber." It wasn't said with any sort of malice, just teasing observation.

[girlsolo]

"Maybe I should take her for a spin," Kate plays back, teasing him with the idea. Yeah, she's not banging anyone but Declan, but no harm giving a former fuckbuddy a little fodder for the spank bank.

After, she cocks her head, grinning as she strolls up toward him. "It's not really beachcombing. I'm keeping my eyes sharp for policing my brass."

[keepurshirtonlt]

Oh and was it an idea. Trip was happy for her but he'd be lying if he said he didn't miss it. "I'll let 'er know yer lookin'. I'm sure she'd be pleased to give ya a hand." He replied lazily, as he watched her approach, not bothering to get up from his sprawl in the chair until she was right on top of

"Alright, ya lost me. Besides keeping your eyes sharp, I got that part." Trip was a smart guy, he knew that, despite what people thought when they heard him speak. But that wasn't slang he was familiar with and he knew he'd just make himself look like an idiot if he tried.

[usethecompany]

The beach could always be relied upon for a fair bit of foot traffic, regardless of the day. Archie frequently took his walks with Styles along the shore, preferring the open horizon, the smell of the sea and the crash of the waves to the somewhat more cramped environments of the boardwalk surrounded by jungle.

His typical, cheerful mood hung upon him as Kennedy neared the house Trip had, unbeknownst to Kennedy of course, recently made his home. Archie raised a hand as he approached, Styles busily investigating a bit of seaweed stranded on the sand. "Good afternoon," he called. "You seem to have made yourself at home, sir."

[keepurshirtonlt]

When Trip heard Archie, he lifted his head and then raised a hand in greeting. "Good afternoon to you too, Archie." He grinned as he stretched and stood up, looking back at his new home. "And yep, figured it was about time to get out on my own. Can't argue with the view, that's fer sure."

[velation]

"As I suspected, you've gone native just like everyone else," Faye joked from a distance, out that morning for a bit of a walk, the one that she didn't want to admit taking on such a regular basis to other people, though it was utterly necessary to maintain her figure without hunting to keep her busy. Usually, she could find a myriad of excuses for her presence outdoors. The hut had gotten stuffy, she was hungry, or some asshole had decided to cross her side of the neighborhood, requiring her to wander to the other half of the island entirely. (She wouldn't have actually picked everything up to run, but people in general tended not to ask questions when it came to assholes, and Faye didn't mind taking advantage of that.)

Crossing her arms as she came up to Trip, Faye cocked a brow. "Thought you were supposed to be on duty for finding a way off this place," she grinned.

[keepurshirtonlt]

"With a view like this, how can anyone resist?" Trip said with a welcoming grin when he turned to see Faye walking up on him. He honestly didn't know how anyone could stay cooped inside with all this beach on their door step, but then he had practically grown up on the water.

Then his expression turned to one of playful bashfulness. "Hey now! A man has to take a break every now an' then! Can't be thinkin' all the time or he's bound to wear himself out!"

[velation]

"Oh, not the old 'all work and no play' argument; that's such a tired excuse," she teased, stretching her arms over her head and sighing in spite of herself, enjoying the scent of the ocean on the air. While she didn't know Trip all that well, having only met him shortly after his arrival, there was something about the man's demeanor that she still found to be a comfort, a stability that almost no one on the island enjoyed for long. It was possible that, in time, he would find himself as worn and jaded as the rest of the island, but considering the fact that he'd managed to push through Halloween with a smile still on his face, Faye was starting to feel somewhat hopeful.

"The island itself is like a perpetual vacation; you should be able to soak up the relaxation through osmosis," she continued, wrinkling her nose for a moment. "Take a five minute breather before diving straight into the work again."

[keepurshirtonlt]

"But it works so well!" Trip whined playfully, clearly teasing back. It was just the way Trip was. At least on the outside. While it was a bit touchy in The Expanse, he was usually pretty good at being stable for others and he'd be more then happy to do that for Faye.

And really, what were killer toys compared to killer aliens, even if having to beat down a teddy bear was a bit traumatizing on principal.

"Hey, I haven't had a vacation in a year. Pardon me fer sittin' back and actually enjoyin' it. But I promise. Once I've had ma fun, it's back to work for this engineer."