(open)

[seas_open]

While the event out at the Siren Cove Lodge and Resort hadn't been a bad way to start off in a new town, April hadn't bothered trying to get a room, instead opting to return to her apartment in town. She supposes she might have been able to find someone willing to share, but she's not quite prepared to jump into such arrangements, instead choosing to watch those around her, interacting with them to test the waters and see what they might be able to do for her.

Today she's doing a bit of exploring. She walks the boardwalk, looking into store windows as she goes -- a few of them are closed, their owners out at the Lodge, she expects -- and then through town. She passes the library, a police station, several cafes and small restaurants. Thus far she isn't sure what to make of Siren Cove, if the name has anything to do with what she might find or if she's just killing more time before she has to move on again. There's a part of her that wants to find nothing except a little bit of fun, but there's another, quiet part of her looking for something more. Some explanation as to what she is, where she's come from.

She's wearing a cute summer dress and a pair of strappy heels and she's dressed this way with intention. It's a sweet, approachable look and yet the heels are just unstable enough for it to look genuine when she trips, one ankle twisting as she reaches out for the nearest passerby.

"Oh, god, I'm sorry," she says, laughing at herself, looking faintly embarrassed. "It's these shoes. Are you alright?"

Comments

[seas_open]

"If you're more comfortable swimming without a suit, I'm certainly not going to be the one to stop you," she answers, her shoulders lifting in a shrug. "I might wear one of my own, though. Just in case."

[bachjones]

"I just don't own one, yet. Just in case you feel uncomfortable with shocking people? I understand. I'm like that."

[seas_open]

"Swimming naked isn't the most shocking thing I've seen or done," she assures him, letting her gaze drift past him to the ocean briefly. "I doubt it's the most shocking thing most people have seen or done."

[bachjones]

He inhales deeply, keeping the water close. "Wanna share what was?"

[seas_open]

"Oh, no, that's strictly third meeting material," April answers with a smirk. "You give everything up right away and no one wants to keep you around anymore." She never gives everything up, not even after months or years of knowing a person, but he doesn't need to know that.

[bachjones]

"Maybe this will be our first and last meeting." He loosens his scarf, unbuttons his jacket. "The way you make my temperature rise, I might not even survive this one."

[seas_open]

That gets a laugh out of her as she pushes her hair back behind her ear. "One second you're telling me that getting in the water with me won't do anything for you and the next I'm making your temperature rise?" she asks, amused.

[bachjones]

"You're hot, it just doesn't start anything right now. You must know that. The first part. The second might be a first experience for you."

[seas_open]

"No. Not all men are interested in what I have to offer," she answers, but she's studying him curiously again. It's true, she knows she's not to everyone's taste, though she does try to figure out what it is people like and work with that. "You said it doesn't start anything right now. What's different about now?"

[bachjones]

"Gay men?"

He takes a step back so she can have a better look. "Few weeks, to be honest. Complete shutdown, barely bother to breathe these days. Although you look like a reason to go on."

[seas_open]

"Gay men, men who are genuinely in love," she answers, one shoulder rolling in a smooth shrug. Though April has never been in love herself and doesn't imagine it happening any time soon, she believes in the power of it well enough. She's seen it at work.

"Barely bother to breathe," she echoes, tilting her head. "Something bad must have happened to cause that kind of shutdown."

[bachjones]

"Genuinely in love. Wow. Do you recognize that in same way or do you just be honest and ask about it?"

[seas_open]

"No, that's the sort of thing you can just see in a person," she answers. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not some hopeless romantic, but there's just something about a person in love. You've never seen it?"

[bachjones]

"Ha, no. Just dependency. One sided needs that smother the other one. Anger covered up under the name of love." He shakes his head. "Never seen a person in love."

[seas_open]

"Ooh, handsome and cynical, no wonder I like you so much already," April says with a bright laugh. She's not much of a cynic herself, though she hardly expects to fall in love and finds she has little use for such emotions anyway. There's a real difference between love and what she inspires in people anyway. "But there are a couple around here. Keep your eye open, you might be surprised by what you see."

[bachjones]

"You think me handsome? Careful, April, I might fall in love with you." He yawns. "If I stay around long enough. In this town? Are you sure? Aren't they just too comfortable to do anything else but settle?"

[seas_open]

"You just told me you don't believe in love," she answers with a sly smile, lifting one hand to press two fingers to the centre of his chest briefly. "So I'm not too worried about it. As for this town..." She trails off and shrugs. "I've only just arrived."

[bachjones]

"Do you need to believe to do something, buttercup?"

[seas_open]

"Well, if you fall in love with me, I promise to only refer to it as... how did you so eloquently word it? Anger covered up under the name of love?" She smiles at him again, a slow, darkly amused smile. "Promise."

[bachjones]

"That would work with me. I'll keep you posted on my feelings, I promise."

[seas_open]

"I'll await your decision with bated breath," she teases. "Perhaps while I lounge on the handsome blond mountain's boat." Or in his bed. She's had a fair few successful days in Siren Cove already, all without having to break out in song or even use her influence over people.

It's awfully refreshing in a way. Still, she's itching for a swim and her gaze drifts past Bach again, toward the ocean.

[bachjones]

"Oh. Oh, I get it. I'm the heart while you go ride a dick until you want sweet poems and little ballads. You're bleeding me dry, sweetheart."

He blows her a kiss. "If there would be anything useful left, of course."

[seas_open]

She laughs at that, bright and surprised, then shakes her head. "What a way you have with words," she says. "I said nothing about his dick, only his boat." Though she imagines there's probably very little that's not appealing about his dick and she suspects she'll find out all about it sooner or later.

[bachjones]

"Please share all about his boat if you happen to be able to board it. He's enough to sing praises of, but you wouldn't want to be disappointed after joining the fleet, I guess."

[seas_open]

"You know, you might be taking this boat euphemism just a little too far," she says with a laugh. "But if you want, I'll let you in on all the details. If you're really that interested."