kiss kiss fall in love!

[pratentious]

Who: The Hungry Hungry Merlinatural Vampire Slaying Hippos
What: Beach anime episode!
When: Days 294 - 296 ( July 12 - 17 )
Where: Salt Side
Rating: PG-13 at most for language, maybe. Only fluff in here.

[ When the visitors disappear in a much cleaner fashion than they came, a mixture of anger. sadness, gratitude and everything in between is left to fill in their place all across the city. It's heavy and stifling; the perfect time to get away for some fresh air.

They leave the morning of Day 294 ( July 12 ), piling everyone onto the train that'll carry them off to Salt Side for a couple days. ( Arthur sticks a little bit closer to Merlin's side; his last train ride is still fresh in his mind. ) The ride there takes half a day undisturbed, and the sun is still lingering in the sky by the time they arrive in the small fishing village. Plenty of time to walk around and shop before storefronts start closing or to catch the sunset on the beach. From here on out, everyone is free to wander as they wish, though don't stray too far, lest the oceans carry you off to the netherworlds.

They'll leave on Day 296 ( July 16 ), after a full day and two nights of relaxation and fun in the sun. The train ride is once again thankfully undisturbed, but the same can't be said for the holy city of Asgard. Something is stirring in the water - but for now, there are only cheerful farewells and blissful ignorance. This trip was theirs and no one else's, a rare and wonderful thing in a troubled land. ]

[ ooc: Who can tell that I write the plot logs? orz This is open mingle to anyone that was invited on the beach trip! You know the drill, open/closed threads with date and location. Lots of stupid fun, guys, let's have it! ]

Comments

Open to Anyone

[tradingsecrets]

Stepping off the train, Finnick had immediately started to look around with a half grin plastered on his face. The smell, the sights and the general atmosphere of the village bring back great memories and energize him far more than they probably should have. It was like being home and that felt better to him than words could describe.

Shaking out his head he just continued to take deep breaths for a moment, standing uncharacteristically still even for him. "This is pretty cool."

[smartwinchester]

"Cool is a word for it."

Sam is shouldering a lot of bags, because he is a nice guy, and the girls take advantage of him occasionally.

[tradingsecrets]

"What would you use?" He didn't know the other guy, but he had been in the train with everyone else. After all they were all friends somehow or another, so instead of letting the other take all the baggage by himself, he stepped over and grabbed a few of the bags. No one could say that Finnick Odair wasn't helpful, especially as excited as he was at being there.

"I'm Finnick by the way, I don't think we've really talked before."

[smartwinchester]

"'Relieving' springs to mind."

It was a relief, a sheer and almost overwhelming one, to sit around and relax.

"And I'm Sam. I'm friends with Annie."

[tradingsecrets]

"True. We should probably get these to the room, and then we can join the others doing whatever it is they are doing." Reaching out he adjusted one of the bag straps and then turned towards where they were staying. He paused and stared at Sam and nodded when he told him he was friends with Annie, if anything that made him even gladder to see Sam.

"Oh? I'm glad that she's been able to make friends. She is kind of shy after all."

[smartwinchester]

"She's plenty talkative to me."

They bonded over being moderately unstable and crazy. But Sam was extraordinarily fond of Annie and when Finnick returned, he was happy for her.

"How long have you been together?"

[tradingsecrets]

"That's good. Really good."

After a few seconds of silence, Finnick paused to think about that other question. He turned to look at the other and then back away, starting to worry his lip.

"I think I was just about to turn twenty, and she had just gotten back from her Hunger Games."

[smartwinchester]

The Hunger Games. Sam had heard horror stories, some of them from Annie, a few from other victims. His heart twisted in his chest at the thought of these kids before forced into such atrocities, but he decided not to bring it up.

"A long time, then."

[tradingsecrets]

"Yeah, a very long time. Especially since I started noticing her after my Hunger Games. I was fourteen." He told the other in a matter of fact tone. He stretched his back and looked to Sam with a smile. He could get to like this guy, if the look on his face had anything to do with it.

"You know about the games I guess? Don't worry, we don't have to talk about it. I'm really surprised that Annie talked about it to anyone though."

[smartwinchester]

"She mentioned it in passing, I sort of put together the rest myself."

Besides, two mentally unstable people can do a lot of bonding together when the time is right and Ragnarok is upon them.

[tradingsecrets]

"Oh. Yeah, it's probably pretty bad in your head then. I mean, I guess it would be. But, it's probably being taken care of when we get back." He just says it that way since he doesn't know for sure what happened. He hasn't wanted to ask since his death was part of everything and that makes for awkward conversation. He pats the other on the shoulder.

"Well, hopefully things are better in your world."

Re: Open to Anyone

[brokennotmad]

And Annie's right there, slipping her hand into his so she can tug him toward the beach. It's been too long since they've enjoyed the beach and just sat in the sand talking. She had missed it and hadn't realized just how much until they were there.

She looks up at him, beaming and stops for a moment so she can turn into him and gently touch his cheek with her fingers. She sometimes still needs to assure herself that he's there and this... It's one of those time. "I'm glad we came."

[tradingsecrets]

Finnick registers the hand in his, and doesn't even bat an eyelash. His own hand grips hers just a little tighter as he lets out a shuddering breath. It reminds him of home and his heart pinches in his chest. "Me too."

As if being drawn from a spell, Finnick turns into Annie's hand his eyes closing as he leaned forward. Reaching around her with his free arm, he wrapped it around her hugging Annie to his chest, burying his face into her hair. His hand gripped hers a little tighter as he murmurs, "You're real. You're here. We are both here."

There were still times that Finnick wasn't sure he hadn't lost his mind, and that one day he'd wake up in District 13 again, strapped down only to learn that Annie was still locked up in the capital somewhere.

[brokennotmad]

Annie's smile fades and she immediately wraps her free arm around her husband, holding him tightly. Her fingers press into the small of his back before she soothes her hand up his spin. She hadn't meant to make him sad, she truly hadn't. But... Well she could understand his sadness, the beach had been something they had shared at home, something they'd never share there again.

"Oh, Finnick," she murmured, listening to the steady beat of his heart. It was unfair, and she really wished that they could forget what happened at home, that they could just be happy together.

"It'll be okay. We're here, together. It's okay."

[tradingsecrets]

He just stood there taking in her presence, and making his thoughts slow down. Several different thoughts had overwhelmed him, but with Annie right there it was easy to push them away and save them for later. Standing up, he slipped his arm from around her, took a deep breath, and smiled tenderly at her. "I'm glad to be here with everyone, but we needed this."

Looking up, Finnick stared at their surroundings and then back at the beach. A small smile spread on his face turning into a grin, as he tugged Annie along by their joined hands. "It's been forever since I've been able to see anything like this. I'm never getting out of the water."

[brokennotmad]

She looked up at him, smiling. This wasn't the time for any sad thoughts. They had the chance to spend the day together at the beach, with their friends. She was going to enjoy every second she could.

Annie laughed as he tugged her along with him. "Forever is a long time, Finnick."

[tradingsecrets]

"It feels like it's been forever then!" He picked up the pace as he moved towards the water, only letting her hand go as Finnick pulled off his shirt and dove straight into the water. He popped up a little ways away from the shore waving to her as he stood up and opened his arms to her.

"Come on in the water is great."

[brokennotmad]

Annie shook her head, laughing as she watched her husband. It really had been a long time since they'd been on a beach and in the water together. It had been before the quarter quell. And if she was honest with herself, she wouldn't have thought she would have ever had the chance to do it again with him.

Quickly tugging her shirt and shorts off, she followed him into the water, swimming out to meet him.Rising up out of the water beside him, she pushed her wet hair from her face.

"You're right, it does feel great."

[tradingsecrets]

For people who were raised sea side like them in Panem, water was just another part of their lives. He never realized that he would miss it when he went to the capitol or when he was away from District four, but he did. It was easy being in the water for him and it showed in his movements, but Annie had already knew that and had the same way about her.

Swimming closer to her, he wrapped his arms around her underneath the waves and gave her a kiss.

[brokennotmad]

Annie hadn't ever been able to imagine a life without the comfort of the water near her. Even when she'd been in the Capitol, she had known no matter what, she'd end up going home to the water. Asgard was different though. The only water they were able to see daily was the lake, and that wasn't much, but it was something.

But they had the beach and the waves for the day and she intended to enjoy every minute of them with Finnick.

She smiled at him, wrapping her arms around his neck as they bobbed in the waves and leaned into his kiss. "I love you," she murmured softly against his lips.

[tradingsecrets]

"I love you to. So much..."

His lips brushed against hers over and over again. It was as if everything but the water and Annie faded away from him. He held her, and enjoyed the kisses as they just relaxed in the water. It felt great to just relax and be with her and let the rest of their stresses wash away. This had been exactly what they needed.

After a few more moments, Finnick let her go and stretched his arms over his head as he winked at his wife, "Want to go for a swim?"

[brokennotmad]

She laughed. Honestly, being in the water with Finnick was one of the best feelings in the world... Though she knew it would have been better if they'd been able to have Alex with them. But that wasn't meant to be. Finnick wasn't meant to met their baby. But she was determined not to let that thought ruin the time she did have with her husband and she smiled, watching him.

"What kind of swim? Because if we're talking about racing, that's not exactly fair. I haven't raced since before my games."

[tradingsecrets]

"No racing. I just want to take a nice long swim. You have better endurance than anyone I know." It was true. Finnick could race and was quite quick, but he preferred leisurely swims instead of trying to endure and stay in the water at his normal pace.

Ducking beneath the water he came up and tossed his head back, to get some of his hair out of his face. "Besides, the water feels good and we have plenty of time to race the next couple of days."