Mr. Orange (Freddy Newendyke) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
orangetoughguy) wrote2010-08-05 05:20 am
orangetoughguy) wrote2010-08-05 05:20 am
Entry tags:
log post II
third person narrative, action bracket spam, anything goes
log post I | log post II | log post III
third person narrative, action bracket spam, anything goes
log post I | log post II | log post III
[It's only a moment after 12am and Freddy Newendyke's awake because it's a Friday night (well, a Saturday morning) before a day of not working and that's great. Maybe they've got a movie marathon running and The Last Crusade just ended. Little do they know there's a fourth film coming up. Toucan Sam's awake too, watching the screen and croaking here and there. Overall it's been a decent time, cozied up on the downstairs sofa. Outside however starts to get a little brighter by the second. Yet it's still midnight. What gives?]
Did something explode?
[Yeah, that's the first thing that comes to Freddy Newendyke's mind. At least he doesn't ask if an alien just landed, either the last Kryptonian or a dying space cop ready to hand over a ring.]
Did something explode?
[Yeah, that's the first thing that comes to Freddy Newendyke's mind. At least he doesn't ask if an alien just landed, either the last Kryptonian or a dying space cop ready to hand over a ring.]
[Boy, when was the last time he saw these things? And all together? Oh well. Fact of the matter is that they can enjoy the beauty of continuity. Ford isn't a bad looking son of a bitch at all. Larry's big ol' arm is right around the good looking son of a bitch at hand. He lifts his head to look out the window.]
Whatever it is, it's bright as fuck.
[Slowly he lets go of the kid and steps toward the window.]
What the hell.
Whatever it is, it's bright as fuck.
[Slowly he lets go of the kid and steps toward the window.]
What the hell.
[Freddy gets up to follow Larry to the window. That's one big bill coming up beside him. Flap flap hop. The other big bill doesn't follow, clearly the toucan isn't interested. He's actually kind of ready to sleep, being a non-nocturnal creature. The bird's only been up because he happens to enjoy company.]
What the fuck.
[Lots of bright lights on buildings, bright lights that weren't always there on buildings that look a bit different. He can't see it all too well from here but the streets are louder too just by a touch. Music? Shouting? There's something going on.]
Let's check it out.
What the fuck.
[Lots of bright lights on buildings, bright lights that weren't always there on buildings that look a bit different. He can't see it all too well from here but the streets are louder too just by a touch. Music? Shouting? There's something going on.]
Let's check it out.
[Sam is still up and about though. Then again he could have been nodding off. What a hard life for a bird.]
Wait a second. Turn out the lights.
[He's already getting the TV and the nearest switch. The lights stand out even more.]
Holy shit.
Wait a second. Turn out the lights.
[He's already getting the TV and the nearest switch. The lights stand out even more.]
Holy shit.
[Will you fucking look at that.]
It's a party.
[He hopes it's an alien.] Let's check it out.
[The kid suggestions again before getting the toucan to send him to bed. Sam's more than ready to oblige with a hop onto Freddy's arm then a hop into his cage and stump.]
It's a party.
[He hopes it's an alien.] Let's check it out.
[The kid suggestions again before getting the toucan to send him to bed. Sam's more than ready to oblige with a hop onto Freddy's arm then a hop into his cage and stump.]
Dress up. I got a feeling about this.
[But he can't be sure. There are too many things that it could be. And if there's one thing that anyone can learn from the City is that you never know. Don't get too optimistic.]
[But he can't be sure. There are too many things that it could be. And if there's one thing that anyone can learn from the City is that you never know. Don't get too optimistic.]
Okay. [Shut and click. The cage is locked and Sam's curtain drawn. Then Freddy's moving on up the stairs only to turn back--maybe into the old man. Oof.] Change into what?
[Yeah he's totally following Larry's lead.]
[Yeah he's totally following Larry's lead.]
[Slumped across the couch and staring at the ceiling isn't the best way to be when you're cursed. Then again, nothing is as you think it should be when you're taken over that way. Larry should know.]
Maybe I should have another cup of coffee.
[Where's the kid again?]
Maybe I should have another cup of coffee.
[Where's the kid again?]
[Said kid is coming down the stairs after an end-of-the-day shower.] How many cups have you had?
[He knows the answer is probably 'a lot' because the kid's been keeping a close eye on the old man. So has the toucan actually which isn't out of the ordinary, right? Freddy reads off the empty bottle of shampoo in his hand.]
Did you know sulfate makes shit foamy? [A real gem, this nugget of information.]
[He knows the answer is probably 'a lot' because the kid's been keeping a close eye on the old man. So has the toucan actually which isn't out of the ordinary, right? Freddy reads off the empty bottle of shampoo in his hand.]
Did you know sulfate makes shit foamy? [A real gem, this nugget of information.]
I don't know. Four cups? Five?
[The pot is still pretty full. Usually two cups would do the job.]
What?
[He has to sit up and lean in order to see what the fuck he's talking about.]
Never thought about what was in it to begin with.
[Green eyes and beady toucan eyes. At least he knows that in reality these are good hands. If this ain't a dream.]
[The pot is still pretty full. Usually two cups would do the job.]
What?
[He has to sit up and lean in order to see what the fuck he's talking about.]
Never thought about what was in it to begin with.
[Green eyes and beady toucan eyes. At least he knows that in reality these are good hands. If this ain't a dream.]
S'what the bottle says.
[Freddy points out on the label before tossing it in the trash. The toucan puffs himself up a bit before croaking in Larry's face (whatever that means, could be "Feed me, Lawrence.")]
Maybe you oughta try some of that fancy Italian crap.
[He means espresso, not to make light of Larry's situation either, but neither does Freddy want to draw too much attention to it.]
[Freddy points out on the label before tossing it in the trash. The toucan puffs himself up a bit before croaking in Larry's face (whatever that means, could be "Feed me, Lawrence.")]
Maybe you oughta try some of that fancy Italian crap.
[He means espresso, not to make light of Larry's situation either, but neither does Freddy want to draw too much attention to it.]
[Now is not the time Beaky Jr. The old man shakes his head and runs his fingers through his hair.]
I'll try anything. Too bad booze don't keep you awake. Hey.
[He could add booze to a drink. The glee fades.]
Drunk nightmares aren't worth it though.
[Heavy sigh.]
Gonna have a seat?
[Here, just in case he'll make himself less sprawled.]
I'll try anything. Too bad booze don't keep you awake. Hey.
[He could add booze to a drink. The glee fades.]
Drunk nightmares aren't worth it though.
[Heavy sigh.]
Gonna have a seat?
[Here, just in case he'll make himself less sprawled.]
[Have a seat and do what? The kid's not sure if just sitting with him is going to do the old man any good. He's already gone through a trade paperback and a couple boxes of cereal. Going up to take a shower leaving Larry alone for just minutes already felt like a big risk. Either way, Freddy pokes the toucan aside ("Awk.") to take that seat.]
Yeah. You wanna watch a movie or something?
[How many options are they going to exhaust before Freddy finds himself without any defense for Lawrence Dimick? He runs a hand through his damp browner-looking hair.]
Yeah. You wanna watch a movie or something?
[How many options are they going to exhaust before Freddy finds himself without any defense for Lawrence Dimick? He runs a hand through his damp browner-looking hair.]
[It's after dark, and he gave the kids bumming around a few coins to scram. Since it's a week night there weren't too many, even in the summer staying out close to nine isn't ideal. Then again, kid's these days.
This diamond has memories. About a year ago they came to fuck around. Dirt, broken glass from a homerun and Bruce Springsteen. Before that? There was more. A whole lot more. The old man came to LA for the first time in a few years. Oh yeah. He's thinking about that.
Barbecue set up. Steak grilling. Portable radio playing a little static now and then. There is a rose in Spanish Harlem.... He's got a Brewers cap on backwards so the bill doesn't obscure the meat being prepared.]
This diamond has memories. About a year ago they came to fuck around. Dirt, broken glass from a homerun and Bruce Springsteen. Before that? There was more. A whole lot more. The old man came to LA for the first time in a few years. Oh yeah. He's thinking about that.
Barbecue set up. Steak grilling. Portable radio playing a little static now and then. There is a rose in Spanish Harlem.... He's got a Brewers cap on backwards so the bill doesn't obscure the meat being prepared.]
[Here comes the biggest kid around--not really, rumor has it there's a sixth grader who hangs out in these parts who's just as big as Freddy Newendyke. When he shows up he's in jeans and a beater with his overshirt tied around his waist. Perfect for the cooling-but-still-warm summer weather. The location's already hit him with its importance; a year ago today he went to Smokey Pete's. He was scared shitless on the way, sitting there with Nice Guy Eddie who was pretty cool until you realized he's Joe Cabot's son. All of that though, the posturing and the commode story, all of it came easy when he met his favorite audience member. They talked a little more after Joe gave his approval too. The Brewers cap doesn't escape Freddy's notice.]
What's the occasion?
[He asks coolly anyway, because he can, even though the smell of the meat and the sight of Larry grilling it makes him want to smile. There's a cigarette tucked up on his ear, unlit.]
What's the occasion?
[He asks coolly anyway, because he can, even though the smell of the meat and the sight of Larry grilling it makes him want to smile. There's a cigarette tucked up on his ear, unlit.]
[Right on time. He wasn't sure how the kid wanted his steak. Larry upnods from his position on the third base line. The kid looks just as good to him as he had. Except then he was an extra pair of eyes trying sniff out anything suspicious about the new guy. That's why he was made to come along. That and make sure that Eddie crossed his Ts and dottied his Is as a courtesy to Joe. They hadn't done business in years.
Business. That's what it all was a year ago.]
You got my message.
[That was just a location and a time.]
Figured we'd have a cookout. Live it up a little, you know. It was a year ago today.
[...did Freddy forget?]
Business. That's what it all was a year ago.]
You got my message.
[That was just a location and a time.]
Figured we'd have a cookout. Live it up a little, you know. It was a year ago today.
[...did Freddy forget?]
Sure did.
[He plucks the cigarette from his ear to light it on the barbeque. That takes some finesse to not catch his floppy hair on fire.]
You were counting? [So was I. He didn't forget.]
[He plucks the cigarette from his ear to light it on the barbeque. That takes some finesse to not catch his floppy hair on fire.]
You were counting? [So was I. He didn't forget.]
[Brown eyes are drawn to him even now watching the cherry glow at the end of his Marlboro.]
It flew by.
[Not all at once but it sure did. It's been one bumpy, crazy, fucked up and wonderful year.]
You want it medium? Rare?
[Flip one steak then the other.]
It flew by.
[Not all at once but it sure did. It's been one bumpy, crazy, fucked up and wonderful year.]
You want it medium? Rare?
[Flip one steak then the other.]
I guess it did. [Freddy breathes smoke then nods to the slabs of meat.] Medium-rare.
[A little blood never hurt anyone, right? He searches for a place to sit and maybe a beer to crack open.] How'd you get the place to clear out?
[A little blood never hurt anyone, right? He searches for a place to sit and maybe a beer to crack open.] How'd you get the place to clear out?
[Freddy's been waiting all night. The dinner they were going to have together (tacos) he had to eat alone. The movie they could have watched together (Rambo) he's watching with a toucan. The buzzard's ten for ten so far in catching his grapes, who knew such a huge bill could be so quick.]
You're really on the ball, buddy.
[Unlike some people who aren't around. He can't be mad at Larry, not completely, showing up or even calling him would be too obvious. But he also knows the old man likes to show a lady a good time so he wouldn't be so callous as to bail out only a half hour into the venture. What are those strippers doing, he wonders, would any of them be bold enough to give the old man a lap dance? Girls at mens clubs do it for lady patrons all the time. Just thinking about it makes Freddy huff. He tosses another grape at Sam who catches it in midair without a hitch.]
Think you can fit a phone in there? [When was the last time he got a message from Larry from the club? Hmph.]
You're really on the ball, buddy.
[Unlike some people who aren't around. He can't be mad at Larry, not completely, showing up or even calling him would be too obvious. But he also knows the old man likes to show a lady a good time so he wouldn't be so callous as to bail out only a half hour into the venture. What are those strippers doing, he wonders, would any of them be bold enough to give the old man a lap dance? Girls at mens clubs do it for lady patrons all the time. Just thinking about it makes Freddy huff. He tosses another grape at Sam who catches it in midair without a hitch.]
Think you can fit a phone in there? [When was the last time he got a message from Larry from the club? Hmph.]
[The network device has been in the old man's hand for a majority of the evening. To check the time and give what updates he can. Being at this kind of a bar it makes him anxious. All this time he's been able to fill out and dip into more confident territories with Freddy, as bold as it's been it's been a very private exploration.
Another message is in order. PING!]
Should be leaving soon.
Another message is in order. PING!]
Should be leaving soon.
[Oh look, a message from that one guy. Freddy gives it a look before replying. PING!]
OK.
[Got anything to say Sam? He looks over at the bird. Yeah didn't think so fff.]
OK.
[Got anything to say Sam? He looks over at the bird. Yeah didn't think so fff.]
[Okay sure doesn't feel like it's okay. He didn't even type out the whole damn word. Larry lights himself up another cigarette and thinks over whether or not to respond. ...This might be a bigger deal than he hoped it would be. Woah, cowboy. How can you expect it to be nothing much though. What if the kid wanted to go?
Huff of a sigh. PING!]
Want me to pick up anything on the way?
[He's thinking food or smokes. Maybe booze but in the context it might not be a good idea to send...which is something he considers after the message goes out.]
Huff of a sigh. PING!]
Want me to pick up anything on the way?
[He's thinking food or smokes. Maybe booze but in the context it might not be a good idea to send...which is something he considers after the message goes out.]
[Pick up anything on the way he says.]
No. I ate.
[E-e-e-ee-e-e-e. The toucan hops to sit on the kid's shoulder and stare down at the device like he can stare at Larry through it.]
No. I ate.
[E-e-e-ee-e-e-e. The toucan hops to sit on the kid's shoulder and stare down at the device like he can stare at Larry through it.]
[That may as well just be no. They say you can't tell shit from these network devices well, the old man is getting some kind of a feeling. Maybe it's because it's far more clipped than Freddy's standard way of communicating.
Should he type sorry? Nah. Wait now. Nothin' is more off putting than an apology over the phone or in a letter. He'll be there soon.
The network device stays at hand anyway. Homeward bound!]
Should he type sorry? Nah. Wait now. Nothin' is more off putting than an apology over the phone or in a letter. He'll be there soon.
The network device stays at hand anyway. Homeward bound!]
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