orangetoughguy | log post II

[Oh she worked him like a dog and when we say like a dog we really mean a scrappy retriever of sorts paddling her out of the flood. Those steps in the hallway are wet ones because Freddy's clothes are partially soaked. Only his upper torso is dry thanks to some quick thinking.

Squish squish.

Those are his shoes. At least the kid sort of got a chance to shower. The door knob's turning followed by a floppy haired head poking through.]

...Did you even go anywhere?

[Yeah. That's how he's saying hi to you old man.]

[A tail would be wagging about now if he had one.]

Started to.

[Larry takes a short trip around Freddy.] Go fishing without me and the rubber pants?

[Because that's what you call soaked through and through. Hold that thought. He steps away to grab a towel and toss it at the wet dog.]

So what got you off the hook? [Green eyes track the movements of this bear because he just knows Larry is sizing him up based on his wetness. Fff.] No.

[Freddy catches the towel but not before it slaps him in the face a bit. The kid starts drying off then and there with the nurse watching. First go his shoes, this his pants. You wanna hold onto those for him, Larry?]

Boss man's making the most of it. [Shrug. Dimick doesn't give a fuck what he's doing as long as it's okay.]

And you?

[Okay. Pants being held. They're a lot heavier when wet.] May as well put these in the drier already. [The pants that is. The shoes can sit in the sunshine by the window for now.]

Thank Christ for bein' on the top fuckin' floor.

[Freddy walking around in his skivvies ain't no thing around these parts.] I had to keep the boss dry.

[He swore not to tell anyone just how scared she was of the water. Let people think Saya's just too pretty to get soaked and Freddy here is the ultimate gentleman.]

I got the rest of the day off out of it, and a boat.

You should check out the view. It's something else.

[All the sunlight and glass reflecting the water, it's actually pretty down there. Not that the old man is looking at it now. Call him a butler or something. He's tossing the wet pants into the machine for now. Then he tends to the shoes, crouching and going about his business. Yep.]

Always the hero, huh? [That doesn't seem too out of the ordinary for a chivalrous act. Ladies don't like to get dunked.] With all the perks no less. [Does that mean he'll want to go out. The old man tries not to look too eager at the mentioning of a boat.]

Right time right place.

[Said hero just shrugs over that comment. He's not a hero, not really, even though he'd like to be. He's going up the stairs now and at Larry's suggestion he does try to peer over from here for the view. Too far into the apartment for him to tell, plus the closer he gets to seeing over street level the easier it is for someone to see him running around the second level of their apartment in his skivvies.]

I tied the boat around the corner. If anyone hijacks it... [He might just shoot'em. The kid gets a new pair of pants out--hey wait a second.]

What happened to the car?

What? Gonna leave it up to circumstance? [Larry waves that right off. There's got to be a story worth telling in there. Since he's the one fully clothed he can walk about however far or close tot the window to glance out without it being anything. Anyone who sees the younger man walk about will have to face facts that they're never gonna get it. Security or sloppiness make this his first thought, the next one is that they better not have any peeping toms.]

Then we'd better take it soon. [There was more on his tongue but it's gone. The old man takes a comb out to fix his own hair, trying to look a little busy.]

The car is right where I left it.

[Fresh new pants and fresh new skivvies pulled on, the kid comes trotting back over to the old man. Take it?] Take it where?

[That's not a trick question or anything, Larry, he just really wants to know where they could take it to. Because Freddy has no plans to guard it from the roof...unless Larry's heart is set on setting up shop there. Normally he'd consider that plan more for zombie apocalypses than floods.]

I dunno. Out. Why not? We could go fishin'. There's got to be on store open. Business would be boomin' about now.

[The kid seems to be in a better frame of mind when his clothes aren't soaking, not that he'd say it out loud. That water must be colder than it looks.

Really though, the point of going out at all would be to spend time which they got now.]

I don't got any fishing gear...but I could get some.

[He nods, warming up to the idea because Larry seems to be into it too. And yeah, being dry does wonders for a scrappy dog, not that he hates being wet either. He just prefers it when it's planned, on his own time, and doesn't involve a woman clinging to his shoulders for dear life. Needless to say, despite Saya never making a pass at him, Freddy can say he's had her legs wrapped tightly around him.]

I don't know the first thing about it. [Just so the old man knows.]

All it really takes are the polls, bait, hooks and time. [One finger is devoted to each element until the old man holds up four.] I'd be glad to show you.

[And when it's the two of them in a boat, chances are there'll be fine conversation. They could bring a small radio. Maybe, just maybe a swim if the spirit moves em.

Someday, Larry would like to hear about that event if only for the part where her legs are wrapped around him.]

I'm dead certain you'll get a fish before the day is out.

[Now he's getting another idea in his head and Freddy doesn't doubt Larry's got it too. Some time together doing a little 'sport' they once discussed before the truth came out. Fishing, camping, these are things little Freddy Newendyke never truly got to experience. This won't entirely make up for that because no way in hell does Larry come close to being his dad. Nurturing, well that's a different story.]

Sure, a guppy.

[He's grabbing his jacket again and pulling out another pair of boots for the trip.] Okay okay, let's go.

[Lawrence Dimick wants to be many things to Freddy Newendyke, none of them are a parent. Papi, Daddy, those don't sound right. He's seen plenty of parents. There are enough of those. What Freddy is to him, what he means, that's not a one word, one role deal anyway.]

That's a fish. Could be tasty too with the right seasoning. Hey, get a few and you got a platter.

[See the bright side yet? More invisible tail wagging at his approval.]

[Thank God almighty for that even though being his baby is perfectly acceptable, seeing as how the term knows no age.]

If you don't mind bein' on the boat for the rest of the day and night.

[Something tells Freddy the old man really won't mind at all. He gestures for Larry to get a move on first. Get out of the suit too if he wants to...but the kid can't lie. He looks so fucking slick in it he doesn't want to plant the seed of the idea to peel the suit off.]

[Yeah. Freddy is his man, his baby. That's that. No doubt about it from there. God he loves it.]

I don't mind one bit. Part of the experience. You go out to water and you dunno you're done until you're done. [Sans curse influence. Grown men stay in a boat for hours and hours. That's just how it is with fishin'. As for his suit. Larry only removes his tie. He's ready to go, getting his keys.]

[Just watching the old man remove his tie is rather attractive. Before he can get a move on though Freddy reaches out to undo the next button on his shirt. There. God the fabric stretches over his chest nicely.]

Okay.

[He sounds out. They're ready to go...fishing. Look he's far more excited to go out with you at all, Lawrence Dimick, much more so than fishing.]

[His breath catches in his throat when that button comes undone. Larry's gaze locks with Freddy's chin and mouth a few moments too long. For a moment the old man believes he'll keep going. And for a moment he worries the surprise is ruined. No?

That's...fine then too. They're going fishing. That's a joy too. Thankfully the boat is still there. And thankfully there are shops still open. Larry picks out the best pair that he can, freely giving what fisherman know-how he has fresh in his head.

From then on out it is the thrill of the waiting for the hunt on water!]

How often did you do this?

[Freddy asks from his side of the boat, already stretched out to lounge because that's what Freddy Newendykes do. At some point they must have determined who was Huck and who was Jim...Freddy being the former. Fredddy who still hasn't gotten a bite.]

Fishing? [Their boat is sizable enough to accommodate two bodies. The old bear is leaning back, not too far or too much, after all they gotta find a balance in this boat.]

Not much. I'm always heading one place or the other. I try and go at least once a year. Clears my mind.

[His blazer has been folded up and could be used as a pillow for anyone. Glasses on and cigarette between his lips he slowly drags his line. There were a few bites, but he threw them back.]

Yeah fishing.

[What else would he be talking about? Hearing this though the kid can't help but grin. He sits up a little.]

You ever do the winter thing too, on the lake with ice holes? Whatever that's called?

I get just as much of a thrill of choosing how I want the catch of the day to be served. [All smiles here. Big, dopey smiles that Larry feels like he should be some kind of high right now he's so relaxed and satisfied with the world. It's the effects of fishing and Freddy that make the deadly combo.]

Ice fishing. [He shakes his head vehemently.] Fuck no. I pretended I would as a kid. That's a sport for people with a death wish. You'd be stuck squatting in the snow for hours. For that a body can't move around, don't wanna scare the fish.]

Says the guy who rolls around on the ice with a stick and a puck.

[Just saying, Larry, just saying.]

You really think we're gonna catch anything today? I mean knowin' this place what if it's barracudas or somethin'?

[That almost has the kid wanting to suddenly finger the riff to the Wilson sisters.]

Different matter entirely. That sport is hockey. [Even though he is just bullshitting right back, the old man still wags a finger at the kid.]

I already caught a few things. [Not worth keeping in Larry's point of view. At least things in the fish category for the day.]

'A few things.'

[Freddy repeats while gesturing the average size of said few things between his own animated hands. Hey where does that place the kid's rod? Oh yeah, secured against the side of the boat. He's only barely trying but they both know this is less about fishing and more about keeping good company...while treading water for aquatics.]

Alligators don't stop for a bullet.

[Well, that's what he thinks based on stories anyway. Freddy's never had to wrestle one, being California born and bred.]

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