log post II

[orangetoughguy]

third person narrative, action bracket spam, anything goes
log post I | log post II | log post III

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[orangetoughguy]

[Oh shit they are. Almost a whole fucking year. To even think about it scares Freddy not because he isn't happy but because it almost seems too good to be true. And then a small part of him, a boy from Fresno, California, sort of misses his family. His (few) friends. The Los Angeles he knows. Shit it's all too much. Thank Christ the firebug's not dwelling on one year anniversaries. He's busy getting the fountain, one of a couple so setting it off now is no waste in the sunset. Freddy scurries after Larry and hopefully while he isn't looking so he can 'surprise' the old man when he thunks the thing in the sand.]

Okay watch this.

[He lights the thing and starts shuffling back. Oh yeah he waves at Larry to do the same thing.]

[whitetwoguns]

[A whole damn year. There's a big portion of it they've spent together in it. That is worth celebrating. A year since the heist and all the bullshit and bloodshed. The bear isn't trying to think of it, but here it comes bit by bit like the waves over his ankles. Just as he's turning around he hears Freddy. In an instant he's in the present, smiling.]

Just can't fucking wait can you?

[orangetoughguy]

So sue me come on!

[Freddy really does sound like a kid now. He laughs and waves for Larry to come back. Not necessarily to keep safe from the spout but to be next to him when it starts spitting out green, then blue, then purple, then red, then gold.]

[whitetwoguns]

[Oh he comes back alright. A missing toe is bad, a missing head is dead. Larry lopes on over. He has the impulse to cover his hears but he doesn't.]

Not like we got a shortage though.

[Mr. White stands right near his side. Nothing doing. Two men, friends light off a few early fireworks.]

[orangetoughguy]

It's the first one.

[Freddy counters. He's had a lot of firsts with Lawrence Dimick here. The kid takes the old man by the arm (not the hand) to do a wide 'touring' circle of the fountain that just gets bigger and bigger. It reflects its colors off the incoming waves too.]

[whitetwoguns]

[Notable lasts with the firsts. Even with hard falls they're still fucking standing.

Touching him in public out in the open is exhilarating. He lets himself be guided on this tour.]

You picked a good one. You sure it's not gonna make you want more?

[His eyes might be drawn to the shimmering lights above they steal glimpses at the kid acting like a kid.]

[orangetoughguy]

Get outta here I got way more to show off.

[Show off to Lawrence Dimick that is. An audience of one and Freddy Newendyke doesn't mind. The colorful gold umbrella is starting to die down in size and fizzle.]

You wanna light one?

[whitetwoguns]

Sure.

[It's contagious. The old man feels like a kid, grinning so much. His glasses hide and guard his eyes from the sun.]

You got something else in mind? Hell, it's been some time since I held a sparkler.

[orangetoughguy]

[Lawrence Dimick and a sparkler. Now that's a sight he'd like to see. The kid's still smiling even after the fountain's gone dark. A small spitting light in the old man's big paw, it's kind of charming to think about.]

What colors do you want?

[whitetwoguns]

You picked em by color too?

[Damn he didn't even think of that. Good thing Freddy's here to take charge.]

Fuck. I dunno. What you got? Wait a second, how about you tell me what you don't got.

[Because they have plenty, chances are a whole rainbow in one variety.]

[orangetoughguy]

Yeah I did, red for Iron Man, blue for the Fantastic Four, green for The Hulk... [Hard to tell if he's just messing with the guy. And what kind of question is that anyway? Freddy sort of gives Larry a funny look for it then comes up with the best 'real' response he can muster.] I don't know, I don't got shit brown?

[Come on he doesn't have a rainbow in there. What's the old man trying to say?]

[whitetwoguns]

Lay some Hulk green on me.

[Can't rainbows just be rainbows. Then again, Freddy's not just some man he met. He's a cop. He's Larry's man too.]

Woah now. You mean to tell me no hero uses brown?

[No big flashy muscle man of a hero. Come to think of it, those are the types that catch the kid's eyes.]

[orangetoughguy]

You got it. [He's scurrying back to the car, not too far from Lawrence Dimick unless he decides to follow. He calls back to Larry.] Nope. Well. A couple do.

[Wolverine at some point. Nite Owl. The others Freddy's not too sure it counts that it's their skin color that's brown. Here though, he hands the old man two sparkler sticks, both with the handle-end wrapped in green foil. The motherfucker is no Bruce Banner but the kid prefers him that way.]

[whitetwoguns]

[He follows. Freddy is no errand boy. How often do they get to do this? ....Since they live in the City why not? Chances are some fuck will sell fireworks all year long.]

You gonna fire another one off now too?

[There's still at least a half an hour more of daylight. Larry takes off his glasses now and hooks them into the collar of his shirt.]

So then it ain't shit brown. Hah.

[He'll hold one in each paw.]

That's what I'm talking about.

[orangetoughguy]

Oh yeah I'm gonna but I got time to keep it cool.

[And by keep it cool he means to play with kiddy stuff which is what sparklers are to a Newendyke. However he truly does find Larry's enchantment with them beyond charming. Watch out the kid's got his light up. One and two green sticks are now starting to come to life.]

There.

[whitetwoguns]

Thanks.

[Careful paws hold it up. Now he's thinking maybe sunglasses might be a good idea again. It's so bright. It only makes his eyes crinkle more as he smiles.]

I used to pretend it was the Olympic torch.

[Larry pantomimes a running pose.]

[orangetoughguy]

Really? Did you wanna run?

[That's a joke kind of since it's established the kid here's the better runner but damn wouldn't the old man be good at boxing or wrestling. Those crinkling eyes are a wonder. Freddy laughs at the pose he's striking before setting off two red sparklers himself.]

[whitetwoguns]

Not all the people who carry the torch are runners. ....though I think it helps.

[Okay now he'll put on his shades but only foolin'.]

Shit we shoulda brought a radio.

[They do have the car. That could work huh? Larry's not springing to do it because they're chin deep in sparklers right now.]

[orangetoughguy]

We can use the car.

[Freddy recommends almost like he's reading Larry's mind. Great ones just think alike, honestly. But likewise he's not doing anything to make it happen. Yet. These green eyes are too busy watching the red and green sparks fly.]

Does it feel any different from a lake?

[whitetwoguns]

[Like he is a mind reader. It's magic. All of it.]

Different?

[This wasn't a question he was expecting. He's still smiling because well, this is different because it's them. Because what they got is different. Larry can admit in his heart that he truly did love Alabama is it because of how much time has passed that it feels pale in comparison? The last time at the lake he didn't feel the same hurt, rage and frustration with that woman, did he? No. It was there. Waiting. That was what made him walk away.

If this was a time at they lake they would have fucked by now. It was more secluded.

The old man shakes his head. He leans a little closer, careful of the burning sticks.]

It's not the same, baby. It's better.

[orangetoughguy]

I wasn't asking if it's better.

[He says quickly because the last thing Freddy wants is for Larry to think he has to say it's better to make it feel real. It's nice that it is though, the kid couldn't lie about that. Just different was all he wanted to know, and he suspected it is. What a dumb question, Newendyke, good job putting him in a spot.]

But it's good to know.

[Another smile as he crosses his red sparkler with a green one.] Want me to put the radio on?

[May as well do that now than later when it's possible they aren't the only ones setting off loud fireworks.]

[whitetwoguns]

I know. [...it could have been what he had wanted to know underneath it.] I wanted you to know.

[Because that much is important. He doesn't feel put on the spot or else he wouldn't still be smiling.]

Sure. Find us somethin' good to listen to.

[Good ol' time jams for the new times.]

[orangetoughguy]

Thanks.

[It's a quiet sentimental and genuine expression. Freddy nods just as the sparklers fizzle out, first the left then the right. And just like that the kid's enthusiasm is back up, tossing these aside in the sand (a litterbug in addition to being a firebug) he turns to crawl through the passenger side of the car.]

Good? What's good? What're you in the mood for?

[whitetwoguns]

[A nod is his thank you. They don't need to go and be more fond. More soft. Today is about blowing shit up.]

A lil' rock and roll. CCR. Hell, maybe Hendrix. [Which seems more up Freddy's alley.] Who would be good too.

[orangetoughguy]

CCR it is my man.

[For some people that's a friendly statement, nothing more. For Orange it's just a little more meaningful in ways most don't know. He turns the radio to something like the equivalent of classic rock. They do blocks, hear? Eventually CCR will roll around, starting with Suzy Q. Freddy leans out of the car to return to the trunk.]

It's your turn.