LOG: Sunny Sky Lunches

[the_informant]

Who: Florida (Native), OPEN
What: Florida has a little picnic for him and his friends
Where: Reid Gulch Park
When: Saturday, 3/12
Warnings:

The days when he doesn't have work or information to collect are so rare. Florida would have thought that taking less kill jobs would mean more time for himself, but between watching out for Tex's family, trying to be there for his girl, and everything going on with the team lately, getting out and about has been hard. So today, on his afternoon off, he decides there is only one right thing to do: enjoy the time.

He packs up a large picnic lunch, sends out messages to his teammates, Sigma, and dear little Wash from another world, and heads out to the park. With him he takes all sorts of foods, games like ring toss, a few toys for Rex, and a book for himself in case no one decides to show up. And once he arrives at the park he finds a nice sunny spot to lay out his gear, updating the messages with a gps marker in case people decide to join him.

That done he takes out Rex's frisbee and gives it a toss to watch the now full grown dog frolick off for his toy.

Today is going to be a good day, with or without company.

Comments

[notyourrookie]

Cats are rarely this enthusiastic about meeting new people. Wash gives the dog a bemused look but then stoops to offer his hand to the dog to sniff. When that's accepted, he leans in to stroke it, ruffling it behind the ears carefully.

[the_informant]

And that is the key spot. Right behind the ear? Rex's tongue lolls out and his head tilts to the side, pressing toward that touch.

[notyourrookie]

Wash ends up crouched down in front of the dog, ruffling his fur more and it's hard to resist smiling when the dog is so happy. Dogs are always happy.

[the_informant]

"Rex is friendly, isn't he?" Florida smiles as he comes over toward the man and his dog.

At least, he's friendly when he's not being ordered to attack. "You want a toy for him?"

[notyourrookie]

Wash looks up at Florida and nods. "Yeah, seems that way." Very friendly, and very enthusiastic.

"Sure. Why not? He's a good dog."

[the_informant]

"We've trained him to behave when he isn't protecting things," Florida smiles as he holds out the frisbee. "This is his favorite."

[notyourrookie]

"I can see that." Even being enthusiastic, the dog hadn't tried to jump up at him. He reaches out for the frisbee. "Didn't think you were a dog man." He hadn't ever imagined Florida as a pet person honestly.

[the_informant]

"I had a puppy once, when I was a child. I always wanted to really have a dog," Florida admits. Poor Fluffles.

"The companionship is welcome. I can't do cats very well. Dogs trust and love you blindly. Cats are more discerning. They smell the predator in me and want nothing to do with me. It's a shame, really."

Cats are more like him, after all.

[notyourrookie]

He tries to imagine Florida as a child and fails miserably. He's pretty sure the man just sprang fully formed from the Earth. Probably some blood ritual was involved.

"I've always been more of a cat person," Wash says, although it's probably redundant at this point. "But someone who lived down the street before I joined the military had a dog that would play with the kids sometimes."

[the_informant]

"I expected as much," Florida says thoughtfully. "You are a quieter person. That tends to lead to a cat mentality. I am a social joy."

[notyourrookie]

Wash gives a soft laugh and rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. "Yeah, I'm pretty much the opposite of that." In every single way.

[the_informant]

"Exactly," Florida smiles. "You should get a cat, Washy."

[notyourrookie]

He stares down at the dog's head, still scratching it's ears. "I'm not so sure that's a good idea."

[the_informant]

"It would work," Florida smiles. "You're staying at York's other place, right? He could give you permission to get a cat there."

[notyourrookie]

Of course Florida would know that. Still, he shakes his head. "He already did. But I'm not rally... not someone who should have pets." Shouldn't be trusted with anything.

[the_informant]

"No, I am the sort of person who should not have pets. And yet, here REx is. Trust yourself with something good, my friend," Florida counters.

[notyourrookie]

"I'm barely functional as it is," Wash replies. "What chance have I got taking care of another living creature?"

[the_informant]

"You're completely functional," Florida counters. "I've seen your work record. Well, not exactly. Just some of hte general stats the fixers put out there."

[notyourrookie]

"Work is different," Wash replies. "I can handle work fine. It's everything else that I have problems with." The normal stuff, like sleeping or relaxing.

[the_informant]

"Would it hurt you to try?"

[notyourrookie]

"I..." He stares down at the ground, teeth clenched. "Might hurt the cat."

[the_informant]

"You would not," Florida says firmly, dismissing the idea too easily.

[notyourrookie]

"I might. I have a temper. I have..." He swallows thickly. "Nightmares. I have nightmares. And I forget stuff."

[the_informant]

"And a cat is more than smart enough to deal with that," Florida points out.

[notyourrookie]

That's true. Cats are pretty smart, able to survive. Still, it scares him. "Why are you so invested in me getting a pet?"