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

[the_informant]

Rex jumps and spins to go after the frisbee. And after a few steps slows down, looking around. Where is his toy? He turns his head back to look at Maine. Where is his toy?

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Maine grins and brandishes the frisbee at him instead of throwing it. Rex can come and get it.

[the_informant]

Oh yeah, the pup is totally up for that. The dog wiggles a bit before running at Maine, jumping at the frisbee to try and catch it in his teeth.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Poor thing. Maine is faster. He sidesteps and swings the frisbee over its head, hurtling across the park.

[the_informant]

This human is too tall! Yet th toy goes flying and again the dog is after it. And Florida is left laughing in delight.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

It's good to hear Florida laugh. Maine glances his direction and can't help but smile, too.

[the_informant]

"I miss days like this," Florida tells the other man, his voice a touch wistful. "When things felt simple. I guess for me they are simpler these days, but... this feels like what the past was suppsoed to be."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Pasts that neither of them had. Maine can understand that. Sunny days at the park with a dog were never part of their growing-up years, or most of the years thereafter.

Rex comes sprinting back, still excited. This time, Maine doesn't ask for the frisbee, just lunges for it. A bit of wrestling ensues.

[the_informant]

"You should hang out with the dog more," Florida chuckles as he watches the dog fighting with all his might to keep the frisbee. Ask for it and yeah he'll let it go. But fight? Nope.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

There's surprising force in those jaws, Maine discovers. Rex whips his neck around, trying to jerk the frisbee free. Maine doesn't relent. He'd worry about upsetting the dog, but Rex's tail wags even faster than before.

"Cats might get jealous," he says.

[the_informant]

"True," Florida notes. "Which is why they should be friends."

Rex sets his feet and tries to pull the frisbee or Maine back.

my bro used to to this to his puppy and it would never let go

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Should," he agrees. He introduced them to Wash's cats without incident. This might not be so bad.

Rex can set his feet, but Maine can easily lift the pup's weight. Are those jaws that strong? Maine lifts frisbee and dog off the ground.

it's always impressive.

[the_informant]

"Wow, sometimes I forget how strong you are," Florida chuckles. "Okay, so we'll come up with a plan for how they could meet, right? Just slow acclimatization. Maybe give them one of his blankets to smell, give him something that smells like them. But can you put my dog down?"

Rex still hasn't let go, growling playfully now.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Maine lets Rex down gently.

"Can get blankets," he says. "Or towels." Preferably towels, especially when he needs to trim their claws soon.

[the_informant]

"Then we'll do this," Florida smiles. "That will be easier. And we don't have to take blankets away from them."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"No blankets." Maine agrees, wincing. His cats can be awfully particular. "Works better that way."

[the_informant]

"Yeah, Rex gets so mad when we take the things he loves from him," Florida laughs. "He actually mopes when I wash his duck. He wasn't supposed to love it so much!"

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"So territorial." Probably a good trait in a guard dog, though.

Maine finally yields the frisbee, but only so he can pet the thick fur around Rex's neck.

[the_informant]

"Yeah," Florida smiles. "He's claimed Tex's side of the bed. He's going to have some problems there, when she gets back."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

That sounds like a fight waiting to happen. "Gonna get kicked out," he says. He doubts Texas will let herself get kicked out by a dog.

[the_informant]

"He is," Florida smiles. "He's going to be so disappointed, but he misses his mommy, just like I do."

His smile wavers for a moment. He misses her so much.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Maine isn't sure how to respond, so he respectfully gives Florida a moment. Rex's tail slows its wagging just a little, as if he notices, too.

[the_informant]

"Thanks," Florida says after he calms himself. He knows Maine doesn't need to know why. Respecting someone's need for a moment is a thing the big guy gets super well.

"So, I've got some exciting work I want your help on. The picnic is a minor bribe when it comes to you."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Nodding, Maine reaches over to clap him on the shoulder. Rex looks terribly interested.

"Bribe?" he asks.

[the_informant]

"I've got an informant in town," Florida says, not even pausing for effect for the word use, "who has reported a minor slavery ring gearing up in the warehouse district..."