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

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Florida is out for the day with his dog, and Maine is curious. He hasn't seen much of Rex since the dog was a ball of fluff. Maybe visiting the little beast could be a good alternative to his cardio regimen.

So, he arrives at the park. Florida has kept the location updated, but Maine sees the dog long before he gets there: Rex is in pursuit of a brightly colored plastic disk, ears perked in his excitement.

[the_informant]

"Hey!" Florida waves when he sees the large, familiar man. Rex, hearing hte attention, catches his toy and gallops back toward his owner, tail running wildly. Florida makes a brief gesture with his fingers and the dog is off like a shot to race ever shrinking circles around the large mercenary, still holding the disc in his jaws.

"You've got a longer arm than I have. Give it a good throw, okay?"

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Maine kneels to rub the dog's furry neck. "Drop," he orders, and Rex obliges. What a happy creature. When Maine grabs the toy and stands, the dog drops on its haunches, barking with excitement.

Maine can't help but smile. He thinks he knows how to throw these things, so he winds back and sends it spinning through the air.

[the_informant]

The second Maine has the frisbee the dog's entire attention is on him, tail wagging with excitement. And when it goes the dog is after it like a bolt, racing with all his speed to go after the brightly colored disc.

"That's why I love him over a cat," Florida smiles. "He's always happy to see you and to play."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

He is not going to argue the merits of cats over dogs. Not today.

"So much energy." He didn't realize Rex could move so quickly. The pup doesn't sit still, either: he's always in motion, always excited. He catches the frisbee and sprints back without breaking stride.

[the_informant]

"Well trained too," Florida says, standing and moving to Maine to stand by him. "Good to see you big man. Better to see you smiling. How are you and your cats doing?"

The dog leaps in the air to catch his frisbee and then starts to trot back.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Good," he says. They're practically full grown, and both are growing into their personalities. "Not kittens anymore. Stay awake to greet me after jobs."

[the_informant]

"That's always nice," Florida smiles softly. His lover left so he only has Rex to greet him at night. That sucks. "Tex intended to socialize him with your cats so he would be good with other animals. Lou was in it with her. It just... didn't happen before she went."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Tex. Maine hasn't talked to Florida about her. He's surprised that she wandered again, even with a family and a lover to keep her here.

"Could still try." It'll take awhile, getting the animals acquainted to each other's smells first. It would be worth it, though.

[the_informant]

"Would you even want a dog around?" Florida asks cautiously. "Some people don't like dogs at all. Theta and the twins and Omega love him, but I noticed that some of hte Ais shy away from him."

Specifically Delta, but he's not going ot use the name.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Maine shrugs. "Why not?" Sometimes animal companionship is simpler than human companionship. More affection and fewer questions.

[the_informant]

"Well then, we'll see about it," Florida smiles. "I'll make cat treats for you if you want."

Almost all that his pup eats Florida made himself.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Might end up spoiled," Maine points out. They already are.

Speaking of spoiled, Rex comes dashing back with his frisbee and looks at Maine rather expectantly.

[the_informant]

"True, but they'll be healthier," Florida counters. "Same amount of treats, new kind."

Rex's whole rear end is wagging with his tail. "Good boy. He wants another throw."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

The pup is certainly good at communicating. Maine asks him to drop the toy, which Rex does. How wonderfully obedient. This time, though, Maine fakes the toss rather than actually flinging the frisbee.

[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.