Strange New Things (closed)

[DrStein]

Rex O'Crowley was what you might call unorthodox. His long, light hair framed a boyish face with bright, green eyes and a charming smile. He dressed like a rock star and lived like he had never really left his college days. A few months ago, he had moved into a beach house in a new town and while he had great fun, it occurred to him one day in June that he had never taken the time to really take in the beach and the ocean. Today was a good day to remedy that.

He put on a pastel blue button-down shirt, which he didn't bother to button, shorts and sandals, grabbed his sketch pad and a pencil and looked over at the dog bed in the corner. "Phantom! Come on, boy, let's go for a walk!" The little French bulldog mix immediately perked up at the mention of a walk and enthusiastically came trotting over snorting and wagging his short tail.

Rex put the leash on his little buddy and together stepped out into the early summer sun. A light breeze ruffled his hair and he set off down the beach with Phantom stopping to check out every little shell or piece of debris in the sands before moving on.

It was a beautiful day out and Rex soaked up the warm sun and the peaceful morning atmosphere. After the events a year ago, he was confident that moving to a new town was what he needed.

Further down the shore he saw the old lighthouse, now preserved as a historical site rather than still functioning. He threaded the leash through one of his belt loops and sat down to begin working on a sketch. Phantom wandered at the limit of his lead for a minute before flopping down to roll in the sand.

The lighthouse made a wonderful picture. Stately, peaceful... Though the lack of people around did give it a certain air of loneliness. Rex had made a lot of friends in his time here, but it occurred to him that he hadn't dated in a year. Things... just hadn't worked out. He'd have to do something about that.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

Sara Lawrence laying on the beach. Enjoying the warm sun and just listening to the sounds around her. It had become one of her favorite things to do since she had moved her after graduating college. It had been a spur of the moment decision. Something completely unlike her and that was exactly why she had done it. After spending the past few years wasting her life with her Bose in a book she need a change. She needed to get out and experience the world before she started a career and didn't have the chance.

So here she was just laying on the beach in a bikini and shorts doing absolutely nothing more then that. Sara had no idea what her life here would bring her but she was excited to find out.

 

[DrStein]

Rex was finishing up his sketch when he spotted a lone sunbather lying alone on the sands. He couldn't see her very well from here, but a curiosity welled up in him. He looked at his dog with a smile. "What do you think, boy? You want to go say hi?"

Phantom got up from off the ground, scratched at the ear on the white side of his head and looked at Rex expectantly.

"I'll assume that was a yes. Come on." He stood up and walked over to the woman further down the beach.

As he got closer he could see that she was young, probably about the same age as him, and very pretty. She heard Phantom's tags jingling before she saw either the dog or Rex coming. When she did look to them, Rex smiled and brushed his hair aside as a soft breeze blew it into his face. "What's up?"

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"Not too much... Just enjoying the great weather before it gets too crowded around here." She said as she quickly sat up. Smiling she reached out to pet the dog "he's pretty cute..." She said "so what are you doing? Just taking him for a walk?"


Sara was enjoying the opportunity to play with a dog. "I wish I could have a dog but my apartment doesn't slow them..." She said, it didn't help that she couldn't really afford a dog either.

 

[DrStein]

Phantom wagged his stubby tail and rolled over onto his back, begging for a belly rub as Rex smiled. "Yeah. And I realized I've been living on the beach for like... six months, and I've never actually taken a walk on it. I'm Rex, by the way. Rex O'Crowley. This little attention monger is Phantom, my little buddy. I didn't catch your name."

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"Oh, I'm sorry... It's Sara Lawrence ." She said noticing the sketch book in his hand. "What's that?" She asked "do you draw? What are you working on?" Sara asked as she stood up and brushed some of the sand off of her legs and arms.

 

[DrStein]

"I'm a graphic artist," Rex explained. He handed Sara his sketchbook and pulled Phantom into his lap, rubbing the little dog's belly and causing his leg to shake. Inside the sketchbook the latest drawing was of the lighthouse, but page after page was filled with character expression collages, creature designs, several landscapes and what looked like science fiction cityscapes. "I do a lot of freelance work, but I also have some of my paintings at a local gallery." He neglected to mention the fact that he was paying his bills out of a trust fund. Art gave him something to stave off boredom and still feel like he was doing something worthwhile. Even if it did make him the oddball of the family.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"Wow, that's pretty cool. Your good at it too." She said as she looked through his drawings "what's the most interesting thing you've ever drawn?" Sara asked looking up at him for a moment before returning her gaze to his art. "There was this guy in one of my classes at college who used to fill his notebook with sketches of naked women. It wasn't much of a surprise that he didn't pass the class."

 

[DrStein]

Rex laughed at that remark. "Figure drawing is a great way to keep in practice on anatomy, bone structure, that sort of thing... But there's a fine line between focus and creepiness and drawing nothing but tits dances across that line wearing a suit made entirely out of belts."

He thought for a moment about how to answer her question. "Most interesting thing... I know a few people who modeled for me on a commission I did. The client wanted some concept art so I called in these friends who are all parkour traceurs and martial artists to do some poses and video and I had to design an arcology structure based on their moves, giving them a space to move and fight in. It was really challenging, but I was real pleased with how it turned out."

Rex didn't like talking about his art that much. He preferred showing it to people rather than describing or explaining it. "Anyway, what do you do?" he asked.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"I'm a waitress..." She admitted "it's boring, I know, but it pays the bills. I'm trying to experience life. Not worry about a job and working all the time. At least for now..." Sara sighed "I'm trying to do anything and everything I can. I just really want to take advantage of life for now. Make the most of things."

 

[DrStein]

"Oh? You picked a good place then. There's a lot goes on here." The culture scene in town had been a draw for Rex. After moving he had immersed himself in it. "I was so happy when I found out there's a capoeira school here. I picked it up in college and thought I'd just have to practice on my own, which isn't as fun."

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"Oh, well that's pretty interesting." She said not knowing much about it other then that it was some type of martial arts. "What else is there to do around here?" She asked knowing that martial arts wasn't her kind of thing. She could remember practicing with her brother when she was younger. It wasn't her best memory. "What else do you enjoy?

 

[DrStein]

"Where to start..." Rex pulled a dog treat out of his pocket and Phantom reflexively rolled over twice in anticipation before gobbling it up. "There's a local club that has a lot of unusual performers. A steampunk band, a guy who can chop vegetables by throwing playing cards... There's an old-fashioned drive-in that shows tons of old B-movies. This one theater does old-timey spook shows on Saturdays. There's a bar called Pulsar with a sci-fi theme that's really cool... Lots of stuff if you know where to look."

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"Wow. I had no idea there was anything like that around here. It just seems like a pretty calm place. That must be why the beach is so empty. Everyone is off doing something else." She said "so what do you suggest doing to start off today?"

 

[DrStein]

Rex smiled at that. "Are you asking to come along?" He certainly hoped she was. It would be nice to start dating again after this lengthy dry spell. "I mean, I'd have to check to see if my busy schedule permits another person tagging along. My time is in such high demand after all." He punctuated it with an ironic grin and making a show of brushing off his knuckles on his shirt. He had never quite grown out of the class clown roll.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"Well if your too busy then I'm sure I could just go out myself." She said "I can handle it on my own." She said wondering if he was just trying to get her to leave him alone.

 

[DrStein]

Rex rolled his eyes at that. "That was a joke. I do that a lot. And until this moment I thought I was pretty good at it." His smile never faltered. "But if you're so eager to go it alone..." He stood up, dusted the sand off himself and prepared to turn to leave. He hoped she would get the joke and stop him as having to explain another would make things very awkward.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

She quickly hooked her arm with his. "So where are we going?" She asked as she started to walk with him "what kind of adventure are we going to go on?"

 

[DrStein]

Rex was pleased to see she picked up on the hint. "First, we need to take my little buddy home."

Rex's beach house was a modest little place, but it was filled with the trappings of his own eccentric lifestyle. Seating in the living room consisted of a wicker couch and a club chair upholstered entirely in duct tape. Every surface had some strange collectible or curio on it. His art hung on the walls, paintings and mixed media. The kitchen was decorated like a tropical paradise, including a sky painted on the ceiling with a sun design around the lamp hanging over the table.

He retreated into his bedroom to change while Phantom climbed up on the sofa, rolled over on his back and settled in for a nap.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

Sara looked around the place while he changed. It was definitely different, not really her taste, but it was nice. There was a lot to look at and everytime she thought she had seen everything in an area she found something new. "Do you have a shirt I could borrow?" She called up realizing she was just in her bikini and shorts. Since she didn't know where they would be going she wanted to make sure she was covered up enough.

 

[DrStein]

Rex came out wearing jeans, a pair of Chuck Taylors and a blue T-shirt with the crest of House Stark from Game of Thrones on it. He handed Sara one of his T-shirts, a Rush concert shirt. "How's this work? Granted, about fifty percent of my shirts are concert T's but I figured this one was the least obscure that isn't already in the hamper." He refilled Phantom's water and food dishes in the kitchen before gesturing for them to leave. "Have you ever been down to the Hoffstetter Gallery?"