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It's Brittany, Bitch | Ερις ([info]eristic) wrote in [info]paxletalelogs,
@ 2011-07-03 14:46:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:eris, phobos, tiamat

Our Right To Bear Arms - And Fireworks
Who: Charlie & OPEN TO EVERYONE
What: It’s the Fourth of July. Let’s blow stuff up.
Where: Parking Lot of Pax Letale
When: July 4th, 9:00 pm
Warnings: TBA
Notes: TBA

Charlie could claim that she wasn’t one much for holidays - Christmas sucked, Halloween was mainly an excuse for her pranks and petty crimes, and she never was quite able to wrap her head around Easter. A rabbit that pooped chocolate eggs? What would they think of next? But the Fourth was another case altogether. Not that her town was especially patriotic, but growing up with the Ekholms nearby had changed that. Rylee’s father had infected his son with love of country, and the Fourth of July was akin to the birth of Christ at their home. Mrs. Ekholm’s cooking was something to be respected, and Mr. Ekholm always managed to scrap together a fantastic bit of bang in a bag otherwise known as fireworks. And after her military service, aside from Veterans Day, the national holiday held a little more respect for her.

Mainly, though, the one thing she loved most about it were the fireworks. And that was why she was currently in the Pax Letale parking lot with a box full of them - screamers and sparklers, fountains, ones that promised to spin and others that guaranteed a rainbow of colors. Charlie had gone through a few counties to pick these babies up, since they were outlawed in Newport Beach. And though she was quite aware of the law enforcement living in the building, the worst she figured could happen was a ticket and a hefty fine, something she’d be willing to accept as payment for her fun. But somehow she figured that if Sam managed to involve himself, he’d probably end up just looking the other way.

The darkness was permeated with the off-kilter coloring of the street lamps, and Charlie unloaded her box of tricks from the back of her motorcycle. A clear enough space was right in the middle of the lot, well enough away from the building to prevent fire and most damage, provided nothing flew toward windows or other openings. But if shit happened, shit happened, and all Charlie was looking forward to was a good time.

Setting the box on the ground, she dug her cell phone out of her pocket and looked up Rylee’s number. A quick text out to bring him running out, and then they could have some fun.

Get your ass out here or I’m gonna throw a bunch of lit sparklers in your car’s gas tank.


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[info]inclinedfear
2011-07-03 10:34 pm UTC (link)
Rylee was watching a DVRed Fourth at the Capitol that he had recorded. The fourth of July weekend was bittersweet for Rylee in his adult life. As a child and teenager the first weekend of July was spent at the Gettysburg reenactment while the fourth was always a toss of a coin. If the reenactments landed close to the fourth then he and his father would watch fireworks in DC but if the fourth wasn't close by the reenactments it was spent at home with his mother and Charlie. Then his father died when Rylee was a senior and his fourths suddenly became something that made his stomach twist.

Charlie's text came as a surprise and Rylee didn't think twice before slipping on his running shoes and heading down to the lobby where he looked for Charlie, only to see her in the parking lot. "Charlie?" He called out as he walked towards her in the warm summer evening. "What do you think you're doin'? Isn't it illegal to shoot these off?"

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[info]eristic
2011-07-04 03:36 am UTC (link)
A wide grin split her face on the appearance of her friend. Best friend. OK, maybe the definition department hadn't quite decided where she and Rylee stood just yet, but for now she was glad to see him and eager to start lighting things on fire.

"Come on, now, when has that ever stopped me?" She knelt down next to the box and fished out a large canister labeled El Diablo, decorated with a rather frightening looking demon's face and promising a very loud explosion; she tossed it at Rylee without warning, knowing he'd catch it rather than let it hit the ground and detonate at his feet. "Besides, what fun would it be without some flash and bang? You wanna light this sucker up, or should I?"

Fishing a lighter out of the pocket of her jeans, she waved it near Rylee's grasp. For someone with a case of PTSD, some might find it strange that she was so eager to give herself a triggering event, but since the night of the power outage, things had simmered down to relatively normal.

Then again, Charlie was always one to do first and ask questions later, and if she accidentally freaked herself out, that would be that. Jack, on the other hand, always grew anxious around the smell of chemicals and the bright lights frightened him, so she'd left the German Shepard back in her apartment.

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[info]inclinedfear
2011-07-04 03:49 am UTC (link)
He paused for only a moment to consider the risks. They could set themselves on fire, they could set the apartment building on fire, they could get fined for what they were doing, they could... and then Rylee stopped caring. These were explosives they were talking about and despite all of Rylee's anxieties the one thing that he had a childish glee for was fireworks.

He grabbed the lighter from Charlie and smiled at her, his eyes quickly moving to look over El Diablo which he had caught effortlessly, and his grin widened. There was a glint in his eye that only seemed to light up when it came to this type of thing. Anything that had to do with gun powder, explosions, war, loud noises. Yes, this was one of Rylee's strange areas of comfort.

He jogged a number of feet away from Charlie and sat the canister on the ground. Fiddling with the wick he tested the lighter once and looked back at Charlie. "You light the next one, okay?" he yelled before turning his attention back to the explosive. Flicking the lighter he quickly got the wick to spark and Rylee ran back to Charlie's side where he turned just in time to see El Diablo do its thing.

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[info]eristic
2011-07-04 04:10 am UTC (link)
"Damn right I'll light the next one," she agreed, putting a hand up as the firework did its thing. Exploding in a cascade of alternating colors, it rose nearly six feet into the air and let out a piercing shriek, which would undoubtedly alert everyone in a mile-wide radius of what they were currently up to. The grin on her face remained, eyes watching the sparks with excitement - she glanced at Rylee and then back to the firework, going strong still before finally extinguishing itself five minutes later.

Letting out an enthusiastic yelp, she went and dug into the box for more fireworks, pulling out some spinners.

"Watch these lil beauties," she exclaimed, going the same distance as Rylee had with the previous firework and setting three of the spinners on the ground. Normally, spinners were meant to be attached to something to prevent them from flying off and causing damage. Charlie didn't have anything to attach the spinners to, and surely they were far away enough to discourage any damage. Pulling a second lighter out of her pocket, she stacked the three spinners into a sandwich in her hand, lit them, and tossed them on the ground before quickly jogging backward to where Rylee was standing.

Immediately the spinners went to work, spewing a fine white light that forced the central body into motion, and began to slide around on the pavement in awkward circles.

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[info]inclinedfear
2011-07-04 04:29 am UTC (link)
"Are you trying to set something on fire?" Rylee asked with a loud laugh as he witnessed the spinners dance across the pavement. One seemed to get enough strength to go spinning off into a bush that lined the parking lot, shooting sparks out from underneath it before it went out. "You are tryin' to set stuff on fire."

He turned to the bag, digging around through it and quickly glancing at what he grabbed. "So what else you got? Do you have something that can make a really loud bang? Let's wake everyone up in the apartment. Do you think anyone will have any problems?" He was getting giddy and beginning to ramble just like he did when people brought up the Civil War. He pulled another package out and held it up. "Strategic Air Defense, well this sounds promising."

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[info]eristic
2011-07-04 04:44 am UTC (link)
Charlie snorted at Rylee's sudden enthusiasm. She wasn't in any way going to attempt to discourage it, but sometimes she was still a tad taken aback when he wasn't second guessing and trying to convince her that her actions were dangerous. "Look, it's fine. S'not like that bush hasn't seen worse, believe you me," she retorted toward the attempted pyromancy of the building's flora. Everything was too green around here to catch, anyway - but then again, California was known for it's dry summers, and fires were more numerous than the storms she was used to back home in Missouri.

"You know there's a cop that lives here? I was kinda hopin' to avoid being fined," she chided, for the rare moment taking the logical side, with the exception of her argument being laced with heavy doses of sarcasm. Placing her hands on her hips, she waited for Rylee to set up his firework, her face still plastered with the grin that his appearance had evoked.

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[info]sheltering_sky
2011-07-06 02:19 am UTC (link)
"Did either of you think to bring a fire extinguisher?"

The voice that floated from behind them was firm, but lacked the clipped edges of true anger. In truth it sounded closer to amusement than anything, though it had been real concern, at least, that had initially brought its owner from her cave.

"A bucket of water, even?"

Karin stepped out from the shadows of the building's massive façade, the streetlights casting sickly light upon her face. The expression she wore was neither frown nor smile, reflecting perfectly the guarded uncertainty she bore within. She had seen these people some time before, moving in the darkling silence of the lobby during the power outage. Whether they were friends or otherwise remained to be seen.

"Mind if I join you?" she asked, a smile at last quirking at the corners of her mouth. "If only to serve as civilian fire marshal."

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[info]inclinedfear
2011-07-06 03:02 am UTC (link)
Rylee was squatting beside Strategic Air Defense with a lighter ready to go when the voice caught his attention. A shot of anxiety ran up his spine as he turned to see that it was just a curious neighbor of sorts. He hadn't met this woman yet, but she seemed content to be a spectator.

"Charlie, let her have one of the fireworks!" he called to his friend before turning back to the explosive. He lit the fuse then ran back to Charlie and the newcomer. "Hi, I'm Rylee Eckholm, I haven't met you yet." He offered his hand and grinned at the woman, his usual anxiety from meeting new people temporarily disappeared with the excitement of the fireworks. But there was a loud crackle behind Rylee and he quickly turned to see the fireworks shoot off. This was a good one with high pitched screeches, crackling, and then a rainbow of sparks.

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[info]eristic
2011-07-07 04:59 am UTC (link)
The newcomer got a long look from Charlie, dousing her grin for a moment as she took this anomaly into account and tried to decide if it was going to ruin her fun. Rylee, of course, welcomed the woman with open arms, friendly as he was.

"Whadda want, a sparkler?" Her tone was incredibly sarcastic, challenging the woman like a territorial badger.

"And no, we don't need no water; 'sides, there's a fire extinguisher right there in the lobby. All we gotta do is go an' run an' get it, if we need it. Not sayin' we're gonna. But it's there."

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[info]sheltering_sky
2011-07-09 02:03 am UTC (link)
"Karin," she said, taking the man's hand for a brief but firm shake. She followed his gaze as he turned, more pleased by the bright display than she cared to admit. Logic told her the grass and bushes were dry, that rain had not come in frequency or quantity enough to quell any fire that might spring up. But she stayed her tongue, willing - for the moment - to hold her clearly unwanted mother-henning at bay. She smiled at Charlie's sharp question, suddenly reminded of her younger sibling.

"I'm relieved to know you planned at least a little," she said, her voice distracted as she stared up into the skies. The falling sparks appeared first blue, then white, looking to her like the tide breaking on the bay's far island; the image captivated her, bringing a wan smile to her face. "Got any of the ones that look like flowers?"

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[info]inclinedfear
2011-07-09 12:56 pm UTC (link)
"It's nice to meet you, Karin," Rylee replied with a smile at Karin then turned to Charlie with a larger grin. "You have some of those in the box, I know I saw them." Taking it upon himself, Rylee dug into Charlie's collection of fireworks to find the ones that had the floral look.

Pulling out another large firework that proclaimed it was a tropical flower on the side, Rylee looked to Charlie. "Do you want to set this one off? It's your turn." He felt like a kid again when he and Charlie would set off small rockets during the fourth. Each would take their turn then step back and marvel at what they had done. "Unless you would like to set this off?" He turned back to Karin, not wanting to be rude and ignore her.

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[info]eristic
2011-07-10 04:49 pm UTC (link)
A little annoyed that Rylee was essentially giving her hard-earned fireworks away with little issue, a frown played over her mouth for a moment before she gave a shrug.

"Let'er do it, but she gets to use your lighter, not mine," was her short, and tart, response, clutching on to the one thing she wouldn't have to reasonably share.

Digging through the box, she herself pulled out a handful of multicolored sparklers, took a few steps away from the box, and flicked her lighter on. A moment later she was holding a handful of colorful fire - a few went into her left hand, and her right twirled through the air. Controlling such a destructive and yet beautiful force had always amazed her, and despite her earlier remark about sparklers, they were one of her favorite things to light off on the Fourth.

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[info]sheltering_sky
2011-07-10 08:43 pm UTC (link)
A girlish smile twitched across Karin's lips as she took the firework from his hands. Carefully she had watched the exchange as the two friends had spoken; even from so brief a conversation she got the distinct impression she had interrupted something, but for whatever reason would be allowed - for now, at least - to stay. Having no desire to squander such an opportunity, she smiled all the brighter, nodding her gratitude to them both.

"Thank you," she said, earnestly. She looked up to Rylee, suddenly wishing she had had the foresight to bring her own source of fire. "May I use your lighter?"

She paused, then, her gaze again drawn to the sparklers as they shone in Charlie's hands.

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[info]inclinedfear
2011-07-12 03:30 am UTC (link)
"Of course you may," Rylee replied with a sudden flair of his Southern drawl that only appeared when he was drunk, sad, horny, or really excited. He was definitely excited with the explosives. But he didn't notice the twang and dug into his pocket to pull out a cheap lighter. He didn't smoke but he kept a supply of lighters just in case there was ever another power outage and he needed candles. It was best to be prepared. Always.

He smiled at Karin then turned back to Charlie, his smile broadening. "You look like a little kid with your sparklers, Charlie," He teased over the crackling light that Charlie moved about. "Like one of them ribbon dancers or something." He bit the corner of his lip, the smile never leaving his face, and crossed his arms over his chest.

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[info]eristic
2011-07-12 03:47 am UTC (link)
"A...ribbon...dancer?" She spat the word out as though it were a curse, but there was a hint of a smirk behind her lips. A hint of teasing peeking through the wall she constructed around herself.

"You wanna hold one of these pretty ribbons, Rylee Ekholm? Maybe I could tie up your girly, curly hair with them, you'd look a sight, wouldn't you?" Her voice was slowly breaking from its hostile tone, instead eager to tease and joke with her friend. Charlie took a few steps toward Rylee, threateningly, holding out the fizzing sparklers like they were weapons.

After a moment of dancing toward him, jokingly attempting to set him aflame, she glanced at the newcomer - Karin, she had to mentally remind herself - and made a motion as though to say go on already.

"It ain't gonna bite you, not unless you don't get 'way fast enough."

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[info]sheltering_sky
2011-07-13 02:19 am UTC (link)
Karin's laughter at their banter was already somewhat stifled, but it trailed off entirely as she stepped up to a clear, empty space on the pavement, firework firmly grasped in her hand. Its casing was large, too solid and sizable to light while holding; she set it on the ground as firmly as could be managed, given its somewhat flimsy stand. Leaning down, she lit the fuse, watching the little flame travel quickly up the line. For a moment it seemed quite likely Charlie's quasi warning would come true: Distracted, Karin stayed in the sputtering light of the flame a moment too long. The sharp pop of a spark against her calf sent her pacing backward, though, her steps slowing, then stopping, alongside her neighbors. From a safe distance she watched firey flowers bloom in the air - first one round, then a second, then a final shower of starry light - breathing in the thick scent of burning ozone as they faded into nothingness.

"So how long have you guys been in the building?" she asked, gingerly handing Rylee's lighter back to him. "Not as long as you've known each other, I'd guess."

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[info]inclinedfear
2011-07-13 02:35 am UTC (link)
"You wouldn't do it, Charlie," Rylee replied with a laugh. "You like my cowlicks too much to burn them off." He reached for the other box of sparklers and pulled out one, leaning forward so that the tip of his sparkler caught light from one of Charlie's. He paused to watch the firework Karin set off, smiling at the light and noise before he dropped the remnants of the sparkler and stepped on the smoking tip to make sure it was out.

Rylee accepted the lighter from Karin and slipped it into his pocket. "I've only been here since the end of May but I've known Charlie since we were freshman in High School." He glanced at Charlie and grinned at her. Despite that they looked incredibly different from the children they were when they met, they were acting pretty close to children in this moment and Rylee was happy with that.

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[info]eristic
2011-07-13 03:15 am UTC (link)
She merely smirked at Rylee's reply, her attention drawn toward the firework Karin had ignited.

For a minute she thought the woman was actually about to catch on fire, considering how long she lingered at the explosive's side - but then she moved away, and Charlie was silently happy that the good evening wouldn't be ruined by her finding out just how fast she could run and get the fire extinguisher.

"Same," she agreed in speaking of how long she'd been present in the building, though her reply gave no further information regarding her and Rylee, or anything else for that matter. Instead, she crouched down again, digging through the box for more fireworks. Having so graciously given her turn to Karin, she figured she deserved to set off the next big bang.

She finally pulled out one with a stereotypical Mexican in a sombrero, pointing two pistols toward the viewer. Aptly titled Hasta La Vista, Charlie felt pleased with her selection and moved to settle the firework an appropriate amount of distance away from the growing crowd. A quick flare of her lighter and a moment later produced another fountain of light, starting in a bright red stream. By that time, Charlie had reached the safety line both Karin and Rylee were standing behind.

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[info]sheltering_sky
2011-07-14 11:57 pm UTC (link)
Karin followed her hosts' lead, going so far as to take a step behind them. Again she felt the uncomfortable self consciousness that comes with being an interloper: Where the gathering throng were mere observers, she had inserted herself into this small event, intruding perhaps where she did not belong. She did not fault her fellow tenants, gracious and generous as they had been; rather, she saw in their interactions a kind of comfortable familiarity, and felt disinclined to strain it by her being there.

"Thanks, guys," she said, still smiling as she looked up to the skies. "One way or another I'll pay you back for letting me shoot that one off. But I'll leave you to it." She raised one hand to her face, tucking away a loose lock of hair. "I hope I see you both around."

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[info]inclinedfear
2011-07-16 12:51 am UTC (link)
"You don't have to leave or anything," Rylee said quickly to Karin, not wanting her to feel as if they were forcing her to go. He frowned and glanced at Charlie, urging her to play nice to the woman. This was, after all, someone who they lived with. He raised an eyebrow at her, hoping she would catch his drift, then looked back at Karin.

"And you don't have to pay Charlie back for letting you shoot that firework off." He knew Charlie wouldn't appreciate Rylee taking control like this but if she had that much of a problem he would pay her back for the firework. He wanted to be polite to this woman Karin and making her assume she had to pay back for having some fun wasn't a way to do it.

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[info]eristic
2011-07-16 01:38 am UTC (link)
Charlie would have been more than happy to welcome Karin's departure, but perhaps it was a stroke of luck that Rylee was around to smooth things over. Her social abilities had always been shit, and she could appreciate her friend's kindness. It was especially highlighted to her since she was so used to seeing him in awkward situations - if he'd changed at all through the years, it was definitely for the better.

Attempting to screw her face into something less annoyed looking, she gave a light shrug of her shoulders. "Nobody has to pay, and we all get to blow shit up, I don't particular care who was holdin' the lighter at the time," she responded, perhaps the first nice thing she'd said to anyone outside of her tiny group of friends since moving into Pax. "Not like these were the uber expensive shit, now that stuff would've been illegal...but way more fun."

With that final comment, she lazily folded her arms over her chest, not really giving a vocal opinion on Karin's presence. It was stay if you want to, go if you want to - the side of Charlie's mouth quirked as she waited for Karin's decision.

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[info]sheltering_sky
2011-07-17 06:05 pm UTC (link)
Karin quirked an earnest smile at Charlie's assertion, seeing in its impish nature something that reminded her of her sister. She made a mental note to mention these newly made acquaintances to Fee, quite certain already that she would like them.

"Oh, that's alright," she said. "I've had my fun, and it's always better to leave before you overstay your welcome. It was really good meeting you both."

With one last wave she turned to go, slipping into the dappled shadows cast by the streetlights.

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[info]inclinedfear
2011-07-19 09:45 pm UTC (link)
"Nice to meet you, Karin," Rylee said with a slight wave. He watched her walk away, happy he had met another tenant without having a complete panic attack, and turned back to Charlie. "You ready to set off another one or you wanna play with your little sparklers."

He smirked at Charlie, reaching for his lighter and tossing it up into the air, catching it casually, while he waited for her response.

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[info]eristic
2011-07-19 11:15 pm UTC (link)
Charlie made no response to Karin's retreating form, instead content to put her attention on the half-emptied box of fireworks at her feet. She did, however, favor Rylee with a long, sarcastic glare.

"You know what I'm gonna do with these sparklers? Light 'em up in your apartment - do whatever they call it, aging or somethin', on those home improvement shows," she muttered teasingly in reply, kneeling down once more to dig out yet another large and loud explosive.

The two friends carried on for another hour until the entire box had been emptied, the parking lot smelling of chemicals and burnt cardboard when one firework accidentally ruptured. Charlie claimed factory incompetence, but the fire extinguisher took care of the problem. Once the entertainment was gone, though, the two friends wandered back inside for food.

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