Re: [declan and clementine, marvel]
[Parked, the engine rumbled to a slow diesel stop. The truck was a beast, out of place with the serenity of water. Clementine was already out the passenger side and venturing toward the sea with the kind of light footing that he ventured meant she was excited about this prospective buy. Declan watched after her as he remained inside the cab of the truck for a moment longer. He sat back, the almost-entertained voyeur. An emperor atop the gladiators pit, and he admired the carelessness with which she shopped. Careless because he still could not imagine the girl knowing a damn thing about sailing… at least, not enough to make the idea of buying a boat seem wise. But, so long as Clementine didn't go off and drown by the weekend, Declan didn't see any harm in it. And honestly, he was sure that she'd tire of the boat soon after buying it, abandoned easily as a spoiled child's tea set in the rain. Money was flimsy like tinsel, and Declan didn't think of spent zeros as a waste in the same way lost time was. He was going to be extremely put out with Clementine if she dragged him all of the way out here for nothing. For that, he was determined to see her not only buy a boat, but sail it on the regular.
That extra moment of solitude in the truck was useful for more than just watching Clementine walk away. He pulled a pill bottle out of the glove compartment, popped the white cap, and drank down a couple of little blue pills with what remained of his coffee. No more than a minute, and he was catching up with her. Higher spirits rode with him, like a switch had been flipped. His knee wasn't bothering him at all, even if logically he knew that the pills weren't working yet, it was the idea.]
A little on the small side for you, isn't it? [Caught up and close, his shoes crunched gravel just behind her, and his voice was at her temple.] No room for your country dancing in there. [And then he stepped forward with a friendly smile that was pure Murphy charm when he shook the hand of the man who was standing dockside and waiting for them.]
Declan Murphy. [Firm grip and a tilt of his head toward her as he introduced the two of them to the seller.] And this is Clementine.