[IC] Moon's Tale (DrivingPark x HylianRose)

[HylianRose]

Claire stepped out of the coffee shop, her bag hung over her shoulder. Another day done, another day... wasted? She wasn't really sure. She felt empty right now. She didn't really know what to do with herself. She didn't really have anything to go back home to. Just an empty apartment her parents were helping her with. She sighed and looked up at the sky as she walked. It was turning an orange-red hue as the sun set. She smiled, happy to see such a beautiful day. Excitement rising, she ran to her bike and began pedaling toward the bridge, eager to get to the water. She grinned when she reached the bridge and the sun's rays hit her. Her golden hair flowing behind her, glowing in the sun. Eager brown eyes were focused on the road ahead as she jumped a corner and began pedaling full speed toward the shore line.

She had her bathing suit in her bag and was ready to get in the water. She always did this, everyday after work. Luckily the lifeguards weren't there to spoil her fun... yet. She knew that in a few days, the lifeguards would be there and she'd have to stop her little... ocean adventures. She had to admit, it was rather dangerous, but she didn't care. She enjoyed the water and the sand in her toes.

She found her regular spot near the cliff and placed her belongings down, taking off the clothing over her bathing suit. It was a solid blue one piece, a bit conservative but she didn't need to impress anyone. She wasn't here for that anyway. She pulled out her towel so it would be ready when she got back out and then ran for the water, racing the sun. When it went down too far, she'd have to leave and her beach time would be over. As she saw it, she still had about an hour left.

[Driving Park]

Lucas was restless.

Relaxing on the patio of his apartment, he sat observing the beautiful sunset. It was certainly nice and he certainly appreciated it as he always did, but he was still a little restless. Seeing the beach sprawled out in front of him mostly empty due to the lack of lifeguards such as himself was serene, but it also reminded him that in a couple of days, he'd have to climb up in the chair and begin his daily shifts. Of course, said daily shifts mostly involved doing nothing, but you had to be alert. There were only so many lifeguards, and at peak time there was a lot of people for one person to keep track of to make sure they were conforming to the rules and regulations of the beach...and also, you know, not drowning.

Still, lifeguarding was a nice job if you didn't mind sitting in a chair for hours on end, which Lucas certainly didn't. He could sit and do nothing forever - he had a lot to think about.

For example, why on Earth had he not found a girlfriend yet? ... Pausing to collect his thoughts, he answered himself. Because you're not looking for one, doofus. You're not like those other guys. And indeed he wasn't. He wasn't on a love quest that would either a) kill him or b) land him a hot girl. He was content with life on his own. He didn't imagine that, even on a beach such as this one, he'd fall in love.

But he was still restless.

Getting up from his chair, he decided to take a walk on the beach. This was a normal occurrence whenever he was not on duty and needed to think. In short order he was down the stairs and out the door, walking out of his beachside complex onto the soft sand, which welcomed his bare feet. As he gradually made his way closer to the shore while walking parallel to it, he pondered. His life was certainly nice as is, but was this it? Was he destined to sit in a lifeguard chair for the rest of time after college? Surely there had to be something more for him. Maybe he could find it in this almost completely empty beach. Everyone was gone, the receding sun causing the receding crowd. Most people had retired to their apartments or wherever else they came from, either admiring the sunset from their patios or disregarding it completely. For those like Lucas who wanted to enjoy it, it was an hour-long paradise completely devoid of other humans.

Or was it?

Off in the distance, Lucas spied a blue speck. It appeared to be a human. Not only was it a human, but a human running towards the water. By itself. "Hmm..." he pondered. "That's not very safe without any lifeguards on duty...or anyone else," he said to himself out loud. Since he was walking that direction anyway and his solitude had been shattered, he quickened his walking pace. Hopefully he would reach him or her before any potential danger occurred, and it wouldn't be creeped out by a random guy walking up out of nowhere. At least he had a lifeguard-themed T-shirt on. Yeah, because that helps.

[HylianRose]

Claire was floating in the water, her eyes up to the ever changing sky. She turned over and began to tread water as she watched, a smile inching it's way onto her lips as she watched the sun recede below the horizon. If she would miss anything, it would be this. She took in a deep breathe.

Maybe I should quit the job at the coffee shop and go for a lifeguard position. It's not too late, right?

She shook her head and began to head back in, just as the sun was beginning to disappear. She blinked when she noticed another body on the shore, walking toward her.

Who?

As she approached, she noticed his shirt. A lifeguard? She sighed and put a smile on her face as he approached. "I'm getting out. I know my limits." She told him, trying to reassure him. "And, if you want I'll leave. My apartment isn't far anyway." She continued, motioning her head at the building behind him. She really couldn't see much of the guy's face with the lighting now, with the sun gone, and the moon nearly hidden behind the clouds, she could barely see.

Great...

"And uh... Do you have a flashlight? I have mine with my stuff, I just... don't want to trip before I get there, you know?" She asked, feeling guilty for asking a favor from someone she didn't know. "I'm Claire, by the way. I... work at the coffee shop." She introduced herself, feeling it was the only way she could make up for seeming so rude.

[Driving Park]

As Lucas approached the figure, the figure noticed. Well at least I won't be freaking anybody out today, he thought. He got closer and the figure became a girl, though he couldn't tell much more than that in the dim light. He predicted her obviously crestfallen reaction at seeing a lifeguard. Maybe I shouldn't have worn this shirt after all, he thought.

"Hey, relax - I'm off duty! I'm not going to tell you to leave," he said, attempting a smile to make her at ease. "I just figured I'd say hello and make sure you were safe. Occupational obligation, y'know? I was just taking a walk and saw you over here. If you haven't noticed, there's nobody else on the beach," he continued, looking around. "A meeting was pretty much inevitable," he said with a shrug. He sincerely hoped he hadn't ruined her time alone, as he himself had been trying to be alone just moments before. He was definitely prepared to let her be and walk off somewhere else - still within eyereach of course - if it meant she would be at ease again.

Lucas looked around his person when the girl, now introduced as Claire, asked him for a flashlight. "I guess I don't have one on me, sorry. I'd be happy to walk you back if it would make you feel better. Or I can leave you be. Doesn't matter," he said with a sheepish smile. He was getting a little flustered that he interrupted this poor girl's solitude. "It's...nice to meet, you, Claire."

[HylianRose]

"Hey, relax - I'm off duty! I'm not going to tell you to leave," The man spoke, "I just figured I'd say hello and make sure you were safe. Occupational obligation, y'know? I was just taking a walk and saw you over here. If you haven't noticed, there's nobody else on the beach," He looked around the beach while saying, "A meeting was pretty much inevitable,"

"I guess I don't have one on me, sorry. I'd be happy to walk you back if it would make you feel better. Or I can leave you be. Doesn't matter." He began, putting in a slight pause before adding, "It's...nice to meet, you, Claire."

Claire smiled at his attempts to calm her. She could tell he was... maybe a bit flustered. "Oh, well... I need to leave anyway. Unless..." She began, looking down the side of the beach. "Unless you'd like to join me on a walk?" She asked him. She looked over at where her stuff was and then to the moon. She lifted her shoulders in a shrug and smiled over at the stranger. "Well, there's enough moonlight... I guess I'd feel safe walking around with you... A complete stranger." She teased him, laughing at herself a bit. "Because... You know, most people introduce themselves to someone they've been introduced to. I told you my name, why don't you tell me yours?" She continued, walking over to him.

[Driving Park]

Claire's suggestion made Lucas happy for several reasons: first, he was no longer the bad guy. Second, a walk all alone with a girl who he now could see was very cute might have just been exactly what he needed. And third...the only two people on the entire beach were no longer awkwardly not noticing each other, let alone interacting. In short: this was a good thing.

Lucas was now a good bit more relaxed than before as soon as the suggestion was made. He chuckled at her attempt to get him to introduce himself. "True, but 'most people' also don't meet each other on a deserted beach at sunset." He paused as he considered what he had just said. Meeting a deserted beach at sunset was one of the most unorthodox but coolest ways of meeting someone he'd ever heard of. He didn't dare think "romantic" yet, as they had literally just met a few seconds ago. But, looking out over the ocean, he concluded that it was indeed a very romantic image. "But, I suppose I'll tell you my name. Just for you," he said with a smile, looking at the girl who was now standing close to him."It's Lucas. Certainly not a name as nice as Claire, but it's mine and I like it," he said with a friendly shrug.

"So, how 'bout that walk?" he offered. "We can go anywhere you want. I've got nothing but time," he finished, smiling at her.

[HylianRose]

"True, but 'most people' also don't meet each other on a deserted beach at sunset." He rebutted, pausing afterwards. Claire chuckled and shook her head.

"You say that like it's a bad thing." She told him, still giggling.

"But, I suppose I'll tell you my name. Just for you," he said with a smile. Claire lifted a brow at his emphasis on the last few words, just for her and a small smile formed on her lips. She was having fun for the first time since she'd been here. This guy genuinely seemed very cool and laid back. It'd been a long time since she'd met anyone like that. "It's Lucas. Certainly not a name as nice as Claire, but it's mine and I like it," he said with a friendly shrug.

"So, how 'bout that walk?" he offered. "We can go anywhere you want. I've got nothing but time," he finished, smiling at her.

"It's nice to meet you, Lucas." She replied, her voice sing song as she walked around on her tip toes. "And of course. I... have a lot of time as well. If you want..." She began, walking a bit ahead of him down the beach.

Should I? He's a complete stranger no matter how chill he seems.

She put a smile on her face and turned to look at Lucas.

No, I can invite him for dinner when I've gotten to know him better. For now... let's work on that.

"Why don't we start up with a few questions. You ask me a question and then I get to ask you a question. If you ask a question that seems like it's stepping over the line, just know that I get to ask you a question like that in return. It's give and take, yeah?" She asked, smiling at him with the moonlight shining on her light blonde hair. The waves were beginning to hit her toes, making her shiver a bit.

[Driving Park]

Lucas could tell that Claire was at least as happy as he was to have made this encounter. He could honestly say it was the best thing that had happened to him in a while. His life was nice - living by the beach, lifeguarding and going to college not too far away wasn't a bad way to be, but...nothing ever happened. It was always the same old, same old. Perhaps Claire could change that.

Her hesitation when saying she also had a lot of time confused him a little, but he quickly forgot about it as soon as she suggested a Q&A session, to which he nodded in approval. It was clear that this was no longer just a "nice meeting you, bye" kind of encounter. He chuckled at her mention of "stepping over the line," and responded. "You'll find that my 'line' is a lot farther than most people's. Some would say nonexistent. So...be careful what you wish for," he said with a playful smile. Then he pondered about what to ask...there were so many possible questions. He collected his thoughts and started by sizing up what he knew out loud. "Let's see...your name is Claire, you work at the coffee shop, and you enjoy relaxing in the water when nobody else is around. Since you work at the coffee shop you're not just a tourist and are a regular. What brought you to the beach?" He hoped his first question would go over well...it seemed harmless enough to him.

[HylianRose]

"You'll find that my 'line' is a lot farther than most people's. Some would say nonexistent. So...be careful what you wish for," he said with a playful smile. Claire could only smile, a small blush forming on her face at his words. Maybe she shouldn't have said that.

"Let's see...your name is Claire, you work at the coffee shop, and you enjoy relaxing in the water when nobody else is around. Since you work at the coffee shop you're not just a tourist and are a regular. What brought you to the beach?" He asked, looking over at her.

She took in a long breath and let it out slowly, thinking about what to say.

Well, I'm a beach junkie? Is that an okay thing to say?

Yet another soft smile grew on her face as she looked up to Lucas, the stranger. "I'm really only here because of my parents. Well, maybe that's not my only reason but it's a pretty big one." She began, ending with a shuddering sigh. "My parents aren't the greatest, in fact, they're overbearing. And so, I wanted to try my own hand at life. I figured what better way than a beach?" She continued, laughing at herself. "Though, I think I got the wrong job considering where I am in my free time." She mentioned, motioning her head at the beach.

"What about you? What brings you to this beautiful work of nature?" She asked with a playful smile on her face.

[Driving Park]

Lucas listened to her explanation intently, thinking on how similar - and yet different - it was to his own story. It seemed like nothing could get her down if she still managed to laugh after telling that story.

"It's pretty similar to your story, actually,"] he replied. "Only my parents were underbearing. They never did anything, and before long I knew that I had to get it. So I got this lifeguard job and eventually saved enough money to get my own place. Conveniently enough, I found one right on the beach. It's been great ever since, if a little...uneventful. Even a lazy lifeguard like me gets restless eventually," he said, looking back at her.

"The beach never gets old, though. I do love it," he added.

Pondering for a moment, he delivered his next question. "So...you work at the coffee shop? I've never been there. What's it like?"

[HylianRose]

"It's pretty similar to your story, actually," he replied. "Only my parents were underbearing. They never did anything, and before long I knew that I had to get it. So I got this lifeguard job and eventually saved enough money to get my own place. Conveniently enough, I found one right on the beach. It's been great ever since, if a little...uneventful. Even a lazy lifeguard like me gets restless eventually,"

She blinked, listening to him. Underbearing? She chuckled slightly. Looks like we got both ends of the spectrum...

"The beach never gets old, though. I do love it," he added.

"Of course! How could you?" She cheered with a wide smile, the moonlight hitting her face at an interesting angle. It made her face look as if it were glowing. The moon made Lucas look like he had a halo around his head which procured another giggle from Claire.

"So...you work at the coffee shop? I've never been there. What's it like?" He asked, looking over at her. She looked down at the sand, watching her toes sink into it.

"It's okay. Not exactly my dream job. But I'm kind of confused as to what my dream job really even is. I'm 19, I'm not supposed to know that sort of stuff yet, right? I have some time to figure it all out..." She told him, trying to convince herself. It wasn't working. "I'm not even sure what other job I could do..." She mumbled, clearly put off at her current job.

"Oh, you probably want to know what the actually cafe is like..." She started, a bit flustered, "I just kind of went onto a whole different story didn't I? I'm sorry." She rubbed the back of her neck in frustration, trying to think of the right words. "It's... homey. They have wifi and their coffee is really the best. They even have a little book store next door so you can get a book to read while you drink your coffee. It's all pretty quaint..." She told him, smiling up at him.

"What about you? Why a lifeguard?" She asked.

[Driving Park]

Lucas listened as Claire waxed philosophical about her current life situation. "I mean...yeah," he responded, trying to find the words. "I don't think we have to know what we want to do yet, but...it's hard not to think about. After all, college is the last step before the real world."

He was relieved when she moved on to a less...deep conversation, as practical information was something he could at least wrap his head around. "That sounds nice," he replied. "I'll have to come visit sometime. Maybe it'll interrupt the day's monotony for you," he said, slightly grinning back at her. "It'll surely interrupt my day's monotony."

Upon her question about her job, he was a little surprised at himself for not really having an answer. "Well...I just wanted a job to get away. Didn't matter what it was. But I had the qualifications to lifeguard, and not being vultured by a boss sounded like a pretty sweet deal. After all, 95% of the time you do absolutely nothing in the chair. It gets really boring sometimes, but it gives you time to think." He paused. "Loving the beach and the water didn't hurt either," he added, grinning.

"Oh yeah...I guess it's my turn," he said, meekly smiling. "So what do you do when you're not at work in the coffee shop?" he finally asked after a brief ponder. "I mean...besides lie in the water all alone," he added playfully.

[HylianRose]

"That sounds nice," he replied. "I'll have to come visit sometime. Maybe it'll interrupt the day's monotony for you," he said, slightly grinning back at her. "It'll surely interrupt my day's monotony."

She smiled to herself, blushing slightly. She didn't know why it did that, but the way he said it... Maybe she was just going crazy at this point. It was the moon's and the ocean's fault for making this seem so romantic. She'd only met the guy for a few minutes. She didn't want to be easy...

"Well...I just wanted a job to get away. Didn't matter what it was. But I had the qualifications to lifeguard, and not being vultured by a boss sounded like a pretty sweet deal. After all, 95% of the time you do absolutely nothing in the chair. It gets really boring sometimes, but it gives you time to think." He paused. "Loving the beach and the water didn't hurt either," he added, grinning.

"I guess so. It must suck having to watch other people play in the water while you yourself can't. I guess they both have their pros and cons. I guess we should just be lucky we both have jobs. This is a pretty small town so the jobs weren't exactly... easy to get. at least for me. Might be different for lifeguards." She replied, making idle conversation now... Though, wasn't she before too? She didn't know.

"Oh yeah...I guess it's my turn," he said, meekly smiling. "So what do you do when you're not at work in the coffee shop?" he finally asked after a brief ponder. "I mean...besides lie in the water all alone," he added playfully.

Again, a blush that she hoped Lucas couldn't see despite the moonlight being so bright. "Well... Uhm... I read... and sew... and crochet... You know... boring grandma things. I'm convinced one day I'll be that crazy old cat lady with the way I act. The only... 'normal' teenager thing I do is listen to music. I enjoy singing though I'm not any good..." She told him, feeling a bit awkward. "What about you, Lucas?" She asked, turning to look up at him.

[Driving Park]

"I don't really mind it, actually," he responded to Claire. "I've in the water a lot. It's actually kind of nice to just look at it for a change." After a pause, he continued. "Plus, I get to go in after hours. Today I just decided to take a walk...and look where that ended up," he finished playfully.

He heard Claire's voice get...flustered? when she answered his question. He would try his best not to let that cause him to get flustered, though he was in a volatile state and thus prone to do so. He took a mental deep breath and began to respond. "Well um...normal is boring anyway," he said. Doing ok so far. "And...who do you know that's actually, you know, totally normal?" You're losing it man, keep it together! "I think being abnormal is what makes us unique..." he said. And...off the rails, he thought, visibly facepalming. "Sorry, that was...cheesy," he said, managing a meek smile.

He thought it best to move it on to her question, noticing that so far he'd asked the questions and she'd just said "what about you?" I guess that's bound to happen in a Q&A like this, he thought. "Well, I um...I'm not really musical, so your singing already beats me out. I've always wanted to learn an instrument or something though. Maybe a ukelele or something easy like that...one day," he said as much to himself as to her. "Other than that, I uh..." he floundered, trying to think of something that he actually did to make his existence meaningful other than being a lifeguard. "Um..." At this point he actually stopped walking, trying desperately to think of something. "...I don't really do much of anything, I guess," he admitted defeatedly. "I wanted to get out of the house to find myself, and I still kind of haven't. Even with all that time in the chair to think," he finished. He shrugged, trying to keep the mood positive. "But I still have plenty of time, right?" he said, managing to smile at her.

[HylianRose]

"Well, yes. But I guess the best way to go about it is just to enjoy each day as they come." She answered, stopping with him. She thought it was interesting he was interested in playing a ukelele. She couldn't really imagine it even if she'd only met him just now.

"So... This is a lame question but... Do you have any pets?" She asked, genuinely curious. She had a fat white and grey cat named Kiri in her apartment, her landlord being nice enough to let her have it or at least ignore it for now. Then again, maybe she was sort of hiding her from the woman. But, that didn't make her a bad person right? She took a moment and sat down in the sand, holding her towel around her knees. She patted the sand next to him, smiling up at him, inviting him to sit with her. She looked out at the moon as it set.

"I don't know if I'd survive without a pet. They keep me going... Maybe that makes me weird." She explained, trying to fill in the silence.

[Driving Park]

Lucas didn't really have an insightful response to Claire's insightful response, and sort of floundered in the return. "Carpe diem, or something, right?" he responded, pondering. "Seems like...a good plan," he admitted. That sucked, dude, he thought to himself. This girl was making him happy just by talking to him, and he didn't want to mess it up. Even if it was just a chat, so far.

Lucas smiled at Claire's question. "It's not lame...not everything can be really deep and thought-provoking, you know," he responded with a grin. "I don't have any pets...never have. My parents aren't animal people. It would be kinda cool to have one though, maybe," he finished, basically thinking out loud at this point.

He happily sat down next to her in the sand. Alright, this is pretty amazing, he thought to himself as untapped annals of emotions returned to him like an old friend. "I mean...lots of people depend on animals. I think my complete lack of them is weirder, honestly," he replied as he absentmindedly drew little designs in the sand with his fingers. You're so boring, dude, he thought to himself.

As he wracked his brain to invent another question to ask Claire, he just looked around, admiring the beach. "I never get bored of this place," he remarked. "It's so...perfect." He thought for a moment. [b]"And you fit right in," he said, instinctively looking away from her almost ashamed as soon as he delivered the thinly veiled compliment. He was not what you'd call experienced.

[HylianRose]

Her eyes shot open and her cheeks grew red hot at his words.

Tha-That's not a question!

She swallowed hard and turned away from him, playing with the sand in her hands.

What am I supposed to say to that? I don't know!

She felt like a deer in headlights, too afraid to make a move, too shocked to even try. She really wasn't expecting that. Suddenly, without warning, she stood up and turned to face where her things were near the rocks. "I... I just remembered. I need to go." She stammered. What else could she do? What do they call it? Fight or Flight reaction? She was definitely fleeing right about now. She ran so fast and so uncoordinated that she trip over her own feet and landed face first in the sand.

"Ow..." She mumbled through the sand, feeling the texture of it on her tongue.

Gross, gross, gross. I'm so freaking smooth. Now I really don't know what to say...

She kept still there, not sure what she should do. She didn't know what she wanted most. to get up and just walk away or to just lay there and pretend she didn't exist.

[Driving Park]

I knew it. I freaking knew it. You stupid idiot! I knew you would mess this up! Now look...one innocent compliment and she's gone running. Face it dude, you suck at romance. You suck at everything.

Lucas was mentally slapping himself over and over again, having an internal argument with himself.

It wasn't even supposed to be a thing! It was just a compliment...

You know full well that there's no such thing as "just a compliment", moron. You botched it. C'mon dude, you barely met her!

Ok. Did you even see what the scene looked like? It was perfect. Man, it was perfect...

SHUT UP. Look.

Lucas let his crestfallen face look up to see the girl running away. "So much for that," he said in the most pitiful voice ever.

And then the girl extravagantly tripped over herself and landed face first in the sand. He could have almost laughed...but then she didn't get up.

"Oh for crying out-"

Second chance.

Shut UP!

"Claire?!"

He sprang into lifeguard mode without thinking, sprinting over to her. He hesitated when he got to her...she probably didn't want to be touched at this point. So he went with the verbal approach.

"Claire? Are you okay?! Look, I'm...sorry for what I said, I was just...um..." his voice trailed off. "Please don't be hurt..."

[HylianRose]

She heard Lucas begin running to her. She had to feel a little bit sorry for herself. Here she was, laying on the ground, her mouth full of sand with an obviously hot male on the beach. Yeah, luck was on her side. Still, when she heard him asking if she was okay she began to chuckle. She turned around in the sand so that her back was on the ground and laughed, looking up at Lucas who was now leaning over her.

"I don't know whether to laugh or cry or maybe both. But at least we both know I'm not smooth." She said through her laughter, shaking her head. She sat up and rubbed the back of her head, a nervous habit. "Heh... I'm fine, really. Nothing I'm not used to. It was my fault for running when there isn't much moonlight out tonight." She replied to him, feeling better hear how concerned he was. It didn't even cross her mind that he was a lifeguard and that this was what he did on a daily basis.

She pulled her legs in a wrapped her arms around them, pulling herself into a tight little cocoon. She put her head against her knees and sighed. "Sorry. I probably over reacted to that statement. I'm just... not used to it." She explained, feeling a bit of relief from her shoulders as she let it out. She recognized the importance of telling things to others even if it meant talking to yourself in the mirror. It was just good to let it out. Though, this guy might think she's completely nutters. The awkward girl that can't really get anything right. Yep, that was Claire Carter. It was really no wonder why they called her Ditz in high school.

[Driving Park]

Lucas was taken aback at how different her mood seemed when she turned over. He was at least relieved that she wasn't hurt.

"That makes two of us," he said, shrugging, referring to her smooth comment.

Groan...

His internal monologue continued.

Hey. That was good.

I'm not admitting anything.

Lucas was a little surprised at her next statement.

"You? Not used to compliments? Come on," he said. "There's no way!" Before he went too far with the compliments, he checked himself. "...In any case, I'm just glad you didn't get hurt," he continued, still sort of in lifeguard mode. "I would've never forgiven myself."