2020-08-22 - Bonfires and Bucket Lists

Dancing had been fun but, as expected, it worked up an appetite. Food had been acquired and Dahlia's choice of drink was a micro brew that was based more off the design on the bottle than the flavor stated. They'd found a place not too far off where they could have some privacy but still listen to the music. She snuggled up a bit closer as they sat, taking a sip of her beer. "This is a great night for this too, innit? Summer's here are usually always better than the rest of the year." A wry smile on her lips.

Justin lets one arm slide around Dahlia as she settles in next to him. He only needs one hand for his beer and his food and so he leans comfortably against her as he takes a swig from his bottle, a microbrew chosen for much the same reason. He glances at the bottle and shrugs. It's not terrible. Not great, but he probably wouldn't get another one. He smiles over at her and says, "It is a good night for it. And it's nice to be out in the warmth, in the air. Good to be out of the house."

Dahlia picks up a french fry and nibbles at it as she relaxes against Justin, looking out over the water and the bonfire area. "It is good. I'm happy you're starting to come out of your funk." Her attention turning back up towards him. "That you're feeling better. It's been a rough few months, I know...but things seem to be turning up, right?" Giving him another little grin. "And everyone's too busy getting drunk and dancing to remember that they think you're married! Or, maybe it really was just an elaborate prank?" Dahlia shrugged with a laugh as she ate another fry.

"They do," Justin agrees as he leans comfortably against her and grabs a bite of some of his fried seafood, dunking it in tartar sauce before consuming the tasty crispy goodness. He rolls his eyes a little bit and says, "I'd remember if I got married. Especially to Hyacinth. If that happened it really /would/ be some kind of lavish multi-day affair. Though I'm not sure body shots and the cops showing up would be on the menu." He smiles wryly. "A giant cake from Vyv and a lot of expensive food and champagne, though, possibly." He leans over and brushes his nose against her ear and says, "But I assure you, I am most definitely /not/ married."

"I definitely cannot see Hyacinth having body shots at a wedding or having the cops show up." Dahlia agreed with a laugh. "It would be lavish and expensive and very tasteful." Her head tilted a little towards him as he brushed his nose to her ear and spoke. "And I am very thankful for that." She pressed a kiss to his cheek and then snagged a brief kiss on his lips. "I'd like to go away somewhere I think. Just to get a change of scene for a few days or something. Just the three of us and some place that isn't Gray Harbor." Dahlia mused. "What do you think?"

"No doubt," Justin says with a grin, lifting his beer and taking a swig. He smiles at the kiss to his cheek and then turns to return the second kiss, letting it linger. When it breaks he nods and says, "Anywhere you want to go. Pick a place, and I'll take all three of us. I've been busting my ass for months. No one is going to blink twice if I take some time off. Only one I think we really have to worry about is Declan since I'm not sure how easily he can get away. But.. it doesn't have to be a long trip either."

"I'll think on it and talk to him some. Between the both of us I'm sure we can convince him that a few days off will be okay. He works so hard all the time too. He deserves a break for sure." Dahlia agreed, polishing off her french fries. "Not somewhere too far off though yeah. If we go anywhere like over seas or something I'd want a longer time to enjoy it. But just a few days should be okay." She thinks on it for a few moments, head resting on his shoulder again. "Hmm maybe we could go to Disneyland! I don't think I've ever been. Or some kind of other amusement park. That could be a fun few days break."

"If we're going to Disney, then we're going to Disney World," Justin says with a grin over at her. "And if we go to Europe, then yes, we need a little more than a couple of days for that trip. So, if we're looking to do a long weekend or something, then I'd suggest something within the U.S. or maybe Mexico or Canada. I think Mexico in August might be a little warm even for me." The California boy.

"What's the difference? Well besides the Land being in Cali and the other one being in Florida?" Dahlia asked, curious. "Canada could be interesting, not really sure what's up there though. Well besides maybe a lotta nature?" She mused. "Mexico...would definitely be too warm but maybe we could go during winter or fall!" She set her plate aside carefully, taking another sip of her brew. "Is there anywhere in particular that you've been wanting to go? In the states or otherwise?"

"There are more parks in Orlando. Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Disney's Hollywood Studios plus there's all the resorts with their various restaurants and things and Downtown Disney with a bunch of shopping and things to do, too," Justin says. "There's only the two parks in California." He grins a little and says, "There is a lot of nature and there are some interesting cities we could check out, too, like Vancouver, Montreal, Quebec, or go out to Nova Scotia and check out the islands." He nods and says "Mexico we'll definitely wait til winter or fall." He takes a swig from his beer and shrugs his shoulders. "Broadway shows in NYC, Whale Watches off the coast of New England, Disney World in Florida, Riverboat in New Orleans and wander the French Quarter, go to see some shows in Vegas, skiing in Aspen and Vail, maybe the Sundance Film Festival." He considers, "See the Scottish Highlands, or Ireland. Tour some castles around Europe. See a volcano in Hawaii." And yet, most of his time he spends in his office instead.

Dahlia listened intently as Justin rattled off all the things he wanted to do. Most of them sounding like a pretty good time really. She grinned up at him again. "Sounds like there's a bucket list that needs to start getting some stuff crossed off of it!" She relaxed back, looking up towards the sky. "I think Orlando sounds like a good start. Lots we could do and see and good for a weekend get away." She agreed. "Maybe every few months or so we can try to take a trip somewhere new."

Justin chuckles, "Yeah, I suppose I should start doing some of those things instead of just waiting for some magical someday when I'm going to take all this time to go do the things and see the things that I want." He gives her shoulder a little nudge. "And I want to take you both with me, and anywhere else that you two want to go and see, too."

"All about making the time. Which, you're on the right track to do." Dahlia nudged him back and grinned. "I know I'll happily go wherever you drag me. And I'm sure Declan would be too. I don't really know what I want to see. Vegas maybe, and I would like to go over seas some." She shrugged. "All I know is that even if I never move out of Gray Harbor. I don't want to always be here, you know? I think a change of scene now and then will be a good way to reset. Mentally prepare for whatever it wants to throw next."

"We can always come home to Gray Harbor. But it would be good to do some traveling. We just need ot make sure that you guys have up to date valid passports, then we can start our world hopping adventures together," Justin says with a little bit of a sidelong grin as he finishes off the remainder of his food, grabbing his plate and Dahlia's and tossing the cardboard and plasticware into the bins nearby before returning and grabbing up his beer once more, settling back in next to her.

Once Justin came back, it probably wasn't much surprise when Dahlia transitioned to straddling him. It was one of her favorite sitting positions in general, even if they were only chatting. Her arms draped loosely around his neck, still holding her beer in one hand. "I definitely ain't got a passport. Not sure if Declan does. But we'll get to work on it. Takes a while for those right?" Pondering for a few moments. "And then by the time we're all done we'll hopefully be old and gray and can retire to the Bahamas." She laughed.

It's one of Justin's favorite positions as well, to have her there in his lap, close against him. His beer sits off to one side next to him and his arms loop around her waist. "Yeah, at least 45 days or more, so we'll just get working on them soon so that we have them well in advance of whenever we want to go somewhere. Then we can plan a trip afterward." He laughs and says "Is that what we're going to do? Get old and grey and retire to the bahamas?"

"Sure it is." Dahlia nodded matter-of-factly, relaxing against him. "That's what old people do right? They retire to somewhere nice and tropical. Where it feels like you're on vacation 24/7." She chuckled. "At least, that's the dream and it sounds like a nice one."

"I think I could be okay with that someday," Justin grins just a bit and leans in to brush a kiss against her jaw. "For now, though, there's a whole world to go poke around in and I think it's time that we got a start on that, too." He then adds, "Not that I don't like the view from right here plenty, either."

"Yep. We gotta do a lot of poking around and trouble causing before we settle down." Dahlia makes a pleased little noise as his lips brush against her jaw and grinned down at him. "I've got a pretty good view from here too." Leaning down to press him into a soft, lingering kiss. "You wanna head home or stay out here a little longer? Maybe get another dance or two in?"

Justin laughs a little at that and says, "Poking around and trouble causing, huh? And what sort of trouble are you thinking about getting into?" He leans up into the kiss, returning it slowly, in no hurry at all, and smiles when it breaks. He lets his hands slide from her hips down the outside of her thighs and back up again lightly. "I am up for anything you desire. Lady's choice."

"I'll know it when I find it." Dahlia grinned and then laughed with him. She placed a few kisses along his neck and sighed contently. "Mmm...let's get one more dance in...and then head home. Either your house or Declan's." Dahlia decided. There's a little bit of mischief that dances across her features as she presses her hips to his for a few seconds and then starts to stand up, taking a drink from her bottle to finish it off.

"Oh I'm sure that you of all people would know trouble when you've found it,' Justin teases her lightly and lets his head tip back a bit as she kisses his neck, squeezing her thighs just a little as she presses against him. Then he chuckles low in his throat and says, "Alright. One more dance," he agrees and then gathers up their empty bottles and tosses them where they need to go before heading back out toward the dancing.