The Park, Saturday Afternoon

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

Price was bundled up, just enjoying the winter air. He had a cigar clenched in his teeth, and was tossing bits of bread at the duck pond, regardless of whether there were actually any birds around.

It was good to be alive, and to be free. He put thoughts about Soap and Soap's well being to the back of his mind. For now, he'd just worry more about his own sanity. Five years in the Gulag were nothing compared with a few days on this island for shaking up his grip on reality.

He stayed perched on his bench, his eyes open and keeping watch over all the corners. He'd be vigilant, even if he felt safe.

[ooc: Very open]

Comments

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

And here came the clip clop of a horse's hooves, accompanied by the jingle of sleigh bells that Tully had put on the harness in a fit of whimsy.

Mr. Twain did not yet know if he'd forgive Tully.

"Hiya." Tully waved to Price.

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

Price nodded in greeting. "I see you're in the holiday spirit, mate," he said.

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"It was either that or continue on the road to becoming the creepy lighthouse keeper." Also it helped make the cold more tolerable, being festive.

"You new in town?"

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"That's probably not a good road to travel," Price said, thinking idly about Robert Frost after his comment. "New in town, yes. Captain John Price, at your service."

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"Got a taste of it last weekend, so I'm hoping to avoid it. Pleased to meet you Captain, I'm Tully Mars." He leaned down offering to shake hands.

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

Price shook his hand firmly. "Now are you actually a lighthouse keeper, Mister Mars?" he asked.

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"I am. The Fandom Lighthouse is over there." He pointed, and the top of the tower might be just visible over the houses and shops. "Used to be the Gnu Island Light Station, but I like the new name better."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"I don't know," Price said. "The old name had a bit of ring to it."

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"I think Fandom just kinda rolls off the tongue better than Gnu. But maybe that's cause by the time I got the place it was already the Fandom Island Lighthouse."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"I never like naming things after the city," Price said. "After all, it's not the New York State Building or London's Big Clock or any such nonsense."

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"Huh, I never thought of that." Tully said. "But then when it was the Gnu Island Light Station, this place was Gnu Island, so..."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"Fair point," Price said. "And I suppose it really isn't any matter if I like the name or not. Your lighthouse, after all."

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"Mine and the Maryland Historical Societies." Tully agreed. "How about yourself Captain? What line of work are you in?"

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"I just secured myself a job at Wellspring Arms," Price said. "I start next Friday."

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"That's the gun store right?"

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"And meditation center," Price said. "A bit of yin and yang, if you will."

It didn't strike Price as ironic. It actually felt right to him.

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

It did strike Tully as kind of strange, but he was well used to that by now. "That's an interesting combination. Is the meditation part of the five day waiting period?"

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"We've got much stricter policies than five day waiting periods," Price said. "The big man, he's got final say on all firearm sales. Which, while I hardly know the gentleman, suits me fine."

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"That's Cable right?" Tully had never really met him, but he'd heard the name and seen him around.

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"The mayor," Price said. "Man has his fingers in a lot of pies."

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

That sounded like an ominous thing for a politician, but what did Tully know? "Probably makes it easier to make policy regarding the sale of firearms."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"Or lets the mayor have better control of rogue elements on his island," Price said. "Both rather good things, in my book."

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"I dunno, rogue elements on this island have seemed pretty beyond anyone's control so far."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"That's a sort of comment that requires clarification, friend," Price said, his interest very piqued.

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"Well how long have you been in town?"

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"A little less than a week," Price said. "Why?"

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"Ah then you missed the last bout of crazy. Every now and then, things get weird around here. And there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. This past weeken we all became, dunno, like something out of a soap opera."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"Isn't that life in general?" Price joked.

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

Tully chuckled. "I suppose, but I mean like you'd see on daytime tv. That's when I got a taste of the creepy lighthouse keeper's life."