08/13 Instance: Lazarus & The Aquarium

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steyn
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08/13 Instance: Lazarus & The Aquarium

Post by steyn »

((After Asilomar Cemetery and Before Mile High Club))

Ben: Ben walked into the entrance of the large aquarium and looked back to Neena and her brother as they pushed through the blockers and had their tickets ripped. "So what kind of stuff are we going to see?" Ben asked. "Besides fish that is..."

Neena: Neena rolled her eyes, grinning. "The Aquarium is famous for the otters," she said, taking Ben's hand. "And it's considered one of the best aquariums in the country." They walked under a life size replica of an orca whale and its young. The otter exhibit was directly in front, groups of people at the windows. . "See?"

Ben: Ben followed her gaze and his eyes connected with the otters. They were rolling and dancing about in the water, playfully and humorously, and would occasionally brush up against the glass to a friendly hand or a smiling face. Ben followed Neena to the large tank and stared at them happily. Smiling he imagined he and her as otters.

Neena: Lazarus watched his sister and Ben, crossing his arms. He had come to visit that morning, wanting to see for himself how happy Neena actually was. And he was very impressed and pleased- she had returned completely to her normal, cheerful self. "Hey, Nee-nee, let's show Ben the ocean wall," Lazarus suggested.

Neena: "Oh!" Sh grinned. "Great idea. Then we can see the jellyfish!" Tugging on Ben's hand, they made their way across the aquarium. "You're gonna love the ocean wall, honey," she gushed to Ben. "It's my favorite."

Ben: Ben walked with them, hand in hand with Neena, to the Ocean Wall. The three of them enjoyed the jelly fish and of course oohed and ahhed at all the other incredible and amazing colors and shapes in the ocean world being present to them.

Ben: Ben turned to Lazarus and pointed to one of the hunks of fake reef. "Is it me, or does that bit right there look like Abe Lincoln?"

Neena: Lazarus tilted his head. "I've always said that, but Neena just thinks I'm nuts."

Neena: Neena snorted. "But you are nuts. Both of you. Now come on, I want to get to the outer bay and look at the sardines." They walked into a circular room, where a large tank of sardines swam above them. "Look," she pointed to one lone fish that was trying to swim against the current. "Poor thing. It's lost. I've always wondered why the staff doesn't do something to help the fishes that swim against the school." She leaned into Ben.

Ben: "Story of my life." Ben said. "Always trying to go a different way than the rest of the world." He kissed her on the head and turned his face back to the tank. As he did a large shark rubbed it's mouth against the glass and slid upwards. "Gah!" Ben hollared as he stepped back, forgetting about the glass. And the water.

Neena: Neena and Lazarus laughed. "Come on, Ben, never seen a shark before?" Lazarus pointed to the offending creature. It was a small tiger shark, a pup really. "Don't worry, We won't let him get you."

Neena: Neena nudged her brother. "Be nice," she said as they watched the shark swim under a rock. They continued on to the penguins, and Neena awwed at them in their smart feathers. "They are so cute! I wish I could take one home," she grinned. "Don't you just love penguins, Ben?"

Ben: Ben shivered as the shark slinked off. "Actually Lazarus, my friend Ozzy was bitten by one at the beach in Narragansett, Rhode Island once. Thing chomped on his heel pretty bad. Sand shark I think it was? Regardless they scare me pretty bad now." He shrugged. "Not as bad as big brothers, but almost."

Ben: As Neena turned his attention to the penguins he smirked at them. "They are pretty cool. Though I wish they would tap dance and sing Prince songs."

Neena: She stuck her tongue out at him. "When I was little I wanted to have a penguin for a pet." Lazarus smirked. "She almost drove our mom crazy, bugging her for a penguin. You were what, five? We ended up buying a parakeet and the thing up and died in a week.

Neena: "It wasn't my fault!" Neena shook her head vigorously, embarrassed at the tale. "He got sick!" But her brother only laughed. "He got sick because you fed him cheese when we weren't looking."

Ben: Ben looked at Neena. "Guess you're not getting a puppy..." he joked.

Neena: "I thought he wanted some string cheese. He was watching me eat it, and he looked hungry," she pouted prettily. "Anyway, we buried him and everything, so I hope he's forgiven me." Her brother shook his head. "Only Neena would ask for forgivness from a dead bird. How can you stand it?" The question was for Ben.

Ben: "The bird may be dead, but the sin against it is not." Ben said, trying not to sound too poetic. "Part of our time on Earth should be spent forgiving others." He turned to Neena "*cough*Rogue*cough*".

Neena: She poked his ribs. "Hush," she admonished. They were reaching the part of the aquarium that held the kelp forest. A glass panelled wall stood in front of them, the tall stalks of seaweed thick and imposing. "This is what makes Monterey, Monterey," Neena explained.

Neena: "We have more seaweed in our bay than any other part of California," she led Ben to the glass, Lazarus following. "No matter how many times I see it, it's still so new to me." She turned to Ben, eyes glowing. "Isn't it amazing?"

Ben: Ben nodded as he looked in. "Yeah...kinda gross but amazing yes. You know, Boston has a lot of crazy stuff in the Mystic River. If you promise not to scream I'll go fish some out with you when we go visit my family." He looked at the little fish poke through the kelp and little crabs crawl along the rocky bottom.

Ben: "It's a totally different world under there huh?" He asked aloud, not really meaning it to be an actual question so much as a thought.

Neena: "I've never been fishing. It sounds fun," she nodded. "Listen, boys, I'm gonna run to the ladies room, ok? Be nice til I get back, we can meet back at the sardines," she kissed Ben's cheek, and, so he wouldn't get jealous, kissed Lazarus too, before weaving her way through the crowds.

Ben: Ben shrugged. "So, anything unique or interesting at the gift shop, or is it all Beanie Baby's and shells with neat carvings in 'em?"

Neena: Lazarus grinned. "Well, other than preserved shark pups and 'save the shrimp' shirts, it's your typical shop. So, what did you think of our little hometown?"

Ben: "It's a nice place. Really different from anywhere I've been before. Boston is... man it's not this that's for sure. New York is something else too. Completely different monster. How far out of California have you been before?"

Neena: "I've been to Miami for a convention," Lazarus shrugged. "Nice enough place, but then again Milo and I stayed at the hotel mostly, when we weren't checking out new software. We didn't really leave the convention hall to much. One of these days I'll have Nee-nee bring you to the Silicone Valley, where I live. You can meet my fellow geeks, see the other side of California."

Ben: Ben nodded. "Silicone Valley... saw the movie. The legit one too, not the porn version." He added holding his finger up. "You were close with Milo as well I take it?" Ben asked, knowing this part of the conversation would inevitably be brought up, so he may as well be the one to do so.

Neena: "Considering I was there when his mom brought him home...yeah. Spent most of my life looking after him and Neena and Kate, whom trust me, you don't ever want to meet. Never had a brother, but Milo was pretty close. He was supposed to join me over in the valley after high school," his gaze grew distant. "God, but he and Neena were great together. Like two peas in a bratty pod. It seems like yesterday I was chasing them down for lunchtime

Ben: Ben frowned, unsure of how to respond to that. It seemed everyone was always so fond of Milo. How was he supposed to meet this family's expectations after their beloved son, brother, boyfriend, had suddenly died. He needed to level with them. At least one of them.

Ben: "I don't know if Neena ever told you this but... my father was killed back when I was 12." He bit his lip as he considered how to continue. "Death is not easy. Sudden death is even harder."

Ben: "I didn't handle it well for a long, long time."

Neena: "It's hard," Lazarus agreed. "None of us could beleive it. Neena took it hardest, of course. Shut herself in her romo for months and wouldn't leave. She missed her own graduation," he sighed. "You know, losing him was hard, but what killed me was seeing her like that. Y"

Neena: "You know how Neena is, I'm sure. She's fun loving and likes to laugh. But after Milo died, it was like something died in her too. It's like she drew into her own little world that none of us could reach."

Ben: Ben nodded. "I turned to other means of escapism besides my mind. Especially after my mother re-married some jerk off. I spent my time learning how to drink, smoke, fight, and pretty much everything else that shouldn't happen to a kid. Then my abilities manifested and one night I found myself slugging my wife-beating step father a little too hard."

Ben: "Result was my sort of expulsion from Boston for a long time. I did bar tending, picked up a case of classic Irish-alcoholism, and wound up at Xavier, still hurt, still broken, and now, thanks to Neena, I'm starting to piece myself together again. Well, Tibet and Japan helped too."

Neena: "Ah, a man that watches out for the women in his life," Lazarus nodded approvingly before stopping suddenly. "Irish-alcoholism?"

Ben: Ben hung his head. He looked at his options. He could either say what he meant by that was he suddenly had a taste for anything Irish creme flavored, which naturally Lazarus would not buy or b) he could be straightforward with him. At least if he was truthful Neena couldn't challenge him later. It's not like he wasn't trying.

Ben: And besides, if anything the person he had to be square with most was Lazarus, clearly. "I know that you love Neena, so I'm giving you honesty. But first I'm going to tell you that I'm a 'recovered' alcoholic who participates in AA and who has traveled the world to soul search and find a way out of that grave digging behavior."

Ben: "I drank. A lot. I never had help overcoming my father's death and then when you add on the usual pressure and weight that came with life away from your home, it just evolved into a monster. It got really bad and I went to Japan and then Tibet. There I found ways to keep myself under control and I have even picked up some Buddhist ideals that I now practice in my lifestyle. I swore to Neena I wouldn't drink again, and I still haven't nor intend to."

Ben: God, she was taking her time in there huh? Ben said to himself impatiently.

Neena: "At least you recognize it for what it is," Lazarus shook his head. "God, Neena, what am I going to do with you? Look, Ben, I don't know what to tell ya. But Nee-nee's my baby sister, and she comes first in my life, got it? And I can't say I haven't done my share of stupid things so..." he shrugged. "Make her cry, and I'll kill you."

Neena: "Hello?" Neena pulled at Ben's arm, appearing out of the crowds. "Didn't you guys hear me when I said to meet at the sardines? I've been waiting forever!"

Ben: Ben turned to her and kissed her on the head. "Sorry hun, we got caught up in conversation." Ben wanted to tell Lazarus that if he ever made her cry there would be no concern, Ben would probably kill himself first. Yet at the same time the testosterone deep inside him wished he could web his face and plant some stingers in his jugular. Instead he looked to Lazarus and mouthed the word: "deal"
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08/13 Instance: Lazarus & The Aquarium

Post by Elfdame »

Nice interaction between the three.

"Only Neena would ask for forgivness from a dead bird." This guy has obviously never spent time on a Parrot message board.

This brought back lots of memories of vacation visits.

"Make her cry, and I'll kill you." I gotta love a guy who says something like that.
"Humanity is a parade of fools, and I am at the front of it, twirling a baton." From Chapter 9 of _Brother Odd_ by Dean Koontz / from Chapter 10: "Life you can evade; death you cannot."

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