Cocoa Beach, FL | February, 1959 | 14:02

[bingobangobongo]

[Post-scuba training, the aspiring astronaut known as Al Calavicci (Bingo, to most,) finds himself held somewhere between satisfyingly tired and exceptionally charged. Knowing Cocoa Beach to be the stomping ground of one Kara Thrace, he hopes to take the time to seek her out before returning to the Cape for more training.]

[As luck would have it (and often does with these two,) Bingo spies the one person he happens to know in the area. She is down the beach, still recognizable on this dreary and overcast February weekday, and very obviously unaware of his existence at this moment.]

[Let's pretend he doesn't think he's god's gift to women, and that he doesn't bother changing into something other than his swim trunks because he's afraid he might miss her leaving in the meantime. Sadly, we can pretend, but it's hardly the truth.]

Comments

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[Awwwwww, work talk? Really? Calavicci takes a loooooong time to process her question through the haze of dirty thoughts, finally sitting forward and resting his elbows on the table.] Every day feels like a few more feet. It's... [He shakes his head, very obviously overwhelmed by his varying feelings on the prospect.] Almost unbelievable.

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

Almost. [Looks past him, eyes dark for a moment before refocusing on him.] What's next for you?

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

After re-cap, we're back into stress testing and training. Every three months. I don't know exactly what they're expecting us to gain from all of it. One day I'm baking in an oven, the next I'm buried in the sand up to my ears. Heck of a thing.

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

But you're not complaining, right? [Have a skeptical eyebrow.]

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

Are you kidding? I nearly killed Gibbs for fucking up one of the tests. We were paired for an exercise, so when he came in late because he was taking an extra long powder, I had to stay in the tank for the extra thirty minutes he earned. [Grumble grumble.]

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Cue Michelle, toting a strawberry shake and a turkey club - sorry, Bingo.] Aww, you poor thing. You just tell me if there's anything else I can get to make you feel better after all that. [Winks and wiggles off toward the other customers accumulating for late lunch/early cocktails.]

Yeah, you 'poor thing.' [Snatches a potato chip, gesturing with it before popping it into her mouth.] You know there are thousands of people who'd sell their soul to be in your shoes.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[Mm. Blondes.] Just my shoes? I must not be doing something right.

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

At the moment? Not particularly. [Laughs and finishes her beer just as the bartender gives her another.]

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[Observing Al is observing this.] So, you work here, then? Or are you just a highly respected regular?

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

Both, actually. [Gestures grandly to their surroundings.] You still want to bitch to me about training?

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[Ruefully.] I didn't know we were comparing misery.

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

I'm a pilot, Bingo, not a fucking waitress. [Takes a long drink, turning from him to face the mirror above the bar.]

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[What can he say to that? His first instinct is to be snappish, but he can't pretend he doesn't understand how important flying is to her. Or why she feels the way she does. So, he swirls the straw in his milkshake and apologizes anyway.] I'm sorry, Kara. I shouldn't have said that.

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[She shrugs, looking at him sidelong. It wasn't an apology she wanted - more just someone to sympathize.] It is what it is.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[How miserable is that? Still at a loss, Bingo pulls out his wallet, drops some cash down, and picks up his plate, somehow juggling it in one hand while the other is occupied awkwardly with his beer and milkshake.] Why don't we get outta here? I can bring the dishes back later.

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Picks up about a third of the cash and slips it artfully into his back pocket.] Michelle will still like you if you don't tip her a hundred percent. [Relieves him of his beer and nods further down the beach where people have already started packing it in.]

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[A grope and some aid. Bonus!] Yeah, well, a little extra never hurt.

[Al follows her, remembers his pack, retrieves it, and follows her again.] You want some of this B-L-T...H-T?

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Shakes her head and chooses a spot among the rocks.] Not supposed to eat before a swim. One of us has to be responsible.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[By now, his mouse is half-full. He sets the place and his milkshake on the flat of a rock and chew-chew-chooses to chew and swallow before replying.] That's a load of bologna, anyway. I remember finishing dinner at this girl Jenna's house... Jenna? Julie? Jackie! It was Jackie's house. Anyway, her and I did plenty of swimming (amongst other things) right after dinner, and we're still around.

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Smirk!] Well, someone taught to me to behave better than Jenna-Julie-Jackie. [Grins and steals a bite of his sandwich.] You just remember that when I save your ass from drowning later.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

Yeah, yeah, I'll owe you one. [Chuckles and takes a lean near her, regarding the water.] You swim a lot?

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

I do. [Sits back, looking at the surf.] Beats my stuffy apartment.

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[This just feels... wrong to Al. He yearns for that spark he'd seen in her before, but realizes it's probably buried pretty deep. Having finished a good part of the sandwich, he washes it down with some cold beer and glances in her direction.] So, we're out here, it's quiet, we're alone. Why don't you tell me how I can make things better? [Because he hated to see her suffer.]

[anekanta.livejournal.com]

[Stands and peels her shirt off, tossing it at him.] Come for a swim. [Turns and dashes off, losing her shorts as she goes. She makes it to the water far ahead of him, and dives beneath the waves.]

[bingo-faced.livejournal.com]

[Damn her and her lead. Bingo's got to change (again,) anyway, but rest assured, he's not that far behind her. The water's more of a shock this time, but Bingo endures it well enough. He has no trouble finding her, though he's keeping an eye out for anyone or anything else that might be lingering nearby. It never hurts to be aware.]