OOM

[obligatoryass]

Logan checked the door one last time, just to make sure it would continue to open to Neptune. How embarrassing would it be if it didn't open? Or worse, opened somewhere boring, like Indiana.

Fortunately, the Neptune Grand is right on the other side, and he leaves the door open a crack, just in case Bar should decide to play a cruel, cruel trick on them both. But it seems the trip is likely to go off as planned.

He turns as he hears a knock on the door and goes to answer it.

Comments

[obligatoryass]

Not so much, no.

Logan grins and starts hauling in ropes. "Let's."

[kitchen_maid]

"Is there anything I can help with? That I won't simply make a complete mess out of?"

[obligatoryass]

Logan hands her a rope and points to the dock. "Make sure we don't hit that," he says. "Just push us off if we get to close. I'm going to start the engine now, and I'll be able to correct our course, just not see how close we are. Keep an eye on both sides, if you can."

[kitchen_maid]

Amy blinks twice and then nods. "All right," she says, trying to keep all that in her mind.

"It's not a crisis, though, if I get this wrong?"

[obligatoryass]

"Nah," Logan says, smiling reassuringly. "The boat's tough. It can take it. Also, those rubber things will help protect it."

He indicates the blue rubber bumpers that hang off the side of the boat. They're large and very blue, and very reassuring. He hopes.

[kitchen_maid]

"They're very blue," says Amy.

And fortunately, they're off without Amy's having to do anything other than watch carefully.

[obligatoryass]

But not, happily, BLUE.

And it's a perfect day for boating, even if your boat is almost, but not quite, a yacht. The only reason it isn't a yacht is that Aaron liked to go out alone, and with a yacht, you need a crew.

It's hard to have private assignations with a crew. Not impossible, but hard.

[kitchen_maid]

Amy's narration blinks at all that on her behalf, and is grateful that it was none of it said aloud.

"This is glorious, Logan."

[obligatoryass]

Logan beams. "It kind of is, isn't it? Fully stocked with food, wine and music. Perfect for a party for two."

[kitchen_maid]

"Sounds like a lovely afternoon," she says.

Even if there is absolutely no way, Mr. Echolls, this is going to turn into the sort of party of two you might usually have alone with a young lady on your boat.

[obligatoryass]

"Isn't it? Perfect for a boat ride."

Like most days in SoCal. And Logan has NO intention of making this into THAT kind of party, thank you.

He may not be a great guy, but he's trying to manage "good" at least.

[kitchen_maid]

Well, Amy never suspected that he was. Her narration is just looking out for her. As one's narration does, one hopes.

"Thank you, Logan. For bringing me. You'll have to come visit my world some time."

That will be interesting.

[obligatoryass]

Narration does have a very important role in protection. As well as plot point promotion.

Logan ducks his head modestly. "I'd love to. And I totally can't wait until the wedding, by the way. I love weddings."

He does, too. No one watches the bar at weddings. And the food is usually pretty great.

[kitchen_maid]

"Not too much longer," she says. "Not soon enough, but not too much longer."

She doesn't actually like weddings as a general rule -- royal weddings tend to be long and formal and rather boring. But she's quite looking forward to this one, which has nothing to do with the food."

[obligatoryass]

Logan grins at the "not soon enough" part. He's not nearly patient enough to put up with that sort of waiting.

"I'm used to Hollywood weddings," Logan says. "They're totally crazy and nuts. It will be nice to experience something else, for a change. Something that's going to last a lot longer than six months to a year."

[kitchen_maid]

Divorce only being something they do in England, Amy has not quite followed his correctly.

"Good heavens. Royal weddings are long, but they're not that long. You really have wedding that take months?"

She thought two days was bad enough.

[obligatoryass]

Logan laughs. "No, no, the marriages only last month. Celebrities here get together, split up, and then trash talk each other in the press."

[kitchen_maid]

"I . . . that's not the way we do things in my world," says Amy, as nonjudgementally as she can manage.

It sounds really strange to her.

[obligatoryass]

"That's good," Logan says. "It's a crap way to do things."

To say the least. And it leads to weird, screwed up families. Like his! It's not dysfunctional AT ALL.

[kitchen_maid]

Honestly, his life might have been better if his parents had split up and started trashing each other in the press.

"Yes, well," says Amy, "if you'd ever been to a royal wedding, you'd know why no one would go to the trouble of having one for the sake of six months."

[obligatoryass]

True enough. A mesy, public split has to be better than murders and suicide.

"Fair enough," Logan says. "I mean, I don't understand it even here. They throw these lavish things that cost millions, and then just break up anyway. Stupid."

[kitchen_maid]

Amy shrugs. "I really can't imagine meeting more than one person I'd want to go through all that hassle for."

But then Amy isn't getting married as a publicity stunt.

"Anyway, I think you'll enjoy the reception," she goes on, looking for a way off the topic of Hollywood marriages. "Just watch out for all the girls looking for husbands."

[obligatoryass]

"You wouldn't imagine it, but...it happens."

Grateful for the segueway, Logan grins. "I think I can handle them," he says. "Especially since I come from a different world."

of course, this could help out somehow. Get extra points. Don't think he hasn't thought of it.

[kitchen_maid]

"I have little doubt you can handle it," says Amy, amused. "It's just that some of them can be rather . . ." she trails off, looking for a way to put this.

". . . pushy," she picks, finally. "But in a very fluttery way."

[obligatoryass]

"I'll be pushy back," he says, smirking. "In a very direct and probably off-putting way."

It's a talent, really.