Summer Tradition

[OrochiGeese]

*The scene opens to a sunny Sunday around 1 PM on Memorial Day weekend. We see an airy backyard with a number of water toys set up such as a "slip'n'slide", the obligatory animal "wading pool" (in the shape of a Goose), and a few other odd contraptions. A shapely brunette admires what appears to be her handiwork in setting this all up. A sliding door opens and a muscular, blonde man comes up behind her and places his arm around her neck, resting his hand on her shoulder.*

"Just had to make a miniature Orochi-O's Land, huh Robin?"

*The brunette, revealed to be Robin "Holly" Walker places a kiss on her companion's cheek.*

[Robin:] "I couldn't resist, Geese. Every Memorial Day, it's a Walker tradition!"

[Geese:] "Yes, I suppose you can still indulge in this relatively harmless exercise."

[Robin:] "It's not like I'm broadcasting this to the world to humiliate my enemies! Uh, not this time!"

[Geese:] "So what do we have here? I know it's not enough for you to set it up, you also have to take me through it."

*Robin smiles and excitedly takes Geese by the hand and walks him over to the "Slip'n'Slide. The slide is painted a rather unflattering shade of peach and the plasticy material looks oily, bunched, and wrinkled.*

[Robin:] "This is called the NiGHT'n'Slip since Kaori just lost what will probably be her last career World Title to Sanura in Super NOVA. You'll notice that the 'skin' of the slide is no longer as tight as it used to be and also appears to be soaked in animal fat."

[Geese:] "I'll try not to notice it too much, So no love lost there. And the Goose pool?"

[Robin:] "This is the 'ole Ryder Hole.' It offers no real value other then nostalgia when compared to more modern swimming locations. And while it doesn't seem very deep at first, if you look closer, it has a gaping hole in it right over our backyard well. That represents Jo Ryder's 'depth' and her falling off the face of the Earth."

*Geese's face contorts from disgust to confusion then to understanding.*

[Geese:] "I'm conflicted but impressed. Without the Orochi-O's budget, you actually did pretty well with what you have."

*Robin laughs with glee and hugs Geese who walks her back over to the sliding door.*

[Geese:] "So, I think they're gonna be here soon."

[Robin:] "Great! I'm sure Figaro will want to lounge in Ryder Pond and he's big enough that he won't fall in."

*Geese laughs but then looks a little more serious.*

[Geese:] "Celes said that she had news."

[Robin:] "Destiny junk?"

[Geese:] "I think. Something about symbols. She didn't go into greater detail to avoid our communication being hacked."

[Robin:] "Symbals? Like musical instruments? Is Moreno starting a band? Destiny's Mild? Ruby and the Bloodlettes?"

[Geese:] "She doesn't seem very rhythmic, nor do her friends."

[Robin:] "Oh come on, that Matthias is probably one hell of a dancer."

[Geese:] "Anyone can 'dance' when a Champion like Allen Riggs leads him in the ring."

*Geese smirks a bit and Holly cuts him off before he gets that competitive look in his eye.*

[Robin:] "So this news anything we should be concerned about?"

[Geese:] "Thunder Strike was the one who contacted her about it."

[Robin:] "Eewww."

[Geese:] "Heh, but no. It doesn't have to do with us but apparently some peculiar events occurred."

[Robin:] "Well, when I'm on my fifth beer, I'll pretend to care about them."

*Geese embraces her closer and looks around.*

[Geese:] "Is Kyle here?"

[Robin:] "He went out to the store to pick up more food. He'll be back soon."

[Geese:] "I'm hoping they get here first. Every time they come by and brief us, he gets that old look in his eye."

[Robin:] "You do too, ya hypocrite."

[Geese:] "But I have it under control because I know Destiny will be stopped without us needing to get involved. And even though Kyle is doing better then he was, I still get concerned. He hears some of the stuff Moreno says about both of us. I just don't want him to get any ideas from any incoming leads from Celes or Thunder. If Kyle senses any weakness on Destiny's behalf, he could be tempted to strike a decisive blow just to teach them a lesson for what they said about you. "

[Robin:] "We got this, Geese. All three of us are reformed thanks to Celes and we did it together."

[Geese:] "'Reformed' says the woman who just spent an hour arranging crude water toys to insult enemies from 3 years ago."

[Robin:] "Grrr, don't give me a reason to turn that hose into a Geese toy."

*Geese laughs and looks at his watch.*

[Geese:] "Actually, we have about an hour before anyone should be here so maybe I can turn my hose into a Holly toy."

[Robin:] "That's more like it."

*Geese leads Robin back inside their house and the scene fades.*


(Happy Memorial Day everyone!)