"It's a beautiful day out here, isn't it?" the young woman asked to nobody in particular, as she turned to face a middle-aged man who appeared quite... Stern. She giggled bashfully once she realized whose company she was basking in, as she took a step back onto the wooden platform that separated herself from the sands below. "I mean that regarding to the environment, of course. I don't know if there's any animals out here, to be honest..."
Smith wasn't aware that her husband would eventually get himself acquainted with the folklorist, for a reason completely unrelated to the young woman's existence. Oops.
She did, however, admire the older man's stern, no-nonsense demeanor before glancing around - just to make sure her husband wasn't here to witness this - before asking more quietly, "Wait, actually... I hate for this to be a redundant question, but... Do you know of any animals that are around here? Not like... Crabs or seagulls, or even whales, but... Like... More mysterious animals? Ones that you don't think you see on a normal basis?" She leaned back with a squeak, however, once she realized that the other party was likely recording something in his notepad.
Oh, how tempting it was for her to look down at those notes! But Smith was polite. Far too polite, really. So she pursed her lips shut, then looked back over the platform, delicately clutching the sunhat in her hands as she attempted to keep it from flying away in the wind.
For a moment, Smith thought the clouds in front of them were a lot like animals, hopping across the sky before changing into a more serpentine shape that allowed them to flow through the cerulean landscape with ease. She took a deep breath. For whatever reason, she personally thought that these entities could count as urban legends, or... Something along those lines? Urban folklore had never appealed to her that much, especially given that the ones she exposed to were... Bad. Grotesque and macabre, even.
She gulped, then took a step away from the other party, hat tightly clutched to the young woman's hair as she did so.
"I don't get what's so relaxing about the beach," she mused aloud once more - just enough for the other party to hear, as if she desperately wanted to confide to him but somehow couldn't, "All it does is remind you to get lost in your thoughts, and that's sometimes the most dangerous labyrinth of them all."
vhfgbujbgvf oh god.... major rip for poor Smith tbh. :"))))
time for a follow-up....
Smith, again, was stuck at the beach, though it was mainly because her husband had suggested that they try going somewhere new - at least for the sake of their son. Speaking of their son, he was nowhere to be seen, currently playing patty-cake with a caretaker under a parasol, hitched over the sand almost impromptu. Clearly Smith's husband wasn't too intent on going here. But you know who was?
Smith.
She rubbed her hand against the back of her neck as she gazed over at the young man and piqued in quietly, "You know, dear, it'd be a nice day if it wasn't so windy. That way, the sand wouldn't blow into our faces and make our eyes sting. Do you think we should've brought a parasol along, at least for me? Or maybe you, if you so desire..." The woman kneaded her hands together while eyeing the man, though... As usual, there was no answer. Yet even in spite of the rejection, the young woman remained hopeful. Hopeful that the trip would turn out okay, hopeful that her husband would come around and love her too...
Someday, she assured herself with a sigh as her doleful eyes looked over at the waves' foam oscillating in and out of the shoreline, It'll all work out. It's a good thing he even invited me back here, right? I thought he wouldn't let me come back here after last time. He must be a nice man at heart! Oh, Smith...
She saw her husband take a step back just when a beach ball hit the water in front of them, splashing seawater onto the "couple." Smith stepped back with a squeak before wiping some stray flecks of sand off her dress, then looking over at Johnson to see if everything was okay. The need to ask him if everything was okay was... There, but she bit down on her lip from a stifled sense of fear as he spat acidic words under his breath. She hoped he wasn't directing them at her, in one way or another.
"We could leave now, if you want-" she hastily suggested as she took a step towards Johnson - always a risky option whenever dealing with anyone like him. Usually, he'd just give her an annoyed look, or ignore her calls for attention as he paid more attention to his son and the caretaker, but... Sometimes, he'd turn his frustrations on her, swatting at her hand or otherwise berate her. Smith thought she deserved it, for infringing into his space like that, but also...
There was that sense of fear that made her shudder just as she heard footsteps coming from behind her. After freezing for a moment, the young woman turned around to see... A handsome, rugged old man? Oh, this was definitely up her alley!
She gave him a bashful smile and a curtsy before stammering, "Oh, that's understandable! Children are like that in general, really! I think it's just normal for them. It's not a bad thing, you know." A gentle titter came out from her mouth as her husband finally noticed the other party and approached him with a raised brow.
"At least you're here to apologize," he grunted before giving Smith a dry look, "but... I suppose you can call us lovely." Smith nodded, genuinely meaning it. Johnson didn't. He continued wryly, "I just wish the day was actually that, you know? It'd be less to worry about in that regard. And as for that offer... I think we'll be fine. We already have a psychiatrist who works with us when it comes to helping our son stay well. He's just a young boy right now, but... Children are so delicate, too. And that's not necessarily a good thing." He almost glared at his wife before sighing and shaking his head. "Don't question our choices like that, too. It's a bit rude, you know."