WINEFEST, AT THE LAKE [OPEN]

[willcabot]

Bare feet padded down the small jetty, clothes abandoned in his wake as he stripped down. Discarding the Breitling watch onto the wooden boards, he grinned as he dropped the final piece of clothing between him and the water onto the short pier before diving straight into the deep, cool, lake waters. Swimming deep down into the darker waters, Will swam down brushing his finger tips along the lake bed before swimming slowly up. There were some advantages to a Siren ancestry, the attraction to the water and his speed in the water was definitely one of them.

Swimming to one of the buoys, far beneath the surface, Will swam the length and bredth of the lake before he reappeared at one of the floating platforms. Swimming slower, deliberately slowly, Will looked like any other morning swimmer. Emerging from the water, he slicked his hair back before grabbing onto the edge of the pier. Muscles straining as he pulled himself up on to the board, grabbing his towel he wrapped it round his waist before grinning as he realised he had himself an audience.

"Morning," Will began, grinning as he mock saluted them. "Nothing better for a hangover than a morning dip, don't you think?"

Comments

[lituplikeaghost]

"I don't usually get hangovers, so I wouldn't know," June says as she eyes him up and down with a smile, on her way to take a morning dip herself in a bathing suit that will infuriate all three of her brothers with its rather revealing nature. God, he's hot. Like, probably-a-demigod type of hot. And with that towel wrapped around his waist and the water droplets falling off him like rain, he makes a most welcome sight at wine fest this early in the day. June tucks a stray hair behind her ear as she greets him. "Morning yourself, Will. It's good to see you back."

[willcabot]

"That is because you are far too good Junebug and one day I am going to get you into so much trouble." Will replied with a teasing grin. Junebug was the little kid he'd used to tease at his mother's, or her family's, society events. Junebug was definitely not the woman standing before him, she'd done an awful lot of growing up not just in the years he'd been away but the years he'd been back too. "Hey."

Tightening the knot at his waist, he gave June a charming grin before wrapping an arm around her in a hug. If he got her wet, well then that was the beauty and joy of annoying your friends.

"I wasn't gone away long this time. Have you been pining for me?" Will teased.

[lituplikeaghost]

"Good?" She throws her head back and laughs. "Or just really good at pretending to be." She still remembers Will as the rambunctious blonde boy always teasing her for being younger; she also remembers when she first noticed him as an attractive young man. Still, it's been awhile, and she's happy to see him back in Siren Cove. "I'm holding you to that offer, you know."

She hugs him back, inhaling his cologne with a grin.

"But of course! None of the men here can compare with you," she tells him, batting her eyelashes in an exaggerated manner.

[willcabot]

Will rubbed his hand down her back, smiling as she laughed. Pulling back, he looked down at her with a wry smile. Despite her protest he doubted that June was anything but a good girl.

"Oh really? Is there something I should know? Should I start worrying about you stealing my title as Siren Cove's newest black sheep?" Will asked, running a hand through his hair and shaking some of the water out. Drops ran down his shoulders before he wiped them off. "You can hold anything you like against me."

Will, satisfied for now, that she was wetter than she had started off with pulled back. Glancing at the cool water behind him, he began to mentally plot how he could throw her in.

"Well, of course not. True, most of the men here are your brothers but..." Will began trailing off with a grin. "... I like to think I'm special."

[lituplikeaghost]

June knows that, in comparison with Will, her own antics are rather tame, but that still doesn't mean she can't hold her own in a drinking game, if she so chooses. But letting men underestimate her is just one of the many advantages to being June Thornton.

"I don't think anyone in town could give you a run for that crown," she points out, pouting at getting wet before she has the chance to hit the water herself. She sees him glance at the water, and past experience tells her he's about to throw her in.

"I see you, you know. You're not being subtle," she sticks her tongue at him, arms crossed over her chest.

"Oh, you are special," she assures him. "No one has abs like yours."

[willcabot]

"Oh, I don't know. You might show promise yet, we'll see little Junebug. Maybe we can see if you can make your brothers hair turn grey," Will replied, his grin getting wider as she sticks her tongue out at him. It was almost like June knew what he was up to. "Oh, I'm not being subtle then. So, you wouldn't want me to throw you over my shoulder and then into the water?"

Will grinned at the compliment before ducking to press a kiss against June's cheek. Wrapping his arms around her, he grinned even more as he looked not-so-subtly at all towards the water. "And no one looks as good soaked through as you. Come on into the water you go."

[lituplikeaghost]

"I'm trying, and despite my best efforts, no such luck yet," June laughs, imagining her brothers with grey hair. She shakes her head at him, playfully rolling her eyes. "Like I haven't seen you pull this trick a thousand times before?"

"No," she protests, hitting against his shoulders though there's no real bite to her efforts. She's in her bathing suit already, and being tossed into the water has its perks.

[willcabot]

"Probably but it is such a good trick," Will replied, a teasing look lingering on his lips. Ducking down, hand on her back he swept up her legs and lifted her with ease into his arms. Pulling her back against his chest, he grinned swinging her once or twice before tossing her far from the pier into the cool water.

Laughing he bent down at the edge of the dock waiting for her to emerge from the water.

[lituplikeaghost]

"I'm going to get you for this!" She tells him in between bouts of laughter, as he swings her back and forth before tossing her into the water. She goes under with all the grace of a stone, but, having had swimming lessons since she could walk, easily maneuvers herself so that she gets a good look at Will from underneath the water. She waits a good few seconds before she springs out of the water, using her momentum to splash as much water as she can directly at her friend with a cackle.

[willcabot]

Will laughs as June emerges from the water to splash it up at him. Tugging at the knot at his waist, he raised an eyebrow at her before indicating with his fingertips for her to turn round. Dropping the towel he took a running jump into the water showering her with water. And probably giving June more of a look of his body then she probably realised. He wasn't a fan if bathing suits after all.

"What was that- I thought I heard someone vowing revenge. " Will teased, a smug smile lingering on his lips.

[lituplikeaghost]

June gives him an exaggerated pout before she finally turns around, treading water as she waits for him to make his grand, splashy entrance. She lets out a shriek as his jump sprays her with water, turning around just as he emerges from the water.

"You did, and it was me," she says, laughing at the expression on her face.

[willcabot]

Laughing at the way June let out a shriek, Will grinned wickedly at her as she turns to look at him. It was a good thing the water was quite so dark otherwise he'd probably scar the young Thornton for life. Still, there was always time for that later.

"I'm shivering in anticipation, what will it be... the dreaded dunk? Stealing my clothes, because I think that would only embarrass my mother." Will asked, swimming in a lazy circle around June.

[lituplikeaghost]

June raises an eyebrow at Will, like she's supposed to be scared of his naked body? Like she hasn't seen men naked before, growing up as she did with four men in the house, some of whom could be rather lazy in the morning in regards to wearing pajamas at all.

"Stealing your clothes? This isn't summer camp," she laughs, a teasing glint to her eyes. "I'm working on it, but trust me when I say, revenge is coming."

[willcabot]

Will raised his eyebrow right back at the young Thornton, a wicked smile lingering on his lips as he ghosted past her. His fingertips brushing against the base of her spine quickly and fleetingly- a light tease.

"I will look forward to it," he replied. The teasing glint making him smile even more. "Or look forward to your attempt at getting revenge on me. It might be interesting to see what you come up with."

[lituplikeaghost]

June flushes a bit when she feels his hand briefly graze her back, though she maintains the haughty look of satisfaction upon her face as Will passes her by. He certainly does know how to keep her on her toes, she'll give him that. She just needs something to keep him on his.

"You say that now," she smirks at him. "But wait until I like, ruin your car or something." Not that she would ever cause destruction to anything of his property, but she does like potentially making Will sweat.

[willcabot]

"Which one? I do have more than one you know," Will replied with an easy going grin. His cars, well he liked them and they were useful but it wasn't like he didn't have another money to buy another but his boat? His boat was sacred ground. Custom built and beautiful. "You should do the rolls, no wait that's father's. The Senator might not appreciate that."

[lituplikeaghost]

"Maybe I'll strike double, then," she drawls with a lazy grin. "Or triple, if the mood strikes just right. But I would never touch the Senator's car, no way. Demetri would kill me in my sleep before your father could," she laughs, shaking her head. "Not that I would actually ever do property damage. But there's always room for surprises."

[ameliecoombs]

She had wandered down to the water's edge to get away from the countless men in suits her mother had been instructing her to win the favour of, thinking that she would find a place to be alone for a moment.

Instead, she sees a familiar figure rising up out of the water, and she finds a smile slowly taking shape on her lips before she even thinks about it.

"Will Cabot," she calls out, shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand. "The prodigal son returns."

[willcabot]

Letting the towel slip low for a moment, Will tightened it round his waist before smiling at the sound of the rather crisp, familiar voice. Smirking a little, he headed towards Amelie with a purposeful stride.

"Amelie Coombs. How come everyone keeps saying that today? It's almost as if you all keep expecting me to disappear." He called back, before wrapping his arms round Amelie in a hug and lifting her feet off the floor. Grinning wickedly at her, he raised an eyebrow. "Lovely day for a dip, don't you think?"

[ameliecoombs]

His hug wets her dress, and being made of the thin, white material it is, she's almost sure it'll end up see through, but she doesn't care. She grins as he lifts her and once her feet are back on the ground she places a kiss on his cheek. She hadn't realised how much she missed him until he was standing back in front of her.

"It looks perfect, but my swimsuit is back at the cabin. Shame."

[willcabot]

Will's eyes briefly flit across the dress, wicked smile lingering on his lips as he leaves his mark all over her. He was almost regretting letting her feet touch the boards and was already considering just tossing her into the lake, it was only the sweet kiss to his cheek that makes him change his mind. For now.

"Who said you need a swimsuit? I'm not wearing one," he replied, with a little smug smile.

[ameliecoombs]

The thought is tempting, and she laughs, but she also knows very well that they're in full eye of all of Siren Cove's elite right now, including her mother. God only knows what would happen if she got caught stripping down to nothing in front of Will Cabot.

"Why am I not surprised," she says wryly.

[willcabot]

Will responded with an even more infuriatingly smug little grin, one he reserved just for her. He doubted her mother would appreciate his flirting or trying to get her starkers in front of everyone, he knew his mother wouldn't or perhaps his mother would. Sometimes it seemed that anything could be forgiven if it meant that William was more likely inclined to settle down with a 'respectable' woman like Amelie.

"Because you know me and because you know I never do anything 'proper'," Will replied with a carefree smile. He sighed in exaggeration, trying his best attempt at a pleading, puppy look. "You know I could always throw you in, don't you?"

[ameliecoombs]

She'd already seen little June Thornton get thrown into the water on her way down here, and she knows exactly what game he's playing.

"Looks like you've already found a victim for that," she says, nodding her head towards the water.

[willcabot]

The sweet look was replaced for a brief moment with mischief before Will attempted a brief look of innocence. It didn't suit him but it looked honest, it looked genuine for a moment at least.

"Who me? No, I didn't do that. You wound me," Will replied with a smile before leaning in. "Who said I need just one victim?"

[ameliecoombs]

She laughs, and nudges him with her shoulder. He's so big these days it doesn't even budge him.

"How blind do you think I am?" She rolls her eyes. "You make a good point," she admits. The water looks inviting, and she can't help but glance around to see if anyone (ie her mother or her sisters) is watching before she gives in. "Fine, I'd rather go in like a lady than be thrown in, but you'll need to turn around."

[willcabot]

Will laughed, not moving an inch when she nudges him before he reaches out to gently, very gently, nudge her back. He knows his own strength after all.

"You're a lady? I must have missed that notice," Will teased, pretending to cover his eyes with a wicked smirk before actually turning around. Putting his hands on the sides of his waist, he gave her the privacy to at least on this occasion act like a lady.

[ofcatsandfate]

Fabrice is delighting in Demetri's company, walking through the woods together, holding hands as they laugh at some joke that barely makes sense but sounds wonderfully entertaining coming from Demetri. Fabrice can't keep himself from leaning close and breathing Demetri in, stealing a kiss or twelve when in a particularly enclosed portion of the woods. They're bound to get caught like this, more wrapped up in each other than the world around them, but Fabrice can hardly bring himself to care, his entire being so filled with giddiness just from having Demetri close to him.

They're still holding hands when they reach the occupied docks, and when they catch sight of the abandoned towel and what looks to be Demetri's sister and a very naked man in the lake, they come to a halt.

"Oh," Fabrice breathes. He can't bring himself to let go of Demetri's hand, even though he knows he really ought to.

[second_son]

There are things he shouldn't be doing, he knows. Being out with Fabrice in public, no matter how much they try to stay out of the spotlight is one of those things, perhaps the biggest. But it's a beautiful day and he can't resist taking the afternoon to do just that.

It's the distraction of seeing his sister in the lake with a pile of clothes on the dock that may or may not be hers that causes him to forget himself, his hand in the other man's for far too long. When he does drop it Fabrice is forgotten, storming toward the dock to stand at the edge and frown. "What exactly is this?"

[willcabot]

Will laughed upon seeing Demetri's face, there was the look of pure aggravation that he longed to cultivate in the Thornton brothers. He had no intention of thoroughly debauching their sister but it was such fun to provoke them. It was a shame it wasn't James but well, James probably knew what his friend was up to. And would probably silently murder Will in his sleep for it.

"Thornton! Good morning to you too," Will began, swimming in lazy circles as he grinned up at Demetri. "What is this? I think this is called swimming... why don't you join us?"

[ofcatsandfate]

Fabrice stands back as Demetri makes towards the docks, already feeling dread knotting in the pit of his stomach. God, they had been foolish, being so open with each other like that. And, really, it had been mostly him, which only makes him feel more nervous as he fidgets and chews on his lips.

Then June Thornton notices him and it makes him want to bury himself in the woods and never come out again.

And, really, today had started off so well.

[second_son]

Fabrice is still there ofcourse, but Demetri ignores him in favour of Will and his annoyance for the moment. It's complicated, he'll claim later, trying to assuage feelings he's sure will be, rightfully, hurt. "Swimming naked. With my baby sister. Will, I thought you had more sense than that."

[willcabot]

Will's brows furrowed in bemusement as he stared up at Demetri. Offering a mock salute to his companion, he smiled up at Demetri and his irritation-annoyance.

"I think you're mistaking me for my brother Dems, I've never had any sense." Will replied blithely. "Is there a problem with me being naked?"

[ofcatsandfate]

Fabrice makes himself scarce, trying to keep the hurt off his face. He knows, from what Demetri has told him of June, that the man is fiercely protective of her, and he would never want to get in the way of Demetri's family. He still can't help but sting a bit at the abrupt dismissal though. So he keeps his distance, keeping his gaze low to the ground or cast out across the lake, shuffling his feet and trying to dwell on happier moments as Demetri and Will hash it out between the two of them.

[second_son]

“I have zero problems with you being naked,” Demetri responds, blocking Fabrice out as best as he can. He’s sorry, he wants to say, but he needs to deal with this. This is complicated, you knew that going in. But they all sound like excuses to him, and they are. “I have a problem with you being naked near June.”

[lituplikeaghost]

June raises an eyebrow at the appearance of her brother and was that Fabrice Coombs holding his hand? Suddenly, she remembers the other night when he flushed at mentioning someone else knowing Frozen, and it hits her like a brick.

She smiles slyly at Demetri, like a snake about to strike.

"Okay, but big brother, if you are going to give me hell for swimming with my friend, you could at least do me the favor of introducing me to your freckly one over there. He's cute. Hi, freckles!" She calls out as Fabrice blushes vividly and squirms, in a way that makes June feel bad.

Knowing her brother, and their father, they were both probably trying to keep this a secret. But from the way they had been looking at each other before they found June in the water with Will, June knows, from experience, that keeping feelings like that a secret is only made more difficult a task, practically impossible. And beneath her teasing words, she hopes Demetri hears the approval; she doesn't care who he likes, she just wants him to find someone that will make him happy.

[second_son]

"June," he says, his voice low and full of heavy warning. This isn't the time to talk about Fabrice, Demetri's urge to protect the other man warring with the same desire to keep his sister safe and sheltered. "This isn't the place for introductions."

Not that she needed introducing, he was sure, wondering how long it would take to get back to James and if he still had time to tell his brother himself, something he likely should havedown after that damn party. But he's felt safe with his secret, revelled in time without any scrutiny from the town or his family. It seems that ends now. "Get out of the water and we'll talk."

Even if it won't be about Fabrice.

[lituplikeaghost]

June understands Demetri's tone immediately, used to it after her years of doing everything in her power to act out in ways that easily fluster her older brothers. She rolls her eyes as she makes her way to the docks, lifting herself up and out of the water, shaking her long hair to free it of any remaining droplets.

"Okay, I'm out of the water," she says, arms folded across her chest. She's hurt by the distrust she senses in his words; she wouldn't tell anyone about Demetri's secret, not even Daniel. She thought Demetri would have known that. "Let's talk."

[second_son]

There are secrets, and then there are secrets and what he has with Fabrice is definitely the latter. Only James knows for sure about Demetri’s preferences; he knows his other siblings have to suspect but it’s nothing he’s ever confirmed. That he’s involved with a Coombs makes it that much morecomplicated, the sort of secret that would set his father against him in every way possible.

“You shouldn’t be out here. Not with him.”

[lituplikeaghost]

"For real?" June rolls her eyes again. "Literally, Demetri, we were just talking and swimming, that's it."

She's tired of having to explain herself to her older brothers every time she goes out with a guy, especially when it's someone like Will, a friend she's known since her childhood and who would never actually make a move on her. She wants to tell that to Demetri, wants to reassure him that she can take care of herself, she is nineteen, damn it. But she also wants answers of her own, and if Demetri is going to insist on this tough guy act, she'll respond in kind.

"Look, let's have this chat somewhere else, shall we?" June says, marching right over to Fabrice to take him by the arm just as he looks like he's going to walk away. "You both can escort me back to my cabin; no one will say anything, they'll think he's another one of my baubles."

She gives Demetri a pointed look as she keeps Fabrice in place, a look that brokers no refusals.

"You can either continue to cause a scene out here or we could discuss this in private, away from prying eyes. Your choice."

[second_son]

"Fine," he says shortly, his terseness as obvious in his stature as it is in his voice. June has him over a barrel and she knows it as well as he does. If he's going to take her to task then he needs to do it not here, not in public. Demetri looks to Fabrice, wondering if the other man has any idea what he's gotten himself into. "Lead the way, little sister."

[lituplikeaghost]

"Good, I'm glad we can agree," she answers back just as tersely, wanting some answers from her brother, for once. She's so tense, her grip tightens around Fabrice's arm to the point where he winces. "God, I'm sorry," she tells him, before steering them to head towards her cabin. Fabrice looks back at Demetri with a confused, trying-to-roll-with-it expression.

[second_son]

"June, you're being a child." He's accused her of being a just that tonight, but right now it seems unbearable, especially because Fabrice is the one bearing the brunt of it. "Stop acting as if you're twelve and maybe, just maybe, we'll stop treating you like it."

[lituplikeaghost]

"Says the man who threw a fit over my swimming with a friend in the lake," she points out with a healthy dose of eye-rolling. She tugs Fabrice along, gentler than before once she realizes she's hurting him. "We're almost there, anyway."

Fabrice can't help but keep sneaking glances back at Demetri, trying to reassure him with a shrug of his shoulders that he is alright.