19836/New Year's Eve in Paradise

New Year's Eve in Paradise
Date of Scene:	10 January 2025
Location:	Mexico - North America
Synopsis:	Dane performs some impromptu spatial analysis.
Cast of Characters:	Dane Whitman, Sersi

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Dane Whitman has posed:
Dane Whitman lay on a poolside lounger, his Kindle in hand, the warm sun washing over his skin. The tropical air, a mix of salt and humidity, felt like a soft embrace compared to the cold, dry chill he knew awaited him back home in New York. It was mid-afternoon on New Year's Eve, and he couldn't help but feel content. The kind of contentment that came with knowing the final ten days were filled with nothing but sun, relaxation, and the company of the woman he loved.

Sersi had headed off a little while ago, he wasn't sure if she was going to the suite to freshen up, or maybe to grab a bite to eat. He'd offered to go with her, but she seemed eager to explore the resort on her own for a bit. He'd been just fine with the solitude, though. The busy buzz of the resort, with people chatting and splashing in the pool, was a nice background to his quiet afternoon.

He adjusted his position on the lounger, letting his feet dangle lazily in the shallow end of the pool while he read. The Kindle's screen was easy to read despite the brightness of the sun. He'd been flipping through a collection of articles on art and history, nothing too heavy, just the kind of reading that made time pass without urgency.

The sound of laughter from a nearby group of vacationers made him smile briefly. He had always enjoyed moments like this, the sense of being on the edge of everything, yet not needing to be anywhere. It was easy to imagine what it might feel like to live somewhere like this, but then he'd think of Sersi, and how they both liked to stay moving, stay active. Being here, in this perfect slice of paradise, was a nice temporary escape.

A waitress passed by carrying a tray of drinks, the ice cubes clinking in their glasses. Dane didn't feel like drinking at the moment, though. He'd already had a cold beer a couple of hours ago. He lifted his head slightly, checking the time on his phone, 3:45. Sersi would probably be back soon. He wasn't sure what the evening would bring, maybe dinner by the beach, maybe dancing, or simply enjoying the warm breeze as fireworks lit up the sky to ring in the New Year.

For now, though, he was content just being here, in the quiet warmth, waiting for her return.

Sersi has posed:
It was about seven minutes later when a shadow would block the sun, indicating someone was standing next to him. A glance that direction would show Sersi had returned. "I must say the spa is absolutely lovely," she offered by way of greeting, giving him a bright smile as she did so. "I scheduled us a day tomorrow, including the couple's massages. I hope you don't mind my impulsiveness. We can always cancel if you had something else in mind." Then that hint of mischief. "Or simply don't want to be in front of strangers in only a towel."

As for her, she was dressed for the pool still. A lovely green, string bikini, with a matching short sarong slung around her hips. She had on a pair of slides as the ground could get quite warm. Her dark hair was down, hanging loose, though she did have one of those slightly oversized hats with the wide brims to help keep the sun out of her eyes. On some people, they looked positively silly. Somehow on her, it was elegant.

She settled onto the lounger next to him. "I was trying to find a good spot tonight for us to watch the fireworks. Did you know you can hire a boat and actually be out on the water? I considered that then feared, with out luck, a firework would land on the boat and burn it to bits, forcing us to swim back to shore as the pyre burned itself out." Then she laughed softly, recognizing how silly that was. "Ever the optimist, am I."

Dane Whitman has posed:
Dane didn't need to look up to know whose shadow it belonged to. He could always feel Sersi's presence. He glanced up just in time to see her standing beside him, a grin spreading across her face.

He chuckled, placing a hand to his forehead in mock distress. "Oh no, the sight of you in that bikini... it's too much! I can't take it!" He flopped back dramatically on the lounger, pretending to faint.

Dane was always like this with her, playful, easy, and somehow perfect.

She sat down beside him, and he propped himself up again.

"The couple's massages, huh?" he asked, stretching his arms out. "I'm not sure how I feel about being massaged by a stranger in just a towel, but for you, I guess I'll endure it." He gave her a smirk. "No promises, though, if I need to faint again."

Dane loved how comfortable they were with each other, even when teasing.

As she went on about the fireworks, telling him about the boat idea, he laughed, shaking his head. "I didn't know that, but sounds like a fun idea... minus the part where the fireworks burn the boat down. I guess if it happens, we'll just swim back to shore." He paused and grinned. "But if I see a firework heading our way, I'll be more focused on getting away from it than keeping it from hitting the boat."

Dane smiled at her. There was something about her that always made everything feel easy, even when it was silly.

"You really do think of everything," he said, turning to face her more fully. "But honestly, a midnight swim sounds great to me. As long as it's with you."

The words were simple, but they felt true. In this moment, with her, nothing else mattered.

Sersi has posed:
"I will be sure to get us a boat them and hope it doesn't go up in flames at the most inopportune moment. I'd hate to miss the fireworks finale while flailing in the water and trying not to think about 'Jaws'." She did have a way of putting things at times.

"Even if we cannot get a boat, I would love a midnight swim with you." Put that opening scene of Jaws out of her head. "Sadly, too many people around to be very naughty about it. We'll have to save that for nights at home." Whichever of the homes that had a pool. Between the pair of them, they had lots of options.

"Although I did find something interesting earlier. I was getting a drink inside and met a lovely couple, Tim and Gaby. Seems that he runs a streaming channel where he visits all sorts of hotels all over the world. It sounded like a lot of fun. We should try to travel more, when work permits. Admittedly, I've seen a lot in my life but there is so much that I haven't. Which came as a surprise to me. What do you think?"

Dane Whitman has posed:
Dane chuckled at Sersi's comment about the boat, picturing the scene in his head. "A boat sounds like a good idea, actually. As long as it doesn't catch fire. I'm all for fireworks, but I'd rather not add 'firefighter' to my vacation itinerary."

"I'd love a midnight swim with you, though," he said, voice low, his eyes holding hers. "Especially that kind of swim, no matter how many people are around. But... we can save that for back home when it's just us." He gave her a teasing wink. "Or when we have a private pool..." He wasn't exaggerating. Between their homes, places they stayed, and the occasional spontaneous getaway, they were never too far from a private retreat.

He nodded, intrigued as she described Tim and Gabby. "I like that idea. I love the way you think. I've always wanted to see more, too. Have you ever been to New Zealand?" he asked, his voice showing the interest that was building. "I've heard it's amazing, everything from the landscapes to the culture. I think it could be a great place to check out together."

Dane wanted to see the world with her. Maybe that was the next big adventure for them, after all, they had the time, the resources, and, most importantly, each other.

"Maybe we should try it?" he added, leaning in slightly. "And who knows? We might just end up somewhere completely unexpected... with a private pool and no one around to spoil the mood."

Sersi has posed:
The fact he brought it back around to her teasing about privacy for potential skinny-dipping had her laughing softly. But the smile never faded as she nodded. "We certainly will find our privacy when we need it." No doubts, no hesitation.

But she circled back to his question. "In truth, I have never been to New Zealand. I've considered it in the past but never quite got around to it, oddly enough. I'm not sure why." She'd had centuries to do so, after all. She considered, trying to figure out the why of that lack of visit only to come up with nothing substantial.

"And after all the Lord of the Rings movies, I admit I am taken with the beauty of the country itself. So I believe we will put that as top of our list for the next trip." She pulled her phone out of the side of her sarong. Then quickly started tapping away at the screen. "I better see if we can book a boat for tonight before they run out. If necessary, I supposed we could always buy one but then we'd need to store it down here. Or ship it back home after the vacation. Seems a bit extravagent." Says the woman with multiple properties to the man who owned a castle. Literally.

Dane Whitman has posed:
Dane couldn't help but smile as Sersi laughed softly, clearly enjoying his teasing. She didn't hesitate for a second, answering with a quiet confidence. The words lingered, making something warm settle in his chest. She didn't just speak; she made things feel certain, like no matter what, they'd be able to carve out the moments they wanted together. He didn't doubt her for a second.

"We'll make it happen," he said, glad she was as intrigued by the idea as he was. "New Zealand it is. Top of the list."

She pulled her phone from the side of her sarong and started tapping away. His eyes flicked between her phone and the fabric of the sarong, distracted by the smooth movement of her fingers. A part of his mind, the one that used to analyze everything, just like back in his lab, wondered how she'd managed to conceal the phone there without him noticing. Had it always been there? Was he really so focused on her that he missed something so obvious?

He was still trying to calculate the logistics of it when he gave up and smiled to himself. Maybe it didn't matter. He'd been too distracted by her charm and the way she carried herself. The phone was probably always there. It was his fault for not paying attention to anything else when she was around.

He leaned back in his chair and looked at her, feeling the weight of his feelings. He had everything he needed; all wrapped up in a woman who made life feel like one long adventure. The world didn't seem quite so big or intimidating when he had her by his side.

At some point she would look up from her phone, catch his gaze, and he didn't need words to communicate what was in his heart. She had him. Completely.