Sunday, March 23, 2008

Ibiza Town

“Where is my blue Michael Kors shirt?” Alexis’ voice rang out through the house, shrill and strident. Preceding her like tuna fleeing from the shark, the staff scattered, disappearing into areas of the house Alexis didn’t know existed. For people who hadn’t dealt with Alexis before today, the newly hired temporary staff had learned quickly.

For Davian, this was pretty normal behavior for Alexis. It was reassuring to see her stomping around the Ibiza house, angry and worried about what to wear. And the trans-Atlantic flight with their friends, while personally harrowing, had done much to return her normal acerbic attitude.

“I think I saw one of the maids putting it in a closet,” Tiffany sang out from her room.

Geneva poked her head out from hers. “If you find it, I want to borrow it!”

*I’m not finding it for you,* Alexis growled in Davian’s head. “Sure!” she shouted outside his door, so Davian wasn’t surprised when she stuck her head in. “You want to go to the clubs, or eat first?”

Freshly ripe tail and loads of drugs. Fuck I love Ibiza, Vile Bill thought as he strode down the beach, a bottle of absinthe in one hand, a massive smile on his craggy face and joyous debauchery in his heart.

Towering over everyone around him, with a hairy barrel chest, massive shoulders and arms like oaks he cut an intimidating figure in the roughest of circumstances but here on the beaches of Ibiza he was up against a backdrop of slim and trim hairless playboys making him even more a primeval testosterone machine. In contrast to his rough-hewn physical form his dress showed that despite his obvious uncouth that he belonged here. From his gorgeous midnight black Stetson with wrought-silver band to his custom calf-skin boots he screamed money.

He winked broadly at a gaggle of gawking beauties and smirked at the cowed looks their dates gave him.

Maybe I'll get lucky and meet some of my new buddies at the club tonight.

"Peach of a shot."

Miranda hovered over the beach, slowly sweeping her camera's lens across the people milling about down below. Her wings beat energetically, holding her aloft.

She didn't need her jacket, although she still had her goggles and her photography bag. She was dressed in a tank top and red shorts and sandals. Her hair was still its usual black and red punk-cut.

"This is Ibiza, Spain. When the world decides to party, the complaints about the noise come from here. It is home to the world-famous Amp Room, a club famous and controversial for its novas-only policy. ... hmmm. Bit cheeky."

Of course, no effective voiceover could be filmed live, with the noise her wings made. But overdubbed in the editing room, it would work fine.

"Today is the tenth anniversary of the arrival of novas - no. Hmm. Today is the tenth anniversary of the Galatea explosion, and the wondrous and weird after-effects it's had on the world, and on its people. This is Miranda Skye. I'll be your host as we take a look at the lives of a select few shining stars of the Nova Age, those precious few... who are One in a Million."

She nodded, happy that at last she'd been able to pronounce the capital letters. She then descended, putting her camera away. Not for the first time, a bubble of insecurity rose in her stomach. Can I really shoot thirteen hours of this? Am I really qualified? I have wings and I flap around.

Davian grinned up at his sister, clad only in his swim trunks. "Do I really need to state my vote?" He snatched up a beach bag stuffed with towels and other beach paraphernalia, "I'm sure we can find a party or barbecue somewhere on the beach, and I need to unwind. Kelsey's never been to Ibiza before, either. It'll be a good intro."

As if summoned, the petite Junior appeared behind Alexis. "Where are we going?" He face lit up when Davian hoisted the towels and sunscreen, and she let out a small squeak before racing back into her room to change into the three strings and four square inches of cloth she considered a bathing suit.

Davian's smile curved into a playful smirk at his sister. "Well?"

Alexis just smiled, the excited spark in her eye subtle enough to be missed by anyone who didn't know her. And in this city, that would be everyone who wasn't her brother. "I think that this would be the part of the week where we see the beach."

*I wish you were public, Davey. I can't go to the Amp Room with you.* Her mental voice was incredibly sad. Alexis loved to share such things with her brother, no matter how much he detested them. And in return, he often dragged her to places she detested, that he enjoyed. It was a trade between them.

"I'll get Tiffaneva together and we can head down to Talamanca," Alexis said, referencing the beach closest to their house. "And get something to eat, and find some cute guys to... hang out with."

*Someday, maybe, Lexy. 'Til then you'll just have to fly solo. Besides, I'm only a thought away, you know that.*

*******

Davian linked his arm in Kelsey's as they strolled down the beach. Had she known him, had he any intention of ever letting her close to him, she'd have known that such a public display of affection meant something was wrong. So many people here, so many novas. Davian felt exposed. So he did what he always did when he felt he wasn't in control, he watched.

People on the beach fell into five categories: just arrived, center-of-attention, entourage, gawker, or papparazzi. At the moment he and his friends were in the sheltered harbor of 'just arrived', but it was only a matter of time before Lexy's reputation caught up with them. Davian intended to be either blissfully overshadowed by Alexis at that point, or far enough in the water that the majority of tubby, fast-food-fed, and usually somewhat drunk Ibiza papparazzi would consider too likely shark bait to bother with.

"So," he guided Kelsey and the others to few spare feet of open beach and nodded to the evil twins, "why don't you guys set up. I know you'll want to get an Ibiza tan." *Or whatever. You have to have brains to bake them.* "I'm gonna go see if the ocean's changed since we were here last."

He backpeddled as he spoke until he was far enough away that he could turn heel and make for the surf before getting roped into to setting up the cabana-Hilton they had drug with them.

Alexis watched Tiffaneva good-naturedly start to work on the canopy. "I'm going to get food," she said, crossing her arms. "I'll be back soon. Kelly, why don't you give them a hand? The work will go a lot faster if we all share it."

"Uhh, sure. It's Kelsey, actually," Kelsey said.

"Right," Alexis said, her tone careless and bland as she floated off the sand. Several people who had been watching the extraordinarily pretty girl, waiting for just this moment, and they gasped. Alexis glanced at them, her dark hair lashing around her face, before ignoring them completely. "What do you guys want?"

"I like anything, though I'd really like a slushie," Kelsey said.

"Some low-fat hotdogs would be nice," Tiffany said.

"Hotdogs, check," Alexis said, nodding. "I'll be right back."

"Dont... forget my slushie," Kelsey finished with a mumble before sighing and hestitantly moving over to join Tiffaneva. The evil twins glanced at one another, studied Alexis' lack of concern for Kelsey, and quietly shut her out of their banter.

Meanwhile, Alexis moved at a good clip down the beach, scanning the sands for someone throwing a party or a kiosk selling something. *Davey, what would you like to eat?* Her eyes caught some men bending over a bar-be-que grill. *How does fish sound?*

His answer was lost in her surprise, when she saw the other person in the air, giant wings cleary flapping. "Miranda...?" *Davian, be careful, that news nova is here.*

Miranda touched down on the beach, and seemed resigned to the crowd of people that was already beginning to form at her landing spot. She held up her hands and managed a smile.

"Don't mind me, go about your business. Just taking a rest."

After a few minutes of shaking hands, the crowd dispersed slightly. Miranda sat on the beach, stretching her wings, and dug through her camera bag.

Pretty sure I saw Mister Vile Bill. I might have seen the Laytons. That's good, less people fawning over me... and neither one agreed to do the doc, so I don't have to shoot. I can relax for a moment before heading to the Amp Room. Fwuhhhhhh, what a day.

Davian sighed over their connection, but made no reply other than that. He was already in the water, swimming out far enough to catch the swell of a wave and let it carry him back towards the beach, and back out again. He treaded water out beyond most of the swimmers and looked up. He shaded his eyes for a moment, then caught sight of wings as Miranda landed. Angel wings. Even as jaded as he was for a few moments Davian was completely awed.

The waved carried him back into the human sea and broke the spell. *Fish would be fine, and I will be careful. Make sure you get food for Kelsey as well....she likes fruit or something.* He began swimming back and debated how many more tidbits of personal information of Kelsey's he'd ignore before breaking up with her. She had already picked up on his emotional distance and was trying to close the gap physically, an unfortunately early death knell. Perhaps there's someone here I can use. A long distance relationship would be easier to maintain and serve the same purpose.

*I'm getting food for us all,* Alexis said with a hint of annoyance. *I don't know why I have to be concerned with her when you aren't.* Even as Davian heard that, he felt her attention fade as something else caught her eye.

It wouldn't take but a moment to talk to Miranda Skye. And it wouldn't hurt at all, not to say hi. And if Miranda asked, she'd make it clear that she wasn't interested in publicity.

Alexis changed her angle, coming to a rest in front of the resting Nova. "Hello," she said straightening the wrap that covered her hips and bikini bottom. "You have to be Miranda Skye." Alexis did something that she rarely did - she offered her hand to the other nova, reaching out first. Brushing her black hair out of her eyes, she smiled and spoke. "I'm Alexis Layton, from the boards. It's nice to meet you."

"Hmmm. Pleased to meet you as well, Alexis." Miranda stood, and shook it, shaking a little sand out of her wings. "What brings you here, then? Just here to relax?"

"It's Spring Break," Alexis said. "Where else would I be? I certainly wouldn't go to Daytona Beach..." Shrugging a little, she changed the subject.

"I'm scouting around for some food. We're setting up a canopy... I'm going to cajole people to bring their food over to us. Care to join us?"

"Never turn down a free meal, I always say."

Miranda slings her kit bag on and loops her goggles around her neck. "Show me where to go, then."

The flying lady Bill spied landing on the beach was now talking to one of the sexiest chicks on the sand and he was making a bee-line for both of them.

Fuck, they're novas, I'm a nova. That's why I'm here. he thought.

HEY!!! Chicas! He bellowed, internally pleased at the two guys who hit the ground like they were being shot at.

He strode up to the two of them and offered up the absinth,"Hey, I'm Vile Bill. Here to party. You?"

Davian spotted the...undesirable would be an understatement from his behavior and volume, and began swimming back to the shore. He hit the sand and made his way quickly between the gathering gawkers and papperazzi to his sister's side. He smiled at Miranda and even managed a slightingly polite nod at the man that had bellowed at the women. "Lexy, have you made a new friend?"

Beside his sister, who was an inch or two taller than him, and the testosterone laden manliness that was the stranger, Davian looked younger than his eighteen years but his ability to social snub was every bit as developed as his sister's.

At Vile Bill's bellow, a few of Miranda's feathers flutter to the ground. "I'm... here to work, actually," she says, trying to keep her voice from cracking.

Oh, stop it, Miranda. People without the ability to fly away deal with people like him every day, and you bloody well can too.

"Shot some exterior footage. Now I'm going to try a little relaxing before I go to the Room." The tone of Miranda's voice makes it obvious which one she means.

She looks at the drink Vile Bill is offering her. She shrugs, and takes it as offered. "Never turn down a free drink either."

Oh, wow. Oh, wow, Alexis thought, tipping her sunglasses down so that she could see all of the bulk of the man before her. Her face remained impassive, even a touch scornful as she looked at him. So that's Vile Bill.

*I don't know if he's a friend, Davian - an oversized puppy perhaps?* "Apparently, Vile Bill has made a friend of me," she gently corrected her brother before turning to the giant.

"I'm Alexis Layton." She offered her hand with the same confidence that he would know who she was, without her prompting his memory further. She gestured to her brother and added, "Davian, my brother, and Miranda Skye, the journalist. I was just trying to convince her to join us for snack under our canopy. *Fifty dollars says he doesn't fit under it, brother.*

Davian kept his face impassive, though from long association his sister could spot the suppression of a grin. He ran a hand through his quickly drying hair, "Well, I know I'm up for some lunch. Tiffany and Geneva pretty much set up a beach side Hilton, so there should be room."

He nodded to the drink in Vile Bill's hand, "I'd be a bit careful with that, though. Most of the girls are lightweights." He let his lips flow into an innocent and charming grin. "And I'll be the one carrying them home tonight if they get too much."

The neutral expression from Alexis doesn't faze him, hell, he may not have even noticed it.

"Nice to meet ya, Ladies. You here for the Party Apocolypse that is Ibiza? Y'all look kinda young, so could I be right in this being your first time in Party Central? Cuz if it is you are standing before the man that can show you how to squeeze every last bit of fun from this fucking place."

His chest swells with obvious pride at this last comment, "And I'd be happy to show you guys how to party it hard and straight till you're soft and wobbly." He glaces at Davian, "Y'all novas?"

Davian shakes his head head as they angle back towards the cabana. "Seems I got the shallow end of the gene pool." He glanced up at his sister, amused self-depreciation apparent, "In more ways than one."

"We, Alexis and I, I mean, have been coming to Ibiza for years. Our father owns a house here and used to take us out here for a month or so every summer." He turned his attention to the pretty woman with wings walking with them, "How about you? You said you were here on work. Have you been here just for fun before?"

"Nope." Miranda takes a swig of the drink Vile Bill offered her. "Never even left the island befuuuuuuuuuhhhhhh..."

Miranda coughs, her eyes watering. After a moment, she takes another swig. "Never left the island 'til I popped these things." Her wings flutter a bit.

"The island? Which one?" They were fast approaching, well fast for people surrounded by photo flashes and people screwing up their courage to actually talk to the three novas, an tent sized umbrella with pink stripes and gold fringe hanging from the edges. The three girls near it were just out of the shadow, tanning with mirrors. One of them, a small blond woman with with an easy smile, bounded up from her lawnchair and made her way to Davian's side. She tried not stare at the wings, and was doing her best to not look like she was posing for the photographers. Davian put a casual arm around her and waited for Miranda's response.

Alexis rolled her eyes very slightly as Davian put his arm around Kelsey. She hated that Davian pretended to like women when Alexis could feel the lack of any feelings for them personally. It smacked of lying, both to Davian and the girl. But it was his choice to live that way, to hide who he was.

"I'm going to go get some more food," Alexis said, turning and walking away. Davian could feel her shift in mood; he might even know why, but Alexis didn't care. His choice, and hers not to like it.

She walked up to some guys on a blanket, their beers prominantly displayed around them. "Hi, we're going to party over there," she said pointing. "Bring your beers over, and let's have some fun, right?"

After their enthuaistic agreement - all the more excited by the realization that novas were over there - Alexis headed for the next group of people with provisions. They'd have a good party here if it killed her.

Bill looked on with admiration as Alexis combed the beach for goodies and party-goers.

Man, this chick is a natural. Well, hell if I'm gonna be outdone by a youngin.

He popped out his phone and sent a quick message to a sweet little bistro he knew that specialized in nova quanity food and told them when and where to bring some platters of goodies for the bash that seemed to be forming thanks to the sweet piece of candy with the pretty blue eyes.

He eyed the arm-candy at Davian's side and gave her a quick wink after taking off his sunglasses. His oil black eyes stood out clearly against his tanned skin like onyx on fine leather.

"Hey, Dave," he said to Davian, "I just ordered some goodies, hope that's dandy with you. Question, not that I really give a shit, but you guys legal for liquor?"

Davian quirked an eyebrow at the nickname, but was too distracted by the black eyes to make a comment. At the mention of legalities and liquor he smirked. "It's Spain, Bill. There's no drinking age. Why do you think Ibiza's so popular with Americans?" The thought of food made his stomach put in a bid for Vile Bill's provisions and Kelsey giggled at the growling to cover her own stares at the onyx-eyed nova.

Davian motioned to the Tiffaneva and gave Kelsey a slight bump in their direction, "Why don't you let them know what's going on and get us set up for guests? If we're going to have catering, we're going to have lots of visitors."

Kelsey nodded, looking just a bit put out with being removed from the nova presence, but dutifully made her way over to the other two Harvard students and delivered her message. The three of them quickly set about making the area a showcase, and the glances in Bill and Miranda's direction skirted the edge of polite staring. Davian smiled again at Miranda and hoped she hadn't forgotten his question. Genuine curiosity on Davian's part was generally reserved for science or social manipulation, but Miranda definitely had his full attention.

"By 'the island' I mean the UK. I'm from there originally, and until I erupted, I hadn't set foot off of it. And I'm a Londoner, VeeBee. There was booze in my baby bottle. Drink's fine by me."

No driking age? And why the fuck was I born in Oklahoma?

A massive grin split Bill's face as the knowledge was imparted to him that he had one less thing to be careful about during this evening's apocalyptical bash.

If his massive frame and the sheer vitality that he exuded didn't clue all onlookers onto the fact that he was node bearing the black eyes and the blacktongue he flickered at the hotties that seemed to be with Dave and Alex were a dead give-away.

"Well fuck YEAH!!! How about we make with an epic fucking party then people!! "

And thus the wild rumpus began.

Alexis allowed a small smile at Bill's shout. He lived life full-force and she found it hard to ignore the exuberant charm that gave the man. Still smiling, she turned to the Spanish Adonis smirking expectantly at her. “No, I won’t sleep with you,” she said with that same, sweet smile, answering the unspoken question in his innuendo. “But go join our party – I’m sure that you’ll find suitable whores over there.”

After Adonis and his friend had walked off – Adonis still looking at her with fading hope – Alexis decided to call it a night, or perhaps a day. She had found enough party-goers to buff their numbers and she nodded to herself. Tossing her dark hair over her shoulder, she started back toward the party.

Not one boy that she had scrounged today was suitable for her. Other than her brother, she wasn’t really eager to party with anyone in that group. Her eyes were drawn to Vile Bill and his boisterous antics. “Lighten up, girl,” she whispered to herself, determined to improve her mood. Grinning, she rejoined the festivities.

Davian played invisible host for the party, slipping between guests and passerbys to keep everything going but not out of control. He even managed to enjoy himself, though he made sure to act like he was as drunk as the number of drinks he'd had said he should be. He left Kelsey mostly to her own devices, still entertaining the idea of an long distance relationship. Tiffany and Geneva he kept a closer eye on, nudging them subtly towards the more embarrassing wake-up calls next morning.