The Flea Market

Marv skipped ahead of the group towards the flea market, her head was loopy but she liked it that way. Marv spins around looking at the colorful tent and the colorful patterned paving which has placed in different animals on it. A glittery bikini caught Marv's eye, and she ran up to the stall, it was cerise pink with mandala beading and sequin; she turned to Arioch hopping on the balls of her feet. 

"you got to buy me this," she stressed, holding the bikini in her hands as the stall attendant gave her a skirt to match. "OMG!!! I can't" she turned into a grumpy vampire with tearful puppy dog eyes. 

"You are not even going to wear it," he argued with her. 

"So," she said, blowing up her cheeks. 

"Fine. " he handed over the money and Marv squealed. 

Nandi picked a bunch of bracelets and bangles. "if you're feeling generous," she gave him a sweet smile and he forked up more money. 

"Oh, me too. " Minjun placed a rugged black jean waistcoat in front of him. Arioch rolled his eyes and paid for everyone's things. 

Nandi placed the bracelets and bangles. "So, what's the plan?" she asked, as Marv leaned into her side, still loopy. "we have been all over town and nothing," Nandi as she threw her arm over Marv. 

"Well, something call me down to the sea. I guess we can start around here. I don't know anymore. " he pinched his nose and rubbed his eyelids. 

"You look stressed, just let go," Marv expressed with a smile. Music began to play and a dance floor formed in the middle of the flea market. "come on, let loose" she moved her hips to the sweet rhythm of the marimba band. 

Arioch grabbed Marv's arm and shook his finger. "no, the last time you danced you had a breakdown. " Marv grabbed Arioch by the belt, pulling him close.

"Well," she stared up at him with siren eyes, "but this time, I am dancing with you. " she bit her lip and wiggled her hips. 

"No," he said firmly. 

"Then someone else will take me for a spin." She spun and began to back up onto the dancefloor.

Men gathered around the dance floor, rubbing their hands and licking their lips at the movement on Marv's hips. Before anyone could grab that tempting small waist, Arioch matched Marv's energy. Grabbing her waist and placing his legs in between hers, Marv couldn't breathe. They moved into a fast yet slow step, breathing in each other's scents, feeling the fabric that moved between. Arioch wished he could feel the blistering sun on her skin through his gloves, and Marv wished his gloved touch didn't make her nervous. 

Marv spun around, placing her back against his front. She could finally breathe again until she felt his nose arch up her neck, and his icy breath fanned her collar bone. His hands crushed the fabric of her clothes with such tension that she had to place her hands over them, holding tight to her sanity. Arioch dipped them low, causing Marv to wiggling into his lap, Arioch threw his head back while Marv leaned into him, biting her lips. When they both came back up, they gasped as if they were coming up for air, but Marv's eye caught a man selling masala pineapples and she pulled away from Arioch, leaving him on the dance floor, confused.

Marv ran up to the vendor and smiled at the pineapples covered in that red pineapple spice, waiting for Arioch to come over and pay the man. "ok" he exhaled. "spicy pineapples for everyone." He cleared his throat and paid the man. 

Marv moved towards the beach. She threw off her sandals and let the sand move between her toes. It was warm and her body yearned from the cool salty water, Marv into the sand just a couple feet away from the shoreline and began to eat her pineapple.

"We don't have time to sit here," Arioch complained as Nandi sat next to Marv while Minjun sat next to her 

"just relax, how about some pineapple" she offered hers "kick your shoes and just be in the moment" 

Arioch exhaled and took the pineapple on a stick. "Fine." He sat in the sand and Marv leaned back. 

Marv closed her eyes, letting the sun consume her body. She looked at Arioch and his straight back, biting down on the red covered pineapple. Marv exhaled. "I said kick off your shoes. " she pulled off his shoes. 

Arioch's toes wiggled in the sand. He placed his hand on his knees with a far off look in his eyes. "I remember now. " He shook his head, taking another bite. "my father would take us here. We were walking along the docks, watching people fish, snack on spicy pineapple and listening to the wave break on the shore" his eyes hazed over "we would sit on the shore and he would say 'just like the ocean, no matter how far you go, you can also break at my shore, then we would just sit, watching the sunset." Arioch lingered on the memory. 

Marv took the pineapple from him. "how did you sit in the sun? You are vampires, like right now, you are wearing hats and sunglasses. What's with the gloves?" she commented, shaking her head.

Arioch took the pineapple back "when we are children, we are immune to the sun until we grow up. We don't process the sun, the way mortals do, one of the reasons we need blood. " He took a big bite of the pineapple and Marv pushed him over. 

"Finally," Nandi expressed, picking up some sand and throwing it in the vessel, then laid her head on her knees. "you anxiety was killing me. " She turned to Arioch who rolled his eyes. 

Minjun leaned his head against Nandi's back "now, we can watch the sunset" he smiled when Arioch stood, dusting off his ass. 

"No, we need to leave tomorrow, towards Nottingham Road. I know what the heart is," he said, moving away from the shoreline and the others followed.