xp_logs | Still on the beach, later in the afternoon... (Reply)

Angelo was sitting on the beach, having been sternly instructed by Alison not to come back inside before dinner. Not that he'd have moped or anything, not anymore, but orders were orders. So there he was, shirtless and contemplating going for a swim in the sea.

Paige made her way over the slight sand dune, book in one hand and a rather large blanket in the other. She'd stolen someone's t-shirt, too large on her small frame so that it came to her thighs, but really hadn't bothered to wear shoes. She could almost enjoy sand if there wasn't so much cancer involved with sun that usually came with it. She smiled a little when she found Angelo, sitting there.

Angelo looked up on hearing her footsteps, and smiled in response. "Hey."

"Hi," she offered in return, shielding her eyes against the glare of the sun. "Nice day to get burned. I hope you're wearing sunscreen."

"'Course I am", he answered lightly. "You don't think Alison would really send me out here without it, do you?"

Paige regarded him wryly as she arranged her blanket and sat down. "It's Alison. I have no idea what's going on in her head these days."

"I'm glad she brought us out here", Angelo said sincerely. "It was a nice idea."

"Yes, that's true," Paige agreed. "I'm just a little weary of what the actual motive behind the trip is."

Angelo blinked. "I... thought it was to help us sort things out."

"Mm," was her only answer to that and she stretched out her legs. "I hope you're enjoying yourself?"

"Yeah, I am", he answered honestly. "Been playing with the kids some."

"The lack of snow helps as well, I'm sure." Paige gave up at squinting out at the water, and lay back, an arm under her head to stare up at him instead. "I hear the little hellions have kidnapped Jono."

Angelo nodded. "The lack of snow is a definite bonus." Hearing her last words, he laughed out loud, in simple amusement rather than any malice. "Have they? Bet he *loves* that..." He leaned on one elbow, looking down at Paige.

"Oh yes. As much as he loves silver bells and bunnies," Paige replied seriously, before grinning madly. "There's something in him that enjoys it. It's just a very small something."

Angelo laughed again. "'Course there is. He likes it really." He pushed himself back into a sitting position, not taking his eyes off her.

It was at this that Paige finally shaded her eyes to look at him and let out a gasp at what she saw. "Angelo- what the hell. What... why..." She looked so very confused, tracing the scars along his back with light fingers. As has been stated way too many times, Paige is not big on the subtle.

Angelo waved it off, looking uncomfortable. "Souvenirs from LA", he said simply.

"Souvenirs," was all Paige said, her fingers outlining the crossed knives on his shoulder. Paige would never really understand scars; she couldn't own them anymore herself. To her they were both terrifying and intriguing.

Angelo turned his head to look over his shoulder. "That one was the initiation", he told her. "Had to let them do it without painkillers."

She didn't reply, she couldn't. Paige couldn't comprehend so much pain that it left something behind. Her fingers slipped down to the various other scars, settling on a particularly vicious looking one on his lower back. She circled it, around and around, having all words escaped her.

Angelo knew from the sensation which one she'd found. "Ah", he said wryly. "The one and only time I got shot. It probably wouldn't look so bad if I'd been to the hospital..."

Paige knew she shouldn't but she leant down to kiss the crossed knives, as if somehow that would make it all better. "I'm sorry." She can't think of anything else to say.

"Don't be", he told her softly. "It's not your fault, after all."

"No, maybe not. But... what else can I say?" She sighed and rested her cheek on the back of his shoulder, looking out over the sand.

"I know", he said gently, reaching a hand back to stroke her hair. "But don't forget, I got out. I was lucky."

Paige smiled a little and closed her eyes. This was nice. "Yes. Very lucky."

"Very lucky", he agreed, fingers still carding through her hair. Pulling his hand back, he turned to pull her into a loose hug.

Paige let herself be held for a moment, hands slipping around his waist. She grinned, rolling her neck to look at him, or at least his ear. "It's much too hot for this. And it's winter. How do you stand it?"

"I'm from California", he reminded her. "This is only a little bit hotter than I'm used to."

"Ew. Sticky." Paige pulled back, but wasn't quite willing to let her hand leave his thigh. "Water now?"

"You want to go for a swim?" he asked. "Or shall we go see what the kids are doing to Jono?"

"Oh, even better. Taunting is so much more refreshing than water. It also doesn't involve my taking off this shirt." Paige stood up and offered her hand to him. "Alison has hideous taste in bathing suits."

Angelo took her hand and let her pull him to his feet. "Hideous how?" he asked.

"Hideous in that I don't think it actually counts as a bathing suit. There's not enough fabric to clothe one of those kid's dolls." Paige wrinkled her nose as she picked up her blanket and book.

Angelo grinned. "Ah, I see. Yeah, that sounds like Alison, from what I've seen."

"Oh, quit giving me that look and let's go find the remains of Jono. I do hope they didn't tear him into to many pieces." Paige smacked his shoulder lightly and headed off down the beach.

OOC: Yes, we do know about the moment of stunning innuendo near the end. Paige doesn't realize what she said, though, so we left it in for comedy value.