Amanda, Angelo - Monday evening
Dec. 11th, 2006 07:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsFollowing this thread, Amanda drops by as promised and owns up.
After the thread in Angelo's, Amanda had figured it was only fair to head over there and face her 'punishment', so Marie wasn't taking the heat on her own. Besides, it wasn't like she was as easy to get at for revenge purposes as her co-conspirator. She lifted her hand to knock on his door, hesitated, then made herself rap smartly on the door, once, twice, three times.
The response was a storm of barking from the other side - apparently Angelo had stopped to pick Joyita up sometime on the way home - and a muffled "Come in!"
Opening the door, Amanda smiled to see Angelo holding onto a happily-barking Joyita, who was trying to launch herself at the door. "Hey," she said, chuckling. "Looks like you've got your hands full there."
Both hands, really, one hooked in the dog's collar, the other arm around her chest. He grinned at Amanda anyway. "Yeah, she's really gettin' too big for this."
"That she is." Dumping her bag, coat and scarf, Amanda came in properly, bending down to pat Joyita hello. "Hey, puppy," she cooed, leaning back to avoid the enthusiastic face licks. "Ew, doggie drool. How was Oman?" The last question was directed at Angelo, obviously. "Get stuff done?"
"Yeah, it was really good", he said cheerfully. "Met with the right people, got some tourist stuff in... it was just really... peaceful." Which was exactly what he'd needed. "An' then I got back here an' found out I'd had visitors."
"Really?" Amanda asked innocently, but with a certain amount of unholy glee in her eyes. "And here's you living with the security bloke for the mansion and all..." She was glad he'd gotten the break - he looked much better rested than he had before.
"Yeah", was the casual answer, though he was watching her reactions closely. "Seems he doesn't feel the need to keep people out of rooms when they actually live here. Or're with people that do."
"Well, it helps if you bribe him with food that doesn't come out of a foil box," Amanda said, chuckling, before adding, still wearing her innocent face: "Or so I've heard."
"So you've heard", he said neutrally, nodding but possibly edging the slightest bit closer. "Of course."
She caught the movement, but didn't edge away - fair was fair after all, although if they ended up heading for the lake she'd be using the shielding spell. "Terrible place for gossip, this," she continued, grinning. "You hear all sorts of things. Like that the new self-defence teacher has a thing for lacy underwear..."
The lake was reserved for those of his friends who could fly if he jumped out of the window with one of them. Amanda was safe from that, at least. "Well, the scandal of that one'd depend on which one. Hardly as excitin' if it's Lorna, though I guess that depends who you ask."
She raised her eyebrow at him, the innocent look slipping as her glee broke through. "Well, I always thought you'd look fabulous in black lace..." she suggested, as Joyita took advantage of the banter to lick at her face. "Hey, no fair sneak attack, puppy!" she protested, laughing as she wiped her cheek.
Angelo laughed and decided to take his dog's lead and use the distraction to attack. "She does that", he said casually, reaching out with fingers hooked for tickling.
"Eek!" Amanda squealed and fell backwards on her butt, trying to evade Angelo's tickling. Not terribly successfully, since he could stretch a lot further then she could scoot, and she was laughing too hard to shield. Instead she was reduced to batting his hands away as best she could, giggling and squirming helplessly.
"Own up an' it stops!" he demanded, laughing, as Joyita ran around on the floor barking at both of them and trying to join in the fun.
"Okay, okay, it was me!" Gasping for breath, the witch held up her own hands in surrender - she was horribly ticklish, especially with the scarring gone. "We thought you could use a little welcome home present!" And his reaction had been so worth it...
He grinned and sat back, triumphant. "Not to say I won't be able to find some use for it as presents for people, but I'd kind of like to know what you did with my real stuff."
"Marie's got it in her room - she's going to bring it back to you later." Amanda laid a hand on her aching ribs - it had been a while since she'd laughed that much - and waited for her breath to come back. "It was worth the tickling - that post of yours was hysterical."
"Well, I knew it had to be somebody in the house", he said with a grin. "An' it made sense Forge would've let you in."
"Marie make him peach cobbler," Amanda explained. "He was sort of putty in her hands after that."
"Ah, the old trick of bribery through food. Always works with the workaholics."
"Especially the ones who burn water. Or mistake oil for chocolate sauce." Sitting up, she dusted her back off. "No hard feelings, tho', right?" she asked, smiling brightly at him. "No plans for horrible revenge..."
"Well, I wouldn't say horrible revenge..." was all she was getting. "But with this an' the nail polish, you really can't expect to just get away with it."
"But we're cute?" she suggested, giving him her best puppy eyes of doom look, the one that had always worked on Nathan and Marie-Ange back when she lived at the mansion.
"Yes. An' you'll still be cute with a different hair colour. Or whatever."
She pouted, even as a part of her thrilled to hear him call her 'cute'. Well, her and Marie. "If you manage to prank my apartment, then you deserve the revenge," she said, chuckling and picking herself off the floor, brushing off the back of her pants. "Now we've sorted out confessions and revenge... how are you? You look better for the break."
"It was really good", he said with an honest smile, settling back down and catching the dog as she jumped on him. "Had better sleep out there than I've had in weeks."
She joined him on the couch, sitting at the other end to avoid Death By Licking as she reached over to scratch Joyita behind the ears. "Good to hear. Especially on the sleeping front - I was getting worried."
He nodded. "Nate said if it got to a month an' no better I should go see Jack. But I don't think it was much more than a month, as it was. Guess the peace an' quiet out there helped."
"Mm. Not as much pressure, maybe." Amanda herself looked tired, but had lost the drawn expression she'd had after China. "Marie and I were saying the other night, this place is good for the kids, but it's a bit of a pressure cooker sometimes. Works that way for the staff too, and you've had a big couple of months with Elpis as well. Just as well Christmas break's coming up too - not even Nate can justify working through that. Moira'd have Words."
Angelo nodded. "He invited me an' Mom to Muir for the holiday, so I guess that's what we'll be doin' - you got any plans?"
Amanda shook her head, face falling a little. "Nothing special. I could go with Pete to Rom's again, but... believe it or not, I'm sick of travelling right now. It feels like we've been on the go since October. I was thinking of staying in New York, maybe seeing what else people are doing."
"Well, you know, you should ask Nathan if you can come too. He was sayin' they don't have quite a full house yet, even with the Pack all goin', so it sounds like there'd be room for one more..."
"I'm not sure I should. I mean, sounds like it's a him thing and I wouldn't want to, well..." She looked a little sheepish. "Feels like presuming too much."
"Amanda, it's not presumption when it's you", he said patiently. "You know he an' Moira'd be upset if you didn't think you had a standin' invite."
She blushed, dropping her head. "I know. Sorry. I'm a plonker sometimes," she admitted.
"Nah. Just need remindin' of things once in a while."
The embarrassment eased under that particular smile of his, fond and a little amused. "Good thing I've got you here to remind me, then, yeah?"
"Usually is", he said cheerfully, patting Joyita as she subsided with her head on his leg. "Good thing I'm not plannin' on goin' anywhere."
"Yeah, it really is." Something in her expression softened and for a moment she considered telling him what had happened last week, what she'd realised... The words hung on the tip of her tongue, but then she chickened out. No sense spoiling things, especially with those remarks by Forge about Angelo and Sarah. It seemed like maybe she was too late. "So..." she said instead, casting about for something else to say other than "I've just realised I'm in love with you and have been since I met you". "Did you get me anything? while you were away?" she asked instead, going for the 'cute little sister' persona instead.
"Course I did", he said with a grin, making a vague getting-up type movement without actually getting up because the dog was in the way. "It's around here somewhere, hang on..."
"I can get it for you, if you can't get up..." Amanda began.
Angelo shook his head, spotting the little package on the other side of the room. "Nah, I got it..." It would have been out of reach, for anyone else. Not for him.
Amanda was a little wide-eyed as the long tendril of skin deposited the parcel into her hands. "Well, look who's been practicing," she said, immeasurably proud - she'd rarely seen Angelo use his powers, even as comfortable as he was with her. "Thanks, Ange," she continued, not wanted to make a big deal and instead patting his shoulder before turning her attention to the box.
He just grinned, sitting back and watching her open it. "Kind of comes with the trainin' thing."
"How's that going?" she asked, looking up from where she was doing battle with the tape holding the box closed. "They put you in the Danger Room yet?" Tape defeated, she lifted the lid, revealing layers of cotton wool.
"Yeah, a couple of times", he said casually. "Went in with Scott, the first time, an' I've done a run or two on my own as well."
"Must be doing all right, you haven't been dropped on your head yet..." Amanda began, lifting up the cotton wool. She stopped when she saw the glint of silver, and lifted out a bracelet, a plain band of silver etched with Arabic. "Oh, wow."
He grinned, pleased at the reaction. "Found it in the souk. You like?"
"It's gorgeous..." Amanda lifted it out of the box, brushing away clinging cotton wool. "Thanks, Ange, this is just..." She was at a bit of a loss for words. "Thank you," she said again, turning the bracelet over in her fingers as she examined the engraving.
"You get to translate that for yourself", he informed her lightly. "'Cause I say so."
She poked her tongue out at him - she'd been already trying to sound out the words, but they were older Arabic, and a bit harder. "It better not say something like 'this witch belongs to...' or something," she teased, before slipping the bracelet onto her right wrist. "Thanks again, Ange," she said, leaning over to give him a hug, dog and all. "I really like it."
Angelo smiled, hugging her back. "Hoped you would."
"I do, I really do." She hugged him tight, and the urge came again to tell him. "Ange..." she began, but before she could frame the rest, Joyita chose that moment to poke her head up and lick Amanda squarely on the nose. "Ack! Yuck!" She jerked back, wiping at her face with her sleeve and laughing. "Feeling left out, were you?" she asked the dog, mock-severely.
Angelo couldn't help laughing, hauling the dog back gently. "Easy, girl. Sorry, Amanda."
"She's just being friendly," Amanda said, scritching Joyita behind the ears again. "Weren't you, puppy? But no more doggie kisses unless you buy me dinner, yeah?"
Angelo just leaned back, laughing. "An' since she's a bit short of things like money an' opposable thumbs..."
"Ours is a love that must be denied," Amanda said solemnly, and then burst into laughter herself. "Okay, someone hit me with the wacky stick today. You up for watching movies or something? Before I go even more crazy and paint my head blue and all?"
"Sure", he said with an easy smile, looking around for the TV remote. "Movies it is."
After the thread in Angelo's, Amanda had figured it was only fair to head over there and face her 'punishment', so Marie wasn't taking the heat on her own. Besides, it wasn't like she was as easy to get at for revenge purposes as her co-conspirator. She lifted her hand to knock on his door, hesitated, then made herself rap smartly on the door, once, twice, three times.
The response was a storm of barking from the other side - apparently Angelo had stopped to pick Joyita up sometime on the way home - and a muffled "Come in!"
Opening the door, Amanda smiled to see Angelo holding onto a happily-barking Joyita, who was trying to launch herself at the door. "Hey," she said, chuckling. "Looks like you've got your hands full there."
Both hands, really, one hooked in the dog's collar, the other arm around her chest. He grinned at Amanda anyway. "Yeah, she's really gettin' too big for this."
"That she is." Dumping her bag, coat and scarf, Amanda came in properly, bending down to pat Joyita hello. "Hey, puppy," she cooed, leaning back to avoid the enthusiastic face licks. "Ew, doggie drool. How was Oman?" The last question was directed at Angelo, obviously. "Get stuff done?"
"Yeah, it was really good", he said cheerfully. "Met with the right people, got some tourist stuff in... it was just really... peaceful." Which was exactly what he'd needed. "An' then I got back here an' found out I'd had visitors."
"Really?" Amanda asked innocently, but with a certain amount of unholy glee in her eyes. "And here's you living with the security bloke for the mansion and all..." She was glad he'd gotten the break - he looked much better rested than he had before.
"Yeah", was the casual answer, though he was watching her reactions closely. "Seems he doesn't feel the need to keep people out of rooms when they actually live here. Or're with people that do."
"Well, it helps if you bribe him with food that doesn't come out of a foil box," Amanda said, chuckling, before adding, still wearing her innocent face: "Or so I've heard."
"So you've heard", he said neutrally, nodding but possibly edging the slightest bit closer. "Of course."
She caught the movement, but didn't edge away - fair was fair after all, although if they ended up heading for the lake she'd be using the shielding spell. "Terrible place for gossip, this," she continued, grinning. "You hear all sorts of things. Like that the new self-defence teacher has a thing for lacy underwear..."
The lake was reserved for those of his friends who could fly if he jumped out of the window with one of them. Amanda was safe from that, at least. "Well, the scandal of that one'd depend on which one. Hardly as excitin' if it's Lorna, though I guess that depends who you ask."
She raised her eyebrow at him, the innocent look slipping as her glee broke through. "Well, I always thought you'd look fabulous in black lace..." she suggested, as Joyita took advantage of the banter to lick at her face. "Hey, no fair sneak attack, puppy!" she protested, laughing as she wiped her cheek.
Angelo laughed and decided to take his dog's lead and use the distraction to attack. "She does that", he said casually, reaching out with fingers hooked for tickling.
"Eek!" Amanda squealed and fell backwards on her butt, trying to evade Angelo's tickling. Not terribly successfully, since he could stretch a lot further then she could scoot, and she was laughing too hard to shield. Instead she was reduced to batting his hands away as best she could, giggling and squirming helplessly.
"Own up an' it stops!" he demanded, laughing, as Joyita ran around on the floor barking at both of them and trying to join in the fun.
"Okay, okay, it was me!" Gasping for breath, the witch held up her own hands in surrender - she was horribly ticklish, especially with the scarring gone. "We thought you could use a little welcome home present!" And his reaction had been so worth it...
He grinned and sat back, triumphant. "Not to say I won't be able to find some use for it as presents for people, but I'd kind of like to know what you did with my real stuff."
"Marie's got it in her room - she's going to bring it back to you later." Amanda laid a hand on her aching ribs - it had been a while since she'd laughed that much - and waited for her breath to come back. "It was worth the tickling - that post of yours was hysterical."
"Well, I knew it had to be somebody in the house", he said with a grin. "An' it made sense Forge would've let you in."
"Marie make him peach cobbler," Amanda explained. "He was sort of putty in her hands after that."
"Ah, the old trick of bribery through food. Always works with the workaholics."
"Especially the ones who burn water. Or mistake oil for chocolate sauce." Sitting up, she dusted her back off. "No hard feelings, tho', right?" she asked, smiling brightly at him. "No plans for horrible revenge..."
"Well, I wouldn't say horrible revenge..." was all she was getting. "But with this an' the nail polish, you really can't expect to just get away with it."
"But we're cute?" she suggested, giving him her best puppy eyes of doom look, the one that had always worked on Nathan and Marie-Ange back when she lived at the mansion.
"Yes. An' you'll still be cute with a different hair colour. Or whatever."
She pouted, even as a part of her thrilled to hear him call her 'cute'. Well, her and Marie. "If you manage to prank my apartment, then you deserve the revenge," she said, chuckling and picking herself off the floor, brushing off the back of her pants. "Now we've sorted out confessions and revenge... how are you? You look better for the break."
"It was really good", he said with an honest smile, settling back down and catching the dog as she jumped on him. "Had better sleep out there than I've had in weeks."
She joined him on the couch, sitting at the other end to avoid Death By Licking as she reached over to scratch Joyita behind the ears. "Good to hear. Especially on the sleeping front - I was getting worried."
He nodded. "Nate said if it got to a month an' no better I should go see Jack. But I don't think it was much more than a month, as it was. Guess the peace an' quiet out there helped."
"Mm. Not as much pressure, maybe." Amanda herself looked tired, but had lost the drawn expression she'd had after China. "Marie and I were saying the other night, this place is good for the kids, but it's a bit of a pressure cooker sometimes. Works that way for the staff too, and you've had a big couple of months with Elpis as well. Just as well Christmas break's coming up too - not even Nate can justify working through that. Moira'd have Words."
Angelo nodded. "He invited me an' Mom to Muir for the holiday, so I guess that's what we'll be doin' - you got any plans?"
Amanda shook her head, face falling a little. "Nothing special. I could go with Pete to Rom's again, but... believe it or not, I'm sick of travelling right now. It feels like we've been on the go since October. I was thinking of staying in New York, maybe seeing what else people are doing."
"Well, you know, you should ask Nathan if you can come too. He was sayin' they don't have quite a full house yet, even with the Pack all goin', so it sounds like there'd be room for one more..."
"I'm not sure I should. I mean, sounds like it's a him thing and I wouldn't want to, well..." She looked a little sheepish. "Feels like presuming too much."
"Amanda, it's not presumption when it's you", he said patiently. "You know he an' Moira'd be upset if you didn't think you had a standin' invite."
She blushed, dropping her head. "I know. Sorry. I'm a plonker sometimes," she admitted.
"Nah. Just need remindin' of things once in a while."
The embarrassment eased under that particular smile of his, fond and a little amused. "Good thing I've got you here to remind me, then, yeah?"
"Usually is", he said cheerfully, patting Joyita as she subsided with her head on his leg. "Good thing I'm not plannin' on goin' anywhere."
"Yeah, it really is." Something in her expression softened and for a moment she considered telling him what had happened last week, what she'd realised... The words hung on the tip of her tongue, but then she chickened out. No sense spoiling things, especially with those remarks by Forge about Angelo and Sarah. It seemed like maybe she was too late. "So..." she said instead, casting about for something else to say other than "I've just realised I'm in love with you and have been since I met you". "Did you get me anything? while you were away?" she asked instead, going for the 'cute little sister' persona instead.
"Course I did", he said with a grin, making a vague getting-up type movement without actually getting up because the dog was in the way. "It's around here somewhere, hang on..."
"I can get it for you, if you can't get up..." Amanda began.
Angelo shook his head, spotting the little package on the other side of the room. "Nah, I got it..." It would have been out of reach, for anyone else. Not for him.
Amanda was a little wide-eyed as the long tendril of skin deposited the parcel into her hands. "Well, look who's been practicing," she said, immeasurably proud - she'd rarely seen Angelo use his powers, even as comfortable as he was with her. "Thanks, Ange," she continued, not wanted to make a big deal and instead patting his shoulder before turning her attention to the box.
He just grinned, sitting back and watching her open it. "Kind of comes with the trainin' thing."
"How's that going?" she asked, looking up from where she was doing battle with the tape holding the box closed. "They put you in the Danger Room yet?" Tape defeated, she lifted the lid, revealing layers of cotton wool.
"Yeah, a couple of times", he said casually. "Went in with Scott, the first time, an' I've done a run or two on my own as well."
"Must be doing all right, you haven't been dropped on your head yet..." Amanda began, lifting up the cotton wool. She stopped when she saw the glint of silver, and lifted out a bracelet, a plain band of silver etched with Arabic. "Oh, wow."
He grinned, pleased at the reaction. "Found it in the souk. You like?"
"It's gorgeous..." Amanda lifted it out of the box, brushing away clinging cotton wool. "Thanks, Ange, this is just..." She was at a bit of a loss for words. "Thank you," she said again, turning the bracelet over in her fingers as she examined the engraving.
"You get to translate that for yourself", he informed her lightly. "'Cause I say so."
She poked her tongue out at him - she'd been already trying to sound out the words, but they were older Arabic, and a bit harder. "It better not say something like 'this witch belongs to...' or something," she teased, before slipping the bracelet onto her right wrist. "Thanks again, Ange," she said, leaning over to give him a hug, dog and all. "I really like it."
Angelo smiled, hugging her back. "Hoped you would."
"I do, I really do." She hugged him tight, and the urge came again to tell him. "Ange..." she began, but before she could frame the rest, Joyita chose that moment to poke her head up and lick Amanda squarely on the nose. "Ack! Yuck!" She jerked back, wiping at her face with her sleeve and laughing. "Feeling left out, were you?" she asked the dog, mock-severely.
Angelo couldn't help laughing, hauling the dog back gently. "Easy, girl. Sorry, Amanda."
"She's just being friendly," Amanda said, scritching Joyita behind the ears again. "Weren't you, puppy? But no more doggie kisses unless you buy me dinner, yeah?"
Angelo just leaned back, laughing. "An' since she's a bit short of things like money an' opposable thumbs..."
"Ours is a love that must be denied," Amanda said solemnly, and then burst into laughter herself. "Okay, someone hit me with the wacky stick today. You up for watching movies or something? Before I go even more crazy and paint my head blue and all?"
"Sure", he said with an easy smile, looking around for the TV remote. "Movies it is."
