Log: Lil and Angelo

[x-diamondlil.livejournal.com]

Lil and Angelo discuss the mansion's special way of always drawing people back.


With the mansion in full 'spring break' mode, Lil wasn't surprised to find the gym empty in the early afternoon but it suited her extended workout hours well. Dropping her gear by the free weights, the tall blonde, dressed in her usual exercise ensemble of bike shorts and sports bra, started her stretches; loosening up her body while trying to ignore the memories of Logan offering his own relaxation techniques. He wasn't around to tend to her in the aftermath so preventative measures had to be taken. Still, Lil couldn't help but smirk a little to herself as she lunged, humming a little song to herself in lieu of her forgotten iPod.

Someone approached the door a few minutes later, whistling cheerfully before it swung open. "Hey, Lil. Havin' a good day?"

"About the same as usual," she answered with a glance to the door that resulted in a small smile. "No hangover. Less ankle biters running around here than usual so I can't complain." The only thing currently keeping the blonde on edge were her frustrations over her lack of sex and her anxious glee in waiting for her bike to be ready. "You?"

"No hangover's always good, 'specially with all the zombies sufferin' today", he said easily. "An' I'm pretty good. Makin' plans to kick Jake Gavin's ass at basketball."

Her grin spread into something more impish. "Yeah, well, I kept the Zombies in their place with a few Zombies of my own," she told him as she planted her rear on the mat for butterfly stretches. "Haven't met Jake yet. Seen him mentioned all over the journals but haven't come face to face with him yet."

"He used to be guidance counsellor here", Angelo told her, dropping into his own warm-up routine. "One of the many that just can't seem to stay away."

"What is it about this place that always brings them back?" the blonde laughed while holding her ankles. "They put something in the water?"

"Maybe it is." He grinned. "Between here an' Snow Valley, we get everybody back in the end."

Lil gave a mock shudder. "Not me. Soon as I make Alpha the only time you'll see my face around here is in newspapers or if Jean-Paul promises some fantastic meal I can't turn down in exchange for a visit."

"See, now you've cursed yourself. Jean-Paul's an example of it all on his own."

The blonde ponytail swung as she shook her head. "He's running from the Program. I'm running to it. Completely different setta circumstances."

"Yeah, I guess." He settled on the mat, stretching his legs out from a sitting position. "You got any idea how long it'll be before you head back, then?"

One shoulder rose and fell as she leaned forward into the stretch."Coupla months, I think. Waiting for the Program to launch again with Garrison and then I either make the Alpha or if I need more training, I'll probably do it up there."

"Garrison'll be tryin' out for Alpha too?" That was the first he'd heard of it. "Or just gettin' called back when the Program starts back up?"

"Fuck if I know, really. I'm kept outta a lotta those loops. Just a dumb brick," Lil said with an easy smile. "I'm assuming he'll head back up at least for awhile; dunno about the team stuff or leadership shit with everyone else. I'm just trying to focus on getting myself a spot."

"Fair enough. Some places, you've just gotta think of as home an' then there's no keepin' you away."

Lil nodded. 'Home' was a pretty apt description for how she felt about the Program. The first place she felt she fit in. The place she'd grown the most. The place she'd met Madison. "Guess that's how a lotta people feel about the mansion, eh? If they keep coming back."

"It is for me", he said simply. "Thought about leavin' at least twice, but somehow I've never quite seemed to even finish packin'."

"Now you're making me worried I'll never get out!" Lil cackled, throwing her head back with mirth. "Like I was shipped off and unknowingly joined a cult!"

"The jokes have been made before", he responded, laughing in turn. "An' the scary part is everybody stays completely by choice."

"Completely terrifying," she agreed with another wide smile. Pushing to her feet, Lil rolled her neck a couple of times then extended a hand to him. "Need someone to spot you?"

"Couldn't hurt", he said with a grin, pulling himself up on her hand. "While you're here, I might as well play with the weights."

Lil gave another little nod then jerked her head over toward the stand. "I'll even go easy on you so it doesn't hurt. For now."

"Appreciate it. For now."