xp_logs | Angelo and Amanda in LA

They go for a walk and spot his old gang, but there is no confrontation.

On Sunday morning, Angelo's mother finally decided it was unhealthy for him to be hiding in the house, firmly handed him the image inducer, and sent him out for a walk to get some sun and fresh air, telling Amanda not to let him come back too early. Grumbling only slightly, and mostly for effect, he let Amanda drag him out to show her the sights.

"Yer mum's got Paige's Look, the one that makes you feel guilty an' do things," Amanda said, snickering slightly at the memory of Angelo's mother shooing him out of the house.

Angelo laughed. "Yeah, that she does. They don't call Paige the mansion den mother for nothin'."

"You sure you want the two of 'em in the same State?" Amanda teased. "Could get scary, all those Looks."

Angelo laughed. "Oh, I think I'll survive."

Amanda chuckled, casting a sidelong glance at Angelo. "'S weird, hearin' yer voice comin' out of a total stranger," she said. "Those inducer thingies are handy."

Angelo nodded. "Yeah, they are. Wouldn't've come without one - well, maybe if you did that glamor thing."

"I did one for the purple pixie once, for clubbing," Amanda replied. "They ain't that hard, just don't last more 'n about six hours." She grinned evilly. "Still, I don't blame you for using McCoy's gizmo. There's no telling what face I might of picked."

Angelo glared at her, then laughed. "You're evil, you know that?"

"I try," Amanda said, trying to look innocent and failing.

Angelo chuckled, glancing around them, then his eye was caught by something on the other side of the street. He froze, just for a moment, then continued walking in an attempt at casualness.

Unfortunately for Angelo, Amanda had been spending a lot of time in the company of an empath, and was getting very good at picking up body language. "What?" she asked, not changing her pace. If it was trouble, it wouldn't do to attract it.

"Over the street", he said simply, not making any gesture in that direction. "You'll see."

Amanda glanced over casually, seeing a knot of young men clustered around the front of one of the stores. 'Gang', her mind immediately supplied - on the streets it was always a good idea to identfy and avoid them. She tensed a little. There could only be one reason why Angelo would be worried about a gang, here. "Yers?" she asked simply.

He nodded curtly. "They were, yes. Was hopin' I wouldn't see them."

Her expression darkened. "Fuckers," she muttered, shooting them another, more baleful glance. "You all right?"

Angelo shrugged. "'bout as good as you could expect." The projected image didn't show it, but she could hear the strain in his voice.

"Yer safe, remember? Even without that gadget of the doc's, you know I wouldn't let 'em do anythin'." Amanda resisted the urge to take Angelo's arm, not wanting to do anything that would draw the attention of several bored, violent young men - if the way she looked wasn't going to do that already.

Angelo nodded. "I know. Thanks."

Amanda could feel the tension radiating off him, and frowned. She'd never seen him this freaked out before. "Too bad I can't do anythin' first," she muttered. "Stupid bloody rules."

Angelo shot her a sharp glance. "Hey. I wouldn't let you, even if you could."

"'S all right, I ain't gunna start anythin'. Just... I don't like seein' you like this, an' those're the bastards responsible."

Angelo nodded. "I know. It'll pass."

Amanda did reach over and squeeze his hand, briefly. "You wanna go back?"

"Could we?" he asked quietly. "Or at least, go somewhere else?"

"Sure. 'S yer town, you lead the way."