Beach BBQ [Open]

[asharpertongue]

Levi's idea for a beach party had been a good one. After the past few weeks they both needed to blow off a little steam and Lara had taken to the idea like the proverbial siren to water, inviting all her employees and friends. Levi had put the word out at the police station and among his closer friends so between them a decent crowd was forming.

The tables lining the beach were piled high with food and drink, a DJ was already in full swing and people were drifting over to the large bonfire for warmth as the chill started to cut through the summer evening. A few of the Heart of Gold employees had brought their kids along for the festivities and a friend of Lara's was performing little glamours and tricks to keep them entertained. Large clusters of huge pillows were dotted about the beach just a little way from Levi's house and lanterns and firelight bathed the whole area in a warm glow.

Maybe Lara had taken it a little far but she liked to treat her friends and everyone could use a little R&R.

OOC: Levi and Lara's friends have been officially invited, but everyone else feel free to wander in at your leisure~.

Comments

[asharpertongue]

Lara pulls out her phone and sends a text to Levi. A second or two later she gets one back with Jason's current whereabouts.

"Levi says they're over by the food." Lara said, smiling and getting up.

[littleredsiren]

Her eyes go wide. "Lara!! You're not really going to, are you?!"

[asharpertongue]

"Of course I am. Someone needs to help you practice and if you won't ask him, someone you trust, I'll do it for you." Lara said stretching lazily.

[littleredsiren]

"But I caaan't!" she whines, looking pathetic. "That's such a weird thing to ask your friend!"

[asharpertongue]

"It's because he's your friend that he's the perfect person. You trust him. He trusts you. You need to practice and you won't allow yourself to hurt him so it's literally the safest kind of practice." Lara smiled softly. "I'll leave it alone if you promise to at least try and broach the subject with him."

[littleredsiren]

Iris squirms in her seat uncomfortably. "I'll try, okay? I doubt anything will happen, because I don't even know where to start, but I'll try."

[asharpertongue]

Lara looks at her and then looks deeper. Iris won't ask. She'll try and then get bashful and nothing will be accomplished.

She shook her head. "Hmmm. No. I think in the long run, my way is better." With that she strode across the sand to find Jason.

[littleredsiren]

"Lara!" she calls after her, then freezes as half the party turns to look at her. Sitting down, she feels her face burning. She's never going to be able to make eye contact with Jason again.

[jasonwright]

Jason's....overwhelmed by Lara's chat with him. And he barely has time to process it before she's grabbed him by the arm and pretty much guided him to walking toward Iris. She's sitting on a couch by herself, clearly nervous and uncomfortable. He quickly glances around to find Alfredo is still playing with the kids along the beach. Good. No distractions? But, maybe Iris would feel more comfortable with the dog around...

Stopping in front of her, he shoves his hands in his pockets. "Hey."

[littleredsiren]

Iris can feel her face burning and she kind of wants to cry, she's so embarrassed. She looks down at the remains of the drink Lara'd given her, picking at the rim. "Hi..."

[jasonwright]

And that look breaks him. It's immediately not about him, his confusion, or if he might be embarrassed, but about comforting Iris. He sits down beside her, giving her a soft smile. "Are you okay?"

[littleredsiren]

"I'm fine," she mumbles, still not meeting his eyes. "I'm just embarrassed. I know I need to work on that side of my powers but I didn't Lara would, you know... actually ask you."

[jasonwright]

"Yeah I didn't think so. She's very...forward," he grins with a soft chuckle. "She said you need help with someone you trust. It shouldn't be a stranger and you didn't get to train with a partner growing up. Would you actually...be comfortable with me?"

[littleredsiren]

She's chewing at her nails now and glances at him out of the corner of her eye. "K...inda. Yeah," she replies, her voice almost a whisper she's so embarrassed.

[jasonwright]

He's quiet for a moment before answering softly. "I'll help you. Only if you're comfortable."

[littleredsiren]

Iris looks up at him, wide-eyed. "S-seriously?" she stammers out, shocked.

[jasonwright]

"Yeah," he nods. "If you want me to? If you want to practice with someone else....it's your chose."

[littleredsiren]

"I mean... I trust you and I'm... I'm comfortable with you," she admits. "I just don't want you to be uncomfortable around me."

[jasonwright]

"I'm comfortable with you. And I trust you," he gives her a reassuring smile. There is the other part that Lara told him, well hinted at. The reason why Iris wants to practice with him other than trust and comfort. He's not sure if he should bring that up though, because she seems uncomfortable enough.

[littleredsiren]

Her chest feels warm at the thought and she's very glad he trusts her. "Just... Keep in mind that things may not stay that way," she says, smiling back timidly. "There's an element of... attraction to it all."

[jasonwright]

"Element of attraction?" he asks, raising an eyebrow. "Lara, uh, mentioned something about that."

[littleredsiren]

"I mean... IkindofhavetomakeyouabitattractedtomewhenIdoit," she manages to get out, all at once. Then she freezes. "Wait. What did Lara say??"

[jasonwright]

"That's fine." He says it like it's not a big deal. Jason's not blind. She's beautiful, sweet, and he definitely has a soft spot for her. Iris making him attracted to her isn't a big deal, but the thought of her being attracted to him makes him wring his hands as he leans over to put his elbows on his knees.

"I told her you need to practice with not just someone you trust, but someone you like." He doesn't say that Lara told him specifically that Iris likes him, because she didn't. She hinted at it. Strongly.

[littleredsiren]

Iris can feel her heart trying to pound its way out of her chest and her face is absolutely burning, though it would be worse if she could bring herself to look at him instead of the cup in her hands.

"And... Did she say anything to that? About me?" she asks, voice trembling a little.

[jasonwright]

"She said you're a shy girl and I'm a good man who doesn't take advantage of nice girls." He remembers the words perfectly. Because they hit hard. She called him a good man, a woman who barely knows him but gave him a job of the street and is perceptive enough to know Jason would never hurt her student and friend.