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

[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.

[littleredsiren]

She's going to end up chewing her nails down to her nailbeds if this keeps up...

"She... I..." God, why did she let Lara run off? She should have chased her. "She knows I l-like you. Like, you know. I-I..."

And that's the end of her coherency. Her face is red, her heart is threatening to leave her chest, and she's stammering so badly she can't get two words out.

[jasonwright]

He can't help but give her a surprised look. Yeah Lara hinted at it, but hearing it from Iris is honestly shocking. "More than just a friend?" he presses. Because he's notoriously dense when it comes to these things, not because he thinks no one could possibly be attracted to him but...he feels like he doesn't deserve it. Especially from Iris.

[littleredsiren]

She at least manages to nod to that, and even make a noise of affirmation. She really wants to look up to see how he's reacting but she's pretty sure if she does, she'll end up hyperventilating herself into a dead faint.

[jasonwright]

"Wow." He says, looking back at his hands. And then he smiles, a small chuckle escaping. She's refusing to look at him and he can't even imagine how anxious she is right now. So he leans over and quickly kisses her cheek before pulling back, grinning towards the water.

[littleredsiren]

Iris' head shoots up at that and she turns to him, eyes so wide she'd worry they were about to fall out if she wasn't so goddamn surprised.

"I- Wh- What?" she manages to stammer out. "What was that?!"

[jasonwright]

"What was what?" He looks as innocently as possible.

[littleredsiren]

"You- I-" She gestures at her cheek, not even sure how to start. "You kissed my cheek!"

[jasonwright]

"Did I?" he asks.

[littleredsiren]

"Yes!" she half-snaps, half-whines. "Why? I don't-??"

[jasonwright]

"Why do you think I would kiss your cheek?"