Second Floor Common Room - Evening

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory was lying on a couch, Vladdie on her stomach.

The former was channel surfing and eating candy.

The latter was rolling around on his back, batting at what appeared to be a whole lot of nothing in the air.

Comments

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"That'd be nice," Callisto went to sit beside him. "So, how was your day?"

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angel started to massage Callisto's shoulders. "Not as interesting as yours. Less papercuts, for a start."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

Callisto relaxed against Angel's hands. "That boring, huh?"

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Don't know that I'd call it boring." Angel pressed in with his thumbs, trying to work out any knots that he found. "Found out Darla's in jail."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"Little lower," Callisto looked at him back over her shoulder. "Parker told me. You buy this soul story she's trying to pull?"

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

A bit of tension in his own back eased as Callisto accepted the news matter of factly. He moved his hands lower, seeking out the spot she wanted. "I dunno."

They were two small words, but they held a lot of uncertainty.

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"Lit- no, right there. That's the spot."

Hearing Angel's tone, Callisto turned so she could look at him better. "You don't know? How could it be anything but a scam?"

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angel massaged right where she asked.

He met her eyes. "Not everybody believed me when I said I had a soul."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"You didn't vanish for a week then convienently come back with a soul," Callisto pointed out. "You also had, what a dozen, people trying to soul you. Who's supposed to have souled her?"

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Actually I did vanish for a week," Angel said. "But I get your point. I asked her too. Said she didn't know."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"Convienent that," Callisto snorted. "You talked to her?"

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"I didn't know who souled me either," Angel said. "It's not like it comes with a name tag. You find out if somebody tells you or not at all. And yeah. Not for long. Tex got pissy."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"Tex is always pissy." Callisto said. "And you couldn't tell whether or not she was scamming you?"

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angel moved his fingers over to the other side of Callisto's back, just in case she had similar knots there. "Not all vampires can sense souls. Darla can. Dru can. Spike and I never could."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

Callisto pressed back against his fingers. "I don't buy it," she shook her head. "It's too...there's nothing to go on, or back it up except her say so."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"I don't disagree." Angel pressed his fingers back in return. "Hence: brooding. Not that I normally need a reason."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"I noticed that," Callisto reached over to rub his shoulder. "Poor broody vampire."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angel looked at her thoughtfully. "Can I do a thing? It's gonna look dirty, but I don't mean it like that. Not that you don't give me dirty thoughts because boy, wow, that dress last night."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"Good to know it was appreciated," Callisto grinned. "Sure, do your thing."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"It was appreciated," Angel said. "As is your trust in me now."

He took Callisto by the shoulders and gently guided her so that her back was resting against his chest. He then wrapped his arms around her with one hand placed right over her heart.

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"Wouldn't let you stay over if I didn't trust you," Callisto said, putting her hands over his. "This is... nice."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angel smiled, remembering how ready she'd been to kill Bel in his body when she'd thought it was Angel turned evil. "You trust me just enough. I like that."

He held her closer, feeling the warmth of her body against his. "And yeah. It is. Am I too cold for you?"

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"And I like you, so it's all good."

"No, you're fine," Callisto snuggled against him. "'Sides, you'll warm up quicker this way."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angel grinned. "You do have that effect on me."

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"I try my best," Callisto grinned back.