(Untitled)

[det_jules]

Occasionally, the power of suggestion was a very strong motivator in making Juliet's decisions for her. Someone implied that she could dress her best and maybe she went out and empowered herself. She woke up every day on a beautiful sunny Island with a beach and eventually she was going to go dip a toe in the water

Comments

[anger_sideways]

There were many good things about living by the beach. Being soothed to sleep by the sound of waves, the fresh smell of briny air - and, of course, the view. Hawkeye was just getting ready to head out anyway (and he'd fight anyone who said otherwise) when he caught sight of the pretty blonde coming out of the waves.

He waved at her just as she was drying off, somewhat impressed by her flexibility.

"I've always said my life would be improved by singing birds to help me get dressed in the morning. That, and a rabbit who could mix cocktails, and life would be perfect," he said. "Do you need any help?"

[det_jules]

"Care to lotion up my back?" Juliet asked, using the sunscreen bottle as a prop to gesture at him in a 'Uncle Sam Wants You' want, arching her brow hopefully. She was pretty sure that her one-piece and the whole 'wet rat' thing made it the least sexy offer ever, so she was feeling pretty safe on that count.

[anger_sideways]

If the girl thought she was safe from being hit on, she clearly underestimated Hawkeye's overactive libido. He grinned, and took the lotion bottle from her hands.

"Turn round, then," he said, squeezing out a generous amount onto his hand and starting to smooth it into her shoulders. "So," he said, leaning over her shoulder, his face not far from hers, "What's your name? And I hope it's not Ariel, I'd hate to think those legs were only a temporary deal."

[det_jules]

"I am not Ariel, I promise, and you will find no scales on me!" Juliet swore with an emphatic hand gesture, turning over and brushing her wet hair forward over her shoulder. "I'm Juliet. And no bad Shakespeare jokes!" she warned. "I've heard them all, I promise you."

[speakscanadian]

"I think only small Chinese men can do what you're trying to do." Ray's mouth was quirked as he peered over at Jules, eyes shielded from the sun by a raised hand. "Pretty sure I saw Jackie Chan do that in a movie once."

[det_jules]

"Hey Ray!" Juliet greeted brightly, letting out a mild huff of frustration when he was proved very right and the further she could reach was mid-shoulderblades. Her hair was getting stringy from being doused in salt-water, but she was more concerned with flaking skin than frizz at the moment. "Think he could teach me his tricks?"

[speakscanadian]

"I'm sure he could if he were here," Ray replied, unhooking his shades from his shirt and slipping them on. He hadn't been particularly brazen in his appraisal of her but he hadn't been particularly subtle either. At least with shades on Juliet wouldn't be able to tell which way he was looking any longer. "Uh, d'you want some help?" He held up his palms. "I got warm hands."

[det_jules]

"You could have cold hands, but so long as they're hands, I'm happy," she insisted, extending the sunscreen out to him and turning, pointing to where the one-suit's straps met in the back and covered most of everything, but left a nice big area open for revelation. "I kinda like sleeping on my back and peeling skin wouldn't be my idea of a good vacation." Which was how she was starting to see this whole thing as...frighteningly. She needed, so very much needed, to get back to work.

[supersmeller]

Gus just happened to be walking by when he heard Juliet talking about birds and princesses. It was only natural then that he got a little worried that maybe she had lost her mind. Once he turned to actually look at her, it all made sense, but that didn't stop him from looking away quickly, as if she were naked. It just didn't seem right to be staring at Juliet, of all people, in a bathing suit and contorting herself into...positions that called attention to the chest area.

So Gus had his hands in his pockets as he stared nonchalantly in the opposite direction and said, "Hey, Jules."

[det_jules]

Juliet turned to look at Gus, then had to double-take because he wasn't exactly looking at her and that was making it kinda difficult. She knotted the towel around her waist and took a couple steps closer. "Gus...?" she tried. "Gus, you can look at me, you know. I'm not in a bikini or anything. Everything's covered," she promised.

[supersmeller]

"I know," Gus said instantly, one shoulder lifting in a shrug as if showing how ridiculous Juliet's statement was. The act was a little ruined by how he still hadn't turned to look at her.

He glanced towards her, and when he saw that she was standing normally again, felt it was safe to turn. "So, have a good swim?" he asked, looking only to her face.

[det_jules]

"It is beautiful out there, Gus," Juliet insisted excitedly. She wasn't totally on board with the Island yet, but she could appreciate the small things and she really liked the notion that she could take a dip in a tropical-like environment and have it be so beautiful. "You should join me sometime! I just do a couple laps and come back to shore. No danger involved," she swore.

[gunbladescar]

Island life is definitely beautiful. I can really see Laguna settling in here nicely. If he could give up his job as President of Esthar. Even with the prime location of our hut right on the beach, I'm still not ready to give up hope on leaving nor am I ready to settle in and take up swimming.

But it looks like Juliet feels differently. It doesn't surprise me.

"Hey Juliet," I say, catching her talking to herself. "Singing birds?" I repeat.

[det_jules]

"Singing birds could apply suntan lotion without me needing to dislocate my shoulder to get my back," she explained as if that all made perfect sense when she said it aloud. And now that she did, she sounded crazier than ever. "Okay, or maybe not, but those Disney princesses still had it good!" she insisted with a finger-poke in the general air.

[gunbladescar]

I consider the image for a moment. It seems a little improbable for birds to apply suntan lotion. They have claws and beaks. But her tone leads me to believe she was only kidding.

"Need some help?" I find myself volunteering before I realize what I'm saying. "Who are Disney princesses?" I ask a moment later.

[det_jules]

"I could use a lot of help," she admitted with a small laugh, a hint of resignation in her voice as she handed out the lotion to him. "And they are sweet innocent teenagers who men fall head over heels in love with and have a great command over wild animals. Usually. Sometimes it's fish and crabs."

[nerdinacape]

"But then you would have to worry about birds doing other things and that wouldn't end well," Grigg said as he adjusted his hat on his head. He had found that he could survive tropical sand and sun a lot better with proper headgear. He was fairly positive that this would have done both Ms Austen and Ms Le Guin proud.

Stuffing his hands into his pockets, he gives the woman a weak smile as it clicked that he probably shouldn't have been responding to something that wasn't really addressed to him in the first place. "Sorry. I didn't mean to just barge into the conversation."

[det_jules]

"Seeing as I was being crazy and talking to myself, you probably helped save my sanity," Juliet admitted with a small smile and shrug, turning to give the approaching man a friendly smile. She was likable, damn it. She couldn't just wander around making people think she was insane. "I don't suppose you'd like the temporary job of lotion-putter-onner?"

[nerdinacape]

"Then I'm glad that I could be of service."

Grigg's smiled brightened slightly because it was easier to be nice to someone who was nice back. Flawed logic to be certain but fairly applicable in most situations.

"Sure. I promise not to be creepy about it."

[det_jules]

"If you're really creepy, I do know basic self-defense. How about we say I smack you on the wrist?" she offered with a playful grin, starting to amass large handfuls of hair as she pulled it tight and out of the way so he could get lotion on her back. "Or maybe you could finish up and I could do the same in turn. The water is great, you really should grab a swim while the sun's up!"