Fun In The Sun (For Parker)

[Highfly]

Parker spoke and JJ felt a tiny bit of the edge to her voice for a moment but as soon as the food arrived she herself forgot all about it. "I hope yours is good otherwise I will look like a damn fool for suggesting the place." JJ said as she ate her own noodles enjoying every bite. As she ate her phone vibrated and she saw a few missed messages. One was from Sienna asking about a training question for the following day capped with asking about a little trip to Australia for a LAW promotional visit. JJ saw Parker eating and quickly messaged back before slipping her phone away.

"So once we eat what do you have going on?" JJ asked casually as she went back to focusing on eating. She hoped Parker was still free for at least a little bit, although JJ understood entirely that she likely had her own life to get back to and things to get done.

[Parker]

Parker leaned forward over her bowl, inhaling a deep breath of the savory steam that rose up between them. The broth had a deep, oceanic scent, briny, rich, and tangled with the sharp sting of red chili oil glistening on the surface. Her chopsticks slipped in smoothly, catching a small mountain of noodles which she lifted and twisted carefully, the strands glimmering in the spicy sheen before she took her first bite.

The heat hit instantly, that kind of clean burn that bloomed from the tip of her tongue all the way down her throat, but she didn’t flinch. If anything, her eyes brightened, and a grin tugged faintly at the corner of her mouth as she slurped down another mouthful.

"Oh, this is perfect," she said between bites, her tone equal parts delight and relief. A faint flush colored her cheeks, not from embarrassment but from the growing warmth that pooled under her skin. She dabbed the corner of her lips with a napkin, though the sheen of sweat at her temple betrayed just how much the spice was working on her.

Still, she ate with steady rhythm, chopsticks moving with practiced ease, pausing only to fan her mouth once with her hand before diving right back in. The broth had a depth that balanced its fire: rich seafood notes mixed with the heat of the chilies and a lingering sweetness that only made her want more. Before long she was gripping the bowl to drain the broth in its entirety.

When she finally leaned back, the bowl was empty except for a few stubborn flecks of spice clinging to the rim. She drew in a deep breath, exhaled through pursed lips, and laughed lightly. "That was amazing," she said, breathing out a heavy exhale, feeling the burn in her breath play across her tingling lips.

She looked across at JJ, still smiling even as she wiped a bit of perspiration from her brow with her forearm. "You picked a good one," she admitted, her tone bright and genuine. "I’m gonna be thinking about this place for awhile."

After a beat, she stretched her arms above her head, a soft sigh escaping her. "I think I’m just gonna take the rest of the day slow," she said, settling back into her stool. "Head back down to the beach, let this settle, then hit the water once I’ve digested. Feels like a waste not to, right?"

Her grin returned, relaxed now, the easy contentment of someone who’d just had a good meal and wasn’t in a rush to let the day get complicated again.

[Highfly]

JJ was quiet for a bit, happily eating and enjoying her food as she nodded along. She was happy to just be able to take in a day without the pressure of having to get tasks done. She wanted to do this more but knew sticking to a strict plan was helping her get off to the start she was off to in LAW. Still, this was nice.

"That sounds like a good plan. Do ya want company or are you just trying to do that solo?" JJ asked. She was fine if Parker wanted to just enjoy the beach on her own in peace. But if she was fine with JJ tagging along that would be just fine too. She was quite curious but hoped that she didn't feel like she was pressuring Parker. "If you are just looking for quiet peace that is all good, I don't want to like cling or anything ya know?" JJ added hoping that she wasn't being awkward.

It was odd that she was more at ease in a ring talking trash to someone than she was at trying to carry on a normal conversation these days.

[Parker]

"You’re fine, JJ. I don’t mind company," she said with an easy laugh, shaking her head a little. "It'll be a few hours of nothing but the sun, sand, and surf, you’re welcome to tag along. Only have the one beach towel though... assuming nobody walked off with it."

Her tone carried its usual teasing warmth, but there was an underlying sincerity too. She looked genuinely content, the kind of quiet happiness that came from letting herself just be for once.

"Not sure how much of a conversationalist I’ll be once I stretch myself out, especially on a full stomach," she continued, running a hand through her hair, which had mostly dried since she was down at the water earlier. "If you need suntan lotion, I’ve got plenty. Figured I’d actually come prepared this time instead of ending up lobster-red like last month."

She gave a small laugh at her own expense, then leaned her elbow on the counter, chin propped in her hand as she looked over at JJ.

"Are you up to the challenge of doing nothing but relaxing, though? You look like your brain’s still doing crunches even when you’re supposed to be off-duty."

Her tone softened again at the end, more friendly ribbing than challenge, but the observation was sharp enough to tell from their exchange JJ was the “always on” type of person who liked to stay busy.

[Highfly]

Hearing that she could join in even if it was quiet sounded good to JJ. She needed to do things like this more. It was good for her to tone down the intensity once in a while.

JJ listened and smirked. "I don't mind sitting in the sand, and it takes something extra to get me sunburned." JJ says with a shrug imagining what poor Parker looked like after her last day out in the sun.

"I do try to always do something but I need to learn to let go. Maybe this is the first step in that direction." JJ said with a grin.

[Parker]

Parker gave a small, knowing grin as JJ spoke, her hands sliding into the pockets of her shorts while the sea breeze teased through strands of her dark brown hair. "See? You’re already halfway there," she said with a soft laugh, her tone playful but sincere. "Sitting in the sand, not worrying about tomorrow, letting the world spin without you for a bit, that’s the good stuff."

She pulled a card from her wallet, gesturing to the owner who with a bow produced a scanner. Parker tapped her card against the reader before JJ could protest. ”Before you say anything," she said with a grin, turning slightly toward her companion. "You won my new plush son off of your token, I owe you. If not that, then consider this payment for emotional damages to your pride from the claw machine took from you."

Once everything was settled, the pair stepped back out into the sun-drenched afternoon. The heat had mellowed, the waves carrying that rhythmic hush that made the whole beach feel slower, gentler. Parker waved JJ to follow, as she would take up the role as guide now, leading them to her distant spot on the beach for a nice quiet afternoon.