In truth, the Warlock should have anticipated that look of incredulousness that crossed the young woman's features at his dislike of the idea of pizza for dinner. Harley, as far as he was concerned, had yet to grow out of those old college taste buds of pizza and beer. If only she knew the world of delectable meals she was giving up for what amounted to bread in a box. A soft breath left Sterling's lips before his shoulders lifted in a vague shrug. "I mean...nothing really." He admitted hesitantly, after all, there were many pizzerias that were nothing short of magnificent, transcending well beyond those chains with the astute attentiveness they gave those saucy pies. However, Sterling highly doubted it was those places that Harley was contemplating visiting. Her begrudging acceptance of his food preferences prompted a warm simper upon his lips. Harley, however, seemed nothing if not eager to escape their pathetic hotel room, even to the point of dragging Sterling out the door, teasing him relentlessly during the process. It was, admittedly, a trait of Harley's he had come to near expect, even as he rolled his eyes in response to her.

The walk to the beach was, thankfully, not terribly far, the pair taking their turns indulging in the champagne bottle even though the sun was still well above the horizon and Sterling was fairly certain public drinking in this manner was illegal....or something. They arrived at the sandy shores without incident, however, those crashing waves calling to them as the pair stepped into the warmth of the sand underfoot. The sun overhead so happily embraced them, even Fiducia seemed eager to explore the new world around her as she mischievously harassed the seagulls that ventured too close towards the ocean bird. How aware he was of Harley's gaze upon those cresting waves that washed upon the shore - her desire to venture into it's wetness all too palpable. Sterling's suggestion to frolic within the foaming waves seemed to garner as scoff from the girl, Sterling himself finally offering her a sardonic response to her insistence that she never frolicked. The warlock, however, seemed entirely content to watch her with a raised brow as she moved towards the shoreline. Sterling settled in the sand underfoot, it's warmth near heavenly as he reached for his shoes, pulling them from his feet. His socks quickly followed suit, ending up balled within his converse that now sat beside him as he nursed the bottle of champagne between his hands.

That near determined glance over her shoulder, however, prompted a soft snort of air from his nose, the man simply gesturing with a flick of his wrist that she should continue with her 'adventure'. He watched as she pivoted upon her toes, her arms stretching outwards in an invitational manner that Sterling hardly intended to take her up on. She seemed to understand that well, however, the woman all too quickly distracted herself with something at her feet and slowly, Sterling leaned back on his elbows to allow her that tranquil moment she seemed to so desperately need. For all that was going on in his life...he was hardly oblivious that Harley had seemed equally as...troubled. Slowly the bright blue of his irises turned away from his friend, instead shifting upwards towards his avian familiar as she darted overhead in delight. Really, it was...tempting to simply stay here. Fiducia liked it, after all, and it wasn't as if Sterling had anything to return back to Sacrosanct for. Starting over was....entirely within his capability, even if it would be a bit difficult. He could get a new job....find a new apartment....there was always someone looking for chefs.

Those idle daydreams were interrupted entirely by an entirely loud curse, the bright blue of his gaze focusing upon the young woman in front of him that had become completely drenched. That rich sound of laughter left his lips quite before he could stop it as he took in his friend's soaked form. Her clothing stuck tightly to her feminine physique, her jeans weighed down by dampness as her once full hair became little more than a stringy mess that clung to her pale face. That bemused simper remained plastered to his features as she sluggishly returned to him, dragging some dredged up, sandy case behind her. Her lips were split into a wide grin at the very suggestion that he should join her in her current drenched state was enough to send Sterling scurrying to his feet, the man taking several steps away from her as he strove to wave her off. She seemed nothing if not determined, however, as she stalked closer towards him. His insistence that he'd much prefer to stay dry however, seemed enough, momentarily to dissuade her, albeit only after batting his hands away and rolling her eyes. Quickly, Sterling tried to distract her, the warlock instead inquiring after the case between her fingertips.

Quite on cue, her gaze seemed to drift downwards in blatant curiosity. That vague shrug of Harley's shoulders only caused his brows to raise with clear suspicion, it was unlike her to simply pawn off her great find to someone else, even with that lame excuse she gave. "I doubt it." Sterling declared at her insistence that this could change their lives for an eternity. Still, as she tossed the case at his feet, and as Sterling bent down to inspect it, the warlock could hardly help that growing sense of dread that he was going to open the case to be filled with a sawed off...arm or something. That's what happened in the movies, wasn't it? He was hardly attentive to Harley as she moved around him, peering over his shoulder like she was both curious and scared of the contents of her pilfered goods - though that in itself should have been far more of a warning. Rather, Sterling reached down to pluck at the hinges on the case, the man entirely unprepared for the sudden weight that all but tackled him.

"Oof!" The sound left his lips unbidden as Sterling was near thrown off balance, her added weight toppling him forward with just enough time to catch himself on the palm of his hands before the pair went face planting into the sand. The wetness of her shirt so quickly soaked through his own clothing, prompting a shiver down his spine as she clung onto him as if her life depended on it. "God, Harley!" He insisted, his voice rising a pitch higher than it's usual octave as he struggled to refind his sense of balance from her clinging legs that wrapped around his waist. He could feel her chin settled upon his shoulder, her words soft and yet nonetheless sarcastic as she spoke in his ear. Sterling could hardly help the roll of his bright blue eyes, the boy shaking his head ever so slightly as his head turned to glance towards her, only to use his hands to merely push himself backward. It was almost all too easy, the way the boy simply fell back and into the sand, effectively trapping the young woman beneath him in her clinging. "Oh no, I have fallen and can't get up." He uttered in the most deadpan tone he could offer. If she really wanted to play that game, he was more than capable of winning.

STERLING TENEMBRAGE